Jason Garrett’s gritty Cowboys were bested by the Eagles 30-27 on Sunday night at Cowboys Stadium. Rival Philadelphia got an enormous lift from standout receiver, DeSean Jackson and running back, LeSean McCoy in improving to 9-4 on the year. Jackson finished with 210 yards and scored on a 91 yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick to snap a 20-20 tie in the fourth quarter. The former Pittsburgh rusher, McCoy, finished with 149 yards on the ground. Dallas, led my sure-handed tight end Jason Witten’s two scores, dropped their ninth decision in an otherwise disappointing season.
Dallas’ defense was overtaken by Vick’s play-action as the Eagles put seven points on the board three minutes into the contest. The Eagles made big plays all night, including during the first touchdown drive. Jackson hauled in a 60 yard pass and Vick capped the six-play drive with a one yard touchdown run. Cowboys’ signal-caller, Jon Kitna, strung together a touchdown drive midway through the first quarter to even the score at 7-7. Tashard Choice added some important gains with the run and Miles Austin got the ‘Boys into Phily territory. Kitna avoided the tenacious blitz from the Philly defense to hit Witten in the end zone from one yard out.
Vick’s two yard pass to Todd Herremans completed a 51 yard, three minute drive and put the Eagles back on top by seven in the second quarter. Vick and Kitna were both picked off during the second quarter. The Cowboys scored with eight seconds before halftime courtesy of David Buehler’s 50 yard field goal. Dallas scored the first ten points of the second half to take a 20-14 advantage. Buehler made a 43 yard field goal to narrow the gap, and took the lead on Felix Jones’ storming scurry off a screen pass into the end zone three minutes later.
David Akers kicked a pair of field goals to tie the game at 20-20 into the fourth quarter. Dallas was able to stall the Eagles and hold them to three until Jackson’s incredible 91 yard touchdown reception. The speedy receiver turned a ten yard pass into a huge gain and a Philadelphia lead. The Eagles held the momentum, adding an Akers’ field goal set up by Kitna’s second interception of the game. Kitna responded with an impressive 80 yard drive and another touchdown pass to Witten. The Cowboys pulled within three points but the Eagles ran out the clock with less than five minutes to earn the victory. Philadelphia hammered down the win despite the Cowboys’ comeback attempt. Dallas is 3-2 under interim coach Garrett. Jackson’s 210 yards were third most in franchise history.
Parting Points: The Patriots are in the playoffs…
Cliff Lee is still keeping everybody in suspense…
Song of the day- “I’d Lie” by Taylor Swift
Showing posts with label Dallas Cowboys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dallas Cowboys. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Counting on Cowboys
What is that smell? Ah, football is in the air. It’s time to decode Dallas and a Cowboys team that’s coming off their first playoff win in over a decade. Dallas devotees beware: the Cowboys are the preseason favorites to represent the NFC in the Superbowl. It would be fitting for America’s Team to play in the Superbowl, considering Cowboys Stadium is this year’s host. However, I am always skeptical whenever my team has so much hype even before the first ball is snapped. So, let’s take a look at just how accurate the predictions are by breaking down the ‘Boys.
The Cowboys have a loaded offense, beginning with their “love him or hate him” quarterback. Tony Romo is the leader of this squad, and rightly so. The former Eastern Illinois signal caller has gone from benchwarmer to superstar. Last season, Romo passed for over 4,000 yards. In Dallas’ 2009 home opener, Romo set a career high in yards and led the Cowboys to the NFC East crown by season’s end. Romo has cut down on his turnovers and has learned to protect the football. His supporting cast includes a talented crop of running backs and efficient wideouts. Miles Austin was Romo’s most productive target last season. Dez Bryant, the ‘Boys’ first round draft pick, is the new weapon joining Austin and tight end, Jason Witten. Bryant is an explosive sparkplug, but I am not sold on the rookie yet. Injuries and off-the-field issues have plagued the former Oklahoma State rusher. I think it will take some time for Bryant to transition to the NFL and Jason Garrett’s offensive schemes. There aren’t a lot of great coverage guys in college football. The NFL is a brand new ballgame for Bryant. Still, the Cowboys don’t need Bryant to be the team’s best offensive player. Dallas has a very sturdy trio of running backs to pile on the yardage. The main concern for the Cowboys this season is improving their red zone offense. Simply stated, Dallas needs to score touchdowns in the red zone. Too often last season, Garrett opted to rely on the Cowboys’ strong passing game instead of establishing, and sticking with the run. Frankly, Romo in the shotgun make me nervous. Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are the three backs who will enjoy most of the carrying load behind Romo. Choice, in particular, could be play a key role in third down situations. The bottom line is, the Cowboys shouldn’t abandon the running game with such quick-strike capability in the backfield. Jon Kitna is Romo’s backup, with Stephen McGee the promising third-string thrower. The offensive line is stocked with size to protect the passer. Montrae Holland gets the nod at starter with Kyle Kosier out with an injury. Doug Free and Andre Gurode are two strong lineman, and Alex Barron is Dallas’ best off-season trade addition up front. Dallas’ depth is undeniable but the Cowboys’ offensive line needs to create more opportunities in short yardage situations in the team is to be successful in 2010.
Head Coach, Wade Phillips, boasts a very aggressive 3-4 defense. The secondary has been Dallas’ Achilles heel the past few years, but has made great strides with the addition and development of key contributors. Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman are the team’s best cornerbacks, with Orlando Scandrick playing a credible nickel slot. Defensive back, Alan Ball, is expected to create turnovers now that free safety, Ken Hamlin, is off the team. Veteran leader, Keith Brooking, anchors the inside linebacking crew. Demarcus Ware is Dallas’ Pro-Bowl terror at outside linebacker. Anthony Spencer and Bradie James are expected to generate a lot of sacks and make it extremely difficult for opponents to run on. Jay Ratliff, the quick lineman, is another notable name on the vaunted Dallas defense.
Special teams is a question mark outside the team’s top punter, Mat McBriar. Last season’s field goal kicker, Nick Folk was released. Folk was replaced by David Buehler. Buehler was an accurate place kicker for Phillips a year ago. It’s unknown whether he can handle the dynamic duties of field goal kicking. Here’s hoping David Buehler’s leg will be more reliable than Ferris Bueller’s school attendance.
The Cowboys return many of the players who headed last season’s surge to the top of the division. On paper, they look like the team to beat again in the NFC East. But as we all know, anything can happen in this league. After all, no NFL team has ever played in a Superbowl hosted in their own stadium. Can the Cowboys turn that around?
Parting Points: Song of the day- Sugar Ray’s “Fly”
The Cowboys face familiar foes in the Redskins this Sunday. It will be Donovan McNab’s Washington season debut and I sure hope they spoil it.
The Cowboys have a loaded offense, beginning with their “love him or hate him” quarterback. Tony Romo is the leader of this squad, and rightly so. The former Eastern Illinois signal caller has gone from benchwarmer to superstar. Last season, Romo passed for over 4,000 yards. In Dallas’ 2009 home opener, Romo set a career high in yards and led the Cowboys to the NFC East crown by season’s end. Romo has cut down on his turnovers and has learned to protect the football. His supporting cast includes a talented crop of running backs and efficient wideouts. Miles Austin was Romo’s most productive target last season. Dez Bryant, the ‘Boys’ first round draft pick, is the new weapon joining Austin and tight end, Jason Witten. Bryant is an explosive sparkplug, but I am not sold on the rookie yet. Injuries and off-the-field issues have plagued the former Oklahoma State rusher. I think it will take some time for Bryant to transition to the NFL and Jason Garrett’s offensive schemes. There aren’t a lot of great coverage guys in college football. The NFL is a brand new ballgame for Bryant. Still, the Cowboys don’t need Bryant to be the team’s best offensive player. Dallas has a very sturdy trio of running backs to pile on the yardage. The main concern for the Cowboys this season is improving their red zone offense. Simply stated, Dallas needs to score touchdowns in the red zone. Too often last season, Garrett opted to rely on the Cowboys’ strong passing game instead of establishing, and sticking with the run. Frankly, Romo in the shotgun make me nervous. Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are the three backs who will enjoy most of the carrying load behind Romo. Choice, in particular, could be play a key role in third down situations. The bottom line is, the Cowboys shouldn’t abandon the running game with such quick-strike capability in the backfield. Jon Kitna is Romo’s backup, with Stephen McGee the promising third-string thrower. The offensive line is stocked with size to protect the passer. Montrae Holland gets the nod at starter with Kyle Kosier out with an injury. Doug Free and Andre Gurode are two strong lineman, and Alex Barron is Dallas’ best off-season trade addition up front. Dallas’ depth is undeniable but the Cowboys’ offensive line needs to create more opportunities in short yardage situations in the team is to be successful in 2010.
