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2021-2022 Regular Season:
Cowboys' Turkey
Day Plan Succumbs To Raiders' Tryptophan As Dallas Looks To Solve
Still More Mental Taints Against The Saints
December 1,
2021 At 11:07 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
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While “America’s Team” exited their Kansas City cookoff unable to
put any offensive meat on their spit in the Chiefs’ BBQ pit, they
aimed their (temporarily unreliable?) scoring reticle at a recovery
so appetizing on the day of Thanksgiving.
YES, Yes, yes, after losing consecutive Thanksgiving Day games
to “That
Washington Team” in 2020 and the Buffalo Bills in 2019 . . .
would the REAL Dallas Cowboys come clean (or deliver another
one-dimensional, disturbingly inflexible performance worthy of the
latrine)? Hey, now! “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” is nothing if not
loyally objective, rather than aimlessly mean.
Would the presence of former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli –
the “King of Hustle” along so many a defensive line – give the
visiting Raiders a schematic advantage against certain members of a
Cowboys’ offensive line staring too intensely at the cavernous navel
in the center of their collective belly?
Fans would soon find out if the Cowboys were READY TO EAT or indulge
another avoidable defeat.
Feast So Perky Or Another Jive Turkey?
After an always, Always, ALWAYS untimely Cowboys three-and-out to
start, it took the Raiders but three of their own plays in a little
over a minute to pick the Cowboys' defense apart. Wide receiver
DeSean Jackson may be frail in the face of even an average hit, but
placing cornerback Jourdan Lewis and free safety Damontae Kazee on
him with shallow-to-deep blithely (?) bracketed coverage provided
neither enough speed nor sufficient “smotherage” (as he took Derrick
Carr’s pass and made the touchdown-scoring split). Jackson neither
stepped out of bounds as he momentarily tip-toed down the sideline
nor delivered any of his patented "gifts" (by dropping the ball
before crossing the goal line).
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Once Dallas got the ball back, it appeared Dak and Co. would get on
track. A little bit of banged-up running back Ezekiel Elliott, a
little more of his running mate Tony Pollard, and a mix of Dallas'
"rag tag fugitive fleet" of receivers – in wideouts Noah Brown and
Cedrick Wilson (whom Dak targeted nicely while on a rather relenting
rollout run), along with shrink-wrapped tight end Sean "I'm Not A
Peon" McKeon, whose 10-yard touchdown reception (courtesy of a
Prescott loft-to-perfection) made Cowboys Nation into hopeful
believers.
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Then, a familiar failure was aFOOT (when Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein's
extra point, the ultimate gimme, the NFL's equivalent of an NBA free
throw went kaput). This – of course – was far from the first time
The Leg turned the simplest "you had one job to do" of sweet
lemonade into unnecessarily-bitter lime. Backup kicker Lirim
Hajrullahu – who (against Atlanta) knew what to do – took a
just-in-case Kansas City seat in the event the previously-COVID-infected
Zuerlein struggled to compete. Lirim was cut two days prior to this
game, and the Cowboys' crazy like a fox (or dumber than a box of
rocks) determination is that Greg would eventually, hopefully reward
them with the desired consistency instead of a continuance of
intermittently-lame. The only message sent – in any event – was that
Zuerlein would (and will) be given every opportunity to demonstrate
that he is closer to his best days with the Los Angeles Rams and
further from his worst days with the Dallas Cowboys (until his next
mangled extra point or shanked field goal triggers another explosion
of negative noise).
After Dallas forced Las Vegas into a three-and-out, Dak and Co. (on
3rd-and-13 from their own four) would go shotgun and three wide
(Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson, and Noah Brown) with tight end
Dalton Schultz lined up a few steps away from right tackle La'el
Collins so stout (and aiming to escape the deep end of their field
for another chance to score). Zeke temporarily lined up in the
backfield to chip-block left tackle Tyron Smith's assignment before
leaking into the flat to perhaps find the Raiders conveniently out
of alignment. Dak strangely stared down the options to his left and
threw a "McNabb Dirt Ball" to Zeke who (with three converging
Raiders defenders) would have been unable to deliver the first down
heft. And yet, "there was Dalton" (on the right hashmark enjoying an
8-10-yard diameter) ALL ALONE and in much better position (after
Dallas' wide outs had successfully cleared out) to ensure a first
down much more likely etched in stone.
