Plankton
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The line of scrimmage.
On a 100 yard field, it’s often the yard at which the ball is snapped that is the difference between success and failure, winning and losing.
On a team like the Dallas Cowboys, success at the line of scrimmage, particularly on offense, is the key for their ability to win football games. In 2016, the Cowboys owned the line of scrimmage in nearly all of their games, riding this dominance to a team record tying 13 win season and the NFC East division championship.
But, during the regular season, the few blemishes provided by the opposition in this battle to win the line of scrimmage were courtesy of the New York Giants. It was the Cowboys inability to control the line that led to Dak Prescott’s two worst games of the season, two of their lowest scoring outputs, and two of their three losses on the season. Many a word was written about the Giant defense being the Cowboy offensive kryptonite, and that they held the key to making Prescott look like a rookie.
Consider that myth debunked.
The Cowboys dominated the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the football, and ultimately, the Giants as well. In a game where the final score of 19-3 was in no way reflective of the dominance of Dallas, the Cowboys established superiority at the line of scrimmage early on, and didn’t let up. Over 4 yards per rush? Check. Third down efficiency? Check. Hold the Giants to 2.8 yards per attempt? Check. Harass Eli Manning and limit the Giant passing game to 4.8 yards per attempt? Check.
Damon Harrison had his moments in the game, but the Cowboys were able to run the football when they needed to. The first half was a clinic on sustaining a body attack against an opponent in a physical matchup, with the Cowboy offense grinding out yards. The Giant defense held enough to keep them within shouting distance of the Cowboys, but their offense wasn’t up to the task.
The Cowboy defense saw to that.
The Cowboys held the Giants to 45 yards in the first half, and eliminated the paltry Giant rushing attack, leaving Manning to have to carry the load. He was not able to. With a defensive line missing David Irving and Damontre’ Moore due to suspensions, and having cut Cedric Thornton after the final cut downs, the Cowboy line did not appear to be a strength, and looked to be challenged even against the lightly regarded Giant offensive line.
It was the Cowboy defense that dominated this matchup from the first series. DeMarcus Lawrence played an inspired game, notching two sacks against an overmatched Bobby Hart, and was in Manning’s face consistently. Charles Tapper, in his first game as a Cowboy, had his first sack, and had another pressure in the second half. The tandem of Maliek Collins and Stephen Paea held up well against the run.
In the end, the Cowboys dictated to the Giants on both sides of the ball. For a team that prides itself on being physical and boisterous, the Giants were out-physicalled, out-hit, out-played, and most of all, out-scored. Without star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., the Giant offense looked like a pop gun offense without anyone who can threaten a defense. With that offensive line, it may not matter.
The Cowboys exorcised some demons from 2016 tonight. Those demons were defeated at the line of scrimmage. Tonight, they sent a message to the Giants and the rest of the NFC East that when they control the line, they are very difficult to beat.
Other notes from the game:
On a 100 yard field, it’s often the yard at which the ball is snapped that is the difference between success and failure, winning and losing.
On a team like the Dallas Cowboys, success at the line of scrimmage, particularly on offense, is the key for their ability to win football games. In 2016, the Cowboys owned the line of scrimmage in nearly all of their games, riding this dominance to a team record tying 13 win season and the NFC East division championship.
But, during the regular season, the few blemishes provided by the opposition in this battle to win the line of scrimmage were courtesy of the New York Giants. It was the Cowboys inability to control the line that led to Dak Prescott’s two worst games of the season, two of their lowest scoring outputs, and two of their three losses on the season. Many a word was written about the Giant defense being the Cowboy offensive kryptonite, and that they held the key to making Prescott look like a rookie.
Consider that myth debunked.
The Cowboys dominated the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the football, and ultimately, the Giants as well. In a game where the final score of 19-3 was in no way reflective of the dominance of Dallas, the Cowboys established superiority at the line of scrimmage early on, and didn’t let up. Over 4 yards per rush? Check. Third down efficiency? Check. Hold the Giants to 2.8 yards per attempt? Check. Harass Eli Manning and limit the Giant passing game to 4.8 yards per attempt? Check.
Damon Harrison had his moments in the game, but the Cowboys were able to run the football when they needed to. The first half was a clinic on sustaining a body attack against an opponent in a physical matchup, with the Cowboy offense grinding out yards. The Giant defense held enough to keep them within shouting distance of the Cowboys, but their offense wasn’t up to the task.
