CFZ Thoughts/Opinions about yesterday's win!

[links18]

Defending the run and running the ball remain our greatest weaknesses. But yeah, nobody is going to give Dak the easy looks the Giants did, the rest of the season.

 

[Gambit]

Point is, they were punting and giving the ball to us.

I understand that, but had they held them at 4 and 2 they still would have.

Point is, the penalty did not give up a TD there were 3 4th downs, opportunity to get off the field.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

The game against Carolina is what it is: it means nothing but the number in the W column. It gives us no feather in cap to beat a garbage team like that....but we did avoid a disaster.

You don't feel any better about your evaluation of the team after the game than before it, but you don't feel any worse either...andbthe W against them is as valuable in the W column as a W against KC

Washington will be like the 85 Bears compared to the last 2 Division 2 college teams we just faced

 

[atlantacowboy]

That type of scheme takes away the big passing plays and forces team to throw underneath. You are going to see a lot of dink and duck, kind of like how we played the Jets. Having more success running the football, will force teams to get out of that shell coverage, that is the key down the stretch for this team.

That type of scheme is intended to take away big plays but it only works if your front 4 can get pressure and theQB doesn’t have time to survey the field.

 

[Sandyf]

Good win. Seems to me they were trying some things on offense, defense and special teams that they wouldn't have tried vs a Philly or Seattle or Buffalo or Miami. Seeing what might work in certain situations against far better teams. Frankly this game was over at half time so thus try things to see if they work. Also it gives those other teams more they have to watch for on defense. We didn't motion all that much against Carolina but betting it will be quite a bit more against Seattle, Detroit, Buffalo, Miami and of course Philly.

Washington is a game we should dominate and it always is a challenge against a division team. So we can't look ahead one bit. Having Washington, Seattle then Philly at home has to mean a lot to win all those games at home. And getting Detroit at home could be critical to the division and home field for the playoffs. Buffalo on the home in December will be no picnic due to the weather and Miami in Miami with all their speed will be a huge challenge for the defense.

We almost have a playoff spot in hand with just 3 more wins as bad as the rest of the NFC is but winning the division going to be a challenge and maybe critical to at least getting to NFC championship game.

 

[Jarntt]

The game against Carolina is what it is: it means nothing but the number in the W column. It gives us no feather in cap to beat a garbage team like that....but we did avoid a disaster.

You don't feel any better about your evaluation of the team after the game than before it, but you don't feel any worse either...andbthe W against them is as valuable in the W column as a W against KC

Washington will be like the 85 Bears compared to the last 2 Division 2 college teams we just faced

If your Eagles lose to KC tonight we are only one game back...might just get interesting after all...

 

[Aven8]

The game against Carolina is what it is: it means nothing but the number in the W column. It gives us no feather in cap to beat a garbage team like that....but we did avoid a disaster.

You don't feel any better about your evaluation of the team after the game than before it, but you don't feel any worse either...andbthe W against them is as valuable in the W column as a W against KC

Washington will be like the 85 Bears compared to the last 2 Division 2 college teams we just faced

Wash, while I agree will be no tough out, especially on Turkey day where we seem to struggle. Having said that, they just made DeVito look like a savant even after sacking him 9 times.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Why are people complaining about the run defense? It was third-down throws and a dumb penalty that gave them that drive.

 

[KMY_Amber]

Defending the run and running the ball remain our greatest weaknesses. But yeah, nobody is going to give Dak the easy looks the Giants did, the rest of the season.

I think defending the run, especially between the tackles, it this team's greatest weakness.

The Cowboys can run the ball, especially when they're not being predictable with it, and get some space for Pollard. As I will continue to say, the way this Cowboys offense is constructed, this is not a run-first offense. Cowboys should come out passing the ball, with a heavy dose of play action, to set up running plays in the 2nd quarter and beyond. Seeing McCarthy come out and call conservative, vanilla run plays on the 1st drive, often producing a 3-and-out, it's so deflating. And against the better teams, this slow 1st quarter is going to cost them, because the Cowboys will fall behind and have to play catch-up the rest of the game, which is a recipe for the Cowboys Dee to get pounded, and puts undue stress on the offense to have to come back.

I just need McCarthy to come out in every game firing, using play action on 1st down, getting the playmakers going, getting momentum and 1st downs, building confidence. The Cowboys can run the ball once the pass game gets going. Thinking that the run game has to get going first, and then the passing game will come along, that's just silly...because for this team, that almost NEVER happens.



The slow starts due to lackluster play calling from the 1st snap, they must stop.

 

[75boyz]

I think defending the run, especially between the tackles, it this team's greatest weakness.

