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OK I said a few weeks ago I wasn't really worried about the Giants game, I did believe we'd win. I was a little more worried after this week's injury news (especially with the Smith's). When I saw the weather was gonna be really bad, I thought the offense might struggle more with what I expected to be a pretty good Giants DL.
I never saw 40-0 coming. This was an epic beatdown of a team that was being universally praised by all the football media, in fact a lot of that same media predicted they'd beat us last night. It's only one game so I don't want to get too carried away, but there was definitely some strong hints that this may not be the "same ol Cowboys" as what we have grown accustomed to.
1) Kudos to the coaching staff. They had the team dialed in and focused. This LOOKED like a well coached and strong willed team. In years past, we'd have seen the "same 'ol Cowboys" probably fold like a cheap tent just because the weather was 100% miserable to be out in and it was "only one game". Not last night. Mike McCarthy's first game calling plays passed the test and Dan Quinn has built a real defensive juggernaut.
2) It was not discussed all that much in the offseason, but hiring Mike Solari to replace the stiff we had as OL coach was a GREAT move. There was a TREMENDOUS difference in the way this OL played last night, and we didnt even have Tyler Smith (probably the most physically gifted OL we have). We had a RT coming off a major injury, we had a LT who was injured during the week and moving back to LT after playing RT last yr. We had a backup LG start the game who missed almost all of camp and preseason. And these guys blocked their asses off. The run blocking was just so-so in the first half, but in the second half they really imposed their will on what is a really good Giants DL. I don't think we had one holding call and other than the one hiccup by T Steele no presnap penalties. This was this OL's first game action together and they looked outstanding. Once they get Tyler Smith out there, this unit could be really special. Zack Martin and Tyler Biadasz were great last night. Tyron Smith made Kayvon Thibodeaux completely disappear (4 tackles, no sacks, no pressures, no QB hits). Only Dexter Lawrence managed to touch Prescott, as Leonard Williams, Azeez Ojulari, Isiah Simmons and Ashawn Robinson combined for ZERO hits/pressures.
3) On to our defense, which after the first drive was absolutely sensational. They were suffocating, they were in the backfield seemingly every play. They pressured Jones at an alarmingly high rate (over 62% of drop backs). We had 7 sacks and two others were negated by mercy call penalties. They got pressure from inside and outside. Coverage was sensational and the HITTING was superb, that was some outstanding tackling last night by our guys and they had a number of huge hits on various Giants offensive guys. We forced 5 fumbles and got 3 turnovers, and narrowly missed a few others (Hooker dropped a tailor made pick for one)
4) Offensively, while it wasn't overwhelming it was efficient and people do need to take into account the game was played in a deluge for 60 mins. Prescott didnt make any mind numbingly bad decisions and I do think a couple of the throws that got away from him were weather related. He had numerous balls dropped (again, will give some of these guys some slack due to rain) but Ferguson dropped two bad ones (esp the 3rd down conversion around the 10) and Hendershot dropped the best pass of the day by either QB for what would have been a 20 yd TD (we ended up getting a TD anyway) but he has to catch that. Brandin Cooks dropped one too but overall he had a really good night. The TE blocking was also outstanding as Ferguson and Schoonmaker had numerous key blocks on run plays. The highlight of the night in my opinion was the way they came out in the 2nd half. Took the ball and scored a TD in 10 plays/75 yards, giving us a 33-0 lead and turning out the lights on any hope the Giants had. In years past, we saw our team sometimes get up on someone and then let them widdle away at us and make it a game (or even lose). But last night was different.
5) I'm sure we all let out huge groans when the rookie PK missed badly on his first PAT, but credit to him he nailed ALL his other kicks (4 other PAT's and 2 FG's) and BOOMED every kickoff for a touchback. Definitely earned more time and I doubt he has to kick in weather as bad as what he had last night again during the regular season.
6) Mentioned it last night, but the players we added via trade in Gilmore and Cooks, and the signing of Edoga paid immediate dividends. None of them cost us much and all played a great game. We had two UDFA DB's from 2022 who were all over the place last night (Juanyeh Thomas and Markese Bell). Mazi Smith got some good reps and had some nice plays, incl a TFL and a couple of good pressures. One of them he trucked two Giants OL in the process. Has a bright future.
7) Non Cowboys related games. Washington stinks (Dooms, they will not be any "trouble" for anyone), Philly looked very beatable (and should have lost yesterday). Green Bay looked better than expected and so did the Rams. The NFC South is terrible. Miami and San Diego had no defense whatsoever (speaking of Chargers, Kellen Moore's debut was pretty strong. They scored 34 pts, ran the ball 40 times for 234 yards had 30 first downs and no turnovers). The Stealers were horrendous. (Sorry again Dooms, but Kenny Pickett hardly looked like a franchise type QB). Overall there was some awful QB all around the league. And why exactly is Tyreek Hill still being allowed to be on a football field? This dude is the epitome of a thug, I have ZERO doubt whatsoever that if he played for us then Goodell would have already whacked this guy for a significant part of the season (if not all of it). The Niners are relly good and will be curious to see Bills and ARodge Jets (who we play next week) tonight.
