Believe it or not, I saw a lot of positives against Miami!

[quickccc]

I'm current in the enemies territory, in the Philly suburbs visiting my wife's family. Actually am going to the Eagle/Cardinal game on New Year's Eve.

I know we are all disappointed in last week's loss to Miami, but I came away with several positives:

-The Defense held up against the run and all that pre-snap motion. Their HC was the running game coordinator for the 49ers two years ago, where the 49ers run a very similar, outside zone scheme. Playing Parsons off the ball against the run, was a smart decision.

-We saw Dan Quinn actually playing a ton of zone coverage. You got to be able to give teams different looks or it's very easy to game plan against. The Dolphins only TD, exactly was against man coverage. They took away the big play and forced the Dolphins to drive the entire field.

-Once again Dak struggled against Fangio's scheme for 2 full quarters, but he did keep on fighting and actually lead the team from a 9 point deficeit. Fangio changes his coverages after the snap, takes away the middle of the field and dares the offense to run against light boxes. If the Cowboys couldn't run the football, they had to attack the outside corners, but Miami has great ones. Miami's D was actaully giving up less then 15 points a game once Ramsey returned, Cowboys scored 20. Dak did not turnover the football facing 8 men coverages for the majority of the game.

-Cowboys went against a legitimate SB Contender that needed to win at full strength in their home park and they just lost by 2 points. Gives them confidence they can play against anyone on the road. Clean up the penalties and they will beat these elite teams on the road.

Thanks for sharing,

Just like the Vic Fangio Denver blueprint game .. what made Fangio work again was ..we simply cannot run the damn ball .. Deep zone coverages change when you have to keep 8 in the box to contain the run, and we simply do not have the run game to force- fear defenses.

I’ve said it repeatedly, … I cannot stand the way we use our RBs and it’s even a lesser factor than when even Kellen Moore was here. No RBs screens under KM ,...no RB screens under McCarthy, and what I don’t get it as Mac used all-purpose catching RBs in GB ala Ty Mongomery, James Stark, Arron Jones, etc.

But under this coaching regime, Pollard’s receiving skills have been nullified and vastly underdeveloped in his Cowboys career, Rico could be a good screen back too, but it’s very rare.

As a result, it’s limiting our offense. And our potential. Also, because he’s underdeveloped and rarely used in pass game, Pollard still looks clumsy and uncomfortable in pass game, balls bouncing off his facemask, dropped passes, unbalanced timing, etc. A far cry from years passed with wheel routes, swing passes and slot shallow passes for TDs.

 

[Cowboyny]

Thanks for sharing,

Just like the Vic Fangio Denver blueprint game .. what made Fangio work again was ..we simply cannot run the damn ball .. Deep zone coverages change when you have to keep 8 in the box to contain the run, and we simply do not have the run game to force- fear defenses.

I’ve said it repeatedly, … I cannot stand the way we use our RBs and it’s even a lesser factor than when even Kellen Moore was here. No RBs screens under KM ,...no RB screens under McCarthy, and what I don’t get it as Mac used all-purpose catching RBs in GB ala Ty Mongomery, James Stark, Arron Jones, etc.

But under this coaching regime, Pollard’s receiving skills have been nullified and vastly underdeveloped in his Cowboys career, Rico could be a good screen back too, but it’s very rare.

As a result, it’s limiting our offense. And our potential. Also, because he’s underdeveloped and rarely used in pass game, Pollard still looks clumsy and uncomfortable in pass game, balls bouncing off his facemask, dropped passes, unbalanced timing, etc. A far cry from years passed with wheel routes, swing passes and slot shallow passes for TDs.

Against this scheme, you have to be successful running the football against the light box and throwing to the outside. Probably the two biggest weaknesses of this offense.

Totally agree, they have underused Pollard sinc he got here. People tend to forget he was a college receiver and should have plus receiving skills.

It seems that MM calls a very conservative game in the road, this needs to change and he has to trust his protection more

 

[Cowboyny]

Great Post...

Sadly Cowboys 2023 version are front runners. We probably been part of teams or work environments that had similar mentality.

Lockeroom needs a bad guy to call out BS that's tolerated during winning but not when team is losing....

Good sign was that the offense couldn’t do anything for two weeks quarters and were able to make a comeback down 9 points in the 4th quarter. Defense couldn’t hold, but they would never be in the game if the offense didn’t wakeup

 

[FanofJerry]

Thanks for sharing,

Just like the Vic Fangio Denver blueprint game .. what made Fangio work again was ..we simply cannot run the damn ball .. Deep zone coverages change when you have to keep 8 in the box to contain the run, and we simply do not have the run game to force- fear defenses.

