Rich Eisen: the Cowboys Were in Big Trouble Even Before Dak’s Hamstring Injury

The Dallas Cowboys had a promising start to the 2021 NFL season, with their star quarterback Dak Prescott leading the team to early victories. However, things took a turn for the worse when Prescott suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for several games. While many fans and analysts believed that it was Prescott’s injury that derailed the Cowboys’ season, Rich Eisen, a renowned sports broadcaster, believes that the team was in trouble even before the quarterback’s injury.

The Cowboys’ Defensive Woes

One of the main reasons why Rich Eisen thinks the Cowboys were in trouble before Dak’s hamstring injury is the team’s defensive struggles. Despite having a potent offense led by Prescott, the Cowboys’ defense was among the worst in the league. The defense gave up an average of over 30 points per game, putting tremendous pressure on the offense to outscore their opponents.
Eisen pointed out that the Cowboys’ inability to stop opposing offenses was a significant red flag even when the team was winning games early in the season. Without a strong defense to rely on, the Cowboys were always at risk of losing games, regardless of how well Prescott and the offense performed.

Lack of Consistency

Another issue that Rich Eisen highlighted was the Cowboys’ lack of consistency throughout the season. While the team showed flashes of brilliance in some games, they also had lackluster performances that raised doubts about their potential playoff success. Eisen pointed out that championship-caliber teams need to be able to perform at a high level week in and week out, something that the Cowboys struggled with.
The inconsistency in the Cowboys’ play was evident on both sides of the ball. While the offense could put up impressive numbers in one game, they would falter in the next, failing to sustain drives and convert scoring opportunities. Similarly, the defense would show improvement in some games only to regress in others, leading to costly mistakes and big plays by the opposing team.

Lack of Adjustments

Rich Eisen also criticized the Cowboys’ coaching staff for their lack of adjustments throughout the season. He noted that good teams are able to identify their weaknesses and make necessary changes to address them. However, Eisen felt that the Cowboys failed to adapt their game plan to account for their defensive struggles and offensive inconsistencies.
Eisen pointed out that successful teams are able to make in-game adjustments to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses and cover up their own deficiencies. However, he believed that the Cowboys’ coaching staff was slow to react to changing circumstances, leading to missed opportunities and costly mistakes on the field.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Rich Eisen’s assessment of the Dallas Cowboys’ season sheds light on the challenges that the team faced even before Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury. While Prescott’s absence certainly had an impact on the team’s performance, it was not the sole reason for the Cowboys’ struggles. The team’s defensive woes, lack of consistency, and failure to make necessary adjustments all played a role in their disappointing season.
As the Cowboys look ahead to the next season, they will need to address these issues if they hope to compete at the highest level. With the right adjustments and improvements, the team has the potential to bounce back and make a run at the playoffs in the future. Only time will tell if they can overcome their obstacles and emerge as a stronger and more competitive team in the seasons to come.