Dallas Cowboys Keys to Victory against the Bucs in the Playoffs
By John Herndon
Dallas Cowboys key to victory in Tampa No 3: Pass Rush
Where has the Cowboys’ vaunted pass rush gone?
The Cowboys’ pass rush need to recapture their form. I am not alone in this thinking.
"The (pass rush) package has been watered down. I don’t see a lot of the plays that they ran early. Usually when you first start the season, you start doing all this NASCAR, these crazy packages, and you see it become really effective and then you get comfortable.… I think we gotta get back to being dynamic. You got a lot of dynamic players on that defense. Don’t water it down. – DeMarcus Ware"
But there is another side of the coin, too.
Are the Cowboys a different team on grass vs turf? And how are the Bucs treating being the underdog at home? @SportsCenter reports from @WerderEdESPN and me ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/0gpwGWrgUd
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 13, 2023
Dan Quinn better have been in the lab this past week. He needs to find ways to unleash the pass rush.
Playing Micah Parsons as a full time edge rusher this season was not wise. He lacks the size to be a full time edge. You can see the toll his body is paying.
The Cowboys’ pass rush need to recapture their form. This will help Nahshon Wright, DaRon Bland, and Trevon Diggs. They won’t have to cover for long.
A reignited pass rush will help the entire defense.
No 4: Focus
The mistakes have to cease. If they make the same mistakes like week, they can make vacation plans. I couldn’t tell if I was watching the Dallas Cowboys or the Bad News Bears. It was a comedy of errors.
The lack of overall offensive execution. No sense of urgency. Dreadful special teams play.
The Cowboys totaled one first down in their first six drives until they scored a TD before halftime. They were listless and that can’t be swept under the rug.
Special teams errors can’t happen again.
Like I said. Tape don’t lie.
Must Read. Tyron Smith is playing for his career in Tampa. light
Next. Cowboys can expect a TON of Cover-3 in Tampa. dark
Summary
This Monday night, the opportunity awaits them against the great Tom Brady. What maybe the Dallas Cowboys last chance to stick the sword in him.
McCarthy’s troops can quiet all the noise by winning a playoff game in Tampa.
Is there pressure? Heck yes. But as the legendary Billy Jean King has often said, pressure is a privilege.
Do the Dallas Cowboys feel the same? Let’s all find out tomorrow night.