I’ve said it repeatedly, … I cannot stand the way we use our RBs and it’s even a lesser factor than when even Kellen Moore was here. No RBs screens under KM ,...no RB screens under McCarthy, and what I don’t get it as Mac used all-purpose catching RBs in GB ala Ty Mongomery, James Stark, Arron Jones, etc.

But under this coaching regime, Pollard’s receiving skills have been nullified and vastly underdeveloped in his Cowboys career, Rico could be a good screen back too, but it’s very rare.

As a result, it’s limiting our offense. And our potential. Also, because he’s underdeveloped and rarely used in pass game, Pollard still looks clumsy and uncomfortable in pass game, balls bouncing off his facemask, dropped passes, unbalanced timing, etc. A far cry from years passed with wheel routes, swing passes and slot shallow passes for TDs.

I think everyone wants to see screens assuming our oline is good at them.

I get drug through the mud on here for suggesting that teams save some wrinkles for the playoffs. The screen game is something I hope we see in playoffs.

Please...waste your energy telling me that teams arent trying to lose football games and that if we could run screens to win us games we would have.

All I am saying is I am hoping we have some wrinkles that teams werent able to plan for because they had no tape on it. Doesnt mean those teams cant stop our wrinkles...Im just saying I hope we have some wrinkles. And the screen game would be a nice wrinkle...assuming we have the offensive personnel to execute fairly well.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I'm current in the enemies territory, in the Philly suburbs visiting my wife's family. Actually am going to the Eagle/Cardinal game on New Year's Eve.

I know we are all disappointed in last week's loss to Miami, but I came away with several positives:

-The Defense held up against the run and all that pre-snap motion. Their HC was the running game coordinator for the 49ers two years ago, where the 49ers run a very similar, outside zone scheme. Playing Parsons off the ball against the run, was a smart decision.

-We saw Dan Quinn actually playing a ton of zone coverage. You got to be able to give teams different looks or it's very easy to game plan against. The Dolphins only TD, exactly was against man coverage. They took away the big play and forced the Dolphins to drive the entire field.

-Once again Dak struggled against Fangio's scheme for 2 full quarters, but he did keep on fighting and actually lead the team from a 9 point deficeit. Fangio changes his coverages after the snap, takes away the middle of the field and dares the offense to run against light boxes. If the Cowboys couldn't run the football, they had to attack the outside corners, but Miami has great ones. Miami's D was actaully giving up less then 15 points a game once Ramsey returned, Cowboys scored 20. Dak did not turnover the football facing 8 men coverages for the majority of the game.

-Cowboys went against a legitimate SB Contender that needed to win at full strength in their home park and they just lost by 2 points. Gives them confidence they can play against anyone on the road. Clean up the penalties and they will beat these elite teams on the road.

Agree.

I thought there were some positives to be found:

- After getting molly-whomped by the Bills the previous week, we held the league's highest scoring offense to just one (1) TD.
- I thought our run defense (tackling in general) was much better than it shown in previous weeks

 

[Mcsports]

The formerly-vaunted Dallas defense allowed SIX scoring drives, including the game-winner as time expired. Forced one punt; produced no turnovers.

That five of those six drives resulted in field goals is no occasion for celebration or optimism; it's more an indicator of offensive red zone lapses & miscues on Miami's part.

Limiting the Dolphins to 22 points, in the abstract, was a pretty good result (if we ignore the fact that MIA ran up and down the field all evening).

And, of course, our offense stunk the place up, only managing to score a well-below-average 20 points, on a night when they only had to be average to win.

Im with you on your assessment. It was however two punts by Miami.
I point that out because Turpin inexplicably allowed one to hit at the 16 and roll inside the two. Sapped potential
Momentum after a rare defensive stand.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

The formerly-vaunted Dallas defense allowed SIX scoring drives, including the game-winner as time expired. Forced one punt; produced no turnovers.

That five of those six drives resulted in field goals is no occasion for celebration or optimism; it's more an indicator of offensive red zone lapses & miscues on Miami's part.

Limiting the Dolphins to 22 points, in the abstract, was a pretty good result (if we ignore the fact that MIA ran up and down the field all evening).

