Blogging The Boys - Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts, 2022 NFL Week 13Dallas Cowboys, all the time...since 2005.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47663/Picture_4.png2022-12-08T09:00:00-06:00http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/rss/stream/232465542022-12-08T09:00:00-06:002022-12-08T09:00:00-06:00Grading the Cowboys 35-point victory over the Indianapolis Colts
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<figcaption>Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Cowboys vs Colts: Time to hand out the grades on this week’s report card.</p> <p id="xDxAw7">The Cowboys currently have won five out of their last six games, and three of those in a row. The only loss during this stretch was the overtime defeat from the Aaron Rodgers-led <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. Since the Packers game, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown the ball no more than 30 times, and the ground attack has carried the ball close to 38 times during the last three contests. The prior nine games, Dallas averaged just over 28 carries per game. With a nearly 10 carries per game increase, the Cowboys have become more balanced on offense and lean on the run much more than they did prior to the Packers’ loss. </p>
<p id="qc4vTC">It’s never good to see a team lose games. However, sometimes losses, especially to a bad Packers team, is exactly the kick in the rear the team needs. It appears that this loss has made the Cowboys make a change on offense, and the change to focus more on the ground game seems to be the kick in the rear that this team needed. Finding balance on offense to pair with an elite defense, and a solid special teams group, makes this Cowboys team even more dangerous. Speaking of the three units for America’s Team, it’s time to grade each units performance from the Week 13 demolition of the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>.</p>
<h3 id="hfgGXa"><strong>A well-balanced offensive attack paid dividends in a rout </strong></h3>
<h3 id="cT6wVj"><strong>Grade: A-</strong></h3>
<p id="ZmrFr8">Another week down, and yet another quality performance from quarterback Dak Prescott as he completed nearly 67% of his passes and threw for three touchdowns. Prescott, did have an interception as well, but it felt more like Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore played the ball more physically than Michael Gallup did. On the return, Gilmore brought back to the Cowboys 19-yard line which ended up only costing Dallas three points. It could’ve been much worse, but the defense did what they’ve done all season, and that’s play elite football. </p>
<p id="Minpae">Aside from the interception, Prescott was very efficient, and although the passing statistics weren’t mind-blowing, it was still a solid game from the franchise quarterback. With passing attempts not as high in Week 13, the receiving yard totals weren’t as high but the pass-catching group did a solid job when called upon. </p>
<p id="QzWb0h">Cowboys unquestioned number one wide out, CeeDee Lamb, had another quality performance as he caught five balls for 71 yards and a touchdown. Even though earlier in the game a Prescott pass intended for Michael Gallup went the other way for an interception, Gallup was not deterred. He ended up getting the last laugh as he scored two touchdowns on the night. </p>
<p id="pObez0">Sliding over the ground attack, the elite duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard performed well once again. They combined for 168 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The duo also carried the ball 29 times for an average of nearly six yards a tote. Undrafted rookie Malik Davis was able to join the parade of touchdowns as he scored on a 23-yard scamper with 2:25 left in the game. The entire offensive unit played well, regardless of the statistics they put up. It was a great collective performance by this group.</p>
<h3 id="rrcQEo"><strong>A turnover filled evening was the catalyst for another elite performance on defense</strong></h3>
<h3 id="4oa723"><strong>Grade: A</strong></h3>
<p id="KPKApz">Another game in the books, and another great performance from this group. They only allowed 19 points on Sunday night and shut the Colts out in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter alone, after a Prescott interception which gave the Colts the ball inside the 20, this elite defense gave up only three yards on that drive which forced Indy to kick a field goal. How demoralizing for Indianapolis to be given such great field position, only to come away with a field goal. This series alone is the Cowboys defense in a nutshell as they have bailed out the offense on many occasions this year. </p>
<p id="2rqEht">The Cowboys wouldn’t be 9-3 without the play of this unit. In addition to their normal prowess, the defense forced five total turnovers as they picked off Colts quarterback Matt Ryan three times, and forced two fumbles as well. One of those fumbles ended up in the hands of former Colt first-rounder, Malik Hooker, where he scooped and scored against his former team. That had to have been a great feeling for him. </p>
<p id="n37714">Fifth-round rookie DaRon Bland played one heck of a game as he had two picks and finished second on the defense in total tackles for the game as he tallied eight. Bland’s play was certainly not bland and he will need to continue to play well as the secondary took a hit via the injury bug when Anthony Brown tore his Achilles and will be out for the remainder of the season. </p>
<p id="Lei9ix">Given the situation in the secondary currently, the Cowboys elite pass rush will need to continue to play at a high level. Thankfully the unit as a whole is great, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn should be able to move pieces around to keep this defense as good as they have been all year thus far.</p>
<h3 id="5S1m9y"><strong>The steadiness on special teams continues as it has been all season long</strong></h3>
<h3 id="L54Wub"><strong>Grade: B</strong></h3>
<p id="OuhqQL">Once again this unit wasn’t extremely busy but were par for the course in Week 13. Kicker Brett Maher didn’t have any field goal attempts, but did make six of his seven extra points. On the year, he has made 94.7% of his extra points as he as only missed two on the year. Both misses have been blocked. Maher has been a revelation in 2022 considering how things ended in his first two years in Dallas. A year away and eight games with the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> apparently was exactly what he needed and is a very important part of this <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> roster. </p>
<p id="D6lf7R">Punter Bryan Anger, also has performed well and did so against the Colts. Anger had four punts in the game for a total of 198 yards for an average of 49.5 per boot. One of the four landed inside the 20 as well. Anger, who came off of his first ever <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> in 2021, has continued to play at a Pro Bowl level in 2022. </p>
