Tag: Michael Gallup

Bills at Cowboys: 5 matchups to watch

The Buffalo Bills face the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in an important game that have potential playoff implications for both teams.

The Bills will be facing the Dallas Cowboys for a Turkey Day clash, and will be looking to pull an impressive upset on the big stage. Dallas sits at 6-5 and are coming off a poor loss to the New England Patriots, while the Bills are 8-3 and are coming off an important victory vs. Denver.

Both teams are jockeying for playoff positions before the homestretch of the season. With that being said, here are five important matchups to watch on Thanksgiving:

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Ezekiel Elliot vs. Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano 

Ezekiel Elliot is one of the best running backs in football and has the burden of carrying Dallas’s offense. In four of the Cowboys losses this season Zeke was held to under 100 yards, which means that the entire Bills defense needs to be on the top of their game to stop the Pro Bowl running back. If Buffalo wants a shot at winning they will need to hold Zeke to under 100 yards.

Holding Elliot to under 100 yards is easier said than done though. On his 215 rushing attempts this season he has 919 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Elliot averages 4.9 yards per carry, while the Bills defense allows 4.4 yards per attempt which is 20th in the NFL. Luckily for the Bills, Elliot has only managed 3.1 yards per carry in his past three games. 

The leaders of the Bills defense, Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano will be spearheading the rush defense to prevent Ezekiel Elliot from dominating Buffalo. In the past two weeks, Milano and Edmunds have been sent on more blitzes on crucial downs which has led to the two making blowing up plays in the backfield. 

Milano and Edmunds have combined for 153 tackles this season, with 17 of them coming in the backfield. If Edmunds and Milano want to prevent Elliot from dominating the game, they will need to make plays in the backfield and at the line of scrimmage. 

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News: Vander Esch ‘week-to-week’, Gallup ‘No.1 receiver’, Belichick calls Dak ‘super impressive’

Previewing Sunday’s showdown between Dak Prescott and Tom Brady, outsmarting Bill Belichick, and cashing in on Dak’s pregame dance moves.

So much to discuss as Sunday’s showdown draws ever nearer. The Cowboys look like they’ll be dealing with a surprise scratch in the middle of the defense, while there’s plenty of talk about the two quarterbacks this game will feature. Everyone is trying to predict what Patriots coach Bill Belichick will or won’t do, and what the Cowboys should or shouldn’t do in this one… all while one of the player units in Dallas suggests it’s all just business as usual.

All of that, plus an early look ahead at running back contracts and unrestricted free agents for 2020, breakdowns of both the Dallas offense and defense, and the perfect holiday gift for the Cowboys fan who’s still trying to learn “How to Dak.” That’s ahead in this edition of News and Notes.

Sources: Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) out vs. Patriots :: ESPN

Updating Thursday night’s big news, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is expected to miss Sunday’s matchup with New England.

“Vander Esch’s injury flared up in practice, which led to an MRI. He will have another MRI in three weeks, according to a source,” reports ESPN’s Todd Archer. Also citing sources, Archer says the second-year star is now considered “week-to-week.”

Longtime veteran Sean Lee will take over for Vander Esch as the team’s weakside linebacker. Joe Thomas is slated to move into Lee’s spot on the strong side, but he has missed two practices this week with an illness.

–TB

Brady vs. Prescott: A one-sided battle is on tap in Cowboys-Pats :: Cowboys Wire

Metrics nerds, get your popcorn ready. Travis Somers presents all kinds of graph goodness in this look at the two quarterbacks who will lead their teams against one another at Foxboro Stadium on Sunday.

Come for the visual eye candy of data plotted out on an X/Y grid and all the pretty colors; stay for the eye-opening conclusion about how the Cowboys’ young star actually compares to the most decorated passer in league history.

–TB

Belichick: Prescott is ‘Super Impressive’

Not much else to say here but watch the reverence  (second vid) the Patriots head coach has for the Cowboys QB ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

— KD

Tom Brady: I’ve disliked the Dallas Cowboys since birth :: Boston Herald

As a San Francisco kid who grew up during the 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s and saw Dwight Clark make “The Catch” in person as a four-year-old, Tom Brady was perhaps genetically hardwired to hate America’s Team.

“I’ve really not liked the Cowboys since coming out of the womb,” the Patriots quarterback said this week.

