Tag: Tony Pollard

Good, Bad, Ugly: 2 of 3 phases fail Cowboys in 38-31 loss

The Dallas Cowboys were done in by a poor defense and putrid special teams in their 38-31 loss to the Seattle Seahawks

It was a tall task asking the Dallas Cowboys to go into Seattle and win a game without their top two offensive tackles and two of their top corners. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has been one of the games best since he’s entered the league and he’s gotten off to an incredible start in 2020.

The Cowboys were behind the eight ball before the contest started, but there was hope the offense could keep up with Wilson and the beleaguered Seahawks defense. Dallas came up just short in a messy affair where they were lucky to even have a chance to win the game.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly in the Cowboys’ 38-31 loss that drops their record to 1-2 on the season.

The Good: Downfield passing game thrives

For the second consecutive week, QB Dak Prescott surpassed 450 yards passing. The intermediate and deep passing game for the Cowboys worked well against the battered Seahawks secondary. Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup each went over 100 yards receiving, combined for three scores and were close to unstoppable. Wilson broke free on two inside catches and scored his first two NFL touchdowns.

Amari Cooper was banged up but still caught nine passes for 86 yards and rookie CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 65 yards as well. Prescott and the offense struggled on the underneath and short routes all game long, but when throwing down the field, they were successful.

The Bad: Defense struggles mightily

It wasn’t pretty for the defense, especially in the secondary. Rookie CB Trevon Diggs was burned on multiple occasions, although he made an outstanding play knocking the ball away from WR DK Metcalf to save six points, and Jourdan Lewis was flagged twice for pass interference while looking like he didn’t have a clue what he was doing most of the game.

The secondary lost track of Tyler Lockett three times in the first half and was nowhere to be found on TE Jacob Hollister’s touchdown or two-point conversion.

Getting beat by better players happens in the NFL, but completely losing focus on a number of plays that cost the team points in inexcusable. The Dallas safeties were putrid against the Seahawks.

The Ugly: Special Teams were anything but special

The Cowboys lost four points due to special teams miscues. RB Tony Pollard’s bumbling of a kickoff pinned the offense deep and eventually cost the team two points when the Seahawks got a safety on RB Ezekiel Elliott’s slip on an end zone run. It’s difficult to understand why Pollard was returning the kick in the first place and it turned out to be an expensive mistake.

New kicker Greg Zuerlein cost the Cowboys two points by not converting on two extra points. One went off the upright and another was blocked. Those two misses caused the Cowboys to chase points and made life tougher on the offense.

The Cowboys were believed to be fortunate to be able to hire John ‘Bones’ Fassel, but his group cost the Cowboys four points, which turned out to be a huge four points. Instead of being within a field goal on their final possession, the Cowboys needed a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It was a challenge the Cowboys couldn’t overcome.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi.

Game Recap: Seahawks 38, Cowboys 31; Here’s what we know

Winners and Losers: John Fassel chief complaint as Cowboys fall again

Instant Analysis: Game balls, key stats from Cowboys 38-31 loss to Seattle

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Cowboys give up 20 first-quarter points to Falcons on four turnovers

The Cowboys did not start their game against the Falcons well at all, and are now struggling to avoid an 0-2 start.

The thought was that in replacing Jason Garrett with Mike McCarthy as their head coach, the Cowboys would enjoy a new level of consistency and execution. So far, through the first quarter of their battle against the Falcons, the only execution we’re seeing is what the Cowboys’ offense is doing to itself.

In the first quarter alone, McCarthy’s team committed four turnovers, which led directly to 20 Falcons points. First, running back Tony Pollard fumbled with 13:14 left, and the ball was recovered by safety Foyesade Oluokun. Then, with 11:13 left in the first quarter, Dak Prescott was sacked and gave up the ball. Then, with 9:34 left in the first quarter, Ezekiel Elliott gave up the ball on a run to the left side, with Oluokun as the hero again. Then, with 4:21 left in the first quarter, tight end Dalton Schultz gave up the ball after catching a quick pass from Prescott.

Yikes. There was also a failed fake punt. It’s rare for a team to give up the ball this often in the opening quarter, as ESPN’s Ed Werder points out.

