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2020-2021 Regular Season:
Cowboys Continue Their Losing Theme Against That Washington Team And
Head To Philly . . . To Look Even More Silly?
October 30,
2020 At 10:13 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “That Washington Team is worse at
practically everything,” they said (knowing the performance of
“America’s Team” – until that point – did equally sting).
“That Washington Team is so disconnected from their own storied
past, even their hatred of their NFC East opponents is in question,”
they said (knowing the Dallas Cowboys’ own consistent lack of hear
gave “Cowboys Nation” plenty of indigestion).
And once the contest in Landover, Maryland began? The Cowboys –
still seemingly seeing stars (courtesy of being
crushed by the
Cardinals) – were all but in the can.
After allowing "That Washington Team" to rumble – through
the
Cowboys’ own tackle free zone – down the field (including a
single-play, 40-yard rushing yield), Nolan's crew stiffened inside
their own five to bring a merciful end to the game's opening drive.
A sure touchdown pass to the front left corner of the end zone was
(found by replay to be) inches short of being true. Washington
quarterback Kyle Allen attempted a sneak and dropped the rock on
4th-and-2. The Cowboys (miraculously) recovered but – through
another diabolical dose of league-wide injury “luck” and a
never-ending list of now-typical mistakes – would spend the rest of
the game being (self?) smothered. Talk about making your own breaks!
Short Shots And Hot Spots
The Cowboys lost to That (suddenly less-hapless) Washington Team
25-3 (with understandably little to see in terms of positivity).
Washington quarterback Kyle Allen (on 2nd-and-6 from his own 49 with
about five minutes remaining in the first quarter) would take the
snap back to pass and find his tight end Logan Thomas. Second-year
Dallas safety Donovan Wilson sprinted across the field (like Hall of
Famer and former San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott once did –
against the Los Angeles Rams – to break up a pass from Dieter Brock
to Flipper Anderson?) to show why he may, indeed, still have
nose-for-the-ball, triangulating promise.
Backup running back Tony Pollard delivered a wonderful,
jitterbug-like 67-yard kickoff return that the Cowboys' offense
would – of course – go on to waste and burn.
Veteran defensive end Everson Griffen would collect his 72nd career
sack (on an around the corner chase down that made the unremarkable
Allen resemble a snack). His total of 2.5 on the season made him
increasingly hard to believe in, and he would soon after
be asked to
pack.
Two consecutive weeks have resulted in Cowboys’ quarterback Andy
Dalton suffering a strip-sack. This time, Schultz whiffed on his
blocking assignment, ensuring Dalton and the football were
no longer
in alignment. Schultz – ironically (and to his guilt-ridden credit)
– recovered the fumble in the end zone and soon found himself far
from alone, unable to perform an escapist edit. “Two points to the
team in red!” as Cowboys Nation was filled with dread. While Schultz
completely blew it, discerning fans who knew it might also agree that Dalton
(who clearly saw the backside heat) should have braced for impact
when his much-slower legs could not compete.
Dalton (on 3rd-and-5 from the Washington 49 with about 11 minutes
remaining in the second quarter) would take the shotgun snap, see
his pocket quickly collapse, and take off running for the first
down, ending with a just-short dive. He narrowly escaped a t-boning
defender, but this would foreshadow a later-game blender.
Donovan Wilson would deliver another big hit (against tight end
Logan Thomas), this time successfully jarring the catch (on a
two-point conversion attempt) in the back of the end zone. It would
appear the Cowboys – YES, Yes, yes, with a larger, more successful
sample size as the season progresses – may, MAY have found someone
who can set for the secondary a more physical tone (or possibly help
limit more of their coverage messes).
Kyle Allen (on 3rd-and-1 from the Cowboys' nine with over three
minutes to go in the second quarter) went back to pass, faked to his
running back, and found (who else but) Logan Thomas sneaking away
(by design) from his blocking assignment (going from right to left).
Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith (in trying to decide if he wanted to
tackle or intercept) went for the shoulder, dropped like a boulder,
and looked inept with the mental heft. Defensive coordinator Mike
Nolan’s scheme notwithstanding (and his unit’s routine inability to
stick the landing), the previous week’s return of Leighton Vander Esch – and, in turn, the reappearance of “Van Jaylon” – will take
some time to mesh . . . “or, Or, OR” may never again help Smith’s
coverage blunders go from stale to fresh.