Head Coach, Wade Phillips, boasts a very aggressive 3-4 defense. The secondary has been Dallas’ Achilles heel the past few years, but has made great strides with the addition and development of key contributors. Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman are the team’s best cornerbacks, with Orlando Scandrick playing a credible nickel slot. Defensive back, Alan Ball, is expected to create turnovers now that free safety, Ken Hamlin, is off the team. Veteran leader, Keith Brooking, anchors the inside linebacking crew. Demarcus Ware is Dallas’ Pro-Bowl terror at outside linebacker. Anthony Spencer and Bradie James are expected to generate a lot of sacks and make it extremely difficult for opponents to run on. Jay Ratliff, the quick lineman, is another notable name on the vaunted Dallas defense.
Special teams is a question mark outside the team’s top punter, Mat McBriar. Last season’s field goal kicker, Nick Folk was released. Folk was replaced by David Buehler. Buehler was an accurate place kicker for Phillips a year ago. It’s unknown whether he can handle the dynamic duties of field goal kicking. Here’s hoping David Buehler’s leg will be more reliable than Ferris Bueller’s school attendance.
The Cowboys return many of the players who headed last season’s surge to the top of the division. On paper, they look like the team to beat again in the NFC East. But as we all know, anything can happen in this league. After all, no NFL team has ever played in a Superbowl hosted in their own stadium. Can the Cowboys turn that around?
Parting Points: Song of the day- Sugar Ray’s “Fly”
The Cowboys face familiar foes in the Redskins this Sunday. It will be Donovan McNab’s Washington season debut and I sure hope they spoil it.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Pocket Protection
My last blog entry was about a Texas-Minnesota clash. Today’s post is more of the same. This time, however, Dallas replaces Houston as the feature city in the Lonestar State. The Cowboys and Vikings meet on Sunday in an NFC divisional round playoff game in Minnesota. Big D needs to be aggressive on offense. The Dallas defense can win this game for Tony Romo, as long as the signal caller is mistake-free. Here’s how it’s going to go:
The streaking Cowboys will withstand Minnesota’s mettle
It’s a tall order for quarterback Romo to settle
His solid road play will continue in the dome
The signal caller has just four interceptions away from home
Favre only has two picks, but the Dallas pass rush is next
Ware, Spencer and Ratliff will leave him feeling vexed
Smaller but quicker, Dallas will deal with the crowd volume
Favre under siege only spells Minnesota doom
The 40 year old Viking has Adrian to work short passes
The back is capable of picking up yards by the masses
Dallas’ secondary must be poised and prepared
Rice and Harvin are deep threats when the ball is aired
A tight end named Shiancoe is another of Favre’s favorites
The Cowboys counter with Whitten to cause safeties fits
Flozell is dirty, but effective in tackling quarterback eaters
He’ll need to be against the NFL’s sack leaders
Romo’s road protection is a bit sluggish this year
Dallas success will require his quick release without fear
Austin is a playmaking receiver who can break open the game
Jones is the tailback whose scrambling does much of the same
Tony has the edge in the pocket with athleticism and mobility
Brett’s quality footwork won’t matter against the Cowboys’ capability
Coaches Childress and Phillips total zero postseason wins
Wade took three teams to the playoffs and Sunday will see grins
Parting Points: The Cowboys hired Paul Pasqualoni as their new defensive line coach.
And a big Thank You to…you know who you are.
The streaking Cowboys will withstand Minnesota’s mettle
It’s a tall order for quarterback Romo to settle
His solid road play will continue in the dome
The signal caller has just four interceptions away from home
Favre only has two picks, but the Dallas pass rush is next
Ware, Spencer and Ratliff will leave him feeling vexed
Smaller but quicker, Dallas will deal with the crowd volume
Favre under siege only spells Minnesota doom
The 40 year old Viking has Adrian to work short passes
The back is capable of picking up yards by the masses
Dallas’ secondary must be poised and prepared
Rice and Harvin are deep threats when the ball is aired
A tight end named Shiancoe is another of Favre’s favorites
The Cowboys counter with Whitten to cause safeties fits
Flozell is dirty, but effective in tackling quarterback eaters
He’ll need to be against the NFL’s sack leaders
Romo’s road protection is a bit sluggish this year
Dallas success will require his quick release without fear
Austin is a playmaking receiver who can break open the game
Jones is the tailback whose scrambling does much of the same
Tony has the edge in the pocket with athleticism and mobility
Brett’s quality footwork won’t matter against the Cowboys’ capability
Coaches Childress and Phillips total zero postseason wins
Wade took three teams to the playoffs and Sunday will see grins
Parting Points: The Cowboys hired Paul Pasqualoni as their new defensive line coach.
And a big Thank You to…you know who you are.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Drought Departs Dallas
The Cowboys retained the playoff success of the early 1990’s with a convincing first round win over the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday in Dallas. The Eagles onslaught included a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback, Tony Romo. Five straight scoring drives highlighted a record second quarter as the Cowboys went on to pound Philadelphia 34-14. The Eagles fell to America’s team for the third time this season. The 20 point win was the first playoff win for Dallas since 1996. Romo notched his first post-season victory by remaining focused behind center and relying on the top-notch Dallas defense. The Cowboys put away 13 years of frustration with 27 second quarter points and three fumble recoveries. Big D head coach, Wade Phillips, got the monkey off his back too. Sunday’s defeat over the NFC rival Eagles marked Phillips’ first playoff win as a head coach.
Neither team logged a digit during the scoreless first quarter that saw five Dallas penalties. Then, the Cowboys blew the game open recording 27 unanswered points. The 12-5 Cowboys found their rhythm and took a 7-0 lead to set the tone for the night. The Cowboys erased all doubts about recent playoff droughts by never trailing against the visiting Eagles. John Phillips one yard pass reception from Romo with less than a minute into the second quarter was the first score. The 92,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium quieted their cheers on the ensuing Eagles possession. Backup quarterback, Michael Vick, instituted a run-and-pass play to Jeremy Maclin good for a 76 yard Philadelphia touchdown. Dallas was not intimidated, and answered on the next drive. Tashard Choice, the second year back out of Georgia Tech, found a home in the end zone on one of his fourteen touches of the night. Choice, coming off a concussion, was shaken up during the fourth quarter. Romo continued to flourish and completed 23 of 35 passes without an interception. He tossed for 244 yards, hitting Miles Austin for his second touchdown of the game with 1:55 before the half. Austin’s six yard grab was sandwiched between two Shaun Suisham field goals to give the Cowboys a 27-7 halftime lead. Roy Williams, who fizzled out during the regular season, had a respectable first half for Dallas. Williams had five catches for 59 yards as the Cowboys built their lead in the second. Receiver/punt returner, Patrick Crayton, was also solid. He averaged 18.7 yards on punt returns while hauling in three receptions. Austin led all Dallas receivers with 7 receptions for 82 yards. His touchdown before the two-minute warning was set up by a Vick fumble at the Philadelphia 18 yard line. Suisham’s nailed his second kick of the quarter following a fumble by the Eagles’ Leonard Weaver. Brady James pounced on the football, and the replay challenge was upheld to give Dallas one final possession before the break.
