Cowboys have a chance to 'flip the script'

by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on Oct 25, 2008 11:10 AM CDT in News Comment 18 comments

I've got a good feeling about Sunday. After weeks of doom-and-gloom at the Ranch, there's really no logical reason for me to feel good about our upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Bucs, but I do anyway. Maybe it's because all the distractions, all the expectations, all the extraneous junk that has been in play over the last few weeks feels stripped away. It now seems like the Dallas Cowboys are concentrating on the one thing they should have been the whole time - playing the games on Sunday.

I'm not delusional, I know that injuries to key personnel are hurting us and that as a team we haven't been playing anything that resembles good football. But at least this week we aren't talking about Pacman being suspended, the Roy Williams trade, whether this team believed its own press clippings, the uncertainty of Tony Romo's status - at least we aren't talking about them in a meaningful way. This week, the talk has shifted solely to performance on the field by the players and coaches. Wade Phillips "taking over" the play-calling on defense and the stripping down of the defensive playbook represents, to me at least, a symbolic stripping down of all the craziness that surrounds the Dallas Cowboys and a return to football, pure and simple football.

Maybe I'm grasping at straws here to keep my sanity. But just maybe, the players and coaches are grasping at symbolic straws too, and that would be a good thing. A sense of urgency, the idea that we aren't going to win games just because we're the Dallas Cowboys, might be the prescription to cure some lackluster football. If this team plays like they have the proverbial "back against the wall," maybe they will come out with some real fight. Not manufactured emotion, but a true sense of desperation that comes with the realization that everything you've been working for over the past months is really on the line.

I expect to see a very fired-up team playing on its home-turf on Sunday. I just hope I'm not disappointed.

Kevin Burnett discusses the changes on defense.

Cowboys nickel linebacker Kevin Burnett says the defense will be shaved down this week and there are no excuses if it doesn't help the performance.

"We've probably got five or 10 plays that we're going to call," Burnett said. "If you lose (the game) then, you need to look at yourself as an individual. Because it's not the coaches' fault."

Nose tackle Tank Johnson said he would like to see the Cowboys rush outside linebackers Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware on every play to help eliminate assignment confusion.

Mike Jenkins is going up against his hometown team and says he's ready.

"I feel like they know my strengths and weakness," Jenkins said. "I don't know if they will come right after me. I feel like I'm not a rookie any more. I got that game [last week's first start] out of the way, and I'm very hyped for this game."

The Cowboys have had their share of injuries this year and haven't been able to overcome them yet. The Bucs, on the other hand, have done a good job of replacing their many injured players.

"We have a theme around here," [Jon] Gruden said. "If you replace somebody, you've got to outperform the guy you're replacing. That's easier said that done, but our assistant coaches have done a really good job of preparing people to play."

Here are some of the key personnel injuries for Tampa this week.

The status of several injured players, including WR Joey Galloway (foot), WR Ike Hilliard (concussion) and RB Warrick Dunn (back), won't be decided until just before kickoff at Dallas, coach Jon Gruden said Friday.

FB B.J. Askew (hamstring) and WR Maurice Stovall (hamstring) are unlikely to play.

A take on Brad Johnson from the Tampa Bay view.

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I Wish I Could Share

your optimism about the game, but I can’t shake the dread. I also can’t understand what is wrong with the Cowboys. Are they this bad, to be talking Super Bowl a few weeks ago to not making the playoffs? Is it rather a chemistry problem? A coaching problem? Are the players we have really not as good as we think?
   If you limited your view to this year’s team stats only, you’d think we’re doing well. 3rd in total offense, 11th in total defense. So what’s the problem?
   I’m going with these excuses: 1) too many penalties 2) special teams suck 3) turnovers.
   Add these to the fact that the Cowboys are not as good as we earlier thought, and you pretty well sum up the season thus far. We are not near good enough to overcome these liabilities.
   I’m dreading this game because I would never have kept Brad Johnson, I would have kept Bartel. Johnson is like an old Bledsoe with less arm strength…great. Maybe he’ll light a fire tomorrow, but I’m not expecting it. I can easily see us 0-2 the next two weeks.
   I’m worried about Romo too, the chemistry is not there. I always felt confident when I could see Romo entering the huddle with a smile on his face. He was going to make something happen and have fun doing it. On the sidelines you could see him smiling and talking it up with players. Now I see him sitting dejectedly on the bench. No smile anymore, it’s just not right.
   It will be interesting to see tomorrow how much fight they have left in them. I knew we were setting ourselves up for somewhat of a disappointing season after our 13-3 record last year. That is so hard to duplicate or surpass, anything less would be a disappointment. We’ve matched 3 losses already and staring down a gun barrel.