“They’ve actually had a great, winning organization, and have got a lot of great players in their history,” Brady said. “Guys that I, just as a Niner fan, you know — you play the Cowboys and every time they’d hand it to Emmitt Smith, it’d be a 5-yard gain. And you’d pull your hair out.”

Brady is 4-0 in his playing career against Dallas.

–TB

Cowboys not changing mentality for defending champ Patriots :: The Mothership

For all the hype and hoopla surrounding Sunday’s showdown with the New England Patriots, the guys in the trenches say they’re approaching this week’s game like any other.

On the Miller Lite Cowboys Hour, offensive linemates Zack Martin and Travis Frederick dispelled any notion that they’re changing their mentality for Week 12 simply because they’ll be squaring off against the defending Super Bowl champions.

–TB

Examining what the Cowboys are up against in Bill Belichick’s singular coaching mind :: The Athletic

“Take away what they do best,” they say. Well, no one’s better at it than New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has been making winning look easy for going on two decades. The Cowboys offense will present a unique challenge in Foxborough, but here’s a look at what has made things in New England so different for so long.

–TT

Should the Cowboys focus on blitzing Tom Brady? :: Blogging the Boys

The Patriots do just about everything well, but if there’s a weakness to be found, it may in Tom Brady’s performance when under duress.

Connor Livesay writes: “Heading into last week’s matchup against the Eagles, Tom Brady ranked 28th in yards per attempt (4.0), 27th in passer rating (47.9), a 4:3 TD:INT ratio, and is only completing 34% of his passes when under pressure.”

Harassing Brady will be of critical importance, but only if the Cowboys can do it without sending too many blitzers. That’s because one of Brady’s strengths is utilizing screen passes to backs James White, Rex Burkhead, and Sony Michel… and unfortunately, stopping the screen attack hasn’t been something the Dallas defense has excelled at in 2019.

–TB

Classic matchup: Dallas Cowboys’ ‘America’s Team’ vs. New England’s ‘We are all Patriots’ :: ESPN

A comparison between two of the best runs in NFL history, the Dallas team that garnered the “America’s Team” moniker and the Bill Belichick version of the New England Patriots. There’s a trip down memory lane, an NFL record that’s on the brink, and a look at the animosity that the two teams’ success has wrought over the years.

–TT

Amari Cooper confident in WR depth vs. Pats :: The Mothership

Given the Patriots knack for shutting down the thing that’s working best for their opponent, it’s fair to say that keeping wideout Amari Cooper in check will be a priority for the New England secondary. That unit “has been outstanding, ” team staff writer David Helman notes, “anchored by strong play from Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty, and nabbing 19 interceptions on the year.”

Cooper himself, though, thinks that strategy is a double-edged sword. “We have a lot of guys that can make plays, so if they try to take me away and just focus on me, I don’t think that’d be the wisest approach,” he said. “You saw what Gallup and Cobb did last week, going for over 100 yards. If they do try to take me away, we have other guys that can make plays.”

–TB

2 under-the-radar keys to Cowboys finding weakness in Belichick’s defense :: Cowboys Wire

Joey Ickes breaks down a favorite New England technique for negating an opponent’s primary receiver and offers a pair of strategies that Kellen Moore could use in response.

The entire article is worth the read, but one of those tactics has been screamed at the TV by every Cowboys fan out there at some point this season: let Dak Prescott use his running ability.

The second ploy involves a few names that the casual fan- and hopefully the Patriots- might not expect. And a former New England assistant confirms that this particular plan of attack hits one of Belichick’s personal bugaboos.

–TB

All the NFL running backs who could get paid in 2020, and why recent deals look like disasters :: ESPN

Ezekiel Elliott’s is among the running backs’ deals examined in this piece by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, and the results aren’t pretty. Elliott is very good, but he hasn’t recaptured that dynamic play that he flashed throughout his rookie season when he took the league by storm. This year, the new rookie in town, Tony Pollard, has made the Cowboys more efficient when he spells Elliott. Caveat: sample size.

Elliott isn’t holding the Cowboys back by any means, but they have actually been slightly more efficient on offense with backup Tony Pollard on the field than him. Elliott has been on the field far more frequently, but the offense has generated 0.21 points of additional expected points per play with Pollard on the field and 0.17 points with Elliott in the lineup.

