CFZ I think the Cowboys have another gear

[DanA]

As the title says I think we are yet to peak and have another gear. Here's why:

Tyron Smith is an upgrade. There's been a small drop off from he's very best, and his health has been unreliable for awhile but when he's actually played healthy (not carry anything) I think he's still played at an All-Pro level. The problem the last couple of years is he's struggling with the grind of a full season, and tended to limp over the line (if he makes it) carry a couple of injuries. I really think he's a big improvement over Tyler Smith and we'll see a noticeable difference in pass protection.

Tyler Smith is a better guard than McGovern. This is a bit of a projection and I know that there was talk about Connor Williams winning the LG position coming into the season but I don't actually believe it would have happened, and I think Tyler Smith would have progressed to take it anyway over the course of the season. I just don't think you can account for Tyler's natural power.

Peters is still ridiculously good. I think a bit like Tyron Smith, Peters struggles with the grind of a long season. If he's called on to start I think he's still a better left tackle than Tyler Smith, maybe not after 17 consecutive starts, but with how he's slowly ramped up his workload I think if/when he's on, he'll be on point.

Michael Gallup is still ramping up. I think you can see the week by week improvement in how Gallup plays and IMO he looks like he's only just starting to feel comfortable. Gallup is just 10 months out from surgery now (had it early Feb) and while he obviously worked like a demon and got back early, I don't think the tape he put on the field the first month back was the best of Michael Gallup.

Turpin has a bigger role to play. I really think we'll see an important wrinkle with Turpin busted out at some stage later this season. He's played back to back consecutive seasons in the XFL/NFL so I think McCarthy wanted to manage his workload, but I think we'll find something for him in the playoffs. I also think sooner rather than later he's break out an punt/kick return TD.

Ceedee is building confidence. I think we're seeing Ceedee embrace the no.1 WR mantle and build in presence. He's always had talent, and was already performing at a high level but I feel like he's only just starting to build that chemistry with Dak and feel like it's his team.

The rookies on defense are playing at a high level but still figuring it out. You could probably include Joseph in this too but I feel like the rookies (Williams, Clark, Bland) are still in that adaptation faze figuring out the NFL. They weren't day one starters so haven't yet had the time to bed into the team. These reps they get over the next month as starters will be really important for their development and getting them where they need to be for the playoffs.

McCarthy has managed the teams health. Overall the team is incredibly healthy and I think McCarthy has done a great job managing the health of his team from a big picture perspective. It seems like they are all peaking at the right time of the year and while we have lost Brown and Lewis I actually think we might not see much of a drop off.

 

[TwoDeep3]

And James Washington isn't a rookie, but a vested pro who will step into his role and offer Dak a deep option. The domino effect with a deep threat will open up windows underneath for all. Not putti ng too much into the Washington signing, but if Dak and Washington can get on the same page during the next two games and hit a couple of deep passes, for scores or not, this will be on video. DC's will need to respect this new option.

Washington, like high tide could raise all boats.

And regardless of the manhood Joseph achieves, you can bet Quinn understands his newness to this and will roll help to his side until he can handle it, or not.

I have been reluctant to consider how this will play out in an Eagle's confrontation, but the more I think about the offense and its ginned up line, and added passing attack, I am becoming more confident in a win.

Of course hubris runs in my character.

 

[cnuball21]

I’m excited about the OL. Run blocking has been rock solid but I think Tyron takes our pass pro up a notch.

Very concerned about how Gallup has looked, and the WR room as a whole outside of Lamb, but hoping he proves me wrong down the stretch.

 

[DogFace]

McCarty managing the team’s health is an underrated positive for him. He also (seemingly) does an excellent job preparing backups to play. We saw it when he was in Green Bay too. Dak went down, Tyron went down and the drop off, while noticeable, wasn’t that bad.

I wonder if he does anything special in the area of getting backups ready because we know how the last staff handled it and there’s no comparison.

 

[DanA]

McCarty managing the team’s health is an underrated positive for him. He also (seemingly) does an excellent job preparing backups to play. We saw it when he was in Green Bay too. Dak went down, Tyron went down and the drop off, while noticeable, wasn’t that bad.

I wonder if he does anything special in the area of getting backups ready because we know how the last staff handled it and there’s no comparison.

I don’t think McCarthy does anything too special but I do think he’s maybe a bit better at listening to his staff and players than a lot of other coaches. That’s great when you have Dan Quinn and players that are switched on, not so great when it’s Mike Nolan and guys that have maybe checked out like Dontari Poe.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

As the title says I think we are yet to peak and have another gear. Here's why:

Tyron Smith is an upgrade. There's been a small drop off from he's very best, and his health has been unreliable for awhile but when he's actually played healthy (not carry anything) I think he's still played at an All-Pro level. The problem the last couple of years is he's struggling with the grind of a full season, and tended to limp over the line (if he makes it) carry a couple of injuries. I really think he's a big improvement over Tyler Smith and we'll see a noticeable difference in pass protection.

