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- 2018-2019
Regular Season: Cowboy Up, Giant Letdown, And Away Against The Birds
Of Prey
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This edition of "The Tortured
Cowboys Fan" has also been published by the fine folks at
Sports TalkLine.
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September 20, 2018 At 10:37 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- The scene: AT&T Stadium. The event: Sunday night football. The
Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants were desperate to avoid an 0-2
fall.
Fan anxiety was palpable, even with (some of) the most myopic who
insisted week one’s “Chaos In Carolina” was imminently solvable.
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” – GASP – dared to go back in time to
compare challenges faced by Dak Prescott and Tony Romo, you know,
“That Announcer Guy.” Their trials and tribulations are bridged
together by Cowboys’ offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. He spent
the better part of the last 10 games showcasing a rather rigid plan
that made fans scream “Why? Why?! WHY?!”
Dak Prescott seemed to know what to do, but more flexible (rather
than forced) play-calling was required of Linehan to allow Prescott
(and a greater range of his available athletes) to better help the
Cowboys pull through.
Perhaps Linehan would shock Cowboys Nation in do absolutely all he
could to help Prescott and Co. bring the offensive wood. Maybe
“Marinelli’s Men” would continue their sacktastic play with fans
wanting it no other way. Then, again, Dallas has developed a
horrible habit (that transcends Jason Garrett) of suffering (the
most untimely) mental attrition and lowering themselves to the level
of their crooked competition. Discerning fans, nonetheless, had to
remember that (even with a fabulous plan of attack)
historically-hated division rival New York (struggling to make their
own pieces work) almost always raised their game in “Big D,”
pridefully prepared to take their best, venom-filled whack.
Would “America’s Team” make it happen or would fans spend yet
another week criticizing Captain Clappin’?
Cowboy Up And Giant Letdown
Landon Collins through down the gauntlet prior to the game,
effectively suggesting an all-in focus on Ezekiel Elliott, because
Dak Prescott’s accuracy was woefully out of frame.
As if sparked from the earth-shattering snap of Thanos' dangerous
digits . . . Linehan FINALLY made use of one of Dallas' newest
widgets.
Dak Prescott (from his own 36-yard line and with 13:40 remaining in
the first quarter) faked a handoff to Ezekiel Elliott and went back
to pass, hitting Tavon Austin (practically) in stride at the Giants'
27-yard line, and watched as the misunderstood mighty mite outran
two G-Men all the way to the end zone. Dak and Tavon threw the fans
a huge bone and resoundingly set the table to establish order. A
64-yard strike (37-yard pass plus 27 more YAC) left New York feeling
like Dallas stole their piñata stick and firmly applied the whack.
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- Dak to Austin for the swift scoring smack to put Dallas up seven
to zero . . . with Linehan as an aggressive play-calling hero?! Dak
and Linehan would partner on a number of successful RPO keepers that
made several G-Men look like groggy sleepers. The Cowboys had
awakened from their offensive slumber and – more often than not –
they had the Giants’ number.
Tavon Austin - later in the same period - would also dazzle on a
deeply-curved reverse that reminded everyone of his role flexibility
in ways so myriad.
While rookie offensive guard Connor Williams had to face Damon
"Snacks" Harrison, he did an admirable job, receiving help through a
team up double to keep him out of one-on-one trouble.
Ezekiel Elliott had another workman-like day. He and the
still-undermanned "Great Wall Of Dallas" needed to grind it out on
nearly every play. Zeke showed patience (with slowly-developing
running lanes) when necessary to get what he could out of every
carry. Late in the game when the o-line would normally enforce its
will, Zeke broke free for only the second time on the night, scoring
a difference-making touchdown that - for the Giants – ultimately
proved a bitter, game-deciding pill.
Dak would do an excellent job of not singing that same old song . .
. about holding onto the ball too long. He masterfully threw the
ball away to avoid giving up sack yardage and gave his team a chance
to try again on the next play.
Dak almost suffered a mind-numbing interception by Giants'
linebacker Connor Barwin (whom Prescott clearly did not see). Barwin
had plenty of anticipation and (if not for his diabolically
defensive hands) might have had an easy pick six to sour a
still-anxious Cowboys Nation. It felt so eerily familiar, so
nearly-similar of the interception Dak through into the waiting arms
of Green Bay's route-jumping Micah Hyde during their 2016 divisional
playoff game (yes, yes, yes, with an ending so lame).
Dak (with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter) offered up another
anxious moment . . . by completely overthrowing a wide-open Rico
Gathers, the Cowboys' newest game day offensive component. Giants'
linebacker B.J. Goodson slipped, leaving cornerback Curtis Riley in
single coverage against a raw tight end with an incredible height
overage. Prescott appeared to go all back foot, and the seemingly
easy opportunity went kaput.
Even Brett Maher would (finally) get in on the action with two field
goals and an extra point to prove he could, indeed, gain some
kicking game traction.
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- “Marinelli’s Men” would make good use of the A-gap multiple
times . . . forcing the Giants to pick their pass-rushing poison and
suffer six of the Cowboys’ sack-stacking crimes. Kavon Frazier would
make good use of body control in withstanding the block (so
half-assed) of Giants’ fullback Shane Smith (so outclassed) while
remaining upright enough for one of those sacks of an Eli Manning
whose night was rough.
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- Damien "Stick Man" Wilson made up for an underwhelming game one
with a number of textbook tackles (including a strip-sack) for some
game two fun.
The other four "Manning Mashers" were delivered by Taco "Supreme"
Charlton, DeMarcus "Tank" Lawrence, Antwaun "Babe In The" Woods, and
Tyrone "Cinderella Man" Crawford. The “Hot Boyz” are getting rather
forward.
