Panthers Notes

by Rafael Vela on Dec 25, 2005 9:43 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys General

Some assorted observations while I wait for the combination of too much roast and tryptophan to wear off:

Flukey but deserved
The did-they-or-didn't-they-block the kick questions are for the Panthers fans to argue. Regardless, Dallas outplayed the Panthers yesterday. The Cowboys won time of posession handily. They gashed Carolina's rush defense for over 200 yards. They stopped the Panthers running game and stopped Steve Smith cold. That didn' t mean the Cowboys were without fault, but they wanted this one more.

He actually bumped two refs
Smith didn't give himself much of an alibi on his ejection play. In real time, it was a play that should make the next edition of NFL Bloopers, if they still make such things. The Panthers are in third and 6 at the Cowboys 44. Carolina goes to an empty backfield with four wide and a tight end. Jake Delhomme takes a five step drop and has his arm hit by Demarcus Ware as he looks for receiver. The ball pops free and rolls towards the sideline long the midfield stripe.

Smith, who has been running a shallow cross left to right, runs back and beats the Dallas linemen to the ball on the near sideline. He sprints back across the field and begins to pick up blockers. For an instant, it appears he's going to run in one huge circle, going past the left slot where he started to gain a crazy first down.

Terence Newman comes off his man and tackles Smith two yards short of the first down. Newman wraps him high, around Smith's helmet, but does not grab his facemask. Newman puts some mustard on the end of the tackle, twisting Smith down by his head. Smith jumps up and grabs the official, insisting on a personal foul penalty. He gets one -- on himself. Smith runs towards midfield and away from a Dallas sideline cheering his being flagged and then bumps into the referee while arguing about his mistreatment from the first ref.

When the refs huddled, I'll bet it was to determine which one got to throw Smith out of the game.

You won, but you still need to fix the problem, Bill
Julius Peppers claims he blocked Billy Cundiff's last attempt with his rib cage. The referees said the replay was inconclusive, but on first viewing, it looked to me like the ball grazed his side. Whatever the case, Peppers found two holes in the Cowboys defense -- right up the middle.

At the end of the first half, he stepped through the center/guard gap to the left of snapper J.P. Ladoceur and blocked Cundiff's kick. At the end of the game he went to the right of Ladoceur, stepping past a frozen LarryAllen. It's a wonder Peppers didn't swallow up Cundiff and the ball, since he broke through so cleanly.

The guards to each side seemed to dive down, allowing an agile linemen like Peppers, who played college basketball, to leapfrog over them. All of Cundiff's kicks looked low yesterday, but I can't fault him for the first block. Nobody should come directly through your line that easily.

The wrinkle
Carolina could never solve the Cowboys bunch formation package, which it used in third and lone formations. Dallas would put their tight end on one side of the formation, usually on the right to help Rob Petitti. It would then bunch Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton and Keyshawn Johnson together on the left. Dallas spead the receivers about eight to ten yards wide of the left tackle, which is more than most teams will spead the bunch. Crayton would run deep clearing out the Carolina safeties and Johnson and Glenn would take turns catching intermediate passes beneath him.

Look ma, no thumbs
The first big play from bunch came in the second quarter with Dallas trailing 10-7. Glenn caught a 19 yard pass from Bledsoe on a third and six. When he punched out to stiff arm Panthers' safety Marlon McCree, Glenn dislocated his right thumb on McCree's shoulder pads. He left the game to have the thumb reset and wrapped. Watch tape of the second half and you'll see Glenn bobbling nearly every other pass that came his way. He stopped the game- winning pass with his bad hand, brought it into his body with both hands and kicked both toes in bounds. Glenn was in tears at the end of the game. I'm sure they were caused as much by pain as they were by joy.

Playing with fire at safety
The Cowboys broke camp with only two safeties on their roster. They've gone the distance with only three, adding Willie Pile after he was cut by the Chiefs. Those shallow numbers hurt them yesterday. Keith Davis was burned when he let the ancient Ricky Proehl rumble past him for a 69 yard reception on the Panthers second possession of the day. Davis got caught looking into the backfield and failed to keep deep contain. Roy Williams was victimized by a nice Delhomme pump fake on Carolina's next possession. The QB looked left and feigned a quick out to Steve Smith. The pump fake froze both Cowboys safeties and let the Panthers flanker run a post behind him for a touchdown.

When Williams injured his ankle after intercepting a Delhomme pass early in the fourth quarter, Dallas was down to Pile and Davis. Proehl beat Pile on an out and up at the 2:23 mark to put Carolina ahead 20 to 17.

We've all known safety is a position of need for '06. Carolina reminded everyone in the most rude way.

