Cowboys roundtable discussion: Houston comeback, Nick Sorensen, defensive sacks
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 Jorge Guajardo, Dyllan Rivers, Tom Ryle and Sean Martin.
What was most convincing about the comeback win?
Mike – The most convincing part was Brian Schottenheimer. Dallas looked flat, stuck, and out of answers in the first half, but Schottenheimer helped flip the game after halftime. The play-calling became much better, the offense found rhythm, and the team clearly still believed it could win even when Houston had control.
Credit has to go to the head coach when adjustments work and the team responds. This was not just Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb dragging Dallas out of trouble. It was a coaching staff finding answers, and Schotty did that.
Dyllan – If teams choose to eliminate the quick death by focusing on George Pickens, Dallas is happy to methodically beat you with CeeDee Lamb the entire game. And don’t forget about Flournoy, by the way, who is completely capable of key chain moving grabs. This WR room reminded the NFL why they’re so dangerous.
Jorge – The offense genuinely looks like a force of nature, and I still don’t think it’s firing on all cylinders yet. To Dyllan’s point, the WR room may be the deepest and most capable in the league, and they are getting the job done when called up and asked to deliver in the clutch. Oh, and QB Dak Prescott ain’t playing too bad either.
Tom – I’m not sure there was anything convincing besides the obvious potency of the passing attack, and a nice bit of evidence that CeeDee is indeed among the elite at his position. But a couple of other things were at least encouraging. The red zone offense found a way every time. And the Cowboys had half the penalties, not their normal result. Oddly, those two are kind of interconnected, because on one touchdown the Texans just refused to get off the field without getting a flag.
Sean – The offense not being denied in crunch time. The margin for error on some of Dak’s biggest throws of the game was slim to none, and every point the Cowboys put up ended up being needed. We can keep hoping and dreaming to see this offense with a little less pressure on their backs to score almost every time they touch it, but for now they’re scoring at an elite rate anyway, and it’s good enough to be right in the thick of things going into mid-October.
Are we happy with how Nick Sorensen is coaching the special teams unit?
Mike – In my opinion he needs to go. Brandon Aubrey is elite, but Aubrey’s leg should not cover up the wider special teams problems. The unit has too many messy moments, too many avoidable mistakes, and too many situations where Dallas either loses hidden yards or puts unnecessary pressure on the rest of the team. Special teams should be the cleanest, most reliable phase, not something that constantly feels like it is one mistake away from hurting the Cowboys. At some point, the coordinator has to own that.
Dyllan – The FG unit needs to learn how to block things up in a hurry. They nearly had a second kick blocked on the PAT at the end of the game. But I do love their mastery of the dirty kick. The hidden yards in field position is extremely important for the growing defense. And Turpin is quietly putting up solid return numbers. I’m fine with Sorensen but they do need to figure out how to block on the FG attempts.
Jorge – No. Special teams was an issue last year, and continues to be this year. The kickoff penalties are unacceptable, and blocked field goals played a hand in a loss this year. Aubrey’s special ability to nail those long kicks will be neutralized if the Cowboys can’t shore up protection on these field-goal attempts.
Tom – It is more tolerable than satisfying. Those blocks and near blocks are potential game changers and must be avoided. Return yards are a plus, but we still haven’t seen the big return for a score or to get on the doorstep of the end zone.
Sean – The Texans hurt themselves more than the Cowboys with special teams penalties in this game, but the Cowboys left an opportunity to push this differential even further with some sloppiness in the third phase themselves. For a coach that’s been here for a minute now, that’s a tough thing to swallow, and they’ll need to get it corrected.
Is this the game where the defensvie line have to turn pressures into sacks?
Mike – Yes, absolutely. Tampa Bay has allowed 16 sacks in four games, so if there is ever a week for the Cowboys’ defensive front to arrive, it is this one. Pressures are nice, but against a struggling protection unit, Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Rashaan Gary and the rest of the edge rushers have to finish plays this week. If the Buccaneers offensive line gives them chances and the Cowboys still cannot turn those chances into sacks, then the concern level goes way up.
Dyllan – The game against Houston was the one where I thought they’d rack up the sacks. And they did finish with two. But I thought it’d come together sooner and more frequently. I’m losing confidence that the current room will be able to get after passers this season.
Jorge – I agree with Dyllan; I’m not sure this group has what it takes to consistently bring the opposing quarterback down. They looked much better at the end of the game and on third down, but we still aren’t seeing much in the rush. I think that Christian Parker has to start maximizing their ability to rush the passer beyond asking them to beat their blockers with their skill/athleticism, so I’m talking more vigorous rush plans, and maybe even more blitzes.
Tom – The lack of sacks is only concerning when paired with the failure to get a single interception. One can offset the other, but when neither is happening, it just increases the concern about whether this team can ever put it all together on D.
Sean – To Tom’s point, rookie starter Jalon Daniels was sacked three times by the Packers on Sunday, but also threw two interceptions, so the impact plays could go either way, and both would be welcome from Parker’s defense. I would lean towards forcing this quarterback to throw into coverage as much as possible, so the chance for edge rushers to win matchups straight up will be there. I think they’ll get some, but not enough for us to feel drastically better about the EDGE group coming out of the game.
RAPID FIRE
Who scores first for Dallas?
Dyllan – George Pickens gets on the board first the week.
Jorge – CeeDee Lamb
Tom – Javonte Williams, rapidly becoming a red zone machine
Sean – I think it’s time for me to start picking Pickens until it hits, so Pickens.
CeeDee Lamb receptions, over/under 9.5
Dyllan – Under. This is the week Pickens faces more solo coverage and comes alive.
Jorge – Yeah, under.
Tom – Ditto
Sean – Ride the hot hand, over for me.
Javonte Williams rushing yards, over/under 79.5
Dyllan – Over. I think Dallas gets up early and it becomes kill the clock time.
Jorge – Over, for the reasons Dyllan mentioned.
Tom – I’ll stick with the under until this team proves it can run the ball effectively outside the red zone
Sean – Under.
Dallas sacks on Jalon Daniels, over/under 3.5
Dyllan – Under. The pass rush is still very suspect regardless of opponent.
Jorge – Under
Tom – Ditto again
Sean – Under
Cowboys margin of victory, over/under 9.5
Dyllan – Over. 10 points is a huge line in the NFL but I think Dallas piles on the points and the defense nets them extra possessions.
Jorge – Under, I’m still not convinced with this coaching staff.
Tom – Over, just because they are about due for a blowout of an outmanned opponent
Sean – Over would sure be nice
True or false? Dallas forces multiple turnovers this week on defense.
Dyllan – True. And I see your multiple turnovers and raise you one defensive touchdown.
Jorge – False
Tom – False until proven otherwise
Sean – Probably false.
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