–TT

Decoding Kellen Moore: Explosive passes become routine as Cowboys offense transforms before our eyes :: The Athletic

A team’s record has the capacity to make the general NFL fan either overestimate or underestimate a team on that fact alone. This is certainly the case with the Dallas Cowboys, whose offense is as good as any in the league. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and quarterback Dak Prescott have their half of the team rolling in terms of explosive plays and third down conversion. That and more in Bob Sturm’s weekly breakdown of the offense.

–TT

The Richard Report: Cowboys defense allows Detroit a worrisome number of big plays :: The Athletic

It takes two to tango, and in Week 11 the defense failed to hold up their end of the bargain. As explosive as the offense has been, the defense let a backup quarterback match them in that regard. That kind of performance is the exact opposite of the “bend but don’t break” approach that’ s been preached for years in Dallas.

–TT

Top 50 pending NFL unrestricted free agents for 2020 :: The Athletic

The Cowboys dominate this list of upcoming free agents with five players listed on it. Two of them, Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, are guaranteed to continue their careers in Dallas, but the others on the list have futures that are up in the air, including one of the newest members of the team.

–TT

‘How to Dak’ shirts now available :: Cowboys Pro Shop

Nobody knows how to push their brand quite like Jerry Jones. First, it was the “Zeke Who?” shirts that poked fun at the owner’s perceived slight of Ezekiel Elliott during the star running back’s holdout. Then it was the fun the team had with the black cat who appeared during the Week 9 win over the Giants, even putting him on the stadium’s video screen during player intros the following week.

Now it’s Cowboys Nation’s ongoing love affair with quarterback Dak Prescott’s pregame warmup routine.

The 100% cotton tee is available in all sizes for both men and women, and features the above graphic on the back. On the front, the Cowboys star and Prescott’s jersey number appear above the left breast. The shirt sells for $24.99.

–TB

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Gallup says departed brother helped on circus catch: ‘He was right there with me’

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup’s circus catch changed the game and capped his career-best outing on the anniversary of his brother’s suicide.

November 17, 2018 was one of the darkest days imaginable for wide receiver Michael Gallup. November 17, 2019 was one of his very best as a Dallas Cowboy. On the one-year anniversary of his younger brother’s death, the second-year wideout logged a career-high nine receptions for 148 yards in an important 35-27 win over the Detroit Lions.

Gallup provided perhaps the turning point of the game with an improbable catch in the second quarter. And while it would be a cheap cliche for some sportswriter to suggest that the 23-year-old wideout had some sort of divine intervention in making the acrobatic grab of a tipped ball, Gallup himself says his brother was with him.

But Gallup admits his highlight moment almost didn’t happen at all.

“I wasn’t even supposed to run that route,” Gallup said after the game. “I kind of messed myself up. That’s really why I had to catch the ball, because I messed it up. I’d just seen [quarterback Dak Prescott] throw it in the air, and [Lions cornerback Mike Ford] was behind me, so I had to fight through him. Then luckily, the ball didn’t go too far after I missed it the first time.”

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Gallup wouldn’t rule out the possibility that his brother may have provided a slight nudge while that ball was fluttering in the air.

“I know he was right there with me when I bobbled that deep ball,” Gallup said. “I know he was right there with me.”

The circus catch moved the chains on a critical third down and extended the Cowboys drive. Two plays later, running back Ezekiel Elliott punched the ball into the end zone to give Dallas a lead that they would not relinquish. Gallup compiled over 100 of his receiving yards before halftime.

“We needed him,” Elliott told the media after the win. “We needed him right there. He definitely carried us through the first half. He’s the reason we won the game.”

“It’s no surprise. No surprise at all,” Prescott said of Gallup’s play during his postgame press conference. “If you watch practice or if you could see practice, that’s what he does week in and week out. He’s somebody that I have so much confidence in, the way that he wants to learn, he wants to get better. He’s a hungry player, and it’s fun to play with him.”

Gallup’s sideline grab impressed his fellow receivers, too.

“Even after he caught it, I said, ‘You wanted that one bad,'” Cooper joked with reporters. “I don’t think I’ve ever made a catch like that. Being interfered, not initially catching it because you’re being interfered, and then catching it? Like I said, he really wanted to catch that ball.”

“He’s an amazing player, he makes some incredible catches,” Randall Cobb said at his locker. “I think we’ve got to get him more involved and find ways to get him the ball and let him do what he does.

