Cowboys @ Saints

[R.J. MacReady]

I knew it was going to be tough playing in NO at night and didn't think we shouldn't have been favored, so I don't care too much about the loss. It's how we played that bothers me. Here is my bitching/venting so I can move on with my day:

Garrett still does not understand time management. Scenario 1 (actual scenario) Calling the TOs earlier leaves just a little bit more time on the clock for a possible pass to try to get into FG range. I don't understand why no one on the sideline is yelling at him to use the TOs earlier.

Scenario 2 we make them go 3 and out. We have no TOs left but a shit load of time. When you use your TOs on defense you save a full 35 seconds. When you use them on Offense you save half that because you are rushing to the ball and don't use all of the time and you can spike the ball.

Maybe it was only 12 points but the defense let them control the clock and shorten the game which gave us fewer chances on Offense and led to us scoring less. I don't think they played as well as everyone is saying because I thought some big penalties on NO ended some drives and kept the points low. We couldn't stop the run when we needed too. I love Awuzie, but damn does he need to make a play on the ball when in the air sometimes. He is always in great coverage and still gives up the completions. Quinn was the best player on the field last night IMO. He played at an All Pro level. LVE may have made some incredible splash plays but he missed Kamara about 4 times as well. Jaylon still not playing anywhere near the level he was last year. I thought it was Sean Lee's best game of the year so far. Armstrong seems to crash down hard and give up the edge every play. I bet the other teams see that on film. DBs seemed to have good coverage most of the night.

Saints DL played great and their DL dominated our OL, but the run blocking and Zeke were non-existent. You want to be the highest paid RB in the league, make a play when we need it most. The two fumbles (yeah Zeke's really wasn't of course) killed us. Someone between Dak and Kellen Moore needs to explain why we never threw downfield and everything was in a small crowded box. It's like this was the Offense from the last 2 years. We are struggling to run and no one is getting open so why isn't Pollard getting some snaps to try to make something happen? I get that he isn't as good as Zeke in pass protection, but get him a few snaps and the play when Zeke split out wide would have been perfect for him. Not having Gallup hurt us a lot last night, but the Saints didn't have Brees so we can't complain about injuries. Was Lattimore in such great coverage or was Cooper running more rounded routes and not as fast/crisp as usual? Asking because he did have an MRI this week. I can't say Dak played bad, but he didn't play well either. A couple of those throws he has to get out quicker and better. The interception isn't on him of course, but he threw a couple balls into coverage that could have been. The short pass to Cobb should have been caught, but if Dak puts it in a better spot it isn't an issue. There were so many 3rd and shorts that he easily could have picked up a couple of them with his legs. I didn't think he looked like the same guy from the first 3 weeks. It was also obvious that the audibles led to defensive changes which have been a problem for us the last 5 years or so. See defense, change call, defense changes call, play clock runs down, snap ball and run play into a bad defense for us.

There now I feel better. There was some good last night too, but that's for another post. One game is just one game unless it becomes a trend. We are 3-1 and still looking good and still a lot to like about this team's chances. The GB game is at home and if we get out of the funk from playing a tough road game and play well we should go into the Philly game at 5-1. Tell me any Cowboy fan wouldn't have taken that 30 days ago.

Most importantly, how is T Smith? First I thought it was a knee then on the replay I thought maybe an ankle?

Reports now are high ankle sprain.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

I will put on my tinfoil hat for a second.

Notice how they cut to commercial right after the Zeke fumble ..and when coverage returns it's already been decided the call stands ....and then you only get to see best replay once or twice.

 

[Godstree]

Last year we upset the Saints at Home without T Smith, Frederick and C. Williams. Now admittedly XSF was playing much better than Williams last year when he got hurt but the point is we were in big trouble with 3 OL out and still beat a really good team (better than us) and most likely because it was a surprisingly great home crowd for us that night. They will absolutely have a loud crowd behind them. It seems a lot on social media are assuming this to be a win because Brees is out. It's a huge loss, but still a team game. I think we have the edge but it's a toss up.

In years past with our slow, plodding receiving corps I would dread playing a team like the Saints on a "fast" field. This year with our weapons and spread out Offense I think it actually plays to our advantage and unlike prior years I'm more worried about a grass field in bad weather. We are down Gallup still of course which is huge for us, but I feel like a turf field just makes it that much harder for teams to cover all of our Offensive options and we are finally now explosive after the catch too. I think this also could be a game where we try to get Pollard the ball in space a little on screens or short passes and let him run. Obviously staying with the Saints receivers would be the same issue for our D but Thomas isn't that fast and with our speed at LB to hopefully keep Kamara from turning the corner and breaking short passes we are better equipped to handle it than in years past. Obviously it is almost impossible to shut Kamara down and that's not what I mean, but hopefully we can make one or two plays with our speed to limit the damage that other teams may not.

