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- 2018-2019
Regular Season: Cowboys Exit Seattle Flawed And Head Home To Be
Pawed, Not Clawed
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This edition of "The Tortured
Cowboys Fan" has also been published by the fine folks at
Sports TalkLine.
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September 26, 2018 At 10:49 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “Did you see how Chicago made the Seattle Seahawks look like
they had no idea what to do on Monday night in week 2?” some
prognosticators and fans asked.
“Marinelli’s Men – like Fangio’s Fellas’ – are plenty aggressive and
oppressive! They, too, should make Seattle’s offense look downright
regressive!” some prognosticators and fans proclaimed.
Only the most presbyopic prognosticators and fans so myopic would
believe the Dallas Cowboys could waltz into the Seattle Seahawks’
deafening nest without their well-prepared, situational best. Large
and confidence-building was their week two victory against the
Giants, but it was not nearly a big enough reason to showcase any
“We’re Back!” defiance.
From Deliverance To The Difference
There were a number of questionable play designs, troubling play
decisions, and typical play mistakes that – for a timely Cowboys
deliverance – contributed to slamming on the brakes.
When Seattle was on offense with 11:20 remaining in the first
quarter and operating from their own 11-yard line on third and five,
Tyrone Crawford broke loose to place Russell Wilson firmly on his
caboose, but his penalized hit only brought disorder. While everyone
was focused on Crawford flattening Wilson with the full weight of
his body, the refs seemed to miss or dismiss Tyrone’s down helmet
crown, which would still have made the wood he brought to Wilson
just as naughty.
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- When Dallas was on offense with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter
and operating from their own 22-yard line on second and three, Tavon
Austin started in motion from left to right, Prescott handed off to
him to charge up a running game that (at that point in the game)
appeared pretty dim. A few defenders followed an empty-handed Zeke
to the left, while Austin shot down the right side with a 18-yard
heft. Seattle’s Mychal Kendricks (making the most of his insider
trading respite) dragged Austin down out of bounds by horse collar
tackle with not a penalty in sight, dagnabbit.
When Dallas was on offense with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter
and operating from their own 40-yard line on first and ten, Dak hit
rookie Michael Gallup right in his hands, but Seattle’s Bradley
McDougald knocked it from Gallup’s grip . . . and to the turf it
appeared ready to harmlessly slip. Earl “You Know My Name” Thomas
(with a reminder of what the Cowboys wanted for their own defense so
potentially vaunted) made a shoestring interception. He braced the
ball against his leg, then his foot, then secured his turnover
invention, taking off down the right sideline until tackled at the
Cowboys’ 29. The Seahawks would come away with only three points,
but on Dallas mistakes Seattle would continue to dine.
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- When Dallas was on offense with 5:39 left in the second quarter and
driving on third and two just inside Seattle’s 32-yard line, Dak was
forced to roll to his right and – in seeing Seattle release Zeke
down the sideline – he hit him in stride. Zeke broke a diving
defensive tackle on his way into the end zone. TOUCHDOWN, COWBOYS!
Sweet relief! Tie game at 7, right? No. Zeke stepped out of bounds
at the Seattle 38 before illegally stepping back onto the field to
catch the football and leaving Cowboys Nation in quite a state.
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- When Dallas was on offense with 11:00 left in the fourth quarter and
driving on first and ten at the Seahawks’ 45-yard line, Dak handed
off to Zeke, who broke through one tackle and was off to the races,
carrying the football like a loose loaf of bread. The Seahawks’
Bradley McDougald punched the ball out at the Seattle 19 and another
Dallas drive was dead.
Similar events like those just mentioned ensured Dallas' game day
chances were, at best, highly tensioned. There were a number of
smart play designs, wise play decisions, and limited play mistakes
that – for a timely Seahawks difference – reinforced the Cowboys’
current reputation as inconsistent fakes.
Excuses Are Nooses
"I had a poor performance today. Did well in the run game, but
overall, I dropped the ball. That loss is on me. I had no idea (I
had stepped out of bounds . . . twice). That's on me. I've got to
have better awareness of the sideline." – Ezekiel Elliott on how his
pass-catching ability was impacted by his sideline visibility.
"You can say whatever, but at the end of the day, when you've got
the ball in your hands, that's the team in your hands. Me being a
leader on the team, me being a better player on this team, I got to
do a better job of taking care of the ball. That cost us the game."
– Ezekiel Elliott being humble regarding his fumble.
