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2020-2021 Regular Season: Mindless Mistakes Mar
The Day Against Another Bird Of Prey With Puppy Power (?) On The Way
October 2,
2020 At 11:49 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf-
- “America’s Team” had
breathlessly-yet-narrowly escaped one bird of prey in week two.
Against another, equally-aggressive, fighting fowl attack, the
Dallas Cowboys would have to find a way to avoid getting stuck on
the early-game, fall-behind track.
While the Seattle Seahawks were hosting, their vaunted “12th Man”
was magically-unavailable for high-decibel dosing and diabolical
eardrum roasting. Competitive conditions were imperfectly set for
Dallas to place a potentially-winning bet.
The Cowboys – just seconds into the game – began so inspiringly with
a sack of Russell Wilson (by Aldon Smith). Mike Nolan’s
much-maligned defense (vacillating between nitwits and neutralizers)
eventually forced a surprising 3-and-out. Such a brutally-rare,
first quarter occurrence surely encouraged TV-restricted fans to
guardedly return to their roles as sympathizers who were happy to
shout.
Dak Prescott and Co. quickly got their first shot and began
"matriculating the football down the field" right on the spot
(including a nice, shallow crossing pattern which a tackle-shaking
Dalton Schultz turned into much more). The drive stalled when Dak –
on 3rd-and-9 from the Seattle 25 – fired a shot down the seam to his
now-best-available tight end (whose route did not make enough of a
bend). Had Schultz taken a sharper (or ANY) cut and hauled it in,
his momentum might have carried him to the one-yard line or right
into the end zone for the first score of the game (rather than
facing scrutiny over a route-running sin). Instead, "another
promising, early-game drive" failed to thrive. Another opportunity
was prematurely bled, leaving a meager-but-appreciated Greg Zuerlein
field goal to put their first possession to bed.
Discerning members of "Cowboys Nation" felt “a familiar disturbance
in the Force,” concerned that – once again – the Cowboys’ defense
would be unable to remain on (promising) course.
It took Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson all of 25 seconds to
ensure reality beckoned. Following a peewee league pitch to running
back Chris Carson (who would easily amble for a 23-yard scramble),
Wilson faked the handoff to Carson and (with absolutely zero
defensive pressure by any measure) launched a 43-yard scoring
javelin to Tyler Lockett (who was standing all alone in the end
zone).
“No sweat! Though the Cowboys’ defense stinks, Prescott will get ‘em
on the next set methinks!” Joe fan would defiantly state (knowing –
not so deep down – that if Dak could not change his team’s latest
fate, Dallas might drown). “But, BUT” Before Dak could give it
another try and let more aerial yardage fly, running back and kick
returner Tony Pollard would muff the ensuing kickoff and – before he
was done gagging under the gun – he would barely recover his mental
mess at the one. As a related aside, such space cadet plays are
proof that – even with ZERO fan noise to distract – a player can
still commit a reckless goof with a most-negative impact. Muff
(mentally unfocused for football) can, indeed, be the some of the
worst stuff. Nonetheless, let us not digress.
Ezekiel Elliott could not even make it out of the end zone, giving
up a safety (to which fans could only moan). But not all was lost,
as Nolan’s wobbly warriors would stop Seattle, thus, lining up
another opportunity for Prescott’s passes to be aggressively tossed.
He would drive Dallas back down the field – with precision passes to
CeeDee (Lamb) and Amari (Cooper) – before Zeke would take stretch a
short handoff for a touchdown yield. Just when fans thought Dallas
would be enjoying at least a 10-9 lead, a Zuerlein “doink” (or
missed extra point) was all the Cowboys would need to reverse that
deed. No, calling it a Cody Parkey is, in fact, not being snarky.
And then – with Nolan’s neophytes holding on by a thread – Russell
Wilson looked to drop the second of two long-ball hammers on the
day, as is the usual way Seattle’s star QB has earned his bread.
Wilson took the shotgun snap with under 30 seconds remaining in the
first quarter from his own 37 on 2nd-and-11. He (of course) had all
the time in the world and – upon seeing wide receiver D.K. Metcalf
unobstructed and practically jogging down the field, a 62-yard pass
was unfurled, with an easily-expected touchdown yield.
“But, BUT” – with the single-greatest hustle play of (ANYONE on
either team on) the day – rookie corner Trevon Diggs caught up,
knocked the football out (of the end zone), and gave frantic fans
reason to proudly shout (rather than moan and groan).
