CFZ How the Cowboys need to improve to contend

[blueblood70]

Isn’t it possible to enjoy a win and also point out how we can improve? Both things can be true. That was a great win last night. But I want us to be better. What’s so bad about that?

that not what happening its oh no what happens IF, bla blah blah the playoff has not started time to enjoy the win get ready for Texans and cross the payoff bridge when we get there and know the team, day, and time of said playoff game and who they have left on their rosters and ours..we have zero idea how that pays out and game on decmeber 4th has zero bearing on playoff game or heck next game..

 

[Bobhaze]

and who says they arent motivated to do that?

I don’t know who’s saying they aren’t motivated. I hope the coaches and player leaders are saying “We need to get a lot better if we’re going to win in the playoffs.”

that not what happening its oh no what happens IF, bla blah blah the playoff has not started time to enjoy the win get ready for Texans and cross the payoff bridge when we get there and know the team, day, and time of said playoff game and who they have left on their rosters and ours..we have zero idea how that pays out and game on decmeber 4th has zero bearing on playoff game or heck next game..

Are you saying you can’t enjoy the win because someone else points out some areas of improvement? We can enjoy the win AND talk about getting better, right?

 

[Bobhaze]

Good post. You will get crapped on by the fanbois, mood police, and unpaid marketing arm of Cowboys’ football.

Standards are high for those that actually remember and value postseason wins more than regular season wins.

Some background on some past playoff games.
2022 vs SF: down 16-7 after 2 quarters and 23-7 after 3. LOSS
2019 vs LA Rams: down 20-7 after 2 quarters and 23-15 after 3 quarters. LOSS
2019 vs Seattle: up 10-6 after 2 quarters and down 14-10 after 3 quarters. WIN in a squeaker 24-22.
2017 vs GB: down 21-13 after 2 quarters and 28-13 after 3. LOSS

December 1996 vs Carolina: up 30-0 after 2 quarters. WIN.
January 1996 vs Eagles: up 17-3 after 2 quarters. 23-3 after 3 quarters. WIN.
January 1996 vs Packers: up 24-17 after 2 quarters. WIN.
January 1996 vs Steelers: up 13-7 after 2 quarters. 20-7 after 3 quarters. WIN.

1995 vs Packers: up 28-9 after 2 quarters. WIN.
1995 vs 49ers: down 31-14 after 2 quarters. LOSS
1994 vs Packers: up 17-3 after 2 quarters. WIN.
1994 vs 49ers: up 28-7 after 2 quarters. WIN.
1994 vs Bills: down 13-7 after 2 quarters and up 21-13 after 3 quarters. WIN
1993 vs Eagles: up 17-3 after 2 quarters and 27-3 after 3 quarters. WIN.
1993 vs 49ers: tied 10-10 after 2 quarters. Up 17-13 after 3 quarters. WIN
1993 vs Bills: up 28-10 after 2 quarters. WIN

Winning important games typically means being ahead by meaningful points after 2 and 3 quarters. Losing typically means being behind after those quarters by meaningful points. Contenders don’t care about matchups-they just go about their business and take a dump on Lady Luck and listen to the other team’s fans lament about fortune, refs, and coaches. Whilst the players decide the game.

Play well during the first 3 quarters (and yes in the fourth quarter). Yes-the above evidence points to success when getting up significantly early. And lack of success comes from the opposite. It was not that close in many of the losses after 2-3 quarters but sometimes ended closer at the end because of differences in opponent’s defensive and offensive scheme as the game progressed.

This team and QB are not built for shootouts or playing from behind. Dak is much better off heavy running game with occasional playaction. Hopefully they have more success this postseason.

Great post. Thanks for the research. Well done.

 

[Reid1boys]

If you have Mahomes would you run? It all depends on your roster and what suits them.....with us it's run first.

Remember last year against the Bucs... what did we have, like 5 run attempts the entire game? Sure, you can say... AND WE LOST. Yea, but not because of the run, we walked up and down the field and score all game long. We simply couldnt keep them from doing the same.

And yes, they have Mahomes, but the premise is the same. You do what is best for your team and your skillset to score as much as possible.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Remember last year against the Bucs... what did we have, like 5 run attempts the entire game? Sure, you can say... AND WE LOST. Yea, but not because of the run, we walked up and down the field and score all game long. We simply couldnt keep them from doing the same.

