Week 2: 10 things

[jterrell]

The reason i felt they wanted LVE, to replace Lee. Sadly it might be sooner than all expected. Heres to hoping Lee will become a coach.

Agreed. When people were basing it on Jaylon I was like, umm, Jaylon played 16 games with a brace and gained experience. Lee is 32 and missed 5 games.
People have trouble viewing things going forward but drafting is a 5 year cycle, not a 1 year deal.

 

[Sydla]

I still think the future is LVE at MIKE and Smith at WILL but it seems they might think the opposite.

 

[McKDaddy]

Byron Jones isn't elite. Chido is closer. I'd give Byron a decent offer with incentives for takeaways.

I wouldn't go to "elite" for either of them just yet but have you not watched the games? BJ has been darn near perfect. If he continues the year this way, he is due a large offer.

Chido may become the better player, but he isn't right now.

 

[Batman1980]

I wouldn't go to "elite" for either of them just yet but have you not watched the games? BJ has been darn near perfect. If he continues the year this way, he is due a large offer.

Chido may become the better player, but he isn't right now.

They both need to get better at playing the ball, neither of them are playmakers.

 

[McKDaddy]

They both need to get better at playing the ball, neither of them are playmakers.

I think Chido has better ball skills based on what little we have seen. Remember he didn't play much last year. I think he is trying to take care of his assignments before he gets too aggressive. With our safety issues, Richard may be telling them to keep everything in front of them rather than gamble & risk a safety not being in position.

 

[bpfred]

I wouldn't go to "elite" for either of them just yet but have you not watched the games? BJ has been darn near perfect. If he continues the year this way, he is due a large offer.

Chido may become the better player, but he isn't right now.

After two weeks, Pro Football Focus gives the following grades to Cowboys Corners:

Jones 84.4 (2nd in NFL)
Brown 76.2 (tied for 14th)
Awuzie 66.6 (42nd)

Just watching the first two games, other teams attack Awuzie far more than Jones. When the starters played in preseason, I noticed the same thing.

 

[Roadtrip635]

Eli definitely hears the footsteps, but he's always made weird faces. He made them when he was young, on the field, off the field, it doesn't matter. Eli Face is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[darthseinfeld]

1. Jaylon Smith is now our best linebacker. Go ahead and @ me....

2. You don't need lots of film break downs to use common sense. Dallas opened up offense and used read option with great results. 2 TE stuff still looks rough because you don't have any tight ends.

3. DAL controlled this game with a dominant defensive performance. Outside trouble corraling Barkley on 2 yard pass plays they did everything else exceptionally well.

4. Saquon Barkley is a stud but using that pick on a RB looks like a very bad move for NYG. VERY.

5. Does Eli have CTE? I say this half in jest but reality is those facial expression memes and sometimes odd plays are kinda scary. Mental health is worth protecting.

6. Bryon Jones better buy Kris Richard a very nice gift when he gets that new contract. BJ31 went from a package guy at times last year to a top 3 potential FA CB. He is going to be a very rich man. This is his political warchest he is building so maybe one day he names a street or day after Richard, lol.

7. Michael Gallup looks to me like most rookie WRs. A very real work in progress but one with insane upside. Assuming rookie WRs hit ground running is always a suckers bet.

8. 1st place, 1st place, 1st place. Eagles are who we thought they were. Old players get injured. Old teams underachieve.

9. Snacks Harrison is a stud. Kind of 1T Cowboys fans have been clamoring for YEARS. But Zeke had 79 yards rushing, Barkley had 29. I don't even know who played 1YT for DAL. Maybe fans overrate the position?

10. Taco is going to be a really good player. May be already. 1 sack, 1 stuff, 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble recovery last night. And he's never been suspended. And he's under team control for years. Hopefully fans can appreciate that and let go of old biases.

I thinks Woods has been a solid run defender as a 2 down player this year

 

[darthseinfeld]

Interesting. He needs to work on his name recognition through consistent performance on the field.

Heath Shuler didnt have too.....

 

[GoJacks]

Heath Shuler didnt have too.....

He was runner up for the Heisman

 

[baltcowboy]

LVE has only played on 1/3 of the defenses snaps but he looks like he'll see that total rise.
The 5 man LB Corps is really, really good.
Thomas, Wilson can play too to go with obvious Jaylon, Lee, LVE.

LVE really impressed me with how easily he tackled Barkley. He had enough size and length that he was just able to tackle him unlike the comedy of errors most guys saw.

I did not realize how important good linebackers are to a defense. The linebacker blitz has improved our pass rush. LVE and Jaylon's coverage skills has improved our secondary. If and it's a big if we get Gregory and Irving going. Look out!!!

