Dallas Cowboys reading material
by Dave Halprin on Aug 19, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys News
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Sorry for the lack of posting, life has been extremely busy recently. Hopefully sometime tonight I can get the film reviews up.
With Miles Austin injured, there’s a ton of talk about the other WR’s and who will step up. DallasCowboys.com takes a look at the full-picture, the DMN focuses more on Sam Hurd, and the Star-T examines just how important a third option in the receiving game is for a team.
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tough one on gato on special teams......
i guess i am figuring (and i could be wrong) about 10 to 12 touches per game for Felix, right?!?!? 23 to 25 touches for MBIII and the other 10 to 12 for Felix, with 2 or 3 more for either Choice and or Deon Anderson…
so with that said you have a good portion of your plays returning kicks.. and if lost who takes those plays… as Felix is a compliment to MBIII and Choice is more like MBIII than he is like Felix…
however, when we are averaging bad starting field position because we don’t have our better guys out there.. then what?!!?!?
i would say overall if Felix IS an intergral part of the offense and not just a ‘change of pace’ guy, which he seems to be, you can’t rink him on kickoffs….
now, waht about Adam Jones and punt returns…?!?!?!? if he becomes our starting corner oppostie Newman, and comes to all pro form, do you use him on punt returns?!?!?! we all know what it’s like not having solid corners out there?!?!?
i remember a few years ago (maybe 10… man am i getting old) the Giants used Jason Seahorn to return kicks.. and i am pretty sure it was a pre season game..and he got hurt and was out for the year… and i am pretty sure he never really came back from that injury…
Felix should be getting much more than 10 to 12 touches per game.
Barber will be splitting time close to 60/40 with Choice coming in for mop-up duties. I guess it depends on the game situation though. Obviously, controlling the clock will garner more action for MB3 and Choice, while catch-up/trying-to-run-up-the-score-to-mentally-defeat-the-opponent will call for Felix to be in more.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
That's only like 8 carries and 4 receptions
or some combo of that. I see him averaging more than Julius’ touches from last year. May not be such a passing team this year. Having Barber be the lead back and Houck’s return could pump up the running attack into taking more of an active role in games.
They were maybe 65% pass, 35% run last year?
Maybe 55% pass, 45% run this year?
Other than a couple games early on, Julius absolutely sucked. That and having a new starting QB caused Red Ball to sling it more. Doesn’t have to be like that this year.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Did we turn into the bears since last season
I dont care if we have a cardboard cut out back there, as long as the person back there catches the ball. The least part of this team to worry about is its kickoff and punt return teams. Last time I looked, the cowboys aren’t the bears, we have an offense. The bears need to get some offense from other aspects of their game, not the cowboys.
Personally, I wouldn’t put Jones back there, he’s got enough on his plate with learning the playbook, complex schemes, blitz pickup, blocking as a running back in the pros. Jason Sehorn’s career was destroyed by returning kickoffs in a meaningless preseason game when he tore his knee up. Have you all forgot the shot Newman took a couple of years ago returning a punt. I’m not going to sacrifice a weapon on offense to get some plays on special teams that coud result in a serious injury, then we’ve lost him in two positions, offense and special teams. We have enough guys on the roster that can handle that role on punt and kick returns.
The punt and kickoff coverage teams, that’s a major issue on this team to worry about. We need to do a better job in those areas.
stanback and scandrick
That Duo has plenty of speed and agility..
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
+1
We have enough depth to use Felix sparingly on KOs. RBs take enough hits.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I couldnt disagree more.
Field position is key. And an occasional drive start from deep in enemy territory, or even a quick six points can mean the difference of one or two games in the win column. See: Chicago Bears.
When you have a dynamic talent like Jones, you get the football in his hands as much as possible. You cant protect everybody. He could get hurt catching a swing pass too, but thats his job, as kickoff return should be. Yes, there is a risk of injury but the potential reward is much greater.
Special teams are more important than anyone likes to admit, we have been missing a real threat in both return games for a long time.
I dont just think this way about us, I think Reggie Bush should handle all kicks and punts for the Saints. Maximize the use of your weapons.
I do however think that if Wade wont use Felix then he better use Pacman. Thats not much of a drop off, if any.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Aug 19, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I said we aren't the bears
That’s the difference. So that’s a poor example, they have NO offense and when you have no offense, you need to shorten the field.