And yes, they have Mahomes, but the premise is the same. You do what is best for your team and your skillset to score as much as possible.

This year, if we stumble on offense it's usually in the passing game early on....I thought it was me that said we need to do what's best that suits our skillset.

 

[Reid1boys]

This year, if we stumble on offense it's usually in the passing game early on....I thought it was me that said we need to do what's best that suits our skillset.

maybe you did, but did I say anything different?

 

[Reid1boys]

This year, if we stumble on offense it's usually in the passing game early on....I thought it was me that said we need to do what's best that suits our skillset.

By the way, since Dak has returned.... which is really the only games you can use in your analysis, which games exactly have we "Stumbled," offensively. Do you consider the 28 we had against GB, "Stumbling?"

 

[CowboyoWales]

By the way, since Dak has returned.... which is really the only games you can use in your analysis, which games exactly have we "Stumbled," offensively. Do you consider the 28 we had against GB, "Stumbling?"

I dont get a lot of what you're implying. It appears you think i'm hating on Dak, which i'm not, just see our gameplan coming off the run first and not to abandon it. As an example we did 'abandon' the run against GB as we did in the Bears game allowing them to come back to within a score.

 

[eromeopolk]

Last night’s win was a perfect example of why teams play 60 minutes to decide the outcome. Going into the 4th qtr, the score was 21-19, and the Cowboys had played 45 minutes of inconsistent football. The bottom fell out for the colts in the 4th with the turnovers.

But a win is a win, and the Cowboys certainly took advantage of the opportunities they had. Kudos to the Cowboys for having the killer instinct late.

As I look at the Cowboys with 5 regular season games left, here are the things I believe this team needs to show some improvement to go into the playoffs strong:

• Starting games with better offensive execution. This team has a bad habit of starting games poorly on offense. Against the colts, we started with a 3 and out. Two weeks ago against the giants, our first two possessions were punt, turnover. Against GB, we started with a punt on first two possessions. Viking game was the exception. In the playoffs, coming out flat offensively can be deadly as we learned last yr vs niners.

• Stopping the run. We’ve been vulnerable against the run all this year as well as last year. Our pass rush is top shelf but teams that can run the ball against us are still a problem. It has improved somewhat the last two weeks, but that has been against the giants and colts, not the eagles or niners. I’m still not convinced we have it figured out yet.

• Reducing penalties. As we saw last year in our lone playoff game, sloppy play kills you in the playoffs. Through 12 games, we are currently the second most penalized team in the NFL behind the 3-9 broncos, with 86 penalties, averaging over 7 penalties per game. Compare that to KC who has 52 penalties through 12 games. We were better against the colts but we still are committing stupid penalties right and left.

• Having a chip on their shoulders. I wish this team had a bigger chip- a killer instinct that says, “We’re going to smash you in the mouth for 60 minutes.” This team still sleep walks at times and to me too often take whole possessions off on both sides of the ball. If you want to win in the playoffs, you have to want it more than your opponent.

I’m not knocking the Cowboys for being 9-3. They have proven to be better than I thought they were after that colossal egg we laid on opening night. But as we saw last January, the playoffs require a different gear. And if we want to change the story of the last 27 years, these guys need to get even tougher and more committed. And they can- hopefully they will.

Move the no.2 dot to the no.1 dot. Once the Colts lost any threat of play action, the slaughter began. Running the ball on this defense allows for play action and this defense is not able to stop a running game with play action. Makes rushers think run then pass and that means when they are thinking, they and not playing.

 

[Bobhaze]

Move the no.2 dot to the no.1 dot. Once the Colts lost any threat of play action, the slaughter began. Running the ball on this defense allows for play action and this defense is not able to stop a running game with play action. Makes rushers think run then pass and that means when they are thinking, they and not playing.

If our defense stops hemorrhaging on outside runs, our defense can be very tough on anyone come playoff time.

 

[reddyuta]

what we saw was when our 4 man rush didnt get there our CBs cant cover for long,we need Quinn to blitz early to keep teams honest.

 

[rambo2]

They are contending.

