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2021-2022 Regular Season:
Cowboys’ Offense
Scared And Unprepared In KC With Las Vegas Latest From The AFC West
Aiming To Turn Dallas Into A Turkey
November 24,
2021 At 11:19 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
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“America’s Team” was fresh off their
Falcon defeathering, but a
differently-feathered foe would make the Dallas Cowboys endure some
unprepared-for, unexpected, unimagined, arrogantly-overlooked
weathering.
The Cowboys were facing the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium
for the first time since 2013. If you had consulted most members of
“Cowboys Nation,” the chances of Dallas being competitive and even
winning against their latest AFC West opponent (and Super Bowl LV
runner up AND Super Bowl LIV winner) were quite a bit better than
lean.
Though Kansas City’s defense has rarely been something to write home
about – save for their triangulation-true free safety, Tyrann
Mathieu – their offense had been, HAD BEEN reliably stout (since the
ascension of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his ability to succeed
in four dimensions). After an inconsistent, mistake-marred 6-4 start
to their 2021 season, everyone was wondering why the Chiefs’ defense
had gotten so, sooooo much worse and – in the presence of a
suddenly-misfiring offense – if it was too soon to call a hearse.
The Chiefs barely survived a surprising show of defiance by the New
York Giants. “And” they managed just enough of a shove to the
Aaron-Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers who received no (help from)
Love. “And, AND” they slapped their hated division rival Las Vegas
Raiders with a white glove (before making them look the fool in an
unexpectedly-overmatched duel). Still, STILL, with the Raiders
suffering from similar inconsistency, it was hard for bookies and
fantasy footballers alike to grant KC too much familiar leniency.
What to make? Did the Chiefs finally show some solid success that
was beginning to bake or was it just a matter of time before they
were re-exposed as fake?
“KILL THE BEAST WHILE [IT’S] WOUNDED!" yelled discerning Cowboys
fans (as if reenacting the role of Dame Vaako in “The Chronicles of
Riddick,” knowing the Lord Marshal, err, Chiefs were seemingly
nowhere near 100% and encouraging the visiting Dallas Cowboys to
fulfill her “keep what you kill” plans).
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What would Dallas ultimately DO to control their game day barbeque?
Known Versus Unknown
It was KNOWN that an opponent’s hearing goes historically dead at
raucous Arrowhead.
It was KNOWN that wide receiver Amari Cooper was unavailable for not
being a vaccination trooper, but it was also known – check that,
ASSUMED – that it would take more than the absence of ONE weapon to
place the reasonably-adjustable game plan of “brilliant, creative,
and flexible” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in a stupor.
It was KNOWN that stalwart left tackle Tyron Smith would miss his
latest contest while one or more unwanted bone spurs would force his
right ankle to continue to protest.
It was KNOWN that swing tackle Terence Steele (if emotionally
tricked into performing like aluminum by the loud KC crowd) would
present an underwhelming Chiefs defensive line with an avoidable
snack if not the perfect meal.
It was KNOWN that so, too – in the presence of fans with a most
potent BOOOOOO! – could the confidence of second-year center Tyler
Biadasz (at any moment) go absolutely squish.
It was KNOWN that fourth-year left guard Connor Williams was – for
at least one game – being replaced by swing lineman Connor McGovern
(after Williams managed to collectively rack up 10+ penalties that
momentarily or permanently pushed promising drives outside their
by-design frame). While Cowboys Nation was memorably-thrilled that
Williams never allowed Los Angeles Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron
Donald to get any Dallas quarterbacks killed (during a shared
training camp session), the previously-skittish Williams has clearly
“returned to form” and suffered early-career regression.
It was KNOWN that “The Mighty Quinns” remained short-handed across
their defensive front (which would only encourage an opportunistic
quarterback like Patrick Mahomes to pull more than one stunt).
It was KNOWN that continuous challenges across their defensive line
would force the Cowboys – once again – to repurpose rookie
linebacker Micah Parsons from a second-level strength to a
front-edge sledge in order to prevent their remaining linebackers
(in Leighton Vander Esch, hybrid Keanu Neal, Luke Gifford and
Francis Bernard) from becoming unreasonably nervous. After all,
screens, swing passes, and shallow crossing routes to various Chiefs
weapons (running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, tight end Travis Kelce,
and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, aka “Cheetah”) tend to eat ya’. If
Parsons – in the continued absence of defensive end Randy Gregory
due to injury – could apply more of his inhuman pressure, it would
be the best supportive measure.