 

[darthseinfeld]

He was runner up for the Heisman

Fell completely on his face in the NFL though

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

LVE has only played on 1/3 of the defenses snaps but he looks like he'll see that total rise.
The 5 man LB Corps is really, really good.
Thomas, Wilson can play too to go with obvious Jaylon, Lee, LVE.

LVE really impressed me with how easily he tackled Barkley. He had enough size and length that he was just able to tackle him unlike the comedy of errors most guys saw.

LVE still may need this season to get his instincts at the level of Lee and Smith, but man, when LVE goes to tackle someone that dude is getting tackled! He and Smith are going to be a very special duo in the years ahead.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

1. Jaylon Smith is now our best linebacker. Go ahead and @ me....

6. Bryon Jones better buy Kris Richard a very nice gift when he gets that new contract. BJ31 went from a package guy at times last year to a top 3 potential FA CB. He is going to be a very rich man. This is his political warchest he is building so maybe one day he names a street or day after Richard, lol.

Quoting these for a reason. Here are their first through third round picks from the last four drafts...

2014
Zack Martin - Starter. One of the best at his position in the NFL
DeMarcus Lawrence - Starter. One of the best at his position in the NFL
(No Third)

2015
Byron Jones - Starter. Looks Amazing this year
Randy Gregory - Starter. Jury still out, but hopeful that he has finally gotten his life straight.
Chaz Green - Bust

2016
Ezekiel Elliott - Starter. One of the best in the league.
Jaylon Smith - Starter. Looks like a potential Pro Bowler now that he is healthy
Maliek Collins - Played second highest amount of snaps amongst the DTs vs Giants. Starting to look like his rookie self again

2017
Taco Charlton - Played the highest percentage of snaps for DEs vs. Giants. Looking really good so far this season.
Chidobe Awuzie - Starter. Looks amazing this year.
Jourdan Lewis - Good rookie season, but seems that he is no longer a fit for the scheme

2018
LVE - What he showed Sunday night has me pretty excited for his future
Connor Williams - Starting on OL. Played much better in his second game
Michael Gallup - Played the third most snaps of the WRs (behind Beasley and Hurns)

No doubt that it took some time and patience for a few of these guys, but aside from Chaz Green being a flat out bust Dallas seems to have really figure out how to draft in these top three rounds.

 

[McKDaddy]

After two weeks, Pro Football Focus gives the following grades to Cowboys Corners:

Jones 84.4 (2nd in NFL)
Brown 76.2 (tied for 14th)
Awuzie 66.6 (42nd)

Just watching the first two games, other teams attack Awuzie far more than Jones. When the starters played in preseason, I noticed the same thing.

only makes sense to go after a guy who is still making single digit starts versus a guy in his fifth year. (think i am right on that but either way experience is the point)

 

[bodi]

Connor Williams - Starting on OL. Played much better in his second game

di9d not have K Short in his face

 

[VACowboy]

Great take, JT.

Did I really see two TE a bunch of times in spread formation?

 

[Stash]

1. Jaylon Smith is now our best linebacker. Go ahead and @ me....

2. You don't need lots of film break downs to use common sense. Dallas opened up offense and used read option with great results. 2 TE stuff still looks rough because you don't have any tight ends.

3. DAL controlled this game with a dominant defensive performance. Outside trouble corraling Barkley on 2 yard pass plays they did everything else exceptionally well.

4. Saquon Barkley is a stud but using that pick on a RB looks like a very bad move for NYG. VERY.

5. Does Eli have CTE? I say this half in jest but reality is those facial expression memes and sometimes odd plays are kinda scary. Mental health is worth protecting.

6. Bryon Jones better buy Kris Richard a very nice gift when he gets that new contract. BJ31 went from a package guy at times last year to a top 3 potential FA CB. He is going to be a very rich man. This is his political warchest he is building so maybe one day he names a street or day after Richard, lol.

7. Michael Gallup looks to me like most rookie WRs. A very real work in progress but one with insane upside. Assuming rookie WRs hit ground running is always a suckers bet.

8. 1st place, 1st place, 1st place. Eagles are who we thought they were. Old players get injured. Old teams underachieve.

9. Snacks Harrison is a stud. Kind of 1T Cowboys fans have been clamoring for YEARS. But Zeke had 79 yards rushing, Barkley had 29. I don't even know who played 1YT for DAL. Maybe fans overrate the position?

10. Taco is going to be a really good player. May be already. 1 sack, 1 stuff, 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble recovery last night. And he's never been suspended. And he's under team control for years. Hopefully fans can appreciate that and let go of old biases.