 

[Reid1boys]

I dont get a lot of what you're implying. It appears you think i'm hating on Dak, which i'm not, just see our gameplan coming off the run first and not to abandon it. As an example we did 'abandon' the run against GB as we did in the Bears game allowing them to come back to within a score.

we scored 49 points against the Bears, and you are actually trying to say Moore should be better at his gameplan or play calling? We had 28 against GB.... how many teams in the NFL are avg 28 PPG?

Thats what I am saying. You said in the games we have stumbled in offensively........ , I am asking you tell me the specific games you are referring to??? You cant use the games we had Cooper Rush, because that simply makes no sense to do so.

 

[pancakeman]

It's an interesting team to watch. The pass rush is so devastating that as soon as we can build a big lead, the game is totally over. At the same time, our offensive strengths are in the run rather than a quick-hitting pass game. We just can't get impatient in building the lead that we know will put the game in our control.

 

[AtomicDog]

We will go as far as Dak takes us. Simple as that.

 

[Bobhaze]

We will go as far as Dak takes us. Simple as that.

I strongly disagree. We will go as far as this complete team plays. If one side of the ball- offense or defense- doesn’t pull its weight, we will see an early exit. Conversely, if this team plays as a team- look out.

 

[Verdict]

Last night’s win was a perfect example of why teams play 60 minutes to decide the outcome. Going into the 4th qtr, the score was 21-19, and the Cowboys had played 45 minutes of inconsistent football. The bottom fell out for the colts in the 4th with the turnovers.

But a win is a win, and the Cowboys certainly took advantage of the opportunities they had. Kudos to the Cowboys for having the killer instinct late.

As I look at the Cowboys with 5 regular season games left, here are the things I believe this team needs to show some improvement to go into the playoffs strong:

• Starting games with better offensive execution. This team has a bad habit of starting games poorly on offense. Against the colts, we started with a 3 and out. Two weeks ago against the giants, our first two possessions were punt, turnover. Against GB, we started with a punt on first two possessions. Viking game was the exception. In the playoffs, coming out flat offensively can be deadly as we learned last yr vs niners.

• Stopping the run. We’ve been vulnerable against the run all this year as well as last year. Our pass rush is top shelf but teams that can run the ball against us are still a problem. It has improved somewhat the last two weeks, but that has been against the giants and colts, not the eagles or niners. I’m still not convinced we have it figured out yet.

• Reducing penalties. As we saw last year in our lone playoff game, sloppy play kills you in the playoffs. Through 12 games, we are currently the second most penalized team in the NFL behind the 3-9 broncos, with 86 penalties, averaging over 7 penalties per game. Compare that to KC who has 52 penalties through 12 games. We were better against the colts but we still are committing stupid penalties right and left.

• Having a chip on their shoulders. I wish this team had a bigger chip- a killer instinct that says, “We’re going to smash you in the mouth for 60 minutes.” This team still sleep walks at times and to me too often take whole possessions off on both sides of the ball. If you want to win in the playoffs, you have to want it more than your opponent.

I’m not knocking the Cowboys for being 9-3. They have proven to be better than I thought they were after that colossal egg we laid on opening night. But as we saw last January, the playoffs require a different gear. And if we want to change the story of the last 27 years, these guys need to get even tougher and more committed. And they can- hopefully they will.

I like your list. Accurate.

I would add:

Kellen Moore needs to be more solid in his play calling at times. He has shown he can be elite. But he has also shown that he can be Jason Garrett part deux. Gotta eliminate that tendency if we are going to make a SB run.

Dak has to stop with his slow starts and lack of production early in games. Yes, it’s about the offense in general, but it’s also about Dak in particular.

 

[Verdict]

I am concerned about cornerback play in the stretch run. Losing A. Brown is going to leave a mark. The Rapper is probably not going to adequately fill that hole.

 

[Verdict]

I think the coaches are failing to get them focused at the start of games....and part of that might be Jerry's culture. I also think that Kellen Moore often calls a terrible first couple of series that are very predictable.

Jerry Jones has zero to do with the slow starts.

 

[Verdict]

stated out the bears game 28-7 so it can happen.
MN not the only exception

Games like this happen took the eagles all 6o to squeak out a 17-16 win over these colts, we see dog fights from alleged lopsided matchups all the time. each game is one off.im not worried about how were start its who you close game and weve done that well most games.

Its the CB position im worried about right now.