My 5 Points Comeback Cowboys

My 5 Points: Cowboys vs. Rams
by William C Walker Jr.

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) is gang tackled by St. Louis Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis (55) and defensive end Robert Quinn (94) during the Dallas Cowboys vs. the St. Louis Rams NFL football game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday, September 21, 2014. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)

September 22, 2014

Here we are at week 3 and the Cowboys are now sitting at 2-1.  Before the season started I think many a Cowboy fan took a look at the schedule and said I can see the Cowboys at 2-1.  Now how they've gotten here I don't think many of us could have predicted.  So after a monumental comeback by the Boys at the  Rams here are my 5 points I took away from the game.

5. DeMarco Murray has fumble-li-tus!: Granted Murray is killing it as of right now leading the league in rushing at 285 yards.  For the third straight game Murray had a 100 yards rushing and a touchdown.  You know what else DeMarco Murray has done for the third straight game?  He's fumbled the ball on the first offensive series.  One time you can chalk that up as accident, second time development, but a third time without a doubt is a trend.  The word is out so Murray more than ever will have to be more cognizant of protecting the ball!  Teams are going to test him every game trying to see if Murray will continue to cough the ball up.

4. The O-Line Holds Up: While the Dallas offensive line has looked masterful in their run blocking.  They were looking  equally suspect in the pass blocking department.  St. Louis sports four 1st round draft picks on their starting defensive line, not to mention a pretty deep rotation.  So it wasn't a given that the o-line that struggled against Tennessee's pass rush last week would be able to hold up. Tony Romo for the first time this year didn't suffer a sack, and had a relatively clean pocket to throw from.  While it took a while to get the run game going Romo was able to make a wide array of throws without feeling the heat from St. Louis's pass rush.  That's a positive sign that the 3 first round picks Dallas has spent in building this line is paying off.

3. Has the Real Defense Arrived: Before the season started anyone that witnessed the Cowboys defense last season knew it would be an uphill battle this year.  After the first 2 weeks you had to be mildly optimistic seeing the defense not get completely obliterated.  Now they haven't been perfect showing flashes of that team from last year.  However going into Sunday's game this defense hadn't given up a single point in the 4th Quarter. The defense without Rolando McClain and Justin Durant  seemed to have some effect, because the Rams continually gashed the defense.  Austin Davis was looking like Kurt Warner during the St. Louis hay-days as he used and abused the Dallas secondary.  It's clear as day to me that Dallas doesn't have the defensive personnel to run an effective zone coverage.  When running zone you need an effective pass rush one where the quarterback doesn't have time to find the open man.  Not to mention that the corners Dallas have were initially brought in under Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme that called for more Man coverage.  Now I'll tip my hat to Bruce Carter for playing well at the middle linebacker spot with a pick 6, and Mo Claiborne after being burnt all day finally making a play with a game sealing interception.  But seeing St. Louis march up and down the field brought back flashbacks to that historically bad defense last year. Cowboys fans have to hope this was an apparition of the past, and not a sign of things to come.

2. Romo's back?: Tony Romo looked more like himself than the previous 2 games.  With some of his throws there was a question of was it rust or was there still something wrong with his back?  The questions didn't dissipate when Romo sat out a practice this week complaining of back stiffness. I mean Romo was never a scrambler but he always had a decent amount of mobility.  Most of which he would use to avoid pass rush and make plays while on the move.  With the two back surgeries the fear was that part of Tony's game was in the past.  Romo looked like the quarterback from Dallas's past avoiding the rush stepping up in the pocket. Where 2 weeks ago when Romo refused to scramble for a first down on 3rd and short against San Francisco that reservation wasn't present against the Rams. With the Cowboys down by four and facing a 3rd & 14 from the Dallas 16 yard line.  Tony Romo sprinted from the confines of the pocket making a move to fake out Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to pick-up the first down.  Throughout the game Romo made quality throws Dez Bryant on a 68 yard bomb to close the gap making the score 21-17, and finally marching the team down field hitting Terrance Williams on a 12 yard slant to finally take the lead.  Romo's performance should be an encouraging sign that coupled with their run game this offense could have a great year.

1. Dallas Committed to the Run!: That statement is amazing in an of itself, all during the off season Garrett and the coaching staff spoke of how they were committed to running the ball this year.  It definitely helps when you have success running the ball which Dallas has had after the first 2 weeks. But being down 21-0 midway through the 2nd quarter can anyone honestly say they thought the Cowboys would stick with the run?  Especially since St. Louis actually committed to stopping the run.  The fact that DeMarco Murray had already set the franchise rushing record with 253 yards the first time he faced the Rams, followed by 175 yards the second time, had to play a factor in the Rams game plan.  Whatever that plan was it was effective Murray was met with a wall of Rams defenders every time he touched the ball.  At one point he had 6 carries for negative 2 yards rushing.  In the past that was all the excuse Tony Romo and Jason Garrett needed to abandon the run throw in the score of 21-0 it was about to be bombs away.  The Cowboys actually stuck with the game plan on their very next drive and their patience paid off, Murray gashed the Rams for runs of 14, 20, and 4 yards finishing the drive with a 1 yard touchdown plunge.  This new found commitment to the run game is paying the Cowboys instant dividends.  On the very first play of the second half the entire Rams secondary bit so hard on the play fake a wide open Dez Bryant had time to stop and tie his cleats before catching a 68 yard touchdown bomb.  Out of all the things that took place in Sunday's game this was the most encouraging sign displayed by the Cowboys.  As long as Dallas can continue to control the clock and put points on the board without turning the ball over they may finally escape their steady 8-8 fate.