Dallas Cowboys 2009 Training Camp: Practice #8
by Dave Halprin on Aug 3, 2009 11:27 AM CDT
Email
PrintThe Cowboys were in full pads this morning. The injury list is the same; Isaiah Stanback, Alonzo Coleman, Tim Anderson, Stephen Hodge and Michael Hawkins. Dallas made a change in personnel by releasing Michael Turkovich and adding Andre Douglas at tackle.
They started with special teams drills and then rolled into kickoffs. Felix Jones and Willie Reid were the return men again. David Buehler's kicks went to the goal line, the 5-yard line and the goal line while Nick Folk hit the 14-yard line, the 8 and then the 4 yard line.
They followed with warm-up drills, stretching and then a short session of drills by position.
They immediately went to 11-on-11. Romo started with a pass that was intended for MB3 but was deflected by Spencer, but the play was really dead because Ratliff blew past Gurode for a sack. They tried a pitch to Felix but Igor forced the play wide and eventually to the sideline. Carpenter had good coverage on Witten on the next play forcing Romo to throw it too high. Carpenter then stuffed a run by MB3 before Romo got some good yards on a designed QB draw. Kitna tried a pass but Derreck Robinson had pushed Holland back and deflected the pass in the backfield. Kitna threw a pass to high for Bennett because Hamlin2 had tight coverage. Jason Williams knifed through on a draw to stop Choice, and then Kitna hit Crayton for around 10 yards. They tried a FB run to Crosslin but Ware led a gang of defenders to the tackle for no gain, on the next play Keon Lattimore gained around 8 yards on a draw. McGee found Kevin Ogletree wide open in a big hole in the middle of the zone coverage, then Lattimore tried a run but Travis Bright got pushed back off the line and fell down creating too much traffic to get any yards. Willie Reid then caught a pass in front of Mike Mickens.
They moved on to 11-on-11 but starting in the redzone. Romo got a bad shotgun snap so he scooped it up and ran with it, on the next play he threw a precision pass to Bennett for a TD even though Bradie was draped all over Bennett in coverage. Romo was going to pass again but the coverage was too good so he basically threw it away. MB3 tried a run but Spencer stuffed it followed by Witten catching a short one in front of Watkins. Romo then made a huge mistake by throwing an INT right to Alan Ball in the endzone. Felix closed out Romo's session with a run for about 3 yards and a TD.
Kitna found a wide open Bennett on the sidelines at the 1-yd line, Felix ran a short one, then Kitna threw a swing pass to Choice but DeAngelo Williams and Mike Mickens were there for the stop. Phillips caught a low pass for a TD followed by a pass to Austin in the endzone but Scandrick had tight coverage and it was incomplete. Hurd then got wide open over the middle for a TD. Rudy Carpenter threw a TD to Ogletree who ran a nice route and made a great catch with Jenkins in coverage. Carpenter then threw one out of the back of the endzone followed by a QB draw for a TD but he paid the price as Watkins (I think it was Watkins) popped him hard at the goal line.
They backed up for another 11-on-11 session from the 40-yard line. Romo tried to hit MB3 but Brookings had great coverage. Romo forced one into double-coverage to Witten in the endzone but it was incomplete with Bradie and Sensabaugh having tight coverage. Romo looked like he completed one to Bennett on the next play but Brooking was able to strip it out of his hands for the incompletion. Then came the best play of the day; Roy ran a slant at the endzone and right as the ball arrived Scandrick laid a vicious lick on Roy knocking his helmet off, the ball popped up in the air and Ball managed to pick it off. After a false start by Bigg, Hamlin2 came untouched on a blitz for the sack.
Kitna gave it to Felix for a medium gain, Phillips caught a short pass over the middle, and then the defense blitzed heavily but Choice was able to break a run to the outside following a block by Phillips. Choice tried a sweep but Bradie had excellent pursuit and ran him out-of-bounds. Choice got another run and made a nice cut to the outside for good yards, but on the next play Choice ran again with Ware busting through to stuff it.
They ran another round of 11-on-11 but I had to leave practice early. This is my last practice report and I have to check out of the hotel to fly home. It's been fun watching the Cowboys and reporting it all back to you guys. Also, I want to say thanks to everybody who contributed to the training camp fundraiser, the half of the money I took paid for my flight and hotel, leaving me to pick up only my meals, drinks, etc. You guys are the best for contributing.
