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 Sean Martin and David Howman.
How would you grade Dak Prescott’s game versus the Chargers? Were the right throws there and just missed, or were windows consistently muddy?
Mike: Dak gets a B- this week. The structure of the offense still produced answers. There were completions available in the quick game and a few shot opportunities off play-action, and that rainbow ball for a touchdown was an absolute season highlight. But the timing wasn’t consistently sharp and a couple of key throws were just a beat late or slightly off. At the same time, the Chargers deserve credit for making life uncomfortable with late rotations and tight underneath leverage that narrowed the middle-of-field windows.
So it wasn’t simply he missed everything, and it wasn’t nothing was there either, more a mix of some makeable throws left on the field and coverage looks that kept the margins thin in the biggest moments.
Sean: No sense in not being completely honest and transparent at this point of a lost season, the only full watch of this game I could stomach was the live viewing. That is important context to understand when asking about reads, progressions, and windows, but it feels like the separation was there at times from all three of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy – the latter two scoring touchdowns. It was another good but hollow game for the Cowboys offense, and that isn’t entirely their fault at all.
Howman: I give a lot of credit to Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The first half was all Dak, all day. George Pickens, in particular, was unstoppable. But Minter made major changes in the second half that completely stymied the offense, specifically limiting Pickens. By the time Prescott and Schottenheimer figured out how to adjust, they were in such a hole that it impacted the way they ran their offense.
When the Chargers adjusted at halftime, what did Dallas fail to counter? Tempo, formations, or play calls?
Sean: The Chargers mixed a lot of formations that beefed up the line of scrimmage for them, and most importantly changed the launch angle for the Cowboys pass rushers. They had no consistency going up against either tackles on an island, or through chips from multiple tight ends. Mix in the ball getting out of Hebert’s hands quickly, and more times than not to wide open targets, and pass rush is going to be hard no matter the matchup. That said, the Chargers offensive line found every way possible to maul the Cowboys at the point of attack. Making an impact like that is always going to show itself more in the second half as the game wore on, and that’s what happened especially with the defense on the field more and more. It was a bad day.
Mike: Sean got this answer in early and is on point. But just to add a note on tempo. The Chargers tightened their underneath spacing and brought pressure looks that dared Dallas to win quickly, and the Cowboys didn’t respond with enough hurry-up, motion, and formation variety. Too many second-half snaps looked static and predictable, allowing L.A. to disguise late, jump routes, and turn third-and-medium into long-yardage.
Howman: Sean pretty much took the words out of my mouth, he nailed it.
What’s on your Santa wish list for the rest of the season?
Mike: Ok my Santa Wish list, and let’s be clear I don’t ask for much. So it starts with something simple, finish strong in the division. Beat Washington and New York, because stacking rivalry wins is one small way to salvage a depressing season, and the only thing I hate more than losing, it’s losing to any division rival at point of the season. Sure people scream draft position and winning does them no good, but I disagree. Winning helps with confidence, it puts some momentum into next season, and proves that even when there’s nothing to fight for this team has the spirit to go for the victory.
And, selfishly, let Dak finish what he’s been building all year. He’s on track to end the year as the NFL’s passing yardage leader, and closing that out would be a real accomplishment since no Cowboys quarterback has ever finished the season as the leagues passing leader. Let’s get a Dallas player on that list for a change.
Sean: A pass rush. The best possible draft pick. More plays from Ryan Flournoy to build on. How about a Jake Ferguson touchdown? He hasn’t had one since the win in Las Vegas.
Howman: Is a new owner too much to ask for? In all seriousness, I’m just looking for the youngin’s on defense to show something. If we can get to the end of the year feeling confident about Revel, Liufau, Ezeiruaku, and maybe even Caelen Carson, that’ll be a win.
Who scores first for Dallas?
Howman: Javonte Williams seems due
Which receiver on either team gets the most receiving yards?
Blitz Marcus Mariota/ Josh Johnson or flood coverage?
Sean: Blitz, coverage can’t hold up forever and the front can’t get home
Howman: Eberflus ain’t blitzing so I guess just flood coverage.
Ryan Flournoy touchdowns, over/under- 1.5
Sean: Two Flournoy touchdowns would be fun, and that’s all we are rooting for now anyway. Let’s go over!
Howman: Gotta take the under here
Cowboys defensive takeaways, O/U 1.5
Howman: Over, Washington is struggling
Cowboys offensive sacks allowed, O/U 2.5