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It was KNOWN that – with all these seemingly-still-manageable,
multi-phased concerns – a game-winning result would come from the
downfield surveillance, pocket presence, and situational awareness
of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to reasonably-triage any
competitive burns. YES, Yes, yes, back to the occasionally “unfair
quarterbacking burden” no matter how many times The Mighty Quinns
were, in fact, up for taking loading-bearing turns.
It was UNKNOWN if Kellen Moore would continue to view the safety and
simplicity of game plan and play-call predictability (based morbidly
upon specific players’ availability) as the ultimate tranquility
(rather than having the intense curiosity to willingly peering
beyond “the ideal” to develop more or any “what-if” versatility).-
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It was UNKNOWN how the Cowboys would choose, CHOOSE to translate
their previous week’s major improvements into continual, reliable,
and repeatable inducements.
Coming Up Small In Big-Time Ball
While all the Stephen A. Smith fans were reveling in what he so
enjoys yelling – that “The Dallas Cowboys are an accident waiting to
happen!” – it remained the HOW and WHEN of their disappointing 19-9
loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that continues (for the second time
in three weeks) to dampen.-
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Although The Mighty Quinns would start off slow (against a
misdirection touchdown "Travisty" involving KC tight end Travis
Kelce), they would steadily increase their ability to give the
Chiefs' offense few options on where to go.
Hybrid "Marvelous" Micah Parson led the way in that
ever-intensifying play with two sacks and other hot pursuit
near-misses he would nearly stack. Career-reserve defensive end
Dorance Armstrong – with one sack and a key tackle-for-loss – has
continued to productively come along (in the absence of one or more
an injured defensive hoss). Defensive end Tarell Basham rounded
things out with a critical fumble recovery (with which a
particularly-prepared offense would have performed scoring surgery).
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Though the Cowboys' secondary would a few aerial lumps (courtesy of
23-yard, 24-yard, and 37-yard bumps) more or less, The Mighty Quinns
would, in fact, hold the golden arm of Patrick Mahomes scoreless.
Even free safety Jayron Kearse chipped in with a 34-yard
interception (that, regrettably, did not become – by his hand or the
offense's – a touchdown invention).
Special teams coordinator John Fassel did not have to (or was
unfortunately not put in position to) creatively roll the comeback
"Bones," but kicker Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein was back online from
COVID-19 protocol (and the only Cowboys' player able to score the
ball).
“But what about the Cowboys’ VAUNTED offense? What about the NFL’s
highest scoring, highest output, highest everything offense led by
the one, the only, Dakota Rayne Prescott?!” you impatiently demand.
Well, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (no stranger to
Super success) drew an aggressive definitive line in the competitive
sand (placing Dak and Co. under routine duress). As a number of
better defenses have attempted to do (and sometimes succeeded in
doing) during much of the past six years, the Chiefs’ secondary sat
on many of the Cowboys’ receiving lanes, knowing Dak’s targets were
rarely going to take steep enough angles to cause coverage pains.
The lack of anyone outside of Amari Cooper to regularly utilize a
double move meant KC did not have to necessarily fear other Cowboys
receivers finding a rapid, up-field groove. YES, “The Tortured
Cowboys Fan” went there, and THIS is not the first suggestion that –
when it comes to fluid, natural, LEAD THE RECEIVER throws (which
dictate the in-stride, go-and-get-it direction in which the receiver goes) – the cupboard
remains somewhat bare.
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“And” – as a result of that consistent pressure – did Dak both miss
some reads and display some long-forgotten (?) Dakuracy? Yes. Did
his receivers (minus a concussed CeeDee Lamb in the first half and
Amari Cooper for the entire game) look somewhat assignment-confused and – when
grossly missed – a bit less enthused? YES. Did Dak not do much with
opportunities where he HAD reasonable protection, where his
receivers WERE open WITH reasonable separation? YEEEEEEES.
“And, AND” while that collision course of executional divorce was
occurring, was offensive coordinator Kellen Moore adjustably,
creatively, flexibly disguising? No. Did Moore choose to lean
(heavily or at all) on running back Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard
(no matter how loudly color commentator Troy Aikman or well-traveled
Cowboys fans hollered)? NO. Did Moore instead perform his best Phil
Jackson impersonation (waiting on Dak and his $160M attack to
discover for himself a better configuration)? Yes. Did Moore
effectively place the responsibility of “Adjust Or Bust” in
Prescott’s hands (even as five sacks and two interceptions
practically ensured that with the other team victory would land)?
