Jumbo075
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,094
- Reaction score
- 7,658
For all the complaining about the drop off in performance last season, and the fact that the Eagles overcame injuries to win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys are not nearly in as bad shape as many assume.
Let's start with the QB:
Dak Prescott had 3 consecutive half-seasons rated among the best ever in the NFL. He had a severe drop off in the 2nd half of last year, but let's discuss his stellar performance through his first 24 games before getting to the drop off. Dak had a passer rating above 100 for his entire rookie season, and above 97 for the first half of his 2nd year. The Cowboys were averaging 28 ppg through the first 8 games of 2017.
Despite the loss of Elliott for 6 games, I think everyone understands that the bigger hit to the Cowboys was the loss of Tyron Smith for the three games the Cowboys failed to score in double digits. The drop off in production from Prescott coincided with two things: 1) Opponents ran up the score when Scandrick and Lee went down on offense, and 2) the Cowboys passing protection fell apart when both Chaz Green and Byron Bell failed to perform. A third factor was the drop in production in receivers across the board, but that may have been as much a result of Dak's inefficiency than the receivers.
So, the Cowboys have compensated by signing a tackle who started for the Super Bowl Patriots in February, and Tyron Smith has spent the off season getting well. The Cowboys also drafted a LB in the 1st round to compensate for the loss of Lee, signed another LB in free agency whose had a stellar preseason, to guard against the drop off at LB. Hopefully, the Cowboys, who averaged giving up only 12 ppg when Lee was healthy (excluding the Broncos game), will bounce back, and the offense won't be forced to play catch up with the passing game.
In addition, the Cowboys hired a new Oline coach, and reshuffled the deck at WR, cutting loose a declining asset that refused to be coached hard (Dez), hired a new receivers coach, and also new LB and DB coaches. The only surprise was the mid-draft retirement of Jason Witten, who had just signed a 4-year contract extension. (The tight ends also have a new coach).
Despite all that, I think it's safe to say that the simultaneous loss of Smith and Elliott caused a 2 game difference in the win-loss column in the 2nd half of the season. But the Cowboys didn't stand pat. They acted to correct the issues.
Let's also discuss the defense:
In addition to the losses in the second half of the season, the Cowboys lost two games in the front half of the season when the offense scored over 35 points. Those losses happened when Sean Lee was out of the lineup. Now Sean Lee doesn't JUST play well. He also calls the defensive plays, and gets players lined up properly. That second part matters as much as the first.
So, the Cowboys drafted Vander Esch, and are training him to take over the play calling from Lee in case of another injury. That's half the battle in replacing Lee, and the half a lot of others don't see. They are also attempting (still) to trade for Earl Thomas, who is a defensive back play caller with great instincts in his own right. And to top it off, the Cowboys finally have a fully healthy Jaylon Smith, who has been flying around making plays all offseason. And lest we forget, Damien Wilson, the OTHER 4th round draft pick LB the Cowboys chose after Hitchens, has had his best ever preseason. It's as if the release of Hitchens lit a fire under Wilson, who might play himself into a big contract offer in his own right.
If the Cowboys win those two front half games, and you agree that at least two of the back half losses were caused by the simultaneous losses of Smith, Elliott, Lee and Scandrick, then the Cowboys at full strength last year were a 13 win team.
Based on that premise, the Cowboys have shored up the two main areas that caused their decline in 2017 - Oline and LB.
Here are the steps the Cowboys have taken to be able to survive another bout of injuries at those positions:
So, buck up Cowboys fans. The Cowboys are prepared to win now, and the front office is still working on other roster solutions.
P.S. The Cowboys starting offense scored on 3 of 4 possessions during preseason games, which would translate to a 31 point scoring output in a regular full length game. And the starting defense pitched a shut out in preseason, not allowing a single scoring drive by opposing offenses. Stick that in your pipe, and smoke it.
Let's start with the QB:
Dak Prescott had 3 consecutive half-seasons rated among the best ever in the NFL. He had a severe drop off in the 2nd half of last year, but let's discuss his stellar performance through his first 24 games before getting to the drop off. Dak had a passer rating above 100 for his entire rookie season, and above 97 for the first half of his 2nd year. The Cowboys were averaging 28 ppg through the first 8 games of 2017.
