Coach Marlier's NFC East Corner: Part #1 Dallas Cowboys Recent December Offensive Identity Challenges

Weeks 15 against Buffalo and 16 against Miami have not been good to the Dallas Cowboys Offense or team. What is wrong with the Dallas Offense? Why are players confused at this point in the season? Why are in game adjustments not working? Why is the Dallas Offense struggling recently and even on the road all season long? Everyone has their opinion, but what concerns me is when players and coaching are baffled as this trend is worsening on the road.

Dallas gets into trouble when they either lose or do not establish an offensive rhythm early in the football game in dominating play in the RZ. Dallas wins by pushing the ball PERIOD with TEMPO in establishing large leads in the first half the game while their opportunistic Defense aggressively attacks one dimensional NFL opponents that have to push the ball by passing to attempt to get back into the game.

RUSHING OFFENSE in ONLY complementary in their new identity. No PUSH in the passing game, and No RZ Dominance equates to losing games whereas the run game is not dominate enough through personnel packages, play design or demonstration to reassert offensive play. As a pro football professional, I would like to see more quick passing to RBs, coupled with more misdirection quick pitches in attacking the flat more when teams lighten their boxes to contend with the Dallas vertical passing game.

RUSHING OFFENSE in ONLY complementary by design to the passing game. Dallas struggles in weather games like Buffalo when their Offense cannot push the ball in weather games. Dallas does seem to do better off quick edge pinches rather than traditional inside power handoffs at the mesh point where Prescott is under center.

Road Woes Continue. A Season Team Problem.

1) Dallas seems more conservative in not pushing the ball on the road through play calling early in the game.

2.) Dallas has yet to establish the run on the road partly due to scheme design and getting blown out early in games they lose.

3.) Dallas in all five of their loses have two common themes. The first is: Contested games like the Eagles (28-23) and Miami (22-20) had numerous RZ conversion problems by the Dallas Cowboys coupled with untimely penalties, execution breakdowns in situational football.

4.) The second is: The key to beating Dallas has been teams getting sizable early leads in Dallas not being able to hold serve defensively in the Dallas Offense remaining out of rhythm while trying to pass the football in taking them out of establishing an effective complementary running game. The result is being blown out and/or losing close contested games in situational football.

A. Current Problems in Passing and Pushing the Ball Must Improve to Win.

Dallas must utilize the TE Room and ESPECIALLY the RB Room more often in the passing game. Not enough use of the flat in play design and different personnel package use. Prescott is trying to do too much on early downs and is not seeing the field these past two weeks. Prescott is not checking the ball down enough through establishing his hot reads when his vertical progressions are not there, real or perceived. Unnecessary sacks are the result, not staying ahead of the chains and being too greedy downfield in not taking what the opponents defense in giving to control more TOP. Dallas had an inability to get the ball out of their EZ in Miami winning the battle of field position as noted.

Buffalo Defensive Pressure

Sack Total: 3

QB Hits: 7

Pass Deflections: 7

Interceptions: 1

Fumble Recovery: 1

Miami Defensive Pressure

Sack Total: 4

QB Hits: 12

Pass Defections: 3

Interceptions: 0

GL Fumble Recovery: 1

*Dallas has OL has INCURRED 7 Sacks, 19 QB hits, 10 Pass Deflections, 2 Fumble Recoveries and 1 Interception. Result: Poor Offensive production. 30 PF at an average of 15 points a game the last two weeks. 51 PA. Dallas has been outscored 25.5 ppg to 15 ppg the last two weeks.

Dallas Offense vs Bills Defense: 5 Punts, 1 Interception, 1 FG and 1 TD off 8 Offensive Possessions for TOP of 24:55 and 195 yards of Total Offense.

Dallas Offense vs Miami Defense: 3 Punts, 1 GL Fumble, 1 End of the Half, 2 FGs and 2 TDs off 9 Offensive Possessions for TOP of 31:02 and 339 yards of Total Offense.

17 Possessions for eight quarters. 8 punts, 3 FGs, 3 TDs, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble and 1 end of half. Dallas outscored 51-30.

B. OL Play Problems in the Passing Offense have to be Corrected to Win.

Key Injuries (Smith #77 Martin #70), communication breakdown at LOS and the appearance of poor continuity in assignment, alignment and technique. Pre-snap procedural penalties and untimely holding penalties that put the Dallas Offense in major down and distance continues to kill key drives. The OL has lost the trench battle with constant pocket collapse with Prescott being harassed in disrupting his ability to climb the pocket or use his legs, where he is most deadly. Note that Prescott is holding onto the ball too long, not extending plays with his feet as often as he was during loses to Buffalo and Miami with the recent OL play.

C. A More Productive and Effective Complementary Dallas Running Offense Must Happen Now to Win.

Pushing the ball in the passing game only goes so far to winning games at this point in the season. Dallas has recently become inconsistent in pushing the ball with limited opportunities to run the football in playing catchup to Buffalo and Miami.

Subjectively, the running game, when utilized, even if complementary must become a secondary concern for future opponents defensively as weather changes and Dallas plays on the road to win critical games in closing out games. OL dominance in the trenches has been spotty and inconsistent, especially early in the season in needing to continue to improve if Dallas is going to win late season games.

Game notes: Dallas Rushing Offense by Committee

Week 15: 15 rushes for 59 Yards by Pollard, Dowdle and Lempke vs Bills for 3.9 YPA.

Week 16: 18 rushes for 45 Yards by Pollard, Dowdle and Lempke vs Miami for 2.5 YPA.

Additional/Sourcing: 2023 Dallas Cowboys Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Final Record Thoughts: Dallas is 7-0 at Home. 3-5 on the Road. NFC East Record is 4-1. NFC record 7-3. AFC Record 3-2.

Coach Marlier's NFC East's Corner is written and covered by pro football professional Michael A. Marlier in coving the Dallas Cowboy's Organization in supporting the state of organization.