Dallas Cowboys

Breaking Down the Dallas Cowboys Entire Offense Through Week Six

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

An in-depth look at the Dallas Cowboys offense through the first six weeks of the season. Key players, unsung heroes, and team stats.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Dallas Cowboys fan celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Cowboys won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Take a deep breath, Cowboys fans.

Your Dallas Cowboys (5-1) have made it to their bye week at an opportune time- with several key players in need of an extra week to get healthy and be ready to battle the NFC East division rival Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.

The 2016 Cowboys have already won more games than the team achieved in 2015, and have won four more games without starting quarterback Tony Romo than they did last year as well.

Simply put, this Dallas Cowboys team is much better than it was a year ago.

Here we are, with Dallas sitting atop the NFC East standings. The offense looks to be a well oiled machine, and the defense has been the definition of bend-but-don’t-break

Enough about the defense for now, we will take a look at the defense in my Saturday piece.

It’s time we take an in-depth look at this Dallas Cowboys offense.

The Dallas Cowboys offense has been executing at an exceptional level, averaging 401.5 yards per game which is good for second best in the NFL.

They have registered a staggering 144 first downs through six games, the most in the league.

Dallas has converted 34 out of 73 third downs, a rate of 46.6 percent- which ranks second in the NFL.

The Cowboys are also a perfect three for three when going for it on fourth down.

Through six games, the Cowboys have scored 18 touchdowns- 11 rushing and 7 passing.

In fact, Dallas has scored more touchdowns (18) than they have punted (17) through six games.

Credit has to start at the top for the offensive success- the coaching staff.

After Week 1 and the loss to the New York Giants, I was very critical of the conservative game plan that was called by head coach Jason Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

Since that one point defeat, Linehan has opened things up and consistently has put these offensive players in positions to succeed.

He has been creative in calling a brilliant mix of inside and outside runs, while tossing in some playaction passes and naked bootlegs out of running formations to keep defenses honest.

It has been clearly shown that Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett trust rookie quarterback Dak Prescott to take care of the football and make the smart play, which allows them to stay aggressive on offense.

Let’s take a look at the offensive stars of the show, the players that have stood out and their stats through the first six games.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws the ball in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott, Quarterback

125-182 (68.7%)

1486 yards (8.2 yards per attempt)

103.9 passer rating

7 touchdowns

1 interception

20 carries, 67 yards, 3 touchdowns

Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has taken the league by storm, to the say the very least. He has been extremely efficient in the short to intermediate passing game and has been off the charts when it comes to executing playaction passing plays.

Things that stand out about Prescott include his poise, work ethic, and football intellect.

Regardless of the situation, or if there are elite pass rushers closing in on him, Dak seems to have ice water in his veins. He has completed pass after pass with free rushers directly in his face. You can’t teach the level headed mindset that Prescott maintains no matter what is going on around him.

It is ridiculously impressive that Prescott has been so good at taking snaps under center. His footwork on his drops and maneuvering in the pocket to set up accurate passes has been phenomenal.

Want your voice heard? Join the The Landry Hat team!

What makes it so impressive is the fact that before he got to Dallas, he had never played under center in his football career. That just shows how hard he has been willing to work to master his craft, and he is only at the tip of the iceberg for what he can develop into.

Prescott’s football IQ is mind boggling. Very rarely can a rookie read a defense pre snap and make proper adjustments to check into the right play to find the weak spot in the defensive coverage, but Dak has proven that he is capable of just that. We saw last season that even veteran backup quarterbacks lack this ability and Dak has mastered it in just six games as a pro.

It remains to be seen whether or not Prescott will continue starting at quarterback once Tony Romo is fully healthy and ready to go, but it is rather clear that the Cowboys have found their franchise quarterback of the future.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) carries the ball as Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) tackles in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back

137 carries, 703 yards (5.1 yards per carry)

7 runs of 20 yards or more (best in the NFL)

5 touchdowns

NFL best 37 runs for first down

11 catches, 98 yards

Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott had a bit of a slow start in his first game in the NFL- rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries (2.5 yards per carry). It seemed like he was anxious to break a big run and was accelerating through the line of scrimmage before running lanes had time to develop.

Since then, the Cowboys recognized that he was so explosive that they needed to move him a yard deeper in the backfield which gives the offensive line a bit more time to clear the way for Zeke.

Elliott is the first rookie in NFL history to run for 130 or more yards in four consecutive games.

Zeke checks every box when it comes to evaluating a running back’s talent. He has vision to identify the hole. The acceleration to get through the hole before it closes.