It's only one game, but it's pretty clear that barring significant injuries we have a real contender this year, and it didnt look like "same 'ol Cowboys" last night at all.
I never saw 40-0 coming. This was an epic beatdown of a team that was being universally praised by all the football media, in fact a lot of that same media predicted they'd beat us last night. It's only one game so I don't want to get too carried away, but there was definitely some strong hints that this may not be the "same ol Cowboys" as what we have grown accustomed to.
1) Kudos to the coaching staff. They had the team dialed in and focused. This LOOKED like a well coached and strong willed team. In years past, we'd have seen the "same 'ol Cowboys" probably fold like a cheap tent just because the weather was 100% miserable to be out in and it was "only one game". Not last night. Mike McCarthy's first game calling plays passed the test and Dan Quinn has built a real defensive juggernaut.
2) It was not discussed all that much in the offseason, but hiring Mike Solari to replace the stiff we had as OL coach was a GREAT move. There was a TREMENDOUS difference in the way this OL played last night, and we didnt even have Tyler Smith (probably the most physically gifted OL we have). We had a RT coming off a major injury, we had a LT who was injured during the week and moving back to LT after playing RT last yr. We had a backup LG start the game who missed almost all of camp and preseason. And these guys blocked their asses off. The run blocking was just so-so in the first half, but in the second half they really imposed their will on what is a really good Giants DL. I don't think we had one holding call and other than the one hiccup by T Steele no presnap penalties. This was this OL's first game action together and they looked outstanding. Once they get Tyler Smith out there, this unit could be really special. Zack Martin and Tyler Biadasz were great last night. Tyron Smith made Kayvon Thibodeaux completely disappear (4 tackles, no sacks, no pressures, no QB hits). Only Dexter Lawrence managed to touch Prescott, as Leonard Williams, Azeez Ojulari, Isiah Simmons and Ashawn Robinson combined for ZERO hits/pressures.
3) On to our defense, which after the first drive was absolutely sensational. They were suffocating, they were in the backfield seemingly every play. They pressured Jones at an alarmingly high rate (over 62% of drop backs). We had 7 sacks and two others were negated by mercy call penalties. They got pressure from inside and outside. Coverage was sensational and the HITTING was superb, that was some outstanding tackling last night by our guys and they had a number of huge hits on various Giants offensive guys. We forced 5 fumbles and got 3 turnovers, and narrowly missed a few others (Hooker dropped a tailor made pick for one)
4) Offensively, while it wasn't overwhelming it was efficient and people do need to take into account the game was played in a deluge for 60 mins. Prescott didnt make any mind numbingly bad decisions and I do think a couple of the throws that got away from him were weather related. He had numerous balls dropped (again, will give some of these guys some slack due to rain) but Ferguson dropped two bad ones (esp the 3rd down conversion around the 10) and Hendershot dropped the best pass of the day by either QB for what would have been a 20 yd TD (we ended up getting a TD anyway) but he has to catch that. Brandin Cooks dropped one too but overall he had a really good night. The TE blocking was also outstanding as Ferguson and Schoonmaker had numerous key blocks on run plays. The highlight of the night in my opinion was the way they came out in the 2nd half. Took the ball and scored a TD in 10 plays/75 yards, giving us a 33-0 lead and turning out the lights on any hope the Giants had. In years past, we saw our team sometimes get up on someone and then let them widdle away at us and make it a game (or even lose). But last night was different.
5) I'm sure we all let out huge groans when the rookie PK missed badly on his first PAT, but credit to him he nailed ALL his other kicks (4 other PAT's and 2 FG's) and BOOMED every kickoff for a touchback. Definitely earned more time and I doubt he has to kick in weather as bad as what he had last night again during the regular season.
6) Mentioned it last night, but the players we added via trade in Gilmore and Cooks, and the signing of Edoga paid immediate dividends. None of them cost us much and all played a great game. We had two UDFA DB's from 2022 who were all over the place last night (Juanyeh Thomas and Markese Bell). Mazi Smith got some good reps and had some nice plays, incl a TFL and a couple of good pressures. One of them he trucked two Giants OL in the process. Has a bright future.
7) Non Cowboys related games. Washington stinks (Dooms, they will not be any "trouble" for anyone), Philly looked very beatable (and should have lost yesterday). Green Bay looked better than expected and so did the Rams. The NFC South is terrible. Miami and San Diego had no defense whatsoever (speaking of Chargers, Kellen Moore's debut was pretty strong. They scored 34 pts, ran the ball 40 times for 234 yards had 30 first downs and no turnovers). The Stealers were horrendous. (Sorry again Dooms, but Kenny Pickett hardly looked like a franchise type QB). Overall there was some awful QB all around the league. And why exactly is Tyreek Hill still being allowed to be on a football field? This dude is the epitome of a thug, I have ZERO doubt whatsoever that if he played for us then Goodell would have already whacked this guy for a significant part of the season (if not all of it). The Niners are relly good and will be curious to see Bills and ARodge Jets (who we play next week) tonight.
It's only one game, but it's pretty clear that barring significant injuries we have a real contender this year, and it didnt look like "same 'ol Cowboys" last night at all.
