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Upon Further Review: Special-teams woes
October, 13, 2014
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
SEATTLE -- We review the Dallas Cowboys’ smashing 30-23 victory over Seattle on Sunday in our weekly Upon Further Review:
Enjoy.
1. Outside of kicker Dan Bailey, the Cowboys’ special-teams play was shaky on Sunday. The special teams allowed 14 points -- a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and a muffed punt by Dwayne Harris leading to another score were the biggest miscues. “We didn’t make plays and we’re expected to make plays,” Harris said. “Sometimes you have bad games -- even the greatest have bad games.” Punter Chris Jones had a 35-yard punt in the fourth quarter. He punted from his own 7 and failed to get the ball into Seattle territory. His short punt gave Seattle good field position and they eventually took a 23-20 lead on Steven Hauschka’s 48-yard field goal. The Cowboys didn’t play a perfect game on Sunday but special teams didn’t help in the cause.
2. The Cowboys are playing with a little spunk these days. Several players in the locker room expressed they weren’t backing down from a fight against Seattle. The Cowboys are a different group these days. Instead of thinking they’re going to win a game, the mindset is "we are going to win a game." Trailing 10-0 to start, it reminded you of the 2012 game here when the Cowboys were down early and never recovered. One thing Dallas did was get a nine-play, 80-yard drive, lasting 4:39 after falling behind to get themselves back in it. “Not blinking, man,” receiver Dez Bryant said. “Any other time we would have blinked and probably would have folded and gave up. But we didn’t. We believe in ourselves.”
3. Last week, coach Jason Garrett said the pass rush was lacking but on Sunday, the Cowboys had two sacks on quarterback Russell Wilson, though one by Anthony Spencer came when he was running out of bounds. There were five quarterback hurries and a knock down of a pass. Yes, the Cowboys are blitzing more but the rotation of the defensive line is allowing fresher players on the field and that’s a positive thing in close games. Tyrone Crawford has taken over a starting spot from Henry Melton at the three-technique spot, and was credited with three tackles and two quarterback hurries. End George Selvie, Spencer and Melton had quarterback hurries on Sunday. Against a speedy quarterback like Wilson, the front line held its own in making him move around the pocket.
October, 13, 2014
By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
SEATTLE -- We review the Dallas Cowboys’ smashing 30-23 victory over Seattle on Sunday in our weekly Upon Further Review:
Enjoy.
1. Outside of kicker Dan Bailey, the Cowboys’ special-teams play was shaky on Sunday. The special teams allowed 14 points -- a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and a muffed punt by Dwayne Harris leading to another score were the biggest miscues. “We didn’t make plays and we’re expected to make plays,” Harris said. “Sometimes you have bad games -- even the greatest have bad games.” Punter Chris Jones had a 35-yard punt in the fourth quarter. He punted from his own 7 and failed to get the ball into Seattle territory. His short punt gave Seattle good field position and they eventually took a 23-20 lead on Steven Hauschka’s 48-yard field goal. The Cowboys didn’t play a perfect game on Sunday but special teams didn’t help in the cause.
2. The Cowboys are playing with a little spunk these days. Several players in the locker room expressed they weren’t backing down from a fight against Seattle. The Cowboys are a different group these days. Instead of thinking they’re going to win a game, the mindset is "we are going to win a game." Trailing 10-0 to start, it reminded you of the 2012 game here when the Cowboys were down early and never recovered. One thing Dallas did was get a nine-play, 80-yard drive, lasting 4:39 after falling behind to get themselves back in it. “Not blinking, man,” receiver Dez Bryant said. “Any other time we would have blinked and probably would have folded and gave up. But we didn’t. We believe in ourselves.”
3. Last week, coach Jason Garrett said the pass rush was lacking but on Sunday, the Cowboys had two sacks on quarterback Russell Wilson, though one by Anthony Spencer came when he was running out of bounds. There were five quarterback hurries and a knock down of a pass. Yes, the Cowboys are blitzing more but the rotation of the defensive line is allowing fresher players on the field and that’s a positive thing in close games. Tyrone Crawford has taken over a starting spot from Henry Melton at the three-technique spot, and was credited with three tackles and two quarterback hurries. End George Selvie, Spencer and Melton had quarterback hurries on Sunday. Against a speedy quarterback like Wilson, the front line held its own in making him move around the pocket.
