FRISCO, Texas – Imagine if CeeDee Lamb played two games and had a total of four catches for 25 yards and no touchdowns.
While that would be hard to believe, that's basically what has happened to Lamb in the second half of games this year.
He's played 10 quarters of second-half football, which actually relates to two-and-a-half games to be exact. But Lamb has yet to have a big impact in the second half, which has been a hot topic inside and outside The Star.
This week, as expected, both CeeDee, Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott were asked to share their thoughts on the numbers-dip in the second half.
"We pop off early on and then obviously nobody wants to see that for the second half of the game." Lamb said. "So (defenses) do a great job of making halftime adjustments, bringing two (defenders) nine times out of 10."
Lamb mentioned a "cloud coverage" defense that gives cornerbacks plenty of safety help over the top to form a double-team. Something he's seen a lot more of in the second half.
""It's the way games go, they were clouding to him pretty much the whole game," McCarthy said. "So as far as how many opportunities that he had inside, those are the things you have to look at, but this not 7 on 7, there's protection and all those things that go with it so I think that's the way these games go sometimes."
It's not like Lamb's numbers have been bad overall. He does lead the team with 25 catches and 378 yards. Both of his touchdowns were over 50 yards but it's not been something he has carried over to the third and fourth quarters.
"They're doing a great job of stopping the bleeding," Lamb said. "But it's cool. We still got the win (in Pittsburgh). I've got to find different ways of being effective in the game and I will. You best believe it's going to be good."
Prescott also gave the nod to defensive coordinators who are changing the game to stop the Cowobys' best offensive weapon.
"I mean it's the NFL. They're not going to allow you to come in and beat you with their fastball early and late if that's what you're trying to go to, they're going to make you change it up and that's credit to those guys, not only the coordinators to the defense understanding that we want to get the guy the ball." Prescott explained. "We have come into certain games and done that early and it has been tough. Whether they're putting the whole defense to that side or putting two people on him. And that's why it's so important for guys like Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, the tight ends, the backs, everybody else to show up to put those pressure back on them and make 'em get back into just playing normal defense and give us more opportunities with CeeDee."
Lamb is facing a Lions team this week that will most definitely trying to stop him - in every quarter of the game. He had a career-high 227 yards against the Lions last year on 13 catches, including a 92-yard touchdown, the longest play from scrimmage in the NFL last season.
