FRISCO, Texas– Back with 3 quick subjects as the Cowboys look to rebound from last Sundays 20-17 loss in Los Angeles:
The Cowboys will require to apply pressure to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan this Sunday. Reducing the yardage on first and second down will be key.
LA balanced 6.4 backyards on first down, utilizing quick throws to the outside and finding running room between the deals with. (By contrast, the Cowboys offense had 24 first downs but were in third-and-long nine times.).
I Have No Idea … exactly what the Cowboys got out of Aldon Smith early in the season, but he didnt appear like a guy playing his first NFL video game in almost five fiscal year.
” Just his capability to dominate at the point of attack often. Thats uncommon. Thats not typical,” Nolan said. “Everybodys a professional athlete in the NFL and everyones an excellent gamer. Some guys are distinctively strong, and I believe he is.”.
Clearly theres concern about seeing just 17 points from a group this packed at the ability positions. I get it. They were in position to score far more.
Bottom line, it didnt take place. The Cowboys had 380 overall backyards however reached the end zone on just 2 of 4 journeys inside the Rams 20 (50% conversion rate).
Smith is a lean, powerful 285 pounds– about 20 pounds heavier than his playing weight early in his career with San Francisco. You would not understand it by his speed off the breeze.
Smith played 54 of 73 protective snaps versus the Rams. He lined up everywhere: left edge, right edge, standing within. He had the second-most deals with on the group (12 ), the only sack, the just take on for loss, and his third-quarter pressure on Goff directly led to a Chidobe Awuzie interception.
Had heavy pressure not forced 2 Dak Prescott incompletions from the Rams 15-yard late in the 3rd quarter, maybe the Cowboys do not go for a Greg Zuerlein basket there.
Last year the offense ranked initially in total lawns (431.5 per video game) however ranked 15th in red zone efficiency, scoring goals on 57.4% of trips inside the 20. They were 1-7 when they were 50% or listed below like Sunday night.
” The first and 2nd down passes, I dont know that they decreased the field more than a half lots times at a lot of where they really had a vertical principle, which wasnt up until late in the game when they type of tossed some in there that they hadnt done in the first half or even in the very first three quarters,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Nolan stated. “And thats where a lot of pass rushers get their action, however its hard for a pass rusher to get a sack on a bootleg or a sack on a fast empty pass, things like that.”.
The Cowboys still do not have a problem stacking up lawns, but they still require to complete more drives when theyre in scoring position.
With no deep third downs to convert, the Rams had the ability to prevent longer-developing pass plays. That prevented Lawrence, Smith, Everson Griffen and Co. from teeing off on Goff.
The Offense
The Defense
Aldon Smith
And if Prescotts 47-yard completion to Michael Gallup stood in the final minute, thats most likely a game-tying field goal attempt/overtime at least.
Fans want more passes on first down. Fine, but the Cowboys balanced 6.7 lawns on very first down Sunday night, equally split 16/16 between run/pass, and likely desired to attain balance to assist rookie Terence Steele in his first profession start at ideal deal with. The Cowboys had 380 total lawns but reached the end zone on just 2 of 4 journeys inside the Rams 20 (50% conversion rate).
LA averaged 6.4 lawns on initially down, using fast tosses to the outdoors and finding running room in between the deals with. (By comparison, the Cowboys offense had 24 first downs but were in third-and-long 9 times.).
Had CeeDee Lamb transformed the fourth-and-3 in question from the Rams 11 early in the 4th quarter, perhaps thats a touchdown, too.
We saw it in training school. We saw it in Week 1. And with more snaps as the weeks progress, Smiths production might only improve.
” It has got to be mandatory that when we get in the red zone we score goals,” running back Ezekiel Elliott stated.
Much has actually been made about lack of pressure on Rams quarterback Jared Goff in Week 1: one sack from Aldon Smith and nine total hurries, consisting of a team-best four from DeMarcus Lawrence.
Fans desire more passes on first down. Fine, however the Cowboys balanced 6.7 lawns on very first down Sunday night, equally split 16/16 between run/pass, and likely desired to achieve balance to help rookie Terence Steele in his first profession start at right tackle. They converted only 3 of 12 and got themselves into third-and-long too typically, partly due to sacks and drops on 2nd down.).
I Know … creativity appears to be a popular criticism of the offense this week, but Im sticking with my exact same point the last 2 years.
The Rams never permitted the Cowboys front to discover its rhythm.
I Think … the Cowboys pass rush will be fine, but third down has to be more challenging for the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday than it was for the Rams.