The Cowboys’ defense rattled starter, Donovan McNabb, the entire game. The Eagles quarterback came out firing in the second half, connecting with Brent Celek for a 20 yard reception on the first play. Game changing offensive stud, LeSean McCoy, was held in check by Dallas’ defense, and Philadelphia was forced to punt after Celek’s grab. The brilliant receiver McCoy caught just three passes for 14 yards. He scored 90 seconds into the fourth quarter with a pointless four yard touchdown. McNabb failed to complete a pass to sustain the drive because of the talented Dallas secondary. The former Syracuse signal caller completed 19 of 37 passes for 230 yards. He threw the game’s only two interceptions, one to Mike Jenkins midway through the third quarter. The pick came after the visitors were charged with two false start penalties, and tailback, Felix Jones, tallied another touchdown for the Cowboys. Jones took the handoff at the Dallas 27 to the end zone with a 73 yard burst. Big D’s rushing leader finished with a 168 yard effort. Jones replaced Marion Barber as the premier back when Barber became limited with a knee injury during Thursday’s practice. The Eagles finally scored again on McCoy’s late touchdown reception. Phillips swapped running plays with an aerial attack to run out the clock. Romo twice found Austin and flicked complete to Jason Witten to chew up seven minutes in the final quarter. Then the stalwart defense took over, sacking McNabb and forcing his second fumble with four minutes remaining. The Cowboys paralyzed the Eagles but still have a long way to go before they can start talking Superbowl.
Parting Points: Kudos to the Jets too.
Neither team logged a digit during the scoreless first quarter that saw five Dallas penalties. Then, the Cowboys blew the game open recording 27 unanswered points. The 12-5 Cowboys found their rhythm and took a 7-0 lead to set the tone for the night. The Cowboys erased all doubts about recent playoff droughts by never trailing against the visiting Eagles. John Phillips one yard pass reception from Romo with less than a minute into the second quarter was the first score. The 92,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium quieted their cheers on the ensuing Eagles possession. Backup quarterback, Michael Vick, instituted a run-and-pass play to Jeremy Maclin good for a 76 yard Philadelphia touchdown. Dallas was not intimidated, and answered on the next drive. Tashard Choice, the second year back out of Georgia Tech, found a home in the end zone on one of his fourteen touches of the night. Choice, coming off a concussion, was shaken up during the fourth quarter. Romo continued to flourish and completed 23 of 35 passes without an interception. He tossed for 244 yards, hitting Miles Austin for his second touchdown of the game with 1:55 before the half. Austin’s six yard grab was sandwiched between two Shaun Suisham field goals to give the Cowboys a 27-7 halftime lead. Roy Williams, who fizzled out during the regular season, had a respectable first half for Dallas. Williams had five catches for 59 yards as the Cowboys built their lead in the second. Receiver/punt returner, Patrick Crayton, was also solid. He averaged 18.7 yards on punt returns while hauling in three receptions. Austin led all Dallas receivers with 7 receptions for 82 yards. His touchdown before the two-minute warning was set up by a Vick fumble at the Philadelphia 18 yard line. Suisham’s nailed his second kick of the quarter following a fumble by the Eagles’ Leonard Weaver. Brady James pounced on the football, and the replay challenge was upheld to give Dallas one final possession before the break.
The Cowboys’ defense rattled starter, Donovan McNabb, the entire game. The Eagles quarterback came out firing in the second half, connecting with Brent Celek for a 20 yard reception on the first play. Game changing offensive stud, LeSean McCoy, was held in check by Dallas’ defense, and Philadelphia was forced to punt after Celek’s grab. The brilliant receiver McCoy caught just three passes for 14 yards. He scored 90 seconds into the fourth quarter with a pointless four yard touchdown. McNabb failed to complete a pass to sustain the drive because of the talented Dallas secondary. The former Syracuse signal caller completed 19 of 37 passes for 230 yards. He threw the game’s only two interceptions, one to Mike Jenkins midway through the third quarter. The pick came after the visitors were charged with two false start penalties, and tailback, Felix Jones, tallied another touchdown for the Cowboys. Jones took the handoff at the Dallas 27 to the end zone with a 73 yard burst. Big D’s rushing leader finished with a 168 yard effort. Jones replaced Marion Barber as the premier back when Barber became limited with a knee injury during Thursday’s practice. The Eagles finally scored again on McCoy’s late touchdown reception. Phillips swapped running plays with an aerial attack to run out the clock. Romo twice found Austin and flicked complete to Jason Witten to chew up seven minutes in the final quarter. Then the stalwart defense took over, sacking McNabb and forcing his second fumble with four minutes remaining. The Cowboys paralyzed the Eagles but still have a long way to go before they can start talking Superbowl.
Parting Points: Kudos to the Jets too.
Monday, January 4, 2010
'Boys Blank Birds
The Cowboys were dazzling Sunday afternoon in winning the NFC East down in Arlington. The ‘Boys will have to repeat their tremendous performance next week against the Philadelphia Eagles if they are to advance further in the playoffs. Dallas shutout the Eagles at home 24-0 to close out December with a winning record for the first time since 1996. Sunday’s loss snapped a six game winning streak for the Eagles. The triumph also set up a rematch between the NFC rivals in the first round of the playoffs next Saturday. It will be the first post-season NFL game played in the new Cowboys stadium.
Wade Phillips’ offense implemented the run and relied on the secondary and pass rush defense to carry the Cowboys over Philadelphia. Marion Barber and Felix Jones rushed combined for 103 yards on 14 carries in the first three series of Sunday’s contest. Each back finished with 91 yards as the Cowboys finished the regular season with an impressive 11-3 record. The win capped off a 6-2 home record for Dallas this season, and they are now riding a three game winning streak into the playoffs. The ‘Boys’ running game has been on the rise since the debacle against San Diego four weeks ago. The Cowboys are 9-2 when they run the ball more than 100 yards per game. It was hardly a problem establishing the run against the Eagles’ defense yesterday. Barber and Jones were able to get into their rhythm early, and remained a factor late in the game. The talented duo glided down the field on the opening possession to set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown. Barber had three touches, including an 18 yard surge. Jones carried the ball one yard before Dallas quarterback, Tony Romo, hit Jason Witten on third down from the Eagles’ 10 yard line. Witten’s ten yard touchdown grab was the elite tight end’s second of the season. It was good to see Witten scoring points and being a contributing factor in the win. He is one of the most underrated players in the league. The Dallas tight end caught six passes for 76 yards. In doing so, Witten became the third player at his position to post multiple 90-catch, 1,000 yard seasons.
The Eagles suffered poor field position most of the game. Thus, they never found the end zone. The Eagles were pinned inside the 20 yard line on their first nine possessions. David Buehler taunted Philadelphia’s special teams with four of five touchbacks on kickoffs. Rookie Jeremy Maclin, the former Missouri wideout, returned the only Eagles kickoff for 17 yards. It wasn’t as if the Eagles didn’t chew up yards against the Cowboys. Eagles’ signal caller, Donovan McNabb, passes for 223 yards and completed 20 of 36 throws. It was the lack of a ground game and array of fumbles that did the Eagles in on Sunday. And, of the course the Dallas pass rush was quite effective. McNabb was sacked for an eight yard loss on Philadelphia’s initial drive. Dallas held the ball over six minutes on their second possession but the drive ended with Romo’s only interception. Joselio Hanson picked Romo off at the Philadelphia seven yard line with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The toss intended for Patrick Crayton was returned six yards. McNabb drove the Eagles to the Dallas 39 yard line to start the second quarter. His pass to Maclin was incomplete on third and and eight, and the Cowboys took over. Romo promptly and methodically marched Dallas down the field. After a false start penalty that set the Cowboys back five yards, Romo connected with Crayton for a 30 yard gain. A pair of Barber rushes and two significant tosses to Miles Austin were enough to put the Cowboys back in the red zone. Austin caught consecutive passes of 40 and 5 yards. Crayton hauled in the 14 yarder for the 14-0 Dallas lead to close out the 80 yard drive. Dallas wasn’t finished with their first half scoring there. Shaun Suisam’s 44 yard field goal lifted the home team to a 17-0 romping of Philadelphia. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime in the first ever back-to-back blankings in franchise history.
Jones accounted for the only other score of the game. The two-year back out of Arkansas plowed into the end zone from 49 yards out with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Following Jones’ half-the-field run, the Dallas defense continued to pound McNabb. They sacked him for a ten yard loss and took over on downs in the waning minutes of the third. McNabb hit the turf again on the Eagles’ next possession. Romo took snaps and handed the ball off to his running backs to finish the fourth quarter. He also found Clayton and Witten to extend the Dallas drives late in the game. DeSean Jackson, the game-breaking Philadelphia receiver, was held to three receptions. Eagles tight end, Brent Celek, lead the team with 96 yards on seven catches. Crayton and Austin finished with 99 and 90 yards, respectively, and Romo threw for 311 yards. Everything seems to be clicking on offense for the Cowboys. They’ve already beaten the Eagles twice this season. Now they have to dispatch them when it counts most.
