597 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

We ran the ball great on that first half touchdown drive and the lineman were all getting push upfield.  It was like a clinic.  But I dind't think we ever really got that push at any other point in the game.  I don't know if it was an adjustment made by Dallas or if that drive was just a fluke or maybe it is that we didn't trust the running game enough on the other drives.  But whatever the case was, but our RBs had 4 rushes for 58 yards on that drive compared to 10 rushes for only 28 yards the rest of the game.

[Mike B]

I did not listen to harbs post game presser, but was wondering what the rationale to moving Yanda to LG was.  I am guessing it allows him to use his good shoulder more, but found the switch intersting.  I also think, Ducasse is better than Jensen or Urshel at RG.  

He was doing a good job pulling on the first drive.

[SportsGuy]

I did not listen to harbs post game presser, but was wondering what the rationale to moving Yanda to LG was.  I am guessing it allows him to use his good shoulder more, but found the switch intersting.  I also think, Ducasse is better than Jensen or Urshel at RG.  

He was doing a good job pulling on the first drive.

It was Yanda's decision.  He felt it was better for his shoulder on that side.

[SportsGuy]

Never heard Stanley's name yesterday.  That's usually a good thing.

[SportsGuy]

High marks by PFF for the OLine yesterday:

 

https://www.profootb...ls-cowboys-win/

[Mackus]

Yanda deserves tons of praise for playing through that injury yesterday.  Dude always answers the bell.

[SportsGuy]

Yanda deserves tons of praise for playing through that injury yesterday.  Dude always answers the bell.

And PFF gave him a really high grade too.

 

He is a beast, even with a bad shoulder.

[GabeFerguson]

I thought the lack or running in the 2nd half was more situational than abandoning it without reason like they have in previous games. Taking a look at all of the plays, and the down/distance/time/score of each playcall, I don't think there is much to criticize.

Here are our 2nd half drives:

Start 3Q tied at 10: 22 yd pass for 1stDown, 0 yd run, inc pass, inc pass - So they threw on 1st down successfully. Ran on the next 1st and got stuffed, then you kind of need to throw on 2nd. Seems reasonable, though they could've run on 2nd and 10 and tried to set up 3rd and manageable.

7:31 3Q down 7: 5 yd pass, 6 yd scramble for 1D, 9yd run then 15yd roughness penalty, 11yd pass, 2 yd pass - So they passed for a 1st down to start drive again, then ran successfully but dumb penalty put them into 2nd and long and forced to pass. Again, seems reasonable, though you could argue they should have been running on 1st and 2nd downs to begin the drive instead of successfully passing for firsts.

11:30 4Q down 14: Inc pass, 22 yd pass for 1D, 18 yd pass for 1D, inc pass, -2 sack, -11 sack but facemask penalty for 1D, 17 yd pass, inc pass, 5 yd TD pass - So this was all passes, but we were down 2 TDs and scored one of our own on the drive. No complaints here.

1:50 4Q down 10: A bunch of passes, of course, 2 minute drill. No complains on run/pass split here.

The biggest problem in the second half was possession.

[bnickle]

The Cowboys just dominated the Ravens in the 2nd half yesterday. Can talk about penalties and Jimmy Smith all day and both are certainly factors but they just wore us down and had their way after intermission. What I expected all game but props to the Ravens hanging in for a half.

[GabeFerguson]

Yup, there was no pass rush in the 2nd half at all and that's due to their OL. Dak was able to sit back and pick apart the defense. Jimmy being out probably affected 1 or 2 plays directly and maybe hurt the ability to dial up some more pressure, but overall the dominance of the Dallas OL showed up, just not in the way many anticipated. 

[GabeFerguson]

To take that point one step further, the biggest rush attempt for the Cowboys in the entire game was when Dak was able to scramble for 12? yards on that 1st and 30. That play took what should have been a 3 and out and made it manageable. Flipped the entire game IMO.

[JordanKough]

Given how this team is built, I'd almost see a sellout, blitz forcing the Cowboys hand and making their guys win one on one with pressure. Than a bend don't break, where they sustained the TOP the whole time. It's like the Cowboys knew were going to keep in that lack of aggression and designed a great offense to attack that. 

 

Good first half, but you could see the talent / coaching disparities in the second half. 

[bnickle]

What the Cowboys and to a lesser extent the Raiders have done with their OL will probably be the next big thing in the NFL. Spend 1st or 2nd round picks along with premium FA $ to have 4 or 5 great guys across the line. I mean that was arguably the biggest strength of the early 90s Cowboys dynasty

[SportsGuy]

What the Cowboys and to some extent the Raiders have done with their OL will probably be the next big thing in the NFL. Spend 1st or 2nd round picks along with premium FA $ to have 4 or 5 great guys across the line. I mean that was arguably the biggest strength of the early 90s Cowboys dynasty

I heard Louis Reddick this morning talking about something along these lines.

 

He was basically saying that the NFL of today isn't being built around the QB, at least on most teams.

 

He said the new buzz word around the league is complimentary.  Basically, you aim to have units that are really good that can compliment each other, so if one is having an off day, your other 2 phases can pick up the slack.

 

In some ways, this is what the Ravens are.  The problem is, they need the offense to be a little better.  The problem yesterday, offensively, was the inability to sustain drives and because of that, the Cowboys were able to wear them down.  

 

But our defense and ST can win us games. 

 

Its an interesting concept.  When we talk about the Ravens, we all agree the team lacks those elite playmakers.  We also, for the most part, agree that the team is pretty balanced roster wise.  Maybe not elite stars but some very good players and a lot of guys with upside.

 

This sport, despite all the changes in the rules, still boils down to the lines.  Games are still won there and that is the way it always will be.  

[SportsGuy]

We had almost 100 more penalty yards yesterday.  

 

That's insane.

[SportsGuy]

Andy Benoit ‏@Andy_Benoit 4m4 minutes ago

#Ravens Film: Weddle and Webb were used pretty interchangeably. Weddle often right S, Webb left S. Good to have flexibility in 2-high scheme

 

 

[PrimeTime]

In taking a more in depth look at the game, it's quite remarkable how poorly timed our penalties were and how much they benefitted Dallas.

 

One of Zuttah's "holding" penalties is posted on Ravens.com today in the things you might have missed column. We were up 7-0 and had just completed a 14 yd screen pass to Juice but the play was called back because of a hold by Zuttah. When you watch the replay, Zuttah just straight up dominated the Dallas DT and planted him on the turf; it simply wasn't a hold. The result? The drive stalled and we punted. The Cowboys proceeded to score their first TD on that next drive. What changes if the refs get the call correct?

 

On the Cowboys first possession of the 2nd half, Young gets wrung up for PI, resulting in a 33 yd gain for Dallas. The side judge right on top of the play doesn't throw a flag but the flag comes from clear across the field. There was some contact on the play but nothing egregious and Young turned to find the football. A few plays later, Dallas puts it in the end zone.

 

On our next possession, looking to answer and stay in the game, Zuttah gets flagged for unnecessary roughness. The play was still going on, Dixon was fighting for yards, there was no whistle; nothing about that play was illegal IMO. (and a Cowboy player blatantly pushed Zuttah after the play and was not flagged) Instead of being 2nd and 1 at our 45, we end up 2nd and 15 at the 30. The drive stalls, we punt. The ensuing drive for Dallas was a clinic, ending in a TD and putting them up by 2 TDs. (the big play being on 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 32, we show blitz but drop 8 into coverage but somehow lose Elliott who turns a checkdown into 17 yd gain)

 

Lastly, after we scored in the 4th qtr to make it a 1 score game, the offsides penalty on Judon on the kickoff was a killer. We had Dallas pinned down at the 10, only to have to re-kick and end up with a touchback. Perhaps it doesn't make a difference and we still don't get off the field but who knows? Of course Dallas goes on to chew up the clock and put the game away.

 

This is not meant to blame the refs or say we got screwed or anything like that but rather to illustrate how big these penalties can be and what kind of impact they have on the game. If we're able to extend another drive or 2 and at least flip field position a bit or add points, along with giving the D a little extra time on the sideline, how much different could the outcome have been?

[esporter]

In taking a more in depth look at the game, it's quite remarkable how poorly timed our penalties were and how much they benefitted Dallas.

 

One of Zuttah's "holding" penalties is posted on Ravens.com today in the things you might have missed column. We were up 7-0 and had just completed a 14 yd screen pass to Juice but the play was called back because of a hold by Zuttah. When you watch the replay, Zuttah just straight up dominated the Dallas DT and planted him on the turf; it simply wasn't a hold. The result? The drive stalled and we punted. The Cowboys proceeded to score their first TD on that next drive. What changes if the refs get the call correct?

 

On the Cowboys first possession of the 2nd half, Young gets wrung up for PI, resulting in a 33 yd gain for Dallas. The side judge right on top of the play doesn't throw a flag but the flag comes from clear across the field. There was some contact on the play but nothing egregious and Young turned to find the football. A few plays later, Dallas puts it in the end zone.

 

On our next possession, looking to answer and stay in the game, Zuttah gets flagged for unnecessary roughness. The play was still going on, Dixon was fighting for yards, there was no whistle; nothing about that play was illegal IMO. (and a Cowboy player blatantly pushed Zuttah after the play and was not flagged) Instead of being 2nd and 1 at our 45, we end up 2nd and 15 at the 30. The drive stalls, we punt. The ensuing drive for Dallas was a clinic, ending in a TD and putting them up by 2 TDs. (the big play being on 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 32, we show blitz but drop 8 into coverage but somehow lose Elliott who turns a checkdown into 17 yd gain)

 

Lastly, after we scored in the 4th qtr to make it a 1 score game, the offsides penalty on Judon on the kickoff was a killer. We had Dallas pinned down at the 10, only to have to re-kick and end up with a touchback. Perhaps it doesn't make a difference and we still don't get off the field but who knows? Of course Dallas goes on to chew up the clock and put the game away.

 

This is not meant to blame the refs or say we got screwed or anything like that but rather to illustrate how big these penalties can be and what kind of impact they have on the game. If we're able to extend another drive or 2 and at least flip field position a bit or add points, along with giving the D a little extra time on the sideline, how much different could the outcome have been?

 

Yeah, I won't speak to which of the penalties were legit vs not (you raise good points), but we really do have remarkable timing. There's never a "good" time for a 10 yard holding penalty, but we really seem to get them at the absolute worst fucking moments. It doesn't help that we all pretty much know once it's 2nd and long that the drive is essentially over. Maybe that's the bigger problem.

 

But yeah, I bet if you could go back and change 2 or 3 of our most poorly timed penalties this year, you could finagle another win or two. That's how bad they've been.