The VRR: An Almost-December Edition
by Dave Halprin on Nov 30, 2009 3:09 PM CST
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PrintKen Hamlin didn't participate in the practice today according to Wade Phillips at his press conference. They'll check with Hamlin on Wednesday to see where he's at. Also, Victor Butler sprained his knee in the game, it's a light sprain, they'll check his status on Wednesday.
A key to all the winning lately? Tony Romo.
Since that Giants' game, Romo has had four passes intercepted to go with 13 touchdown passes. He has had five games without an interception, and he is on pace to throw a career-low 10 interceptions. His previous low was 13 and that came in 11 games (10 starts) in 2006 and he had 14 last year in 13 starts.
One key to the rise of the defense, is the play of Mike Jenkins.
The turnaround coincided with Phillips naming Mike Jenkins the starter over Orlando Scandrick at right cornerback in Week 3. Jenkins' three interceptions lead the team. His 12 pass breakups are second only to left corner Terence Newman's 13.
"Mike Jenkins is hard to throw against," Phillips said. "He jams them up well. Our pass defense has been good because we've been able to count on him."
But, the Cowboys still have problems. Penalties, Nick Folk, the 3rd down offense and...
... For all the good the Cowboys defense has done, their inability to turn the ball over is glaring. The Cowboys have intercepted only seven passes on the year. They just don't give the offense short fields to work with. They are excelling vs. the run and most importantly they don't allow many points. They are in the midst of a nine-week stretch in which they haven't given up more than 21 points. But they have only 13 turnovers on the year.
Oh, and by the way, in case you didn't know, it will be December soon.
Giants, Chargers and Saints, oh my. Welcome to December, Dallas Cowboys, meet your first three opponents — desperate, hot and smoking hot.
Can the Cowboys reverse the downward trend? Sure, if they have three main elements: an entrenched coach, a quarterback whose big plays dwarf his misses and a high-scoring offense.
Romo is 15-2 in November after going 4-1 this season. But in December and January, he's 5-10, including 0-2 in the playoffs. The Cowboys struggled late in the season long before Romo arrived. Since 1996, Dallas is 19-39 in December and January, including 0-5 in the playoffs.
At last, it's here. Well technically, the month of December is still a couple of days away, but when the Cowboys suit up for their next game, the calendar will be turned to that final month of the year and we all know what that means around here. It means, the real season is finally upon us
Or you can just check in with Raf, who broke December down, here.
I wanted to get in on the December song lyric game.
December promise you gave unto me
December whispers of treachery
December clouds are now covering me
December songs no longer I sing
- December, Collective Soul
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Galloway is having a stroke about
Romo and Austin going to Vegas over the weekend. Damn let them have a life.
How bout dem Frogs!!!!
he's probably just jealous
that he wasn’t invited-LOL. BTW, didn’t Austin go out there on the bye week as well? He must like Vegas
after their performances so far
they certainly deserve it. All work and no play is certainly is not a winning formula. Gotta let the hair down once in a while or burnout will set in.
In Romo we Trust
Jimmy Johnson might disagree on that......
.. I seem to recall him being a hard @$$ pretty much every day. In fact, I remember the players saying how winning wasn’t that much fun because they never got to enjoy it.
It's all good
as long as they don’t go to NY and lay an egg, but if they go in and play well no one is going to say anything abouth the Las Vegas trip. But oh boy if they throw a stinker, hell is going to break lose in the media about it.
John Boy, thats not true
JJ didn’t care what the players did on their days off as long as they weren’t breaking the law.
In Romo we Trust
Another "must win" game this week....
Bring it on Eli….let’s see what you got.
regarding the deffense….It’s hard to get the turnovers when you don;t try for them. Newman is good at covering (sometimes) but he never turns for the ball……long and ol story…..hopefully they’ll keep trying to pick on Jenkins.
I'VE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM!!!
in December and January, he’s 5-10, including 0-2 in the playoffs.
OMG, the team is making him play by himself!! Who’s doing the STs, running, the blocking, the defense, the RECEIVING??? Hello!!!
Can’t believe it was this easy. Grizz’ll be calling me any day to start writing for BTB. Championship…
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
by dunkman on Nov 30, 2009 3:53 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
It's right there in front of you, Dunkman
It’s amazing that nobody else sees it, no?! ;)
That Witten is a class act..
Giants fan here..He is one of my favorite NFL players..A real workhorse..and a good guy to go along with it..
