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.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Colombo Penalty
Let me start off by saying that although the celebration penalty by Marc Colombo was a turning point in the game it is not the reason or even an excuse for why they lost this game. Rather than delve any further into that, however, I would like to address the call.
The rule is that a player cannot use the ground as a prop to enhance his celebration after a touchdown. The fact that this is a rule in the first place is ludicrous but it is even more utterly ridiculous that the game officials would even think that Colombo was trying to use the ground as a prop after Jason Witten handed him the ball to spike after his 4th quarter touchdown. Colombo is a giant. He is a right tackle and naturally does not have the nimblest of feet. In his excitement, it is so blatant, so eye-gougingly obvious that he lost his balance and fell and did not intend to use the ground to celebrate that it makes me sick.
Shame on the NFL for wasting its off-season time by making rules that are meant to curb the entertainment that these playmakers can provide. More shame on the officiating crew for not adhering to common sense and understanding that Colombo merely fell. It did not cost the Cowboys the game but it certainly factored into the loss. It would have been interesting to see if the Titans would have scored so easily if the Cowboys did not have to kickoff so close to their own endzone.
The NFL is reviewing its rule that affected the Calvin Johnson TD reception that was not, from week one and they should do the same for this.
The rule is that a player cannot use the ground as a prop to enhance his celebration after a touchdown. The fact that this is a rule in the first place is ludicrous but it is even more utterly ridiculous that the game officials would even think that Colombo was trying to use the ground as a prop after Jason Witten handed him the ball to spike after his 4th quarter touchdown. Colombo is a giant. He is a right tackle and naturally does not have the nimblest of feet. In his excitement, it is so blatant, so eye-gougingly obvious that he lost his balance and fell and did not intend to use the ground to celebrate that it makes me sick.
Shame on the NFL for wasting its off-season time by making rules that are meant to curb the entertainment that these playmakers can provide. More shame on the officiating crew for not adhering to common sense and understanding that Colombo merely fell. It did not cost the Cowboys the game but it certainly factored into the loss. It would have been interesting to see if the Titans would have scored so easily if the Cowboys did not have to kickoff so close to their own endzone.
The NFL is reviewing its rule that affected the Calvin Johnson TD reception that was not, from week one and they should do the same for this.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Cowboys Titans reaction
Just as Staples has its EASY button, sports fans have their PANIC button. Well Cowboys fans, it's about time we start to think about pressing that button. What other choice do we have? We are now firmly entrenched in the basement of the NFC East and easily look like the most vulnerable team in the division. Sundays 34-27 loss to the Titans was disheartening to say the least. Any momentum gained by the win over the Texans 2 weeks ago fled during the premature bye week and the Cowboys, specifically the defense, came out looking flat. The pressure on Vince Young was sporadic and unrelentless. I understand that our defense is not the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, who demoralized every aspect of the Titans offense only a short time ago, but we are supposed to have a "great" defense. Our run defense let Chris Johnson do whatever he pleased and allowed Vince Young to be comfortable and efficient throughout most of the game.
CB Mike Jenkins has seemingly fallen into the "Sophmore slump" only it's his third year in the league. After a Pro-Bowl season last year it seems he has taken a step back. He has been spotty all season and on Sunday he was downright terrible. Our linebackers and downtackles had trouble stopping the run and the safeties were nowhere to be seen. It seems that at times, only Demarcus Ware comes to play. Even Keith Brooking had an uncharacteristically poor game, tackling wise. Wade Phillips is the head coach of the Cowboys because of his "great" defensive mind. Of course the players are the ones who have to show up on the field but Wade needs to find a way for a defense this talented to start playing up to its full potential.
On the offensive side of the ball there were numerous signs of potential, but at this point Cowboys fans should be expecting more than signs. Yes, the boys' put up 27 points and yes, Roy Williams is quietly having a superb year and Miles Austin is a downright stud... and we all know the abilities of Dez Bryant; still, Romo has been hot and cold this year. (One positive is that he played shaky in the first stages of last season) He had a great day throwing the ball for big yardage ( 31 completions for 406 yards) but he also threw three extremely costly turnovers that are all on him.