BTB's coverage of training camp doesn't end though with my departure, Raf will be in town on Tuesday or Wednesday and you know he'll kick butt on his reports. Expect to see a lot more about scheme, formations and strategy with the ever insightful Raf posting.
Thanks for reading BTB, the season is only just getting started and we have a long way to go. I hope you'll be reading and commenting everyday.
See ya on the flip side.
280 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is there still a way to contribute to the TC fund
I don’t see the Paypal button anymore and would like to help a little more.
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 11:33 AM CDT reply actions
I put the donation button back up on the right-hand side
Feel free to go over and donate. Or just click here.
We’ll put any contributions to good work for the blog.
GRIZZ ... this link is not directing properly
The one on the home page is doing the job right.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
I didnt get to earlier and I would like to do the same.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
It sounds like the defense owned the morning practice
I would like to hear about the offense having success but frankly I’m not worried about that. I expect the offense will generate 25 – 28 pts a game. I love hearing about the defense stuffing runs, having tight coverage and getting into the backfield.
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions
Yep
sounds like the D was all over this one today. Hope that means our defense is that good, not that our offense is sputtering.
Hey, Grizz, great job! Vaya con Dios.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Vaya con Dios
… always reminds me of a great cult-classic movie: Eating Raul
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
One should keep in mind that the offense usually clicks later in camp
at least that is what I have been noticing. For some reason or another defenses click together much earlier.
Also, the Defense sees the plays everyday.
and knows the tendency of each and every O-linemen. Still, don’t like it when I keep hearing about starters getting beat by rookies and back-ups with speed and inside moves.
Oh, Thanks for the great coverage again Grizz
and have you noticed how the DC.com and DMN.com guys have stolen your camp coverage play by play format this year? I have.
our defense will be elite with good safety play
that has always been our achilles heel the last few years.
In Romo we Trust
The only part I'm bothered by is,
Romo throws an interception at the goal line. And, Romo forced it into double coverage. Those are the kind of plays I absolutely hate to hear about.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
+1...
If Witten is doubled covered than someone else must be open.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Roy broke on a hitch out on that play.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
should be
broke open
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
So Aaron
How are the blog-groupies? Are they leaving you with the skanks?
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I think I tweeted them all away.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't agree, with some players eventhough there is double coverage
they are still open. Witten is one of those players.
Really?
So even if someone else is wide open (hypothetically speaking) it’s still better to throw to the guy that’s double covered? Then why wasn’t it okay to force to ball to TO; as so many have complained about? I thought this was a mentality that we wanted to see Romo steer away from?
Witten has always been exceptional at getting open and running precise routes but one of his specialties has never been to pull off a Randy Moss type of play where he catches a pass over top of a pair of DB’s draped all over him with great coverage. He’s got good hands and balance for a TE but not that good. His biggest asset has always been that they’re not too many Line backers or safeties that can hang with him one on one.
With TO gone I would suspect that Witten will see more double coverage than he ever has before (he wasn’t really facing double teams prior to TO thus the good numbers but he’s since become a household name). The only way to get defenses out of that is to go to someone else and burn them for it.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Well...
So even if someone else is wide open (hypothetically speaking) it’s still better to throw to the guy that’s double covered?
In that situation no.
Then why wasn’t it okay to force to ball to TO; as so many have complained about?
Because he is not as good as he used to be.
I thought this was a mentality that we wanted to see Romo steer away from?
Not me. As long as his td to int ratio remains 2 to 1 he can throw as many ints as he wants.
The point is it was in the redzone though.
Interceptions are going to happen, but a lot of Romo’s seem to come deep in the other team’s territory.
You lose the FG, along w/ so much momentum.
by Realist Larry on Aug 3, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
regardless if it is in the red zone or not
he is still throwing 2 touch downs for every interception, so it doesn’t matter.
This whole “momentum” thing seems a bit superstitious to me to give much credence.
It's at minimum a 3 point swing.
And possibly up to a 14 point swing. You’re effectively taking points off the board and possibly setting them up to score.
And a 2:1 ratio would be great if he did it on a game by game basis. But that’s not how it works. For example, last year he went 17:7 in wins and 9:7 in losses. In December, he went 5:6. When you practice poorly, you play poorly.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I would like him to improve in December no doubt
but I think any other criticism of Romo is overblown.
But don't you think it starts now?
