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- 2019-2020 Regular Season:
Cowboys Lose Their Undefeated Spark At The One Quarter Mark
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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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October 5,
2019 At 11:57 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “America’s Team” seemingly
had a full head of steam heading into their nationally-televised
Sunday night game with a certain New Orleans team. According to
“Cowboys Nation” and plenty of prognosticator infatuation, the
Dallas Cowboys – for at least one more week – were expected to
extend their winning streak and hold onto their undefeated theme.
While the Drew Brees-less Saints were surprisingly dominant against
Seattle, continuing to pair Teddy Bridgewater (comparatively
limited) with Sean Payton’s creative genius (temporarily inhibited?)
surely suggested they would struggle against “Marinelli’s Men” in
battle.
Though the Cowboys were walking tall and ready to play ball, they
were shorthanded, as well. Receiver Michael Gallup was still
recovering from a repair to his meniscus tear, defensive tackle
Tyrone Crawford was still recovering from painful hip bursitis
(similar to but not quite arthritis), and defensive tackle Antwaun
Woods was still recovering from a sprained MCL.
Regardless, both organizations prescribe to the “Next Man Up” belief
that (magically) whisks away most (but not all) depth-driven grief.
As “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” has often stated: “Your best ability
is your availability, and this game will be won or lost by coaches
who take those available (from starters to practice squad martyrs)
and apply maximum scheme flexibility.” Coaches will either put their
players in position to succeed or be caretakers to a strangled
scheme bleed. Save for that moment when rare talent can demolish
slow-drying play-call cement, these facts simply cannot be debated.
“But what you’re talking about is unrealistic perfection!” you
shout. The alternative to pushing the situationally-practiced (?)
envelope is a slow-growing mental infection (which – in Dallas’
not-so-recent past – became an offensive affliction). A coach
unprepared to max out (in every reasonable way no matter the day) is
a player-suffocating lout. You never waste an opportunity to extend
your lead over your closest division competitor . . . especially
when facing an (always sudden) increase in untimely injury weather.
You never dismiss a chance to solve potential postseason tiebreakers
even if you believe your division and conference-level opponents are
patchwork fakers. And – currently, most applicably – you never leave
an enemy stronghold intact when there is ANY chance that part or all
of your slowly-developing offense fails to more quickly get
untracked.
“But why just blame coaches when there were also errors by the
players?!” you blurt. While Dallas’ head coach and offensive
play-caller may not be the only people abruptly in need of fresh
air, yanking off the bandwagon bandage may cause the myopic among
Cowboys Nation to really hurt.
The Cowboys lost to the New Orleans Saints 12-10, because
marathon-minded Dallas (no matter what Jason Garrett claims or tells
his players to parrot) did not have enough respect for General
Patton’s, err, Payton’s shorthanded men. They believed they could
stick with what worked in the past, but their mistakes ruined their
ability to outlast. While Marinelli’s Men made a pretty-stifling,
plenty-exhausting game-long stand, Kellen Moore’s offense suffered
another slow start so bland with play-calls suddenly-but-familiarly
obtuse, and (with the exception of only a handful of series) they
played not to lose.
But . . . what if this approach was all just a sick and twisted
ruse?
Conspiracy At Least In Theory
Jason Garrett – last season – (allegedly) chose continuing with
Scott Linehan over potentially having a better, more-collaborative,
less-predictable offensive game plan. While Garrett chose not to
remove some of the shrink wrap from Linehan-disciple and then-QB
coach Kellen Moore, “sources” hinted that loyalty to his mentor was
Garrett’s core reason. Perhaps if you ask Cowboys Nation, placing
loyalty to one tired man (not named Tom Landry) over even the
(remote) possibility of greater success for an entire organization
sounds a lot like treason.
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Following Dallas’ deeper run in the playoffs that did not quite
achieve the desired payoffs, Garrett defiantly announced he and his
teacher would continue going steady, but Linehan was quickly
escorted out after a brief word from Principal Jerry. And what
happened after a full offseason (of OTA’s, training camp, and
preseason) and three highly-successful regular season contests in
which everyone in the Cowboys’ organization and numerous talking
heads in and around NFL circles declared 2K (Kellen and Kitna) the
perfect pairing to pump more air into Prescott’s attack? Garrett
(allegedly) overrode at least part of Moore’s plan for Dak in the
Big Easy, assumed a falsely-shallow moat, failed to force Ezekiel
Elliott down the Saints’ collective throat, and made fans avoidably
queasy.
