Decoding Schotty Wk 7 - A Decisive Show of Force
The Commanders defense was ripped to shreds as the Cowboys offense returns to full form.
Tuesdays – since about 2008 – have been my day to evaluate the offense in this space. We have called it “Decoding” over those years and then the name behind the decoding is the man with the play-sheet calling the plays and hopefully putting them in an order to attack that week’s opponent. This is where we try to figure out the tactical and strategic plot-lines of the game and get a feel for how well it worked out for that side of the ball. For those of you new here, two things: 1) ask questions of anything you don’t quite understand and 2) be aware that we do defense on Wednesdays.
Here we go. Our objectives for today:
How the offense owned the day.
Is the offense so good that the front office must act?
The 40-400-0 record keeping is updated.
Dak Prescott is playing at an unreal level.
Javonte Williams and OL have another big day.
Look at plenty of All-22 film and see what we can see.
OVERALL OFFENSIVE EVALUATION
This offense is absolutely great in 2025. There is no real way to suggest anything else. They are dominating in almost every form or fashion in both the run and pass game. They can beat you in a number of ways with a number of different pieces. They can survive major injury absences and still function and they give their team to win every game.
If you have an elite offense, history tells us you have a real chance to win big in the post-season. And given this offense sits in the Top 5 in most categories and Top 10 in everything, with a veteran QB playing at an elite level, an effective RB, and two dominating WRs, we are willing to suggest here in late October that this thing is real.
We know the defense needs help and will get to that tomorrow, but the short version is that they are short of talent and have sent their best player (by a mile) away and the result is that you have hurt 2025 badly on that side of the ball.
But, perhaps we are nearing a key decision time once again.
The Cowboys have decisions to make as the November 4th traded deadline approaches and it requires a steady hand on the helm. There is always a short term vs long term discussion on these things and it is the question of whether you should value the next three months more than the next three years or not.
If you think about it, it was the sole reason why doing the Micah Parsons trade made little or no sense, because there was nothing that suggested Parsons would actually sit out and cost himself his money in 2025 if he didn’t get his new contract. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to believe he would have played this year under his rookie agreement knowing that he could name his price next spring. Surely, he would have been grumpy, but we could argue that might inspire him even more. Either way, Dallas panicked and hurt their present to help their future. At least they hope so.
The trouble is that your offense is not locked in forever. This is a temporary window and how long it stays open is anyone’s guess. Your QB is 32 and your new WR has an expiring contract. We could argue that this moment in time represents your best chance to win big with an offense that scores 40 with routine. Right now might be the moment.
Are you actually perhaps just a Micah Parsons away? For all the talk that you didn’t win with him, could we also suggest that with Micah here, you were never fully ready? Dallas never had an elite No. 2 WR or top running game and excellent OL?
It is all speculation, of course. But, might a call for Maxx Crosby for a 1st round pick (and…) actually put this team in an interesting spot? It might be risky, but he is signed through 2029 anyway.
Anyway, I am just thinking out loud as we conceive of yet another huge offensive day.