Game 2 thoughts

[Sydla]

Let's start with the "good":

1) If they scripted the first grouping of plays on offense, it worked very well and we looked crisp.

2) The defense is playing very well. The LBs are extremely active and it's night and day compared to LB play we got the last few years. Smith's athleticism is noticeable and while he still makes a mistake here or there, overall his play is a net positive at this point and he'll probably only get better. LVE flashed a bit later as he played more as well. That was good Wilson last night. I like good Wilson. I don't want to see bad Wilson anymore.

3) Our CBs on the outside are legit. Even the long pass that the Giants completed, it was a perfect pass as Awuzie was right there. S play was solid as well although it looks like Heath went brain dead on that last Giants TD. Although it was a nervous minute or so when Heath got hurt in the back of the endzone. It's peculiar we've had no real updates on Woods and his hamstring.

4) DT was a big issue for me heading into the season but it seems my fears, at least for now, were unfounded. They've held up well and even been able to generate some pressure.

5) Looney has been solid.

And the "ehhhh":

1) Outside of the first group of scripted plays, the offense looked blah. I suspect some are looking at last night with the prism of last week's really terrible performance. So in that sense, sure, we looked a lot better last night. But last night's offense won't get it done against the better teams in this league that can score and play some defense (Rams, Vikings, Eagles). People may disagree but we cannot win the division throwing for 160 yards a game.

2) The TEs are abysmal. Gathers had a couple of flashes but that was it.

3) Dak was certainly better and sharper than Week 1 but he has to be better than that going forward IMO. That missed throw to Gathers in the end zone is a throw that he has to make. No excuses there. And he again appears to have missed some open guys. But on the flipside, at least we pushed the ball down the field more this game and he had a couple of nice intermediate throws later that got called back on holding calls. So at least for now........... the trend is going in the right direction with him. Next week, playing in Seattle, will be an interesting test.

4) Someone mentioned this in another thread but Williams and Collins are a concern along the OL. Williams is a rookie so I will give him a pass but Collins needs to start playing better IMO. I really wonder, at times, if we would be better off flipping them.

4) Someone

 

[John813]

I thought Williams played much better last night. Still has a way to go but bounced back after a rough week versus Short.
I still don't see Collins as a good RT. Thought him at LG was his best spot.

 

[waving monkey]

I agree mostly but all QB's miss throws during games.
CWilliams I didn't see much of. Collins just got behind the rusher a few times and had to draw a flag. It is something to watch.

 

[waving monkey]

I thought Williams played much better last night. Still has a way to go but bounced back after a rough week versus Short.
I still don't see Collins as a good RT. Thought him at LG was his best spot.

Can CWilliams play RT or is his arm length short?

 

[Denim Chicken]

3) Dak was certainly better and sharper than Week 1 but he has to be better than that going forward IMO. That missed throw to Gathers in the end zone is a throw that he has to make. No excuses there. And he again appears to have missed some open guys. But on the flipside, at least we pushed the ball down the field more this game and he had a couple of nice intermediate throws later that got called back on holding calls. So at least for now........... the trend is going in the right direction with him. Next week, playing in Seattle, will be an interesting test.

I though Dak played a great game. Most of the stalled drives were drops, protection issues, or penalties. The Rico play should have been a TD, I agree.

 

[ShiningStar]

Let's start with the "good":

1) If they scripted the first grouping of plays on offense, it worked very well and we looked crisp.

2) The defense is playing very well. The LBs are extremely active and it's night and day compared to LB play we got the last few years. Smith's athleticism is noticeable and while he still makes a mistake here or there, overall his play is a net positive at this point and he'll probably only get better. LVE flashed a bit later as he played more as well. That was good Wilson last night. I like good Wilson. I don't want to see bad Wilson anymore.

3) Our CBs on the outside are legit. Even the long pass that the Giants completed, it was a perfect pass as Awuzie was right there. S play was solid as well although it looks like Heath went brain dead on that last Giants TD. Although it was a nervous minute or so when Heath got hurt in the back of the endzone. It's peculiar we've had no real updates on Woods and his hamstring.

4) DT was a big issue for me heading into the season but it seems my fears, at least for now, were unfounded. They've held up well and even been able to generate some pressure.

5) Looney has been solid.

And the "ehhhh":

1) Outside of the first group of scripted plays, the offense looked blah. I suspect some are looking at last night with the prism of last week's really terrible performance. So in that sense, sure, we looked a lot better last night. But last night's offense won't get it done against the better teams in this league that can score and play some defense (Rams, Vikings, Eagles). People may disagree but we cannot win the division throwing for 160 yards a game.