After Las Vegas and Dallas "gifted" each other a three-and-out, the
Raiders would receive just "a little help" in getting their faint
lead to sprout. "What? From those [FABULOUS] officials?!" you
understandably moan and groan (as the 2021 Cowboys have both been
victimized "and, And, AND" stupidly volunteered to allow those flag
flingers to pick and choose where to painfully carve their
initials).
Cowboys highly-hyped, highly-effective hybrid rookie defender Micah
Parsons - the hungry lion always, ALWAYS looking to gain aggressive
traction . . . would get the party started with a five-yard neutral
zone infraction (which would normally be the "DeMarcus Lawrence Zone
Infraction" but he was not yet ready for his return to action).
Veteran Cowboys cornerback Anthony "Not Charlie?" Brown would "chip
in" with not just an 11-yard defensive pass interference penalty but
ANOTHER 30-yard defensive pass interference penalty (in case there
was any "Was that REALLY Anthony?!" uncertainty). Las Vegas had a
1st-and-goal at the Cowboys' one, and Raiders running back Josh
Jacobs took the handoff practically untouched into the end zone to
get it done.
Though the game was still ONLY in final minute of the first quarter
– and the score was just 14-6 – Dak and Co. were unable so soon to
change the order and performed another of their (recently-familiar)
opportunity-killing tricks. Center Tyler Biadasz (who – when not
being somewhat-routinely overpowered – is intermittently penalized)
– unintentionally made sure a Tony Pollard 31-yard run was
zeroed-out, err, resized. A catchable 3rd-and-10 pass from Dak to
Schultz was dropped and a(nother) sloppy series was stopped. Go
figure that – earlier in the game – Schultz went unseen, and a
couple series later? An avoidable shame. So unclean.
Las Vegas would lose key weapon and starting tight end Darren Waller
to injury on their next drive, but a blown tackle by safety Jayron
Kearse more Dallas penalties (by Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons)
would keep it alive. While a Derrick Carr misfire into the end zone
would underwhelm tight end Daniel Helm, the Raiders would add a
22-yard field goal to put Dallas in a far-from-insurmountable 17-6
hole (as long as the Cowboys could perhaps get on a – GASP – more
creatively-schemed or improvisational roll).
The Cowboys' next drive – with a little under nine minutes remaining
in the first half – would be another opportunity to demonstrate how
Kellen Moore's offense (even in the face of – GASP – an incomplete,
imperfect set of 11 starters) could ADJUST and still, Still, STILL
function at greater than half staff. And yet, it was another
"contained" effort that provided no spark in the production dark.
Another short pass (to Gallup) without much (in-space) sass. A
blitz-rushed throw on another short crossing route (to a
situationally-unaware Cedrick Wilson). A 59-yard Zuerlein near-make
would bounce off the left upright to make the home crowd even more
uptight. "In that instance, it had plenty of distance" but – like
all but one of the Cowboys' series leading up to that field goal
attempt – from FINISHING, it was exempt. And – by game's end – over
those reoccurring misses, there would (once again) be more than
hisses.
"The Mighty Quinns" would force a punt (with almost three-and-a-half
minutes remaining and plenty of time to be gaining) and give Dak and
Co. had another chance to pull a point-scoring stunt. Dak – with
Cedrick Wilson coming in motion from right to left across his face –
would take the shotgun snap from his own 16. Wilson would angle up
the sideline with his Clyde Drexler glide, and Dak would
"strategically shield his pending-pass from an oncoming secondary
defender by firing a back-shoulder 23-yard shot to Cedrick in
stride" . . . or, Or, OR, Prescott would throw behind Wilson (who
did an excellent job of keeping it clean).-
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Ohhh-ho-ho, no need for a
defensive chest puff, as we WILL get to realistic perspective versus
unfair invective soon enough. Nonetheless, Cedrick would escape that
oncoming Raider until another one eventually took him down 28 yards
later (for a total of 51 under the gun). While two SPEEDY doses of
Tony Pollard would sandwich a few more yards from Wilson to both
move the chains and narrowly-miss alleviating the Cowboys' scoring
pains, an inside handoff to Zeke (from within the Raiders' one)
would allow that drive to reach its productive peak.
