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Overconfident? Cowboys vigilant - MNF open thread

The Cowboys are one of five undefeated teams left in the NFL. Over in the AFC, the recent powers continue to shine as the Colts, Patriots and Steelers are all 3-0. In the NFC, Dallas and Green Bay are the last two standing. That’s so 90’s. Leading the NFC’s elite, we have Favre and Son of Favre.

The big worry now seems to be overconfidence. At least that was one theme of the Wade Phillips’ press conference. Wade made a point that the season is only 19% over, and the next 81% means everything. The Cowboys have been studious in their preparations, as testified by the flight attendants on the Cowboys plane to Chicago. Phillips relayed that they were astounded that the Dallas players were actually studying the whole time to Chicago. North Dallas Forty, where have you gone? It’s all good in Wade’s World, the players are studying, the team is winning and T.O. is still under alien control and romping around the NFL like he owns it. Off the field, he no longer just loves him some him; he loves him some Tony Romo, Jason Garrett, the defense, and long walks on the beach. It’s all too good to be true.

Another theme of Wade’s press conference was don’t call him Mr. Fix It, at least not in ridicule. Hey, I’m clean Wade, I never said a thing. But why, when everything is going lovely, Wade chose to bring that up and mix-it-up with the media is a mystery; unless he saw Mike Gundy from Oklahoma State and got inspired.

Back to overconfidence, Tony Romo takes a pragmatic approach.

"It's still pretty early right - we know that," quarterback Tony Romo said at his locker Monday afternoon. "We've still got a lot of work to do. But all you can do right now is win the next one. So far, that's what we've done. That's really all you can do. At the end of the day, you just hope you've won enough to do something."

While taking notes on the film review – which I’ll put up tomorrow – I noticed MB3 returned to the closer role in a big way. Of course JJ got knocked silly so he was sidelined, but on the last TD drive, MB3 ran the ball eight straight times. Here’s Romo on Barber:  

"He just gets it done in the fourth quarter," said Romo of Barber. "You know he's going to be strong at the end. And that's what happened. He was able to break that long one when they were tired. That's the advantage of (having a running back rotation)."

Hey, JJ played well also. Too bad they keep calling back his best plays back because of penalties.

Here are five stats that help show why Dallas is 3-0.

  • Anthony Henry leads the league with 4 interceptions.
  • Marion Barber is tied for first for most TD’s in the NFL with five.
  • Tony Romo is tied for third in the NFL with a 119.8 QB rating.
  • Dallas turnover margin at +7.
  • Dallas leads the league in scoring at 38.7 points/game.

There are plenty of others, too.

Feel free to use this as a MNF open thread - a little on the late side - or to comment on the above post.

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments

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Tony

He does.

Go Cowboys!

by brushpile on Sep 24, 2007 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

As a PTI fan...

It pains me to say, but he shouldn't be on MNF.  I like him and still find him annoying in that role.

by grapejoos on Sep 24, 2007 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was thinking today

that there's something special about this team. I think maybe that without the heavy hand of the Tuna, Tony's infectious enthusiasm has really altered this team's chemistry. It just seems that the entire team has taken on his fired up, make-it-happen confidence. Hence the team studying playbooks instead of flight attendents' butts. Hence the guys calmly coming back time after time against the Bears, on the road, picked to lose...

OK, enough philosophy. Nice back-to-back picks. The Saints really really look bad.

by dunkman on Sep 24, 2007 8:50 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

the team has taken on the personality

of its leader, Tony Romo. Thats why you think they're special.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 24, 2007 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wade gets credit

for getting the team focused and giving team leaders space to lead. Parcells, for all his talents, sucked all the air of the locker room and didn't allow much leadership to sprout up.

Yep, Wade is coming across as mighty testy with the media. At the end of the presser, he muttered, "no game balls for you guys."

Who can blame him? The sports press in Dallas is for the most part snide, sarcastic, demeaning and largely uninformed about the game of football. They spend a lot of time trying to to get him to bad mouth one of the players or wheedle a gotcha quote that they can twist to fit their story line. About three quarters of the "reporters" at those pressers are utterly worthless, and they are the ones who take up most of the time.

Wade should just ignore the press coverage, not read or watch any of the crap so it won't piss him off.

Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.

by OskieOskie on Sep 24, 2007 9:03 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Terry Glenn

I read a fair share of blog entries on this site and others.  Back when Dallas signed Tank there were comments from Urlacher about how they miss him and he was a good teammate.  The comment that has stayed with me is when he said "that Tank will be fresh" coming off his suspension.  The same idea applies to Terry, he may be "recovering" a little when he starts playing later this season but he will be fresh.  So even if he is a little slow, he could have an advantage over anyone trying to cover him due to his fresh legs.  I think this will make Terry even more dangerous even if he is not as fast.  Terry could be used late in games to burn exhausted dbs.

by cowboy78 on Sep 24, 2007 9:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey Grizz

Just wanted to let you know, I think we are actually +7 in turnover ratio (stats probably haven't been updated completely yet).  That's an awesome ratio, and it probably leads the league at this point?

by Cowboys Dominance on Sep 24, 2007 9:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Right you are

I have corrected it.

If you're reading this, you could be commenting, too. Sign up for a free account on Blogging The Boys.

by Dave Halprin on Sep 24, 2007 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

once our defense really comes together

this team will be unstoppable.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 24, 2007 9:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Reggie Bush having another explosive night

At this point, 6 carries for 14 yards...or a mind-blowing 2.3 yards per carry.

2 catches for 6 yards.

1 punt return for 10 yards

So that's 9 touches for 30 yards. That's an impressive 3.33 yards per touch.

What a glorified slot receiver.

by mhuff13 on Sep 24, 2007 9:56 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

lol
My popcorn's ready!

by CowboyBawler4 on Sep 24, 2007 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

by the way

where are all the Leonard Davis haters at?

by Longhorn on Sep 24, 2007 10:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In Arizona

Wishing he was playing guard for them.

by mhuff13 on Sep 24, 2007 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, what about the mediots...

... who bashed the Cowboys for signing Bigg?

No one wants to recognize that L. Davis has made a sizeable contribution to the O-line's success thus far.

Stupid MSM!

"I'm like Belichick... I misinterpreted the rules." -- Terrell Owens

by kcbrett5 on Sep 24, 2007 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wade isn't Mr. Fixit

With all due respect, Wade Phillips ISN'T Mr. Fixit.  He was handed the keys to a Jaguar in terrific shape.  All he has to do is not screw it up.  Think about it--he was given a team with Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, all Parcells' picks.  Plus plenty of others.  

Sorry gang, but he's Barry Switzer.  To his credit, he's not screwing it up, but it was Parcells that put this team in place.  Hopefully people will remember that.  (You wanna know what Wade Phillips, or most coaches, would have done with the team Parcells inherited back in 2001?  Take a look at his previous stints as head coach.  His teams certainly weren't better after he left.  The Cowboys are infinitely improved, for years to come, due to Parcells.)

by Kittymama on Sep 24, 2007 10:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wade is so much better than Switzer

You are selling Wade short. He was brought in to take the defense to the next level. Garrett was brought in to take the offense to the next level.

It's true Parcells and Jeff Ireland acquired the talent base, but his refusal to make adjustments and heavy handed approach with the team wore thin.

Don't misunderstand, I agree Parcells turned this franchise around, but now it's time to take the next step.

by APerfectStar on Sep 24, 2007 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree.

Look at what Norv has done in San Diego.  Part of being an excellent coach is making the system fit the players.  Parcells made the players fit the system.  Sure didn't work last December.

MWB

by MWB on Sep 25, 2007 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The duo

I have been converted, I've seen the light...I've been complaining and complaining about MB3's lack of carries, but after seeing the end results the last couple weeks, I have to admit Wade and Red Ball got something here.  Watching MB3 punish tired defenses is ultra-effective and a blast to watch, and it's gotta be both a physical and psychological dagger to opposing teams...

Hats off Wade/Red Ball, thou art much wiser than I.  I probably would've run MB3 into the ground by now and been starin' at JJ/TT as my duo!

by Starred4Life on Sep 24, 2007 11:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

JuJo

Just read that Julius Jones sustained his second concussion of the season (in the Week 3 game @ Chicago)...

http://www.star-telegram.com/332/sto...

"I'm like Belichick... I misinterpreted the rules." -- Terrell Owens

by kcbrett5 on Sep 24, 2007 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Julius

In that case I think it's probably best to sit him for the Rams game, Barber and Thompson should be able to get the job done just fine against that lot so no need to take any chances.

by mikedallas23 on Sep 25, 2007 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Saints look really lethargic

As of now it looks like Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle.

But GB has a weak running game so I'd put them last.

TB and Skins maybe the next tier down.

by APerfectStar on Sep 24, 2007 11:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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