If Dallas defense is what everyone thinks its going to be,top five, that will mean teams will have trouble scoring, hence there wont be alot of opportunities to receive kickoffs I hope..
Just ask yourself, were you OK having Newman back there receiving punts until he was blasted on one and needed help off the field. I bet your tune changed after that one…. I wasn’t for him back there receiving punts, and I’m not for a rookie that has more things to work on than returning kickoffs.
Agreed
It would be nice, but it’s not necessary to risk the injury. Pacman is going to be a stud returning punts for us (important with a good defense) and we can get by with younger burners like Scandrick and Stanback on kickoffs.
There's nothing more demoralizing to a team
than having a KO return for a TD after putting together a long scoring drive of their own.
I guess who they use depends on how much play time Felix and Pacman will be getting at their regular positions. But if Dallas is already ahead by a comfy margin, then I’d prefer Stanback and Crayton to man those duties.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I must say
After taking one to the house with Felix last night in Madden, for the first time ever, maybe he should be back there :)
Wow
That’s tough to do. I’ve never done that against the computer.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 20, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
my thing is
We have Scandrick, Jenkins, and AJ who all can return kicks. I don’t want to risk Felix for that.
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
indeed field position is key
so why not start getting that “weapon” that is stanback on the field as well? if he has the straight line speed everyone seems to be going ga-ga over, we need him on the field on kick offs. when given the opp to return a kick against the bronc’s, he almost broke one, almost effortly finding the seam in that wedge. Special teams are full of fast, hard hitting men who get a 50 yard head start with nothing more in mind other than knocking your head off of your shoulders. somebody’s got to do it, why not stanback? big and fast, mid round pick who might not get many other opp’s if not for special teams. Jones or jenkins both seem like options to return punts.
If you need a reminder...
Look at this a few times and think back to how you felt when you saw it happen. It’s just not worth it.
night-night...
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
Uncle!
He should’ve used Amendola’s “safe!” signal.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Of course we should!!!
Old adage…
You can’t play football if you’re afraid to get hurt.
Why?
Because then you WILL get hurt.
Why draft one of the best KR’s in the nation and then not use him as a kick returner.
Wade seems to be so scared of injuires lately it’s becoming alarming.
IT’S FOOTBALL FOLKS, PEOPLE GET INJURED ALL THE TIME!
Like some LB hitting Felix after he catches a screen pass can’t result in an injury.
Give me a brake Wade, stop be so scared of everything!
Go Cowboys!
Thank you.
They dont want Miles Austin covering kicks, they dont want Felix returning them. There are only 53 men on the roster, guys are gonna have to play some special teams.
Yes, guys get hurt but this is football we are talkin about. And I remember watching Darren Woodson fly down the field on kick coverage for what 12 years, and never get hurt. Deion was the best corner in the league when he was here, and we stuck him back there and nothing bad ever happened.
I dont want to hear that we dont need a dynamic return game. This is the NFL, and you need every advantage you can get.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Aug 19, 2008 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions
a big PLUS 1 GloryDayz....
When you have one of the best college return men ever ….you sure the heck utilize him……name me one KO return man that was lost for the season due to injury last year or the year before or the year before that ??? …Great return men elude big hits on KO returns….punt returners are the ones that are more in danger of getting blasted, and even that can be avoided by calling for a fair catch instead of risking a huge hit……………..
Stanback and Felix Jones should be our KO tandem…………plain and simple….more than likely teams will kick away from Felix anyways (simply based on his reputation) which will provide better returns for Stanback, or better yet, directional kicks being kicked out of bounds and putting us at the 40 yard line to start off each time…………Devin Hester is now getting 7 million a year….you think they are going to stop using him as a returner in fear of him getting injured, or losing out on their investment ??? …I think not………..When you have elite weapons to change the game on one play….you damn well use them..
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
That's pretty much what Nick Eatman said today on the Lunch Break.
