RS12
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- I thought the offensive play that turned this game around for the Cowboys was the 2nd-and-18 pass to Dez Bryant. Two things made that pass work: the empty formation forced Eric Weddle to have to cover Lance Dunbar in the slot, and the free access in the route by Shareece Wright allowed Bryant to get inside. When Weddle went with Dunbar inside, that left Bryant one-on-one with Wright, who had no help to the inside. The Ravens’ other safety, Lardarius Webb, was shaded to the other side of the formation and it gave Bryant the confidence that he could get inside and make the play uncontested. Prescott put the ball right where he had to at eye level for Bryant and he was able to do the rest.
- Scott Linehan knew the Ravens were going to double Dez Bryant in the red zone. With the ball on the left hash, he called a play that moved the pocket to the open side of the field with Dak Prescott. On the “dash” to the right, Jason Witten stayed in to that side to secure the corner. Witten was able to hold off Albert McClellan long enough to get Prescott to the edge. Cole Beasley lined up behind Terrance Williams to the side that Prescott sprinted. The Ravens doubled Williams with Lardarius Webb and Tavon Young. That left Beasley working on Jerraud Powers one-on-one near the front corner of the end zone. Powers made the mistake of taking a peek at Prescott instead of staying with Beasley – and Beasley made a move to free himself. Once Beasley felt Powers out of position, he adjusted his route to the outside in order to give Prescott a small window to deliver the ball, which he was able to do for the score.
- I can’t say enough about the play Anthony Brown made in the third quarter with the defense trying to get off the field. Mike Wallace drove Brown off the ball a good five yards past the first down marker. Brown, playing with leverage, felt Wallace stop and start to work downhill back to the ball. Brown, in transition, planted his right foot down and exploded to Wallace’s extended hands. Joe Flacco put the ball in the perfect spot for Wallace to make the reception, but Brown arrived at the exact same time and kept his left arm off Wallace while playing the ball with his right hand to knock it to the ground.
- The identity of this Cowboys defense is getting bodies to the ball. It’s what has carried this team during this nine-game winning streak. Cedric Thornton has not had a huge season by any means, but he has played well in his rotational role. His only tackle of the day was on a play where he had to run down a Ravens receiver 15 yards down the field. What was even more amazing than his tackle on Mike Wallace was that he had the presence of mind to rip the ball out of his hands. If Kamar Aiken hadn’t beaten Byron Jones to the football, the defense was going to get a turnover at midfield with a tie score and a short field to work with. It’s a play that might not have meant much at the time, but I promise: in the film room, Rod Marinelli is going to point out Cedric Thornton’s effort and finish on the play.
- http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...-vs-blitz-defenses-identity-more?sf43029744=1