<p id="X9uNQF">Return specialist KaVontae Turpin wasn’t very busy as he had no opportunities to return any punts. He did however, return three kicks for a total of 64 yards. At times, he could’ve just taken the touch-back, but he brought it out instead which cost the Cowboys starting field position on multiple occasions on Sunday night. Turpin, on those returns that resulted in less than stellar field position was frustrated in himself for the effort. His competitiveness on each return is a welcome sight, and regardless of the starting field position at times for the offense, it’s better to give him as many chances as possible. The more chances he gets, the better chances we see him break a big one for six because of how electric he is with the ball in his hands. It’s not a matter of if he scores on a return, it’s a matter of when.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/8/23496855/grading-cowboys-35-point-victory-indianapolis-colts-turnoversBrandon.Clements2022-12-08T08:00:00-06:002022-12-08T08:00:00-06:00Film Finds: DaRon Bland plays like a seasoned veteran vs. Colts
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<figcaption>Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A closer look at the film of the Cowboys vs. Colts game</p> <p id="LP3Zwq">Named this week’s recipient of the Cowboys <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/5/23494123/cowboys-colts-game-ball-daron-bland-two-interceptions">game ball,</a> rookie Daron Bland showed up in a big way against the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. He was all over the field, as he was second on the team in tackles, and got his hands on the ball multiple times. </p>
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<h3 id="oBQQ4O">Preserving the lead</h3>
<p id="CCqOqm">In this first play featured here, he was able to keep points off the board for the Colts. Having scored on a touchdown on the previous play to make the score 21-19, Indianapolis opts to go for the two-point try to tie the game.</p>
<p id="RaJQ61">The Colts line up in the shotgun, with two receivers to the right and one receiver close to the formation on the left. Indianapolis keeps tight end Mo Allie-Cox in as an extra blocker along with running back Deon Jackson. </p>
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<p id="pCeaRJ">Bland is matched up with Parris Campbell, who is one of the faster players on the Colts. Indianapolis slides the pocket to the right, no doubt to avoid Matt Ryan getting immediate pressure in his face. The Colts only have three eligible receivers out in patterns. Michael Pittman is coming across from left to right, Alec Pierce is going vertical, to create space for Campbell. </p>
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<p id="WHmzZa">Campbell runs a quick out from the slot and Bland plays it perfectly. You’ll notice he doesn’t make any unnecessary contact with the receiver to draw a penalty and looks for the ball as soon as Campbell comes out of his break. He doesn’t have outside leverage, but it doesn’t matter with his ability to close on the pass. </p>
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<p id="fksdsK">Bland’s tenacity to play through the receiver’s hands forces the incompletion and makes sure that Campbell can’t extend the ball across the goal line. Had Campbell gotten better depth on his route with a better-placed ball, maybe there’s a slim chance for the Colts. Still, a great job by Bland. Bland’s effort keeps the Cowboys ahead by two points and the Cowboys were able to score a touchdown on the next drive, to make it a two-score game.</p>
<h3 id="cuA4Qf">First interception of the game</h3>
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<p id="TlWyuT">At this point, the game has started to slip away from the Colts. However, there’s still a lot of time left in the fourth quarter and they’re trailing by only two scores. If you had to pinpoint where the floodgates opened, it’s on Daron Bland’s first interception of the game. </p>
<p id="a6Fvvl">Once again, the Colts are lined up in the shotgun. The Colts will motion the tight end Kylen Granson to the right for a bunch set. The Cowboys are showing Matt Ryan a two-deep shell look, that likely impacts where he decides to deliver this pass. </p>
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<p id="K9phT3">At the start of the play, Donovan Wilson drops back as if he’s playing a deep half, before sprinting down near the middle of the field. After looking it over and conferring with a good source, it appears Dallas disguised a Cover 1 robber look. Wilson is in the middle, Hooker is over the top, and man coverage everywhere else. </p>
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<p id="6Jti7X">What’s notable is Anthony Barr is now being matched up with Parris Campbell and Kylen Gransen is matched up with Daron Bland. Bland has no problem carrying the tight end. Ryan trying to throw the ball over Trevon Diggs leaves some air under it. Again, Bland turns his head to locate the ball and secures it with sure hands. </p>
<h3 id="xeOunH">Barr none</h3>
<p id="koECaQ">This last play is to showcase the confusion the Cowboys’ defense can cause upfront to an offensive line and the overall speed of their front seven. The Cowboys lead the NFL in sacks with 48 and it’s because of these types of plays. </p>
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<p id="szc1ef">It’s 3rd and 5 and the Colts are driving in Cowboys territory. The Cowboys are matched up in man coverage while the Colts are lined up in trips to the left of the formation. Dallas is showing pressure with Micah Parsons and Jayron Kearse lined up in the A gap. It’s all about numbers and isolating the mismatches. It’s important to highlight this play because it underlines Dan Quinn identifying a weakness and exploiting it.</p>
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<p id="kK0Pj6">On the previous series, Donovan Wilson sacked Matt Ryan on third down from a similar look. Smartly, Dan Quinn decided to take advantage of Indianapolis’ offensive line struggles. </p>
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<p id="Klw0wW">Ryan has only one reasonable option and that’s the slant underneath to Michael Pittman, with Trevon Diggs trailing behind in coverage. If Ryan can complete this pass, it’s at least a first down if not a huge gain. </p>
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<p id="YzAdjh">The speed of the Cowboys’ defense makes you have to make split-second decisions and this sack occurs because Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is a tick too late. The left guard Quenton Nelson relays the blocking assignments and when the ball is snapped, picks up Jayron Kearse. Taylor working from right to left hesitates for a brief second and is unable to get to Anthony Barr before he rips Matt Ryan to the ground. A huge stop by the defense.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/8/23497535/cowboys-colts-daron-bland-interceptions-secondary-slot-cornerLP Cruz2022-12-07T19:00:00-06:002022-12-07T19:00:00-06:00Dallas Cowboys roster power rankings Week 14: A rookie locks down the No. 1 spot
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<figcaption>Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The ten listed players were so good, Dak Prescott couldn’t even make the cut. </p> <p id="eMpzMn">The <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> dropped a 50-brisket on the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>, winning at home for the sixth time this season 54-19. Now after scrolling through this list, you’ll see that Dak Prescott couldn’t make the cut.</p>
<p id="jzrilW">That is nothing against the way Prescott played. It means he didn’t have to be “Atlas” for Dallas to win the game. No. 4 was able to rest his shoulders and rely on the team’s defense and run game to put away Matt Ryan’s Colts.</p>