This offensive line is starting to look its age and that is a bad thing. Colombo looked a bit overwhelmed at times as did Andre Gurode, and Leonard Davis is so vulnerable in pass defending that he had to be replaced by Montrae Holland. How can as mobile a Quarterback as Tony Romo get sacked 6 times? This happens when the offensive line is the albatross of your team. They are getting beaten with both strength and speed and it's amazing Romo was still able to put up the numbers he did. The offensive line also accounted for half of the teams 133 yards in penalties! If you're going to be old at least act like a veteran and get some discipline!
So where do the Cowboys go from here? With the offensive line I honestly can offer no advice. Something in practice needs to change. The only player whose spot is in jeopardy is Davis'. Maybe give Holland a try there, I didn't see any pressures over his spot once he came in. As a unit they simply need to play better and smarter. Let's see some grit and intelligence out there! Offensively I think it's clear that Felix Jones needs to get more touches than Marion Barber. He is a greater threat and is running the ball better. I believe that Barber can still be useful. He always runs hard and can get the tough yards when needed but when your establishing the run I think it's a better strategy to run the more dangerous guy out there.
Defensively, Wade needs to find a way to get more pressure on the Quarterback. Our secondary is looking like its open for business when the QB has ample time to throw the rock.
Finally... start looking for a kicker. I don't trust Buehler for a moment. I don't know if there is anyone better out there but it can't hurt to look.
CB Mike Jenkins has seemingly fallen into the "Sophmore slump" only it's his third year in the league. After a Pro-Bowl season last year it seems he has taken a step back. He has been spotty all season and on Sunday he was downright terrible. Our linebackers and downtackles had trouble stopping the run and the safeties were nowhere to be seen. It seems that at times, only Demarcus Ware comes to play. Even Keith Brooking had an uncharacteristically poor game, tackling wise. Wade Phillips is the head coach of the Cowboys because of his "great" defensive mind. Of course the players are the ones who have to show up on the field but Wade needs to find a way for a defense this talented to start playing up to its full potential.
On the offensive side of the ball there were numerous signs of potential, but at this point Cowboys fans should be expecting more than signs. Yes, the boys' put up 27 points and yes, Roy Williams is quietly having a superb year and Miles Austin is a downright stud... and we all know the abilities of Dez Bryant; still, Romo has been hot and cold this year. (One positive is that he played shaky in the first stages of last season) He had a great day throwing the ball for big yardage ( 31 completions for 406 yards) but he also threw three extremely costly turnovers that are all on him.
This offensive line is starting to look its age and that is a bad thing. Colombo looked a bit overwhelmed at times as did Andre Gurode, and Leonard Davis is so vulnerable in pass defending that he had to be replaced by Montrae Holland. How can as mobile a Quarterback as Tony Romo get sacked 6 times? This happens when the offensive line is the albatross of your team. They are getting beaten with both strength and speed and it's amazing Romo was still able to put up the numbers he did. The offensive line also accounted for half of the teams 133 yards in penalties! If you're going to be old at least act like a veteran and get some discipline!
So where do the Cowboys go from here? With the offensive line I honestly can offer no advice. Something in practice needs to change. The only player whose spot is in jeopardy is Davis'. Maybe give Holland a try there, I didn't see any pressures over his spot once he came in. As a unit they simply need to play better and smarter. Let's see some grit and intelligence out there! Offensively I think it's clear that Felix Jones needs to get more touches than Marion Barber. He is a greater threat and is running the ball better. I believe that Barber can still be useful. He always runs hard and can get the tough yards when needed but when your establishing the run I think it's a better strategy to run the more dangerous guy out there.
Defensively, Wade needs to find a way to get more pressure on the Quarterback. Our secondary is looking like its open for business when the QB has ample time to throw the rock.
Finally... start looking for a kicker. I don't trust Buehler for a moment. I don't know if there is anyone better out there but it can't hurt to look.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
18 game season?
