Dallas Cowboys fail challenge for all the familiar reasons

Slow Starts, Coaching Problem

These slow starts have become commonplace for this team in 2019. In six of their nine games, the Cowboys’ opponents have scored first. In all of their losses this season, Dallas has trailed at halftime.

Slow starts can easily be attributed to poor coaching as it reflects on the lack of preparedness. It also indicates that the Dallas Cowboys do not have plays they feel super confident will work against their opponent that week.

All night Sunday, the Vikings utilized the Cowboys defensive philosophies of stunting and twisting the defensive line against them. Calling several play-action passes, rolling quarterback Kirk Cousins out of the pocket or hitting the Dallas defense with running back screens occurred over and over.

Time and again, these plays worked for huge yards. If they did not outright produce a first down, they would set Minnesota up for short third downs.

Never once did the Dallas Cowboys adjust. These plays only became unsuccessful if a player such as defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence made a sensational play.

Therein lies yet another problem with this coaching staff. On both sides of the ball, there is a serious lack of ingenuity. The belief is that the players should win their individual matchups and simply execute the plays at all times. Little is done to help players succeed, either schematically or with creative play-calling.

Through all this, Dallas remained in contention to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Quarterback Dak Prescott played a phenomenal game. Receiver Amari Cooper made several highlight-reel catches and Randall Cobb showed his importance in this passing attack.