Get Funky

Beautiful! Thanks for the fantastic analysis, Rafael. This truly is the place to learn more about the Boys and football in general. I’m so happy that the Big D is back in Dallas!

So just how much does the D-line and Ware’s increasing ability to get to the QB factoring in to the man cover schemes? It seems wild that our dbs could get burned so much earlier this year and be able to come out and play man like they did Sunday. Wow. Talk about improvement.

The Giants do have a more balanced attack than the Eagles. Suffice it to say, NY coaches will not let their QB get pressured and hit like McNabb. I expect the Giants to keep testing the Cowboy run defense which puts the onus on James and Nguyen/Shanle to put up a stellar game.

Joe is right, the Giants are a much more balanced team, or at least have the ability to be. The one guy I’m really worried about, is Branden Jacobs, the rookie running back for the Giants. I’ve been following him for the past 2 seasons or so, and he’s specacular. Weighing in at over 260 lbs, he is a force in goalline situations, and we don’t have enough bulk at LB to stuff him. They are a multidimentional team, and have many ways of attacking our D:

They use Tiki in all sorts of crazy ways, but getting him outside seems to be their favorite way of getting him the ball (which is good, cause I believe we’re better at slowing those types of backs)

They’ve got Plaxico, Shockey, and a confident Eli Manning (big targets for a young QB, but if we can get pressure on him—which we can, because the Giants line is suspect at best) and cover consistently the way we did against the Eagles, we can shut their offense down.

Michael Strahan (gauugghhh—actually, not so much. The thing Pettiti is already quite proficient at is stopping the bigger, power DEs. Strahan does not have that same burst of a few seasons ago due to injuries and the like, but he still is strong. Fortunately, so is big Rob. If Rob can get a hand on Strahan before he really gets moving, Strahan should have a Kearse-like day against our Boys. Of course, big Rob’ll be getting plenty of help from JJ and JWit and Campbell and Rivera.

I think we’re a faster team than the Giants are both on offense and defense, which should mean for some big plays for us, and some good pressure by our D.

And one more time, I just want to go back to the first defensive snap of the game against the eagles—Ware bullrushes TRA THOMAS and gets his third sack in as many games—THATS AN ELITE/PROBOWL/ALLPRO 340+ OFFENSEIVE LINEMAN GETTING TORCHED BY OUR VERY OWN DeMarcus Ware. I’m liking what I’m seeing.

I think Brandon Jacobs was slightly injured, and criticized, for his straight-up running style in an unsuccessful 1st quarter short yardage attempt against the Chargers. The Giants’ coaching staff seemed unimpressed with his attempt.

THANK YOU RAFAEL,
                              For finally letting our Im not convinced yet fans know that the GIANTS are not New England….Manning is no where near a McNabb but some of us are convinced we must be going against the other great Manning….Eli cannot run Mcnabb can…Eli is also not equipped with a T.O…
            Yes, the games we should win seem to get away and the games everyone is convinced we will lose we WIN…….But confidence is a tool that comes with experience of what we know we can do and execute in doing so……This is the TURN AROUND WE NEEDED because PHILI had our number….Look for the G-MEN to take a “L” at least by 10

I agree with your thoughts Rafael on Zimmers exotic schemes.I think it will give a young QB like Manning fits because he won’t have much time to make reads.The Giants defense is horrible(only Houston’s is worse) so I think if we stick to a simular gameplan we should come away with a win.

Correction…..only SF is worse

I live smack dab in the middle of NYC. Half of my friends are Jets fans, and the other half are gay (no offense to Hsexuals here, just telling it like it is)!

Of the Giants fans I know, they seem to think their team has a “prolific offense.” “They certainly will beat the Cowboys.” BTW the Philly game was shown here on Fox. Evidently, no one saw it. Maybe they were busy watching the Yankees lose.

The utter chaotic destruction that is the Cowboys defense will be further revealed Sunday.

The ‘el cojones’ offense will blow them away (another salute to my gay friends).

Put this in your pipe and smoke it … Cowboys 27, Giants————- 0

AndyZ I agree…..NY’s defense is bad.I think Dallas will expose the Giants as a pretender!They can score but give up an avg. of over 400 yards on defense.

Dallas 34 Giants 13

Big Jim I live right in Hoboken so I know exactly how you feel. I got to watch Sundays game with my best friend, who happens to be an Eagle fan. The Giant fans seem to think they have the toughest schedule in the league. I personally feel that after blowing by the Eagles like we did it gave us a major confidence boost. I am expecting another blow-out.

Big Jim,

As “prolific” as the Giants offense was, its averages going into Sunday were identical to Dallas’. And that’s before our offense was “unshackled,” so to speak, against the Eagles.

So being prolific means only being as good as the erratic Dallas O of the first month. And having a defense that’s rated 31st overall and last in passing to boot.

Must have low standards up there.

I agree wholeheartedly about Giants fans’ blind admiration of the emporer’s new clothes, but I think your stats quote is misleading.

I stated a few (dozen) threads back that rankings by yards is not a good predictor of prowess. We are currently ahead of the Giants in most categories thanks to that great performance Sunday. However, there are two glaring areas that they lead…

1. Points per game – where they lead by over 10 pts/game
2. W/L Percentage

Now that doesn’t even begin to explain the multitude of reasons behind it. Playing weaker opponents…copious turnovers…great S/T play, and a host of others.

The main point is to give those fans the argument. Yes, your beloved Giants are the cat’s meow.

Now watch us blow ’em out of the water.

Thanks BP for throwing to Terry Glenn early.

Here are a few stats for you.

Offense 7th overall (up from 12th) 5th NFC (up from 8th)
Defense 10th overall (up from 18th) 5th NFC (up from 13th)

JJ 9th overall (407 yards) 4th NFC
TG 4th overall (518) 4th NFC
DB 4th overall yards at 1351 and 3rd at passer rating (102)

Look for us to climb higher on both sides after we face the giants.

We’ve shown we can defend 1) top receivers (i.e. T.O., Moss) so we’ll probably handle Burress and 2) top RB’s (i.e., Tomlinson, Portis) so we’ll probably handle Tiki. How much of a problem will Shockey be? Just asking for thoughts.

Cowboys 28 Little People 10 (counting a mop-up TD)

we have handled Shockey pretty well so far………I would be more worried about Tiki than anybody else on their squad including Burress, Eli, and Shockey. Coughlin is a chip off the old block and will stay with the run and has a couple of talented options back there to hand off too. We need to make sure we don’t play with the same intensity we did against Oakland.

Sunday what you saw was a good team play up to its potential. This team is still growing and learning……and looking better and better. I don’t see the Giants Defense as imposing as Philly, SD, or Washington. Dallas should move the ball well. We should get a nice mix of run and pass, and we should as Rafael puts it blizt Eli. The nice thing will be getting pressure without the blitz in our base 3-4 package. If we can do that, we will win the game easily.

Keep the momentum rolling BOYS……………Cowboys 41 Giants 24

I just hope we can keep our feet firm on the ground and concentrate on beating the Giants instead of thinking that they’re not that good because Eli, Plaxico, Shockey and Tiki are not as good as TO, Moss, McNabb, Tomlinson, etc….underestimate them an they will hurt us badly (like they did last year…I know it’s a diff team).

