Dallas Cowboys are their own worst enemy: 3 things that must fixed
By Dink Kearney
Dallas Cowboys are their own worst enemy
Issue #3 Dallas’ defense must stop the run
Like so many defenses in the NFL (especially the NFC East), their Achilles Heel is stopping the run. And Dallas’ defense is ranked at the bottom of the league in stopping the run. What an embarrassment in comparison to its dominant pass rush.
In Dallas’ last two games, the defense has allowed over 400 rushing yards to two mediocre teams that completely abandoned the pass only to stick it to the defense with the run. The Bears were down three scores and still ran the ball to come within one touchdown of Dallas. That is pure disrespect to Dallas’ run defense because the Bears felt like they could take their time and still win the game. My Gawd
Despite the run defense being subpar, its fixable because the weakest part of Dallas’ defense is setting the edge, not up the middle where massive defensive tackle, Johnathan Hankins, sits. With discipline and gap assignment, the run defense can improve to some degree.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has revamped this defense to his image, now its time to do the same with the run defense because just like the defensive players he coaches, the defensive staff he oversees is too talented to allow this issue to continue.
In conclusion,
For the record, the Dallas Cowboys are just too talented of a team with a good coaching staff to lose a winnable game against a struggling Packers team or any inferior opponent. This is the NFL where any team can beat you on Sunday-especially if you gift wrap them your mistakes. Because of parity, the NFC is wide open with five to seven teams capable of representing the conference in the Super Bowl.
As a result, Dallas cannot have brain cramps with misguided play calling, wrong route running, miscommunication, unforced penalties, and the inability to stop the run. The one positive Dallas has in their favor is they match up well against any NFC opponent and can be just as physical-if not more-with them. Yep, that goes for the San Francisco 49ers, too, because Dallas has two tight ends in Ferguson and Hendershot that loves to get in on the action.
Must Read. Dallas Cowboys Week 9 Grades: How to lose to a poor team. light
Next. The Ghost of Green Bay still haunts the Dallas Cowboys. dark
The Dallas Cowboys is 6-3 with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants waiting on deck. Neither team is a juggernaut but both teams are playing really good football with a ton of confidence. Dallas is favored against the Vikings and more likely will be favored against the Giants, too. But that means nothing if they continue to make the same mistakes and continue to beat themselves, becoming their own worst enemy.