Cowboys News: Why "Coaching Job For The Ages" Makes 2016 Cowboys An Elite Team

Signs Of An Elite Team, Irving’s Play, Among Thoughts - Jeff Sullivan, Dallas Cowboys
Sullivan has high hopes for the Cowboys, though he's an admitted Patriots' fan, and is impressed by what he's seen so far.

For the second time in three years, each as improbable as the other, the Cowboys dropped their season opener and then won five straight games. Here we are at 5-1. One could honestly make the case that this is one of the three most impressive teams in the league thus far. Minus Tony Romo and mostly Dez Bryant.

This has been a coaching job for the ages, from Jason Garrett down to the lowest rung of assistants. This is showing up for the 20th high school reunion and the kid who missed out on the 200 points for writing his name on the SAT is now running a Fortune 500 company. Unreal stuff.

Scott Linehan was as brilliant as Prescott, Elliott against Green Bay - Clarence Hill, The Star-Telegram
The Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator put together a play-making masterpiece against one of the NFC's heavyweights.

But it was Linehan who orchestrated it all like the maestro that he is, starting with the opening script of the game that yielded a Cowboys score on the first drive for the fifth time time in six games. It continued with his ability to stick with the run to set up things later in the game. But he was most brilliant at critical times.

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Linehan then put a clown suit on the Packers defense in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay got a field goal to make the score 20-9 following the first interception of Prescott's career. The crowd at Lambeau Field was back in the game and the Cowboys faced another critical third and 1.

Linehan inserted the jumbo package with guard Joe Looney coming in as extra tight end, but caught the Packers by the surprise with a play-action deep ball to Whitehead for a 35-yard gain.

That drive ended with another brilliant play-action pass to receiver Cole Beasley for a 4-yard touchdown pass from Prescott, turning Lambeau Field into a graveyard with a 27-9 lead with with 10:31 left.

Haven’t Ever Seen Anything Of The Like With These Cowboys - Mickey Spagnola, Dallas Cowboys
This has been a nice ride that Cowboys fans just hope continues because this team is different in every facet.

My goodness, after all these years ain’t seen nothing like this. The Cowboys offense, still minus Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, La’el Collins, Chaz Green and Lance Dunbar, still no James Hanna or Darren McFadden, made mincemeat out of the Green Bay defense.

Celebrate the offense all you want, but Cowboys defenders were the stars in Green Bay - Jon Machota, SportsDay
A stunning sound came from the 78,481 at Lambeau Field during the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon.The home crowd appeared to be booing its Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

"It's a little bit more guys to the ball, but it's also the ball bouncing your way sometimes," safety Barry Church said. "This year I feel like it's bouncing our way, and we're taking advantage of it."

Rod Marinelli has nicknamed the Cowboys defense "the Mighty Orphans."

— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) October 17, 2016

Microphone check: Cowboys not thinking QB hypotheticals- Todd Archer, ESPN
Jason Garrett says the Cowboys are focused on the day, getting Tony Romo healthy and getting Dak Prescott ready to play.

"In regard to Dak Prescott, his job is to prepare to play. He’s been playing quarterback for us for the first six ball games, and he comes to work every day – prepare, prepare, prepare – then goes to the game on Sunday afternoons. He’s done a good job of that."

Jason Garrett won’t speculate on Romo’s return, but oddsmakers will - Charean Williams, The Star-Telegram
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett still calls Tony Romo "day to day," but allows that the quarterback isn’t likely to practice this week. Oddsmakers predict Romo will reclaim the job at Cleveland on Nov. 6.

"Tony is just working on his rehab, trying to get better every day," Garrett said Monday.

BookMaker.eu released odds Monday on when Romo will replace Dak Prescott as the starter. Oddsmakers expect to see Romo under center in Week 9 at Cleveland.

Dak And Zeke Report: A Dominant Cowboys Win At Lambeau Field? Incredible! - VaFan, Blogging The Boys
In their sixth game, at historic Lambeau Field, where the Cowboys have almost never won, Dak and Zeke and a resilient turnover-forcing defense dominated the Packers. Has a new era for the Cowboys begun?

Even though the quarterback debate is still not settled, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott just keep rolling along, chalking up very impressive performances and wins. This time, it was Dak who turned the ball over (not Zeke), fumbling twice (one lost) and throwing his first interception after he broke Tom Brady’s record of passes without a pick to start a career. Dak set the new record of 177.

Cowboys @ Packers: Five Critical Plays That Shaped The Game - Joseph.Hatz, Blogging The Boys
Here's one of the five plays that shaped the Cowboys 30-16 victory over the Packers.

The Cowboys were backed up inside their own 15 with the Packers using their timeouts in hopes of getting the ball back and cutting into the four point lead. Had they not converted, the Packers would’ve used their final timeout and likely gotten the ball back near midfield with about 35 seconds left, in prime position to work their way into field goal range. Instead, the Cowboys ran a jet sweet sweep to Whitehead, a play that has had great success all year, and suddenly the Cowboys were the ones in attack mode with the Packers on their heels. Two plays plays later Dak Prescott dropped the ball in the bucket, finding Brice Butler for a beautiful 20-yard touchdown that gave the Cowboys a 17-6 lead.

Recent CT scan shows Dez Bryant fracture healing fine - Todd Archer, ESPN
The fracture in Dez Bryant's right leg is healing well, and the Cowboys receiver appears to be on track to return after this week's bye.

"It’s going to be extremely great," Bryant said after Sunday's game. "I’m extremely happy, but at the same time this moment ain’t about me right now. It’s about this win that we just got. Extremely happy, but yeah, I’m going to be ready to roll Sunday night."

Trading Dez Bryant would be idiotic; the 'genius' plays Cowboys made vs. Packers - Babe Laufenberg, SportsDay
Donovan McNabb is shooting his mouth off and making everyone still wonder why he's employed. Babe Laufenberg has some words for the former Philadelphia Eagles' signal caller.

Donavan McNabb thinks the Cowboys should trade Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. What do you think of that idea?

What I think is that Donovan McNabb must not realize there is a salary cap. Additionally, it would be idiotic to trade Dez Bryant. And at 36-years-old and coming off multiple major injuries, Tony Romo would have very limited trade value. The next question might as well be if I think Roger Staubach is coming out of retirement.