Ezekiel Elliot has pulled a Tom Brady and he will be
playing for the Cowboys this entire season. Giant’s players have been beating
on their chest, wishing Zeke plays, and acting tough. Be careful what you wish
for! George Forman wanted Ali to stand in front him and not dance around. Eight
rounds later he wished he didn’t fight Ali. On Sunday night, the Giants will
wish they never wished for Zeke to play, or played the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys take on the hated division rival New
York Giants. It seems like the NFL benefits greatly from putting these two
teams against each other to start the season. Cowboy’s vs Giants is always an
entertaining match-up and this year will be no different. Zeke’s suspension is on
hold for the time being, Odell Beckham’s ankle is making it hard for him to practice
and he might not play. Brandon Marshall’s shoulder has been bothering him since
the second preseason game, but he should go. The Giants offensive line is
terrible, the Cowboy’s defense is trash, and the headlines for this match-up go
on for days. The Cowboy’s will beat the giants and these are my five keys to
victory.
Open up the passing Game:
The Giants had so much success against the Cowboys
because they didn’t have to commit more than four to stop the run. That allowed
them to drop back eight and make things hard for the rookie quarterback. On top
of that, the giants have one of the better secondary’s in the NFL with Cromartie,
Jenkins, and Collins. Dak was asked to throw against eight man looks, something
that a seasoned pro would struggle with. The Giants were the only team to contain
the Cowboys rushing attack and that is where the passing game comes to the rescue.
Dak had an entire offseason to focus on improving. He had
an amazing rookie year but he left a lot on the field, which is the main reason
I feel like he will have another great year. When I say open the passing game,
I mean get creative with it. The Cowboys don’t have to be traditional vertical
passing offense. Dez Bryant is one of the most versatile receivers in the league.
He can go deep on you, he can go up over you, and has the physicality to go
through you! Some of those bubble screens they run for Beasley can be ran for
Dez. It will get Dak and Dez in rhythm. Jenkins played Dez to well last season,
the Cowboys will need to move Dez around and do creative things to get him
involved early.
Brice Butler may be the Cowboys fastest receiver, and
they need to use that to keep these safeties honest. Last season Dak missed
plays downfield, and took off running when he should’ve given the play more
time to develop. That’s all fine as a rookie. As a second year quarterback, he
has to be able to take advantage of those opportunities this year. When Butler
or Williams gets open down the field Dak has to be able to find them. Big plays
will back those safeties up and create room for the shorter passes and the run
game. Getting the ball to your best players in the best situation is the
foundation for winning football. The Cowboys have to put the pressure on this
Giants defense from the jump and opening up the passing game will do that.
Read Option to the Rescue:
The Cowboys already have an amazing run game. Combo that
with the read option and the Cowboys will open up an entirely new element to
their rushing attack. Dak showed us all that he has some wheels, and he has
good size for the quarterback position (6’3 and 230 lbs). The Giants don’t want
to commit more than four guys to stopping the run. They would love to drop back
seven or eight in coverage. They also don’t want those average linebacker getting
exposed in coverage. The read option will at the very least force them to commit
a linebacker to spying Dak because he is now a threat to run. It is also a
great way to get Zeke and those other running backs on the edge and past the
Giants very good defensive ends. I don’t want to expose Dak to unnecessary hits
but the Cowboys have to get aggressive on offense and dictate the pace. This
defense may not hold up, so the Cowboys need to be ready to score points. The
best way to do that is keeping this defense guessing with the read option.
Run the Ball:
Many of you think that this is the first and most
important key to victory. You would be 100% right correct. Simply put, dance
with the one that got you there. The Cowboys have the best offensive line in football,
their star running back has been cleared to play, and the chance to punch your
division rival in the mouth. Shoving the rock down their throats, stripping
them of their manhood, and exposing them for the pansies they are. There
shouldn’t be no way the Cowboys allow the Giants to stop this rushing attack
with four players. The Giants should need 14 players to stop the Cowboys
rushing attack.
Running the ball effectively will make everything easier
for this team. The Cowboys will keep the chains moving. They will tire out big “Snacks”
Harris and slow down the pass rush. Most importantly, they will protect that
defense because we all know they’re going to need some protecting.
