The long break between games has given Cowboys players extra time to get healthy, Cowboys fans additional time to dwell on the crushing defeat in Chicago, and the Cowboys rumor mill bonus time to swirl with possibilities and speculation.
Time to get caught up on who’s ready to play, who’s looking for wins over yards, and who’s looking like a problem when the tape comes on. There are names to mull over in the coaching carousel- including one that hasn’t gotten much publicity yet- and a familiar name who may have a GM job on his mind. Here’s the latest News and Notes.
The Cowboys look to be nearing full strength coming off their mini-bye and heading into Week 15’s game. Wednesday’s injury report showed running back Tony Pollard, defensive tackle Antwaun Woods, and safety Jeff Heath all back at practice.
Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, though, did not practice due to his lingering neck issue. The second-year star is unlikely to play this weekend, and the coaching staff states it could be “a little time” before he is ready to return.
–TB
The league’s defending rushing champ is having a down year by his standards. But that’s not what’s bothering Ezekiel Elliott these days. Despite topping 1,000 yards for the third time in four seasons as a pro, the number that Elliott cares about is the one in the team’s win column.
“Who cares if you rush for 2,000 and don’t even make the playoffs?” Elliott asked on Wednesday.
The two-time Pro Bowler is on track to see the second-lowest rushing attempt of his career, thanks in large part to the addition of a capable change-of-pace backup in Tony Pollard. But Elliott doesn’t mind the lightened workload so long as it helps the team.
“Whatever is in the game plan, whatever the team needs me to do to win, I’m going to go out there and do,” Elliott said. “They know I’m always ready to get as many touches as they need me to get.”
–TB
Chidobe Awuzie was supposed to be the future for the Cowboys at cornerback. Not only has the third-year Colorado product failed to live up to those lofty expectations, he seems to be regressing. His biggest issue? Inconsistency.
Awuzie is capable of being very good, but according to John Owning, his technique has failed him throughout the season, often leading to big plays the other way. To the casual observer, Awuzie’s issue is refusing to look for the ball when it’s in the air. The true problem, though, runs much deeper than that. He remains a player with untapped potential, but his drop in performance in 2019 may bring salary cap ramifications moving forward.
–TT
If the Dallas defense seemed particularly bad at tackling during their Week 14 loss at Soldier Field, that’s because they were.
Want a sobering perspective on 19 missed tackles in one night? New England’s defense has missed 56 tackles all season long.
For fans who have the stomach to sit through the Chicago nightmare again, Bob Sturm brings the film study, including Xavier Woods and Jaylon Smith putting forth abysmal effort on perhaps the game’s biggest play.
–TB
An awful miss while open on a crucial red zone pass play against Chicago in Week 14 is the strongest impression many fans have right now of Cowboys fullback Jamize Olawale. The third-down incompletion from Dak Prescott was just the second time the eight-year veteran had been targeted all season. He has logged zero rushing attempts and has been on the field for only 11% of Dallas’s offensive snaps in 2019.
Olawale “has some proven receiving and rushing talent from his days in Oakland,” points out Jess Haynie, “yet the Cowboys have been unwilling or unable to find a way to use him more on offense.” For all of that, the North Texas alum currently earns $1.8 million per season and is the fourth-highest-paid fullback in the league.
Fullback is a tricky position to quantify in today’s NFL, but on the surface, Olawale’s seems to be a textbook case of getting way too little bang for way too many bucks.
–TB
The Hall of Fame quarterback has expressed interest in possibly returning to the league someday as a general manager. But the Cowboys icon doesn’t expect it to ever be with his former team… at least under its current ownership.
Speaking with Dallas radio station 1310 The Ticket, Aikman shot down the notion of taking a front office role under Jerry Jones, describing his ex-boss as “real stubborn and steadfast in that he’s the one in charge.”
With Jones as both owner and GM, the team famously has not advanced beyond the NFC divisional round since Aikman himself was taking the snaps in the 1995 postseason. Aikman is now the A-team color analyst for FOX Sports and in recent years has been a vocal critic of the longstanding power structure in Dallas.
“I think in a lot of ways,” the three-time Super Bowl winner continued, “until that changes, this team’s going to have some problems.”
–TB
While a Super Bowl appearance is still possible and would change everything for the Cowboys, a divorce in Dallas seems more likely than ever. K.D. Drummond plays matchmaker and swipes through 35 possible candidates to replace Jason Garrett if the Red Ball regime does, in fact, come to an end after this season.
From promising young up-and-comers (49ers special teams coach and assistant Richard Hightower) to former players climbing the ladder (Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich), and seasoned veterans (former Carolina/Denver/Chicago coach John Fox) to collegiate legends (national championship winner Bob Stoops), every option is explored and graded.
And yes, the list also includes a few current Cowboys employees, many of the usual suspects for any coaching vacancy, and He Who Shall Not Be Named (but whose name rhymes with Furban Squier).
–TB
But wait, there’s more! Add another name to the list of potential candidates. Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen went on record this week as saying he would “probably consider” an opportunity presented to him by an NFL team. That quote made its way to The Rich Eisen Show courtesy of FOX reporter Bruce Feldman, who in turn was citing a report from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah; he had mentioned Dallas as a possible suitor for Mullen’s services should Cowboys owner Jerry Jones part ways with current coach Jason Garrett.
If Mullen’s name rings a bell with Cowboys Nation, it may be because he was instrumental in helping to develop a young Dak Prescott while roaming the sidelines at Mississippi State.
For what it’s worth, Mullen is also a protege of former Ohio State and Florida head coach Urban Meyer, the name most closely associated with any rumored coaching change in Dallas.
–TB
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