It’s
been an up and down start to the 2017 season for the Dallas Cowboys. I haven’t
reached the sky is falling phase yet for this team. In the grand scheme of things,
this team is still right where they want to be. They’re one game out of first
place for the Division and the Conference. They still have to play Philly and
the Redskins twice. This team already has one division win in its hat.
Everything that the Cowboys hope to accomplish this year, is still very much
attainable. Most reasonable fans looked at this schedule, at the beginning of
the season and knew that it would be tougher rode for the Cowboys. This team
wasn’t going 16-0 and it’s better to struggle now, early in the season, as oppose
to late in the year when the games matter most.
With that out the way, the Cowboys have a lot of work to
do in order to get back to the 2016 team that we saw. Everything that the
Cowboys do well begin and ends with the running game. When the run is clicking,
the offense is able to control the ball and move the chains. The defense is protected
because it isn’t on the field for long portions of the game. An effective run
game opens up the playbook, so the Cowboys can get the ball to all their weapons.
This logic has the Cowboys sitting at 2-2.
Its apparent that the passing game is a complainant to
the run game for the Cowboys. This isn’t a bad thing, but it makes it difficult
to make in game adjustments when your approach to passing the ball depends on short
yardage to go situations. The Cowboys are running into problems moving the
chains because they are behind them on 2nd and 3rd downs.
Last year the Cowboys average five yards a carry on first down. Success on
first down allows the play caller to call any play on second and third down because
you only need to pick up five yards. This season the Cowboys are averaging
three yards a carry on first down. The two-yard difference, changes the approach
to play calling for picking up the first down. Three yards on first down isn’t
the best situation but its one that many teams find themselves in. Not every
team in the NFL can pick up 5-6 yards on first down and face short yardage
situations on second and third down. The Cowboys are no different.
I understand how important the run game is to the
Cowboys. They have to understand that teams are not going to allow them to run
for 145 yards a game this season. Defenses approach to beating the Cowboys is
stack the box, get bodies in the running lanes. Make the tackles when Zeke
bounces the run outside. They’re also taking away the short passing game because
they don’t feel like Dez, Twill, or Brice Butler can win on the outside. My problem
is, if we know this as fans why don’t the Cowboys coaches know this, and why
does it seem like they don’t have an answer for this.
We are four weeks into the season. I can chalk up the
first four weeks as the Cowboys “figuring things out.” I will even ignore their
inability to make in game adjustments, for now. I want to get to my keys so I’m
not going to get deep into the struggles of this team. My keys will be defense
heavy this week!
Keep Aaron Rodgers in the pocket
There is no question that Aaron Rodgers is the best
quarterback in the league. He can beat you with his mind, arm, and legs if you
let him. The Cowboys can’t have the same lack luster pass rush that we saw last
week against Rams. Goff had a field day throwing the ball, what do you think a
great quarterback like Rodgers is going to do? The focus of this defense has to
be keep Rodgers inside the pocket.
When Aaron Rodgers goes off script and gets outside the
tackle box, it’s impossible to stop him. He has an amazing connection with his receivers.
Rodgers is athletic enough to pick up yards on a quarterback keeper as well.
Allowing him outside the pocket puts this defense at a disadvantage.
DLaw is going to have to stay discipline the entire game.
He can’t just get up field like he did the first four weeks of the season. If
he rushes straight up field Rodgers will step up inside his rush and get on the
edges where he can create for his receivers.
Malik Collins is going to be huge this week because keeping
Rodgers in the pocket requires an interior rush. Rodgers has to see and feel
Collins the entire game so that he begins to roll out into the waiting arms of
the defensive ends. Devonta Adams is questionable for this game, Rendell Cobb
has been battling injuries his entire career, but should play this week. If
Rodgers doesn’t have his full complement of receivers then he will need to buy
time for the receivers that he will have. The Cowboys better keep Rodgers in
the pocket if they want to win this game.
Bring pressure off the edge
One of the key adjustments that Marinelli made in the
playoff game against the Packers last season was blitzing cornerbacks off the
edge. It worked in the playoffs and allowed the Cowboys to get back in the game.
The Cowboys have to get to Rodgers and they can’t rely on that lousy pass rush
that we saw a week ago. If the front four can’t get to Rodgers (which is
completely unacceptable considering he won’t have his two starting tackles or
their backups) then Marinelli is going to have to dial of some corner back and
safety blitzes.
The great thing about this key is that is fits perfectly
with the Cowboy personnel. The Cowboys drafted Awuzie, Lewis, and Woods because
they bring versatility. All three of these players played multiple positions in
college and so far with the Cowboys. Nothing would energize them more than
sacking a great quarterback like Aaron Rodgers. The ends will have to keep
contain so this probably won’t be a game where there are ton of sacks. Any
pressure on Rodgers will get the ball out quick and put the defense in a better
position to get off the field.
