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2016-2017 Regular Season:
Tigers Tamed And Pushing Towards
Packers
- October 14, 2016 At 11:27 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Distraction From Satisfaction
2016 has been a year chock full of distraction . . . with so many
fans chasing after the “what-ifs” that might impact their desired
level of satisfaction.
“What if Dak Prescott continues to win?”
“What if Dak suddenly struggles in a key game? Would the Cowboys
really pull the pin . . . inserting a healed-but-fragile Romo only
to – once again – risk him pulling up lame?”
"What if – as the season wears on – teams watch more tape of Dak by
the metric ton? What if this year’s remaining opponents adjust their
defensive schemes to Dak’s limitations to apply undesirable
aggravations?”
“Will Tony be allowed to reclaim his starting role when cleared to
play (even if Dak continues to confidently keep defenses at bay)?
Will Romo's dog be allowed to have his day?”
“Will Marinelli’s Men continue to string together strong defensive
performances – with the help of Linehan’s ball-control offense – or
will we start to see some familiar game day abhorrence’s?”
“Is Morris Claiborne simply putting on a contract year show? Will
the Cowboys see enough – by season’s end – to decide against telling
him to go? Will Mo (finally) remain healthy enough to play all 16
contests and encourage the Cowboys to further invest?”
“What if Dez Bryant is out for much longer? Will Cole Beasley,
Terrance Williams, and Brice Butler continue – in his absence – to
grow sufficiently stronger?”
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” – for now – has a simple solve from which
Cowboys Nation can iteratively evolve: “Who knows? Why not watch and
find out how far this version of the Dallas Cowboys goes?”
While some fair weather and fantasy-focused fans were busy
distracting themselves with curiosities – from typical to a bit more
mission critical – the Dallas Cowboys had soundly defeated the
visiting Cincinnati Bengals at a steady 28-14 velocity.
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- Even (some) hardcore fans of “America’s Team” seem out of sorts . .
. and unsure of how or why two rookies and a selection of role
players have – in four consecutive weeks – been able to successfully
fill key starters’ shorts.
You Are Who You Choose To Be
Former NFL head coach (to the New York Giants, New England Patriots,
New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys) Bill “The Big Tuna” Parcells has
made many memorable statements in his time . . . one of which is:
“You are what your record says you are.”
The Cowboys were 3-1, seemingly hitting their stride, and
potentially a ways from being done.
The Cincinnati Bengals arrived at AT&T Stadium as – thus far – the
Cowboys most potent opponent.
Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, Giovani Bernard, and Jeremy
Hill . . . oftentimes presented defenses with a bitter offensive
pill.
Vontaze Burfict, Carlos Dunlap, Adam Jones, and Dre Kirkpatrick . .
. welcomed offenses to the jungle with many an aggressive tactic.
Though the Bengals had been struggling – leading up to this game –
most folks expected them (against a low-risk, no-pizzazz,
ball-control offense and an overachieving band of Marinelli’s Merry
Men) to course correct their early season bungling.
Prognosticators and a significant portion of Cowboys Nation were
prepared to agree – following the Cowboys’ battle with the Bengals –
“Absolutely right . . . and the Cowboys fought hard (as expected)
but lost the fight.”
Not only did the Cowboys win, they dominated from the moment the
head zebra told both teams to begin. While The Tortured Cowboys Fan
never appreciates the “prevent (you from winning) defense” that Rod
Marinelli was using in the fourth quarter . . . the Bengals were in
28-0 hell before Dalton dialed up two late touchdowns with wide
receiver LaFell.
Marinelli’s Men sacked the “Red Rifle” four times and applied enough
game-long pressure to reduce him to a no-fun squirt gun. While
defensive end DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence – fresh off his four-game
suspension – did not register on the game stats, the extra attention
he commanded had allowed Terrell McClain, Benson Mayowa, Cedric
Thornton, and Jack Crawford to apply plenty of hard-hitting hats.
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- Double or even triple one . . . and the others will have an easier
time getting their job done. It was particularly good to see the
Cowboys get more production out of Cedric . . . who had been
struggling – up until that point – to turn the money-earning trick
(whether on the road or back in Jerry’s joint).
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- One of the other key reasons for Dallas’ defensive line resurgence
was more improvement from their still-scorned secondary and quite
possibly the best performance of Morris “Claymore” Claiborne’s
career. He gave no quarter to the receivers he covered and – by
game’s end – was telling even more of his doubters to “stick it in
your ear!” While The Tortured Cowboys Fan LOVES him some
interceptions, Claymore’s two tips were absolutely elegant. Rookie
corner Anthony Brown still continues to steadily show why the
Cowboys brought him to town.
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- Marinelli’s Men – as has seemingly been the case since Rod first
took the defensive coordinator post – continue to play against a
missing personnel ghost. The less time they must spend on the field,
the better their performance yield. A time-consuming offense is
exactly what they continue to need to deliver the defensive goods as
a talent-limited breed.
The Cowboys’ time-tested offense – (still) led by the dynamic duo of
Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliott while dealing with more injury-driven
plug-and-play . . . continued their steady run-to-pass approach that
allows them – save for occasional errors by certain players – to
have their way.
Dak delivered two touchdowns – one by ground and another by air – on
a highly-efficient 227 yards on 18 of 24 passing attempts . . . and
from interceptions he remained amazingly exempt. Terrance Williams
continued his studious recovery from game one with another solid
effort before the game was done.
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- "Stealth" Beasley delivered another
"lump of Cole" score that left fans shouting for more. Jason Witten
was his reliable self - collecting the game's longest reception -
and helping Zeke, Brice Butler, and Rod Smith put Cincinnati's
defense on the shelf.