Shut up about Merriman, okay
Demarcus Ware said little after the game, but I'm sure he was thinking this after a week of having his selection questioned. Ware, like the rest of the Cowboys, struggled in Washington, while Shawne Merriman, the linebacker selected immediately after Ware in the April draft, led the Chargers' rush in their upset of previously undefeated Indianapolis. One local scribe said this week that Dallas had made the wrong choice. Ware turned in his best performance of the season Saturday, with nine tackles, three sacks and three fumbles caused. Carolina was fortunate to recover two of them. The third, which Greg Ellis recovered, stopped a late first half Panthers drive and helped set up Cundiff's blocked attempt.

Welcome back, Mr. Jones
Julius Jones could not have regained form at a better time, gaining 194 yards. It's clear that Jones is finally healthy. On at least three occassions he made stop-and-go moves in the backfield, waving past blitzing runners and making a big gain. He hasn't shown this trick since the 49ers' win, suggesting that the high ankle sprain he suffered two weeks later against the Eagles has finally healed.

Jones also got a lot of help from his line, especially the interior three of Larry Allen, Al Johnson and Andre Gurode. Watch Jones' big runs and you'll see the three of them working in unison to create enormous holes. On Jones first big run, a 19 yard first quarter scamper, Allen and Johnson cross blocked; Allen blocked down in the nose tackle angled in on Johnson and Johnson pulled around with fullback Lousaka Polite to lead Jones through the left side of the line.

On Jones's TD run, Johnson and Gurode turned their men left and right respectively, opening an enormous lane for Jones. For one of the few times all year Jones could reach the secondary with a full head of steam. Gurode, a free agent this spring, may make the front office reconsider keeping him. He was a flop as a guard last year but made a difference Saturday.

Polite also had his best day blocking. He didn't destroy the Panthers linebackers and safeties, but locked them up long enough to let Jones get by. His play underscores how important good fullback play is to the running game.

Redemption is the theme of the day
The Cowboys bounced back as a team from their humiliating loss in Washington. Ware and Torrin Tucker led the comebacks, with Tucker handling Mike Rucker extensively in solo pass blocking and turning in a good day of run blocking. We also witnessed a couple of bounce backs within the space of the game:

Tyson Thompson gave Carolina an early break when he fumbled the kickoff immediately after the Panthers had taken a 3-0 lead. Carrying the ball in his left hand, he failed to wrap up with two hands after one defender swatted at the ball, failed to wrap up after a second defender swatted at his arm and paid for it when a third defender hit him from behind and punched the ball loose.

Thompson was left in the game and made amends when he returned the kickoff after Proehl's TD to the Dallas 42, giving the Cowboys momentum for their game winning drive.

Roy Williams made up for his early coverage gaffe with a Willie Mayesque over the shoulder interception of Delhomme on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Other notables
Terence Newman had some safety help, but was the prime reason Steve Smith left the game with one catch for 16 yards. Smith was visibly frustrated and yelled at the Panthers sideline to get him the ball several times before he was ejected.

Jacques Reeves was targeted on a few deep passes and gave up nothing.

Ryan Fowler got extensive playing time at inside linebacker for Scott Shanle. He covered well and played the run effectively. Look for him to get more reps this week.

The Panthers complained all week that CB Ken Lucas deserved to make the Pro Bowl. I'll bet they're a little quieter now. Keyshawn Johnson abused Lucas on a couple of short passes, which then became long gains.

You can't do that
At the end of the first half, Bill Parcells had an argument with two officials, claiming they cost Dallas 12 seconds of playing time. With Dallas at first and ten on the Panthers' 20 and 35 seconds left in the half, Bledsoe was sacked. The Cowboys did not stop the clock until there were 19 seconds left.

On the sidelines, Parcells screamed to the side judge and to the referree that he signed for a timeout much earlier. One replay clearly shows him mouthing the line, "I called time out with 31 seconds left!"

Nice try, Bill, but the refs were right here. Bledsoe was hit by a rushing Panthers lineman at 31 seconds. Parcells assumed he would get a quick whistle and started to signal time out. However, the linemen did not wrap up Bledsoe. He did a half roll and backed his way back to the line of scrimmage before he was stopped and the whistle was blown. It was an odd looking play, but did not stop until there were 24 seconds on the clock. Bledsoe erred in not calling the timeout immediately, costing Dallas a pass into the end zone before Cundiff was brought on with 7 seconds left for his game tying attempt, which Peppers blocked.

Play of the Game:
The Panthers have all the early momentum. The 69 yard bomb to Proehl set up a field goal. They struck for a 32 yard TD to Drew Carter just nine seconds after John Kasay's kick, on the play following Tyson Thompson's fumble.

