Thoughts and Observations of Cowboys/Giants game:

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Thoughts and Observations of Cowboys/Giants game:

OFFENSE:

– I loved not only the play designs and rhythm of the Moore revamped offense but also the pace of the offense, ..quick in-out huddle, didn't drag play clock down to last minute, quick passes and Giants seem so committed to stopping zeke run that they surrender the safety play and gave up space underneath and deep seams.

QB - after a slow start that preceded the Giants early first TD drive, Prescott gradually got into a growing rhythm that saw he and offense begin to build confidence and momentum and evolved into a various of chunk yards and big plays that eventually just broke down the Giants defense.
Some say Dak cautiously ventures from the deep middle throw – but we saw him attack deep middle seams several times. The cooper over top TD was a thing of beauty.

- Once he got into rhythm, the ball never seem to hit the ground, he distributed, involved and hit several targets into the pass offense. The play action ball handling was keen. Giants couldn’t get a hint or clue on it and it seem to hold them at bay.
He play faked well, he quickly read progressions, got ball out quickly and never seem to hold ball long. Grand on RPO runs, 4 TDs, 405 yrds and a perfect 158.3 QB ratings. Should win NFL player of the week.

WR/TE - Cowboys haven’t had a WR with 100 yard receiving game in a season opener since 2012 ( kevin olgetree) .. Ouch ! but Sunday we had two WRs with 100 yrds and we saw just about every WR/TE spread out and involved in the pass offense

That included 2 TEs catching TD passes and 2 WRs catching TD passes. Giants simply have no clue and answer for Cowboys pass attack and seemed confused, frustrated and demoralized by it.

OL:
- Dak never had to be flushed from pocket vs pass rush, he never got sacked despite the Giants constantly sending their blitzers, opened a run lane for zeke’s TD and quick screen, Martin seems still bothered by back but subbed by Filo, but he remains stout on RB screens

RB/FB:
- I thought zeke showed his “ sea legs “ from missing so much practice camp with slips and late cuts and a dropped slant pass thru his hands, but still displayed the lower body power to drive himself into the end zone for a TD.

Saw Olawele more as a receiver and blitz blocker, than lead blocker (which he remains very subpar in this area) I do wonder I think zeke’s holdout impacted the receiving plan for Pollard, he basically was reduced to a relief role.
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DEFENSE:
- After allowing Giants to drive for a 91 yard TD and early lead, defense held NYG on a 2 for 11 third down makes. D” surrendered 470 yards but only 17 points.
The last 7 points when the contest was clearly out of hand, but instead of the killer instinct to put them away vs soft let up at the end.

- The biggest issue was clearly remains the troubles handling the most explosive RB in NFL in Barkley who had over 100 yards on just 11 carries.

- I do thank the dumb Giants coaching staff for deciding to use Barkley more as a decoy instead of keep giving him touches and to find a way to spring him. They vastly helped our cause.
Also I was surprised they did not quickly resort to a no-huddle attack to wear us down more, - two of our biggest weaknesses are mis-direction plays (ala Ingram TD) and no huddle attacks.

- DL: I didn’t like the absence and lacking of a pass rush vs Eli, thinks is where I hope DLaw and Crawford being out so long will take a short time to return to play form.
- Although Crawford just wont give us much vs pass as a DE, far more effective inside. Plus return of Quinn should help.
- And I didn’t see the hopeful interior on a pocket passer like Eli, and we really are not getting there as much as we are blitzing, But we did come out with a couple of critical 4th down stops.

LB’s:
- LVE made some big plays from chasing down Eli on a 4th down stop, almost got an INT, Jaylon was instrumental in run defense and underneath coverage, I didn’t notice Lee much, maybe due to nickel sub packages- but LBs were big in red zone stops

Secondary-
- I think we will continue to see Awuzie get burnt on go-fly routes on occasions like he did vs Giants speedy Latimer ..why? He continues in a turn-go spots where he simply does not turn his head to locate/play on the ball. But ironically when he faces and keeps the ball in front of him, he seems more comfortable and can drive on the ball for breakups. I’m starting to think this is wrong scheme for him.

- I thought Brown was solid in his start for Jones on outside while Byron played in a more limited duty and spots while he gradually regains form. Lewis made a brilliant play in slot nickel duty, and prevented a TD catch with a nice breakup.

- Heath had a great read and hit screen breakup by heath on Ingram. Woods ended up with 11 tackles, but how much was Barkley on other side of the ball ? I thought he’d be called for hold on a Eli 4th down -but eli was called for intentional grounding.
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SPECIAL TEAMS: we didn’t see a tavon or cobb punt run back, we didn’t see a FG attempt. But Jones was solid and Maher made all of his Xtra pts and the SP coverage was solid


COACHING: Big clear difference with Cowboys coaches vs Giants coaches. Kellen’s offense revealed the play action, motions, formation designs that NYG simply could not adjust or handle. We had few penalties
Giants HC didn’t know he can’t challenge ' hail mary' for PI in last 2 minutes of halves. And he foolishly got away from his best offensive weapon Barkley in 2nd half
 
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LB’s:
- LVE made some big plays from chasing down Eli on a 4th down stop, almost got an INT, Jaylon was instrumental in run defense and underneath coverage, I didn’t notice Lee much, maybe due to nickel sub packages- but LBs were big in red zone stops

Lee had great coverage on Barkley on a roll-out by Eli where Barkley was his only target (kind of like our TD throw to Witten). I can't remember, though, if that was the play that resulted in the sack and fumble by Eli. Lee got on Barkley's hip coming out of the backfield and gave Eli no room to fit the pass in. Otherwise, I really didn't notice him being involved in stops.
 
- I thought Brown was solid in his start for Jones on outside while Byron played in a more limited duty and spots while he gradually regains form. Lewis made a brilliant play in slot nickel duty, and prevented a TD catch with a nice breakup.

It seemed to me and my possibly untrained eye, that Brown was beat often and bad? If I am wrong, by all means I'd love to hear it, but he just appeared out of place at times.

I suppose, being that he was filling in out of position could also be blamed?
 
Also, a shout out for the few times Dak took off running. It seems like that play is always there for the taking due to the stress Elliot and our WR’s/TE’s put on a defense.
 
Also, a shout out for the few times Dak took off running. It seems like that play is always there for the taking due to the stress Elliot and our WR’s/TE’s put on a defense.

Yes the play design was amplified by daks ability to read the defense and his ball handling play action fakes
But I prefer to see him slide down or run out of bounds before taking on unnecessary punishment hes usually smart about he does that.
But I'm loving how he doing these RPO plays under center more
 
I thought LVE was pretty meh. The PBU was nice, but he looked out of sorts with his reads.

The long Saquon run was in large part because he filled the wrong gap.
 

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