Week Three: Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears

[Maveric]

Let's start off with giving a few props for Sunday. It was ugly, but some guys brought it...
Dak: Not going to sing his praises or bend the knee. Just going to acknowledge that this was the kind of game he usually misses away, and he didn't. This time.
Javonte Williams: Home run signing so far, boy did I predict this one wrong.
CeeDee and Ferguson: 18 receptions Sunday between the two. Bringing it and then some.
Brandon Aubrey: I'll put this out there right now, if record warrants, I volunteer to head the "Brandon Aubrey for League MVP" campaign with a vengeance.
The one downside (like off a cliff down), defense. Atrocious to say the least. Historically shitty.
Fortunately this week we have the Bears, who just got royally stomped by Detroit. Rome Odunze looks lights out; I could see him having a Nabers like day. Nobody else on their team scares me, especially Caleb Williams. My distaste for him is well documented, and hasn't improved one bit. OK video game qb, but he'll never win a title, just like he won't win this game. Dallas 37 Chicago 31.

 

[English Cowboy]

I would like us to win 44-0 to avenge that shellacking they gave us 40 years ago in Texas Stadium, but that is very unlikely to happen. Well, I could certainly envisage us putting up 44 points but we ain't shutting them out. Our D will make Caleb Williams look like a moderately decent NFL QB.

Cowboys 44
Bears 31

 

[dbair1967]

 

[dbair1967]

 

[dbair1967]

Agent Zero news

 

[RogtaDru]

Did not see any of Detroits game against them and can only go by my highlights observations that the Bear defense just gave up 52 points.

I know, Detroit is pretty loaded on offense and the NFL is a week to week league.

So I guess I am clinging to some small hope that Eberflus's familiarity with his former team can influence a possible close win.

Surely we are not entering Nolan territory as a defense are we?
Geez, God help us if so.

 

[Doomsday]

 

[Maveric]

 

[dbair1967]

Surely we are not entering Nolan territory as a defense are we?

Nolan, Kiffin, Ryan territory. Yep, right now we are there 100%

Now I heard some of the national reporters talking Monday and they noted that when Eberflus first took over in Chicago that their defense got off to a slow start and then continued to get better. (Eberflus also took over defensive play calling duties from the guy he had originally hired as DC) He also generated a pretty quick turn around on the Colts D when he became DC there.

That said, there are already murmurs that he might be in some trouble here. Numerous articles this week are saying that neither Schottenheimer or Jones were happy about the lackluster game vs a bad Giants offense and Russell Wilson. If they fire Eberflus, would be interesting to see who they'd promote to his spot. Borgonzi is an Eberflus guy (Indy and Chicago). Andree Curtis was with Eberflus in Chicago but prior to that was in Seattle with Pete Carroll (and Schottenheimer) and he has been "passing game coordinator" on defense in a couple of stops now. Borgonzi, Whitecotton and Curtis have the most experience but none have ever been a DC.

 

[Doomsday]

 

[dbair1967]

Has limited starting experience. Decent size at 6'4, 310. Went to Western Michigan, UDFA in 2022

 

[RogtaDru]

Nolan, Kiffin, Ryan territory. Yep, right now we are there 100%

Now I heard some of the national reporters talking Monday and they noted that when Eberflus first took over in Chicago that their defense got off to a slow start and then continued to get better. (Eberflus also took over defensive play calling duties from the guy he had originally hired as DC) He also generated a pretty quick turn around on the Colts D when he became DC there.

That said, there are already murmurs that he might be in some trouble here. Numerous articles this week are saying that neither Schottenheimer or Jones were happy about the lackluster game vs a bad Giants offense and Russell Wilson. If they fire Eberflus, would be interesting to see who they'd promote to his spot. Borgonzi is an Eberflus guy (Indy and Chicago). Andree Curtis was with Eberflus in Chicago but prior to that was in Seattle with Pete Carroll (and Schottenheimer) and he has been "passing game coordinator" on defense in a couple of stops now. Borgonzi, Whitecotton and Curtis have the most experience but none have ever been a DC.