All I am saying here is we have to focus on what we are and who we want to be. We are a team with a 6-10 record with 10 rookies who have to prove themseleves and they have to do it every week (not just 1 week).

yes, we’ve ben pretty good so far but if we loose focus (like we didi against Washington) pople will notice that we still can’t cover that well down the field when we don’t pressure an that our running game just started to click (hope Julius is really OK)…..

I’ve got real problems with basing the rank of an Offense or Defense based on yards. It’s way too misleading.

This thorn was placed in my side during the ‘90s when I became a stat freak. Yet our Cowboys, clearly the most dominant team of the era, was barely top 10 in each category. Occasionally, they’d have a decent statistical game, or even years, but the stats never pointed to the complete domination that team possesed.

Points per game, on both sides, is a much better predictor. While it includes padding from Special Teams, it is a much better indicator of overall team performance. Let’s face it, it’s the score that counts.

As proof, look at the current rankings:
Defense by Yds Defense by Points
1. Tampa 1. Indy
2. Balt 2. Tampa
3. Chi 3. Cin
4. Mia 4. Wash
5. Wash 5. Pitts/Chi

Tampa, Wash, & Chi are widely considered great D’s. While Balt and Mia are no longer feared. Without any offense to speak of, teams can simply run the ball, play very conservatively, and reap the field pos & pts that their offenses will give. Yet Cin, Indy and Pitts have been driven by their defenses. Balanced Offenses have helped, but their D’s are CURRENTLY winning the games. Very telling.

Offense stats are even more telling:
Yds: 1. Sea 2. StL 3. Cin 4. Ariz (!) 5. NE 6. Phi 7 Dal 8. Wash

Pts: 1. NYG 2. SD 3. Pitts 4. StL 5. Car 6. Sea 7. Cin/GB

NEVER would Arizona or Wash be considered Offensive juggernauts. NY & SD have been on fire. StL & Sea are just track meets. Another sign of proper indication is that only 3 pts/gm separate 4th from 11th. Showing relative parity of a few “decent” offenses, of which the ’Boys are well entrenched.

Please quit using Yards as a measure. Remember, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

By the way, another attest to points as an indicator to team performance?

It’s used as a tie-breaker for the playoffs!

Another neat facet to points scored per game and given up per game is that it determines winners and losers.
NYG are 3-1, with a Manning who is getting exponentially better every week.
Ya’ll dismiss them if you like. I"m glad you all are not employed by the Cowboys.
Manning, Barber, Shockey and Burress are the real deal. Their defense is spotty, and can be had, but this team reminds me of the Colts from about 4 years ago. Eli is easily as impressive or more so than his brother after 12 games or so. Tiki just kills the Cowboys. Shockey is ridiculous, and Burress is a legitimate #1 receiver – however hardly a marvin harrisson. that’s the difference between them and the Colts from years back – the Giants don’t have a super zippy glue-handed speedster. The defenses are the same, and the offensive weapons are nearly the same.

We lost to Mark Brunell and Kerry freaking Collins. They are punks, Eli is a legitimate perennial all pro.

This isn’t an automatic win. Bradie James vs 9 runs is fun for everybody… Bradie James vs 22 carries by Tiki Barber and Bradie James vs Jeremy Shockey in space is fun for nobody.

Fighter15,

There is a reason that points are not used as the primary indicator of offensive or defensive strength. Not all points are scored on offense (or against the defense), but I can’t think of any way you can gain an offensive yard on defense or special teams.

Do you credit the Philadelphia offense with those 10 points from Sunday’s game?

Teams can, and often do, score points on interceptions, fumbles, safeties, kickoff returns, punt returns, and blocked field goals. Not to mention the times that teams get the ball deep in enemy territory, on a turnover or great return, only to kick a field goal after gaining 0 (or even negative) yards.

Points and points allowed are the most important measures of total team productivity. [Personally, I like points differential as the best measure (other than wins and losses) of total team strength.] They are not as accurate in measuring an offense or defense.

Joey,you made a good point
but at the same time thats not a good comparison just cause he’s a manning.The giants and colts have two complete different philosophy’s,and two very different coaches.Tiki no way is an Edgerin James!!! THE Giants Are A Poor Man’s Colt’s!!

I don’t think it’s a perfect comparison… I’m saying they have four lethal options on offense, and a poor defense. And to me, Tiki Barber (post-Tom Coughlin) is more scary than Edgerrin James. Their attack is balanced and can strike quickly. Manning and Manning are similar QBs, that is a fair comparison. They’re brothers. They play similarly. They’re cerebral and able to make all throws. The game has slowed down to a snail’s pace for both of them. I’d hoped that would take years for Eli, but if you watch him play, you can actually see it happen. he’s like me driving in traffic, he knows what is going to happen and is already thinking several moves ahead.
You can bank on Tiki and Shockey being put in match ups to exploit our LBs, watch Eli look for safeties to cheat up to help out. Not only do those two match up well against our LBs, getting them the ball quickly in the flat or just beyond the line of scrimmage is the perfect answer to blitzes. The Eagle’s non use of LJ Smith and Westbrook or the run should provide the Giants with some ideas of what not to do.
On the other hand, the Giants’ options on offense will be limited by the scores we’re gonna stick on them early and often.

Eagles DE Jevon Kearse was unhappy with what he said was constant first-half, double-team help from Cowboys tight end Jason Witten for right tackle Rob Petitti, and unhappy that Dallas went for it three times on fourth down, making a first down twice. â€Å"Itâ€â"¢s disrespectful,” said Kearse, who noted that the Cowboys punted only twice.
— Philadelphia Daily News

And I thought Jevon had more class than this

sorry didnt mean to post that twice

espn says that the Boys tried to shop A-train to the Saints since they lost their RB but the Saints took a RB from Miami

I was at the game. Great “D” by the Cowboys and a very balanced offensive attack. I like the screens they tru in. It really kept the Eagles guessing. The stadium was sooooooo loud! It was my first visit to Dallas and what a great way to top it off.
Poor Jevon Kearse signs a giant free agent contract and then poof, his sacks disappear. Worse yet the other teams have the gall to block him! Wow, he has a right to complain. If his sack total goes down he won’t be able to demand a bigger contract. Maybe Whitten will give him some money because he had the audacity to block him on passing downs.
All this was said with a smudgin of tongue in cheek.
The best part of my trip was meeeting some of the Boys. I got to meet Glover, Whitten, Crayton, and former Boys Teague and Novacek. What a super weekend.
Does anyone think Price will ever be a factor this year?

I think the Giants are a Fluke,they will fade away at midpoint of the season is where they will fall apart,and there offense will slowly fade away as team start looking at film and learn there ways and schemes there obviously the suprise team alla the “2003 cowboys” its a season where they do great just because they are a suprise team,but soon teams will have game plans for that offense and it will soon be exposed and fall apart and holes will start showing and everybody in the new york media will jump on coughlin for something they that was there when in reality in fact is just a fluke of good players that are getting away with it rite now because nobody expected it,but now they know and the cowboys defense will expose those punks on sunday!