You have pointed out that last year we played the toughest defenses in December, which is when Romo reverted to some of his bad habits. If he trains himself now so that his second nature is the more efficient way and not the risky way that often leads to turnovers, then in game situations, he will be less likely to go back to the risky behavior.
It’s just so frustrating because he’s better than that, but he consistently makes the same mistakes over and over. Reading that would be like reading that the defense is still getting torched in the deep middle by fullbacks and tight ends. It’s been happening for years, when is he going to correct it?
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions
BPS, yes, this is the time to correct those mistakes.
But don’t expect Romo to eliminate his mistakes. You need to take a bit of the good with the bad, and allow for a gunner like Romo to not always be perfect. Throwing one red-zone interception in the first week of training camp is hardly a trend, and even less a reason for panic.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
Why wouldn't I expect that?
The guy makes like 10 million dollars a year, is it unreasonable to expect him to eliminate his mistakes? Especially the ones that he makes over and over again?
If this was the first time he had ever thrown an interception into double coverage, red zone or not, I certainly wouldn’t consider it the start of a trend. But he does it often, and this is the continuance of a trend. As I said elsewhere, while I’m not panicking or writing off the season, it bothers me. Just like it would bother me to read that special teams coverage is getting toasted in camp or that our D still can’t stop the deep middle passes. These are areas that are supposed to be getting corrected.
Some people claim that no one on the planet works harder at anything than Romo does at improving, so it’s troubling to see that he is still making the same old mistakes.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Eliminate ... as in NONE
No athlete at any level is perfect. Romo will improve with time, but incrementally. I don’t know if Romo works harder, but I would guess he probably cares a bit more than you or I about his mistakes.
Stopping the middle pass or improving special teams, for the Cowboys this year, entailed bringing in new guys. We don’t need a new QB, we’ve got one of the leagues rising stars. He creates stuff, he’s put up amazing numbers … yet the pessimists see one interception and suddenly the sky is falling.
It’s the first week in training camp. It was one pass. Be bothered, but don’t be so quick to extrapolate a whole season, or even a trend, on a Monday afternoon throw.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
That's why he gets the criticism.
Every single unit on this team will look different this year than they did last year, except TE, QB, and OL. Even OL will look different due to one injured starter returning, and another injured starter playing without injury.
I think we can all agree that whatever they are doing at TE is working.
Romo has 3 problems, basically, that hold him back from being the best QB in the league. He has a marked December swoon, whether it’s his fault or not; he fumbles too often; and he has a tendency to throw into double coverage at times. It’s frustrating to read that he is working so hard to improve but is still making the same mistakes. That doesn’t mean I’m writing off the season, but I sure hope that he’s 10 times as mad at himself about it as I am reading it, and so are Wade and JG.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I look at it this way
Romo has multiple things that he has to do for the team and he himself to have success – complete passes at good percentage (above league average); do his part in throwing TD passes; make the correct read and call the right option (run-pass); make sure the team understands the play and lines up correctly; avoid pressure; after the snap successfully go through his reads or hand off; and avoid turning the ball over.
I’m not saying that this is you, because it’s not, but several people who post here forget that Romo does all of it at a very high level except ball protection which he does at a below average level. Why, as a fan, would you focus on the one thing he does not as well and intentionally disregard all the other things he brings to the position?
My own guess is because people want the team’s failure to be embodied in just one person. It’s human nature to want a person to blame, not a group of people. But it’s also irrational. I’m not stats guy, but looking at Dallas’ win/loss record under Romo and his individual stats alone is enough to say that his turn-overs aren’t costing Dallas a shot at winning playoff games. Instead it’s that ever unsatisfying combination of actors known as a “team.”
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Part of it
is that some of the mistakes seem so easily fixed – like the way he holds the ball in traffic. I don’ t think he gains anything from it (so it isn’t a tradeoff), and it seems like a fundamental.
It would also seem like throwing the ball away more is a simple adjustment. There is some tradeoff there – some of the heroic plays – but it should be relatively easy for him to make an adjustment.
I think my frustrations with Romo (and I am a fan in large part) is that he can do what few others can, but then turn around and turn the ball over with a brain cramp that isn’t on par with being a top level QB.
It should also be noted that most of those who criticize TR have high expectations of him. Many players who get ripped are playing to expectations – they just aren’t that good.
by I_miss_Switzer on Aug 4, 2009 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions
For the most part I agree
He can fix some things and definitely needs to.
