As Bears come to town, memories of Khalil Mack nearly becoming a Ram resurface

He was the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, newly signed by the Rams to a record-setting extension and part of a star-studded roster built for a Super Bowl run.

That did not stop team executives, before the 2018 season, from exploring the possibility of giving star tackle Aaron Donald another running mate to terrorize offenses.

Khalil Mack was at a contract impasse with the then-Oakland Raiders. The Rams made inquiries about trading for the outside linebacker, but any projected first-round draft picks they could offer in a potential deal were apparently deemed too low.

A day after Donald set the market with his $135-milion extension, the Raiders sent Mack to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick. Mack then broke Donald’s record by signing a $141-million extension.

Donald and Mack are expected to showcase their talents in the same NFL game for the fourth time when the Rams play the Bears on “Monday Night Football” at SoFi Stadium.

Donald said Friday that he was acquainted with Mack.

“We talk a little bit here and there,” Donald said during a videoconference with reporters. “He seems like a cool guy. Laid-back guy.”

Donald has a league-leading 7½ sacks for a Rams team aiming to rebound from Sunday’s 24-16 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. They neutralized Donald with an effective rushing attack and an emphasis on quick-release passes.

Mack has 4½ sacks for the Bears (5-1). He had one sack in Sunday’s 23-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers, but did not practice Friday because of a knee issue, according to the Bears injury report.

Donald, the 13th pick in the 2014 draft, has 79½ career sacks, including 20½ he amassed in 2018 when he won his second consecutive defensive player of the year award.

Mack, chosen fifth in 2014, was voted defensive player of the year in 2016. He has 66 sacks.

Rams coach Sean McVay said both Donald and Mack play with “a relentless motor” on every snap.

“You see a lot of these splash players, sometimes if you really watch them snap-in snap-out, you’re saying, ‘You know, are you really just digging deep when you’ve got a chance to accumulate some stats? Or are you playing dirty on some of the early downs as well?’

“And both these guys do that.”

In 2014, when the Rams played in St. Louis, Donald had a sack in a 52-0 victory over the Raiders.

Two years ago, Mack had a sack and forced a fumble in the Bears’ 15-6 victory over the Rams at Soldier Field.

Last season, Donald had two sacks in a 17-7 victory over the Bears at the Coliseum. Mack played 46 snaps but did not record a tackle during a game in which the Rams attempted only 18 passes.

Mack is part of a formidable pass rush that also includes end Akiem Hicks and outside linebacker Robert Quinn, among others. Hicks did not practice Thursday or Friday because of an illness.

Donald is looking forward to helping the Rams (4-2) bounce back from the loss to the 49ers. But the presence of Mack, or any other elite pass rusher on an opposing team, does not fuel him with extra excitement.

“You go into a game every week with the same mindset, no matter who you’re playing against or who’s on the opposite side,” he said. “Every week you want to show up and have a big day, regardless of who you are playing against.”

PRE-GAME THREAD

• Tweets about the game, leading up to the game, players, writers, etc.
• Stats, tidbits
• Weather conditions
• Pregame stuff, quips, articles, previews, prediction stuff (some times there seems more than normal of this type of stuff)
• “Things on the web” that don’t feel they stand alone, but maybe fit here
• Excited about something with the game, maybe you want to shout it here
• Trash talking, general smack
• Unsure where to put something game related, maybe try here
• Going to the game? Tell us! (at least in the future)

The evidence so far is showing that Brady was more instrumental in the Patriots Dynasty ... than Bill B was.

Agree?

Rams-Bears in 2018 was impactful for both Sean McVay and Brandon Staley

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. –– Nearly two years ago, the Bears hosted the Rams on Sunday Night Football with Brandon Staley coaching Chicago's outside linebackers and Sean McVay serving as Los Angeles' head coach.

Staley and the rest of the Bears defensive coaching staff had been preparing all week for a Rams offense tied for second in scoring average (32.3 points per game) and ranked second in total offense (439.9 total yards per game), having scored at least 30 points in all but two of their 12 games to that point.

"It was stressful, I know that," said Staley, now the Rams defensive coordinator. "It was a hard week of preparation."

Conversely, McVay and the rest of the Rams offensive coaching staff were gearing up for a Bears defense allowing the fourth-fewest points per game (20.1) and fourth-fewest total yards of offense (317.9), having surrendered 30 or more points three times in 12 games.

Staley and the Bears came away with a 15-6 victory – the first time the Rams did not score an offensive touchdown in a game in the McVay era and just the second time they failed to reach double figures in scoring.

"He basically ruined my night that night," McVay said during a video conference Thursday. "I mean, that was not a good night for us."

That matchup would prove impactful for both in the nearly two years since.

The 6-1 scheme – six defensive linemen, one linebacker – deployed by the Bears resurfaced for the Rams less than two months later against the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, holding the Rams to 3 points. Staley noticed other schemes were constructed in an attempt to limit L.A.'s high-powered offense following that season.

"I think that what you saw, as much as Sean impacted the league or offensively, what he's done has impacted the game defensively, people engineering an entire defensive structure to try and stop him," Staley said. "It's no easy task when every week you're facing possibly a new defense that's trying to stop you."

By that point, McVay, who called the loss to Chicago "humbling" that night, was forced to adjust an offense that had otherwise been largely unstoppable in Los Angeles' previous 27 regular season games.

Per sharpfootballstats.com, L.A. utilized the 11 personnel grouping – one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers – on a league-high 89 percent of their total plays in 2018.

In 2019, that usage dropped 73 percent, while the use of 12 personnel – one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers – jumped from eight percent to 21 percent. That grouping is advantageous for a passing attack like the Rams with two tight ends who can create mismatches as receivers, but it also adds an extra blocker closer to help counter the sixth defender along the line of scrimmage.

As for Staley, that 2018 game likely played a role in McVay hiring him earlier this year. Staley also brought some of those concepts from Chicago with him to Los Angeles, and now the Rams practice against them according to wide receiver Robert Woods. That 2018 game also shows up on Staley's "teach tape," or instructional film he uses to help players learn the defense, according to McVay.

One thing Staley has noticed from working around McVay this year is how he takes "full ownership of everything that happens." While Staley knows McVay has been hard on himself about that night, he believes that same ownership of the result continues to make the Rams a better team.

"I think that as a competitor, you're always trying to learn from your experiences," Staley said. "I think that night, he learned a lot about himself. He learned a lot about his team, and I know that after that game, the Rams played really, really well and ended up getting into the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl. I would say that he learned quite well from that night and put his team in a position to be successful."

I'm 100 percent. Without concerts music, I would be in jail for life or dead.

One of my favorite fighters over the last 3-4 years Khabib 'The Eagle' Nurmagomedov is about to take on Justin Gaethje. If you follow MMA, bored, or like to see big fights this one will be a nasty one! I including two from the undercard who are my favorites as well.
Sportsbook ( it expires 2 pm EST on saturday so get in on it asap!)

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My list is personal and the meaning of these songs may not be the intent of the artist (or it may be). Give us your Top Songs and why. These songs are chronological milestones in my life and not necessarily a ranking.

1. AC/DC Back in Black:
First rock album that I embraced that expressed a difference between myself and my parents. as a teen.

2. Hank Williams Jr.'s "A Country Boy Can Survive."
I am a city boy and I couldn't run a trout line without google. I do have a shotgun and a 4-wheel drive (now). It was my first few months alone in the Navy trying to figure out how to make it under stressful cirumstances. This is a survival song for me when I was 18yrs old and on my own, 2000 miles from anyone on whom I could rely.

3. ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin."
Actually the whole Eliminator album was when I was starting to feel more secure in the Navy. I ended up liking their older stuff for you ZZ Top purists, but this was my first.

