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2017-2018 Regular Season: Chargers Extend Dallas’
Strife By Carving Up Cowboys With Electric Knife . . . And
Potentially Fighting Redskins For Their Playoff Life
- November 28, 2017 At 9:23 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- “The Tortured Cowboys Fan” is prideful about producing
near-unending rhymes and many a pun . . . but it becomes harder and
harder to do when “America’s Team” – in the midst of a three-game
losing run – is continuously failing to generate even the slightest
hint of game-winning fun.
While (most but not all of) Cowboys Nation is loyally straining to
detect from their team that critical game-winning thirst . . . the
Cowboys – from (an occasionally truth-impaired) owner to coaches
(stubbornly sticking to the process) to players (often looking
confused and showing little progress) – as an organization appear to be playing “Who’s
On First?”
Warped logic suggests the Cowboys are actually due for another
three-game streak. You know – three games up, three games down,
followed by three more games up . . . but – better to temper
expectations than prematurely freak (at a fast-approaching fourth consecutive
loss comet) and projectile vomit.
Seriously, though . . . everyone – from fair-weather fans to
prognosticators to armchair professors (like yours truly) – can
insist THE problem is the absence of suspended star running back
Ezekiel Elliott, but that would be ignoring the roster-readiness
truth so ugly. The Los Angeles Chargers’ 28-6 Thanksgiving Day
carving of the Cowboys exposed still more proof . . . that an
inflexible game plan will continue to put
available-but-skill-stifled players in position to succeed, err,
horrifically goof.
Coaches And Appoaches
The solution to the Cowboys’ communicable case of MONO (Maddeningly
Obtuse Nonsensical Offense) remains the same . . . with a convenient
mix of ANY creative, situational play-calling and (far more)
efficient play execution towards at least winning their sixth game.
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- As much as Cowboys Nation may demand (and deserve that) they confess
and own their 5-6 mess . . . there is always just a bit more to the
story than a coach being (strongly) encouraged to adopt a serious
change in approach.
Are Jason “Reigning Coach Of The Year” Garrett and Scott Linehan
faced with half the offensive line health and quality to which –
over the past few years – they have normally been treated? Yes. Are
they faced with a highly-paid number one wide receiver with
separation anxiety who has (to the naked eye) physically devolved
into more of a power possession retriever?
Yes. Are they faced with relying on a stalwart, Hall Of Fame tight end who blocks his rear off,
used to regularly stretch defenses down the seam, and
now collects catch after catch as long as they are 10 yards or
less? Yes. Are they accommodating serviceable rock-toting fellas but not a
star-spangled running back . . . in the absence of “You Know Who” for
their ground game attack? Yes. They did, indeed, have
recently-retired, runner-and-receiver Darren "Run DMC" McFadden on
tap but – without (any) participation on kick and punt coverage –
the Cowboys decided they could no longer afford the running game
overage. Does Terrence Williams appear
more-than-willing to continue vacillating between reliable and
invisible (now that defenses are giving him more attention with Dez
no longer looking invincible)? Yes. Has Cole Beasley gone from
beating defenders so easily to getting opportunities so measly? Yes.
Should fans expect Brice Butler – by now – to have done enough with
his (still) intermittent chance to break away from his career-long
inconsistency dance? Yes.
“What about Dak Prescott” you say? No, he is not guilt-free. While he has
contributed his share to the current state of Cowboys play . . . some of your concerns
(or unrealistic desires?) he may never be able to completely allay.
Fans – from fair-weather to reasonable to myopic – may (and
typically do) insist
otherwise, but the majority of them expected and continue to expect
Prescott to have already written and directed his own Pro Bowl
biopic.
Dak has that one key thing with which few-to-no QB’s have ever begun
their NFL careers. He has – as actor Morgan Freeman likes to say –
that “stillness” . . . when so many other QB’s might succumb to
butterfly illness. Just as Tony Romo was compared (unfavorably and
unfairly?) to Troy Aikman . . . Dak will be compared to Romo until he has
at least achieved one playoff victory (much sooner than later?) and
– at most – fulfilled the
Cowboys’ dust-covered Super Bowl plan. Short of those results, there
will always be fans ready to view him like disposable toast.
