CFZ What yesterday revealed about our weaknesses

[foofighters]

When the pre-season with all its hype and predictions ended, we as fans and the Cowboys sports media all pointed out the many strengths of this team coupled with the areas of the team where we are vulnerable. This is a very talented football team. But, like all NFL teams, it does have problems.

In my view the three biggest vulnerabilities and question marks about this team showed up yesterday:

1. The OL depth is a concern- we all knew go into the season that Tyron Smith is a ticking time bomb for an injury. Then Tyler Biadz went down and Zack Martin too. Suddenly having 3 backup lineman for one game was a problem. Edoga looked awful at LT. Apparently Tyler Smith’s ham is still too tender to allow him to play LT. We all have loved TJ Bass and his UFA story. But he’s still very raw with a lot to learn.
2. The inability to stop the run has dogged this team for years- are we back to this being a problem? This team gave up 185 yards in the first half! And our LBs looked out position or easily blocked by the cards most of the day. I don’t think we’re as bad against the run as we saw yesterday but it has been a problem for so long, it does make you wonder.
3. This team has been mentally soft for most of the last 27 years, regardless of coaches. For far too long, the Cowboys have been soft. Especially mentally. Adversity strikes and this team stumbles. Not 100% of the time of course, but far too often.

It’s a long season and we still have 14 games left. No need to push any panic buttons. But the above problems are not a surprise. This team’s ability to improve in those areas will say a lot about our chances of post season success.

1. There's a fair number of us who have had concerns with this for a few years now. Yet, we don't have a real solution yet.
3. This is the Jerry Jones factor. It doesn't matter if it's Chan Gailey, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett or MM. Or Romo or Dak. What's the one constant?

 

[nate dizzle]

Many of us had voiced the concern prior to the Jets game that this defense is susceptible to a team that is able to stay in the game and remain committed to running the ball. We saw flashes of it in the Giants game before things got out of hand and the defense steam rolled them out of a gamelan with multiple turnovers and sacks.

Then they did the same thing to the Jets, while the offense struggled to produce points in the redzone, but we all just played that off as a conservative approach in a game that we didn't have to lay our cards out on the table on offense.

Well this week those fears became reality when the defense couldn't hand the offense 3 extra possessions and the offense was unable to move the ball consistently or score points in the redzone.

Of great concern is the fact that we have 0 TD passes to WRs through 3 games and Dak is not only last in the league in ADOT but, 33rd. So he's last -1. We brought in Cooks to stretch the field and so far that was a waste because we aren't throwing beyond 6 yards on average.

If this offense is going to continue to struggle to crack 20 points without turnovers and short fields, then we are in trouble, because even with a great defense, they are going to have some off games and the offense has to start carrying some weight.

 

[Rockport]

When the pre-season with all its hype and predictions ended, we as fans and the Cowboys sports media all pointed out the many strengths of this team coupled with the areas of the team where we are vulnerable. This is a very talented football team. But, like all NFL teams, it does have problems.

In my view the three biggest vulnerabilities and question marks about this team showed up yesterday:

1. The OL depth is a concern- we all knew go into the season that Tyron Smith is a ticking time bomb for an injury. Then Tyler Biadz went down and Zack Martin too. Suddenly having 3 backup lineman for one game was a problem. Edoga looked awful at LT. Apparently Tyler Smith’s ham is still too tender to allow him to play LT. We all have loved TJ Bass and his UFA story. But he’s still very raw with a lot to learn.
2. The inability to stop the run has dogged this team for years- are we back to this being a problem? This team gave up 185 yards in the first half! And our LBs looked out position or easily blocked by the cards most of the day. I don’t think we’re as bad against the run as we saw yesterday but it has been a problem for so long, it does make you wonder.
3. This team has been mentally soft for most of the last 27 years, regardless of coaches. For far too long, the Cowboys have been soft. Especially mentally. Adversity strikes and this team stumbles. Not 100% of the time of course, but far too often.

It’s a long season and we still have 14 games left. No need to push any panic buttons. But the above problems are not a surprise. This team’s ability to improve in those areas will say a lot about our chances of post season success.

IMHO, the team mentally took the day off. They had just come off 2 dominating wins, then lose their #1 CB. Playing in the NFL is tough on the players. Giving 100% as they did in the first 2 games and you’re a bit banged up. They thought since Arizona was supposedly tanking, they could just got through the motions and win. Obviously the coaching staff felt the same way. Just an all around stinker of a game except for the kicker.

Going forward, we will see what this team is mentally made up of. I’m sticking with my 13-4 prediction.

 

[Rockport]

Many of us had voiced the concern prior to the Jets game that this defense is susceptible to a team that is able to stay in the game and remain committed to running the ball. We saw flashes of it in the Giants game before things got out of hand and the defense steam rolled them out of a gamelan with multiple turnovers and sacks.