Power rankings are garbage!!! Espn has dallas at 14…yeah 14!!! CBS Sportsline has ‘em at 8…yeah 8!!! I think both are off…i’m saying like 11ish…maybe 10ish. Anyway the morale of the story is that power rankings are stupid…but just out of curiosity…what would ya’ll rank the boys at???

cowboys are number 6

I think some of you are misinterpreting my comments on Manning. I didn’t say he was not good. I said he was inexperienced and immobile next to Donovan McNabb. I do think they’ll try to confuse him, but they have to get there, or he will make plays on them. Simple as that.

gman…

I predict that PP will be on the field this Sunday against the Aints. KJ’s sternum most likely will still need some recovery and his reps may be limited as a result. PP would be the “familiar” WR for DB that could step in and perhaps make a difference. Now, before everyone jumps on me for that one, I know he’s been slated as TG’s “insurance policy”, yet KJ has recently not been the primary … TG has. Also, I noted that when he was standing next to KJ on the sideline Sunday, his height was just a couple of inches less than KJ … ergo, BIG TARGET for those critical yds.

Ok, just checked the roster and noted that KJ is 6’4" and PP is 5’11". However, Sunday, PP surely looked closer in height to KJ than that.

The keys on Sunday will be the old cliche of stopping the run and pressuring the QB which involves downfield coverage. If the ’Boys do those two, then the game is ours. If not, it could be a l-o-n-g day.

BTW, did anyone notice Fujita Sunday? I don’t recall ever seeing him on the field. If he was, he didn’t seem to be a standout factor although we all know that it’s the non-standout plays that oftentimes enable the “standouts” to stand out.

I think we roll over the Giants pretty large. They are suspect in a lot of areas. we need to make sure that Tiki/Plex don’t burn us.

We keep Tiki in check and control the clock like we did against a much better talented team in the Ealges……..and we will win out the rest of the year regardless of the opponent. Rumors Dallas offered A Train to NO. I hope they come get him. Maybe we get yet another draft pick for Bill to continue the onslaught at Linebacker and Safety in next years much needed draft.

Things I really like so far. Dallas has been in position to win every single game so far. We have competed and have not quit even when the scoreboard in SF looked awful. We beat a good SD team that was without Gates…….they are a different team with him. However, we containted the best back in football and we should have put away a very good defensive Redskins team. Hey Oakland……well what can you say. Norv got Lamont on Track and we decided we were not going to let Randy beat us………he did not he let Kerry hand it off to Lamont for his breakout. Nonetheless this team has shown a lot of heart and no quit. Despite the disappointing Monday night loss to a much improving Redskin team. Hey I ain’t jumpin on them being great or anything, but Mark Brunell is looking like Bledsoe this year……..young and refreshed with a Coach who is willing to stick it out with him. Any professional qb in the league who has the complete confidence of his head coach is going to be better. Look at Patrick Ramsey as the absolute example of a guy that never did and you see the results! JP Losman is dangerously close in an early career to being in trouble. Do we want that for Henson or Romo? Not with Drew Bledsoe on the way to the pro bowl and post season play!!!! We don’t want it or need it!

The FUTURE IS NOW. For most of the 70s 80s 90s and even in the new millenium the key to the football fortunes of the Dallas Cowboys largely rested in Winning the Division. Despite the Philadelphia Eagles never winning a Super Bowl during that period………Dick Vermeil, Buddy Ryan, Ray Rhodes, and currently Andy Reid all skippered very good football teams that were all predicated around a great defense that featured folks like Reggie White………….during the same time Dallas played against the likes of Super Bowl NY Giants…….and Super Bowl winning Washinton Redskins. There are so many similarities here it is remarkable. Jimmy Johnson’s young Cowboys rising up in the tough NFC a division that produced the last two Super Bowl Champions. Yet here they came. Bill knows the NFC East is the key to postseason play. That is why the Washington loss hurt so so much! Still we are in position………..who had the the horse racing analogy cuz I don’t want to take credit here but it ain’t necessarily who starts fast out of the gate……..nor who runs good in the middle of the pack………..last time I saw a horse race………all that mattered was well who crossed that finished………not who leads during the race or near the end………but who gets there at the finish line………I see the Cowboys in a great position to be in that position and come on stronger and stronger as the season progresses. Yeah we are going to face some tough rivals on the road………and yeah the Monday night in Philly will be another important one……….but this team will be more seasoned………Petitti will know what the sounds are going to be like on the road……….even at the Linc……..or Fedex………our Rookies Canty, Spears and Ware are going to continue to improve! We keep our O Line healthy and Drew Bledsoe upright this team is going to be 11-5. On their way to an NFC Divsion Title……..and a possibly a first round bye.

How bout dem Cowboys? They are back……..my friend a NY Giants fan could not believe the way we ROLLED all over PHILLY and I guarantee Eli and they might be Giants are thinking the same thing!!!! Time to get a little revenge on old Coughlin!

Let’s Go COWBOYS!!!!

Defense——on——Sunday—vs.——Giants
1. I agree the run should be first and formost in Dallas’ mind. Which is really funny…week 1…we make LT a non-factor….week 4…porter runs all over us and makes us look silly. What’s the difference guys? What is the key on stopping the run?
2. Eli seems to be looking good on the short to mid range passes. That’s were Shockey is a threat…Dallas has looked in my opinion pretty good on the short 5-15 yard passes. The only thing they seem to not be able to do is cover the long ball.
3. I really think if we give Manning pressure all day then we have a good shot on sunday. I’d go with bringing williams and after the eagles game I wouldn’t be shy to bring newman either….so my main question is this——————————Is the key to Dallas beating the Giants this sunday to give them the long ball with one on one coverage?

emrdog,

I was coming on here to post the same thing. the mediots are idiots!! They have DC at 14, Phila at 6 and SD at 8. Wash 11. So two teams they beat, one team the shoulda beat, all above them. So, is this because of the one loss to Oakland? Hopefully a strangling of NYG and we’ll see more love.

Overall, I’mamazed at how little love the national media has given Dallas for destroying the defending NFC champs.

CRT_---_JORDAN NOT PORTER…idiot!!!

Bledsoe is nominated for the Fed-ex Player of the Week award- again.

He has the third highest QB rating in the NFL for the year with 102.0.

Right now, Bledsoe is the TOP quarterback in the NFC.

Wow….

Wonder why Dallas did not discuss a trade with New Orleans for Anthony Thomas. I see they (NO) did a deal with Miami for Jesse Chatman. Thomas’ running Sunday was not impressive for sure and it seems Dallas should be happy with Barber, Thompson, Polite and Jones. Do they really need Thomas?

Sorry, missed all the early discussion of A-train being shopped to NO.

rha
A-train is here for the same reason PP is here, just in case. He will not be here next year. If I was them I wouldnt want to be here.

AW
Yep, I understand about the insurance aspect, but that was before Thompson and Barber surprised. Sounds like there may not be much interest in Thomas.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/don_banks/10/11/week5/index.html

This is an article in SI.COM about KJ being a selfish player. Don Banks is blind or am I the only one who really thinks KJ would do anything for his team to win (such as being a fullback!!!).

I dont dissagree at all with Bledsoe telling him not to fumble and as much as I DO NOT agree with KJ’s reaction. I understand what was on the line and the frustration he might have been goign through right after he was smacked pretty hard just to see his fumble go all the way back 80 yards.

The guys handled it pretty well…BP told him to shut up the world went on…KJ is not selfish at all (that would be some dumbhead called TO)…

ManTab,

I need to look at those plays some more, cause I don’t understand why they did it, but Keyshawn was in the backfield and he was there to block. My guess is that it’s to keep safeties out of the middle to field (Dallas was in 3 WR sets both times) to give Glenn and Crayton more room to work. But I’m just fishing right now. Need to watch the tape.

