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Around SBN: Knicks 90, Raptors 87: "Shump and Lin wouldn't let us lose."

Friday afternoon Cowboys reading material

I’ve been checking out some of Kevin Burnett’s posts over at his DMN blog. Some of his stuff is pretty interesting but they really need to get an editor involved. Burnett writes well enough but the formatting isn’t making it an easy read. Still, an admirable job by Burnett for posting a little more than just the regular drivel contained on many athlete’s blogs. Keep it up Kevin and welcome to the blogging world.

Here’s a post from Burnett about the Cover-2 and is also a defense of Roy Williams. Hey, every other blogger is talking about Roy, so why not Burnett?

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You got to give it to Mike Florio over at PFT.com, he’s perisistant about the Cowboys trading for a WR after June 1st. The following is contained in a post about Roy Williams, the Lions one, missing their OTA's.

The most notable name on the list is [Roy] Williams, who is entering the final year of his contract and who has been linked to trade rumors for much of the offseason.  With the Cowboys possibly inclined to trade their own Roy Williams after June 1, could a Roy Williams for Roy Williams swap be in the offing?

Hey, I wouldn’t mind that but I just find it hard to believe.

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Pat Kirwan says the NFC East is so tough they’ll beat each other up. 

The NFC East is brutal and there are questions surrounding DB Roy Williams, as well as the second wide receiver and possibly the nose tackle positions. My fear for the Cowboys is the same worry I have for the Giants, Eagles and Redskins. They may cannibalize themselves during the season leaving very little for the deep playoff run.

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I usually don’t go for a lot of the new stats being built up around the game of football. Some of them are OK, but football is not baseball, not everything can be reduced to stats because of the team aspect vs. the individual aspect. But I thought this was interesting from a KC Joyner article. He charts each NFL team's defense and their ability to force the offense to make a bad decision. He has his own formula for doing this. The Cowboys ended up a lowly #26. Joyner offers this explanation.

Another team I was rather surprised to see rank low was the Cowboys. Part of their problem is the numbers say they don't disguise their coverages very well. Only two of Dallas' 15 forced bad decisions came as a result of the opposing quarterback not seeing a defender in the passing lane, a total that left the Boys tied for 23rd in the league. This may be a direct result of Wade Phillips' credo of always rushing four or five players and not leaving many defenders in areas to bait passers into making mistakes.

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Hashmarks is noting the notable injuries in each division. Here’s the NFC East. Our notable injury is Terry Glenn and here is what they think the next step should be.

Next step: Right now, Glenn is basically locked out of Valley Ranch. The logical next step is for he and the Cowboys to find some common ground. He might be willing to sign an agreement for somewhere in the $1 million range. If the sides reach an understanding, Glenn would be penciled in as the No. 2 wide receiver.

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Speaking of #2 receivers, the Breerman has some stats that back up what a lot of us have been saying for a while. Patrick Crayton isn’t our #2 receiver, Jason Witten holds that distinction.

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Witten is a great TE, but not a #2 WR.

He can catch 120 passes next year, but if T.O. gets hurt again, there’s still no one to step up and put fear in the defense. With T.O. hurting, we lost 3 of our last 4, all to division rivals, and only scored 42 points combined in those 4 games. Teams figured out that if they can contain T.O., there was no other big play threat on the team. The Cowboys don’t need another #2 from a production standpoint, after all our offense was the best in team history or whatever, they need a #2 that can make a team pay for doubling T.O. and choking up on the run. Alvin Harper was always less productive than Novacek, but his presence kept teams honest. That’s what the Cowboys are lacking, someone to keep other teams honest, which is why Crayton doesn’t fit the bill either – he’s just too slow.

The Cowboys need a guy that is going to cause match up problems if you try to cover him one on one. That’s why they paid Glenn 5 mil to do nothing, hoping he would become available. They need someone that forces other teams to take their safeties out of the box and ease up on the blitz, or they’re going 50 yards on you.

by Baked Potato Soup on May 30, 2008 6:15 PM CDT reply actions  

Good analogy with Harper and Novacek

Though I would point out that Crayton, with his speed, had the chance to make 2 probable TDs (one definite) in the playoff game, and he didn’t because he either dropped the ball or quit on the play. That’s the problem with Crayton.

I agree with the need for speed, but I think and hope we have that now with Felix, Austin, and Stanback.

by grapejoos on May 30, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

I swear I'm not picking on you joos, but...

