A two player turnaround

[Bobhaze]

In the midst of the Cowboys’ 3 game winning streak there are two players IMO that are mostly responsible for this turnaround. Amari Cooper and Leighton Vander Esch. If either of those two players were not playing right now, we would already be looking at the 2019 season.

Cooper’s impact has been the most blatantly obvious, especially in yesterday’s win against the deadskins. But his presence alone has upgraded the entire offense. Dak’s averaging 256 yards per game since Coop’s arrival and his completion percentage has gone from 62% to 70%. The threat of Cooper has also forced defenses to back off the 8-9 man in the box stuff that smothered this offense for half the season. Suddenly Zeke can run.

I think LVE’s impact has been just as great. That 21 year old kid reminds me of a young Jack Lambert, the HOF LB from the Steel Curtain defenses of the Steelers 70s dynasty or the great bears HOF LB Brian Ehrlacher. LVE can cover ground like a safety, can hit like a LB and his his presence on the field upgrades the entire defense. This D was already improved from last year, but #55 makes everybody better.

I guarantee every OC we will face the rest of the season is already saying in the film room, “What are we going to do with Vander Esch?” When was the last time we had a defender like that?

I’m still not convinced this team is a playoff team...yet. But without Cooper and LVE, this team would already be thinking about next year’s draft. Now this team has a chance to do something.

Exciting times in spite of this team’s HC and GM/owner. But at least this team has clawed its way back to a contender status. With 5 games left in the season they have an opportunity that was literally unthinkable a month ago. #19 and #55 have been the center of this turnaround.

 

[Ranching]

In the midst of the Cowboys’ 3 game winning streak there are two players IMO that are mostly responsible for this turnaround. Amari Cooper and Leighton Vander Esch. If either of those two players were not playing right now, we would already be looking at the 2019 season.

Cooper’s impact has been the most blatantly obvious, especially in yesterday’s win against the deadskins. But his presence alone has upgraded the entire offense. Dak’s averaging 256 yards per game since Coop’s arrival and his completion percentage has gone from 62% to 70%. The threat of Cooper has also forced defenses to back off the 8-9 man in the box stuff that smothered this offense for half the season. Suddenly Zeke can run.

I think LVE’s impact has been just as great. That 21 year old kid reminds me of a young Jack Lambert, the HOF LB from the Steel Curtain defenses of the Steelers 70s dynasty or the great bears HOF LB Brian Ehrlacher. LVE can cover ground like a safety, can hit like a LB and his his presence on the field upgrades the entire defense. This D was already improved from last year, but #55 makes everybody better.

I guarantee every OC we will face the rest of the season is already saying in the film room, “What are we going to do with Vander Esch?” When was the last time we had a defender like that?

I’m still not convinced this team is a playoff team...yet. But without Cooper and LVE, this team would already be thinking about next year’s draft. Now this team has a chance to do something.

Exciting times in spite of this team’s HC and GM/owner. But at least this team has clawed its way back to a contender status. With 5 games left in the season they have an opportunity that was literally unthinkable a month ago. #19 and #55 have been the center of this turnaround.

Don't forget the genius of Coach Garrett.

 

[Bobhaze]

Don't forget the genius of Coach Garrett.

LOL! Somewhere at this very moment, he’s clapping.

 

[visionary]

In the midst of the Cowboys’ 3 game winning streak there are two players IMO that are mostly responsible for this turnaround. Amari Cooper and Leighton Vander Esch. If either of those two players were not playing right now, we would already be looking at the 2019 season.

Cooper’s impact has been the most blatantly obvious, especially in yesterday’s win against the deadskins. But his presence alone has upgraded the entire offense. Dak’s averaging 256 yards per game since Coop’s arrival and his completion percentage has gone from 62% to 70%. The threat of Cooper has also forced defenses to back off the 8-9 man in the box stuff that smothered this offense for half the season. Suddenly Zeke can run.

I think LVE’s impact has been just as great. That 21 year old kid reminds me of a young Jack Lambert, the HOF LB from the Steel Curtain defenses of the Steelers 70s dynasty or the great bears HOF LB Brian Ehrlacher. LVE can cover ground like a safety, can hit like a LB and his his presence on the field upgrades the entire defense. This D was already improved from last year, but #55 makes everybody better.

I guarantee every OC we will face the rest of the season is already saying in the film room, “What are we going to do with Vander Esch?” When was the last time we had a defender like that?

I’m still not convinced this team is a playoff team...yet. But without Cooper and LVE, this team would already be thinking about next year’s draft. Now this team has a chance to do something.

Exciting times in spite of this team’s HC and GM/owner. But at least this team has clawed its way back to a contender status. With 5 games left in the season they have an opportunity that was literally unthinkable a month ago. #19 and #55 have been the center of this turnaround.

Good post as usual Bob
This team can win in the playoffs if we had a real QB
This team can win the SB if we also had a real HC

As it is, we'll make the playoffs and likely be one and done

I'll take that over where we were trending 3 weeks back

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cooper will definitely get an extension to his deal.

LVE is the DROY hands down and will be a Cowboy for a very long time.