<p id="iCHMzd">Here are the top ten players, minus Prescott, from the Cowboys’ ninth win of the season.</p>
<h3 id="hDQ7Fz"><strong>10. Damone Clark, LB</strong></h3>
<p id="YDyeU2">In back-to-back weeks, Damone Clark had a great forced fumble. The one on Sunday opened the door for Malik Hooker to score a touchdown against his former team.</p>
<p id="EZPAnI">Clark is becoming a better linebacker with the reps he gets, even with a healthy Anthony Barr in the lineup. His speed and instincts keep showing up, primarily when covering quick running backs out of the backfield like Jonathan Taylor. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cowboys use him against Miles Sanders in a few weeks. </p>
<h3 id="NK7cpP"><strong>9. Jayron Kearse, S</strong></h3>
<p id="aI3AeN">Jayron Kearse is back to the potential All-Pro play he had in 2021. With weeks removed from his knee injury, you can see how he feels more comfortable running around.</p>
<p id="A6i8AQ">Kearse mentioned how the three-headed monster for the Cowboys is the best safety combination in the NFL, and it’s hard to argue against that when watching Sunday’s game. Kearse finished the game with seven solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and one pass deflection. </p>
<h3 id="MQTD7x"><strong>8. Ezekiel Elliott, RB</strong></h3>
<p id="K6or8B">Ezekiel Elliott would make it on this list just for his excellent post-touchdown celebration in the Salvation Army Kettle. It doesn’t hurt that he also had a great game running the football too.</p>
<p id="6cTUGb">Elliott’s recent play reaffirms why the Cowboys decided to rest him after the Detroit game. Against a tough Colts defensive line, Elliott rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries and his one touchdown. His best performance this season has been maintaining his character about Pollard cutting into his carries. The team is better when both backs are successful. </p>
<h3 id="jUrlZP"><strong>7. Johnathan Hankins, DT</strong></h3>
<p id="vEAE6J">A big reason why Jonathan Taylor was limited to under 100 yards rushing was the effort of Johnathan Hankins. More than once against the Colts, he got a big push into their backfield.</p>
<p id="CFacMM">The addition of Hankins can sometimes be forgotten about, given the un-sexy nature of his position. Before the trade deadline, the fanbase asked for more help on the offensive side of the ball, and with no result. However, Hankins looks more comfortable in a scheme he’s been in for a few weeks, and that will mean something in the playoffs.</p>
<h3 id="pM0PGK"><strong>6. Malik Hooker, S</strong></h3>
<p id="zYNDfW">Malik Hooker surely had this game circled on his calendar before the season started. If he was going to be healthy for the game, he would be determined to make an impact. Boy, did he ever.</p>
<p id="vZOOYg">Not only did Hooker have a momentum-turning interception, but he had a fumble recovery that went for a touchdown and ultimately put the game away. It was great to see Hooker have that moment against the team that drafted him. After having a quiet few weeks, this may give him the confidence to keep elevating his play on the field. </p>
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<em>We discussed this list and more on the latest episode of The Writer’s Block on the Blogging The Boys podcast network. Make sure to subscribe to our network so you don’t miss any of our shows! </em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blogging-the-boys-for-dallas-cowboys-fans/id1169821159"><em>Apple devices can subscribe here</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3xz5DmRtIGDYws8tv15c6v"><em>Spotify users can subscribe here</em></a><em>. </em>
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<h3 id="U1djJv"><strong>5. Michael Gallup, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="IIKY6v">Michael Gallup has put together his best two games of the season against the Giants and the Colts. He showed better chemistry with Prescott on his first touchdown as No. 4 was rolling out to the right looking for an open receiver. Gallup ran with his quarterback and was fearless, running through Indianapolis defenders to score.</p>
<p id="skiA8J">The stats won’t show a great game, but any fan watching can see Gallup is returning to his old self. The more confident he gets, the better his play becomes. </p>
<h3 id="YBaKkW"><strong>4. CeeDee Lamb, WR</strong></h3>
<p id="w5FuiI">When the offense struggled to get going on their opening few drives, CeeDee Lamb continued to be the spark the team needed. Lamb looked like the player that Dallas drafted coming out of Oklahoma. He was so much better than his five receptions for 71 yards.</p>
<p id="mF9r7T">It was the most he’s ever been moved in motion before the snap, and that helped confuse the defense and create more opportunities for Lamb. Not to mention he is now just 72 yards away from back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. </p>
<h3 id="EYC4Iz"><strong>3. Tony Pollard, RB</strong></h3>
<p id="6nJMkZ">After getting the start over Elliott, Tony Pollard showed the burst and speed we’ve been seeing all season. He was averaging almost eight yards a carry. That’s pretty ridiculous.</p>
<p id="4ybtow">Pollard carried the ball 12 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. His second one of the night was impressive and helped him put his name in the Cowboys record books. Pollard now has<a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1599616619252269056"> five touchdowns of 30+ yards</a> this season, the most in a season by a Dallas running back in franchise history.</p>
<h3 id="fH1MfL"><strong>2. Donovan Wilson, S</strong></h3>
<p id="ngTO8s">The thumper of the Cowboys’ three-headed monster takes the top spot for the safeties. Wilson must have noticed Leighton Vander Esch took over the lead in team tackles, so he decided to have himself a night. </p>
<p id="rBwykq">Wilson finished with ten tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack that put the momentum back in the Cowboys’ favor when it happened. According to <em>Pro Football Focus</em>, Wilson was also the fourth-best graded run defender of the week. He continues to be playing at a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> level and should be given the honor.</p>
<h3 id="pyFHqU"><strong>1. DaRon Bland, CB</strong></h3>
<p id="EOIb3Q">DaRon Bland is not the cornerback many would expect at No. 1. However, on Sunday night, he played like the Cowboys’ best corner.</p>
<p id="n8MN70">With Anthony Brown going down for the year along with Jourdan Lewis, the Cowboys’ secondary has more questions than the receiver room. The sudden steady play of Bland has eased those worries tremendously. He had two interceptions on the night and has three on the season. According to PFF, Bland was the highest-graded defensive player of the week at 94.3, playing a minimum of 50 percent of the snaps.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/7/23495504/dallas-cowboys-roster-power-rankings-week-14-daron-blandBrandon_Loree2022-12-07T16:30:00-06:002022-12-07T16:30:00-06:00Crunching Cowboys stats against the Colts
