Cowboys FishTips In Review: Did 4 Keys Come True In Win?
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FRISCO (105.3 The Fan) - OK, time once again to review my pregame FishTips to see how they played out in Sunday's visit by the Cowboys to the Bay Area:
FISHTIP 1) I wrote before the game: The Dez Bryant MRI controversy is now behind the Cowboys, Bryant telling me on Thursday that he "feels good and positive'' about his knee and, "You know I'm doing all the right things to get back on the field.''
RESULT: Well, yeah, but now the national media is sinking its teeth into the angle and reinventing the definition of the Bryant injury and attempting to pinpoint the number of meetings and appointments that he's missed and been late for in the last seven years.
So ... here we go again - except that if you review my exclusive post-game visit with Dez (LINK HERE), he fairly effectively shuts it down.
FISHTIP 2) I wrote before the game: Is all of this the sign of a "weak coach"? A team crumbling from a lack of leadership"?
RESULT: The cover-up, to be sure, is often more damaging than the crime. Last week Garrett opted to be less than forthcoming with the media when it came to Dez' absenteeism. That won't help his relationship with us media types ... but I've understood his intentions all along, ever since on Monday night 105.3 The Fan first learned that Dez had "gone off the reservation''; Garrett was protecting his player.
Dez' thoughts on that, as expressed to me: "Coach Garrett has my back and I have his. I love Coach Garrett. It's all good."
And I promise you: Landry, Jimmy, Parcells and Belichick - "tough" coaches all - "enabled" their star players. In the end, most of us only care about their W/L results.
Garrett just won at the Niners, 24-17, after being down two touchdowns early - and did it not only without Dez but also without Orlando Scandrick, La'el Collins, Tyron Smith, Tank Lawrence (due to join the club today) and Tony Romo.
Didn't Jason Garrett just do what ultimately is his job, not getting the press corps to support him but getting his players to do so?
FISHTIP 3) I wrote before the game: Speaking of in-house opinions vs. opinions that belong in the outhouse, there is no "QB controversy" and there is no major storyline regarding Romo except that this Thursday will take him to the six-week mark after his back injury - the exact healing time we've discussed. I wonder if he'll participate in practice that day, in anticipation of him making his on-field debut in the Cowboys-vs.-Eagles game after the bye.
RESULT: Amid media reports of a coming conflict here, ask yourself: How many reporters have discussed this subject with Jerry and Stephen Jones, with Garrett, with sensational rookie QB Dak Prescott (again unflappable in throwing two TD passes vs. the Niners), and with Romo himself?
I don't mean to brag when I tell you it's a damn short list. And I am telling you, Romo is nothing but supportive and nothing but elated at what Dak has done to boost this football team.
Dallas doesn't have problems at QB; Dallas has answers at QB.
FISHTIP 4) I wrote before the game : Meanwhile, gameplan-wise, this week might give Dak his greatest challenge. Oh, you can vertical on these DBs. But Witten talked to me about how cleverly the 49ers hide their defensive intentions, and Witten himself has a matchup challenge with safety Reid.
Meanwhile San Francisco has a good front-seven — one of the 49ers' few strengths. Good and tricky, scheme-wise.
RESULT: Witten caught seven chain-moving passes. Terrance Williams and Brice Butler caught TD passes as Dez cheered them on. Ezekiel Elliott -- Dak's runnin' buddy and game-weekend roommate - rushed for 138 yards and another score.
The Cowboys on offense weren't tricked much. Rather, it was the Dallas D that made the difference-making plays, including Mo Claiborne's big interception.
Indeed, in winning three straight games to surge to 3-1, the Cowboys have so far this year given up 20, 23, 17 and 17 points, respectively.
FISHTIPS has a proud history of nailing these pregame trends. But no, I did not see 3-1 coming ... and that's the only RESULT that matters.
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