“He’s been making plays since I got here: through OTAs, through training camp. I think people are starting to understand exactly how good he can be. And he’s going to continue to grow, continue to get better. That comes with experience, but to see a young guy like him making plays consistently throughout the season is huge for him as a player, and it’s huge for our team.”

The concept of team is an important one for the 2018 third-round draft pick our of Colorado State. He’s demonstrated it repeatedly in his short pro tenure with the Cowboys, even in the devastating wake of his brother’s suicide last year.

The club was in Atlanta to play the Falcons. After the win, Gallup, a Georgia native, was joined by family members in a private room at the stadium. That’s when he was given the news of his brother Andrew’s death the previous day. Michael stayed behind with family when the players returned to Dallas. But the rookie rejoined his teammates and played just four days later, though, recording two catches against Washington and earning a game ball that Thanksgiving Day from coach Jason Garrett before returning to Georgia the next morning for the funeral.

“I just have so much admiration for Michael as a person and how he handled that situation,” Garrett offered Monday during a phone interview with 105.3 The Fan. “I can’t imagine what he was going through, what his family was going through. And he just handled it so beautifully, with so much grace last year. And I was just so impressed by him as a person and the character he has and his family and how they all came together around this tragedy. He’s just handled everything so beautifully since then. Obviously, we’ve talked a lot about how he continues to develop and grow as a player, and he certainly did a great job for us yesterday.”

Though obviously pleased with Sunday’s win and his contribution to it, Gallup admitted that his brother had been on his mind leading up to kickoff.

“Obviously, it’s going to be tough around this time every year,” Gallup said. “His birthday was November 10. So it’s always a hard one. But to go out here and have fun, do what I love, and he knows that. I’ve always loved this game and he’s up there watching me. It’s a good feeling, to be able to do that for him and have the family watch as well.”

But if the young speedster was struggling with memories of his brother, he kept it to himself. Most of his teammates didn’t even know about the tragic anniversary until it was pointed out to them by reporters after the win.

“Man, you just gave me chills,” Elliott said when told. “MG’s been a great dude ever since I met him. I knew he was going to be special. I knew he was talented. For him to go out there and have the day he did- today, on the one-year [anniversary] of his brother passing away- I’m sure it means a lot to him. I’m happy for the kid.”

“You did it for your bro?” Cooper asked Gallup directly in the locker room. “Yeah, he did it for bro. Hey, it explains a lot now, how he really wanted that ball? It explains a lot now. He did it for bro.

“Proud of him,” Prescott declared. “I know his brother’s proud of him. That’s what you do when you’re a player like that, when you’re a ballplayer, being able to go out there on that field and be at peace, it takes away and just allows you to be who you are. That’s what Michael Gallup did tonight. Just showed the type of player he is, in the midst of the anniversary. Proud of him. Proud of him.”

As for what Andrew would have said about the Cowboys’ win and his older brother’s incredible catch? Gallup grinned broadly just imagining it.

“Man, shoot. I don’t even know what little Andy would say. He’d just probably look at me and smile, to be honest.”

Stock Report: Cowboys’ identity now invested in blue-chip passing game

Stock Report: After another ridiculously good outing, the Cowboys’ identity now invested in blue-chip passing game.

Dak Prescott’s dominating performance helped the Dallas Cowboys roar past an early deficit to defeat the Detroit Lions, 35-27. The Week 11 victory moved the Cowboys to a 6-4 record and they now lead the NFC East by a game over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Lions wouldn’t go down easy, despite key injuries. No Cowboy was more important than Prescott as he moved the chains with both his legs and arms. Prescott threw for 444 yards and 3 touchdowns spreading the wealth among different pass-catchers. 7 different receivers caught multiple passes from Prescott.

Unexpected Cowboys stepped up and showed out while a pivotal player’s stock is down. Here’s the stock report.

Stock Up: Michael Gallup

(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb played center stage against the Minnesota Vikings last week while Gallup’s strong contributions were comparitively overshadowed as he finished with 4 catches for 76 yards and one touchdown. On Sunday against the Lions, Cooper’s impact and snaps were limited due to a lingering knee injury. Cobb again played well and got open with ease, showing his ceiling with another 100-yard-plus performance, but he also dropped two crucial catches.

Quarterback Dak Prescott needed one of his pass-catchers to step up and Gallup, who has had his struggles with drops himself, played his most consistent game as a pro.

Gallop finished with nine catches for 148 yards. The second-year pro’s statistics were great, but more impressively, was how and when he caught the football. Gallop is normally a deep threat, who thrives on man coverage on play-action calls. This week, the speedster showed the route tree of a No. 1 receiver.

He caught passes underneath, in traffic, contested, and of course, deep. His most notable catch of the day was a 41-yard deep ball. Despite the defensive pass-interference, Gallup remained focused while initially juggling the catch, then hauling the pass in.

If Gallop can remain this consistent, the Cowboys’ receiver corp will be among the league’s best. And may be Prescott sneaks into the MVP conversation.

Stock Down: Ezekiel Elliott

(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Elliott didn’t play great but he also didn’t play badly. He tallied 16 carries on the day for 48 yards, chipped in three receptions and scored two total touchdowns. His stock is down because, frankly, his value is down.

This doesn’t means he isn’t great (which he is) and doesn’t means the Cowboys don’t need him (because they do), but what he once meant to the Cowboys is diminishing as Prescott’s play and future earnings emerge.

Before the season, most pundits and even the Cowboys themselves believed their success was contingent on how Elliott played and is why the Cowboys’ signed Elliott to a long-term deal before signing their franchise QB. That belief should no longer exist. The team is best when Prescott is at his best and the Cowboys’ play calling should reflect it.

Prescott’s improvement as a pass-thrower has shifted the offensive identity from an Elliott-led offense to Prescott take-over offense. At times this year, it remained unclear what was Dallas’ offensive identity. A perfect example was the final three plays against the Vikings. Prescott dominated the game, but the play calls in the biggest moment suggest the coaching staff trusts Elliott over Prescott when they shouldn’t.

This isn’t a Prescott-versus-Elliott debate or a need to praise Prescott to tear down Elliott because they must work as a tandem. It’s just increasingly evident Elliott’s impact should be complementary to the passing game. Detroit focused on taking away the run and Dallas had a big, big answer for that.

The Cowboys now go as far as Prescott’s arms and legs can take them. The Cowboys must know this moving forward as their schedule toughens.

His elite running ability presents favorable coverages for the passing game, but rookie Tony Pollard has shown to be a more-than capable, and possibly preferred option on passing downs.

Stock Up: Robert Quinn

Quinn was a one-man wrecking crew against the Lions. Jeff Driskel stood no chance in the pocket as Quinn only tallied one sack, but was by far the Cowboys’ best defensive player. He hit the quarterback four times, secured two tackle for losses, and forced numerous errant throws by Driskel.

While DeMarcus Lawerence received the huge pay day during the off season, the sneaky acquisition was trading for Quinn from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick then signing him to a one-year, $8 million deal. Quinn will also earn an additional amount just under $900,000 per a clause when he hit seven sacks. Currently for the season, the veteran pass rusher has 8.5 sacks, already tying his high since his 2014 season in St. Louis.

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Highlights, player tracking of Cowboys biggest Week 11 plays

Dissecting the biggest plays in the Dallas Cowboys’ 35-27 victory against the Detroit Lions using EPA and Win Probability metrics.

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys picked up a much needed victory as they beat the Detroit Lions 35-27 in a close game. The Cowboys dominated on the offensive side of the ball while their defense continued to struggle, this time against a Lions team led by backup quarterback Jeff Driskel. The team’s defense has been a let down despite some stellar play from the defensive line. That being the case, the burden is on Dak Prescott to lead the offense in high scoring games, and on Sunday he once again proved more than capable.

It was an explosive game for both passing offenses as each team’s pass defense was lackluster.

Here are the biggest plays of the game in terms of Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability (WP) with data via nflscrapR. EPA measure the value of a play based on down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

Make sure to check out the multiple views of the player tracking data for unique insight into how the plays unfolded.

The Plays

No. 1: Ezekiel Elliott up the middle for 2 yards, FUMBLE

EPA: -4.2. DAL WP Shift: 48% -> 39%

Another game, another turnover on the Cowboys’ opening drive. The team has been known for their slow starts in 2019 and turnovers have been one of the biggest culprits. On the first rush of the game Elliott fumbled after being gang tackled by a pair of Lions. It was edge rusher Trey Flowers that forced the ball out with a recovery from linebacker Jarrad Davis.

