Final Thoughts: An Opportunity For The Dallas D-Line

waving monkey

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IRVING, Texas – As we’ve said before, the Friday injury report is a telling indicator of who you can expect to take the field for a game, and this week is helped clear up a few things for us. As we all know, Rolando McClain looks likely to play after practicing Friday.

But the Seahawks’ own injury report raises a few questions – one of which could go a long way to benefitting the Cowboys’ defense. That’s just one of a few final thoughts as the Cowboys prepare to take the long trip to Seattle for a Week 6 showdown.

  • I would not be surprised to see Orlando Scandrick trail Percy Harvin in this game, especially on third downs. Rod Marinelli does not match defensive backs as much as Rob Ryan did while he was here, but I have a feeling that will change this week. Scandrick is comfortable playing anywhere in the defensive formation. That could work well in defending Harvin, who will be doing the same for the Seahawks by lining up at several different spots.
  • As outstanding as DeMarco Murray has been this season in carrying the load for this offense, playing with a running back by committee approach might be the best way to go in Seattle. The Chargers were able to have some success running the ball against the Seahawks with a rotation of backs in which each had a different skill set and it kept the Seahawks off balance defensively. With this Seahawks defense, the running lanes close quickly, so this is why I think they would have some success with Dunbar and his running style. Keep an eye on him in this game and how this coaching staff might use him for some explosive plays in an attempt to hit this Seahawks before they have a chance to react.
  • The toughest thing about playing this Seahawks offense is how they paralyze your front and keep you from reacting to the ball with all their movement in the backfield. Their deception with Russell Wilson at quarterback, I believe, is more difficult to deal with than what Dallas faced with the 49ers because of his ball handling. The key this week for the Cowboys defense is that they are going to have to play with unbelievable discipline. As a group, they are going to have to resist the urge of crashing down hard inside and having Wilson pull the ball only to go untouched around the corner for a sizeable gain. George Selvie, Anthony Spencer and Jeremy Mincey are all veteran players, but for this defense to survive they must be able stay square along the line, squeezing the gap and keeping the ball inside.
link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...s-D-Line/f312311f-1d3f-4efa-9916-4a714e66df9d
 

RJ_MacReady

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I don't want to see this "running back by committee" against SEA. I've been less than impressed with Dunbar's ability to translate his supposed training camp/practice skills to the real games (and we went to the same High School, so I really wanted it to pan out). Please stick with Murray and don't get cute with what works. If ever there was a game where we needed 25+ snaps out of our best RB, it's this Sunday.
 
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Texas_Pete

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I wish they would activate Ryan Williams. I'd rather him at #2 if they go RB by committee approach to preserve Murray's health for the long haul.
 

waving monkey

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We all acknowledge that Murray is getting a lot of carries [maybe too many].
One of the back ups might have to have some additional carries?
 

ghst187

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the key to the DL is not to rush upfield, make shorty stay in the pocket and throw over the top.
 

xwalker

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I don't want to see this "running back by committee" against SEA. I've been less than impressed with Dunbar's ability to translate his supposed training camp/practice skills to the real games (and we went to the same High School, so I really wanted it to pan out). Please stick with Murray and don't get cute with what works. If ever there was a game where we needed 25+ snaps out of our best RB, it's this Sunday.

I was just re-watching the Niners game and Dunbar looked terrific on a couple of plays. Considering how good he looked, it's odd that they quit using him.
 

DogFace

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I have a feeling we will get a couple of sacks. By d lineman
Gotta happen sometime?:huh:
 

BAT

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I was just re-watching the Niners game and Dunbar looked terrific on a couple of plays. Considering how good he looked, it's odd that they quit using him.

He can't pass protect worth a darn. And while Randle is better, he is not nearly as good as Murray. Garrett is letting Linehan run so far, but he is still a former QB at heart.
 

xwalker

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He can't pass protect worth a darn. And while Randle is better, he is not nearly as good as Murray. Garrett is letting Linehan run so far, but he is still a former QB at heart.

Dunbar had really good pass protection on a play a couple of games ago. I can't remember him having any big failures in pass pro this season.

Even if Dunbar and Randle couldn't block a lick, there are still ways to get them more than 5 total snaps combined without putting them in that situation.
 

BAT

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Dunbar had really good pass protection on a play a couple of games ago. I can't remember him having any big failures in pass pro this season.

Even if Dunbar and Randle couldn't block a lick, there are still ways to get them more than 5 total snaps combined without putting them in that situation.

Dunbar has not had many failures during reg season because he has not had many opportunities. When he has been in, I am almost certain it was not to pass block. The better solution is to use Dunbar like Harvin, use him in addition to another RB so opposing defenses are not teeing off on him if Romo audibles from a run to a pass.
 

Zman5

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I rewatched the 2012 game and I feel they should run Murray and give him 25 carries or more. He ran well considering the Oline he had for that game. I only saw a two run plays where he didn't have a positive yardage. That's the thing with Murray, you rarely get negative yards from him. He also did well catching passes in that game. With our new Oline, I'm convinced he'll have a good game and go over 100 yards as long as he gets the carries.


Witten had a very no Witten like game. He had few hard catches but he also dropped several easy passes. I don't remember a game where he dropped so many passes as in that game.


Dez had a horrible game. He dropped some easy passes and also had 2 fumbles. Two worst players in that game was Dez and Felix.

Another player that caught my eyes was Brent. If he can come back close to how he played in that game, our defense will improve imensley. The guy was double teamed most of the game and he couldn't be pushed back. He was consistently pushing the pile. He also has some nasty streak to him and you can see that in the way he plays. It's really too bad that he had to get himself in trouble. Both for him and the Cowboys.

Spencer also had a very good game. He and Brent were clearly the best player on defense.

Even though Carter dropped an easy INT, he was very active and played well and was the best LB in the game.
 
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Lonestar94

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I don't want to see this "running back by committee" against SEA. I've been less than impressed with Dunbar's ability to translate his supposed training camp/practice skills to the real games (and we went to the same High School, so I really wanted it to pan out). Please stick with Murray and don't get cute with what works. If ever there was a game where we needed 25+ snaps out of our best RB, it's this Sunday.

you from Haltom City?
 

RJ_MacReady

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you from Haltom City?

Yep. Born and raised but have spent the last 17 years living abroad. You? When I heard Dunbar was from Haltom High I kinda got giddy. The last time we had an NFL player was Kelvin Garmon (played little league soccer against that big monster). Kelvin was a year ahead of me in High School.
 

Fredd

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I don't like that I like/respect Wilson as a player and even more so as a person from what you see; not today...hit him hard and often....I will go back to liking him tomorrow....
 

xwalker

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Yep. Born and raised but have spent the last 17 years living abroad. You? When I heard Dunbar was from Haltom High I kinda got giddy. The last time we had an NFL player was Kelvin Garmon (played little league soccer against that big monster). Kelvin was a year ahead of me in High School.

Good thing you got outta there. The highway going through that area has the worst traffic in DFW. ;)
 
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