Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Next Man Up, Getting Better After Takeaways, More

'Next man up' makes plays for Cowboys - Todd Archer - ESPN Dallas
When the "next man up" isn't even on your roster, the turnaround time to get that guy ready for a game can be pretty tight.

"We’ve had a little sequence here where we bring them in on Wednesday and they play on Sunday," coach Jason Garrett said. "We’ve been doing that for about eight weeks. I think one of those guys we brought in Wednesday (for practice) had a sack for us, so the ‘next man up,’ philosophy is alive and well with our football team and certainly our defensive line."

Dallas Cowboys get little from takeaways - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Todd Archer argues that the Cowboys offense needs to do more when a defensive takeaway gives them back the ball, especially over the last few games:

They have not had a drive go longer than 17 yards following their last 10 takeaways. Six times Chris Jones had to punt. One time they took a knee.

For the Cowboys to be better offensively, they need to be better after takeaways. A lot better.

Scandrick: Win will give Cowboys 'confidence boost' - FOX Sports
Scandrick believes Sunday's win could be a potential turning point for the Cowboys.

"This has gotta be a confidence boost and it lets us know that we can finish games," Scandrick said. "Finishing games has been a big emphasis around here. Everybody knows that there isn’t a secret. In the games we’ve lost this year, we’ve had 10-point leads and [still would] end up losing the game."

Scandrick a diamond for rough Dallas defense - Tim MacMahon, ESPN Dallas
Garrett said Scandrick played "probably his best game" against the Vikings. Scandrick attributes his success this season to the fact that this is the first time he's had a chance to start in five NFL seasons. And MacMahon underlines the stellar season Scandrick is having with some choice stats:

One of ProFootballFocus.com's advanced statistics backs up Scandrick's boast. According to the website, Scandrick has allowed only 0.71 yards per coverage snaps this season, the fourth-lowest figure among cornerbacks.

Opponents are 32-of-55 for 276 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions when targeting Scandrick this season. That opposing passer rating of 68.4 is the 15th lowest among corners.

Jason Hatcher said he feels good after suffering stinger Sunday - Brandon George, DMN
George writes that Hatcher sounded confident about playing against the saints on Sunday, despite the stinger he suffered against the Vikings. Garrett is a little more guarded: "We'll see."

Cowboys "open" to having Brian Waters back - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram
Garrett said the Cowboys are "open" to having Waters back next year.

"I love the guy," Garrett said Monday. "I think he’s done so much for our football team. [...] He is a heck of a guy to have on your football team. He’s a warrior. He demonstrated that throughout his career in the short-period of time he was with us. He had a real positive impact and his demeanor and his temperament was contagious particularly for that offensive line group. We have so many young guys. Tyron Smith is young. Ron Leary is young. Travis Frederick is young. All these guys are young football players, and to have a veteran guy like that to kind of show them how to do it, it was really good."

DE Edgar Jones making progress in rehab - Rainer Sabin, DMN
Jones is eligible to return on Dec. 15 against Green Bay, and is on track to be ready for that date after undergoing sports hernia surgery last month

Cowboys Bust Some Narratives In Beating Vikings - Mike Fisher, CBS DFW
Fisher explains that because any type of Cowboys news drives ratings, the established narratives get repeated endlessly, but none more than anything to do with "Cowboys leadership":

The beauty of the accusation is that it is harsh and clear when it is said … but vague and blurry when it comes to proving or disproving it. There is no demand on Sharpe, Strahan and Lewis to establish how or where they gathered their information, or whether they gathered information at all.

The only demand is that they mention the Cowboys … slip into the narrative groove … and smile for the cameras.

Once Wild Child, Hayden Now Determined Starter At DT - Sam Iannuzzi, DallasCowboys.com
This lengthy story that initially appeared in the Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine provides some nice background on Nick Hayden and how he's emerged as the starting nose tackle after staring out at the bottom of the Cowboys depth chart in the spring.

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