bbgun

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By Jon Machota , Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE -- Well, it's not all bad news for the Cowboys. They had won four of their past six season openers heading into Sunday. The two times they lost were the only two years they made the playoffs (2014, 2016).

Here are my thoughts on the Cowboys falling on the road to start the season, 16-8 to the Carolina Panthers:

1. The rust was obviously there in the first half and much of the third quarter. Many will point to how little this offensive unit played together in the preseason. A very good Carolina defense deserves some credit, too. Although the Cowboys' defense is expected to be much improved this season, I can't imagine Dallas winning many games if its offense isn't scoring points in the first three quarters. Not one area could be blamed, either. It was everything. The running game wasn't working. The underneath passing game wasn't working. The downfield passing game was nonexistent. The biggest problem, though, came on third down as Dallas went 0 for 5 in the first half. Plenty of areas for Jason Garrett, Scott Linehan and the rest of the offensive coaching staff to clean up before facing the Giants next Sunday night.

2. That was a brutal first three quarters for Dak Prescott. The lowest point had to be the under-thrown deep ball to a wide-open Blake Jarwin in the second quarter. To his credit, he was better when they needed to score in the fourth quarter. He looked more comfortable and more accurate in the hurry-up offense. The bottom line is that it wasn't close to good enough to beat any good NFL teams. Prescott finished 19 of 29 through the air for 170 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He and Cole Beasley continue to have a very good rapport. Expect opponents to double Beasley as much as possible this season.

3. Ezekiel Elliott didn't have much room to run all day. He had a nice run midway through the third quarter that he bounced outside for a 17-yard gain, and of course the 4-yard dive for the team's only touchdown. I predicted that he'd have a better day, but it was pretty par for the course against the league's best run defense over the past two seasons. Elliott finished with 69 yards rushing on 15 carries and the one score. The Panthers have not allowed a 100-yard rushing game since Week 13 of the 2016 season. Their streak of 21 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher is the longest active streak in the NFL. Carolina has allowed only one 100-yard rusher in its past 28 games, including playoffs.

These are the single-game highest rushing totals against the Panthers over the past two seasons.

- Week 13, 2016: Thomas Rawls, Seahawks, 15 carries, 106 yards, Panthers loss
- Week 5, 2016: Jacquizz Rodgers, Buccaneers, 30 carries, 101 yards, Panthers loss
- Week 1, 2016: C.J. Anderson, Broncos, 20 carries, 92 yards, Panthers loss
- Week 16, 2016: Tevin Coleman, Falcons, 9 carries, 90 yards, Panthers loss
- Week 13, 2017: Mark Ingram, Saints, 14 carries, 85 yards, Panthers loss

4. The offensive line must be better than that. Tyron Smith and La'el Collins were each called for holding twice. Rookie left guard Connor Williams was beat for a pair of sacks in key situations. Overall, there was just too much pressure on Prescott. On an ESPN pregame show, Jason Witten said his biggest Cowboys question mark was the O-line. It's certainly one of them until Travis Frederick returns. "Travis Frederick is out and they're going to be starting a rookie left guard," Witten said. "The center makes all the calls, he communicates, he takes that pressure off of Dak. They want to run the ball, you need your center inside."

5. Well, the releasing-of-Dan Bailey experiment didn't get off to a great start. Brett Maher was called on to make a 47-yarder late in the third quarter to get the Cowboys on the board. It didn't go well. He missed wide right on the wet field. The result was far from a deciding factor in the game, but it was one that has to leave fans nervous about going to Maher in a clutch situation. Until he makes one in a key moment, there will continue to be questions about the decision to release the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history.
 

mbalar

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makes you wonder if Dak can really be the Cowboy quarterback of the future and lead us to the promise land---Dak looked bad---and he looked inaccurate -he could hit the broadside of the barn but not the window. Dak is a big strong boy -but we might need a quarterback who can thread the needle---maybe he can coached up. hope so
 

dbair1967

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Not one question about how poorly Garrett prepared this team? (AGAIN????)
 

cmd34

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Here's the thing, Dak stepped up out of nowhere and had a monster year in 2016. That was only after the Cowboys lost their #1 QB (Romo) and #2 QB (Kellen Moore) and failed to sign Nick Foles, who chose to be the Chiefs back-up as opposed to coming to Dallas as a likely starter. This was also after the Cowboys tried to trade up for Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, before finally settling on Dak in the late 4th round. So what do they do with this gift after a great 2016 season? Nothing.

He took a step back last year and again the Cowboys took it for granted. At a time when Dak needed some leadership, the Cowboys went out and named a guy with zero coaching experience as his QB coach. Did they go out and sign a veteran quarterback to possibly serve as a mentor to Dak? Nope. They decided noodle-armed Cooper Rush could be his back-up. Mike White was drafted and may have some potential but will suffer from the same lack of development that Dak is going through.
 

mbalar

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no preseason getting together as a team--Dak and Zeke and the receivers--I hope this was the preseason--getting to know each other...
 