But on the other hand, I doubt that his picks are any dumber than anyone else’s. I mean, most picks are a mistake on the QB’s part and none of them were desirable at that moment. Brees threw a crap load last season without much notice at all.
I just don’t understand how some fans can only manage to focus on what he has not done or on his mistakes without thinking about the incredible things he may accomplish and has already. It’s the opposite tunnel vision that some here give Terry crap over. He throws a pick in training camp and he’s an idiot.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
When did Brees become the standard?
I don’t get how guys like Drew Brees and Carson Palmer are considered clearly better than Romo. Romo isn’t as consistent late in the season, but is far superior earlier in the season. I think Brees has 1 playoff win and Palmer has zero, so I just don’t get it.
Unless you subscribe to the theory that Brees had a 2:1 TD to INT ratio last year so his interceptions don’t count either.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you BPS
I’ve been saying this forever. Why is it that people forget about all the turnovers he has?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 4, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
He throws a pick in training camp and he’s an idiot.
Who said that?
Too many posters take it personally when Romo comes under criticism. Too many posters get riled up when even one of Romo’s flaws is discussed. Too many posters make it a mission to insult the critic’s fandom instead of addressing the issue in question.
To be fair, a lot of these points have been beaten to death — yet here we are in another unending Romo thread — and I should not be singling you out for what you said. However, the optimists/apologists make it sound like questioning Romo’s play is equivalent to advocating for his release.
This is simply not the case, and I see a lot of bloggers making these ridiculous claims against other Cowboys fans.
Again, sincere apologies to dunkman for seizing on his statement.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 4, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
I think there is a difference between a quick criticism and dwelling on it too.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 4, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think you find a lot of "attack the messenger"
The debate is around whether a pick early in pre-season is cause for concern. I like the exchange, don’t totally run from a chance to throw in a dig, but in general think both sides are merely laying out their case.
Romo’s one of the Cowboys’ best players. If they don’t succeed, he shoulders some blame. But I’ll defend his game (and enjoy doing so) when criticism exceeds reality.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
So you are satisfied
with what Romo has done so far.
I’m not.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
let say
that he throws 25 TDs and about 13 Ints. 3 of those coming in the endzone. that’s minimally giving up 9 points. those are hidden points in the game. by the same token 3 or 4 of the other Ints could be in our end, with other team scoring lets say around 9 points. that’s 19 points that shouldn’t have been. that’s abourt 1.2 points a game…….in this day and age of parity and games being close. you don’t want to give up any points.
by CowboysFanatic on Aug 3, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
True, and we dont want to develope bad habits in camp.
Having said that the haters are pouncing on every mistake made by Romo and this is the 1st time i can remember him doing this in goal line.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
You know the answer to the first question.
Last year you heard a little to often of bone headed plays in camp. I have been paying attention to his picks and when they occur. So far he has been much better with bone headed plays.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
That's good then.
If I thought Romo was a no talented bum with a noodle for an arm, I wouldn’t be all over his decision making. The fact is, he is talented physically, I just want his head to make it to the same level as his arm and legs.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Exactly
Nobody wants to see bad habits, but this is practice. Perhaps he’s working on honing in on his accuracy or he’s learning his limitations or maybe the coaching staff wanted to evaluate Witten’s ability to go after a ball being double covered (because he wlll be doubled more) or maybe the staff wanted to see how the defenders are coming up with the ball when they have numbers in their favor.
Some are too quick to judge Romo without knowing what’s going on in the practices. There’s a reason that they are practicing right now. They are trying a wide variety of things that us fans probably know nothing about. So far, Romo hasn’t been throwing very many picks.
I have never heard of
a coach telling his qb to throw to the covered receiver. I have heard him chew the qb out for throwing into double coverage. Being the center I heard a lot of what the qb heard.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Pfffttt
Quincy, Quincy, Quincy…
Why are you settling?
A 2 to 1 ratio is okay, but Championship caliber play for Dallas has to be much more rigorous.
Why not 3 to 1?
Why have we become so tolerant of turnovers through the air?
I reject the entire notion of throwing into coverage and instead would like to see our guy break down his opponent on film the week before (sorry if that means fewer trips to the driving range) and dissect them by throwing to the open receiver, regardless of who it is.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
That's pretty lame
Really his golf game is getting in the way? Really he doesn’t break down enough film?
