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2017-2018 Regular Season:
Cowboys Lose Mistake-Ridden Collision With Rams
And Ready Themselves For Pack Attack
- October 5, 2017 At 8:23 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- All the warning signs were there . . . and – for most of the
first half – “America’s Team” performed as if it not only heard but
deeply cared. “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” saw it coming, and the
Cowboys’ finishing gears were gumming.
The Dallas Cowboys were beating the visiting Los Angeles Rams 24-13
at one point and 24-16 at the half . . . before allowing the Rams to
eventually steal a win from the Cowboys in their own joint and
giving Wade Phillips the last laugh.
The Rams – without a doubt – are vastly improved over last year’s
model. Their defense was already pretty durable, and pairing them
with Phillips makes them that much more formidable. Their new head
coach Sean McVay has pretty much had his way in ensuring Jared Goff
is no longer one to quickly gag and cough. Todd Gurley – with
upgrades to the Rams’ offensive line – has reestablished himself as
a multifaceted lead back who, on inadequate defenses, will dine.
And yet – without the need to place a bet . . . the Cowboys made so
many stupid mistakes that Cowboys Nation was reaching for Jerry
Jones’ favorite Blue Label bottle. The avoidable inconsistency and
inaccuracy in all three phases – days later – still amazes.
The baseline goal of special teams – like in any good game of pool –
is to at least put yourself in “playing position” with a secure, nicely
navigated return, led by a good downfield block, with no chance of
losing the rock.
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- Ryan Switzer – talented rookie receiver and special teams returner –
was so eager to “run, rabbit, run” on an early first half punt that
he muffed the football, setting the Rams up with an easy red zone
down and distance . . . for their first touchdown against minimal
resistance from a Cowboys defense that later could have used some
assistance. Switzer’s eyes and hands were not aligned on the right
angle, leaving fans disappointed, angry, and ready to strangle.
A game time choice left the Dallas Cowboys without veteran
linebacker Sean Lee and “Marinelli’s Men” without their defensive
leader’s voice. Lee strained his hamstring in the Cowboys’ win over
the Cardinals, and Dallas knew not to tempt the untimely mystery of
Lee’s injury history . . . no matter the amount of game day misery.
The “Next Man Up” challenge of (still) treading water without the
services of veteran linebacker Anthony Hitchens (recovering from a
tibial plateau fracture), veteran cornerback Nolan Carroll (still
dizzy from a mix of concussion symptoms and poor play), veteran
defensive end David Irving (soon to return from a playing-time dent
over an unapproved supplement), critical rookie cornerback Chidobe
Awuzie (another poor fella’ who cannot do a darn thing about the
historically horrible hamstring), and, AND the defensive key, Mr.
Sean Lee . . . is like leading defenders to slaughter.
While Justin Durant can step in for Lee and Hitchens to align
Marinelli’s defensive pieces, he – with his equally unpredictable
injury history – is not the temporary lead dog you want playing
chess when faced with such a deficiency mess. Damien Wilson is more
of a role player, and – when defending the pass – the uber-promising
Jaylon Smith currently does not seem to have a prayer.
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- Teams have begun to notice the QB-terrorizing tread marks of
DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence through the first quarter of the year.
Defensive attrition (through both injury and team member mistakes
that cause fan fury) may make it harder for him to continue creating
offensive backfield fear. Tank generated more pressure and collected
another strip-sack, but Tyrone Crawford was unable to smother it
soon enough . . . making their ability to get off the field
unnecessarily tough. 2017 rookie first round draft pick Vidauntae
“Taco” Charlton remains raw . . . as his low-production,
scheme-challenged existence continues to slowly (?) get stuck in
Cowboys Nation’s craw.
If neither Marinelli’s available linebackers nor his front four
rotation can make enough of a dent in a quarterback’s o-line
insulation, it will continue to result on more and greater
devastation on a Cowboys’ secondary that perpetually exists in an
imperfect situation.
Whenever there is a (temporarily) sad story to tell about grid iron
personnel – with (some fantasy-fractured) fans demanding criminal convictions – it is
always good to distinguish between player limitations and scheme
requirements, err, restrictions. Marinelli’s Men operate a few
variations of Monte Kiffin’s meat-and-potatoes “Tampa 2” defense
(similar to a “Cover 2”) from their collective days with the Tampa
Bay. One of the historically common features involves the middle
linebacker dropping back into a deep middle coverage for a “Cover 3”
when facing a pass play.