This is a huge game for us. Not in the standings because it doesn't matter much to me if we go 4-0 or 3-1 but as a barometer of where we are and how much we have improved on Offense. If Dak and our Offense have the same dominant outing tonight then win or lose we know we can compete with anyone and move teh ball on anyone and we know the first few weeks weren't a fluke. If we regress back to dump offs and 3rd and 12 screens and not converting on 3rd downs and receivers not being able to get open and Dak not making good decisions when rushed it will be more than a little disappointing for me. I'm pretty psyched for this game.

I was outside drinking my coffee and pondering last night's game and was going a long way around but came to the conclusion that our O needs some more tweaking. The one defining play on O last night was the Witten fumble. Wit has been so freaking stable I ain't mad at him, just the timing. Crazy as he may have been the biggest shot downfield we had last night. (I missed a bit of game as my TV went goofy, worked on it only to find out it was my cable box and I had to reset so missed some).

The other side did what they had to. F if Quinn ain't a bad ass. NO got FG's and beat us. We can't let that happen and that loss was not the D's fault. If you can't score, you can't win in this league.

Something else I noticed, our WR just didn't come through last night. Coop with some and Cobb with some that were just shy of something. A WR is supposed to make those close balls a catch.

 

[Godstree]

Let's go!!! I will always hate these dark blue jerseys lol

Dad said the same thing to me about 15 minutes before kick off

 

[Godstree]

Quinn played his tail off

That dude is an athlete. If they made him a TE.....

 

[Godstree]

When the other team doesn’t score a TD at home , you have to win. We didn’t do it.

yep

 

[Godstree]

Come on now...12 points in their building...if we did that every week we'd be the 85 Bears

Agree. They got a few licks in on us but holding one of the most high powered Offenses in history to 12 in the dome means it ain't on the D.

I got his sentiment though.

 

[Godstree]

I knew it was going to be tough playing in NO at night and didn't think we shouldn't have been favored, so I don't care too much about the loss. It's how we played that bothers me. Here is my bitching/venting so I can move on with my day:

Garrett still does not understand time management. Scenario 1 (actual scenario) Calling the TOs earlier leaves just a little bit more time on the clock for a possible pass to try to get into FG range. I don't understand why no one on the sideline is yelling at him to use the TOs earlier.

Scenario 2 we make them go 3 and out. We have no TOs left but a shit load of time. When you use your TOs on defense you save a full 35 seconds. When you use them on Offense you save half that because you are rushing to the ball and don't use all of the time and you can spike the ball.

Maybe it was only 12 points but the defense let them control the clock and shorten the game which gave us fewer chances on Offense and led to us scoring less. I don't think they played as well as everyone is saying because I thought some big penalties on NO ended some drives and kept the points low. We couldn't stop the run when we needed too. I love Awuzie, but damn does he need to make a play on the ball when in the air sometimes. He is always in great coverage and still gives up the completions. Quinn was the best player on the field last night IMO. He played at an All Pro level. LVE may have made some incredible splash plays but he missed Kamara about 4 times as well. Jaylon still not playing anywhere near the level he was last year. I thought it was Sean Lee's best game of the year so far. Armstrong seems to crash down hard and give up the edge every play. I bet the other teams see that on film. DBs seemed to have good coverage most of the night.

Saints DL played great and their DL dominated our OL, but the run blocking and Zeke were non-existent. You want to be the highest paid RB in the league, make a play when we need it most. The two fumbles (yeah Zeke's really wasn't of course) killed us. Someone between Dak and Kellen Moore needs to explain why we never threw downfield and everything was in a small crowded box. It's like this was the Offense from the last 2 years. We are struggling to run and no one is getting open so why isn't Pollard getting some snaps to try to make something happen? I get that he isn't as good as Zeke in pass protection, but get him a few snaps and the play when Zeke split out wide would have been perfect for him. Not having Gallup hurt us a lot last night, but the Saints didn't have Brees so we can't complain about injuries. Was Lattimore in such great coverage or was Cooper running more rounded routes and not as fast/crisp as usual? Asking because he did have an MRI this week. I can't say Dak played bad, but he didn't play well either. A couple of those throws he has to get out quicker and better. The interception isn't on him of course, but he threw a couple balls into coverage that could have been. The short pass to Cobb should have been caught, but if Dak puts it in a better spot it isn't an issue. There were so many 3rd and shorts that he easily could have picked up a couple of them with his legs. I didn't think he looked like the same guy from the first 3 weeks. It was also obvious that the audibles led to defensive changes which have been a problem for us the last 5 years or so. See defense, change call, defense changes call, play clock runs down, snap ball and run play into a bad defense for us.