Every QB in football has to throw into coverage at times. Eli got his game/SB winning drive done throwing into coverage, Tom Brady got himself a record-setting season doing it.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
3 to 1 is ridiculous
You expectations are way to high. You’ll never be happy with any QB we get. Aikman never had that.
Aikman had
those three rings to compensate for his stats.
Tony gets us to the big dance, I don’t care what his numbers are.
Stop making excuses. Romo knows he needs to improve on turnovers.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Oh Oskie
that’s hardly an answer at all. All Q was saying is that 3:1 is a ridiculously high standard that even HOFrs don’t have.
It’s not excuses. For crying out loud. THIS IS TRAINING CAMP!
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Any time
you start whining about statistics, it sounds like excuses no matter what month it is.
Fans should be yapping about Romo’s endzone turnovers, and right now is not too early to start.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Really
it’s not whining. The guy is human and therefore flawed, but he’s the best QB Dallas has had since Aikman and he’s trying to correct his mistakes. What else can we expect? A pound of flesh has been outlawed and changing history is impractical. Deep breath! Enjoy the off-season.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Wait, when was a pound of flesh outlawed
I owe my son an apology
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions
The only thing I can see that is wrong with Romo is he doesn't play
as well in December as he does in Sept, Oct, and Nov. If he corrects that then I’ll be happy. Everything else is overblown.
And by the way citing statistics is not whining. It’s called backing up your argument with this little thing called EVIDENCE.
3:1 should be Romo's goal
Only 1 guy was 3:1 last year, but 6 of the 7 QB’s with higher QB ratings were 2:1 or better. Romo was slightly worse than 2:1 (26/14). He should set a challenging goal for himself and I would hope he has. Even in 2007 he was under 2:1 (36/19). 2 guys were 3:1 that year and Rothlesberger was 32/11.
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 4, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
That will never happen
with this style of offense. You can achieve it with short, safe passes, but any offense that stretches the field to open the running game – and that’s Dallas’ offense – is going to have more picks than a short-pass WC style offense.
Romo can cut down on his mistakes, but it won’t be dramatic because (a) his number isn’t drastically higher than other QBs who throw a lot (P Manning, Brees, Warner) and (b) this offense demands a QB take risk down field to loosen up the defense.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I disagree.
If he played as well in December as he did the rest of the year, he would be at about 2.5 to 1. It’s December, where he is about 1 to 1.2, TD to INT, that brings him down to around the 2:1 level.
I think the most frustrating thing about watching the Cowboys is that the question is really, “What is Romo going to do in December?” Because that’s really the only time that he plays poorly, and they pretty much always win when their QB does not play poorly, and pretty much always lose when he does.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I meant I disagreed that that is unattainable for him.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Becoming the most "ball secure"
QB in the league is probably not attainable for him. Shoot, the line isn’t consistent enough.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
get used to it
Romo is a natural gunslinger and he’ll always have a tendency to thread the needle at times and if his TD/INT continues to be 2:1, then I say keep on firing.
In Romo we Trust
I Disagree...
He cannot do it in the End Zone…no excuses for that…the offense cannot afford to leave points on the table by turning it over in the end zone. I hope he is just slinging it in camp…and when the season begins he will not turn it over
Romo will turn the ball over
because every qb turns the ball over, even SB qbs like Roethlisberger and Warner turned it as much as Romo.
The key is reducing the number of INTs and fumbles, not eliminating them all together which is an impossibility.
If his TD/INT ratio is 2:1, I’ll take that any day.
In Romo we Trust
It all depends on your defense!
If you score 2 TDs, and on 3 possessions, and that other possession is a turn over that doesn’t allow your defense to rest, or gives the other team a short field then how does that help. You guys are basing your opinions on stats like 2:1 , then griping about the stats that show the defense is near the bottom of the league in points allowed. Give me a break! Turn overs are never a good thing. They will happen, but the goal, how ever unrealistic, is always no turn overs.
Ill buy that up to a point.
QBing and winning is about not what you do, but when you do it. Protect the ball in the Red Zone and 4th quarter. Tone down the gunslinger mentality unless your losing badly.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
What's that saying?
Oh yeah, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.”
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
Like my sig.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Nice.
I should start reading those.
