Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Standouts, Notes, and Observations

By Reid Hanson | Nov 7, 2016

Nov 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) runs the ball for a first down against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cowboys won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Cowboys took on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. Here are this week’s standouts, notes, and observations.

Let’s say this, anytime mark Sanchez lines up under center for your team you can be assured of one of two things: 1. Things are going terrifically or 2. Things are going really, really, poorly. Luckily for the Cowboys it was the former.

It was frustrating to see budding star, David Irving, ejected on the first drive. But Cleveland starting center Cam Erving was also ejected and truth be told, the Cowboys would take that dual ejection any day of the week. Offensive lines are very synergistic and when the chemistry is disrupted, so is their production.

Maybe that makes offensive linemen, player-for-player, more valuable than defensive linemen — Especially if you employ a rotational system on the D-line like Rod Marinelli’s Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys may prove to be trendsetters with their heavy O-line investment and D-line bargain hunting.

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Many people wonder why Jeff Heath is on this team. What he lacks in top-end skill he makes up for in scheme knowledge. From his first days in Dallas to now, Heath gets in position and reacts appropriately. He’s not always fast enough to get to where he needs to be but he’s a guy Marinelli trusts – which says a lot. Jeff Heath had what appeared to be a good a game on Sunday. He’s still one of my favorite players to hate but he needs credit when credit is due and credit is due today.

Once again, lining Cole Beasley and Dez Bryant up together (stacked) paid off for the Cowboys when Bease pulled in a 6-yard TD in the second quarter. It’s not debatable that Dez Bryant has a positive impact on Beasley’s “openness”. That’s something the stats don’t show but is clear in film review week after week.

Something else the stats don’t show? DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence didn’t have as good of a game as he did last week but he’s doing well in his comeback from suspension. The sacks will come so don’t waste too much time worrying about this Cowboy.

CB Anthony Brown had another strong game. He was beat by Terrelle Pryor for a second quarter TD but it was on a broken play after five seconds of coverage. Brown may go down as the steal of the draft for Dallas (only if Jaylon Smith doesn’t recover) and has a long, bright future in Big D.

Related Story: Throwback Article: Grading the Cowboys 2016 Draft

DT Maliek Collins is really making a difference on this D-line as well. His 2 sacks only begin to tell the story of his dominance the past few weeks. He’s a player who gets better and better every week.
The play of the game was early in the fourth quarter when Dak Prescott hit Cole Beasley for a first down facing a blitz on 3^rd and 6. Prescott struggled finding his hot routes last week when the Eagles pressured him and you can bet he dedicated major time in fixing this flaw over the work week. The film is out on Prescott and he’s sure to see even more blitzing up the middle in coming weeks. The only way to stop it is to make opponents pay – just like he did Sunday.

Next: The Cowboys Must Involve Morris and Dunbar More

It’s clear there’s a significant fall-off in talent between Zeke Elliott and Alfred Morris but the Cowboys did well in giving carries to Alf and resting Zeke. Rushing records are cute but the real goal needs to be on the postseason and to do achieve those goals the Cowboys must lighten the load for Zeke whenever possible.

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