The discussion on whether or not the NFL should increase its regular season to 18 games has been circling around for awhile now. It is one of the key issues that is being presented in the new collective bargaining agreements and if implemented could change the NFL as we know it forever (Although the NFL seems to change dramatically each year anyways; Defenders aren't even allowed to hit offensive players anymore.) The other day, Colts president Bill Polian believes that the move to an 18 game season is a "fait accompli" which is unnecessarily fancy for--its a done deal. He later back tracked but all signs point towards Rodger Goodell and the rest of the owners getting the longer season that they so desire. Why do they want this? Money of course. As it stands under the current CBA the players make about 59.6 percent of the profits and the owners want to reduce that number to around 40%. They argue that they do not make enough money and are whining about their investments into their own stadiums and the NFL network. Here is my take:
If you don't want to invest in your team (i.e. funding a stadium, paying for game-day operations) then don't become an owner. Sure, the owners are taking financial risks all the time when they are running their respective teams but these are men who know money, and had to take risks to make it in the first place. The one thing they are not risking is their bodies and lives. The players are the ones whose lives are at stake here. We have seen what damage has been done to a multitude of retired players, especially from head trauma. This sport can literally ruin your life. It can leave you both physically and mentally crippled and in not-so-few cases, dead. 16 games plus 4 preseason games is hard enough. This sport is unlike any other in the world in terms of the brutal physical punishment a man's body endures (Yes, this includes rugby). How often do we see players go down with an injury and then not see them for many times, the rest of the season. Some never make it back to the playing field. If the season is expanded to 18 games we are going to see more and more players get hurt.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello is quoted by the AP as referring to other football leagues such as the CFL or USFL as having 18 game seasons as justification for the NFL's move. If they move to an 18 game season, the NFL will be using CFL players by seasons end and we mine as well not watch. Countless star players will go down and we will be forced to watch inadequate backups and other players not worthy of an NFL roster spot. What will the NFL do to counteract this? Impose more disgraceful penalties on defenders for touching the QB or other "defenseless players." Pretty soon the only way the NFL will be able to keep its Tom Brady's and Peyton Manning's on the field is by making contact with the quarterback "2-hand touch."
Finally, I know a lot of veteran players don't like to play in preseason games, and the NFL thinks that by only playing 2 a year it is creating a balance but its not. The point of preseason games is to allow for your experienced players to shake off a little rust, but more importantly, its for the young rookies and free agents to develop and have a shot at making the roster. The preseason games are a necessity of the NFL.
Despite some of the bogus rules that at times can take away from the game, the NFL is a well run machine. It works. We all love to watch it, and it is by far the most popular and watched sport in America. The NFL as a company makes over 8 billion dollars annually. That is a staggering number. I understand wanting more money but look at how much your already making! For all of Roger Goodell's actions in gesture of "protecting the integrity of the game," he might want to look beyond just the players conduct in the end zone or off the field. The NFL thinks that it has problems looking after its retired players health care now? Just they wait.
If you don't want to invest in your team (i.e. funding a stadium, paying for game-day operations) then don't become an owner. Sure, the owners are taking financial risks all the time when they are running their respective teams but these are men who know money, and had to take risks to make it in the first place. The one thing they are not risking is their bodies and lives. The players are the ones whose lives are at stake here. We have seen what damage has been done to a multitude of retired players, especially from head trauma. This sport can literally ruin your life. It can leave you both physically and mentally crippled and in not-so-few cases, dead. 16 games plus 4 preseason games is hard enough. This sport is unlike any other in the world in terms of the brutal physical punishment a man's body endures (Yes, this includes rugby). How often do we see players go down with an injury and then not see them for many times, the rest of the season. Some never make it back to the playing field. If the season is expanded to 18 games we are going to see more and more players get hurt.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello is quoted by the AP as referring to other football leagues such as the CFL or USFL as having 18 game seasons as justification for the NFL's move. If they move to an 18 game season, the NFL will be using CFL players by seasons end and we mine as well not watch. Countless star players will go down and we will be forced to watch inadequate backups and other players not worthy of an NFL roster spot. What will the NFL do to counteract this? Impose more disgraceful penalties on defenders for touching the QB or other "defenseless players." Pretty soon the only way the NFL will be able to keep its Tom Brady's and Peyton Manning's on the field is by making contact with the quarterback "2-hand touch."