After the teams trading two more punts, the head ref sidled over to
Mike McCarthy and asked: "With such a concentrated mix of earned and
unearned penalties, would you prefer a surgically-implanted yellow
flag shunt?" After Las Vegas slot man Hunter Renfro was on the
receiving end of a 31-yard pass (during which Jourdan Lewis ran out
of coverage gas), Micah Parsons – of course – was called for
roughing the passer on a play in which Raiders quarterback Derrick
Carr would fall on a scramble and bump his helmeted egg on Parson's
nearby leg. Parsons would be added to the ever-growing list of those
victimized by unfit referees so horribly hypnotized (?). Still,
STILL, there was "No Time To Cry," as Raiders backup QB Marcus
Mariota would come in on 1st-and-goal at the Cowboys' four. A fake
inside handoff to Raiders running back Josh Jacobs would trick
safety Damontae Kazee AND linebacker Leighton Vander Esch into
turning their "STAY HOME" signals off, and Mariota would easily
reach the end zone (through that vacated void over which “some”
would be annoyed) for the touchdown score.
Before Cowboys Nation could become too forlorn or pretend to stab
the officiating crew with too much (?) voodoo doll scorn, a kick
return opportunity allowed Tony Pollard to EXPLODE 100 yards for a
special teams touchdown so uncollared. And – just like a bolt of
Zeus’ lightning – Dallas was back in the game, 24-19.
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Dallas would elect to go for two (and set themselves up for a
potential tie if an accurate kick could be procured from you know
who). Kellen Moore called for a clever (but defensively-studied?)
play originally on the money against the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.
Dak would take the shotgun snap and give the inside handoff to Zeke
(on whom the Raiders were ideally supposed to collapse). Rather than
Elliott pitching to a trailing CeeDee Lamb (grinning like a “done
this before” ham), it was instead Cedrick Wilson who would try to
run it in. Once tight end Dalton Schultz failed to follow through on
a key block, the Cowboys' conversion attempt turned to schlock.
Though Zuerlein was having another inconsistent day, to only a
three-point difference the conversion would have paved the way.
The Mighty Quinns (on Las Vegas’ next offensive series) would absorb
a 22-yard scramble by Derek Carr, as well as ANOTHER (17-yard) pass
interference penalty on a jersey-tugging Anthony Brown. The Raiders’
pin cushion treatment was beginning to leave a scar, and they were
practically fitting him for a flag-flying crown. Las Vegas – however
– could only muster a field goal, as solid tackling by cornerback
Jourdan Lewis on third down momentarily prevented the Raiders from
extending their drive towards creating a bigger scoring hole. The
score was 27-19, but if the Cowboys were going to tamp down on their
tryptophan trip, they were going to have to make a
more-Than-COMPETITIVE scene, rather than continue their (un)fashionably
late turn-based drip.
Dallas and Vegas would eventually exchange two more punts, then
tiringly trade Two More field goals, and then gradually giftwrap TWO
MORE punts – right after free safety Malik Hooker nearly collected
on an interception hunt – before Dak and Co. finally, FINALLY had
their best opportunity to tie the score.
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Prescott – with under three-and-a-half minutes to go in the 4th
quarter and operating from the Cowboys' 35 (with the faint goal of
keeping victory alive) – would take the shotgun snap and quickly
send a similar-to-Cedrick's (32-yard) sideline spear to Michael
Gallup (a split-second before Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
exposed right tackle Terence Steele to a turnstile deal to nearly
allow some takedown crap). Dak deftly delivered the ball right over
Gallup's shoulder and in-stride (with the nearest Raider unable to
collide).
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Moments later, Dak would take the shotgun snap, and he
would find the Raiders' secondary taking a nap. Prescott hit the
linebacker-covered Dalton Schultz down the seam (like a Blake Jarwin
or "Old Man" Witten touchdown-scoring dream). But – with just under
three minutes remaining – the score was 30-28 and from another
two-point conversion, there could be no abstaining. Dak would take
the shotgun snap, fake it inside to Zeke, and wide receiver Noah
Brown (motioned over from the left slot to the right) would indulge
in just enough soft pick delight that Schultz was able to catch the
conversion and finish the game-tying fight. It was 30-30, but that
score was only temporarily sturdy.