Dallas started moving the ball as the second quarter began, but this is not an ideal way for the Cowboys to try and avoid an 0-2 start to the season.

Elliott feels ‘in-tune’ for 2020, says ‘sky’s the limit’ for Cowboys offense

The star running back kept the details of the offense mostly under wraps, but looks to be more involved in the passing game this season.

Ezekiel Elliott tried really hard to stick to the party line laid out by his head coach. He made every effort to follow Mike McCarthy’s example and not divulge any insider information about what the 2020 Cowboys offense will look like when it’s unveiled Sunday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

After a preseason with no exhibition games, confidential training camp sessions, and a televised scrimmage that revealed nothing but standing around on the sidelines, no one outside the locker room really knows what to expect from Dak Prescott and Company.

But it didn’t stop the media from asking the running back for a preview during a Wednesday conference call.

“I don’t think that any changes that we’ve made are that big from what we were doing. Just like, little different playcalls,” Elliott said. “I think I’m ready. I’m pretty comfortable in the offense. It’s very similar to what we ran last year, so it’s not really anything that’s crazy-new or crazy-alarming, so it’s pretty much the same system I’ve been in the past four years.”

That may not be quite what Cowboys Nation wants to hear, given that Dallas reached the postseason in just two of those four years and have a disappointing 1-2 record in those playoff games to show for it.

So Elliott was asked instead to confirm the rumors that he’ll be more involved in the passing game under McCarthy.

“Yeah, I think I will be.”

That was it. That was the whole answer.

The no-nonsense McCarthy would have loved it.

The reporters assembled remotely waited for more, and then burst out in laughter when they realized it wasn’t coming. At least not willingly.

They pushed Elliott to elaborate.

“Just running routes from the backfield, running routes from slot, running from out wide,” Elliott said before flashing his signature grin. “That’s about how much I can give you.”

Elliott no doubt has the skills to hurt defenses as a receiver. But last season, he barely cracked the top 10 leaguewide when it came to pass receptions by a running back. And most of those catches came on garden-variety swings and screen dump-offs. His best season catching the ball came in 2018, when he had 77 grabs for 567 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2020, Elliott looks to surpass those stats by running more actual routes, but he’s still eyeing the big prize, too: a third league rushing title to go with the ones he earned in 2016 and 2018.

“Based off the whole mentality of the football team and that O-line we’ve got in front of us and all the weapons outside,” Elliott explained, “I think with my ability, I expect myself to be up there in the running for that rushing title.”

There are plenty of playmakers in Dallas looking for touches, as Elliott alluded to. One of them is in the same backfield. Tony Pollard impressed last season in his rookie campaign, despite totaling just 455 yards on the ground. While the Memphis product’s primary purpose may be to spell Elliott from time to time, fans were tantalized last season with the thought of seeing the pair on the field together.

The idea never truly took off under Jason Garrett’s watch. It just might in Kellen Moore’s first collaborative season with McCarthy.

“You saw a little bit of it last year,” Elliott admitted when asked about a scheme featuring both backs. “I would say just a bigger package, a bigger menu. Just more plays, like when you saw me and Tony together in there last year.”

Pollard came close to being the starter in Week 1 of 2019, after Elliott held out of training camp in a contract dispute. Zeke says his solo time in Cabo may have let him start last year fresher, but he feels more ready for action this time around.

“I definitely just feel in-tune. Like, I’ve been playing football for the past three weeks. Coming off the holdout, I jumped right into practice, the first day in pads, and then literally, three or four days later, we’re playing on Sunday. So just having those three weeks, it went by fast, but just having that and actually being in pads and seeing the run fits.”

It will all come together on Sunday night when Elliott, Pollard, Prescott, and the highly-anticipated receiving corps of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb finally take the field and unleash what looks to be- on paper, anyway- a legitimate offensive juggernaut.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” Elliott said plainly.

But the 25-year-old rusher was also quick to temper initial expectations about that potentially-explosive Dallas offense, one that’s still trying to jell as a unit after the abbreviated camp.

