I think I can fix the slow starts. here's how

[RonnieT24]

I've given this a lot of thought over the past two seasons when this team has made a habit of falling behind early. Or even last year when it was rolling bad teams it still stumbled out of the gate and then eventually got going and slaughtered said bad teams. I personally believe the difference is Kellen Moore. We all know that teams generally script the first 10-15 plays to "feel out" how the defense is going to play certain looks and situations. I here to say to hell with that approach. Every team we have played this year has had a weak link or two on its defense. There are favorable match ups that we already know about coming into the game. A DB who is too slow to run with Gallup and Cooper or a safety who can't cover a tight end to save his life or a linebacker who bites on the mid-direction every time or a DE who can't contain a wide play. It shows up during the week on film study. I say go after that match up early and often. Run the plays that exploit those match ups instead of spending the whole first quarter huntin and peckin trying to find out if they're still there. Assume they are and squeeze the lemons and make some lemonade out of their *****.

 

[cowboyec]

 

[Redsfan_83]

only way to fix the slow start is pack the bags and call it a season...

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I agree but in their defense, early turnovers have killed this EVERY game so far this season. MM even pointed it out earlier this week. Remember he WANTS TO score early and fast so he can turn the game over to the DLine.......his words.

 

[Sydla]

Have a scrimmage between the offense and the defense 15 minutes before the actual game starts?

 

[RonnieT24]

I agree but in their defense, early turnovers have killed this EVERY game so far this season. MM even pointed it out earlier this week. Remember he WANTS TO score early and fast so he can turn the game over to the DLine.......his words.

This is a simplistic view .. it's also false. They won the Falcons game despite 4 turnovers. They won the Giants game despite three more. They had a 14-7 after the first quarter against Cleveland before turnovers did them in. They took the lead with ~4 minutes left to play in Seattle. Sure the turnovers added to the degree of difficulty, but they have not "killed" our chances. After all, all the defense has to do is hold the other team to a FG on HALF of those turnovers and this team is probably 4-2. There is no law that says that if you turn it over the defense can be excused for bending over and letting the opposing offense have its way with them. Hell after two of the turnovers Monday night they let the Cardinals march 80+ yards to get points. I can't in good conscience say "the offense gifted them points" in those situations. Any time a turnover occurs in plus territory and the defense can't get a stop I refuse to blame the offense for that. The defense is getting paid too.

 

[Future]

This is a simplistic view .. it's also false. They won the Falcons game despite 4 turnovers. They won the Giants game despite three more. They had a 14-7 after the first quarter against Cleveland before turnovers did them in. They took the lead with ~4 minutes left to play in Seattle. Sure the turnovers added to the degree of difficulty, but they have not "killed" our chances. After all, all the defense has to do is hold the other team to a FG on HALF of those turnovers and this team is probably 4-2. There is no law that says that if you turn it over the defense can be excused for bending over and letting the opposing offense have its way with them. Hell after two of the turnovers Monday night they let the Cardinals march 80+ yards to get points. I can't in good conscience say "the offense gifted them points" in those situations. Any time a turnover occurs in plus territory and the defense can't get a stop I refuse to blame the offense for that. The defense is getting paid too.

It's not false in the sense that it killed any opportunity for fast starts.

The game they didn't turn it over early, Cleveland, they were killing them.

 

[conner01]

I agree but in their defense, early turnovers have killed this EVERY game so far this season. MM even pointed it out earlier this week. Remember he WANTS TO score early and fast so he can turn the game over to the DLine.......his words.

The turn overs have been huge
That’s what has just killed any game plan you came in with
Stopping the turn overs is key to getting this ship righted

 

[dcstar]

Catch the damn ball, Hold on to the damn ball, move the damn chains. 'nuff said

Go Cowboys!

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The turn overs have been huge
That’s what has just killed any game plan you came in with
Stopping the turn overs is key to getting this ship righted

Exactly........right now we lead the league in points off turnovers. They're killing us ......yes they happening early, meaning there's time to recover but that's only IF the D can stop anyone. IT's the main reason why we were putting up 35+ points a game before Dak's injury.

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

Quit turning the ball over. That would be a good start.

 

[Aven8]

It's not false in the sense that it killed any opportunity for fast starts.

The game they didn't turn it over early, Cleveland, they were killing them.

This is a true statement. 14-7 and Dak and company made it look easy.

 

[garyo1954]

Bill Walsh started the trend of scripting the first 15-20 plays to test certain parts of the defense he felt he could exploit. Bill often said they scored before he got through the entire list. What we should be doing is identifying the areas we feel we exploit and putting those plays in the first 15-20.

I think the Brass Balls Lone Ranger Moore played right into the Cards hands by running. I suspected, halfway expected they would be smart enough to roll Dalton out of the rush and throw early and often.

 

[RonnieT24]

To be honest I am saddled with the realization that unless the defense pulls their collective head out it doesn't really matter what the offense does in the game.. start middle or end. If we score on our opening drive 90% of the time the defense just lets the other team drive down the field and tie it up. I don't think this team has had a double digit lead all year.. If you are only ever going to have a one score lead and you can't stop the run you're never going to be in a position to make a team one-dimensional so that you can take advantage of all these pass rushers you have. The offense has to be perfect .. which obviously is never going to happen.. so fast start, slow start, medium start it doesn't really matter. The defense has been gutless pretty much all year and that's the real reason we sit where we sit.

 

[conner01]

Exactly........right now we lead the league in points off turnovers. They're killing us ......yes they happening early, meaning there's time to recover but that's only IF the D can stop anyone. IT's the main reason why we were putting up 35+ points a game before Dak's injury.

We have some problems that I don’t see getting fixed this season
Turnovers are not about talent
They can and have to be fixed