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It took about a minute for Derek Carr to get the Raiders into field
goal range and – with the “MOUNTAIN Of Penalties” theme afflicting
both teams – the fact that (in a reversal of fortune) hybrid
linebacker Keanu Neal was somehow NOT called for early-contact pass
interference (on a 3rd-and-3 pass to Raiders tight end Foster
Moreau) was downright strange. Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson would
narrowly make a 56-yarder (ensuring a Cowboys comeback remained a
bit harder).
A minute later, Dak – on 3rd-and-3 from his own 43 – would thread
the thinnest of needles to Michael Gallup on a 17-yard crosser that
could have easily turned the whole of Cowboys Nation into a cookie,
err, turkey tosser. Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt barely-missed a
well-defensed pass at least and an interception at most. The Cowboys
would – instead and to fan elation – buy themselves a continuation.
Dak – no 3rd-and-8 from the Raiders' 27 – would narrowly miss on a
repeat of down-the-seam to Dalton. The officials – not so
surprisingly – had no desire to flag the nearest Raiders defender
for a lil' handsy double-faultin'. A 45-yarder Greg "The Leg" would
thankfully peg.
30-30 as the game clock reached zero meant there would have be an
overtime hero. "And? SO?!" you excited ask, ready To GO! While the
Cowboys would start the extra period on offense, a penalty on Tony
Pollard's kickoff would only add to Dallas' pile of penalty dents.
Though they were backed up to their end zone a bit too closely, Dak
and Co. (restricted by a return to Kellen Moore's rigidity) would go
three-and-out rather conservatively. When your team has practically
exhausted itself to reach overtime, calling plays designed not to
lose (but not necessarily to win) is an absolute crime. YES, Yes,
yes, Dak – on 3rd-and-3 – would be forced to roll right and target
Noah Brown so emphatically, but in throwing the ball behind his
receiver not-so-slightly, it would have been quite the backsliding
first-down catch so dramatically. It would be up to The Mighty
Quinns to stop the Raiders from remaining on track and ending the
Cowboys' comeback.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs would grind up almost 30 yards on
consecutive plays to start Vegas' drive, but then Micah Parsons
knocked Jacobs back and collected a Derek Carr sack, as he continued
his season-long effort to strive and thrive. "But Then, BUT THEN,"
because THREE pass interference penalties were not enough, none
other than Anthony Brown did it again ("seemingly" daring Derek Carr
and calling the referees' bluff). By the time Raiders wide receiver
Zay Jones had turned to face the incoming pass, it was too late for
the (too) closely-covering Brown to do the same. His ass was grass,
and it was not the flag-throwing lawnmower, err, official – for the
FOURTH time on the day – who had to know no shame.
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It was as if Landry-era, TRULY OFFENSIVE tackle Phil Pozderac
somehow snuck onto the field in Anthony Brown's uniform (not too
unlike what former Cowboy Joe Looney once did – during practice – in
Ezekiel Elliott's jersey) just to hear one of the officials reenact
former referee Red Cashion's "favorite" phrase: "Holding. 10-yard
penalty. Offense. Number 75. Repeat [1st, 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th]
down!"
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After a handful of throwaway plays (which held nothing more than
time-draining or gamesmanship sway), the Raiders' Daniel Carlson
made his game-winning, chip shot, 29-yard field goal (which shoveled
the last pile of dirt into the Cowboys' largely-self-made
Thanksgiving Day hole).
Realistic Perspective Or Unfair Invective?
NFL games are at least 60 minutes in playing-time length. Realistic
perspective.
NFL teams are consistent of offensive, defensive, and special teams
units which unevenly split those 60 playing-time minutes based
entirely upon how those units execute on those plays within those
minutes. Realistic perspective.
NFL games have at least four quarters. Not one or two or three but
four (with those games – comprised of those quarters – ideally not
showcasing two performance hoarders). Realistic perspective.
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NFL teams which start slowly (through little-to-no fault of their
game day competitors) and appear to somewhat (?) sleepwalk through
the first three quarters of a game – only to submit a fourth quarter
catch-up claim – have only themselves to blame. Unfair invective?