Despite the loss of Elliott for 6 games, I think everyone understands that the bigger hit to the Cowboys was the loss of Tyron Smith for the three games the Cowboys failed to score in double digits. The drop off in production from Prescott coincided with two things: 1) Opponents ran up the score when Scandrick and Lee went down on offense, and 2) the Cowboys passing protection fell apart when both Chaz Green and Byron Bell failed to perform. A third factor was the drop in production in receivers across the board, but that may have been as much a result of Dak's inefficiency than the receivers.
So, the Cowboys have compensated by signing a tackle who started for the Super Bowl Patriots in February, and Tyron Smith has spent the off season getting well. The Cowboys also drafted a LB in the 1st round to compensate for the loss of Lee, signed another LB in free agency whose had a stellar preseason, to guard against the drop off at LB. Hopefully, the Cowboys, who averaged giving up only 12 ppg when Lee was healthy (excluding the Broncos game), will bounce back, and the offense won't be forced to play catch up with the passing game.
In addition, the Cowboys hired a new Oline coach, and reshuffled the deck at WR, cutting loose a declining asset that refused to be coached hard (Dez), hired a new receivers coach, and also new LB and DB coaches. The only surprise was the mid-draft retirement of Jason Witten, who had just signed a 4-year contract extension. (The tight ends also have a new coach).
Despite all that, I think it's safe to say that the simultaneous loss of Smith and Elliott caused a 2 game difference in the win-loss column in the 2nd half of the season. But the Cowboys didn't stand pat. They acted to correct the issues.
Let's also discuss the defense:
In addition to the losses in the second half of the season, the Cowboys lost two games in the front half of the season when the offense scored over 35 points. Those losses happened when Sean Lee was out of the lineup. Now Sean Lee doesn't JUST play well. He also calls the defensive plays, and gets players lined up properly. That second part matters as much as the first.
So, the Cowboys drafted Vander Esch, and are training him to take over the play calling from Lee in case of another injury. That's half the battle in replacing Lee, and the half a lot of others don't see. They are also attempting (still) to trade for Earl Thomas, who is a defensive back play caller with great instincts in his own right. And to top it off, the Cowboys finally have a fully healthy Jaylon Smith, who has been flying around making plays all offseason. And lest we forget, Damien Wilson, the OTHER 4th round draft pick LB the Cowboys chose after Hitchens, has had his best ever preseason. It's as if the release of Hitchens lit a fire under Wilson, who might play himself into a big contract offer in his own right.
If the Cowboys win those two front half games, and you agree that at least two of the back half losses were caused by the simultaneous losses of Smith, Elliott, Lee and Scandrick, then the Cowboys at full strength last year were a 13 win team.
Based on that premise, the Cowboys have shored up the two main areas that caused their decline in 2017 - Oline and LB.
Here are the steps the Cowboys have taken to be able to survive another bout of injuries at those positions:
- New coach for Oline
- Super Bowl Starter to back up at Tackle, 2nd round pick at guard, resign Looney at C
- 1st round pick at LB, free agent at LB
- development of CB's, move Jones to his natural CB position, and new DB coach.
- Cut Dez, Butler, and trade Switzer at Receiver, sign two free agents, draft 2 new rookie receivers, new receiver coach focused on route running proficiency.
- Elliott is back, with fire in his eyes.
- The interior Oline took an unexpected hit with Frederick's rare disease diagnosis. But the Cowboys have already compensated, and Looney has had his best camp.
- The safety position is weak, but the Cowboys are still negotiating for a trade with the Seahawks. We don't know if this will get done, but they haven't just thrown in the towel.
- The one true position where the Cowboys don't have a potential answer is tightend. There was always going to be a drop off from Witten, but his unexpected retirement immediately after signing a contract extension has left the Cowboys with the need to compensate for his loss by focusing the offense on other areas of strength.
- Backup QB is a potential Achilles heel. Dak must stay healthy.
So, buck up Cowboys fans. The Cowboys are prepared to win now, and the front office is still working on other roster solutions.
P.S. The Cowboys starting offense scored on 3 of 4 possessions during preseason games, which would translate to a 31 point scoring output in a regular full length game. And the starting defense pitched a shut out in preseason, not allowing a single scoring drive by opposing offenses. Stick that in your pipe, and smoke it.
Last edited:
