NewsBot
New Member
- Messages
- 111,281
- Reaction score
- 2,947
As losers of four straight games, the Dallas Cowboys' season sits on the brink of an injury-induced disaster. Their current record of 2-4 puts them in position to have to make a stiff uphill climb to get back into contention in the NFC.
Their saving grace could be the fact that the NFC East is full of weaker teams who will be fighting all the way to the end of the season just to finish over .500. When at full strength, the Cowboys are without a doubt the most complete team in the division, and making a playoff run likely depends on their ability to win two of the next three games as they anticipate the return of Tony Romo on November 22, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
Their next opportunity to register that elusive third win of the season comes as the Seattle Seahawks pay a visit to AT&T Stadium Sunday afternoon.
What’s the Cowboys' game plan for beating the two-time defending NFC champs?
Offensive Game Plan
If the Cowboys are going to have a chance to move the ball on this Seattle defense, especially without Romo, it is going to start up front with their offensive line and running the ball.
The Cowboys were able to have a great deal of success running the ball in their Week 7 matchup with the Giants, who were one of the top-ranked run defenses in the league.
The Seattle defense is one that features players all over the field who play with speed, combined with a defensive line that focuses on getting up the field and putting pressure on the passer. The way to beat this kind of defense is to run the ball downhill right at it to neutralize its speed.
Against the Giants, the Cowboys deviated from their trend of the last five games, where they ran a large majority of outside-zone run plays and featured more inside-zone, as well as more angle-blocking, trap, blocking and sweep-style plays. Those are the types of plays that fit Darren McFadden’s skill set, allowing him to run downhill and use his straight-line speed as opposed to forcing him to move laterally in ways that he can’t consistently execute.
These are exactly the types of things that Scott Linehan should do in the game against the Seahawks. Run the ball downhill and put Matt Cassel in position to succeed on shorter third downs where the Seattle pass rush doesn’t have as much of a chance to impact the game.
The Cowboys must also find ways to get the ball to Dez Bryant in what should be his first game back from the foot injury he suffered in Week 1.
The Seahawks have been moving All-Pro corner Richard Sherman all over the field to cover their opponent's best receiver more in 2015 than in prior years, and if they do so, it will be important for Linehan to find ways to get Bryant some space to work with to allow him to make some plays.
Defensive Game Plan
The defensive game plan for the Cowboys should focus on playing sound run defense on early downs, led by the interior quartet of defensive tackles Tyrone Crawford and Nick Hayden, and linebackers Sean Lee and Rolando McClain. The ability of those inside defenders to get push and fill holes against the Seahawks run game will play a huge role in how the team performs.
The Seahawks have been one of the best rushing teams in the NFL since acquiring Marshawn Lynch in the middle of the 2010 season, but the 2015 version of the team features a major weakness in the offensive line.
Quarterback Russell Wilson has been sacked a league-high 31 times on only 235 dropbacks and has been sacked four or more times in six of the Seahawks' seven games this season.
Things don’t look to be improving up front too much for Wilson.
His left tackle, Russell Okung, who is the most proven member of the Seattle offensive line, went from a full participant in practice on Wednesday to limited on Thursday, all the way to not participating in Friday’s practice with ankle and toe injuries, according to the Seahawks' official website. Add to that the struggles of other starters Garry Gilliam (right tackle), J.R. Sweezy (right guard), Drew Nowak (center) and Justin Britt (left guard), and the Cowboys defensive line should be champing at the bit to rush Wilson.
In the Cowboys' win against Seattle in 2014, the defense did a good job of keeping Wilson in the pocket when he dropped back to pass, which neutralized his running ability and rendered him mostly ineffective.
Prediction
Each of these two teams has demonstrated a high level of inconsistency through the 2015 season, which makes it difficult to predict the outcome of the game.
The Cowboys defense will be on a mission to generate takeaways after failing to do so for four consecutive games, and the front four’s ability to generate pressure against a porous offensive line such as Seattle’s could be just what the doctor (err, coach Rod Marinelli) ordered to get some turnovers.
