Brett's Cowboys Corner

The Cowboys are 2-2 through four weeks and though I predicted a potential 2-2 start, I did not expect it to be in this context. The two wins have featured low scoring but winning offenses, no turnovers. In the two loses the offense has not been on fire to the point they can keep up in a high scoring game. Because the defense has had a lot of trouble in the run game in the two loses, against Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry. Though in the two wins, we saw a more stable run defense, filling gaps and making the correct angles…Although we know Jerome Ford and Devin Singletary are not like the others.

Have the Cowboys lived up to season expectations?

With a lot of unknowns coming into the season, I kept my expectations low and predicted a 10-7 record with a ceiling of 12 wins. I also said the Cowboys will finish 2nd in the division behind Philly.

I still feel we are on pace for a 10 win season assuming that we have corrected a lot of the run defense problems. If not, we may be on a path to a lot of rushing yards on us. Najee Harris coming up next, we may make him look like 2020 Alabama, Najee Harris. The Eagles are also having a lot of troubles they are figuring out which would be most optimal for the Cowboys to capitalize and win the division but instead the Commanders are leading.

Currently the Cowboys are 3rd in the NFL in passing yards per game, and last in rushing yards per game. The Cowboys defense is bottom half of the league in rush yards allowed and somewhere in the middle for pass yards allowed.

What is happening through four weeks? Here is the good, bad and ugly.

The Good

The best thing for the Cowboys is that all of their problems are happening early on in the season! This is a lot better than falling apart in December, which is usually when the problems start happening for Dallas. In comparison to the rest of the league, this is when they work out their issues as well, look to last year where the Chiefs were struggling offensively early on and went on to win the Super Bowl. But how about other teams that are 2-2 right now: Baltimore, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. They aren’t any good are they?

Standout Players

DeMarvion Overshown has shown a lot of great abilities at the linebacker position. He has been all over the field and may be the only productive player in the run defense. With a lot of injuries for the edge rushers, he may see an added role to chase the quarterback.

Cooper Beebe has learned a new position and has kept penalty errors to a minimal. There have been no snapping errors which was the highest concern. The ability to be a powerful blocker was expected and that has been shown by him through 4 weeks. I was worried about the Dexter Lawrence matchup and he played great.

Butter…Cash money, Brandon Aubrey, this is your best player and we are all happy. Let him kick from 70 McCarthy.

Prescott Working with What He Has

With zero support in the running game, and questionable play calling, overall Dak Prescott has been working well with the deck he has been given. The Cowboys offense has to pass 50 times to be anywhere near serviceable, and have to throw to set up opportunities to run.

Dak has two rookies on his offensive line, going his whole career with a future hall of famer in Tyron Smith protecting his blindside, he now has a rookie struggling to hold up the job.

Dak has also made the most of the lack of weapons at receiver, even with Lamb having some problematic moments. Dak currently is leading the NFL in tight window throws and his receivers are getting less than a yard of separation.

Where Can There Be Optimism?

All of the problems that we are about to dive into, all can be fixed. The personnel issues are minimal and could be addressed in trades. But we have a lot of problems rooted (how ironic) in our teams schematics. Conservative playcalling and problems with penalties can be reworked through practice and better coaching.

The Bad

The two home losses from Dallas have stood out and showcased a lot of problems for this team. There is a lot of ugly, but first the bad. Now the bad is more of things that don’t kill us in games but as of right now they aren’t winning us any games either.

Defensive Scheme

The defensive scheme has featured a lot of problems, especially in the run fits. It is only fair to look at Mike Zimmer’s scheme through four weeks and not try to weigh the two blowouts any heavier than the two good days. In my eyes Zimmer is 2 of 4 in successful defensive schemes. We showed a lot of improvement in run fits against the Giants. Against the Browns we were holding the Zimmer defense highly. Were the Saints and Ravens two poor outliers or are the Browns and Giants just that bad?

One thing that can become very ugly quickly is the missed tackles. Cowboys going into the Giants game were leading the league in missed tackles. The reason this is just bad is because it is early in the season and is common in teams getting their footing to have some of these mechanical issues. Missed tackles can easily be cleaned up but, when we review the team half way through the season this will either be off the list or in the ugly category.

Offensive Line Play

The offensive line play has been inconsistent and has some glaring flags. The line has to clean up the penalties and can’t let that become the norm of their game. Terrence Steele has shown some bad games and some good games…having a standout game against Brian Burns Thursday. Zack Martin has looked human this year, giving up a sack on the first pass play of the season, but you have to judge them on the entire game film, all ’65’ plays. For Martin, there used to be 0-2 bad plays, and now we are around 2-5 bad plays.

The two rookies Guyton and Beebe, you have to stay with them and understand they are only getting better as players. They have had their struggles and the Cowboys should continue to help them with double teams.

Where are my Playmakers?

CD Lamb was a focal point in the first half against the Giants, coming off a game where he was eliminated by a poor Ravens secondary. Some of the lack of involvement has been play calling, but there needs to be a superstar level from Lamb for the rest of the season.

It doesn’t help Lamb much, when he has no other receivers or backs taking some of the defensive pressure off his shoulders.

Now injured for a few weeks, but in four games, Parsons has not taken over a game and been that key superstar player. He will often see double teams but somehow Myles Garrett and TJ Watt will still end up with 15+ sacks this season.

The Ugly

Offensive Playcalling

The play calling has to improve, there is no creativity and there is a lot of curl and short dump offs that are consistent with this offense, there is no way in trying to scheme someone open. There is almost no run after the catch on throws down field because the receivers are not creating enough separation.

The run game has been non-existent and some of that is due to personnel, Rico Dowdle is now getting a majority of the snaps and has had some notable moments but he is far from a bell-cow back, meaning he needs support. But Zeke Elliott has been far from supportive, he comes in to make a few blocks and will be given play calls that inspire a 2016 Zeke to feast…but we are so far removed from that. A guy like Deuce Vaughn is getting on the field before Zeke, Deuce should be more of a gadget runner but is often used as a traditional inside zone back. Hunter Luepke has been your most complete back, having great moments in the pass, run and blocking game. Even being utilized in a crucial 4th and 1 situation. I think Dalvin Cook is still on the practice squad…asking for a friend.

As of right now, the receivers are Lamb, Ferguson and a bunch of guys. With Lamb and Ferguson not being able to carry the entire workload of the offense the first four weeks and the overall desire in the McCarthy offense to get everyone involved. Guys like Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert only have a few catches a game and don’t really make a huge impact. The team has looked towards players who have not played much NFL football or are in a different role than in previous seasons to make a bigger impact. Kavonte Turpin needing to be a receiver other than a gadget guy, and two young guys in their first ever NFL games, Jalen Brooks and Brevyn Spann-Ford.

A Laundry List of Injuries

Players started dropping like flies in the Thursday night game. The Cowboy’s are going to have to figure out all of the struggles listed above and now have to figure out how to do it without their top edges in Lawrence who is now on IR and will be out 4-6 week after foot surgery, and Parsons who has a high ankle sprain and will be out through the bye week.

Guys like Trevon Diggs, Marist Liufau and Zack Martin had problems during the game but came back in. Caelen Carson and Marquese Bell didn’t play against New York because of injuries and should be coming back to practice.

The new addition to the report, Cowboys are going to be down Brandin Cooks this upcoming week, now they are in real need of receiver help.