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cowboys vs Colts turned out some interesting stats.</p> <p id="3NMvye">While the final 54-19 score was jaw dropping, the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> win over the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> is a very peculiar thing when you look at the stats and numbers. Some have to be looked at in the bigger context to make much sense. Chest thumping might need to be restrained. Some big flaws were hidden by the lopsided score. Positives also jumped out. That makes for some interesting observations and maybe a few conclusions. Also, there have to be some fun things when you blow a team so completely out of the water.</p>
<h3 id="oadVu7">Penalties</h3>
<p id="1hx5go">This is a number that can stand alone without looking at some of the odder aspects of the game. It has been a damaging one for Dallas in many games, creating an obstacle. Before the 13 flag fiasco against the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>, which they won, the three previous highest totals for the team were the three losses. Given that all were fairly close losses, those penalties may have been a reason they came up short. </p>
<p id="pvm0CD">Getting penalized only three times for 43 yards was their best performance of the season. It was only the third time they had been flagged less than six times. Not killing your own drives or extending those of the opponent has a lot to do with the final score. When watching the game, it did appear that the team was more conscious of things like too many in motion before the snap, and offside penalties. If they can continue to keep the number of infractions down, it would be a big help for the playoff drive. Now they have to show consistency.</p>
<h3 id="lJDFRJ">Offensive imbalance?</h3>
<p id="N1Nd71">Normally if you see 54 points scored, you expect some big numbers on offense. That was not at all the case. The Cowboys only had 385 total yards, what you’d usually expect for maybe half that score, or less. Ever stranger, they had far more rushing yards, 220 to just 165 via the pass. There was clearly no need for more, but it seems to paint a much less rosy picture of the game prior to the record setting scoring explosion in the fourth quarter. </p>
<p id="qPmVaS">220 yards on the ground is something you will always take, because it means that to a large extent you are controlling the flow and tempo of the game. Getting 91 from Tony Pollard and 77 from Ezekiel Elliott is also great, with this very much following the pattern of Pollard being the breakaway threat while Elliott is pounding it against the opponent. They also ran back-to-back jet sweeps with CeeDee Lamb for 23 yards while rookie Malik Davis got on the field on the final drive to add 29, including his first NFL touchdown.</p>
<p id="guRYRe">But while the ground game was working so efficiently, with a 6.5 yards per carry average, Dak Prescott was mostly making short throws. He was 20 of 30 with three TDs and an interception. What is remarkable is that Dallas just averaged 5.3 yards per passing attempt. That is usually much higher for Prescott. And through the first three quarters, the Cowboys had some struggles on offense. They had two three and outs and four punts total as possessions stalled, plus the interception late in the second quarter. Perhaps part of the approach was to help protect Prescott. Whether it was or not, the quarterback stayed clean most of the game, only getting sacked once and with just one hit on him credited to the Indianapolis defense. He also used his mobility well to protect himself on several pass attempts. </p>
<p id="zvck6H">They would end the day converting seven of thirteen third downs for an acceptable 54%, but it still was not the excellent number you expect with that many points. </p>
<p id="5knkCK">Further emphasizing the unusual nature of the game was that the longest play of the game was just 30 yards, and it was a Tony Pollard touchdown run. Half of the ten longest gains for the day came on the ground.</p>
<p id="U5seOd">This and other things make this game seem like an anomaly rather than a clear indicator of what the team is. The true key to how things turned out was not on offense.</p>
<h3 id="fr03Gm">Defense gone wild</h3>
<p id="KuOfSf">The reason for such a paltry offensive output in an extremely high scoring effort was the defense. Five takeaways, one of which went for an instant touchdown, set up short fields and made big numbers on offense unnecessary. They had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. In addition to the return score, they set up two other TD drives deep inside Colts territory. For the day they held Johnathan Taylor to 82 yards, and overall just yielded 106 yards on the ground. They also got to Matt Ryan for three sacks, none from the usual EDGE suspects. </p>
<p id="BTkxvI">Five takeaways is great. It is also not something reliable. Ryan came into the game with 10 interceptions and only 11 touchdowns, so it is not unsurprising that he was picked three times. This is not something we can expect to show up against the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> or anyone the Cowboys face in the playoffs.</p>
<p id="zHDhhq">Still, this was a great day at the office for the defense. DaRon Bland was the star of the day for them with his two picks, two passes defended, and eight total tackles. Malik Hooker had the third pick and that fumble recovery touchdown. Some made note of the quiet day Micah Parsons had, with only two tackles, a QB hit, and a pass defended. That is not the negative that some paint it to be, as it shows they don’t have to have Parsons being Superman for the defense to get the job done.</p>
<p id="MnwMTl">And quietly, Johnathan Hankins is proving to be an excellent acquisition for the team. He had five tackles in the game and greatly shores up the middle of the defense.</p>
<h3 id="TTgJeS">Red zone perfection</h3>
<p id="45CWt1">This is not only a very good stat from this game, it may be something that is starting to be consistent. The Cowboys were a perfect four for four in the red zone. That was a contributing factor to the low totals for Prescott as he completed two of his three touchdowns from that close range, and his third was just outside the RZ, with the snap taken right at the 20.</p>
<p id="zRtB8m">What is a really good sign is that this is the second week in a row they went four for four. Keep that up and the last part of the season could go very well indeed.</p>
<p id="h8FUcQ">This was a game where the numbers definitely need to be considered in the overall context of a game that had two distinct phases. For nearly three quarters, the Colts stayed right with Dallas. That was aided by some Cowboys miscues. But starting with the Dallas touchdown drive that started in the third and extended into the fourth, Indianapolis seemed to cave. A couple of quick scores in the first minute and a half of that final quarter, including the Hooker fumble return, really took the wind out of their sails, and when the Cowboys defense stopped them with an interception on the next Colts’ possession, they pretty much were done. The last two touchdowns were largely garbage time things. Countering that is the 40-burger that was already up at that point.</p>
<p id="vS6x2B">We can probably expect to see a couple more dominant wins as they face the league’s worst team in the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> and the 4-8 <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>. But just like this game, those won’t really tell us how good this team really is. The true test is on Christmas Eve. Do not think that second meeting with the Eagles is going to be anything like this massive beatdown.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/7/23496866/cowboys-stats-colts-penalties-turnovers-red-zoneTom Ryle2022-12-06T16:30:00-06:002022-12-06T16:30:00-06:00After further review: The Cowboys rookie class shines and the running game dines
