The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[CouchCoach]

Good that they got a win at home against a bad team. Good that the PK was 4 for 4. Good that Dak looked a lot better and Zeke rebounded from two poor plays in SEA and showed up big.

The Bad that they could not count on the defense to close out the game. It is not about stats, although picks would be nice, it is about being able to turn the game over to the defense with a lead to close out the game. They could not do this against an OK offense at home.

The Ugly was putting Gathers in on such a critical play and seeing just what a football player he isn't. Do they really think he's their best option of all the WR's and TE's? And they were going to him from the get go and he couldn't even box out the DB with that huge frame. I guarantee you we would have been going off on this, as well as all of the analysts, had they not been able to mount that drive and get the FG. That was one of the great bonehead plays, with so many to choose from, called by this OC since he's been here.

A W is a W but expected against an inferior team. That Bad better get better because they have some much better teams coming up.

 

[jrumann59]

The defense did not play well but it wasn't like Stafford is some bum off the street. Stafford was delivering beautiful passes to spots only his guys were going to get them. IF I blame any part of the defense I would say any pass rush outside of Tank.

 

[CCBoy]

If viewed as part of 20 years, I'd say memories weren't replaced...but as to successful, I'd have to include Elliott's 200+ total yards and Lawrence's 3 sacks with any snapshot from the past...ANY!

 

[Batman1980]

Detroit is built to win with their QB and those 3 wideouts. Golden Tate is a nightmare matchup for this secondary, just like Tyler Lockett. Hopefully they're ready for Fuller and Nuk.

 

[acr731]

I'm not so sure I would call Detroit 'inferior'. If not for a highly undisciplined performance I think they might have easily whipped Dallas.

 

[jsb357]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

good + bad + ugly = mediocre

 

[Cowboy4ever]

This is the same Detroit team that handled NE last week pretty convincingly. They are not a bad team. Actually, there are very few bad teams, and very few great teams in today's nfl. Most teams are on par with each other and games will come down to a play or two each game, which is exactly what the nfl wants. We are going to head into Houston to play a 1-3 team that just came off a 4-12 year and it too will come down to a play or two to decide that game. I agree with Gathers and hopefully that experiment is coming to an end.

 

[glimmerman]

Good that they got a win at home against a bad team. Good that the PK was 4 for 4. Good that Dak looked a lot better and Zeke rebounded from two poor plays in SEA and showed up big.

The Bad that they could not count on the defense to close out the game. It is not about stats, although picks would be nice, it is about being able to turn the game over to the defense with a lead to close out the game. They could not do this against an OK offense at home.

The Ugly was putting Gathers in on such a critical play and seeing just what a football player he isn't. Do they really think he's their best option of all the WR's and TE's? And they were going to him from the get go and he couldn't even box out the DB with that huge frame. I guarantee you we would have been going off on this, as well as all of the analysts, had they not been able to mount that drive and get the FG. That was one of the great bonehead plays, with so many to choose from, called by this OC since he's been here.

A W is a W but expected against an inferior team. That Bad better get better because they have some much better teams coming up.

I agree for the most part.

Our Defense yesterday got the stats but didn’t bring the consistent pressure on a pocket qb.

Week 1 lots of rust and was against a mobile qb.

Week 2 a pocket qb and we brought the heat. Now he giants line isn’t that great.

Week 3 again a mobile qb. You can’t pressure him too much or afraid he will take off. Not a bad performance.

Week 4 again a pocket qb so I was expecting a sack fest or more consistent pressure. They had trouble. Chido had a better game than what it looks, there was 3 plays or so that was just a good pass and catch. Problem is that we gave him time to pass it.

Did we even blitz? Not enough at certain times. Brown and Heath had bad games. And Richard let Brown know about it. 2nd and 20+ and gave it up. These are things we will fix.

Offense played really well. Elliot did what he needed to do. The O-Line played better than the last 3 games. Starting to come around. The Rico play I don’t blame them for. We don’t have any good ones. Again we have the ball 1st and goal and throw it 3 straight times against a team that sucks against the run. Linehan at his finest. And JG let’s him do it.

Dak played well. He took deep shots and threw some really nice passes. A few mistakes but no picks. He is going to have to call his own number a few times a game. He handed off twice yesterday on read options that would have gotten us a TD and the other would have been a big yardage play. Our WR did well. Hurns showed up with a big catch. Austin dropped a TD pass that would have started putting this game away. You gotta catch those. Gallup made a sweet catch and boy did he need it. Yesterday was a great confidence booster for our Offense. Run the ball and play action. Does great.