4. Tone LoC's "Funky Cold Medina."
I was aboard ship and I liked to break the mold in which people liked to categorize me. A white boy with Buddy Holly-like birth control glasses who was quiet, all of sudden was rapping Funky Cold Medina among black shipmates. Ha! I am not really a rap fan, but I like the humor of this rap song. Also, Salt -N - Peppa's "Push It" for the same reason.

5. George Thorogood And the Destroyers' "Bad to the Bone."
Working like a fool as a Greyhound Driver, but on my off time it was craft beers and Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk and this song. Don't judge!

6. T-Rex's "Bang a Gong."
The significance of older songs sometimes strike me differently from when they were popular. Although released in the early 70's, this is the song I connect with the 1999 Super Bowl winning St Louis Rams.

7. Aerosmith's "Dream On," and Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business."
I was never good at school and graduated High School by the skin of my teeth. My wife and mine's small business started doing well and she was worried constantly with my being on the road. I was breaking down physically and mentally from overwork by driving commercial vehicles and when I walked away from it, I was done. I loved doing it, but I had a million commercial miles under my belt and my "fun meter was pegged." I tried to write a dystopian novel, but I felt that I didn't have the tools to do it. I felt that even if I had written it, who would buy it from an ex-bus drivin', know nothin', wanna be author? I didn't have the alphabet soup initials after my name, so no one would take me seriously. At least I felt this way, right or wrong.

With more self awareness than I had as a kid, I exerted the work ethic I had gained over my life and attacked University and put no limitations on myself. Well, I found my limit in internediate level Computer programming and Calculus II. I wanted to become an actuary and now that was done. I remembered an early American History teacher telling me that I should consider a major in History for which I saw as a money loser. I wanted to be an actuarial pro that wrote fiction on the side. I realized that with my interests in family geneaology and the lack of knowledge of their place in the city's history in which they lived in the early 1900's, angered me. No one knew who they were and they were a large family in the hey day of the town. They were lost in the dust bin of history and I determined to raise their memory from the dead and so I would get degree(s) that would help me do that. I am near the end and the above songs helped me to succeed beyond anything I ever thought I could do when I was a kid. I listened to the above songs many times when I was tired of University or feeling like giving up.


Ok, now you know a little more about me. What is your story along with your pivotal songs?

Bearing in mind flaws of offense, Rams' Jared Goff takes aim at Chicago's defense

Since coming into the NFL as the No. 1 draft pick in 2016, Jared Goff has passed for a touchdown against every opponent he has faced more than once — except the Chicago Bears.

In 2018, the Bears intercepted four passes and sacked Goff three times in a 15-6 Rams defeat at Soldier Field.

Last season, Goff attempted only 18 passes, and had one intercepted, in a 17-7 Rams victory at the Coliseum.

On Monday night, Goff again will try to solve one of the NFL’s most aggressive defenses when the Rams (4-2) play host to the Bears (5-1) at SoFi Stadium.

This season, Goff has passed for 10 touchdowns, with four interceptions. He ranks 11th in the NFL with a 101.4 passer rating.

But in last Sunday’s 24-16 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, Goff and other Rams playmakers had their most inconsistent game of the season. Goff completed 19 of 38 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns but also overthrew receivers multiple times. The Rams converted only four of 12 third downs and committed multiple presnap penalties.

“It was uncharacteristic,” Goff said Thursday during a videoconference with reporters, “something that we don’t expect to do again.”

Asked what Goff could improve upon this week, coach Sean McVay said that with a film study, “I could answer that question for about three hours,” noting the intricacies and nuance required to play quarterback in the NFL.

“It’s more about a lot of the things that he’s done really well throughout the first six weeks,” McVay said, adding that he was looking for Goff to make consistently good decisions, and to pass the ball with anticipation, timing and placement that enables receivers to make plays after catching passes.

The Bears’ defense features star outside linebacker Khalil Mack, end Akiem Hicks, linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Eddie Jackson.

Those players were on the field when the Bears manhandled the Rams two years ago, a defeat that played a role in McVay’s decision to hire former Bears outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator.

McVay reiterated Thursday that he learned from the loss, which did not prevent the Rams from making a run to the Super Bowl.

What did Goff learn?

“Nothing that I hadn’t learned from another game where I didn’t play my best,” Goff said. “It’s just, continue to keep your head down and keep going.

“After that game happened, it was obviously not very good by us and we won a bunch of games after that, a bunch of big games. So, just not letting one game affect two and even when the performance is extremely subpar, like that was, not letting it affect the next game and further on into the playoffs that year.”

After the 2018 season, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio moved on to become coach of the Denver Broncos — and he took Staley with him.

Chuck Pagano replaced Fangio last season and once again gave Goff problems. Playing behind an injury depleted offensive line — and also without receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods — Goff completed only 11 for 18 passes for 173 yards.

“One of my favorite wins as a Ram,” Goff said after the victory.

On Thursday, it sounded as if he still felt that way.

“I thought we played pretty well considering what we had that night on offense,” he said.

The Rams’ offensive line is more physically sound this season. Goff has been sacked only seven times, tied for second-fewest in the league. Mack has 4½ of the Bears’ 15 sacks.

“We’re still obviously aware of Khalil and what he’s doing, and we want to keep him as far away from me as possible,” Goff said, “but it’s a completely different year.

“They have a completely different team. We have a completely different team, so the approach will be different.”

Etc.

McVay said that because of COVID-19 protocol kicker Kai Forbath would not arrive until Sunday. The Rams signed Forbath to compete with and possibly replace rookie Samuel Sloman. “Doesn’t mean it’s over for Sam,” McVay said. “We want to continue to evaluate him but getting Kai in here is something we wanted to explore as well.” Forbath, 33, played for Washington when McVay was an assistant coach. Last season with the Dallas Cowboys, Forbath kicked three field goals and five extra points in a victory over the Rams. “He was automatic,” McVay said. ... Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson returned to practice for the first time since training camp, when he was put on the noninjury football list. Robinson had been working with trainers the last few weeks. The Rams have a 21-day window to activate Robinson to the roster. McVay did not rule out making him active against the Bears. ... Running back Darrell Henderson (thigh) and tight end Tyler Higbee (hand) did not practice. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald and offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth were given veterans’ day off.

When he was drafted I saw him as basically Everett's replacement as I speculated that the Rams felt they would be out-bid for Everett as a FA. As I began to look into Hopkins, I saw he seemed to have a lot of upsides. He looks competent in running the Y route tree, simply needing polishing more than anything else. What also struck me was no matter what was asked of him he gave good effort, particularly in blocking. He struggled as most college TEs do with inline blocking. That is usually a very coachable issue. But he was also used occasionally as a run blocker, providing both a wham type of block on an inside run or as a lead blocker. Again the lack of technique was obvious, but the effort he played with was equally obvious.

McVay's offense uses play-action as a staple. In that regard having a TE as an H-back could pay dividends if incorporated into the scheme. That lead blocker would also provide another pass option because many times that lead blocker will be unaccounted for by the coverage. Hopkins has decent speed at 4.66 and is a good receiver. Coach him up as a lead blocker and they will have a player who can play TE or H-back interchangeably. If they want to take this offense to the next level having a lead blocker would seem in-line with that evolution. Too many times runs could have been broken if the Rams had used a lead blocker. Having one that can also provide a good receiving option only makes sense. Mundt lacks the speed and the hands as a receiver. So now I'm looking at Hopkins as probably more of a replacement for Mundt who can play as a blocker and a receiving TE regardless of if Everett is re-signed.

I think we are likely to see Hopkins, after the bye. I also feel that the Rams offense and defense must change to be more consistent and to play to a higher level.

First, let me say that we shouldn’t worry about Goff, Woods, and Kupp. They’re all proven commodities and that 49er game was an outlier, I think.

But there are other things that, if changed, could really help Ram chances of winning now and enhance deep playoff opportunities.

Let’s see...

I think that I have 8 for you, here.

Fewer snaps for Brown, more snaps to Hendy and Akers. Let the thoroughbreds eat, less for the plodder. With our ‘new’ OL I think we can do this.

More 12 sets. More Everett as a FB, too. More targets for the TE’s. Our TE’s have been devastating when used.

Get back to that early season dominant 140+ yard per game running attack. It makes the play action even more effective while helping to win the TOP battle. And it tires and demoralizes opponents.

If I were Snead, I would be trying to move mountains to trade for either an edge or ILB for this season. I really think either might put us over the top toward deep playoff chances. But without at least one, I dunno...

Maybe Staley got ahead of himself with using Ramsey as a nickel at times. Why not use Ramsey each week to erase other team’s best weapon, instead? Think about it.

Other teams are gonna copy that 49er strategy of ‘2 second’ passing. It neutralizes AD and exposes our LB’s. Maybe Staley should anticipate this in the FIRST half of our next game rather than waiting until the 2nd half when we’re down by 15-20 points? Yeah, little sarcasm there. More press man, IOW? Or at least something.

How about some emphasis on tackling? This has become ridiculous as we watch run-after-contact by our opponents soar. Inexcusable for professional football players. Geez...

Why in the world are the Rams NOT using Webster on returns? Unbelievable...

Congrats on the Forbath decision. What took you so long?

That’s 8 suggestions that I believe, if followed, would really improve this team dramatically for the rest of this regular season and also for the all important playoff season. I think all are doable (with the possible exception of executing the trade) and I don’t think that any are controversial, tbh.

Good Morning all, it's a rainy day here in Northeast Iowa so Fall Harvest is on hold, and I'm stuck with my thoughts.

This has been something that I noticed last year and even the year prior and it has me still wondering this season, and I'd like to know if a time feels this way.

Keep in mind, I know we have certain players such as Donald, and Ramsey specifically that this excludes.

But, does if seem like this team lacks a certain toughness and roughness in the mentality of them? It seems like we lack the enforcers, the ones who want to impose their will. I see other teams and they just knock the snot out of teams physically and seem to have that alpha feel. And then there's us.. it seems like if push comes to shove, we're the ones getting shoved. It seems like we have a team that runs from contact rather than into it, especially on Defense.

And on Offense, if we start getting shoved around, it seems like our tails go right between our legs. It seems like we're easily thrown off and intimidated.

I feel like this team lacks a certain mentality, and I don't know how you even fix that. Frankly, I've thought that the last few seasons. Maybe it starts from the Coaching Staff or perhaps it's the players? I'm not sure.

It's just an observation I've noticed, whether it's right or wrong.

First Look: Rams host Bears on Monday Night Football

Following a tough loss to the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, the Rams (4-2) will look to bounce back at home against the Bears (5-1) on Monday Night Football. Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. pacific time on ESPN.

In advance of the contest, here is your first look at Rams-Bears on Oct. 26 presented by Cedars-Sinai, including notable Bears additions, some of Chicago's top statistical performers in Week 6 and key storylines:

Notable Bears additions

• Traded their compensatory fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for quarterback Nick Foles in March. Incumbent Mitch Trubisky initially won the competition for the starting job at the end of training camp, but after Foles took over for Trubisky and rallied the Bears from a 16-point deficit to a 30-26 win over the Falcons in Week 3, head coach Matt Nagy named Foles the permanent starter. Foles has completed 62.5 percent of his pass attempts for 878 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions.
• Activated kicker Cairos Santos from the practice squad in early September. After battling a groin injury during training camp, second-year starter Eddy Pineiro landed on injured reserve and forced Chicago to promote Santos. With Pineiro still on IR, Santos has made 10 of 12 field goal attempts and all 12 of his extra point attempts.

