COWBOYS’ WEALTH OF THIRD-AND-SHORTS IMPRESSES JOSEPH
Vance Joseph knows bringing pressure against Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be no easy task Sunday, and not only because he stands in a pocket built of all-pro offensive linemen.
“When you watch the tape, they’re in so many third-and-shorts. It’s hard to pressure them, because the ball is out so quick,” Joseph, the firstyear Broncos coach, said Thursday. “That’s probably a reason no one’s pressured them a lot. They’re in so many third-and-2s and third-and-4s. That comes from having a solid run game. They’ve built it right.”
To Joseph’s point, of the 16 times Dallas faced third down last week against the New York Giants, the Cowboys needed fewer than 5 yards on nine occasions. They were 8-of-15 on third down overall and kicked a field goal on the other third down to end the first half.
Creating opportunities to bring pressure against Prescott, Joseph said, requires winning the battle of D&D: down and distance. That means limiting the Cowboys on first down, where they ran 39 percent of the time in 2016, the third-highest percentage in the league. And Dallas gained at least 4 yards on those runs 50 percent of the time last season, third-most in the league. It all creates a formula for an abundance of third-and-short situations that don’t invite pressure.
“They’re easy to scout and hard to beat,” Joseph said. “When you watch them, it’s not a lot of complicated schemes, but they’re good at it.”
Injury update.
Jared Crick, who has been dealing with a back injury for the past month, returned to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday. But the veteran defensive end was absent from practice Thursday, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.
“I wouldn’t say setback,” Joseph said of Crick missing practice. “We’re just being really smart with him. We want to get him totally healthy so he can help us in the future.”
Defensive end Zach Kerr, who missed the Broncos’ opener with a bruised knee, practiced in a limited fashion for the second straight day. Safety Darian Stewart (groin) also returned to practice but was limited.
Cornerback Brendan Langley (knee) and right guard Ron Leary (concussion) did not practice. Leary watched practice with his helmet on, which is a step in the league’s concussion protocol.
Running back Devontae Booker practiced for the second straight day and should be ready to play at Buffalo on Sept. 24, Joseph said.
Praising the “ball guy.”
Undrafted safety Jamal Carter was pressed into action late in Denver’s victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday after Stewart went down with an injury.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods was impressed with how Carter handled himself during the tense final stages of the game for the Denver defense.
“J.C., he’s just a ball guy,” Woods said of Carter. “We say, ‘See ball, get ball.’ The bright lights don’t affect him. He plays fast. He’s going to make some mistakes, but at least he’s going to make them going 100 miles per hour. I thought he went in those 12 plays and did good.”