You may have noticed my contributions have slowed over recent weeks; part of that is work related, some of it is life in general, but the big issue I suspect is my focus. My attention regarding the Cowboys here lately has been pulled in several different directions simultaneously. There are quite a few articles I’ve penned collecting dust in my personal file on my computer that I never submitted because I never finished or simply lost interest in the topic all together as new topics crashed the party of my psyche.
Today I decided I’d pull together some of those topics in one thread (which does mean this is not for the TL/DR crowd). However, if it helps, you could always just treat each of the bolded titles as a new thread by yours truly.
The Kellen Moore Project
The eye test can be misleading; the majority of positions you watch from the comfort of your couch require multiple views from multiple angles on multiple occasions often times in slow motion before you can truly breakdown his technique and by extension his effectiveness as a player in a given play. The quarterback position, however, is one of a few exceptions to that rule. The eye test, in fact, I’d say is the most important test for the quarterback position and the Hall of Fame game is an excellent example of why.
If you look at the stats compiled by Kellen Moore, you might be encouraged by the Cowboys future at the backup Quarterback position. He threw 17 passes for 12 completions amassing 182 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and averaged 10.7 yards per throw in 1 half of work. He finished with a 100.6 QBR, which is not bad at all, all things considered.
But watching the game told me a completely different story. The truth of the matter is Kellen is very fortunate he had a couple of receivers capable of going and getting the ball, despite the lack of velocity on his throws and resulting half-circle trajectory. Because the ugly truth is many of those were 50/50 jump balls at best that Uncle Rico and The Butler had to fight to come down with. You remove Bryce Butlers 2 receptions for 78 and Rico Gathers 3 for 59 yards and a touchdown, Kellen’s stats might come a lot closer to telling the real story.
The contest against the Rams, however, exposed Kellen Moore for what he truly is: lost with the lights on. He managed 8 completions against 17 attempts for 69 yards averaging 4.1 per toss, zero touchdowns and to his credit, zero interceptions. Admittedly, this may be a snap judgement considering I am only basing it on what he has done so far in 2017. We are not even half way through his story and there’s a lot of preseason left for him to change my mind, but, for now, I’m not impressed.
Suffice to say, without the benefit of players with above-average height or the hops to go get a ball and good strong hands to rip the ball away from the opposition, Kellen’s passes are interceptions waiting to happen. Feel free disagree, but based on what Kellen Moore has showed in two games, he is not a viable option as a backup. Cooper Rush may not be either, but he’s a hell of a lot closer than Moore based on the little opportunities he has had.
The Cowboys coaches aren’t blind; their decisions sometimes suggest as much, but they too understand the issues Kellen Moore actually being on the field creates. I suspect, the Kellen Moore project is no longer about what he offers as a backup QB and moreso about his collective knowledge and what he sees standing on the sideline with a clipboard in his hands.
Another way of looking at it is to say Kellen is to Dak what a good caddy is to a good golfer. As long as Kellen Moore doesn’t have gargantuan’s running at him with murderous intent, he’s got an excellent mind for the game. But once the bullets start flying, his sense of how to move the ball effectively fly’s away with the bullets. That teamed with an arm incapable of throwing the ball with any type of zip for passes required to travel 10 yards or more is a horrendous combination.
Character Development
The most important rule of writing is as the author you have to make the reader love/hate the characters. Some of the best stories I have ever read made me understand and relate to the nemesis and even kinda like him or her on a personal level while at the same time hate his or her actions. That is a very important distinction in life, because it is the truth of what being human is. Have you ever had a co-worker that on a personal level you actually really liked, but as a worker you despised? In my brief history, I have collected countless examples of people just like that. My point is in real life good and evil is not always black and white, and the greatest stories recognize that fundamental truth.
The character development that has transpired over the past few years is a significant part of my love affair with the Cowboys of this era. It is one thing to like the player and what he does on the field, and quite another to become intimate with his story, his background, and learn to love the context behind the player. It adds value to the football watching experience.
Take Dak, for instance; the posterchild for this phenomenon. How could you not love his back story? His love and respect for a mother who truly gave all of herself to her children? His character and leadership traits that seemingly pour out of everything he says and does, particularly in the wake of Romo’s retirement, who for all the greatness Tony brought to the game, strong leadership beyond setting an example, was never his forte? Without the benefit of that framework, watching Dak point to the sky following a Touchdown would not be anywhere close to the same special watching experience.
In other words, the story behind the player is to football what foreplay is to making love. I’ll take football any way I can get it, but I find the truest form of enjoyment is in knowing the struggles those players weathered to reach that level of play.
Listening to the Cowboys Break this morning during my commute to work, I got to catch the interview that transpired between the gang and Charles Tapper. Before the interview, all I really knew about him was the collection of facts that for many are now common knowledge.