TAKEN ALSO FROM SI.COM…TO IS AN ABSOLUTE HORROR OF A PERSON, HE PROBABLY BROUGHT THE JERSEY TO MAKE FUN OF US AFTER SCORING 3 TD’S ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON….OOOOOPPPSSSSS..NOT THIS TIME MY FRIEND, NOT THIS TIME

The way Andy Reid saw it, Terrell Owens was simply slipping into something a little more comfortable. The fact that it was a Dallas Cowboys jersey with Michael Irvin’s name and number, Reid said, was not a point of contention, even though Owens put it on after getting thumped by the Cowboys.
— Philadelphia Inquirer

Rafael, I read somewhere that Keyshawn lined up at the right side of the formation close to Pettiti (6 plays) to help in case Kearse managed to get by him. I dont think this is is something a selfish player playing WR would do….this is really a very good demostration of courage and sacrifice for your team, such as his perfrmances last year when he was playing hurt….the guy is incredible, emotional but incredible

ManTab…

I agree on KJ. In fact, as I posted in another thread, the whole team has been extremely selfless (NOT SELFISH!). Every comment has been either positive or neutral instead of grousing about not getting enough reps, not getting the ball, etc. To me, this would seem that there is a unity of focus by the team and the realization that there is no “I” in “Teamwork” or “Team”.

I agree…drew has the right to tell Keyshawn to hold on to the ball. I can understand KJ’s reaction but if you are going to get in your starting QBs face and start a story that is bigger than beating a good team by 23 points…you’d better damn well make sure that you have a good reason. I don’t think having someone tell you to hold on to the ball should be that reason…………………………but it’s over with.

ManTab,

I think Irvin was right on with his assessment of Keyshawn’s and Drew’s confrontation. Irvin said, “You don’t ever want to put your quarterback in a situation to second guess himself to throw you the ball.” .. When ANY quarterback feels the pressure, you don’t want him sitting in the pocket questioning, “Should I throw it to him? Is there rolled coverage?” The QB is trained to get rid of the ball in that situation, and sometimes the WR or RB takes the big hit for the the QB. .. If Bledsoe didn’t have a defender in his face, he probably hits Glenn who was in space behind Keyshawn, down field, in between the safety and the corner. .. Keyshawn, if not selfish, should reassure Bledsoe to throw him the ball … whenever. .. Heck, isn’t it Keyshawn who said “Throw me the damn ball!!” .. Well, Bledsoe did!!

Eric R,

You are an idiot, but that is common knowledge. I don’t think Johnson’s ability to make tough catches is questionable and I certainly don’t think that Bledsoe thinks that. It was a heated exchange on the sidline and now Bledsoe knows to keep his comments to himself. Like Johnson said, he doesn’t remind Bledsoe to keep the ball of his shoe tops. Bledsoe just needs to do what he does and not worry about Keyshawn.

lol yall are funny
I wonder how Bledsoe would have reacted if he threw a pick and KJ would have told him we don’t need you to throw INT. I bet you his reaction wouldnt be, you are right KJ.

Cash,

Eric R. is right….

It’s your opinion that Bledsoe “keep his comments to himself” that’s idiotic.

You think Bledsoe needs to “not worry about Keyshawn”???!!!

WHAT?

Are you stupid? It’s his JOB to “worry” when ANY receiver gives up what COULD have been a game-turning TD to a team like the eagles!! He didn’t wanna give up another one like we did against the skins in week 2.

It shows how much preasure he’s putting on himself. It’s called “vocal leadership,” cashy, and it’s something this team’s been lacking for some time.

Bledsoe, as QB, is the LEADER of his team on the field. It ain’t Keyshawn; KJ needs to learn his place. It was only a “heated exchange” because Keyshawn flew off the handle. You DON’T go off on your quarterback in the middle of a game. If it bothered him that much he should have said something to Drew AFTER the game.

Tell you what… if you ever get ANOTHER chance to sit on Troy’s lap so he can sign your Binky Ball, ask him if he thinks a QB should be a vocal leader on the sideline, or if he thinks they should keep their mouths shut. See what HE says….

And for the record- I don’t think Bledsoe should have said a thing to Keyshawn about the fumble- it was a fluke. BUT Keyshawn STILL shouldn’t have reacted the way he did.

I’d like to see Bledsoe get on the young guys when they mess up, but Keyshawn didn’t deserve that. He’s proven himself.

Nonetheless, an altercation like what we saw can have serious effects on the team- they start taking sides, it’s a huge distraction, stunts chemistry, bad blood, all that.

I fear that it may also undermine Bledsoe’s leadership role among the younger players, causing them to think that if KJ can get in Drew’s face, then they can.

I hope this all just goes away soon. A win against the Giants should do the trick….

AW,

Yeah, I don’t think Drew’s reaction would have been “you’re right, KJ”, but I’d bet he wouldn’t have freaked out all Ryan Leak-style either (or Keyshawn-style, as the case may be).

Besides, a receiver’s a receiver. But a QB is MUCH more than a QB. He’s the field general. You know that, man. I WANT Drew to get on guys when they screw up or whatever. Not necessarily get in their faces- guy’s gotta have some tact- but yeah, he’s got to take more control of what’s going on out there, and that’s what Bledsoe is TRYING to do.

rich:
I wouldn’t worry on those two guys production being together on the same field along with the taking sides coment, both are great competitors that know that stats aren’t as important as some W’s adn the discussion tooked place for that same reason and was forgotten when the couple calmed down.

rich:
I wouldn’t worry on those two guys production being together on the same field along with the taking sides coment, both are great competitors that know that stats aren’t as important as some W’s adn the discussion tooked place for that same reason and was forgotten when the couple calmed down.

Damn connection…

my two cents……….Bledsoe and KJ are both competitors. KJ has been a team leader for this squad. Now there is a new sheriff in town. And I like that the new sheriff……….Drew Bledsoe has the competitive fire to go question a reciever, even one of KJs tenure, after a fumble that was returned for a TD.

I don’t even care that KJ’s reaction was what it was. I want a leader in the huddle and a cannon for an arm. I think we got our QB boys, and a leader to boot. Look at the way he was working with Terry Glenn, and Jason Witten……….KJ has also been clutch and caught how many TD passes. Bledsoe has found Crayton often as well, and my guess is if Price gets on the field that he and Bledsoe are similar to he and Glenn maybe even better…….they played together more recently. I hope Terry stays healthy……..but at some point I would like to see Price out there just to see if he is worth signing……..next year……..he had speed……and is like a decade younger than KJ and TG. In the meantime I like Crayton developing and BP putting a foot up his arse for losing the football and pointing at Peerless and going do you know what I am paying that guy to wear street clothes Patrick? You better step it up!

BP wants perfection and even when he gets it in a win like Sunday’s he ain’t happy………that is why he has two Super Bowl victories and took a third team there as well. Keep it up Bill, I am liking the results of your grocery shopping and cooking so far!!!!

Saw a couple of giants games and i have noticed
that when you frustrate Eli M. he really loses it
mentally.

For all the yelling between Key and drew it didn’t
seem like a big deal……..just two guys airing it out…
….i didn’t think it was as bad as when Troy spiked
the ball in anger after a sack (which ended the game)
and pointed to the O line and held up 3 fingers for the
number of D lineman rushing and started yelling at them.