After Dak and Co. were unable to generate anything great, discerning
fans continued to feel “a growing disturbance in the Force,” even
more concerned the Cowboys’ defense would be unable to remain on
(promising) course.
Russell Wilson quickly drove the Seahawks back down the field to
find spitfire-fast Tyler Locket open in the right corner of the end
zone for his second touchdown on the day. Would THAT be the series
that caused the percentages to dreadfully sway? No. Dak and Co. were
on the attack with a quicker, where-has-THIS-been tempo to get back
on track.
Dak – from the Seahawks' 40 on 1st-and-10 – found reserve receiver
Cedrick Wilson on a shallow, soft crossing route, and he proceeded
to glide (YES, deceptively glide down the field like Marcus Allen),
narrowly fighting past the nearest Seattle defender for the 40-yard
score. “And, AND” because Dallas and good fortune remain on
inconsistent speaking terms, Zuerlein had his extra point blocked.
While fans would continue to, um, “squirm,” no one was horribly
shocked.
After another rare stop by the Dallas defense (or barely surviving a
third down scramble from a quarterback who never relents), Dak and
Co. had 45 seconds to at least get into field goal range heading
into halftime. Prescott took the first down snap and aimed for Amari
Cooper (a wide receiver with route-running skills so sublime).
Cooper ran a 13-yard shallow post, but a studious Seahawks defender
(Shaquill Griffin) jumped the route and (perhaps) wanted it most. It
may never be (publicly admitted or) known if Cooper could have cut
in sharper by a yard, or if Dak could have stopped staring so
intensely hard, or if Kellen Moore could have turned in a
less-obvious play card.
After an “untimely” Cowboys offensive stall, Russell Wilson regained
the ball. The always-aggressive Pete Carroll was not
particularly-inclined to allow 36 seconds to wastefully unwind.
Wilson would rather-easily bob and weave in and out of the pocket
(before locating tip-roping tight end Greg Olsen at the one). Wilson
then found an unsurprisingly WIDE-OPEN Tyler Lockett for more
touchdown fun. Not even a reversed illegal touching flag could force
the Seahawks to mentally gag. Discerning fans finally, definitively
felt “a great disturbance in the Force,” receiving expected proof
the Cowboys’ defense would be unable to remain on (break-even)
course.
The Cowboys had the football to start the second half, but as soon
as the pump-faking Prescott had the ball stripped (by an
undermanned-yet-scrappy Seahawks defense determined to keep Dak’s
prolific comeback efforts clipped), any still-sane members of
Cowboys Nation just had to laugh. Former Cowboys defensive end
Benson Mayowa snatched the air-bound ball and rumbled down to the
Dallas five (granting the Seattle offensive another scoring
opportunity for which to strive).
It took Russell Wilson all of four seconds to pass for another score
(this time) to backup tight end Jacob Hollister (made by Nolan's
ninnies to resemble an A-lister). Though Dallas defenders looked
abused and confused, they were not yet ready to completely blister.
With the score 30-15, Aldon Smith (more man than myth) collected his
third sack on the day (hoping Dak and Co. might still find a
recovery way).
Prescott would not disappoint his defensive teammate in attempting
to regain control over the Cowboys' game day fate. Dak would take
the snap from center (with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter on
2nd-and-10 from the Seattle 42) and find Cedrick Wilson on a deep
crossing route (from right to left). After plucking it out of the
air, Cedrick would easily glide down the left sideline past two
defenders and in for the score. YES, Yes, yes, Cedrick (once again)
resembled former NBA great Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and – with a
potential (in 2020 or longer?) four-receiver set (of Cooper, Gallup,
Lamb, and Wilson) – perhaps there is much more in store.
It was 30-22 with just over two minutes remaining in the third, and
it was (GULP) up to the Dallas defense to pull through. Russell
Wilson – on 3rd-and-7 – suddenly found himself trapped between Aldon
Smith and much, MUCH-maligned nose tackle Antwaun Woods (who got
their first to perform the grocery bagging, err, sacking of goods).
On a drive that began on the Dallas 10-yard line with just under a
minute-and-a-half remaining in the third quarter, Prescott was
focused on re-setting the scoring order. He delivered passes to
CeeDee Lamb and the impossibly underutilized Noah Brown, but he
GROSSLY missed WIDE-OPEN tight end Blake Bell (who needed but a
single yard on third down). The Cowboys (with more than 14 minutes
remaining in the game) could have chosen to punt, but McCarthy has
been an early-season protagonist of going for it on fourth down to
remain in the hunt. Prescott fake-pitched to Zeke (running out wide)
and outmaneuvering Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright and not chancing
his typical slide.