Chidobe Awuzie and Byron Jones – with rare exception – took
successful turns making sure that Marinelli's Men did not suffer any
really painful Odell Beckham Jr. burns.
Distinct Killer Instinct
While the Cowboys offense started fast, discerning fans knew the
history of the Dallas vs New York rivalry. After a blazing first
quarter, the offense (for the remainder) showed intermittent signs
of RPO life that were not meant to last. Fans were familiar with the
regress and could only hope it was something the Cowboys could
address. After all, your chances of winning diminish when you
demonstrate an inability to finish. Even with Dallas’ defensive dogs
set so aggressively loose for Manning abuse, it has been decades
since Dallas fully flashed a distinct killer instinct against
opponents so outcoached, so outplayed, so smashed.
When Manning completed a deep out to Giants’ receiver Cody Latimer -
with nine minutes left in the third quarter - Cowboys Nation said a
collective "Typical. This is when the Giants start their late game
march to settle the score." A bit later in the same drive and from
the Dallas 21, Manning found Barkley – on yet another outlet pass –
who would tiptoe and spin down the sideline with some Saquon sass.
The score was merely 13-0 and with the Giants perhaps getting hot,
no sane fan forgot.
While Jaylon Smith spent most of the game demonstrating his scary
closing speed in his sideline to sideline pursuit of Giants’ rookie
running back Saquon Barkley . . . he practically got in on the
QB-crushing fun (on third down at the Dallas 10) by smashing a
suddenly mobile Manning so darkly. The Giants would settle for a
field goal, but there were signs (with over 19 minutes remaining)
they just might find a(n NFC East) way to climb out of their 13-3
hole.
Dak (to Dallas fans’ delight) would do everything he could to make
sure a Cowboys victory was understood, with surgical strikes to
Deonte Thompson, Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Zeke, Michael Gallup,
and even (gasp) Terrance Williams (who proved even the bottom of the
depth chart can still play a part). Untimely penalties by La’el
Collins and Geoff Swaim would certainly be remembered if there was a
negative result at the end of the game.
During both the Giants’ successful opportunities to go for it on
fourth down, the Cowboys allowed a gaping hole up the middle, as
they were perhaps more concerned with Barkley reaching the edge or
Manning suddenly airing it out and potentially playing them like a
prevent defense fiddle.
With the Cowboys up 20-3 and the Giants on a late drive with under
two minutes remaining in the game, Jeff Heath appeared to blow his
down-the-seam coverage (after rookie Layton Vander Esch seemed to be
furiously calling attention to a pre-snap gap), allowing the Giants’
Evan Engram to catch a Manning pass to shrink the lead to 20-10.
Evan Engram (against a poor-tackling team) can be a nightmare.
Dallas defenders (on almost all but this play) triangles and tackled
solidly to show how much they care.
The fans knew better and held their breath as the Giants recovered a
horribly handled onside attempt that left Cowboys Nation feeling
unbelievably verklempt. Go figure it was Blake Jarwin – one of the
Cowboys’ underwhelming choices at tight end (and part of their
“(good?) hands” team) – who failed to gather it in. And for their
small handful of noteworthy mistakes, the Cowboys made their own
(quality) breaks.
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- The Giants went down the field and – after being unable to
quick-strike their way into the end zone – settled for a field goal,
making the score 20-13, and taking the end of the game so
dangerously close to the bone. One more onside kick failed to
provoke the desired result, with Dallas evading a final blue jolt.
The remaining time Dak and Co. would successfully bleed, and Dallas
would pair a 20-13 victory with a share of the NFC East division
lead.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
Constant churn is fine as long as you have salary cap space to burn.
While it is possible for the Cowboys to add Brice (The) Butler (Did
It) to the roster without cutting any of their existing receivers,
the desire to offload Terrance "Invasion Of The Body Catchers"
Williams may finally prove too great.
Butler has always had big play potential, hauling in 43 passes for
almost 800 yards (at an average of nearly 20 yards per reception)
during his three-year run with Dallas. If, IF he returns, perhaps he
will be even more determined to drive out nagging inconsistencies
through the Cowboys’ latest chase of another Super Bowl chalice.
Randy Gregory may have been cleared to play (following a concussion
against Carolina), he would ultimately remain seated on the day.
Still no word from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on whether or not
his preseason disappearing act will prevent him from getting
untracked.
Just when fans thought “Oh no! Sean Lee is hurt AGAIN?!” he claimed,
simply, to be out of the game with cramps (and a “nominal” hamstring
injury). “Pickle juice, anyone? Pickle juice?” – Andy Reid. Still,
it gave Layton Vander Esch some valuable snaps versus
clipboard-holding naps.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins sustained a sprained knee, and an
MRI should help determine whether he will be playing in week 3.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys head to Seattle for a birds of prey battle.
While Seahawks star safety Earl “Come Get Me” Thomas is a player
they still clearly covet, will Dallas be silly enough to expect him
to play with an attitude like “(Seattle) take this job and shove
it?” Thomas – if anything – will be playing like someone’s done him
wrong and a look like “(Dallas) What’s taking you so long?”
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- Will Marinelli’s Men be facing a Seattle offensive line that was
mauled by the Bears . . . or will the Seahawks – riding an always
“DangeRuss” Wilson – dig down deep to give the super-confident “Hot
Boyz” some humbling scares? Will insight from Kris Richard be key
towards the Cowboys winning their latest fight?
Will Dak and Linehan be able to replicate their lively week 2, so
fresh and new? Will what is left of the Seahawks’ once-dominating
defense (and more specifically the Legion of Boom) glide on immense
personal pride and prevent a second-consecutive Dallas victory from
coming through?
We shall see. We always do.
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