Tag: Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers

Cowboys-49ers Final Injury Report: Band back together for first time since ’21?

What started out as the worst week on the injury report has morphed into the best. A look at the game designations for DAL-SF Week 5. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Could it finally be happening? The Dallas Cowboys started off Week 5 with their longest injury list of the season, and by a wide margin. 11 players in total were either hobbled or completely missing from the practice field on Wednesday. And while five of those 11 were on rest days, three of the five still had ailments attached to their name.

It seems to be the case each week, the injured list grows on either Thursday or Friday, as someone new develops an issue that needs to be monitored or that knocks them out completely. Last week it was Peyton Hendershot’s ankle on Friday. The week before Trevon Diggs’ ACL. This week, heading into the biggest game of the season, not only was no one added, but there’s a ton of good news on almost every player who was listed initially. The Cowboys have only ruled out one player ahead of the SNF matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

And that player is not one of the offensive linemen, meaning that for the first time since 2021, Dallas’ intended starting unit will play in a game together. Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin and Terence Steele will take their Power Rangers act on the road to try and slow down the 49ers’ vaunted pass rush. The 49ers are in a similar boat, with their list of eight names being whittled down to one player out and another questionable.

Here’s a look at all of the designations for Week 5.

Cowboys-49ers duel could come down to left tackle

Both the Cowboys and 49ers rely on their LTs to win one-on-one matchups so the team who does it better in Week 5 may have a big advantage, says @ReidDHanson.

“You can’t double-team everyone,” is a mantra the Cowboys’ defensive pass rush lives by and it’s a reality all NFL offensive lines have to accept. As everyone knows, an NFL offensive line fields five blockers. Five blockers to open lanes and protect the passer. Regardless of how many on-ball defenders line up, it’s the job of those five linemen to get things done.

Both Dallas and the San Francisco 49ers are well versed in causing this conundrum, and in Week 5 both will have to solve the puzzle of the other side’s prowess.

When running the ball, it’s a total team effort. Look no further than the Cowboys Week 5 opponent, San Francisco.

The entire 49ers offense seems to embrace their roles as run blockers. From the offensive line all the way through the skill players, it’s all hands on deck.

In pass protection, things inevitably change.

Offensive coordinators can add RBs, TEs and even WRs to the run-blocking equation, but passing offenses need passing targets so it’s imperative as many potential targets get down field into their routes as possible. They can help with blitz pick up or various other blocking tasks in small doses, but more often than not, the onus falls on the offensive line to take on the majority of pass protection responsibilities.

This means some offensive linemen have to play on an island. Those linemen have to handle business alone because other linemen require help. Defenses search for mismatches.

The Cowboys will move Micah Parsons from side to side and San Fransisco will move Nick Bosa from side to side. Both teams also tend to leave their LTs on an island.

The Cowboys with Tyron Smith and San Francisco with Trent Williams sport some of the most frequently left-alone tackles in the game. They are also two of the most successful LTs in the game, winning over 95 percent of those battles.

It’s hard to hear this and not think of the Cowboys injury report. After missing the past two weeks, Smith’s status for Sunday is up in the air. If he can play, he can be trusted to hold up his end at LT, much like Williams is for the 49ers.

If Smith can’t play, the job falls back on Chuma Edoga who doesn’t play with anything close to the same proficiency or responsibility as Smith. Pro Football Focus places Edoga far below Smith as a blocker.

Based on pure pass blocking grades of tackles who have seen 60 or more snaps, Smith ranks No. 1 in the NFL while Edoga lands 49 spots below him at No. 50. It’s safe to say the Cowboys’ offensive blocking scheme changes considerably based on who is starting at LT on Sunday.

Does this mean Terence Steele, Dallas’ right tackle, will have to take on the lone blocker responsibilities instead?

That’s also an issue given Steele’s troubles in pass protection this season. His struggles are understandable given the major knee injury he’s rebounding from, but Steele is currently grading out nine spots below Edoga in 2023.

He’s no more suited for island play than the man replacing Smith.

With Parsons and Bosa as certified game-wreckers, the outcome of Sunday’s Week 5 matchup between the Cowboys and 49ers may very well come down to what happens at LT.

The 49ers are weak on the right side of their offensive line. They need to roll extra protection in order to hold up against the Cowboys’ pass rush. That’s why they need Williams to hold up on an island.

If San Fransico can occupy Parsons while Dallas struggles to control Bosa, that may be all that’s needed to tip the balance of this game. That’s why Smith’s status is so important.

It’s not doom and gloom if Smith can’t play, it just makes things much harder on the entire offensive line if he’s stuck on the sideline.

Both team’s success is tied to their LT play. Particularly their LT’s ability to win one-on-one matchups.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report: Cowboys’ preferred OL practices, could take field together for first time vs 49ers

From @ToddBrock24f7: Tyron Smith was back at practice, setting up the Cowboys’ “best five” to see their first game action together since Tyler Smith was drafted.

Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.

Maybe.

For the first time ever, Cowboys offensive linemen Tyron Smith and Tyler Smith could take a game snap alongside each other when Dallas takes the field at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara this Sunday night.

On Thursday, the team’s wish-list O-line got their first work together in a padded regular-season practice. And while there are still a few days to go before Week 5’s key game kicks off, the stars are aligning for the best five linemen to start versus the 49ers.

Tyron Smith was back in action on Thursday as a full participant and could be ready to return to his usual left tackle spot after missing the past two games with a right knee injury. Tyler Smith sat out Weeks 1 and 2 after straining a hamstring just before opening night. Center Tyler Biadasz did not play in Week 3 with a hamstring issue. Right guard Zack Martin also missed the loss in Arizona due to an ankle injury. Only right tackle Terence Steele has occupied his normal position for all four games this season.

That’s the starting lineup that Dallas envisioned when they spent a first-round draft pick on Tyler Smith in April of last year. Seventeen months later, it still hasn’t happened in a real game.

“This group of five has never played a game together,” Martin said, per Patrik Walker of the team website. “Excited to get out there and go to work.”

Tyler Smith, who learned the guard position in camp last summer and then switched to tackle to fill in for Tyron for most of his rookie season, agreed.

“People have been waiting. That’s huge for us,” he said, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “Just having everybody back up front, you just know that well-oiled machine is going to keep going.”

Yes, it is huge and it’s “expected,” but it’s not guaranteed quite yet.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Quarterback Dak Prescott hedged his bets slightly when asked about the prospect of his preferred front five coming together just in time to protect him against Nick Bosa and the fierce San Francisco defense.

“I feel like we talked about this two weeks ago,” Prescott smiled. “Let’s get to the game, and then we can talk about it after.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hc0ea4cg6k99kye7v8 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hc0ea4cg6k99kye7v8/01hc0ea4cg6k99kye7v8-beab45fe25996b65910b485c07a85131.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

‘Something has to give’: Cowboys, 49ers players amped up for showdown in Santa Clara

From @ToddBrock24f7: This Sunday’s showdown between the Cowboys and 49ers could have major implications later on, and star players on both sides know it.

Week 5’s Cowboys-49ers clash has been circled on the league’s calendars since schedules were first announced. Anticipated by most observers to be one of the highest-profile games of the year, the showdown in Santa Clara will have no shortage of star power… or subplots.

San Francisco is rolling with a 4-0 record, though they have yet to meet an opponent as tough as Dallas. The Cowboys will also face their stiffest test of the young season, coming in with a 3-1 mark and sky-high expectations for the 2023.

Both teams are putting up plenty of points, but Dallas is doing so with a lot of help from their havoc-wreaking defense. For the Niners, Christian McCaffrey once again leads the way both on the ground and as a receiver as quarterback Brock Purdy continues his improbable ascension.

The defenses feature a who’s who of talent, and viewers shouldn’t be surprised if this clash of NFC powers ends up being a low-scoring affair.

What’s certain is that the 40th installment of this storied and bitter rivalry brings plenty of juice, with players in both locker rooms well aware of what this early-October meeting could mean for both teams somewhere down the line.

Because, in case you haven’t been reminded in the last five minutes, the 49ers have already ejected the Cowboys from the postseason bracket in back-to-back seasons.

Here’s what some of the stars from both squads are saying about this massive battle in the Bay.

Cowboys vs 49ers: 6 things to know about Week 5 opponent

Star power will be the central focus in Week 5 as the 49ers and Cowboys match wits. Big plays from big-time players should abound. Here’s 6 things to know, from @BenGrimaldi.

The Dallas Cowboys got back on track last week with their third blowout win of the season. That victory could boost their confidence heading into their Week 5 matchup with the rival San Francisco 49ers.

It’s a team that has to feel good about themselves coming off a win, especially with the prospects of heading into a game they’ve pinpointed as a measuring stick, so avoiding back-to-back losses was a big deal.

The 49ers are undefeated and one of the best teams in the league heading into Sunday Night Football, while the Cowboys have a chance to prove their mettle. Here are six things to know about the 49ers ahead of the Week 5 matchup.

Here’s why the Cowboys are underdogs for the 1st time in 2023

A deep dive into the stats notebook explains how to really look at DAL-SF, including DVOA, EPA, Toxic Plays, 3rd down over expectation and more. Dallas needs to punch up. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t used to being in this position in 2023. Through four games, the team has been a decided favorite in each of them. Despite stumbling against Arizona, the Cowboys have lived up to their billing for the most part, dominating three lesser opponents like great teams are supposed to.

The problem in Week 5 is that the San Francisco 49ers are certainly not lesser. In fact, the notebook shows the myriad of ways the 49ers have used to achieve their undefeated 4-0 record, and separated themselves from other clubs, even Dallas. Here’s a look at the ledger in terms of DVOA, EPA, QB metrics and of course the big-play metric of toxicity. How much of an advantage does San Francisco have?

Cowboys-49ers Initial Injury Report: Micah Parsons, Deebo Samuel headline long list

19 players were listed on the Cowboys-49ers initial injury reports, including high profile names like Micah Parsons and Deebo Samuel. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys’ injury report is as packed as it’s been in quite some time following Wednesday’s initial practice for Week 5. The team returned to the practice field at The Star coming off their dominating 38-3 win over the New England Patriots and more than ready to turn their attention over to the San Francisco 49ers who they’ll face on Sunday Night Football.

There were 11 players listed on the report, including eight who missed practice entirely for a variety of reasons. And while several of those eight were out for a veteran’s rest day, three of those five also had an injury noted which means they are nicked up, too. Meanwhile on the San Francisco 49ers sideline, things are a little cleaner, but not by much.

Six 49ers missed practice on Wednesday and two more had limited participation as they look to stretch their unbeaten streak to five to begin the 2023 season. Here’s a look at all the players who were given a designation.

Cowboys defense standing tall, but the gauntlet ahead is toughest in NFL

The Cowboys’ defense hasn’t been challenged much this year, but they now face the toughest offensive opponent schedule in the NFL. From @ReidDHanson

Through four weeks, the Cowboys defense has answered the bell. Dan Quinn’s unit is currently ranked second in EPA per play and fourth in success rate in 2023. Their pass coverage is tops in expected points and the defensive unit overall is second in total takeaways.

Few will argue they are one of the best, if not the best, in the entire NFL this season. Aside from a few lapses in run defense, they’re a complete unit, with depth and star power throughout. All of this will be put to the test in coming weeks.

Based on future strength of schedule, things are about to get much more difficult for the Cowboys defense. For as worthy as their opponents have been in the first four weeks, they’re about to face a murderer’s row of offenses.

Starting off in Week 5 against San Francisco, the Cowboys defense will be facing off against the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.

The 49ers are the second-ranked offense in the NFL, with the Chargers coming in just two spots behind in fourth. Following those two matchups, Dallas takes on the eighth ranked Rams and the 10th ranked Eagles, giving them a four-game stretch against top-10 offenses (all EPA numbers per rbsdm.com).

After battling the seventh-ranked Seahawks in their post-Thanksgiving affair, the Cowboys defense faces the Eagles once again, followed by the No. 3 ranked Bills and No. 1 ranked Dolphins. That’s yet another four-game stretch against top-10 offenses.

Given the dominance of the Dallas defense this season it’s understandable if they feel confident taking on the best. But lest we forget, the Cowboys have only played one top-10 offense this season and that team had little issue beating the Dallas defense (Arizona is ranked No. 9).

The Cowboys’ three wins this season have all come against bottom-five offenses. It’s safe to say they haven’t been remotely tested this year.

That’s all about to change.

