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Tag: Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Reboot 2019

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

ARLINGTON — Slowly but surely, the Dallas Cowboys have built themselves into one of the youngest, most dangerous teams in the NFL.

First, the offensive line was rebuilt with the selections of tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin. Then, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott were drafted to do extensive damage behind Dallas’ great wall.

Last season, the Cowboys traded for stud wide receiver Amari Cooper, giving themselves a “Triplets 2.0” template. And just for good measure, Jason Witten — one of the greatest tight ends in football history — rejoined the mix just in time for 2019.

But it’s not just the offense that is loaded with Pro Bowl-caliber talent. 

Defensively, Dallas possesses perhaps the top linebacking corps in the NFL with veteran Sean Lee and young standouts Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. The combination of athleticism and intelligence among that trio is staggering, to say the least.

The Cowboys also have an elite pass rusher in DeMarcus Lawrence, who was signed to a five-year, $105M deal in the offseason. Dallas also brought in veteran defensive end Robert Quinn to add depth to the D-line, which is rotated heavily by Rod Marinelli in order to keep players fresh. 

Coming off a season in which the Cowboys qualified for the playoffs and fell to the eventual NFC champion Rams, expectations in the DFW area are sky high. With Frederick set to return from his bout with Guillain-Barré syndrome, the O-Line looks to return to form as one of the NFL’s top units.

Coaches have also displayed plenty of excitement regarding veteran WR Randall Cobb, who was signed to replace Cole Beasley’s contributions in the slot. Young wideout Michael Gallup is also expected to take on an expanded role after a solid rookie campaign. 

Elliott remains one of the few legitimate bellcow backs in the league, but Dallas added depth by drafting Tony Pollard out of Memphis and Mike Weber from Ohio State. Pollard is seen as the perfect complement to Elliott given his pass-catching ability and quickness in the open field.

There are, of course, a few question marks surrounding the Cowboys. How will new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore fare in his role? How many snaps will Witten play? Can the secondary be as effective as it was in 2018?

Those inquiries will be answered in due time, but one of the main focal points will be finding a way to create more turnovers. The more often Dallas has the ball, the more likely it is that the Cowboys will be able to wear out defenses with a steady diet of Zeke, Dak and play-action passes.

Still, it won’t be easy. While the AFC has been viewed as the league’s “JV conference” on occasion, the NFC is comprised of a minefield of solid teams.

The NFC East appears to be a two-horse race between the Eagles and Cowboys for the time being, but the Giants and Redskins have the potential to make noise quickly with youngsters like Saquon Barkley and Dwayne Haskins on the rise.

If Dallas wants to give Witten the storybook ending he deserves, the time to strike appears to be now. Apparently Jerry Jones agrees, as oft-criticized head coach Jason Garrett was not given an extension in the offseason.  It looks as though 2019 will be a pivotal year for America’s Team.

Dallas Loose Divisional in LA

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

LOS ANGELES — Aiming to clinch their first berth in the NFC Championship in 23 seasons, the Cowboys instead became victims of identity fraud.

Rather than seeing Ezekiel Elliott running free in the Rams secondary, it was Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson that tore apart Dallas’ defense to the tune of 238 rushing yards. Behind its ground attack, Los Angeles kept possession for the majority of the game and recorded a 30-22 win Saturday night at LA Memorial Coliseum.

The Cowboys’ defense, which established itself as one of the NFL’s best all season, was unable to keep the Rams from putting together long, time-consuming drives. 

Despite the struggles, Dallas had a shot to tie the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter during a promising march into enemy territory. However, Elliott was stuffed on an unimaginative run play up the middle on fourth-and-1.

Los Angeles got its own fourth-down chance on the ensuing possession and cashed in on a 1-yard plunge across the goal line by Anderson. The score left the Cowboys in desperation mode, as they faced a 30-15 deficit with 7:16 left to play.

Dak Prescott scored on a short run with 2:11 to go to help make it a once-score contest at 30-22, but Garrett chose to kick it deep rather than go with the onside. The outcome was extremely predictable, as the Rams picked up a pair of first downs via the run to ice the victory.

It was a frustrating end to a stellar season for the ‘Boys, but one thing is certain — Dak doubters had little to grumble about during the latter portion of the season. Even in defeat, Prescott outplayed Jared Goff by completing 20 of his 32 throws for 266 yards.

Surprisingly, it was the Cowboys’ defense that turned out to be the weak link when it mattered most.

