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2021-2022 Regular Season:
Cowboys Start To
Stake Their NFC East Claim Against That Team With No Name And For
The Giants They Next Take Aim
December 17,
2021 At 11:53 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
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Though “America’s Team” picked up a promising-yet-imbalanced win
during their visit to "The Big Easy," their game against “That
Washington Team” left the discerning members of “Cowboys Nation”
feeling a bit queasy.
YES, Yes, yes, it was “DALLAS WEEK!” Throngs of Washington fans were
hoping their battered team would have enough passion and available
personnel to continue their current win streak (and give the Dallas
Cowboys hell).
YES, Yes, yes, the older contingent of Cowboys Nation may regale
some of their younger, modern day, self-involved counterparts with
stories of a decades-old time when they, too, participated in a
similar, week-long pregame ritual involving at least one DFW-area FM
radio station. They would spend the week playing the “Skinsbusters”
rip-off of Ray Parker, Jr.’s smash hit “Ghostbusters” to impressive
fan infatuation.
“We know what people think of us. We know who we are and where we
are. We’re GOING TO WIN this game. I’m confident about that." –
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy sounding almost like Dick Vermeil
(years ago after learning Trent Green would need A LOT of time to
heal).
“I think that’s the BIG mistake, because as far as I’M concerned,
you do THAT for a couple of reasons. One is you want to
[successfully?] get in OUR head. Secondly, he’s trying to CONVINCE
his team. So, again, I think that’s ANOTHER mistake. Because HE’S
NOW MADE IT ABOUT HIM and what HE said, it’s not about his players
anymore. So, I think that’s a BIG mistake. That’s why, TO ME, you
don’t do THOSE things. What you do is you FOCUS IN, you GET READY,
and you PLAY FOOTBALL. We show up on Sunday, and we’ll see what
happens.” – Washington head coach Ron Rivera (doing his best “Pretty
Woman” impersonation amid all the media-magnified, McCarthy
“guarantee” hysteria).
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“I mean, what am I supposed to say? Yeah, we fully – I fully –
EXPECT TO WIN every game I’ve ever competed in. I mean, THAT’S what
sports is all about. That’s what the NFL is [all about]. Trust me, I
understand how HARD it is. THEY’RE working hard, WE’RE working hard.
But we’re CLEARLY planning on going to Washington to win the game.
There’s no doubt about that.” – Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy
(tempering his initial message with context but insisting his target
audience, his team, was not unworthy).
YES, Yes, yes – press clippings completely aside (where fantasy and
reality do occasionally collide) – division games sometimes (but not
always-and-historically) seem harder to solve, yet Dallas is often
spared that excuse for their almost-routine inability to rise above
“teams you should beat” by showing you can willingly AND willfully
evolve.
While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense “contributed” 21 points towards
the Cowboys’ 28-20 win, unimaginative game plans and incompetent,
err, incomplete (?) results were seemingly still living in sin.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
Dallas' offense scored five times (four field goals and ONE
touchdown) out of 14 possessions, and while That Washington Team's
defense (having suffered their own injury dents) were known to put
up a fearless fight (over the four-game win streak during which they
were alight), most of the issues facing Dak and Co. were simply more
internally-created transgressions.
Those problems (resulting in an intermittent decline since week
nine) involved an increasingly-normalized mix of play-call
selections (conservative-and-predictable when
creative-and-aggressive was energetically-needed and aggressive when
conservative should have been momentarily-heeded). Then there was
questionable communication that led to sloppy execution, or perhaps
it was the other way around (as the players and coaches – to their
collective credit – prefer to remain conveniently-vague rather than
snipe enough to force their "Well-Aligned" illusion to run aground).
There was plenty of sad (snaps, protections, rushes, play-extending
scrambles, reads, routes, throws) resulting in turnovers and blown
opportunities so bad, and somewhat-shared blame to be had.
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"The Tortured Cowboys Fan" – to the “sunshine and rainbows”
loyalist-eye-rolls of the myopic contingent of Cowboys Nation –
continues to focus on the HOW and WHEN Dak and Co. struggle to
deliver on their (now-former?) "Number ONE Offense in the NFL"
designation. Your per-game points and (passing, rushing, return)
yards can come in at a MASSIVE average, but if they are (even
infrequently) produced at the wrong time, the (well-earned?)
ridicule can still, STILL be MERCILESSLY savage.