2) The TEs are abysmal. Gathers had a couple of flashes but that was it.

3) Dak was certainly better and sharper than Week 1 but he has to be better than that going forward IMO. That missed throw to Gathers in the end zone is a throw that he has to make. No excuses there. And he again appears to have missed some open guys. But on the flipside, at least we pushed the ball down the field more this game and he had a couple of nice intermediate throws later that got called back on holding calls. So at least for now........... the trend is going in the right direction with him. Next week, playing in Seattle, will be an interesting test.

4) Someone mentioned this in another thread but Williams and Collins are a concern along the OL. Williams is a rookie so I will give him a pass but Collins needs to start playing better IMO. I really wonder, at times, if we would be better off flipping them.

4) Someone

IF there is one big factor coming out of the game it this:

I have zero faith in Linehan. Sorry but that was stupid. We gave up on everything that was working, we just proved we cant think on our feet. At the end of the first half that Giant D was starting to get gassed and this team wont run on them like they need to. Did Rod Smith get any carries? In fact are we using our FB?

Great to see i was right put Dak to his strengths and he would do better. Attention Cowboys, your QB is not a pure pocket passer adjust your thinking.

Looks like i might have to owe Bloom an apology but lets see after teh next game how the LBs do.

Richard had our guys prepared for OBJ and did a great job vs one of the best in the NFL.

What can we say about Gallup, a lot had him ready for the number 1 position?

We still need more out of the OL. Not completely sold on our coach.

 

[jjktkk]

The overall defense was outstanding. The offense while improved from game 1, needs to continue to show more consistency, which should happen with Dak becoming more familiar with his new skill players and the offense just getting in more practice and games under their belt.

 

[Sydla]

I though Dak played a great game. Most of the stalled drives were drops, protection issues, or penalties. The Rico play should have been a TD, I agree.

Great is an overstatement. Good? Better? Improved? Certainly.

160 yards passing isn't great. All QBs have WRs that drop balls, etc.

In other words, this team ain't winning squat throwing for 160 yards a game.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I agree the offense still has to get better but its early so I am hoping they will

 

[Denim Chicken]

Great is an overstatement. Good? Better? Improved? Certainly.

160 yards passing isn't great. All QBs have WRs that drop balls, etc.

In other words, this team ain't winning squat throwing for 160 yards a game.

He did what he could with what he had. There were a total of eight drives from the first TD to the second. 4 were scoring drives (2 TDs, 2 FG). Two should have been extended but WRs couldn't make a play (Gallup, Gathers). One was stalled by penalties and the other had egregious protection break downs.

Also will mention that this is practically without a running game bc Zeke was getting stuffed.

 

[Sydla]

He did what he could with what he had. There were a total of eight drives from the first TD to the second. 4 were scoring drives (2 TDs, 2 FG). Two should have been extended but WRs couldn't make a play (Gallup, Gathers). One was stalled by penalties and the other had egregious protection break downs.

Also will mention that this is practically without a running game bc Zeke was getting stuffed.

That Gallup play was not a great throw despite people saying it was. Even if Gallup catches it, he's coming down out of bounds. That throw was too far into the sideline.

We will just disagree on this. Take away the one bomb and he threw for 85 yards last night. That's abysmal. Dak was good last night. Efficient might be a better description. But he and the offense have to be much better.

 

[OmerV]

That Gallup play was not a great throw despite people saying it was. Even if Gallup catches it, he's coming down out of bounds. That throw was too far into the sideline.

We will just disagree on this. Take away the one bomb and he threw for 85 yards last night. That's abysmal. Dak was good last night. Efficient might be a better description. But he and the offense have to be much better.

I disagree. Gallup was close to the sideline, but he was in bounds and running parallel to the sideline when the ball hit his hands.

 

[blueblood70]

Let's start with the "good":

1) If they scripted the first grouping of plays on offense, it worked very well and we looked crisp.

2) The defense is playing very well. The LBs are extremely active and it's night and day compared to LB play we got the last few years. Smith's athleticism is noticeable and while he still makes a mistake here or there, overall his play is a net positive at this point and he'll probably only get better. LVE flashed a bit later as he played more as well. That was good Wilson last night. I like good Wilson. I don't want to see bad Wilson anymore.

3) Our CBs on the outside are legit. Even the long pass that the Giants completed, it was a perfect pass as Awuzie was right there. S play was solid as well although it looks like Heath went brain dead on that last Giants TD. Although it was a nervous minute or so when Heath got hurt in the back of the endzone. It's peculiar we've had no real updates on Woods and his hamstring.

4) DT was a big issue for me heading into the season but it seems my fears, at least for now, were unfounded. They've held up well and even been able to generate some pressure.

