Much of the discussion the past few months within the Cowboys fanbase has centered around the amount of turnover on the offense. Gone are veteran pass catchers Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, and in are unproven young guys like Michael Gallup and underperforming vets like Tavon Austin.
The idea was that, without a player like Bryant needing targets force-fed to him, Dak Prescott could spread the ball around to the open man and allow the offense to function as efficiently as it did in 2016.
Dallas was going to run the ball and control the clock, work some creativity in the offense in terms of jet-motions and option looks, and utilize an efficient passing game led by Prescott.
Things were supposed to be different than they were the second-half of 2017, but Sunday afternoon, this offense looked exactly the same as it did on Christmas Eve a year ago.
Gaining just over 60 yards of total offense in the first half, the Cowboys offense failed to score a single point until the fourth quarter. Though their defense kept them in the game, and an optimist may be able to argue that the offense came together a bit down the stretch, it was all too little too late against Carolina.
The bottom line is, if you’re defense holds a team to just 16 points, you have to win that game. You cannot score just 8 points, your All-Pro caliber running back cannot rush for just 69 yards on only 15 carries, and your quarterback cannot look downright incompetent when the offense gets behind the sticks.
But, as we all saw, this was the case for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
A few years ago the Cowboys made the conscious decision to build around their offensive line and running game. They double down on this decision by drafting Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall in 2016. They then went even deeper into this philosophy during the 2018 draft, selecting guard Connor Williams in the second round. But Sunday, the Carolina defensive line straight up kicked their butts on the line of scrimmage.
Prescott was sacked 6 times, Williams looked overmatched, and even Tyron Smith was called for multiple potential drive-killing penalties.
Of course, the front office cannot be faulted for center Travis Frederick developing such an illness, but even with Joe Looney at center the offensive line should have played much better than they did.
Then there is the coaching/play-calling. Simply put – it wasn’t good.
Michael Gallup, arguably the Cowboys best receiver, was limited to just one target all game. Tavon Austin, who Stephen Jones discussed getting “a dozen” touches per game in the offseason, had 1 carry for 1 yard.
Continuously the Cowboys were unable to scheme their receivers open against a shaky Carolina secondary, and when they were open, Prescott often missed them.
To be quite honest the only bright spot on the offense was Cole Beasley, who caught 7 passes for 73 yards and looked legitimately good all afternoon.
The good news is this was only one game. Dallas still has 15 more to play, and a crucial one coming up on Sunday night against the also 0-1 New York Giants. But regardless of the outcome next Sunday, and regardless of any outcome the rest of the way, this version of the Dallas Cowboys will never be a real threat to anyone if they can’t figure this offense out.
Because if they can’t put up enough of a fight offensively to score more than 8 points on 232 total yards, this team may be picking top 10 come next April.
And no, that’s not a week 1 overreaction, that’s an educated guess after the last 9 offensive performances the Cowboys have put up.
It seems Linehan got so much of what he wanted in the off season, he can’t be demoted and another coach take over as offensive coordinator. There isn’t anyone else. He covered his backside hiring Moore
This game was 100% predictable. I described it in detail long before it ever started, and almost predicted the exact score. The truth is so painfully obvious that it’s nauseating… Jason Garrett is the worst head coach in professional sports. Period.
Like I’ve said on here and every other Cowboys-realted website, this team will NEVER win a championship with this clown and his offensive “scheme”. Linehan can only be blamed to the degree that he does what Garrett tells him to do. It’s 100% Garrett. Look no further.
Dak’s new and once-promising career is all but ruined because of Garrett and his idiocy. Dak is scared to death to throw the ball downfield. He executes his entire offense within 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage. It is without a doubt, the most predictable and easily-defended offense in football. In my opinion, Dak will never recover.
The players, in general, aren’t the problem. Put them under a great coach, and this exact group of players will win 5 of the next 7 Superbowls.
I’ve been a die-hard Cowboys fan for 53 years. I now sincerely doubt I’ll ever see my team win another Championship in my lifetime. The only thing I can now do is try to spread the truth and help convince every real Cowboys fan to stop supporting this team as long as Jerry keeps this loser head coach.
The painful realization I’ve finally accepted is that any support offered to Garrett, directly or indirectly, only serves to perpetuate this nightmare.
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the Cowboys. I too have been a loyal Cowboys fan since 1966. Been through it all. This organization has always back in the day, was able to bounce back to being elite especially in the 70’s. When Jerruh took over we loyal fans thought the franchise would continue to move forward in a positive direction with a taste of winning the 2 Super Bowl under Jimmy Johnson. Since, 1994, with Switzer as the coach, this franchise, have been living off a dying legacy. The 1995 team won a Super Bowl, despite the organization and coaching staff. Since 1997, until the present time, this once proud franchise, that calls itself America Team, has been wallowing in mediocrity and stuck in NFL Purgatory for 22 seasons, because of the business skills of Jerry.
WITH the golden boy at head coach, and his coaching staff , it appears that hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, numerous times, is just a fantasy. It’s time for the Dallas media to turn the heat up on the Cowboys organization, because Cowboys Nations is fed up with drinking the poison that Jerry has offered the loyal Cowboys for the past 22 seasons.
Even if Jerry fires the coaching staff, this season, the problem will remain, the Jones Family, who always laugh last, all the way to the bank.
Cowboys will never win until a coach can run the team without the Owner’s input. And, that will never happen. So, everyone has got to live with it. In 18-20 Months, their will be a changing of the guard. Then, lets witness how the new ownership will run the team. The Cowboys are making so much cash, it doesn’t matter if they loose continually. Of course, now, they are loosing for a high draft pick. They will be going for a QB. A third grader can see that! In any case, the next season is just below the horizon. Don’t matter if they win every remaining game. Their season is over.