Top Performers in Week 6

Foles completed 23 of 39 pass attempts for 198 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Bears' 23-16 win over the Panthers.

RB David Montgomery paced Chicago's backfield with 19 carries for 58 yards, adding four receptions for 39 yards for nearly 100 yards from scrimmage.

WR Allen Robinson led all Bears receivers with 53 yards on five receptions.TE Jimmy Graham also finished with five receptions, adding 34 yards, but it was another TE – rookie Cole Kmet – who was on the receiving end of Foles' lone touchdown pass last week.

LB Roquon Smith led Chicago's defense with 12 combined tackles, while safeties Tashaun Gipson and DeAndre Houston-Carson each recorded an interception.

On special teams, Santos made all three of his field goal attempts (long of 55) and both of his extra point attempts in the victory.

Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams

Like the Rams, the Bears have found different ways to win early on this season. Most of those breaks were self-created, some the result of failed execution by the opposing team:

• In Week 1, Trubisky's go-ahead 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anthony Miller clinched the 27-23 victory and a 17-point second-half comeback over the Detroit Lions.
• In Week 2, Santos missed a 50-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining, setting up the Giants at their own 40. The Giants reached the Bears 10-yard line, and the Bears managed to hold on for a 17-13 win after an incomplete pass at the goal line and offensive pass interference penalty against the Giants as time expired.
• In Week 3, Foles' three fourth-quarter touchdown passes rallied them from a 16-point third quarter deficit to beat the Falcons 30-26.
• In Week 4, Robinson's 16-yard touchdown catch with 1:35 left pulled the Bears within eight of the Colts, but their comeback fell short when the Colts recovered the ensuing onside kick.
• In Week 5, Santos' go-ahead 38-yard field goal with 1:17 left, combined with Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady appearing to forget the down count on their ensuing series, helped Chicago hang on for a 20-19 win over Tampa Bay.
• Last week, Houston-Carson's interception with 92 seconds remaining stalled the Panthers' potential game-tying drive and preserved a 23-16 Bears victory.

All told, each of Chicago's first six games have been a one-possession game decided by eight or fewer points.

For the Rams, starting fast and taking care of the football become increasingly important this week given how the Bears can create opportunistic turnovers defensively. Considering Chicago can also rally quickly from double-digit deficits offensively, this also could end up being a game that requires some timely takeaways created by Los Angeles' defense similar to what was seen in the first five weeks.

Finally I won't have to watch the stupid cowboys!!!! And I much rather watch Broncos/Chiefs over the shitters/cheaters.

I've got Hulu live and Amazon prime , like 65 bucks, Suggestions.

While reviewing the game this one sort of stood out in that it looks like a designed "eye control" play. I believe the idea is to get the LB to disregard the flat for Hendy to get a sideline seam. And probably thanks to the Dolphins beating that 9er ass the week before these guys were not fucking around, they (SF) played with some serious discipline...

Situation


Pre-snap the Rams are in 12. That's Kupp in motion, Woody at the top.


At the snap 81 is moving to kick out the opposing end. Hendy is going to take the fake before bouncing outside but I don't like his angle here and it's going to get worse, with his shoulders telegraphing what direction he's going to go i.e. outside. General rule is that on a fake the RB should keep his shoulders square long as possible to avoid being read.


Woody is running a deep out here. The corner is basically sitting on it too with outside leverage and a safety inside. Goff knows it's not there with Woody but he stays on him, having not read left really to include a potential play at his back with Kupp (likely a 5 yarder maybe more). 51, who either has Hendy as assignment or reads his route, basically disregards Goff's eyes right here. This is why I suspect it's a designed play to get one over on the young backer.


Couple beats later Goff still locked on Woody. And might I observe another of many fine pockets right here.


