WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY: Cowboys Nuggets
Welcome to WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY, where you can feast on a few nuggets of information as the Cowboys continue to revel in their blowout win over the Giants last Sunday night and begin preparation for the New York Jets at home this Sunday. Lots of good stuff (1500+ words) on the defense, the o-line, Tony Pollard and more. Let’s get to it.
WHAT’S UP WITH THIS DEFENSE?
This Cowboys defense was relentless on Sunday night.
And if you couldn’t tell that by just watching the game, you can see it in the stats and the game film. The Cowboys front seven were continually in Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ face and space, giving him no time to think, much less throw.
Just over 75 percent of the Giants 37 passing attempts came under pressure by the Cowboys defense. That’s 28 drop backs where Jones was sacked or hurried.
“That’s a huge win in that area,” McCarthy said. “It’s the highest one I have ever been a part of. It was a big part of setting the tempo. You could see this building up, really the last three years, but definitely felt it all through training camp. Our guys played with tremendous confidence and set the tempo early in the game.”
The seven sacks – two each from Osa Odighizuwa and Dorrance Armstrong, and one each from Micah Parsons, Chauncey Golston, Dante Fowler Jr. and DeMarcus Lawrence, is the best for Dallas since the seven they had against Minnesota last season.
“What’s fun about our group, (pressure) can come from a lot of different people and a lot of different areas,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “Whether we want to blitz, or pressure or four-man rush and putting guys in different spaces, that is what’s fun about our defense. There are some guys that can make plays from different spots. Seeing that firsthand, being both at camp and at practice, and then seeing that some in the game come through. I know Micah and others get most of the headlines, but it was nice to see some guys make some plays. And some really good ones, like I thought (DaRon) Bland and Odighizuwa really had some impactful plays in this game.”
They needed a few more sacks on Sunday night to set a new team record, which is held by the 1985 Cowboys, who sacked Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon 12 times in a 17-10 win, and the 1966 Cowboys, who sacked Pittsburgh QB Ron Smith a dozen times in a 20-7 victory.
The Cowboys will get a chance to add to their sack total when they get a chance to get after Jets quarterback Zach Wilson in the home opener Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE YOUNGSTERS?
Two of the Cowboys younger players announced themselves to the league on Sunday night – safeties Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell.
The two made significant contributions in the season opener, with Bell leading the way with eight tackles, including one for a loss.
“We have a big deep crew, and we roll everybody, and we roll in hard,” Quinn said. “So, I was really pleased to see a guy like Bell get his chances, go make some hits.”
Thomas played 59-percent of the defensive snaps, finishing with two tackles, one pass defensed and the blocked kick to start the scoring.
“You saw more of Thomas in the game,” Quinn said. “So, seeing guys make impacts like that, that’s what it’s all about. They are gonna get better and better as they go. This is September and you have to live through some of the mistakes and there are, because by the time you get to the end of the season now, you’re really hitting your stride like you wanna be. That’s why I’m proud of guys like Juanyeh and Bell that made some big steps (Sunday).”
Other young players in their second or third year with the Cowboys that continue to improve, seeing increased playing time on Sunday, are defensive end Sam Williams (2 tackles, 34 plays) and linebackers Damone Clark (5 tackles, 46 plays) and Devin Harper (1 tackle, 3 plays).
“Not only the production we’re having (on defense), but I’m real excited about our young guys,” McCarthy said. “Our young guys really stepped up. It is fun to get out there and watch these young guys get out there in Week 1 and contribute. Not only do we have a chance to be a great defense, but the depth is where it needs to be too. As you know, we are going to need it. It’s a long year.”
WHAT’S UP WITH POLLARD?
It was a new beginning for Cowboys running back Tony Pollard.
With the departure of Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard elevates to the RB1 and takes over as the leader of the Dallas backfield.
Sunday night was his first opportunity to show the Giants, and the rest of the NFL, what they can expect. He gave them a solid Tony Pollard day – 70 yards rushing on 14 carries, two receptions for 12 yards, two touchdowns and a 5.0 yards per carry average. And he did that in a downpour.
“It was cool to see him get off to a great start,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “I’m just happy for him, coming back off the injury. I thought he ran so hard and he really did so many things throughout the course of the game that didn’t show up in the stats sheet. … Like side boards and protection, and securing things on your way out (of the backfield). … All that stuff goes unnoticed by the stats. But when you see it, it’s really cool to see it come to life, the things we are coaching and preaching, and just what he is as an overall football player.”
What was most impressive was his goal line usage. Plays that went to Elliott the last few seasons, were now called for T.P.
And he showed the doubters that there is nothing to worry about when he scored the touchdown from 2 yards out to close the scoring in the first half Sunday night. It was exactly the kind of run the Cowboys were hoping for from Pollard when they let Elliott walk.
“Tony is just an unbelievable competitor,” Schottenheimer said. “Why do I go there” I go there because that is a little bit of what short-yardage and goal-line running is. It’s instincts, it’s talent, but there is also a little bit of make-up and heart and desire. … We have no questions he can do that. He’s ready for those challenges.”
WHAT’S UP WITH THOSE HOGS UP FRONT?
Go ahead and take away being talked about and evaluated during the course a play, the Cowboys offensive line – Tyron Smith, Chuma Edoga, Tyler Biadsz, Zack Martin and Terrence Steele, was mentioned just two times during the game against the Giants – when Steele was called for a false start and when Edoga went down after an eye poke and had to be replaced.
I would say that is a pretty good night for a team missing its regular starting left guard in Tyler Smith. And it’s exactly the kind of game you want if you’re an offensive lineman. As a group, you committed just the one penalty, gave up no sacks and got significant playing time for all three backups.
“I thought they did well,” McCarthy said about the group.
Add to that all three tight ends – Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot and Luke Schoonmaker, contributed to the running game, and it’s hard to be any happier with the performance from your bigs up front.
“There has been a big emphasis of commanding the C-gap as a focal point for us,” McCarthy said. “From the tight end positions, Ferguson and Peyton had some nice second level blocks. So, they have definitely taken to the challenge and are off to a good start.”
WHAT’S UP WITH THE TURP?
After last season, where he got his feet wet in the NFL as a returner, KaVontae Turpin spent the offseason working toward, and asking for, more opportunities in the offense.
“There is, obviously, a ton of natural ability there,” Schottenheimer said. “What I love about Turp, is just his passion for the game. He just loves to play the game.”
The Cowboys wasted little time using that passion and giving the second-year pro some of what he wanted.
While he only had one carry, it came in a goal line situation and on third down. Turpin took a toss from quarterback Dak Prescott and went around left end for a 7-yard touchdown. It was the first offensive touchdown of his NFL career.
Turpin ended up playing 11 offensive snaps, at five different spots, something probably not possible last season.
“I’m really proud of him for how he’s learned to study the game, study the things we are trying to ask him to do,” Schottenheimer said. “You look at where we were able to move him around to different spots (Sunday) night, ask him to do different things, and for him to do it at a high level. … When you give him the ball, there is always a chance good things are going to happen.”
WHAT’S UP WITH FOWLER THE PROWLER?
Linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. had another strong performance for the Cowboys defense.
Fowler finished with one sack but had six quarterback pressures to lead the team on Sunday night.
It is something that Cowboys fans should be getting used to by now. Fowler led the NFL in QB pressures per snaps played last season at just under 10 percent.
“He has picked up where he left off,” McCarthy said about 9th-year pro out of Florida. “That is something that we had a chance to talk about in his opportunity to come back here, and make sure he’s given some more opportunities, because he’s been so impactful.”
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Cowboys host the New York Jets at 3:25 p.m. on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
What was once a marquee matchup on the Cowboys schedule, came down a notch in excitement with the injury to Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, the prize acquisition of the offseason for the Jets, tore his Achilles on the fourth offensive play from scrimmage on Monday night and will miss the rest of the season. The Cowboys will face Zach Wilson at QB, but it will be the Jets defense that they should be worried about. Even without Rodgers, the Jets shutdown the Bills enough on Monday to sneak out of Week 1 with an overtime victory.