It appears to
me that people are taking the “blame Romo for the December swoon” a little too literal. Let’s face it, when people talk about teams they start with the QB. Take Minnesota for example. Brett Favre is there and now everything good that Minnesota has done is because of Favre. Favre is playing great but he doesn’t catch the ball too. I would think AP and Percy Harvin are helping also. Yet, it’s Favre who is annointed as “the great one.”
It goes the same way with blame also. Romo is the QB of a team with an intelligent and rabid fan base. He is the leader. He touches the ball every snap and therefore has more of an affect on the game than other players and therefore more responsibility. He also makes more money because of his position. I think in our hearts we all know that December swoons are not all on Romo. Yet it is the story that sells, just like if McNabb screws up in Philly. It really isn’t a very sane argument.
well said
However, Favre does deserve a lot of credit for Minnesota’s 10-1 record this season. Something tells me they would have a few more losses with Tavarus Jackson under center.
In Romo we Trust
There is absolutely
no doubt about that. I just believe that QBs get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses. The game is obviously a lot more complex than that.
"He touches the ball every snap"
what about the razorback? just sayin..
"I’m ready to go here, all right? It’s like R. Kelly at recess."
"You will come back stronger then ever. Like Lance Armstrong. But with two balls."
-Ari Gold
“A long December and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last”
-Long December, Counting Crows
Here is to this year being a new start.
BIG NEWS
At least I thought it was, I came to the blog and figured everyone would be talking about that. I think it is a huge loss for them, and with shelis foot getting worse, expect the hounds to be released, and the O to pound the ball hard.
by TONYINCC on Nov 30, 2009 7:27 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Hadn't seen anything on that..but wouldn't be surprised..
Our guys look like the walking wounded this year.
Romo and Miles were in Vegas for a total of 14 hours...
For a charity event. Romo was back at Valley Ranch on Saturday morning for treatment on his back.
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/11/tony-romos-las-vegas-trip-with-miles-aus.html
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
I am very
Glad to hear this, because I get tired of the media talking about this kind of stuff constantly and it really shows their intensions were not selfish#1 and #2 romo has his priorities on football first by returning for treatment immediately.
by TONYINCC on Nov 30, 2009 7:29 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Erick Weddle. chargers' starting safety out two weeks
that means he’ll miss the cowboys game. good news for Austin
Not to jump the gun......
But wouldnt it be awesome facing Farve again in the playoffs after all these years and our quarterback turnstyle after Aikman..Those were great days….and I am looking forward to December.
American by birth, COWBOYS FAN by the grace of God.
Can you believe that Favre??
40 years old with the same rocket launcher arm after he got it fixed..and he still looks like a kid out there…It’s uncanny..You gotta love that guy.
+1......
it’s also nice to be able to talk to fans of others teams like the Giants and have good talk between us without all the trash talking that a lot of people like to do. Welcome any time.
You said it.
and he still looks like a kid out there
Dire Wolf mentioned Favre “flip-flopping”. But if your heart disagrees with what your mind is telling you, sometimes you gotta go with it. Brett knew that last year wasn’t the one he wanted to go out on. Who can blame him?
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
He's playing great
That is the perfect team for him because he can stay a little fresher by not having to do everything in every game.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
You guys are both right on..
I really didn’t mind him having to soul search..It was something he needed to figure out on his own..alot of folks blasted him for it..but it was his decision to make, and he now is having probably his greatest season, a career season.
I first and foremost blame the Offensive Line
The Giants playoff loss was lost by a few, Crayton’s drop, a few blown assignments etc., but the biggest problem was the pass protection. When teams get to Romo, they rattle him and things go south. When the O-Line plays well in pass protection, Romo usually does well and so goes the offense. This year will play out a bit different with a better D.
D for December
by torchindefenses on Nov 30, 2009 7:14 PM CST reply actions
add fasano
And burnett for that stupid first half penalty
by TONYINCC on Nov 30, 2009 7:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
As a Giants fan..
I think Romo is having his best year..and I think you guys tend to get a little hard on him..Who cares who he dates, or where he decides to go on his off-time..He is a very hard working guy and talented..and I don’t think defenses rattle him at all..Any QB is going down if they aren’t given enough time…Even after a bad game he sucks it up when interviewed and is always very polite and professional, even though his gut is wrenching.