Goff finally moves his eyes to Hendy who also looks back at this moment but Goff doesn't like it (probably a good call).


Thrown away near Woody. Gotta tip your cap to the D here, playing a perfect coverage call (which also seemed to happen a lot) and the OLB preventing Hendy running loose down the sideline.

King Kong '33
The original. B&W.
Starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot
Directed by Merian Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack

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King Kong 1976
Starring Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lang, Charles Grodin
Directed by John Guillermin

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King Kong 2005
Starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrian Brody
Directed by Peter Jackson

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Kong: Skull Island 2017
Starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, John C Reilly, John Goodman
Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Discontent in Dallas? Cowboys players reportedly say coaching staff is 'totally unprepared'

At 2-4, the Dallas Cowboys sit in first place in the NFC East heading into this Sunday's road game against the Washington Football Team. And while they would be in the playoffs if the postseason started today, the discontent appears to be growing in Dallas following the team's 38-10 loss to the visiting Cardinals on "Monday Night Football" in a game where the Cowboys never had a chance.

After keeping any issues interneal during the season's first six games, at least two Cowboys players have decided to break ranks, telling NFL Network's Jane Slater that the team's coaching staff is "totally unprepared."

"They don't teach," the unnamed player told Slater. "They don't have any sense of adjusting on the fly."

Another Cowboys played added, "They just aren't good at their jobs."

It's safe to say that Mike McCarthy's first season in Dallas has not gotten off to the start that he or team owner Jerry Jones would have liked. While the Cowboys' offense is dealing with the loss of quarterback Dak Prescott, Dallas' defense is allowing the fifth-most points in league history after six games. The Cowboys' defense is also tied with Las Vegas and Green Bay for the fewest forced takeaways in football.

While their defense isn't forcing enough turnovers the Cowboys' offense has had no issues giving the ball to opposing defenses. Andy Dalton, who has replaced Prescott in the starting lineup, threw two interceptions on Monday night. Ezekiel Elliott also coughed up the ball twice, as the Cowboys saw their league-worst turnover ratio swell to -12.

"It's something that we work diligently on and it's not carrying over to the game. It's something we have to just continue to stay after," McCarthy said about his team's turnover woes, via the Cowboys' official website. "Maybe frankly we're trying too hard or we're over-coaching. It clearly has put us in a position we've been playing uphill every single game.

"We haven't gotten into a groove or a rhythm or gotten out in front yet this year and it's self-inflicted wounds that continue to plague us."

There is also a perception that some Cowboys players are no longer giving their best effort on a consistent basis, something that was on display on numerous occasions during Monday night's loss.

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Coaching aside, the Cowboys have been hit with a string of bad luck. Along with Prescott's injury, the Cowboys have suffered numerous injuries to their offensive line that includes losing seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith to a neck injury. Former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch missed four games after breaking his collarbone in the Cowboys' season-opener, while fellow linebacker Sean Lee is currently on injured reserve with a sports hernia.

The Cowboys have also not found an adequate replacement for cornerback Byron Jones, who signed a lucrative long-term deal with the Dolphins during the offseason. The team replaced him with rookie Trevon Diggs, who has still in search of his first career interception. Dallas has received little contributions from fellow rookies Neville Gallimore and Bradlee Anae, who have combined to record just three tackles thus far.

While the Cowboys' defensive rookies have yet to make a big impact, CeeDee Lamb, the team's first pick in the draft, has helped Dallas' offense become one of the league's highest-scoring units. The success of Lamb, Amari Cooper and Elliott have been among the bright spots in an otherwise gloomy start for the Cowboys.

Dalton and Elliott, to their credit, took ownership of their miscues on Monday night. But if the Cowboys are going to get things turned around, it appears that they will have to get their internal issues straightened out sooner rather than later.

2020 has taken another great musician from us. Known from group such as The Spencer Davis group.