-
-
- 2019-2020 Regular Season: Comatose Cowboys Beaten By Bears And To Host The
Rams Dallas Prepares
-
-
 -
-
-
This edition of "The Tortured
Cowboys Fan" has also been published by the fine folks at
Sports TalkLine.
-
-
-
-
-
December 13,
2019 At 2:31 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “America’s Team” went out of
their way to ensure “Cowboys Nation” enjoy a spoiled meal but – one
week later – even a reasonably-corrective recovery was not part of
the deal. The Dallas Cowboys (from GM Jerry to coaches to players
receiving little remedial help from rigidly-schemed approaches) have
been given and spoken excuse after excuse, and it all sounds like it
comes straight from their collective caboose.
There was no overdose of Turkey Day tryptophan that has continued
(for the third consecutive week) to subvert Jason Garrett’s
unflinching, process-based plan. Outside of the injuries all teams
suffer and fear this time of year, the players have no lack of
raw-to-refined skill to (at least) fulfill and to (at most) really
thrill.
The Cowboys entered the “Windy City” with a more-than-realistic
chance to turn their negative streak into a closer step towards the
tournament dance. The Chicago Bears had (and still have) their own
wild mess to better starch and press, but Chicago was
(significantly) better at the one thing Dallas knew they HAD TO do
to pass inspection, change direction, and see precious victory pull
through. Dallas had to play complementary football (something they
have been unable to dependably do over the long haul).
Following a Jourdan Lewis interception on the Bears’ first series,
Dak Prescott and Co. – for the second consecutive game – began with
all guns a’ blazin’, lookin’ amazin’, and free from early-scoring
shame. Rather than having to rely on a kicking game clown, they
delivered a long drive with a nice mix of Ezekiel Elliott, Randall
Cobb, Michael Gallup, Blake Jarwin, and back to Zeke for a
ground-and-pound touchdown. 7-0 Dallas with previous problems
solved? Not quite. Play calls and execution both had to have
(unreasonably) evolved.
 -
- As GM Jerry embarrassingly learned once again to his incredulous
dismay, if “everyone in the league” can easily grasp your tendencies
(because of your unyielding belief that clean play execution – no
matter your opponent’s focused pollution – is the only solution),
you will often be diagnosed before you can even get out of your own
way.
The Cowboys found themselves down 24-7 before a timely third quarter
fumble fell from heaven. Jaylon Smith used no such “Peanut Punch”
but – for a moment – the Bears were no longer eating Dallas’ lunch.
Dak and Co. – facing little more than a pumped-up prevention –
scored 14 points (as if Dallas’ offense had undergone a surprise
reinvention). After “Marinelli’s Men” bent and broke again, the
Cowboys were down 31-21 with 20 seconds remaining on a 4th-and-7
from the Bears’ 13. Garrett chose the safe play (with Troy Aikman
imploring his old teammate – with plenty of couth from the booth –
to instead please, PLEASE, swing away).
Brett Maher (GASP) made the field goal, giving the Cowboys a
micro-slim chance at an onside kick retrieval and a Hail Mary throw
better-suited for Evel Knievel. While far from a guarantee, going
for it from Chicago’s 13 (and assuming points greater than three)
would have turned the tying score effort into a Maher specialty.
Nonetheless, there was a pathetic, no-bounce, zero-lift onside
attempt from Maher followed by a Bears recovery. Cowboys Nation – in
unison – said: “Why bother?” Dallas lost to Chicago 31-24. The
Cowboys’ postgame remarks and comments throughout this past week
have proven refreshing, revolting, and perplexing.
Good Quote Or Garbage Bloat?
"[The Bears] took it to us. We just got to see if we can step in
here and win a game. I don't care if we stay in contention all the
way down until they have the playoffs, we got to start showing our
fans, more importantly, show ourselves we can do the things to win
games." – GM Jerry (conveying a level of exasperation typically only
voiced by Cowboys Nation).
"The most frustrating part is we have the skill level, we have the
players, we have the chemistry . . . at times, but we're not playing
together as a team, complimentary enough when we need to, and we've
got to figure out what it is." – Dak Prescott (stating the obvious
following the game but being oh-so-careful not to mention a certain,
tuned-out red head by name).
“I hit every ball pretty well tonight. I’ll put my head on the
pillow tonight feeling good about I did this week. I feel good.” –
Brett Maher (who – since his recent dismissal – may be praying other
teams-in-need only view him as a “liquored-up idiot kicker” who is
just “misunderstood”). While not nearly as mental as Mike Vanderjagt,
once the Cowboys settled on Kai Forbath, that was that.
“I’m testifying. I’ll take ownership of those last couple of games.
I haven’t been playing like myself. I haven’t been taking the
leadership role I should be taking. It’s time for me to step up.” –
DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence (making as useless an observation as the
one by their former kicker, now on “vacation”). No one denies what
Tank has done against the run, but SACKS brought him his massive
contract extension. It is long-overdue for a return to his original
purpose, his QB-corralling intention. “Everyone” has heard enough of
his talk and – without more walk – it will not just be the
prognosticators and fans who will balk.
Will They Or Won’t They?
America’s Team hosts the high-climbing Los Angeles Rams this Sunday
afternoon. While the Cowboys still (tenuously) control their own
destiny, against the wall their backs are pressed so tightly that
none of their remaining regular season opponents should be expected
to swoon.
 -
- Dallas has lost three in a row with three more (competitive?)
contests to go to determine if they qualify for the postseason show.
On the other side (after getting shredded by the Baltimore Ravens
45-6 during the NFL’s 12th week), the Rams – with (a couple timely
trades and) consecutive victories – have halted their late season
slide and (at just the right time) have begun to peak.