Dallas relied on a bend-but-don’t-break approach defensively on the first two Los Angeles possessions, which resulted in a pair of Greg Zeurlein field goals. At that point, the Cowboys held a 7-6 lead thanks to an impressive opening drive led by Prescott that was capped by his 29-yard touchdown strike to Amari Cooper.

Each of the Rams’ next two possessions reached the end zone, mostly thanks to a patient running game that began to gash Dallas right up the gut. Anderson ended a nine-play march with a 1-yard plunge, and Gurley, who made his return to the lineup from a knee injury, later broke loose for a 35-yard TD run.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup catches a pass over Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner during the second half in an NFL divisional football playoff game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The Cowboys’ last chance to draw closer before halftime was stopped by a phantom sack on Prescott in which the referees ruled him “in the grasp” despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Dallas trailed 20-7 at intermission but managed to make it a 23-15 game in the third quarter after Elliott muscled his way into the end zone from a yard out and Prescott hit Cooper for the 2-point try.

The Cowboys then got a rare defensive stop thanks to a pair of errant passes from Goff, but Los Angeles’ defensive front answered by meeting Elliott in the backfield on his fourth-down run from the Rams’ 35.

Elliott finished the game with just 47 yards on 20 carries.

Cowboys’ playoff trip to Rams is LA reunion for Tavon Austin

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

By SCHUYLER DIXON, AP Pro Football Writer
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Tavon Austin’s fresh start with the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t much different than the stale final season the versatile receiver endured with the Los Angeles Rams.


The difference is that Austin has a chance to change the feeling — against his former team, in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Cowboys traded for Austin during the draft, but he missed nine games after injuring a groin. While he was out just one game last season under first-year Rams coach Sean McVay, Austin was hampered by wrist and hamstring issues while simply getting buried on the depth chart.
He’s trying not to view Saturday night’s game in LA as a matchup of a team that wanted him against a team that didn’t .


“You’re always going to feel disrespected because you’re getting traded,” Austin said. “If you get traded, evidently you’re not doing something right. Or you ain’t getting it done, or they don’t believe in you. I felt disrespected, but at the end of the day it’s the business side.

FILE – In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Dallas Cowboys’ Tavon Austin (10) returns a punt for a long gain as Seattle Seahawks’ Ed Dickson gives chase during an NFC wild-card NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. Austin’s fresh start with the Cowboys wasn’t much different than the stale final season the versatile receiver endured with the Los Angeles Rams. The difference is that Austin has a chance to change the feeling, against his former team no less, in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Cowboys traded for Austin during the draft, but he missed nine games after injuring a groin. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)


“(McVay) talked to me on the phone about it and told me he was going to give me a chance to go somewhere else and finish my career. And that was good enough for me.”


Austin had the first long play of the season for the Cowboys, a 64-yard touchdown catch from Dak Prescott in a Week 2 win over the New York Giants before getting injured four weeks later. He returned in time for the regular-season finale at New York, setting up a strong showing in the 24-22 wild-card win over Seattle.


An 80-yard punt return for a touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty that didn’t make any difference in Austin breaking free. He added a 51-yard return early in the fourth quarter to set up a drive that ended with Prescott throwing an interception in the end zone.


The Cowboys haven’t had much of a threat in the return game without Austin, and haven’t been able to utilize many gadget plays on offense without the hybrid receiver/runner.


The eighth overall pick in 2013 when the Rams were still in St. Louis, Austin had five disappointing seasons, including the franchise’s first two after moving back to LA. The former West Virginia player heard the “bust” talk, but tried to ignore it. He’s still trying to ignore it.


“Every game is emotional,” Austin said. “Not really a difference between games. It’s just the fact that I played over there for so long. I’m all right. I’m not going to make it a Tavon against the Rams thing.”
It wasn’t so much the Rams wanting to dump Austin as it was simply not having a spot for him two years after he signed a four-year, $42 million extension.


The 28-year-old Austin was a good fit for Dallas because offensive coordinator Scott Linehan likes gadget guys. Linehan just never got to use him much.


“Tavon has the unique ability of making big plays with not playing every game,” Linehan said recently. “He’s going to feel like a guy with fresh legs on the field.”


And Austin has a fresh outlook, even after another stale season marked by an injury that led to career lows in games and catches.
“You always want to show out. That’s the point,” Austin said. “We’ll see when we get over there. Hopefully I do, but if I don’t, hopefully we just get the win.”

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Cowboys Win NFC East Host Seattle in Wildcard Saturday

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

The Cowboys will start their playoff journey on Saturday night. Will it be short lived or a long one into Feb?

Should the Dallas Cowboys advance to the divisional round who they play still depends on what happens in the other NFC wild card game. If Chicago wins, Dallas would go to New Orleans. If Philadelphia won, Dallas would head to Los Angeles. The Cowboys won their last game of the regular season over the Giants Sunday in dramatic fashion with a 2 point conversion after a Cole Beasley diving catch. Dallas came back to win with 1:19 to play in the 4th. Cowboys 36 – Giants 35. Dallas ended the regular season as the NFC EAST CHAMPS at 10-6 in 2018.

This Weekends lineup:

Colts/Titans at Houston Texans, 4:35 pm ET on ESPN

Seahawks at Cowboys, 8:15 pm ET on FOX

Sunday, January 6th

Chargers at Ravens, 1:05 pm ET on CBS

Eagles at Bears, 4:40 pm ET on NBC


What have you done for me lately Jerry?

Written by Thomas L. Seltzer on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

The Dallas Cowboys’ 59th NFL season is under way, their 30th under the ownership of Jerry Jones. No franchise has a richer history than the Cowboys, who have won five Super Bowls and are the most valuable sports team in the world. Forbes sets the value at $4.8 billion.
A few short months before Jones bought the Cowboys and fired Head Coach Tom Landry, I had the privilege of meeting Landry. The date was November 20, 1988, and the Cowboys had just lost 38-24 to Boomer Esiason’s Cincinnati Bengals. It was their eighth straight loss.
As a kid growing up, I watched Landry prowl the sidelines of Sundays. He was the man in the hat, the stoic leader of America’s team, impeccably dressed and sporting a fedora. In those days, I didn’t like the Cowboys since I lived in St. Louis, home of the Cardinals (before they moved west).
On that day in 1988, that same stoic man was standing in front of me, bigger than life. Always the gentleman, Landry was calmly answering questions in a press conference in the Cowboys locker room at Texas Stadium. I was the sports editor of the now defunct Shreveport Journal at the time.
At the press conference, Landry was trying to explain how America’s team had slipped to 2-10. The team had been in decline since the mid-1980s, but things had gone from bad to worse. The last time the Cowboys had lost eight games in a row was in their first season under Landry – 1960.
 The Cowboys had been an NFL powerhouse for more than two decades but were now the NFL whipping boy. Still, Landry had nothing but accolades for the 9-3 Bengals, and he had no disparaging words for his beleaguered team. Landry was a man who epitomized the word “classy.”
“We’re having a tough year,” I recall Landry stating in his normal deadpan voice. That was an understatement from the man who had become a lightning rod for all of the criticism directed at his team. Cowboy fans weren’t accustom to losing, and they weren’t handling it well.
I recall that I wrote a column the next day entitled “What have you done for us lately, Tom Landry?” Had all of these myopic boneheads forgotten Landry’s legacy? In spite of finishing with a 3-13 record in 1988, Landry’s record during his 29 seasons with the Cowboys was 418-250.
Landry and my favorite cartoonist, Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown, died on the same day: February 12, 2000. Mike Thompson, the Detroit Free Press cartoonist, honored them with a cartoon showing the pair entering the pearly gates together. Landry had his arm around Schulz.
I was saddened by Landry’s passing, but I’ve always considered that his first death occurred three months after I met him that day at Texas Stadium. It was February 25, 1989, and Jones’ first act as the new owner of the team was to announce the firing of Landry.
Jones went on to announce that University of Miami coach Jimmy Johnson, who played with Jones at Arkansas, would replace Landry. Like Landry, Jones had a tough first year. The Cowboys were 1-15 in 1989, but they went on to win Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993.
On the 25th anniversary of Jones’ purchase of the Cowboys and firing of Landry, Jones admitted that he acted too quickly in firing Landry after 29 years as the team’s head coach. “If I had a chance to do it over again I would’ve waited a year and just got my feet on the ground,” Jones said.
No one can dispute Jones’ success as a businessman. He bought the Cowboys from H.R. “Bum” Bright for $140 million, and it’s worth 35 times that much today. Taking a “hands-on” approach, Jones is also the Cowboys’ general manager. It’s not uncommon to see him down on the field with his team.
The 71-year-old billionaire makes it work. In three decades with Jones at the helm, the team have won three Super Bowls. But the last of those titles was 22 years ago, and Cowboys fans have grown restless. “What have you done for us, lately, Jerry Jones?”