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Wade Phillips press conference 12/17/08 - Pacman is back

Summary of Wade Phillips' press conference today. The big news - Adam "Pacman" Jones is back with the team, is healthy and will play this week.

Guys who didn't practice today, Alan Ball has a sprained ankle, Marion Barber is similar to last week, we'll see how it goes, Bobby Carpenter was out today, don't know about him, Ken Hamlin is similar to last week but he played last week, Montrae Holland was out today but is a little better. Limited guys were Tra Battle, Keith Davis, Tony Romo, he took most of the snaps in practice, he's a little sore but nothing big. Roy Williams practiced more than last week. He's listed as limited but Adam Jones practiced. As far as Pacman, doctors cleared him to practice, whatever medication he took got him better awfully quickly, the docs said he's fine to go, he's got nine lives I think. (laughter) Maybe 18 lives.

There's more after the jump.

Star-divide

I was surprised by Pacman, like we said he may have had the herniated disc already instead of it being caused by the hit in game. No other structural problem, he'll play this week, same roles as in Pittsburgh, he'll probably be on punt and kick returns and play corner. I think we know his ability in the return game and I've seen it, early in the year on punt returns he was close to having big runbacks. He has a knack of running the ball, we need to give him the opportunity. He played well against the Steelers on defense.

Anthony Henry is playing safety in the sub-packages, now that Ball is hurt it leaves us short of corners.

They said they were going to re-evaluate Pacman each week, they looked at him again and it was a lot better. I'm not going to second guess the doctors. I don't think they ever said he was out, they said they would re-evaluate him.

Tony Romo, as he went along in practice, he got more comfortable but he's real sore. It's just overall body soreness, he got hit pretty good, we need to be better at protecting him. We played two physical defense the last few weeks, it's a big challenge.

Marion Barber's status is unknown like last week, I think he's feeling better but still too early. He didn't take a step back, he was sore after the game but said he felt better today. Gametime decision this week. (Could you start Choice anyway if Barber plays?) Depending on how strong we think Barber is, we thought he could go last week, and he did, but we'll monitor it and put Choice in when we need to, same thing this week.

Choice has been effective against two good defenses, that's impressive. The last two team's defenses have held RB's down and he's been successful.

(Bradie James not making the Pro Bowl?) I'm disappointed for Bradie, and for any player who didn't make it but deserved too. I think he deserved it, but it's unfortunate, a lot of deserving guys didn't make it, not put down guys that made it. He has the numbers, not many ILB's get six sacks. Outside backers are the sack guys, I don't know if they considered the sacks. We had guys deserving. I'm glad for Jay Ratliff, I don't know about the fan voting because his name is not the most-popular in the league, but the coaches and players voted him in even though he's a little under the radar.

The Ravens defense is physical up front, similar to the last teams we played. Good pass rush, active, strong against the run and they throw different blitzes at you, safety blitzes. You have to be ready.

(Do corners like to play man-up on the best WR on the other team like Newman has recently?) It depends on the corner, some don't want to. Newman's up to the challenge, what helps is challenging him, he plays better when we do, he's a competitor, it keeps him from being stale. He's got to compete against a good player and try to shut him down. (Is Mason that guy this week?) We're not saying.

I think we've progressed defensively as far as wining a game defensively if we have to, it's an important step, we depended on the offense before, but now the defense has proven they can win games, that's a step forward. Last year we scored more points, it was easier for the defense. But we had games when they played well, taking that big step moved them forward.

(Should Newman have made the Pro Bowl?) We've challenged Newman more, he's playing really well. He was out so he might not have the numbers but the last several games his play has showed on the defense. They can't throw to the guy they want to and have to hold the ball longer.

Brad Johnson is the holder, that is why he's the active backup. It depends on whether Tony could come back in game or not for who goes in (Johnson or Bollinger). Nothing will change this week. As long as Tony can go we like Brad at holder. We think the FG is important if Tony is playing. If that (Tony playing) changed we might change. Brooks and Brad get some reps in practice but not many. They take reps with the show teams throwing the football, their prep is mental, that's why vets can stand back there then go in and play.

I think Tony will be fine, as he warmed up today he got better, just soreness, nothing structural. We wanted him to work through the soreness today.

The Ravens have a good running game, the young QB has played well, good receivers, we're worried about all of it. They've beat good teams and if they get ahead they're tough, they'll come after you. Cam Cameron has done a good job with Flacco on specific things. It helps to have a good defense, they can play more conservative and don't put it all on him .

Todd Heap is a good receiver, he's agile, can run, can catch well inside or outside. He's not as powerful as Witten, but not many are.

0 recs  |  Comment 27 comments |

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I was just going to stop in and mention this, but you’ve got it covered. Numero Uno.

