CFZ Thoughts about today's win!

Cowboyny said:

-20 points is the benchmark, with a strong defense and good special teams they will win many games if the offense reaches this number.

Offense

-Cowboys couldn't run the football what so ever but they stayed with it and got a few big plays off play action. OL really struggled, but to be fair, Washington's interior is very talented and good. OL did well in the penalty department.

-Rush got away with two bad interceptions due to penalties by Washington's Defense. I thought this was his worst game out of the three, but a lot has to due how well they played defense against us.

-Gallup was a huge factor in today's victory. Big 3rd down conversion, TD before half and drew a long penalty. Lamb had another strong outing, most important no dropped passes.

-Shultz is hurting this team more then helping it, thought our TE play was much better last week.

Defense

-Defense had a lot of struggles stopping the run again, especially in the 1st half. Washington used the same runs that TB had success with on the outside. This is an area of concern.

-Pass rush was very solid, but I expect more from this group. Parsons still doesn't look the same since the Cincy game. He is still affecting throws, but not flashing as much. Fowler another strong game.

-Diggs had a very strong game defending a legitimate top WR. The 2 fourth quarter pass breakups ended the game. We have two legitimate playmakers on this unit, don't forget about Diggs. By the way, Lewis might not see his job when he returns, thought Bland played real well, which including a game sealing interception.

Special Teams

-Maher was very consistent once again and he probably saved 2 points with his tackle in that blocked extra point.
-They almost blocked another FG.
-Anger had that poor punt when field position was paramount.

Good grind out win, but now the schedule gets harder the next 2 weeks on the road against top competition, who knows if Dak returns in that span and how he performs after the layoff.

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quickccc said:

SPECIAL TEAMS

- Cowboys special teams had the worst game of year
- with a blocked extra Pts,
- Anger had a very rare shanked punt.
- And Turpin made one punt error near goal line pin and couldm't get loose
- per Wash punter's odd style of left foot punting that went sidelines or un-returnable .

But coverage still very solid – including a big hit stop by “ captain “ Kelvin Jospeh and Goodwin.. and Maurer made a couple of key FGs.

Zero KO returns per a strong KO leg, Brett M is still having a very solid year.

- BWT, For a change, the opposing team had a ton of flags and penalties, while we had very few, even the illegal motion vs center Tyler B. was pure BS goof by officials.

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quickccc said:

DEFENSE

- Whether Marinelli, …Mike Nolan,… or Dan Quinn, this team has not et become a formidable run defense. What gives ?

Here’s a double edge sword. This team has yet to surrender over 20 points in a game, and that includes Brady and Burrows.

- Yet every team we’ve faced thus far has ran for 100 yards, ..that flaw and weakness rears its’ ugly head, .. as it did in the Niners playoff loss,
and it’s gonna threaten to do so again several more times this reg and playoff time.

- I’m wonder how much is it scheme-related , and how much of it is a lack of player personnel ? .. so far it looks like it’s more vulnerable vs edges.

The previous QBs running up the middle for gulps of scrambled rush yards, added the rushing yards stats even more so, but also check the opposing RBs avp.
But vs Wash, it wasn’t the QB, asWentz is so beaten up in physical decline, that he has lost that threat.. Comm's RBs just zapped us on the edges.

- Later part of 3rd and basically 4th Q, we seem to get settled vs run, and got stops and tackles for losses.

I wonder if the scheme is so nickel based and DB loaded, and such pass rush mode that opposing teams sees flaws and will test us vs run,
... or is it the ends, LBs that are not shedding and making plays at the edge, or line ?

- I’ll make do with LVE until we can do better. Get someone better, I don’t think he sheds fast enuff, well enuff to defend the edges, and misdirection has always gave him fits

- Seems like the pass rush with Parsons, DLaw, Armstrong, Fowler ..and the nickel scheme with 3 safeties, is gonna give teams the most fits.
The run defense is gonna be a challenge to us the most. I’m interested in teams using more no huddle vs our packages -will that be the Rams ?

- Because we had issues with the run, i think that helped take some rush heat off Wentz. Otherwise why not more sacks than Eagles ?
Gallimore had a big sack, but I wanted more from DT rush. Blitzers were getting a beam on Wentz as well. Wash has one of the more subpar OLs in NFL.