Dalton (with but 39 seconds remaining in the first half and the
Cowboys driving from the Washington 12) took the shotgun snap, threw
slightly high and behind Zeke. It would glance off his hands and be
intercepted by Washington at the five, putting an end to a potential
scoring drive. Yup, pretty weak.
Speaking of Ezekiel Elliott, while he only managed 45 yards on 12
carries, the continued passing game struggles (with protection
provided by a bunch of Pro-Bowl-less muggles) means rushing results
(consistently against a fearless “9+ in the box”) will continue to
vary. The Cowboys were – of course – already without the services of
La’el Collins, Tyron Smith, and Joe Looney, but with Zack Martin
still in concussion protocol, “The Below Average Wall Of Dallas” may
be the name of the game for the remaining 2020 haul.
DeMarcus Lawrence got a sack which – against Washington's offensive
line – should have been one of multiple, successful attacks. But
Washington – much like the other member teams of the NFC Least –
always find a way to get up for America's Team. So fans get to wait
yet another week to see if it is, indeed, Tank’s knee or a
pay-day-weakened constitution or improved competition that is
preventing the Cowboys’ “War Daddy” (so named by GM Jerry) from
gaining sack-stacking steam.
Dalton would take the shotgun snap from his own three-yard line on
3rd-and-10 (with just over 6:30 remaining in the third quarter) and
– with his pocket collapsing – he scrambled for the first down and a
brutal hit (by Washington linebacker Jon Bostic) left fans
gasping.
The cataclysmic collision caused Dalton's helmet to fly off, and he
was so concussed that he was barely moving. While Bostic was
immediately ejected from the game, the official’s decision was
hardly soothing. Perhaps one or more of Dalton's teammates (due to
their slow reaction time being the ultimate crime) deserved the
same.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (upon further film review) was
momentarily the closest teammate on the scene, but he appeared so
stunned that – towards Bostic – he would have been ill-prepared
to
become mean. All five of Andy’s offensive linemen closed ranks a
second later, “but, But, BUT” – even in this day and age of brand
first instead of blood thirst – it was disheartening that among them
there was not. One. Single. Hater. The good old days of
righteously
and ROUGHLY rallying to the defense of one’s teammate are, indeed,
fading from the NFL landscape. Then, again, ever since George Teague
“physically removed” Terrell Owens from Texas Stadium’s midfield
star, there have been comparatively-few Dallas Cowboys (over the
last 17 years) interested in getting into an honor-defending scrape.
Nonetheless, after Andy Dalton had the living daylights blasted out
of him, rookie seventh-round draft pick and backup QB Ben DiNucci
stepped in with an outlook understandably dim. He took the shotgun
snap on 2nd-and-19 from just short of his own 15 (with just under
six minutes remaining in the third quarter), displayed a lil' Tony
Romo shoulder shake and bake, and found Amari Cooper down the right
sideline for a 32-yard completion (the first of young DiNucci's pro
football career). Following that moment of majesty, there were just
more fits and starts away from which the young pup could not steer.
Good Quote Or Garbage Bloat?
"Well, in my opinion, and that's all it is, is my opinion, they got
too many me-first players and not enough team-first players. When I
played with Gil (Brandt) and coach (Tom) Landry, there was a huge
emphasis placed on effort. And they would talk to your coaches in
college. They'd find out what your background was, what kind of
family do you come from. Stuff like that. Put a lot of emphasis on
the Wonderlic test. And so a lot of the intangibles were addressed,
and I'm not saying they're not being addressed now, but I think in
the recent past, the Cowboys have just not had enough of that type
of mentality, that mental toughness that went with guys like Leroy
Jordan and Jethro Pugh and Larry Cole and . . . guys that
REFUSE TO LOSE, and that's all that mattered to them. And if we
DID lose, it
was not any fun on the plane ride back from the game, or that whole
week in practice, because we just didn't believe we were supposed to
lose. And there just AREN'T ENOUGH of those kinds of players. And
you're seeing the Cowboys make some moves now that I applaud and
think should have been made probably weeks ago to get those guys
that are me-first players out of the locker room. Because that
becomes a cancer." – Super Bowl winner, Pro Bowler, and former,
long-time Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Danny White 105.3 FM
The Fan (remarking on the current players’ lack of focus and
team-first fight, as the Dallas Cowboys clumsily try to get it
right).