I refuse to tiptoe through life, only to arrive safely at death.

by Alpha Dog on Dec 17, 2008 4:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

not many as powerful as Witten

Wade was being nice..no TE comes close to being as powerful as Witten, the dude is a man’s man, no question. He can lay the beat down on anyone.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 17, 2008 4:32 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Update on Barber
• Cowboys running back Marion Barber may have aggravated his injured pinkie toe. ESPN’s Ed Werder reported Tuesday that Barber was seen limping from the team’s locker room toward the part of the building where MRIs are performed. Werder also reported that team owner Jerry Jones said in the locker room that Barber felt something pop. The team was not clear whether this was a setback or some scar tissue tearing. So far, there has been no official word from the Cowboys as to any test results or updating of Barber’s status.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3775651&name=bell_stephania

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Dec 17, 2008 4:35 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

i thought we learned our lesson

i will no longer believe anything that ed turdface reports

by longhorn3621 on Dec 18, 2008 12:57 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Regardless if anyones hurt

they should act hurt if Werders around. I think Romo should stage a fight with Jessica in front of Werder. I think Ware should walk around with his thigh wrapped. Screw Ed Werder.

by squidlo97 on Dec 17, 2008 4:41 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

co-sign

"I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell." -- Bruce Dickinson

www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]

by silverblue5 on Dec 17, 2008 4:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

every week...

…a different cowboys should drum up drama, have Ed UnderWerder report it, and then call him unprofessional following the game.

by Becho on Dec 17, 2008 10:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

next question

I love when TO does this to the terd

by Nink on Dec 18, 2008 7:20 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

wow

its great to see pacman back out there
we could honestly use him in the second
hey the more the merrier
also i think the most important potential sit this week could be holland
i hope his ankle or w/e he injured heals like pacman and he is able to play saturday

Superbowl or Bust?

by MrMinority on Dec 17, 2008 5:20 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Holland

would be a plus because Proctor is struggling.

If our young DBs are really hurting, Pacman could help, but he hasn’t really showed much when he has played.

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

by OskieOskie on Dec 17, 2008 5:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

What??

You can’t be serious. Minus TNew’s two great games (redskins II and last week) when he was healthiest and dialed in, Pac has been the Cowboys’ best DB. He’s just amazing to watch.
He and Ware are freaks. They’re not like other athletes in the NFL.

by Joey2zs on Dec 17, 2008 5:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

youre right about scandrick

he has impressed but is still running behind jenkins. eitherway all the corners, including henry, have played well this year. this is a great sign. it is nice to see henry at safety, even though it is out of neccesity. he has played well there, but that is just in my very unknowledgeable opinion. I have to defend him though. lots of people bang on henry and yes he may be our weakest corner, but he has been solid this year and consistent. he has lots of value and i think he is better than the large majority of corners in the NFL. i do not think he should stay there though, yes i apreciate him but i think he has his best value on this team as a FS, dime and nickle safety, and backup corner.

Something else that should be noted. with pacman, newman, henry, jenkins, and scandrick we are stacked at CB. the future looks bright!

by Becho on Dec 17, 2008 10:12 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

+1 on Pac

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 17, 2008 11:07 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pacman man coverage!

Pacman zone coverage is, ah,er not good. The guy has wheels but I think hejust doesn’t get the nuances of zone coverage or maybe he is just thinking too much. I think that Scandrick is our best behind Newman.

by Keys80 on Dec 17, 2008 6:48 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Pacman back at punt return, ughh

He’s been given the opportunity every game he’s played this year and results have been bad.

Now, coming off a neck injury returning a punt, they want to put him back there against one of the better ST units. I think that’s a bad idea. Just let him play CB, and let Crayton handle the punt returns. If the Cowboys are concerned about CB depth, this makes even less sense.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Dec 17, 2008 7:09 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I think Newman should return punts once in a while.

Like when other teams are backed up. He is a really gifted returner.

by houseofprime on Dec 17, 2008 7:18 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He is very good at it

But I think he’s just too valuable to the defense as our #1 CB to risk injury for a few more yards on a punt return.

I still remember the game a couple seasons back when he got laid out near the sideline returning a punt. That was it for me wanting to see him fielding punts.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Dec 17, 2008 7:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember that.

I also remember BP’s comment when asked about it, “that was his fault”

by elharpo on Dec 17, 2008 8:13 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I was at that game

It was against the Colts. When he got rocked, it sounded like all the air in the stadium rushed out of the hole in the roof… I thought he was dead.

by commoncents on Dec 18, 2008 7:33 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Let Crayton handle the punts and in addition to Austin, give Stanback a chance on kickoffs. It’s not worth risking these valuable DBs on special teams.

by Kevdog on Dec 17, 2008 8:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

all of our corners are different...

Pacman…well he can’t play zone, but he’s great man up. TNew can do it all, and a bag of chips, but he’s not physical. Scandrick is a press coverage dream, not big but he good inside the first eight yard, can play zone, and hits like a truck…a pick-up truck. Jenkins has shown flashes of brilliance, but a couple bonehead plays have him thinking too much. Anthony Henry will probably be starting at safety next year, and I’m gonna leave that at that. Alan Ball, he’s Alan Ball good for a couple plays a game, anything more beyond special teams is risking a breakdown. All things being a given, I think we need one more conrer in the next draft, another hitter with speed like Scandrick.

by SmittyCityMo on Dec 17, 2008 9:12 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Nice

Newman on Mason and Pac on Clayton

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 17, 2008 11:09 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

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