Dallas City News

Dak Prescott: Cowboys ‘left meat on the bone’, want Mamba mentality vs. Saints – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

Dak Prescott recognized the need for improvement on the offensive side of the ball.

“When that kill shot is, in our view, we need to jump on it,” Martin said. “ … We talked a lot about the second half. We kind of stalled out, had a lot of three and outs, and we’ve got to do a better job of putting our foot on their throat and ending the game earlier.”

When the Cowboys’ offense does precisely that, they’re arguably the most difficult team to beat, and especially on their home turf where they routinely blew the doors off of opposing teams throughout the course of their 16-game win streak in Arlington.

Prescott and Co. are really standing on the table to regain the Mamba Mentality.

“We weren’t able to put that team away when we had the chance,” said Prescott. “Defense did a great job of it but, for us, it’s about moving forward. We’re one of the best third down teams we’ve been, so it’s about getting back on track with that [and] converting those and, when you do, you get more chances at the plate, you get more plays and that’s when just the big plays come naturally in our offense.

“So we’ve got to convert those third downs. Looking to do it this week. … Got to keep it rolling. I know the last time we were in there wasn’t a win. So it’s about getting that taste out of our mouth, and giving our home fans something to cheer about on Sunday.”

With ‘unreal experience’ behind him, Cooper Beebe focusing on Week 2 – Kyle Youmans, DallasCowboys.com

With is first NFL game out of the way, Cooper Beebe is looking to play even better in Week 2.

After taking a look at the film, and evaluating his NFL debut, Beebe remains unsatisfied in his performance. Even in a game where he held one of the more prolific defensive lines without a pressure, he’s keeping his eyes forward.

“There’s always stuff to improve on. There’s definitely, there’s some mistakes I made out there that I definitely need to get fixed and will get fixed, but overall I think I did all right. But there’s still lots to improve.”

In a game where the defense stole the show, the offense was given the task of holding on to the football. Moving it, at times, was a struggle that Beebe wants to overcome against another solid defense this week when the Saints come to town.

And just as making his NFL debut realized one dream, playing in front of a home crowd will be another one this week against New Orleans.

Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons possesses new-found, on-field ‘free will’ under new DC Mike Zimmer – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

Micah Parsons’ relationship with Mike Zimmer is growing into something special.

“I just want to test everybody’s water,” Parsons said. “I want to test the pot. I want to which guy I can manipulate. I know some guys is always looking for the fish. You know me. I don’t care who it is, you know, [Joel] Bitonio. I think he’s a great guy. [Kevin] Zeitler, the center is pretty good. For me, it wasn’t even about the tactics. It’s just about me, like I’m the best, and I can just go against whoever.”

However, Parsons felt like he left sacks on the table against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson given he had just one in 11 quarterback pressures.

“I think I missed like two or three [sacks], bro,” Parsons said postgame on Sunday. “He [Watson] is tough. … I’m going to have nightmares tonight, for sure. I’m supposed to start this year off with three [sacks] but it’s ok. When it rains, it pours. No excuses. No excuses. I got to be better. I felt like it was the first day of camp again. I was tired. The nerves. Facing another opponent again for the first time. … To my standard to where I want to be, I don’t think I played to my best.”

Zimmer took the blame for his All-Pro finishing with just a single sack, saying on Monday, “We need to as coaches, we need to do a better job of helping him out with some other alignments, so he’s not getting chipped every single play.” When Parsons walked into The Star, the Cowboys’ team facility, on Wednesday morning, Zimmer was waiting to deliver him some adjustments.

“As soon I come in this morning, I’m sitting with him. He’s like, ‘I got this new package in for you,’” Parsons said. ‘“This will help you clear away some of the chips [getting blocked by a running back and/or tight end in addition to a lineman] and get you away from some of them.’ Things like that. It go to shows you, he doesn’t just talk about it, he does it. He plans on using it. … Yeah they were showing me everything I’m supposed to do. We’re going to put it in tomorrow [Thursday at the tea’s padded practice], obviously. He already had everything prepared. It was like, ‘we’re gonna find a ways to get you one on ones.’”

3 keys to a Dallas Cowboys victory over the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium – Chris Amaya, Dallas Morning News

One of the keys for the Cowboys to beat the Saints on Sunday is an improved performance from their offense.

A more complete game from Prescott … and the offense

Just a few hours after becoming the NFL’s highest-paid player, Dak Prescott seemed in control of his surroundings. The Cowboys quarterback found multiple open receivers early in Dallas’ Week 1 win, posting his first touchdown of the season with a smooth 21-yard throw to Brandin Cooks.

Prescott was steady throughout the first half, completing 14-of-21 pass attempts for 156 yards and no interceptions. The second half was a completely different story.

Although Prescott didn’t turn the ball over, he struggled to maintain rhythm as the minutes ticked away. Prescott completed only 5 of 11 attempts after the break for 23 yards. After Dallas put Cleveland away, Prescott admitted it wasn’t his strongest outing.

The quarterback wasn’t the only one to struggle late in the season opener. McCarthy told reporters Wednesday that Dallas’ biggest offensive issues took place on third down. The Cowboys went 0-for-5 on third-down conversions against the Browns.

McCarthy said better execution could have helped the team convert at least three of those opportunities.

“That’s what self-scout is for. That’s why we always spend as much time as we do on Monday. Especially for the way we travel. You get back late, 11:30 at night, it would be nice to come in here Monday morning and say, ‘Let’s go on to the Saints,’” McCarthy said. “You’ve got to spend the time and make sure you go through everything.”

Facing a tough New Orleans defense this week, Prescott and the offense would have to emphasize execution of the game plan.

Dallas Cowboys rookie LT Tyler Guyton offers blunt assessment of first NFL start – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

Tyler Guyton has high standards for himself and is looking to improve this weekend against the Saints.

Cowboys rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton was blunt in his assessments of his first pro start against the Browns: “Poorly,” he said Thursday. “The situation is against a good player [Myles Garrett] like that on the road … couldn’t even hear the [calls]. The odds were against me I don’t think it was terrible. I felt like I could have been a lot better.”

Guyton allowed a first-quarter sack to Garrett and, according to NFL NextGen Stats, gave up four pressures in 13 matchups against him.

“As a competitor, you always want to do better,” he said. “But I think for my first game in the NFL, it wasn’t bad. A lot of room to grow, super excited about it. I get to learn from my mistakes.”

On Sunday, in Guyton’s second pro game, he’ll face Saints defensive ends Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Young had two quarterback hits and Granderson posted one quarterback hit with three tackles in a dominating victory over the Carolina Panthers to open the season.