The Dallas Cowboys had a shaky start to the season, beating the Giants in a close game 36-31. They were able to force 6 turnovers and still only managed to win by five points. As a Cowboys fan I say “A win is a win”. Last season the Cowboys turned the ball over four times against the Giants at home and lost by five points. Last week was the same type of game but in went in the favor of the Cowboys. I feel that us Cowboys fan should really be satisfied with the win and let’s get ready for the Kansas City Chiefs!
Last Sunday the Chiefs completely destroyed the Jacksonville Jaguars! Let’s face it the Jaguars aren’t that good to begin with. We really don’t know what to expect from the Chiefs, seeing as though they made light work out of the Jaguars. There are a few things that we do know about the Chiefs.
The first thing we know is that Andy Reid has history with the Cowboys. Reid coached the Eagles for 13 seasons and boasts a 17-12 record against the Cowboys. Andy Reid is a brilliant offensive mind and really using his personnel to the best of their abilities. He likes to implement the short passing and screen game to lull the defense to sleep before he goes over the top. Reid doesn’t like to run the ball too much but he will use it to set up the play action pass. The Chiefs personnel fits Reid’s scheme perfectly and the Cowboys will have to be prepared for that.
The next thing we know about the Chiefs is that Jamaal Charles is their running back. Last season Charles was fifth in the league in rushing yards and sported a 5.3 yard per carry average. Charles has blazing speed and can break big runs from the slightest cracks in a defense. He is also a very good receiver out of the back field. Jamaal Charles is perfect for the scheme that Andy Reid wants to run.
The last thing we know about the Chiefs is that they have some solid defensive pieces. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston are two very good pass rushers off the edge. Derrick Johnson is as good as any middle linebacker in the league with his ability to play in space. Eric Berry may be the best safety in the league and is an absolute playmaker. They also have one really good corner in Brandon Flowers. This Defense has the potential to give the Cowboys some real problems so Romo and company must be ready, going in to this game. Let’s get into my five keys to beating the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stop the Run!
I know earlier in this post I said that Andy Reid doesn’t like to run the ball but even he knows how great a running back Jamaal Charles is. Charles will test the edge of this Cowboys defense and will try to force the corners to come up which will lead to some big passing plays. The Cowboys are going to have to be able to hold the running game in check with their front seven. Bruce Carter and Sean Lee will have to flow to the ball like the always do and the defensive ends will have to keep outside containment to force the runs back inside. The good thing is that Spencer is suppose to play in this game. Reports say he may not start but should be active to play. He is able to hold up well on the edge and get off his blocks to make plays in the run game. If Spence doesn’t play, Selvie will and he is more of a pass rusher than a run stopper. He will need to play with more discipline and help contain the run. I feel like the Cowboys have the personnel to stop the run they just have to execute.
Force Alex Smith to beat you. Smith is a game manger type of quarterback. He doesn’t want to force bad passes and won’t take the chances that Eli took last week. Smith also prefers to dump the ball down over throwing the ball deep. If the Cowboys can stop the run and force Alex Smith to throw the ball we could see another multiple turnover game from this defense.
Make Dewayne Bowe show you he can beat the corners
Dewayne Bowe is a big physical wide receiver. He has great hands and uses his body well to create space to get open. Bowe is a decent route runner and really doesn’t have the deep speed to blow the top off a defense. He really isn’t the type of wide receiver that Andy Reid had in Philly. I think that Monte Kiffin should be patient with our corners before trying to roll coverage to Bowe’s side. Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne are good press cover corners. They cover better when they’re able to get hands on the receiver and disrupt their routes. Scandrick might have some problem with Bowe if they decide to put him in the slot but I really feel that our corner backs on the outside can stay with Bowe man to man. If we start to roll coverage and forget about the guys like Dexter McCluster in the short game it’s going to be a long game for this defense.
McCluster is the guy we really want to look out for. Reid likes guys like him that can operate in space and create mismatches. He also will look to get McCluster involved in the screen game. The Cowboys really need to control the underneath passing game from the Chiefs.
Get Hanna and Witten Involved
Jason Witten is the beat tight end in the league and he is a match up nightmare for any defense. Linebackesr can’t stay with him and corners and safeties are too small to cover him. This is the perfect game for guy like Witten. Eric Berry will probably be rolling to Dez Bryant’s side the entire game and that will put the other safety if not a linebacker on Witten. Witten will win those matchups 90% of the times and should have a really good game.
James Hanna is a weapon that the Cowboys fail to use effectively. In this game, Dez will probably see a lot of double coverage, Miles will get the next best corner, and Witten will get the other safety or the best cover linebacker on him. That will leave guys that really aren’t that good in coverage on Hanna. Hanna has elite speed at the tight end position, and he has really good hands. He could really be effective underneath in a game like this one. I think the Cowboys need to get him the ball early and often.
Run the ball
The Chiefs last year ranked 27thagainst the run and allowed 4.5 yards per carry. They do have a good front seven but their defensive linemen don’t get off blocks well. Hali and Houston are good pass rushers but they aren’t that good against the run. The Cowboys are getting Lance Dunbar back and Demarco Murray looked good last week against the Giants, they really should be able to get the running game going.
Unleash Dez and Romo
Dez Bryant is the Cowboys biggest playmaking weapon. I don’t care if a defense decides to put 3 guys on Dez, the offense has to be able to get the ball in Dez’s hands. Romo is a very accurate quarterback and he can get the ball to Dez in some tight situation. Let’s not be afraid to take some chances down the field. Last week against the Giants it felt like the offense played not to lose. I want to see them play to win. Make a defense stop the passing game. Force the defense to put hands on Dez and physically take him out of the game. Romo shouldn’t be afraid of a double team on Dez. Both Romo and Dez are too talented to allow the defensive scheme to beat them. If those corners aren’t batting down passes or intercepting the ball then they aren’t stopping Dez. Let’s see him moved around a little bit more and even put in the slot. The Chiefs don’t have anyone outside of Eric Berry and maybr Brandon Flowers that can stop Dez. I want to see them unleash Dez this week!
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