DDdave

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One thought from game One.

With the exception of maybe 8-10 players this entire franchise SUCKS BALSS!!!!
 

Ragnar

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Not one question about how poorly Garrett prepared this team? (AGAIN????)

Being outmatched from the get go is par for the course against better teams. This game was like the pre season games.
 

Ragnar

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Here's the thing, Dak stepped up out of nowhere and had a monster year in 2016. That was only after the Cowboys lost their #1 QB (Romo) and #2 QB (Kellen Moore) and failed to sign Nick Foles, who chose to be the Chiefs back-up as opposed to coming to Dallas as a likely starter. This was also after the Cowboys tried to trade up for Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, before finally settling on Dak in the late 4th round. So what do they do with this gift after a great 2016 season? Nothing.

He took a step back last year and again the Cowboys took it for granted. At a time when Dak needed some leadership, the Cowboys went out and named a guy with zero coaching experience as his QB coach. Did they go out and sign a veteran quarterback to possibly serve as a mentor to Dak? Nope. They decided noodle-armed Cooper Rush could be his back-up. Mike White was drafted and may have some potential but will suffer from the same lack of development that Dak is going through.

Dak had a good year in 2016 because he had more time in the pocket. A lot of QBs struggle under pressure. But what's with the running game? 15 carries and a lot of them from shotgun? Then we're spreading out the offense like we have Dan Fouts and all pro WRs. We need to play to our strengths.
 

dbair1967

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Being outmatched from the get go is par for the course against better teams. This game was like the pre season games.

I didn't come away thinking the Panthers were one of the "better" teams.

Which means when we DO play some of the better teams, we're gonna get smoked.
 

dbair1967

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Dak had a good year in 2016 because he had more time in the pocket. A lot of QBs struggle under pressure. But what's with the running game? 15 carries and a lot of them from shotgun? Then we're spreading out the offense like we have Dan Fouts and all pro WRs. We need to play to our strengths.

They tried to run the ball early in the game and couldn't. Panthers correctly gambled they could load the LOS and the Cowboys couldn't find run plays, and they were right.

This team seems to focus on slow developing running plays, and when a team is going to stack the box and do a lot of run blitzing, that aint gonna work.
 

Dodger12

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Here's the thing, Dak stepped up out of nowhere and had a monster year in 2016. That was only after the Cowboys lost their #1 QB (Romo) and #2 QB (Kellen Moore) and failed to sign Nick Foles, who chose to be the Chiefs back-up as opposed to coming to Dallas as a likely starter. This was also after the Cowboys tried to trade up for Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook, before finally settling on Dak in the late 4th round. So what do they do with this gift after a great 2016 season? Nothing.

He took a step back last year and again the Cowboys took it for granted. At a time when Dak needed some leadership, the Cowboys went out and named a guy with zero coaching experience as his QB coach. Did they go out and sign a veteran quarterback to possibly serve as a mentor to Dak? Nope. They decided noodle-armed Cooper Rush could be his back-up. Mike White was drafted and may have some potential but will suffer from the same lack of development that Dak is going through.

This is a great post cmd and just another indictment of this coaching staff, the GM and the personnel people. But what shocks me is that after all these years and failed experiments that Jerry hasn't figured at least some of it out. A great coach can identify and develop talent; he has a plan. Parcells developed Simms, Hostetler, Lucas (a converted safety?), Bledsoe, QC (to some extent) and then Romo. Garrett is incapable of developing anyone but good leaders hire people who are good at what they do. Instead, they hire moore as the QB coach and had Wilson around for years to develop the most important position in the game. Prescott isn't that good but, to be honest, it's not like he ever had a chance.
 

Scot

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My 5 thoughts after the game...

1. Fuck Jerry Jones
2. Fuck Will Mclay
3. Fuck Jason Garrett
4. Fuck Scott Linehan
5. Fuck Kelen Moore
 
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Jason Garrett or Dak Prescott: One must Go.

Lets face it Jason Garrett can not be a HC in the NFL. Beside Jerry Jones, no one would hire him. He has had 10 years to learn on the job as a Coordinator and HC of the Dallas Cowboys.

