Cowboys @ Chargers (-3) Pregame Discussion (Wk 6)

[wu-dai clan]

My number one concern remains the DAL running game.

[rensoul]

Still - after the bye? Joey's soft like Charmin . . . . . . . . . . . when is he ever at full strength?

I think he was upgraded to questionable so maybe he plays a limited role.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

The Chargers are never at home !

Truth

[dmac_bolt]

My biggest worry is I can get home from work in time. Chargers 30-Cowgirls 17.

[AK47]

My number one concern is having a 27-0 lead at half time.

[Topcat]

This team has Polians handprints all over it & Telesco couldn't be anymore like Polian. Spending 1st round picks on finesse players like Tillery, ignoring Oline, drafting undersized injury prone players, drafting "football players" without any size/speed requirements (Teo, Tranquill etc), wasting 1st round picks on "championship running backs", completely ignoring physical run stopping defensive tackles, being weak against the run, being weak running the football, having shitty special teams coverage units.....being an injury prone finesse team. I detailed the Polian philosphy in this post: https://www.thepowderblues.com/forum...61#post1546661

John Boy also learned from AJ and John Butler so as much as he's hated on this forum he does have quite a bit of quality GM exposure. I actually wouldn't at all be disappointed with a Staley/John Spanos coach/GM combo as Staley would have more power in that scenario and he's already shown he knows what the problems are.

I'll say this...TT's drafting has improved since Staley came aboard...

[wu-dai clan]

Rashawn Slater and Zion Johnson are power players, as is Joey Bosa. Oh. And Kenneth Murray.

[wu-dai clan]

And Bill Polian is in the NFL HOF.
Career stops in BUF, CAR, and IND.
It is all very fluid in the NFL.
Systems. Personnel. Schemes. Coaching trees...

[WindsorUK]

You think Dal O is significantly better than Min and LVR? I believe our pass D will be much better than games 1 - 4, run D solid.
I yearn for a 3rd qtr TD but would gladly settle for a W no matter how.

Did we deal with this same issue last year? Or was it the year before? No 3rd quarter TD's for a large number of games?
And like you Sonora, I'm hoping for the D to make more plays/stops throughout, not just the last drive.
Go Bolts!

[ChargingBolts]

The Chargers are never at home !

Somewhat true but I went to the Jax at LAC game last year and it was like 99/1 ratio for a home game. LAR has the same issue so will the Raiders soon when the Honeymoon is over and the prices lower.

[YAC]

My number one concern remains the DAL running game.

I'm a database dev and have been working 3 teams data into my own private system. Ironically? Two of those 3 teams are the Cowboys and Chargers.

Can't share too much but I'll give you this:

• Chargers are allowing just 4.1 yards per rush, which is a huge improvement from last year.
• In two of four games LAC has allowed less YPC than opponent's seasonal average. So far, this isn't anything close to debacle LAC 2022 run defense.
• Could quickly change, but promising so far on this front.

Meanwhile...for the Cowboys...

• Pollard & Dowdle - The Cowboys two lead backs are jointly averaging 4.05 yards per carry (nothing special!)
• Deuce Vaughn has an even lower YPC, but I'll address him in my subjective comments in the next post.
• Dak has fullback(-) speed. He will rumble for occasional yards. Can't juke anyone or outrun anyone. He'll just get yards that are given, plus maybe 1 more with heart.
• Dallas had 3 OL starters out. They all returned vs. SF, but as for their full functioning level...who can say?

[YAC]

Subjectively as someone who follows the Cowboys 3/4 as much as the Chargers I'll add:

• Deuce Vaughn, their Sproles wannabe can be special if he's allowed to operate in space. That hasn't happened yet in 2023. Hope this isn't a break out game...and don't expect it.
• McCarthy / and their OC Brian Schottenheimer have shown little imagination in play design and sloppy attention to detail.
• In fairness...the Cowboys have been exceptional in bounce-back games after losses.

Summing up objective data and my personal observations: I would be quite surprised to see a big day from the Dallas running game, or a Cowboys run performance that tilts the result. I'm 10x more worried about our pass defense.

There is one caveat:

Tony Pollard can hit sudden home runs, and we are only a season removed from giving up an unreasonable volume of such plays.