[ad_1]
FRISCO, Texas (AP) – Dak Prescott's difficulties in the passing game are not just a defeat in Carolina's first game for the Dallas Cowboys.
Now that the crisis has spread to a new season, coach Jason Garrett and his team must evaluate the factors and know when and if to make changes to try to fix them.
Six bags of Prescott and a small early race hall for star player Ezekiel Elliott have amplified two important issues on the offensive line.
Most of the attention, however, will remain on a remodeled and largely unproven receiver group trying to replace Jason Witten and receiver Dez Bryant.
Then there is the throw-in, with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan besieged by Bryant on Twitter, as well as the fans.
"I have a lot of confidence in Scott," Garrett said Monday, a day after a 16-8 loss to the Panthers. "We just have to do a better job collectively as a staff and as an offensive unit. It starts with the basic run, the game after the game does not fight and then finds ways to generate big games.
By entering an important opening match against the New York Giants on Sunday night, Garrett also felt that the Cowboys will remain with the same five on the offensive line.
Joe Looney replaces Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick four times for an indefinite time with a condition that affects his nerves. Rookie guard Connor Williams was twice beaten for bags by Kawann Short.
"Joe Looney … seemed to have done a really good job in the game," Garrett said. "Connor Williams, obviously, it's a difficult task for him, the first week, to oppose this defensive front. There were good things for him. There are zones of protection of the passes which are not enough.
Prescott had less than 200 yards to go for the seventh time in nine games. This sequence began when he was sacked eight times in a career loss to Atlanta, which caused the fall of the Cowboys last year. It was also the beginning of Elliott's six-game suspension on domestic violence allegations.
Elliott's presence did not help much against the Panthers, and the question is how the Cowboys can hope to live the match when they have not shown that they could pose a threat.
Centered on Elliott, the Panthers scored the 2016 NFL leader 18 yards before half-time. Nearly half of Elliott's 69 yards and touchdown came in the fourth quarter after the Cowboys lost 16-0.
If the Cowboys want something that looks like the remarkable seasons of the Prescott and Elliott rookies two years ago, when they had the NFC's 13 best wins, they'll need more points at the NFC. beginning of the game.
"We have to start faster," Elliott said after the match. "It's not Dallas Cowboys football. That's not how we played. If we want to succeed, if we want to go out and win ball games, we can not go out and throw an egg in the first half.
Filling the gap left by Witten and Bryant will probably be much more than in the first match, with the exception of the resumption of the day's acquisition acquisition, Tavon Austin. The fast receiver and the return are more numerous to play a role.
Cole Beasley had the most targets (eight), catches (seven) and yards (73). The rest was shared between newcomers Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson and rookie Michael Gallup.
Tight back number 1, Geoff Swaim, had three catches, and substitute Blake Jarwin was open to what would have been the biggest game of the game for Dallas if Prescott had not succeeded.
"We think each of these guys has assets and they have different things that they can bring to our attack," Garrett said. "We think mixing these guys together and giving them the opportunity to contribute will be a good thing for our team."
The Cowboys have a long way to go to prove it.
[ad_2]
Source link