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<p>Re-watching the game films shines the light on the Cowboys rookies, and some veterans. </p> <p id="0Dm9mN">It’s so weird how we can feel so uneasy after three quarters of football, but then completely satisfied after the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> rock the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> over the final 15 minutes of the game. But that is where we’re at.</p>
<p id="rfNsnk">Should this 35-point blowout feel as good as it does or should we be more concerned about this game being as close as it was entering the fourth quarter? Our eyes are on the big prize, so a win isn’t just a win. We want validation that this is one of the best teams in the NFL. When it’s all said and done, the Cowboys now sit at 9-3 and have the third-best scoring offense in the league combined with the third-stingiest defense in the league. The last time we could say that was back in 1995, and I think we all remember how that season played out.</p>
<p id="DUEtat">To help sort out our feelings, we’re going to take another look at some of the things that went down in this game and see what we discover after further review.</p>
<h2 id="Wetcdt">Have yourself a day, rooks!</h2>
<p id="6NS5IA">Jerry Jones should give his scouting department a sizeable bonus because it should be a nice holiday season thanks to the wonderful contribution of their 2022 rookie draft class. We all know about Tyler Smith and how he’s stepped in and been an immediate contributor on the offensive line. In fact, no player on the Cowboys has logged more total snaps than the team’s first-round draft pick. And we have all been impressed with the tenacity of second-round pick Sam Williams. But the fun doesn’t stop there.</p>
<p id="hy4toV">Despite the non-existence of third-rounder Jalen Tolbert, the Cowboys absolutely killed it in April’s draft as they are getting so much contribution from so many different guys, and this was on full display Sunday night. Fifth-round pick from Fresno State, DaRon Bland, had the best game of his career with two interceptions and a nice pass breakup on the Colts' two-point conversion attempt. Fellow fifth-rounder Damone Clark keeps getting better and better and had a nice forced fumble that resulted in a defensive touchdown. </p>
<p id="LphJEx">Tyler Smith had key blocks that sprung big runs and Sam Williams had a tackle for a loss combined with a fumble recovery (that almost resulted in a defensive touchdown). Jake Ferguson had a key block on the fourth-down play that allowed Ezekiel Elliott just enough space to sneak through, and even undrafted free agent Malik Davis showed some nice burst to score his first-ever NFL touchdown. It was just an all-around great performance by all the rookies and we have the highlights in case you missed it.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I can't remember a time when the Cowboys had so many rookies making this much contribution in a single game. In Will McClay we trust.<br><br>Here's a little splash play tribute to the rooks... <a href="https://t.co/PUmwTKq8ub">pic.twitter.com/PUmwTKq8ub</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1599872214471675906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="xFlo29">Dine and Dash</h2>
<p id="a2hA76">The Cowboys ran for 220 yards on Sunday, their highest rushing output of the season. It was their fifth-straight game rushing for at least 150 yards, a feat they haven’t accomplished since the 2016 season. The combination of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard gives the team a potent one-two punch that keeps the ground attack fresh throughout the game. While the future is unknown regarding how the Cowboys running back room will look going forward, we should at least savor these moments where both of these guys are working together.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dine & Dash!!<br><br>I can't express how much I love watching Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard share the backfield. This has to be taxing on opposing defenses. <a href="https://t.co/mSfdZIzEWf">pic.twitter.com/mSfdZIzEWf</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1599879126223302656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="NT3ZfK">Overzealous D</h2>
<p id="QzK3ND">This Cowboys' defense is such a treat to watch and they create so many problems for opposing offenses. But even still, they can have their moments where they can be their own worst enemy. This team goes full throttle and can get a little wide-eyed at times when they feel they have an opportunity to make a big play. But sometimes, they’ll get caught over-pursuing and it can backfire.</p>
<p id="Guqr4Z">Trevon Diggs got caught taking the cheese when he tried to jump a slant route, only to leave his man wide open in the end zone for a touchdown. And opponents regularly try to counter the defense's heavy pursuit through the line of scrimmage with screen passes where they can get a convoy of blockers out in front of the ball carrier.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Cowboys' defense is super-aggressive, but sometimes opponents can use their aggressiveness against them. <a href="https://t.co/tagSPZkqzG">pic.twitter.com/tagSPZkqzG</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1599903617057947648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<h2 id="jj2Bnm">Dak Watch</h2>
<p id="YLXbqM">You can find bad throws from any quarterback in any game, so this might come across as nitpicking, but it’s hard to sweep Dak Prescott’s errant throws under the rug. The Cowboys' star quarterback is coming off two terrific games where he has thrown the ball with great confidence. On Sunday night, his confidence turned a little hubris as he tried to rifle some passes into tight coverage.</p>
<p id="vvZFr7">The Colts’ defenders did a great job anticipating where Dak was going with the ball and jumped the route a few times. The box score will only show one interception, but things could’ve been much worse.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you throw 3 touchdowns and complete 66% of your passes, it's hardly a bad game, but Dak Prescott had some throws into coverage. He had one pick, but it very easily could've been four picks. <a href="https://t.co/RtWT3IOc4b">pic.twitter.com/RtWT3IOc4b</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1599908065046069250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="gHLZGn">The good news is, even with these moments, Prescott seemed unfazed and can still deliver some great plays at any given point in time.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Even when Dak's not having his best game, he can turn into a playmaker at any given moment. <a href="https://t.co/DJ5bICafA9">pic.twitter.com/DJ5bICafA9</a></p>— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1599926846728331266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/6/23495416/cowboys-game-film-colts-rookie-class-running-game-ezekiel-elliott-tony-pollardDan Rogers2022-12-06T12:30:00-06:002022-12-06T12:30:00-06:00Cowboys safety Malik Hooker puts on a show against former team
