Cowboys at Saints: Why the Cowboys Lost

[xwalker]

The Cowboys lost because of turnovers and Zeke rushing for 1.9 yards/carry.

The defense did their job and Kellen Moore's play calling didn't cause the fumbles.

Regardless of Play Calling, Zeke should average more than 1.9 yards/carry.

The run blocking scheme might be a problem.
- The run blocking scheme often requires reach blocks.
- Reach blocks are sometimes impossible due to the how defenders align pre-snap.
- There were multiple problems with reach blocks in this game.

Cowboys Defense

• 12 points allowed (defenses win 93% this season if 12 or less points allowed)
• Kamara held below career and 2019 season averages for rushing and receiving.
• Kamara 69 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving.
• Defense had an INT.
• Defense had 5 sacks.
• The Rams started at NO 49 after a punt return.
• The Rams started at NO 47 & DAL 44 after each Cowboys fumble.

Cowboys Offense

• Zeke had 1.9 yard/carry rushing.
• Offense lost 2 fumbles.
• Dak 66.7% completion rate (66.6% career average)
• Dak 10.13 yards/completion (11.3 career average)
• Dak zero INTs prior to Hail Mary on final play.

Turnovers
There have been 63 games this season (Jets & Niners had a bye already).
Teams that had a negative turnover margin have won 17.5% of the 63 games.
Teams that had a -2 or worse turnover margin have won 10.2% of the 63 games.
The Cowboys had a -2 turnover margin in the Saints game (-1 without the Hail Mary INT).
Cowboys Offense -3, Cowboys Offense +1
The Cowboys turnovers are 1/2 of the turnovers by Saints opponents this season.

Rushing

• Zeke averaged 1.9 yards/carry.
• Regardless of play calling, Zeke should get more than 1.9 yards/carry.
• Only twice this season have RBs with 15+ carries had a lower rushing average.

Points Allowed

• The Cowboys Defense held the Saints to 12 points.
• There have been 23 times that a defense has held an opponent to 12 or less points.
• Those defenses were on the losing team 2 times of the 23 instances (i.e. They won 93% of the time).

Defense Limited Kamara

• Kamara had 69 rushing yards for a 4.1 yards/carry average.
• His career average is 5.1 yards/carry. His season average is 4.7 yards/carry.
• Kamara had 20 yards receiving for with an average of 6.6 yards/catch.
• His career average is 9.5 yards/catch. His season average is 10 yards/catch.
• His career average is 49.5 receiving yards/game. His season average is 49.8 yards/catch.

 

[aria]

I don’t care how bad the O line or play calling is, 1.8 ypc is unacceptable for what he demanded and what the Cowboys paid him. Absolutely pathetic...and that’s why you don’t pay RB’s that much money. I would bet my mortgage that Pollard would have had those same stats, if not better, if given the chance in that game.

 

[RodeoJake]

The Cowboys lost because of turnovers and Zeke rushing for 1.9 yards/carry.

The defense did their job and Kellen Moore's play calling didn't cause the fumbles.

Regardless of Play Calling, Zeke should average more than 1.9 yards/carry.

The run blocking scheme might be a problem.
- The run blocking scheme often requires reach blocks.
- Reach blocks are sometimes impossible due to the how defenders align pre-snap.
- There were multiple problems with reach blocks in this game.

Cowboys Defense

• 12 points allowed (defenses win 93% this season if 12 or less points allowed)
• Kamara held below career and 2019 season averages for rushing and receiving.
• Kamara 69 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving.
• Defense had an INT.
• Defense had 5 sacks.
• The Rams started at NO 49 after a punt return.
• The Rams started at NO 47 & DAL 44 after each Cowboys fumble.

Cowboys Offense

• Zeke had 1.9 yard/carry rushing.
• Offense lost 2 fumbles.
• Dak 66.7% completion rate (66.6% career average)
• Dak 10.13 yards/completion (11.3 career average)
• Dak zero INTs prior to Hail Mary on final play.

Turnovers
There have been 63 games this season (Jets & Niners had a bye already).
Teams that had a negative turnover margin have won 17.5% of the 63 games.
Teams that had a -2 or worse turnover margin have won 10.2% of the 63 games.
The Cowboys had a -2 turnover margin in the Saints game (-1 without the Hail Mary INT).
Cowboys Offense -3, Cowboys Offense +1
The Cowboys turnovers are 1/2 of the turnovers by Saints opponents this season.

Rushing

• Zeke averaged 1.9 yards/carry.
• Regardless of play calling, Zeke should get more than 1.9 yards/carry.
• Only twice this season have RBs with 15+ carries had a lower rushing average.

Points Allowed

• The Cowboys Defense held the Saints to 12 points.
• There have been 23 times that a defense has held an opponent to 12 or less points.
• Those defenses were on the losing team 2 times of the 23 instances (i.e. They won 93% of the time).

Defense Limited Kamara

• Kamara had 69 rushing yards for a 4.1 yards/carry average.
• His career average is 5.1 yards/carry. His season average is 4.7 yards/carry.
• Kamara had 20 yards receiving for with an average of 6.6 yards/catch.
• His career average is 9.5 yards/catch. His season average is 10 yards/catch.
• His career average is 49.5 receiving yards/game. His season average is 49.8 yards/catch.

We prepared for the Saints offense and played the Rams offense. I call reride.

 

[Idgit]

This matches my own assessment. I count the Lawrence roughing penalty as a turnover as well, since we’d stopped them on downs otherwise. Really tough to win when you don’t take care of the football.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

This matches my own assessment. I count the Lawrence roughing penalty as a turnover as well, since we’d stopped them on downs otherwise. Really tough to win when you don’t take care of the football.

I'd have to watch the replay again but wasn't that call a load of crap? I thought the lineman pushed him into the legs.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I'd have to watch the replay again but wasn't that call a load of crap? I thought the lineman pushed him into the legs.

The lineman knocked him down but he made a lunge right at the end. I think that gets called 9 times out of 10.

 

[Future]

I'd have to watch the replay again but wasn't that call a load of crap? I thought the lineman pushed him into the legs.

I think it was more that the rule is a load of crap, because Lawrence finished the tackle. But he was already pushed to the ground and pursuing the QB before the ball was thrown.

 

[Future]

I don’t care how bad the O line or play calling is, 1.8 ypc is unacceptable for what he demanded and what the Cowboys paid him. Absolutely pathetic...and that’s why you don’t pay RB’s that much money. I would bet my mortgage that Pollard would have had those same stats, if not better, if given the chance in that game.

Saquon averaged 1.2 in his last game against the Bucs. Christian McCaffrey has averaged 1.5 or less 3 times. Guess they are pathetic too?

Run blocking and scheme matter and no RB can be good in the offense the Cowboys ran Sunday. Using that as any barometer for Zeke's contract is stupid.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

The Cowboys lost because of turnovers and Zeke rushing for 1.9 yards/carry.

The defense did their job and Kellen Moore's play calling didn't cause the fumbles.

Regardless of Play Calling, Zeke should average more than 1.9 yards/carry.

The run blocking scheme might be a problem.
- The run blocking scheme often requires reach blocks.
- Reach blocks are sometimes impossible due to the how defenders align pre-snap.
- There were multiple problems with reach blocks in this game.

Cowboys Defense

• 12 points allowed (defenses win 93% this season if 12 or less points allowed)
• Kamara held below career and 2019 season averages for rushing and receiving.
• Kamara 69 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving.
• Defense had an INT.
• Defense had 5 sacks.
• The Rams started at NO 49 after a punt return.
• The Rams started at NO 47 & DAL 44 after each Cowboys fumble.

Cowboys Offense

• Zeke had 1.9 yard/carry rushing.
• Offense lost 2 fumbles.
• Dak 66.7% completion rate (66.6% career average)
• Dak 10.13 yards/completion (11.3 career average)
• Dak zero INTs prior to Hail Mary on final play.

Turnovers
There have been 63 games this season (Jets & Niners had a bye already).
Teams that had a negative turnover margin have won 17.5% of the 63 games.
Teams that had a -2 or worse turnover margin have won 10.2% of the 63 games.
The Cowboys had a -2 turnover margin in the Saints game (-1 without the Hail Mary INT).
Cowboys Offense -3, Cowboys Offense +1
The Cowboys turnovers are 1/2 of the turnovers by Saints opponents this season.

Rushing

• Zeke averaged 1.9 yards/carry.
• Regardless of play calling, Zeke should get more than 1.9 yards/carry.
• Only twice this season have RBs with 15+ carries had a lower rushing average.

Points Allowed

• The Cowboys Defense held the Saints to 12 points.
• There have been 23 times that a defense has held an opponent to 12 or less points.
• Those defenses were on the losing team 2 times of the 23 instances (i.e. They won 93% of the time).

Defense Limited Kamara

• Kamara had 69 rushing yards for a 4.1 yards/carry average.
• His career average is 5.1 yards/carry. His season average is 4.7 yards/carry.
• Kamara had 20 yards receiving for with an average of 6.6 yards/catch.
• His career average is 9.5 yards/catch. His season average is 10 yards/catch.
• His career average is 49.5 receiving yards/game. His season average is 49.8 yards/catch.

This is the best breakdown of the game I've seen. If your defense only allows 12 points, you should win every time. The team wasted an excellent defensive performance.

 

[Crazed Liotta Eyes]

The lineman knocked him down but he made a lunge right at the end. I think that gets called 9 times out of 10.

I agree with @Future then. BS rule designed to protect the QB. I can imagine that as a DL, your instinct is still to sack the QB even when you've been pushed to the ground. You can get your hands on him, you gotta take him down.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The Cowboys lost because of turnovers and Zeke rushing for 1.9 yards/carry.

The defense did their job and Kellen Moore's play calling didn't cause the fumbles.

Regardless of Play Calling, Zeke should average more than 1.9 yards/carry.

The run blocking scheme might be a problem.
- The run blocking scheme often requires reach blocks.
- Reach blocks are sometimes impossible due to the how defenders align pre-snap.
- There were multiple problems with reach blocks in this game.

Cowboys Defense

• 12 points allowed (defenses win 93% this season if 12 or less points allowed)
• Kamara held below career and 2019 season averages for rushing and receiving.
• Kamara 69 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving.
• Defense had an INT.
• Defense had 5 sacks.
• The Rams started at NO 49 after a punt return.
• The Rams started at NO 47 & DAL 44 after each Cowboys fumble.

Cowboys Offense

• Zeke had 1.9 yard/carry rushing.
• Offense lost 2 fumbles.
• Dak 66.7% completion rate (66.6% career average)
• Dak 10.13 yards/completion (11.3 career average)
• Dak zero INTs prior to Hail Mary on final play.

Turnovers
There have been 63 games this season (Jets & Niners had a bye already).
Teams that had a negative turnover margin have won 17.5% of the 63 games.
Teams that had a -2 or worse turnover margin have won 10.2% of the 63 games.
The Cowboys had a -2 turnover margin in the Saints game (-1 without the Hail Mary INT).
Cowboys Offense -3, Cowboys Offense +1
The Cowboys turnovers are 1/2 of the turnovers by Saints opponents this season.

Rushing

• Zeke averaged 1.9 yards/carry.
• Regardless of play calling, Zeke should get more than 1.9 yards/carry.
• Only twice this season have RBs with 15+ carries had a lower rushing average.

Points Allowed

• The Cowboys Defense held the Saints to 12 points.
• There have been 23 times that a defense has held an opponent to 12 or less points.
• Those defenses were on the losing team 2 times of the 23 instances (i.e. They won 93% of the time).

Defense Limited Kamara

• Kamara had 69 rushing yards for a 4.1 yards/carry average.
• His career average is 5.1 yards/carry. His season average is 4.7 yards/carry.
• Kamara had 20 yards receiving for with an average of 6.6 yards/catch.
• His career average is 9.5 yards/catch. His season average is 10 yards/catch.
• His career average is 49.5 receiving yards/game. His season average is 49.8 yards/catch.

Coaching was the #1 reason we lost this game. Oline play was #2

Running Zeke up the middle was a horrid game plan to begin with. Then when it wasnt working, to continue to do it anyway made it even worse.

 

[Future]

I agree with @Future then. BS rule designed to protect the QB. I can imagine that as a DL, your instinct is still to sack the QB even when you've been pushed to the ground. You can get your hands on him, you gotta take him down.

Yea, I guess it's the "right" call, but it's almost impossible to ask DLaw to do anything different on that play.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Saquon averaged 1.2 in his last game against the Bucs. Christian McCaffrey has averaged 1.5 or less 3 times. Guess they are pathetic too?

Run blocking and scheme matter and no RB can be good in the offense the Cowboys ran Sunday. Using that as any barometer for Zeke's contract is stupid.

The three games for McCaffrey you sited:
All were in his rookie season when he wasn't nearly as good
He had 4, 8, and 7 rush attempts in those games

In Barkleys only game at with that mark:
Played the #1 rush defense
Only had 8 carries


Also both of those players are elite receivers

 

[Dre11]

The Cowboys lost because of turnovers and Zeke rushing for 1.9 yards/carry.

The defense did their job and Kellen Moore's play calling didn't cause the fumbles.

Regardless of Play Calling, Zeke should average more than 1.9 yards/carry.

The run blocking scheme might be a problem.
- The run blocking scheme often requires reach blocks.
- Reach blocks are sometimes impossible due to the how defenders align pre-snap.
- There were multiple problems with reach blocks in this game.

Cowboys Defense

• 12 points allowed (defenses win 93% this season if 12 or less points allowed)
• Kamara held below career and 2019 season averages for rushing and receiving.
• Kamara 69 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving.
• Defense had an INT.
• Defense had 5 sacks.
• The Rams started at NO 49 after a punt return.
• The Rams started at NO 47 & DAL 44 after each Cowboys fumble.

Cowboys Offense

• Zeke had 1.9 yard/carry rushing.
• Offense lost 2 fumbles.
• Dak 66.7% completion rate (66.6% career average)
• Dak 10.13 yards/completion (11.3 career average)
• Dak zero INTs prior to Hail Mary on final play.

Turnovers
There have been 63 games this season (Jets & Niners had a bye already).
Teams that had a negative turnover margin have won 17.5% of the 63 games.
Teams that had a -2 or worse turnover margin have won 10.2% of the 63 games.
The Cowboys had a -2 turnover margin in the Saints game (-1 without the Hail Mary INT).
Cowboys Offense -3, Cowboys Offense +1
The Cowboys turnovers are 1/2 of the turnovers by Saints opponents this season.

Rushing

• Zeke averaged 1.9 yards/carry.
• Regardless of play calling, Zeke should get more than 1.9 yards/carry.
• Only twice this season have RBs with 15+ carries had a lower rushing average.

Points Allowed

• The Cowboys Defense held the Saints to 12 points.
• There have been 23 times that a defense has held an opponent to 12 or less points.
• Those defenses were on the losing team 2 times of the 23 instances (i.e. They won 93% of the time).

Defense Limited Kamara

• Kamara had 69 rushing yards for a 4.1 yards/carry average.
• His career average is 5.1 yards/carry. His season average is 4.7 yards/carry.
• Kamara had 20 yards receiving for with an average of 6.6 yards/catch.
• His career average is 9.5 yards/catch. His season average is 10 yards/catch.
• His career average is 49.5 receiving yards/game. His season average is 49.8 yards/catch.