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If this is at all true (that conservative Garrett could not bear it
and saw no better, less-stuffed recourse to pursue in a
still-winnable game), what an unnecessary shame. Though only one
sack (on the game’s final series) was allowed by Dak, even couch
cushion coaches understood that “The Great Wall Of Dallas” (after
going all-ground-game-in to drown the ‘Fins) struggled against the
Saints’ much-improved defensive front, generating no more than a
45-yard grunt.
And with not a single hint of “the sky is falling” in regressive
play-calling, resulting in no real push to produce more than
run-game mush, surely there was something “someone” could do to give
the Cowboys an offensive kick in the tush? YES, by the fumble bug
both Zeke and Jason Witten were horrifyingly bitten. YES, an
injury-impacted Amari Cooper was (inconceivably?) penalized for
multiple pass interference calls which helped trigger offensive
stalls. YES, the normally-reliable Randall Cobb twice “appeared” to
become a pass-catching slob (though the finger tips end zone miss
was far from a well-targeted lob and he deserves just a bit less
sass for missing another Prescott behind-the-back pass).
“Don’t say it! Don’t you say his name! My GAWD! Just stop setting
your sights on Dak Prescott’s game!” you insist (not wanting to see
the on-field leader of the Dallas Cowboys unfairly dissed). Dak
Prescott is the most important player on the Cowboys’ roster . . .
especially whenever play-calling and run-blocking have combined to
become a (temporary?) game day imposter.
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While Dak’s performance against the Saints was not bad, a
difference-making, team-raising experience could have (and should
have?) been had. THIS is the quarterback curse, for better or worse.
After three aerially-encouraging games, did a combination of
Cowboys’ conceit, Saints’ defensive improvements, terrible plays by
teammates, familiarly-flat play-calls, and, AND one player’s
unwillingness (to push the boundaries of what is possible) allow
Dallas’ winning streak to go up in flames?
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“You’ve got some guts in the face of an unforgiving Cowboys Nation,
or you’re completely nuts and need a permanent vacation.” – you
approximate (against even the suggestion that Prescott might have
been able and empowered to more successfully control the Cowboys’
game day fate).
Dak – since day one – has shown a willingness to do whatever is
asked of him to get ‘er done. It is for what his coaches explicitly
do not ask that perhaps Prescott should be taken to task. When a
play-call or in-progress designed play is about to turn to crap, a
quarterback, “the unquestioned leader of men,” has a choice every
now and then to salvage the situation and personally, bravely bridge
the gap. No, no, not quite like “That Announcer Guy,” but it is both
acceptable and often, situationally necessary to follow your gut or
instinct and make a play on the fly.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’ve made this
wish list observation
before, but there is no play in which Dak would ever force his way,
or risk the chance that his new, market-setting contract goes right out the
door!” – you chuckle (against a reality that may eventually buckle).
In the same vein of Garrett choosing Linehan over an improved
opportunity to win more and sooner, would Prescott really choose to
exactly and repeatedly do what he is told (even if “situational
awareness” practically screamed for him to be uncommonly bold) . . .
all to ensure that contract-offering Jerry remains completely sold?
Logic (?) dictates the long-suffering and Super Bowl-starved among
Cowboys Nation would go absolutely lunar.
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Perhaps – to explain it in a different way (for those fans who are
much harder to sway) – Dak and Co. until this year, leaned heavily
on YAC (Yards After Catch) allowing both Prescott and his coaches
(whenever uncomfortable) to blow the short game hatch rather than
use more deep passes to steer. YAC, however and after all, does have
another meaning just as redeeming. YAC (You Also Can) – if embraced
by everyone – fulfills an entire game plan. And there is irony in
going with full-blooded YAC against a Saints defense that seemed
willing to allow opportunities through a short-pass (and occasional
RPO) attack. Those same dink-and-dunk yards (in such a low-scoring
contest and for which Dak previously received such brutal protest)
were certainly there to be collected rather than seemingly rejected
(in favor of watching Zeke run into a French Quarter wall which, in
part, led to the Cowboys’ fall).
But what the heck does The Tortured Cowboys Fan know? This is all
just the stuff of conspiracy, at least in theory. There you go.
Will They Or Won’t They?