Drew Bledsoe is sacked on the first Cowboys play after the Panthers' ensuing kickoff. Dallas faces a critical third and ten on its own 20. If it can't move the ball, it faces another possible early blowout.

Dallas goes three wide, with Glenn in the right slot. It rolls Bledsoe out to the right, where Dan Campbell is helping Rob Petitti. Marion Barber provides backside contain against pursuing linemen. Bledsoe loads up and flings deep, where Glenn has run and out and up, shaking free from his cornerback pursuer. Glenn slows to catch the underthrown pass. The Panthers safety, his back turned to the throw, shoves Glenn in the chest as the ball approaches. Glenn keeps his concentration and makes the grab for a 51 yard gain.

His extra attention gives the Cowboys a bonus; Bledsoe was roughed after throwing the pass. Glenn's reception allows Dallas to decline the pass interference flag that was thrown and tack 15 yards for a personal foul onto the pass. The Cowboys gain 66 yards on the play, moving to the Panthers' 14. Julius Jones scores on an 8 yard draw three plays later and the momentum shifts to Dallas.

Save of the Game:
This goes to Sean Payton, whose craft play calls help the Cowboys escape two egregious mistakes. Midway through the third quarter, the Cowboys have forced the second Panthers three and out of the second half. They are starting at their own 39, trailing 13-10. On first down, a three-yard Julius Jones' run is negated by a stupid Rob Petitti personal foul; blocking on the backside of the play, Petitti ran up to a Panthers cornerback and raked his right thumb across the player's eyes.

Facing first and 25, Dallas regains 20 yards on a three yard Jones draw and a seventeen yard Jones screen pass. Facing a very makeable third and five, the line misplays, with Torrin Tucker flagged for a false start.

Now facing third and ten, Payton puts two tight ends on Petitti's flank and Barber in the backfield. He keeps Dan Campbell in to help his RT and gives Bledsoe the showpiece throw for all QBs -- the 18 yard out. Bledsoe times his throw perfectly to Keyshawn, who has run off Ken Lucas.

Julius Jones scores his TD on the following play, but he only got the chance because Payton overcame 20 yards of penalties.

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Comments

Raf, good summary and great blog. I’m new to posting here, but have been reading for a while. Have you figured out the playoff scenario.

This is what i have. Cowboys get in with a win and one of the following:
A Redskins loss
A Carolina loss
A Bucs loss

If the panthers win and bucs lose, then we will have the common opponent edge on the Bucs (3-2) versus their (2-2)

Is this right?

by rainmkr on Dec 25, 2005 11:08 PM CST reply actions

Good job Raf…….it was truley a great win for us!Steve Smith will probably get some type of additional penalty from the NFL.It was great to see Dallas bounce back and play with some fire for a change.Afterall, I think most of us guessed 10-6 would be the record and with a very winnable game against the Rams that’s where we’ll most probably end up.It ain’t over till it’s over,that’s why they play the games(just ask Cinncy and Carolina)! Anything can happen so keep the faith guys,maybe we can squeak in,if not 10-6 is a definate improvement……

by sharkz on Dec 25, 2005 11:17 PM CST reply actions

Hey Raf,

Lynn Scott was playing on Sat. He had a special teams penalty. I don’t know how many games he’s suited up, but at least for the last one we had a full compliment of 4 safeties.

by altercall on Dec 25, 2005 11:26 PM CST reply actions

rainmkr:
No, we need the BUCS to take the south. If we get into a tie breaker with them then we loose, because they beat the redskins earlier this season. We need the bucs to win the south, and either the panthers or the redskins to loose. if this happens then we take a wild card spot

by lcraft on Dec 25, 2005 11:36 PM CST reply actions

I meant lose

by lcraft on Dec 25, 2005 11:37 PM CST reply actions

but we have to win

by lcraft on Dec 25, 2005 11:38 PM CST reply actions

Raf-Did we seem to roll the pocket more this game than we have in the past? Also, how many shotgun snaps were there compared to other games? It seems like the game plan was the big diference in the success of our offense scheme. Why has it taken so long for these adjustments?