Finally, I know a lot of veteran players don't like to play in preseason games, and the NFL thinks that by only playing 2 a year it is creating a balance but its not. The point of preseason games is to allow for your experienced players to shake off a little rust, but more importantly, its for the young rookies and free agents to develop and have a shot at making the roster. The preseason games are a necessity of the NFL.
Despite some of the bogus rules that at times can take away from the game, the NFL is a well run machine. It works. We all love to watch it, and it is by far the most popular and watched sport in America. The NFL as a company makes over 8 billion dollars annually. That is a staggering number. I understand wanting more money but look at how much your already making! For all of Roger Goodell's actions in gesture of "protecting the integrity of the game," he might want to look beyond just the players conduct in the end zone or off the field. The NFL thinks that it has problems looking after its retired players health care now? Just they wait.
Week 3 thoughts
Here are a few brief thoughts/points from an exciting third week of football.
49ers-10 Chiefs-31
Talk about two teams heading in directions that no one could have predicted. The 49ers are in the middle of an actual implosion. In their furious state of imcompetence and offensive infertility they have fired their offensive coordinator 3 weeks into the season! I can't tell if Alex Smith has any potential because this is now the 7th offensive coordinator that has gotten the axe during his tenure. If you ask me the QB has something to do with it, scrap this kid. Kansas City on the other hand is one of two remaining undefeated teams (Steelers)in the AFC and I doubt anyone would have guessed this. Kudos to Todd Haley and his staff. They have this team believing in themselves and at this point in time, they should now be considered the early favorites to take the division although I think San Diego will have something to say about this later on down the road.
Lions- 10 Vikings-24
It took playing the hapless Lions for Brett Favre and the Vikings to finally get one in the winning column. They will take it but there has to be concern about Brett Favre. He needs only 1 more interception to equal his total from last year. It seems as if his magic may finally be running out. If Adrian Peterson keeps running the rock like he did against the Lions, (160 yards, 2TD) the Vikings should make it an interesting race in the NFC North. The Lions have shown a lot more fight this season and eventually they will catch a break. Stafford returns soon and rookie RB Jahvid Best is expected to play next week.
Bills- 30 Patriots-38
Is it just me or are the Pats looking extremely vulnerable these days? I know the Bills always play them tough but this Pats defense was exposed by a Ryan Fitzpatrick led offense. If the Bills can put up 30 on the Patriots, just think of what other teams can do down the road. Fortunately for New England fans, their offense has the ability to score at will.
Falcons--27 Saints-24 (OT)
If you are a professional kicker, I'm sorry but you need to make a 29 yard field goal. That's a chip shot for a high school kicker. If I were the Saints I would drop him. This is a "what have you done for me lately?" league and it doesn't matter that Hartley was clutch for them last year, he cost them an extremely important division game. The Falcons are going to be in contention for the NFC South title until the very end of the season and now have an upper-hand on the Saints whose run defense is a joke. Luckily for New Orleans, Drew Brees is still the most dangerous QB in the NFC and he will have something to say about who ends up with the division crown.
Titans-29 Giants-10
I was almost rolling on the ground, churning with laughter, when I saw the "ambidextrous" Eli Manning throw the most humiliating and disgraceful left-handed interception in the end zone on Sunday. He always finds a way to push the boundaries of stupidity and the die-hard Giants fans must seriously be concerned about the prospects of this season. Their defense was once again perforated by a running attack. The Steelers made Vince Young look foolish last week but the Giants could not force him to make his usual mistakes. For such a no-nonsense coach, Tom Coughlin seems inept at instilling discipline upon his team. They committed 5 personal fouls including 2 by long time veteran tackle Kareem McKenzie. There are Bill Cowher rumors circling and that may be the best news the Giants fans will get all season.
Steelers-38 Buccaneers-13
We all knew that the Bucs weren't for real but everyone, myself included, always seems to underestimate the Steelers. Not having Ben Roethlisberger is not a problem for them. They have always been defined by their smash-mouth mentality. They ran the ball down the Bucs throats all day and of course the Steelers defense put up another excellent performance including Brett the diesel Kiesel's 79 touchdown interception. The AFC North is going to be a great division to watch this year.