During the Panthers game him made the following Dumbo Coaching moves:
1. Time out before a punt return in the 1st half. Time outs are precious unless there was 12 men on the field and a penalty would give a first down, you let the play run and keep your time outs.
2. 2.46 left in the game and you go for it on 4th down giving the Panthers a short field and you limit your self to one possession. That is coaching 101 dumbo failure. You punt, get the Panthers in a conservative field position and you get 2 cracks at winning the game.
3. abandoning the run. 15 carries and 3 catches for Ezekiel Elliott...Nuff Said! Flat out stupid.
5. 2 RPO plays called in the game to use Dak's threat as a runner and Elliott's sure damage as a runner. See no. 3 Flat out stupid.
6. The Ruining of Dak Prescott as a QB - No preseason work for a 3 year QB. Took away his decision to run. Please see no. 5.
7. See. no. 6 You have a drop back non mobile QB be the QB coach to a mobile RPO QB. That is awful HC staff development. What in the world can Kellen Moore offer Dak Prescott in how to QB as a mobile QB in the NFL? Remember Wade Wilson was a mobile QB in the NFL and made plays with his feet then developed as a passer. You have a OC that proved Sunday that Norv Turner is an offensive genius as he let Cam be Cam. The offensive line gave up 6 sacks and you do not call any roll out, bootlegs or pocket rests. The HC hires the OC and assistants. Therefore we know this is a Jason Garrett/Jerry Jones head coaching problem. Jerry will not fire Jason Garrett.


Dak Prescott had many brain failures at QB:

1. Did not tuck and run.
2. Did not audible to RPO plays.
3. Did not tuck and run.
4. See no. 1 and 3.

Dak Prescott is not, was not, and never will be a drop back carve em up passer. To see him get out the pocket and hesitate to run is like watching a cheetah walk after an antelope hoping to shoot it with a bow and arrow. Either Dak can not throw downfield or the Cowboys can not design plays downfield. Watching Dak play football is like watching a thoroughbred be a plow mule.

If you want a drop back passer, trade Dak Prescott while you can get premium draft picks or a drop back QB. YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE!!!!

However, this is not a DAK problem it is a Jerry Jones problem. Jerry told Jason to sit Dak most of the preseason and Elliott all of the preseason. Jerry told Jason it was better to sit him with Martin and Fredrick out instead of finding out what it was going to be like in reality during the preseason vs. a Panthers defense. You must prepare to do any type of work and Dak was not prepared. Where did Dak get hurt Sunday? Staying in a collapsing pass pocket. Jerry never wanted Dak as he lamented Romo the entire 2016 season. His plan to make Dak a failure is succeeding as he has no no.1 TE, no.1 WR, poor OL play, no QB coach, and no coordinator that supports his skill set.
 

dbair1967

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Garrett is by far the biggest problem.

Him and his coaching staff need to go, save Kris Richard.
 

yimyammer

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To see him get out the pocket and hesitate to run is like watching a cheetah walk after an antelope hoping to shoot it with a bow and arrow. Either Dak can not throw downfield or the Cowboys can not design plays downfield. Watching Dak play football is like watching a thoroughbred be a plow mule.

LOL
 

dbair1967

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WRONG!!

Well, except for the guy that hired him and wont fire him.

Jones got to hoist super bowl trophies when Jimmy ran things, Jones is never hoisting a super bowl trophy with Garrett as HC
 

bbgun

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FWST: This is what went wrong for the Cowboys in season-opening loss

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

chill@star-telegram.com
September 09, 2018 07:19 PM


The Dallas Cowboys spent the entire offseason overhauling the offense and the passing game. They got rid of receiver Dez Bryant and cut kicker Dan Bailey for the unknown Brett Maher.

As first games go, the changes and decisions leave a lot to be desired after a 16-8 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the season opener.

Quarterback Dak Prescott and the moribund offense will certainly be questioned. But, so should the front office after Maher missed his only kick of the game, a 47-yarder that would have made it one score game in the third quarter.

The Cowboys turned a 16-0 score to 16-8 midway through the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough to overcome a game full of mistakes, penalties and ineptitude that fittingly ended with a Prescott sack and fumble.

The team committed 10 penalties for 85 yards in the game.

Prescott passed for just 170 yards, marking the seventh time in last nine games dating back to last season that he passed for under 200.

What’s also true is that the Cowboys have scored just 26 points in three games since Ezekiel Elliott returned from a six-game suspension at the end of last season. This was the sixth time in the last nine games that the Cowboys scored 12 points or fewer.

Owner Jerry Jones was so frustrated and disappointed that he purposely avoided the media after the game, foregoing his customary press conference outside the locker room. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan out right refused requests to be interviewed.

