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Film review: Offense, Cowboys @ Browns

Wow, watching that game again for the film review was certainly a pleasure. Just about everywhere you turned guys we getting their jobs done and making big plays. Not much to criticize this week.

Here’s the review for the offense, since they were just dominant.

QB Tony Romo told us in the offseason that he was working on staying settled in the pocket, standing tall and delivering with a quick release. He wasn't just blowing smoke, you could see it in action during the game. Just masterful. His touch and accuracy were excellent and he did a great job of reading the defense and distributing the ball to his prime receivers. He read a blitz coming and flipped it to Witten for a big play, he still showed his mobility keeping a couple of plays alive and hitting Witten and Crayton, and he wasn’t afraid to stand in the pocket and take a hit. His only real bad plays were in the redzone, once he threw a dangerous pass that was tipped and then the ridiculous INT he threw. We’ll live with those mistakes to get the kind of performance he turned in. Total command of the game.

RBMarion Barber didn’t disappoint as the new feature back. Some of his runs were pretty easy because of the blocking he was getting but he maximized the yards on each one. He also caught a dump-off pass and made a great run afterward to convert a third down. Throw in a couple of great blitz pickups and the guy was just a force on the field. And when you get him close to the goal line, there’s no way he won’t deliver the TD. Too bad he got those ribs nicked up. Felix Jones takes his first NFL handoff and promptly delivers a run with speed and power in to endzone. He shows just enough patience behind the line to find a hole and then accelerates through it going 0 to 60 in the blink of the eye. He almost busted one to the house. The one issue is pass protection; twice he delivered nice blocks against the blitz, but another couple of times he was beat badly. One led to Romo’s INT when he was much too high to get any leverage against a much bigger player. Still for a rookie, great debut. Tashard Choice showed some hard running at the end of the game and also contributed a couple of good tackles on special teams.

WRTerrell Owens had a great day that should have been even better but he got robbed on a couple of calls. Besides beating the Browns for a long TD, he made a few tough catches; one on a pass behind him on a crossing route and another high pass on a comeback route. He caught a slant at the goal line to convert a third down and should have been credited with the TD. He also had a long pass called back on a ticky-tack hand-fighting pass interference call. Patrick Crayton turned in a huge game. Three times he got hit immediately after the catch but held the ball firm. He had a couple of third down conversions and he assisted on another by throwing a downfield block that sprung MB3. A flawless game from Crayton. Isaiah Stanback finally saw some action and caught a couple of passes. On one he did a nice job of running off the CB in press coverage and catching a comeback route; that’s not easy to do.

TEJason Witten was money again over the middle in the passing game. Over and over, he made big plays down the middle. But what you don’t always see is the job he does in the running game. I got him for three excellent run blocks, a couple of times sealing the edge. He did have a couple of poor run blocks including a wham block in the redzone, and he did drop a wide open pass, but he was so good the rest of the way you hardly notice. Tony Curtis only caught one pass but was a key cog in the run game. I got him on two excellent seal blocks including one on a TD. He did get caught for an illegal formation penalty. I didn’t see much of Martellus Bennett at all. We see how good Witten is in the passing game, but the job he and Curtis do in the run game should not be overlooked.

FBDeon Anderson had a typical day for him. Some good blocks coupled with a few bad blocks, but it’s mostly good. And he contributed on special teams with a tackle.

OL – Let me just start by saying the whole line played great. Except for some trouble with pass protection in the third quarter, they dominated the line of scrimmage. Flozell Adams had a false start penalty and one sketchy pass protection block but other wise had no problems. He got called for a holding penalty late on a screen, but the Browns actually grabbed Felix to mess up the timing, causing Flozell to reach back and hold a guy. Cory Procter, as I said yesterday, had the most mistakes but played well enough to mitigate those mistakes. He wasn’t perfect, I got him four times for bad blocks in pass protection and three bad blocks in the run game. The rest of the time he was solid and you can add on two excellent blocks on TD runs, another couple of great pull blocks and an excellent blitz pickup on T.O.’s TD. He was effective.