Yep, good call man. I too have read the variety of hotseat rumors involving Flus.
Your points of not that he ultimately improved the dee at previous stops but how long it took is the most pressing matter it seems this year. The surface level perception of getting this thing turned around as quickly as possible reflects on a sense of urgency previous coaching staffs and this front office had not acted on in season to fix in previous years.

So I mean as much as I criticized the whole vetting process or lack thereof, with this Schotty hire, maybe he does have Jerry's attention and more importantly, Jerry's cooperation, in getting this defensive deficiency fixed sooner rather than later.

Ultimately, that's where we're at in my opinion.

Watching last Sundays dee gave me bad Nolan flashbacks. I know we're overall lacking in talent at a few positions but surely a better coaching em up version of the current personnel can be delivered.

 

[dbair1967]

Yep, good call man. I too have read the variety of hotseat rumors involving Flus.
Your points of not that he ultimately improved the dee at previous stops but how long it took is the most pressing matter it seems this year. The surface level perception of getting this thing turned around as quickly as possible reflects on a sense of urgency previous coaching staffs and this front office had not acted on in season to fix.

I mean, as much as I criticized the whole vetting process or lack thereof, with this Schotty hire, maybe he does have Jerry's attention and more importantly, Jerry's cooperation, in getting this defensive deficiency fixed sooner rather than later.

Ultimately, that's where we're at in my opinion.

Watching last Sundays dee gave me bad Nolan flashbacks.

Schottenheimer commented once that Eberflus was the 1st guy he reached out to, but it sure seemed from all the reports that Robert Saleh was the guy they really wanted and he decided he wanted to go back to SF and work with Shanahan again.

 

[dbair1967]

Mosher is floating this. Obviously just him speculating.

Doubt Cinci would do this anytime soon.

 

[RogtaDru]

Schottenheimer commented once that Eberflus was the 1st guy he reached out to, but it sure seemed from all the reports that Robert Saleh was the guy they really wanted and he decided he wanted to go back to SF and work with Shanahan again.

Yep, and Eberflus's previous stint here before going to Indy was just the deal sealer in that Jerry would be comfortable with the hire.

 

[English Cowboy]

Through 2 weeks opposing QBs have a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Diggs - 5/5 for 113 yards and 2 TDs.

Elam not much better - 13/19 for 232 yards and 1 TD for a 127.5 passer rating.

I get the feeling they are not really liking, or buying into, Eberflus's zone scheme.

 

[dbair1967]

Through 2 weeks opposing QBs have a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Diggs - 5/5 for 113 yards and 2 TDs.

Elam not much better - 13/19 for 232 yards and 1 TD for a 127.5 passer rating.

I get the feeling they are not really liking, or buying into, Eberflus's zone scheme.

Neither are a fit for it, but it's compounded by the terrible safety play (lack of speed and range) along with a very inconsistent (and sometimes non existent) pass rush.

 

[RogtaDru]

Mosher is floating this. Obviously just him speculating.

Doubt Cinci would do this anytime soon.

I think I may seriously consider this.
Interested if others feel the same.

 

[dbair1967]

I think I may seriously consider this.
Interested if others feel the same.

He's a great player, and the thought process behind it was pretty sound (he mentions Cowboys thinking Hendrickson at 38 mils or so a yr + two first rd picks would be better than Parsons at 47 mils without the 2 extra first rd picks)

he's been a sack machine. 17 1/2 in each of last two seasons, 13.5 and 14 in 2020 and 2021. Had no training camp this yr and has a sack in both games played so far to go along with 6 tackles a pass defensed and 2 TFL's.

 

[English Cowboy]

Mosher is floating this. Obviously just him speculating.

Doubt Cinci would do this anytime soon.

I would only consider it if his acquisition truly made us a SB contender this year. And I don't believe it would. So I wouldn't.