“The first game, you know it’s not going to be your best game,” Elliott admitted. “You know it’s going to be a little sloppy, especially this year with no preseason and kind of a late start to the training camp. It’s going to be messy. You know those first couple weeks, it’s not going to be perfect, but you’ve got to fight for a win.”

Just as McCarthy had told the team.

Elliott ended up sticking to the script after all.

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Rico Dowdle wants to, can, make Cowboys rush attack 4-headed monster

Get to know Cowboys rookie running back Rico Dowdle with this player profile.

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best backfields in the league thanks Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Mixing in the rushing prowess of quarterback Dak Prescott, the club has the recipe to gain over 2,000 yards on the ground for the fourth time in five years. However, if either of the two main runners were to miss time, who would step in in 2020?

Whether or not Dallas will keep a third running back on the active and game-day rosters, and who that could be, are some the few remaining questions Dallas has on the offensive side of the ball. One of the leading candidates to seize this potential opportunity is Rico Dowdle, a 2020 undrafted free agent who played his college ball at South Carolina.

Before the NFL

Dowdle began his journey to the NFL at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina. Dowdle quickly became the teams workhorse, but entering his final year at Reynolds he switched to quarterback out of necessity.

As a senior in 2016, the future Cowboys running back led the area in many statistical categories and was the Western North Carolina Player of the Year, as he accumulated 2,545 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns. Dowdle would add another 1,434 yards passing, along with 11 touchdowns. Throw in a receiving score, and Dowdle’s 63 total touchdowns were a regional record.

His success at the high school level garnered Dowdle interest from scouts across the nation. 247Sports ranked Dowdle as the No. 24 player in North Carolina and the No. 35 running back in the nation.

The Asheville native had multiple scholarships from Power 5 programs, but he ultimately chose to play college football in Columbia, South Carolina.

Dowdle had a successful year in his first season as a Gamecock where he rushed for a team-high 764 yards on 133 carries (5.7 yards per carry) in just seven starts. In one of his last games as a freshman Dowdle exploded for 226 yards, the sixth-highest mark in South Carolina history.

After a stellar initial season the explosive freshman was unable to build on the momentum he created, as he broke his leg and missed five games as a sophomore.

The next season as a junior Dowdle again led the team in rushing with 654 yards, but an ankle injury cost him the better part of three games.

In his farewell season the senior back won the South Carolina Offensive Tenacity Award, and finished with 498 yards after again missing time (two games) with a knee issue. Dowdle’s total of 2,167 rushing yards rank No. 15 in school history, even though he didn’t surpass 500 carries.

Despite an injury riddled four years in the SEC, and nine fumbles in his collegiate career, Dowdle did many things well enough to get on NFL scout’s radars.

Draft Process

The 6-foot, 215 pound running back has excellent size for the position, and he uses his frame, balance, and resilient running style to break through weak tackle attempts. Dowdle has the speed to run away from poor angled defenders, and his quick feet allow him to evade tacklers before finishing his runs with power.

Dowdle received a combine invitation, where he would go on to run a 4.54s 40-yard dash, record a 38″ vertical leap, and a 10’7″ broad jump, all excellent numbers.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, one of the most renowned draft experts, broke down Dowdle as a prospect.

Strengths: “Well-constructed size for the position…lowers his pads and runs with purpose at contact…uses balance and a stiff arm to keep his feet underneath him…quick feet and accelerates well to get through holes…displays run patience before finding and knifing through cutback lanes…posted double-digit catches each of his four seasons for the Gamecocks…makes up for his drops with sprawling catches on poor throws…goes low to chop down rushers in pass pro…approaches each game with a professional attitude.”

Weaknesses: “Overly methodical at times…quick-footed, but not naturally shifty…makes too much contact with blockers inside…fights the football at times as a pass catcher, leading to costly drops…responsible for nine fumbles over his career (54.4 fumble rate)…durability is a strong concern, missing two games as a senior due to a right knee injury (October 2019); missed playing time as a junior due to groin and ankle injuries (November 2018); broke the fibula in his left leg (October 2017),requiring season-ending surgery; missed the first four games of his true freshman season due to offseason hernia surgery and a tweaked groin.”

