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Five Keys To Beating the Giants 2017 wk1

            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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