He said it would be a total waste of a special talent if Felix is not back there to open up in Cleveland. I agree. This is silly. They can give somebody else a chance when the game is in hand.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I believe Felix is a good option, but
we have several other options that are less risky for us to use at KR:
Stanback
AJ
Scandrick
Amendola (if he makes the team)
None of these guys are starters or second string (unlike Felix). We should try and exhaust these options before throwing our first rounder out there. Maybe in a playoff or must-win situation where we need a great kick return, sure, but not as the main person right off the bat. Too much risk for too little reward (maybe an extra 15-20 yards on a KR). Not often that a kick goes back for a TD. Just my 2 cents.
not as a regular
too important to the balance of our running scheme to take an extra risk for K.O, now if its the playoffs or SB game, and if we get in trouble, i can see tryn something different for a spark or something like that. We"ve got options to put back there for Kickoffs, other than Felix.
please dont compare us to the pooh bears
sometimes
I’m pretty surprised how many no votes there are on The Cat returning kickoffs.
My sense from what Wade says is that they might use him some of the time but not all the time. If we are behind or its a close game and we really need the best guy out there to get the best field position advantage, then let Felix have the ball. But if we’re ahead, as we should be fairly often with this offense (and defense), someone else will take the duty. That’s reasonable to me. I voted yes because I’d like to see him do it sometimes, but I would vote sometimes if that were an option.
Isn't it great that Dallas has so many options this year?
Sure beats just Austin and Tyson Thompson. There’s a bunch of dudes now who can excel back there!
KR
Austin, Felix, Stanback, Scandrick, Jenkins
PR
Pacman, Crayton, Stanback, Amendola (if he makes it), T-New
Lots more versatility this year.
+1
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Here's mine
KR
Stanback, Scandrick, Jenkins
PR
Pacman, Stanback, Amendola
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
I'm changing my KR lineup
KR
Felix, Scandrick, Stanback, Jenkins, Austin
Austin will be catching 50+ balls.
My PR order sticks.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions
50+
Thats a little steep dont you think? Considering Crayton caught 50 last year.
30 would be fantastic.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Aug 20, 2008 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I was thinking Crayton caught 70.
Got mixed up w/ his yardage: 700+.
Yeah, 30 would be awesome. He should average close to 20 yds per catch.
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 20, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I think that's the case
he’ll do that situationally. I suspect that Garret really wants to use Felix more than he used Jules last season – more passes, more two back sets. This is especially true with the slow progress of Bennett.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
good point
JGarrett might have told Wade that he wants to keep Felix off ST. JGarrett probably can’t sleep at dreaming up formations and plays..
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
Me neither!
That #38 sure should wrap up!
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 19, 2008 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I do agree with Scott's logic..........IF needed, we should use him when needed...
which is generally the way Newman was used to return punts……If we’re ahead by 21 and we let up a late score, no..i wouldn’t want him out there…then in his place i’d install Scandrick to replace Felix along side Stanback……who I think should be our primary kick off returner………..But….to start the game, or to change the momentum, or to pump up the offense if we happen to be tied or behind…….then YES…Felix Jones is my man…………you’ll see friday night……when he gets his first opportunity…….get your popcorn ready….
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
+1
I dont want him doing mop up duty back there, but yeah. If the game is still a game. Jones and Stanback or Jones and Jones.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Aug 20, 2008 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions
He would be the 6th
So it wouldn’t be worth it..
"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"
He'd have to be able to do ST
and he can’t
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
meh..
I think it would be asinine not to use Felix as our return guy. You look to improve ALL areas of your football team and to overlook an improvement because you’re “worried about injury” is just freaking dumb. Self made millionaires don’t become millionaires by being safe, they become millionaires by taking risks when they see an opportunity. No risk, no reward, plain and simple.
Now if Stanback proves to be as good or better than Felix then of course you go with him but until he proves that, it’s Felix all the way for me!
Ther Cat is too important to our offense
this guy is the “wow” player Jerry was talkin’ about in the offseason and he’s the guy who is going to strike fear in the heart of opposing defenses along with T.O.
Stanback, Austin and Scandrick are certainly good enough to do a great job at returning K.O.s
In Romo we Trust
I think that is true
I think El Gato is why they have NOT gone out on a limb for anotyher game breaking WR. I think they see him as the threat that upsets defenses, like Faulk did, or even Welker last season.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
If only Jerry Jones agreed
he won’t return my calls and now there’s this ridiculous restraining order on me…
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I voted No
Because he’s going to be busy mainly working with the offense, he’ll have his hands full.
Also we have Pac, Stanback, Scandrick, Jenkins, Austin…we should be set at KO returner without having to put extra burden on Felix. Eventually he might get some chances back there, but I don’t think there is any hurry.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
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