NFL teams can be blessed with forward-thinking front offices,
balanced by battle-tested coaches, and souped up with cerebrally,
physically superior rosters, with an EXTREMELY RARE-few
organizations routinely enjoying an available, healthy, productive,
and timely combination of all three (while all others struggle to
vacillate between contenders and imposters). Realistic perspective.
NFL teams – even in the face of an imperfect, ever-evolving
combination of resources like those described above – still, Still,
STILL have opportunities to fulfill or continue to wait, Wait, WAIT
for those resources to return from injury to concisely coalesce into
a finely-fitting glove. Realistic perspective.
NFL teams have opportunities to compete and win, even when armed
only with raw-to-ragged resources scraped together from the
most-recent NFL Draft and the current free agency bargain bin.
Realistic perspective.
NFL teams often insist they maintain a healthy fear of “On Any Given
Sunday, Monday, Or Thursday” in order to always, Always, ALWAYS take
opponents seriously (to avoid risking a loss so closely or
tremendously but ultimately embarrassingly). Realistic perspective.
NFL teams should not be so celebrated for (nearly) overcoming a
deficit in which they had a direct, arrogant, sloppy, or stupid hand
in creating, yet horrendous homers (increasingly squeezing out fans
so discerning) will never stop their knee-jerk “achievement”
inflating. Realistic perspective.
Did “That Announcer Guy” – PURELY for (perhaps-oversized) example –
really deserve all the celebration heaped upon him when he almost
single-handedly helped the Dallas Cowboys overcome his five, Five,
FIVE INTERCEPTIONS during a 2007 Monday Night Football 25-24 victory
in Buffalo against the Bills? “Ohhhhh! But three quarters of cardiac
arrest paled in comparison to those fourth quarter THRILLS!” you may
retort with a mouthful of memory-induced drool that heavily spills.
While almost all of those turnovers were impulsively avoidable, it
is (in years-later-hindsight) more-than-arguable that the
conservative confines of Jason Garrett’s offense made the goal of
consistently winning – without risking – somewhat unreasonable,
maybe even unavoidable. Unfair invective?
NFL teams are celebrated near-equally for “beating the teams they
are supposed to beat in a dominating manner” and “overcoming a
competitive mess with less – in part – because of a wise and
communicative planner.” The Tortured Cowboys Fan has wondered aloud
many times why, Why, WHY it is ONLY Bill Belichick and his coaching
minions who consistently find fruit within the layers of
seemingly-obtuse player onions. “But Bill really blew it in 2020!
His Tom-Brady-less Patriots were REALLY 7-9 funny!” you gleefully
spew (perhaps unaware that New England’s 2020 was impacted by EIGHT
semi-significant pandemic opt-outs, with only THREE losing seasons
by the “Evil Genius” since 2000 being the key detail so true).
Realistic perspective.
The NFL is a game of adjustment and adaptation (something that has
been decades-absent from the stadium seat and TV screen view of so
many among Cowboys Nation). While there is only ONE Belichick (YES,
Yes, yes, including his try-anything “Spygate” schtick), “Boy
Wonder” Kellen Moore, the next GREAT head coach in-the-making,
surely has his very own adjustments and adaptations in store or, at
least, carefully-baking. When faced with a missing star player here
or there, Moore surely has a more-from-less way to schematically
prepare? Unfair invective?
The Dallas Cowboys – during the 13 seasons in which Jason Garrett
had “a” hand in how their offense would deploy – had an
improvisational wizard on the field (for 9.1 of those seasons when
healthy) to improve the team’s chances of producing a winning yield
(and that impulsive-to-incredible improvisation often made that
offense look artificially wealthy). Unfair invective?
The Dallas Cowboys remain a team built to jump out and hold a lead
rather than a squad able to intermittently or consistently adjust to
stop a semi-serious bleed. Dak Prescott – even in the eyes of his
most myopic supporters in-and-around DFW – remains a loyal,
follow-directions, do-not-stray-to-make-a-play quarterback, through
and through. Dak (with rare-but-certainly-celebrated-exception)
typically takes a glance at (dangerous, game-changing) risk, shakes
his mature, scheme-honoring head, and says, “TSK! TSK!” Unfair
invective?
