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Everybody loves our running attack; Bradie James not quite Pro Bowl material

NFL.com video preview of our upcoming matchup with the Redskins.

Apparently, Washington is in the top five in the league in calling blitzes and Jason Campbell has a QB rating of more than 107.0 in the past two games.

We've got quite a challenge Sunday. But nothing we can't handle.

Bill Barnwell continues his awesome series of Five Downs with Football Outsiders. This week he discussed Romo's redzone miscues and Bradie James' Pro-Bowl status (or lack thereof).

There's no statistic we've seen that suggests James is anything but a very decent linebacker. Last year, he made 13.2% of his team's plays, 43rd amongst linebackers. He had 15 defeats, plays where he stopped a player from getting a first down on third or fourth down, stopped a player behind the line of scrimmage, forced a fumble, or intercepted the ball -- that's a good number, but certainly not an elite number.  

The Washington Times gets it. We're more than just a team of stars.

A reporter with the unfortunate name Andy Friedlander explains.

As it turns out, though, some of the Cowboys' other weapons aren't exactly popguns.

On Sunday, backup wide receiver Miles Austin and rookies Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett hurt the Green Bay defense with long gains and quick touchdowns while Romo and Owens were struggling. The result was a relatively stress-free 27-16 victory.

The message: Beware the other guys, too.

"It's not only the star players who have been making the plays, and that's been good for us," coach Wade Phillips said. "The more variation we can give, the harder it is to defend us. When you're trying to double-cover the tight end and a wide receiver, the running back runs one all the way and the other receiver makes two big plays, and that's going to get you beat."

Jimmy Johnson loves Marion Barber. Yeah. Get in line buddy.

Wade's a big fan too. And our rookie's pretty good as well.

Jim Zorn, current head coach of the Deadskins, was involved in a bit of intriguing Cowboy history. In 1975 he was involved in a battle to back up Roger Staubach. His main competition was Clint Longley.

The Cowboys would chose Longley. Longley would became semi-famous for his heroics in this game and forever infamous for sucker punching the Dodger. Zorn? Oh he would just go on to be one of Seattle's greatest QBs of all-time.

Nice.

Landry's final decision: Longley. Had he kept Zorn, Cowboys history may have been quite different.

"If I remember it correctly," said former Cowboys radio broadcaster Verne Lundquist, "they had some arguments when it came down to the cut."

Looking back, Lundquist joked that Zorn "was the normal of the two." Longley was out of football after 1976. And Zorn?

He joined the 1976 expansion Seattle franchise the following season, threw for more than 20,000 yards over nine years and became a member of the Seahawks' Ring of Honor. Now he's the head coach of the Washington Redskins.

"What I do remember vividly is the personality and the approachability," Lundquist said. "He was just a really decent guy. And when you like a guy, you pull for him."

Did you think I was done gushing over our running back tandem? Ha ha! Let's milk this one more time. Take it away Spags.

IRVING, Texas - They can slice you or dice you, able to run through you or past you.

They are thunder and lightning, able to pound you or strike fast enough to leave your head spinning.

They are salt and pepper, one sure to raise your blood pressure and the other swiftly causing heartburn.

They are the newest most dangerous combo in the National Football League:

Marion Barber-Felix Jones.

They are what the Cowboys once hoped they had back in 1986 with Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker, a running back combo needing only two years to fizzle out, their egos unable to fit in the same locker room.

They are what the Cowboys wanted to have the past three seasons with Julius Jones and Barber. Trying to create this time-share position, Julius failed to uphold his end of the bargain last year.

They are the necessary combo the Cowboys absolutely needed to complete this offense, one averaging 32 points a game over the first three of this season - up nearly four from last season's total - and the main reason the Cowboys are undefeated heading into yet another biggie-sized contest this Sunday afternoon when they hope to meet the Washington Redskins (2-1) for the final time at a retiring Texas Stadium.

Very cool.

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The Football Outsiders is overrated

It’s interesting to read, but it’s not absolute. Bradie James is a tackling machine, which is exactly what is required from that position. He’s also a team leader, and one smart dude.

Zach Thomas is playing the position that should be leading the defense in tackles. Isn’t that why Dallas dumped Ayodele, he wasn’t getting the job done? Because of James solid work, Thomas is freed up to roam the middle and make the big plays.