Besides a little “infighting” can be good…….look
at what Larry Allens “luv” did for Cortez.

I think this week the Cowboys made very creative adjustments for the Eagles. Therefore alot of the credit must go to the coaching staff. The unusual 5 to 6 defensive back looks created strange blitz and coverage packages. Using Keyshawn in the backfield and throwing Landry type screen passes at the perfect times. All these added up to a frustrated Eagles team both offensively and defensively.
Also Pettiti and Rivera also opened up some big holes Sunday.

DiggerO’Dell,

When the Cowboys are in their nickel defense, neither Singleton nor Fujita are on the field. The Cowboys played nickel most of the game. When they were in the 3-4, I suspect Singleton, as the starter, took most of the snaps.

Jon,

It looks to me like the winner of the NFC East will play Atlanta for the NFC Championship.

Why not Dallas?

We’ll get a better picture of why or why not after this game against the Giants.

emrdog,

I don’t think it is any great secret why the Raiders were able to run on us while other teams could not. Against the Raiders, Roy Williams played most of the game in coverage, instead of down in the box. That 8th player makes a lot of difference against the running game, especially when that 8th player is Roy Williams.

ManTab,

Somehow, people equate being obnoxious with being selfish.

I dislike Keyshawn Johnson intensely as an individual. But, as a football player, he is a positive force on this team … that is, as long as Bill Parcells is the coach. If Parcells leaves, though, he had better take Johnson with him.

Jevon Kearse is right. We didn’t show the Eagles any respect. What did they do about it? Not a damn thing! Well, other than roll over and whimper.

Kearse and his teammates need to look in the mirror long and hard after that game.

As I recall that fumble play, Bledsoe had to lead Johnson, because there was a defender inside of Johnson at the time. Had he not led Johnson, the pass might well have been intercepted.

Rich,

Do you know what Bledsoe said? Thought not. He has no problem with what happened, Bill has no problem, and neither does Keyshawn. So apparently no one that mattered thought Keyshawn was out of line to voice his displeasure. So rich shut your piehole your do for fluffer duty. You must have been moved over to Bledsoes locker.

Cash,

If Keyshawn is questioning his QB about the throw, then you tell me … When should Bledsoe NOT throw Keyshawn the ball? … A COACH has the authority to question a QBs decision, but once WRs start doing it, the QB will loose faith as in when to throw the receiver the ball. Irvin was right. .. Why don’t you call him an idiot, since he was the one who said it … or are you not man enough?

.. You are long for calling names. Might want to look in the mirror! We are all Cowboys fans here .. so why call names? .. So what we disagree about something. And hey I am quite sure you are ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

Cash, Cash, Cash,

So much hostility. Everybody who disagrees with you is a fluffer, idiot, etc. And strangely enough, you’re the guy who goes from zero to ad hominem in 1.5 seconds. I don’t know you personally, and you don’t know anybody else here. So keep the focus on football, and keep the bile to yourself. Your comments are welcome, but your act’s shelf life expired a long time ago.

Oh good lord, lighten up Raffy. I stop in to read the stuff, but the discussion here isn’t worth getting serious about. It’s fun to see the passion, but that’s all that exsists on this board. Homer sites offer no real insight. Sorry for not taking this site seriously, but its hard when so many posts are so absent of logic.

And by the way Raf, rich takes shots at me all of the time so I shoot it right back.

If there is any hostility that you feel through my comments, that’s on you. I’m smiling on this side, my team just beat the snot out of the Eagles.

Perhaps you need to reasses your comments on Bradie as well. You blasted him last week and he came up big Sunday.

Mr. Bill,
  Good point, I think Williams is honestly a waste in coverage (most of the time) Did you see that tackle he put on T.O….he didn’t even give him time to breathe and he was down. I’m also a big Oklahoma Sooners fan and I’ll tell you this from watching Williams alot in college he was always a bigger factor in the game the closer he was to the line of scrimage. I don’t know what we have to do to put williams close to the line and still be able to cover but whatever it is we need to do it becouse Williams can break open a game.

Oh, and as for this whole Keyshawn thing, who flippin’ cares??? Even though it was Keyshawn and Not Bledsoe who actually fumbled…who cares? There is way too much discusion over that play…it’s almost Wednesday guys, give it up!!!!

BTW, and this is totally out of subject, but there’s something that caught my attention and every mediot seems to be on the bandwagon, Testaverde as a Jet gains praise and now the Jets are likely playoff bound, last season with him wearing stars on his helmet and jersey we only heard that he was 41. Is the power of those stars that strong?

OK, change of subject….

Did you see Gosselin’s article today? He’s still sucking NE’s hind teat. He wrote about the coach, QB and K connection—again. Said the same thing a few months ago… yawn.

He also said the Eagles are going to the Super Bowl, 2 days after they were dominated. It’s unbelievable. So I wrote him this email:

"Goose—

An off week? You wrote about the NE coach, QB and K a while back, and now again?

Also, youâ€â"¢ve got some real cajones saying that the Iggles are the team to beat 2 days after they were absolutely dominated by the Cowboys. I understand you donâ€â"¢t want to be a homer, so Iâ€â"¢ll be for you…

Mark my words. The Cowboys turned a corner as a team this Sunday, and will go to the playoffs in the toughest division in football this year. If you want a write about a real story, write about the coaching legends in the NFC East that are bringing back the NFC Beast this year, instead of continuing to suck on the tit of the Patriots.

All the best,

Len"

And Chandus, couldn’t agree more. The difference? The Jets are a New York team. IE, media darling team.

Earlier I checked out the Aints site and saw something rather interesting in commentary on their chat board. They were saying that we (Dallas fans) are making a lot more of their defense than they do. Sounds like the NYG fans are lacking a great deal of confidence in their team.

On that same board, someone, obviously not knowledgeable about the “power of the star” this year, predicted a 40-12 win … for the Aints! Can’t wait for Sunday to see if the consistency of the ’Boys has added the first floor to the “foundation”.

BTW, thanks to MrBill on the Fujita answer. I was on duty at my job and not able to concentrate on the finite details of formation. Instead, I was just able to enjoy the game from what I was able to watch.

Chandus, I’m not worried about Drew’s and KJ’s “production”. I’m concerned about this team’s perception and acceptance of Bledsoe as their LEADER. Somebody, anybody, getting in Drew’s face is UNACCEPTABLE.
Period.

Look, guys. It’s should be clear to everybody by now that Drew Bledsoe IS the best QB we’ve had since Aikman. Aikman’s teammates (esspecially his line) respected him and supported him, even though he’d get in people’s faces when they were screwing up.

Example: Aikman yelling at his own line on the bench: “Hey guys! That’s a F@?ing embarrassment out there! We can’t block worth a f@k and we’re hiking the damn ball early!! F@%king junior league!!!” He didn’t get in anybody’s face, so it didn’t make the front page.

Yet his lineman have said the ONLY thing they ever took personally was when the other defense put Troy on the ground. They respected him and protected him because they knew he was their leader. Not cuz of his mouth, but because he played like a champ.

Now, BLEDSOE is playing as well as I’ve EVER seen him play- He’s the top QB in the NFC thus far. One of the elite QB’s in the league.

