It’s easy to blame coaches for the Cowboys' struggles, but the reality is their personnel just hasn’t been - The Dallas Morning News

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LANDOVER, Md. – It’s easy to blame this on Mike McCarthy.

Same with Mike Nolan. Kellen Moore, too.

What about John Fassel?

The Cowboys were beaten by Washington 25-3 in soggy and cold FedEx Field on Sunday.

Thank goodness the only people in the stands were security and family and friends from the home team. Finding blame for this embarrassing loss by a football team that continues to struggle with adversity can spread across many layers of the organization.

The reality is the Cowboys just don’t have the personnel necessary to compete in this horror show that is the NFC East, and an overhaul of the roster is in order.

McCarthy, of course, disagrees and used the word “process” when it comes to this group. He believes in this team because that’s what he’s supposed to say.

Yet, McCarthy also said, “We’re not doing the basics, let’s quit candy coating it.”

Later on he noted, “It’s not what we’re looking for. We need to be much better and we’re running out of time.”

Time for what?

The draft?

Injuries are just part of the personnel problems. The biggest injury to this team is the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott, whose absence is making people realize just how valuable he really is.

Andy Dalton was signed in free agency as the backup with starter DNA in his blood. Before Dalton was knocked out of the game on a dirty hit by linebacker Jon Bostic, he was just an average quarterback. Dalton completed nine of 19 passes for 75 yards. He was sacked three times behind a makeshift offensive line. He has the playmakers at wide receiver, but the offensive line makes it difficult to push the offense down field. And even when Dalton was able to move the offense, mistakes occurred.

With the Cowboys trailing, 22-3, late in the first half, Dalton had the offense at the Washington 12. On first down, Dalton underthrew a pass to a double-covered CeeDee Lamb. On second down, Dalton threw behind Ezekiel Elliott on what should have been an easy play. Dalton needed to get the ball in front of Elliott to give him a chance. Instead, the ball bounced off Elliott and was picked off by linebacker Cole Holcomb. Before the crushing turnover, the 16th of the season and the third in the last two weeks for Dalton, the Cowboys had a chance to get some points, whether it was three or six. But they came away with nothing.

Elliott himself is not having a good season for a man that held out last summer to become the highest-paid running back in league history. On Sunday, he rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries. Elliott can only do so much behind an inexperienced offensive line, a group that missed right guard Zack Martin (concussion). One of Elliott’s best traits is pass blocking, and even that was something he failed to do at times. He was bowled over by Holcomb, who sacked Dalton after getting a 10-yard running start.

Elliott isn’t alone in his failures.

Lamb, the first-round pick, has dazzled the NFL in the first six weeks of his career. Lamb had two drops and no catches on Sunday. Michael Gallup, he of the deep routes, also had no catches.

The defense is part of this problem, too, and using the scheme as an excuse isn’t acceptable.

Second-round pick Trevon Diggs gave up a 52-yard touchdown after he was penalized for illegal contact on receiver Terry McLaurin. It was a stunning play because McLaurin was nearly 10 yards away from Diggs after he broke free of the contact. Diggs also dropped an interception.

Where are the created turnovers by the second-round pick that fell into the Cowboys lap?

Inside linebacker Jaylon Smith is an easy target of fans and media, and he gave up a touchdown to tight end Logan Thomas when he failed to secure a tackle.

The run defense is in shambles as evident by the 208 rushing yards allowed to Washington.

Where is the physicality up front? Where are the linebackers?

It was pretty telling that on a third-and-nine, Washington quarterback Kyle Allen was able to run for 13 yards. It should have been a coverage sack, but with no pressure, Allen scooted down field for the first down. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was chasing Allen but couldn’t get to him.

When the trade deadline arrives on Nov. 3, the front office needs to take another hard look at this roster. It’s not very good. Only so much can be accomplished with the salary cap and what Prescott will command in salary in 2021.

Yet, Cowboys' fans have been tricked into believing this team has talent.

It does, but not enough to be considered elite or even just competitive.

Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.

The Link Lonk


October 26, 2020 at 05:58AM
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2020/10/25/its-easy-to-blame-coaches-for-the-cowboys-struggles-but-the-reality-is-their-personnel-just-hasnt-been-good-enough/

It’s easy to blame coaches for the Cowboys' struggles, but the reality is their personnel just hasn’t been - The Dallas Morning News

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