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former Colts safety had a career game in Dallas’ Week 13 thumping of Indianapolis.</p> <p id="8W1dkr">Malik Hooker was expected to be a dynamic playmaker when the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> made him the 15th overall pick of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/4/27/15372494/2017-nfl-draft-results-pick-by-pick">2017 NFL Draft</a>. He was definitely that last night, only now as a member of the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> in their 54-19 shellacking of the Colts on <em>Sunday Night Football</em>.</p>
<p id="3AOkdK">Hooker had an interception and a fumble recovery in the blowout win. It was a night of career firsts for Hooker; having multiple turnovers in a game and scoring a touchdown since entering the NFL five years ago.</p>
<p id="mA6iNd">After a brilliant college run at <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a>, Hooker was drafted by Indianapolis but immediately began having injury issues in training camp. He’d only play the first seven weeks of the season before landing on IR, and his next two years were also hampered by nagging health issues. He would only play in two games in 2020, tearing his Achilles in Week 2.</p>
<p id="7seBLT">Having already decided not to pick up his fifth-year option, the Colts decided to move on from Hooker after his rookie deal expired. He remained a free agent in 2021 until training camps were starting around the league, and Hooker signed with Dallas where the opportunity at safety was wide open.</p>
<p id="Rv4yr4">While not the impact addition that Jayron Kearse was last season, Hooker eventually outshined Damontae Kazee and earned another contract. He is now an equal sharer in a rotating trio with Kearse and Donovan Wilson as the safeties on one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2022.</p>
<p id="Cj7BMo">Last night, Hooker easily had his best game so far as a Cowboy and arguably his best ever in the NFL. His interception and 26-yard return came at a crucial juncture late in the first half, ending a Colts’ attempt to take the lead before halftime and setting up Dallas to score another touchdown before the break.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Malik Hooker snagged that right from his former team <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallascowboys</a> | via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nfl</a><a href="https://t.co/aVfxNfSEcZ">pic.twitter.com/aVfxNfSEcZ</a></p>— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1599596209718857729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="3iletz">Early in the fourth quarter, with the Colts still trailing by just nine points, Hooker again had a difference-making play. He scooped a fumble by Indianapolis TE Mo Alie-Cox and returned it 38 yards for the touchdown. In what was a back-and-forth game up to that point, Hooker’s scoring play seemed to set off the carnage of the fourth quarter.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pick in the first half.<br>Fumble return for a TD in the second half.<br>It's officially a revenge game for 2️⃣8️⃣‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProBowlVote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProBowlVote</a> + Malik Hooker<br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/SNFonNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNFonNBC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsDAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsDAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/xSNbQ3Hphf">pic.twitter.com/xSNbQ3Hphf</a></p>— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1599612002741104640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="F6aFJo">The Cowboys would go on to score three more unanswered touchdowns in one of the most lopsided quarters the NFL’s ever seen. And while many players contributed to that historic beatdown, Malik Hooker’s big plays were arguably what established momentum at critical points throughout the night.</p>
<p id="Xio9OS">Just as it had to be tough for Colts fans to watch their former first-rounder playing a key part in Dallas’ success, it had to be sweet for Hooker to have this marquee night against his former club. Whether that gave him some extra juice in his play, or it just all came about circumstantially, it certainly makes for a good story.</p>
<p id="X2jafB">If nothing else, last night gave Malik Hooker his time in the spotlight as part of this defense. Jayron Kearse is already one of the defensive leaders and Donovan Wilson has had his big moments. They’ve said for a while that this safety group is a three-headed monster, and Hooker validated that with his play against the Colts.</p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/6/23494262/cowboys-safety-malik-hooker-interception-fumble-touchdown-coltsJess Haynie2022-12-06T10:30:00-06:002022-12-06T10:30:00-06:00What the Cowboys showed us against the Colts
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<figcaption>It turned into a backyard beatdown at the end. | Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cowboys gave us some clues about where they are heading.</p> <p id="g8Xv6e">Be very careful what you take away from the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> eviscerating the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> 54-19. That is a gaudy number. It was even<a href="https://nflscorigami.com/"> Scorigami</a> as that was never an ending score in the NFL before this game. The problem is that the final tote was due to a record-breaking fourth quarter. It is hard not to take away some good things from this game, but we are not going to overlook a wart or two.</p>
<h3 id="mCTSBq">The best thing they did all night</h3>
<p id="rAzfsi">All season long we’ve been ranting about the huge number of penalties the Cowboys have had against them, and that continued for the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> game last week. The most encouraging thing to come out of the win over the Colts was what didn’t happen. Dallas played its cleanest game of the season, only being penalized three times for 43 yards, half the six flags for 88 yards that Indianapolis drew. After three months of a building despair that the team was just incapable of controlling the problem, they did so, and with the officiating crew that was leading the NFL in the number of times they threw a flag. </p>
<p id="5Bz4W6">Now for the bad news. There is no assurance at all this will continue, or whether it was just another aberration in a game that was so atypical in many ways. It is absolutely great that they managed to avoid getting called for infractions in the game. It was the best game of the season in that respect. But consistency is the key here, and that is highly questionable until they manage to do this a few more times.</p>
<p id="URB8jH">One thing could carry through. It was at times evident on the screen that they were being particularly careful about only having one man in motion at the snap. That looks like an adjustment the staff made, and while overdue, it is very welcome. Players were also continually checking with the refs as to not line up offsides on both sides of the ball. The fact the offensive line had no false starts or holding calls on any member, despite shuffling things at times by putting Jason Peters in the lineup while the game was not yet under control, is also significant. While playing at home may have been an influence, that was still great poise and focus. If this is a sign of things to come, it will be a big help. Because when this team is not enduring self-inflicted wounds, it can be downright scary.</p>