1. He's playing very well, but I need a bigger sample size than two games before I'll start thinking he's surpassed Lee, despite his early season struggles.
2. I agree and I certainly hope to see more of it. This offense needs to threaten teams. Both with Dak running with the ball and with taking shots down the field in the passing game.
3. Agreed. Another dominant performance. Let's go for three!
4. I think Barkley's going to be really really good. The Giants continue to pay for mistakes on their offensive line.
5. Gotta love Stupid Face!
6. Agreed, and I can't help but to wonder if they don't talk extension during the season? If nothing else, what was once viewed as a question decision to pick up that 5th year option now looks like a steal.
7. I'm waiting for Gallup to have his day. I can't help but to think it's coming soon.
8. Again, it's very, very early. I'm more concerned about the Cowboys taking care of their own business. I'll worry about the other teams when we play them.
9. I was surprised that Harrison didn't look to be matched up with Connor Williams as much as I expected.
10. I was a TJ Watt guy, but you can't help but to see how hard Taco is working. He's looking good and deserves credit on his own. His elevated play has allowed the defense to get their best players on the field.

 

[Verdict]

1. Jaylon Smith is now our best linebacker. Go ahead and @ me....

Based on play so far this year that would be accurate. Surprisingly, Lee would be no better currently than 4th on his own team.

2. You don't need lots of film break downs to use common sense. Dallas opened up offense and used read option with great results. 2 TE stuff still looks rough because you don't have any tight ends.

That's right. Moreover we played pretty conservative after we got the lead. We ignored style points in return for a greater probability that we would win.

3. DAL controlled this game with a dominant defensive performance. Outside trouble corraling Barkley on 2 yard pass plays they did everything else exceptionally well.

We played defense exceptionally well up to the point we went into the prevent defense, which was a mistake in my opinion. We actually increased our chance of losing the game by going prevent.

4. Saquon Barkley is a stud but using that pick on a RB looks like a very bad move for NYG. VERY.

True. The Giants could have traded back in every round and completely overhauled that team this year and still improved significantly at running back.

5. Does Eli have CTE? I say this half in jest but reality is those facial expression memes and sometimes odd plays are kinda scary. Mental health is worth protecting.

I'm not sure about CTE, but something is wrong with him. Historically, blitzing him was counter productive and he failed to make us pay all day for doing it.

6. Bryon Jones better buy Kris Richard a very nice gift when he gets that new contract. BJ31 went from a package guy at times last year to a top 3 potential FA CB. He is going to be a very rich man. This is his political warchest he is building so maybe one day he names a street or day after Richard, lol.


Agreed.

7. Michael Gallup looks to me like most rookie WRs. A very real work in progress but one with insane upside. Assuming rookie WRs hit ground running is always a suckers bet.

Part of this is that Dak hasn't really been looking for him.

8. 1st place, 1st place, 1st place. Eagles are who we thought they were. Old players get injured. Old teams underachieve.

Yeah. This could be our year to win it all. I have been saying that even after the week one loss. I took a lot of heat for it but this team is seriously coming together. I'm not sure why people can't see it.

9. Snacks Harrison is a stud. Kind of 1T Cowboys fans have been clamoring for YEARS. But Zeke had 79 yards rushing, Barkley had 29. I don't even know who played 1YT for DAL. Maybe fans overrate the position?

We are t over rating the 1 Tech, we have seemed to have found a very good player in Woods and good rotational pieces on the cheap. Kudos to the organization.

10. Taco is going to be a really good player. May be already. 1 sack, 1 stuff, 1 pass defensed, 1 fumble recovery last night. And he's never been suspended. And he's under team control for years. Hopefully fans can appreciate that and let go of old biases.

Taco sucked pretty badly last year and based on last year he was over drafted. He has shown signs of life this year. That's good let's hope it continues.

I actually like his "building a taco and putting hot sauce on it celebration" that he used this past game. It was hilarious. It will be a lot funnier if he is doing it weekly rather than three times this year. Hopefully it will be a regular celebration.

 

[Verdict]

LVE has only played on 1/3 of the defenses snaps but he looks like he'll see that total rise.
The 5 man LB Corps is really, really good.
Thomas, Wilson can play too to go with obvious Jaylon, Lee, LVE.

LVE really impressed me with how easily he tackled Barkley. He had enough size and length that he was just able to tackle him unlike the comedy of errors most guys saw.

Wilson played horrible last year for the most part. You can tell that someone is seriously coaching up this defense and I doubt it's Marinelli. Richard may be the difference maker.