Parting Points: Happy 50th birthday to REM’s Michael Stipe!
Poem for Monday- “The Sun” by Max Eastman
Wade Phillips’ offense implemented the run and relied on the secondary and pass rush defense to carry the Cowboys over Philadelphia. Marion Barber and Felix Jones rushed combined for 103 yards on 14 carries in the first three series of Sunday’s contest. Each back finished with 91 yards as the Cowboys finished the regular season with an impressive 11-3 record. The win capped off a 6-2 home record for Dallas this season, and they are now riding a three game winning streak into the playoffs. The ‘Boys’ running game has been on the rise since the debacle against San Diego four weeks ago. The Cowboys are 9-2 when they run the ball more than 100 yards per game. It was hardly a problem establishing the run against the Eagles’ defense yesterday. Barber and Jones were able to get into their rhythm early, and remained a factor late in the game. The talented duo glided down the field on the opening possession to set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown. Barber had three touches, including an 18 yard surge. Jones carried the ball one yard before Dallas quarterback, Tony Romo, hit Jason Witten on third down from the Eagles’ 10 yard line. Witten’s ten yard touchdown grab was the elite tight end’s second of the season. It was good to see Witten scoring points and being a contributing factor in the win. He is one of the most underrated players in the league. The Dallas tight end caught six passes for 76 yards. In doing so, Witten became the third player at his position to post multiple 90-catch, 1,000 yard seasons.
The Eagles suffered poor field position most of the game. Thus, they never found the end zone. The Eagles were pinned inside the 20 yard line on their first nine possessions. David Buehler taunted Philadelphia’s special teams with four of five touchbacks on kickoffs. Rookie Jeremy Maclin, the former Missouri wideout, returned the only Eagles kickoff for 17 yards. It wasn’t as if the Eagles didn’t chew up yards against the Cowboys. Eagles’ signal caller, Donovan McNabb, passes for 223 yards and completed 20 of 36 throws. It was the lack of a ground game and array of fumbles that did the Eagles in on Sunday. And, of the course the Dallas pass rush was quite effective. McNabb was sacked for an eight yard loss on Philadelphia’s initial drive. Dallas held the ball over six minutes on their second possession but the drive ended with Romo’s only interception. Joselio Hanson picked Romo off at the Philadelphia seven yard line with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The toss intended for Patrick Crayton was returned six yards. McNabb drove the Eagles to the Dallas 39 yard line to start the second quarter. His pass to Maclin was incomplete on third and and eight, and the Cowboys took over. Romo promptly and methodically marched Dallas down the field. After a false start penalty that set the Cowboys back five yards, Romo connected with Crayton for a 30 yard gain. A pair of Barber rushes and two significant tosses to Miles Austin were enough to put the Cowboys back in the red zone. Austin caught consecutive passes of 40 and 5 yards. Crayton hauled in the 14 yarder for the 14-0 Dallas lead to close out the 80 yard drive. Dallas wasn’t finished with their first half scoring there. Shaun Suisam’s 44 yard field goal lifted the home team to a 17-0 romping of Philadelphia. The Cowboys had 291 yards by halftime in the first ever back-to-back blankings in franchise history.
Jones accounted for the only other score of the game. The two-year back out of Arkansas plowed into the end zone from 49 yards out with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Following Jones’ half-the-field run, the Dallas defense continued to pound McNabb. They sacked him for a ten yard loss and took over on downs in the waning minutes of the third. McNabb hit the turf again on the Eagles’ next possession. Romo took snaps and handed the ball off to his running backs to finish the fourth quarter. He also found Clayton and Witten to extend the Dallas drives late in the game. DeSean Jackson, the game-breaking Philadelphia receiver, was held to three receptions. Eagles tight end, Brent Celek, lead the team with 96 yards on seven catches. Crayton and Austin finished with 99 and 90 yards, respectively, and Romo threw for 311 yards. Everything seems to be clicking on offense for the Cowboys. They’ve already beaten the Eagles twice this season. Now they have to dispatch them when it counts most.
Parting Points: Happy 50th birthday to REM’s Michael Stipe!
Poem for Monday- “The Sun” by Max Eastman
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Streaking Saints Stopped Short
The Dallas Cowboys had everything to gain and lose Saturday. A loss to the undefeated Saints in the Superdome would further diminish their slim playoff chances. A win would keep their post-season hopes alive and summon them the first team to beat New Orleans this season. Dallas delivered a defeat dramatically to dash the Saints, tarnish their record and stop their winning streak. The Saints were handed their first loss of the year after falling short at midfield in the final minute. Defensive standout, DeMarcus Ware, sacked New Orleans quarterback, Drew Brees at the Dallas 48 yard line with .12 second left. Brees fumbled the football and the Cowboys recovered to seal the 24-17 victory. New Orleans is now 13-1. The Indianapolis Colts are the only team with an unblemished record in 2009. The Cowboys are 9-5 overall and improved to 4-3 on the road.
Dallas ended a two game skid and built and early 14-0 lead. The Cowboys scored on their first two possessions of the game. Tony Romo, the 29 year old quarterback, put a halt to the Cowboys’ recent December swoon. Romo burned the Saints with a 49 yard touchdown pass to a streaking Miles Austin down the left sideline for the early 7-0 Dallas advantage. Miles led all receivers with 7 receptions for 139 yards and eclipsed 1,000 yards with his first half grab. Marion Barber scored on a three yard rushing touchdown to make it a two touchdown lead for the visiting team before the end of the first quarter. Romo threw for 312 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 21 yards and went without an interception as the Dallas offense finally stepped up the challenge. Wade Phillips’ defense also rose to the occasion, holding New Orleans to one first down in the opening quarter.
The second quarter wasn’t much better for Brees and the unbeaten Saints. Brees threw a pick and fumbled the ball as New Orleans fell behind 17-3 at the break. The Saints pieced together a 75 yard drive in the middle of the second quarter. Garrett Hartley drilled a 34 yard field goal to provide the only Saints points in the first half. New Orleans’ NFC East opponents added a field goal when Nick Folk notched one from 44 yards with .4 seconds before halftime.
The Cowboys overcame some penalties and poor kicking in the second half to withstand the suddenly emerging Saints. New Orleans held the Cowboys scoreless the last 23 minutes of Saturday’s contest. Barber’s second touchdown of the day increased the Dallas lead to 21. The Cowboys’ pass rush continued to apply pressure and stymie the high octane Brees-led offense. The offense used a nice balance of run-pass plays to put the early dagger in the hosts’ hopes for perfection. Still, the comeback Saints put up a pair of scores in the final quarter. Brees found David Thomas for 13 and 18 yard completions to set up Mike Bell’s one yard touchdown run. Lance Moore lifted the Saints on their next possession. Moore caught a seven yard pass on a three minute drive to cut New Orleans’ deficit to 24-17 with eight minutes remaining. Brees finished with 298 yards through the air.
The Superdome crowd lit up when Folk missed an easy 24 yard field that would have put the game away for Dallas shortly before the two minute warning. Brees had one last crack at preserving an undefeated season for the Saints, but the Big D’s defense held strong. Ware stuffed Brees for a six yard loss and sent the packed Superdome fans home silent. Sean Payton’s Saints couldn’t get anything going early on and the Dallas lead was too much to overcome, even for the MVP-caliber quarterback Brees. Romo was highly efficient and hit his receivers when he needed to most. The visiting offense was 8-of-15 on third downs. The home team converted just one of seven third downs. Dallas relied on the depth of their offense to overpower the highest scoring NFL team. Romo used nine different receivers during his 22 completion night. The Cowboys also dominated time of possession while getting dominant performances from key players. Second year cornerbacks, Orlando Scandrick and Michael Jenkins, had seven and four tackles, respectively. Linebacker Anthony Spencer and Ware both picked up a pair of sacks and the offense outgained New Orleans 439 to 336 in yards. Marques Colston secured a handful of receptions for 86 yards. Thomas hauled in eight for 77 more, but the Saints struggled to move the ball the entire game. This Saturday wasn’t the Saints’ lucky day. Devery Henderson dropped a potential touchdown pass, and tailback, Reggie Bush, pulled up lame for an early exit. Dallas ended the Saints’ run at perfection by playing a near perfect game on the road in late December. Just like the 2009 Saints losing, that rarely happens.