YES.
The Dallas Cowboys offense largely, appreciably received the
defensive support over which so many for so many years would angrily
cavort (yet through even a few of their challenges Kellen and Dak
could simply not sort). The Chiefs’ defense was even more relentless
than the Cowboys’ own, repeatedly blitzing from the edges, and
making “The Great, err, Average Wall Of Dallas” completely blow all
their pass protection pledges. Did left guard Connor McGovern – on
his own – make the offensive line go horribly southern? No. Did
McGovern – in going out of his way to avoid penalties – fill the
void with quality blocking propensities? NO. Until McGovern gets a
few more starts under his belt, no discerning prognosticators or
fans will be able to say with professional confidence that Williams
(in the offseason could possibly be cut or should be conceivably
dealt).
The fact remains that – when all else, ALL ELSE fails – the
“unquestioned leader of the team” is past the time in his career
where he should consistently-expect his head coach, his coordinator,
his fellow starters, or a key reserve-with-nerve to always, ALWAYS
do more than HE does to help the team make bail. Dak – frankly –
does not have THAT kind of head coach (or offensive coordinator?) at
his disposal to prevent a salvageable victory from suffering
removal.
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth [but the
Dallas Cowboys offense did not even TRY to bite the Chiefs’ ears].”
– Formerly the “Baddest Man In The World” and former heavyweight
boxing champion of the world, Mike Tyson (who never waited for his
corner or his opponents to favorably change to lower, slower gears).
YES, Yes, yes, football is, has been, and always will be a TEAM
game. Prescott – however – knows, sees, and understands (or he
SHOULD for all that talk so many do flagrantly squawk that) when a
game plan, play design, available audible, or executional effort
appears to be consistently-heading in the direction of inevitably
lame, he is empowered to refit and refinish his team’s competitive
frame. Dak has always erred on the side of no errors (from almost
any, ANY freelance choices which could result in bad play terrors).
His team was, is, and remains designed to ONLY play from ahead, not
behind. If the one is not occurring, then the other, of course, does
NOT happen in kind.
Dak – like any, ANY quarterback in the NFL going through
intermittent production hell – must occasionally or increasingly
choose, CHOOSE to break out of Kellen’s by-design (or HIS “shall not
deviate”) shell. When you have seen enough, your responsibility (to
be the tide that occasionally raises some of your boats some of the
time) must reasonably PUFF, or you become a willful accessory to the
poor performance crime.
The rhetorical question remains towards solving ADJUSTMENT pains:
when your otherwise perfect, near-perfect, very good, or still good
set of chess pieces have suddenly been diminished, do you stick with
the exact same game plan to avoid looking finished? That is THE
difference between an offensive coordinator OR a quarterback who
received his big contract due to fair market value and a big money
offensive coordinator OR quarterback who more-often-than-not and
confidently KNOWS what to do (rather than consistently waiting and
Waiting and WAITING for multiples of others to help him pull
through).
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Leadership is a fickle thing when the head coach, coordinator, or
players on whom you are potentially waiting are – in turn –
expecting YOU, first, to do the performance inflating and CHANGE
initiating. Dak CAN do it and help his team proactively pull through
it. Prescott alone has the voice, and he – perhaps with begrudging
relinquishment by “others” – can begin to make the intermittent,
course-corrective CHOICE.
Either way, when it rears its ugly head, the occasional, “unfair,”
impossible task does
not wait and DOES NOT ask. Sometimes the impossible
task arrives at an “inconvenient” moment and makes YOU responsible
for atonement.
Misery Loves Viruses And Injury
Though wide receiver CeeDee Lamb seemed significantly concussed, his
turkey day participation (in the continued absence of “someone
else”) is a must (lest Dak Prescott’s on-the-fly-trust with his
remaining targets – Dalton Schultz, Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson, Tony Pollard,
Noah Brown, Malik Turner – go bust rather than productively
combust).
"I mean, it's sore, but it's been sore. I would say it doesn't feel
any different than it did this time last week," said resilient
running back Zeke. While Ezekiel Elliott – against KC – reaggravated
the three-week-old injury to his knee, he has been cleared to play
on Thursday.
While defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence
remain out (with calf and foot injuries, respectively), Lawrence is
allegedly due back in week 13. It remains up to defensive ends
Tarell Basham, Dorance Armstrong, and rookie Chauncey Golston to
keep things reasonably clean. Micah Parsons’ continued involvement
should help keep some (but not all?) opposing ball-carriers and QBs
painfully heard but not productively seen.
Left tackle Tyron Smith is “said” to be ready to play, but his
increasingly-iffy participation should be considered a myth until he
is seen slugging it out with opposing defenders on Thanksgiving Day.
Good Quote Or Bad Bloat?
"It’s unfortunate not having him. But to say, 'The decision HE
made'? I mean, me [even being] vaccinated, I could [test positive
and] get out and be out two games [as well]. So, let’s not try to
knock the guy or put the guy down for a personal decision. That’s MY
teammate. That’s MY brother. I’m going to continue to back him and
support him [because I will gain NO GOOD grid iron yield by
alienating him off the field]." – Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott
on Amari Cooper (in almost a reversal of T.O.’s “That’s MY
quarterback!” defense of “That Announcer Guy” whom so many among the
Cowboys’ 2007 faithful wanted to fry).
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“I’m absolutely HOT about it. Are you JOKING?! I got [Amari Cooper]
who makes $21 MILLION on the bench at home NOT PLAYING. It’s crazy.
You HAVE TO TRY to mitigate any issue that COULD COST YOU a game or
[even] a Super Bowl, and COVID is one of them. You GO GET VACCINATED
to try to mitigate it, best you can.” – Former Cowboys star wide
receiver, three-time Super Bowl winner, and Hall Of Famer Michael
Irvin (sounding like he would like to reenact the firing of a guy
named Curvin).
“You check ‘ME’ at the door in a football team. The facts are it is
a ‘WE’ thing when you walk into the locker room, and ANYBODY is
being counted on to pull his weight. EVERYBODY understands our
RIGHTS and our OPTIONS as it pertains to those rights. But this is a
classic case of how it can impact a team. This is not individual . .
. this is team. You [obviously] cannot win anything INDIVIDUALLY.
But the point is THIS popped us. This DID pop us.” – GM Jerry to
105.3FM "The FAN” (more-than-acknowledging the unavailability of the
Cowboys’ top wide receiver had a noticeable impact on their BBQ
plan).
“People always talk about the rookie wall, but I just keep climbing
and climbing because I’m excited to see what’s on the other side of
that wall.” – Cowboys rookie linebacking sensation Micah Parsons
(determined to set alight Cowboys opponents one-and-all, as if
bestowed the mutant power of arson).
"I said, "If you don't [have] your family in town, or your wife
doesn't feel like cooking, you're more than welcome to come to my
house [for Thanksgiving]. My mom makes enough for about 100 people."
– Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (perhaps also indirectly
suggesting attendees bring appetites not-at-all-feeble).
Will They Or Won’t They?
The 5-5 Las Vegas Raiders are headed to AT&T (Stadium) with an (un)predictable
amount of determination to not be served up as a Thanksgiving Day
turkey.
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While the AFC West-leading 7-4 Chiefs are now on a four-game winning
streak, the Raiders are on a three-game LOSING streak of their own
(after initially-promising returns with interim head coach Rich
Bisaccia suggested their post-Jon-Gruden, post-Henry-Ruggs future
was not entirely set in miserable stone).
Just as the Dallas Cowboys needed to defeat Kansas City to
demonstrate (to THEMSELVES) their BIG game readiness and “avoid the
hype” seriousness, America’s Team (now, a bit humbler?) needs to
prove that the AFC West (save for the Los Angeles Chargers) does NOT
have their 2021 number.
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Will the Cowboys take Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr and the
Raiders as seriously as they should have taken Kansas City or will
Dak and Co. – for the second consecutive game – come up itty bitty
and inexcusably lame? Will Moore and his offensive minions be able
to “Build Back Better” rather than allow their inability-to-adjust
performances against the Broncos and Chiefs become an
every-other-game trend setter?
Will The Mighty Quinns be able to continue producing more from less
until defensive reinforcements finally arrive to (hopefully)
diminish their rotational duress?
Will the Dallas Cowboys momentarily-suspend their hunger for home
cookin’ during the Thanksgiving holiday in return for a SOLID 60
MINUTES of unrelenting play?
We shall see. We always do.
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