If the Cowboys can win the turnover battle and run the ball successfully enough to keep Matt Cassel from being forced to carry the offense, Dallas can come away with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 20, Seahawks 16
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...
Their saving grace could be the fact that the NFC East is full of weaker teams who will be fighting all the way to the end of the season just to finish over .500. When at full strength, the Cowboys are without a doubt the most complete team in the division, and making a playoff run likely depends on their ability to win two of the next three games as they anticipate the return of Tony Romo on November 22, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
Their next opportunity to register that elusive third win of the season comes as the Seattle Seahawks pay a visit to AT&T Stadium Sunday afternoon.
What’s the Cowboys' game plan for beating the two-time defending NFC champs?
Offensive Game Plan
If the Cowboys are going to have a chance to move the ball on this Seattle defense, especially without Romo, it is going to start up front with their offensive line and running the ball.
The Cowboys were able to have a great deal of success running the ball in their Week 7 matchup with the Giants, who were one of the top-ranked run defenses in the league.
The Seattle defense is one that features players all over the field who play with speed, combined with a defensive line that focuses on getting up the field and putting pressure on the passer. The way to beat this kind of defense is to run the ball downhill right at it to neutralize its speed.
Against the Giants, the Cowboys deviated from their trend of the last five games, where they ran a large majority of outside-zone run plays and featured more inside-zone, as well as more angle-blocking, trap, blocking and sweep-style plays. Those are the types of plays that fit Darren McFadden’s skill set, allowing him to run downhill and use his straight-line speed as opposed to forcing him to move laterally in ways that he can’t consistently execute.
These are exactly the types of things that Scott Linehan should do in the game against the Seahawks. Run the ball downhill and put Matt Cassel in position to succeed on shorter third downs where the Seattle pass rush doesn’t have as much of a chance to impact the game.
The Cowboys must also find ways to get the ball to Dez Bryant in what should be his first game back from the foot injury he suffered in Week 1.
The Seahawks have been moving All-Pro corner Richard Sherman all over the field to cover their opponent's best receiver more in 2015 than in prior years, and if they do so, it will be important for Linehan to find ways to get Bryant some space to work with to allow him to make some plays.
Defensive Game Plan
The defensive game plan for the Cowboys should focus on playing sound run defense on early downs, led by the interior quartet of defensive tackles Tyrone Crawford and Nick Hayden, and linebackers Sean Lee and Rolando McClain. The ability of those inside defenders to get push and fill holes against the Seahawks run game will play a huge role in how the team performs.
The Seahawks have been one of the best rushing teams in the NFL since acquiring Marshawn Lynch in the middle of the 2010 season, but the 2015 version of the team features a major weakness in the offensive line.
Quarterback Russell Wilson has been sacked a league-high 31 times on only 235 dropbacks and has been sacked four or more times in six of the Seahawks' seven games this season.
Things don’t look to be improving up front too much for Wilson.
His left tackle, Russell Okung, who is the most proven member of the Seattle offensive line, went from a full participant in practice on Wednesday to limited on Thursday, all the way to not participating in Friday’s practice with ankle and toe injuries, according to the Seahawks' official website. Add to that the struggles of other starters Garry Gilliam (right tackle), J.R. Sweezy (right guard), Drew Nowak (center) and Justin Britt (left guard), and the Cowboys defensive line should be champing at the bit to rush Wilson.
In the Cowboys' win against Seattle in 2014, the defense did a good job of keeping Wilson in the pocket when he dropped back to pass, which neutralized his running ability and rendered him mostly ineffective.
Prediction
Each of these two teams has demonstrated a high level of inconsistency through the 2015 season, which makes it difficult to predict the outcome of the game.
The Cowboys defense will be on a mission to generate takeaways after failing to do so for four consecutive games, and the front four’s ability to generate pressure against a porous offensive line such as Seattle’s could be just what the doctor (err, coach Rod Marinelli) ordered to get some turnovers.
If the Cowboys can win the turnover battle and run the ball successfully enough to keep Matt Cassel from being forced to carry the offense, Dallas can come away with a victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 20, Seahawks 16
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...