If your “Thunder ‘N Lightning” ground attack has already been put on
its injury-riddled back (and the struggle at left guard remains
frustratingly hard), is it ever, Ever, EVER wise to stubbornly-stay
with a short list of comparatively-deficient “next man up” guys (or
should your offensive coordinator DARE to pull out one, two, a few,
or all the stops on an aerial surprise)? Does the modern day, 2021
over-the-top-oriented NFL not command one-and-all of its 32 teams to
potently produce-by-pass on-demand?
“Well, um, maybe Kellen Moore is just saving his best plays for when
the Cowboys reach the playoffs?” you impishly suggest (knowing that
it will be all for naught if Dallas reaches “The Tournament” with
insufficient momentum for those cleverly-cloaked plays to
successfully payoff). While “saving myself for marriage, err, saving
my most magical plays for the postseason” has become a
hysterically-common social media refrain, an offensive coordinator
who cannot reasonably pivot – in planning, in practice, in-game, and
during the next game – may continue to leave quite a stain (with
available players perhaps continuing to be unable or unwilling to
make a risky adjustment to stave off the production pain).
Even when it IS the height of morbidly-misplaced arrogance to “save
plays” for a rainy day, Kellen Moore’s 2021 offense still, STILL
requires a RELIABLY-HEALTHY, FULLY-AVAILABLE STARTING 11 to
efficiently (or even reasonably) make play after play. And –
definitively NO – the quality of their currently-remaining opponents
does not remotely seem to matter. There are no gimme games when your
unreliable offense is determined to intermittently splatter.
If your ground attack is injury-lame, but your pass protection has
not unreasonably gone up in flame while one or more of your
receivers remains safely in-frame, should your quarterback still be
(reasonably-and-accurately) game? If your quarterback is fully,
really, truly recovered from both his horrifying 2020 ankle injury
AND his calf strain – and by the same token – should he be
physically able and mentally willing to manipulate the pocket or
even scramble when the ground game is broken? The absence (however
momentary?) of a sustainable running game compels all available
options to keep opposing defenses from sitting back and saying:
“Ohhh! Looky HERE! Just more of the predictable same!”
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“And then, And Then, AND THEN,” the absence of a reliable rushing
attack only encourages, ENCOURAGES more defenses to rush four down
linemen, allow their linebackers to fill the running lane / shallow
route gaps, and allow their secondary to sit on more or ALL of
(Kellen’s and Dak’s bread and butter) intermediate-to-deep crossers.
When your key, available receivers (in CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup,
Amari Cooper, Dalton Schultz, and Cedrick Wilson) inconsistently run
their patterns Jerry-Rice-HARD (as distractively-alleged by GM
Jerry) or camping corners and sitting safeties force them to alter
their collective flight path (and neither your targets nor your
quarterback are in enough rhythm to apply their adjustment wrath),
the entire offense looks like a bunch of tossers. There must, MUST
be a happier medium that – fair or unfair – is intermittently or
increasingly Dak’s cross to bear. If the continued absence of a
serviceable running game (beyond still-IMMENSELY-valuable auxiliary
blocking) forces Dak to survey more of the field and more of his
targets more of the time – without a consistent, less-fearful desire
to extend or escape from the pocket (thus triggering the defense to
uncomfortably pop out of its read-and-react socket) – there will
continue to be helpless, untimely, series-stunting samples of
offense-on-offense crime.
Kellen, Dak, and “what remains of their unit’s physically-healthy,
mentally-able, and game day available” cannot continue to seemingly
insist, Insist, INSIST that everything must be rigidly perfect in
order to prop up a system or – GASP – player to great inflexible
effect just to avoid a currently-common defect.
While on the subject of how to solve the riddle of the Cowboys’
perfect-or-little-to-nothing strife, The Tortured Cowboys Fan has NO
desire to miserably twist the knife but DOES continue to
obnoxiously, err, objectively harangue, as the alternative remains
the dopey, happy-go-lucky, ignorant rub-my-belly thang.
“What about the defense? HOW are they held blameless in a game with
an ending so potentially-DANGEROUS?!” you squawk (injecting a rather
weak dose of “whataboutism” while knowing, KNOWING a near-failure to
FINISH by an otherwise much-improved Dallas defense would not make
talk of a besieged offense subside or diminish).
"The Mighty Quinns" – further strengthened by the return of
defensive end DeMarcus "Tank" Lawrence, defensive end Randy Gregory,
and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in consecutive weeks (with
all three of them beyond-eager to start long-term availability
streaks) – proactively procured five sacks, four tackles for loss,
three fumbles, two interceptions, and they might as well have been
credited with picking up a partridge in a pear tree as part of their
performance spree.
