By Malone Graham
The Dallas Cowboys will enter Week 4 of the NFL season looking to remain undefeated and atop the NFC East. After beating the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins, the organization is already beginning to establish their identity early in the season. The revamped offense is the primary reason behind the early success of the Cowboys.
Under first-year Offensive Coordinator and former Cowboys backup quarterback, Kellen Moore, the team has posted 1,444 total yards of offense over the three-game stretch. The running game is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, with Ezekiel Elliot leading the pack in rushing attempts at 55. Dak Prescott is excelling at the quarterback position, averaging 306 passing yards per game, ranked 4th in the league. The offseason addition of wide receiver Randall Cobb has given Prescott another reliable target on the outside, contributing to his 128.0 quarterback rating. Amari Cooper leads the receiving core in touchdowns with 4 on the year, followed by fan-favorite Jason Witten who has 2 touchdowns. Second-year player Michael Gallup emerged early as the deep threat for the Cowboys, but after suffering a knee injury, the team will look to get Devin Smith more touches to build on his 22.6 yards per catch mark.
Much of this success stems from Kellen Moore’s dedication to reversing the trend of their once predictable play calling and telling formations. In the Week 2 matchup against the Redskins, Dak Prescott took 32 snaps from under center and 36 from the shotgun. Handing it off to Elliot out of both formations, the Cowboys have instituted more variation within their run game, forcing the defense to always prepare for the reigning lead rusher of the NFL to attack, regardless of where his quarterback lines up. Dallas has also been utilizing play-action, opening up the middle of the field and allowing Prescott extra time to set his feet and read the defense. Almost half of Prescott’s completions against the Redskins came off of the play fakes, resulting in 189 yards of offense. The first-down play-calling has featured a mixture of run and pass attempts, enabling the Cowboys to gain yards early in the down while keeping the defense guessing. With fewer yards needed to convert on second and third-downs, Prescott has been taking advantage of the freedom to make big plays and take more shots downfield.
The pre-snap motion and misdirection put on by Kellen Moore has introduced a new plan of attack for the Cowboys offense, and so far, no team has been able to combat his deceptive approach. The season is still young, but the first three games of the year indicate a promising future for the Cowboys offense. Dallas has incredible talent as an offensive unit, and if they continue to mix things up, they will be a handful for any opponent they face. The Dallas Cowboys will travel to New Orleans on Sunday to face the Saints, hoping to continue their win streak and electric offense.
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