Tyler Smith is a better guard than McGovern. This is a bit of a projection and I know that there was talk about Connor Williams winning the LG position coming into the season but I don't actually believe it would have happened, and I think Tyler Smith would have progressed to take it anyway over the course of the season. I just don't think you can account for Tyler's natural power.

Peters is still ridiculously good. I think a bit like Tyron Smith, Peters struggles with the grind of a long season. If he's called on to start I think he's still a better left tackle than Tyler Smith, maybe not after 17 consecutive starts, but with how he's slowly ramped up his workload I think if/when he's on, he'll be on point.

Michael Gallup is still ramping up. I think you can see the week by week improvement in how Gallup plays and IMO he looks like he's only just starting to feel comfortable. Gallup is just 10 months out from surgery now (had it early Feb) and while he obviously worked like a demon and got back early, I don't think the tape he put on the field the first month back was the best of Michael Gallup.

Turpin has a bigger role to play. I really think we'll see an important wrinkle with Turpin busted out at some stage later this season. He's played back to back consecutive seasons in the XFL/NFL so I think McCarthy wanted to manage his workload, but I think we'll find something for him in the playoffs. I also think sooner rather than later he's break out an punt/kick return TD.

Ceedee is building confidence. I think we're seeing Ceedee embrace the no.1 WR mantle and build in presence. He's always had talent, and was already performing at a high level but I feel like he's only just starting to build that chemistry with Dak and feel like it's his team.

The rookies on defense are playing at a high level but still figuring it out. You could probably include Joseph in this too but I feel like the rookies (Williams, Clark, Bland) are still in that adaptation faze figuring out the NFL. They weren't day one starters so haven't yet had the time to bed into the team. These reps they get over the next month as starters will be really important for their development and getting them where they need to be for the playoffs.

McCarthy has managed the teams health. Overall the team is incredibly healthy and I think McCarthy has done a great job managing the health of his team from a big picture perspective. It seems like they are all peaking at the right time of the year and while we have lost Brown and Lewis I actually think we might not see much of a drop off.

Not to mention, Clark and other young players are going to continue to get better.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

I think they still haven't optimized usage of their most explosive offensive weapon, Tony Pollard, either. If they ever do, this offense will go to another level.

 

[JBS]

Turpins role isn’t going to increase. You can put the pipe down

 

[shabazz]

Merely reducing or eliminating penalties would kick us up another notch. Our main complaints have been penalties, run defense and inconsistent slow starting offense…..the last 2 items have seen improvement but the penalties remain unchanged

 

[big dog cowboy]

the penalties remain unchanged

You mean like last week when they only had 3?

 

[big dog cowboy]

As the title says I think we are yet to peak and have another gear. Here's why:

Tyron Smith is an upgrade. There's been a small drop off from he's very best, and his health has been unreliable for awhile but when he's actually played healthy (not carry anything) I think he's still played at an All-Pro level. The problem the last couple of years is he's struggling with the grind of a full season, and tended to limp over the line (if he makes it) carry a couple of injuries. I really think he's a big improvement over Tyler Smith and we'll see a noticeable difference in pass protection.

Tyler Smith is a better guard than McGovern. This is a bit of a projection and I know that there was talk about Connor Williams winning the LG position coming into the season but I don't actually believe it would have happened, and I think Tyler Smith would have progressed to take it anyway over the course of the season. I just don't think you can account for Tyler's natural power.

Peters is still ridiculously good. I think a bit like Tyron Smith, Peters struggles with the grind of a long season. If he's called on to start I think he's still a better left tackle than Tyler Smith, maybe not after 17 consecutive starts, but with how he's slowly ramped up his workload I think if/when he's on, he'll be on point.

Michael Gallup is still ramping up. I think you can see the week by week improvement in how Gallup plays and IMO he looks like he's only just starting to feel comfortable. Gallup is just 10 months out from surgery now (had it early Feb) and while he obviously worked like a demon and got back early, I don't think the tape he put on the field the first month back was the best of Michael Gallup.

Turpin has a bigger role to play. I really think we'll see an important wrinkle with Turpin busted out at some stage later this season. He's played back to back consecutive seasons in the XFL/NFL so I think McCarthy wanted to manage his workload, but I think we'll find something for him in the playoffs. I also think sooner rather than later he's break out an punt/kick return TD.

Ceedee is building confidence. I think we're seeing Ceedee embrace the no.1 WR mantle and build in presence. He's always had talent, and was already performing at a high level but I feel like he's only just starting to build that chemistry with Dak and feel like it's his team.