The turnover proved to be a costly one as the Lions were able to turn it into their first score of the game. It was a seamless opening drive for the Lions who would start at their opponents’ 28-yard line. After a short drive, running back Bo Scarbrough scored on a 5-yard rush up the middle.

No. 2: Dak Prescott sacked by Devon Kennard for a loss of 10 yards

EPA: -2.4. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 34%

The Cowboys’ third drive of the game looked to be a promising one. Beginning at their own 14-yard line, they would slowly inch their way into a scoring opportunity. The drive spanned 14 plays, 79 yards gained and five first downs. Eventually the Cowboys found themselves at the Lions’ 2-yard line on a goal-to-go situation. On third down it was Lions edge rusher Devon Kennard that would generate the sack on a well-timed blitz call for a loss of 10 yards.

After the sack the Cowboys would have to settle for a 30-yard field goal try from Brett Maher putting the score at 7-3 late in the first quarter.

No. 3: Prescott pass short middle to Tony Pollard for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 3.5. DAL WP Shift: 44% -> 55%

Trailing by four points to start the second quarter the Cowboys would get their first touchdown of the game in style. Much like in their previous possession, their fourth drive would also be a long one. This drive covered 7 plays, 70 yards gained and three first downs. Their success was rewarded when Prescott connected with Pollard on a 21-yard reception for the score. Pollard flashed his explosive potential by forcing a missed tackle in route to his first career receiving touchdown.

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Game balls, key stats, instant analysis of Cowboys 35-27 win over Lions

Dak Prescott’s ascension continued, as he led the Cowboys to their sixth win of the season while throwing for 444 passing yards.

Dallas fans invaded Detroit, and were able to witness their team hang on and claim and their sixth victory of the season. It ended up being a shootout between Dak Prescott and Jeff Driskell, in game that featured four lead changes and over 820 combined total yards of offense. Ultimately, the Cowboys were able to prevail, and remain on top of the NFC East.

It was over when . . .

. . . Ezekiel Elliott housed a well-timed screen pass against the blitz from 17-yards out, followed by an excellent Dak Dance TD celebration. Tony Pollard then rumbled into the end zone for the two-point conversion to put Dallas up by two touchdowns with under eight minutes left in the game, effectively sealing the win.

Game balls

QB Dak Prescott

His transformative season continued against the Lions, with Prescott completing 29 of 46 passes for 444 yards, his third game this season with over 400+ passing yards. He was responsible for most of the his team’s big plays, finding open receivers, shaking off defenders, and picking up first downs with his legs. This showing, perhaps more than any other this season, announced that the Cowboys are no longer a run-first, grind it out team led by Ezekiel Elliott, but one that can sling it with the best of them.

WR Michael Gallup

On the one-year anniversary since losing his brother, Michael Gallup had a career day. He set a new high in catches with nine, and led the team with 148 receiving yards. He was a monster, especially in the first half, and made maybe the catch of the season in the second quarter. The second-year receiver has made big strides in 2019, and seems to be developing into a really nice offensive weapon for Prescott.

RB Tony Pollard

It seemed like the Cowboys made an effort to get Pollard involved early, and it certainly paid off. The rookie scored the first receiving touchdown of his career, finding the end zone for the second time this season. He continues to electrify with the ball in his hands, showcasing elite balance and tackle-breaking abilities that the team should continue to utilize. All told, he caught four passes (including two newly unveiled pop passes) for 44 receiving yards, 12 rushing yards, 42 kick return yards.

Key Stat: 5

Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett, two recent imports to the defensive line, have each become immediate, big-time contributors to the Dallas defense. Five represents the combined QB hits they managed to lay on Jeff Driskell, to go along with their three combined sacks and six total tackles, half of which were for loss. The duo, plus DeMarcus Lawrence, were essentially the entire Cowboys pass rush, which held strong and helped ice the game at the end.

Quick Hits:

  • For the third time in 11 games, Dallas’s first offensive drive ended in a turnover. Elliott fumbled the ball away on the second play of the game, reminiscent of Prescott’s interception on the first play of the game in Week 9 vs New York. Early mistakes and playing from behind have been a constant theme this season, and this week was no different. Thankfully however, they were able to pull this one out.
  • Randall Cobb built on his breakout last week in a big way, again scoring a touchdown and going over 100 receiving yards (115 total). He’s now up to three scores on the season, and has recorded 221 receiving yards over his last two games.