Summary: “A four-year starter at South Carolina, Dowdle shared the running back duties in the Gamecocks’ offense. He and Clemson transfer Tavien Feaster combined for 1,170 rushing yards in 2019, finishing his career 15th on the school’s all-time rushing list. A consistent finisher, Dowdle runs low and hard with the enough balance and juice that makes him tough to get on the ground. He can be as productive as his volume, but his college resume shows a troubling number of fumbles, drops and injuries that create dependability concerns. Overall, Dowdle is a hard-charging runner with the agility on cutbacks to quickly get north-south, projecting as an NFL running back worth of a roster spot if he can prove to reliable and healthy.”

The Big Leagues

Dowdle went undrafted in the 2020 draft, and was signed by the Cowboys to the standard three-year, minimum salary UDFA deal.

Usually offseason programs like rookie mini-camps are in place to give UDFA’s like Dowdle a chance to showcase their skills, but with Covid-19 wiping out a summer of practices and workouts, all fringe roster players are in an even steeper uphill battle.

It goes without saying there is a roster spot for Ezekiel Elliott, who will once again handle the majority of the backfield duties, and second-year speedster Tony Pollard earned an increased role after his rookie year.

The Cowboys released RB Jordan Chunn in July leaving only Dowdle, along with fellow UDFA Darius Anderson out of TCU, as the remaining tailbacks on the roster.

The kicker for both Anderson and Dowdle will be how many running backs Mike McCarthy and his mostly-new staff choose to keep around.

If the Dallas top brass does decide more backfield insurance is needed, the South Carolina product has a real chance to edge out Anderson, especially if Dallas feels comfortable with his medical situation.

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. 

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith | Ladarius Hamilton |
| Neville Gallimore | Terence Steele | Joe Looney | La’el Collins |
| Zack Martin | Brandon Knight | Ron’Dell Carter | Wyatt Miller |
| Connor McGovern | Tyler Biadasz | Adam Redmond | Luke Gifford |
| Leighton Vander Esch | Justin March | Connor Williams |
| Bradlee Anae | Sean Lee | Jamize Olawale | Joe Thomas |
| Francis Bernard | Sewo Olonilua | Reggie Robinson |
| Donovan Wilson |

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Elliott defiantly rejects idea Cowboys WR trio will steal his touches

The Dallas RB took to Twitter to quash any perceived drama over whether he’ll still see a heavy workload under coach Mike McCarthy in 2020.

Amari Cooper this week set the bar awfully high for himself and his pass-catching cohorts in Dallas. If he, Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb follow through on what Cooper called “the expectations” for all three to notch 1,000-yard receiving seasons, it would mark just the sixth time in league history a trio of teammates has accomplished the feat.

Cooper may have raised a few eyebrows by saying it out loud. But running back Ezekiel Elliott was quick to smack down the attempts by one reporter to raise questions about what that might mean for the team’s rushing attack.

ESPN’s Ed Werder, a longtime Cowboys insider, wondered via Twitter what a pass-heavy gameplan- the kind that might produce three 1,000-yard receivers- would leave in terms of touches for Elliott, who’s averaged 20-plus carries per game in each of his last three seasons.

The two-time rushing champ, though, does not seem to be concerned about his workload taking a nosedive simply because there’s a wealth of WR weaponry in the Dallas huddle.

A few things to consider. First, with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster, it’s no wonder the Packers were a pass-first team, especially when the best backfield options were the likes of Ahman Green, Ryan Grant, and Eddie Lacy. Fine rushers, all, but none of them realistically approach Elliott’s caliber. McCarthy “putting his full faith in the QB” during his Green Bay tenure is, then, completely understandable. It’s sound strategy. But it doesn’t automatically follow that he’ll blindly force the same philosophy in Dallas.

But even if McCarthy does go with an all-out air raid, that’s not to say Elliott won’t still rack up his numbers. Of the five previous squads to feature a trio of 1,000-yard receivers, two also had a rusher hit the milestone, as The Athletic‘s Jon Machota pointed out.

Legendary offenses find a way to spread the ball around, and Dallas’s offense has all the ingredients to be just that.