Parting Points: My New Mexico Bowl prediction was entirely off. I guess this is why I don’t bet money on sports.
Band of the day- Toad the Wet Sprocket
Dallas ended a two game skid and built and early 14-0 lead. The Cowboys scored on their first two possessions of the game. Tony Romo, the 29 year old quarterback, put a halt to the Cowboys’ recent December swoon. Romo burned the Saints with a 49 yard touchdown pass to a streaking Miles Austin down the left sideline for the early 7-0 Dallas advantage. Miles led all receivers with 7 receptions for 139 yards and eclipsed 1,000 yards with his first half grab. Marion Barber scored on a three yard rushing touchdown to make it a two touchdown lead for the visiting team before the end of the first quarter. Romo threw for 312 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 21 yards and went without an interception as the Dallas offense finally stepped up the challenge. Wade Phillips’ defense also rose to the occasion, holding New Orleans to one first down in the opening quarter.
The second quarter wasn’t much better for Brees and the unbeaten Saints. Brees threw a pick and fumbled the ball as New Orleans fell behind 17-3 at the break. The Saints pieced together a 75 yard drive in the middle of the second quarter. Garrett Hartley drilled a 34 yard field goal to provide the only Saints points in the first half. New Orleans’ NFC East opponents added a field goal when Nick Folk notched one from 44 yards with .4 seconds before halftime.
The Cowboys overcame some penalties and poor kicking in the second half to withstand the suddenly emerging Saints. New Orleans held the Cowboys scoreless the last 23 minutes of Saturday’s contest. Barber’s second touchdown of the day increased the Dallas lead to 21. The Cowboys’ pass rush continued to apply pressure and stymie the high octane Brees-led offense. The offense used a nice balance of run-pass plays to put the early dagger in the hosts’ hopes for perfection. Still, the comeback Saints put up a pair of scores in the final quarter. Brees found David Thomas for 13 and 18 yard completions to set up Mike Bell’s one yard touchdown run. Lance Moore lifted the Saints on their next possession. Moore caught a seven yard pass on a three minute drive to cut New Orleans’ deficit to 24-17 with eight minutes remaining. Brees finished with 298 yards through the air.
The Superdome crowd lit up when Folk missed an easy 24 yard field that would have put the game away for Dallas shortly before the two minute warning. Brees had one last crack at preserving an undefeated season for the Saints, but the Big D’s defense held strong. Ware stuffed Brees for a six yard loss and sent the packed Superdome fans home silent. Sean Payton’s Saints couldn’t get anything going early on and the Dallas lead was too much to overcome, even for the MVP-caliber quarterback Brees. Romo was highly efficient and hit his receivers when he needed to most. The visiting offense was 8-of-15 on third downs. The home team converted just one of seven third downs. Dallas relied on the depth of their offense to overpower the highest scoring NFL team. Romo used nine different receivers during his 22 completion night. The Cowboys also dominated time of possession while getting dominant performances from key players. Second year cornerbacks, Orlando Scandrick and Michael Jenkins, had seven and four tackles, respectively. Linebacker Anthony Spencer and Ware both picked up a pair of sacks and the offense outgained New Orleans 439 to 336 in yards. Marques Colston secured a handful of receptions for 86 yards. Thomas hauled in eight for 77 more, but the Saints struggled to move the ball the entire game. This Saturday wasn’t the Saints’ lucky day. Devery Henderson dropped a potential touchdown pass, and tailback, Reggie Bush, pulled up lame for an early exit. Dallas ended the Saints’ run at perfection by playing a near perfect game on the road in late December. Just like the 2009 Saints losing, that rarely happens.
Parting Points: My New Mexico Bowl prediction was entirely off. I guess this is why I don’t bet money on sports.
Band of the day- Toad the Wet Sprocket
Monday, November 9, 2009
Romo's Road Rally Response
Miles Austin hauled in the go-ahead touchdown from Tony Romo on third-and-fourteen midway through the fourth quarter. The Dallas Cowboys went on to beat NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-16 Sunday night. Even though the Eagles were without one of their top playmakers, running back Brian Westbrook, Dallas took over sole possession of first place in the division with the victory. The Cowboys are in the driver’s seat to win the NFC East. The New York Giants, who were throttled by the Eagles last week, fell for the fourth straight time yesterday. New York’s debilitating string of losses puts them in an awfully strenuous position the rest of the tough scheduled regular season. The Cowboys are firmly the favorite to capture the division. They should play the next few weeks with guarded optimism. Dallas simply has to look over their shoulders to see the hungry Eagles.
Dallas stopped a shaky Donovan McNabb at their 45 yard line on fourth-and-inches before Austin’s catch gave the Cowboys a 20-13 lead. Romo pump-faked a pass and nailed a wide-open Austin from 49 yards down the left sideline. The Eagles never relinquished the lead. David Ackers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut the lead to four, but Big D held off the high flying birds at Lincoln Financial Field. McNabb threw for 227 yards, one score and a pair of interceptions. Romo turned in a 307 yard effort for Dallas. The Dallas quarterback finished 21 of 34 with one touchdown and one pick. The 6-2 ‘Boys started the scoring early when Tashard Choice crashed into the end zone five minutes into the contest. The drive was set up by Gerald Sensabaugh’s interception on Philadelphia’s first possession. Sensabaugh snatched McNabb’s pass intended for Jeremy Maclin on a deflection to end the quarterback’s 118 straight pass streak without a pick. Ackers cut the Dallas lead to one with a pair of field goals in the second quarter. The 11 year veteran kicker was accurate from 45 and 48 yards. The Eagles would need more than field goals to beat Dallas, however. After Nick Folk increased the Cowboys’ advantage to four points again late in the second, Philadelphia constructed a dazzling 77 yard drive after the half. Eagles’ standout, LeSean McCoy, turned a short pass into a 45-yard gain, and McNabb escaped the Dallas pass rush to find Brent Celek in the end zone.
Sheldon Brown intercepted Romo on the Cowboys’ ensuing possession. It was Romo’s first interception in 144 passes. He’s gradually increasing and improving his accuracy as a signal-caller. Philadelphia was unable to capitalize on the turnover because of an illegal block penalty. Folk tied the game at 13-13 after Michael Jenkins intercepted McNabb. It was the former South Florida cornerback’s third pick of the year. Dallas went three-and-out to begin the final quarter. The Eagles pieced together a credible, convincing drive that ended with a reviewed fourth-and-one quarterback sneak up the middle. McNabb tried going up the middle at the Dallas 45 yard line. He went without a gain, and Dallas took over on downs. That’s when Romo instituted the game-winning drive, concluding with Austin’s grab. The defense sacked McNabb after riding the quarterback’s tail on Philadelphia’s final possession to limit the Eagles to a field goal. The Cowboys proceeded to run out the clock. All-pro receiver, Jason Witten, lead all players with seven receptions. Marion Barber rushed for 50 yards on 12 carries for the ‘Boys. Dallas held DeSean Jackson, the slick scoring phenom, to just two catches. Jackson has six touchdowns for Philadelphia this year, and most of them have come on 50 yards or more. Jackson’s longest pass from McNabb Sunday was a 20-yarder. The Cowboys proved they are a tougher and more poised team that was downed in the playoffs last season. They steadily outplayed the Eagles in a physical game with playoff tones during their 100th meeting as foes. Romo was a smart and efficient passer and was accommodated by an operational offense. It was the defense that helped Dallas earn the reward of the top NFC East team at midseason. The secondary’s fierce rush and heavy blitz maintained enough pressure on McNabb to keep Maclin and Jackson in check. And it was the defense that kept Philadelphia out of the end zone after Austin’s catch. You can’t dismiss nose tackle, Jay Ratliff’s two sacks on the former Syracuse quarterback wearing green. The defense was the reason Andy Reid’s team exhausted their timeouts. The Eagles are 2-1 in the division; The Cowboys 1-1. The teams no longer have identical records. The perseverant Cowboys have one leg up in securing a spot in the NFL’s post-season parade.