  • Early on, it seemed like this week could’ve been the Bo Scarbrough revenge game. The 2018 Cowboys seventh round draft pick made his NFL debut against his former team, and promptly found the end zone on Detroit’s first drive. He managed to reel off some impressive runs, and was the perfect decoy on nicely executed read-option which allowed Driskell to walk into the end zone in the second quarter.
  • It’s hard to remember a time when the Cowboys return game looked more discombobulated. After the mind-numbing decision for forego a return at the end of the Vikings game, it seemed as if Dallas returners were trying too hard to press the action this week, costing the team valuable field position. Pollard took a kick four yards deep in his own end zone, reaching only the Cowboys’ 14. Tavon Austin returned two punts for two yards.
  • The Dallas special teams coverage didn’t fare much better, with Jamal Agnew getting loose for a 32-yard punt return, and a 29-yard kick return. The hidden yardage resulting from the game’s third phase can be extremely valuable, but the Cowboys haven’t gotten much help from their special teams unit this season. Or really since Dwyane Harris left town.
  • What does help special teams is being allowed to kickoff from the opponent’s 35-yard line. A couple ill-timed Detroit penalties essentially gave the Cowboys a free chance at an onside kick just before halftime.

  • Sitting at 6-4, it stings to think about what Dallas’s record could be right now, had they been able to take advantage some earlier opponents, and resisted the urge to shoot themselves in the foot. Still, they more than control their own destiny, and with this offense, can hang with any team in the league.Six games remain, and next up is a trip to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots.

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Cowboys Week 11 injury designations: LG Connor Williams ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions Week 11 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, have released their injury designations and ruled LG Connor Williams OUT.

The Detroit Lions Week 11 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys have declared their inactives for this weekend’s game at Ford Field.

While the Cowboys are relatively healthy, they will be down 20-percent of their starting offensive line and there’s a chance they could be down as much as 40-percent come game-time.

Ruled OUT

LG Connor Williams (knee)

Williams had arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss time. “In his place,” Cowboys Wire’s Cody Milligan points out, “the Cowboys will start sixth-year pro Xavier Su’a-Filo. Su’a-Filo started eight games for the Cowboys in 2018 after being signed as a free agent.”

This is a downgrade for the Cowboys, and may not be the end of their injury issues on the offensive line.

Questionable

RT La’el Collins (knee, back)
S Jeff Heath (shoulders)

Collins didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday and returned to a limited practice on Friday, but most people in the know are expecting him to play. With Williams already out, losing Collins would be a blow to their offensive line.

Heath, a Cowboys captain and Michigan native (he’s from Lake Orion), has been limited all week and is coming off a game that saw him with his lowest snap count of the season. Even if he is able to play this weekend, he may be limited on Sunday.

Not listed with an injury designation

WR Armani Cooper (knee, ankle)
WR Michael Gallup (knee)
LT Tyron Smith (ankle)
RG Zack Martin (back, ankle, elbow)
OT Cameron Fleming (calf)
DE DeMarcus Lawrence (neck)
DE Michael Bennett (non-injury)
DT Antwaun Woods (shoulder)
LB Sean Lee (pectoral)
CB C.J. Goodwin (knee)

There are a lot of other Cowboys banged in this section — including eight starters — but they are all in position to play on Sunday.

Cowboys’ 7 plays that changed the game in 28-24 loss to Vikings

A look back at the 7 biggest plays from the Cowboys’ 28-24 loss to the Vikings using EPA and WP metrics from nflscrapR.

The Dallas Cowboys might have suffered their worst loss of the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The final score was 28-24, but the biggest takeaway from the game was the plethora of questionable play-calls and mismanaged opportunities. The Cowboys were clearly the better offensive team from a passing standpoint. However, the rushing attack they heavily relied on in the past was a non-factor against the Vikings, and ultimately, it might have been the driving force behind the daunting loss.

It was a game that featured plenty of explosive plays from both offenses. Here are the biggest plays that stood out in the game as measured by Expected Points Added (EPA) and Win Probability with data via nflscrapR. EPA measures the value of a given play based on down, distance to first downs, field position and time remaining in the game.

The Plays

No. 1: Kirk Cousins pass short right to Dalvin Cook for 27 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 42% -> 35%

The Vikings’ first big play of the game came on simple screen pass to Cook. He managed to turn the short pass into an explosive 27 yard catch and run. Cousins was not asked to throw deep against the Cowboys, his average pass on Sunday traveled seven yards through the air. Instead he relied on Cook to generate yards after the catch. Cook totaled 109 yards after the catch and his ability to break tackles and create extra yardage was crucial for the Vikings.

