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but unfortunately the Cowboys are committed to him financially, like the Eagles are committed to Murray
Cowboys d not doing so good today
but unfortunately the Cowboys are committed to him financially, like the Eagles are committed to Murray
Time to Tank the season is over.There is no use of trying to win.....Cowboys need a good draft pick.
Yes, lose out and they're well in the top 10
For all the talk about the QBs, myriad injuries, Dez dropsies, loss of Murray, Williams' sudden inability to catch, off the field issues with a few guys, inconsistent pass rush and mediocre secondary... as it turns out, the REAL problem that ultimately did in the 2015 Cowboys season was actually:
(*** drum roll ***)
(*** drum roll ***)
(*** drum roll ***)
The five guys [burgers and fries] up front, that had been so dominant a year ago, that had been consistently ranked as the #1 or #2 offensive line all spring, summer, and preseason...
... have inexplicably sucked this year. They have certainly not played nearly up to their expectations, and it's gone criminally under the radar.
More analysis:
- The Cowboys lead the league in false start penalties on the offensive line, and are worst in the league in 3rd & 2 or less conversions (almost all of which have been running plays for the Cowboys that generally get snuffed out by opposing defensive line armadas). This is simply unacceptable for any offensive line that considers itself elite.
- For all practical purposes, the Cowboys' offensive line has been about league average this season. This is horrendous, considering they have the most talented unit in the league with very solid backups. While they are near the top of the league in time of possession per game, a lot of that has to do with having the slowest pace in the league where the clock is ubiquitously run down to 3, 2, 1 seconds (it's pretty amazing how they avoid delay of game penalties, but it seems as if Linehan and Garrett have it down to a 'T' there). They have been about average to slightly above average at pass protection, but it is simply nothing like last year when Romo consistently was afforded 5, 6, 7, 8, even 9 seconds in or near the pocket without facing serious trouble. In terms of rushing offense, their inconsistency has been on full display all year. They'll get some yardage, often in big chunks, but then they'll go through stretches where enemy D-lines will dominate them and stampede the Cowboy backs for minimal gains to losses. Today, McFadden had two great runs, but those were all McFadden after the line gave him the initial boost to get him running into the secondary. The O-line dominated on the Cowboys' only scoring drive, but proceeded to get dominated for the next several possessions in which the defense gave the Cowboys many opportunities to tie the game with a score on the other end.
- As far as shoring up this offensive line, I think the line needs to regain focus and confidence over the offseason and I would like a slight personnel tweak: La'el Collins is powerful and best suited as a tackle, so he should be the RT, while Ronald Leary (if we re-sign him for cheap) is probably the right man for the LG position, as he was part of the legendary 2014 offensive line that saw him consistently holding off JJ Watt in the Houston game last year. His early injury provided an opportunity for Collins that Collins made the most of, but Leary is a starting-quality offensive lineman with brute strength and good experience in an elite offensive line. Doug FalseStartForFree, on the other hand, needs to be demoted to backup or cut. The guy has never learned to cut down on penalties, and has certainly reverted back to his old form in the late 2000s/early 2010s when Romo would take a ton of sacks from the right defensive end position. The Cowboys should also give Chaz Green a look at guard and tackle positions, perhaps preserving the health of the cornerstone guys like Smith/Freddy/Martin and seeing what they've got in this third round guy. , give Bernadeau some burn in there at center since he's not coming back next year.
- One last thing: let's not forget that it was none other than the Cowboys' offensive line that cost Tony Romo his left collarbone TWICE in one season! He wasn't exactly running or going down on his own, people. The type of hits he got during his 3-¼ games he was out there, the pressures leading to 7 picks including 3 pick sixes and only 5 touchdowns didn't happen last year because the offensive line actually cared last year. It's time to step it up and re-learn how to dominate the line of scrimmage... this offseason. It's time to step the f*** up, boys.
They can't be serious w/ ManziellThe guy has already proven to be a up, some please kill Jerry.
Larry Allen 2.0
Wonder what La'el benches these days..
maybe callahan was more important to the line than anyone imagined.
that being said, if Lael had stopped on a dime in front of the Packers #21, DMC would have scored... no biggie because Turbin scored a couple plays later. The biggest issue was DMC not scoring on the first drive which would have made the game completely different from what it was.
The Cowboys will be back next year and should win the NFC East going away barring a second straight snakebitten year (unlikely). Even without Romo, they've teased us all season long, losing games they definitely should have won, getting into the red zone frequently and then settling for FG's and turnovers most of the time. The defense has had historically poor luck at coming up with takeaways; they went from 2nd best in the NFL to 32nd (dead worst) in one year, this is weird and should prove to be a fluke. When you are DEAD LAST in the NFL in all 3 of the following categories: takeaways, 3rd and 1 conversions, and red zone conversions, and still managing to stay in ball games until nearly the end, you know you have potential but it just isn't your year. They have most of the right pieces but definitely need to shore things up and improve in the secondary in the draft.
