Cooper Rush still leads the Cowboys in passing yards

[BoysForLife]

When I said easily explained I was referring to our top 10 defense only giving up 14 points a game was carrying us not Rush and our bottom tier offense. Rush played solid but we saw the issues we were afraid of if we needed more offensive production.

When you play the better offenses and QB’s you can’t always rely on your defense to totally shut them down. You may have to stay with them in scoring. And it appears our weakness in defense is being more exploited by teams who can run the ball. And could continue being a problem,

Is it possible that the style of offense that we run with Rush under center complements the team make up as a whole better leading to better results across the board?

Is it possible that the guys just don't like Dak as much as we're told and play harder for Rush?

Being totally serious. if it was just one game, then different discussion. But we're talking a 5 game sample and the team as a whole performed measurably better, specifically the defense.

Again, against significantly better competition.
Sometimes teams just respond better to one guy over another. let's be honest, that was part of the reason for sticking with Dak in 2016 once Romo was healthy enough to go again.
No one wanted to interrupt the "continuity" that was there. Very few, if any, thought at that time that Dak was the better QB (speaking in 2016 terms, I know there are plenty of people who think so now but at that time, I think there was a general consensus that Tony had a better command of the offense and was more geared to take advantage of an offensive shootout type game if needed, similarly to what you are saying about Dak vs Rush)

But the mindset at the time was--the team was winning with Dak, and people didn't want to stop the mojo.

So I keep coming back to 4-1 against tougher teams, vs 2-2 against significantly lesser teams.

Why doesn't the same mindset apply now? Why not just "go with the hot hand" that the team seems to win with?

What's different now? Other than Rush doesn't sell jerseys, or yogurt, or mattresses, etc.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Actually it’s 5-1 when giving up less than 20 and 1-2 otherwise .

thank you for correcting me....and it seems to be regardless of how offense does, which is sometimes barely enough

 

[Diehardblues]

Is it possible that the style of offense that we run with Rush under center complements the team make up as a whole better leading to better results across the board?

Is it possible that the guys just don't like Dak as much as we're told and play harder for Rush?

Being totally serious. if it was just one game, then different discussion. But we're talking a 5 game sample and the team as a whole performed measurably better, specifically the defense.

Again, against significantly better competition.
Sometimes teams just respond better to one guy over another. let's be honest, that was part of the reason for sticking with Dak in 2016 once Romo was healthy enough to go again.
No one wanted to interrupt the "continuity" that was there. Very few, if any, thought at that time that Dak was the better QB (speaking in 2016 terms, I know there are plenty of people who think so now but at that time, I think there was a general consensus that Tony had a better command of the offense and was more geared to take advantage of an offensive shootout type game if needed, similarly to what you are saying about Dak vs Rush)

But the mindset at the time was--the team was winning with Dak, and people didn't want to stop the mojo.

So I keep coming back to 4-1 against tougher teams, vs 2-2 against significantly lesser teams.

Why doesn't the same mindset apply now? Why not just "go with the hot hand" that the team seems to win with?

What's different now? Other than Rush doesn't sell jerseys, or yogurt, or mattresses, etc.

I think we need a greater sample size to offer a better comparison.

The bigger stat to me is we are 5-1 when our defense gives up less than 20 points and 1-2 otherwise .Which supports our defense is carrying this team.

When we face the better offenses and QB’s we will need more offensive production . I’m not sure we can receive that from Rush while it comes with potential consequences with Prescott . But as we saw against Philly when more offensive production is needed Rush didn’t fare any better. Maybe worse.

I would agree the more conservative running attack with Rush could serve us well with Prescott if that’s all we need with our defense . It was very concerning in Green Bay how we seem to get away from running game . Not sure if that’s on our QB or coaching ?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I think we need a greater sample size to offer a better comparison.

The bigger stat to me is we are 5-1 when our defense gives up less than 20 points and 1-2 otherwise .Which supports our defense is carrying this team.

When we face the better offenses and QB’s we will need more offensive production . I’m not sure we can receive that from Rush while it comes with potential consequences with Prescott . But as we saw against Philly when more offensive production is needed Rush didn’t fare any better. Maybe worse.

I would agree the more conservative running attack with Rush could serve us well with Prescott if that’s all we need with our defense . It was very concerning in Green Bay how we seem to get away from running game . Not sure if that’s on our QB or coaching ?

I truly believe a certain offense helps the defense. See 2016.
As mentioned....maybe rushs calm deliberate demeanor has some effect on the defense?

 

[Diehardblues]

thank you for correcting me....and it seems to be regardless of how offense does, which is sometimes barely enough

Yea, I’d hoped with Prescotts return we’d begin putting up more production from offense and with our stifling defense begun more lopsided victories .

But while our offense last couple games with Prescott have produced our two highest scoring games offensively our defense has given up two consecutive 200 yard rushing games for the first time since the late 80’s. And averaging giving up 30 points .

If we don’t fix our rushing defense it could get uglier . Especially since we have three of the top RB’s coming up on our schedule . If our defense falls back to previous seasons effectiveness I’m not sure we can even make the playoffs regardless who’s at QB.

 

[Captain-Crash]

dak's offense keeps our defense on the field more and wears them out faster. let's blame the defense for the offense.

 

[RonnieT24]

thank you for correcting me....and it seems to be regardless of how offense does, which is sometimes barely enough

The elephant in the room here is that the offense never scored more than 26? points with Rush at the helm. So if he plays the last three games and that holds you're looking at a loss to Chicago and obviously a loss in regulation at Green Bay. The fact of the matter is the team wasn't scoring near enough points to win against offenses that can get out of their own way with Rush at QB. The defense has given up 29 and 28 points the last two games.. How many games would we have won if they had done that with Rush at QB?

