The Giants will face the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday, trying to win their second game in a row. Here’s what I saw while studying the NFC East rival:
When the cowboys have the ball …
The Cowboys have one of the best offensives in football. Here are some metrics for four games in the season:
- 421 yards per game (3rd)
- 6.38 yards per game (7.)
- 31.5 points per game (4.)
- 165.8 rushing yards per game and 5.35 rushing yards per game (both 2nd in the NFL)
- 46.4% passed DVOA – overall evaluation of the passed effectiveness (4.)
- 27.8% overall effectiveness assessment – DVOA (3.)
Do you need more evidence? What makes the cowboys so difficult is their ability to defeat opponents in different ways based on the defensive appearance they are given. Against the Buccaneers in Week 1, Dallas only ran the ball 18 times and threw it 58 times, scoring 29 points. For the next three weeks, Dallas played more than thrown, averaging just over 32 points per game. When teams play a lightbox, they’ll hammer the run. If opponents play a heavy box or are skilled at stopping the run, they will throw it.
Her ongoing attack is a two-headed monster created by Ezekiel Elliott and Toney Pollard. Elliott is fourth in the league with 342 yards. His 5.34 yards per carry is the sixth highest among qualifying running backs. He can pound it between tackles and seems to have found some of the bursts to break big runs that have been missing for the past couple of seasons. His nine rushs of 10 or more yards rank fourth in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, his 3.4 meters per carry is the sixth highest in the NFL after contact, and he always seems to fall forward after contact. Elliott has seven catches for 53 yards and is considered a strong pass guard.
It can be argued that Pollard was more effective per touch than Elliott. He has 250 rushing yards with only 37 carries. His 6.76 yards per carry is the best among running backs to have at least 25 carries this season. He has two runs of 20+ yards. The cowboys try to get Pollard the ball into space and are a frequent target in the screen game. As a former receiver in Memphis, he has 8 catches for 65 yards.
The Cowboys Run game has 20 yard rushing games of more than 10 yards this year (on the 2nd.
The cowboys’ passing game is varied and can be very explosive. Dak Prescott has had a very efficient year as a quarterback. He averages 266 yards per game with a completion rate of 75% (second highest in the NFL) with ten touchdowns (in the NFL for third place) and only two interceptions. Prescott has focused on the short and medium sections of the field. Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore and Head Coach Mike McCarthy are adept at using formation and route combining to create open receivers near the scrimmage line who can win yards after the catch. You will also use tempo changes to keep the defenses on your heels. Her overall player success rate of 61% is the second highest in the NFL.
Prescott attempted just 12 passes traveling more than 20 yards in the air and completed four for 128 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Cowboys’ 70.4 passer rating on passes that fly more than 20 yards in the air is only 20th best in the league. The 12 over 20 yards of the Cowboys are ranked 19th in the league.
Despite suffering a serious ankle injury last year, Prescott will continue to lead football when the opportunity presents itself. He has 54 rushing yards this year, although he was more willing to slide than try to fight his way through tackles for extra yards.
The main threat to the Cowboys, Michael Gallup, has been out since week 1 with a calf injury. CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper (who deals with hamstring and rib injuries) were Prescott’s primary perimeter targets with nearly equal production. Cooper is one of the best router runners in the league and has 22 catches for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Lamb has 20 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown.
The cowboys turn all their receivers in and out of the slot. In addition, Lamb stood in the back four times this year. They make a concerted effort to get him the ball into the room in order to win meters after the catch. Cedrick Wilson was prolific in taking many snaps from Gallup, catching nine catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Tight end Dalton Schultz built on a strong rookie year and was a breakout player this year. He is 4th on tight ends with 20 catches and has 6th most yards with 201. He has three touchdowns and has been a reliable target for Dak Prescott in midfield. Blake Jarwin is the Cowboys’ second tight end and has nine catches for 89 yards and one touchdown this year. The Cowboys play 12 employees (one running back and two tight ends) on just under 34% of their snaps, which is the fourth highest rate in the league.
The Cowboys’ offensive is based on the strength of their offensive, which plays at a high level, even though La’el Collins has no right tackle due to a suspension. They pressured 29% of their dropbacks, which is the eighth best rate in the league. Your seven allowed sacks are tied sixth in the NFL. You’ve also played some good pass rush sessions with the Chargers, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Panthers.
Tyron Smith looks like himself after having neck and back surgery last season. He’s only allowed one sack and four prints all season, according to Pro Football Focus. Neither Guard Connor Williams nor Zack Martin have approved a release this year. Martin allowed only one push (a quarterback hit) while Williams allowed three quarterback rushes.
If there are two areas to attack the cowboys offensive line, it’s the right tackle and the middle. The sophomore center Tyler Biadasz has admitted eleven prints this year, including three quarterback hits. In 2020, the undrafted free agent Terence Steele started for Collins in the last three games and allowed six pressure points, including a quarterback hit. He played a lot as a rookie last year, with Collins and Smith missing all but two games due to injuries, and that experience has made him a better player this season.
The Cowboys’ offensive line is a big reason they are one of the best first-down offensives in the league. Their 7.56 yards per game in first down lead the league thanks to their ability to run the ball. The Cowboys run rate of 57.5% in 1st and 10th place is the fifth highest in the NFL.
The cowboys are strong in third place too. You convert at a rate of 50% tied to the third highest rate in the NFL. They are in eleventh place of the most efficient red zone teams in the league and implement touchdowns on two thirds of their trips. It’s hard to find a weakness in the Cowboys’ offense.
Keys when Dallas has the ball:
- Stop the run without committing a safe by the box
- Find out how to slow down CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper when they are in the slot
- Interrupt Dak Prescott’s short to medium passing game with close cover or the line of defense
[ad_1]