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- While Zeke owned his simultaneously wonderful and wounded
performance, he was clearly covering for his quarterback so
embattled . . . with tow-the-line conformance to help keep Prescott
from becoming rattled.
“It’s just getting to the point, especially when we (have not)
thrown for 200 yards yet, it’s kinda’ frustrating. We won the second
game, fortunately, but to win in this league you have to pass for
some yardage. It’s frustrating, plus I’d like to be implemented
more, be more involved more.” – Allen Hurns (one of the Cowboys’
offseason pickups) on how his expected role burns due to passing
game hiccups.
While the recently re-signed Brice Butler may be en route to making
both Hurns and Terrance Williams scoot, the fact remains that no
Cowboys receiver will feel complete until Dak feels comfortable
enough in and beyond the pocket to regularly, reliably, and
accurately shoot.
Dallas – over the last 11 games – is averaging about 15 points and
just under 300 yards per contest. Prescott is averaging less than
200 yards per outing, leaving Cowboys Nation (increasingly)
frustrated and shouting.
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- At the end of the day, however, excuses (outside the untimely impact
of injury) eventually become self-tightening nooses. If Dak and
Scott Linehan’s collaboration continues to create inconsistent
history (trapped by play-call depravity and execution mystery), the
Cowboys’ offense will suffer further game day abuses.
Short Shots And Hot Spots
“I don’t know if any team in the league necessarily needs a No. 1
receiver,” Prescott said back on May 25, 2018, following the DOD
(Departure Of Dez). “It’s about getting the ball out, spreading the
ball around, keeping the defense on its toes.”
“There’s going to be some different things that I think you’ll
(consistently) see (week in and week out for the rest of the
season)." – Prescott. A handful of "previously omitted words" make
such a statement far more credible. And if unsuccessful? They become
quite edible.
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- Sean Lee works so incredibly hard and deserves far better than his
brittle body allows him. Without his Romo-like presence in the
lineup, the fortunes of the Dallas defense (year after year) become
pretty dim. While it appears Leighton Vander Esch will be starting
in Lee’s place, few expect the promising rookie linebacker to
suddenly become the defense’s new face. And yet, if his knowledge of
all three linebacker positions is thorough and real, he might shock
the football world, allowing Lee to sit back and heal.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Over the first two weeks of the season, new Detroit head coach Matt
Patricia saw his Lions hunted and affronted. The outlook was so bad
that few people would have been completely surprised had Patricia
attempted to orchestrate a return to the “mothership” (slightly
similar to Josh McDaniels) and punted.
Just when it appeared that an angry 0-2 Patriots team was coming to
Ford Field to disassemble Motor City, Patricia pulled an Eric
Mangini. The Lions played like a team benefiting from “Spygate,” and
– from start to finish – the typically well-prepared Patriots would
ironically deflate.
Will Patricia become a far sturdier version of the “Mangenius” . . .
or will the suddenly Voltron-like Lions crash land just as quickly
and get banned from the back of the bus?
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- The Lions last played the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in December 2016,
playing the Cowboys to a high-scoring first half tie, before getting
blown out 42-21 with results so lean. The Lions spent the final two
quarters being unable to gain any traction and – before the game was
over – even Chris “The Puntisher” Jones
got in on the action.
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- Will the Cowboys be particularly adroit and not overlook a
(temporarily?) revitalized Detroit?
Will Marinelli’s Men be able to keep Matthew Stafford in check while
Linehan’s Clan tries to avoid another aerial wreck?
Will the Dallas offense lock in on their true identity and finally
evolve . . . or remain plagued with challenges they are not
physically or strategically equipped to solve? Will Dak and Co.
continue to expose their defensive brothers to multiple short fields
through too many three-and-out yields?
Will Dak remember to proactively run before his offensive line
screams “WE’RE DONE!?” When faced with a down and distance he cannot
reasonably allay, will Prescott return to throwing it away instead
of creating yet another (sack-soaked or held-the-ball-too-long)
minus play? Will he (conversely but not absurdly) be more determined
to throw deep and give his receivers (from tall to small) a greater
chance to leap?
Will Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett remain game plan resolute and
continue to insist the Cowboys have exactly what it takes to better
execute?
Will “America’s Team” transform into a better-functioning beast or
will the Lions be encouraged to feast?
Will Dallas be the host with the most . . . or continue to resemble
high-priced toast?
We shall see. We always do.
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