Here are five observations from the game:

1. Dak Prescott was down right awful through three quarters as was the Cowboys offense. He competed 11 of 18 passes for 100 yards and that as improvement after a six for 10 first half, that included just four first first downs. He wasn’t helped by a lack of creativity in the playcalling as well as penalties and sacks that kept the offense behind the chains in long-yardage situations. But Prescott was also woefully inaccurate and refused to challenge the defense down the field. His horrible misfire to a wide open Blake Jarwin was typical of his work. Prescott’s best drive came in the fourth quarter when the Cowboys went to their no huddle offense after falling behind 16-0. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards in the game. He had seven games last season in which he passed for under 200 yards. The more things change the more things stay the same. The Cowboys gave up six sacks, including two by rookie guard Connor Williams. Left tackle Tyron Smith was flagged for holding and a block in the back. Right guard La’el Collins was flagged twice for holding. The Cowboys offense did not cross the 50-yard line in the first half for the first time since 2002.

“I thought I was off,” said Prescott, who only played 39 snaps in the preseason and sat out the final two games with the rest of the first team offense. “That is something you got to look at on film. I got to figure out why I was off.... I am not going to make excuses. We had a lot of time this week to prepare. We weren’t as sharp as we needed to be.”

2. Running back Ezekiel Elliott entered the season hoping to prove he was the best back in the league. It didn’t start well. He had seven carries for 18 yards in the first half. He also gave up a sack that put the offense behind the chains. Elliott found it tough running against a defense that focused on stopping the run with no help from a Cowboys pass offense that got nothing going down the field. He picked things up in the second half to finish with 15 rushes for 69 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown.

“It was definitely tough,” Elliott said. “We jut didn’t go out there and execute. Our offense put our defense in a bad situation. We kept them on the field too long. We couldn’t get first downs, keep our drives going. We need to improve our offense.”

Elliott also had no impact as a pass receiver. He had three receptions for 17 yards but laments the inability to make defenders miss in the open field.

“I was a little disappointed,” Elliott said. “I’ve got to be a better ball player and play at a higher level than that.”

3. The Cowboys receivers and tight ends will be a focal point because of the retirement of Jason Witten and the release of Dez Bryant. The wide outs caught just three passes in the first half. Two went to Cole Beasley for 19 yards and one to Michael Gallup. Tight end Geoff Swaim led the Cowboys in receptions with three catches for 18 yards. But there were rarely any attempts down field and Prescott missed a wide open Blake Jarwin with an unconscionable under throw. The receivers picked things up in the fourth quarter, especially Beasley, who led the Cowboys with seven catches for 73 yards. But the lack of a true go-to threat hurt the offense late. Deonte Thompson couldn’t come up with a potential catch on the sideline on fourth down that would have kept a game-tying drive alive in the fourth quarter. Would Dez Bryant have made the play?
“I was trying to get my feet down,” Thompson said. “I barely got my hands on it. I felt if i jumped for it he was going to push me out. i felt i needed to stretch out for it and keep my feet on the ground.”

Coach Jason Garrett said penalties that kept the offense behind the chains is the reason they were conservative early and was pleased with how the offense show a spark in the second half.

“I thought it was better in the second half,” Garrett said. “We opened it up more. We spread it out more. We felt more like ourselves. Obviously, it was not good enough. We have to score than eight points.”

4. The Cowboys defense had no answers for Panthers quarterback Cam Newton as a runner early. He had seven rushes for 64 yards in the first half, including a 29-yard scamper and a four-yard touchdown. It’s surprising they would be surprised by Newton on the zone read considering it’s been a staple of the Panthers offense since he has been in the league and the Cowboys use it with Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. Newton’s running opened things up for the Panthers offense as Christian McCaffery started getting loose as a receiver against a tiring Cowboys defense. Jeff Heath dropped a potential tipped interception. And cornerback Chido Awuzie failed to come up with a fumble. The Panthers scored on both drives after the missed opportunities. The defense played solidly, considering it got no help from the offense early on. Newton ended the game with 58 yards rushing and only passed for 161. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence had a great game with a team-high seven tackles, three tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and had a huge sack in the fourth quarter to give the offense a chance for a comeback. But it wasn’t enough.

“The first half hurt, the quarterback options, we didn’t do a good job there,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said.

Regarding the missed turnovers, he said “we got to come up with the ball when the opportunities are there. We got to make those plays.”

5. Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory played for the first time since season finale of 2016 and it proved to be a day to forget. It started with him being the subject of an ESPN report of him facing NFL scrutiny for allegedly having a relapse in August. The Cowboys and Gregory’s camp said he hasn’t been notified by the NFL and they were just happy to see him play after missing 30 of the last 32 games while serving an NFL suspension for repeated violations of the substance abuse policy. His first game saw him visit the medical tent twice for possible injuries. He didn’t play in the second half due to a concussion. Asked after the game about Gregory’s reported relapse, coach Jason Garrett said: “I don’t know nothing about that.”
 

yimyammer

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Well, except for the guy that hired him and wont fire him.

Jones got to hoist super bowl trophies when Jimmy ran things, Jones is never hoisting a super bowl trophy with Garrett as HC

There ya go!
 
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