Cowboys already showed key to success

[dfense]

It's a gimme that most teams don't show anything during the preseason. However Dallas did show something that will play a huge role if they're to have any real success.

The starting offense had time consuming, clock eating, ball control drives in several of the games. Beating teams like the Eagles and Giants will depend on the Cowboys controlling the clock and limiting opposing offenses attempts.

I really think that will be a key to the season and the offense will be up o the task.

hboy:

 

[skinsscalper]

It's not really a matter of whether opr not they can consume the clock and eat up yardage. The real crux is making those drives equal something. A 12 play drive spanning 8 minutes means nothing when a stupid penalty (false start, holding) kills a TD drive or takes you out of field goal range.

Long, time consuming drives are great when they amount to something. But, they hinder on one important aspect. Your team has to play relatively mistake free football for long stretches at a time. This team has yet to demonstrate that it will not shoot itself in the foot at the most critical times.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

It doesn't matter how long they hold drives when they have shown they can do that in the past against the Commanders and such. What matters is if whether or not they have the ability to stain momentum on both offense and defense. Not give up TD's going into half time. Or playing very soft once they go up. I want to see killer intensity and drive from the start to end of the game. They haven't shown that too often which is why we struggle.

 

[Aikbach]

Dallas' backups are sorry defensively and on the o-line, the key to success is no major injuries because the Cowboys have little in the way of depth, particularly on defense.

 

[RS12]

Dallas' backups are sorry defensively and on the o-line, the key to success is no major injuries because the Cowboys have little in the way of depth, particularly on defense.

 

[arglebargle]

I'd say a spate of injuries could cause trouble. Any backup going in is going to playing with the rest of the first team, not in conjunction with a bunch of other backups.

I think we're a bit clouded on this, because we lost one guy on the OL last year and line play went south. Probably because the Kosier was the smartest guy on the line, and Proctor doesn't have enough sand in his pants.

You are always looking at a number of guys going down, every season. If it doesn't happen, you are very lucky. But I'd suspect 5-7 season enders to be about the average. So far it has mostly been the rookies and back end of the roster getting hit.

 

[Sarge]

It's not really a matter of whether opr not they can consume the clock and eat up yardage. The real crux is making those drives equal something. A 12 play drive spanning 8 minutes means nothing when a stupid penalty (false start, holding) kills a TD drive or takes you out of field goal range..

...and as far as I'm concerned, I still see a lot of stupid penalties and poor ST play.

 

[Idgit]

...and as far as I'm concerned, I still see a lot of stupid penalties and poor ST play.

Agree on the penalties. You can't really judge ST play on preseason since so many players in the rotation aren't guys that end up on the team.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm not real worried about the Giants offense honestly... I'm concerned more with the Eagles.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Dallas' backups are sorry defensively and on the o-line, the key to success is no major injuries because the Cowboys have little in the way of depth, particularly on defense.

Well when you look at the last couple of champions? All of them were healthy. So it really doesn't matter how much depth you have. Your key contributors get hurt chances are your title hopes are done. Osi went down for the season and Plexiglass got suspended and there's no surprise the Giants didn't have nearly the success they had the year prior.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm not real worried about the Giants offense honestly... I'm concerned more with the Eagles.

Why is this? I mean everyone says this though so you're probably in the majority on this opinion but I don't understand why everyone is fearing the Eagles offense. I'm not even sure if they have the best offense in the division and if Campbell comes to play i'd probably put them after the Cowboys and Deadskins as far as offense goes. Maybe its the homer in me but the Vick and Maclan acquisitions don't impress enough to where i'd fear them any more then I did last season. Westbrook is still the biggest threat on that team and would be my only concern which is a big concern btw.

 

[Manster68]

Remember, to be an effective ball control team, several things have to happen.

1. The long drives must result in points. Primarily touchdowns.

2. To piggy-back on #1, drive-killing penalties must be reduced.

3. The defense and special teams cannot give the points right back.

4. The team MUST win the turnover battle. You need more than eight interceptions this season.

5. Field position is vital. Coverage units MUST tackle better than what we have seen in the pre-season.

 

[28 Joker]

I think you will see some long drives which control the clock and grind away, but I also think you will see the big strike plays. Dallas will go down the field in a vertical fashion, especially to Witten, Bennett, Crayton, and Williams.

Felix Jones is going to shorten some drives by scoring outside of the redzone and by just smoking people through the air and on the ground. Felix Jones is your anti-ball control. He's a straight up big play waiting to happen. Every time he touches the ball, he is a threat to take it to the house.

I think limiting turnovers and penalties will be the key.

When you get a grinding drive, you can't false start on 4th and four chain links or hold on the goalline. You have to go for the kill and finish the drive. Also, like the poster above me said, your special teams can't give it right back.

 

[5Stars]

...and as far as I'm concerned, I still see a lot of stupid penalties and poor ST play.

I do too, Sarge...and I think this is one aspect of Wade that I don't like (well one of many), but his, "All penalties are on me..." crap!

If I did not have to worry about being accountable for my mistakes because someone else will take the blame...hey, why worry?

Jimma would ream somebody's butt for stupid stuff! But Wade? "Aw, shucks...all mistakes and penalties are on me, not the player. I will correct it."

THEN CORRECT IT!

 

[5Stars]

I'm not real worried about the Giants offense honestly... I'm concerned more with the Eagles.

Why? Because they have the great Michael Vick?

The eagles are strong, but they don't, and haven't done nothing!

44 -6...? Big deal.