CFZ Things I'm worried about that need to be fixed for any chance this season!

[Cowboyny]

We are gonna make a trade for someone and I think it happens before the team returns to the practice field.

CB, LB, RB is my wishlist.

 

[baltcowboy]

They have to execute better up front or it won't matter who is running the football.

I think the issue is the guys have not been together long. With Martin holding out and then the injuries they have had few snaps together. Broaddus believes Tyron, Martin and Tyler B are still injured.

 

[baltcowboy]

CB, LB, RB is my wishlist.

LB is fine. Clark played well at the middle spot and nobody is talking about it. Teams don’t trade away quality corners. Defense is championship caliber. We need to improve the offense.

 

[Creeper]

The OL is not playing very well at all. No one is really getting much push in the middle. Martin and Steele were awesome run blocking together last year. This year they are showing nothing. But the pass protection hasn't been great either, especially from Steele. Tyron Smith has been a surprising positive on the OL.

I think people are jumping on Gallup too soon. He had a really bad game against the Chargers. He dropped a TD pass that was perfectly thrown. But in his defense he beat his man who had to tug on his shirt to slow him down. It should have been pass interference and the Cowboys should have gotten the ball at about the 3 yard line. Watching that play over a few times I think Gallup was distracted by the tug on his shirt. He shouldn't have been but he came up looking for a flag right away after the play. Also, he was the Cowboys leading receiver in reception against the Cards and 2nd leading receiver against the Patriots. with 6 and 5 catches respectively. He had a bad game against the 49ers but a lot of that was Dak and some was the physical play of the 49ers.

Gallup is not a #1 and never will be, but he will have some good games for the Cowboys.

I agree on the penalties and scheme.

Bland had a bad day, but he is not Diggs. I am worried about the Cowboys secondary in general because they do not have anyone who can cover speedy WRs. Gilmore is slow and his reaction quickness is gone. He gets by with guile and experience but the secondary seems vulnerable to the vertical passing game. If the DL doesn't get pressure, the secondary is exposed.

I agree that the safeties need to play better and I think they did against the Chargers. Bell and Juanyeh Thomas have been pretty good for the times they have played. Kearse has been underwhelming for the most part, although he had a better game against the Chargers. I will be interesting to see what the Cowboys do with Bell and Thomas going forward. Do they have Bell add some weight in the offseason?

The Cowboys lost their two best gunners this year in Joseph and Goodwin. The young WRs are just getting their feet wet. I think they will get better the more they play. But they also lost a couple of LBs that played special teams too in Cox and Harper. So there are a bunch of guys out there who are not that experienced on special teams now.

 

[Cowboyny]

I think the issue is the guys have not been together long. With Martin holding out and then the injuries they have had few snaps together. Broaddus believes Tyron, Martin and Tyler B are still injured.

Perhaps the bye week comes at a good time. Have to get the OL playing better to have any chance.

 

[75boyz]

Run game predictability on early downs. Followed by the run game coaching, design and scheme.

The whole offensive line didn't all of a sudden become sucky at run blocking. And Pollard didn't forget how to run.
Seems like Solari might be a Paul Alexander clone. Remember him?

Same with pass game predictability.
If I can tell the play called by WR alignment then paid NFL DCs are probably laughing I'm sure.

Use motion more but change up positional WR assignments in certain games based on opponent. Or anything. Even when motion is used, Trips, bunch, and 3 x1 patterns have been static on film. Diversify your route tree week to week when utilizing motion.

I thought Moore's criticism were of being predictable and situational awareness regarding run game philosophy.

Well,
McCarthy, Schottenheimer and Solari look like they have no idea on how to build an effective run game.

And an effective run game is what is mandatory in order for this QB to have any post season success.

Discipline/penalties are the other Captain Obvious.

 

[john van brocklin]

All and all, 4-2 and 1 game behind the Eagles isn't bad. That loss to the Cardinals still stings, but the Eagles lost to the Jets and the Commanders lost to the Bears. However, there is a ton to clean up if this team has any chance of playoff success:

-Cannot run the football what so ever, even against light boxes. Keep on seeing free defenders make plays behind the line of scrimmage. The coaches are also using Pollard like Zeke Elliot, more of an in between the tackle runner, I have yet to see one outside run for him. Believe Pollard is already waring down. Scheme has to be fixed and perhaps moving Pollard back to that change up role.

-When you cannot run the football, pass protection becomes even more difficult. Dak in the last 2 weeks with a healthy line has been running for his life. Issues aren't just 1 player, it's across the board. Is it due to lack of continuity, new scheme or is it personnel related?

-Michael Gallup needs to be benched. Still has struggled badly in getting separation and now he is having issues for drops. You can see a player who really lacks confidence. Out of 10 targets he only converted 3 catches, this is real bad.

-Penalties on both side of the football. Enough with these offside and hits to the helmet fouls by the defense, this is what losses you a game! Offensively it's more of the presnap infractions.

-The new scheme is really holding Dak and the offense back. Dak just isn't a system QB, he is at his best when he breaks the pocket. Teams will be sitting on all these underneath routes, they have start taking more shots down the field. Use max protection, get Dak moving outside the pocket to give him a chance. I cannot see MM giving up his playcalling again, so he either goes down with the ship or rights it! Too much offensive talent to being getting these results.

-Can Dan Quinn fix the red zone issue in which a player goes in motion and the defender is always trailing that leads to an easy TD?

-Bland is starting to look like Diggs, but not in a good way, he is taking chances and has had issues with tackling. Just do your job and you don't need to play hero ball.

-Run defense still remains a concern, 2 things that I have noticed is the scheme and Parsons being the biggest culprits. These twists/stunts sometimes opens huge rushing lanes, when team run at Parsons, he never gets outside containment.

-The entire safety group has really struggled throughout the season, especially since Wilson returned from injury. If this defense wants to be successful they need to play better.

-Special teams is now a worry due to injuries, it almost cost the Cowboys a win this week. Long punt return, botched return.

Spot on , sir!