by MooEChili on Oct 25, 2008 12:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I just think there is a difference between being bad and playing bad.

We saw earlier this season that this is good team, they are just playing horribly right now. But they can play well again.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Oct 25, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Agree

That’s why I say, look at the cold, hard stats and you wonder what the hell is wrong. Only 1 game were we beaten in total offense, the Washington game, 381-344. Notable fact, in that game we only rushed for 44 yards. In the AZ game we only rushed for 73 in a 24-30 loss. Against Philly we only rushed for 68, but threw for 380 in a 41-37 loss. The other games rushing were 167,217,198 & 124. So rushing, or lack of, seems to be a major factor in determining the outcome.

What these stats don’t show so well are the mistakes, the penalties at inopportune times. Stats don’t show the special teams play, what seems to be our Achilles Heel. Folk does not have the power to get the ball in the endzone, any good return seems to be nullified by penalties, and our coverage teams pretty well suck. I understand we have injuries and missing ST players, but we have to do better than what we’ve done. And it doesn’t show turnovers where we are losing that battle.

If we could only improve in those 3 areas I believe we have a chance to win, if not no chance. 3rd in total O, 11th in D, we’re playing from scrimmage pretty well. The rest of the game is killing us.

by MooEChili on Oct 26, 2008 12:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Meant a 41-37 WIN against Philly

by MooEChili on Oct 26, 2008 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 on keeping Bartel

I thought the kid had some talent, though he still needed some work. I don’t know if I would have cut Johnson to keep him, but I would have much rather kept Bartel around than sign Bollinger. Bartel already had 1.5 years in the system and showed that he had some talent in the pre-season, whereas Bollinger is kind of an unknown. I don’t think he played particularly well whenver I saw him play for Minnesota.

"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber

by DC_fan on Oct 25, 2008 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Yeah I forgot about Bartel. I liked what I saw in preseason.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Oct 26, 2008 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My take this week

Has been to expect the worst….and hope for the best.
The way I see it ….It could go either way.
We need to show up pumped and the defense needs to make plays!
we really can’t count on the offense for much more than 14 points or so….
We’ll need a turnover or two and a good ground game…long drives….clock draining drives….Dink and dunk all the way down the feild….

I only hope the extra reps have improved Brads accuracy
I, Honestly don’t remember a single pass last week that a receiver didn’t have to adjust to….Heck the one he threw high to TO was so overthrown that Yao Ming couldn’t have layed a mitt on it….HaHa….Bottom line if Brad doesn’t show improvement….Look for more of the same.

This is definitely a defining game for the cowboys and 2008 season!
I’m excited about this game…but either way it won’t surprise me.

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Oct 25, 2008 2:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like this thought

Nose tackle Tank Johnson said he would like to see the Cowboys rush outside linebackers Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware on every play to help eliminate assignment confusion.

They just have to get to the QB or the RB

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Oct 25, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tank

I actually didn’t like that quote at all….it really bugs me.

Hey Tank, you know what I would like to see? I would like tot see a defensive line full of veterans actually knowing the defensive scheme so they aren’t confused.

Honestly, this is game 7 of the regular season, and every one of these d-linemen has been in this defense for over a year. Instead of dumming down the playbook, why don’t the players get there @ss in the film room and study up until they are not confused.