Andre Gurode is just a great center. He’s playing at a high level. I only saw him once get beat badly in pass protection and he was moving out the middle for our run game. Outstanding game. Leonard Davis, along with Gurode and Colombo, allow the Cowboys to run to the right most effectively. The play where he and Colombo run the loop blocks to the outside while the TE’s crash down the line is one of the Cowboys best run plays along with the delay/draw. He did have trouble in pass protection once and got a holding call when he was tired in the fourth quarter and leaned too much with his body to get out of position, but otherwise he’s a killer. Marc Colombo also had a great game. The loop blocks with he and Davis are devastating. He also had one play of poor protection and got an false start penalty, but they hardly dented what was an all-round great day. That basically goes for the whole line. When you can only pick out a few plays where they failed for an entire game, you’re getting the job done.

The review of the defense will be up later tonight. But for the moment, bask in the greatness that was our offense against Cleveland.

 

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments |

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I think the "almost pick"

was actually a miscommunication. There was no one near the pass in blue. They showed Owens, Romo and El Gato on the sidelines afterwards and Romo was motioning, apparently going over what he thought was supposed to happen.

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

by dunkman on Sep 9, 2008 5:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd be the first to sign up for

Tony being more cautious in general. And I am sure it’s being reinforced. I mention that one because it’s really a good example of how fast things are moving and how one missed read between players can turn a game.

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

by dunkman on Sep 9, 2008 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

oh yes

i will bask!

lol.

"They need security in the world, Craig!"

by Tuna Helper on Sep 9, 2008 6:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I am was so impressed

Man, we looked great.. I am looking forward to seeing what we can do against 3 top tier CB’s next week.

"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 Sep 9, 2008 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

According to CNN...

The world may demise in just 5 hours.

CNN Story

The Large Hadron Collider will look at how the universe formed by analyzing particle collisions. Some have expressed fears that the project could lead to the Earth’s DEMISE — something scientists say will not happen. Still, skeptics have filed suit to try to stop the project.

~Texas Massacre 08~

by TheHeat on Sep 9, 2008 8:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Eh....

Thanks for the info…i guess…but it has little to do with subject of this post.

by Dave Halprin on Sep 9, 2008 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well...

 If this does in fact happen we won’t see if the Boys do win their 6th Lombardi.

~Texas Massacre 08~

by TheHeat on Sep 9, 2008 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

damn

couldn’t they wait until after the super bowl?

chumps

"They need security in the world, Craig!"

by Tuna Helper on Sep 9, 2008 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

LOL!!!

~Texas Massacre 08~

by TheHeat on Sep 9, 2008 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

C'mon Grizz

Have you seen Philly fans?? If EVER there was a psychological black hole…

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

by dunkman on Sep 9, 2008 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Eagles players hugging other men?

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

by dunkman on Sep 10, 2008 5:59 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, more of the same, fans trying to get Tony's autograph

He certainly is popular….even with Eagle fans!!!!

Anyway, I’m just wondering where you find all this time to post on a cowboy blog thwalls, dont you spend most of your time polishing those multiple Vince Lombardi trophies your team won………..Oh, that’s right, WHAT lombardi trophies……..Well maybe someday!!!! LOL!!! Atleast in the meantime, you can spend your free time polishing the trophy case you’ll be keeping those lombardi trophies in someday, if you eveer happpen to win one, since that’s getting pretty dusty…

by Deke on Sep 10, 2008 6:39 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

7 Games

To put this game in perspective, I like to remember that last year we put up huge points early in the season, yet it took us 7 games to score a TD in the first quarter. We were a second-half offense.

The opening drive of this season was a very efficient TD. We scored 21 points in the first half.

I am lovin what I’m seein!

by scottmaui on Sep 10, 2008 5:53 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I thought the same thing

this could be a great sign.

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

by dunkman on Sep 10, 2008 5:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

With the way this defense is constructed, we can really tee off on some teams if we can get an early lead. Once the secondary is at full strength and the rust/inexperience starts to fade, and once Spencer is healthy, look out.

by grapejoos on Sep 10, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Bennett

Did see him in there a few times pass blocking. Good thing was no penalties, and no comments by play by play announcers

by oldtimer on Sep 10, 2008 12:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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