2021 NFL Week 17: Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys

[Dodger12]

 

[Doomsday]

How many times did we see Emmitt held to something like 8 yards on 12 carries in the first half? Did we give up on the run? Hell no. We keep obstinately, feeding him the ball and next thing you know he is CLOSING OUT THE GAME, taking the fuckers for 8 yards at a clip and has 28 carries for 120 yards.

When you pay a RB top dollar you have committed to the fucking run game. When you have three first round draft picks in your OL you have committed to the run game. You RUN THE FUCKING BALL.

 

[dbair1967]

You're paying your RB top dollar. You obstinately, run the fucking ball. All the good teams do.

No dipshit that's not what good teams do.

Good teams call plays that give the team the best chance to move the ball and score points.

The run game was not working. They got no movement whatsoever. Continuing to call plays that net 1 or 2 yards, (or worse, none and losses) does not improve your chance to win.

They can talk about Zeke "feeling better" all they want, but the guy has a mammoth brace on his knee. He's not going to wear a defense down and he certainly isnt going to make sharp cuts or "outrun" anyone now. Pollard has speed to get to the edge but he got nothing going today either.

The run blocking was bad, just like the pass blocking. They got their ass whipped up front.

 

[Maveric]

 

[dbair1967]

Well, its highly unlikely we won't be treating this as a preseason game now, although Philly might as they are in and can only be the 6th or 7th seed.

To rest a bunch of guys we'd need to know the results of Bucs, Rams and maybe Cards games, and obviously we wont know that now.

 

[Maveric]

No dipshit that's not what good teams do.

Good teams call plays that give the team the best chance to move the ball and score points.

The run game was not working. They got no movement whatsoever. Continuing to call plays that net 1 or 2 yards, (or worse, none and losses) does not improve your chance to win.

They can talk about Zeke "feeling better" all they want, but the guy has a mammoth brace on his knee. He's not going to wear a defense down and he certainly isnt going to make sharp cuts or "outrun" anyone now. Pollard has speed to get to the edge but he got nothing going today either.

The run blocking was bad, just like the pass blocking. They got their ass whipped up front.

A. Pollard only had three carries. Nobody's getting much going with that little to work with. And
B. If the run game isn't working, use the short pass like a run game. We've got two talented backs, but the second they abandon the run game they become almost non existent. When you're taking away your own weapons it just makes the other team's job that much easier for them.

 

[dbair1967]

How many times did we see Emmitt held to something like 8 yards on 12 carries in the first half? Did we give up on the run? Hell no. We keep obstinately, feeding him the ball and next thing you know he is CLOSING OUT THE GAME, taking the fuckers for 8 yards at a clip and has 28 carries for 120 yards.

When you pay a RB top dollar you have committed to the fucking run game. When you have three first round draft picks in your OL you have committed to the run game. You RUN THE FUCKING BALL.

The answer to your first question, when we were GOOD? Almost never. You know why? Because the OL was good. It doesn't mean he gained 10 yards every time he ran it, but rarely did he consistently get stuffed for zero yards or losses and certainly nowhere near the frequency our guys do now (or the past few seasons)

He was great as closing out games because we could wear teams down. Running for 1 yds per carry doesn't wear anyone down. We also had a bigtime QB that could shred defenses for trying to load the box (which teams did a lot back then to us)

The last good game we had rushing the football was week 5 vs NYG. Zeke's knee continued to get worse from there, and the OL's ability to generate any rushing lanes dried up. If they were having even MEDIOCRE success running it they'd be running it a ton, just like they did those first 5 games. (really 4 of 5, because we didnt really try much vs Tampa due to how good their front 7 was in run defense, and how easily we picked apart their secondary)

Its just not a good running team at all. I dont care what you pay RB's or how talented they are. If you cant run block at an average level nobody is going to have success.

 

[dbair1967]

B. If the run game isn't working, use the short pass like a run game. We've got two talented backs, but the second they abandon the run game they become almost non existent. When you're taking away your own weapons it just makes the other team's job that much easier for them.

Not sure I am getting your point here.

Those two backs have 85 receptions between them, which seems like a lot to me. Especially on a team with the WR's and TE's we have. Were you suggesting that they don't use the RB's in the passing game?

Or were you saying use the short passing game in general? Because it seems like for almost the 2ntire 2nd half of the yr thats pretty much all we do, whether its to backs, receivers or tight ends.

 

[Maveric]

Not sure I am getting your point here.

Those two backs have 85 receptions between them, which seems like a lot to me. Especially on a team with the WR's and TE's we have. Were you suggesting that they don't use the RB's in the passing game?

Or were you saying use the short passing game in general? Because it seems like for almost the 2ntire 2nd half of the yr thats pretty much all we do, whether its to backs, receivers or tight ends.