Where Is The Fight To Make It Right?
The intentional (?) and timely irony of White’s interview involves
his core association with the requisite level of emotion and heart
that was displayed by him and his fellow Dallas Cowboys during a
24-20 loss at RFK Stadium to the then-Washington Redskins in
December of 1987. Compared to the modern-day Cowboys (and at the end
of an embarrassing, strike-shortened season that was none-too-pleasin’),
Danny White and Co. turned it to eleven. After 20 winning seasons –
20 CONSECUTIVE WINNING SEASONS – the Cowboys were three games from
concluding their second consecutive losing year in which it was
admittedly hard to steer.
“We’re struggling as an organization. As a result, the players are
suffering. The ENTIRE CIRCUMSTANCE surrounding the whole
organization is negative. [It’s] tough for players to really give
their best.” – Danny White (as anyone with a modicum of pride would
have confessed).
The Redskins had already won the NFC East and had “nothing more to
gain” than home field advantage to sidestep “some” postseason travel
pain. Today’s NFL – with increasingly-rare exception – regularly
sees playoff-bound teams rest at least some of their best as soon as
it is feasible, provoking some (but not all) fans to moan “Oh,
[BLEEPING] swell!” Outside of late-season injury fears (or fantasy
team failure due to a remaining regular season spoiler acting like Vlad The Impaler), an increasing number of fans have been
conditioned to view any, ANY games being treated as
easily-sacrificial or throw-away as not so unreasonable.
THE MOMENT (when the Rhinestone, err, Dallas Cowboys refused, REFUSED
to ration their integrity and passion) followed White’s
five-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Rod Barksdale with just
under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter . . . and things
got “a little” out of order.
Washington linebacker Neal Olkewicz suddenly knocked over Dallas
offensive lineman Kevin “Big Nasty” Gogan, who went after Washington
defensive end Dexter Manley after Washington’s “Secretary Of
Defense” tore the helmet off of Dallas offensive lineman Daryle
Smith. While Smith had done quite well against Manley, defending an
undrafted free agent rookie in the year of the “scab” was seemingly
a myth. Danny White then got a running start
to knock Olkewicz to
the ground, triggering other teammates from both teams to
aggressively gather ‘round.
“I thought [Olkewicz’s hit on Gogan] was a cheap shot. I thought I
was the only one who saw it, and I felt obligated to help him.” –
Danny White (who – no matter the seemingly inevitable loss with time
still remaining – upped the ante and joined the fight, which, back
in the day, required no explaining).
YES, Yes, yes, today’s NFL has become far more about
measuring game
day passion against penalties, ejections, fines, and suspensions by
which a far less flexible, brand-conscious league will not hesitate
to keep players’ baser instincts from clashin’. If not for the
ever-present and ongoing threat of (at least) healthcare-related
work stoppages and litigation, the NFL (which used to be known for
extinction-level collisions) would eagerly place their “player
safety” rules on permanent vacation. The equally-money-minded
players have their own off-the-field backers who maintain their own
behavioral trackers.
 -
- At the end of the day, however, NONE OF THAT stops a player or a
team from personally choosing to buy into the “Art Of Heart” theme.
Especially if a few (or growing number of?) anonymous players are
(inconceivably still, STILL) looking for a better way to put their
anger on display than game day expression in the face of so much
“poor preparation and teaching regression.” There is still room in
today’s NFL to display the fight – the HEART – to make it right.
Try To Fleece, Face Your Release
The willing-but-disappointing Everson Griffen was traded Wednesday
to the Detroit Lions for a conditional 6th round pick that – based
upon performance – could be upgraded to a 5th round choice in the
2021 NFL draft. The offseason signing and recent release of nose
tackle Dontari “Large But Not In Charge” Poe and cornerback Daryl
“Trying Hardly” Worley can be viewed far more as demonstratively
daft.
Poe’s five-game history with America’s Team will memorialize him as
the only Cowboys player to kneel during the national anthem . . .
but was otherwise a playing time phantom. He would – on any given
play – run a few steps and allow (clearly) poor conditioning to
have
its way. (Diminished?) Skill and (hampered?) heart can sometimes be
harder to judge when covered in pudge, although the Cowboys perhaps
also (inconceivably) CHOSE not to lovingly or forcibly nudge.