Finally, it’s not like the Cowboys didn’t come really close to pulling off this exact feat just last season. In 2019, both Cooper and Gallup topped 1,000 yards. In fact, each finished with over 1,100. Randall Cobb totaled 828, falling just 172 yards short of the magic benchmark. That’s over 3,000 yards distributed among three guys. And yet, Elliott still ended up with 1,357 on the ground.

While Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb could mathematically all be 1,000-yard men and still leave more than enough meat on the bone for Elliott, the triple-1K crown isn’t something that fans should necessarily want to see.

Cowboys staff writers debated the notion on the team website. All admit that it’s certainly possible, given the talents of the players in question. But while it would likely be fun to watch, it may not be desirable. In fact, if it does happen, it could mean that the season is not going as hoped.

Writes David Helman:

“Dak Prescott’s favorite guy is the open guy. He’s going to throw a lot of balls to running backs, and the (hopeful) emergence of Blake Jarwin is another thing to consider.”

From Rob Phillips:

“[I]f the Cowboys have more success as a team, play with more leads, Elliott and Tony Pollard will have more chances to grind out yards. The offense played from behind a lot last season. That’s a big reason why quarterback Dak Prescott had at least 40 pass attempts in seven of the 16 games.”

And according to Nick Eatman:

“Honestly, if things go right, they probably won’t even have two [1,000-yard receivers]. Again, that’s a good thing. If this team is going to be a 10-11-12 win team, they need to be running the ball and running out the clock in the fourth quarter, not passing the ball around. Is it possible? Yes, but it’s not a good thing.”

But for now, the lawfirm of Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb should absolutely have their sights set on 1,000 apiece. In fact, so should Jarwin. And Elliott should go ahead and get his “Feed Me” bowl all cleaned up and ready for another big helping of touches. And, heck, why not let 2020 be the year that Pollard breaks out, too?

There are boatloads of yards to go around for this season’s Cowboys offense. Let the opposing defenses be the ones to try to guess which playmakers are going to be the ones to get them on any given week.

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NFC East takes the top spot in a ranking of NFL divisions by running backs

NFC East is No. 1 in a ranking of NFL divisions by running backs

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The NFL has some superior talent at running back but only one division reigns supreme when it comes to having the most versatile workhorses in the NFL.

With the role of the running back position changing and guys being asked to be pass catchers as well, it’s imperative to have guys who can play three downs and at different spots on the field.

CBSSports.com recently broke down all eight NFL divisions based on the running back position and thanks to some superior talent in all four cities, the NFC East came out on top.

CBS Sports placed high value in the running back’s ability to contribute supremely in the passing-game over rushing ability to break ties because “passing has a far greater effect than running on both offensive efficiency and a team’s ability to win.”

Ezekiel Elliott is still the best back in the division with Saquon Barkley chomping at his heels on a weekly basis. Miles Sanders is set to break out as a star in his second season, while Derrius Guice is just looking to be healthy.

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Cowboys Weekend News: Gallup not linked to Adams, Lamb has ‘dog’ mentality

Michael Gallup is not linked to Jamal Adams trade talks. CeeDee Lamb’s ‘dog’ mentality takes his game to another level.

When reports surfaced that contract talks between Jamal Adams and the New York Jets reached a stalemate, Michael Gallup’s name was suggested as a possible trade asset by a New York area reporter to acquire him. However, as reported by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports’, the Cowboys and Jets haven’t spoken since last season’s trade deadline in October.

CeeDee Lamb may make spectacular catches at will, but his ‘dog’ mentality is what puts his game on another level. With a plethora of talent added at corner via the draft and free agency, there are questions on if Jourdan Lewis will get lost in the shuffle. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are ranked as a top-five running back duo, Jamal Adams is worth a high-cost trade, and a question whether the Cowboys can have three 1,000-yard receivers.

Cowboys Rumors: Dak Prescott’s Contract Offer Would Make Him 2nd-Highest Paid QB :: Bleacher Report

Contrary to being labeled as the highest-paid player in history, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott falls to second place because of the guaranteed money offered.

Jamal Adams Trade Rumors: Jets Star Prefers Cowboys Amid Stalled Contract Talks :: Bleacher Report

It seems that “Jamal Adams to Dallas” talks are fired up again as contract negotiations have stalled in New York. Where does the star safety prefer to play?