Eagles-28 Jaguars-3
Michael Vick. That's all the needs to be said. He is playing better than he ever did in Atlanta. He is running and gunning at an optimal level. The Eagles offense is downright terrifying and they are looking like early season favorites for the NFC East. The Jaguars are terrible and Jack Del Rio's leash has to be shorter than ever as his team has once again underperformed expectations.
Chargers-20 Seahawks-27
Pete Carroll is a smart man. He left a stormy tempest at USC just in time to hand off all the problems to the very unlikeable Lane Kiffin and has ignited a fire in the Seahawks. They have soundly beaten two teams that they weren't supposed to. It is fun to watch Carroll enthusiastically coaching on the sidelines, often times running onto the field as if he wants to get a few plays in. Everyone seems to have forgotten that Matt Hassleback has been a pro-bowl QB. San Diego has under performed thus far this season but then again, they always get off to slow starts. QB Phillip Rivers is too good for this team not to be successful this season. His careers passing day (455 yards 2 TD) was not enough against the Seahawks mostly because Leon Washington had two magnificent kick off returns for touchdowns.
Jets 31- Dolphins-23
This was one of the two best games of the weekend. The Jets defense did not play up to Rex Ryan's high expectations but they made plays when it counted. Jason Taylor, in his return to Miami, proved he is still a relevant pass rusher and although the secondary bent a lot at the hands of Chad Henne and Brandon Marshall they did not allow the Dolphins to score on four tries in the red zone at the end of the game. Mark Sanchez continued his growth and maturity passing for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns. His chemistry with TE Dustin Keller is something to be feared and WR Braylon Edwards put down his drinks in time to score a decisive 67 yard touchdown. The Jets have won two huge division games and I expect them to win a third against Buffalo next week. They have recovered from that first week debacle and have gained an early lead in a wind sprint for the AFC East.
Packers-17 Bears-20
This was the other great game of the 3rd week. The Bears are who we thought they were; except they're not. They are a legitimate team. Jay Cutler survived a rocky performance and was able to find receivers when it counted. Tight end Greg Olson is blossoming into a premier player and Devon Hester proved with his 62 yard punt return for a TD that he is still one of the most dangerous players in the league. The Bears defense held up formidably against the vaunted Packers offense. Brian Urlacher is still a beast and was all over the field. Great players make big plays and his strip of Greg Jennings sealed the game for Chicago. Despite all of this, the Packers really beat themselves. They tied a team record with 18 penalties. Aaron Rodgers did pretty much whatever he wanted. He and Drew Brees are the cream of the NFC quarterbacks. If he can get some running back help the Packers will still be the team to beat in the NFC North.
49ers-10 Chiefs-31
Talk about two teams heading in directions that no one could have predicted. The 49ers are in the middle of an actual implosion. In their furious state of imcompetence and offensive infertility they have fired their offensive coordinator 3 weeks into the season! I can't tell if Alex Smith has any potential because this is now the 7th offensive coordinator that has gotten the axe during his tenure. If you ask me the QB has something to do with it, scrap this kid. Kansas City on the other hand is one of two remaining undefeated teams (Steelers)in the AFC and I doubt anyone would have guessed this. Kudos to Todd Haley and his staff. They have this team believing in themselves and at this point in time, they should now be considered the early favorites to take the division although I think San Diego will have something to say about this later on down the road.
Lions- 10 Vikings-24
It took playing the hapless Lions for Brett Favre and the Vikings to finally get one in the winning column. They will take it but there has to be concern about Brett Favre. He needs only 1 more interception to equal his total from last year. It seems as if his magic may finally be running out. If Adrian Peterson keeps running the rock like he did against the Lions, (160 yards, 2TD) the Vikings should make it an interesting race in the NFC North. The Lions have shown a lot more fight this season and eventually they will catch a break. Stafford returns soon and rookie RB Jahvid Best is expected to play next week.
Bills- 30 Patriots-38
Is it just me or are the Pats looking extremely vulnerable these days? I know the Bills always play them tough but this Pats defense was exposed by a Ryan Fitzpatrick led offense. If the Bills can put up 30 on the Patriots, just think of what other teams can do down the road. Fortunately for New England fans, their offense has the ability to score at will.