Cowboys 2015 Top 5 Draft Pick Scenario:
- Cowboys MUST lose out; AND
- One of Ravens or Chargers must win a game
// (Lions and Niners probably have a tougher schedule due to good division so they'll get a worse pick if tied with Cowboys; besides which, they play each other)
OR
- One of ans or Browns must win two games
Cowboys 2015 Playoff Scenario:
[HINT: this one is more complicated (by far)]
- Cowboys MUST win out; AND
- Giants MUST lose to Panthers in Week 15 (likely); AND
- Eagles MUST lose to Cardinals in Week 15 (likely); AND
{ IF
Redskins beat Bills in Week 15
THEN
Eagles MUST beat Redskins in Week 16; AND
Giants MUST lose to Vikings in Week 16; AND
Giants MUST beat Eagles in Week 17
// In this scenario, Giants would be going into Week 17 mathematically eliminated from the playoff. Would Tom Coughlin care to screw over the Eagles and try to get a win anyway, even if it meant the Redskins or Cowboys getting in?
{ ELSE IF
- Redskins lose to Bills in Week 15
THEN
{ IF Redskins beat Eagles in Week 16
// This would certainly be the best possible scenario for the Cowboys
THEN
{ IF Giants beat Vikings in Week 16
THEN Eagles must beat Giants in Week 17
{ ELSE IF Giants lose to Vikings in Week 16
THEN
Cowboys control own destiny. // Result of Week 17 Eagles/Giants game no longer matters provided Cowboys win out
}}}
{ IF Eagles beat Redskins in Week 16
THEN
Giants MUST lose to Vikings in Week 16; AND
Giants MUST beat Eagles in Week 17
}}}
Cliffnotes on that lengthy program:
- Cowboys are still in the hunt for both a playoff birth and a top 5 pick; a Week 15 win virtually eliminates them from a Top 5 pick, while a Week 15 loss virtually eliminates them from a playoff birth
- If the Cowboys win on Saturday, they can rest easy knowing the Giants and Eagles will likely take losses on Sunday. The Redskins, however, are at home playing the erratic Bills. If the Redskins win, the Cowboys' hopes are not dead, but they will then need the Eagles to beat the Redskins in Week 16 (at home) AND for the Giants to beat the Eagles in Week 17 (also at home).
- If the Cowboys win out and all 3 division rivals lose on Sunday, the only things that need to happen are another Eagles loss and another Giants loss. The Eagles are playing at home against the Redskins; assuming the Redskins lost on Sunday, they will have continued their streak of win, lose, win, lose, etc. so they might get a road win in Philly to continue the trend? A Philly loss to Washington paired with a New York loss up in cold Minnesota (pretty good chance of that) gives the Cowboys the opportunity to beat the Redskins in Week 17 and then book AT&T Stadium for a January 10th home playoff game regardless of the Eagles/Giants outcome that day. However, a Philly victory over Washington paired with a Giants win in Minnesota will mathematically eliminate both the Cowboys AND the Redskins, making the Week 17 PHI/NYG matchup an epic showdown for the division. Backtracking, if the Eagles do win against the Redskins in Week 16 and the Giants lose in Minnesota, the Giants will be mathematically eliminated but will need to beat Philly in Week 17 for the Cowboys to get in.
overall, given the scenarios I give the Cowboys about a 50/50 shot of winning the division if they win out, and about a 70/30 shot of getting a top 5 pick if they lose out (three games left).
There is one more scenario; if the Giants do beat Carolina (unlikely) the Eagles will need to lose out and the Giants will need to lose to the Vikings and then beat the Eagles.
Cowboys know they are officially eliminated with a loss so I think you see a lot of going for it on 4th & 1, 4th & 2, etc. Even in their own territory, especially if they fall behind or it's a high scoring game. Can't be conservative with backs officially against the wall.
Game plan now: Play hard, play well, but make sure you're in a position to lose the game.
Losing is the best decision from here on out tbh
yep. If it's 4th down and 1 from the edge of field goal range and you're tied or down by 1-3 points, punt. If you're down more, kick the field goal. Simple
Barring unusual cir stances, Cowboys schedule next year will most certainly be:
Eagles/Redskins/Giants 2x;
Home vs Lions
Away @ Packers // Cowboys will be extremely determined not to lose this one 3 times in a row
Home vs Bears
Away @ Vikings;
Home vs Bengals
Away @ Browns
Home vs Ravens
Away @ Steelers;
Home vs Saints, Falcons or Bucs
Away @ 49ers;
Should be a MUCH more favorable schedule. Excellent D getting even better, and really not having Romo this year ultimately proved the difference between 4–10 and 10–4 due to all the close game.
Also... PLEASE for the love of God, shut down Dez and Darren. They don't need to be spinning their wheels when they'll obviously be extremely important to next year's big run
Doubt they will shut down Dez for a variety of reasons, but mainly that draft kings (with people gambling and such) will demand that he plays. Jerry is too stupid to do something logical like that anyways.
At least shut down DMC?? We're going to need him to run 1500+ next year
Again, a logical decision, but he's also just starting to look comfortable with the offense so maybe benching him would be detrimental in the overall scheme of things.
He and Dez can look amazing in the offense all offseason. Now is the time to see what the third stringers/practice squad guys have, lose the last 2, get a top 5 pick, and help the Patriots by keeping the Giants out of the playoffs.
I was with you until this
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