Fix this and things get better

[Bobhaze]

Hard to believe, our Cowboys have played 180 minutes of football in 3 games, yet have only had the lead for 13 of those 180 minutes. This has a big influence on how you are able to play.

For everyone criticizing the playcalling and not running the ball enough, it’s pretty hard to use the ground game effectively when you’re down 2-3 scores in the second half of games. And the passing game has actually been very good, enabling us to come back to take the lead in both the Atl and Sea games. In fact, the Cowboys had TD drives of 94 and 89 yards against Sea in the second half.

So here’s the fix-

• Score first- or at least don’t fall two scores behind in the first qtr.
• Win the turnover battle.

Sure it’s easier said than done, but for everyone mad at the playcalling, again it’s hard to assert your running game when you’re down two scores in the second half.

The first 15 minutes of Sunday’s game with Cle will determine a lot of how this team will be able to put its best foot forward. Falling behind two scores always cuts your game plan in half.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Doesn't matter how we slice it, this D has got get off the field and stop giving away cheap points.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Hard to believe, our Cowboys have played 180 minutes of football in 3 games, yet have only had the lead for 13 of those 180 minutes. This has a big influence on how you are able to play.

For everyone criticizing the playcalling and not running the ball enough, it’s pretty hard to use the ground game effectively when you’re down 2-3 scores in the second half of games. And the passing game has actually been very good, enabling us to come back to take the lead in both the Atl and Sea games. In fact, the Cowboys had TD drives of 94 and 89 yards against Sea in the second half.

So here’s the fix-

• Score first- or at least don’t fall two scores behind in the first qtr.
• Win the turnover battle.

Sure it’s easier said than done, but for everyone mad at the playcalling, again it’s hard to assert your running game when you’re down two scores in the second half.

The first 15 minutes of Sunday’s game with Cle will determine a lot of how this team will be able to put its best foot forward. Falling behind two scores always cuts your game plan in half.

Same as last season.....hence the 8-8
Here you go Colin pretty much makes the same case...

 

[sunalsorises]

That might be one of the things the Garrett Cowboys did fairly well. They would often turn in a long first drive that led to points. Unfortunately, that would often be where things fell off the cliff.

 

[glimmerman]

Grind the ball. MM and or Moore abandoned the run last week. He said he wanted to score as fast and often as they could. Sounds great if you stop the other team and pull out to a big lead. But we need to establish and keep them honest. We can run out of passing formations. Elliot had a bad game. Well actually so did Pollard, but we have to keep pumping it. Would have been nice last week when we got a lead if we could have started wearing them out with running down there throats. Our O-Line isn’t what it had been, but we can still run with a power back.

 

[McKDaddy]

The first 15 minutes of Sunday’s game with Cle will determine a lot

Bingo

 

[America's Cowboy]

Same as last season.....hence the 8-8
Here you go Colin pretty much makes the same case...

PAPPYDOG, you sure are loco!

 

[PAPPYDOG]

PAPPYDOG, you sure are loco!

Why does reality bother you bud?

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Grind the ball. MM and or Moore abandoned the run last week. He said he wanted to score as fast and often as they could. Sounds great if you stop the other team and pull out to a big lead. But we need to establish and keep them honest. We can run out of passing formations. Elliot had a bad game. Well actually so did Pollard, but we have to keep pumping it. Would have been nice last week when we got a lead if we could have started wearing them out with running down there throats. Our O-Line isn’t what it had been, but we can still run with a power back.

+1.......best way to hide a leaking defense is on the sideline and keep it fresh. Never been one to criticize coaches game plan but I didn't understand the logic of getting into a shoot out with Russell Wilson. Especially with our D......

 

[Aven8]

That might be one of the things the Garrett Cowboys did fairly well. They would often turn in a long first drive that led to points. Unfortunately, that would often be where things fell off the cliff.

Yeah those 6-0 leads when you owned TOP and dominated the first half were amazing when the other team would run the two minute offense right before the half and lead 7-6.............

 

[blueblood70]

+1.......best way to hide a leaking defense is on the sideline and keep it fresh. Never been one to criticize coaches game plan but I didn't understand the logic of getting into a shoot out with Russell Wilson. Especially with our D......

yup this.... KM worries me how hes cant strike a balance between run and pass some games far to heavy vanilla run game plans and others far too heavy on the pass etc etc.. throwing 50times game is not a wining formula just puts up big yards and sometimes more scores but exposes the OL and defense ..pick your poison but that Seatle GP was flawed not having any true Runs called that were actually not just sporadic handoffs at the wrong times..

