News: Sturm's 'Marinelli Report': Finding playmakers on Cowboys' defense, the best of whom may be ... a DT

[CCBoy]

Sturm's 'Marinelli Report': Finding playmakers on Cowboys' defense, the best of whom may be ... a DT?!
http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...turm-marinelli-report-finding-playmakers-step




Once we establish that this is the NFL and both teams are really good and all of these games are going to be close from week to week, we cut through the noise and get down to the name of the game.

The name of the game in the NFL is: "Who is going to make that play at that moment to win this game?" That is how defense is played. Every team is going to give up between 300-400 yards most weeks, 20-24 points and several highlights. The teams are too good. The players are too talented. There are almost no "clean sheets" in the NFL. The rules are geared toward the offense and the league wants excitement. They don't want a 3-0 game. They want 28-27.

That isn't to say the Cowboys have a great defense. They don't. We all know it, and compared to league averages, the Cowboys must do better in nearly every category from what we've seen...

 

[CCBoy]

...BTB: The Bears offensive line seems like an issue for the team. Talk about the personnel there and how they have been playing so far.

WCG: Left tackle is Charles Leno Jr., 3rd year 7th-round Boise State tackle who has shown real promise and the hope is he'll be an average to above average left tackle by the end of the year. He's been beat by some good pash rushers in the first two weeks but has stretches of solid play. The guards are manned by perennial pro-bowlers Josh Sitton, newly signed from Green Bay, and Kyle Long, playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The pivot is being manned by a rookie second rounder out of Kansas State named Cody Whitehair, who is making a big transition from left tackle in college, to guard throughout preseason, and now center to cover for injuries and make room for Sitton. The interior of the line has a chance to be among the top three units in the league by years end. From watching film of the first two games though, they're doing a poor job handling stunts and communicating with each other to pick up rushers. That takes time and I'd expect it to improve. Finally, big Bobbie Massie starts at right tackle and has quickly proven that he's a huge liability in the passing game. The Bears absolutely have to focus on helping Bobbie Massie in pass pro with tight ends and running backs or Matt Barkley is going to finish the game on Sunday night.

BTB: Out of all the injuries on defense from last week, which one is going to be the most problematic on Sunday? Do the Bears have any depth on defense to replace the injured?

WCG: The biggest two injuries happened before last week's game with Pernell McPhee on the PUP List recovering from an injured knee, and Kyle Fuller, arguably the most talented member of the secondary recovering from a knee injury of his own. In terms of last week's injury, the one that could really impact Sunday's matchup further is losing Eddie Goldman at Nose Tackle. Goldman played incredibly well last year and is seemingly on his way to anchoring that defensive line for years to come. A high ankle sprain keeps him out and we'll see a rotation of players to fill that void. The Bears didn't have enough talent to fill 11 professional defensive starters last season so we'll see what a year of roster turnover has done for depth. My sense is it will be trouble as in addition to Goldman, three linebackers will miss the game as well (McPhee, Lamaar Houston, and Danny Trevathan). This may very well be the game Ezekiel Elliot runs for 200 yards (and Alfred Morris vultures 3 scores)...

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...be-the-game-ezekiel-elliot-runs-for-200-yards

 

[CCBoy]

Facing a team that is beset by injuries, the Dallas Cowboys must take advantage of an opportunity to win a game at home against a team they should beat.

It is not often that teams have the type of opportunity that the Dallas Cowboys have tonight.
Looking at the Chicago Bears roster, there are many key contributors likely to be missing in action.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Ka’Deem Carey, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, linebackers Lamarr Houston and Danny Trevathan and defensive backs Bryce Callahan and Adrian Amos are all doubtful or out.

The Bears are void of talent in the first place. Few expect Chicago to be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2016. Playing without seven guys on the road against a good team is not going to change that.

Now, the Dallas Cowboys are not without their own injuries as well...


There is good news for fans of the Star though. Under head coach Jason Garrett, the Dallas Cowboys usually take care of business against “bad” teams at home.

Throwing out last year, from 2011-2014, the Cowboys have played ten games against teams that won six games or less during the season at AT&T Stadium. Dallas is 9-1 in those games. In four of those games, the Cowboys won by double-digits.

The Bears have not won more than six games in two straight seasons. I think it’s fair to project them as a team destined to win six or fewer games again this season...


http://thelandryhat.com/2016/09/25/dallas-cowboys-must-take-advantage-opportunity/

 

[CCBoy]

NFC East Team- W- L- T Pct -PF- PA- Streak

New York Giants 2 0 0 1.000 36 32 W2
Philadelphia Eagles 2 0 0 1.000 58 24 W2
Dallas Cowboys 1 1 0 .500 46 43 W1
Washington Commanders 0 2 0 .000 39 65 L2

What will Week Three have in store for the once prominent division that looks to be making a come-back early in the 2016 season? Will the standings be shaken up? Or will it continue to play out with just three teams headed for a fight to the finish? Stay tuned and keep watching.


Ben Grimaldi: The Dallas Cowboys have a chance to get on a winning streak for the first time since the first two weeks of last season when they welcome the Chicago Bears for Sunday Night Football. Due to injuries, the Bears will be without some of their starters on defense. These injuries should help the Cowboys when they roll out Dez Bryant, Zeke Elliott and the boys!! Dallas has moved the ball well so far this season and they should have no issue continuing that trend on Sunday night. They just need to score touchdowns instead of field goals. Defensively, the Cowboys will be playing against backup quarterback Brian Hoyer. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, seeing as Hoyer has played well in spots and Cutler is a disaster on most occasions. Either way, I think the Cowboys win the game without having to sweat in the fourth quarter...


http://cowboyszone.com/2016/09/nfc-east-roundtable-week-3.html

 

[CCBoy]

USA Today Images


1. I wouldn’t say the Dallas Cowboys are in desperation mode when it comes to their pass rush. But they’re close. The movement of Tyrone and Jack Crawford to the two end positions, and Maliek Collins into a starting role inside with Terrell McClain, represents a pretty seismic shift in what the Cowboys have done the past two weeks, at least when you consider the majority of the snaps on defense. But seeing Tyrone Crawford crash the Commanders’ backfield for a late sack of Kirk Cousins probably piqued the Cowboys’ interest in moving him outside in the short term. Let’s not forget that Tyrone Crawford started his NFL career as an edge rusher in a 3-4 and moved inside two years ago because defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli thought his pass-rush ability would translate well to the all-important under-tackle, or three-technique, in his front four. He’s a little big to be an edge rusher in Marinelli’s 4-3 at 285 pounds, but the Cowboys are seeking any edge pressure at this point. Same goes for Jack Crawford, who comes in around 288 pounds. He also had a sack last Sunday.

As for Collins and McClain, well we have a one-game sample of Collins’ ability and this is the first time McClain has been truly healthy since he’s been in Dallas. So your guess is as good as mine regarding what Dallas will get out of the pair. (Fish has already talked one-on-one with Tyrone and Jack Crawford about all this, and on Sunday he conducts a roundtable with Terrell and his Toe. Seriously.)

But this is where the Cowboys are until DeMarcus Lawrence returns in Week 5. And, frankly, if you think he’s going to solve all of their issues up front you’re kidding yourself. This mix-and-match thing Marinelli is doing now — something he did last year as well — is going to be the norm. But if it works it has the potential to be quite discombobulating to opposing offensive lines. It might have the same effect as moving Dez Bryant from one side of the field to the other. But we’ll see...

http://www.scout.com/nfl/cowboys/story/1710171-cowboys-1st-and-10-the-front-four-shuffle