“Ohhhh, there we go! THERE it is! You sound like JUST another DAK
HATER!” you disgustedly launch. Au contraire, mon frere. The
Tortured Cowboys Fan always presents the unvarnished truth, but
support for all reasonably, routinely-productive members of the
Dallas Cowboys has – for decades – been unquestionably staunch. The
truth – sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful, other times only
temporary – is what The Tortured Cowboys Fan regularly dishes most
exemplary. Realistic perspective.-
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Dak threw for 375 yards, two touchdowns, and ZERO interceptions
(with only ONE sack) on 32 of 47 attempts but – like "That Announcer
Guy" before him – it was WHEN the brunt of that effort came into
play that prevents him from being completely exempt. There were
reasonable-yet-missed opportunities in each quarter – in which
Prescott had an executional hand in what was planned – that would
have allowed Dallas to change the order. Unfair invective?
Kellen Moore continues to run “a version” of the offense that Norv
Turner and then Ernie Zampese (And Then Jason Garrett AND THEN Scott
Linehan) gave such raw-talent,
sensationally-skilled appeal but ONLY when armed with 11 starters so
unreasonably (?) ideal. When Emmitt Smith held out, the Cowboys’
offensive motor quite literally fell out. Could Zampese (with his
remaining star quarterback, potent offensive line, and wondrous
receiving weapons) have chosen to adjust to a more-aggressive
approach rather than stubbornly-accepting a potentially-avoidable
two-game bust? Yes, but back then, the running game was the Cowboys’
primary, unquestioned offensive thrust. Today’s NFL has largely but
not irreversibly flipped that script, and those teams – or
coordinators – too slow to adapt will find their offensive wings
intermittently or frequently clipped. Yes, most professional sports
leagues are methodically cyclical, but waiting, Waiting, WAITING for
a fully-featured return of “ground-driven air” has become imbecilic.
Unfair invective?
Dak Prescott will (attempt to) do anything and everything
ASKED of
him by Kellen Moore. Thus, if Moore cannot find it within his
BRILLIANT self to more-frequently adapt (to his AVAILABLE players)
and adjust (when his star running back playing through injury,
another key weapon is out with COVID-19, and yet another weapon is
momentarily-concussed), it may – in large part – be his fault that
the Cowboys’ latest promising postseason potential has been
conclusively mussed. Unfair invective?
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“What about head coach Mike McCarthy? Isn’t THIS blame something for
which he remains more-than-worthy?! He CHOSE to retain Moore! He
(and maybe, just possibly a lil’ GM Jerry) CONVINCED Moore not to
step through The Star’s exit door.” you frantically insist (and yet
McCarthy – to his open-minded credit – did not expect that
adaptation and adjustment were concepts that such an up-and-coming
offensive coordinator would somewhat-routinely resist). McCarthy –
on the other hand – magically making playbook adjustments at this
point would just return him to being a screen game clairvoyant (an
approach he swore to interviewer GM Jerry was no longer sufficiently
buoyant). Unfair invective?
Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore cannot BOTH play the waiting game.
Well, they CAN, but that laughably does not make for a
routinely-successful offensive plan. Realistic perspective.
YES, Yes, yes, the mixing and (mis)matching components of the
“Inconsistent Wall Of Dallas” (in trying to determine – between
“Huggy” Williams and relatively-inexperienced McGovern – which
Connor to honor) has not helped Prescott’s desire to either trust
his protection or get up and somewhat-safely go. Then, again, there
have been enough plays (over the past four games) where Dak HAS had
reasonable protection, time to scan, and been unable to follow the
“throw it to the OPEN receiver” plan. Unfair invective?
YES, Yes, yes, being forced to go without one or more of your top
receiving weapons – when attempting to score – is something every,
EVERY quarterback does surely abhor. There is often (but not always)
a distinct difference in quality of receiver-to-defender separation,
"but, But, BUT" that can – in part (with a reasonable pocket
protection start) – be countered by better “lead the receiver”
anticipation. Unfair invective?-
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Kellen Moore – whether and ESPECIALLY IF he still aspires to become
a head coach one day – needs to be THE ONE who indulges more change,
as Prescott simply will not (sufficiently) improvise (away from the
Cowboys’ still, Still, STILL hustle-centric scheme) or volunteer to
sidle up to something so strange. Realistic perspective.