And, of course, our offense stunk the place up, only managing to score a well-below-average 20 points, on a night when they only had to be average to win.

That's a bd take.

Five of those scoring drives ended in 50+ yard field goals. Then to totally discredit the defense of any role in stopping the drive is just narrative driven.

 

[FanofJerry]

That's a bd take.

Five of those scoring drives ended in 50+ yard field goals. Then to totally discredit the defense of any role in stopping the drive is just narrative driven.

I agree. Stopping a high powered offense at the 35 to 40 yard line 5 times is a win for Dallas...even if it led to 3 points.

 

[CWR]

I'm current in the enemies territory, in the Philly suburbs visiting my wife's family. Actually am going to the Eagle/Cardinal game on New Year's Eve.

I know we are all disappointed in last week's loss to Miami, but I came away with several positives:

-The Defense held up against the run and all that pre-snap motion. Their HC was the running game coordinator for the 49ers two years ago, where the 49ers run a very similar, outside zone scheme. Playing Parsons off the ball against the run, was a smart decision.

-We saw Dan Quinn actually playing a ton of zone coverage. You got to be able to give teams different looks or it's very easy to game plan against. The Dolphins only TD, exactly was against man coverage. They took away the big play and forced the Dolphins to drive the entire field.

-Once again Dak struggled against Fangio's scheme for 2 full quarters, but he did keep on fighting and actually lead the team from a 9 point deficeit. Fangio changes his coverages after the snap, takes away the middle of the field and dares the offense to run against light boxes. If the Cowboys couldn't run the football, they had to attack the outside corners, but Miami has great ones. Miami's D was actaully giving up less then 15 points a game once Ramsey returned, Cowboys scored 20. Dak did not turnover the football facing 8 men coverages for the majority of the game.

-Cowboys went against a legitimate SB Contender that needed to win at full strength in their home park and they just lost by 2 points. Gives them confidence they can play against anyone on the road. Clean up the penalties and they will beat these elite teams on the road.

Out biggest problem against the shell defenses is our complete and utter lack of ability to take advantage on the ground. Dak can NOT rely on his run game at all.

 

[JW82]

At least the team showed up unlike Buffalo. That TD drive to take the lead before the 7 on 7 drill that beat them was impressive. The loss sucked but I did not feel the same disgust as the Buffalo "game". That was a road game vs arguably the best offense in football and they held them to 22. Has to be some good take aways.

 

[Cowboyny]

Out biggest problem against the shell defenses is our complete and utter lack of ability to take advantage on the ground. Dak can NOT rely on his run game at all.

Been saying this all season long!

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Lmao.

I can't believe people actually believe this.

How DARE anyone see it differently than you. The NERVE.

"lmao" indeed.

 

[KJJ]

There’s no positives continuing to lose big December games. This has become real old with the Cowboys.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

How DARE anyone see it differently than you. The NERVE.

"lmao" indeed.

I don't care that you see it differently than me. I care that you see it wrong.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I'm current in the enemies territory, in the Philly suburbs visiting my wife's family. Actually am going to the Eagle/Cardinal game on New Year's Eve.

I know we are all disappointed in last week's loss to Miami, but I came away with several positives:

-The Defense held up against the run and all that pre-snap motion. Their HC was the running game coordinator for the 49ers two years ago, where the 49ers run a very similar, outside zone scheme. Playing Parsons off the ball against the run, was a smart decision.

-We saw Dan Quinn actually playing a ton of zone coverage. You got to be able to give teams different looks or it's very easy to game plan against. The Dolphins only TD, exactly was against man coverage. They took away the big play and forced the Dolphins to drive the entire field.

-Once again Dak struggled against Fangio's scheme for 2 full quarters, but he did keep on fighting and actually lead the team from a 9 point deficeit. Fangio changes his coverages after the snap, takes away the middle of the field and dares the offense to run against light boxes. If the Cowboys couldn't run the football, they had to attack the outside corners, but Miami has great ones. Miami's D was actaully giving up less then 15 points a game once Ramsey returned, Cowboys scored 20. Dak did not turnover the football facing 8 men coverages for the majority of the game.

-Cowboys went against a legitimate SB Contender that needed to win at full strength in their home park and they just lost by 2 points. Gives them confidence they can play against anyone on the road. Clean up the penalties and they will beat these elite teams on the road.

If not for a dumb fumble we win thar game.

 

[chagus]

You take back all our loses and we’re undefeated.

Thats a good point.