Dallas Cowboys Week 9 – Delayed Reaction

Nov 2, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback

(3) meets with Dallas Cowboys injured quarterback

(9) after the game at AT&T Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Cowboys 28-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

This weeks delayed reaction for the Dallas Cowboys still has me quite upset. This game was winnable as the Cowboys were actually in the game almost until the very end. It wasn’t pretty and there were a lot of things to not like about this game. However, there was a few things that were not as bad as they seemed. Hopefully, Tony Romo will be able to play in London this week and all will be right again. Since this was a loss we will start with the negatives.

1. Brandon Weeden – I am not sure how many of you are still comfortable with Brandon Weeden as backup QB, but if you watched this game you shouldn’t be. I saw some of Weeden when he played for Cleveland and he still hasn’t fixed many of the problems he had there. He makes very few adjustments at the line, has a poor ability to read the defense, stares down receivers and doesn’t go through progressions well, and his touch on the football looks like he is trying out for a pitching job in baseball. Following this game it is clear the Cowboys need a backup QB. Someone call Tebow, at least he can run.

2. Not So Special Teams – I am not sure what the cause is this season but the special teams have been anything but. A blocked FG, poor returns, poor blocking, and something is wrong with Chris Jones. I have stated over and over the 3rd phase of the game is quite important and often overlooked, but now many are seeing just how much they need to be improved. I do not know if they can do it this season, but something has to change.

3. Away from the Run – Look I get that the Cowboys are trying to limit DeMarco Murray and his carries so he doesn’t break down. But, if you watch the way Murray runs he doesn’t take a lot of direct hits and with Romo out, they needed him to the be the workhorse. With Randle looking like he is a man out in regards to the locker room, there is still Lance Dunbar. I am surprised the Cowboys went into the game trying to throw as much as they did with Weeden as the QB.

There were some positives as we look at the game.

1. The D – The defense may not have looked sharp all game, but when your offense can’t move the ball and you are on the field as much as they were, it will happen. The defense kept this team in the game plain and simple. If this was last year’s defense there would have been zero glimmer of hope to even be in this game. The pass rush finally got a few sacks and it looks as though this D can get better as long as it isn’t asked to stay on the field most of the game.

2. Cole Beasley – While Brandon Weeden was busy throwing the ball into the ground, the stands, to the Cardinals, and maybe to the refs, he wasn’t throwing it to a wide open Cole Beasley. Several times Beasley was open with no one around him as he was able to lose his defender and find a hole in the defense. If he can do that with a QB who can make a throw, this is a good sign of what he can be in the slot. Now, we just need Romo to be the QB and see him streaking down the middle of the field.

3. The Rooks – DeMarcus Lawrence, Tylor Patmon, and Anthony Hitchens look like they are for real. Sure, other than the INT there wasn’t a lot of wow this guy, but go back and watch the game again, Hitchens has a fire to him and has an amazing nose for the ball and Lawrence was able to rush from both sides of the line and looks like once he is in the flow he could be a force.

Well, there it is, the delayed reaction for week 9. Let’s hope week 10 starts with positives. What did you all see this week? Let me know in the comments.