For example, one of the reasons the Cowboys were able to find him in the fourth round is due to the fact that while in college at Oklahoma, the defense made him switch from a 1-gap responsibility to a 2-gap responsibility. In other words, his job flipped from being the guy who goes and gets the quarterback/running back to being the guy that attempts to occupy blockers so that the linebackers can make plays and catch the occasional running back as he attempted to break into the second level through the inside of the line. Rather than attacking, he was staying his attack for the eventuality the ball entered his zone. While his skillsets screams for 1-gap attack, he was forced to put on mass and attempt to learn a completely different job from the one he was used to doing and doing well according to reports. Had that scheme shift never occurred, there’s a very good chance he would have been taken much sooner in last year’s draft.
Being drafted by the Cowboys meant a move back to the system he had his most success in throughout college. Based on his 1.59 10 sec split speed and his 270ish weight, on paper, he is the prototype for what Marinelli wants at left defensive end, minus the length. With limited snaps in the first two preseason games, we have seen the explosion off the line, but he clearly has much to work on from a technique perspective. But that’s not what this about.
Following a few football related questions, they delved into the story behind Tapper, which centered on the woman behind him; his mom. As is often the case with these born-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks tales, Tapper’s true success came the moment he stepped out of town on his way to college. That in its own right defied the odds given his early Baltimore surroundings.
He went on to describe how difficult it was to find genuine kindness in a city were behind every smile there was typically some kind of hustle. He shared his fortune in having a mother who was constantly on the lookout for good influences to put in Tapper’s life. He spoke of his mom’s commitment as a mother not to just him, but to the 3 children she adopted, 1 before Tapper and 2 following his exodus to college.
But beyond just being a mom to the momless, Rhonda is also a teacher in a special program for Baltimore’s most troubled children. In response to Rhonda explaining the poverty that some of these children come from, Charles purchased 100 pizza’s to be delivered to her school and in the telling, further assured that having escaped that same situation those kids currently find themselves in, it is his responsibility now to give back, as he advised he would not be here today were not for the people in his life who lived accordingly and gave him this opportunity.
Of Bias and Preconceived Notions
Are you curious if you have a bias in regards to the Zeke situation? Is it possible that we have all fell victim to having a preconceived notion about Zeke’s ex Tiffany Thompson in consideration of her vocation and actions to date? Sometimes you can be too inside the picture to see the frame…and that’s okay, because it happens to everyone.
So, ask yourself:
If Zeke played for another team, would you really care at all about the seeming injustice of his suspension?
Me: Not my team, not my problem.
Do you recognize that while Tiffany is a confirmed liar, maybe, just maybe, there is some truth to her story?
Me: I honestly wasn’t there so I must concede it is absolutely possible.
Would you still support Zeke in this situation if Tiffany was your sister, mother or your daughter?
Me: Grrrrrr. Given all of the evidence that has surfaced, I’d likely intend on having a serious come-to-Jesus meeting with both of them.
Keep in mind, I only introduce you to this exercise because I had to subject myself to the same exercise to ensure my heart was truly in the right place. The first conclusion I came to is it is impossible to never tell the truth. So, just because Tiffany has been caught in several lies, and just because she considered blackmailing Zeke over a sex tape, doesn’t necessarily prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is lying about the abuse. It does, however, absolutely remove her from consideration as being a credible witness. The second conclusion I came to is if Zeke is guilty and yet is eventually expunged from all guilt as a result of her lack of credibility, Ms. Thompson has only her character (or lack thereof) to blame.
As has been intimated by many, the truth very well may fall somewhere in the middle. After all, there are different levels and types of abuse. Based on the photos of her injuries, I suspect many of those were the result of the now well-known fight that occurred between her and another female. However, some of those bruises very easily could have been due to physical handling by Zeke. I’m not saying it was; I am merely admitting to myself that it very well could have been…I wasn’t there and neither were you, but the one thing you and I have in common is that we really, really want Zeke to be innocent. And that “want” could very well be tainting our point-of-view. Just saying.
Happy Happenstances
Rare is the player whom I pick as a pet cat that goes on to succeed and become a major contributor for the Cowboys. Last year going into camp I really don’t recall any bottom of the roster players I picked, but I do recall watching tape on Dak following the draft and wondering to myself: What the hell am I missing here?
In
Ridakulous, I went into further depth of my process in deciding what Dak was prior to seeing him field a snap, but the summarized version of that process is simply watching tape from each year working my way back from his senior season to when he was a freshman and then going back and watching the senior season again to get an idea of how he has progressed. I highly recommend to anyone who has the means to do so to do so; it is a very enlightening experience.
What you will find in comparing him from his freshman year to his senior year is two completely different players. Dak went from being a gimmick run-first quarterback to a polished hit-his-receiver-in-stride pass-first quarterback, who could also run. You don’t see this very often, so you have to appreciate the fact that in that viewing you will see his commitment to being the best jumping off the screen. If you’re short on time, just watch Dak as a freshman. Then watch him as a senior. You will be blown away once again as you try to figure out how 32 teams passed on this kid for the better part of 4 rounds. But, once again and as is the norm for me, I veer far and away from my point in this section I dubbed Happy Happenstances.
