Some consequences to a specific action, or inaction, are deserved. Poke a grizzly bear, deserve to be eaten. Fail to research investments, deserve negative returns. Eat day-old sushi from a gas station, deserve…well, you get the idea.
The point is, some decisions can be foolish and as such, negative consequences are to be expected. In the case of the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 offense through three games, they probably deserve repercussions based on their infrequent use of motion at the snap.
In Mike McCarthy’s first year as play-caller, the Cowboys sit in the bottom quarter of the NFL in at-snap motion usage. While it’s only three weeks into the season, it’s a reminder words don’t always equal action and the Dallas offense could be moving back in time rather than forward into the future.
Per Seth Walder via ESPN Stats and Info, the Cowboys are currently in the cellar of the NFL in matters of motion at the snap. A quick look at the teams dominating the top of the chart reveals most the NFL’s brightest offensive minds are leaning on the motion tactic heavily.
This is probably a more useful motion chart.
Motion at the snap rate on designed run plays (x) by motion at the snap rate on designed pass plays.
Data via @ESPNStatsInfo. pic.twitter.com/PHLqlEBRSY
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) September 26, 2023
The Dolphins, Rams, 49ers, Packers and Chargers all motion the most in the NFL and simultaneously rank in the top-10 in offenses this season (per EPA). Detroit is the only team ranking high in motion rates but sit outside the top-10 offensively.
The offensive minds McCarthy said he studied before joining the Cowboys all have embraced the act of motion. The analytics McCarthy said he embraced when he came to Dallas all support the act the motion. Yet, with McCarthy at the helm of the offense, the Cowboys have the motion of a garden slug.