I also scratch my head every time I see Ware in coverage. When he is in coverage we have just taken our best pass rusher out of the game for our opponent. He is average in coverage and has potential for much improvement but I’d rather have a very good LB pressuring the QB every play than the best cover LB taken out of the play to shut down one of their players. Usually not even a top playmaker for them.

by Sean on Dec 26, 2005 12:07 AM CST reply actions

great notes as usual-I wish I could have seen this game. Of course, the Wash. debacle WAS televised here, I got to “enjoy” that. I don’t usually get too much into the “mediot” bashing but I lost it in this one: It’s the 15TH game of the year, right? Here’s a quote from Spagnola-“Great idea by the offensive staff trying to get the ball on the edges….they repeated ly ran that toss pitch to Julius Jones…” AAUUGGHHH!! I and others on this site, casual fans, have seen that missing since early in the year!! And if his ankle was hurt what a “great idea” it might be to try that play with Thompson sometimes when defenses bunch up on us in the middle..Geez

by larry on Dec 26, 2005 12:11 AM CST reply actions

well, the vikings lost-step one finished!

by larry on Dec 26, 2005 12:18 AM CST reply actions

Yep Larry they are thinning themselves out.First Atlanta and now Minnisota are now gone……

by sharkz on Dec 26, 2005 12:22 AM CST reply actions

HELLO, everyone, once and for all here is the scenario

Dallas can clinch playoff berth with win and Carolina loss

((((OR)))) Redskins loss

thats it folks, carolina OR Washington needs to lose and we need to win, keep in mind the word OR

by mrwnt10 on Dec 26, 2005 12:26 AM CST reply actions

lcraft thanks for the response.

I thought that to break a tie btwn 2 non-division teams, the first determinant is head to head. if not applicable, then best won loss percentage of conference games, with bucs loss and our win we would both be 8-4.

then comes best win loss percentage of common games (4 minimum) These common games are Detroit, SanFran, Carolina, and Washington. We went 3-2 against these teams, whereas they went 2-2. Is there something i’m missing?

by rainmkr on Dec 26, 2005 12:32 AM CST reply actions

lcraft, never mind. i got it. they beat the skins head to head, so we would be out.

by rainmkr on Dec 26, 2005 12:40 AM CST reply actions

Raf,

Sorry bro, but this is the biggest Cowboy’s apologist piece to date. Yes I’m happy that Jones is back. I’m happy that Ware had a good game. I’m happy that alot of questions weren’t so eveident Saturday. But, Ware, Jones, and company have alot to prove before we ask for the questions to stop.

by Cash on Dec 26, 2005 12:42 AM CST reply actions

rainmkr:
You may be right. I will look at that.

by lcraft on Dec 26, 2005 12:46 AM CST reply actions

Cash,

Then go right ahead. Nobody’s stopping you or anybody else from asking them. Just don’t tell me how to write my pieces.

by Rafael Vela on Dec 26, 2005 1:06 AM CST reply actions

Raf:
thank you for saying that. As long as Julius keeps putting the ball between the hashes, and opening up the passing game, I dont think there should be any questions to ask.

by lcraft on Dec 26, 2005 1:16 AM CST reply actions

Is there any update on Brunell injury? Can we do some sort of co-link to an Eagles blog — I mean we want the Eagles to win more than their own fans do
same with Atlanta

by linus on Dec 26, 2005 7:55 AM CST reply actions

rainmkr,

I think you are right with the playoff scenario, despite DC.com reporting otherwise. I believe Dallas would have the tiebreaker with Tampa if Carolina wins that division, otherwise Tampa would have clinched already, which they haven’t.

by Eric Richard on Dec 26, 2005 7:56 AM CST reply actions

I know Rafael doesn’t want to discuss the running into the kicker call/non-call, but here’s the question:
Can a review force an official to pick up a flag? If they review the play and determine the kick was touched by a defender, can they then pick up a flag thrown on the field? If they can do that, whay cant they review a pass interference penalty to determine that a pass had actually been tipped and then pick up the flag?

by jarhead on Dec 26, 2005 9:34 AM CST reply actions

linus,

I think Atlanta will play very hard this week. The Falcons have won some big games this year, and I think that they will want to prove that they are in fact a good team. .. For the life of me, I still can’t figure out why Jim Mora Jr. wouldn’t go for a 4th and 2 with less than 2 minutes left in OT.

The very good things we have going for us … Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Washington all play divisional games. As we know, anything can happen in those games, but also the playoff hopeful’s opponents (Atlanta, New Orleans, and Philly) will have added incentive to knock their divison rivals out of playoff contention. .. Two of them, Carolina and Washington, are traveling. A growing trend this year in the NFL has been teams going on the road after an emotional home wins have come out the next week flat. So Redskins beware! .. The Skins also have to be aware of what awaits them, in the presence of pride! The Eagles are banged up, but still do you think a team one win away from being the World Champs want to go out this season with double digit loses? Loose #10 against their bitter rivals?? Trust me they will be fired up in the City of Brotherly Love, because if one thing is true in the NFC East “if your team is not making the playoffs … the next best thing is to knock out one of your division rivals!!” .. Philly 4-3 at home this year, while Washington is 3-4 on the road.