It is always highly preferable that your middle linebacker actually
be capable of dropping back . . . when daring to allow a typically
larger, slower cover man to (attempt to) thwart a fleet-footed
aerial attack. Sean Lee is that player. Anthony Hitchens is a
slower, smaller, less-capable (but no less gritty) version of that
player. Jaylon Smith – at least as physically imposing and with
comparatively blazing speed – will one day provide a major scare.
While the absence of that capable player filling that key role could
mean opponents enjoying more than their fair share of first-and-goal
. . . Marinelli’s scheme is ultimately about gap-control up front
and a secondary solve of angles, swarming, and
playing the ball. Add in a ball-carrier, and there is just more to
maul.
The defenders who take the right angles in zone coverage – whether
at linebacker, safety, or cornerback – rarely expose themselves to a
pursuit overage. There are Cowboys defenders who are simply superior
at man-to-man and – try as they might – fail in zone coverage to
halt an(y) opponent's flight. Marinelli’s Men – whether rookie or veteran – know
they must do a better job of triangulating and tackling in space . .
. or future opponents – just like the Rams – may continue to score
from anyplace.
Jourdan Lewis (who – in preseason – narrowly escaped his own
hamstring thing) and Awuzie are potentially the Cowboys’ future
defensive wingmen. When frontline defensive deficiencies
increasingly force you to choose between running backs (rushing
between the tackles or catching out in the flat), tight ends (chippin’ off
and sneakin’ out or lumbering down the seam), or wide receivers
(fleet-footed from the flank to the slot) . . . if the wrong angles
are taken, you might as well serve yourself up like bacon in an “all
you can eat” lion’s den.
Even further, if Sean Lee and Anthony Hitchens are available, their
presence makes the brow-beaten Jeff Heath far less assailable.
Cowboys Nation has been overreacting since game one to Heath being
named a starter at safety . . . insisting – before he even started –
that he was done. While Heath is a special teams champ – and while
he ironically has a great nose for the football – he does tend to
miss the triangulate-and-tackle off ramp. Though Heath is not former
retired Cowboy, special teams king, and safety Keith Davis, there is
a method to Marinelli’s madness . . . which may continue to generate
a little fan sadness. The very last thing Marinelli wants to see is
either of his safeties being tormented . . . even the talented but
habitually-shoulder-tackling Byron Jones. Xavier Woods and Kavon
Frazier will get their increased shots and – when ready for more
angles and greater geometry – “In Rod We Trust” will certainly roll
the bones.
Special teams and Marinelli’s Men were far from alone
in delivering performances no one could, should, or would completely
condone. The offense, “The Linehan Clan” demonstrated their own
combination of booboos and busted plays . . . often functioning as
if in a hypnotized haze.
Before the game even began, instead of beaming with pride from a
healthy stride, a hobbled hip prevented Chaz “King Of All Injuries”
Green from building on three consecutive promising starts. Veteran
journeyman Jonathan Cooper stepped in to ensure “The Great Wall Of
Dallas” did not suddenly crumble into a performance stupor.
“Fred(rick) Flintstone And The Blockheads” were good enough to help
deliver a near-200-yard ground gaining day. Ezekiel Elliott had 85
(and 54 more through the air). Alfred "A-Train" Morris a 70-yard
scamper of his own. Dak Prescott is always good for finishing off a
few rollouts or recovering a few broken plays, and even Ryan Switzer
was thrown a one-time bone . . . but it was how the Cowboys
performed through the air that had the ultimate effect on their
play.
Three weeks’ worth of game tape showed opposing defenses that (1)
Dallas’ rebuilt offensive line was still finding the right rhythm,
(2) which affects Dak’s pocket comfort, (3) which places more
pressure on him AND his receivers to (better) gel . . . from planned
to broken plays that result in fans and prognosticators alike
yelling “What the hell?!”
Coach Phillips – as a head coach – may have been “Wade The Fade” . .
. but – when focused exclusively on the defensive side of the ball
(with quality talent ready to maul) – he has regularly used a pretty
sharp blade.
While Jason Witten may have had to remain on the line to provide
(more than usual) blocking support, Phillips’ unit took him away on
all but one passing play. When your star running back has been
somewhat limited and your most reliable receiver has been prevented,
more accurate – not necessarily more creative – solutions must be
invented. All but one of the Cowboys’ receivers caught at least 50%
of their passes in the face of pressure from Rams harassers.
While Dez Bryant caught five of 13 passes for almost 100 yards –
with a long of 36 . . . the eight misses did not look so great. Dez
was facing single coverage from a good-but-not-grand cornerback, and
his inconsistent ability to route away or run away from defenders is
something Dez must try harder to fix.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan beat
this horse to death last week. The perceived mental dampers remain
inconceivable for such a healthy and strong football freak.
Dak may have thrown for three touchdowns and kept some
poorly-executed plays alive . . . but he also had an interception
that was less about gunslinger threading-of-the-needle and more
about a concerning accuracy dive.
Until the offensive line really, truly solidifies into something
(reasonably) close to what it was last year, Dak will continue to
face the growing prospect of making more accurate passes to
receivers who are covered by more aggressive cornerbacks conveying
less fear. While Dez remains a special (head) case, Dak’s other
targets are rather regularly and reliably in place.
If your receivers are reasonably where they need to be and your
embattled pass protection is not facing total rejection and whether
or not you utilize your proven, throw-on-the-run mobility to change
play execution trajectory . . . your passes (and their targets)
deserve better-and-increasing accuracy.
While Scott Linehan is historically not the most
creative of play-callers . . . he would never have to endure
catcalls for desperate reinvention of any playbook parables if he
saw cleaner execution from his pro ballers. By the end of the
Cowboys’ 35-30 home loss to the Rams, it was clear – once again, in
all phases, and from all angles – that improved play execution was
(and IS) the solution.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys are just one game away from their bye week . . .
but they first must host a Green Bay Packers team seemingly far from
reaching their peak.
The Cowboys and Packers have a somewhat lopsided recent history, but
there is no mystery . . . whether Dallas gets to play with
all-hands-on-deck or they assume the part of a critically
undermanned nervous wreck.
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- The concepts for defeating the Packers are the same as last year . .
. when Dallas handily won their regular season matchup and – in the
playoffs – came up just three points short with the game coming down
to the wire, right as time was set to expire.
Some within Cowboys Nation still insist (as with the 2014 playoff
game) the Cowboys should have won. The Tortured Cowboys Fan will
remind all that if fewer penalty calls were missed and fewer players
were absent (Jordy Nelson being a critical one), the same argument
would have been absolutely zero fun.
Fast forward to week five of 2017 and both teams have undergone
personnel changes as they convene upon the AT&T Stadium scene.
The Cowboys – of course – have practically revamped their entire
defense, with their offensive line undergoing some triage, as well.
The current results point to a work in progress as far as anyone
with two eyes can tell.
Dallas has a fantastic opportunity in what is most assuredly the NFL
game of the week . . . to see if – against big, bad Aaron Rodgers –
they can begin a new winning streak.
Dak is determined to continue playing within the system, which is
fine . . . but will he better honor Linehan’s scheme with 2016-like
accuracy when it is time to slam the door, with the game on the
line?
Will Dak’s receivers be ready to fight for their right to make
receptions . . . or will they allow Green Bay defenders to simply
have their way and deploy untimely rejections? Will Dez take
serious, productive umbrage if Green Bay proves to be yet another
team trying to stop him with mere single coverage?
Will Zeke – just like last week – be able to continue
compartmentalizing his off-the-field story . . . to more
successfully rumble over Dom Capers’ defensive unit in a way so
memorably gory?
Will The Great Wall Of Dallas dig deep, force stupid holding
penalties and silly false starts into becoming forgotten arts, and
angrily pass protect and run block until there is “00:00:00” on the
game clock?
Will Marinelli’s Men continue to make one too many stupid mistakes
so habitual . . . and give Rodgers another opportunity to reinforce
his Dallas-defeating-ritual? Or will Marinelli instead see more of
his missing pieces return to the active roster, bringing with them a
hardened mindset and crisper execution to foster?
Even as one, two, three or more players potentially return to work,
promising second year defensive end Charles Tapper broke his right
foot in the last game . . . and he will be lost for 10-12 weeks
following surgery on his fifth metatarsal. Yes, just like Dez, with
a longer recovery period but the procedure will be the very same.
David Irving is expected to take Tapper’s game day roster spot, but
will it prove too early for Irving to deliver a lot?
Will Marinelli – in attempting to cover up defensive line and
linebacker weaknesses – rely on his 3-2-6 dime package more of the
time or mistakenly get too darn cute . . . encouraging Rodgers to expose
his men as destitute?
Will the Cowboys stop playing simple checkers, refine their angles, and graduate to more
strategic chess . . . or will they allow Rodgers and the Packers to
make another cheesy mess? The Cowboys can do it, but will they
display the maturity to pull through it?
We shall see. We always do.
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