Ranking the NFL’s Top 7 Passing Offenses Heading into the 2020 Season :: Bleacher Report

The Cowboys find themselves ranked fifth on Bleacher Report‘s list today. Find out who may out pass Dallas in 2020

Will Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb all top 1,000 receiving yards? :: Blogging The Boys

Only five teams in NFL history have had three 1,000 yard receivers in a season. The Cowboys came close last year but does Cee Dee Lamb make it a reality?

Like with Amari Cooper, Jamal Adams is worth the high-cost trade :: Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys gave up a first-round pick for Amari Cooper in 2018. The Jets reportedly want a first and a third for Jamal Adams, and he’s well worth it.

Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard ranked as one of NFL’s best backfield duos :: Blogging The Boys

Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard had multiple games last season in which both men went over 100 yards. Now heading into 2020, they’re ranked in the top five according to Mike Miller

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is known for making ‘unreal’ catches in big moments, but it’s his ‘dog’ mentality that sets him apart :: Dallas Morning News

He may be a showman catching passes but rookie CeeDee Lamb’s mentality is his most valuable asset.

Many greats have played for the Cowboys, but these D-FW locals played for their hometown team :: Dallas Morning News

From Everson Walls to Connor Williams there have been quite a few Cowboys that have played their high school or college ball in North Texas.

Connecting Michael Gallup to Jamal Adams isn’t coming from Cowboys camp :: Cowboys Wire

When word of the contract talks between the New York Jets and Jamal Adams hitting a stalemate surfaced, wide receiver Michael Gallup’s name began to be thrown around in possible trade scenarios, but such moves haven’t been discussed by the Cowboys

Contract Year Cowboys: Will CB Jourdan Lewis Get Overlooked Again? :: Inside The Star

Jourdan Lewis showed flashes of the player he could be in 2019 when Anthony Brown went down with an injury. But with key additions at corner in the NFL Draft and free agency, will he be the forgotten man going forward

NFL.com listed Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as the best deep ball passer of 2019 :: Blogging The Boys

When it comes to throwing the football deep, Dak Prescott was of the NFL’s best in 2019 according to NFL.com.

The offense may be stacked, but the Dallas Cowboys defense offers some intriguing upside :: Blogging The Boys

The Cowboys offense may be getting most of the headlines, but after strategic additions in free agency and the NFL Draft, the Cowboys defense may surprise people in 2020.

Pro Football Focus ranks Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb’s situation one of the best among rookie receivers :: Dallas Morning News

Amongst first-year receivers CeeDee Lamb’s situation seems to be ideal playing in Mike McCarthy’s offense.

1989 Bounty Bowl: Revisiting One of the Greatest Moments in Cowboys-Eagles History :: Inside The Star

Mauricio Rodriguez breaks down arguably the most infamous game in the Cowboys-Eagles history.

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Cowboys shut out of PFFs top 25 under 25, but young talent plentiful

The Dallas Cowboys have the makings of an offensive juggernaut for years to come. If they are able to sign Dak Prescott to a long-term extension before things get too contentious, and that should happen as long as both sides keep negotiations just …

The Dallas Cowboys have the makings of an offensive juggernaut for years to come. If they are able to sign Dak Prescott to a long-term extension before things get too contentious, and that should happen as long as both sides keep negotiations just business and not too personal, the quarterback will have a vast array of weaponry at his disposal for the next several years.

Prescott will be 27 through the entirety of the 2020 season, and based on his progress over the first four years of his career, Dallas should have one of the league’s better QBs as long as the Cowboys can make keep happy financially satisfied. His posse is even younger than that, with the top six weapons all checking in under the age of 26. Three of the players are under the age of 25, which is the cutoff for Pro Football Focus’ annual look at the best young talent in the NFL. For the second consecutive year though, the Cowboys were shut out of the rankings.

This year’s omission is hardly as big of an insult as it was in 2019, when RB Ezekiel Elliott was left off the list after leading the NFL in rushing for the second time in three seasons. PFF’s metrics have no love for volume stats, like many in the analytical community. That misses Elliott’s workhorse value and dominance in other advanced metric calculations like value over average and yards above replacement.

