CFZ How the Cowboys need to improve to contend

[8FOR!3]

Keep it more simple on offense earlier in the game is the key imo.

 

[nobody]

Jerry Jones has zero to do with the slow starts.

I disagree. I think his wanting to be friends with the players and his open door policy undermines coaching authority and I believe Jerry also prevents certain people from discipline because he wants them on the field no matter what....again undermining coaching authority. When your players know the coach doesn't have the final say on the field, they'll get more undisciplined, leading to slow starts, penalties, etc.

 

[CowboyoWales]

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.

So I was right, you're sensitive to anything you see as an attack on Dak. I'm NOT ATTACKING DAK, im saying we dont abandon the run to highlight our passing game.

I highlighted the Bears game, because we led due to the dominant run game but allowed them back into the game when we abandoned it. We then re-established the run to pull away.

The only reason Rush should be used in any conversation is that his limited game allowed us to see and refine our Offense and identify we should be a run first Offense (with him and even when Dak returned).

Im not saying Dak isnt allowed to throw at anytime, but it should be used off the run game.

 

[CowboyoWales]

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.

Maybe, though it could be that we're running early to tire the defense early.....to benefit in the 4th.

 

[plasticman]

I feel as though their greatest improvement must be in their ability to understand and appreciate their opportunities and to elevate their level of play in the big games in December as well as the playoffs.

Each NFL player only gets so many opportunities for a championship. This team must understand that there is never a guarantee that they will get more opportunities. They must capitalize on their opportunity this season as if they will never get another.

It's as if the most recent Cowboy teams treat every game equally whether it is September or January, against a division foe in 1st place or a last place team in the AFC. They have to reach for everything they have inside of them come playoff time, leave nothing on the table.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

So much comes down to matchups in the playoffs.

So true.........your weakness WILL be exposed. Margin for error is razor thin......

 

[jgboys1]

Keep on running the rock! Our best chance to win is if we don't ask Dak to do too much.

 

[pitt33]

So true.........your weakness WILL be exposed. Margin for error is razor thin......

Yep.

And I really hate to type this but Dallas will have a really tough time even getting past Tampa. I don’t care what their record is. Brady will throw 45 times and get the ball out quickly. And now Joseph is out there to pick on instead of Brown.

And it always seems to me that no lead is insurmountable with that guy under center. Last night was another case in point.

 

[AtomicDog]

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.

I have been a big supporter of Dak in the past but now i am skeptical of him. He doesn't have excuses now. He has a defense, he has a running game, a passing game, special teams. It's time for him to elevate his game and do something special as a QB. I want to see if he can get past the first round by beating old man Tom Brady in the first game of the playoffs.

This team can win the Superbowl but only if Dak does his part.

 

[Whirlwin]

Dak needs to take better care of the ball. He's making 3-5 throws a game that are really risky and many of them are truing into picks. If it's not there don't push it.

H how do you supposed to do timing? Plays forget about them.

 

[cnuball21]

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.

All good points, and I agree, but my biggest concern is I don’t think we can throw to win if the game calls for it. Our offense has been fun this year but the NFC is somewhat of a joke.

Our pass pro is not as good as our run blocking and our WR room is almost laughable outside
of Lamb. In the playoffs I could see teams stacking the box and making us beat them in the air. Double team Lamb and then make us move the ball with contested throws because MG is not getting separation and Brown is a ghost at times.

 

[Qcard]

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.

Like I thought....even a 9-3 Dominant Playoff contending Cowboys team would have flaws??

The Fly in the Ointment.....

 

[shabazz]

Dak needs to take better care of the ball. He's making 3-5 throws a game that are really risky and many of them are truing into picks. If it's not there don't push it.

I agree with the OPs thread and you’ve hit on one thing he’s left out. The highest paid player on the team has to be MORE CONSISTENT…..not spectacular at times and ineffective at others…..just steady above average.

 

[Denim Chicken]

H how do you supposed to do timing? Plays forget about them.

Not every int in on the WR. Dak is making bad risk / reward decisions that he needs to tighten up on.

 

[KMY_Amber]

Not every int in on the WR. Dak is making bad risk / reward decisions that he needs to tighten up on.

Indeed. I 100% agree.

 

[Reid1boys]

So I was right, you're sensitive to anything you see as an attack on Dak. I'm NOT ATTACKING DAK, im saying we dont abandon the run to highlight our passing game.

I highlighted the Bears game, because we led due to the dominant run game but allowed them back into the game when we abandoned it. We then re-established the run to pull away.

The only reason Rush should be used in any conversation is that his limited game allowed us to see and refine our Offense and identify we should be a run first Offense (with him and even when Dak returned).

Im not saying Dak isnt allowed to throw at anytime, but it should be used off the run game.

IM not sure who you are, but you clearly havent been around here long. There has been no bigger Dak critic in this forum than myself. My signature line used to include "Dak Prescott, WR Killer."

I simply asked you which games we have stumbled offensively in to address your point.

 

[CowboyoWales]

IM not sure who you are, but you clearly havent been around here long. There has been no bigger Dak critic in this forum than myself. My signature line used to include "Dak Prescott, WR Killer."

I simply asked you which games we have stumbled offensively in to address your point.

Which I answered with Bears and GB.

 

[Whirlwin]

Not every int in on the WR. Dak is making bad risk / reward decisions that he needs to tighten up on.

I’m not saying it’s not his fault. I’m saying time in place it happens. Timing plays

 

[Bobhaze]

Like I thought....even a 9-3 Dominant Playoff contending Cowboys team would have flaws??

The Fly in the Ointment.....

Did you read the OP?

 

[Mr_437]

It's fast start on offense for me. Stopping the run is a concern as well, but a fast start on O may help the Defense out in that department.