Every year this is the game I look forward to the most. One of, if not the most, hated rivals of the Cowboys comes into Jerry world and the circumstances could not be further from the preseason predictions of both myself, experts, and everyone inbetween. The Cowboys are reeling at 1-4 and the its sickening to watch the wheels fall of the spokes for this team. This is the final straw for the Cowboys despite the youth of the season. If they lose this game, despite the overall weakness of the NFC, I believe it will be too difficult for them to come back to even make the playoffs.
The Giants on the other hand are coming in hot. They looked pitiful at the season's begining and I really expected them to go in the tank after the Tennessee disaster. Now they are riding high and are firing on many, if not all cylinders. Their vaunted defensive line is finally back to 2007 form, racking up 21 sacks so far this season. Osi has 7 Sacks and 6 forced fumbles in the last 3 games alone! That is staggering! The Cowboys defense only has 12 sacks total despite their so called "talent."
So how will this game play out? It's tough to say. Clearly there is more pressure on the Cowboys. They are literally hanging on for dear life and everyone in that locker room knows that its now or never. Week after week we are barraged with the same old story, same old apology and a nauseating re-commitment speal. It's pathetic and its time to turn those actions into words. No one is questioning their talent but this teams toughness, intelligence, and discipline is very questionable. Their very manhood is on the line this week. For these reasons it would seem that the Cowboys will come out, on their home turf, in a roaring fashion and deluge the Giants with every thing they have. The problem is that a lot of the gaps in the Cowboys play seems almost unfixable and the Giants are downright dangerous.
Despite being in the top 4 in the NFL in both yardage categories on offense and defense the Cowboys continue to trip over their own feet (sometimes literally) week after week. They are second in the league in penalties committed. That is an embarrassing statistic. That stat should be reserved for teams like the Lions, Rams, and Raiders, not the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys running game (2nd in total yards last year) is pitiful this year. It seems the O-Line cannot open up holes and their running backs numbers pale in comparison with that of Bradshaw and even Jacobs.
Further more, the Cowboys offensive line can't pass block either all of a sudden. Not a good time to forget how to do that when you're going up against the hottest pass rush in the league. Osi and Tuck could single handedly decide this game if the offensive line struggles and plays the way it has in the past few weeks. (Guard Kyle Kosier is nursing an injured achilles and is questionable, so watch out for that as well). Quietly, the G-men have the highest rated defense in the league and have let up the fewest total yards.
Offensively, Eli has been solid the past few weeks and Hakeem Nicks just catches touchdowns. The Cowboys secondary has looked egregious at times this year and they face another stiff challenge come Monday night. In order for the Cowboys D to be successful, DWare and co. really need to get after Eli. The Giants offensive line is exploitable and we all know that Eli can implode and play like a rookie at any moment. Wade Phillips needs to start thinking a little more creatively and find ways to get after the quarterback. The Cowboys blitz packages have become as predictable as Mike Francesa in a room with a Cheetos bowl. Hey! Maybe try that saftey blitz with Sensebaugh again. (It was the first saftey blitz of the season but it worked). If the Cowboys can get to Eli they will be successful. If they can't it's going to be another nail-biting shootout that most likely will end in despair for the Cowboys. Most likely they'll score a game winning touchdown and get it called back on a penalty....either a blatant hold or an excessive facial expression penalty on Wade Phillips.
For the Cowboys on offense, it all starts up front. I don't mean to sound redundant but all the shortcomings of the boys offense really originates with that big boys up front. Romo also has to play smarter. His reads have been shaky at best the past two weeks and he has 5 ints in those games to show for it. He needs to stop forcing the ball and calmly make his reads. (It would also help if the Cowboys recievers could stop deflecting the balls into defenders hands with their fingertips) And for Godsakes put the ball in the endzone. Jason Garett needs to go back to the drawing board on the redzone offense. Can we please use Jason Witten down there more? It seems like the only way for the Cowboys to score TD's this year is via Roy Williams ( Who would've thought!)
Oh yeah, lets maybe try to play some special teams this week. You know that thing...kicking...covering? They're kind of important.