Then they did the same thing to the Jets, while the offense struggled to produce points in the redzone, but we all just played that off as a conservative approach in a game that we didn't have to lay our cards out on the table on offense.

Well this week those fears became reality when the defense couldn't hand the offense 3 extra possessions and the offense was unable to move the ball consistently or score points in the redzone.

Of great concern is the fact that we have 0 TD passes to WRs through 3 games and Dak is not only last in the league in ADOT but, 33rd. So he's last -1. We brought in Cooks to stretch the field and so far that was a waste because we aren't throwing beyond 6 yards on average.

If this offense is going to continue to struggle to crack 20 points without turnovers and short fields, then we are in trouble, because even with a great defense, they are going to have some off games and the offense has to start carrying some weight.

You have a link to your previous concerns?

 

[Rockport]

1. There's a fair number of us who have had concerns with this for a few years now. Yet, we don't have a real solution yet.
3. This is the Jerry Jones factor. It doesn't matter if it's Chan Gailey, Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett or MM. Or Romo or Dak. What's the one constant?

Extreme overreaction. Typical here.

 

[Established1971]

When the pre-season with all its hype and predictions ended, we as fans and the Cowboys sports media all pointed out the many strengths of this team coupled with the areas of the team where we are vulnerable. This is a very talented football team. But, like all NFL teams, it does have problems.

In my view the three biggest vulnerabilities and question marks about this team showed up yesterday:

1. The OL depth is a concern- we all knew go into the season that Tyron Smith is a ticking time bomb for an injury. Then Tyler Biadz went down and Zack Martin too. Suddenly having 3 backup lineman for one game was a problem. Edoga looked awful at LT. Apparently Tyler Smith’s ham is still too tender to allow him to play LT. We all have loved TJ Bass and his UFA story. But he’s still very raw with a lot to learn.
2. The inability to stop the run has dogged this team for years- are we back to this being a problem? This team gave up 185 yards in the first half! And our LBs looked out position or easily blocked by the cards most of the day. I don’t think we’re as bad against the run as we saw yesterday but it has been a problem for so long, it does make you wonder.
3. This team has been mentally soft for most of the last 27 years, regardless of coaches. For far too long, the Cowboys have been soft. Especially mentally. Adversity strikes and this team stumbles. Not 100% of the time of course, but far too often.

It’s a long season and we still have 14 games left. No need to push any panic buttons. But the above problems are not a surprise. This team’s ability to improve in those areas will say a lot about our chances of post season success.

yes yes and yes

 

[foofighters]

Extreme overreaction. Typical here.

How? How is dealing with established patterns and "extreme overreaction?" I'll wait but I am sure all you'll give is a cute answer instead of getting into an actual educated football response...

 

[Robster8989]

I didn’t think the backup offensive linemen performed that badly. Certainly not enough to be the reason why this team lost.

Even Edoga - and I’ve been an outspoken critic - was acceptable at left tackle. And I don’t think people can still question why they kept Brock Hoffman.

LVE is bad. He looks slow, out of position too often, and lacking instincts. I don’t know what’s happened to him since his rookie year.

My biggest issue aside from the overall defensive performance is with the quarterback.

On a day where he and the offense needed to carry the team, he failed.

I agree.
Dak was under more pressure for sure, but the line didn't really totally breakdown, those guys were certainly not good but they weren't horrible. We actually ran the ball well too.
Re LVE, you are right again. When I isolate on him I just see a guy who is playing out of position. He is not a "put your nose in the pile" type of attacking MLB. Watch Bobby Wagner or Fred Warner. Always flowing towars the LOS and the ball. LVE backs away from the LOS and makes a lot of tackles from behind, after the back gains significant yardage. And Clark and our others LBs don't look like contributors on a playoff team. Our D line has masked a lot of issues the first 2 weeks, and even they failed this week. Like they were unprepared for a QB who could move, and then they were all seeking sack glory and forgot to stop the run first.
I'm disappointed in those guys, even Micah. They should have gotten together and said "look, we lost a ProBowl CB, we need to all step it up", instead they all chased sacks and let the team down.
And then there is our QB. If you're paid like a superstar, you need to give a superstar performance, and Dak just continues to lay eggs at key times. God I hope we don't give this guy 50 mil a year.

 

[Proof]

Our run fits yesterday were awful. Guys we’re getting 5-6 yards before they were even touched.

I just don't get it. It's obviously an area of concern they've attempted to address, they have the personnel and talent, and it's not as if they were selling out for sacks yesterday. just wild

 

[Redline360]

OL depth is one of the hardest things to come by in the NFL. Hell most teams starting OL talent is piss poor to begin with. The OL we marched out yesterday even with three back ups may still even be better then some teams starting depth imo. They played much better the second half once they settled in.

Run defense has always been a problem and is normally the achilles heel most years. LB play was atrocious yesterday.

