Niners Stuff...

Cotton

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boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
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Doing some research for the primer for them today and man, it is amazing how that entire team has been completed gutted since Harbaugh.
 

Cotton

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49ers will have to handle Dallas rookies Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott
2:26 PM CT
Nick Wagoner
ESPN Staff Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Two of the NFL's crown-jewel franchises will meet Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys come to Levi's Stadium to meet the San Francisco 49ers.

Of course, things haven't gone well of late for either of the winningest franchises in NFL history, which takes some of the shine off a game that was once one of the best rivalries in the NFL.

Still, this week's meeting comes with plenty of intriguing matchups, including a pair of former Ohio State star running backs leading their respective rushing attacks.

For an early look at what six key Cowboys bring to the table, we turned to ESPN NFL Nation Cowboys reporter Todd Archer:

Offense

Dak Prescott: He is now up to 99 passes to open the season without an interception. Prescott's-decision making has been well ahead of his experience, and he is not simply checking it down. He will make some throws down the field. If receiver Dez Bryant is limited or can’t play, then maybe the dynamic changes, because defenses won’t have the threat of Bryant. Prescott has found a security blanket in Cole Beasley, but he does not lock in on one player.

Ezekiel Elliott: It took time for Elliott to look like the runner everybody thought would tear up the league from Day 1. He was limited in camp over the summer and played in just one preseason game. Last week against Chicago he found the right speed in this zone run scheme to let things develop, but not hit holes too slow or fast. That should only continue to improve as he plays more. Perhaps more importantly, he held on to the ball after fumbling twice in Week 2.

Jason Witten: In his 14th season, Witten is still one of the featured targets on the Cowboys offense. His role has changed in the past few years as the Cowboys have run the ball more, but he remains a valuable third-down weapon. He has a knack for finding soft spots in zones and understands route concepts and leverage better than anybody in the league.

Defense

Tyrone Crawford: With questions up front, the Cowboys have shifted Crawford from the under tackle spot to defensive end. He is probably better suited to play on the interior, but he has enough speed and quickness to work the edge. He can be a good run defender outside as well. Crawford is active, but he needs others to help him get to the passer. In a lot of ways, that’s the story of the entire defensive line.


Sean Lee: He remains a tackling machine. He has not made the impact plays yet, but he is the best playmaker the Cowboys have on defense. He can diagnose run plays incredibly quick. They will need that this week with 49ers running back Carlos Hyde coming off a 100-yard game and the Cowboys' run defense allowing 4.8 yards per carry. Lee can work the middle of the field in zone coverages. He is smart enough to defend tight ends. The Cowboys will line him up between the guard and center and threaten a blitz. He will come after the quarterback some, but not a lot.

Morris Claiborne: A first-round pick in 2012, he has finally started to play to the level the Cowboys hoped. With Orlando Scandrick battling a hamstring strain, Claiborne will work in the base defense. The Cowboys don’t like to match up their cornerbacks on specific receivers, but Claiborne’s length gives him an edge. He is aggressive, sometimes to a fault, which can lead to penalties. He is doing a better job being more physical as a tackler as well. The name of the game for a cornerback is to take the ball away, but he has not had an interception in his past 13 games.
 

Cotton

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Cotton

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Cotton

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boozeman

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60% chance of showers.

Running will likely be the name of the game.

I don't care for our run defense, that's the problem. Will probably end up being a closer game than we would all like.
 

Cowboysrock55

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60% chance of showers.

Running will likely be the name of the game.

I don't care for our run defense, that's the problem. Will probably end up being a closer game than we would all like.
I don't care for our run defense either. When offenses spread us out our run defense always seems to get gashed. Obviously our running offense is pretty awesome though and we have a QB who can also run extremely well. We just need to get a lead with our awesome offense and then force the 49ers to turn one dimensional.
 

L.T. Fan

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It's strange for that area to have rain this time of the year as my memory serves me.
 

Cotton

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Cowboys know Chip Kelly's offense but pace of play remains difficult
10:21 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas – More than most teams, the Dallas Cowboys know the speed in which Chip Kelly likes to run his offense.

They saw it two times a year for three years when Kelly was running the Philadelphia Eagles. They will see it again Sunday when they play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

The Cowboys had some success against Kelly. They had two games in which they gave up 10 or fewer points, dominating in 2013 and last year. But they also were throttled 33-10 in 2014 and gave up 33 points in an overtime loss last season.

