Cowboys News: Red zone rust, defense’s place in history, why Micah for MVP won’t happen
The Cowboys defense is off to a blistering start, one that already has observers comparing it to the best units in history. We’ve got some perspective on where they really stand after two games. And even though Micah Parsons for MVP is a fun story, we’ll share the sobering truth about why it’s unlikely. And CBS’s sideline reporter gives a unique take on what championship teams always seem to exhibit… and how this year’s Cowboys measure up in that department.
Elsewhere, Brandon Aubrey is turning the Cowboys kicking game into a weapon, but it took a stealthy undercover operation to get him to Dallas. CeeDee Lamb is on a historic pace, a collection of Cowboys legends are in the discussion for Canton, a special guest at Sunday’s game has sparked big futbol rumors, and this week’s Sounds from the Sidelines could inspire a wall near you to be run through. All that and more in this edition of News and Notes.
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Jerry Jones: Cowboys unsatisfied with early lack of red zone production :: Dallas Morning News
The owner acknowledges that the team wants touchdowns, not field goals, once they cross the 20. “If you wanted to look at anything about the game Sunday, that’s where we need to get better,” Jones said. “That really is the one thing in our meetings that we had yesterday which really emphasize is that we’ve got to get in there and get scores in that end zone.”
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on historic pace :: Cowboys Wire
Lamb’s current pace would give him 127 catches for 1,870 yards in 2023, an all-time top-five season. And his 55.3% receiving share is the highest in the league since 1945. That number is sure to change, given the Cowboys’ multitude of receiving options, but Lamb is on track for his best year by far.
Week 2 DVOA: Dallas Cowboys and the best defensive starts ever :: FTN Fantasy
In terms of defense-adjusted value over average, this year’s Cowboys are better than any Dallas team since DVOA stats began in 1981… even better than any of the dynasty teams of the ’90s. And their defense measures in the top six all-time through two games in Defensive DVOA.
How good are the Cowboys? CBS’ Tracy Wolfson saw for herself: Media Circus :: The Athletic
“I always feel standing behind the benches you can tell when a team has ‘It,'” said the CBS sideline reporter. “It’s usually when the offense, defense and special teams [are] all complementary and when they are genuinely happy for each other. You can sense that from the Cowboys. From my vantage point, they are a Super Bowl contender.”
Parsons for MVP is probably unlikely (unfortunately) :: Good Morning Football
"I think Micah Parsons has been better at his position than anybody has been at theirs…"
But could a defensive player win MVP?? @KyleBrandt let's us know what he'd have to do to make it happen pic.twitter.com/7Uaq3RTYCZ
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) September 19, 2023
Brandon Aubrey making Cowboys look good after offseason of criticism :: Cowboys Wire
Aubrey is 7-of-7 on field goal tries and has the fourth-longest three-pointer in the NFL this year. The club’s gambit of focusing on a player’s power over pedigree is paying off so far, and Aubrey’s ceiling looks to be as high as that of any kicker in the game.
'It's just the swing': Cowboys' John Fassel took secret trip to see kicker Brandon Aubrey before signing :: Cowboys Wire
Fassel told reporters how an undercover trip to a Birmingham Stallions game gave him an up close and personal look at Aubrey just weeks before the Cowboys were set to open training camp. Within three months, Mike McCarthy was comparing him to “a young Mason Crosby.” Aubrey is now the early league leader in total points scored, field goals made, and touchbacks.
Get fired up with Sounds from the Sideline :: Dallas Cowboys
Turn us all the way 🆙@lenovo Sounds from the Sideline 🔊
Up Next ➡️ #DALvsAZ on FOX pic.twitter.com/TwqG2t8st7
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 19, 2023
3 Major takeaways from Cowboys' strong 2-0 start to 2023 :: Cowboys Wire
McCarthy’s game plan is controlling the clock, keeping the defense fresh, and racking up points. The defense is on another plane right now, with even the run-stoppers surpassing expectations. And the fanbase’s recent kicker frustrations have taken a big backseat.
Tony Romo, Darren Woodson headline 8 Cowboys among 2024 Hall of Fame nominees :: Cowboys Wire
Apart from Romo and Woodson, this year’s 173 nominees for induction also include Daryl Johnston, Ken Norton Jr., LaRoi Glover, and three offensive linemen who helped make the Cowboys’ front five of the 1990s the most dominant group in football.
Micah Parsons on hit on Travis Hunter: ‘That was so malicious and dirty' :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Cowboys linebacker weighed in on his show about the hit that took out Colorado’s top playmaker. “I thought [Colorado State DB Henry Blackburn] should have got ejected. That was something that you hate to see in football,” Parsons said. “This guy doesn’t deserve to be [in] no football league. At the end of the day, in college and even in the NFL, we need to protect our brothers.”
Former Cowboys CB Anthony Brown signed to San Francisco's 53-man roster :: Cowboys Wire
After a torn Achilles tendon brought an early end to Brown’s seven-year stint in Dallas, the veteran corner will now suit up for the 49ers, joining a severely depleted secondary. The Cowboys will visit San Francisco in Week 5.
FIFA's president was at Sunday's Cowboys game. Here's what Jerry Jones had to say about potentially hosting the World Cup Final :: WFAA-TV
Gianni Infantino’s attendance at Sunday’s Cowboys home opener has led to even more speculation that AT&T Stadium will be the site of the 2026 World Cup Final. Texas governor Greg Abbott was also on hand to emphasize the incredible economic impact the FIFA final could bring to the Dallas area. “It’s a privilege to get to sit there and think, ‘My goodness, we get to talk about possibly having the single greatest game that you can have in a sport that billions and billions of people follow around the world,'” Jones said.
