Scout’s Notebook: Elliott’s Pass Catching Ability, Defensive Standouts & More

[RS12]

• I love the fact that Jason Garrett went for the win on that 4th-and-1 in overtime. Even though his defense had played well in the fourth quarter, there was no guarantee that they could have made one more stop. Give Garrett credit for knowing the situation and the condition of his team. He knew he had to go win that game now and he did just that.
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• You will never hear me complaining about getting the ball to Dez Bryant, but 14 targets appeared to hurt this offense. While Bryant was out of the lineup, I thought they had better distribution and it wasn't until the second half that they were able to get the other skill players involved. Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams and Jason Witten all had game-changing plays. When this offense is really rolling, it needs the ball to not just go to one player, but others -- and we saw what happens again when it does.
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• This defense usually struggles to create negative plays. As a matter of fact, they are one of the worst in the league in that stat. In this game they were able to trap the Eagles nine times behind the line of scrimmage with two a piece coming from Sean Lee and Tyrone Crawford.
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• This is likely to sound crazy, but I was more impressed with Ezekiel Elliott's pass catching ability than I was watching him run the ball. Elliott was 4-for-4 on targets and catches. When he caught the ball in the flat in overtime, I thought the game was over when he turned up field. He is such a natural hands catcher and continues to prove what a complete back he is each week.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ability-defensive-standouts-more?sf40434290=1

 

[Crown Royal]

That swing pass to Elliot in the 2nd or 3rd was a phenomenal play.

 

[reddyuta]

Its the big question for our offense,Dez is clearly the best player on our Team but 14 targets is way too much when Beasley gets open every snap.I am sure they will adjust it as we go along.

 

[Clove]

I thought that was the play to beat the Eagles blitzing defense last night and I was right.

 

[RS12]

You will never hear me complaining about getting the ball to Dez Bryant, but 14 targets appeared to hurt this offense. While Bryant was out of the lineup, I thought they had better distribution and it wasn't until the second half that they were able to get the other skill players involved.

This

 

[DenCWBY]

The call for JG to go for the 4th and 1 in OT was interesting. I noticed during the TO that Dak was speaking with JG with a lot of animation. JG made the call to go for it soon after and I wondered if JG would have gone for it if Dak would not have presented his case? It was almost as if Dak had the play called and gave it to JG for his blessing. Was pretty cool that JG trusted him.

 

[percyhoward]

I can't wait to talk to Jason Witten this week at The Star and ask him how he got so open.

When Witten saw Dak start to roll right, Witten sopped. Jenkins ran into him and fell, then when Dak rolled back left, Witten continued in that direction with nobody on him.

The unpredictability of Dak's scrambling got Witten open.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Its the big question for our offense,Dez is clearly the best player on our Team but 14 targets is way too much when Beasley gets open every snap.I am sure they will adjust it as we go along.

I think that was a big issue for Dak, too fixated on Dez. He seemed to remember what got him there late in the game and you saw the result.

 

[Sydla]

I missed a couple of plays last night. How close was Scandrick to an isn't on the 4th?

 

[visionary]

I missed a couple of plays last night. How close was Scandrick to an isn't on the 4th?

It was in his hands
I think he had already dived so had to reach back a little otherwise that should have been a pick

 

[CyberB0b]

It was in his hands
I think he had already dived so had to reach back a little otherwise that should have been a pick

Actually , he fell , which is why it looked like he dove.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Man, Elliot's receiving ability makes Dunbar expendable.

 

[Idgit]

"You will never hear me complaining about getting the ball to Dez Bryant, but 14 targets appeared to hurt this offense." This sentence confuses me.

 

[dogunwo]

"You will never hear me complaining about getting the ball to Dez Bryant, but 14 targets appeared to hurt this offense." This sentence confuses me.

I wonder if the plays were designed to go to Dez, or if Dak felt pressured to get him the ball.

 

[Idgit]

I wonder if the plays were designed to go to Dez, or if Dak felt pressured to get him the ball.

Tough to say, but we knew we were going to get Dez singled up a lot in this game. I thought he's have an even bigger impact than he had, honestly.

I do want to hear what the story was on not going to Beasley more, early. He was in on key downs, and they just didn't seem to be looking his way. That was another matchup I had expected to be big in our favor coming in. And not just the one 3rd down play Collinsworth called out, either.

 

[aikemirv]

Its the big question for our offense,Dez is clearly the best player on our Team but 14 targets is way too much when Beasley gets open every snap.I am sure they will adjust it as we go along.

If the ball is on target, 14 targets is not too much because he would have had 10 catches at least for 200 yards. If you can't hit him downfield then by all means don't throw it his direction 14 times!

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

If the ball is on target, 14 targets is not too much because he would have had 10 catches at least for 200 yards. If you can't hit him downfield then by all means don't throw it his direction 14 times!

Exactly, in hindsight it looks like we targeted Dez too much because he only got 4 catches off 14 targets, but if Dak's accuracy was on point Dez goes for about 200 yards and 3 TDs and nobody is saying this stuff.

 

[BAZ]

"You will never hear me complaining about getting the ball to Dez Bryant, but 14 targets appeared to hurt this offense." This sentence confuses me.

The offence had been in rhythm the last few games and it seems like they sacrificed it a bit to force the ball to Dez. Personally I think Dak is just erratic on the deep balls.

 

[Silver Surfer]

When Witten saw Dak start to roll right, Witten sopped. Jenkins ran into him and fell, then when Dak rolled back left, Witten continued in that direction with nobody on him.

Jenkins ran into Witten and stumbled backward, and might have fallen anyway, but Rodney McCleod (his own guy) made sure of it by running into Jenkins and knocking him down. He got picked by his own teammate.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Linehan needs to use Zeke the way Pittsburgh uses Bell. I think his hands are just as good. We just don't feature him as a receiver as much as we should.