“It’s such a high speed,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “When that thing is really humming, the speed of it is really fast so you can never assume you understand the temp. Every time you play them, you’ve really got to work on your tempo and try to be on it because it’s really difficult.”

Through three games, Kelly’s offense is sputtering, ranked 29th in yards (292 per game). Blaine Gabbert has three touchdowns and three interceptions and is completing just 55.2 percent of his passes. Carlos Hyde has four touchdowns but is averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

Marinelli doesn’t care about the numbers.

“We want as much speed in practice and put our defense under duress to communicate, to listen, all those things. They’re waiting for us to break down. We’ve got to stay on the screws.”

What helps the Cowboys is having backup quarterback Mark Sanchez running the scout team this week. Sanchez spent two seasons with Kelly in Philadelphia. He knows the speed of play, but Sanchez is also aware of how well Kelly can alter his scheme on a week to week basis.

“It could really screw you up if you’re trying to pick off signals or anything like that,” Sanchez said. “It happens too fast, like if you’re trying to tell them -- and then you have to relay it to a coach -- then he’s got to tell a guy on the field, you’re already late. That was kind of the trick to the system. If you’re moving fast enough, they can’t pick up your stuff anyway. The signals are really easy to change … if you’re not in the meetings every week, you could screw things up and give false information. It could really burn you.”
 

Hawkeye19

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60% chance of showers.

Running will likely be the name of the game.

I don't care for our run defense, that's the problem. Will probably end up being a closer game than we would all like.
I think a nasty weather game favors our OL and running game more than theirs. Hyde is a beast-- but one slip or missed tackle on Zeke and he's gone to the house.
 

Cotton

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Keys To The Game: Cowboys Can't Let Hyde Take Over On Sunday
Friday, September 30, 2016 10:20 AM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

FRISCO, Texas – Having studied the tape, these are the two biggest factors I think will help determine the winner of Sunday’s game against San Francisco.

Dallas Cowboys Win If:

Watching the tape of the 49ers, there is nothing particularly impressive about their offense with the exception of Carlos Hyde.

I don't see how their quarterback or skill players can cause any type of real concern for the Cowboys defensively, but I do believe that Hyde should. The 49ers are a 55 percent run team on first down, which is the exact opposite of what Chip Kelly was last season in Philadelphia, where they were a pass-first team.

Where opponents have had success offensively is running the ball against this defense. The number of carries per game is not large, but the yards per play is an alarming at 4.96. Where this Cowboys defense gets in trouble is with those "chunk" runs. At times they will play sound fundamental defense with correct fits and gap control, then other times will struggle to get off blocks and get washed out of the hole.

For the Cowboys to win this game, the defense is going to need continued help from their offense with plenty of early points to chase Carlos Hyde out of this game and put it all on the shoulders of Blaine Gabbert and these skill players to have to make plays to keep up. Gabbert is not playing well enough to win this game on his own, but with the help of Hyde he has a much better chance -- and these Dallas coaches know that.

San Francisco 49ers Win If:

Chip Kelly said earlier in the week that Dak Prescott isn't playing like a rookie and through three games this season, he would be correct. It's hard to believe that it was nearly a month ago that he took over as the starting quarterback for the club after an incredible preseason.

What has been the most surprising about the way Prescott has played is the fact that he's yet to make that mistake which has cost his team an opportunity to win. Prescott doesn't turn over the ball, and that is largely the reason why he has had so much success. When you watch him play, there is a calmness to his game. He doesn't looked confused or rattled -- even under pressure. Prescott is making the right decisions and the results have shown that.

If the 49ers are going to win this game, they are going to have to make Prescott play like a rookie. They're going to have to take him out of that comfort zone and force him into those mistakes that we have not seen from him. With Dez Bryant likely out of the lineup, the 49ers can work to focus in on Jason Witten and Cole Beasley to take them away from Prescott, which forces Terrance Williams and Brice Butler to have to make plays.

The 49ers are one of the best defenses in the league when it comes creating takeaways in the passing game. I expect the 49ers to give Prescott a wide variety of different looks on Sunday in the form of linebacker blitzes and games with their front in hopes of forcing him into some errant passes. Making Dak Prescott look human in this game will be the key to their victory.
 
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