CHARGED UP

By Mark Halpern

Last week, the Cowboys got dismantled by the 49ers. I think my colleague Mike Rifkin said it right when he changed the title of my article from last week from “Gold Duged” to “Exposed?” He has a valid point: the 49ers walked all over the Defense, and the 49ers defense walked all over the Cowboys offense. The question becomes, what’s the problem, and how do we solve it?

      Everything doesn’t have to change immediately. The Defense is good; however, when you are on the field for better than 60% of the game, players will be tired. Dallas’s two losses came when the time of possession favored the Cardinals and the 49ers. So, the Defense is better than okay; it’s incredible. Unfortunately, the Cowboys will be without Leighton Vander Esch for six weeks due to another neck injury. We wish him the best and speedy recovery, and with the need to fill his spot, the Cowboys have signed veteran Rashann Evans. And he could play as soon as this weekend, and he will be desperately needed with Austin Eckler returning this week.

    We know what this offense can do; we can all look at the stat sheets and say this team should score 4-7 offensive TDs a game. Why aren’t they? I have said this before and will likely take some colossal backlash, but the Cowboys should have retained Jason Garrett as the Offensive Coordinator. This is the problem with the offense. The last time they had a proper OC was Norv Turner during the Superbowl Era. Playcalling has been atrocious, and you can look at the head coach who insisted on being the playcaller this season. Well, be a head coach, and let’s get someone honest to call plays.

   The Offensive line has to have a superior game in protecting Dak and making holes for Pollard. Dallas can win this game, which will come down to the running game this week. Pollard and company will have to create more reasonable 2nd downs than last week. Dallas has to be facing at most 4 yards on second or 3rd down. Dak has to have time to be able to create plays and not with his legs. Trust Lamb, Gallup, and Cooks to get open and check down to Fergusson as he gets more in sync weekly with Dak.

    This game will be a Resurgence for the Cowboys, but it won’t be a cakewalk as Herbert has all his weapons available this week, and it will be an electric game.