There now I feel better. There was some good last night too, but that's for another post. One game is just one game unless it becomes a trend. We are 3-1 and still looking good and still a lot to like about this team's chances. The GB game is at home and if we get out of the funk from playing a tough road game and play well we should go into the Philly game at 5-1. Tell me any Cowboy fan wouldn't have taken that 30 days ago.

Most importantly, how is T Smith? First I thought it was a knee then on the replay I thought maybe an ankle?

About Dak, I agree he had some obvious "run for 10 yards before you are touched" plays and he did not take advantage of them. He ain't afraid to run so I put that on the coaching.

 

[Godstree]

I will put on my tinfoil hat for a second.

Notice how they cut to commercial right after the Zeke fumble ..and when coverage returns it's already been decided the call stands ....and then you only get to see best replay once or twice.

Sometimes you do have to wonder.

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

I was outside drinking my coffee and pondering last night's game and was going a long way around but came to the conclusion that our O needs some more tweaking. The one defining play on O last night was the Witten fumble. Wit has been so freaking stable I ain't mad at him, just the timing. Crazy as he may have been the biggest shot downfield we had last night. (I missed a bit of game as my TV went goofy, worked on it only to find out it was my cable box and I had to reset so missed some).

The other side did what they had to. F if Quinn ain't a bad ass. NO got FG's and beat us. We can't let that happen and that loss was not the D's fault. If you can't score, you can't win in this league.

Something else I noticed, our WR just didn't come through last night. Coop with some and Cobb with some that were just shy of something. A WR is supposed to make those close balls a catch.

The play to jarwin in the drive where the cowboys scored the TD was another good play. Really no excuse to not attacking the deep middle more. The saints were not covering deep middle very well . Cobb had two huge drops. Give some credit to the Saints as their DLine really was playing well. Dak should have thrown the ball away on the play where Tyron Smith got hurt.

I thought maybe the offense had turned the corner,but obviously not. Just too sloppy. I got low expectations now going forward especially with Tyron potentially missing several games. Cowboys probably have hard time making playoffs let alone the Super Bowl

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

I knew it was going to be tough playing in NO at night and didn't think we shouldn't have been favored, so I don't care too much about the loss. It's how we played that bothers me. Here is my bitching/venting so I can move on with my day:

Garrett still does not understand time management. Scenario 1 (actual scenario) Calling the TOs earlier leaves just a little bit more time on the clock for a possible pass to try to get into FG range. I don't understand why no one on the sideline is yelling at him to use the TOs earlier.

Scenario 2 we make them go 3 and out. We have no TOs left but a shit load of time. When you use your TOs on defense you save a full 35 seconds. When you use them on Offense you save half that because you are rushing to the ball and don't use all of the time and you can spike the ball.

Maybe it was only 12 points but the defense let them control the clock and shorten the game which gave us fewer chances on Offense and led to us scoring less. I don't think they played as well as everyone is saying because I thought some big penalties on NO ended some drives and kept the points low. We couldn't stop the run when we needed too. I love Awuzie, but damn does he need to make a play on the ball when in the air sometimes. He is always in great coverage and still gives up the completions. Quinn was the best player on the field last night IMO. He played at an All Pro level. LVE may have made some incredible splash plays but he missed Kamara about 4 times as well. Jaylon still not playing anywhere near the level he was last year. I thought it was Sean Lee's best game of the year so far. Armstrong seems to crash down hard and give up the edge every play. I bet the other teams see that on film. DBs seemed to have good coverage most of the night.

Saints DL played great and their DL dominated our OL, but the run blocking and Zeke were non-existent. You want to be the highest paid RB in the league, make a play when we need it most. The two fumbles (yeah Zeke's really wasn't of course) killed us. Someone between Dak and Kellen Moore needs to explain why we never threw downfield and everything was in a small crowded box. It's like this was the Offense from the last 2 years. We are struggling to run and no one is getting open so why isn't Pollard getting some snaps to try to make something happen? I get that he isn't as good as Zeke in pass protection, but get him a few snaps and the play when Zeke split out wide would have been perfect for him. Not having Gallup hurt us a lot last night, but the Saints didn't have Brees so we can't complain about injuries. Was Lattimore in such great coverage or was Cooper running more rounded routes and not as fast/crisp as usual? Asking because he did have an MRI this week. I can't say Dak played bad, but he didn't play well either. A couple of those throws he has to get out quicker and better. The interception isn't on him of course, but he threw a couple balls into coverage that could have been. The short pass to Cobb should have been caught, but if Dak puts it in a better spot it isn't an issue. There were so many 3rd and shorts that he easily could have picked up a couple of them with his legs. I didn't think he looked like the same guy from the first 3 weeks. It was also obvious that the audibles led to defensive changes which have been a problem for us the last 5 years or so. See defense, change call, defense changes call, play clock runs down, snap ball and run play into a bad defense for us.