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The Mighty Quinns – for the better part of three FULL quarters –
were far from dazzling demonstration hoarders. Less than a minute
after Dak nearly lost a fumble and then threw the first interception
of an ugly two, Randy Gregory found his inner Ed “Too Tall” Jones to
bat a pass by Washington’s starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke AND
collected the interception oh-so-quickly. One series later,
“linebacker” Micah Parsons and defensive end Dorance Armstrong would
become great collaborators. “Marvelous Micah” would more-than-manage a
strip-sack, and Dorance would delightfully-deliver an almost Jim-Jeffcoat-like
touchdown rumble of that resultant fumble snack. And yet, AND YET,
all that QUINNtessential domination did not come free of “prevent
defense” constipation.
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After the Cowboys collectively built up a 24-0 halftime lead – and
though it is common to expect some “TRY ANYTHING” adjustments by an
NFL-qualified opponent seeking a hint of atonement – at issue is the
way in which Dallas defenders nearly allowed a game-losing bleed.
While Dak and Co. would generate no more than ONE second-half,
three-point score, The Mighty Quinns would allow – why, yes, allow
(effectively and with inconceivable purpose) – That Washington Team
to produce 20 consecutive bones of their own, making Cowboys Nation
unnecessarily nervous. With Washington quarterback Heinicke exiting
early in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, one might have
expected The Mighty Quinns to smell even more blood in the water,
make their pursuit even hotter, and display that most-taboo of
Dallas Cowboys topics: “killer instinct” urgency.
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“Geez! You and your holier-than-thou
‘Realistic Perspective
Or Unfair Invective’! Can even a SINGLE player or unit on the Dallas Cowboys do
anything, ANYTHING right in your brutally-judgmental eyes?!” you
almost defensively disguise (perhaps expecting your weekly “hopes
and prayers” to deflect from the fact that – in the absence of a
reasonable offensive, defensive, special teams blend to more
flexibly bend – at least ONE of those units must take the
overburdened step of allowing a
killer instinct to finally,
relentlessly realize). Again and again, after over a quarter century
of the Cowboys’ offense often being forced to take an
over-corrective center stage – and, now, with the latest iteration
of the Cowboys’ defense appearing ready to routinely RAGE – it is
not “the offense’s turn to take a long-overdue siesta.” Not with the
NFL being (momentarily or cyclically?) all about the offensive
fiesta.
Taking, Err, Talking Heat Over A Sideline Seat?
The Cowboys’ equipment managers evidently learned from their Seattle
Seahawks counterparts (who played at FedEx Field at the end of
November), and Washington’s benches – according to Seattle – were
something to coldly forget rather than warmly remember. The existing
benches were not in “great working order,” thus compelling GM Jerry
and son Stephen to contact a third party – “Dragon Seats” – to ship
in their own satisfactory, logo-adorned sideline seating to ensure
sufficient heating.
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“We as a franchise, we as the Cowboys, we put it out there [and in
your face at an exhaustive marketing pace]. We [laughably] KNOW we
do. We [FORCE] folks to look at us, be INTERESTED in us, FOLLOW us.
We know a bunch of people look at us, because they’d LIKE to see us
lose. THAT’S sport. THAT creates excitement. I like all this kind of
additional color to the interest in this game.” – GM Jerry “Barnam”
Jones (flaunting his always-hilarious set of massively-successful
monetary stones).
Good Quote Or Bad Bloat?
"The defense has been lights out, been fun to watch, kinda’ got us
out of some holes. So, it’s kind of time for us to pick up our end
and get this thing rolling as a full team." – Cowboys right
offensive guard Zack Martin (acknowledging the obvious and the need
to keep the offense from increasingly smartin’).
"I don't want to say [he’s in a] slump, but that's probably fair.
It's such a multifaceted evaluation [when trying desperately to
spare your starting quarterback from an improvisational, inorganic,
“raise all boats” expectation]. I would say that our offense is
definitely away from where we were 5-6 weeks ago. Yes, he is
[healthy]. He'll figure it out." – GM Jerry in an interview with
105.3FM “The Fan” (knowing full-well that it is Kellen Moore who
must quickly develop a plan to expand Prescott’s comfort level and
prevent further offensive-malfunctioning spouts).