Falcons--27 Saints-24 (OT)
If you are a professional kicker, I'm sorry but you need to make a 29 yard field goal. That's a chip shot for a high school kicker. If I were the Saints I would drop him. This is a "what have you done for me lately?" league and it doesn't matter that Hartley was clutch for them last year, he cost them an extremely important division game. The Falcons are going to be in contention for the NFC South title until the very end of the season and now have an upper-hand on the Saints whose run defense is a joke. Luckily for New Orleans, Drew Brees is still the most dangerous QB in the NFC and he will have something to say about who ends up with the division crown.
Titans-29 Giants-10
I was almost rolling on the ground, churning with laughter, when I saw the "ambidextrous" Eli Manning throw the most humiliating and disgraceful left-handed interception in the end zone on Sunday. He always finds a way to push the boundaries of stupidity and the die-hard Giants fans must seriously be concerned about the prospects of this season. Their defense was once again perforated by a running attack. The Steelers made Vince Young look foolish last week but the Giants could not force him to make his usual mistakes. For such a no-nonsense coach, Tom Coughlin seems inept at instilling discipline upon his team. They committed 5 personal fouls including 2 by long time veteran tackle Kareem McKenzie. There are Bill Cowher rumors circling and that may be the best news the Giants fans will get all season.
Steelers-38 Buccaneers-13
We all knew that the Bucs weren't for real but everyone, myself included, always seems to underestimate the Steelers. Not having Ben Roethlisberger is not a problem for them. They have always been defined by their smash-mouth mentality. They ran the ball down the Bucs throats all day and of course the Steelers defense put up another excellent performance including Brett the diesel Kiesel's 79 touchdown interception. The AFC North is going to be a great division to watch this year.
Eagles-28 Jaguars-3
Michael Vick. That's all the needs to be said. He is playing better than he ever did in Atlanta. He is running and gunning at an optimal level. The Eagles offense is downright terrifying and they are looking like early season favorites for the NFC East. The Jaguars are terrible and Jack Del Rio's leash has to be shorter than ever as his team has once again underperformed expectations.
Chargers-20 Seahawks-27
Pete Carroll is a smart man. He left a stormy tempest at USC just in time to hand off all the problems to the very unlikeable Lane Kiffin and has ignited a fire in the Seahawks. They have soundly beaten two teams that they weren't supposed to. It is fun to watch Carroll enthusiastically coaching on the sidelines, often times running onto the field as if he wants to get a few plays in. Everyone seems to have forgotten that Matt Hassleback has been a pro-bowl QB. San Diego has under performed thus far this season but then again, they always get off to slow starts. QB Phillip Rivers is too good for this team not to be successful this season. His careers passing day (455 yards 2 TD) was not enough against the Seahawks mostly because Leon Washington had two magnificent kick off returns for touchdowns.
Jets 31- Dolphins-23
This was one of the two best games of the weekend. The Jets defense did not play up to Rex Ryan's high expectations but they made plays when it counted. Jason Taylor, in his return to Miami, proved he is still a relevant pass rusher and although the secondary bent a lot at the hands of Chad Henne and Brandon Marshall they did not allow the Dolphins to score on four tries in the red zone at the end of the game. Mark Sanchez continued his growth and maturity passing for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns. His chemistry with TE Dustin Keller is something to be feared and WR Braylon Edwards put down his drinks in time to score a decisive 67 yard touchdown. The Jets have won two huge division games and I expect them to win a third against Buffalo next week. They have recovered from that first week debacle and have gained an early lead in a wind sprint for the AFC East.
