Dallas Cowboys coaching staff big winners in Week Two

The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff might have been coaching for their jobs on Sunday night and performed better than expected. But can they keep this up?

With their jobs possibly on the line, the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff performed well on Sunday night. And I never thought I’d be writing those words about a Cowboys’ team led by head coach Jason Garrett again. Yet, Sunday night’s 20-13 victory over the New York Giants was the first time I can remember this coaching staff stepping up like their job depended on it.

By using the gadget players, diversifying the play-calling, and even adding complexity to the defense, this team’s coaching staff really stepped up to the plate.

Right off the bat, we saw offensive coordinator Scott Linehan break his conservative habits and loosen the reins on quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense. Wide receiver/web back Tavon Austin caught a 64-yard touchdown on a play call that was light years ahead of what the team did Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.

Even tight end Rico Gathers was active for the first time in his career. Despite a handful of snaps and only two targets, an on-target throw by Prescott would have given Gathers a touchdown on his first career regular season catch.

As a niche’ player the Cowboys would have never utilized a year ago, it looks as if Gathers will get a chance to contribute in the red zone and occasionally in passing tight end packages; much to the delight of fans.

The Cowboys routinely ran RPO’s (run-pass options) as opposed to just sprinkling them into the play calling like last week. These play perfect to Prescott’s strengths and allow him to use a part of his game the coaching staff has previously ignored; his read-option running ability.

With this creativity to keep defenses off their feet, Dak was able to find multiple receivers and spread the Giants out. This needs to be a fixture of the offensive playbook this season.

And even though the defense has been the only positive up to this week, they got even better Sunday night due to something we are used to rarely seeing from defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli; blitzes and disguised coverages.

The defense, at times, been as predictable as the offense in their scheme. But on Sunday night, Marinelli used multiple stunts and linebacker blitzes. Defensive pass coordinator Kris Richards secondary methods have allowed this team to play man coverage and blitz linebackers and slot corners more often, both of which were Giant killers Sunday night. New York could not adjust and the defensive scheme actually outplayed an opponent.

The coaching staff needs to diversify the play calling like this on a weekly basis in order to keep this team in the playoff hunt. Hopefully, the coaches have learned that being stubborn and traditional is not the way to win with this Cowboys team. A Carolina Panther-esque offense (I know too soon) with a read-option quarterback and a spread out RPO passing attack seem to play perfectly to this teams strengths.

With two very winnable games ahead, the team could be 3-1 with defensive lineman David Irving and hopefully center Travis Frederick on the way. This team is not yet full strength and when it is coupled with smart modern playcalling, the Dallas Cowboys can be a legitimate playoff team in 2018. Let’s hope Jason Garrett and company keep it up.