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

by APerfectStar on Sep 26, 2008 5:23 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

But I think that's what they were saying

very solid but not Pro Bowl. From my eyeball test, I’d agree with that.

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

by dunkman on Sep 26, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

And that’s a-ok by me. Can’t have pro bowlers everywhere, and Bradie does a good job.

by grapejoos on Sep 26, 2008 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think he'll make a ProBowl

But can’t he just say Bradie’s a good LB, instead of “very decent”?

Is he a big fan of Ed Grimley (I must say)

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

by APerfectStar on Sep 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think he chose his words carefully.

I don’t know that James is even “good.” He’s only a 2 down player, and he’s a fairly average run stopper. He’s not a weakness, but he’s certainly not a strength. I really don’t think he’s that much of a tackling machine, either. So far this year, he’s tied for 5th on the team in total tackles with 11 , and is 8th in solo tackles with 7. That’s just on the Cowboys, and there are 2 inside linebackers ahead of him. ZT, for example, plays basically the same situations, and has twice as many solo tackles, and is better against the pass. That said, he does a decent job, and generally does what he’s supposed to. It’s not possible to have a stud at every single position, and if you can have guys like James that are solid if not spectacular, you’ll happily take it.

by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 26, 2008 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

-1

Check his stats for the last few seasons, and like you said he’s only in on the base 3-4, not the nickel or dime defenses, yet still led the team in tackles. He’s also a great run stopper.

http://www.nfl.com/players/bradiejames/profile?id=JAM110655

Thomas is a probable HOF LB’er who is supposed to make more tackles in WP’s defense.

James is a stud, he plays a position that doesn’t get the glory

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

by APerfectStar on Sep 26, 2008 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Assists don't count.

Roy Williams led the team last year, and Anthony Henry the year before. The NFL doesn’t officially count assists, since that’s subjective. If you’ve got a guy in the grasp and someone jumps on the pile, that’s an assist. I’ll amend to good against the run, but not great, as you rarely see the guy actually blow up a runner, or make stops for no gain or negative yards. He’s average or lower against the pass, which is why he comes out on passing downs. You put the 2 together, and you get decent. I don’t think that’s an insult to the guy. He’s solid, and that’s good enough, but I don’t think he’s one of the top 10 ILBs in the league.

I know ZT is a great, but he’s also coming off injury. Whatever the scheme in Wade’s defense, it’s a good comparison since they are on the field at the same time, against the same competition, at basically the same position.

by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 26, 2008 11:32 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I just like that Dallas finally has good starting LB's

At every position. Plus good depth with Spencer and Burnett.

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

by APerfectStar on Sep 27, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Longley...

After his 60 minutes of fame in the Thanksgiving Day game (I have to admit he played out of his a**) didn’t he get into a fight with Roger Staubach and subsequently get the boot?

In the late 70’s I was in Dallas hanging around the lobby of our hotel where Roger was scheduled to give our group a motivational speech when I accidently ran into him. He was a regular guy and we talked about football for a few minutes. I brought up the Clint Longley game and his response with a chuckle was, “Clint who?”

by giant fan since 57 on Sep 27, 2008 5:11 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, Longley went all Steve Smith on Roger

akin to burning the American flag outside Fort Bragg. Not going to go over well. And he got canned.

Roger was a really good, genuine guy. My brother did a summer camp with him and said he was just who you thought he’d be. But ummm not in the Denny Green sense of the phrase.

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

by dunkman on Sep 27, 2008 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agree about Staubach.

When I was a kid, my dad was stationed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. My mom was at the BX, which is like the military version of a department store, and started talking to the lady ahead of her in the checkout line, and told her about how her son was a Cowboys maniac. Turns out that it was Roger Staubach’s wife, and she got my mom’s number. Roger Freakin’ Staubach left us tickets for the Cowboys game that weekend at Mile High Stadium! Of course, this was the mid ’80s, and I think Danny White got hurt or something, and the Cowboys got waxed. Still, that memory is tied with the Boys getting back to the top of the mountain in 92 as my personal favorite Cowboys moment.

by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 27, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Longley

sucker punched Staubach in the locker room then ran before Staubach got up. Roger went looking for him but Clint, on the advice of a member of the Cowboys staff, left the compound and never came back.

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

by OskieOskie on Sep 27, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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