DO YOU GUYS REALIZE WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE? Drew was a STEAL at QB. I didn’t think he’d be this good- not THIS good. If he gets us to the Superbowl, he’ll be remembered along side Don, Roger and Troy.

So this kind of getting in his face crap is delicate stuff here. No matter who it is. Drew saying to KJ to “take care of the ball” or whatever is WELL WITHIN HIS ROLE AS THE LEADER OF THIS TEAM.

Now, I still don’t think he had to remind Keyshawn of this, but still. Maybe he was just trying to be fair in that he knew if it were any other receiver, he’d have said the same thing. Maybe he was just excercising his leadership role. Who knows.

But Keyshawn himself knows his reaction was wrong. He was trying to get justification from Parcells afterward. I’m glad Parcells told him to shut up. This is DREW’S TEAM, the way he’s playing. The offense is HIS responsibility, and I totally support HIS right to say ANYTHING to his teammates, within reason.

I hope you guys are right that this thing is overblown and over. Cuz if Sunday was ANY indication, we might have ourselves a team here. A good one.

wtf??!!

Why are the fake expletives in my post turning up blue?!!! You can click on them and email some guy named “f@%k” Weird….

Interesting to note who the Giants have put up their league-leading points against. Excl SD (21st) who we have both played, NYG have played the against defences currently ranked 28, 30 and 31 [using pts per game Fighter15]. While we have played Washington, (4) we have also faced 17, 20 and 32.

While we haven’t faced exactly stellar defences, you gotta say there is big question-mark against NYG’s offensive stats given who they’ve played….

As for Kearse’s comments – if going for it on 4th down is disrespectful then what is trying an onside kick on the opening kickoff! Twice!!

I also liked Bill Parcells post game comments that I heard on Fox Sports Radio……..I believe……..possibly espn radio………either way on satellite radio…….

anyway he told his team that until you have a team where you can get at each other a bit, then what do you really have. Family gets at it a little bit, but let somebody else pick on em and see what happens. You ain’t gotta have a love fest on a football team all the time. This a 53 man roster……then you add coaches, trainers, owners, practice squad, cheerleaders……….and I ain’t even mentioning the wives……….that is a big Fraternity of a lot of rich men. It would be surprising if they did not occassionally get at each other…………oh one other note for any of the young guys………..just don’t toss your Jersey at the big guy on the sidelines! LOL!!!

Chandus, Iâ€â"¢m not worried about Drewâ€â"¢s and KJâ€â"¢s â€Å"production”. Iâ€â"¢m concerned about this teamâ€â"¢s perception and acceptance of Bledsoe as their LEADER. Somebody, anybody, getting in Drewâ€â"¢s face is UNACCEPTABLE.
Period.

Look, guys. Itâ€â"¢s should be clear to everybody by now that Drew Bledsoe IS the best QB weâ€â"¢ve had since Aikman. Aikmanâ€â"¢s teammates (esspecially his line) respected him and supported him, even though heâ€â"¢d get in peopleâ€â"¢s faces when they were screwing up.

Example: Aikman yelling at his own line on the bench: â€Å"Hey guys! Thatâ€â"¢s a F***ing embarrassment out there! We canâ€â"¢t block worth a f*** and weâ€â"¢re hiking the damn ball early!! F***ing junior league!!!” He didnâ€â"¢t get in anybodyâ€â"¢s face, so it didnâ€â"¢t make the front page.

Yet his lineman have said the ONLY thing they ever took personally was when the other defense put Troy on the ground. They respected him and protected him because they knew he was their leader. Not cuz of his mouth, but because he played like a champ.

Now, BLEDSOE is playing as well as Iâ€â"¢ve EVER seen him play- Heâ€â"¢s the top QB in the NFC thus far. One of the elite QBâ€â"¢s in the league.

DO YOU GUYS REALIZE WHAT WEâ€â"¢VE GOT HERE? Drew was a STEAL at QB. I didnâ€â"¢t think heâ€â"¢d be this good- not THIS good. If he gets us to the Superbowl, heâ€â"¢ll be remembered along side Don, Roger and Troy.

So this kind of getting in his face crap is delicate stuff here. No matter who it is. Drew saying to KJ to â€Å"take care of the ball” or whatever is WELL WITHIN HIS ROLE AS THE LEADER OF THIS TEAM.

Now, I still donâ€â"¢t think he had to remind Keyshawn of this, but still. Maybe he was just trying to be fair in that he knew if it were any other receiver, heâ€â"¢d have said the same thing. Maybe he was just excercising his leadership role. Who knows.

But Keyshawn himself knows his reaction was wrong. He was trying to get justification from Parcells afterward. Iâ€â"¢m glad Parcells told him to shut up. This is DREWâ€â"¢S TEAM, the way heâ€â"¢s playing. The offense is HIS responsibility, and I totally support HIS right to say ANYTHING to his teammates, within reason.

I hope you guys are right that this thing is overblown and over. Cuz if Sunday was ANY indication, we might have ourselves a team here. A good one.

heard you the first time, there, rich.

sorry about the long re-post, guys. the blue expletives were scaring me….

AND HEY!! What’s this I hear about Owens wearing a Cowboy jersey after the game?!!! Like he was planing on mocking us

IS THAT TRUE???

KJ will never admit it, but a lot of his reaction may have been due to the bruised sternum he received on the play in question, which will probably have him listed as questionable this week, and may even earn him a week off, now or soon. Parcells knows what he has in Keyshawn, and may be willing to let Peerless suit out and rest Key if it serves his team’s long term interests. He has already sat Dat, and that turned out OK. He may sit either Julius or Key this week, and I wouldn’t bet that doing so would not turn out OK, either. Depth is a wonderful thing.

What I mean is, pain lowers people’s thresholds for rational thought, even if they are as tough as Keyshawn is.

Yeh, I’m also looking for clarification on the T.O. wearing a Dallas jersy thing…what’s that all about??? Anyway, doesn’t matter we broke his leg and messed up his season last…this year, we beat his entire team down and hurt his pride…sweet sweet revenge.

Not just any Dallas player’s jersey, either—the very one the Vet crowd cheered when he was knocked out of the league at one of their home games. The whole thing is pretty twisted.

I did think he would be that good, and was awestruck when I heard on Sportscenter that Bledsoe was a Cowboy. He had the punctured lung from Mo Lewis’s sideline cheap shot, but hasn’t suffered the concussions that some quarterbacks have. And he always has been physically gifted.
I think no one felt worse about the fumble than Keyshawn.
Bledsoe immediately should have distracted Keyshawn’s attention from the accident, with questions only about strategy for the next series.

LEE,

Good call. Drew shouda gone back to Keyshawn and addressed the importance of the NEXT series, told him not dwell on that fumble, etc.

COWBOY BERT,

Where are you getting this info on the Owens-Irvin jersey thing? Can you fill us in?

This is off subject but Pete Prisco in CBSSportline.com did a pretty good job of ranking the teams this week. ESPN’s rankings make no sense whatsoever. Man talk about anti-cowboy bias. The Cowboys have lost twice by 3 or less and they don’t get any credit for it. This is going to be a really good team and it will be this year.

Go Cowboys!!!!

The Philly press was all over Owens wearing a Michael Irvin throwback jersey on the plane ride back home. The national press was quick to pick it up.