by Eric Richard on Dec 26, 2005 9:49 AM CST reply actions

So I have to be an Eagles fan next week? Eeeewwww. (little girl-type squeal)

by Mo Rice on Dec 26, 2005 10:21 AM CST reply actions

The Cowboys can make the playoffs even if WAS and CAR win: it takes a loss by NYG (@ OAK) and a TB loss at home to NO. This article was on the Bucs web-page. I haven’t seen this discussed anywhere else.

http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=4935

It boils down to this: All of the teams in the 1-6 seeds are safe if they win or Dallas loses next weekend. Thus, we have to look at what happens in the opposite scenario, if the contending team loses and Dallas wins. In the case of the Giants, they would conceivably lose the NFC East (if Washington wins) but they would beat Dallas in a tiebreaker thanks to a superior division record.

However, if the Bucs and the Giants lose and Carolina, Dallas and Washington win, then the Bucs would be in a three-way tie for the two Wild Card spots with the Cowboys and Giants, all at 10-6. In that situation, the tiebreakers would first determine a winner from among the two NFC East teams, and that would be the Giants based on better division record.

The Giants would then be pitted against the Bucs for the five seed, and since those two teams would have the same conference record and the same record in common games (3-2), it would go down to strength of victory. That canÃ¢â‚¬â"¢t be fully determined at the moment because a lot of results go into the final strength of victory percentage.

(Strength of victory means the combined winning percentage of all of the teamÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s beaten by the team in question. At the moment, the BucsÃ¢â‚¬â"¢ strength of victory is .447, as is New YorkÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s while DallasÃ¢â‚¬â"¢ is .467. But it will be affected in Week 17 by the results of all of the teams that the Bucs, Giants and Cowboys have beaten.)

If the Bucs were to win that tiebreaker against the Giants, then New York would again be pitted against Dallas for the sixth seed, and they would win that, again, on a better division record.

However, if the Giants were to win that tiebreaker against the Bucs, then Tampa Bay would be pitted against Dallas for the sixth seed. Once again, the two teams would end up with identical conference records (8-4) and records in common games (3-2). So, once again, it would come down to strength of victory, which we canÃ¢â‚¬â"¢t fully calculate at the moment. By the way, the loss that keeps the Bucs from beating both the Giants and Cowboys in the common games tiebreaker is the game at San Francisco. Both Dallas and New York beat the 49ers this year.

What that means, amazingly, is that virtually every game played next weekend could affect the BucsÃ¢â‚¬â"¢ playoff chances…if they lose to New Orleans. If Tampa Bay drops its season finale, the Giants also lose and Carolina, Dallas and Washington all win, the Bucs will be forced to wait and see how the strength of victory numbers play out. What could give Buc fans pause is that each of those teams is playing a game in which it will be favored, against teams that have been eliminated. Carolina travels to Atlanta, Dallas is at home against St. Louis and Washington draws the shell of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Notice that we include a Giants loss in all of those troublesome scenarios. HereÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s why: If New York wins and thus wins the NFC East, then the worst-case scenario for the Buccaneers is a three-way tie for the two Wild Card spots with Dallas and Washington, all of whom would be 10-6. In that case, Washington would first knock out Dallas then be pitted head-to-head with the Buccaneers. Thanks to Mike AlstottÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s two-point conversion in a 36-35 win over the Redskins in Week 10, the Bucs would easily win that one thanks to the head-to-head victory. Washington would then drop back into a tiebreaker with Dallas for the sixth spot, and would win that again.

by dcnix on Dec 26, 2005 11:07 AM CST reply actions

rainmkr,

My bad. Its like this if there is a three way tie between Dallas, Washington, and Tampa for the 2 wild card spots:

Wild Card #1-

Since Washington beats us within the division, and only the top team in each division proceeds to the next step of a tie breaker, then Washington would duke it out with Tampa for the #1 wild card. The Bucs win that because they beat the Skins earlier this year.

Wild Card #2-

Washington then beats us out because of their head-to-head record against us.

.. But now if the Giants loose and Wahington wins the division and then Dallas ties with Tampa, then Cowboys win that tie breaker due to winning % against common opponent’s.