Another, from Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
those end zone picks are demoralizing and Romo needs to cut down on them. Watching him throw picks in the end zone is something I don’t want to get used to.
If it’s a choice between an interception or settling for a field goal, I will take the 3 every time.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Unless
you’re down by 4 in the final seconds!
It’s a reach to extrapolate from TC. He’s trying things out, the receivers are learning their routes. This worries me not at all. If he’s doing it a lot next season, then I’ll worry some more.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
This is how I tried to rationalize it last year
When he was making these types of mistakes in camp and preseason. Unfortunately, he carried over the bad juju to the regular season.
To see Tony improve, I feel like these glaring kinks in his game need not to be repeated from one year to the next. That’s what I’m looking for regarding his growth as QB.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I understand your point
but if they all were ready for the season, they’d skip training camp and just wait for September. It’s way, way early and there is no way that any of these guys are on the same sheet or even have the new plays down pat in their heads yet.
And there were only a few times Romo lost games over this. His picks were generally in line with Peyton/Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Big Ben, and Warner. I don’t worry that much about picks as long as he remains productive in other areas (TDs, yardage, wins). What I want to see him improve is the fumbling. That’s not nearly as in line with other high-performing QBs.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
The fumbling is a given
No doubt he needs improvement in the area of ball security. And it’s not that he throws too many picks — but that he throws too many picks that need not be thrown i.e. a ball lobbed to the defensive back as opposed to a good play by the defense.
Of course, I’m sure this is a problem with other QBs, but you understand that as a Cowboys fan, it’s Romo’s mistakes that matter more to me.
The reason I brought up the original point is that reading the phrase ‘in the endzone’ raised an immediate red flag because I noticed similar behavior at a similar time last year. Again, it’s not that it’s just camp, but the foreshadowing is ominous (too harsh?). Poor decision-making also encompasses the fumbling, especially when he’s running around with only one hand on the ball, and it’s something he should’ve worked on during the season last year (I hope). Thus, I have been hoping to see less of the redzone/endzone INTs in practice or otherwise.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions
This argument is like a ground hog day nightmare
I’ve been in the middle of this one myself so many times it’s now comical. One side says some INT’s are worse than others, the other side will NEVER agree with that idea. This is going nowhere gentlemen.
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions
No argument my friend
Just expressing why I desire to see less INTs when we’re close to the opposing goalline
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm with you
But the people arguing the other side will never agree
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
I’m not looking for a religious debate on this. Some picks may be worse than others, but probably all of them are bad. I mean throwing one in the red zone often gives the other team bad field position but you clearly gave up a 95% chance at 3 points. One thrown early in the possession might had a lower percentage chance you would score on that possession at all but it lets the other team potentially score more easily. I don’t can’t say whch is worse, even with a lot of numbers because so much game situation comes into the discussion.
But wonder, has anyone looked at Romo’s picks in the red zone vs other QBs? I know Dallas in 07 was a league-leader in red zone scoring and went down last year, That mght be an interesting stat to look at.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
I agree
Actually looking at the stats would be interesting. We tend to over blow things like that, it’s maddening when you watch it happen. For all we know, Romo has a lower % of pics in the red zone than others. I think the perception is he has more and we just argue if they’re worse than other INT’s.
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions
And part of it is just that
we uber-focus on our QB and don’t pay much attention to other QBs nor do we get upset when they throw picks. So taht probably makes it more difficult to evaluate what the “bone-head” level for a pick might be.
I also suspect that guys who don’t run good patterns contribute much more to picks than guys who run great patterns. For example, I thinkI read something on DMN that close to half of Romo’s picks were intended for TO. Straight % you expect that number to be higher for the field rather than to one guy. The number for ones intended for Witten was supposedly much lower even though the throws were slightly higher.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
If we are down 4 in the final seconds,
then the choice is not between a pick and a field goal, it is the choice between a pick and a TD. In that case, I will take the TD.
Interceptions in the end zone are never my choice.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
No, my point is
sometimes you have to try to force the ball in there because it’s TD or bust. A lot of picks happen that way.
I don’t think anyone, from Romo to Jerry Jones, wants interceptions.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Case in point...
Romo’s INT that was intended for Terry Glenn in the ’07 playoff loss to the Giants. That was his only turnover of the game and it came with only seconds left to play, on 4th down. That was a TD or bust situation and he can hardly be blamed for that.