I'm not going to predict the outcome of this game. It really is a tossup.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Quote of the Day
Ran across this on ESPN. Apparently the Colts punter Pat McAfee got bombed the other night and some how ended up jumping into some water and then running around the streets with his shirt off. When asked by police how much he had to drink his respone was "A lot because I am drunk." Well put. He was then arrested. The Colts seem to always get kickers who love to get hammered. Then again, they are the kickers, so no one talks to them in the first place. Add that up with living in Indianapolis and it all makes sense.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5706081
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5706081
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Missing Cowboys: Players on the 2010 milk carton
We are 6 weeks (5 games for the boys) into the 2010 NFL season and the Cowboys befuddling 1-4 record reflects their consistently inconsistent play on the field. There are many things that factor into the alarmingly sluggish start for the cowboys, among them penalties, stupidity and poor coaching. There is also the problem of players who seem to be missing on the field even though they are always on the playing field. Their lack of production is another reason for the dearth of success in the Cowboys season thus far. Here is my early season list of missing cowboys.
1. Alan Ball- Safety
The Cowboys thought they were better off without the pricey Ken Hamlin and opted to go with the young Alan Ball at free safety this year. The result has been a player who we barely see ever on our television screens except when he's late to help coverage over the middle. He has proven that he wants nothing to do with making physical contact with an opponent. He has a measly 12 solo tackles, (14 total) ONE, (that's right, ONE) pass defended and no interceptions. LaRon Landry, the Redskins free safety, has 48 solo tackles, (63 total) 1 interception, 1 sack and 4 passes defended on his own. Alan Ball and his safety companion Gerald Sensabaugh have 32 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and no interceptions between them. That's ridiculous. The Cowboys safeties are a joke.
2. Anthony Spencer- Outside Linebacker
Anthony Spencer was thought to have broken out last year. After a slow start in his first season as a starter he started roaring through offensive lines like a rabbid dog. He ended up with 6 sacks, most in a very short span, along with 67 total tackles, 7 passes defended, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He seems to still be in hibernation this season as he only has 2 sacks and 14 tackles. When someone has a "breakout" season they are supposed to follow it up by asserting dominance from the get-go. Spencer on the other hand, has yet to consistently rush the passer and as a result the Cowboys are not able to effectively pressure opposing quarterbacks. They will not be a completely effective defense until they can start forcing the QB to sweat a little bit when he's in the pocket.
3. David Buehler- Kicker
First we draft this guy to be a kick-off specialist and he does the job to perfection; 29 touchbacks, a Cowboys record, and the league leader. Then we get rid of Nick Folk because he is, out of nowhere, completely inadequate. Now a season later Nick Folk is kicking the ball in from everywhere and anywhere for the first place Jets while Buehler is only 6/9 on FG's (2 of which would have greatly helped the Cowboys cause) and he only has 3 touchbacks! He can't even do what the Cowboys originally drafted him to do. The Cowboys coverage unit is the worst in the league and Buehlers sudden inability to kick a touchback is a large part of the problem. He's in the doghouse for sure.
4. The Tight Ends- Jason Witten & Martellus Bennett
There is no doubt that Jason Witten is one of the most exceptional tight ends in the league. Over the past 7 seasons he has been one of the top receiving tight ends in the league and he is an exceptional blocker. Witten is also a gamer. He is a model for toughness... see his helmetless run against the Eagles and the seasons where he played with cracked ribs and a broken jaw as example. Though, for some reason, he has yet to really be a contributor on the offense so far this season. He hasn't been targeted as much by Romo and has even dropped a few balls which truly is a rarity for Witten. He only has 23 catches for 270 yard thus far which is well off his pace for an 80 catch 1,000 yard season. Romo needs to find him more, especially on 6-9 yard 3rd down distances, for the Cowboys to flourish.
Martellus Bennett just doesn't seem like he's going to be that big threat receiving tight end that Jerry Jones envisioned him to be when he drafted him in the 2nd round in 2008. His athletic ability is unquestionable and he is a great blocker. His work ethic, however, is questionable and he seems to have struggled to fit into this, perhaps overloaded, offense.
5. Marion Barber & Tashard Choice- Running Backs
Where do you begin with the Cowboys and their running game? It is woeful. I know their offensive line is aging a bit but it is still big enough to create holes and these running backs need to find ways to run through them. Barber's productivity has drastically diminished since his pro-bowl season where he was the Cowboys third down back. The Cowboys made the mistake of thinking that Barber was an every down back which he is not. He is a punisher and most of all a finisher. He is not fast enough or nimble enough to be the primary back and now, because of the misuse of him, his body has taken such a beating that he is no longer dealing out punishment when he runs. He was once one of the most feared backs to tackle in the league. Now he gets little production out of the 10 touches a game he gets.