Parting Points: Monday song- “Down” by 311
Monday sports trivia- Monday Night Football announcer, Howard Cosell, was known as “The Mouth”
I can’t believe the Pac-10 agreed to reinstate Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount.
Dallas stopped a shaky Donovan McNabb at their 45 yard line on fourth-and-inches before Austin’s catch gave the Cowboys a 20-13 lead. Romo pump-faked a pass and nailed a wide-open Austin from 49 yards down the left sideline. The Eagles never relinquished the lead. David Ackers kicked a 52-yard field goal to cut the lead to four, but Big D held off the high flying birds at Lincoln Financial Field. McNabb threw for 227 yards, one score and a pair of interceptions. Romo turned in a 307 yard effort for Dallas. The Dallas quarterback finished 21 of 34 with one touchdown and one pick. The 6-2 ‘Boys started the scoring early when Tashard Choice crashed into the end zone five minutes into the contest. The drive was set up by Gerald Sensabaugh’s interception on Philadelphia’s first possession. Sensabaugh snatched McNabb’s pass intended for Jeremy Maclin on a deflection to end the quarterback’s 118 straight pass streak without a pick. Ackers cut the Dallas lead to one with a pair of field goals in the second quarter. The 11 year veteran kicker was accurate from 45 and 48 yards. The Eagles would need more than field goals to beat Dallas, however. After Nick Folk increased the Cowboys’ advantage to four points again late in the second, Philadelphia constructed a dazzling 77 yard drive after the half. Eagles’ standout, LeSean McCoy, turned a short pass into a 45-yard gain, and McNabb escaped the Dallas pass rush to find Brent Celek in the end zone.
Sheldon Brown intercepted Romo on the Cowboys’ ensuing possession. It was Romo’s first interception in 144 passes. He’s gradually increasing and improving his accuracy as a signal-caller. Philadelphia was unable to capitalize on the turnover because of an illegal block penalty. Folk tied the game at 13-13 after Michael Jenkins intercepted McNabb. It was the former South Florida cornerback’s third pick of the year. Dallas went three-and-out to begin the final quarter. The Eagles pieced together a credible, convincing drive that ended with a reviewed fourth-and-one quarterback sneak up the middle. McNabb tried going up the middle at the Dallas 45 yard line. He went without a gain, and Dallas took over on downs. That’s when Romo instituted the game-winning drive, concluding with Austin’s grab. The defense sacked McNabb after riding the quarterback’s tail on Philadelphia’s final possession to limit the Eagles to a field goal. The Cowboys proceeded to run out the clock. All-pro receiver, Jason Witten, lead all players with seven receptions. Marion Barber rushed for 50 yards on 12 carries for the ‘Boys. Dallas held DeSean Jackson, the slick scoring phenom, to just two catches. Jackson has six touchdowns for Philadelphia this year, and most of them have come on 50 yards or more. Jackson’s longest pass from McNabb Sunday was a 20-yarder. The Cowboys proved they are a tougher and more poised team that was downed in the playoffs last season. They steadily outplayed the Eagles in a physical game with playoff tones during their 100th meeting as foes. Romo was a smart and efficient passer and was accommodated by an operational offense. It was the defense that helped Dallas earn the reward of the top NFC East team at midseason. The secondary’s fierce rush and heavy blitz maintained enough pressure on McNabb to keep Maclin and Jackson in check. And it was the defense that kept Philadelphia out of the end zone after Austin’s catch. You can’t dismiss nose tackle, Jay Ratliff’s two sacks on the former Syracuse quarterback wearing green. The defense was the reason Andy Reid’s team exhausted their timeouts. The Eagles are 2-1 in the division; The Cowboys 1-1. The teams no longer have identical records. The perseverant Cowboys have one leg up in securing a spot in the NFL’s post-season parade.
Parting Points: Monday song- “Down” by 311
Monday sports trivia- Monday Night Football announcer, Howard Cosell, was known as “The Mouth”
I can’t believe the Pac-10 agreed to reinstate Oregon’s LeGarrette Blount.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Romo Revival
The collapse in Columbus was soon forgotten when the Dallas Cowboys mustered a mercurial win to revive this football fan’s disheartened spirit Sunday. Dallas quarterback, Tony Romo and his rocket arm romped all over the Tampa turf in a 34-21 ripping of the Buccaneers. Romo launched a career-best 353 yards through the air and fired three touchdown passes that keyed the road victory for Dallas in week one.
Romo endured the post-T.O era with a new cast of characters. Patrick Crayton teamed with Romo for four catches, including the longest of the quarterback’s career. Romo tossed an 80-yard pass in the fourth quarter to the 30 year old receiver for a late touchdown that put the game out of reach for Tampa. Crayton compiled 135 total yards as Dallas stymied the Bucs. Last season’s trade deadline acquisition, Roy Williams, had a standout day as the team’s leading receiver. The 6’3” Williams caught a pass in the third quarter to give the Cowboys a 20-7 lead. He also used his tackling and blocking prowess to allow the Dallas running game to flourish. The speedy former Detroit Lion receiver amassed 86 yards on three receptions and looked very much like a complete player. Miles Austin and Jason Witten were both additional positive performers during the Cowboy’s electric start to the NFL season.
Romo completed touchdown passes of 42, 66 and 80 yards to his open men. The Cowboys dominated the clock in Romo’s third straight opening day win in a row. Romo didn’t throw an interception during the game. He found Austin for the go-ahead touchdown, a 42 yarder, just before the half. In the second half, Williams punched in six points after he split Tampa’s secondary. Cornerback, Ronde Barber and safety, Jermaine Williams, were beaten in their attempt to cover Williams, and the Cowboy skated into the endzone. Romo flicked the deepest toss on the second play of the fourth quarter to Crayton. Romo pump-faked a pass to Witten, leaving Clayton to run 50 yards untouched. A penalty wiped out an interception by Mike Jenkins before the 11 play, 84 yard drive. Dallas collected two field goals in the first quarter and added a six yard run by the talented Marion Barber in the final minutes of the game.
The Bucs were unable to find the endzone in the first quarter. Tampa Bay scored on a one yard run by Carnell Williams to finally get on the board in the second quarter. Byron Leftwich, the veteran Bucs signal-caller, passed for 276 yards behind center. His one touchdown pass occurred during the last quarter, a 2 yard spiral to Kellen Winslow, Jr. Tampa won the net rushing yard and penalty yard margins, but the Cowboys were too swift on defense. The Bucs had to abandon the running game as Dallas continued to rack up digits. Interestingly, Dallas did not record a sack led by 7th year pro, DeMarcus Ware’s defense. A year after their December collapse, both teams looked shaky in the start. The Cowboys bounced back and the Bucs were unable to put together solid drives with significant results. Williams had a beastly 97 yards on the ground with his 13 carries. Tampa showed it has the temperament to be a dangerous team with more time to coordinate. Dallas exploited the weaknesses in the secondary to gather the big plays that made the difference.
The Cowboys host the New York Giants in week two and will play their first regular season game in their beautiful new stadium. The Cowboys showed their explosiveness, All-pro enormity and offensive talent yesterday. They should be ready for their nasty New York NFC nemesis.
Parting points: Kudos to Clisters; Boo-hoo to Serena.
Song of the day- “Rockabye” by Shawn Mullins (for you Mom)
Romo endured the post-T.O era with a new cast of characters. Patrick Crayton teamed with Romo for four catches, including the longest of the quarterback’s career. Romo tossed an 80-yard pass in the fourth quarter to the 30 year old receiver for a late touchdown that put the game out of reach for Tampa. Crayton compiled 135 total yards as Dallas stymied the Bucs. Last season’s trade deadline acquisition, Roy Williams, had a standout day as the team’s leading receiver. The 6’3” Williams caught a pass in the third quarter to give the Cowboys a 20-7 lead. He also used his tackling and blocking prowess to allow the Dallas running game to flourish. The speedy former Detroit Lion receiver amassed 86 yards on three receptions and looked very much like a complete player. Miles Austin and Jason Witten were both additional positive performers during the Cowboy’s electric start to the NFL season.
