Dallas Cowboys 2-3 @ N.Y. Giants 3-3 4:25 PM ET – TV: FOX Ineptness on the offensive side of the ball has influenced Cowboys HC Jason Garrett to shake things up – giving Matt Cassel the nod at quarterback – and the progress of rookie standout O-lineman La’el Collins has earned him the starting spot at left guard over Ronald Leary. According to reports from Valley Ranch, the Cowboys have been giving Christine Michael first team reps at running back during practice. Joseph Randle hasn’t rocked the house as the lead ball-carrier for Dallas’ ground game, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry, but the yards in total have been decent with OC Scott Linehan getting Randle and the backs involved in the passing game. The Giants’ defense is ranked near …show more content…
The combination of the slant game and quick passing concepts has kept Manning upright behind a subpar offensive line. With DE Randy Gregory returning from an ankle injury, Cowboys DC Rod Marinelli will have all of his hounds ready to provide pressure up front. DE Greg Hardy and MLB Rolando McClain’s return on Oct. 11 from their four game suspensions against the Patriots immediately upgraded the Cowboys’ defense, particularly on getting pressure. Though Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will use some of his old school running between the tackles tactics with running back Rashad Jennings, New York’s backs (particularly Shane Vereen) are deadly options in the passing game. Marinelli would like to get all of his best pass rushers in at the same time, with Hardy, Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford and Gregory in the nickel package to pressure Manning, but what I think is going to be extremely vital for the Cowboys’ defense to slow down a high-octane New York passing game is (playing tight man press and not allowing Manning’s receivers to get free releases off the