Some areas why the team struggled in close games

Cowboyny

Cowboyny

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,702
Reaction score
18,956
I believe the Cowboys ranked 30th in the league in close games. Here are some areas that made them unsuccessful, in no particular order:

-Defense was tied for the league worst in interceptions with just 7 all year. The team was -1 turnover margin for the year. The Patriots led the league with plus 21 with 25 interceptions.

-The Cowboy Special Teams ranked 31st in the league. Dead last in kickoff returns. Dead last in punting. Had one of the most inconsistent place kickers that struggles making kicks inside the 40. Offense had to drive all fields, where their kickers killed drives ending with zero points.

-The offense was one of the league worst scoring points in the 1st quarter. This put them in that chasing the scoreboard mode for the majority of the games. Could be the reason why we saw the Cowboy Offense lead the league in offensive yardage. Also, had the offense getting away from their run game way too early.

-The Cowboy Offense rank 16th in scoring TD's in the red zone. We can point to questionable play calling and lack of execution.

-Penalties-the team seemed to get penalties called at the absolute worst times that either killed drives and allowed teams to score points.

Just a little improvement in these areas, it could mean another 2-3 victories.
 
Whirlwin

Whirlwin

Cowboy , It’s a way of life.
Messages
23,977
Reaction score
16,255
CowboysZone DIEHARD Fan
Cowboyny said:
I believe the Cowboys ranked 30th in the league in close games. Here are some areas that made them unsuccessful, in no particular order:

-Defense was tied for the league worst in interceptions with just 7 all year. The team was -1 turnover margin for the year. The Patriots led the league with plus 21 with 25 interceptions.

-The Cowboy Special Teams ranked 31st in the league. Dead last in kickoff returns. Dead last in punting. Had one of the most inconsistent place kickers that struggles making kicks inside the 40. Offense had to drive all fields, where their kickers killed drives ending with zero points.

-The offense was one of the league worst scoring points in the 1st quarter. This put them in that chasing the scoreboard mode for the majority of the games. Could be the reason why we saw the Cowboy Offense lead the league in offensive yardage. Also, had the offense getting away from their run game way too early.

-The Cowboy Offense rank 16th in scoring TD's in the red zone. We can point to questionable play calling and lack of execution.

-Penalties-the team seemed to get penalties called at the absolute worst times that either killed drives and allowed teams to score points.

Just a little improvement in these areas, it could mean another 2-3 victories.
Click to expand...
Special-teams Is a disaster. You can’t start every Drive in Sager on 20. When other teams only have to travel an average of 60 yards we have to travel an extra 20. That’s six to eat more plays per drive. Because you can’t open it up on your side of the field. We fix special teams I think it all gets better
 

QuincyCarterEra

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,324
Reaction score
10,736
Cowboyny said:
I believe the Cowboys ranked 30th in the league in close games. Here are some areas that made them unsuccessful, in no particular order:

-Defense was tied for the league worst in interceptions with just 7 all year. The team was -1 turnover margin for the year. The Patriots led the league with plus 21 with 25 interceptions.

-The Cowboy Special Teams ranked 31st in the league. Dead last in kickoff returns. Dead last in punting. Had one of the most inconsistent place kickers that struggles making kicks inside the 40. Offense had to drive all fields, where their kickers killed drives ending with zero points.

-The offense was one of the league worst scoring points in the 1st quarter. This put them in that chasing the scoreboard mode for the majority of the games. Could be the reason why we saw the Cowboy Offense lead the league in offensive yardage. Also, had the offense getting away from their run game way too early.

-The Cowboy Offense rank 16th in scoring TD's in the red zone. We can point to questionable play calling and lack of execution.

-Penalties-the team seemed to get penalties called at the absolute worst times that either killed drives and allowed teams to score points.

Just a little improvement in these areas, it could mean another 2-3 victories.
Click to expand...
Is 18th in the league in 1st quarter scoring really "one of the leagues worst"
That means they were just under average, and only chasing the scoreboard half of games not the majority.
 