I think it’s really that Pittsburgh that burned so many Cowboys fans when it comes to Romo.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
The only time I can see it,
is we are down by 4 with less than a minute to go. Yeah, thread it in there, otherwise throw it away, let Folk get you the three and live to play another series.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Point is
it happens every single week in the NFL – a QB throws a ball up for grabs and it either works out or it doesn’t. Romo didn’t invent that. Go back and watch Warner and Arizona (who BTW threw a ton of picks last season and SURPRISE! went to the Super Bowl). He threw up more prayers than a Baptist Revival.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
It really doesn't...
…have to be this way.
There is no reason to believe that Romo can’t learn from mistakes of the past and become a better decision maker. Romo has admitted that he has studied Tom Brady before in the off-season. This is a good thing. There isn’t a better decision maker in the game. 50 TD’s and only 8 pics in the last full season in which he played.
Romo can still be a great play maker and create something out of nothing without needlessly hurling the ball into tight coverage. He puts great touch on the ball, has a very quick release and can be fairly accurate with the ball but he doesn’t have a cannon arm like Favre or Elway where he can just blast something into a small window.
More like Brady = a good thing.
More like Favre = a bad thing.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
2:1 TD/INT ratio is very good
what Brady did in 2007 will clearly never be done again.
In Romo we Trust
until someone does better
Isn’t that the point of competition?
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't ever see any qb
ever having a 50:8 TD/INT ration ever again in one season, that season he had was like Bonds hitting 76 HRs.
In Romo we Trust
So you're saying
he was juiced?
Seriously, though, a record is a record until someone breaks it.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Some they just close out
I read that somewhere.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
But I'm not looking for Romo...
…to have a 50:8 TD/INT ratio.
Brady has had plenty of the 33:12 variety which I’d be more than happy with from Romo.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Some of us
recognize that Romo can (and must) become a better QB.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Romo is a good QB
to become elite he must improve some things,
by Musiccitynorm on Aug 3, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree wth that take
He’s already good enough to take his team to the SB and win it. If he wants to be elite, he’ll have to be able to do that even when other pieces are not functioning as well.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
+1
while i absolutely think Romos good enough to win a superbowl. But he hasn’t proven to me he can pick this team up in tough games when he starts playing poorly. In fact, his three eagles losses pretty much follow that recipe.
Oops your right, like many others on here
I seem to think he has been around a little longer than he really has.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
and some of realize that you can't remove spots off a leopard
I hope Romo reduces his turnovers, but to expect him to be as efficient as Brady in that regard is wishful thinking. Romo is a gunslinger and always will be.
In Romo we Trust
I don’t agree…
Very few have ever worked harder to make something of themselves than he has and his decision making will only get better as he gains more experience, (2 .5 years of actual playing time is not much for an NFL QB). He works on every aspect of his game and learning to understand what he’s seeing on the field will only improve in time.
A lot of the bad INTs he throws are result of not seeing the whole field and figuring out what the D is doing. These are all things he will do much better when he enters his prime, (believe it or not Romo still probably 2 or 3 seasons away from being in his prime).
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Fast: one thing that comes to your mind when you think of Romo?
Well, some of Romo’s hardest critics may say that they think of Terry, but my point:
A lot of the bad INTs he throws are result of not seeing the whole field and figuring out what the D is doing. These are all things he will do much better when he enters his prime, (believe it or not Romo still probably 2 or 3 seasons away from being in his prime).
The first thing that comes to my mind? His quick release. He’s a gunslinger with one of the quickest releases that I’ve seen… That’s one of his best weapons and one of his major drawbacks, as many of his picks come in throws were it’s obvious that he didn’t managed to get a complete view of the situation… Asking him to change that is making him a different QB and it’s very likely that we wouldn’t like the result of such a change.
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
Not if you get
no time to throw That was the case last season at the end.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
wrong! I think?
I was always under the impression that the term quick release was used to describe the Qb’s throwing motion. The time it takes from when he decides to who or were he’s going to throw the ball to the time it accually leaves his hand. Some Qbs have a more animated or lengthy motion involving more back swing ( don’t know how else to describe it ) and leg drive. However, since I am only a fan and not a coach I could be wrong; but I have heard announcers talk about quick releases even after a QB has had time to set back in the pocket and survey the field.