Elliott has a low center of gravity which allows him to move laterally and cut on a dime to find those cutback lanes. Zeke possesses the physicality to finish runs and carry defenders for a few extra yards or break tackles outright. And he has the top end speed to take it to the house.

Not only does he check every box as a runner, Ezekiel Elliott has proven to be an elite pass protector. I have yet to see him miss a blitz pickup when asked to stay in to buy Dak Prescott time to complete a pass. He stays square, finds the rusher, and has the power to knock them back and keep the pocket clean.

Elliott is absolutely the early frontrunner for the NFL rookie of the year award and has to be in the conversation for offensive player of the year and possible even the most valuable player award.

Keep feeding that young boy Zeke, Dallas coaches!

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) carries the ball during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Cowboys won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Cole Beasley, Wide Receiver

33 catches, 390 yards (11.8 yards per reception)

3 touchdowns

156 yards after the catch

37 converted first downs

Cole Beasley, a player I like to call “Beas-Mode”, has been a valuable weapon in the passing game for the Cowboys.

As Dak Prescott puts it- “he is always open”.

Beasley stands at a minuscule five foot, eight inches.

What Beasley lacks in prototypical size, he makes up for with athletic ability.

Beasley has become one of the most dangerous slot receivers in the league.

He is mostly utilized in the short and intermediate ranges where he can use his agility and quickness to cut and leave defenders behind on crossing patterns.

I would expect for Beasley’s role to stay consistent for the foreseeable future- running effective routes and being a safety valve for whoever is playing quarterback.

Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88) dives for the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Chicago Bears cornerback Tracy Porter (21) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver

11 catches, 150 yards (13.6 yards per catch)

1 touchdown

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant has been forced to miss the past three games due to a hairline fracture in his knee.

More from The Landry Hat

Dallas has been very cautious in bringing him back slowly so that when he returns, he is truly at 100 percent and will be the dominant player we expect him to be.

While Bryant has been on the field, he has had mixed results this season.

Dez had another situation where he failed to maintain possession upon going to the ground in the end zone in Week 1 where a touchdown was overturned.

Bryant did have a big game against the Washington Redskins on the road in Week 2 before catching his first touchdown of the season in Week 3 at home against the Bears in the same game that he injured his knee.

Expect Dez Bryant to be back and hungry to make up for lost time following the bye week.

October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrance Williams (83) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Levi

Terrance Williams, Wide Receiver

20 catches, 311 yards (15.6 yards per catch)

1 touchdown

4 catches of 20 yards or more

17 converted first downs

Terrance Williams has certainly had his ups and downs through the first six games.

That includes a questionable decision to stay in bounds in the final seconds of the first game of the year. And Williams also a fumble on a catch that would have put him over 100 receiving yards against the Chicago Bears.

But to this point in the year, Williams has been consistent in making plays when his number is called- something that he has struggled with in years past.

He often had a huge game and then would disappear for several games after.

While his numbers are not elite, he has been a very valuable receiver in the passing game.

And Williams has helped secure the edge while blocking for rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs after a catch against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Witten, Tight End

28 catches, 274 yards (9.8 yards per catch)

106 yards after the catch

12 converted first downs

Jason Witten has remained an important cog in this Cowboys offense.

Witten makes himself available to the quarterback more often than not and is as consistent as they come.

While the veteran tight end has yet to score a touchdown, he has made several plays that have set up scores for the offense.

That includes a few plays where the 34-year old has been tackled at or near the one-yard line.

The future Hall of Famer is continuing to rack up statistics while being an important part of the run game as well.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Entire Cowboys Offensive Line

It is only right that the big boys up front get credit for being stars of the show as well.

While they don’t have individual stats, they are the most important piece of the offensive puzzle.

Quarterback Dak Prescott has said time and time again that “we go as they go”- or basically without the offensive line dominating, the skill players would not be able to execute.

What has been extremely impressive about this dominant offensive line is their resiliency and chemistry when it comes to interchangeable pieces due to injuries.

The running game didn’t skip a beat when All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith had to miss two games due to a bulging disk in his back. Second year player Chaz Green filled in and did a decent enough job to help the offensive line stay afloat.

Even more impressive is how dominant left guard Ron Leary has been since entering the starting lineup following a season ending injury to La’el Collins. Leary has been a powerful force, especially in the running game, and has been a big part of Ezekiel Elliott’s success in the past four games.

If the Cowboys want to continue dominating on the offensive side of the ball, and potentially go on a historic playoff run, it starts with this offensive line.

As long as they are controlling the line of scrimmage, this Dallas offense is going to flourish.

This article originally appeared on