"Yeah, he’s healthy. He’s a little sore. He took a few hits in the
game, but yeah, he’s healthy." – Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy
(when asked – for the umpteenth time – if Dak Prescott is hiding
any, ANY sort of physical injury). It would – of course – be
furiously frowned upon if an injury cover-up has been and continues
to be a or THE reason that Dak has not recently appeared so
in-game-mentally sublime. The more a zero-injury existence for
Prescott is spelled out by McCarthy and even Kellen Moore, the
greater the pressure for Kellen and Dak to ensure their
(previously-productive) hive mind can restore.
"A little bit too much of a dip probably." – Cowboys offensive
coordinator Kellen Moore (begrudgingly admitting to a
bigger-than-desired challenge on HIS hands, oh-so-vaguely).
Did a prominent, well-respected voice from the Dallas Cowboys’ past
twice, TWICE put Dak on blast? No, not if you look carefully with
quality sight.
“I think he’s a GREAT LEADER for the team. I think the team REALLY
rallies around him. So, he IS a positive influence there. Before the
injury, he could make plays with his legs. He could run the
football, and he fit into their system. He HAS had problems, at
times, being accurate. But, with that receiving corps, he gets
people open. I like Dak. I think he CAN win you a championship, if
he has great players around him. I don’t think Dak can carry a
football team if he doesn’t have great players around him.” – NFL
Hall Of Famer, two-time Super Bowl winner, and former Dallas Cowboys
head coach Jimmy Johnson on 03-09-2021 on FOX Sports’ "The Herd"
(following the signing of Prescott's long-awaited four-year deal and
in an effort to keep the Cowboys’ championship prospects real).
"I think, in Dallas, the expectations are (WAY UP) HERE regardless
[of] who the quarterback is . . . ya' know but 'cause they have so
much visibility, and ya' know, [GM Jerry’s marketing machine and the
team’s frenetic fans] pump it up pretty good. Um, as far as Dak, his
strength, his NUMBER ONE strength is he is a GREAT leader for that
football team. Uh, and ya' know, what's happened with Dak is he CAN
win you a championship IF you’ve got REALLY GOOD players around him.
And they've had some injuries with the running game. They’re NOT
running the football as well as they did, ya' know, a year ago, or
before Dak got injured, and, uh, when they’re running the football,
those play-action passes, Dak is REALLY GOOD. Ya' know, a little
play action, ya' know, one, two, throw it, and get rid of it. But
when he’s gotta’ drop back and start READING THE WHOLE FIELD and
make [more fluid, improvisational] decisions about where he’s
throwing the football, and the defense, they're not, ya' know,
they're NOT slowing down for the run, because the running game has
been injured, the defense, they’re rushing the passer. They're
putting pressure on him to make a decision RIGHT AWAY, [and under
those circumstances] he’s not near as good. So, he CAN win you a
championship, but they better get [a healthy, better-performing
version of] the running game back.” – Former Dallas Cowboys head
coach Jimmy Johnson on 12-13-2021 on FOX Sports’ "The Herd"
(following the Cowboys’ “truly offensive” performance against
Washington and how Dallas’ ground attack – rather than forcing
Prescott to aggressively-adopt a broader capability track – must
quickly improve by the ton).
“It just kind of holds me in place. A lot of times when I’m kind of
getting gimpy or banged up is when I kind of get rolled up, rolled
on, or [defenders] just land on my knee. I think the brace gives me
more stability.” – Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott (on
having to continue wearing a right knee brace with injury
inevitability, just in case).
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"Hey! Look around these stands, men! The [well-traveled Cowboys]
fans have already started the takeover! THIS is a takeover! Anything
that [moves] between these lines gotta' get dealt with! Defense!
Handle your business! When [you’re] on the field, it's ELEVEN WARS!
Win your war! Win your battle! Show them THIS is a heavyweight, and
THIS is OUR division! Turn this sh-t UP, here! Turn THIS SH-T UP,
HERE! Team on three! One, Two, THREE, TEAM!" – Dak Prescott in the
pregame team huddle (urging HIS team to turn their latest opponent
into an uncompetitive puddle).
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“I was at home, in my bed, when I saw that play
[from 2020 during
which Washington linebacker Jon Bostic absolutely BLASTED
then-Cowboys-quarterback Andy Dalton]. Man, it just irked me [that
practically no one from the offensive line immediately rushed to his
aid or went after Bostic]. It made me feel some kind of way. You
DON'T take cheap shots on guys. We DON'T play that type of game. We
just line it up, and we go out there, and we play ball. We DON'T
play dirty. We DON'T do none of that. But at the end of the day,
we’re not going to take no [EXPLICATIVE].” – Cowboys left tackle
La'el Collins (referencing a failure to protect a former teammate
last year and – in protecting Dak Prescott in 2021 – neither an
ejection nor ANOTHER potential suspension would strike sufficient
fear before retaliation was done).
