FRISCO, TEXAS — October football is here and the 1-2 Dallas Cowboys host the 2-1 Cleveland Browns at AT&T Stadium in week four.
The Cowboys could be sitting at 0-3 if not for the miraculous onside kick against the Falcons in week two. Sunday is a must win game for Dallas as the dawgs come to town. It will be the difference maker from the boys climbing to 2-2 or digging themselves into a bigger hole at 1-3.
Stop the run:
Cleveland has a pair of premiere wide outs in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry but the biggest threat is their stellar running game with dynamic backs, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. That has to be the No.1 priority for Dallas going into Sunday’s matchup. Through three games, the Browns have run the ball 99 times for 511 rushing yards. That gives them the second-highest rush percentage in the league (52.7% of total offensive plays). Of their 99 runs, only 9 have been located in the middle of the line. The Browns use a lot of outside zone runs to complement Chubb’s cutback ability and to stretch defenses to the perimeter.
“ Nick Chubb is a dynamic runner, “ Mike McCarthy told D210 Sports. “ No.1, he’s very disciplined, powerful, and frankly their run game to date is the most complex as far as multiple concepts that we’ve seen. They not only run the wide zone with high efficiency, but you see the pattern of gap schemes too. It’s a starting point for them. We’ve seen more bigger personnel groups with Cleveland than we see in the other three opponents, so this is a totally different challenge for us.”
The Cowboys have been playing mostly nickel with Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch on injured reserve. With the Browns bigger personnel groups and efficient running attack, Dallas will likely use a base 4-3 for the first time this season adding an extra linebacker to boost the team’s run defense.
Adjusting to Cleveland’s four-man rush:
Dallas has had to shuffle guys around within the offensive line to accommodate injuries. For the previous two games, the Cowboys were once again without starting right tackle La’el Collins, left tackle Tyron Smith, and swing tackle Cam Erving. In addition, rookie Terence Steele, who had been the starting replacement for Collins at right tackle came down with a stomach bug and had to be sidelined in the third quarter against Seattle. Then a game of musical chairs ensued in the O-Line. The Cowboys then moved right guard Zack Martin to right tackle, center Joe Looney to right guard, and brought in rookie Tyler Biadasz at center.
Surprisingly with a banged up offensive line, the Cowboys have the No.1 ranked offense in the NFL with 1,472 yards through three games. The Browns will certainly try and take advantage of the injury plagued offensive line at the line of scrimmage to get to Dak Prescott. Cleveland does not blitz a lot and relies on pass pressure from their front-four, which they do at a high level. The Cowboys will have to plan around power edge rusher, Myles Garrett.
“ You watch the film, you see in his time in the NFL, he’s a playmaker, “ Dak Prescott told media on Garrett. “ He’s got good ball production so for me it’s about being smart with the ball in the pocket. But also helping my offensive line. Obviously we work hand-in-hand. Get the ball out. Frustrate those defensive lineman with that and just work together.”
Cleveland has tallied eight sacks through three games, three by Garrett and two by defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Garrett might be the team’s best pass rusher with the fastest get-off but Richardson also gets in opposing quarterback’s faces from the interior.
The good news for Dallas, Tyron Smith practiced on Thursday and according to Mike McCarthy is “right on course.” Smith was productive in individual work on Wednesday and participated in team, 11-on-11 work on Thursday. Barring any setbacks, the teams is optimistic he will play on Sunday.
