Tanier Game Preview

[JD_KaPow]

His previews are always fun to read. The Vikings/Cardinals and Bears/Bengals write-ups are good ones.

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2021/chiefs-go-early-ko-cowboys-crossroads

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
Some Cowboys Notes:

• The Linebacker Rotation: Micah Parsons and Keanu Neal are on the field whenever the Cowboys want to be good at football. Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch replace them whenever Jerry Jones needs reassurance about his past decisions. For past precedent, see the Felix Jones/Marion Barber/Tashard Choice running back rotation of the early 2010s. It's hard fitting both Jerrah's old and new toys in one toy box.
  
• Ezekiel Elliott, Fullback: He lined up there for a few snaps in the season opener and made more of an impact as a pass-protector than as a rusher or receiver. Frankly, I love the idea of using Elliott as a $90-million blocker and short-yardage weapon, if only because I think it would trick the Vikings into offering $92 million to C.J. Ham.
  
• Zack Martin and La'El Collins: Cowboys tradition dictates that their big-name offensive linemen are never all available at the same time and that the loss of any one of their top linemen renders the whole organization utterly dysfunctional. The Cowboys signed Ty Nsekhe, the Ryan Fitzpatrick of tackles, to prevent this silliness, but all the midweek chatter was about press-ganging Martin (fresh off a back injury) out to right tackle to replace the suspended Collins. If anything happens to Tyron Smith—and something ALWAYS happens to Tyron Smith—the Cowboys must either: A) have Martin play three positions; B) move some linebackers to the offensive line; C) do what they did last year (surrender and die).

The line crept up to Chargers -3.5 on Wednesday afternoon. It may slip another half-point by the time you read this (Tank Lawrence's foot surgery was announced during edits). I think of the Cowboys' talent as 3.5-point road dogs against the Cowboys' coaching and management, and I worry about the team's long-term prospects if we arrived at this crossroads before my lawn even stopped growing. Chargers 24, Cowboys 21.

 

[ESisback]

Yeah, he’s fun to read, but do we really need yet another snarky “journalist” telling us the forever bumbling Cowboys are destined to fail?

Apologies, but it’s hard to find the perfect balance between serious, realistic concern for potential problems, and laughing at the clever way strangers dramatize the failings of our favorite football team. No matter how you roll, there’s always someone scoffing nearby! Ha!

 

[DCBoysfan]

That was a funny read.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Seems like he missed last week. Martin was out and the offense was functional. People are overestimating the impact of injuries. Team won those three games in a row last season with way more people in the tub.

 

[MarcusRock]

Yeah, he’s fun to read, but do we really need yet another snarky “journalist” telling us the forever bumbling Cowboys are destined to fail?

Apologies, but it’s hard to find the perfect balance between serious, realistic concern for potential problems, and laughing at the clever way strangers dramatize the failings of our favorite football team. No matter how you roll, there’s always someone scoffing nearby! Ha!

Haha. Same as it ever was. You keep forgetting you don't care that people rag on the Cowboys. Remember? See, now I really want to know what kind of traumatizing razzing you received when younger that makes any negative talk about the team you support bring such a reflex response from you. Step into my office. Lol.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Yeah, he’s fun to read, but do we really need yet another snarky “journalist” telling us the forever bumbling Cowboys are destined to fail?

Apologies, but it’s hard to find the perfect balance between serious, realistic concern for potential problems, and laughing at the clever way strangers dramatize the failings of our favorite football team. No matter how you roll, there’s always someone scoffing nearby! Ha!

Its like Walter not being able to hide his disdain for Dallas when he does his mocks.

It's hard to take a person seriously when they aren't exactly objective

 

[blueblood70]

did Risen write that??

i mean hey lets post a thread that 100% sarcastic and belittling to our own team..nice job that A1 Journalism right there and the op who shared it..im holding up one finger, guess which one....

 

[ESisback]

Haha. Same as it ever was. You keep forgetting you don't care that people rag on the Cowboys. Remember? See, now I really want to know what kind of traumatizing razzing you received when younger that makes any negative talk about the team you support bring such a reflex response from you. Step into my office. Lol.

Uh, no thanks, Dr. Knowitall.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

This is all spot on.

Golf clap.

 

[ESisback]

did Risen write that??

i mean hey lets post a thread that 100% sarcastic and belittling to our own team..nice job that A1 Journalism right there and the op who shared it..im holding up one finger, guess which one....

I expressed a similar sentiment and got the predictable scoffing from a “realist”. If he doesn’t guffaw loudly at your post, it PROVES he’s obsessed with me. Scary thought! Ha!