FuzzyLumpkins
The Boognish
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- 36,995
- Reaction score
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I couldn't help but smile as Aikman compared the Cowboys efforts to the efforts of his Cowboys teams two decades ago. That was a very good defensive front who had just shut down the Chiefs top notch rushing offense in week 1. We absolutely ran all over them. The interior line and Travis Frederick dominated and when we didn't get the point of attack as pretty as a RB might like, there were gaping cutback lanes that Murray and co. trucked through for 5 ypc.
For most of the game, TN was intent on pressuring Romo and keeping their guy's back in the secondary. They ran a sequence of twists, stunts, and blitzes and our protection was not particularly good. Free would get isolated or someone would come free from a line game. We did the best thing to a front pulling those shenanigans: run the ball.
TN didn't start selling out on the run until the end of the game but even then our guys won most run downs for repeated first down. 13 rushing first downs for the game. 39 total rushes.
They did the right thing for Romo. If teams are going to come after him like that then we need to make them pay. It won us the game. Romo does look like a guy with back issues. He has heavy feet and is stiff in the hips. I think it effects his ability to move around but I also think that his poor throws are more to do with proper mechanics than they are ability to throw.
Good fronts are going to get Free isolated and he is creating problems again. His punch is pillow soft. On offense, he is clearly the spot in most need of improvement. He was much better in week 1 so I h am not without hope but he needs to pick it up.
Dunbar runs soft. Put me down for Ryan Williams being signed and activated. I much prefer those eleven rushes better spent. He needs to play better too.
Our defense played much better in the first half. Best performance in zone coverage that I have seen. The corners in particular were outstanding. All three made plays on the ball and stymied TN WR. Church and Wilcox did well in zone coverage as well.
Wilcox did not perform so well in man coverage in the second half. TN isolated Williams onto him and when he allowed separation on breaks, JJ did not have the catchup speed to catch the 4.49 TE. When you watched them running, they seemed to be going the same speed but a step is a step.
In fairness to Wilcox, our pass rush in the second half was nonexistent. In the first half it showed up. The Crawford, McClain, Melton, and Mincey line over powered the TN front in the early going. Crawford stood out to me on the first series caving the line on a run and shaking off the OT to get a hit on Locker. He quieted down significantly. Melton made his presence felt throughout the game but it was a pretty quiet night for Mincey as well. Mend well, Spencer.
The backup line did not perform well. Coleman and especially Hayden were bad. TN waited for them to come in and would run at them. Schwenke and Warmack obliterated Hayden repeatedly. It became this fascinating thing how blown off the ball they would get. This wasn't a problem in this game as we were up for two scores most of the game but it will. Bishop needs to be activated and Hayden DFA.
Hayden played the entire second half and our pass rush dried up. Coverage covered for them. Wilber could not get away from Roos punch. Not enough quickness or power in his rush. Roos whiffed one time and he got a sack but for the most part he was easily blocked. Selvie made no impression on me.
Carter is still playing much better and McClain was the star of the game. Led the team in tackles to go along with a sack, pressure, PD, INT, and TFL. Hitchens just looked small getting overpowered. He needs to get into the weight room.
Very clean well executed game. Few penalties and outside of continued poor ball security out of Murray, it was a clean game. We can run at very good defensive fronts. STL, SEA, and HOU will provide further tests to how good this OL is.
For most of the game, TN was intent on pressuring Romo and keeping their guy's back in the secondary. They ran a sequence of twists, stunts, and blitzes and our protection was not particularly good. Free would get isolated or someone would come free from a line game. We did the best thing to a front pulling those shenanigans: run the ball.
TN didn't start selling out on the run until the end of the game but even then our guys won most run downs for repeated first down. 13 rushing first downs for the game. 39 total rushes.
They did the right thing for Romo. If teams are going to come after him like that then we need to make them pay. It won us the game. Romo does look like a guy with back issues. He has heavy feet and is stiff in the hips. I think it effects his ability to move around but I also think that his poor throws are more to do with proper mechanics than they are ability to throw.
Good fronts are going to get Free isolated and he is creating problems again. His punch is pillow soft. On offense, he is clearly the spot in most need of improvement. He was much better in week 1 so I h am not without hope but he needs to pick it up.
Dunbar runs soft. Put me down for Ryan Williams being signed and activated. I much prefer those eleven rushes better spent. He needs to play better too.
Our defense played much better in the first half. Best performance in zone coverage that I have seen. The corners in particular were outstanding. All three made plays on the ball and stymied TN WR. Church and Wilcox did well in zone coverage as well.
Wilcox did not perform so well in man coverage in the second half. TN isolated Williams onto him and when he allowed separation on breaks, JJ did not have the catchup speed to catch the 4.49 TE. When you watched them running, they seemed to be going the same speed but a step is a step.
In fairness to Wilcox, our pass rush in the second half was nonexistent. In the first half it showed up. The Crawford, McClain, Melton, and Mincey line over powered the TN front in the early going. Crawford stood out to me on the first series caving the line on a run and shaking off the OT to get a hit on Locker. He quieted down significantly. Melton made his presence felt throughout the game but it was a pretty quiet night for Mincey as well. Mend well, Spencer.
The backup line did not perform well. Coleman and especially Hayden were bad. TN waited for them to come in and would run at them. Schwenke and Warmack obliterated Hayden repeatedly. It became this fascinating thing how blown off the ball they would get. This wasn't a problem in this game as we were up for two scores most of the game but it will. Bishop needs to be activated and Hayden DFA.
Hayden played the entire second half and our pass rush dried up. Coverage covered for them. Wilber could not get away from Roos punch. Not enough quickness or power in his rush. Roos whiffed one time and he got a sack but for the most part he was easily blocked. Selvie made no impression on me.
Carter is still playing much better and McClain was the star of the game. Led the team in tackles to go along with a sack, pressure, PD, INT, and TFL. Hitchens just looked small getting overpowered. He needs to get into the weight room.
Very clean well executed game. Few penalties and outside of continued poor ball security out of Murray, it was a clean game. We can run at very good defensive fronts. STL, SEA, and HOU will provide further tests to how good this OL is.