Great comment, Bobbi
but I also have thought the same thing about Eli and Jason Campbell – they take a lot of crap from the fans and media and I always wonder why. Shoot even McNabb for years was the Philly goat. I can’t think of a division with a better set of four.
I think fans sometimes expect perfection. Maybe when we were kids, we thought Simms, or Staubach Aikman or (gag) Theismann were flawless because we were too young to see the chinks and now we expect what we remember.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Yes Dunk..I think
Your right, now we are old enough to recognize the ‘chinks’ (what a great comment)..but we should focus on the playing field and not let it stray to their personal lives..Especially players that have class..I think we are all lucky to have three of the best QBs in our division..Romo, Manning and Mcnabb..(boy does he get brutalized)..Snyder has screwed the Skins up to the point where if not for their defense they would be an embarassment..but they have also had some pretty darn good QBs over the years..My favorites though are Aikman and Simms for obvious reasons..talk about tough.
plus we were inindated
with the internet and ESPN,NFL Network etc. All we had were CBS,NBC,ABC,and later Fox to hear about our sports teams. Probably if we knew as much about our favorite players back then we would be shocked.
Agree completely about the personal lives
I was saying that about all this Tiger Woods crap. Why does anyone think it matters or it’s their business? I am guessing the media celebs would hate to have their laundry aired in public. It’s sports, not the Daily Globe.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Yes I agree 100%
If a player in any Sport embarasses the integrity of it, that is one thing but all this nonsense about getting into the personal lives of classy athletes is ridiculous and uncalled for..Whatever happened with Tiger is his business to deal with and all athletes deserve their privacy..They take enough criticism from their fans and the media..and these leeching tabloid fools.
Now, on the flip side........
I’m glad to see an athlete (Serena Williams) get hit with a fine because she acted so classless in losing.
Yes Tex, a very good example of my point..
Owners are no exception either..How about that Buffalo dude giving the opposing fans the ‘ol bird’..cost him 250 grand..which sadly he probably had in his wallet…lol
hahaha......
except it was crazy Bud Adams (Titans) that gave the bird. That dude is one crazy guy
yeah.......
he messed the city of Houston over pretty bad when he bailed on them too.
I love those 'Coors light' commercials..
Can you imagine that they will most likely have to rate them “R” if they use McDaniels and Adams in them…
“Coach..the beer is warm!”..“Hey get some ice!!!..We’re just trying to drink some M-fing beer here!!!”
“Mr. Adams..they just ran out of Coors light!”..“Well f-you bums!!..Here look at me watch me!!”…hahaha
Thanks Terry..Most true fans in any camp are the same..You just run into morons ..
On occasion..doesn’t matter who they root for..It is like a bushel of apples, you get a couple of rotten ones in there and it spoils in this case the fun for the rest of us fans across the board.
...were flawless because we were too young to see the chinks and now we expect what we remember.
perfectly stated.
Coach Winters: Mississippi State's offensive set. 2nd & 2 on our own 24, what defensive set might we call?
Alvin Mack: Eagle Zipper Hero, unless the setback shifts into the I.
Coach Winters: Good..[clicks to next slide], third and seven?
Alvin Mack: Oakie Thunder Lion. {What's your assignment?}
Alvin Mack: Kill the quarterback. {{Coach Winters clicks to next slide}}
Alvin Mack: Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies. {{Coach Winters clicks to next slide}}
Alvin Mack: Kill everybody.
I think this is going to be a great game this week..
If your guys win, I think you’ll take the division..Our defense has been awful..something nobody would have thought starting the season..but when you look at it, our entire division has been playing sub-par football this year..I can’t remember a year where the NFC East didn’t have a totally dominant team out there..but there are 5 games left, and when you reach the tournament, it is a whole new chapter of the season..The team that stays healthy and gets on a hot roll will go far.
Well yes but..
We have to try to beat you guys, the Eagles and the skins..to even have any hope..If you guys win Sunday and split with the Eagles and Skins..Your in..
I fear all three of those games
and then there’s NO and SD. Murder’s Row of games.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
I disagree
Beating the Chargers and Saints will be tough and I still think 11 wins is needed to win the East.
In Romo we Trust
Yes that is going to be tough..
Those two teams, especially the Saints are well-oiled machines right now..The Saints demolished the Patriots last night..and now they added Mckenzie..They are unreal good right now on both sides of the ball…and I agree that the majic number may very well be 11…The Chargers game may be fairly easy for you guys because you have a great run defense..If you shut Tomlinson (whose game just came back) and Sproles down, then you’ll just be dealing with Rivers and the passing game..but those Saints are no longer to be referred to as ‘The Aint’s’..
