5 games left to prepare for the tournament

JBS

Well-Known Member
Messages
21,469
Reaction score
21,980
All this talk around here about fumbling the division title away was and is ridiculous. It’s a waste of time to even discuss. This team obviously isn’t playing at their very best. But what isn’t understood around here is that it doesn’t matter. You don’t win super bowls in September or December.

Yesterday was ugly, the last month plus has been ugly but it doesn’t matter. There are 5 games left of games that have seeding implications and of course you want the best seed possible but the most important factor here is getting this team back to peak form - that’s it.

Areas of concern that need to be improved over the next 5 games to head into the postseason in peak form

1. Passing attack - it’s no secret - the passing game is not where it was early in the season. The reasons are obvious. There are 5 games left for the offense to get back in rhythm

2. Run game - this one is very concerning. I posted a graphic multiple weeks ago that Dallas had the worst rush attack in the entire nfl over a 5 week period. That was 2-3 games ago. It’s gotten even worse since then. This team has to figure out a way to run the ball better. Moore is clueless in the run game. He calls the same plays over and over that don’t work. He called 3 run plays to the outside edges yesterday and they all were successful - including a 58 yard td from pollard. And he still didn’t stick w what was working - he stopped calling the outside runs.

3. Big plays surrendered by the defense. This defense gives us way too many splash plays. We got some guys coming back but Quinn needs to figure this out. They’ve been taking about it and working on it but we haven’t seen much of an improvement here.

4. Gregory, Tank, Parsons. IMO, this might be the key to the entire playoff push. It’s asking for a lot but if we can get a dominant pass rush in the playoffs , that just might be what puts this team over the edge. Assuming they can sort out at least some of the other issues addressed above. We have yet to see these 3 all get after the passer together. Remember - parsons played lb week 1 and didn’t rush much.

Things are ugly around here. As usual, people like to jump to conclusions way too quickly. Over the next 5 weeks - the only real concern from anybody should be about getting this team back into peak form heading into the playoffs. If they can play their best in the playoffs , they can play with anyone. If they contribute this kind of play into the postseason , it will be another early exit that we are all far too familiar with.

tap the brakes. 5 games in this league to sort things out is an eternity.
 

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
66,922
Reaction score
84,269
D Law looked pretty good for his first game back in 2 months.

He’s going to be our 3rd best pass rusher as opposed to having to be our best guy once Gregory gets back. The defense should be humming come playoff time.


Dallas has to fix Dak. Denver broke him and exposed Kellen Moore and it’s been a month and Moore still has no answers for how teams defend us.
 

JBS

Well-Known Member
Messages
21,469
Reaction score
21,980
D Law looked pretty good for his first game back in 2 months.

He’s going to be our 3rd best pass rusher as opposed to having to be our best guy once Gregory gets back. The defense should be humming come playoff time.


Dallas has to fix Dak. Denver broke him and exposed Kellen Moore and it’s been a month and Moore still has no answers for how teams defend us.

Dak needs cooper. I think that’s obvious. Let’s get Cooper back in the mix full time, especially if we can keep everybody else healthy, and I think we will see this offense back in form.
 

LucaBrasi

Sleeps with the fishes
Messages
5,589
Reaction score
7,495
Stretch run, I’ll admit my confidence is real low given the offensive malaise has been essentially 5 weeks now outside of the Atlanta game. Kellen needs to get in the lab with MJM and figure out some answers. Dak needs to do less butt slapping and pregame talking and start producing.

defensively, I’m hopeful Gregory, Parsons, Tank ignites the pass rush. At the rate this D gives up big plays I can’t see it beating elite playoff qbs, this offense will need 30+ in the playoffs. Also, hoping Gallimore eases Osa’s snaps because they have overplayed him out of necessity. Also hoping that helps the run D.

not sure what is going on, a win is a win, questionable coaching decisions everywhere beginning with playing Zeke on one leg. It’s hard to envision any playoff success with the current way they are playing.
 

John813

Well-Known Member
Messages
22,105
Reaction score
33,854
I'll need to rewatch it, but it feels like the defense sells out to stop the run game cause they know where it's going to be going. It's either the 1 or 2 gap or sometimes the 4 gap between Martin and Steele/Collins. But it's 99% of the time between the tackles. And we don't have a prime Leary, Frederick and younger Martin clearing the way.

It's like someone playing Madden, spamming the same run play hoping to break it big on a few attempts.

I think Moore has a future in the NFL but at times I think he gets stubborn to a fault on playcalling.
 

JohnsKey19

Well-Known Member
Messages
18,709
Reaction score
17,197
I'll need to rewatch it, but it feels like the defense sells out to stop the run game cause they know where it's going to be going. It's either the 1 or 2 gap or sometimes the 4 gap between Martin and Steele/Collins. But it's 99% of the time between the tackles. And we don't have a prime Leary, Frederick and younger Martin clearing the way.

It's like someone playing Madden, spamming the same run play hoping to break it big on a few attempts.

I think Moore has a future in the NFL but at times I think he gets stubborn to a fault on playcalling.


I've seen lesser talented teams at OL and RB manufacture running games with smart play calling and a bit of creativity. Anyone with two eyes can see that ramming Zeke up the middle, when your interior OL can't move anyone off the ball, will not work. As many have said for a couple of years now, this seems to be Kellen Moore's blind spot as an offensive coordinator. Manufacturing a running game in less than ideal conditions.
 
Top