Still, Elliott aged out as he’ll play the 2020 season at Age 26, along with two other young weapons, WR Amari Cooper and TE Blake Jarwin. Both players signed long-term deals with Dallas this past offseason, but both have easy outs for the club after the 2021 season.

The true youth movement happens behind them, however.

WR Michael Gallup, 24, ascended to elite-No. 2 receiver and potential No. 1 receiver in 2019, he just hasn’t been asked yet to shoulder the load on his own, but his numbers say that’s a distinct possibility. He more than doubled his yard production to 1,107 and tripled his touchdown receptions to six.

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Tony Pollard, 23, figures to be a key weapon for Dallas moving forward and not just a backup for Elliott. His balance is surreal and he played a slot-receiving weapon option during his time at Memphis. Along with being the primary kick returner, Pollard should be an X-factor for Dallas for the next several seasons, with big-play ability and playing the matchup-nightmare role when all of the focus is on the bigger names.

One of those bigger names will be CeeDee Lamb, who will play his rookie season at the tender age of 21. Lamb is the most likely player to crack PFF’s list over the next several seasons as a potential alpha receiver in the league.

The Cowbys have an out with Cooper’s contract and Gallup’s ends after the 2021 season as well, but at least one of the two will be paired with Lamb for the next handful of seasons and all three will have at least two seasons together to wreak havoc on defensive backs across the league.

The collection of young talent in the Cowboys offense is augmented by still having a relatively young offensive line, with all projected starters under the age of 30 and signed for the foreseeable future.

So while PFF’s metrics ignore Dallas’ youth movement, the rest of the league certainly won’t be able to afford to.

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Cowboys News: Pollard gets more attention, Dak and Zeke defiant

The Cowboys are set with Ezekiel Elliott at RB, but Pollard needs more touches. Cowboys interview potential prospects.

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best, if not the best running back in the NFL in All-Pro Ezekiel Elliott. However, after multiple 100-yard performances in his rookie season, it’s apparent Tony Pollard needs the ball more in 2020 and Cowboys Wire sees a simple solution to having the two backs on the field together; run Pollard as a slot option like he was at Memphis.

With the current coronavirus pandemic handicapping team’s ability to communicate with potential draftees, the Cowboys have taken to the virtual world to interview TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor and Michigan State edge rusher Kenny Willekes.

The Cowboys have added help on the interior of their defensive line in free agency, however, five-time Pro Bowler Cameron Wake is still floating around on the open market and could provide another valuable commodity rushing the passer from the perimeter.

The Cowboy’s recent draft success, the 10-year anniversary of the destruction of Texas Stadium, and how there’s value in the passing attack after Cooper and Gallup are covered in the news and notes.

Report: Cowboys’ Prescott, Elliott party despite ‘Safer at Home’ order :: Cowboys Wire

Despite the world being on lockdown and the sports world shut down, not everyone is being compliant with state-issued distancing mandates.

Cowboys’ 2021 decisions in free agency could be tricky, if not costly:: ESPN

Cowboys fans, respectively, have been focusing on the 2020 NFL Draft and of course free agency. Todd Archer of ESPN breaks down how 2021 may be a little bit more difficult to get things done.

Cowboys Draft 2020: A dynamic playmaker for defense seems very possible at 17:: Blogging The Boys

If defense wins championships, the Cowboys have a great chance to draft someone who can make a huge impact right away.

Cowboys cupboard not bare at WR behind Cooper, Gallup :: Cowboys Wire

A player-by-player breakdown of the leading in-house candidates to absorb the snaps and targets of recently departed Randall Cobb reveals the best option may not second-year RB Tony Pollard, who was featured in the slot at Memphis.

What the Cowboys can expect to get from their 2020 draft class :: Blogging The Boys

How much positional value do the Cowboys have in their current collection of 2020 draft picks, and how does it compare to recent drafts and ones over the last 20 years? Better than recent years, but just in the middle over all.

2020 First-Round NFL Mock Draft: Tua Tagovailoa Tumbles Out of Top 10:: Bleacher Report

Oh, look, another mock draft. Things take a turn towards the offensive line for the Cowboys. Does Dallas draft Travis Fredrick’s replacement?

Ranking the 10 Biggest Potential Steals of the 2020 NFL Draft:: Bleacher Report

Every year its quite obvious to point out who will be a first-round draft pick. It’s all about those under-the-radar selections that pay off the most. Michael Pittman Jr. finds himself on this shortlist.

Could Cowboys Snag Free Agent DE Cameron Wake? :: Inside The Star

The Cowboys have addressed their defensive line in free agency. However, their hopes of a decent pass rush opposite Demarcus Lawrence is still a mystery with hopes of reinstatements. Would they sign a safety net?

Four bold first-round draft scenarios that would shock Cowboys fans:: Blogging The Boys

Will Jerry Jones make a move or two that will put Cowboys fans into a frenzy?

Dallas Cowboys Interviewed Michigan State DL Kenny Willekes:: Inside The Star

Even with additions added to the defensive front in free agency, the Cowboys are doing their due diligence by interviewing Michigan State edge rusher Kenny Willekes.

Pre-draft position preview: Cowboys are set at RB with Ezekiel Elliott, but Tony Pollard needs more touches:: Dallas Morning News

Even with All-Pro Ezekiel Elliott’s second-year sensation Tony Pollard needs to ball in his hands more.

Blowing up God’s Peephole: The 10-yr anniversary of Texas Stadium’s demise:: Cowboys Wire 

After 38 seasons and five Super Bowl victories, Texas Stadium saw it’s last day 10 years ago.

No matter what the Cowboys do in Round 1 of the NFL draft, recent history suggests they’ll get it right:: Dallas Morning News

The recent history of the Cowboys in April should put fans at ease about their plans in a few weeks.

Cowboys 2020 draft prospect: EDGE Bradlee Anae:: Blogging The Boys

With edge rusher still being on the list of needs for the Cowboys this piece profile’s Utah’s Bradlee Anae.

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Cowboys cupboard not bare at WR behind Cooper, Gallup

Randall Cobb is gone and wasn’t replaced, but does that mean the Cowboys must use a Top-60 pick on a wideout?

When the 2020 regular season gets underway, the Dallas Cowboys are going to sport one of the league’s most formidable pairs of wideouts. With Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, quarterback Dak Prescott has a pair of players with elite skillsets who win in different ways, complimenting each other on opposite sides of the field.

The position group did lose a major free agent asset in Randall Cobb, who followed the money down the highway to Houston, but even with his defection after one season, rumors of the group’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. No, the club didn’t make a big or even mid-level signing to replace Cobb’s 55 receptions for 828 yards, but they didn’t have to. And even if it could take things to an ultimate level, the team doesn’t have to invest high-pedigree picks in the NFL draft to compensate for his loss. They could wait until Day 3 and grab one of the guys who would normally be late-Round 2 or Round 3 options because there are solutions to be had, in house.

Make no mistake about it, Cobb would’ve been a great returning player, finishing as Pro Football Focus’ 47th-ranked WR who saw at least 35% of his team’s offensive snaps, but for $9 million a year the club can certainly invest that in better ways than a player who dropped just under 10% of all of his targets. At 30 years old, Cobb is now about to be paid as a low-end No. 1 receiver, ranking 28th in the league in average salary.

That’s… too much.

Dallas didn’t sign a single wideout to replace him though, leading many to assume that the club will heavily consider drafting a wide receiver in the first two days of the draft. They may just do that, the draft is chock full of dynamic receiving options in all shapes, speeds and fashions in one of the deepest classes in recent memory. If one of the elite-level players such as Ceedee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs  III falls to them at 17, things may be too tempting to pass up; but they likely will.

Barring a trade back in the first, or a trade up in the second, the bevy of wide receivers selected before Dallas returns to the clock at No. 51 will mean they probably won’t get a guy who’s an absolute lock to be a heavy Day-1 contributor. 10 or more receivers could conceivably go in the Top  50 this year.

If that happens, and Dallas ends up with a prospect with a normal learning curve, they will have to rely on players who they already have. Some may think that’s not a winning proposition, but that isn’t necessarily the case.

The club does have some interesting options.

Continue…

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