CFZ State of the Cowboys Week 7

[jterrell]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

 

[Bobhaze]

Nice summary. Some additional points and perspective I would add:

• As you said, our offense needs a major shot in the arm. Averaging 18 pts a game is not sustainable for a deep playoff run.
• Although Cooper Rush did an overall great job as a backup, it was the defense that has saved our season. Only averaging 18 points a game would have beaten most teams.
• We’ve only played 35% of the season. Still too early to know everything to know about this team.
  
• Last year after 6 games, we were 5-1.
• There are no easy games on the schedule. T(e lions will be tough Sun.

 

[jterrell]

Nice summary. Some additional points and perspective I would add:

• As you said, our offense needs a major shot in the arm. Averaging 18 pts a game is not sustainable for a deep playoff run.
• Although Cooper Rush did an overall great job as a backup, it was the defense that has saved our season. Only averaging 18 points a game would have beaten most teams.
• We’ve only played 35% of the season. Still too early to know everything to know about this team.
  
• Last year after 6 games, we were 5-1.
• There are no easy games on the schedule. T(e lions will be tough Sun.

Agree with all this except the easy games thing.
This is a very down NFL product we are seeing this year and watching these games can be almost painful.
Dallas really can win this NFC this year because there are only a couple decent teams at the top.
Dallas was able to go 4-1 with Rush because they could line up versus soft teams and just beat the guy in front of them all day.
This schedule offers them like 9 more chances to do that in 11 games.

 

[Aven8]

I’m confident that having Dak back will allow us to get our points up a tad. We don’t need to average 28 points a game to win anymore. Having said that we’re all curious to what Moore will do with Dak. I’m also very curious how he looks after being out this long.

 

[Smith22]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Nice post. I feel like the team is a few players away from hitting the next level. We need another thumper or 2 on defense and a little more speed on offense.

 

[DanTanna]

Good points OP. However, I'd be in total favor of Kellen hitting the road. Please accept one of the "many" opportunities you have Kellen, you've "on the job" trained enough with the Cowboys.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think many fans probably had us at 4-2 at this point anyway.
Except those in the faction that never has us winning any game.

After Dak went down, most probably thought, we won't win any or only 1 game without him.
What many did not think about, including myself, the Eagles and NYG would look as good as they do. I figured they would be 3-3, and the NYG 2-4.
However I still believe those 2 teams are not as good as their records. But yet, here we are still in 3rd in the division with a lot of football left tomb played.

Offense will improve as well as the defense. I am ready for Sunday, and am glad it is a noon game.

 

[john van brocklin]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Nice write up.

 

[charron]

I'll believe the offense has improved when I see it. The Dak led offense in week 1 was the worst of the season IMO and he hasn't thrown a football for 5 weeks.

Offensive coaching is still sub parr. Mike helped Kellen get things going under Rush but Kellen isn't very good at setting things up. Seems against the good teams penalties are still a huge issue.

Schedule is always a funny thing. Packers look way more beatable than normal but the giants are a surprise. No one thought Goff and the lions would be one of the better offenses even without key starters.

Cowboys D is legit. But fowler sucks him and his penalties can go away. Maybe he's too slow to rush the QB unless he gets that half second start but he needs to stop wrongly timing his get off. They need someone to step up as a CB but thankfully safety play has been improved.

 

[Diehardblues]

I think many fans probably had us at 4-2 at this point anyway.
Except those in the faction that never has us winning any game.

After Dak went down, most probably thought, we won't win any or only 1 game without him.
What many did not think about, including myself, the Eagles and NYG would look as good as they do. I figured they would be 3-3, and the NYG 2-4.
However I still believe those 2 teams are not as good as their records. But yet, here we are still in 3rd in the division with a lot of football left tomb played.

Offense will improve as well as the defense. I am ready for Sunday, and am glad it is a noon game.

IDK. With Tampa, LA and Cincy I had us at 3-3 at best and was thinking maybe even 2-4 losing at Philly also. That was with Dak.

And then 4-4 at bye with second half of schedule much easier finishing 10-7, maybe 11-6.

 

[rambo2]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Thanks for sharing. This is one of the better posts that I have ever read here. It is refreshing that there is somebody here that actually knows what they are talking about.

 

[rambo2]

I'll believe the offense has improved when I see it. The Dak led offense in week 1 was the worst of the season IMO and he hasn't thrown a football for 5 weeks.

Offensive coaching is still sub parr. Mike helped Kellen get things going under Rush but Kellen isn't very good at setting things up. Seems against the good teams penalties are still a huge issue.

Schedule is always a funny thing. Packers look way more beatable than normal but the giants are a surprise. No one thought Goff and the lions would be one of the better offenses even without key starters.

Cowboys D is legit. But fowler sucks him and his penalties can go away. Maybe he's too slow to rush the QB unless he gets that half second start but he needs to stop wrongly timing his get off. They need someone to step up as a CB but thankfully safety play has been improved.

The Cowboys are easily one of the better teams in the NFC. They should roll over the next few weeks and beyond.