.. Therefore we should be routing for Oakland this Saturday too. A Giant’s loss gives Dallas 3 chances on Sunday. With a New York loss, if any one of the 3 teams (Carolina, Tampa, or Washington) loose, then its win and in for Dallas. .. If the G-men win, Tampa Bay clinches a playoff spot, then Dallas only has 2 shots to get in (Carolina or Washington looses).

by Eric Richard on Dec 26, 2005 11:17 AM CST reply actions

All:

Cowboys cut Cundiff according to Star-Telegram. Cowboys re-signed Suisham.

by Scooter on Dec 26, 2005 11:58 AM CST reply actions

Cowboys cut CundiffBy RICK HERRINStar-Telegram Staff WriterThe Dallas Cowboys released kicker Billy Cundiff on Monday and resigned rookie Shaun Suisham. Cundiff made one of two field goals Saturday in the Cowboys’ 24-20 victory against the Carolina Panthers.
He also missed a 33-yard attempt wide right that would have tied the game late in fourth quarter but the play didn’t count because of a penalty.
Cundiff’s low kick from 32 yards out with four seconds remaining in the first half was partially blocked. He made a 24-yarder about four minutes

by linus on Dec 26, 2005 12:58 PM CST reply actions

Scooter, linus,

good call by the boys. Ladoucer and Suisham are going to be a good kicker/snaoper duo for the future. But we should really bring back STEVE HOFFMAN!!!

Cash,

I think we all got excited by the 7-3 Cowboys this year and forgot that this team was starting hella rookies, and a totally new defensive scheme.

We were probably a soild Kicker/Snapper combo from 11-5 or even 12-4.

What questions are you possibly talking about?

Every team has holes – parity/free agency – but this one now has experience and has gotten tough this season.

I am not giving up on the playoffs and if the Cowboys get in they could be very tough to get past – depending which team shows up of course.

Next year? Hello NFC title Champions.

by alanTdot on Dec 26, 2005 1:14 PM CST reply actions

Alan,

The questions I’m talking about is a reference to Raf’s piece. It would seem as if he changed it. For some of us who have questioned the pick of Ware over Merriman, he told us to shut up, because the guy decided to show up one game this second half of the season.

Forgive me if I’d like to see it happen more than once before I start telling people I told you so.

Raf,

I’m not telling you how to write your piece, I’m just telling you what kind of piece it is.

by Cash on Dec 26, 2005 1:56 PM CST reply actions

Thanks Eric, I think you got it.

by rainmkr on Dec 26, 2005 2:15 PM CST reply actions

good job raf
excellent article, your setting your bar pretty high we are gonna expect stuff like this every week now. excellent job
hope all had a good christmas as well

by mike on Dec 26, 2005 2:31 PM CST reply actions

Cash:

You should have said: “what kind of piece” I THINK “it is.”

Not everyone in this blog thinks the same way.

The OLine had their first dominant performance and Julius one came along, does that come as a surprise? It seems to me that for some, does.

Ware is what he’s, a rookie making a transition from DE to OLB, in games prior this one teams aligned a TE right in front of him, that way they made Ware’s responsability to cover the TE, the only times in which he commonly had pass rushing responsabilities were in 4 man fronts as a hand in the ground DE. Being 250 pounds and facing 330 OT’s he could only accomplish to be near the QB when he threw the ball.

On Saturday he wasn’t being taken out of the game by a TE for most of the day at OLB, that made up for the best day in his career, while also holding his own superbly in run support and coverage. Does that come as a surprise? It seems to me that for some, does.

by Chandus on Dec 26, 2005 2:41 PM CST reply actions

Brunell update:

Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell had his sprained right knee examined Monday morning and said he was Ã¢â‚¬Å"day-to-dayÃ¢â‚¬Â for next weekÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ã¢â‚¬Å"ItÃ¢â‚¬â"¢s a day-to-day thing,Ã¢â‚¬Â Brunell said. Ã¢â‚¬Å"I had an MRI today. It feels better than it did on Saturday and I think each day IÃ¢â‚¬â"¢ll improve a little bit more.Ã¢â‚¬Â

by linus on Dec 26, 2005 2:41 PM CST reply actions

But that’s the way I think, and that isn’t the norm.

by Chandus on Dec 26, 2005 2:45 PM CST reply actions

I think the Skins is due for a loss this Sunday and they never played well on the road this year.

by ktoong on Dec 26, 2005 2:46 PM CST reply actions

I’m pretty sure that either Carolina or Washington will lose. ATL is pissed because it didn’t make the playoffs. And Philly just wants to play spoiler for the Skins. We all know how spoiler games tend to go…I’ll be at the Rams game, it’s going to be my first, is there anything I should know?

by CNM Dallas Fan on Dec 26, 2005 4:29 PM CST reply actions

hey guys some of you have a real gift for researching and I am very curious as to what the success rate for similar teams in the playoff. Are we hoping for something historically and historically rare?

by linus on Dec 26, 2005 4:33 PM CST reply actions

correction: historically and statistically rare?

by linus on Dec 26, 2005 4:34 PM CST reply actions

Raf, great analysis as usual, apologist or not. Another question to consider: Is there any connection between the performance of the OL and Rivera’s absence?

