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2016-2017 Regular Season:
Denying Gold Diggers And
Catching Tigers By Their Toes
- October 7, 2016 At 9:15 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- While the Dallas Cowboys – in
successive weeks – had
successfully evaded a Skin job and a Bear trap, they were next facing another
seemingly inferior San Francisco 49ers team on which they still
could not afford to nap.
The Cowboys arrived at Levis Stadium minus the availability of
several talented players due to injury (Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, Dez
Bryant, La’el Collins) and stupidity (DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy
Gregory, Rolando McClain) . . . but it mattered not to so many fans
well-traveled who faintly recalled a rich playoff history.
The Dallas Cowboys versus the San Francisco 49ers triggers mighty
memories . . . good, bad, and – sometimes – downright sad.
Toe-To-Toe With An Old Playoff Foe
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” – in ANY particular mention of the 49ers
– always becomes instantly miffed . . . after still-vivid flashbacks
from the 1994 NFC Championship game – where one of the Cowboys’
all-time greats, one of the most deadly accurate quarterbacks in NFL
history, Troy Aikman, started off so out-of-frame and left Cowboys
Nation (and even the most myopic of members) feeling so suddenly
stiffed.
“America’s Team” should have gone to (and most likely won) three
consecutive Super Bowls and possibly four. There is no question . .
. and even the vilest haters – on this point – would be epically
weak debaters.
Instead, the 49ers were spotted 21 points (one score by interception
and two more by uncharacteristic fumble) and a lesser team might
have put themselves to bed . . . feeling horribly humble. The
Cowboys – to no one’s surprise – fought back against the story of
their imminent demise and might have pulled off an amazing victory .
. . if not for – among other things – the loss of Emmitt Smith to a
pair of worn out hamstrings, Deion Sanders ‘subtle’ drape of his arm
over Michael Irvin’s arms and chest, and two more Aikman
interceptions which took an unfortunate trajectory. The “Candlestick
Collapse” that should have been . . . finally succumbed to 38-28
49ers victory and their own Super Bowl din.
Fast forward to September 2011 – following a last minute crash and
burn against the New York Jets – Tony Romo and the Cowboys were
looking to redeem themselves against none other than a 49ers team –
coached by Jim Harbaugh – that was gaining some serious steam.
While there was significantly less on the line – in that regular
season contest – Romo was infamously ‘mined’ by the 49ers, having to
leave the game with a couple fractured ribs and a partially collapse
lung . . . and as anyone present would have readily confessed, he
surely felt like dung. After watching a game-tying Jon Kitna
touchdown, enduring two Kitna turnovers, and watching the Dallas
defense hold on for dear life, Romo returned to drag himself and his
team into overtime where – with the help of Michael Irvin disciple
Jesse Holley and hair-trigger kicker Dan Bailey – he would end the
game-long strife . . . with a 27-24 gen pop knife.
The Cowboys and 49ers have a history alright, a laundry list of
achievements (Super Bowl, NFC Championship, and division titles)
over which to delight – and giving current and future teams plenty
of competitive reasons for which to continue their (seemingly)
eternal fight . . . going toe-to-toe with an old playoff foe.
A Little Green In 2016
Coming full circle to the fourth contest of the current season, the
Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers – like the rest of a pro
football league suffering from injury fatigue – were engaged in a
battle of attrition.
Dallas showed up with a sizeable percentage of its salary cap suited
up . . . in civvies and – before the day was done – Dan Bailey would
potentially become another one . . . with his back suddenly
tightening and creating another injury for the Cowboys to be
fighting.
Dallas fell behind 14-0 through the middle of quarter number two,
after stalling on what was shaping up to be good first series
movement. Dan missed a “Bailey gimme” 47-yard field goal which
offered no improvement.
Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott – for the third time this season –
would “get by with a little help from their (offensive) friends” to
show a national television audience how rookies could “forget the
Oreos, eat Cool J cookies” . . . and sustain the Cowboys’ early
season success in the absence of so many vets on which Las Vegas
might normally prefers to place its bets. Dak would wrack up another
quality day with 245 yards, two touchdown passes, and more efficient
play.
Beasley was - once again - serving the opposing defense a delicious
"lump of Cole" . . . especially a 47-yarder that exposed another
49ers defensive hole. Jason Witten continued to collect more of the
tough underbelly yardage . . . leaving 49ers defenders to grasp at
loose grass garbage. Terrance Williams continued his clean recovery
from his week one brain fart and post-game effrontery. Brice (The)
Butler did it - enjoying his first complete game participation since
joining the team . . . making multiple catches and scoring a vital
touchdown in his effort to fill Dez Bryant's temporarily vacant
stream. Zeke, Keith Smith, and Lance Dunbar pitched in a few more
catches, taking advantage of easy mismatches.