Packers-17 Bears-20
This was the other great game of the 3rd week. The Bears are who we thought they were; except they're not. They are a legitimate team. Jay Cutler survived a rocky performance and was able to find receivers when it counted. Tight end Greg Olson is blossoming into a premier player and Devon Hester proved with his 62 yard punt return for a TD that he is still one of the most dangerous players in the league. The Bears defense held up formidably against the vaunted Packers offense. Brian Urlacher is still a beast and was all over the field. Great players make big plays and his strip of Greg Jennings sealed the game for Chicago. Despite all of this, the Packers really beat themselves. They tied a team record with 18 penalties. Aaron Rodgers did pretty much whatever he wanted. He and Drew Brees are the cream of the NFC quarterbacks. If he can get some running back help the Packers will still be the team to beat in the NFC North.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Cowboys-Texans reaction
Cowboys fans can breathe a sigh of relief...for now. The Cowboys avoided the dreaded 0-3 start and soundly beat a very strong Texans team that were sort of the flavor of the week for early Super Bowl contenders. The Cowboys played with a sense of urgency that they seemed to have lacked in their first two games. They finally put their egos aside, shut their mouths and let their playing do the talking for them. Prior to this game it looked as if the Cowboys thought they could just walk onto the field, that bright blue star shining on their helmets, and teams would just let them win the games. They finally realized that other teams are trying to get to the big show too. They played like their backs were to the wall and showed us what this team is capable of.
I think the first thing we have to look at when we break down how the Cowboys were able to be successful against the Texans is their offensive game plan. Finally, Jason Garrett listened to sensible reason and called an offensively balanced game. Neither Marion Barber nor Felix Jones had tremendous rushing days but both were very effective. Barber ran tough the whole day and Felix gashed the Texans D averaging 6.1 YPC. They rushed the ball 27 times for a combined 101 yards, which was enough to keep the Texans defense honest and allowed Romo to open up the passing game.
Roy Williams has been quietly having a decent year (minus that pitiful fumble last week). He has been catching tough balls and he finally earned his paycheck with a break out game. He consistently ran precise routes and burned the Texans secondary for 117 yards and 5 receptions and 2 huge touchdowns. Give that man a game ball. Although Miles Austin and Dez Bryant were relatively quiet on Sunday, they both had some clutch catches and just watching Dez's ability to haul in tough balls in tight coverage makes me think that he is a Brandon Marshall in the making. Jason Witten finally got involved in the offense catching 7 balls for 56 yards. Even Sam Hurd made a nice catch. Tony Romo was on all day and made intelligent reads and had a commanding presence in the pocket. I keep waiting for him step up and consistently be assertive in this offense. Sunday could be the first step.
One thing that you may or may not have noticed was Mario Williams and the rest of the Texans pass-rush, or lack thereof. Is it just me or are Doug Free and Marc Colombo playing out of their minds? Neither Julius Peppers or Mario Williams was able to get near Romo in the past two weeks and compared to Flozell Adams, there is a penalty drought with these two guys. They are both big, athletic and play with great tenacity. Neither is getting their name mentioned too much and that is a good thing. That means their doing their job, not getting penalized and keeping tough pass rushers at bay.
On the defensive side, Cowboys fans have to be extremely excited. They finally forced the turnovers that had been lacking with interceptions from Jenkins and rookie safety Danny McCray as well as a forced fumble. Demarcus Ware continues to show that he is one of if not the most dynamic defensive players in the game with 3 sacks, 2 more QB pressures and 5 tackles for a loss. The run defense bent but didn't break and the cowboys coverage was superb all around. They held perennial pro-bowl QB Matt Schuab in check and out of the end zone until the very end of the game when the outcome was no longer in question. Schuab threw for a modest 241 yards and posted an unimpressive 77.7 passer rating. Andre Johnson was also held in check, although his injured ankle played a factor in this.
It's unfortunate that the Cowboys get such a big win right before their early bye week. They will have to continue to have good practice weeks and come out for the week 5 match-up with the Titans with great intensity and purpose. It's nice that they had all of these private team meetings and player speeches last week but now they must take the proverbial ball and run with it. With the Eagles looking more and more like the real deal the Cowboys must furnish a great winning streak especially against all of their division opponents. (Technically the Cowboys are still in last place with the pathetic Giants).
There are reasons to be optimistic. The defense looked like a Super Bowl defense last week but then again, they looked like the complete opposite against a weaker Bears offense the week before. If they can continue to play at that high level, however, it will be tough for any team to have much success against this high-octane defense. Romo is starting to like he in synch with all his receivers. If Roy Williams can become a consistent threat in the offense it will be impossible for defenses to cover all three of the cowboys receivers and Witten and Martellus Bennett. Finally, the special teams also picked things up this week. The coverage was tighter and kicker David Buehler made 2 tough kicks, although I think the jury is still out on him.
