Tag: 2023 season Week 2

Cowboys’ Zack Martin: ‘Just being smart’ by coming out of game after 4th-quarter leg whip

From @ToddBrock24f7: Martin was rolled up on after a red-zone run by Tony Pollard, but re-entered the game for the final snaps and said afterward he feels good.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin gave fans a few nervous moments throughout the week leading up to Sunday’s interconference matchup with the Jets. Then, right at the end of another dominant performance in the team’s 30-10 Week 2 win, he gave one last scare.

The 32-year-old was seen visibly limping around in the fourth quarter and even came out of the lineup for a time. But the eight-time Pro Bowler was back on the field to do the famous “Landry Shift” as part of the Cowboys’ victory formation in the game’s final moments.

And he maintains that there’s no cause for long-term concern.

“I feel good, just got rolled up a little bit,” Martin told reporters at his AT&T Stadium locker after the win. “Just being smart there at the end of the game, but I feel good.”

The injury came on the first play from scrimmage after Jayron Kearse’s interception and return put the Cowboys offense on the Jets’ 17-yard-line with under 12 minutes to go. Running back Tony Pollard plowed his way up the middle for an 8-yard gain, but took out Martin from behind on his way to the turf.

Martin stayed on the ground briefly. He carried on, but was noticeably hobbled for the remainder of the series, which ended in a Brandon Aubrey 30-yard field goal.

The next time the Cowboys had the ball, Martin stayed on the sideline, causing a shuffle along the Dallas offensive line.

Undrafted rookie T.J. Bass, already in at left guard for the injured Chuma Edoga (who was himself subbing for the injured Tyler Smith), shifted over to Martin’s right guard spot; fifth-round draft pick Asim Richards took over at left guard.

Martin was able to return for the contest’s final possession, and said he would have been able to stay in the game if the score had been closer.

Afterward, Martin looked to be getting around with no problem.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he visited with Martin after the game and told media members, “He seems to be okay.”

The team will no doubt be smart with Martin’s ankle as this week of prep starts and could potentially limit his work in practice as the Cowboys gear up for a visit to Arizona in Week 3.

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But the perennial All-Pro knows that the team has quality depth players who are ready to step in whenever they’re needed.

“Obviously, Chuma in there, and then T.J. Bass came in, Asim Richards, all those guys. They’re ready to go and they’re ready to play, which is great to see,” Martin said. “The coaches have done a great job getting those guys prepared, knowing their number could be called at any time.”

The Cowboys offensive line cleared the way for 134 rushing yards by Dallas ball carriers on Sunday and held the vaunted New York defense to just one sack in the decisive win.

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Studs & Duds: Micah has monstrous day, Dak of Lamb delicious in big win over Jets

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys’ biggest stars showed out in the 30-10 romp, but one WR has practically disappeared. And the offense left points on the field.

The talk all week leading up to the Cowboys’ home opener was the formidable Jets defense. But after Sunday’s game went final, the most impressive thing about the unit was how long they spent on the field. The Cowboys held the ball for nearly three full quarters in a 30-10 romp and were once again dominant in all three phases of the game.

While it was the Cowboys’ biggest stars who shone the brightest at AT&T Stadium, fans will be asking questions about a few aspects of the afternoon that were less than spectacular. One former playmaker, for instance, has all but disappeared from the game plan, and the offensive playcalling left more than a few points on the field.

Here’s a look at Week 2’s studs and duds.

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Cowboys’ Zack Martin ‘took every rep’ on Friday; Saturday to give clue on groin injury

From @ToddBrock24f7: Martin downplayed the injury that limited him this week; Saturday’s practice squad elevations could indicate whether he’ll play Sunday.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin caused some concern when he showed up on the team’s injury report this week with a groin injury. The issue had the eight-time Pro Bowler listed as “limited” on both Thursday and Friday.

Martin’s own words and what he did in practice on Friday were cause for optimism among Cowboys Nation heading into Week 2’s home opener against the Jets, but officially, he’s considered questionable for Sunday’s game.

Saturday, however, will be very telling in regard to his actual gameday outlook.

In his regular Thursday appearance, the 32-year-old lineman told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan shortly after first appearing on the team’s injury report, “Oh, I’m doing good. It was just a little tight. They were taking care of me today.”

