Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys Must Fix These Issues

The Dallas Cowboys lost to the New York Giants in heart breaking fashion, but their problems are fixable.

When the Dallas Cowboys lost to the New York Giants on Sunday, the loss stung the team and fans alike because it was to a divisional rival. What hurt more than the loss itself was how the Cowboys lost.

Whether you root for America’s Team or not, this team is full of drama. Dallas either wins big or loses big. There is no in between or gray area with this group of players.

As of late, Dallas loses big, like they did against the Giants, on a boneheaded play.

With only a few precious seconds left in the game, quarterback Dak Prescott hit wide receiver Terrance Williams in the middle of the field. Mr. Terrance “Please Get Out of Bounds” Williams decides not to get out of bounds and gets tackled as time expired.

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The Cowboys lose big because a veteran makes a mistake that normally takes place in mighty-mite football.

That’s an example of one issue the Cowboys must fix moving forward. There are other issues, too.

The Running Game

The Cowboys are supposed to have the best offensive line in the NFL. Further, this team features a proven veteran running back, Alfred Morris, accompanied by their top draft pick, Ezekiel Elliott.

Morris played like he was the fourth overall pick, as he tore through the Giants defense for big gains. Although Elliott scored a touchdown, his paltry 2.6 average was not getting the job done.

Clearly, the Giants stacked the line of scrimmage to stop him.

For the Cowboys to be effective, they must run the ball at least 30 times a game. It’s really that simple. Running the ball has so many positives.

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For instance, staying true to the run game opens up play-action pass, controlling the clock, and wearing out the opposing defense. Plus, the run game puts the offense in a rhythm.

If the Cowboys had committed to the run (and with Morris), maybe the outcome is different. It’s a lot safer for Prescott to hand off the ball to either Morris or Elliott versus getting hit by pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.

We’ll discuss the pass protection later.

Since the Cowboys forgot how to run the ball, they should look at the tape of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins game. The Steerlers put on a clinic on how to effectively run the ball and win the ball game.

From the beginning to the end of the game, the Steelers constantly ran the ball with running back DeAngelo Williams. The 33-year old runner carried the ball 26 times for 143 yards for a 5.5 average and two scores.

If Williams can play like a Pro Bowler, Elliott and Morris can, too. The way the Steelers offensive line dominated the Redskins defensive line should give the Cowboys hope.

Throwing the ball 45 times is ridiculous when you have bruising and athletic backs on the team. Plus, it saves Prescott from taking unnecessary hits from players like JPP.

Pass Protection

Another reason Dallas needs to run the ball more is because offensive lineman Doug Free isn’t up to the task. JPP man handled him throughout the game, as the edge rusher hit Prescott a few times, disrupting the passes.

Also, when JPP wasn’t hitting Prescott, he chased him off his mark, causing him to to either over throw or under throw his receivers.

Free must pass protect better, instead of playing with concrete feet. This team can ill afford to lose another signal caller.

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Dropped Passes

Whenever a team loses a close game, it’s easier to pinpoint the mistakes that played an integral part in the loss. Two glaring mistakes stick out in the loss to the Giants: dropped touchdown passes.

Pro Bowl wideout Dez Bryant didn’t hold onto the ball as he came down in the corner of the end zone with a sure touchdown. The talented receiver juggled the ball after making a spectacular catch as he went out of bounds.

Instead of seven points on the scoreboard, Dallas settles for three. On an earlier play, slot receiver Cole Beasley drops a sure touchdown pass. Once again, the team settles for a field goal.

Let’s do the math. The Cowboys lose by 1 point. However, if Bryant and Beasley catches the ball, there is a good chance Dallas wins the game.

Bryant and Beasley can’t drop touchdown passes. They’re supposed to have the best hands on the team, especially Beasley. Since last season, Bryant routinely drops easy passes.

That is not a good look for one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. In fact, the drop ball in Sunday’s game was clearly an incomplete pass. Simply put, Dez has to play better to give this team a better chance to win ball games.

With a mediocre defense and sub-par pass rush, Dallas cannot afford to leave points on the board. Those miscues played a part in the loss against the Giants.

Coaching

Head coach Jason Garrett is not a good coach, below average at best. There are no in-game adjustments, players aren’t held accountable, claps when players makes mistakes, and there is absolutely no creativity on offense.

Bryant is one of the best receivers in the game. For this dynamic player to have one catch for eight yards makes no sense, no sense at all. Bryant deserves as many targets, if not more, than future Hall of Famer Jason Witten.

Of course Witten is sure handed and reliable, but Bryant needs the targets and catches. Make the defense adjust to the offense, not the other way around.

Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan have no idea how to use Bryant in motion, or put him in the slot to cause havoc on defensive backs. Instead, they allow Bryant to get blanketed in double coverage, giving up underneath stuff to Witten and anyone else.

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That’s allowing the defense to dictate game, not the other way around. Hence, field goals are made, game over.

Matter of fact, Garrett was out coached, nothing new.

If these mistakes aren’t corrected soon, expect the Cowboys to receive another top-10 pick in next year’s draft.

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