<h3 id="rBjPu0">The killer instinct</h3>
<p id="d2Ijg0">After playing a closer game than we were expecting through most of the first three quarters, Dallas quickly got to a 15-point lead just a minute and a half into the fourth. With the way the Colts’ offense was going, this was a lead that could have led the team to let up on the gas at that point and mostly let Dan Quinn and his defense protect it.</p>
<p id="dmZCKF">However, that didn’t work so well against the Green Bay Packers. So instead, that defense absolutely took over and the offense then capitalized on what they were given. There would be two more takeaways after that, and it only took the Cowboys five and three plays respectively to convert them into points.</p>
<p id="JqWhcU">Admittedly, the first of those scores was greatly aided by a 44-yard pass interference call. The second of those gave the team a very short field, 29 yards. The Indianapolis defense was going into surrender and get out of the stadium mode. And it is hard to blame rookie RB Malik Turner for taking advantage to put the final TD in the books. But this was not the conservative way the team has played with a multi-score lead in the past. It was keeping their foot on the neck and punishing the opponent.</p>
<p id="bIGkBQ">It is the attitude you need when making a playoff run. And if opponents don’t like getting the score run up on them, they can try to do something about it. </p>
<h3 id="433fSZ">Stumbling out of the gate</h3>
<p id="LZyVzn">It was another unusual week of practice coming out of the mini-bye. And <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/11/29/23482151/dallas-cowboys-stats-thanksgiving-win-new-york-giants?_gl=1*tkhp0t*">as discussed in the look at the stats</a> for the Giants game, that has led to a slow start for the team every time they are not on a regular practice schedule. It seems to particularly affect Dak Prescott. He was not at all good on many plays.</p>
<p id="wQVgYX">It’s hard to know how the team might fix that, and they have a Saturday and Thursday night game to negotiate in consecutive weeks still to come this season. We just have to hope they can continue to come up with fourth-quarter massacres to overcome things.</p>
<h3 id="EeDdAh">Takeaways cover a lot of warts</h3>
<p id="zTScg4">The Cowboys got five of them, while the offense, with a bit of luck on a possible missed fumble by Dalton Schultz, only lost the ball once. That puts them second only to the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> in turnover margin. And they turned every single one of those takeaways into touchdowns. That efficiency wins a lot of football games. Having one of the fumbles run back for an immediate six points helped, but those other four were the offense finding some efficiency when they needed it. </p>
<p id="qEjF2X">Turnovers are one of the most inconsistent aspects of defensive performance. Still, you don’t get that many at this point in a season unless the defenders are doing something right. And when combined with the most sacks in the league, it spells some real dominance. It is no coincidence that the top two teams in the NFL in both categories are the Cowboys and the Eagles. There is a key reason they are now the best two teams in the NFC. </p>
<h3 id="WcM4Rv">Let’s talk about the rookie class</h3>
<p id="uHSPhG">The Cowboys’ 2022 draft class just keeps looking better and better. Only Jalen Tolbert has disappointed this year, and Matt Waletzko and Devin Harper have wound up on IR. But the rest are shaping up to be something special. Consider:</p>
<ul>
<li id="lsoEsS">First-round pick Tyler Smith continues to start at left tackle while getting work in at left guard. He has occasional lapses in pass protection, but is an absolute mauler run blocking. That latter is particularly important as the ground game carried the offense against the Colts, netting 220 yards to only 165 passing. The team can rely on Tyler Smith to carry the load at tackle until Tyron Smith is ready to play, and then will likely use that run blocking talent at guard the rest of the way.</li>
<li id="Husrm6">Second-round selection Sam Williams just keeps making big plays. He had a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss in this game while playing only 29% of the defensive downs. The talent ahead of him is all that is holding his snap count down.</li>
<li id="8gh6Al">You expect the day one and two picks to contribute, but is what the day three guys and UDFAs are bringing to the table that is eye-opening. Start with fourth-rounder Jake Ferguson. While his contributions as a receiver are somewhat sporadic, he is definitely a plus value as a run blocker. There is good reason to think becoming TE1 is not too far off with Dalton Schultz’s future with the team questionable as he is playing on the tag.</li>
<li id="iJCL2a">The best bang for the buck guys are the two fifth-rounders, DaRon Bland and Damone Clark. With Jourdan Lewis on IR and Anthony Brown headed that way, Bland is going to be crucial, possibly having to move from the slot to play outside along with Travon Diggs. All Bland did after Brown was hurt was intercept Matt Ryan twice during the fourth quarter dominance. While Dallas is still frighteningly thin at cornerback, Bland looks up to the task.</li>
<li id="u2dlIQ">Clark is turning into the best story on the team. After starting the season on IR and widely expected to be “redshirted” due to his spinal fusion surgery, he has become a big part of the linebacking corps. He carried an extra load while Anthony Barr was hurt, but with Barr back in the lineup, Clark still had a splash play with a forced fumble. He had more snaps than Barr, who was probably being worked back in. With the improved performance of Leighton Vander Esch this season, the off-ball linebackers look to be a much stronger group than we expected.</li>
<li id="cWvPsQ">Finally, don’t forget the trio of UDFAs who have made some impact this year. KaVontae Turpin continues to force teams to respect the threat of him breaking a big return. Peyton Hendershot is a solid part of the tight end group. And Malik Davis took full advantage of getting on the field in a game where every active player on the roster saw playing time. Markquese Bell seldom is not on the inactive list, but with the problems at corner, he might become more active as Dan Quinn shuffles and adjusts the secondary.</li>
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<p id="v8EeQf">That is a simply remarkable level of production from a draft class, especially the late rounders. Once again we have to give props to Will McClay and the scouting staff, and even Stephen Jones for overseeing this construction job.</p>
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/6/23494418/what-dallas-cowboys-showed-indianapolis-colts-54-19-turnovers-penaltiesTom Ryle2022-12-06T08:00:00-06:002022-12-06T08:00:00-06:002022 Cowboys rookie report: DaRon Bland’s very big night against Colts
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<p>Plus, Tyler Smith had his best game of the year.</p> <p id="FBdQGA">The Cowboys had a whole lot of fun on Sunday night as they thrashed the wayward Colts to the tune of a 54-19 final score. Any time a team wins by that much, a lot of things are going right. And for the Cowboys, they saw a lot of great things from their rookie class in this one. </p>
<h2 id="bR6nPW"><strong>OL Tyler Smith</strong></h2>