This play would end with a facemask penalty from cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The resulting catch and 15-yard penalty gave the Vikings field position at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line. They would eventually end the drive with a score, putting them up 7-0 early.

No. 2: Cousins pass short left to Cook for 30 yards

EPA: 2.1. DAL WP Shift: 21% -> 16%

Once again Cook showed why he is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He turned another short screen pass into a huge gain, this time for 30 yards. And much like his first big play this one also ended with a penalty for the Cowboys. A 14-yard roughing the passer call on DeMarcus Lawrence would result in a 44-yard gain for the Vikings.

The Vikings would end the drive with another touchdown. It was tight end Kyle Rudolph that would pick up his second score of the game with linebacker Sean Lee in coverage. The score was now 14-0, but the Cowboys have developed a reputation this season as a team that rallies later in games. This game was no different.

No. 3: Cousins sacked for a loss of 9 yards by Robert Quinn

EPA: -2.3. DAL WP Shift: 13% ->17%

To start the second quarter the Cowboys found themselves in a dire situation. The defense had struggled to contain Cook throughout the first quarter and they desperately needed a stop on third down. So it is no surprise that Quinn came up big for his team when it mattered most. The team needed momentum and Quinn was able to give it to them following this sack.

No. 4: Prescott pass deep right to Amari Cooper for 20 yards

EPA: 2.5. DAL WP Shift: 14% -> 19%

Due to some questionable play-calling on early downs the Cowboys faced plenty of third-and-long situations. Luckily for the Cowboys the combination of Prescott and Cooper has turned into on of the most dependable QB-WR tandems in the NFL. The duo consistently lifted the team in these tight situations, and on this play Cooper displayed his elite awareness skills with a toe drag catch.

No. 5: Prescott pass short left to Michael Gallup for 23 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.9. DAL WP Shift: 19% -> 27%

The Cowboys’ offense finally got back on track in the second quarter. After an impressive 20-yard catch from Cooper, it was Gallup that would give the Cowboys their first score of the game. The Vikings were in zone coverage here, but it was a well designed offensive play that had linebacker Eric Kendricks covering Gallup down the middle of the field for the easy score.

No. 6: Prescott pass deep right to Randall Cobb for 22 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 4.4. DAL WP Shift: 36% -> 49%

Late in the first half the Cowboy were presented with a scoring opportunity. From the 22-yard line the expected points from this part of the field was 2.6. Even so, the Cowboys were not looking to enter half-time with a field goal. The team would even the score at 14-14 on a free play as the defense was called for an offside penalty.

Prescott’s improvisation skills came in handy on the explosive pass play and Cobb showed great focus in making the catch. Cobb had his best game as a Cowboy as he accounted for 106 yards, six receptions and a touchdown.

No. 7: Prescott pass deep right to Cooper for 12 yards TOUCHDOWN

EPA: 2.4. DAL WP Shift: 44% -> 51%

The duo of Prescott and Cooper connected on plenty of immaculate catches on the night, but this one by far was the most impressive. This play was a pass with some jet-action from RB Tony Pollard. Prescott rolled out to his right as Cooper ran a comeback route. The ball placement essentially left Cooper in a spot that was impossible to defend. But the accuracy from Prescott was also uncanny.

Where do Cowboys go from here?

It was a tough loss for the Cowboys as Prescott put on another MVP-caliber performance. They lost to a good team, but it did not have to be that way. There were plenty of opportunities to seize the game, but it was the coaching staff that came up short with a game plan that featured plenty of runs on first-and-10. All night the Cowboys had struggled to establish the run. Passing on the other hand was a completely different story. Much like they have all season, the Cowboys have possessed on of the best passing offenses in the league through 10 weeks of football.

Right now the biggest question marks come from the Cowboys’ defensive side of the ball. What has been concerning is the team’s never ending battle  against the run despite being at full strength on the defensive front. Even the pass defense has suffered as of late, as Awuzie has failed to take a major leap in his game now in his third year in the league. Overall, the Cowboys do have the talent and the right personnel to compete for a Super Bowl, but reality has not lined up with the expectations for the 2019 season.

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