Get to Eli Manning:
Eli Manning is a turnover waiting to happen. He hasn’t
trusted that offensive line for years now, rightfully so. Eli will throw the
ball quick at times without going through progressions. Putting pressure on him
and speeding up that clock in his head is the best way to stop the Giants
offense. The Giants didn’t have a very productive offense last season. They
added B Marsh and Evan Engram, and now they have four legit weapons in the
passing game. It still appears that they can’t run the ball. If the Cowboys can
get to Eli and force some turnovers, winning this game will be a piece of cake.
How do the Cowboys get to Eli?
The pass rush has to be better this year, hasn’t it? The
Cowboys had 36 combined sacks in 2016. They still don’t have a dominate pass
rusher along the defensive line. But they do have some options, that will
allowed them to throw out many different personnel grouping. This will allow
the Cowboys to give offenses different looks and create mis matches in the trenches.
Getting to the quarterback requires two things, a good
pass rushing scheme, and good individual pass rushers. Michael Bennett isn’t a
great pass rusher, he is a very good defensive linemen. He is good against the
run and has the ability to get to the quarterback in the right situation. He is
also versatile enough to drop back in coverage, play outside at end, and inside
at tackle. The Seahawks pass rush wouldn’t be as effective without him. The
Cowboy’s have to find their Michael Bennett, a guy that helps to create for the
other guys on the defensive line. I think Tyrone Crawford is that guy. Crawford
is the Cowboys most versatile defensive linemen. He can play inside and out. He
has proven to be tough against the run and the ability to get to the quarter
back. This season Crawford will be back outside at end because they have Paea
and Collins starting at the tackle positions. The other player I feel can be a
jack of all trades is Taco Charlton.
I’m so up in the air about what I expect from Taco
Charlton. I understand he had a productive college career, but he just doesn’t
jump off the screen when I was watching him. Charlton came to the perfect
situation because the Cowboys are in desperate need for anybody to get to the quarterback.
Rod Marinelli is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. Marinelli has gotten some great seasons from some average players. George Selvie was once
considered the next great Cowboys pass rusher. If there is anyone that can get
the most out of Charlton it will be Marinelli.
Charlton doesn’t have to be great in his rookie season,
but he does have to contribute meaningful snaps. This Cowboys defense is going to
need all hands on deck this season. Charlton is going to have to carve a niche out for himself and earn his playing time. While I don’t think he will be a
12-15 sack player, I do think he can be a 8-10 sack player. It would also help
if he can be a versatile player like Bennett and Crawford. If Charlton is able
to play effective inside and out, the Cowboys can throw out some extremely athletic
linemen combinations that will give quarterbacks hell in the pocket. Can you
imagine a front four of Lawrence, Irving (when is back from suspension), Collins,
and Charlton? If Charlton is holding up inside with Collins the quarterback
wouldn’t be able to step up in the pocket and Lawrence and Irving can just pin
their ears back. Also imagine replacing those two ends with Tapper (4.5 sec 40)
and Damontre Moore (4.5 sec 40).The Cowboys pass rush will be better this
season and that should help that secondary.
Capitalize on the Turnovers:
This key goes for the offense and the defense but I want
to focus on the defense. It is time for the Cowboys play makers on defense to
start being play makers. Bryon Jones has all the talent in the world, but he
doesn’t seem to create turnovers. He isn’t picking off passes, or even
deflecting balls in the air for other teammates to catch interceptions. Jones
has to take more chances this season and make things happen within the
secondary.
Sean Lee has to be special in this game. Lee is the
Cowboys best player on defense. He has to play like that on Sunday. It should
be difficult for Eli to find room across the middle of the field because Lee is
lurking there. Running backs should feel Lee when he’s closing in for a tackle.
I want to see him taking away those underneath check down options. Lee has to
be special and he has to create turnovers for this team.
Chidobe Awuize played all over the field in college. He
was a linebacker, a safety, rush the quarterback, and played corner. The
Cowboys are going to need him to showcase that off the jump. They’re in search
of anybody that can make plays in the secondary. If Awuize can be effective on blitzes
and jump some passes to create turnovers he will play more and more as the
season goes on. Awuize is a wildcard for this defense and if he can be the
play maker this defense needs, look out!
The Giants and Cowboys will be battling all season long
for the division title. The winner of this game will just land the first of
many blows. The division will be fight to the death and I expect one of these
two teams to win it. Cowboys take the first game 31-21. Zeke rushes for 150
yards and adds 50 yards through the air. Dez has 80 yards and a touchdown. Dak
goes 20-33 for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns no interceptions.
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