How can a team start games like that and then

just play like an entirely different team for most of the rest of the game.

Two weeks in a row, the Cowboys have started the game with a long opening drive that culminated in a TD and looked as impressive as any team in the NFL. Last night, a 17 play 9 minute clock gobbling drive that sent the message they were responding to the previous week's loss and putting that behind them. The ship had been righted and was under sail and then...…...shipwreck.

I don't get it and it's not as easy as blaming coaching, they're not on the field. I am interested in some theories about this because I do not recall seeing anything like this before.

I do not know if they script the first 15 as some OC's do because a lot of DC's give a different look to start game specifically because of that.

If any team can do that to open a game, why can't they duplicate or sustain that? It's the same coaches and players.

You X and O posters, are the DC's making strong adjustments after that first drive that change the Cowboys offensive tactics?

I am interested in some thoughts on this.

I saw in Prescott's face the first Drive Chicago scored. Okay that's the kind of night it's going to be. It's called the team my Cowboy brother. 1 Squad can't support the other this is one emotional support as soon as you lose it a little bit you're done momentum changes so easily

I thought about this as well. Obviously the coaching staff watches film and puts together a solid plan. I honestly think this team has a problem with adversity/resiliency. As soon as things get off script they seem over matched. If I am going to take a bigger leap here I will hypothesize that it is a lack of leadership from the team level. Yelling and screaming on the sidelines is not leadership.

Showing out for the next HC?

sunalsorises said:

Yelling and screaming on the sidelines is not leadership.

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Fair enough.
How about clapping, spitting and butt slapping?

They can't handle adversity.

As soon as the opposition stands up, the Cowboys fold like a 40 year old lawn chair.

They are quitters

Whirlwin said:

I saw in Prescott's face the first Drive Chicago scored. Okay that's the kind of night it's going to be. It's called the team my Cowboy brother. 1 Squad can't support the other this is one emotional support as soon as you lose it a little bit you're done momentum changes so easily

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Did he already put his Defeated Post-Game Conference face on?

Garrett has this unique ability to let the air out of a balloon. He has no character or dignity. Everything about him exudes loser.

AmariChill said:

Did he already put his Defeated Post-Game Conference face on?

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It looked like it to me

CouchCoach said:

just play like an entirely different team for most of the rest of the game.

Two weeks in a row, the Cowboys have started the game with a long opening drive that culminated in a TD and looked as impressive as any team in the NFL. Last night, a 17 play 9 minute clock gobbling drive that sent the message they were responding to the previous week's loss and putting that behind them. The ship had been righted and was under sail and then...…...shipwreck.

I don't get it and it's not as easy as blaming coaching, they're not on the field. I am interested in some theories about this because I do not recall seeing anything like this before.

I do not know if they script the first 15 as some OC's do because a lot of DC's give a different look to start game specifically because of that.

If any team can do that to open a game, why can't they duplicate or sustain that? It's the same coaches and players.

You X and O posters, are the DC's making strong adjustments after that first drive that change the Cowboys offensive tactics?

I am interested in some thoughts on this.

Click to expand...

They are weak. They've been coddled. They do not know what to do after someone punches them in the mouth.

The Cowboys load up the box on offense when they want to run the ball. That's very easy for a defense to notice. And when they throw it, it's mostly sticks and slants. So it's easy to take away what the like to do because you know they're doing it. In that first drive Dallas caught them off guard by going outside of their norm. But as always they found themselves running the same pass plays they normally run after that.

The first drive was creative and diverse. The rest of the game was their usual B.S.

Back to Linehan days with Dak.. This isn’t new for the Cowboys, but the trend with Dak.

They are the scripted plays when Dak is doing what he’s told, thus being decisive.

to be fair though, last weeks was aided by an illegal hands call by the DB on a third that was an awful throw by Dak.

Whirlwin said:

It looked like it to me

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Lol. I didn't see it. Maybe thats why he was so off for the rest of the night. I guess he didn't care at that point.

Because we make small mistakes like jumping off-sides to give the other team momentum, missing a make able FG down 3. It just deflates the team

Easy. They scripted their best plays and then really had nothing else after that.

CouchCoach said:

just play like an entirely different team for most of the rest of the game.

Two weeks in a row, the Cowboys have started the game with a long opening drive that culminated in a TD and looked as impressive as any team in the NFL. Last night, a 17 play 9 minute clock gobbling drive that sent the message they were responding to the previous week's loss and putting that behind them. The ship had been righted and was under sail and then...…...shipwreck.

I don't get it and it's not as easy as blaming coaching, they're not on the field. I am interested in some theories about this because I do not recall seeing anything like this before.

I do not know if they script the first 15 as some OC's do because a lot of DC's give a different look to start game specifically because of that.

If any team can do that to open a game, why can't they duplicate or sustain that? It's the same coaches and players.

You X and O posters, are the DC's making strong adjustments after that first drive that change the Cowboys offensive tactics?

I am interested in some thoughts on this.

Click to expand...

In a word?

CouchCoach said:

just play like an entirely different team for most of the rest of the game.

Two weeks in a row, the Cowboys have started the game with a long opening drive that culminated in a TD and looked as impressive as any team in the NFL. Last night, a 17 play 9 minute clock gobbling drive that sent the message they were responding to the previous week's loss and putting that behind them. The ship had been righted and was under sail and then...…...shipwreck.

I don't get it and it's not as easy as blaming coaching, they're not on the field. I am interested in some theories about this because I do not recall seeing anything like this before.

I do not know if they script the first 15 as some OC's do because a lot of DC's give a different look to start game specifically because of that.

If any team can do that to open a game, why can't they duplicate or sustain that? It's the same coaches and players.

You X and O posters, are the DC's making strong adjustments after that first drive that change the Cowboys offensive tactics?

I am interested in some thoughts on this.

Click to expand...

Probably a little of column A and a little of column B.
I submit to you that Moore is only 13 games in as an OC.
To me, I'm seeing that when he has a chance to watch film all week and scout the upcoming opponent, he's able to identify some tendencies and things we can do well against them and so 2 games in a row you see us come out with a stellar opening drive, of the hot knife through butter variety.

Problem is, the opposing DC sees what we are doing and trying to exploit and then he makes a few adjustments.
And we are not reacting and adjusting accordingly. This is where it becomes partly a coaching and partly a player issue.

As I see it, our execution is not at the level where we can impose our will on people (that's the fault of the players. We're maybe not as good as some people think we are at certain spots/positions)

If you ask me CC, the solid opening drives are more a testament to what a good job Moore is doing scouting and game planning because he makes Dak look frankly better than he actually is in the early moments of games.

I think the struggles after that are a mix of players not being proficient enough, and Moore being too wet behind the ears to react to what the other team is doing and adjust. Kind of a mix of both if you ask me. I will say--to the extent that it's the players, a better QB would be able to more quickly and properly identify the places to attack a defense. People can call that a Dak bash if you want, but it's just an honest assessment. Once things get chaotic out there, he looks totally lost and unable to get a hold of the situation on the field. Just my $.02.

The combination of a QB who is not up to task of assessing and attacking on his own, paired with a rookie OC who is practically learning on the job, is not a recipe for sustained success against good defenses. Just that simple.

the cowboys are the proverbial mike Tyson opponent. they have a plan until you punch them in the mouth. they re soft. spineless. on both sides of the ball.

The defenses are making adjustments and Garrett thinks it's 1993.

Once the scripted plays are over and the defense adjust, the coaches don’t have a clue on what to do next. Dallas wins against bad teams on talent alone but struggle when a decent to good team fights back.