Romo completed touchdown passes of 42, 66 and 80 yards to his open men. The Cowboys dominated the clock in Romo’s third straight opening day win in a row. Romo didn’t throw an interception during the game. He found Austin for the go-ahead touchdown, a 42 yarder, just before the half. In the second half, Williams punched in six points after he split Tampa’s secondary. Cornerback, Ronde Barber and safety, Jermaine Williams, were beaten in their attempt to cover Williams, and the Cowboy skated into the endzone. Romo flicked the deepest toss on the second play of the fourth quarter to Crayton. Romo pump-faked a pass to Witten, leaving Clayton to run 50 yards untouched. A penalty wiped out an interception by Mike Jenkins before the 11 play, 84 yard drive. Dallas collected two field goals in the first quarter and added a six yard run by the talented Marion Barber in the final minutes of the game.
The Bucs were unable to find the endzone in the first quarter. Tampa Bay scored on a one yard run by Carnell Williams to finally get on the board in the second quarter. Byron Leftwich, the veteran Bucs signal-caller, passed for 276 yards behind center. His one touchdown pass occurred during the last quarter, a 2 yard spiral to Kellen Winslow, Jr. Tampa won the net rushing yard and penalty yard margins, but the Cowboys were too swift on defense. The Bucs had to abandon the running game as Dallas continued to rack up digits. Interestingly, Dallas did not record a sack led by 7th year pro, DeMarcus Ware’s defense. A year after their December collapse, both teams looked shaky in the start. The Cowboys bounced back and the Bucs were unable to put together solid drives with significant results. Williams had a beastly 97 yards on the ground with his 13 carries. Tampa showed it has the temperament to be a dangerous team with more time to coordinate. Dallas exploited the weaknesses in the secondary to gather the big plays that made the difference.
The Cowboys host the New York Giants in week two and will play their first regular season game in their beautiful new stadium. The Cowboys showed their explosiveness, All-pro enormity and offensive talent yesterday. They should be ready for their nasty New York NFC nemesis.
Parting points: Kudos to Clisters; Boo-hoo to Serena.
Song of the day- “Rockabye” by Shawn Mullins (for you Mom)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Drafting Dallas
The Cowboys are on the clock, along with the rest of the NFL. The draft is two weeks away and teams will look to rebuild, refurbish and revamp their rosters. Dallas has more than a few pressing needs and holes to fill on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys have a decent pass rush but not enough pass protection or run stoppers.
Even with their vocal leaders Tony Romo and Jason Whitten, Dallas is in dire shape offensively. Troubled Terrell Owens is now problem for the Buffalo Bills. While his production in Big D will be missed, fans won’t yearn for his uncompromising attitude. WR, Miles Austin, is a restricted free agent who could land with the Jets. Austin is on New York’s radar and is expected to hear from Gang Green by mid-week. Rumors are the Cowboys are asking for a second round pick, which might be too much for the Jets to forego. Marion Barber and Felix Jones make a fierce one-two punch in the backfield. Jones was the Cowboys’ first overall selection a year ago. Felix showed promise during his 2008 rookie season. Dallas doesn’t need to waste picks drafting a running back because they appear set at that position. However, I would not complain in the least if Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells was carrying the ball for my favorite football team next year.
Patrick Crayton and Whitten are the playmakers who Romo will make most of his throws to. Crayton is a crybaby but Jason is the real deal. Whitten shows splendor with his slick, sly snatches and subservient stardom. The offensive line is anything but oppressive. However, I think the stars bring enough to enable the team to compete. Romo’s lunar passes (too often to opposing teams) are potential problems but you have to like the gambling attitude. A top-ten quarterback, Romo will hold his team together on his side. The Dallas defense is another story.
Defensive droppings include Chris Canty and Anthony Henry. Canty signed with the Giants and Henry was traded to Detroit. Tank Johnson also left Dallas for greener pastures in Cincinnati, and Roy Williams was let go all together. Zach Thomas will play for the Chiefs in 2009, but the Cowboys can replace him at the linebacker position with Keith Brooking. Dallas probably should draft a few defensive lineman and definitely has to deal for secondary aid. They still boast the best defensive player in DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis is a classy, knowledgeable veteran. Bobby Carpenter and Gerald Sensabaugh are viable defensive players as well. Carpenter has the potential to be a great linebacker but is still unproven at this level. Sensabaugh is a stomper and I am looking forward to him coming into his own down in Big D. Replacing Johnson won’t be easy for Wade Phillips. The Cowboys have rookies, Junior Siavii and Tim Anderson in camp to take over the responsibility. I like last year’s first round pick, Mike Jenkins and think he can take over Henry’s defensive back role. Orlando Scandrick is another option at the corner or safety slot for the team.
Safety, Louis Delmas is high on the depth chart for Phillips’ team. Delmas is a Western Michigan kid I don’t anticipate hanging around long enough to become a Cowboy. His scouting reports are great and should guarantee him a first round choice. Wake Forest cornerback, Alphonso Smith could be a selection for America’s team this draft. The Cowboys are charmed by Smith’s athleticism and quickness. The ACC four year starter lacks height but has excellent footwork and the ability to make quarterbacks pay for mistakes. Smith takes risks but snagged 21 interceptions in four years at Wake.
Offensive guard, Duke Robinson, is another target for Jerry Jones’ boys. Robinson played college ball in Oklahoma in Sam Bradford’s high-octane offense. Robinson’s disposition is nasty and he is a good run blocker. He also moves well for a big guy but can be sloppy at times. The explosive former Sooner would have to compete with Kyle Kosier for a starting spot. The Cowboys have the 51st selection in the draft, and if Duke is still on the board, they should draft him. He most likely won’t be around when the Cowboys make their second selection. The take-charge guard is one of the top in this year’s draft class.
Herman Johnson is also an offensive guard widening the eyes of scouts. The Cowboys could select he LSU All-American, who also has experience at the right tackle position. The versatile Johnson has limited mobility due to his size but is still a capable pick in the second or third round. Nose tackle, Dorell Scott, from Clemson might also land in Dallas if the Cowboys desire to fill a backup hole there. OLB, Julius Williams, is a long shot to wear Dallas blue. The Connecticut pass rushing prospect had 14.5 sacks in his junior and senior year.
Oregon State’s, Andy LeVitre, shows completive drive and strength as a guard. LeVitre’s keen awareness in pass protection is exactly what Dallas needs. He would make a productive backup on the weak Cowboys offensive line. Staying in Oregon, but scouting the Ducks, the draft will feature a safety, Patrick Chung. The 5’11” Chung is considered one of the chief strong safeties in the draft. The open-field tackler makes hard hits and plays smart football. The Cowboys are interested in using Patrick on special teams or in short yardage situations. Don’t look for him to be an interception machine despite his acute anticipation ability. Texas Tech safety, Darcel McBath, is a solid mid-round pick who could be a cover man for Dallas. McBath would play behind Sensabaugh and he can physically cover any receiver. McBath played Big 12 football and seems to be a quick learner. His seven interceptions last year are intriguing enough for Dallas to dig deeper into drafting him.
Baylor WR, Thomas White, worked out for the Cowboys this week. Missouri QB, Chase Daniel and Sam Houston QB, Rhett Bomar were also part of the workouts. White is projected as a late-round Cowboys selection. A wideout who made some eye-popping plays during his workouts is Ramses Barden. Barden caught for Cal Poly and ranks as high as number nine in this year’s draft. Ramses takes long strides and his strong hands make him a dangerous threat downfield, especially after the catch. If Dallas waits to draft a wideout, they could end up landing small-school star, Dudley Guice. The Northwestern State (LA) graduate would install speed and size to the offense.
Dallas’ current backup quarterback is former Lion, Joe Kitna. Number three would be Brooks Bollinger. I hesitate to put any faith in Bollinger after his troubled and turmoil term last year. The team should be looking for a long-term answer somewhere in this year’s draft. The Cowboys may draft Texas A&M QB, Stephen McGee over both Daniel and Bomar. The in-state product is a prolific passer. He doesn’t throw many picks but in an Aggie offense, he didn’t have many chances either. I think West Virginia’s, Pat White, would fit the mold in Dallas better but McGee could be the next Tony Romo. Nobody is too high on his ability, citing a flawed technique in the young gunslinger. If he’s available in the sixth round or so, the Cowboys would be wise to take a chance on him.
