FishTips for Cowboys at Redskins: How many of our 7 predictions came true in Week 2?

FishTips for Cowboys at Redskins: How many of our 7 predictions came true in Week 2?

FRISCO - My seven "FishTips'' going into Sunday's Week 2 Dallas Cowboys game at Washington ... predictions before the game and reviews now:

FISHTIP 1) My Saturday morning educated guess at Cowboys inactives for the game: Tavon Austin, Adam Redmond, Brandon Knight, Donovan Wilson, Luke Gifford and the D-line tandem of Trysten Hill and Taco Charlton.

RESULT: I got all of these correct; it helps that Taco has on the last two Saturday mornings answered my questions about him not being on the 46. Of course, the inactives, per se, are not the news here. It's what the inactives mean.

In the case of top-drafted rookie Hill? Patience.

In the case of doghoused Taco? Patience is about done with.

All the national football shows "broke'' on Sunday morning the news you, dear reader and listener, already know: Dallas is ready to activate Robert Quinn. To make room, Taco is a candidate to be ousted. Trade him? the Cowboys have talked about that since April (as we've reported). But now ... What team wants to give you a late-round pick when they all suspect you're on the verge of cutting him?

I will say this: With Tyrone Crawford's hip flaring up ... And even with Robert Quinn's impending return ... Maybe Dallas should at least let Taco practice once with the first or second unit? You know, just in case he can still play a little?

FISHTIP 2) Ezekiel Elliott tells me he’s ‘fresh and ready for a full workload.’ Rookie Tony Pollard is in the game plan, of course. But this can be a "Feed Zeke'' sort of day.

RESULT: Again, there is no substitute for the journalistic-boots-on-the-ground access to answers. Zeke's answer was good enough for me. And against the Redskins, Zeke was good enough for 23 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for nine yards.

A full workload. The holdout is forgiven and forgotten.

FISHTIP 3) The reasons for the Redskins to not travel mouthy cornerback Josh Norman with Amari Cooper?

a) Dallas' other receivers are also dangerous.

b) Norman is no longer good enough to merit this job.

RESULT: Norman had dissed Dak before the game and yeah, his buddies took notice.

"They don't matter,'' Zeke said of Dak's critics. "All that matters is what we think in this locker room. We all support each other and we know Dak is one of the best QBs in this league. They can doubt all they want. We'll keep proving them wrong."

Dak's numbers through two games include seven TD throws and one pick. He is proving them wrong.

And those "other receivers''? Norman couldn't contain Amari. Or Devin Smith. Or Jason Witten. Heck, he could barely run with Dak on the QB's 42-yard jaunt.

"I told (Dak), 'If you would've kept running, you would've scored!'' Zeke said.

FISHTIP 4) Tank Lawrence's plan for QB Case Keenum? "Keep him in the pocket,'' Tank said during the week. And the Cowboys defensive end's plan for running back Adrian Peterson?

"Keep him in the pocket, too!'' Tank said.

RESULT: Dallas' D was disappointed in giving up a late score in a blowout, as was the case in Week 1 against the Giants. But Keenum did just a little and AD did nothing at all. Still ...

Said Tank: "Damn sure not happy. Our standard’s way higher. Nobody supposed to score. All 60 minutes. We want more.''

FISHTIP 5) Byron Jones’ rep count in practice this week greatly increased. His special-teams reps did, too. I take it as a sign. There is no reason for the Cowboys Pro Bowl corner to not start - and to do anything but star.

RESULT: Jones was the victim on the final TD pass. But the coaches believe he played well, and just as important, with aggression. A Pro Bowl corner is back. (And P.S.: Chido Awuzie on the other side is playing at an extremely high level. Like, a "Don't-throw-to-his-side'' level.

FISHTIP 6) Tyron Smith and Zack Martin practiced this week without injury issues. It sets up a great chance for the Cowboys O-line to win the brawl upfront vs. a depleted 'Skins D-line.

RESULT: The best evidence is in the Zeke quote: “That’s what this team is all about. That’s what this offensive line is all about ... That’s our time to go out there, end the game and step on their throat and get it over with. We did a good job, kept pounding it and grinded out yards and grinded out time.”

FISHTIP 7) The Cowboys leaders spent the week convincing their teammates that even after crushing the Giants, 35-17 in Week 1, "We have something to prove.'' 

I thought Dallas would do that in Washington by a score of 27-20.

RESULT: Dallas 31, Washington 21. And if they're shooting for a blowout win and a shutout? That's a lofty goal ... but in Week 3, a theoretically attainable one with the lowly Dolphins trudging into town.