This is just another example of a team that isn’t ready to put forth the effort needed to be a champion. When I hear quotes like this, it really takes the wind out of my sails. It is very hard to throw yourself emotionally behind your favorite team when it doesn’t appear that they are putting forth maximum effort.

by Cowboy Louie on Oct 25, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louie

I love your profile picture.

Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.

by jsams on Oct 25, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Now THERE’s the eternal reason to be optimistic about the ’Boys

Tar Heels football will surprise this year

by DalaiLuke on Oct 25, 2008 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grizz

I’m with you man. For some odd reason I’m not too worried either.

I’m not expecting the game on Sunday to be easy, by any means, but I have a really good feeling that they’ll come out and play solid football and hopefully grind out a much needed win.

Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.

by jsams on Oct 25, 2008 4:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pour me some of that koolaid

cuz I’m just not feeling it. I have tried so hard this year to be optimistic and believe the reasons for underperforming but I fear that we have a team full of pussycats (except take out the word "cats") and a coaching staff that is as soft as cotton. I’m trying to stay afloat but my inner Deke is starting to wreak havoc on my psyche.

Honestly, if this team scratched and clawed to a 10-6 record, I’d be happy because as TH pointed out in his post, this is a team of two hits – someone hitting them and them hitting the floor.

by Billito on Oct 25, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You just might be drinking the WRONG kool-aid

The Media wants you to believe this locker room is about to implode. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it. I see a team that got beat by a good Redskins team, then turned around and played flat against the Rams.

Sorry if I don’t think this team is all that different from the one that ripped off 3 of 4 wins to start the season.

I still think this defense can become dominant. I still think this offensive line can also dominate. But, this is the week to shut up the critics and put things together. I don’t expect things to go completely vanilla. I expect us to mix it up a bit on D, work some play-action passes (isn’t Brad supposed to be good at it?) … and put Tampa Bay in it’s place while resuming our rightful position as an elite team in this league.

Now, next week at Giants Stadium is another story. We need to find a way to go 2-1 in the next three… then walk all over Seattle and SF, and enter the home stretch 8-4.

Tar Heels football will surprise this year

by DalaiLuke on Oct 25, 2008 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

world series

they even had to take a shot at the cowboys during the world series, while announcing the games for tomorrow… “they looked really bad in st. louis” or something like that.

i sure hope they can bounce back. I know they have the capacity to. But something is wrong, and I think it has a lot to do with lost confidence.

i was watching the Texans preseason game with my wife, who knows very little about football, she said “that team has swagger.” She could see it. They had it the first few games of the season, too.

Where did it go? I do blame it on the coaching when something goes systemically wrong and most of the team seems to lose their confidence. But it’s also up to the players to reach inside and get their swagger back, and then get it together as a team.

Sadly, I have to say I wouldn’t be surprised if they came out and sucked again, but I know from week to week almost any team can falter and then bounce back, and the boys certainly have the capacity to play well, they’ve just got to go do it. and hopefully a more aggressive defensive approach will be just what the team needs to get their swagger back.

by scottmaui on Oct 25, 2008 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure a lot of our boys heard that

hopefully that will get them fired up.

by quincyyyyy on Oct 26, 2008 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Typical

Wonder if the NBA preseason games will feature Cowboy comments as well. This is why I stopped watching Sportscenter and their eastern slanted view. I’m not all that worried about this week and I don’t know why. This isn’t the make-or-break game yet, but I think the Pokes will respond much better than we’ve seen in the last few weeks.

by Benthere on Oct 26, 2008 2:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well.. here we are...

Sunday and our season hanging on the brink….

i have not watched sports center or even turned ESPN this week… i wanted to head into the Tampa game with nothing but pure optimism that we can fight through the last two weeks and come out and find a way to win this week..

With that, i am headed to my local sports bar, as the game is NOT on TV in my area….

hopefully i will come home to some nice words here and a 5 and 3 record for our team….

any CT fans around i will be at Coach’s in South Norwak..

have a good one all…
hope we are ‘feeling it’ at 4:15or so..

by stephena on Oct 26, 2008 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs