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How will the Cowboys make adjustments when we play a team with a running quarterback, like Caleb Williams this Sunday? Jalen Hurts ran for more than 60 yards and two touchdowns, and Russell Wilson averaged 7.7 yards on his scrambles. What is the plan to fix this? – Tracy Adams/Gastonia, NC
Nick: Right now, I don't know if I'd actually call Caleb Williams a running quarterback. He wasn't a dynamic runner last year and never got a single rushing touchdown. Now this year, he does have one score and he's averaging a little more on the ground in two games. So maybe there's something there to worry about.
But as far as changing the game plan to stop that, I still don't think it's the best thing the Bears do on offense. With both Hurts and Wilson, they ran the ball when the play broke down and that's probably going to happen with all quarterbacks, Dak included in overtime. I think the biggest thing the Cowboys must do is contain Williams in the pocket. As much as they can rush him - do it because I feel like that's where his inaccuracy will surface the most. Then again, that's really all quarterbacks.
The Cowboys will dial up pressure and they must get home. If they can hurry up the time clock for Williams and force him into throws before he's comfortable that will probably generate the best results. Sure, he might slip out of the pocket here and there but the Cowboys need to make sure Chicago's receivers don't hurt them down the field like the Giants did. That's still the top priority to me.
Patrik: By doing what you did to Jalen Hurts in the second half of the Week 1 outing, that's how. Both of Hurts' touchdowns and the huge majority of his rushing yards came before a halftime adjustment that then saw Sam Williams chasing Hurts around like a panther hunting hyena. Wilson also only ran the ball three times, so that per carry average is wildly inflated. He did his damage in the air, and was simply timely in when he chose to run, but his legs didn't change the game.
The key is to keep contain on the edges and force Williams up into the pocket where Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas will be waiting for him with their own ability to penetrate the O-line. Once he rolls out, you're at his mercy and you make things infinitely more difficult for the secondary — who has to decide to either stay with their zone (or man) or to crash down to prevent a big run. Don't put them in that position in Chicago, especially with DaRon Bland unlikely to return this week. Seal the edges and beat up on Williams, and his youth will force him into anxious throws you can takeaway and/or fumbles.
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