Five Keys to beating the Atlanta Falcons!!!!

                

                Why does everyone continue to say that the Cowboys defense is only good because the offense can control the clock? Isn’t that how good teams are constructed. The offense helps the defense and the defense helps the offense. It’s called balance. The Cowboys didn’t create or originate this methodical approach to winning games. This is how football was played in the 60s, 70, and 80s. In those eras, quarterbacks weren’t throwing the ball 30+ times a game. Wide receivers weren’t catching 8-10 passes. In that era you ran the rock, played good defense, and maintained discipline. It’s called good football! Yes the Cowboys defense benefits from the offense possessing the ball for seven minutes. The offense also benefits from the defense forcing teams to possess the ball for 5-7 minutes and holding a team to three points. The Dallas Cowboys are a complete team on both sides of the ball, and they play complementary football. Just like the teams from the 60s, 70s, and 80s!

                The Cowboys have been red hot since the bye week, winning three straight games. Zeke Elliot had a lot to do with the recent success of the Cowboys. Zeke is special because he has the ability to turn a 2 yard run into a 5 yard run. He can take a 10-yard run and turn it into a 20-yard run or take it to the house. Elliot is a special player and combine that with the offensive line, it’s a lethal threat for any defense. Elliot wasn’t able to outrun his suspension and it will being today against the Falcons. Life will be tough without Zeke but the Cowboys can get through this and it will start with superstar quarterback Dak Prescott.

                The quarterback is the most important position on the field. He has the ball in his hands and he makes the decision on who gets that football. The quarterback also has to be able to make the smart decision, not just the right decision. Dak Prescott is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league and all he has done since his rookie year is make the Cowboys a better team. He knows when to use his legs, when to check the ball down, when to buy more time for a route to develop, when to change the play at the line of scrimmage, and so much more. Everybody wants to judge quarterbacks by the number of 300 yard passing games, but that shouldn’t be the barometer. The barometer should be how much better the team is with him on the field. We all see that the Packer have a five win roster. When Aaron Rodgers is on the field, they’re a playoff team. That is what you measure! Can the quarterback make the players around him better? The Cowboys were a four-win team before Dak arrived. He makes them better, and even without Zeke, he has the ability to put the team on his back. Today will be the first game that Dak shows the world that he has what it takes to get the job done. Here is how the Cowboys beat the Falcons.

Run, Run, and More Run!!

                Everybody in the league has been following this Zeke Elliot situation. All of the teams that play the Cowboys have been waiting to face this team without Elliot on the field. Defensive coordinators think they have the master plan to stopping the Cowboys without Zeke. They’re thinking to themselves, “Those other backs can’t beat me, I won’t have to commit 6 or 7 to the box without Zeke.” Wrong! This is the time to run the ball more than ever this season.

                The Dallas Cowboys have the best offensive line in football. Darren McFadden has run for 1000 yards behind this offensive line. Alfred Morris has had a 70 yard run, this year, behind this offensive line. This offensive line is hitting it’s stride and there isn’t a reason to slow them down. Tyron Smith has been battling a back injury for the last two seasons. I think he is going to sit today, that will be huge lost because he has become the best left tackle in football. Chaz Green is capable of playing at a high level. I digress; McFadden and Morris have been successful behind this offensive. They aren’t the talent that Zeke is, but both of them are smart runners and can hit the holes and keep that four yard per carry average going. That is the most important part of the Cowboys offense, four yards per carry! Winning in the run game milks the clock and keeps the playbook open. Its easier to run plays on second down and five, than it is on second down and seven. Morris and McFadden don’t have to be Zeke they just have to maintain the rushing average.

                Another reason to continue to run the ball is that it’s the Cowboys identity. This is a run first team, which will not change because one player is out of the game. Zeke is gone for at least four games, it’s too late in the season to try and change the identity0. Most teams in the league can’t handle the Cowboys rushing attack, Atlanta is no different!

Let Dak Play!