The Cowboy defense saw to that.
The Cowboys held the Giants to 45 yards in the first half, and eliminated the paltry Giant rushing attack, leaving Manning to have to carry the load. He was not able to. With a defensive line missing David Irving and Damontre’ Moore due to suspensions, and having cut Cedric Thornton after the final cut downs, the Cowboy line did not appear to be a strength, and looked to be challenged even against the lightly regarded Giant offensive line.
It was the Cowboy defense that dominated this matchup from the first series. DeMarcus Lawrence played an inspired game, notching two sacks against an overmatched Bobby Hart, and was in Manning’s face consistently. Charles Tapper, in his first game as a Cowboy, had his first sack, and had another pressure in the second half. The tandem of Maliek Collins and Stephen Paea held up well against the run.
In the end, the Cowboys dictated to the Giants on both sides of the ball. For a team that prides itself on being physical and boisterous, the Giants were out-physicalled, out-hit, out-played, and most of all, out-scored. Without star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., the Giant offense looked like a pop gun offense without anyone who can threaten a defense. With that offensive line, it may not matter.
The Cowboys exorcised some demons from 2016 tonight. Those demons were defeated at the line of scrimmage. Tonight, they sent a message to the Giants and the rest of the NFC East that when they control the line, they are very difficult to beat.
Other notes from the game:
- As important as controlling the line of scrimmage was in this game, tip your hat to the special teams of the Cowboys for their efforts tonight. Last year, in the 10-7 defeat to the Giants, Brad Wing kept the Cowboys in bad field position most of the night (Giants average field position – NYG 40, Cowboys average field position – DAL 21). Tonight was a completely different story. The Giants average starting field position was their 16 yard line, and the Cowboys average was at their 27 yard line. The Giants were staring at long fields all night long, and the special teams were a huge factor in this.
- You know that it's a good night for Dak Prescott when he seems to be off in terms of accuracy, and still manages to complete 61.5% of his throws, keep the Cowboy offense moving, and eliminate mistakes. He missed some throws in the red zone, but his play fake and touchdown pass to Jason Witten was a great show of ball handling.
- Dez Bryant and Janoris Jenkins had a chippy matchup all night long, but Jenkins got the better of the matchup once again. Bryant had his chances, but was unable to convert many of them. He did draw a somewhat questionable pass interference penalty, but Bryant was largely quiet.
- Terrance Williams gutted out a sprained ankle to make some critical plays in the first half to keep the chains moving, none more important than his 15 yard catch and run on a bubble screen on 3rd and 12, which led to a field goal.
- Ezekiel Elliott ran with power tonight, but didn’t look as elusive as usual. He seemed to be missing his extra gear. Still, his determined runs kept the chains moving, and one can see the difference in the Cowboy offense when he is on the field compared to Alfred Morris.
- Charles Tapper showed why the Cowboys were optimistic on his potential. He showed speed and explosiveness off the edge, and stressed Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart with his first step.
- Taco Charlton looked tentative, and needs to play faster. He was largely a non-factor in this game.
- Who noticed that Orlando Scandrick left the game with an injury? Didn’t think so. Chidobe Awuzie and Anthony Brown both played terrific games, and Brown picked off Manning for the second time in his career, smartly jumping a slant route. Both made Brandon Marshall invisible in this game. Awuzie appeared to have aggravated an ankle late in the game – hope it’s not serious.
- La’el Collins held his own against Jason Pierre-Paul, and played a very strong game tonight. He was physical, and frustrated Pierre-Paul into taking a shove at him in the fourth quarter. It was a good first effort tonight. No rest for the weary though – Collins gets Von Miller next.
- Chaz Green also played a solid game, and got some good push in the run game.
- Jaylon Smith achieved a pretty significant milestone in recovering enough to start the game tonight. He started off a little on the tentative side, but showed his speed, closing ability and delivered a big hit to Sterling Shepard that nearly caused a fumble.
- Next week’s game in Denver will be a test, but not an impossible one. If they can control Miller, and move the chains on the ground, they could start 2-0.
- We end with a congratulations to a future Hall of Famer on becoming the all-time Cowboy leader in receiving yards. Jason Witten has been an outstanding player, leader and football player for the Cowboys. To attain that record shows a remarkable consistency of performance. He also went over the 150 reception mark against the Giants, making him one of three players to exceed that threshold against one team.
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