Bomar put up stellar stats at Sam Houston and has the sheer size to overmatch the competition. But he racked up numbers against sub par teams and scouts are skeptical of his big-game ability. Daniel came up huge for Missouri and compiled massive numbers of his own. Chase was a Heisman contender when the Tigers were the top team in their conference, but fell off the radar as the losses piled on. The Cowboys don’t need a rookie quarterback to play right away and can afford to draft one late. Daniel or Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell are comparable players and excellent choices in later rounds. Both played in offensively-focused college systems and I think have motivation to make above-average pros. Purdue’s Curtis Painter is another justifiable pick if he should remain on the board the second day. The team has enough wiggle room to ensure a future backup is signed.
The Cowboys must re-establish their NFC East dominance. They won’t be able to unless they put the D back Dallas. Once they figure out how to stomp their opponents again, America’s team will return to the playoffs. I echo the sentiments of my fellow ‘Boys fans when reminiscing about the glory days.
Parting points: Did my eyes deceive me? Was that really Nick Swisher on the mound in the 8th last night? Who does he think he is, Wade Boggs?
Yesterday’s trivia answer is the Detroit Tigers
It’s nice to see David Wells join the TBS broadcast booth as a baseball analyst.
Rocking out to Candlebox‘s “Far Behind”
Even with their vocal leaders Tony Romo and Jason Whitten, Dallas is in dire shape offensively. Troubled Terrell Owens is now problem for the Buffalo Bills. While his production in Big D will be missed, fans won’t yearn for his uncompromising attitude. WR, Miles Austin, is a restricted free agent who could land with the Jets. Austin is on New York’s radar and is expected to hear from Gang Green by mid-week. Rumors are the Cowboys are asking for a second round pick, which might be too much for the Jets to forego. Marion Barber and Felix Jones make a fierce one-two punch in the backfield. Jones was the Cowboys’ first overall selection a year ago. Felix showed promise during his 2008 rookie season. Dallas doesn’t need to waste picks drafting a running back because they appear set at that position. However, I would not complain in the least if Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells was carrying the ball for my favorite football team next year.
Patrick Crayton and Whitten are the playmakers who Romo will make most of his throws to. Crayton is a crybaby but Jason is the real deal. Whitten shows splendor with his slick, sly snatches and subservient stardom. The offensive line is anything but oppressive. However, I think the stars bring enough to enable the team to compete. Romo’s lunar passes (too often to opposing teams) are potential problems but you have to like the gambling attitude. A top-ten quarterback, Romo will hold his team together on his side. The Dallas defense is another story.
Defensive droppings include Chris Canty and Anthony Henry. Canty signed with the Giants and Henry was traded to Detroit. Tank Johnson also left Dallas for greener pastures in Cincinnati, and Roy Williams was let go all together. Zach Thomas will play for the Chiefs in 2009, but the Cowboys can replace him at the linebacker position with Keith Brooking. Dallas probably should draft a few defensive lineman and definitely has to deal for secondary aid. They still boast the best defensive player in DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis is a classy, knowledgeable veteran. Bobby Carpenter and Gerald Sensabaugh are viable defensive players as well. Carpenter has the potential to be a great linebacker but is still unproven at this level. Sensabaugh is a stomper and I am looking forward to him coming into his own down in Big D. Replacing Johnson won’t be easy for Wade Phillips. The Cowboys have rookies, Junior Siavii and Tim Anderson in camp to take over the responsibility. I like last year’s first round pick, Mike Jenkins and think he can take over Henry’s defensive back role. Orlando Scandrick is another option at the corner or safety slot for the team.
Safety, Louis Delmas is high on the depth chart for Phillips’ team. Delmas is a Western Michigan kid I don’t anticipate hanging around long enough to become a Cowboy. His scouting reports are great and should guarantee him a first round choice. Wake Forest cornerback, Alphonso Smith could be a selection for America’s team this draft. The Cowboys are charmed by Smith’s athleticism and quickness. The ACC four year starter lacks height but has excellent footwork and the ability to make quarterbacks pay for mistakes. Smith takes risks but snagged 21 interceptions in four years at Wake.
Offensive guard, Duke Robinson, is another target for Jerry Jones’ boys. Robinson played college ball in Oklahoma in Sam Bradford’s high-octane offense. Robinson’s disposition is nasty and he is a good run blocker. He also moves well for a big guy but can be sloppy at times. The explosive former Sooner would have to compete with Kyle Kosier for a starting spot. The Cowboys have the 51st selection in the draft, and if Duke is still on the board, they should draft him. He most likely won’t be around when the Cowboys make their second selection. The take-charge guard is one of the top in this year’s draft class.
Herman Johnson is also an offensive guard widening the eyes of scouts. The Cowboys could select he LSU All-American, who also has experience at the right tackle position. The versatile Johnson has limited mobility due to his size but is still a capable pick in the second or third round. Nose tackle, Dorell Scott, from Clemson might also land in Dallas if the Cowboys desire to fill a backup hole there. OLB, Julius Williams, is a long shot to wear Dallas blue. The Connecticut pass rushing prospect had 14.5 sacks in his junior and senior year.
Oregon State’s, Andy LeVitre, shows completive drive and strength as a guard. LeVitre’s keen awareness in pass protection is exactly what Dallas needs. He would make a productive backup on the weak Cowboys offensive line. Staying in Oregon, but scouting the Ducks, the draft will feature a safety, Patrick Chung. The 5’11” Chung is considered one of the chief strong safeties in the draft. The open-field tackler makes hard hits and plays smart football. The Cowboys are interested in using Patrick on special teams or in short yardage situations. Don’t look for him to be an interception machine despite his acute anticipation ability. Texas Tech safety, Darcel McBath, is a solid mid-round pick who could be a cover man for Dallas. McBath would play behind Sensabaugh and he can physically cover any receiver. McBath played Big 12 football and seems to be a quick learner. His seven interceptions last year are intriguing enough for Dallas to dig deeper into drafting him.
Baylor WR, Thomas White, worked out for the Cowboys this week. Missouri QB, Chase Daniel and Sam Houston QB, Rhett Bomar were also part of the workouts. White is projected as a late-round Cowboys selection. A wideout who made some eye-popping plays during his workouts is Ramses Barden. Barden caught for Cal Poly and ranks as high as number nine in this year’s draft. Ramses takes long strides and his strong hands make him a dangerous threat downfield, especially after the catch. If Dallas waits to draft a wideout, they could end up landing small-school star, Dudley Guice. The Northwestern State (LA) graduate would install speed and size to the offense.
Dallas’ current backup quarterback is former Lion, Joe Kitna. Number three would be Brooks Bollinger. I hesitate to put any faith in Bollinger after his troubled and turmoil term last year. The team should be looking for a long-term answer somewhere in this year’s draft. The Cowboys may draft Texas A&M QB, Stephen McGee over both Daniel and Bomar. The in-state product is a prolific passer. He doesn’t throw many picks but in an Aggie offense, he didn’t have many chances either. I think West Virginia’s, Pat White, would fit the mold in Dallas better but McGee could be the next Tony Romo. Nobody is too high on his ability, citing a flawed technique in the young gunslinger. If he’s available in the sixth round or so, the Cowboys would be wise to take a chance on him.
Bomar put up stellar stats at Sam Houston and has the sheer size to overmatch the competition. But he racked up numbers against sub par teams and scouts are skeptical of his big-game ability. Daniel came up huge for Missouri and compiled massive numbers of his own. Chase was a Heisman contender when the Tigers were the top team in their conference, but fell off the radar as the losses piled on. The Cowboys don’t need a rookie quarterback to play right away and can afford to draft one late. Daniel or Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell are comparable players and excellent choices in later rounds. Both played in offensively-focused college systems and I think have motivation to make above-average pros. Purdue’s Curtis Painter is another justifiable pick if he should remain on the board the second day. The team has enough wiggle room to ensure a future backup is signed.
The Cowboys must re-establish their NFC East dominance. They won’t be able to unless they put the D back Dallas. Once they figure out how to stomp their opponents again, America’s team will return to the playoffs. I echo the sentiments of my fellow ‘Boys fans when reminiscing about the glory days.
Parting points: Did my eyes deceive me? Was that really Nick Swisher on the mound in the 8th last night? Who does he think he is, Wade Boggs?
Yesterday’s trivia answer is the Detroit Tigers
It’s nice to see David Wells join the TBS broadcast booth as a baseball analyst.
Rocking out to Candlebox‘s “Far Behind”
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