by Len on Dec 27, 2005 12:56 AM CST reply actions

Ware didn’t get any love in the highlights, last week it was all about Merriman. I still think Ware can do more if they would move him around like SD does with Merriman. I see they moved Bledsoe around a little to help. JJ finally had a good game and its because he is fully healthy now please. What was the excuse before he got hurt. In two years he has had four good games, that’s not good enough until he does it week in week out. Its funny because when JJ has bad games not one bad game but bad games its all kind of reasons why but not his fault but when he had a good game not games but one game its he is back. What is that about. But anyway good game hope JJ can do it again this week. How about T-New that boy is bad. It seem like for the first time the plan was for T-New to cover the best for the whole game they didn’t do that with Moss( don’t know why) And the one catch Smith had was when T-New hand him over to the safety.

by aw on Dec 27, 2005 9:51 AM CST reply actions

Merriman can be moved because SD has Steve Foley, Ben Leber and Shaun Phillips. While Dallas has Fujita and Burnett… I don’t need to elaborate anymore on that…

And you talked some days ago about good play by our Offense against a good Defense, had you seen a good performance by any of the Dallas RB’s against a good Defense? The holes that the OLine opens might have something to do with that (at least on that 43 yard TD run)… Extra emphasis on “MIGHT”.

by Chandus on Dec 27, 2005 12:17 PM CST reply actions

Len,

That’s an interesting question. I thought Gurode run blocker better than Rivera did. Gurode lost his job because he missed a lot of assignements on pass plays and gave up a lot of pressure up the middle. It’s only one game, so it’s hard to know if he’s over that issue.

by Rafael Vela on Dec 27, 2005 12:32 PM CST reply actions

Chandus,

Barber had 95 yds and 2 scores against the Giants.

Everyone,

The Cowboy’s acknowledged when they drafted Ware, that Merriman was the more NFL ready player. They drafted Ware based on his potential to be better down the road.

by Cash on Dec 27, 2005 2:33 PM CST reply actions

Cash,

You sure it was the Giants? Dallas won 16-13, with three field goals.

by Rafael Vela on Dec 27, 2005 3:08 PM CST reply actions

Great analysis Rafael!! I think you summed up this game better than any so-called ‘NFL Analyst’ I have read or heard.

I really believe that either the Panthers or Redskins or both will lose this weekend. The Falcons seem to have the Panthers number and always seem to play their best against them, especially in the dome. Something about that matchup. Tampa Bay matches up well against the Falcons and the Panthers matchup well against the Bucs. That’s a tough division.

The Eagles have been successful this year at shutting down good running backs this season. They held LaDanian Tomlinson, Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander, and Clinton Portis (in the 1st game) all to well under 100 yards in their games. With the Redskins QB situation shaken by injury, it is going to be very important for the Redskins to establish the running game early to open up the pass. If the Eagles stuff Portis & Co. I think they can win this game.

Also, the Eagles HAVE to win this game to avoid being completely swept by the rest of the NFC East. I can’t remember the last time that has happened, but I bet it is a LONG time!!

by Sterling on Dec 27, 2005 4:51 PM CST reply actions

Cash:

The 95 yards were against Seattle, the 2 TD’s against Arizona. Seattle allows 96 yards a game, so Barber’s performance was average. He played above average against Arizona (racked up 127, Arizona avg.= 108).

In neither of those games an avenue like the one Jones took for his long TD run was ever opened. Again, the dominating play of the OLine had something to do with the performance of Julius.

by Chandus on Dec 27, 2005 5:03 PM CST reply actions

Chandus and Raf,

You guys are correct it was Seattle that he rushed for 95 yds. But he also rushed for 127 against the Cardinals as well as 85 against KC. How many yds did JJ run for against KC?

You guys are nothing more than homer apologists without a single objective bone in your body. You guys are trying to make a case off of a single game for Julius Jones and its making you look stupid.

And don’t even bring me that 100+ total yards performance against the Giants because those of us who actually watched the game know that most of JJ’s yards came at the end of the game while the Giants were in prevent just trying to hold on.

I like what JJ did last Sunday but, I also like what MBIII has done more consistently over the year when given the chance. For you to act as if it doesn’t matter just makes me think you only pretend to watch the games.

by Cash on Dec 28, 2005 8:42 PM CST reply actions

You guys are homer apologists without a single objective bone in your body. …

Argument by insult. Nice. That really shows off your fine debating skills.

… You guys are trying to make a case off of a single game by Julius Jones and its making you look stupid.

Not at all. Jones has more than the Carolina game in his resume. Games from 2004 cannot be treated as though they never happened. I believe it is significant that Julius Jones now has the 3rd and 4th highest single-game rushing totals in Cowboys history. [Smith has #1 and Dorsett has #2.]. That puts him up in some serious company.