They do, but never soon enough. Most of the time when they abandon the run it's a pattern similar to today. Falling behind early on, they drop the run game and start trying to catch up in downfield chunks. Dak makes poor decisions that lead to lost opportunities and turnovers. By the time they go to a shorter passing game it works and they pull closer, making the score look at least respectable. But it's usually too little too late and they end up falling short.
That's how today went, and if you think about it, it's far from the first time that exact scenario has played out. Doubtful it'll be the last either.

 

[dbair1967]

They do, but never soon enough. Most of the time when they abandon the run it's a pattern similar to today. Falling behind early on, they drop the run game and start trying to catch up in downfield chunks. Dak makes poor decisions that lead to lost opportunities and turnovers. By the time they go to a shorter passing game it works and they pull closer, making the score look at least respectable. But it's usually too little too late and they end up falling short.
That's how today went, and if you think about it, it's far from the first time that exact scenario has played out. Doubtful it'll be the last either.

We can agree to disagree then.

They don't run more because it isn't working. When you combine that with also falling behind, you really don't have many other options. When they've had success running they have stuck with it for the most part (most early in the season) but even in games where they got off to big leads and wanted to run to control the clock and shorten the game, they havent had much success with that either (see Atlanta and Washington for instance)

The OL is not physical at all. The C and LG are weak up the middle and far too many plays the other teams have guys run almost unmolested into the backfield. Martin and Tyron are still good but they are not what they used to be (Tyron today looked pretty rusty and hobbled by that ankle thing). Collins has not been as good as he used to be either. I'm not sure if its the blocking scheme or just the talent level isn't there, but they suck at run blocking.

As for the passing game, we take very few shots down the field now. Some games they hardly even seem to try it and if there's no threat of guys going deep or the QB having any cajones to try those plays, defenses will squat on the short passing game.

 

[Dodger12]

Hard to run when you don't keep the chains moving. To me, the run game works better when Dak takes the snap from under center. But it also looked like Dak was confused and seemed like he kept checking out of plays multiple times.

 

[Dodger12]

 

[Dodger12]

 

[Dodger12]

This play forced MM to call a TO (which was the right call) and not have one in his pocket to challenge the fumble. Just bad officiating that affects the outcome of games.

 

[dbair1967]

Hard to run when you don't keep the chains moving. To me, the run game works better when Dak takes the snap from under center. But it also looked like Dak was confused and seemed like he kept checking out of plays multiple times.

Yeah I agree Dodger. I said it a few weeks ago (and a few times in recent seasons). I think they try to run too much from the shotgun.

And Dak was definitely confused repeatedly, especially on 3rd downs.

In regards to point #1, you are spot on with that too. We had four series that ended in 3 and out (4th one was the play Dak fumbled) but the defense deserves considerable blame too. They had a nearly 10 minute advantage in TOP. They scored on 5 of their first 6 offensive possessions. They ran 72 plays to our 57. They converted four 3rd and long yardage situations against us despite us coming into the game with the best 3rd down conversion % allowed in the league.

Just a butt ugly fucking loss.

 

[icup]

DAL this season:

 

[dbair1967]

So since we couldnt beat a limp dick team at home that was coming in with 3 straight loss and a plethora of key guys out, it looks like for us to get the 2nd seed we need ALL of the following to happen:

1) We have to win Saturday night. Philly cannot be anything other than the 6th or 7th seed and have already clinched their spot. If we can't win this game when it's likely Philly might rest some guys or yank guys early, we should just fucking vacate our playoff spot.

2) We need the Cardinals, Rams and Bucs to all lose. Seattle is coming off probably their best game of the yr and had a 50-burger and nearly 500 yds offense against Detroit. It's possible this could be Pete Carroll last game (unlikely, but possible) and also possibly Russell Wilsons last game as a Seahawk. They might be super motivated to win. The Rams are playing a decent Niners team that HAS to win to ensure they make the playoffs (otherwise they need the Saints to lose, who play at the same time as they do) and the Bucs are limping across the finish line, and will apparently cut that fucktard Antonio Brown. They already lost their other starting WR for the season and have several other key guys beat up or out too.

Of course with our history, it would be absolutely so Cowboys to lay another egg Saturday night and lose, then watch #2 above unfold and we end up blowing the #2 seed again.

 

[Scot]

.

 

[dbair1967]

It looks like there is also only one scenario where we are the 3rd seed.

We have to win, Tampa has to beat Carolina (making them the #2 seed) and Rams and Cards both have to lose.

If this happens we'd turn around and play Philly at home in WC round.

Anything else and we are the 4th seed and we will play AZ or LAR

 

[Scot]

The Cowboys have lost 2 games by one score or less this year… those losses have been by a combined 5 points…

In those games, Greg Zuerlein has missed 11 pts worth of kicks.

This excerpt was from an article written after the week 12 loss

Now with last nights loss we have lost 3 games by one score or less this year….. those losses have been by a combined 8 points…
In those games Greg Zuerlein has missed 14 points worth of kicks.