Pass2Run
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Going into this game, I wanted a couple small things. No running up the middle on first downs — at least until you establish a rhythm. And secondly, take a page from the 9ers or Jaguars playbook and use motions and be creative with your play calls.
I know everyone will start their complaint with Dak. And he was pretty awful tonight. No doubt, he stunk up the joint. But McCarthy has to put him in a position to succeed. You can't do that when the opposition knows your play as soon as you walk up to the line. I'm going to go rewatch this ugly game again. But if you watch it again, focus on the run plays, especially the ones on 1st down. Those fails put us behind the 8-ball. At least use play-action, and get Lamb involved, or incorporate Cooks.
I still believe Cooks is a player. You just have to know what to do with the player.
Strangely, McCarthy somehow knew how to use Turpin. But unfortunately, he left injured, and we never saw him after his TD.
There were several things wrong with the team.
Mentality
This team came in unfocused and rattled. On both sides of the ball. We start out the game with two penalties in the first three plays, I think it was. Two penalties for 20 yards on the first drive. That's not how you start a game, by giving momentum to the other team. A disciplined team doesn't do that. Our guys were talking about how they're in the locker room joking around, having fun, etc. But when the game started, our players were anxious and unfocused. Being hyped up is fine. This team was so hyped up they were scattered rather than focused.
I'd trade the hyped-up players for more focused ones. It starts with the culture of the team. I like our guys. I like our culture, but they weren't prepared for this game.
Xs and Os
As much as I like Dan Quinn, he got outcoached this game as badly as McCarthy got outcoached. Sure, we sorely missed Diggs this game. But Quinn had no answers for anything the 9ers were doing.
Everyone said McCarthy would be so much better than Kellen Moore. I just don't see it. In fact, I'm worried about next week, because we're facing Kellen Moore, who knows this defense.
Your Best 11
Speaking of our best 11, I'm talking about Parsons. You aren't going to get a sack on someone like Purdy, at least if he's playing for the 9ers, because he gets rid of the ball so fast. Their players were getting open so fast, and Purdy knew exactly where to throw the ball, even Micah Parsons had no chance of getting a sack this game. So, I think you're leaving talent on the table, or off the table, with Parsons playing DE against the 9ers.
If I had my druthers, I would have played Parsons at LB, and utilized Sam Williams off the edge. I love LVE, but you need athletes out there who can get in position to make plays. And like I said, even Micah Parsons wasn't going to get in position to make a game-changing play off the edge.
Parsons as a full-time edge rusher against the 49ers just seems like we're not using the full range of his abilities. I would've liked to see him get in there at linebacker. When you're playing a team that's not going to let you get a sack, because they get the ball out so quickly, you can get more talent on the field with Parsons at linebacker, at least sometimes, at least in my mind.
We haven't seen him on LB almost all season. MP is a full-time edge rusher, sack master.
Truth be told, I might even consider utilizing him as an offensive weapon. Don't throw tomatoes. I'm not talking about full-time. But there were times in this game when we were still in it. If you're not going to utilize our guys like Lamb, or Cooks, maybe consider getting creative and throwing them a curveball. If nothing else, use him as a decoy or blocker. I was calling to utilize Turpin about three plays before he scored the sole TD of the game. We needed a change of pace out there, and when Turpin got hurt, your only other option was Deuce 1-yard Vaughn. It's not like Parsons would be opposed to the idea.
Running Game
We're not the 1990s Cowboys anymore. We can't just run at will against a defense like the 9ers, especially if they can read the play before the snap. Sometimes, it's a pass to run league. I heard several analysts saying what I was thinking about not running on first down, because it wasn't going to work. When it doesn't work the first time, why go back to it another four of five times?
As big of a Pollard fan as I am, Rico Dowdle looks like the better back of the two. I'm not sure if Pollard was traumatized from his injury last game, but he just wasn't the same Pollard we've seen and looked unfocused tonight. He did look great in pass protection, but I'd be tempted to start Dowdle if we end up seeing the 9ers again.
I'm starting to think I was wrong about Deuce Vaughn. To me, it seems like he's taking up a spot on the roster. He couldn't even get anything going in trash time. In fact, I'd venture to say his 1.9 yard average got even lower after this game. We need another offensive weapon to fill his position. If I were the Cowboys, I'd look high and low and look to upgrade that roster spot. We need less of a finesse runner, and more of a physical runner, especially for times like this, which is why Parsons on offense crossed my mind.
Motion, Motion, Motion
I don't care if it's a run, pass, RPO, play-action, or whatever, our offense is better and more effective when we run pre-snap motions. That's how I became a fan of Kellen Moore. He knew how to utilize pre-snap motions. The Jaguars and 9ers both do it very well. Take a page from them. No shame in changing things up. We should also consider finding a receiver who can run some out of the backfield, aside from Turpin. Maybe give Tolbert a few carries as a runner.