Hind sight is 20 uh well I can't read what it says here
But anyway, looking back, Sean Payton was clearly a head coach of the future for the Cowboys. That’s neither here nor there though. What I can’t believe is that there was at least one head coach that said he wasn’t good enough to call plays. WOW.
I wonder what that guy is saying to himself now.
I think that might have been Parcells' idea, but
NO sensed that he was a quality coach and snatched him from the incubator. I like his style.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Sean Payton is one heck of a play caller..plus they have a great defense..Mckenzie has been
There for five days..He is some pick-up..they are a very dangerous team…I don’t see them falling off the cliff..
Jerry Jones should have listened to Parcells..
And let him get rid of TO (the ultimate locker room cancer)..Payton would have been your head coach by now…Nothing against Phillips but…Parcells had pretty much had it and left, hence Payton was gone..but look at what you have on offense..I love that Austin kid, of course Witten and Barber and Jones?..You guys have one heck of a team over there..We beat you but your guys posted up 268 yards rushing..Now Williams is showing up and you have this Austin kid…He is already showing he’s something special…If I were you guys I’d be pretty optimistic..I still hold out some hope for my Giants, but I have my doubts at this point..Too many injuries, a lousy defense (which is surprising)…and a dysfunctional offense..The problem will be the Saints and Vikings..
Actually I think Payton left either right before or right after Owens arrived
he likely was gone to the Saints regardless, unless Parcells would have decided to retire a year earlier.
I still believe in Romo.
Yeh, Payton was gone Big Bill's last year.
Didn’t he come back and kick our ass that first year in Nawlins?
Listen, I’d love to have Payton as the head coach here. But there was nothing Jerry could do. As you say, Parcells would have had to leave a year (or more) earlier, and he wasn’t doing that. His last year was supposed to be the one that got us over the hump. But for a few mistakes in Seattle . . .
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
Peyton left a year before Bill
so he never coached Owens. And yup, he beat Bill in his home opener right after Hurricane Katrina. He also pillaged our coaching staff, and claimed almost every player we waived that first year. After that Miami used us for their player Superstore. Here lately it’s been Tampa doing all their Christmas shopping on our practice squad.
Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, "where the heck is the ceiling?"
crazy
If you go over to the Giants blog they have already given up.. We should roll NYG, but they always save their best for us.
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
You can't ever tell when a team
is suddenly going to turn a corner. The year the Giants won it all, they looked bad until the 4th quarter against the Skins. Then they stopped Portis at the goal line to win. From that point on it all clicked. That can happen to any team. NO looks great right now, but they could do what NE did that same year.
The Giants have some injuries and a lot of question marks, but this is no Oakland. They have talent and desperation.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Yes Dunk..this game
Is one of two do-or-die games for my Giants..If we can’t manage somehow to win against you and Philly..stick a fork in us..If we beat you guys and Philly, then we have a shot because we’ll face a poor Skins team, a poor Carolina team, and then the Vikes who I doubt will be playing their starters very long.
agree completely......
remember the Buffalo game that same year?
Well..I'll tell you guys..
We know..and you know that the Meadowlands becomes a swirling wind tunnel this time of year..The only QB that ever conquered it was Phil Simms..So, it will boil down to the running attack..You guys are #2 against the run so our O-line needs to step up and battle hard..You blasted us in the first game for 250+ yards on the ground..I expect we’ll see a very heavy dose of Barber and Jones, hence our lousy run defense also needs to step up to the challenge..and it will be a big one..This is going to be a classic battle in the trenches..If our guys give that amount of running yards up, in my opinion we lose, because I don’t think Tony or Eli can be counted on for accurate passing..So on offense, running successfully is key for both teams..at the end of the day it will be the team that opened holes that wins the game, unless of course ‘Mother Nature’ produces a calm day weather-wise…but I wouldn’t count on that..Frankly, comparing the running attacks on both teams I would honestly have to give the advantage to you guys..Our Brandon Jacobs has abandoned his North/South running style and thinks he can cut outside like Barry Sanders..Bradshaw is hurt..and Danny Ware is young and needs to protect the ball..but all that said this is going to be a fun game to watch.
It should indeed be a good one.
And I agree: December in the Meadowlands, you better have a running game. Big plays can be few and far between.
"We'll see." --Bill Parcells
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