Cowboys X’s and O’s: Success in 20 personnel could be key

The Dallas Cowboys are oozing with talent at skill positions on offense. The wide receiver group consisting of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb has three proven targets with the help of tight ends, Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz, also being reliable.

The running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard bring a little bit of complementary styles in power and speed. At the helm is, in my opinion, the next quarterback knocking on “superstar territory” in Dak Prescott.

Having all of this talent is great and all, but it only goes so far when not used properly. While putting your best players on the field is important, getting them favorable matchups might loom even larger. I think that the use of “20 personnel” could be a key factor for the Cowboys’ offensive success.

First, what is 20 personnel? Simply put, it is two running backs, no tight ends, and three wide receivers. In the personnel numbering system, the first number is the running backs, followed by tight ends, then the leftover amount until five, is the wide receivers. Two more examples would be that 11 personnel is one RB, one TE, three WRs while 12 personnel is one RB, two TEs, and two WRs.

The Dallas offense using 20 personnel would put Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb on the field as the three WRs. Going two running backs here gives the offense Elliott and Pollard out there together. Prescott would have his choice of riches with those skill players surrounding him.

This grouping is one that gives the Cowboys a ton of flexibility on offense. All three WRs can play inside or outside. Adding Pollard to the mix gives the offense a huge wrinkle. Pollard can play out of the backfield alongside Elliott or play from to the slot to get a slower linebacker on him in coverage.

Spreading a defense out with this grouping could Elliott favorable numbers in the box. If Pollard or Lamb can draw an additional linebacker away from the line of scrimmage, the running game becomes very viable with the chance for the offensive line to climb to second-level blocks.

Pollard has been spending time at wide receiver this offseason due to his experience in the passing game during his time at Memphis. With nearly 1,300 receiving yards in college and 300 in a backup role for the Cowboys, Pollard has shown his hands. His speed and elusiveness paired with a rather seamless transition to the passing game could keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

Last season the Cowboys ran a minuscule total of five plays from 20 personnel. The offensive lived in the 11 package, one RB, one TE, and three WRs, over 70% of the time. Adding diversity and a little bit of flair is what it takes in the NFL right now.

Traditionally, 20 personnel would seem to be a “run-heavy” grouping. But the Cowboys could certainly shake up the league utilizing two backs in different spots to manufacture mismatches in the aerial attack, create defensive confusion with motion from Lamb or Pollard, and constantly have five capable threats each down they use this package.

I don’t think this is a package the Cowboys would move to an overwhelming majority of the time, but it is one that could be a great package to come out with to start a drive and surprise a defense. If this package saw early success on a drive, going no-huddle with this grouping could really get a defense on their heels.

The Dallas Cowboys will likely still live out of packages containing at least one tight end more often than not which is okay as Jarwin and Schultz are reliable. Adding in some wrinkles and making this offense dynamic via mismatches only adds to the sheer talent across the board. The only thing consistent in the NFL is change and this is one change that I think could steal the Cowboys some big plays and lead to points.