Redzone issues is the biggest concern. Seems like MM doesn't trust Dak for some reason.

 

[acr731]

In defense of the team I don’t think any team could win with 4 injuries on Thursday and one being a season ending with your second best defender. The game plan went right out the window two days before Sunday.

Tell that to the 2011 Packers who won a super bowl while missing about half of their starters. Good teams overcome. Bad ones fold up their tents and go into hiding like we saw yesterday.

 

[Bagman]

LVE will never get back to his rookie form, and Clark doesn't look all that either. So yea, our starting linebackers are pretty weak

Why the heck do we CONSTANTLY employ a 2 LB scheme? We're begging for the other teams to give us a heavy dose of running. I understand that it's a passing league and nickle defense is the rage. But you're asking to be run over in a 4-2-5 scheme

 

[Starstruck22]

We will see next Sunday if that was a temporary setback or cyclical trend. The Patriots record is not indicative of the team they are. They will test the Cowboys and apply a heavy dose of a motivated Zeke.

The cowboys are going down. And this will be the year that fans will actually start to see the emperor has no clothes.

 

[baltcowboy]

Tell that to the 2011 Packers who won a super bowl while missing about half of their starters. Good teams overcome. Bad ones fold up their tents and go into hiding like we saw yesterday.

The 2011 Packers team struggled in the regular season. They won all their playoff games on the road.

 

[FVSTONE]

When the pre-season with all its hype and predictions ended, we as fans and the Cowboys sports media all pointed out the many strengths of this team coupled with the areas of the team where we are vulnerable. This is a very talented football team. But, like all NFL teams, it does have problems.

In my view the three biggest vulnerabilities and question marks about this team showed up yesterday:

1. The OL depth is a concern- we all knew go into the season that Tyron Smith is a ticking time bomb for an injury. Then Tyler Biadz went down and Zack Martin too. Suddenly having 3 backup lineman for one game was a problem. Edoga looked awful at LT. Apparently Tyler Smith’s ham is still too tender to allow him to play LT. We all have loved TJ Bass and his UFA story. But he’s still very raw with a lot to learn.
2. The inability to stop the run has dogged this team for years- are we back to this being a problem? This team gave up 185 yards in the first half! And our LBs looked out position or easily blocked by the cards most of the day. I don’t think we’re as bad against the run as we saw yesterday but it has been a problem for so long, it does make you wonder.
3. This team has been mentally soft for most of the last 27 years, regardless of coaches. For far too long, the Cowboys have been soft. Especially mentally. Adversity strikes and this team stumbles. Not 100% of the time of course, but far too often.

It’s a long season and we still have 14 games left. No need to push any panic buttons. But the above problems are not a surprise. This team’s ability to improve in those areas will say a lot about our chances of post season success.

Say what you want, but this club just isn't that good. Personally, I was very skeptical of all the love this team was getting for beating up on two weak NFL clubs. The Cowboys remind me a lot of the Jets, they have a great defense if Parsons isn't over worked and a lousy offense that doesn't help out it's defense. This was only game 3 and Parsons already looked over worked and tired, Arizona's coaching staff should win some type of award this week for the game plan they had to take Parsons out of the equation in the first half! They ran plays that made him look like an average LBer having a bad first half of a game. As for the offense, they can't seem to keep drives alive and if they do the result is a field goal or a failed fourth down pass in the end zone. After this debacle it's very apparent that the Cowboys have a ways to go before they can catch a number of teams in the NFC................

 

[Rockport]

How? How is dealing with established patterns and "extreme overreaction?" I'll wait but I am sure all you'll give is a cute answer instead of getting into an actual educated football response...

It’s just ONE game after TWO dominating wins. If you want to quit, run away and hide then you do you. Myself, I’ll wait and see how the FOURTEEN remaining games play out.

 

[foofighters]

It’s just ONE game after TWO dominating wins. If you want to quit, run away and hide then you do you. Myself, I’ll wait and see how the FOURTEEN remaining games play out.

Like I said, you got cute. Never mind the pattern of 27 years worth of football we've seen. We've consistently seen the same problems that Bobhaze listed for years now. I am not running. Just pointing out what this team has consistently showed the world for a while now.

 

[Praxit]

..and with all that. I still feel this is better team then last years.

MM and DQ, gotta get back to basics. Draw on the talent of these guys.

It will be fine. Every team has an Achilles somewhere.

 

[Rockport]

Like I said, you got cute. Never mind the pattern of 27 years worth of football we've seen. We've consistently seen the same problems that Bobhaze listed for years now. I am not running. Just pointing out what this team has consistently showed the world for a while now.

Using your logic, why are you here if the Cowboys will never win as long as the Jones are running the show?

 

[Cowboys5217]

The lack of any moxi in the red zone is the biggest killer right now. It's almost like it is in the offense's head, and now they have some sort of performance anxiety down near the goal line.