As it turns out, we may be treated to a second and third dose of the Cowboys lucking their way into roster building.
Going into the draft I knew the Cowboys would both be looking for replacements for their massively depleted secondary and I knew they would be focused on generating more turnovers. That said, having 14 interceptions over the course of his last 3 years in college football, Xavier Woods was in my sites pretty early. When Donnell Pomphrey went off the board to the Eagles (another pet cat of mine), I turned to my friend and said, “Oh well, Xavier still there. They’ll probably go ahead and snag him up.”
Initially, I hated the Switzer pick because of it. But, as fate would have it, the Cowboys totally redeemed themselves by trading back up and snagging my coveted safety. Xavier had a slow start in OTA’s and training camp, which was to be expected considering the level of competition he is used to. But starting in this past game, Xavier made his mark…and left his mark on quite a few skill players for the Rams, as well. I knew he could go get the ball and I knew he could lay the wood. What I didn’t know is just how much he would show up around the ball and persistently make his presence known and felt.
I honestly think he may be more of a prototypical FS over SS, but I obviously have no interest in taking Byron Jones off the field. Byron being in his third year is primed to make a bigger jump and is now a part of the veteran leadership in the secondary, so his place on the field is assured. But given the willingness and fearlessness Xavier showed in this past game tells me whatever he lacks as compared to Church and Heath, he can make up for with want to and know how.
Lewis Neal was not even remotely close to being on my radar prior to preseason. I even said the draft ended for the Cowboys when they called Xavier’s name, because anyone else they drafted or pulled off the scrap heap as a UDFA (as was Lewis) was likely bound for the practice squad. That may still be the case for Lewis. But he warrants watching because when he is on the field chances are you won’t escape seeing him regardless. Like Xavier, despite him being somewhat undersized, he figures out ways to make plays. For starters, he is much stronger and much faster than what you think. Like all rookie Defensive End’s, he is somewhat lacking in terms of pass moves, but whatever it is he lacks, he makes for with his combination of strength and explosion off the line.
Lewis will be hard pressed to make the 53, but if he doesn’t make it, I think it is safe to say he’s a lock for the practice squad if the Cowboys can get him past waivers.
Time & Temperature
We fans have waded through a mess of an offseason; one of the worst offseason’s I have ever been subjected to whilst following my beloved Cowboys. A stupid amount of suspensions, injuries, mudslinging, he said she said, pillow fight abuse; all things that I have grown to loathe about the human condition. That is all balanced against my knowing we have a team brimming with talent and high potential. So when the Cowboys emerge from the ashes of this offseason on to the field standing opposite the NY Giants, what will this team be?
Will they succumb to the pressure of all the off-the-field drama or will they don their best game faces and play like we all know they are capable of playing?
I’ve honestly gone back and forth on this question. Given the trends, you might come to the conclusion that the Cowboys are incapable of getting out of their own way. On balance, the Cowboys in my opinion are the only team that can stop the Cowboys from reaching the Play Offs; I’d say Super Bowl, but I’m not such a homer to ignore that other teams have also gotten better in the offseason and very well could send the Cowboys home despite the Boys best effort. But getting to the playoffs in my opinion is well within their reach. Laser-like focus on their job in each in every play is all they really need…but given the aforementioned drama-pour, that may be a tall order.
The predominant issue in deciding what they will be is understanding that it is the intangible quality of each and every player that will play a big part in deciding what this team becomes. If they buy into the system, they absorb the coaching, and focus on the task at hand, we have little to be concerned about because the overall talent of this team should win more than it loses. However, if they allow the distractions to cloud their minds as they work through practice and perform on gameday, the Cowboys are in for a long and terrible to watch season.
Fortunately, we don’t have to rely on just individual accountability. I don’t recall who recently reminded me of this infamous Alexander the Great quote but it stands as true today as it did then:
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
This is a significant key element to answering the question of what the Cowboys will be. What is Dak? Sheep or Lion? What is Sean Lee? Sheep or Lion? Please don’t misunderstand; I’m not insinuating that everyone else wearing the coveted star is a sheep…outside of Kellen Moore, no one else seems to strike me as sheepish. The important part of the equation is not necessarily what the soldiers represent in this formula, but what the leadership embodies. With Dak and Lee as the unquestioned common denominator on the field for just about every play, I still really like the Cowboys chances, with or without Zeke, Moore, Carroll, Gregory, Irving, etc.
Wrap It Up
If you made it this far, kudos to you for sticking around because as far as I know this is the longest thread I have ever submitted…and for those of you who follow me, that is saying something.
In summation, despite all the drama, distractions and hellacious schedule, I somehow still believe this team will be one of the handful of teams to beat. In hindsight, following the season, I suspect (and admittedly hope) we will view all the suspensions as a blessing in disguise, as the cavalry slowly but surely returns over the course of the first five weeks. At full strength, this team will be a juggernaut. The upfront issues may lead to a slow start, but how you start in football is nowhere even close to being as important as how you finish!
Thoughts?