BENCH JEFF HEATH!!!!!
Yes, I put that in all CAPS because I’m yelling it from
the mountain top. Jeff Heath is not a starting caliber safety in the NFL. He can
be good at times, but he is a situational player at best, but a great special
teams player. Heath takes terrible angles in run support. He is always ether too
deep or too shallow when defending the pass. If he misses another open field tackle,
I will lose my mind. Heath isn’t the reason this defense is struggling but he
isn’t helping either. Bryon Jones isn’t getting turnovers but he is making
great tackles in the open field. Jones is also playing great coverage and plays
with a great understanding of situational football.
The Cowboys only solution to Heath has to be on the
roster. They don’t have time to bring in another player and get him up to speed
to be effective this season. The Cowboys also can’t risk bringing in someone
and disrupting the chemistry of this unit (what little chemistry they have).
Xavier
Woods looks like a solid safety. At the very least, he makes tackles. I like
Lewis at corner back and would like to start him on the outside opposite Brown.
Awuize is coming back this week and they may experiment with him at safety. Frazier
is in the same boat as Heath, I think he is a situational player. Although
Frazier looks like he can fill that JJ Wilcox role from last season, and be
that robber across the middle of the field. I don’t care who they replace Heath
with, they just need to replace him.
Scrap the Dak and Dez connection
We have seen four weeks of Dak Prescott forcing the ball
to a blanketed Dez Bryant. I’m done with seeing it. If Dez is still an elite receiver
(time will tell), he will make an impact on games. I don’t know why these two
can’t get on the same page but it’s scary because the Cowboys are going to need
Dez. Dak has to hit Dez on the slant routes when he is open. Dez has to catch
the tough passes when Dak gets him the ball, it’s as simple as that. Neither
one of them has confidence in the other because they can’t seem to build any
momentum throughout a game.
The Cowboys have other weapons, and no I’m not talking
about Terrace Williams. That would be a whole blog in itself, if I spent time
talking about how inconsistent Williams is. Cole Beasley was the Cowboys best receiver,
statistically speaking, last season. Beasley
can be a focal point for this offense, at this point he should be. It’s time to
see more Ryan Switzer.
When the Cowboys drafted Switzer it was to use him with
Beasley, similar to the way the Patriots use Amendola and Eldemen. That hasn’t
materialized, mainly because Scott Linehan is refusing to get creative with the
play calling. Using Beasley and Switzer on crossing routes throughout the game
would cause fits for every team in the league. It would also be a great way to
get Dak in rhythm with some short passes. Another way to use them is putting
them in rub situations. Switzer and Beasley are smaller, quick receivers. Using
the “rub” concept to help get them free will put them in space and allow them
make plays. I been preaching for more creativity with this offense since week
one. I hope the Cowboys stop forcing the ball to Dez and start opening up the field
for Dak. Defense will continue to stack the box and stop the run until the
Cowboys start making them pay.
Play a full 60 minutes of football
The Cowboys have only played one complete game of
football, that was week one against the Giants. Looking back on that game, the
Giants stink! They played a great second half against the Cardinals and a great
first half against the Rams. With Green bay looming, it’s going to take 60
minutes to beat Aaron Rodgers.
The Cowboys beat the Packers last season because they
were able to get on top on them early and pound them on both sides of the ball
for a full 60 minutes. They lost to the Packers in the playoffs because they struggled
in the first half, and couldn’t squeeze out enough juice in the second half to
win the game. On Sunday, the Cowboys will have to stay focused for a full 60
minutes because there going to he highs and lows in that game. Aaron Rodgers
will do amazing things to move the ball up and down the field on this Cowboys
defense. The defense will have to remain discipline and fight for a full 60
mins. The offense will also have to move the ball for a full 60 mins. If this
offense doesn’t show up in the first half this game will be over at halftime
because I have no faith in the Cowboys defense stopping Aaron Rodgers.
Its not
time to panic yet Cowboys fans. Even if the Cowboys lose this game to one of
the better teams in the NFC they will still be in good position to make the
playoffs. I was reading an article that highlighted the same miscues that have
plagued the Cowboys rushing attack. Guards aren’t holding blocks at the second
level. Collins isn’t getting enough of his body between the guy he is blocking
and the ball carry. Zeke is pressing at the line of scrimaage and at times
hitting the wrong hole. All these are correctable issues. The Cowboys have a
new right tackle and a left guard. They will get in sync with the three all pro
players and this running game will get right. What better week than this one
against a bad Packers defense to get right on? I’m taking the Cowboys 27-23!
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