Here is a link to just one of those articles:

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/12871041.htm

Why did he do it? Two reasons. One, Irvin is one of the few people in the media who has consistently taken Owens’ side in his contract dispute. Two, Owens is still upset that he didn’t get a new contract, and has no problem with showing contempt for Eagles management. I suspect this was just another attempt by Owens to ‘stick it to the man’.

Of course, Andy Reid just laughed it off as of no consequence. But, you have to know he was seething inside. But, what could he do? Now, if I were an Eagles player, I would have been tempted to make him eat that jersey.

Aint is grand,,
                      Look what you guys are foremost discussing Drew and KJ…Something as meaningless as what color draws I will put on tommorrow…..You see what winning does….Ok, let me pose a question to you my Dye-hard Blue & Silver comrads…Do you think if we man handle the G-men like we did Phili this week and as so with Seattle the following week is it then the time to start thinking SuperBowl bound????…

Maybe not you say after 7 games, but I say we could’nt have found a more hungry guy to not only want to win in Bledso, but one who has been looked over not by one young QB but 2…Lets not mention the fact that the year he got hurt in there superbowl run in New England he could have started back in the line up but got snubbed…. Oh, I forgot he did go to the Superbowl earlier as a starter only to lose by kickoff return……

Call me crazy but I smell many victories and less chocking in route to the big dance….This is our 1995 boys all over again and it smells all so good…..

Whoa, slow down ray, look at the second half of the season…Let us assume we lay a good ol’ fashion butt kicking to both the gAINTS and seahawks…that’d put us at 6-2 (assuming we mop up the red birds) going into the bye…I’ll admit that’s pretty flippin’ good.
  But let us look at the second half of the season 1. All divisional games Dallas will play after the bye will be played away, which will be tough (especially that monday nighter at Philly…woof!!!) 2.teams like Denver, KC and Carolina (at Carolina) could be tought—-especially that Caronlina game because if we learned anything last season it is that the Panthers close well late in the season.
   But, Mr. Ray, I will say this…I do think Dallas has a shot at going to the Superbowl, but we’d have to have homefield throughtout the playoffs in order for me to believe that. But, then again, we are in the tightest and maybe the most talented division in all of the league.
   One last thing, if Dallas beats N Y soundly, I will be drinking the “cowboy superbowl” kool aid with you next week my hopeful friend…game on!!! Go Cowboys!!!!

Ray,

I think Dallas still has a lot of improving to do. It may sound pecimistic, but Westbrook, if he catches that pass, could have gotten the Eagles right back in the game. .. In my opinion, the Boys have to improve in two critical areas:

1) Defending the big play
2) Converting on 3rd and short.

.. Show some consistency there and then I think we can talk about playing in Detroit in Febuary. ..

The TO jersey incident says as much (bad) about the Eagle team as it does about him. There is only one appropriate reaction from the other 52 players if he shows up with that jersey after being humiliated by the Boys….tear it off his back and throw him off the bus…..and then pee on his broken body. There is apparently much less heart on that team than they are given credit for. Good thing for him George Teague wasn’t riding the bus.

Bledsoe came off the field and questioned Keyshawn’s heart. I’m surprised Keyshawn didn’t separate Bledsoe from a few of his front teeth. What Bledsoe did was indicative of a fiery competitor and in the heat of the battle so it gets a pass, and if he’d stopped to think for one second, he’d have handled it differently. I think Keyshawn’s response was righteous, I’d have have done the same thing.
Key got lit up, TO, Raymond Berry, Kellen Winslow, Mark Bavaro all would’ve lost the ball on that play. Key got injured on the play.
Two things –
 As a quarterback, you cannot dispute with every player every mistake that player makes. It’s your job to get the most out of every player, not to be an insufferable A hole. That’s not leadership, it’s empty criticism. The key is to support the player, improve the shortcoming, and move past the mistakes – not accuse there is a lack of commitment, especially to Keyshawn Johnson, and especially after he was injured and especially if you don’t know the whole story.
 It’s great that Key and Bledsoe have such a good relationship that they feel comfortable enough to get ugly fast and not reign in emotion, and recognize it for what it is and move past it immediately. For all you Antonio Bryant lovers, picture that scenario.

Quarterbacks do not get to say or do whatever they like. The locker room is filled with other players, and if they poison the atmosphere in the locker room, what good are they?

I like that we finally got a qb with a pair big enough to walk over and question KJ. Hindsight is 20/20…..so he oh KJ was hurt does not play into the confrontation. What does play in is we got a leader behind center for the first time since Aikman hung up the cleats and maybe even a better QB than Aikman in his last couple of years……..he had constant back problems and was correct to walk away when he did………especially with the offensive line in disarray……….could not have watched teams tee off on Aikman they way they did to Hutchinson.

Listen to what Michael Irvin says about the delicate nature of a QB………uh……..I don’t see that delicate nature in Drew. The guy is on fire and is lighting it up. He even has the leadership to question KJ……not Crayton mind you………he went after the biggest mouth on the sideline………..if KJ was a pro wrestler they would call him the Mouth of the South…………the fact that Bledsoe is questioning his vet reciever like that shows me the FIRE that burns within.

Bledsoe did not want to beat the Eagles……….33-10…………he wanted to beat them 40-3…………and gentleman………..and ladies……….I love that about our new DREW! I don’t put any weight in the incident, it was over they both said it was over and the coach said it was over. I actually think underneath it all Bill is laughing to himself thinking…………hey look at Drew he went after Keyshawn………I finally got myself a QB. Romo or Henson would not have the leadership or respect of his teammates. If Crayton runs the wrong route………Drew Bledsoe will know it and tell him………same said for KJ, TG or JW or JJ or TT or AT or MB………DC……whoever………….Drew knows how a play should develop and the routes and he will make all those young guys……..including Drew Henson and Tony Romo better if they take good notes. It is also class of Bledsoe in the summer to go caddy for Tony Romo. A lot of times the QBs cannot stand each other for their competitive nature. Look at what Favre said of Aaron Rodgers………I ain’t in the NFL to teach him……..nobody taught me……….he sees him as a threat and would have preferred a weapon on the field in the first round to a backup qb who does not even deserve to sniff his jock strap much less wear it! This is the most competitive sport on the planet………the fact that we got a QB who is chucking it………and he is chucking it ladies and gentleman………..to Terry Glenn against the Raiders……….to Crayton against SD…………to Glenn again against the great Eagles Secondary………..

on another note……….Irvin and TO are supposedly friends. Michael certainly had his off the field flamboyance and documented problems. However, Michael Irvin………….never not once caused the kind of disruption on the field ast TO……….Mike sees and respects TOs ability but deep down he knows the guy hurt the Eagles this offseason………and that is something a classy player like Michael Irvin never did to his Dallas Cowboys. Oh by the way TO instead of wearing Irvin’s jersey on the bus home………why not wear it to the LINC when you are on the sidelines last year injured? Perhaps he did not notice but Michael is retired……..maybe he should have borrowed a Terry Glenn jersey since TG did something on Sunday Terrel did not………..CATCH TWO TDS!!!!! It could have been just a great reminder for the defensive backs of the Philly Beagles.

BTW anybody else notice that obnoxious filly fans that showed up in the preseason are no longer here! Ain’t it grand! I remember betting one of he would have to wear a Michael Irvin Jersey to the Linc………..where are they now?

OK, ok, enough with the excitement over Bledsoe and Keyshawn. It’s been over since the game ended.