And once 49ers star linebacker NaVorro Bowman exited in the third
quarter due to injury (a ruptured Achilles tendon), Zeke began to
pile up his 138 yards ever more quickly. Alfred "A-Train" Morris
chipped in nearly 40 more to keep the rushing game pedal to the
floor. Rookies – after all – are supposed to be a little green . . .
but this dynamic duo – against defenses that will increasingly
attempt to confuse and stack the line – performs better and better
every time they are seen.
Marinelli’s Men continued to struggle a bit until the second quarter
. . . when they finally focused in and established some defensive
order.
Sean Lee had to spend significant time shadowing both the 49ers
running back Carlos Hyde and QB Blaine Gabbert – who is about as
mobile as they come . . . to offset some of his passing accuracy so
dumb. While the century mark Hyde was prevented from cracking, the
way he gained most of his hard-charging yards – later in the game
and against defenders poorly tackling – still made the chances of a
Dallas victory look fairly dark.
Brandon Carr – by and large – did what Marinelli has asked of him .
. . but – without consistent (or any) pressure from the defensive
line – it remains understandably frustrating (to all who care) to
see no better approach than “keep the receiver in front of you (if
you dare).” Carr continues to allow at least one vehicle’s distance
. . . avoid an aggressive tailgating of receivers out of the fear
his traffic jam will offer no resistance. Until Marinelli’s Men
become healthy and complete again . . . Carr will spend most of his
time running around the lions, err, receivers den.
Morris Claiborne – with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the
fourth quarter – collected his first interception since facing the
(then-St. Louis) Rams in 2014 . . . one game before he ruptured his
patella tendon (during a Cowboys' 2014 home victory against the New
Orleans Saints). While Claiborne’s play has always been aggressive,
he is long overdue in development as an interception hoarder.
J.J. Wilcox – the equivalent of a muscle car with poor handling
charged with maneuvering in a secondary so demanding – made what was
for him a truly incredible and timely pass deflection . . . when –
early in the fourth quarter – he miraculously zeroed in on a slotted
Jeremy Kerley with just the right amount of receiver detection.
The Cowboys continued their realignment experiment with defensive
tackle Tyrone Crawford, asking him to play left defensive end.
Though he registered one sack, his performance continues to lack
that critical performance blend. Everyone – from fans to coaches to
prognosticators – have been rightly disappointed with Crawford’s
overpaid, under-delivered results . . . but his numbers may – sadly
– have just as much to do with the absence of his suspended teammate
dolts.
Dallas won 24-17 in the latest edition of two historical titans
attempting to regain their former glory . . . with one organization
seemingly on its way back up and the other resembling something
gory.
The entire league seems under siege by a nasty combination of
injuries and suspensions . . . and the Cowboys must continue making
their available pieces work in unison, regardless of approach or
convention.
While They Or Won’t They?
The Cincinnati Bengals come to town . . . representing the
latest-and-greatest test for a Dallas Cowboys team that – through a
quarter of the 2016 season – has increasingly shown an ability to
find ways to win while keeping fan smiles from turning upside down.
The Cowboys approach of controlling the football and time of
possession . . . may – against a potent Bengals offense – be forced
into (some) recession.
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- Cincinnati's Andy Dalton (while
historically inconsistent) has been able to do more than enough and
on more than one occasion - with running backs Giovani Bernard and
Jeremy Hill and star wide receiver A.J. Green . . . to make defenses
pine for vacation.
While defensive end David Irving remains out with a concussion,
promising linebacker Mark Nzeocha may finally make his regular
season debut (after suffering a preseason Achilles strain) . . . but
will he potentially be leading a defensive recovery procession with
Jack Crawford, and Andrew Gachkar on the "gut it out" train?
Will (still new) defensive line ‘tweener Ryan Davis get more
opportunities at defensive end, linebacker . . . or anywhere from
which he can become another productive attacker?
Will Marinelli’s Men – once again – be able to overcome the (roster)
impairment of the injured and the stupidity of the suspended to make
their available pieces work . . . to avoid the Bengals’ end zone
twerk?
Will Morris Claiborne be left alone on A.J. Green . . . so that
Byron Jones can partner with Brandon Carr (to prevent Brandon from
backing off too incredibly far)? Will J.J. Wilcox demonstrate two
consecutive games of professional growth . . . or will have revert
back to honoring his zero-handling muscle car oath?
“Fred(rick) And The Blockheads” – in their former mold with Ronald
Leary . . . will have their hands full with no time to get teary.
La’el Collins has undergone surgery for his injury and – as many
fear – he may be gone for the rest of the year. Tyron Smith –
herniated disc, stingers, and all – may be able to give it a go . .
. but the team must be careful, lest they are forced to pursue a
season-ending surgery call.
Will Dak Prescott continue to expand his playbook usage enough to
make Vontaze Burfict (fresh off a three game suspension) and the
rest of an aggressive Bengals defense perform imperfect?
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- Will Dallas catch these tigers by
their toes? If the Cowboys' players continue to answer play-calling
prayers . . . maybe, but who knows?
We shall see. We always do.
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