There now I feel better. There was some good last night too, but that's for another post. One game is just one game unless it becomes a trend. We are 3-1 and still looking good and still a lot to like about this team's chances. The GB game is at home and if we get out of the funk from playing a tough road game and play well we should go into the Philly game at 5-1. Tell me any Cowboy fan wouldn't have taken that 30 days ago.

Most importantly, how is T Smith? First I thought it was a knee then on the replay I thought maybe an ankle?

All good takes. I too, didn’t think our defense was as good as it could have been. Yes 12 points is great and 3-4 sacks?? and an Int. Not sure about the sacks- I know Quinn had 2, Collins 1, Jaylon 1. I wasn’t sure if they gave Tank credit for one or not. We couldn’t seem to get off the field though. It was a super fast game it seemed. Not many incompletions and running plays kept the clock ticking. Lots of flags- some seem to stop the clock, others don’t. Just a wierd game. NO outplayed us on both sides of the ball.

 

[PDay8810]

well....the radio media folks are blaming Garrett, said he put the brakes on Kellen.

will say regardless if it;s cowboys, the refs are bad in most all games. I've never seen it this bad. Game after game boils down to the calls, completely disturbs the flow of the games.

one player bitch....Jaylon Smith seldom steps up and makes a play. Best he does is blitz and chase players. Starting to think Lee should play more Mike.

Injuries are a huge part of football and I won't become PE1 and use that as an excuse. The better team won last night

 

[Godstree]

well....the radio media folks are blaming Garrett, said he put the brakes on Kellen.

will say regardless if it;s cowboys, the refs are bad in most all games. I've never seen it this bad. Game after game boils down to the calls, completely disturbs the flow of the games.

one player bitch....Jaylon Smith seldom steps up and makes a play. Best he does is blitz and chase players. Starting to think Lee should play more Mike.

Injuries are a huge part of football and I won't become PE1 and use that as an excuse. The better team won last night

Agree about the better team winning. I do think their coaching staff did a better job than ours last week

 

[jarntt]

Reports now are high ankle sprain.

Oh crap. Thanks for the 411. This could be bad

 

[jarntt]

I will put on my tinfoil hat for a second.

Notice how they cut to commercial right after the Zeke fumble ..and when coverage returns it's already been decided the call stands ....and then you only get to see best replay once or twice.

Clearly that was an obvious overturn after seeing he was down, so I don't get what happened there. But...if Zeke doesn't fumble we don't put it in the refs hands in the first place. Maybe they felt their camera angle didn't actually show his elbow making contact? Funny because that's usually called down by contact live 90% of the time.

 

[PDay8810]

Agree about the better team winning. I do think their coaching staff did a better job than ours last week

yep....the other side is also professional.

best oline in football got punched in the mouth. the story will be can they get off the mat

 

[PDay8810]

Clearly that was an obvious overturn after seeing he was down, so I don't get what happened there. But...if Zeke doesn't fumble we don't put it in the refs hands in the first place. Maybe they felt their camera angle didn't actually show his elbow making contact? Funny because that's usually called down by contact live 90% of the time.

not sure it was a fumble as much as a good stripe. A pattern is developing....what ever the call on the field is most likely not going to be overturned.

 

[jarntt]

About Dak, I agree he had some obvious "run for 10 yards before you are touched" plays and he did not take advantage of them. He ain't afraid to run so I put that on the coaching.

and the pass rush. Maybe if we rolled him out a little more on some of those plays he would have had an easier transition from passer to runner. Just weird we didn't even really attempt it much.

Another thing is when you have a QB with Dak's size and athletic ability you need to run more QB sneaks. I don't care how good Zeke is, most other teams just run their QB on those 3rd and 4th and ones from time to time and they never seem to be stopped and with our Center and Dak we should be even better than most.

 

[jarntt]

not sure it was a fumble as much as a good stripe. A pattern is developing....what ever the call on the field is most likely not going to be overturned.

Yeah, technically stripped. I use the terms interchangeable because the result is the same but yeah the defender did a good job there.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Clearly that was an obvious overturn after seeing he was down, so I don't get what happened there. But...if Zeke doesn't fumble we don't put it in the refs hands in the first place. Maybe they felt their camera angle didn't actually show his elbow making contact? Funny because that's usually called down by contact live 90% of the time.

Here is the problem with that. I think you are going to see more of the officials letting it go from now on instead of blowing it dead. It cost NO a TD a couple of weeks ago, by them blowing it dead. If they let it go and call it a fumble then it’s reviewed no matter what and nobody loses a challenge or anything. Of course the problem with that is will they overturn it and will there be exact evidence to overturn it. I mean I thought Zeke was down but then Collinsworth said the ball may have been moving?? When I heard may , that usually means not exact.
The PIs - I was wondering how they were going to work considering it seems u can make a case for a PI on just about every contested play.