As for focusing on the Carolina game, that is significant because some (perhaps even you) have claimed that Jones couldn’t put up big numbers against a good run defense. That theory has now been smashed into shards. Going into this last game Carolina had the #3 defense and the #4 rushing defense in the NFL.

And don’t even bring me that 100+ total yards performance against the Giants because those of us who actually watched the game know that most of JJ’s yards came at the end of the game while the Giants were in prevent just trying to hold on.

That was 149 yards (plus another 46 yards receiving), to be exact. I don’t care what kind of defense the Giants were in, or when the yards came, 149 yards is an impressive number.

I like what JJ did last Sunday but, I also like what MBIII has done more consistently over the year when given the chance. For you to act as if it doesn’t matter just makes me think you only pretend to watch the games.

Again with the insults! Do you really believe that your opinion is the only one that matters?

Marion Barber is a good back. He does a lot of things well — some of them better than Jones. But do you have an opinion as to why Barber hasn’t had more chances than he has? Why Jones continues to start, with there being only one game (Jones first game back from injury) when both were healthy and Barber started? Could it be that the coaches believe that Jones is better? That Jones is a VERY good back?

Or is it your opinion that the coaches only pretend to watch the games, too?

Julius Jones has started and finished 17 games in his NFL career. In those 17 games (which eliminates the Cleveland game from last year and the two Philadelphia games from this year), Jones has carried the ball 410 times for 1673 yards, an average of 98.4 yards per game (which would equate to 1574 yards over a 16-game season). That, if it can be continued, would put him among the elite backs in the NFL. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Jones will continue such output. In my opinion, he has the ability to do that and more. In my mind, the only question remaining is whether he will be fortunate or not with injuries. Only time can answer that one.

By the way, if you subtract Jones’ yardage from the Carolina game, that still gives him 1479 yards over the 16 games he has started and finished. That is still a pretty good year for almost any back.

by Mr. Bill on Dec 29, 2005 4:30 AM CST reply actions

Ya think this guy Mr. Bill is a Parcell’s homer?

Anyway, you may want to give him credit for what he did last year, but 2004 unfortunately doesn’t do much for our record in 2005.

While you have no ability to think critically of the Cowboy’s I do. I like the coach would like to see improvement. And without a doubt can say that Julius Jones was by far and away the biggest disappointment for the Cowboy’s in ’05.

by Cash on Dec 29, 2005 8:51 PM CST reply actions

Cash,

Anyway, you may want to give him credit for what he did last year, but 2004 unfortunately doesn’t do much for our record in 2005.

The question is not about our record in 2005, but the evaluation of Julius Jones as a running back. As such, all games in which he has participated for the Cowboys are relevant.

While you have no ability to think critically of the Cowboy’s I do. …

Again, with the insults. Obviously, you are incapable of a discussion (intelligent or otherwise) without them. Do they make you feel like a big man, or what?

… I like the coach would like to see improvement. …

I bet you think you’re the only one around here who thinks similarly. Yup! The rest of us unenlightened boobs are perfectly content with mediocrity. [/end sarcasm].

… And without a doubt can say that Julius Jones was by far and away the biggest disappointment for the Cowboy’s in `05.

You might as well accuse Flozell Adams of being the biggest disappointment of `05. I mean, how dare Jones allow someone to roll up on his ankle, nearly breaking it!

However, assuming for the moment that your assertion is correct, what next?

Play Barber instead? Not when Jones has demonstrated he is the superior runner. Both players can run through giant holes. Jones has shown that he can do something extra when he gets to the second level.

Sign someone like Shaun Alexander or Edgerrin James in free agency? We are not going to pay out big money to sign an expensive running back, who will be starting down the back side of his career. Not when we already have two perfectly good running backs on our roster … maybe three.

Use a first-round draft pick on a running back? Hah! We won’t take a running back this year before round 5 … if then.

There is only one thing that Julius Jones needs to prove — Can he stay on the field? He is certainly durable enough. He seems to thrive on high amounts of carries. I don’t think he is brittle. He was solid through college and his injuries as a pro have been those that would cause any runner to lose time. Anyone who actually saw him suffer his last injury should marvel that he is playing at all this year. He isn’t losing time to muscle and hamstring pulls. Fred Taylor epitomizes the kind of running back who is always pulling or straining something. I don’t believe Jones has that tendency. But, there are players who just seem to be unlucky, when it comes to freakish injuries. Bo Jackson comes to mind. Only time will tell if Jones can avoid that fate.

by Mr. Bill on Dec 30, 2005 12:33 AM CST reply actions