The next thing fans knew, Dak (from just inside the Seattle 44) took
the shotgun snap. Instead of allowing his undermanned offensive line
to fold and whimper "that's a wrap," Prescott looked downfield in
the face of incoming defensive creep, found Michael "In Full"
Gallup, and fired the ball pretty deep. Gallup gathered in the
52-yard throw and belly-flopped into the end zone rather than
dealing with a goal-to-go. Yet, down 30-28, McCarthy – once again –
chose to bypass the extra point for a game-tying two-point
conversion. If Dak and Co. failed (even with over 13 minutes
remaining on the game), and it caused their comeback to come up
lame, there would have been plenty of derision and blame. The
Cowboys – of course – failed to convert, and plenty expletives did
fans blurt. The pass was fine, but Seattle safety Quandre Diggs (no
relation to Stefon or Trevon) quickly turned it on (erupting from
the end zone for enough of a shoulder shrug to ensure Noah Brown
could not quite cross the touchdown line).
After another rare stop by a Dallas defense simply searching for an
identity, Dak would begin the Cowboys' next drive with a pass that
would test fan sanity. Prescott - with 9:33 left in the game and
"just" eight points out of frame - would take the shotgun snap and
react to the oncoming pressure by rolling left. He would miss
Cedrick Wilson, his intended target, and it landed right in the arms
of a Seattle cornerback Tre Flowers for what would have been the
perfect theft. Strangely enough, the ball bounced off his chest,
then his feet, and found its proper home with Michael "On The Spot"
Gallup in his hands so elite. Dak would mix in another, better
sideline throw to Gallup on the go, as well as a run of his own to
pick up a key first down all alone. The Cowboys would get no closer
than the Seattle 24, but a Zuerlein field goal helped flip the
score. Dallas was ridiculously yet unsurprisingly back on top
(31-30) but – with four minutes remaining for shorts to resume
staining - the Dallas defense (GASP) still had Russell Wilson to
stop.
Seattle – on 4th-and-3 with 30 seconds to go before the two-minute
warning (and still too far away for a field goal) – elected to go
for it. Just when Nolan's knuckleheads had the critical opportunity
to show they were collectively capable of being at least a momentary
Wilson neutralizer, Seattle tight end Greg Olsen was allowed,
almost-Witten-like to slip down the seem untouched for an easy
conversion. A few plays later, Wilson would find D.K. Metcalf for
their first-of-the-day touchdown connection, making Dallas defenders
– once again – look more like fertilizer (by any observation).
Though the score was 36-31 Seattle, if a two-point conversion Dallas
could stifle, they still had half a chance with Prescott's rifle.
Trysten "The Mangler" Hill, however, had other ideas (having already
crocodile-rolled Chris Carson and waving "See ya's"). After Hill was
(unsurprisingly) flagged for roughing the passer, Wilson converted
to force Dak and Co. into scoring at least a touchdown to tie and /
or their own two-point try to resoundingly reverse what (earlier in
the game) looked to be a complete disaster.
The Cowboys had the better part of two minutes to bridge or exceed
that point-differential gap. Dak - once again - drove the team down
the field but – unlike against the previous birds of prey – the
"(Now Average) Wall Of Dallas" suffered some (unforgiveable yet
understandable) mental crap, and a sack they would yield. Prescott
would just to barely-escape mugging, but his last-second end zone
heave-turned-pick meant "Captain Comeback" could not save the day.
America's Team would lose 38-31, and there would not be a second
consecutive week of celebratory hugging.
- Short Shots And Hot Spots
The Cowboys should have lost 45-31, if not for the
previously-described DeSean-Jackson-level stupidity displayed by D.K.
Metcalf. Of course, will ALL the self-inflicted problems facing
Dallas, they were in no position to laugh.-
- Before Cowboys Nation becomes too uprooted (over how a continuous
rash of injuries already sees the promise of this season
severely-diluted), the Seahawks entered the game with their own
walking wounded. Once running back Chris Carson and strong safety
Jamal Adams left the game, the Cowboys’ opportunities to succeed
were practically spoon-fed . . . and yet the Cowboys’ intermittent
struggles – on offense AND defense – remained remarkably the same.