Both of those are good things.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Don't forget the genius of Coach Garrett.

 

[Dallasfann]

I think our offensive line is the biggest different maker. They are playing completely different the last month.

 

[Pants]

In the midst of the Cowboys’ 3 game winning streak there are two players IMO that are mostly responsible for this turnaround. Amari Cooper and Leighton Vander Esch. If either of those two players were not playing right now, we would already be looking at the 2019 season.

Cooper’s impact has been the most blatantly obvious, especially in yesterday’s win against the deadskins. But his presence alone has upgraded the entire offense. Dak’s averaging 256 yards per game since Coop’s arrival and his completion percentage has gone from 62% to 70%. The threat of Cooper has also forced defenses to back off the 8-9 man in the box stuff that smothered this offense for half the season. Suddenly Zeke can run.

I think LVE’s impact has been just as great. That 21 year old kid reminds me of a young Jack Lambert, the HOF LB from the Steel Curtain defenses of the Steelers 70s dynasty or the great bears HOF LB Brian Ehrlacher. LVE can cover ground like a safety, can hit like a LB and his his presence on the field upgrades the entire defense. This D was already improved from last year, but #55 makes everybody better.

I guarantee every OC we will face the rest of the season is already saying in the film room, “What are we going to do with Vander Esch?” When was the last time we had a defender like that?

I’m still not convinced this team is a playoff team...yet. But without Cooper and LVE, this team would already be thinking about next year’s draft. Now this team has a chance to do something.

Exciting times in spite of this team’s HC and GM/owner. But at least this team has clawed its way back to a contender status. With 5 games left in the season they have an opportunity that was literally unthinkable a month ago. #19 and #55 have been the center of this turnaround.

I couldn't agree more...these two players have taken the already, somewhat talented team to another level; players have to cover for weak spots on their team and the offense was rudderless; in comes cooper and and now you have to game plan for him and open up spots - the offense does better; on D, not only has the team not missed a beat without Lee, they are actually improving more and more each week...in the last two years, Lee goes out and the defense falls apart - not any more....I would just love to see all 3 LB's in there together and healthy to see what that would bring...

But, nice post and I like the Lambert reference (although I an NOT a Steelers fan - I just live in Penna so that is all I hear is steelers and eagles talk) - but, you had to respect the Steel Curtain

 

[visionary]

I think our offensive line is the biggest different maker. They are playing completely different the last month.

Good point

 

[conner01]

Cooper will definitely get an extension to his deal.

LVE is the DROY hands down and will be a Cowboy for a very long time.

Both of those are good things.

Cooper was getting an extension the day you traded a first for him
What has changed there is he has showed he’s worth it
And not a single drop yet

 

[Bobhaze]

And Cooper is 24...LVE is 21.

 

[Diehardblues]

Well done Bob!
Happy Thanksgiving !

 

[kskboys]

I think you need to add Marc Columbo to this short list.

 

[Bobhaze]

Well done Bob!
Happy Thanksgiving !

You too Greggo.

 

[Bobhaze]

I think you need to add Marc Columbo to this short list.

Good point Kev. Colombo is gonna be earning his money in the next week if he has to make that patchwork line hold against the saints.

 

[TheHerd]

Cooper will definitely get an extension to his deal.

LVE is the DROY hands down and will be a Cowboy for a very long time.

Both of those are good things.

Cooper has to agree to an extension. I'm not saying he won't, but watching other teams light up the scoreboard every week might give him pause to join a running team long term.

 

[Bobhaze]

Cooper has to agree to an extension. I'm not saying he won't, but watching other teams light up the scoreboard every week might give him pause to join a running team long term.

Too many fans here assume that re-signing Cooper is an automatic. It’s likely....but it probably depends on what this team look like in a year.

If I was a player 100% committed to getting a SB ring, I would certainly shop before signing.

 

[gimmesix]

Cooper has to agree to an extension. I'm not saying he won't, but watching other teams light up the scoreboard every week might give him pause to join a running team long term.

He has 22 catches for 349 yards and 3 TDs in four games with us. That would be 88 for 1,396 and 12 TDs extrapolated over a full season. I think he'd be pretty happy with those numbers, even on a running team.

Because teams gear up to stop our running game, it creates more one-on-ones than Cooper is used to seeing, and that would excite any receiver.

 

[TheDuke]

I agree Bob. I would have to add Zeke to the list. Although he's not a new player, without him I think we are looking at another 2015 type season with no more than 5 wins

 

[TheHerd]

He has 22 catches for 349 yards and 3 TDs in four games with us. That would be 88 for 1,396 and 12 TDs extrapolated over a full season. I think he'd be pretty happy with those numbers, even on a running team.

Because teams gear up to stop our running game, it creates more one-on-ones than Cooper is used to seeing, and that would excite any receiver.

But if SL goes back to form and stops calling slants and crosses and forces Coop to run only hooks, comebacks, and short outs, wellw see.

In the end I think we sign him. Jerry is very goodv at that. But it's not an iron clad given. That's all I'm saying. We'll have to pay him a fortune, as if we were sitting a top tier FA.