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There is NO guarantee that a return of critical, key missing players
will permanently answer the Cowboys’ performance prayers. Injuries
and COVID-19 can strike again “and then, And Then, AND THEN.” Kellen
Moore (like defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has bent over backwards
to do for a defense that no longer shrugs and relents) must
demonstrate the creativity and flexibility to primarily better-help
his unit succeed and secondarily shut up the naysayers. Realistic
perspective.
Misery Loves Viruses And Injury
While wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb were clearly,
SCHEMATICALLY missed against the Raiders, both are expected to join
their teammates as New Orleans invaders.
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson who made 7 of 10 catches for 104 yards
– due in LARGE part to his aforementioned teammates being “forcibly
detained” – will now be unavailable because of an ankle injury he
sustained.
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When their next game day does officially arrive, the Dallas Cowboys
will temporarily (?) be relying on someone else to drive. Head coach
Mike McCarthy, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, assistant offensive
line coach Jeff Blasko, assistant coach Scott Tolzein, strength and
conditioning coach Harold Nash, assistant strength and conditioning
coach Kendall Smith, assistant strength and conditioning coach
Cedric Smith, and swing tackle Terence Steele are all in COVID-19
protocol. Again and again, people – from ordinary citizens to sports
superstars – must, Must, MUST (yes, exhaustively) keep their masks
on at all times when not absolutely alone simply to avoid becoming
vaccinated CARRIERS. If you cannot handle that inconvenient task,
you are just (inconceivably) creating more containment and recovery
barriers.
While fans (somewhat understandably) assumed special teams
coordinator John "Bones" Fassel would have been the chosen, interim,
head-coaching apostle – to allow the Cowboys’ offensive and
defensive leads to continue doing their (uninterrupted) deeds –
defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has been tapped by McCarthy (and
blessed by GM Jerry) to stand in.-
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Donovan Wilson – a RARE, home-grown, promising strong safety on whom
Cowboys fans were so hopeful GM Jerry would one day be encouraged to
apply a long-term decision – has been placed on short-term injured
reserve due to a shoulder injury sustained in Kansas City. He will,
of course, be required to miss at least three games, and if he
cannot recover in time to be a participating playoff chime, it will
be a shame.
Tight end Blake Jarwin (in adding insult to injury) also tested
positive for COVID-19 the day after Thanksgiving. Now he has added
incentive to remain quarantined away on short-term injured reserve
with the hip injury from which he may (or may not?) soon be
recovering.
Good Quote Or Bad Bloat?
“You have to look forward. Yesterday is as dead as Napoleon. It’s
gone. And so we have to look at how to improve, and the sky is not
falling. When you look at the six games ahead that we have, the
cavalry is coming.” – GM Jerry on 105.3FM “The Fan” (acknowledging
nothing towards “encouraging” Kellen Moore to generate a more
available-player-centric plan).
"He's hit all of the markers that you want to hit in terms of the
healing and training and getting ready. We are definitely looking
forward to getting him back." – Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan
Quinn (on DeMarcus Lawrence’s potential December 2nd return from
short-term injured reserve to help make their next opponent swerve).
“We were definitely disappointed when it got overturned. That was
one you would want to put in your teach tape forever of sideline
discipline and being aggressive.” – Cowboys defensive coordinator
Dan Quinn (on the tag team turnover effort between linebacker Keanu
Neal’s falling-out-of-bounds pitchback to free safety Jayron Kearse
for what should have been plenty of return yards to nurse).
"I was a little surprised to see that number creep up on him. He is
one of our most consistent guys. We have plenty of trust and belief
in him. Some of the calls were certainly justified. I would expect
that trend not to continue." – Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan
Quinn (stressing to anyone who would listen that cornerback Anthony
Brown was only temporarily lame, having had NO pass interference
calls and only ONE penalty overall in his first 10 games).
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"In the world we live in today, you can do nine good things for
somebody and you do one bad thing, they are going to remember that
one bad thing. He’s a solid player. We have his back." – Cowboys
free safety Jayron Kearse on Anthony Brown (insisting a one-game
blip is nowhere near enough for fans to return to their perpetual
preseason desire to run Anthony out of town).