McCarthy Overwhelmed
Last year, he didn't even know you had a higher chance of winning by going for it on 4th and 10 rather than punting it. That was without having the duty of calling plays. So, he punted it, which led us to that last play with Zeke at center.
It's OK to admit you're in over your head if you're in over your head. The game has changed since 2010. The bigger crime is being in over your head, and not asking for help. To me, it would make more sense, especially in games like this, to have Shottenheimer calling plays while you macro-manage the game. Whatever was going on with the play calling tonight, it seemed Mike had his head so deep in the playbook that he failed to observe when and where he could make appropriate, effective adjustments.
I like Mike, but I realize him running Moore out of town had more to do with him keeping his job than Kellen being a bad play caller. At least Kellen didn't hang his defense and DC out to dry by over-relying on them and gassing the defense. This was a really tough game to watch, and I don't think it had to be. It all started with McCarthy's amateurish play calls. Our players were up for the task. Yes, they have a better team overall, but not by much. We shouldn't have been blown out like that, and I'm calling a spade a spade. McCarthy is in over his head at OC and HC. He's not cut out to handle both simultaneously.
I'm sure there's more. But I'll leave it at that. At the beginning of the season, I thought we were at least a top 5 team. Maybe we are. At this point, I'd say Miami, KC, San Fran and Philly are the top four.
Takeaway
There's still time to improve, and I think the 9ers likely did improve by adding Gregory. If I were the Cowboys, I'd reassess my overall personnel and look to at least upgrade some weak links.
On the other hand, yes, I realize Dak stunk up the joint. But the team was just off, and overall, I place this loss on coaches for not having our guys ready.
Lastly, is it just me? Or did Dak just seem to amped up and nervous coming into the 2nd half? I was honestly contemplating whether or not they should have played Cooper Rush. Yes, I realize Rush didn't look spectacular on the reps he got. But I don't want to worry about hurting feelings. And, if need be, I want to know our HC is in charge enough to bench our QB, temporarily, when things aren't working for the starter — no matter if their name is Prescott, Romo, Aikmain, whoever. You have to know when your QB's head is elsewhere and be wise enough to pull the plug for the benefit of the team.
That said, I'm looking forward to the Eagles. I believe we played the best team in the NFL tonight. They're beatable, but it just wasn't our night. For now, let's just hope we don't have to play the 9ers again. If we do, we better have a better game plan.
I know everyone will start their complaint with Dak. And he was pretty awful tonight. No doubt, he stunk up the joint. But McCarthy has to put him in a position to succeed. You can't do that when the opposition knows your play as soon as you walk up to the line. I'm going to go rewatch this ugly game again. But if you watch it again, focus on the run plays, especially the ones on 1st down. Those fails put us behind the 8-ball. At least use play-action, and get Lamb involved, or incorporate Cooks.
I still believe Cooks is a player. You just have to know what to do with the player.
Strangely, McCarthy somehow knew how to use Turpin. But unfortunately, he left injured, and we never saw him after his TD.
There were several things wrong with the team.
Mentality
This team came in unfocused and rattled. On both sides of the ball. We start out the game with two penalties in the first three plays, I think it was. Two penalties for 20 yards on the first drive. That's not how you start a game, by giving momentum to the other team. A disciplined team doesn't do that. Our guys were talking about how they're in the locker room joking around, having fun, etc. But when the game started, our players were anxious and unfocused. Being hyped up is fine. This team was so hyped up they were scattered rather than focused.
I'd trade the hyped-up players for more focused ones. It starts with the culture of the team. I like our guys. I like our culture, but they weren't prepared for this game.
Xs and Os
As much as I like Dan Quinn, he got outcoached this game as badly as McCarthy got outcoached. Sure, we sorely missed Diggs this game. But Quinn had no answers for anything the 9ers were doing.
Everyone said McCarthy would be so much better than Kellen Moore. I just don't see it. In fact, I'm worried about next week, because we're facing Kellen Moore, who knows this defense.
Your Best 11
Speaking of our best 11, I'm talking about Parsons. You aren't going to get a sack on someone like Purdy, at least if he's playing for the 9ers, because he gets rid of the ball so fast. Their players were getting open so fast, and Purdy knew exactly where to throw the ball, even Micah Parsons had no chance of getting a sack this game. So, I think you're leaving talent on the table, or off the table, with Parsons playing DE against the 9ers.
If I had my druthers, I would have played Parsons at LB, and utilized Sam Williams off the edge. I love LVE, but you need athletes out there who can get in position to make plays. And like I said, even Micah Parsons wasn't going to get in position to make a game-changing play off the edge.