The myopic among Cowboys Nation may view this faceoff as a titanic
rematch of last year’s playoff battle, but discerning fans
understand the result of this game (without a highly-caffeinated,
correctly-coached Cowboys team ready to ream) could be a slaughter
after seeing what L.A. did to Seattle.
What’s that you blurt? “The Seahawks are not the only team with ball
hawks who can hurt! Dallas should capitalize off of those silly
Jared Goff interceptions!” – you defiantly proclaim (hoping and
praying THIS will be “that magic moment” when Marinelli’s Men
finally change widely-held perceptions). Wait just a moment while
"The Tortured Cowboys Fan" cleans up hot liquid sprayed violently
from both nose and mouth. Anyone with reasonably good vision knows
if Kris Richard’s Kids rely on that scenario, it will be a no-no,
and the Cowboys’ (currently) modest chances of victory will go
significantly south. The Cowboys’ cornerback conundrum and safety
situation (with their pursue-the-player-not-the-pigskin paradox)
will only display signs of recovery if Dallas’ defensive linemen can
(GASP) stop the run and otherwise play hard as rocks.
Will Marinelli’s Men tweak their (predictable-to-the-Rams) scheme
more towards a thus-far uncommon theme (dating back to last year’s
playoff COUGH) by slowing the Rams’ running game just enough to
(potentially) make precious play-action opportunities rough? Will
Maliek Collins and (the still-gimpy) Antwaun Woods demonstrate their
(long-since evaporated) nose tackle goods . . . or will another
game-long tell bring familiar, self-inflicted hell? If Dallas’
defensive tackles can break their schemed shackles, will DeMarcus
“Testimony Bologna” Lawrence apply more sack-stacking adherence?
Will Robert “The Mighty” Quinn be able to stop the increasing
overshoot of his QB loot? Will Michael Bennett continue to do all he
can to help keep the Cowboys in it?
Will Jaylon “Once THE MAN, Now The Myth” Smith, along with Sean
“Once More Gimpy” Lee and Joe “Sturdy Promise” Thomas dig down
deep(er) and find a way to better mesh in the continued absence of
Leighton Vander Esch (while all concerned continue to wonder what
the heck is going on with his neck)?
Will the "Lukewarm Boyz" continue to fill the gap(s) with more
tackling crap? Will the d-line encroachment continue to Dallas’
detriment?
Will Xavier Woods and Jeff “Shoulder Soldier” Heath will themselves
to fill in the air-to-air gaps WHEN-and-if the always-chasing Byron
Jones and (particularly scheme-stunted) Awuzie Chidobe collapse?
Will the diminutive Jourdan “Just The QB And Me” Lewis continue to
be the only member of the Cowboys’ secondary to regularly stare down
“Richard’s Rules” and say “Damn those chasin’ fools! I have a
nose for the ball! We can do this?” Will anyone blame Lewis for
at least TRYING to extend beyond a plan that routinely
discourages true, eyes-on-the-ball, man-to-man?
If Marinelli’s Men can, in fact, hold their own, will Kellen’s Crew
start soon enough, persistently perform plenty tough, and keep
“Wade’s Warriors” from cutting Dak and Co. down to the bone? Will
key members of “The Average (No Longer Great) Wall Of Dallas”
continue to absorb the injury pain they are clearly hiding . . . and
redirect the punishment they used to be known for inciting? Will the
(understandably surly) Ezekiel Elliott – in turn – take all the road
they can lay and burn, baby, burn . . . or will he allow Todd
“The Load-Managed, One-Legged” Gurley to outdistance him often and
early?
Will Dak Prescott
(who has come so far since last facing L.A.)
reach even further than ever before (to keep his team within arm’s
length of the postseason door) dare to dump (more of) the Dakuracy
and Dakward Mobility? When the (poorly-called or badly broken) play
is (inevitably) not going his way, will he CHOOSE to tap his
morbidly-unused agility?-
-
 -
-
The Tortured Cowboys Fan is NOT a Dak hater, but (in the
absence of coaches who KNOW how to schematically, almost
surgically operate OR something extra from a teammate) Prescott can
no longer afford to simply "trust the system" until the third or
fourth quarter (otherwise known as later).
-
- In the face of a scheme so old that it is
practically designed to fold, will Prescott personally place extra
emphasis (when – to a man – no one else can) on possessions the
Cowboys must be bold? Throwing it away has (largely) become his new
way, but in order to keep the yards coming to build-and-MAINTAIN
momentum, will “He Who Is Obedient To A Fault” use his legs more
often to go get ‘em? No, he does not need to mimic the Raven’s MVP-esque
QB, but (for the purpose of extending plays) coaches, teammates, and
fans should not have to increasingly plea.
 -
- Will Dak (as THE preeminent, unquestioned, on-field leader of a
scheme-tainted team) bring his A++ game and – aggressively (rather
than submissively waiting for it to become necessary) – put HIS team
on his back? Will Prescott (in the presence of a coaching message
that has become lame) truly own his role and motivate his team to
play a complete, 60-minute game?
As Troy Aikman made quite clear
towards the end of his playing career, it is incredibly unfair (to
be a player with – suddenly – more hats to wear), but when the
coaching message no longer floats on air, the (veteran) QB is
encouraged to fill that burdensome void and be one – or THE ONE – to
care.
Will America’s Team (to a man) regain their personal pride and
productive stride? Will the Cowboys get closer to making a
believable dent in the tournament pavement? Will the organization
(with just three more opportunities to further succumb to their
self-propelled inequities) be fulfilling plans for more than one
employee’s permanent vacation?
We shall see. We always do.
|