Martin’s nonchalant answer about the injury was perhaps bolstered by news that he “took every rep” in Friday’s practice (according to head coach Mike McCarthy), despite keeping the “limited” classification for a second straight day.

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The future Hall of Famer is expected to start, but as Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News points out, Saturday’s practice squad elevations will provide a major clue.

If the club uses one of their two gameday elevations on Sean Harlow, Alex Taylor-Prioleau, or Earl Bostick Jr., it’s a sign that the Cowboys coaching staff acknowledges a “realistic chance” that Martin will need to sit.

If the elevations are used on other positions, the team likely feels good about Martin’s state of readiness.

Martin is slated to line up against Jets veteran defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, the No. 3 player chosen in 2019’s draft and a first-team All-Pro last year.

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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb looks to ‘make a statement’ vs Jets CB Sauce Gardner

From @ToddBrock24f7: Lamb says practicing every day against Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore has been the perfect prep for going up against the Jets’ star DB.

With just 143 yards in their season opener, it feels like the Cowboys’ passing game is still waiting to make its true 2023 debut.

But patience is a virtue, especially for an NFL wide receiver. And it’s one CeeDee Lamb- and the whole Dallas offense- is exercising as they come off a 40-0 blowout that, oddly, provided zero passing touchdowns and practically no aerial highlights at all.

“Best thing you can do,” Lamb told reporters this week, “don’t rush it and let it come to you.”

The two-time Pro Bowler caught all four balls thrown to him against the Giants and racked up 77 yards. While that per-game pace would put him awfully close to the career-best 1,359 he posted last season, Lamb has his sights set on improving.

This week’s date with the Jets is guaranteed to be drier and likely to be a lot closer on the scoreboard, so it should provide Lamb with far more opportunities than he got at soggy MetLife Stadium.

But the former first-round pick knows he’ll be seeing top-notch coverage from Sauce Gardner.

Lamb welcomes the challenge.

“Always a testament to your position,” Lamb explained. “Obviously, Sauce had a lot of success last year, and he’s a great DB. And [fellow Jets cornerback] D.J. Reed, I played him in college, so I’m very familiar with him. I look forward to games like that, matchups like that.”

That’s not even including Jets safety Jordan Whitehead, who picked off Bills passer Josh Allen three times in New York’s thrilling Week 1 win.

But Lamb is likely to be shadowed by Gardner, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft. The All-Pro and reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year ended the 2022 season with just two interceptions, a number that’s mostly a product of opposing passers shying away from testing the 6-foot-3-inch cornerback.

When they did go after him, Gardner was terrifically effective. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 48% of their passes against him, and he led the NFL with 20 passes defended. He also had the highest PFF grade of any cornerback in the league.

“For starters, his height,” Lamb answered upon being asked what makes Gardner so good. “His technique, he knows his leverage. He’s very smart, tall. He’s not your average DB.”

Lamb is confident, though, that Cowboys offensive playcaller Mike McCarthy, coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and quarterback Dak Prescott are capable of dialing up a better-than-average game plan that attacks the Jets secondary, with an air raid that looks- on paper, at least- to be incredibly explosive.

“Any given time, any given Sunday, honestly,” Lamb warned. “Just being out there with the guys and making the routine plays, things that we’ve been practicing and preaching since camp, to see it come to fruition, that’s probably the best feeling. And I think that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Lamb says the work he’s been getting in every day against Cowboys cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Trevon Diggs is the perfect training ground for facing a talent like Gardner.

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The Oklahoma product says he gets a different lesson with each practice rep, depending on who’s guarding him.

“He’s probably the smartest DB,” Lamb said of the 13-year veteran Gilmore, “that I’ve ever lined up against. I get one yard down the field off a release, he knows– He’s kind of eliminating routes in his head. I mean, if you beat him, you got him. But I don’t know if you could do it twice.”

As for Diggs, Lamb offered, “He has the best ball skills out of all the DBs. So if the ball’s in the air, it makes me track it differently. And then looking eye-to-eye when I line up to a guy that’s my height- technically- it kind of makes you want to get in your bag a little more. … It’s great work in practice.”

And after all that practice- not to mention a season-opener that kept the Cowboys passing attack stuck safely in first gear- Lamb is more than ready to show Gardner what he’s been learning. And saving up.

“Test my abilities,” Lamb previewed, “and see where I am and make a statement.”

The Cowboys hope that statement ultimately sounds a lot like a second straight win over a New York foe.