Tashard Choice doesn't even see the field any more so at least we know where he is: Grabbing some bench on the sideline. He was never a great back but he is a tough runner and a leader on this team. I don't know that he will ever be good enough to be a featured back but it just seems that opportunities won't present themselves in Dallas for him. It will be interesting to see if he survives the trading deadline (3 pm CST) today.
That "Three-headed monster" running game of Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice looks more like a 3-headed guppie to the rest of the league.
6. Leonard Davis- Guard
Well this guy aged really quick. He's been a pro-bowl player ever since he fled Arizona to join the Cowboys. He is one of the biggest guys in the entire NFL and all of a sudden a huge liability for this offensive line. He is not creating much of a push on the right side of the line for the running game and he is pass protecting so poorly that he's had to be replaced by Montrae Holland once so far this season. If he doesn't regain his old form soon, its going to be a long year for the Cowboys offense.
1. Alan Ball- Safety
The Cowboys thought they were better off without the pricey Ken Hamlin and opted to go with the young Alan Ball at free safety this year. The result has been a player who we barely see ever on our television screens except when he's late to help coverage over the middle. He has proven that he wants nothing to do with making physical contact with an opponent. He has a measly 12 solo tackles, (14 total) ONE, (that's right, ONE) pass defended and no interceptions. LaRon Landry, the Redskins free safety, has 48 solo tackles, (63 total) 1 interception, 1 sack and 4 passes defended on his own. Alan Ball and his safety companion Gerald Sensabaugh have 32 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and no interceptions between them. That's ridiculous. The Cowboys safeties are a joke.
2. Anthony Spencer- Outside Linebacker
Anthony Spencer was thought to have broken out last year. After a slow start in his first season as a starter he started roaring through offensive lines like a rabbid dog. He ended up with 6 sacks, most in a very short span, along with 67 total tackles, 7 passes defended, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He seems to still be in hibernation this season as he only has 2 sacks and 14 tackles. When someone has a "breakout" season they are supposed to follow it up by asserting dominance from the get-go. Spencer on the other hand, has yet to consistently rush the passer and as a result the Cowboys are not able to effectively pressure opposing quarterbacks. They will not be a completely effective defense until they can start forcing the QB to sweat a little bit when he's in the pocket.
3. David Buehler- Kicker
First we draft this guy to be a kick-off specialist and he does the job to perfection; 29 touchbacks, a Cowboys record, and the league leader. Then we get rid of Nick Folk because he is, out of nowhere, completely inadequate. Now a season later Nick Folk is kicking the ball in from everywhere and anywhere for the first place Jets while Buehler is only 6/9 on FG's (2 of which would have greatly helped the Cowboys cause) and he only has 3 touchbacks! He can't even do what the Cowboys originally drafted him to do. The Cowboys coverage unit is the worst in the league and Buehlers sudden inability to kick a touchback is a large part of the problem. He's in the doghouse for sure.
4. The Tight Ends- Jason Witten & Martellus Bennett
There is no doubt that Jason Witten is one of the most exceptional tight ends in the league. Over the past 7 seasons he has been one of the top receiving tight ends in the league and he is an exceptional blocker. Witten is also a gamer. He is a model for toughness... see his helmetless run against the Eagles and the seasons where he played with cracked ribs and a broken jaw as example. Though, for some reason, he has yet to really be a contributor on the offense so far this season. He hasn't been targeted as much by Romo and has even dropped a few balls which truly is a rarity for Witten. He only has 23 catches for 270 yard thus far which is well off his pace for an 80 catch 1,000 yard season. Romo needs to find him more, especially on 6-9 yard 3rd down distances, for the Cowboys to flourish.
Martellus Bennett just doesn't seem like he's going to be that big threat receiving tight end that Jerry Jones envisioned him to be when he drafted him in the 2nd round in 2008. His athletic ability is unquestionable and he is a great blocker. His work ethic, however, is questionable and he seems to have struggled to fit into this, perhaps overloaded, offense.