The rookies on defense are playing at a high level but still figuring it out. You could probably include Joseph in this too but I feel like the rookies (Williams, Clark, Bland) are still in that adaptation faze figuring out the NFL. They weren't day one starters so haven't yet had the time to bed into the team. These reps they get over the next month as starters will be really important for their development and getting them where they need to be for the playoffs.

McCarthy has managed the teams health. Overall the team is incredibly healthy and I think McCarthy has done a great job managing the health of his team from a big picture perspective. It seems like they are all peaking at the right time of the year and while we have lost Brown and Lewis I actually think we might not see much of a drop off.

GREAT post!!!!!!!

 

[DanA]

You mean like last week when they only had 3?

That was a great effort no doubt but what’s the saying?

once is an chance, twice is a co-incidence, 3 times is a pattern.

I think it’s a legitimate worry so I’m hoping it’s improving but I think we need to see more. With how many young players we have starting though there’s reason for hope though.

 

[Runwildboys]

Everything's good, but I'm wondering what you mean when you say MM is managing the player's health.

 

[MarcusRock]

Everything's good, but I'm wondering what you mean when you say MM is managing the player's health.

McCarthy personally rubs butter on players' boo boos. Then licks his own fingers.

 

[McKDaddy]

Two overall comments:
Teams that go on a special run do find those extra gears in December and beyond. So let's hope.
I agree with all your bullet points except the first one. To be more precise, I have concerns about the first one.

My concerns about Tyron are simply health \ age & line chemistry.
In run blocking do we really expect Tyron to be 30 yards downfield escorting Pollard into the endzone like Tyler?
In pass pro, I can see Tyron being solid other than speed rushers. He's struggled against them for a while now.
Tyler isn't always perfect but his youth (flexibility, speed, strength) allows him to generally get the job done.
I can't stress this enough, the line is playing really well as a unit right now. As you said, they have done a nice job of slowly acclimating Peters so they can sub & switch positions and still function very well. I hope they take that approach with Tyron. Having three guys who can play on the left side is awesome but they have to be able to perform without any breakdowns in assignments \ communication.

 

[cnuball21]

Two overall comments:
Teams that go on a special run do find those extra gears in December and beyond. So let's hope.
I agree with all your bullet points except the first one. To be more precise, I have concerns about the first one.

My concerns about Tyron are simply health \ age & line chemistry.
In run blocking do we really expect Tyron to be 30 yards downfield escorting Pollard into the endzone like Tyler?
In pass pro, I can see Tyron being solid other than speed rushers. He's struggled against them for a while now.
Tyler isn't always perfect but his youth (flexibility, speed, strength) allows him to generally get the job done.
I can't stress this enough, the line is playing really well as a unit right now. As you said, they have done a nice job of slowly acclimating Peters so they can sub & switch positions and still function very well. I hope they take that approach with Tyron. Having three guys who can play on the left side is awesome but they have to be able to perform without any breakdowns in assignments \ communication.

If Tyron is truly healthy I think the concerns are squashed. Tyron at 80% is better than Tyler at 100% at LT. He’s also played with a lot of these dudes before so I think the chemistry will be fine.

 

[Flamma]

I’m excited about the OL. Run blocking has been rock solid but I think Tyron takes our pass pro up a notch.

Very concerned about how Gallup has looked, and the WR room as a whole outside of Lamb, but hoping he proves me wrong down the stretch.

You're seeing what a lot of us are seeing. Outside of Lamb it looks shaky. But don't worry about Gallup, if nothing else he is a master at high pointing the ball. He should be ok by the playoffs.

 

[cnuball21]

You're seeing what a lot of us are seeing. Outside of Lamb it looks shaky. But don't worry about Gallup, if nothing else he is a master at high pointing the ball. He should be ok by the playoffs.

Well MG is my biggest concern. The #2 is the dude you need to step up the most when the #1 is getting taken away. Yea the high pointing is great, but we need him separating. It can’t be jump
balls every time we need a first down.

 

[Flamma]

Well MG is my biggest concern. The #2 is the dude you need to step up the most when the #1 is getting taken away. Yea the high pointing is great, but we need him separating. It can’t be jump
balls every time we need a first down.

I don't have the all 22 so I don't know how he's being covered. Just because Lamb is our #1, that doesn't mean defenses will treat him like a #1. The more Lamb becomes a problem for defenses, the more attention he'll get, and the less attention Gallup will get. Like when Cooper was here.

 

[cnuball21]

I don't have the all 22 so I don't know how he's being covered. Just because Lamb is our #1, that doesn't mean defenses will treat him like a #1. The more Lamb becomes a problem for defenses, the more attention he'll get, and the less attention Gallup will get. Like when Cooper was here.

Yea, I mean that’s already happening. There have been multiple throws at MG where he’s single covered and it’s a highly contested catch. That’s my concern.