Crayton never quit on that play

Tar Heels football will surprise this year

by DalaiLuke on May 30, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

I can't speak for grapejoos

But I know what I saw, and I saw Crayton surrender his route. Had he continued, the ball was delivered on the dime—touchdown, Cowboys win.

by accidental innuendo on May 30, 2008 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions  

I remember reading quotes from both Romo and Crayton

that said that the play called for Crayton to cut to the inside, but Romo saw the coverage on the inside and threw with the assumption that Crayton would continue going straight down the sideline and not cutting in. Crayton hesitated and decided to adjust the route, but his hesitation meant that Tony overthrew the ball. So it wasn’t Crayton quitting on the play, but it was an improvisational play that Crayton threw the timing off of.

EDIT: Here’s the DMN link.

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

by DC_fan on May 31, 2008 7:42 AM CDT up reply actions  

To tie together Kirwan and Joyner

I think the secondary is what could really push the Cowbiys to the next level. Phillips had little choice in his coverages because of the limitations of WIlliams, Reeves and N. Jones. This year will be different. Add in the Campo factor and teams will definitely try to run on the Boys of 2008…

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on May 30, 2008 7:22 PM CDT reply actions  

Adam Schefter reported on NFL Network...

That the Cowboys are tossing around the idea of making a push for Jason Taylor…

Not sure how feasible it is, from either a crap or compensation perspective, but Schefter is generally fairly reliable and you know he’s not just throwing crap against the wall hoping something sticks…

Ware and Taylor coming off both edges attacking the quarterback? WOW…

by N41D on May 30, 2008 10:46 PM CDT reply actions  

Is this a Taylor-for-Ellis swap?

Not that Taylor wouldn’t be a monster addition, but both he and Ellis are throwing a tantrum this offseason. Also, how much is Taylor distracted by a post-football career in Hollywood?

And I swear I was reading somewhere (on this site?) about Taylor just having divorced Z. Thomas’ sister. So those relations may not be warm and fuzzy. Does anyone have the skinny on this?

But if Taylor is healthy and motivated, I don’t see why any team can’t get two solid, if not spectacular, years from the guy.

by accidental innuendo on May 30, 2008 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

Rather have Ellis
But if Taylor is healthy and motivated, I don’t see why any team can’t get two solid, if not spectacular, years from the guy.

Motivation is what is worrying me the most. I know I am in the minority, but I would rather have Ellis. Yes, I’ll be the first to admit, his off-season temper tantrums are annoying, but I am pretty dang sure once the season starts he’ll give this team a 110% like he always does. I’ll bet you even by the end of the season he’ll be saying, “I’m so glad Wade let me focus all of my energies on being a pass rusher, otherwise I might not have had as many sacks as I did”. Plus Greg Ellis is like a fine wine, he gets better and better with each passing season.

by quincyyyyy on May 30, 2008 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ellis' insecurities are extremely annoying...

And I really don’t see why you’d rather have him than Jason Taylor…

by N41D on May 31, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions  

I wouldn't be worried

If Taylor comes here he will be motivated, he wants to win a Super Bowl..

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on May 31, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions  

you are certainly in the minority...Taylor is extemely motivated to play for a winner and to win a Super Bowl ring...

The comparisons and skill level between Ellis and Taylor aren’t even close…

Jason Taylor is one of the most dominant pass rushers and overall defensive players of the decade. And only two years removed as Defensive Player of The Year on a defense that had absolutely nobody (besides Thomas) to game plan against…..

Jason Taylor would make this defense one of the very best of all time….He’s in elite physical condition and can perform at a high level for at least another 3 years…

D Ware, J Taylor, A Spencer, C Canty, J Ratliff, T Johnson up front rushing the passer….T Newman, A Henry, A Jones, M Jenkins, K Hamlin in man coverage…..That would equate to about 3 seconds for any offense to even get off a pass to a receiver that is covered like glue…...good luck.

I’d trade Greg Ellis, and/or Roy Williams or Terry Glenn for Jason Taylor right now. The contracts would be a wash, and would actually open more cap room for us…Taylor would restructure to a more cap friendly contract to play on the best team in the league and reunite with his best friend Zack….......GET it done Jerry…

The best offense is a stiffling defense….........

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on May 31, 2008 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions  

Taylor's motivation...

I really think he’s just drained from playing in Miami… He’s getting towards the end of the line, he’s still performing at an elite level, and I think he’s just ready to his chance at the big prize…

Put him on a Super Bowl contender, and I think you’re looking at an entirely different guy right now… I’d bet all the Hollywood stuff is taken to the backseat if he’s put in that type of situation…

by N41D on May 31, 2008 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

Burnett's blog
. Take this into account as well Pro Bowl voting weighs heavily on coaches and player votes, so it speaks volumes that he keeps going if he is so bad. No player will ever be good enough by fan standards if the media keeps making a mountain out of a molehill. Perception is reality in this lifetime so if you get a bad wrap with the media your in deep water.

I agree 100% with his comments.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on May 31, 2008 9:23 AM CDT reply actions  

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