<p id="ektEhB">Tyler Smith may have put up his best performance all year on Sunday night, which was very refreshing to see after the rookie struggled in the Cowboys’ last game. For just the second time all year, Smith didn’t allow a single pressure. Both of those games have come in the last three weeks, a good sign of how Smith is progressing. </p>
<p id="z9EO05">Smith also saw live game snaps at left guard for the second time this year, once again playing next to veteran Jason Peters. While Smith had a great game at tackle, he once again looked noticeably more comfortable at guard. That’s a great development, as Tyron Smith is expected to have his 21-day practice window activated this week.</p>
<h2 id="hfFJvr"><strong>EDGE Sam Williams</strong></h2>
<p id="5yV2jC">The Cowboys have a complete gem in rookie Sam Williams. He once again played minimal snaps - Williams’ 21 defensive snaps made up less than a third of total snaps available - but made an impact in multiple ways. He very nearly got a sack on Matt Ryan, but had to settle for a pressure and quarterback hit. Williams also blew up a run play for a big tackle for loss. Additionally, he recovered a fumble. </p>
<p id="U65c4D">Williams now has 14 pressures on the year, doing so at a nearly 12% rate, and has logged at least one pressure in each of his last nine games. The only thing holding Williams back at this point is the other talented edge rushers ahead of him on the depth chart. </p>
<h2 id="jOXV6g"><strong>WR Jalen Tolbert</strong></h2>
<p id="8CWzVh">Jalen Tolbert continues to see very little of the field on offense, with just 12 snaps on Sunday night. Most of those came when Dallas pulled their starters late in the fourth quarter. Tolbert is almost guaranteed to find himself on the inactive list in the event that the Cowboys add a receiver to their roster in the coming weeks. </p>
<h2 id="NYoo2l"><strong>TE Jake Ferguson</strong></h2>
<p id="ZcvAkE">Jake Ferguson has been an excellent blocking tight end all year and the Cowboys know it. On Sunday night, Ferguson was used a blocker more than any other non-OL on the field, and he once again helped open up holes in the run game. Ferguson has also been a reliable safety valve in the passing game, though his two catches for -1 yard this week won’t have anyone starting his Rookie of the Year campaign. </p>
<h2 id="zYIhK9"><strong>OT Matt Waletzko</strong></h2>
<p id="M0W67H">Matt Waletzko is on the injured reserve.</p>
<h2 id="YVZ3l9"><strong>CB DaRon Bland</strong></h2>
<p id="Pyj7XI">Now we come to the man of the hour, DaRon Bland. Since taking over as the starting slot corner when Jourdan Lewis went down for the year with an injury, Bland has been the most targeted Cowboys defender. That isn’t surprising, and it also shouldn’t be surprising that Bland was allowing completions on 91% of his targets since becoming a starter. To his credit, though, Bland rarely let those completions turn into big gains after the catch. </p>
<p id="GoGCXH">Well, Bland took a massive step forward this week. Sure, it was the Colts, so it’s very premature to start sketching his Hall of Fame bust, but Bland was great in coverage. He was targeted five times and only allowed two catches, with one catch being stopped for no gain. Oh, and he snagged not one but two interceptions on the night. Let’s have a look:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Way to make a play, rook! <a href="https://twitter.com/DaRon_Bland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaRon_Bland</a> with the I-N-T!<br><br> : <a href="https://twitter.com/SNFonNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNFonNBC</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsDAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsDAL</a> <a href="https://t.co/DqBxXZRYYf">pic.twitter.com/DqBxXZRYYf</a></p>— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) <a href="https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1599614406492463104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is DaRon Bland's world and we are all just living in it.<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>) <a href="https://t.co/rwh91cszOj">pic.twitter.com/rwh91cszOj</a></p>— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) <a href="https://twitter.com/rjochoa/status/1599617090595557376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="t3e2bJ">It was promising to see Bland start forcing incompletions, which had been a struggle for him, but it was a step further when he started making plays on the ball as well. The caveat is that this was a really, really bad Colts offense, but this is still very encouraging for Bland. </p>
<h2 id="4e50mx"><strong>LB Damone Clark</strong></h2>
<p id="HMAv9i">With Anthony Barr returning from injury for the first time since Week 8, many expected Damone Clark’s role to be diminished. That turned out not to be accurate, as Clark played on 11 more defensive snaps than Barr in this one. That could just be the Cowboys trying to ease Barr back into action, but Clark’s play thus far has made that luxury possible. And nothing changed Sunday night, either. </p>
<p id="ngT9tK">Clark registered three tackles on the day and also forced the fumble that Malik Hooker returned for a touchdown. Clark has quickly become an integral part of this linebacker rotation despite only making his NFL debut a few weeks ago and also not having a real offseason to get acclimated to the team. His star is shining bright. </p>
<h2 id="4rHDIl"><strong>LB Devin Harper</strong></h2>
<p id="4AujqG">Devin Harper is on the injured reserve.</p>
<h2 id="8i4pdM"><strong>TE Peyton Hendershot</strong></h2>
<p id="WTU9e7">The Peyton Hendershot Experience continued on its regular trajectory Sunday night, as the rookie tight end saw plenty of action as a run blocker on his minimal 15 offensive snaps. Hendershot didn’t see a target (or carry, for that matter) on the night but did draw another penalty, although it was canceled out by an offsetting penalty from the Colts. </p>
<p id="IdsGUk">Hendershot has undoubtedly been a revelation this year, and the Cowboys have two talented young tight ends between he and Ferguson. But right now, Hendershot’s biggest weakness, by far, is his discipline. He’s been a penalty magnet, and it needs to be cleaned up sooner rather than later. </p>
<h2 id="Fzzjqd"><strong>S Markquese Bell</strong></h2>
<p id="X1tvDi">Markquese Bell was inactive for this game.</p>
<h2 id="N75Op5"><strong>RB Malik Davis</strong></h2>
<p id="XH1tE3">It wasn’t too long ago that Malik Davis came just inches (and a replay review) away from his first career touchdown. With the Cowboys enjoying yet another blowout win, Davis got a shot to tote the rock a little bit. And this time, the undrafted rookie would not be denied. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Cowboys. Score. Another. Touchdown.<br><br>Malik Davis joins in on the fun for a 54-piece Cowboys win <a href="https://t.co/ZXZtbDTeh0">pic.twitter.com/ZXZtbDTeh0</a></p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1599622687646576640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a>
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<p id="IWEGsz">Not only did Davis get his first career touchdown, but he gave the Cowboys a sizzling hot 50-burger in the process. Have a day, Malik Davis, you’ve earned it. </p>
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2022/12/6/23494649/2022-cowboys-rookie-report-colts-daron-bland-tyler-tyron-smith-sam-williamsDavid Howman