                Dak Prescott has shown that he will protect the ball and make the right decision. He is going to rollout the pocket to buy time for his receivers. Prescott has the ability to get the offense into the right play at the line of scrimmage. Pressure doesn’t affect him, so turn him loose. Go five wide, with a built in quarterback run option. Motion a running back in and out the backfield to make the defense respect Dak’s ability to beat them. I don’t want to see Dak throwing more than 30 times in the game. If he does that means that they Cowboys are in a shootout and they can’t afford that against the Falcons. Keep the run, pass option plays and let Dak make the decision. This team is going to need Dak in order to survive the lost of Zeke. The Falcons don’t have a good defense and Dallas will get plenty of opportunities to get the ball downfield. Also Dak is a threat to run the ball on every passing play. Make Atlanta commit a linebacker to spying Dak, it will be one less person in coverage.

Continue to build on Terrance William’s Success

                I never thought that Terrance Williams would be a key to winning a game. Williams played like a man possessed last week against the Chiefs. It reminded me of the Miles Austin coming out party, and the Cowboys were able to ride that for about 3 season. Williams is great with the ball in his hands, the key is getting him to catch the ball with his hands. The Cowboys used Williams exactly how he should be used. Against the Chiefs he ran a lot of deep drag routes, where his speed helps him to separate. The Cowboys also had most of his routes come back to the quarterback. Giving him those routes allow Williams to square his shoulders to the line of scrimmage so that he can use his body to secure the ball. Williams is a body-catcher, has been, will always be. He still has speed and can make guys miss in open field. With defense continuing to focus on Dez, TWill has to step up and using him the way they did against the Chiefs is the first step into creating an offense with two legit wide receivers.

Stop the Run!!!

                The Falcons are at their best when they’re having success on the ground. I know that Matt Ryan won the MVP last season. I know that Julio Jones is one of the best wide receivers in the league. The Falcons run game is able to cover up a mediocre offensive line. The Falcons like to go deep with Julio because he has the speed to beat you and the athleticism to out jump most defender for the 50-50 ball. In order to get the ball down the field, they use the run to slow down the pass rush. Julio Jones is going to get his, but if the run game is effective while Jones is doing his thing, the Cowboys are going to lose this game.

                This Falcons offense has been struggling, but they still have elite level talent. They are capable of putting up 30 points on any team. This Cowboys defense has hit its stride. The young players on this Cowboys defense are gaining confidence and believing in Marinelli’s scheme. Hell Taco Charlton got his first sack of the season last week. The front four of the Cowboys are going to have to play discipline to contain the Falcons run game. Maliek Collins has to hold up in the middle to create lanes for Sean Lee. David Irving has been a monster all over the front, and he will have to continue that in this game. Tyrone Crawford has to keep backside contain so that Freeman can’t cut back. Freeman’s quick and loves to plant that foot if defenders over pursue.

Don’t be afraid to get after Matt Ryan!!!!

                Matt Ryan played out of his mind last season and received the MVP award. For most of his career he has been a fringe top 10 quarterback. I hate to diminish what Ryan has accomplished but he isn’t on the elite level of the Brady, Rodgers, or Brees and he never will be. He has benefitted largely in part to playing with Julio Jones. With that said he is still a good quarterback and will beat you if you allow him.

                The Falcons offense has been struggling, because they continue to force Jones the ball and can’t get the running game going. The Cowboys have to pressure Ryan often to keep him off his rhythm.  The pass rush for the Cowboys is much improved from last season, but the secondary is young and inexperienced. This is the perfect game to allow those young guys to come off the edge and pressure the quarterback. Containing Julio Jones will be hard enough, don’t play a passive zone coverage all game and hurt the confidence of these young players. If they’re struggling with stopping Julio, then go get Ryan!

                Before the Zeke suspension, I thought the Cowboys would handle the Falcons. Then I hear that Tyron Smith won’t play and Dez will be playing hurt. Every team in the league is dealing with injuries so I’m sure the Falcons have their share of injuries also. This game is tough to pick because I need to see more from the Cowboys defense. If the defense that showed up last week against the Chiefs shows up, then the Cowboys win this game easily. The Falcons won’t be able to stop the Cowboys. If this defense struggles or the Cowboys run game is ineffective then it will be a long day for the Cowboys. I bleed blue and Sliver. I’m going with my heart and not my head. The Cowboys win 31-28!