Measuring Sticks: Jerry Jones wants to gauge Cowboys by 49ers standards

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones clearly sees this contest as a statement game for Mike McCarthy’s troops. | From @ChiefArmyW3

Two of the best teams in the NFL square off on Sunday night when the Cowboys travel to San Francisco in a battle for NFC supremacy.The 49ers have ended the Cowboy’s postseason dreams for two straight years and a win on Sunday night “would be inspiring,” according to Dallas’ owner Jerry Jones.

San Fransisco is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL with the other being the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas not only needs to win for playoff seeding but also to keep pace with their undefeated division foe. On his weekly radio segment with 105.3 The Fan, Jones had some interesting comments regarding this weekend’s highly anticipated matchup.

“They are, probably, the most likely team to go win the Super Bowl, but in order for them to get there, they have to go by us, hopefully two times if that’s the way it falls in the playoffs and we’re in the playoffs, of course.”

If they are to win on Sunday night, Dallas will need to find some sort of offensive rhythm which has escaped them in their prior playoff meetings. In the two postseason losses to the 49ers, Dallas has only been able to put up 29 points against their vaunted defense, total. So it’s no wonder Jones is looking forward to how this version of Dallas fares against the 2023 49ers. “You need the game to show you how you stack up against the best.”

Jones didn’t reserve all of his praise for the opponents, calling his own defense “hard to handle,” especially when the team can build a lead. That group will be tested as San Francisco’s offense has looked unstoppable at several times across the start to the season..

Jones’s measuring stick comments have come with mixed results. Back in 2019, a 6-4 Cowboys team played against a 9-1 Patriots and lost 13-9. The club went on to finish 8-8 and head coach Jason Garrett was fired at the conclusion of the season.

Last season, Jones made similar comments with different results. Dallas beat the eventual NFC representative in Philadelphia 40-34 in December, albeit with a backup quarterback.

While measuring the success of a team is not encapsulated by winning one game, walking out of Levi Stadium with a victory on Sunday night will go a long way toward the Cowboys mental state against a 49ers team that has had their number lately.

Cowboys’ Jerry Jones hints at LT Tyron Smith missing 3rd straight game

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys owner called Smith “iffy” heading into Week 5’s clash with San Francisco; Smith has missed the last 2 games with a knee injury.

In what will likely shape up to be a battle of two of the league’s top defenses, the offensive lines could go a long way in ultimately determining the outcome when Dallas travels to San Francisco this weekend for a primetime showdown of NFC powers.

And the Cowboys don’t know if one of their most important pieces will even be on the field.

Left tackle Tyron Smith is a major question mark heading into Sunday’s Week 5 game, having already missed the last two outings with a knee injury. On Tuesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded less than confident about the eight-time Pro Bowler’s status changing in the coming days.

“If he’s available, it would be iffy,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan’s Shan and RJ. “But he could be.”

The oft-injured 32-year-old started Weeks 1 and 2 for Dallas in blowout wins, though he had shown up in the injury reports leading up to both games with an ankle injury. He was not listed as a concern prior to Week 3’s meeting with Arizona and only showed up on the practice report with a knee issue the day before the game.

When that desert duel kicked off Sept. 24, an in-uniform Smith was standing on the sidelines. He did not play in the 28-16 loss, once again making 2015 the most recent season in which the former first-round draft pick appeared in the full slate of games. He sat out last week’s date with New England as well.

Smith has played in just 19 of 54 regular-season games during head coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

While Jones’s comments allow hope for Smith’s injured knee to make a turnaround in time for Sunday’s kickoff, the Cowboys will spend the week prudently prepping their Plan B.

“This morning, you need to think about him playing,” Jones said of Smith. “If he doesn’t, we’re well-prepared.”

Chuma Edoga got the start in place of Smith for both Weeks 3 and 4. If he replaces Smith again at Levi’s Stadium, he would have to be considered the weak link as the Cowboys face a San Francisco defense that includes Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Hargrave, and Fred Warner, among others.

Second-year man Tyler Smith filled in for Tyron last season at tackle but has been allowed to remain at left guard since he returned to the lineup in Week 3.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hbve9nembrcz1vbs64 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hbve9nembrcz1vbs64/01hbve9nembrcz1vbs64-65e3d9d6f587266e503467ebaeb48b07.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]