Parsons as a full-time edge rusher against the 49ers just seems like we're not using the full range of his abilities. I would've liked to see him get in there at linebacker. When you're playing a team that's not going to let you get a sack, because they get the ball out so quickly, you can get more talent on the field with Parsons at linebacker, at least sometimes, at least in my mind.
We haven't seen him on LB almost all season. MP is a full-time edge rusher, sack master.
Truth be told, I might even consider utilizing him as an offensive weapon. Don't throw tomatoes. I'm not talking about full-time. But there were times in this game when we were still in it. If you're not going to utilize our guys like Lamb, or Cooks, maybe consider getting creative and throwing them a curveball. If nothing else, use him as a decoy or blocker. I was calling to utilize Turpin about three plays before he scored the sole TD of the game. We needed a change of pace out there, and when Turpin got hurt, your only other option was Deuce 1-yard Vaughn. It's not like Parsons would be opposed to the idea.
Running Game
We're not the 1990s Cowboys anymore. We can't just run at will against a defense like the 9ers, especially if they can read the play before the snap. Sometimes, it's a pass to run league. I heard several analysts saying what I was thinking about not running on first down, because it wasn't going to work. When it doesn't work the first time, why go back to it another four of five times?
As big of a Pollard fan as I am, Rico Dowdle looks like the better back of the two. I'm not sure if Pollard was traumatized from his injury last game, but he just wasn't the same Pollard we've seen and looked unfocused tonight. He did look great in pass protection, but I'd be tempted to start Dowdle if we end up seeing the 9ers again.
I'm starting to think I was wrong about Deuce Vaughn. To me, it seems like he's taking up a spot on the roster. He couldn't even get anything going in trash time. In fact, I'd venture to say his 1.9 yard average got even lower after this game. We need another offensive weapon to fill his position. If I were the Cowboys, I'd look high and low and look to upgrade that roster spot. We need less of a finesse runner, and more of a physical runner, especially for times like this, which is why Parsons on offense crossed my mind.
Motion, Motion, Motion
I don't care if it's a run, pass, RPO, play-action, or whatever, our offense is better and more effective when we run pre-snap motions. That's how I became a fan of Kellen Moore. He knew how to utilize pre-snap motions. The Jaguars and 9ers both do it very well. Take a page from them. No shame in changing things up. We should also consider finding a receiver who can run some out of the backfield, aside from Turpin. Maybe give Tolbert a few carries as a runner.
McCarthy Overwhelmed
Last year, he didn't even know you had a higher chance of winning by going for it on 4th and 10 rather than punting it. That was without having the duty of calling plays. So, he punted it, which led us to that last play with Zeke at center.
It's OK to admit you're in over your head if you're in over your head. The game has changed since 2010. The bigger crime is being in over your head, and not asking for help. To me, it would make more sense, especially in games like this, to have Shottenheimer calling plays while you macro-manage the game. Whatever was going on with the play calling tonight, it seemed Mike had his head so deep in the playbook that he failed to observe when and where he could make appropriate, effective adjustments.
I like Mike, but I realize him running Moore out of town had more to do with him keeping his job than Kellen being a bad play caller. At least Kellen didn't hang his defense and DC out to dry by over-relying on them and gassing the defense. This was a really tough game to watch, and I don't think it had to be. It all started with McCarthy's amateurish play calls. Our players were up for the task. Yes, they have a better team overall, but not by much. We shouldn't have been blown out like that, and I'm calling a spade a spade. McCarthy is in over his head at OC and HC. He's not cut out to handle both simultaneously.
I'm sure there's more. But I'll leave it at that. At the beginning of the season, I thought we were at least a top 5 team. Maybe we are. At this point, I'd say Miami, KC, San Fran and Philly are the top four.
Takeaway
There's still time to improve, and I think the 9ers likely did improve by adding Gregory. If I were the Cowboys, I'd reassess my overall personnel and look to at least upgrade some weak links.
On the other hand, yes, I realize Dak stunk up the joint. But the team was just off, and overall, I place this loss on coaches for not having our guys ready.
Lastly, is it just me? Or did Dak just seem to amped up and nervous coming into the 2nd half? I was honestly contemplating whether or not they should have played Cooper Rush. Yes, I realize Rush didn't look spectacular on the reps he got. But I don't want to worry about hurting feelings. And, if need be, I want to know our HC is in charge enough to bench our QB, temporarily, when things aren't working for the starter — no matter if their name is Prescott, Romo, Aikmain, whoever. You have to know when your QB's head is elsewhere and be wise enough to pull the plug for the benefit of the team.
That said, I'm looking forward to the Eagles. I believe we played the best team in the NFL tonight. They're beatable, but it just wasn't our night. For now, let's just hope we don't have to play the 9ers again. If we do, we better have a better game plan.
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