America’s Team and the Green Bay Packers face off once again at AT&T
Stadium this Sunday, and if the Cowboys do not have their
aggressive-minded heads on straight, there could be an early
“mayday, mayday, mayday.” There is little room for debate.
“Dude! Are you still stung by ONE loss to the Saints?!” – you
incredulously inquire. The Cowboys – under Garrett – have never
demonstrated a consistent, snap-the-neck, killer instinct (really
since the last time “That Announcer Guy” and Dez Bryant synched),
and their continued inability to do so (particularly against wounded
opponents) may one day prove dire.
It is not IF you lose but HOW you lose, and unless the
suddenly-resurgent “Hot Boyz” receive some regular and reliable
offensive assistance, a still-deadly Aaron Rodgers may be only too
happy to hammer home the abuse. Dazzling Green Bay receiver Davante
Adams may have been lost to turf toe, but that has never stopped
Rodgers from finding another direction in which to go. Packers’
right offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga may have a sore shoulder, but
that has never stopped the highly-mobile Rodgers from going
extend-the-play bolder.
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“But the Packers have one of the WORST run defenses in the league!”
you ignorantly squeal (as if a win against Green Bay is a done deal)
with a strong scent of bandwagon fatigue. Yes, of course, the
Cowboys have the “Banged Up Wall Of Dallas” with Zeke (as a result)
appearing to be at less than his peak, and Marc Colombo’s crew
should be in the mood to be downright rude. “Garrett’s Gang,”
however, has displayed an infrequently nasty habit of lowering
themselves to the (dangerously assumed) level of their undermanned
foes, and Rodgers is eager to see that their “limited urgency”
problem only grows.
SEE Exhibit A – the first half against Miami’s skeleton team in week
3 where the Cowboys were oddly unable to have their way. SEE Exhibit
B – week 4 against the Saints where Dallas simply could not
opportunistically seize on the absence of Drew Brees towards
victory. It simply does not matter if the Packers’ defense has been
mentally dense or from (brutally-timed) injuries remains
on-the-mend. Dallas (in mimicking Garrett’s steady-as-we-go
mentality and outlast methodology) may still find themselves on the
losing end if away from this traumatic tradition they cannot bend.
Tyron Smith is understandably out for at least a week to deal with
an ankle that aims to rankle. It appears that La’el Collins caught
Zack Martin’s “bad back disease,” but they both seem determined to
go against a defense they hope can be swatted like fleas. Tyrone
Crawford may be returning from bursitis in both hips, but he will
most-likely still be playing through discomfort to help Dallas right
the ship. Antwaun Woods has got the defensive goods, and fans hope
his knee truly is recovered, but his healthy presence in the middle
helps ensure Marinelli’s Men are rarely ground-game-smothered.
With Michael Gallup’s (completely?) healthy return, will the Packers
be able to roll out enough secondary depth to control his burn? Will
Gallup rejoining Cooper and Cobb create an impossible coverage job?
Will the Dak Pack (Prescott, Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Witten, and Zeke)
with reasonable time and open running lanes be (once again) sublime
and cause Green Bay’s defense considerable pains? Against a defense
so (allegedly) frail, will Dallas even glance past "taking what the
defense gives you” and really let the offense set sail? Will
neglected Blake Jarwin receive more chances to become a touchdown
darlin’?
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While Kavon Frazier has been lost to season-ending injured reserve,
will exciting rookie safety Donovan Wilson be ready to show more of
his preseason interception nerve?
Will DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence and Robert “The Mighty” Quinn be able
to take full advantage of Crawford and Woods’ front-line-filling
availability with significant sacks, again and again? Will Leighton
“The Wolf Hunter” Vander Esch, Jaylon “Smooth” Smith, and Sean “The
General” Lee also gain more freedom and add more space to improve
the QB and running back chase?
Will Rodgers trick the Hot Boyz with hard counts, or will they (and
Tank Lawrence in particular) wait patiently at any and every chance
to trounce? Will Marinelli’s Men go the full 60 minutes or allow
Rodgers to (once again) make them into last second dimwits?
Will Dallas (at every position and with every assignment) purposely
put on a performance that overcomes poor play-call alignment? Will
Dallas be deeply driven to turn the Packers into competitive
slackers?
Will the Cowboys regain their winning spark on the way towards their
season’s second quarter mark?
We shall see. We always do.
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