I would advise that we move on from this notion that "the team is better with Rush at QB." All the Cowboys have to do with Dak is call the Rush game plan and open up the sling-it game plan only when needed. Getting greedy early is what has bit them in the butt. Trying to go for the kill shot against Green Bay was dumb. It's first and goal at the 10 yard line and your running game is getting 5 yards a pop. Run it in, eat up a lot more of the clock and even if the Packers do score in the next possession it's 14-7 and then 21-7 when you score late in the 2nd quarter. And they never get the ball on the 2nd INT with a chance to close the gap. Poor game management both by Dak as well as Moore was the issue there. They failed to understand that as the superior team all they had to do to win was just play football and not get cute or greedy. I gave up on Moore's game management acumen a long time ago.. but have held out hope that Dak would get to a point in his development where HE could take over that duty. I admit I am getting worried about even that now. I don't need him standing at the podium telling me that he needs to not get greedy.. I need him to stop getting greedy.

 

[RonnieT24]

dak's offense keeps our defense on the field more and wears them out faster. let's blame the defense for the offense.

In the last three games the Cowboys have gone 3 and out 7 times and committed 3 turnovers..
In the previous three games the Cowboys went 3 and out 8 times and committed 3 turnovers..

Carry on..

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Yea, I’d hoped with Prescotts return we’d begin putting up more production from offense and with our stifling defense begun more lopsided victories .

But while our offense last couple games with Prescott have produced our two highest scoring games offensively our defense has given up two consecutive 200 yard rushing games for the first time since the late 80’s. And averaging giving up 30 points .

If we don’t fix our rushing defense it could get uglier . Especially since we have three of the top RB’s coming up on our schedule . If our defense falls back to previous seasons effectiveness I’m not sure we can even make the playoffs regardless who’s at QB.

I think this is shades of last year with Denver. Denver kind of showed how to beat the cowboys and teams pursued as such (those who could pull off the scheme). I think since Philly game, teams have figured out that we can run on the cowboys. Chicago took the run deense to the shed. and GB a struggling offense did the same. fact is they ran 39 times and passed for 20. why? because the runs were successful. and then when we jammed the line to help stop the run, they went deep, three times beating our rookie twice.

it works every time.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I truly believe a certain offense helps the defense. See 2016.
As mentioned....maybe rushs calm deliberate demeanor has some effect on the defense?

I doubt if that's true, given against Philly that calm didn't work.

I think teams figued out since philly game that we can run on the cowboys, get them to pack it in to stop the run and then go over the top with some big plays. now we have to win shootouts and that's a losing formula. this is shades of last year, when offense was humming, and then came denver and they figured out how to slow the offense and other teams followed suit.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I doubt if that's true, given against Philly that calm didn't work.

I think teams figued out since philly game that we can run on the cowboys, get them to pack it in to stop the run and then go over the top with some big plays. now we have to win shootouts and that's a losing formula. this is shades of last year, when offense was humming, and then came denver and they figured out how to slow the offense and other teams followed suit.

Sorry...I'm not an expert. I think it's odd to say "well the not-as-good-teams are playing better against us than the better teams.....they just figured out us out."

It seems like we trying to avoid giving certain entities blame.

But....let's say that is true...it really still is an indictment against us...for our lack of adjustment (to teams adjusting to us).

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Sorry...I'm not an expert. I think it's odd to say "well the not-as-good-teams are playing better against us than the better teams.....they just figured out us out."

It seems like we trying to avoid giving certain entities blame.

But....let's say that is true...it really still is an indictment against us...for our lack of adjustment (to teams adjusting to us).

no, I never mentioned the not so good teams vs. better teams...that's irrelevant. the facts are teams as I said, figured out they can run against us. GB had a field day. 200+. Chicago took our run defense to the shed. 250+....and philly had their way when they wanted to.

has nothing to do playing against better or worse teams.... defense was directly responsible for 9 points against the ram. that wasn't even the offense scoring. even detroit should have/could have beaten us if it wasn't for two critical stops deep inside the redzone (kudos to defense). but even they rushed 25 times vs. pass it 26. and 9 of those passes came in end of 4th quarter...their final 9 plays....the rams game was our best defensive output of the year.

 

[DandyDon52]

Dallas Passing this is the phil game

C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT SACKS QBR RTG
Cooper Rush 18/38 181 4.8 1 3 0-0 33.5 37.3
TEAM 18/38 181 4.8 1 3 0-0 -- 37.3
so 38 passes
-------------------

Dallas Rushing

CAR YDS AVG TD LONG
Ezekiel Elliott 13 81 6.2 1 14
Tony Pollard 11 44 4.0 0 15
CeeDee Lamb 2 9 4.5 0 8
TEAM 26 134 5.2 1 15
so 24 runs by RB's
this is why dallas lost having rush throw 38 times and only 24 rushes.
now lets look at phil
---------------------

C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT SACKS QBR RTG
Jalen Hurts 15/25 155 6.2 2 0 4-23 66.1 104.6
TEAM 15/25 132 6.2 2 0 4-23 -- 104.6
only 25 passes

Philadelphia Rushing

CAR YDS AVG TD LONG
Miles Sanders 18 71 3.9 1 13
Jalen Hurts 9 27 3.0 0 12
Kenneth Gainwell 5 25 5.0 0 9
Boston Scott 6 16 2.7 0 8
Quez Watkins 1 -3 -3.0 0 -3
TEAM 39 136 3.5 1 13
jalen is like a RB so he counts with rb's which totals 38 runs.

Now which team had the better game plan and philosophy for this game?
dallas didnt lose because of rush, but because of the peanut brain OC and HC.

 

[Captain-Crash]

Cooper Rush still leads the Cowboys in passing yards. how can this be true, the defense carried him. per dak worshipers