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- Zeke ran up another 134 yards on just 15 carries . . . and - lately,
no matter the defensive front - his output simply does not vary.
Zeke had one touchdown up close and personal . . . and another one
that went the distance for 60 yards that was just sensational. It
was reminiscent of Emmitt Smith's long touchdown run against the New
York Giants on Monday Night Football back in 1996 . . . leaving
Cowboys Nation with a similarly satisfying fix.
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- A-Train Morris and even Lucky Whitehead got in on the running game
action before the Bengals were completely worn out and put to bed.
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- And it was pure gravy that Dan
Bailey – while still recovering from Tyron Smith's spinal pain
contagion – appeared to be "back" to makin' 'em daily. The Cowboys'
touchdowns-only performance allowed Dan to avoid having to seriously
weigh in.
More than the critical “Next Man Up” messaging Jason Garrett
regularly attempts to instill towards the ultimate goals his team
may one day fulfill . . . Cowboys players are believing in
themselves more and more with every game and steadily reinforcing a
winning mind frame.
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- While football coaches – from high school to the pros – have been
known to expose their teams to feature films of certain themes to
help reinforce their hopes and dreams . . . fans should not be
surprised if Jason Garrett chose “Iron Giant” to keep them aware and
defiant.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Lambeau Field.
The Frozen Tundra.
Ice Bowl.
"He caught it!" No, sadly. According to the officials –
who may have followed the letter of the rule even though it made
them appear the fool – Dez lost his groove in failing to make a complete football move, and dropped it.
Though there were still about four-and-a-half minutes left . . . the
Packers would run out the clock – leaving the Cowboys helpless
to do any more than ponder such a horrific theft.
The Dallas Cowboys would go onto an awful, err, offseason in which
they CHOSE to extend the contract of but one of two critical
offensive players . . . rather than attempting to creatively satiate
both of them and answer fans’ prayers.
Dez held out but was delivered his dollars. He showed up to camp out
of condition and unprepared to avoid lurking attrition. He would not
participate long enough in 2015 – due to a Jones fracture – to take
his rightful place among key Dallas ballers.
DeMarco Murray was happy for Dez, but Murray – having been
unnecessarily low-ball dissed – was so highly pissed. He signed with
Philly and suffered through his own miserable Twilight Zone season
so incredibly silly.
Tony Romo – the Cowboys’ star QB, sneaky agile but so increasingly
fragile – was but for a handful of games a Dallas fixture that was
completely out of the picture.
As much as Cowboys Nation would LOVE to roll back the clock to 2014
to revise history . . . a stomach-churning 2015 remains part of the
story.
The last time Dallas faced Green Bay, the Packers - in almost every
facet of the game - had their way . . . and outside of Darren
McFadden's gutty 100+ yard game, Matt "Surrender The" Cassel and the
Cowboys were lame. The expected level of competition was simply not
the same.
This year - as 4-1 Dallas once more visits 3-2 Green Bay - they are
reloaded with increasing confidence and seemingly less to fear . . .
or so a struggling Aaron Rodgers might encourage the Cowboys and
their fans to believe (and hoping they would be foolish enough to
conceive).
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- While this time is expected to be
little different, both teams are still mixing various challenges and
improvements to remain resilient.
The Packers sport a significantly improved run defense allowing no
better than 43 yards per game. Will the “Best Offensive Line in Pro
Football” fall victim to the same . . . or will “Fred(rick) And The
Blockheads” continue to grate the grid iron for an electrifying Zeke
(who – as foretold and right on cue – is rounding into a rushing
freak)?
Will Tyron Smith be able to withstand lingering back issues . . . or
will the Cowboys – once more – have to reach for roster depth that
may cause fans to grab some tissues?
Will Dom Capers’ defensive crusaders succeed in fooling Dak Prescott
into his first crippling mistakes of the year . . . or will Dak
continue to display his cool, calm demeanor, making heady plays and
showing no fear?
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- Will Dak defy the Sports Illustrated
cover curse . . . or to Lambeau Field will they be calling a poor
performance hearse?
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- Will Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, and Brice Butler be able to
fight off expected jams and pressure . . . to be key catchers if
Jason Witten has to remain in to block by any measure?
Will Dez Bryant make an earlier-than-expected surprise appearance .
. . or will his (still) healing hairline fracture continue to cause
game day interference? If he does return, will Dez be ready to cut
loose on the Packers’ secondary and make ‘em burn?
Will Marinelli’s Men be able to duplicate against Aaron Rodgers the
defensive line life signs they displayed against the Bengals . . .
or will Rodgers – as he has in the past – force them to worry about
all possible angles?
Will DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence continue to draw more double-team
attention . . . allowing his defensive line mates increasing
opportunities for sack invention? Will the Cowboys’ only (available)
edge rusher be able to participate in sack collection, too . . . and
really show Cowboys Nation what a well-rested player –one game
removed from suspension – can do?
Will a revitalized secondary – led by a seemingly reborn Mo
Claiborne – play large enough against potent Packers aerial
attackers to allow the defensive line a lighter load to carry?
With Green Bay’s running backs working through injury . . . will
Sean Lee and company have an easier time with them and be able to
focus more on Rodgers to prevent him from performing his usual
surgery?
Will the zebras – with Dean Blandino in his ear to “help steer”
– work his officiating magic once more?
Will Dallas take care of business, continue their winning streak
fun, and enter their bye week at 5-1?
We shall see. We always do.
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