And Maher makes a clutch kick down the middle.

IMHO this game shouldn’t have been this close. One game at a time. Keep improving. And they are. Defense needs to play better. Typical game without Lee.

 

[CouchCoach]

Detroit is built to win with their QB and those 3 wideouts. Golden Tate is a nightmare matchup for this secondary, just like Tyler Lockett. Hopefully they're ready for Fuller and Nuk.

Hopefully that OL is ready for Watt and Clowney as HOU is starting to come together better.

One thing in the DL's favor, Watson holds the ball the longest of all the starting QB's. Their two WR's are a handful and as good a tandem as the Cowboys will face.

 

[zerofill]

Bright side though....

QBs seem to be scared of Byron...

 

[Kaiser]

The Ugly was putting Gathers in on such a critical play and seeing just what a football player he isn't. .

If your definition of "football player" is a TE that can catch a bad throw while being interfered with, you will be able to count them on one hand.

 

[CF74]

Should have been PI for Rico he was practically wearing the defender as a jersey, maybe it was velcro...

 

[CouchCoach]

I agree for the most part.

Our Defense yesterday got the stats but didn’t bring the consistent pressure on a pocket qb.

Week 1 lots of rust and was against a mobile qb.

Week 2 a pocket qb and we brought the heat. Now he giants line isn’t that great.

Week 3 again a mobile qb. You can’t pressure him too much or afraid he will take off. Not a bad performance.

Week 4 again a pocket qb so I was expecting a sack fest or more consistent pressure. They had trouble. Chido had a better game than what it looks, there was 3 plays or so that was just a good pass and catch. Problem is that we gave him time to pass it.

Did we even blitz? Not enough at certain times. Brown and Heath had bad games. And Richard let Brown know about it. 2nd and 20+ and gave it up. These are things we will fix.

Offense played really well. Elliot did what he needed to do. The O-Line played better than the last 3 games. Starting to come around. The Rico play I don’t blame them for. We don’t have any good ones. Again we have the ball 1st and goal and throw it 3 straight times against a team that sucks against the run. Linehan at his finest. And JG let’s him do it.

Dak played well. He took deep shots and threw some really nice passes. A few mistakes but no picks. He is going to have to call his own number a few times a game. He handed off twice yesterday on read options that would have gotten us a TD and the other would have been a big yardage play. Our WR did well. Hurns showed up with a big catch. Austin dropped a TD pass that would have started putting this game away. You gotta catch those. Gallup made a sweet catch and boy did he need it. Yesterday was a great confidence booster for our Offense. Run the ball and play action. Does great.

And Maher makes a clutch kick down the middle.

IMHO this game shouldn’t have been this close. One game at a time. Keep improving. And they are. Defense needs to play better. Typical game without Lee.

This week the two CB's get their best test so far, better than the Giants because HOU's OL is better and Watson will buy time.

Hopkins amazes me much like Jerry Rice did. Everyone knew Watson was coming to him in OT and he was open anyway. He's as good a WR as these guys will face all season and it's up to the DL to make Watson get the ball out before he wants to. HOU also has a very good RB in Miller.

 

[zerofill]

This week the two CB's get their best test so far, better than the Giants because HOU's OL is better and Watson will buy time.

Hopkins amazes me much like Jerry Rice did. Everyone knew Watson was coming to him in OT and he was open anyway. He's as good a WR as these guys will face all season and it's up to the DL to make Watson get the ball out before he wants to. HOU also has a very good RB in Miller.

I'm hoping they make Byron travel with Hopkins.

 

[CouchCoach]

good + bad + ugly = mediocre

mediocre = 2-2.

 

[johneric8]

Since I don't post much and can't start my own thread (don't know why) Let me just throw some optimism into this thread as a part of the "good" narrative... First off, as weird as the season been thus far, we all know that our players honestly have to win in spite of the organization and that is tough to overcome. With Dak losing Dev and Witten, fredrick, ETC, and getting basically a whole different look receiver wise, I think we all need to at least give them a few more weeks before we lay dirt over the season.