The Cowboys can run the ball, especially when they're not being predictable with it, and get some space for Pollard. As I will continue to say, the way this Cowboys offense is constructed, this is not a run-first offense. Cowboys should come out passing the ball, with a heavy dose of play action, to set up running plays in the 2nd quarter and beyond. Seeing McCarthy come out and call conservative, vanilla run plays on the 1st drive, often producing a 3-and-out, it's so deflating. And against the better teams, this slow 1st quarter is going to cost them, because the Cowboys will fall behind and have to play catch-up the rest of the game, which is a recipe for the Cowboys Dee to get pounded, and puts undue stress on the offense to have to come back.

I just need McCarthy to come out in every game firing, using play action on 1st down, getting the playmakers going, getting momentum and 1st downs, building confidence. The Cowboys can run the ball once the pass game gets going. Thinking that the run game has to get going first, and then the passing game will come along, that's just silly...because for this team, that almost NEVER happens.



The slow starts due to lackluster play calling from the 1st snap, they must stop.

Nice post.
I've posted in other threads, and that is as if it's all 3 of McCarthy, Schott and Solari not knowing how to game plan an effective complimentary run game.

As you mention here, do they wanna pass to set up the run or vice versa?
It's like they don't know either.

My confidence in this staff's ability to coach an effective run game is at an all time low.

And everyone already knows what the end results will be if we are limited to being a pass only team.

The run game coaching is pathetic.

jmo

 

[KMY_Amber]

Nice post.
I've posted in other threads, and that is as if it's all 3 of McCarthy, Schott and Solari not knowing how to game plan an effective complimentary run game.

As you mention here, do they wanna pass to set up the run or vice versa?
It's like they don't know either.

My confidence in this staff's ability to coach an effective run game is at an all time low.

And everyone already knows what the end results will be if we are limited to being a pass only team.

The run game coaching is pathetic.

jmo

For this team, balance can only come when once they get the lead.

Forcing the run game early is silly when the passing game is so effective, and especially the play action game. Opponents STILL respect the Cowboys running game, even when they haven't run the ball yet.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Good win; we beat a team we should have on paper.

The broadcast posted a stat that said it all. We dominate sub-.500 teams. We struggle to beat good teams.

 

[Streifenkarl]

I think Olson said it sometime during the game: Dak is patient and takes what's given to him. No hero stuff.

Me likes. Mike is finally getting through to him. "Dumbing down" the offense isn't necessarily a bad thing.

We'll see against the big guys in the end of the reg season what it's worth though. All these games against NYG and the Panthers are mere training exercises.

 

[Risen Star]

This team is going to make the playoffs, it's more about seeding now.

I wouldn't bet on that.

 

[Cowboyny]

I wouldn't bet on that.

Just look at the rest of the conference, there is little doubt there aren't going to be within the top 7.

 

[Cowboyny]

That type of scheme is intended to take away big plays but it only works if your front 4 can get pressure and theQB doesn’t have time to survey the field.

It works if you can pressure but also if you can handle the run. What makes the 49ers so difficult is their linebackers cover so much ground and their front is elite. Eagles play a similar scheme, but they don't have those linebackers that take away the middle of the field.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

If your Eagles lose to KC tonight we are only one game back...might just get interesting after all...

I'm a Cowboys fan.

Otherwise my name would be TheGreatEaglesLakerBamaFan .... instead of TheGreatCowboysLakerBamaFan

 

[Cowboyny]

I understand that, but had they held them at 4 and 2 they still would have.

Point is, the penalty did not give up a TD there were 3 4th downs, opportunity to get off the field.

It extended the drive, even though they had multiple chances to get off the field.

 

[75boyz]

For this team, balance can only come when once they get the lead.

Forcing the run game early is silly when the passing game is so effective, and especially the play action game. Opponents STILL respect the Cowboys running game, even when they haven't run the ball yet.

I agree.
But my run game coaching opinion and the evidence still stands.

Once the lead has been achieved in most all of our wins which have mostly been blowouts, except for the Chargers, there is still no effective complimentary element to our run game supporting the pass game.
I think last week's ground game against the Giants is our only balanced offensive win outlier if I'm not mistaken.

So yeah, establish the pass first but once you do and you get a lead, what kinda run game are ya gonna call to compliment the pass?

Whatever it has been, it has not been working.

jmo

 

[Dallasfann]

So if they beat Washington and get to 8-3. Does that count as a good win?

If the Cowboys win 50-3 it wouldn't be a good win because how do you allow Howell to get 3 points. I'd say if it's 60-0 then it's a win that shows that we are trending the right direction...nothing more.