Hmmmmmm ,sounds a lot like execution, that everyone from Broaddus and players have been saying all week. Wonder where we've heard that before

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cowboys at Saints: Why the Cowboys Los

Jason Garrett


What do I win?

 

[quickccc]

I don’t care how bad the O line or play calling is, 1.8 ypc is unacceptable for what he demanded and what the Cowboys paid him. Absolutely pathetic...and that’s why you don’t pay RB’s that much money. I would bet my mortgage that Pollard would have had those same stats, if not better, if given the chance in that game.

lol ... once I read " I don’t care how bad the O line" I gave up any creditability to this post.

 

[Flamma]

I'd have to watch the replay again but wasn't that call a load of crap? I thought the lineman pushed him into the legs.

The offensive lineman pushed Tank down. But all the refs saw was Tank hitting the QBs legs, which is a personal foul. I guess Tank was supposed to totally avoid hitting the QB at all from that position.

The problem I have with rules like these are flags aren't going to change behavior. Defensive backs aren't going to NOT hit a wide receiver that caught the ball, but yet the ref will flag them for hitting an unprotected WR. Same goes for defensive lineman. They are going for the QB no matter where they are. Flags aren't changing anything.

 

[quickccc]

- yes when your defense holds a team without a single TD, and a mere 12 points- that should be a low enough point total that the offense should be able to put enough to win.
- yes turnovers just derailed our chances to win, I was already thinking if we just don't beat ourselves with killer turnovers and penalties, - let the Saints prove they can face up beat us.

but I do think there's more intangibles in that game than just the OL, poor run game and two turnovers.

..repeatin' earlier post:

1) I tend to really believe the high noise in Saints dome really panicked coaches and made them scale down offense- including no Tony Pollard running. at all. Why ?
was it Per worry of rookie Pollard's audible adjustment and blitz blocking ? But that still further took away another explosive weapon.

2) I think pre-snap motion was lessen (not eliminated) and more of silent count method that led to a more precautious appropach , and there was more an emphasis to keep Dak
to the pocket- passing and no chances at RPOs runs, bootlegs, or misdirection etc. Like Mickey Spags was saying on talkin cowboys show, everything looked frantic in the offense.


3) it was still puzzling as hell, how we didn't try to attempt to edge-run or sweep vs Saints run defense - it felt like Linehan reborn, in that we tried we'll try it just once ..and if it didn't work, screw it.


4) we simply did not have a formidable No.2 WR that could take advantage of CB Eli Apple a weak link in their secondary. Devin just isn't there yet and isn't developed/established enough
or that kind of duty. That's gonna change instantly once Gallup is set to return.

5) Although much of the blame is on the offense, there was only a couple of things I did not understand or agree to - If the Saints can assign Lattimore to shadow our best WR Cooper all game long,...
why couldn't we not do the same with our best coverage and pro bowl CB Byron Jones on their best WR Mike Thomas ? and Thomas was able to pitch and catch possession vs Awuzie that kept
chain moving for the dink dunk Saints.

6) although Kamara was held in check overall, stat wise, when it came down to key instances in stopping Saints and getting the ball back for more critical touches for the offense. We couldn't do it.
true enough we did not allow scoring points, but in the epitome of bend don't break, but we could not stop Kamara on key 3rd and short runs when it mattered -especially between the tackles.
,.. which help kept their clock-eating drives alive and shortened the game with that much more limited amount of time.

 

[Hook'em#11]

They lost because they scored 2 points less than the winning team. J/K..

Yes, execution by the offense, the whole offense, was why they lost. Course, if the defense could've got off of the field be it a stop,or not a moronic penalty, that would've helped too.

 

[T-RO]

This game was a demonstration of football intangibles:
-Home Field Energy
-The benefit of desperation

It's a mirror image of last year: Saints came into Dallas w/high flying offense. Cowboys were desperate for win and hungry to trump more heralded team. Dallas fans fed the energy. Dallas won 13-10.

Flip the home field, energy and desperation and you get 12-10 Saints.