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Former Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein considered ’50-50′ for Jets in Week 2

From @ToddBrock24f7: After being released by Dallas prior to the ’22 season, Zuerlein was the Jets’ top scorer last year. He is questionable with a groin injury.

When the Jets take the field at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, they already know they’ll be without their Week 1 starter at quarterback. They now may also be without last year’s team points leader and a familiar face to many of the Cowboys player and coaches.

Kicker Greg Zuerlein suffered a groin injury during the team’s practice on Thursday, according to Jets head coach Robert Saleh. The former Cowboys specialist will not practice on Friday and is considered “50-50” to play in Week 2’s game.

The Jets will reportedly work out several kickers in case a late roster move is needed.

“It’s not serious,” Saleh said of the injury, “but serious enough to put Sunday in question.”

Zuerlein, now 35 and in his 12th NFL season, kicked for Dallas in 2020 and 2021. He was brought aboard when John Fassel took over the Cowboys special team coordinator role; the two had previously spent eight years together with the Rams.

Over his two seasons in Dallas, Zuerlein went 63-for-76 on field goal attempts, with nine of those misses coming from 50 yards or beyond. He was released in March of 2022 in a salary cap move.

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“Greg the Leg” soon signed with the Jets and went on to lead the team in scoring with 118 points. He connected on all three field goal attempts and his lone PAT try in New York’s overtime win versus Buffalo on Monday.

If Zuerlein is unable to go in the Cowboys’ home opener, it will leave the Jets with their backup quarterback trying to put the ball in the end zone against a Dallas defense that pitched a shutout in Week 1… and, if he cannot, relying on a brand-new kicker to put it through the uprights against a field goal unit that blocked one and returned it for a score to start their regular season.

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Cowboys, McCarthy look to ground Jets’ two-pronged run game: ‘Stop it and keep it stopped’

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys run D got off to a strong start vs Saquon Barkley, but Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook pose a serious home-run threat in Week 2.

Mike McCarthy doesn’t put much stock in year-to-year comparisons. Each NFL season brings new personnel, new coaches, new schemes, new tactics to every squad across the league. What a team did or didn’t do well one year typically has little bearing on what to expect the following season.

But the Cowboys coach knows that until his defense demonstrates they can shut down opposing rushers on a week-in, week-out basis, it will be seen as an exploitable vulnerability, just like it was in 2022.

So despite the Cowboys defensive front having a strong showing in their 2023 season opener, seeing Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook come to town is a focal point of this week’s prep.

“You’ve got to stop the run and, really, the action passing game, too, because of the big-play opportunities I’m sure they’re going to try to challenge us with,” McCarthy told reporters at a Thursday morning press conference at The Star.

“We know that’s how people are going to come after us.”

Last year, the Cowboys were in the bottom third of the league in rushing yards allowed, giving up 129.2 yards per game, on average. Sunday’s season opener against was statistically better; the Giants gained 108 yards on the ground. The Cowboys’ 3.9 yards allowed per carry, if stretched out over last season, would have had them tied for third place overall.

That’s encouraging.

But Hall also showed out in Week 1, compiling more rushing yards than anyone in the NFL except Christian McCaffrey. Yes, most of the speedster’s 127 yards came on one 83-yard scamper, but that’s precisely what McCarthy wants to prevent.

“Both these backs can take it to the house,” the coach explained, “so that’s definitely a focus for us.”

Cook was held to a pedestrian 33 yards against Buffalo, but the longtime Viking has typically performed well against Dallas, averaging 90.5 rushing yards per contest over four career meetings with the Cowboys.

Hall and Cook combined to add another 46 yards in the passing game in the Jets’ overtime win over the Bills, and the Cowboys defensive front will be charged on Sunday with keeping that contained as well.

And now with Aaron Rodgers sidelined, Gang Green may lean even more heavily on a backfield-based attack than originally expected, even with backup Zach Wilson having a full week with the first-stringers and his coaches having ample time to sift through their offensive playbook to find the pass plays best suited to him.

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While the 24-year-old passer could certainly rise to the occasion after an emotional win on Monday, the Cowboys’ best chance of keeping the Jets offense in the hangar starts with enforcing a full ground stop against their one-two attack at running back.

“It’s important to stop it,” McCarthy said, “and keep it stopped.”

That would also go a long way in announcing to the rest of the league that this year is indeed different in Dallas.

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