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“You don’t know if it’s a championship defense UNTIL YOU WIN A
CHAMPIONSHIP, so we will just see. I think we have the players in
the locker room to do it.” – Cowboys hybrid safety Jayron Kearse and
Quinn’s defensive signal caller (indirectly acknowledging that it
will take more than an improved defense for America’s Team to make their
long-stalled return to being a Super Bowl mauler).
Misery Loves Viruses And Injury
After momentarily enjoying the idea of their entire roster and
coaching staff being free of COVID-19, the situation has once again
become (inescapably?) unclean.
Rookie defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and third-year defensive
tackle Trysten Hill have given sway towards the COVID protocol way
and will be unavailable for the Cowboys' next game day.
Left tackle Tyron Smith soldiered through his existing ankle injury
until the third quarter (when his left leg was rolled and his
continued availability ran cold). While he has been ruled out for
the next game day bout, the Cowboys’ medical staff – as has been the
case for years every time Tyron would trigger injury fears – hopes
to magically manage (so as to better-ensure the man mountain’s
availability to help prevent postseason passing pocket damage).
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence went from suddenly managing a(nother)
foot injury to being game day ready. Another serious situation –
within the same foot (?!) – may have made his welcomed, late-season
comeback go completely kaput.
Wide receiver Noah Brown – the groin-injured reserve with plenty of
productivity nerve – remains on short-term injured reserve. It would
seem – according to Mike McCarthy – that it may be right as the
postseason is set to begin that he would possibly return to the
team.
Veteran running back Tony Pollard – who missed the Washington game
continues to deal with a plantar fasciitis tear that may, May, MAY
cause him to miss the next contest just the same. He is supposedly a
game-time decision and – with the condition of his running mate
still up for debate – the Cowboys’ offense would love to avoid some,
ANY booboo remission. Pollard – just like a healthy Zeke – remains a
constant reminder of the limitations of Kellen Moore’s system. If
you must, MUST have your ABSOLUTE BEST to succeed, “someone” may
have the Cowboys’ offensive players continue to play the victim and
suffer more and more a “perfect is the enemy of good” opportunity
bleed. Kellen and Dak – again and again – must learn how to make
MORE from less rather than LESS from less, or they will NEVER solve
their perfection-only mess.
Will They Or Won’t They?
America’s Team took care of business in “The District” by ensuring
more pain on That Washington Team they did, indeed, inflict. They
now look to tackle another division rival in the Big Apple. Check
that. The Dallas Cowboys head to MetLife Stadium (AKA “the swamp”)
to face another injury-challenged, COVID-constricted, mistake-minded
New York Giants team whom “Big D” aims to whomp.
Their first face-off at AT&T Stadium this season was none-too-pleasin’
(if you were a Giants fan). Now that offensive coordinator (and
former Cowboys head coach) Jason Garrett is a couple weeks in New
York’s rearview mirror, will Giants head coach Joe Judge
significantly budge their offensive plan? Will it even matter, as
(with or WITHOUT quarterback Daniel Jones) New York could not look
any sadder? What about that veteran of check collection, journeyman
Mike Glennon? You must be kiddin’.
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The Giants signed former Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith. After
being unceremoniously cut by Dallas, and following a brief stop in
Green Bay where he did not find his calling, the Giants were
shorthanded at linebacker, and Jaylon may be active for yet another
chance to prove his he is no mere “workout warrior” myth but a
still-promising defensive attacker. YES, Yes, yes, “there is a
bridge in Brooklyn I could sell ya,” and it would appear that only
through “Clear Eye View” custom eyewear will success find that
big-hearted fella’.
Will Kellen Moore and a determined Dak attempt to overcorrect, or
will they continue to take the same slow-and-steady approach even
when Kellen’s perfect-personnel-or-bust plan is far from beyond
reproach?
Will the “Connor Bros” – Williams and McGovern – be kept awhile on
an inconsistent left guard turnstile, or will offensive line coach
Joe Philbin prescribe to the “Highlander” theme of “there can be
only one” in order to help Dak and Co. get things done?
Will The Mighty Quinns continue with their crushing “Collections
Agency,” and will the absence of more defensive tackle depth create
more ferocious urgency?
We shall see. We always do.
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