BigD5

BigD5

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,814
Reaction score
2,601
It’s all coaching. We can argue about Dak or Zeke or the defense til we are all blue in the face. The one thing I think we can all agree on and hopefully we know for sure soon is that the coaching on this team had been very poor for a very long time.

Parcells quit in 2006. We haven’t had a real leader or even just a competent coaching staff that gives us an edge or advantage since then.

It’s my belief that our team has had to overcome the poor coaching and schemes and that is what has held us back. Say what you will about Jerry and the country club culture and it’s true but I can’t just give the coaches a pass bc of Jerry. At the end of the day you’ve got to stand up and do it your way. I’m not sure Jerry would say or do anything if you prepared the team to play and even if the coaches were hard on the players
 
thunderpimp91

thunderpimp91

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,990
Reaction score
15,160
The difference between an 8 win team and a 12 win team is often the little things, and the little things are what the cowboys did so poorly a year ago.

Special teams was a disaster and the defensive philosophy I never really understood. You cant take a run first, TOP emphasis offense and be that conservative on defense. Yes they had games where they did a great job of limiting points, but it seemed that every drive the cowboys were starting deep in their own territory.

I have little doubt that both if these areas will be greatly improved this year, and gives me hope more so than anything else.
 
NeathBlue

NeathBlue

Well-Known Member
Messages
984
Reaction score
1,585
Coaching/Play calling - Some of it, not just last season but for the last 4 or 5, has been bewildering and extremely frustrating.... That I believe is now going to change.

Discipline/Penalties - We’ve cost ourselves points by having drives stalls and giving up points by extending the opposition’s drives.
It’s also meant we haven’t been able to dominate the clock like we should have been able to.
Again though, I believe that’s going to change.
 
thunderpimp91

thunderpimp91

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,990
Reaction score
15,160
InTheZone said:
Weird how qb can't be part of issue. Somehow 100% on coaching.
Click to expand...
I agree. Dak throughout his career has been great closing out games, but the knock on him even going back to the magical rookie year are the slow starts.
That doesnt mean coaching isnt a factor in that, but I think it's a fair area to be critical/skeptical until he proves otherwise.
 
MyFairLady

MyFairLady

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,413
Reaction score
6,573
BigD5 said:
Parcells quit in 2006. We haven’t had a real leader or even just a competent coaching staff that gives us an edge or advantage since then.
Click to expand...
Yup sure do miss all the success we had under Fat *******. :rolleyes:
 
big dog cowboy

big dog cowboy

THE BIG DOG
Staff member
Messages
97,146
Reaction score
99,399
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Cowboyny said:
I believe the Cowboys ranked 30th in the league in close games. Here are some areas that made them unsuccessful, in no particular order:

-Defense was tied for the league worst in interceptions with just 7 all year. The team was -1 turnover margin for the year. The Patriots led the league with plus 21 with 25 interceptions.

-The Cowboy Special Teams ranked 31st in the league. Dead last in kickoff returns. Dead last in punting. Had one of the most inconsistent place kickers that struggles making kicks inside the 40. Offense had to drive all fields, where their kickers killed drives ending with zero points.

-The offense was one of the league worst scoring points in the 1st quarter. This put them in that chasing the scoreboard mode for the majority of the games. Could be the reason why we saw the Cowboy Offense lead the league in offensive yardage. Also, had the offense getting away from their run game way too early.

-The Cowboy Offense rank 16th in scoring TD's in the red zone. We can point to questionable play calling and lack of execution.

-Penalties-the team seemed to get penalties called at the absolute worst times that either killed drives and allowed teams to score points.

Just a little improvement in these areas, it could mean another 2-3 victories.
Click to expand...
New HC and staff will help fix those things. The Cowboys always seemed to get outcoached. I felt that way after they would win sometimes also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top