“That is tough [giving up 166 yards on 14 penalties], especially in
our own stadium. You’re playing two teams. You’re playing the refs
and the other team.” – Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (who
acutely understood how much worse it could have been without his
most-welcome 106-yard day on 5-of-8 catches to offset “some” of
those penalty plays).
"I am concerned because he's a warrior. He was fighting to get back
in there. Zeke's running style is ferocious." – Cowboys head coach
Mike McCarthy (on the status of running back Zeke Elliott’s
troublesome knee, as something for which Dallas cannot afford to
wait and see).
"He will be getting a call from me, that's for sure. Just making
sure we keep our discipline right. It takes a lot of discipline to
unclench our fist sometimes more than clench it." – Cowboys
defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on since-suspended defensive tackle
Trysten Hill (who punched Raiders guard John Simpson following a
postgame “DIScussion” after clearly receiving his triggered “Your
Momma’ Wears Army Boots!” fill). The Cowboys had been waiting a
long, LONG time for Hill’s helpful return and – when they needed him
to just HEAD TO THE LOCKER ROOM (for still-several remaining regular
season games – he CHOSE to stupidly spurn). He WILL be back, but he
deserves a major, priority-resetting smack.
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YES, Yes, yes, New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (aside
from a league office fine?) completely got away with a CLOSED-FIST
punch to the head of safety Damontae Kazee in week five, but
everyone on the Cowboys’ week 13 roster knows, Knows, KNOWS they
must remain available to maximally keep their deep postseason
potential alive. Period (no matter the WHATABOUTISMS so myriad).
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"You can't really see Kelvin doing anything." – Cowboys head coach
Mike McCarthy (on the special teams ejection of rookie cornerback
Kelvin Joseph who – as the punchee instead of the puncher – received
a penalty that was unnecessarily stiff).
Will They Or Won’t They?
“America’s Team” is headed to the Big Easy in a suddenly,
unnecessarily, avoidably MUST-WIN situation during which they can no
longer afford to be schematically or situationally queasy.
While much has been made of key absences along the (7-4) Cowboys’
roster, the 5-6 New Orleans have had their own crippling absentees
to make all but the members of their stout RUN defense resemble
imposters.
It is an undeniable fact that until Saints head coach Sean Payton
(always armed with creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to TRY
by-the-ton) finds a remotely-righteous replacement for retired
quarterback Drew Brees, it may prove impossible for his cursed (?)
QB-by-committee of Jameis Winston (lost to a torn ACL so horrible),
Trevor Siemian (merely serviceable), and Taysom Hill (with poor
passing so incurable?) to even reasonably appease. All-world wide
receiver Michael Thomas has also been out for the season (and much
longer) due to a setback to his recovery from offseason ankle
surgery. Super scatback, err, running back Alvin Kamara (a rich
man’s Tony Pollard?) also remains unavailable due to a nagging knee
injury. Saints defensive ends Marcus Davenport and Tanoh Kpassagnon
are also unavailable (perhaps allowing for the Cowboys’ running game
to be a bit, JUST a bit less containable). NONE of these examples of
league-wide “woe is me,” however, should give the Dallas Cowboys
any, Any, ANY excuse for a lack of their own sense of urgency.
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Will Amari Cooper (understandably) be a still-recovering member of
"The Island of COVIDIAN Toys," or will he be instrumental in the
Thursday night success of the ‘Boys?
“And, AND” with the healthy (?) return of the Cowboys’ best route
runner, will Kellen Moore and Dak Prescott return to normal or
continue “some” of their recent, intermittent, collective moments of
horrible?
Will the return of defensive end DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence (so
long-awaited) result in a more-productive defensive front so
unabated or will his difference-making ability (after so many games
way) be more sedated?
Will being the better football team “on paper” mean ZERO if a lesser
opposing roster can pull off a well-schemed caper with an incomplete
hero?
Speaking of imperfect players, Taysom Hill will start at quarterback
for New Orleans. He just received a huge (for him), incentive-laden,
funny money deal. Will Taysom remain a gadget play quarterback or be
empowered and willing to deliver a broader attack?
Will the Cowboys start fast and put the Saints on blast or will
another ideal-rather-than-situationally-centric effort be miscast?
We shall see. We always do.
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