It's only one game and this win really doesn't guarantee anything for the Cowboys season. They have to prove that they can play like that on a weekly basis. The running game is still weak and until Barber and Jones are running on full throttle the Cowboys offense will still be vulnerable to stall the way they did consistently during the first two games. It's a long season and the Cowboys have to keep the fire in their belly for the next 14 weeks.
I think the first thing we have to look at when we break down how the Cowboys were able to be successful against the Texans is their offensive game plan. Finally, Jason Garrett listened to sensible reason and called an offensively balanced game. Neither Marion Barber nor Felix Jones had tremendous rushing days but both were very effective. Barber ran tough the whole day and Felix gashed the Texans D averaging 6.1 YPC. They rushed the ball 27 times for a combined 101 yards, which was enough to keep the Texans defense honest and allowed Romo to open up the passing game.
Roy Williams has been quietly having a decent year (minus that pitiful fumble last week). He has been catching tough balls and he finally earned his paycheck with a break out game. He consistently ran precise routes and burned the Texans secondary for 117 yards and 5 receptions and 2 huge touchdowns. Give that man a game ball. Although Miles Austin and Dez Bryant were relatively quiet on Sunday, they both had some clutch catches and just watching Dez's ability to haul in tough balls in tight coverage makes me think that he is a Brandon Marshall in the making. Jason Witten finally got involved in the offense catching 7 balls for 56 yards. Even Sam Hurd made a nice catch. Tony Romo was on all day and made intelligent reads and had a commanding presence in the pocket. I keep waiting for him step up and consistently be assertive in this offense. Sunday could be the first step.
One thing that you may or may not have noticed was Mario Williams and the rest of the Texans pass-rush, or lack thereof. Is it just me or are Doug Free and Marc Colombo playing out of their minds? Neither Julius Peppers or Mario Williams was able to get near Romo in the past two weeks and compared to Flozell Adams, there is a penalty drought with these two guys. They are both big, athletic and play with great tenacity. Neither is getting their name mentioned too much and that is a good thing. That means their doing their job, not getting penalized and keeping tough pass rushers at bay.
On the defensive side, Cowboys fans have to be extremely excited. They finally forced the turnovers that had been lacking with interceptions from Jenkins and rookie safety Danny McCray as well as a forced fumble. Demarcus Ware continues to show that he is one of if not the most dynamic defensive players in the game with 3 sacks, 2 more QB pressures and 5 tackles for a loss. The run defense bent but didn't break and the cowboys coverage was superb all around. They held perennial pro-bowl QB Matt Schuab in check and out of the end zone until the very end of the game when the outcome was no longer in question. Schuab threw for a modest 241 yards and posted an unimpressive 77.7 passer rating. Andre Johnson was also held in check, although his injured ankle played a factor in this.
It's unfortunate that the Cowboys get such a big win right before their early bye week. They will have to continue to have good practice weeks and come out for the week 5 match-up with the Titans with great intensity and purpose. It's nice that they had all of these private team meetings and player speeches last week but now they must take the proverbial ball and run with it. With the Eagles looking more and more like the real deal the Cowboys must furnish a great winning streak especially against all of their division opponents. (Technically the Cowboys are still in last place with the pathetic Giants).
There are reasons to be optimistic. The defense looked like a Super Bowl defense last week but then again, they looked like the complete opposite against a weaker Bears offense the week before. If they can continue to play at that high level, however, it will be tough for any team to have much success against this high-octane defense. Romo is starting to like he in synch with all his receivers. If Roy Williams can become a consistent threat in the offense it will be impossible for defenses to cover all three of the cowboys receivers and Witten and Martellus Bennett. Finally, the special teams also picked things up this week. The coverage was tighter and kicker David Buehler made 2 tough kicks, although I think the jury is still out on him.
It's only one game and this win really doesn't guarantee anything for the Cowboys season. They have to prove that they can play like that on a weekly basis. The running game is still weak and until Barber and Jones are running on full throttle the Cowboys offense will still be vulnerable to stall the way they did consistently during the first two games. It's a long season and the Cowboys have to keep the fire in their belly for the next 14 weeks.
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