Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Tom Ryle, Jess Haynie, and Sean Martin.
Did Dallas get out-schemed up front on defense, or was it a run-fit issue that let Carolina control tempo?
Mike: It was more run-fit sloppiness than pure out-scheming, but Carolina amplified those mistakes with smart tools. The Panthers leaned on motion and condensed splits to muddy the Cowboys’ keys so the Cowboys defensive front had to declare gap responsibilities late. Dallas often sat in light, two-high structures and slanted the front, which is fine if second-level fits are clean, but the edges were late setting the force, linebackers overran cutbacks, and safeties were hesitant triggering downhill, turning three to four yard wins into seven to ten yard gains for Rico Dowdle. That being said, Dowlde also played the game perfectly and stacked another big day next to his monstrous game against Miami.
Tom: I think this is an unfortunate intersection of a bad defensive scheme and a lack of talent, particularly in the front seven. But the first to me is the most important for Dallas. The players are not completely inadequate. They just look to be in the wrong alignments with bad assignments.
Howman: I don’t think it had as much to do with scheme as it did the players just getting punked. Carolina was the more physical team and when your defensive linemen are getting pushed back and spun around, it doesn’t matter much what scheme you’re running.
Sean: In this particular case, I’ll go with poor run-fits, since the question is specific to the front seven. I think the major scheme issues were once again in the secondary. The Cowboys didn’t win off the ball, didn’t force Rico Dowdle to stop his feet in the backfield, and couldn’t bring down the powerful back in the open field either. A lot of things were bad, including run fits.
Jess: Physicality and confidence tend to go hand-in-hand, and the Cowboys lacked it on Sunday. Looked like they let the tie with Green Bay and beating the now 0-6 Jets get them a little too full of themselves, and the Panthers smacked them right in the mouth. It’s bad in so many ways, as my fellow writers have outlined. But the lack of heart was as evident as anything.
How would you grade the run blocking versus Derrick Brown and the Panthers’ interior defense?
Mike: The plan to deliver heavier doses of inside zone with double teams to dent the front, then climb was sound early on. But Derrick Brown’s knockback on first contact and the Panthers’ firm backside techniques kept combos from staying on long enough. Brock Hoffman and both Cowboys’ guards got initial fits but too often lost leverage, letting the Panthers interior cross face or split the double and squeeze lanes. There were flashes from the Cowboys offensive line, but sustaining blocks was lacking and pad levels crept up in the third quarter, then from there it just got worse. The blocking was a disaster against the Panthers interior, and in a game where the line needed to control the middle, it just wasn’t there. This is a D grade for the offensive line, unfortunately.
Tom: Is F- a grade? This was incredibly bad. Not only were they limited to a pitiful 39 yards rushing, they also had multiple screen passes just blown up. Screens are something of an extension of the run game, but Carolina was all over them. The injury-driven churn on the offensive line may finally be catching up to them.
Howman: In a vacuum, the blocking was very bad. When you take into account that it was against a certified dude in Derrick Brown, it’s more about what you’d expect. And then when you remember that the two worst culprits were backups Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass, it’s a lot less surprising. I’m not ready to sound the alarm on the offensive line, but Sunday was pretty bad.
Sean: It feels so, so weird to say that the offensive line issue may have been having some of their best players back, but isn’t that what it felt like at times? When even Tyler Smith is off on the timing of a third-down play that led to Williams being tackled for a loss and a punt, it’s a really bad day at the office for the offensive line. Of all the ways Schottenheimer could have helped this, less runs right into the teeth of the Panthers defense I think could have changed this narrative quite a bit, but as Tom said even the screen game failed them in crucial moments too.
Of all the things to worry about long term for this team right now, offensive line still feels like a distant one, but the fact they added to the ways Dallas was bullied in the trenches on both sides of the ball in Carolina makes this a very hard to swallow loss.
Jess: I give it a “G”, as in “Get Beebe and Booker back out there ASAP.” I know Hoffman and Bass have had better weeks, but those were against worse defensive fronts.
How hot is Matt Eberflus’ seat right now?
Mike: Things are so bad some people are joking about bringing Mike Nolan back, and that’s saying something.
Tom: You should be able to fry up some bacon on it. As has been noted among the writers, this is sadly reminiscent of the Mike Nolan debacle. Eberflus seems determined to stick to his way of doing things no matter what the outcome, a hallmark of the Nolan approach. Once again, we are left to wonder if this was a Schottenheimer hire, or a Jerry one, as well as who has the real authority to make what looks more and more like a badly needed move.
Howman: I like Tom’s line about bacon. I fully understand why Schottenheimer doesn’t want to fire anyone this early into Year 1, but Eberflus has done just about everything you could think to justify doing so. I’d rather have Mike Nolan at this point, because he at least mixed up coverages and wasn’t terrified of the blitz, even if it still didn’t result in good defense.