5. Marion Barber & Tashard Choice- Running Backs
Where do you begin with the Cowboys and their running game? It is woeful. I know their offensive line is aging a bit but it is still big enough to create holes and these running backs need to find ways to run through them. Barber's productivity has drastically diminished since his pro-bowl season where he was the Cowboys third down back. The Cowboys made the mistake of thinking that Barber was an every down back which he is not. He is a punisher and most of all a finisher. He is not fast enough or nimble enough to be the primary back and now, because of the misuse of him, his body has taken such a beating that he is no longer dealing out punishment when he runs. He was once one of the most feared backs to tackle in the league. Now he gets little production out of the 10 touches a game he gets.
Tashard Choice doesn't even see the field any more so at least we know where he is: Grabbing some bench on the sideline. He was never a great back but he is a tough runner and a leader on this team. I don't know that he will ever be good enough to be a featured back but it just seems that opportunities won't present themselves in Dallas for him. It will be interesting to see if he survives the trading deadline (3 pm CST) today.
That "Three-headed monster" running game of Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice looks more like a 3-headed guppie to the rest of the league.
6. Leonard Davis- Guard
Well this guy aged really quick. He's been a pro-bowl player ever since he fled Arizona to join the Cowboys. He is one of the biggest guys in the entire NFL and all of a sudden a huge liability for this offensive line. He is not creating much of a push on the right side of the line for the running game and he is pass protecting so poorly that he's had to be replaced by Montrae Holland once so far this season. If he doesn't regain his old form soon, its going to be a long year for the Cowboys offense.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Romo might not be the answer
I've defended Tony for a long time now. I've always thought he was talented, more talented in fact, than a majority of the quarterbacks in the league and certainly more than any in the NFC East. I've cited his progress and statistics as the bases for my arguments. Now, however, I think I am nearing the end of the road of patience for Romo. I've never appreciated his silly smirks that he makes when he screws up and I've always wanted him to assert more leadership but I figured that as he progressed into an elite quarterback the leadership would follow. We are now 5 years into the Tony Romo era and he has not progressed over the proverbial hump into an elite quarterback. Statistics don't mean too much when the endgame is always failure.
He has consistently proven that he can rack up huge numbers but let us not forget that the talent that has surrounded him throughout his career is much better than most teams in the NFL. At times he can make phenomenal plays and often proves his critics wrong but this season he has done everything he can to prove them right. I thought getting his first playoff victory last year would be the final piece to the puzzle but he seems to have regressed. He is throwing silly interceptions as if his ability to read coverages has diminished. He has failed to raise his team to the level of intensity that is needed with the adversity they are constantly facing. As a quarterback it is your job to dictate the way your offense plays. If your backs are against the wall (which the Cowboys backs have been against the entire season) then you must lead them forward with composure, assertiveness and confidence.
Romo has yet to take control of his team and he probably never will. I don't see the Cowboys replacing Romo as their quarterback any time soon but it is certainly feasible that Romo is never going to be the great Quarterback that he was touted to be. He has all the Cowboys passing records but he has not brought this team even close to sniffing a ring. Troy Aikman's passing numbers at times may seem pedestrian to Romo's but I'll tell you one thing; that guy won and won when it counted.
He has consistently proven that he can rack up huge numbers but let us not forget that the talent that has surrounded him throughout his career is much better than most teams in the NFL. At times he can make phenomenal plays and often proves his critics wrong but this season he has done everything he can to prove them right. I thought getting his first playoff victory last year would be the final piece to the puzzle but he seems to have regressed. He is throwing silly interceptions as if his ability to read coverages has diminished. He has failed to raise his team to the level of intensity that is needed with the adversity they are constantly facing. As a quarterback it is your job to dictate the way your offense plays. If your backs are against the wall (which the Cowboys backs have been against the entire season) then you must lead them forward with composure, assertiveness and confidence.
Romo has yet to take control of his team and he probably never will. I don't see the Cowboys replacing Romo as their quarterback any time soon but it is certainly feasible that Romo is never going to be the great Quarterback that he was touted to be. He has all the Cowboys passing records but he has not brought this team even close to sniffing a ring. Troy Aikman's passing numbers at times may seem pedestrian to Romo's but I'll tell you one thing; that guy won and won when it counted.
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