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Cole Beasley starts over catchless Miles Austin; how Cowboys gameplanned without DeMarco Murray
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
PHILADELPHIA – The Cowboys’ first offensive play Sunday let everyone know that this wouldn’t be a typical game plan for Dallas.
The dead giveaway: No. 5 receiver Cole Beasley made his first career start.
The Cowboys usually like to pick their spots with the 5-8, 180-pound Beasley, but they had to mix things up some against Philadelphia because starting running back DeMarco Murray was out with a sprained left knee.
Rookie Joseph Randle received his first start in place of Murray. He was efficient, didn’t make any mistakes and finished with 19 carries for 65 yards. Six of his carries came in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys trying to run out the clock.
But the Cowboys did more than hand the ball off to Randle to make up for Murray’s absence.
They used more three-wide receiver sets, often targeting Beasley and rookie receiver Terrance Williams, and mixed in backup running back Phillip Tanner. The Cowboys used some empty sets with no one in the backfield, and at times had two tight ends lined up out wide.
The Cowboys even had Dwayne Harris carry the football out of the backfield (a six-yard gain) and, get this, actually targeted second-round rookie tight end Gavin Escobar.
In the end, the Cowboys had 47 passes and 26 runs.
Many of quarterback Tony Romo’s passes were underneath the coverage to Dez Bryant, Williams and Beasley to keep the first-down chains moving.
“We felt there were some opportunities we wanted to get after in the passing game and certainly when your starting running back is not available to you, you might be more inclined to do that,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “So we had some different personnel packages with some high-percentage stuff to move the football.”
The Cowboys started the game in a three-wide receiver set with starter Miles Austin on the sideline. For a second consecutive game since returning from a strained left hamstring, Austin didn’t have a catch. He’s still slowed by the injury.
Austin wasn’t even on the field much, basically leaving the Cowboys without two key offensive players.
That meant more chances for Williams and Beasley. Each receiver was targeted seven times and caught six passes. Beasley had 53 yards receiving, and Williams had 71.
The Cowboys’ two touchdowns Sunday came on a Tanner 1-yard run and a Williams’ 9-yard catch.
It was Williams’ third consecutive game with a touchdown catch, tying the longest streak by a Cowboys rookie in franchise history.
“Terrance Williams has improved as much as maybe anybody that I’ve seen in the six months he’s been here,” Romo said. “It’s just a testament to his work ethic and commitment to the team. You love having guys like that.”
Added Cowboys owner Jerry Jones:
“He’s exceeded all of our expectations,” Jones said. “Tony’s particularly talking about how that he thought Terrance would be where he is right now maybe next year, even the third year, but yeah he’s really playing well.
“Of course Cole Beasley, he figured big in the game plan and he played big in the game plan. It’s good to have them and it’s good to have our offensive players out there and it gives us a lot of options. Tony is really playing outstanding and he’s going to use all these guys.”
Of course, Romo used Bryant more than anyone. Romo targeted Bryant a career-high 16 times. Bryant caught eight passes for 110 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season.
With Williams and Beasley more involved, Bryant received some one-on-one opportunities. Bryant said he’s excited about the way Williams and Beasley are contributing.
“Man, I love it,” Bryant said. “We talk about it each and every day about taking advantage of all opportunities. We believe in one another and we believe any one of the receivers can make a big play.”
Beasley said the Cowboys are at their best when they’re spreading the ball around.
“We have a lot of weapons we can use and the coaches do a really good job of game-planning and getting it to where we can utilize everybody,” Beasley said, “and when we do that we’re going to be hard to stop.”
By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com
PHILADELPHIA – The Cowboys’ first offensive play Sunday let everyone know that this wouldn’t be a typical game plan for Dallas.
The dead giveaway: No. 5 receiver Cole Beasley made his first career start.
The Cowboys usually like to pick their spots with the 5-8, 180-pound Beasley, but they had to mix things up some against Philadelphia because starting running back DeMarco Murray was out with a sprained left knee.
Rookie Joseph Randle received his first start in place of Murray. He was efficient, didn’t make any mistakes and finished with 19 carries for 65 yards. Six of his carries came in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys trying to run out the clock.
But the Cowboys did more than hand the ball off to Randle to make up for Murray’s absence.
They used more three-wide receiver sets, often targeting Beasley and rookie receiver Terrance Williams, and mixed in backup running back Phillip Tanner. The Cowboys used some empty sets with no one in the backfield, and at times had two tight ends lined up out wide.
The Cowboys even had Dwayne Harris carry the football out of the backfield (a six-yard gain) and, get this, actually targeted second-round rookie tight end Gavin Escobar.
In the end, the Cowboys had 47 passes and 26 runs.
Many of quarterback Tony Romo’s passes were underneath the coverage to Dez Bryant, Williams and Beasley to keep the first-down chains moving.
“We felt there were some opportunities we wanted to get after in the passing game and certainly when your starting running back is not available to you, you might be more inclined to do that,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “So we had some different personnel packages with some high-percentage stuff to move the football.”
The Cowboys started the game in a three-wide receiver set with starter Miles Austin on the sideline. For a second consecutive game since returning from a strained left hamstring, Austin didn’t have a catch. He’s still slowed by the injury.
Austin wasn’t even on the field much, basically leaving the Cowboys without two key offensive players.
That meant more chances for Williams and Beasley. Each receiver was targeted seven times and caught six passes. Beasley had 53 yards receiving, and Williams had 71.
The Cowboys’ two touchdowns Sunday came on a Tanner 1-yard run and a Williams’ 9-yard catch.
It was Williams’ third consecutive game with a touchdown catch, tying the longest streak by a Cowboys rookie in franchise history.
“Terrance Williams has improved as much as maybe anybody that I’ve seen in the six months he’s been here,” Romo said. “It’s just a testament to his work ethic and commitment to the team. You love having guys like that.”
Added Cowboys owner Jerry Jones:
“He’s exceeded all of our expectations,” Jones said. “Tony’s particularly talking about how that he thought Terrance would be where he is right now maybe next year, even the third year, but yeah he’s really playing well.
“Of course Cole Beasley, he figured big in the game plan and he played big in the game plan. It’s good to have them and it’s good to have our offensive players out there and it gives us a lot of options. Tony is really playing outstanding and he’s going to use all these guys.”
Of course, Romo used Bryant more than anyone. Romo targeted Bryant a career-high 16 times. Bryant caught eight passes for 110 yards, his third 100-yard game of the season.
With Williams and Beasley more involved, Bryant received some one-on-one opportunities. Bryant said he’s excited about the way Williams and Beasley are contributing.
“Man, I love it,” Bryant said. “We talk about it each and every day about taking advantage of all opportunities. We believe in one another and we believe any one of the receivers can make a big play.”
Beasley said the Cowboys are at their best when they’re spreading the ball around.
“We have a lot of weapons we can use and the coaches do a really good job of game-planning and getting it to where we can utilize everybody,” Beasley said, “and when we do that we’re going to be hard to stop.”
