Instant Replay 2016 - Game 2 Washington (wPics)

[T-RO]

Coming into the battle in the nation's capital our Cowboys are not a pretty sight.

Dallas has lost 13 of its last 17 NFL games. They are starting a rookie quarterback who--though he played quite well in game one--is now swimming in deep waters. This is a league that eats rookie quarterbacks for breakfast.

The team's celebrated first round running back gained a paltry 51 yards on 20 carries in week one. Maybe Zeke is over-rated?

Their defense certainly isn't well regarded. If the game ends in a loss...things could slide into a repeat of the ugliness witnessed in 2015.

(re)Kickoff time is (loosely) scheduled for 7pm tonight.

 

[T-RO]

Play 1, Cowboys starting on their own 20 yard line. Norman is playing Dez so tightly...Josh's head is offsides.

Norman loves psychological warfare and he's not afraid of pushing boundaries with the rules. He's clearly trying to communicate: "I'm on you glove to skin all day long. Norman is talking trash to Dez right here, you can be sure.

Pass goes to Cole, whom you might say was a tad open. Run action totally fooled the CB.

 

[T-RO]

In the first drive Dak looks incredible but Zeke looks absolutely horrible. Zeke was slipping or tripping over his own feet in his first few carries. I'd guess he was pressing.

Key play in the drive was a pass to CB, who not only worked himself wide open, but showed some nifty RAC. If you think either of these two Commanders were going to make the tackle...you'd be wrong.

 

[T-RO]

After Cole's catch and run takes the ball to the five, Cowboys stall on two passes and a shovel to Zeke. It seems that the narrative of week 1 is continuing: can't close the deal in the Red Zone.

Cowboys 3, Commanders 0

 

[GORICO]

Dang--we got bease..Dez...Williams...Switzer...butler...and i believe Noah Brown will make 6 wide receivers we keep this year..not counting Witten
and Rico...dont forget Zeke and Dak on every play and we have such an arsenal of offensive power all in the hands of our OC who can draw up plays
in the grass...and this kind of wide open may be on every play

 

[T-RO]

Skins first drive.

After Skins gash the D on a 7 yard up-the-middle run, Desean Jackson comes completely free on a crossing pattern--perhaps a missed assignment--and he gains 35.

On third down after the Jackson catch Cousins badly overthrew a wide open Crowder on a play that should have been a TD. It's very unclear who was supposed to be covering him. Skins punt. Announcers comment that Cousins has not been sharp so far in '16.

 

[T-RO]

More later...

 

[T-RO]

Dallas drive two.

Cowboys start pinned back on their own five.

Skins again get killed on a mis-direction play. Fake run one way, pass another. Witten is the beneficiary...30 yard gain. Swaim had a bone-jarring knock-a-silly block on the play.

Scheme and deception make such a huge difference in determining wins and losses in the NFL.

Before and after images of what gets Witten so open:

 

[T-RO]

Drive 2 continued:

Finally some nifty running from Zeke. Then on a 4th and one Cowboys (again) use play-action and Dak finds Swaim for a play that takes Dallas to the 5.

Another miscue by the Boys inside the Red Zone--this time a delay-of-game pushes Dallas back to the 9.

But on the next play Cole fakes out Skin cb Breiland so badly, the corner decides it's best just to tackle Cole rather than let Beas make an easy TD catch.

Doesn't matter. Zeke pushes in on the next play. Cowboys 10-0.

Yes...this is PI.

 

[T-RO]

I have noticed the Cowboys use 5 receiver sets this year ('16)...even on first down. I can't imagine a defense trying to cover all these guys plus Switz.

 

[T-RO]

Skins answer w/ease.

Cowboys 10-7.

 

[T-RO]

*EXTREMELY* bogus holding call on Frederick overturns a Dak 15-yard scramble and puts an end to drive #3. One of the worst calls I've ever seen.

 

[T-RO]

Ensuing Skins drive is short-lived thanks to a Jack Crawford sack and a Cousins overthrow. 9:14 remaining second quarter.

 

[gmoney112]

I have noticed the Cowboys use 5 receiver sets this year ('16)...even on first down. I can't imagine a defense trying to cover all these guys plus Switz.

With our OL, Zeke, Witt slowing down, and another quick WR in Switzer, I actually expect us to run quite a bit of S10 this year.

4 wr's, Zeke in backfield, no TE. Our running game and Zeke's blocking ability allows you to basically force them to make a decision, of which you can adjust pretty easily.

Lighter defensive package for more DBs and you're going to get some DBs run over by some All-Pro linemen with Zeke lowering his shoulder. You also have Zeke as a wheel out option in that case too. You want to go a little heavier to focus on the run a little more and give you some pass rush ability? Good luck, first you have to beat this OL, you have blitz beaters in Beasley/Switzer, or a simple route to Zeke. They're bringing a heavier blitz, if you get past the OL then one of the best pass blocking backs in the league stays home, and you're either leaving Dez 1on1 or you're going to have a part of the field with a huge weakness that Cole/Switz or even Twill can adjust too if they have a ridiculous match-up.


Then don't forget you have a QB that can make plays with his feet.

It's like a spread offense for men.

 

[gmoney112]

Like reading these btw T-Ro. I kinda wish you were calling out personnel groupings on the splashier plays for both teams but I won't complain too much.

 

[Alexander]

Good stuff T-Ro.

I still find it better to watch my DVR copy versus the game day thread.

Far more entertaining.

 

[T-RO]

Dallas in 2016 seem to get drives going on every possession and here again...Dallas drives down to Skins 15. A nice deflection by Deangelo Hall kills drive. Elliott's kick makes it 13-7 Cowboys.

Ensuing drive sees Jordan Reed with some nice plays and a near-interception by Sean Lee. Skins get field goal to draw back within 3.

13-10 Cowboys.

I'll do the second half later in the week.

 

[T-RO]

Like reading these btw T-Ro. I kinda wish you were calling out personnel groupings on the splashier plays for both teams but I won't complain too much.

I'll see what I can do. I have been surprised w/how often Dallas went empty-backfield 5-receiver. I either didn't notice that before...or simply forgot.

 

[AsthmaField]

Elliott's kick makes it 13-7 Cowboys.

Man! Zeke did it all for us last year!!

 

[AsthmaField]

Seriously T-RO... nice thread and I appreciate all the hard work. Just bustin' your chops a little in my previous post.

Good job.