 

[CooterBrown]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

I agree with most of that. The only issue I have with it is the “all 3 levels” of the defense comment. Overall, the defense has been really good, but the 2nd level, the linebackers, are not holding up their end of the deal. I consider Parsons as a DE more than a LB. Barr and LVE have been average at best. I’ve always said LVE was adequate, but on Philly’s first TD he was in the hole and instead of filling the hole he ran himself out of it. He’s guessing, sometimes right and sometimes very wrong. Sweeps and screens leave the linebackers free to make the tackle 9 yards downfield. I would say they react slow, but what they are usually doing is recovering from their wrong guesses. Two levels of the defense are carrying the third.

 

[AsthmaField]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Nicely done… as always.

 

[Motorola]

I’m confident that having Dak back will allow us to get our points up a tad. We don’t need to average 28 points a game to win anymore. Having said that we’re all curious to what Moore will do with Dak. I’m also very curious how he looks after being out this long.

Aven8 - you accurately pointed out the peculiar circumstance with Prescott returning from injury.
-Missed some time in training camp....on top of
-No playing time in preseason games (yeah - it's the norm nowadays in the NFL for starting QBs / the best players on offense to not play...not a good thing for EVERY TEAM TO DO)
- Which resulted in very subpar play by Prescott + the offense as a whole in the first game, before he was injured

 

[CowboyRoy]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Offense has played a style to limit them? No, they have a style they HAD to in order to not lose games by putting the game in the hands of Rush. Our Oline is playing well and the run game is at least workable at this point. Offense should take off when Dak gets back.

 

[plasticman]

Dallas has to enter week 7 feeling pretty good about themselves.

4-2 is about as well as anyone could have hoped facing a front-loaded schedule and losing the QB week 1.

But let's break down a few key areas.........

Offense: The offense ranks 6th from the bottom in yards and is similarly soft in points and most other metrics. The offense hasn't really gotten going but has also played a style to limit output on both sides. The obvious question will be how this offense looks with Dak back. Very definite ceiling on a team that's scoring 18 a game. But the WRs have been soldi enough, the OL has cobbled together a workable group with room to grow into a plus unit, and the RB room is still a plus. As with most things this will come down to the QB over the next 11+ plus weeks.

Defense: Better than even the rosiest projections. Unit is so dangerous that the opposing teams aren't sure they want the ball. Micah's health will be key and he badly needs the upcoming bye week. But this defense is good on all 3 levels and great up front. Diggs has stepped forward in technique and now teams are avoiding him altogether. Just keep these guys healthy and let's roll. Really hard to argue about averaging the 3rd fewest points allowed per game given the schedule.

ST: Maher has been fine or better on the season. Losing his snapper probably wasn't ideal but a miss so recently bears watching. Turpin looks like a legit return specialist who could possibly grow into more. Overall, a winning unit.

Coaching: This is an all-star coaching staff. Was shocked everyone returned this year and would be even more shocked if they do next. Kellen has to be getting calls from Boise and every team in need of a Head Coach that wants to play solid defense has to be buzzing about Dan Quinn. Even Bones is a ST guru. Not enough is made about the advantage coaching gives us weekly.

Roster: Can argue as you like about roster building but what Dallas does has really worked. They are young, improving and deep. The very few forays into free agency have looked better this year. Peters is rock solid and can line up a lot of places. Fowler brings juice off the edge in the Randy Gregory role. Maher has been a good add who easily outdistanced the initial kickers.

Schedule: After a fairly rough early sled Dallas falls into easy mode. It's a bottom 5 strength of schedule going forward. Really hard to see more than 3 losses at most in this final 11 regular season games. Wade into the NFC North for the next month but who scares you? Rodgers has the WR corps people pretended Dallas did entering the year. Minny is a solid 5-1 but that record is a bit of fools gold getting Miami without Tua and facing New Orleans with Andy Dalton. Detroit has the leagues softest defense and the Bears are scoring 15 points per game. Dallas is currently sitting 3rd in it's own division but looks like it might be the NFC's second-best team on paper. Which leads to the biggest sched break. AFC opponents are AFC Soutth which is abysmal. Indy, Jax and Tenn all look like food right now.

Work to do: Dallas has to clean up penalties. Philly looks like a lot like San Fran. Defense plays with so much juice that it boils over at times. Have got to protect Dak. Can't have completely free blitzers just get ignored. Every week should be about playing clean football and tweaking the offense. Rest guys when needed. This is a deep team and injuries are already besetting it. Lean on the full roster and let guys get healthy. Define the offensive identity. Are we a power running team that will bash you. Are we a play-action attack deep team? A spread it out and pick you apart then hammer the run once ahead team? Kellen has to decide and build that into an unstoppable force.

Very well done, thank you.

 

[RonWashington]

Basham is making it back to practice since being out with an injury . Contract run .

 

[charron]

The Cowboys are easily one of the better teams in the NFC. They should roll over the next few weeks and beyond.

When the coaches have a good game plan the players matchup with most teams pretty well. Bad coaching and penalties kill this team more than lack of talent.

 

[jterrell]

Good points OP. However, I'd be in total favor of Kellen hitting the road. Please accept one of the "many" opportunities you have Kellen, you've "on the job" trained enough with the Cowboys.

I understand the sentiment.
I am a bit scared as to what might follow. I suspect it would be a token young OC or a promotion of Philbin with Mike really calling the offense.
But I do think Kellen is about replacement level across the league.