Tony Romo – on the other hand – had one key problem . . . and that
was how often he was willing to bang his impulsivity drum. Romo –
otherwise and to all his receiving guys – could make ALL the throws,
with oodles of accuracy, and then some. Upon undergoing his 2014
low-impulse transformation, few-to-no realistic complaints were
uttered by an elated Cowboys Nation . . . save for those about
uncontrollable and unpredictable physical failure which played a
critical role in Romo’s
permanent (?) broadcasting vacation.
Prescott – though always giving it everything he has got – is
suddenly and completely error-fraught. Reliable accuracy or the deep
passing touch? From the looks of the last three weeks . . . not
much. Dak – "The Man Without Fear" and (GASP) in only his second year – is the
kind of QB who relies much more on systemic teamwork, which seems like an unacceptable quirk
. . . for many (but not all) within Cowboys Nation (so spoiled from
Romo "The Escapist" repeatedly turning a completely broken play into
a big scoring celebration).
Prescott – as a “bold statement” to deniers everywhere – may never
display Romo’s deep passing touch, or his ability to regularly
"throw receivers open," or his Houdini pocket
clairvoyance . . . but – if, IF he is allowed to continue
reasonably adjusting to his role as quarterback of
the present-and-future – his growing pains should become far less of an
impatient-fan annoyance.
No team or unit – even among the greatest in history – has
been absolutely perfect . . . but the coaching staff that does not
recognize (the need to establish) how better to utilize their available talent will
eventually find themselves viewed by the wrong check-signing
audience as a collective reject.
The solution to the Cowboys’ consistent case of ADD (Awful Defensive
Disorder) is familiar . . . but not quite as similar. While Rod
Marinelli is and has always been far more of a defensive line
specialist dressed in defensive coordinator’s clothing
(understandably generating further fan loathing) . . . it is far
more critical to (once again) acknowledge as true that Marinelli’s
current iteration of Monte Kiffin’s pioneering defense is simply
“Not Your Father’s Tampa
2.” Fabulous physical skill – without the reasonable mental capacity for
gap control and swarming zones – will make the most wonderfully
athletic specimens appear to have no game day stones . . . and leaving your fan base feeling particularly ill. On the flip side,
players who have the mind and the no-quit motor – but lack the
necessary physical prowess – also fail to fight off that game-losing
odor . . . and Marinelli – being given no quarter – cannot afford to
let that slide.
The 2014 Cowboys defense – playing all season with a ragtag crew of
street (or gutter?) free agent defensive linemen and without Sean
Lee – was quite an anomaly and partially misunderstood . . . as a
unit that (typically) spent a luxurious amount of time on the
sideline due to a powerful offense that regularly and reliably ate
up the game clock, scored almost at will, and applied the wood.
While Marinelli has shown a semi-regular willingness to flex his
system into a 3-2-6 dime (3-4 dime) . . . it will always be less
about modularity and more about mental mistakes and lousy habits
being THE crime.
The 2017 Cowboys defense sees defensive end David “Ed Too Tall Jones, Jr.”
Irving somewhat regularly getting pushed too far up field or simply over-pursuing
on running plays . . . forcing fellow end DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence
to unnecessarily navigate through even more of a double-team maze. Cornerback
Anthony “Handsy” Brown and linebacker Jaylon “STILL Healing But
Wheeling And Dealing” Smith . . . regularly wait for opposing
receivers (on shallow and intermediate routes) to catch or even touch the football before attempting to
swarm to them (making well-timed tackling appear a faint myth).
Safety Byron “Setting The Wrong Tones” Jones seems more focused on
collecting nonsensical penalties and regularly clutching onto an opposing
player’s shoulder pads . . . instead of pursuing better
triangulation towards a wrap-up tackle that would calm fans’ growing
desire to apply strangulation. Orlando "Business Decision" Scandrick
– who used to be one of the Cowboys' most aggressive cornerbacks
whether or not in the slot – has increasingly avoided applying
himself on more than one tackling opportunity . . . which could
affect his job security. Perhaps he is injured – beyond just his
surgically-repaired hand – but his strange situation must be sorted
out if Marinelli needs him to remain a fully-functional member of
the band. If Marinelli’s Men can regain (more
or any) focus, they can tamp down on their bad habits . . . and
their positive plays (with or without Sean Lee) will multiply like rabbits.
Marinelli’s meat-and-potatoes system is really only restrictive
for players who cannot accurately conform to that important
assignment stuff (often like a cornerback with natural
man-to-man skills who simply cannot adjust to a zone scheme that
comparatively feels like handcuffs). Without
that same reliable offense (of 2014 or 2016) or reasonably-stocked
defensive
starting talent – however – his unit's sledding can be (and has been)
incredibly tough.
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- Rod has ALWAYS historically gotten his defenses to
play hard – down in and down out – regardless of any schematic
regress or success resulting from his play-call card. Rod shares some – but not
an equal amount – of the coaching conundrum blame . . . as the
system for which he was specifically hired is even more one-way-rigid than
the military vet himself. By season’s end, such systemic restriction
(if it continues to play an increasing part in any Cowboys
performance affliction)
– upon which so many of their 2017 draftees were selected
with conviction . . . may be put on the shelf.
Only the rarest of athletically-skilled talents – in a team sport
(and as a last resort) – have ever regularly succeeded in spite of
deficient coaching and / or less-capable teammates. Walter Payton
(or Barry Sanders) – as one key example of someone who could rise
above some truly bad teams and STILL deliver results so ample – will
not be walking through the AT&T Stadium entrance to offer a helping
hand in Cowboys Land . . . so the challenge of turning the squad
around remains by-and-large on the coaching staff’s offensive,
defensive, and special teams plates.
“Good coaching” – which Jerry Jones now sees as the lead component
of these solutions – is inescapable in the face of a (temporarily?) crippling
suspension, key injuries, and limited-talent roster intrusions. If
the talent you have no longer resembles the talent you had . . .
COACHING adjustments are the ONLY choices standing in the way of
your team continuing to look really bad. COACHING adjustments – in
practice, in the film room, and on game day – show and reinforce for
players a better, more efficient way to play. THEN, and only then –
with the increasingly rare, modern day exception of proactive
players answering coach-and-fan prayers – can your AVAILABLE players
(hope to) better honor their alignments and EXECUTE their
assignments.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
While fans and (some but not all) prognosticators alike have been
screaming about the penalty flag disparity between the Cowboys and
(at least) their past three opponents . . . it would be a mistake
for ANY Cowboys player to effectively (and increasingly) “wait around for a pro-Dallas
flag to hit the ground.” Players must, MUST keep their eyes on the
play execution prize . . . and avoid the lack-of-focus that coaches
and fans equally despise.
(Forgotten?) Rookie cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is finally reaching
the field - again - after battling nagging injuries since training
camp. The Cowboys desperately need him – at minimum – for added
secondary depth . . . and – like fellow rookie corner Jourdan
Lewis – fans will have to hope Awuzie avoids a(n expected) mental
cramp and can handle his business.
Will They Or Won’t They?
While it is “Redskins Week" . . . the mere mention of the Redskins is no
longer enough to ensure the very best members of the Cowboys
organization are, indeed, on fleek.
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- The Redskins continue to combat their own trouble . . . but they
would love nothing more than to ensure the Cowboys are further
bounced from their quickly shrinking playoff bubble. A
widely-wounded Washington squad still managed – earlier this season
– to push Dallas with plenty of fight until succumbing 33-19. The
Redskins roster remains an absolute wreck but – with the same 5-6
record and revenge as their minimum goal – Washington is probably
thinking “Ah, what the heck! Let’s go all gator, bite those bumbling
‘Boys, and perform a playoff-preventing deathroll!”
Will the Cowboys – against a hated division foe – allow their own
playoff chances to recover . . . or
will they drop yet another (and their fourth-in-a-row)?
We shall see. We always do . . . unless a shoe is thrown through the
television, followed by a less-than-diehard “I’m through!”
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