Dallas Cowboys are game planning better for Dallas Cowboys are game planning better for

Cowboys gameplanning better for Calvin Johnson than last year

By Mike Dyce | Jan 3, 2015

Dec 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Cowboys are game planning better for Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and are planning on giving cornerback Brandon Carr more help.

The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are squaring off in the first round of the NFL playoffs at AT&T Stadium on Sunday. For the Cowboys they have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who caught 14 passes for 329 and a touchdown the last time they played in 2013.

The Cowboys were criticized for giving Johnson a lot of 1-on-1 coverage.

“It was crazy,” Johnson said after that game in 2013. “We had a lot of one-on-one coverage today, and we were able to take advantage and hit some deep balls. Matt made some great throws to me.”

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Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr was given the task of slowing down Johnson and clearly had a rough day. He feels like he was stranded with the game plan last year but applauded himself for taking on the task and playing with pride.

“I look forward to Sundays, period, no matter who the opponent is,’’ Carr said, via the Dallas Morning News. “Last year, he got the best of us. The good thing about football is you get a chance to do it again.

“Now we’re back in the same position with more at stake. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.’’

The Cowboys have a new signal caller on defense in Rod Marinelli, who is also the unit’s coordinator. He came out and said the Cowboys will be taking a different approach and Carr can be expecting more help than he received last season.

“I think we’re going to be able to maybe give him more help than we did last year,’’ Marinelli said.

“I feel like Brandon is a terrific corner. He’s up for this challenge. But as a staff, we’ve got to find ways to help him.’’

Despite the fact that the Cowboys defense is significantly improved this season over some of their more recent seasons, but they still manage to struggle against the pass. The Cowboys were 26th against the pass this season, giving up 251.9 yards per game this season.

The Cowboys defensive strong suit is against the run, which unfortunately for them is the weaker part of the Lions offense. The Lions have averaged 88.9 yards per run, a mark near the bottom of the league coming in 28th out of 32 teams.

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