Those same struggles on offense – particularly along the offensive
line – made it increasingly impossible for Ezekiel Elliott to
(normally, punishingly, and simply) be fed and allowed to plow
ahead. The continued specter of unfinished drives against which
(“some” teams fail yet) every team strives, proved deficient against
a Seahawks QB who goes for the throat and leaves opponents for dead.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill – no longer displaying his rookie
year’s bust-like skill – was twice fined by the NFL league office
for unnecessary roughness (for crocodile-rolling Chris Carson’s leg
and for dispensing against Russell Wilson a bit too much toughness).
On a defensive unit currently preoccupied with “Who Dunnit?
(diagnosed it, tackled it, deflected it, sacked it,
stripped-and-recovered-it, or even intercepted it),” better
containment of penalty pain by Hill could at least allow Dallas to
continue enjoying some (largely) unexpected nose tackle thrill.
Attempting to sign former Seahawk Earl Thomas (at this point with
practically Nolan’s ENTIRE squad stinking up the joint) is merely
applying, no, brutally smearing lipstick on a defensive, err,
defenseless swine (from a rudderless backfield to an anchorless
line).
“B-But Thomas – T.O.-like behavior or not – is better than anyone in
the Dallas secondary and would bring attitude that is hot, Hot,
HOT!” you desperately scream (knowing full well – but caring so much
less – that his very “attitude” could plunge the team into an even
deeper mess).
Misery Loves Injury
While the debate (quietly?) rages on as to whether the auto accident
of right tackle La'el Collins was the precursor to his season-ending
hip surgery, there is clearly no immediate escape from this reality.
It remains up to offensive line coach Joe Philbin to do everything
he can to prevent the Cowboys' patchwork pass protection (and
intermittent ground game obstruction) from inching any closer to the
trash bin.
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- Will Brandon – on which an uptick in performance must dawn –
find a way to play more like a Knight and less like a pawn? Will
rookie Terence begin to settle with more mettle in the face of a
poorly-schemed deal (playing less like aluminum and more like
Steele)?
Stop The Spread To Protect The Bread
It was very-recently announced that up to eight players from the
Tennessee Titans tested positive for COVID-19. The NFL has no choice
(pushed by such a collective, money-first voice) but to treat
all-things-COVID like the ultimate 2319.
Then, Cam Newton (perhaps an early-season lock for "Comeback Player
Of The Year") also tested positive, thus, triggering the NFL to
postpone the highly-anticipated matchup between Kansas City and New
England (which was no mere prerogative with critical containment of
rotten risk at hand).
"Then, THEN," the New Orleans Saints (and their fullback Michael
Burton) dodged a bullet with a false-positive test. Even with
medical resources of the very best, it takes but ONE result in the
affirmative for an entire team to eventually be hurtin' . . . and an
entire league to suffer viral fatigue.
Will They Or Won’t They?
2-1 Cleveland comes to town on a mission to soil, err, paint AT&T
Stadium brown. America's Team – after another 60-minute war – are
literally picking up the pieces of their increasingly-banged up
core.
While Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield may be "feeling dangeRUSS,"
he is decidedly not the Seahawks quarterback over which there has
been so much early-season MVP fuss. Then, again, with the
right-if-imperfect play-calls and some reasonable offensive line
protection – combined with such breathtaking artillery (like wide
receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry, running backs Nick
Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and tight end Austin Hooper) – Mayfield could
be “choppin’ broccoli” and may, just MAY give Nolan's Nitwits
all-too-familiar big play fits.
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- "B-But what about Dak, Zeke, Amari, Gallup, Lamb, and Wilson?!" you
shriek (understandably frightened that Dallas’ star-studded offense
may never reach its complete-game peak). What about them? They have
generated massive-if-one-dimensional numbers in two out of three
games, but (in delivering a low yield on the goal of keeping
opposing offenses from reaching the field) they have been unable to
consistently carve the finished-drive gem.
Will they – and Prescott in particular – begin to dependably conquer
the “impossible task” of saving the Cowboys’ season from maddening
mental mistakes so vehicular? Will Cleveland’s improved defense
seize the day, continue to raise their play, and prevent Dak from
remaining perpendicular?
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” will not “use (the specter of deadly
illness or) mind-numbing injuries as an excuse.” Will Atlas, err,
Dak (with the weight of ELITE boulders squarely on his
weary-but-willing shoulders) apply a swift and powerful kick to HIS
team’s performance caboose?
Will America’s Team show some interconference nerve or will
Cleveland be allowed to Brown and serve?
We shall see. We Always do.
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