And if y’all don’t recall, we still have a number of questions about this team that take more than one or two good games to answer:

1. Can we run the ball consistently?
2. Can we stop the run consistently without putting extra men in the box?
3. Can we defend the long pass consistently?
4. Can we defend the better receiving TEs in the league?
5. Will our ST coverage ever stop the good kick and punt returners?
6. Will our play calling remain aggressive?

That’s a lot of questions, and the first three are all about consistency—which we have not yet shown. The fourth will be mostly answered Sunday against Shockey, and the fifth and sixth will take a few games to know.

At least we’ve answered a few of the earlier questions: our pass rush? check. our downfield passing and qb protection? check. our blitz pickup? check (I think). our kicking? check. (That last one still surprises me.)

And now we know how high the ceiling is when the team is firing on all cylinders—and our players know that now, too.

Rem,

1. We have yet to show that we can run the ball with authority. It’s one thing to run when you are way up and the D is tired. Quite another to do it at will, and be able to go deep on 2nd and 1 cause you know that 3rd and 1 is Automatic.

2. No we can’t. This may come back to haunt us against NY who have a great RB – tiki – and a Big WR – Plex – I think we see some more exotic Defences this week.

3. I think we have closed that long pass deficiency. We won’t ask our SS to do it all, and Our Nickel DB won’t go for a pick if he is facing the LOS and is also the last man back.

4. TE’s? I know everyone has been hating on RWilliams, but he can cover any TE in the league except TGonzales, and maybe RMcMicheal. Also, Dat can take those TE’s to school. Watch Dallas make Shockey an observer this week. TE coverage is not a weakness for this team.

5. Don’t know. But we seem to have been doing better at ST the past few games.

6. I don’t think we got more aggressive against Philly, I think we just executed better. Watch all the aggressive talk, you want a Mike Martz (GENIUS) method of offense here?

Also, it’s easier to call “aggressive” plays when your first offensive snap is on your opponent’s side of the field. What a big difference a good punter and good returns provide.

Chandus and Len
The reason is Vinny is in NY as a last option, he is not look at to do much. Last year he was handed the team. NY lost their top QBs. If he was the starter from the jump you would hear how old he is. Its a different situation all together so you can’t compare the two.

Remnant:
Some of the questions you cited will receive answers after this game and I think that this are the ones:

1. Can we run the ball consistently?
    Knowing that he’s in charge of the second to last passing D, Coughlin knows now that Bledsoe is to be taken seriously, he will try to stop Glenn deep getting a Safety deep and will try to stop Key and Witten with LB’s in crossing routes, that’d leave lots of room for the running game knowing that NY has the 14th running D, Julius might not get his breakout game (with his ankle might share evenly the ball with the Coupe (Audi TT)) but we’ll see a pretty good running game.

2. Can we stop the run consistently without putting extra men in the box?
    That won’t receive an answer for now, Roy Williams will be close to the box, and being a Safety, that’s an extra men.

3. Can we defend the long pass consistently?
    We will see lots of short and medium routes, by now every team should know that Dallas D is close to the second Doomsday and they will try to protect their QB’s, which translates into short passes that are though to defend but with good tackling are easy to contain into minimum gains. The long pass Defense will depend a lot on the running game success.

4. Can we defend the better receiving TEs in the league?
    That sould be answered by now, but we didn’t faced Gates nor Eric Johnson, we did faced LJ Smith which is fine but that’s it, we’ll see, Shockey’s a real test.

5. Will our ST coverage ever stop the good kick and punt returners?
    Other than SD we haven’t faced an above good ST’s team, now we face one of the best, Willie Ponder’s a burner of a KR, Chad Morton has been rather good also on PR, Feagles (P) has an net average (40.1) above the one McBriar has (37.2) and Jay Feely has been perfect on FG’s and above average on KO’s. We’ve been good stopping ST’s since the SD game, this is a measures game.

6. Will our play calling remain aggressive?
    Has to be, we were agressive against Philly because Parcells knew that Philly could score some points, the same can be said from NY, so Bledsoe will go out on fire again.

AlanTdot,

With rookie RT and FB and one other new face on the O-Line, there’s no way of telling whether this team may develop a consistent running attack. But I agree that so far they have not.

And I’m afraid I agree with you that we can’t stop the run consistently without stacking the line. But our defensive youth means that could change later….

I wish I could agree with you that our defense is solid vs. the long ball, but our safeties and schemes have whiffed too much there for me to be confident. Yet.

We have not yet seen a TE like Shockey. And Roy won’t be the only guy who has to try to cover him and Dat may not even play Sunday. So Ware, James, Pierce and Singleton better all step up against this All-Pro stud as he takes turn running through their territory.

And our ST looked great against the Eagles, but they have among the worst STs. If Copper doesn’t make every play, I still don’t know who on our coverage units tackles consistently.

Finally, there is no doubt that field position enabled the coaches to be more aggressive, but 3 out of the first 4 plays were long passes—that’s much different from most of our games. And our blitzing was much more exotix last Sunday, too. So will it continue, or was it based on just field position and a one-dimensional Eagles team? We’ll have to wait and see for a few games.

So I still have questions. But at least these are basically about how high is high, not like last year. I still see playoffs as our ceiling this year; perhaps next year we’ll be talking Super Bowl and meaning it!

Chandus,

Agree with most everything you say. Except that being fourth in sacks in the NFL (with 16) isn’t the only stat to look at when judging our ability to defend against big plays.

We’re allowing 202 yards passing per game, 16th in the NFL (Buffalo is 1st with 139). We’re allowing 11.5 yards per completion, 21st in the NFL (Indy leads with 8.6). And our 7 passing TDs allowed ties us for an unexciting 17th in the league (Indy & Tampa have 2 each). Yeesh.

So the Gints worry me a little. The 49ers torched us, for goodness’ sake!

why…..oh…why????
your bringing back back memories of them getting torched!!!
It takes away any excitement i had about the cowboys beating the beagles.I just hope it wasn’t a fluke…i don’t wanna doubt my BOYS!I hope They Destroy the Giants!!and put the inconsistency talk to rest and just look forward to an exciting half by the BOYS!Where they gell and become better and eliminate small mistakes which is basically the only thing that kills them its those small mistakes but its obvious there young at key positions which are most noticeable which is why they always pick them apart,but once they get past the first half of the season…….. "LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!and LET THE BEAST OF THE EAST RISE ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!

I’m a DIE HARD Giants fan but i think they’re gonna loose to the cowboys
38-3

hey G.A.T.B,
I have to agree with you on that one,but i dont know about (38-3) I say more like 28-7

Hey,
I eat toe jam for dinner and lint for desert

uhhh…..Remnant….are you ok?

My apologies to the board for whatever child is signed on as “Remnamt”.

Rem,

Except for that long bomb that McNabb missed Westbrook with and RMoss getting 78 yds on a play, we have been very stout against the long pass. moss is going to get his yards and having two Safeties cover Westbrook without a jam is a blown play.

When we were giving up the long pass, our DB was going for INT’s and our SS didn’t provide enough help.

We have Hard hitting Safeties. I WANT them to pass the ball to Shockey. He is as overrated as David LaFleur. Okay maybe not that overrated.

Hey alanTpot,good point man….hey i have a new hobby for you its called who can drive the furthest off the cliff,and guess what AlanTpot? your next!

Remnamt,

Thats funny.

;D