Dallas Cowboys loss sets team back to square one
By Tyrone Starr
After four games, the Dallas Cowboys have no better idea as to who they are now than when the season began after inexplicable home loss to Los Angeles.
For long time fans of the Dallas Cowboys, this is unfortunately nothing new. The problem is that it was not supposed to be like this in 2017.
Yes, we’ve been through the see-saw years where this team wins one and loses one, ending up even in both the win and loss column.
No, this team.. the one featuring Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and the fabulous offensive line was not supposed to be that team.
Yet, here we are, four games in to the season, with no better idea of who this team really is than when the season kicked off 28 days ago.
After another head-scratching loss, this time at home, the Dallas Cowboys are all the way back to square one. The simple truth is that this team has nothing it can hang its hat on. The offense is not good enough to protect the defense. The defense is not good enough to prop up the offense.
The star power in Dallas is, at best, a dim light currently. There are moments it shines bright but those moments are too few and far between.
There is no excuse for a team to score 24 points in a half on 295 yards to score zero points and gain 42 yards on their next four drives. Save me the spiel about halftime adjustments, the bottom line is that players did not produce.
There is no excuse for Bryant to have just five catches on 13 targets. Only one of the eight “failures,” by the way, was a drop.
There is no excuse for missing countless tackles. There is no excuse for avoidable mistakes such as electing to shun a fair catch surrounded by four defenders. The problems on this team are not squarely on any one player’s shoulders. Every one who steps onto the field needs to do some self-evaluation.
Right now, Dak Prescott is not the same quarterback he was last year. Prescott has been inaccurate at times and otherworldly at others.
Right now, this offensive line is not living up to their billing as the best unit in professional football. Sometimes they make wide open lanes and protect the quarterback. Other times Prescott has run for his life and Elliott cannot find a hole.
Right now, this defense cannot stop anyone. When the other team fails to sustain drives or score points, its largely due to self-inflicted issues.
Therein lies the problem. Consistency.
Through four games, the Dallas Cowboys are 2-2 because they simply are too inconsistent. At no time in any point of this season, has this team been capable of putting together a complete game.
It’s not going to get any easier either.
Next week, All-Planetary quarterback Aaron Rodgers comes to town. If you don’t think he is licking his proverbial chops at a chance to torment this team once again, you could not be more misguided.
If you want to spin this mediocre start in a positive light, I suppose you could say that we are only four games into the season. It is accurate to say that there is time to turn this around.
Can this team figure things out and improve? Absolutely. The question is not about talent as much as it is about consistency.
Next: The Dallas Cowboys need a new defensive coordinator
For the Dallas Cowboys, it’s back to square one. There is still time to move forward and become a better football team.
The sands of the hour glass, however, are slowly moving in the wrong direction.