The Dallas Cowboys are 3-3 because the crew formally completes their bye week and can return to motion this week in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers. It’s been a tough first a part of the season crammed with accidents and disappointing performances. Hopefully, this crew can get some issues labored out and be a extra aggressive soccer crew going ahead. Listed here are ten ideas on what we might see from this soccer crew because the season resumes.
1. The Lion returns?
The Cowboys have a 35% pass-rush win fee, which ranked them twenty fifth within the league getting into this previous weekend. The defensive finish group has been held collectively by Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson, and Tyrus Wheat after dropping Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Marshawn Kneeland. This group will slowly get some key gamers again, hopefully beginning with Parsons this week. Getting the crew’s finest cross rusher again could be an enormous assist to the protection.
2. The cornerback group all of a sudden will get robust
Sunday ought to mark the season debut of All-Professional cornerback DaRon Bland. The crew’s chief in interceptions a yr in the past will lastly work reverse Trevon Diggs to offer the crew a robust cornerback tandem. Rookie Caelen Carson must also return that means the CB depth will go from weak to robust and gamers like Amani Oruwariye and Andrew Sales space will probably be relegated to the bench
3. General well being improves
The protection may also get reinforcements on the linebacker place. Veterans Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil missed the Lions sport with accidents, however neither participant is anticipated to overlook a lot time and needs to be again on the sector shortly. The protection will nonetheless be ready for Lawrence and Kneeland to return, however that will probably be later within the season, however the slew of returns will probably be a sight for sore eyes for this group.
4. The Zimmer studying curve
Earlier than the Lions sport, the protection confirmed indicators of enchancment as they held the Giants and Steelers to lower than 20 factors. Granted, neither of these offenses scares anybody. Nonetheless, the Cowboys’ run protection confirmed a noticeable enchancment because the defenders exhibited higher self-discipline and weren’t deviating from their assignments. It was anticipated that it will take time for brand spanking new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s plan to start out working. As Coach Boone mentioned, it’s like novocaine, give it time, it all the time works. We’ll discover out actual quickly if that would be the case for Zimmer and his protection.
5. Can the protection please get a turnover
Below Dan Quinn, the Cowboys’ protection was a turnover-generating machine, main the league in takeaways for 2 straight causes. That was insane. His aggressive method created these alternatives, however Zimmer’s protection hasn’t had the identical sort of success when taking the ball away. On the season, the Cowboys solely have 4 takeaways, and if this protection is part of their success, stealing some possessions would positive come in useful. The training curve and accidents have supplied excuses for the protection, however these excuses gained’t maintain water for much longer.
6. The McCarthenheimer adjustment
Earlier than their bye week final yr, the Cowboys’ offense scored 20 or much less in three of their final 4 video games. The offense was in disarray because it appeared as if Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer’s extra conservative method was an enormous failure for the offense. However, as if a change simply all of a sudden flipped, the offense proceeded to attain greater than 20 factors in seven straight video games, six of which have been at the least 30 factors, and 4 with at the least 40 factors. The offense got here to life and the Cowboys gained six of their subsequent seven video games. Many hope this bye serves as one other “repair it” second and the teaching workers can get the crew’s offensive expertise to start out enjoying to their capacity.
7. There’s gotta be extra than simply CeeDee
Final yr’s offensive frustrations got here to a head when CeeDee Lamb was seen sulking on the sidelines of their blowout loss in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers. And proper on schedule, one other blowout loss, courtesy of the Detroit Lions, has Lamb annoyed. He was seen barking phrases at a comatose Prescott on the Cowboys’ sideline. Clearly, there are connectivity issues between these two. Defenses aren’t going to let the crew’s finest offensive participant wreck issues, so the Cowboys should discover methods to get different items of the offense going. Brandin Cooks will return earlier than lengthy, however they want solutions proper now. If the Cowboys can’t inject a little bit range into their offense, they’ll be in bother.
8. Modifications coming at working again
Talking of diversifying, would it not kill them to determine this working sport ordeal? We’re six video games in and it’s been the identical factor time and again. They attempt to run the ball, fail miserably, then attempt to play catch-up with a one-dimensional offense. It’s exhausting to abdomen. The Cowboys proceed to imagine higher days are coming, nevertheless it’s troublesome to see that taking place. Will they hold doing the identical factor or will we lastly see Dalvin Cook dinner? Or will the Cowboys admit they’ve an issue and take a critical step in fixing it?
9. It’s gotta be Guyton’s job once more
The offensive line has been a piece in progress this season. With two rookies taking on beginning jobs, we knew there could be hiccups alongside the best way. Rookie left sort out Tyler Guyton damage his knee in opposition to the Steelers and needs to be getting near returning. Whereas Tyler Smith has dealt with the left sort out job properly and T.J. Bass has been strong enjoying left guard, Guyton must get again to his spot when his well being permits. Getting these reps is extraordinarily necessary and a essential evil to get to the place they must be.
10. The time is now
It could be nice if the Cowboys appeared night time and day totally different after the bye, however that’s not a sensible expectation. The entrance workplace determined to roll with their roster with none main additions and hoped higher teaching and participant efficiency could be the successful ticket, however that has not labored out as anticipated. Now, with some powerful video games coming, it is going to be a battle. The Cowboys don’t have lots of margin for error as playoffs may very well be a bit tougher to get into with the NFC North groups piling up the wins. If this crew is enjoying the lengthy sport and expects to be related down the stretch, they higher kick it into excessive gear now.
