It’s only been 3 games which is not a definitive sample, but so far this team has come to play in all 3 games. There seems to be a change in culture taking place with the Cowboys organization. I don’t know who’s responsible. Is it Mike McCarthy? Dan Quinn or other coaches or all the above. All I know is that it’s been awhile since the team has shown up like this in the first 3 games of the season. The effort is there. The enthusiasm is there. The next game against Washington will be telling as no one is expecting the Cowboys to lose so lets see what happens.
Defense
I made a thread earlier about how special this defense is. I’ve been watching since the Landry days and I can honestly say that this defense compares with the best of them. The Doomsday defenses I and II of the 60’s and 70’s were/are the best. Jethro Pugh, Bob Lilly, George Andrie, Chuck Holley, Lee Roy Jordan, Cornell Green, Mel Renfro, Herb Adderly, Harvey Martin, Randy White, Ed Too Tall Jones, D.D. Lewis, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters and Everson Walls. They all didn’t play the same years together but over a short time in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Now to the 2022 Doomsday III defense. Micah Parsons, DLaw and Trevon Diggs are the well know names currently. But they have many others that are better than average NFL players. Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Anthony Barr, Bohanna, Gallimore, LVE, Hooker and Wilson. These guys as well as their leader Dan Quinn who knows how to use talent. This defense is LEGIT.
Offense
The offense is struggling. 23 in total yards. 30th in points scored. 11th in rushing yards which is not bad but 24th in passing yards. Rush is doing a great job of managing the offense to it’s strength which currently is the defense and a solid rushing game. They’re without their #2 WR. They’re playing with a rookie LT and lately with rookie TE’s. Their LG is a backup until Peters gets in shape. But with all this diversity, the Cowboys are 2-1.
Special Teams
Cowboys are 9th in punt return yardage. Not so good in kickoff return yardage. But Turpin has giving the team good field position when he gets the chance to return. Maher has been money making 6 of 7 and missing only a 59 yarder. Anger has been awesome as usual and Maher hasn’t allowed any kickoffs to be returned.
Coaching
The coaching staff has been much maligned going into the season. Some of it deserved. The penalties are a big problem still and must be addressed. But going back to my original thoughts in this thread, this team has come to play each and every game. Each and every play. Some of these penalties are due to being so aggressive. So competitive. For example, Wilson batting that ball back after the WR caught the ball. That’s just competitiveness. He had no idea the ref was behind him. Don’t get me wrong, he shouldn’t have done it because it gave any ref in the vicinity to call the penalty. But I can live with those penalties.
Quinn has called a great defensive game plan all 3 games. Limiting the likes of Brady’s Bucs and Burrows Super Bowl Bengals to limited scoring. Teams are having some success running the ball but only because they aren’t able to pass the ball. They just need to keep Parsons healthy.
Kellen Moore called a horrible game against the Bucs in week 1. His offense didn’t work after the first series yet he didn’t seem to make any adjustments. They didn’t stick with the running game. Dak had 10 carries for 52 yards and Pollard barely broke the stat sheet. Once Dak got injured, Moore rightfully decided to start relying on the running game. Something many of us have been begging for since early last year. And what happened? The offense, although not prolific, scored enough points and possessed the ball enough to win the next 2 games.
Winning 2 games with a backup QB, 2 rookie TE’s, a rookie LT, a backup LG, without you’re #2 and #3 WR should instill confidence going forward. Dak will be back soon, Tyler Smith is going to get even better, McGovern is coming back, Peters is getting in shape, Gallup is coming back and Washington is coming back.
If the team can stay healthy, there’s a lot to be optimistic about with this team.
