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The Film Don't Lie: Cowboys
October, 14, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
A weekly look at what the Dallas Cowboys must fix:
Jason Garrett loves to talk about the need to play well in all three phases of the game, making sure to include special teams in there with offense and defense. If not for Dan Bailey, there would be some real concern with the third phase of the Cowboys.
Coming off a week in which they had three penalties, the Cowboys’ special-teams unit had a nightmare game versus the Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown. Dwayne Harris muffed a punt that was turned into a field goal. A 35-yard punt by Chris Jones in the fourth quarter allowed the Seahawks a short field for a field goal. There was a holding penalty on Brandon Carr and Harris called for a fair catch on the 5.
It overshadowed the fact that Bailey qualified to become the NFL's most accurate kicker in history and he hit a career-long 56-yarder.
Harris was one of the most dynamic returners in the NFL last year but has been average so far, averaging just 25.9 yards on kickoffs and 7.5 yards on punts. He averaged 30.6 yards on kickoffs and 12.8 yards on punts last year. The blocking has to improve as does his decision making. The coverage teams have been solid (21.8 yards allowed on kickoffs, 8.4 yards per punt). Jones has been OK (45.6 yard average).
With a 5-1 record and looking to be a true contender, the Cowboys need more than just average, solid and OK out of special teams as the games get bigger. They need to be game-changers in a positive way, not a unit that nearly cost the Cowboys their win at CenturyLink Field.
October, 14, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
A weekly look at what the Dallas Cowboys must fix:
Jason Garrett loves to talk about the need to play well in all three phases of the game, making sure to include special teams in there with offense and defense. If not for Dan Bailey, there would be some real concern with the third phase of the Cowboys.
Coming off a week in which they had three penalties, the Cowboys’ special-teams unit had a nightmare game versus the Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown. Dwayne Harris muffed a punt that was turned into a field goal. A 35-yard punt by Chris Jones in the fourth quarter allowed the Seahawks a short field for a field goal. There was a holding penalty on Brandon Carr and Harris called for a fair catch on the 5.
It overshadowed the fact that Bailey qualified to become the NFL's most accurate kicker in history and he hit a career-long 56-yarder.
Harris was one of the most dynamic returners in the NFL last year but has been average so far, averaging just 25.9 yards on kickoffs and 7.5 yards on punts. He averaged 30.6 yards on kickoffs and 12.8 yards on punts last year. The blocking has to improve as does his decision making. The coverage teams have been solid (21.8 yards allowed on kickoffs, 8.4 yards per punt). Jones has been OK (45.6 yard average).
With a 5-1 record and looking to be a true contender, the Cowboys need more than just average, solid and OK out of special teams as the games get bigger. They need to be game-changers in a positive way, not a unit that nearly cost the Cowboys their win at CenturyLink Field.