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quickccc said:

OFFENSE

- Cooper Rush noodle arm and all, is willing to take deep vertical shots downfield, .the ball may float and hang too long, but he’s being selective occasionally to throw it deep
and challenge teams, and he’s making the opposing secondaries work and strain and work the entire field , instead of just dinks and dunks.
* I expect Dak to be the same thang’ with pushing the ball vertically downfield ,upon his returns. (more to come later on this )

- I think the coaches have simplified the pass scheme for C-Rush, I don’t think the WRs are being given as many option routes and complexity, if it’s a go-route, finish it out as a fly/go.
They are not asking him to do a lot of play action roll outs as he’s not that fleet or mobile, and it may be discomfort. Scheme and package him to what he does best.

- Very little catch contribution from the TEs this week. Maybe the knee issue is still bothersome to Dalton Schultz ? Assuming so, he needs to be gradual worked back into the lineup
behind Ferguson. His edge in-line was always suspect and flawed - even when healthy.

- Gallup’s presence instantly made it a huge difference. As he twice drew big PI flags vs CB Willie Jackson. Gallup instantly brought vertical, deep field dimension.
And he’s another that seem to have a rapport with the QBs whether Dak or Coop.

- Are opposing teams so more keying in on Pollard due to his potential explosiveness ? As soon as he’s seen in backfield, they overcommit and pounce on him quickly.
With Zeke, they figure he is gonna used more per pass game blitz-block - so they won't fear or take him as serious a threat ?

- Wash has an underwhelming secondary, and we took advantage- between Lamb, Gallup and even Noah, they all had major impact and game breaking plays.

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Cowboyny said:

Anger, blocked kick, poor returns. Bad performance, but our kicker still is being very consistent which is a huge upgrade over last year's struggles. Let's hope he keeps it up!

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BAT said:

You're ridiculously bad at the football stuff.

CeeDee put up almost 100 yards and a TD. He was fantastic vs WAS. You're really complaining about Lamb and Noah Brown now too????

And Steele has been the highest graded OL the last 4 weeks. Cowboys absolutely do not miss Collins who was used like a turnstile by Parsons the other week.

Take your L and be happy because the Cowboys are winning.

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BAT said:

Zeke averaged almost 3 ypc (2.6) vs stout WAS front 7.

Same front 7 that stifled TP to less than 1 ypc (0.8 to be exact).

And salaries mean nothing once the game is being played.

You really are a lost cause, basic reasoning and acceptance completely escapes you.

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glimmerman said:

Yeah I will take the win. Pollard less than 1 yard per yesterday. They stacked the box and kept running both right into them. 0 effort running Pollard off tackle or neither RB for sweeps, tosses or pitch plays.

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CowboyRoy said:

You can have the one game win. Ill the take the win where I told you that your hero is washed up. Zeke at 19 carries and 48 yards.

Ill also take the overall win with Pollard averaging 4.8 ypc on the year while Zeke is at 3.8.

You wont the battle, I wont the war!! Thanks for playing.

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glimmerman said:

Lol. Really. You act like Elliot is completely done. Just wait. They are giving Pollard his runs. This week he could not get going. It’s because he don’t have that strength that Elliot has to hit and get hit and drive through the line. Once Pollard gets through he has a burst. But Elliot gets the tough yards. This week Elliot’s carries will be laughed at but Pollards is ignored. Because you want Pollard to be the RB. Money is already paid. Pollard ain’t getting paid here unless he takes a low amount. Elliot may be gone but I would not count on it. Only 4 games in . And we both have to admit they seem to finally giving the run game the attempts. He is not giving Pollard off tackle runs that give him huge plays. Or screens to either that get them outside. I was so mad this Sunday. Run a toss or pitch. Get these guys outside. They seemed to do it to us. Moore won’t learn. I think some of the Rush kill kill kill plays were back to runs to keep us balanced.

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OmerV said:

Agreed that Anger's shank and the blocked kick were legitimate problems.

I disagree about the returns. We only had one return the entire game - zero kick returns and one punt return. Turpin probably should have called for a fair catch on the one punt return, but it only cost us 3 yards, so it was pretty insignificant.

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Cowboyny said:

Clearly Rivera wasn't going to allow our run game to beat them, Cooper had to make plays in the passing game, which he eventually did. Gallup back was a huge boost. I think it's time to just go with Peters at LG then this rotation.

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Cowboyny said:

Last 3 weeks our defense has held their opponent under 20 points, Bengals are the only legit offense we faced. Fully understand against the better teams we are going to need to score more points.

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