Sean: In the spirit of the Texas state fair going on and the Texas-Oklahoma football game being the Saturday before this Cowboys loss, it’s hotter than the fourth of July in Texas. Didn’t Brooks & Dunn also sing about that? It’s not a good sign when I’m finding ways to use country music analogies going into week seven, but the Eberflus defense hasn’t worked from the start and there’s no magic switch to be flipped to change that between now and December. That’s the painful truth.
Jess: Not as hot as you probably wish, as this isn’t a team that generally does mid-season firings. Plus, Eberflus has friends here from his past employment. But the imbalance right now between offensive and defensive performance is so great, and the head coach is an offensive guy, so I wouldn’t say it’s totally off the table.
What’s the blueprint to contain Jayden Daniels’ dual-threat play, something this defense has shown to seriously struggle with?
Mike: This is tough, the Cowboys defense have struggled for as long as time has begun to contain mobile quarterbacks. The first plan should be to make Daniels play quarterback. Rush with four but ensure the edges hold the C-gaps, and only one green-light rusher wins inside at a time, this way no escape lanes ever open in pairs. Pair that with a spy and if the back protects go in for the kill.
Coverage-wise, live in split-safety formations on early downs with a rotating robber to cut crossers and the deep throws on the move. Add pressure to tire protection without breaking the rush lane rules and this will help the secondary in all that it can do. Emphasize scramble-drill with ruthless tackling, communication, and situational tells that all the Cowboys defenders need to be made aware of. If the Dallas defense fails on any of this then it’s going to be another day.
Tom: Get a time machine and go back to acquire some better defensive talent and a new DC. Outside of that, maybe keep a spy on him all game or hope the offense can get back on track to keep up in another shootout.
Howman: The blueprint already exists, and it was created by a guy named Mike Zimmer. Maybe the Cowboys should give him a call, assuming he hasn’t blocked Jerry’s number by now.
Sean: The Cowboys didn’t let Jordan Love, Justin Fields, or Bryce Young make a ton of plays with their legs in their recent tie, win, and loss, so I’m actually not overly worried in this area. The problem is, Daniels can certainly win from the pocket on an every down basis, which I expect him to come close to doing.
Jess: Stopping Jacory Crosey-Merritt is far more concerning.
Rapid fire section
Better third-down weapon for Dallas, Jake Ferguson or George Pickens?
Tom: I give Pickens the edge because he tends to get more yards.
Howman: Pickens for sure. He can create separation, he can gain yards after the catch, and he’s a deep threat.
Sean: Pickens’ 34-yard touchdown on a slant was on third down against the Panthers, so I’ll lean Pickens as well.
Jess: Why can’t it ever be the RB?
Dak Prescott passing yards, O/U 269.5
Tom: Under as Washington runs the heck out of the ball and keeps it out of Dak’s hands.
Howman: Over, because this Washington secondary is still vulnerable against good quarterbacks.
Sean: Over, Dak passing is just about the only good thing to watch with this team right now.
Jess: Over as the Commanders are 10th-worst against the pass.
Jake Ferguson receptions, O/U 7.0
Tom: Over, and that’s not really a good thing.
Howman: Under, because Turpin is coming back and the chemistry with Pickens is only going up.
Sean: I’ll go over.
Jess: Slightly over.
Who records the game’s first sack for Dallas?
Tom: I’m not prepared to say they get any.
Howman: As they say, that’s James Houston!
Sean: Let’s say Dante Fowler against his old team, again?
Jess: Sam Williams, but it’s negated by a penalty.
Deebo Samuel receiving yards allowed, O/U 76.5
Tom: Over
Howman: Under, but others will get much more.
Sean: Over because even on short passes, getting him on the ground is an issue.
Jess: Under for just receiving, but total yards will be over.
Most explosive plays, Cowboys offense or Commanders offense?
Tom: Commanders
Howman: Cowboys, because Dak Prescott is the better quarterback.
Sean: Home cooking for the offense on high heat is their only chance. Dallas.
Jess: Commanders, because only one defense is entirely incompetent.
Better situational unit, Dallas 2-minute offense or Washington 2-minute defense?
Tom: Up until last Sunday I’d say Dallas, but not so sure now.
Howman: Dallas; Dan Quinn does a lot of good things, but situational football is not his forte.
Sean: See above answer, Cowboys offense again.
Jess: Give me 2025 Dak in the clutch.
Javonte Williams rushing yards, O/U 72.5
Tom: Under
Howman: Over, Dan Quinn still can’t stop the run
Sean: Over in something of a bounce-back game.
Jess: Over.
Jayden Daniels rushing yards, O/U 44.5
Tom: Over
Howman: Over seems like a smart bet
Sean: Under because he’s a thrower first, and the throws will be there.
Jess: Over.
Dallas red-zone total TD’s- O/U 1.5
Tom: Over
Howman: Under, but only because they’ll score from outside of the red zone multiple times
Sean: Over with two.
Jess: Over.
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