We all know that during training camp Garret doesn't want to get anyone hurt so they are extra cautious, we all heard about the offense struggles and witnessed them firsthand during the pre season. I really believe that the offense is going to learn how play together as we move through the season and may even end up surprising us. There are too many things that point to this to my eyes. It's hard to gameplan for the offense when there is no timing there and you have a qb who lives on protecting the football. All I know is I see a possible light at the end of the tunnel just based on the sheer fact that the cowboys are completely different offensively in a lot of ways and were coddled in pre season. No matter what anyone says, there is still hope for them to knock of the dust and gel, and who knows, maybe even surprise us down the stretch.

My better sense tells me they will fail, after all, Garret and Jerry are hard to overcome, but I also like the character of Dak and feel like the coaches are feeling the heat of being super predictable and might be starting to see the error in their ways. If some things come together, there is time to actually improve and maybe the season isn't lost after all..

 

[CouchCoach]

I'm hoping they make Byron travel with Hopkins.

I know Marinelli doesn't like to do that but don't know Richard's history with that but I seem to recall Byron Maxwell ending up with the #1WR and Sherman catching #2's.

Awuzie didn't play poorly yesterday but there is no defense for the perfect offensive play and Stafford can be freaky accurate at times. But whoever doesn't get Hopkins ain't getting a party with Fuller, he can fly.

 

[glimmerman]

This week the two CB's get their best test so far, better than the Giants because HOU's OL is better and Watson will buy time.

Hopkins amazes me much like Jerry Rice did. Everyone knew Watson was coming to him in OT and he was open anyway. He's as good a WR as these guys will face all season and it's up to the DL to make Watson get the ball out before he wants to. HOU also has a very good RB in Miller.

These LB are gonna have to hold there gaps this week. After that first play the Defense did better against the run. If I was Richard or Marinelli (who ever calls the plays) I am blitzing more this week. We need to force throws. Our Defense may get there first int this coming game.

 

[Praxit]

I wouldn't count Det as bad team. The have explosive RB, WR's that can catch N run. A better than avg QB. Cowboys showed guts playing out there. Only had 2 penalty's the whole game. Whether they can do it every Sunday? That's the conundrum.

OC, did call some bonehead plays. That endzone opportunity was golden for 7. I guess they wanted to test run Gathers..... for Basketball loop. I hope they scratch it, we dont have TE's for that play.

Oh man, yes the ugly. Our secondary....went from being above avg to suspect. Richards better fix it. Do I have faith in him? Yes, I do, I think he can. Then again, I'm just waiting for the Eggnog to hit the stores soon. .... What do I know? ..

 

[CouchCoach]

Since I don't post much and can't start my own thread (don't know why) Let me just throw some optimism into this thread as a part of the "good" narrative... First off, as weird as the season been thus far, we all know that our players honestly have to win in spite of the organization and that is tough to overcome. With Dak losing Dev and Witten, fredrick, ETC, and getting basically a whole different look receiver wise, I think we all need to at least give them a few more weeks before we lay dirt over the season.

We all know that during training camp Garret doesn't want to get anyone hurt so they are extra cautious, we all heard about the offense struggles and witnessed them firsthand during the pre season. I really believe that the offense is going to learn how play together as we move through the season and may even end up surprising us. There are too many things that point to this to my eyes. It's hard to gameplan for the offense when there is no timing there and you have a qb who lives on protecting the football. All I know is I see a possible light at the end of the tunnel just based on the sheer fact that the cowboys are completely different offensively in a lot of ways and were coddled in pre season. No matter what anyone says, there is still hope for them to knock of the dust and gel, and who knows, maybe even surprise us down the stretch.

My better sense tells me they will fail, after all, Garret and Jerry are hard to overcome, but I also like the character of Dak and feel like the coaches are feeling the heat of being super predictable and might be starting to see the error in their ways. If some things come together, there is time to actually improve and maybe the season isn't lost after all..

You will get the ability to create threads and give out Likes after you've posted a little more.

As to your weird season comment, couldn't agree more. This one is the weirdest so far and watching Dungy and Harrison's reactions to start SNF pretty well summed it up.

Except for the Rams, is any NFC team who we thought they were? D's actually got worse in the off season for ATL, NO, MIN and CHI looks like a real contender. And the freakin' Skins are atop the East!!!!! Are these things we are seeing for real? Hell if I know. But Any Given Sunday is alive and well.