Worley’s own brief period in Dallas was marred not by lousy physical
fitness but by deficient decisions both coaches and teammates would
repeatedly witness. Daryl has shown skill in the past – with the
Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders – but he clearly needs a coach
he respects (even when that coach has him on blast). It was also
anonymously (?) suggested that Worley suffered from a case of
thinking he was one of the Guardians of the Galaxy. "I like your
plan. Except, it sucks. So, let me do the plan and, that way, it
might be really good." – Star Lord to Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man).
Then, again, how harmful is freelancing within a “professional
football” defensive scheme that has been viewed more often through seven games
as
a complete fallacy?
“You make mistakes. You move on. We’re moving on, but by no means
are we giving up.” – GM Jerry (conveniently sidestepping the fact
that – regardless of which players remain or are acquired by
Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline – the current coaching, scheme,
attitude, and effort are collectively anything but fine).
Besides whiffin’ on Poe, Worley, and (to a lesser degree) Griffen,
the Cowboys also made another teeny, tiny trade that (right on cue)
left some trade-deadline-focused members of Cowboys Nation thus far
feeling as if they have been played. Dallas effectively flipped the
pick they received from Detroit for Griffen to the Houston Texans
for reserve defensive tackle Eli Ankou (with the faint,
nothing-to-lose hope that the middle of their defensive line he will
help stiffen).
Misery Loves Injury
Andy Dalton – as if it were ever in question – will not be back this
week for his own protection.
Defensive end Randy Gregory made his long-awaited,
perpetually-conditional return to the field and – as was reasonably
expected – he had ZERO impact and his opposing quarterback pursuit
was routinely rejected. When your teammates are trying to tell
ANYONE who will listen that – in practice – a returning player is
practically unstoppable and has that fresh-and-ready glisten . . .
the listeners should acknowledge that those teammates are on a
perfectly-understandable, confidence-pumping mission.-
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Linebacker Sean Lee makes his 2020 regular season debut after
recovery from sports hernia surgery (followed by two weeks of
practice without any noticeable tweaks) became true.
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie remains unready to return, so practice
squad practitioner Saivion Smith has been elevated to perhaps
receive his own “dose” of secondary burn.
Guard Zack Martin returns from his Arizona game, teammate-inflicted
concussion. His presence means EVERYTHING to a shell of an offensive
line that needs maximum help to get Ezekiel Elliott productively mushin’.
Offensive line swingman Joe Looney also returns for rotational
support unless 2020 fourth-round pick and rookie center Tyler Biadasz suddenly
fails to cavort.
Punter Chris Jones has perhaps a nagging abdominal strain, which
would explain why the Cowboys signed free agent Hunter Niswander –
formerly of the XFL D.C. Defenders – to minimize potential punting
pain. The 6’5”, 230 lb. Niswander – with skill in both punting and
kicking – is a Swiss Army knife possibly capable of helping Dallas
fend off unplanned special teams strife.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys are on the second leg of an always-critical NFC
East division trip and – with another loss (this time against the
host Philadelphia Eagles) – their plans of a magical recovery (from
barely alive at 2-5) towards a return to the postseason so lovely
will surely undergo a treacherous trim, a self-destructive snip.
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“What else can be said? The Cowboys are all but DEAD!”
everyone in
and around NFL circles has said.
“Even against the similarly beaten up birds, even with Carson
Wentz’s occasional propensity to throw unprovoked turds, Mike
Nolan’s defensive unit should be prepared to once again be savagely
bled.” everyone in and around NFL circles has said.
“Against Ben DiNucci – third-stringer-turned-starter – could going
up against aggressive defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz be any,
ANY
harder?! Will the turf at least be soft when Eagles defensive tackle
Fletcher Cox tries to put him to bed?” everyone in and around NFL
circles has said.
Will the underperforming, underwhelming, and (always, ALWAYS?)
overhyped America’s Team find a ridiculous way to save the day, or
will they suffer the superfecta of avian flu (from the Falcons to
the Seahawks to the Cardinals to the Eagles) in failing, once again,
to pull through?
Will Dallas display a decades-dormant art of heart . . . or will
they look silly in Philly?
We shall see. We Always do.
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