 

[kskboys]

yup this.... KM worries me how hes cant strike a balance between run and pass some games far to heavy vanilla run game plans and others far too heavy on the pass etc etc.. throwing 50times game is not a wining formula just puts up big yards and sometimes more scores but exposes the OL and defense ..pick your poison but that Seatle GP was flawed not having any true Runs called that were actually not just sporadic handoffs at the wrong times..

To add, KM doesn't appear to have a knack for running the ball. By that I mean setting up runs so Zeke isn't met in the backfield. It's like, when we run the ball, everyone knows it's coming, and they all line up at the LOS and Zeke has to beat them all just to make 3 yards.

 

[glimmerman]

+1.......best way to hide a leaking defense is on the sideline and keep it fresh. Never been one to criticize coaches game plan but I didn't understand the logic of getting into a shoot out with Russell Wilson. Especially with our D......

The game plan sounded bad from the beginning. We knew we couldnt make mistakes. Well Pollard and Elliot both made one. Dak with 2 picks. Our Defense made a few stops, but needed to make up for mistakes. Meanwhile every other pass wilson made was a deep TD pass.

We did keep fighting and I am glad to see no one is giving up. But we needed that stop on 4th and 3 and when they got it I knew it was over.

 

[blueblood70]

To add, KM doesn't appear to have a knack for running the ball. By that I mean setting up runs so Zeke isn't met in the backfield. It's like, when we run the ball, everyone knows it's coming, and they all line up at the LOS and Zeke has to beat them all just to make 3 yards.

exactly he just seems to be a great Passing Game Coordinator and throws in the run for good measure but with no true planning or intent.. its sad really, will MM discourage and teach or encourage and well Dak is being used like Rogers and well hes no Rogers..

Big mistake if its the latter..

KM is now the obvious reason last year with the crazy feast or famine game plans the fans here tried to pin on Garett meddling. Its obvious it was not,,so far this year its like Bipolar play calling game to game..

 

[Hennessy_King]

PAPPYDOG, you sure are loco!

Lol he's foreign he's still learning about football. Give him time

 

[Creeper]

Grind the ball. MM and or Moore abandoned the run last week. He said he wanted to score as fast and often as they could. Sounds great if you stop the other team and pull out to a big lead. But we need to establish and keep them honest. We can run out of passing formations. Elliot had a bad game. Well actually so did Pollard, but we have to keep pumping it. Would have been nice last week when we got a lead if we could have started wearing them out with running down there throats. Our O-Line isn’t what it had been, but we can still run with a power back.

Valid point. They started out throwing the ball, but not deep downfield, just a bunch of short ball control passes. I didn't really understand that, but it seemed to work a little. But as the game progressed I thought they could have shifted to a more balanced attack.

 

[kskboys]

exactly he just seems to be a great Passing Game Coordinator and throws in the run for good measure but with no true planning or intent.. its sad really, will MM discourage and teach or encourage and well Dak is being used like Rogers and well hes no Rogers..

Big mistake if its the latter..

KM is now the obvious reason last year with the crazy feast or famine game plans the fans here tried to pin on Garett meddling. Its obvious it was not,,so far this year its like Bipolar play calling game to game..

Garrett was worse.

 

[glimmerman]

Valid point. They started out throwing the ball, but not deep downfield, just a bunch of short ball control passes. I didn't really understand that, but it seemed to work a little. But as the game progressed I thought they could have shifted to a more balanced attack.

For sure. Having Elliot warmed up and running makes a real difference in the 4th quarter.

 

[glimmerman]

Garrett was worse.

We have a coach that passed the ball a lot and the OC was a QB and he learned under pass happy people. I really want them to run the ball balanced. Planned run drives. I don’t care if it’s predictable. Lol.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think especially in the seattle game Dallas knew the weakness and strength of the Seahawks. Seattle run defense is a stout unit and it showed when Dallas tried to run the ball. Cowboys continue to show run but the big plays needed in the game were going to come by the pass. I'm all for running but this notion of banging your head against a brick wall is just not going to give you a chance vs a team like Seattle. Right now Zeke is avg 19 carries a game, I think there will be games he will be used more and some other not as much. Playing to your opponents weakness is not a mistake.