5) Looney has been solid.

And the "ehhhh":

1) Outside of the first group of scripted plays, the offense looked blah. I suspect some are looking at last night with the prism of last week's really terrible performance. So in that sense, sure, we looked a lot better last night. But last night's offense won't get it done against the better teams in this league that can score and play some defense (Rams, Vikings, Eagles). People may disagree but we cannot win the division throwing for 160 yards a game.

2) The TEs are abysmal. Gathers had a couple of flashes but that was it.

3) Dak was certainly better and sharper than Week 1 but he has to be better than that going forward IMO. That missed throw to Gathers in the end zone is a throw that he has to make. No excuses there. And he again appears to have missed some open guys. But on the flipside, at least we pushed the ball down the field more this game and he had a couple of nice intermediate throws later that got called back on holding calls. So at least for now........... the trend is going in the right direction with him. Next week, playing in Seattle, will be an interesting test.

4) Someone mentioned this in another thread but Williams and Collins are a concern along the OL. Williams is a rookie so I will give him a pass but Collins needs to start playing better IMO. I really wonder, at times, if we would be better off flipping them.

4) Someone

mostly true I agree..however I watched LC a lot and the giants schemed two guys over top of him all game and Collins did his best taking the inside guy and blocked him pretty well then tried his best to go grab the outside guy as like usual , see ATL game last season, this staff didnt go put help out there.. LC did a fairly good job and just because it appeared all the pressure was because of him, it wasn't , he got his guy but the second outside guy was loose and he few times trying to do more then his job he reached out and grabbed the second guy realizing Dak was going to get killed..The Line as whole were poor, better then last week but most of the push came from inside where William and looney got pushed back into the backfield at the snap nearly every play..if they clean this up and gel give Zeke more room, more second level blocking, and get Dak a bit more room , we will see more improvement as the year progresses.. it is possible when Fred comes back we put looney at LG.. LC was fine last night.. heck I saw Tsmith being bull rushed and losing those battles..that was his bread and butter and was susceptible to the quick guy but he was pushed back so fast and hard twice last night I though Chaz green was out there.. seriously the line itself gets D last night up from F the week before..im hoping for c-plus this week, could we get a B if we get a B out of the line we win next Sunday..this is NOT the 2014/2016 line this is the main issue..

 

[Jake]

Lots of talk about Collins, and justifiably so, but Tyron hasn't played well at all. I'm actually less concerned about Looney at this point than I am about the tackles.

This offense starts with the line. Too often Zeke hits a wall or Dak is running for his life. Defense is carrying this team.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I though Dak played a great game. Most of the stalled drives were drops, protection issues, or penalties. The Rico play should have been a TD, I agree.

I thought he did too.

While not as bad as week 1, the offensive is still having pass protection issues.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Lots of talk about Collins, and justifiably so, but Tyron hasn't played well at all. I'm actually less concerned about Looney at this point than I am about the tackles.

This offense starts with the line. Too often Zeke hits a wall or Dak is running for his life. Defense is carrying this team.

After reading the Dak-thread I wonder how many of those folks criticizing Prescott for last night's performance actually watched the game?

Many of the pass attempts I witnessed were essentially fire drills with the Giants making a b-line to the QB.

I thought the kid kept his composure and didn't force throws into coverage.

 

[Sydla]

After reading the Dak-thread I wonder how many of those folks criticizing Prescott for last night's performance actually watched the game?

Many of the pass attempts I witnessed were essentially fire drills with the Giants making a b-line to the QB.

I thought the kid kept his composure and didn't force throws into coverage.

Is it criticizing Dak or is it just taking the position that he was better last night but certainly not "great" like some are claiming.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Is it criticizing Dak or is it just taking the position that he was better last night but certainly not "great" like some are claiming.

I thought he was "good" and not more than that. Missed a couple throws.

The biggest problem with the offense is the offensive line. Looked bad in the running game and allowed pressure way too quickly on too many pass attempts.

 

[HungryLion]

That Gallup play was not a great throw despite people saying it was. Even if Gallup catches it, he's coming down out of bounds. That throw was too far into the sideline.

We will just disagree on this. Take away the one bomb and he threw for 85 yards last night. That's abysmal. Dak was good last night. Efficient might be a better description. But he and the offense have to be much better.

Dak was ok. Last night. Not great. Just a solid game. You’re right.

But man I really loathe the “take away the long completion” stuff. I really really hate it.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Those high powered offenses you allude too also have great weapons in the passing game. Dak needs to up his game for sure, but we won't be in that class without those type of skill players either. They should at least have splurged for a capable TE, a good TE is a young QB's best friend.