It does refer to the throwing motion
Jason Campbell winds up like a windmill. Romo has a shorter motion.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
First thing that comes to mind when I think of Romo is ELUSIVE
He is such a savvy guy in the pocket, so difficult to bring down. Despite the reminder of what it was like with Bledsoe – when we had to run with Brad Johnson for a few games – people seem to forget this Staubach-like quality of Romo’s. He’s a play-maker, often creating something out of nothing. How many times has Romo sustained drives with his style of play? Because each time he’s done that, you can knock off about 1/2 an interception.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
Romo=playmaker
and quite frankly thats what you want in your qb regardless of everything else.
In Romo we Trust
You asked.
I answered. That’s the first thing I think of when I think of Romo.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 4, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
But that's not even the most important or remarkable thing about him
His escapability, his improvisational skill, his quick release, his deep ball… those are much more impressive. It’s not for nothing that Troy Aikman still says he’d take Romo over most other QBs in the league.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
And the reason for the December collapse?
If there’s a theory that he has a problem with December, let’s finish the thought. WHY does he have a problem?
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Absolutely.
It’s ludicrous to expect Romo to do better. A leopard can’t change their spots, so Romo will never play well in December, will never win a playoff game, and despite all his talk and gym rat mentality, will continue to carelessly turn the ball over.
I mean, if the guy wants to improve his turnover efficiency, shouldn’t the first places that he starts be going out of his way to protect the ball in either red zone and stop forcing the ball into double coverage? If he did those 2 things, he could probably be the league MVP. When you’re team is in scoring position or the other team will be in scoring position if you lose the ball, take extra steps to ensure that you don’t turn it over. When a player is double covered, throw the ball to someone else, throw it away, or scramble. Those are basics. It’s not rocket surgery. C’mon Tony, you’re better than that.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
rocket surgery??
now I know you’re better than that BPS. lol
The point is getting your pansies all up in a bunch over an end zone pick in TC is ridiculous.
Romo will do that every once in a while, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to get better. Believe or not, I’ve seen Manning and Brady throw end zone picks too, it happens.
In Romo we Trust
Good lord.
He threw one pick in practice. Throwing the ball in the red zone is one of the most difficult things to do in all of football and everyone has trouble with it. In most situations we should be running the ball in the red zone anyways. That’s what Marion Barber is made for.
Baked Potato Soup -
I bet he could of put it in the right spot with the pitching wedge though, eh?
"The Most Dangerous Man in the world is the one with nothing to lose"
by SaratogaRacing on Aug 3, 2009 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm tired of being used to it
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
+1
Well said.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
and you're going to get more tired of expecting perfection
because you’re never going to get it.
In Romo we Trust
Kitna to the rescue
I’m still predicting that Kitna is leading us down the field in the final stretch feeding it to Roy across the middle…one slant after another after another….after another.
"The Most Dangerous Man in the world is the one with nothing to lose"
by SaratogaRacing on Aug 3, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Some posts miss the point
this one is just delusional. If Kitna is leding this team for any length of time, we’ll be discussing who to pick with our number 3…
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
you might as well predict
that monkeys will start flying out of Wade’s ass on the sidelines because both have the same chance of happening.
In Romo we Trust
This one is bad
for everyone invilved. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
You will see it but you will wake up your pillows thrown all across the room
and your wife bloody and mad.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
Sartoga...
Answer me this… what in the hell has Jon freaking Kitna done to make you think that he is the savior QB of the Dallas Cowboys?
If you have a good answer I’ll be shocked, but I’m betting on no answer at all.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 4, 2009 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
66% score rate from the redzone
is not acceptable.
pointless
Norm, don’t you know arguing about romo with terry is pointless?
by TONYINCC on Aug 3, 2009 1:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Sounds like the D was on hit today..
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
I like the sound of this.
Trials by fire for the offense today can only mean they’ll improve as camp continues.
from Brian Broaddus
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/DAL/20090803
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has thrown everything he has at QB Tony Romo and the offense blitz-wise. The offense has had to really be sound to get quality plays off against this attack.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
Broaddus was referring to the redzone work.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
Wonder if they still do that get the ball out in 3 sec drill they did with Parcells?
Sounds to me like their not even getting 3 seconds though.
My understanding is
that Romo keeps game pace in every practice. In fact I think it might have been Zach Thomas who said that most QBs look great in practice because they take more time to throw in practice and Romo goes through his reads and delivers the ball as if he were in a game. I know Phillips has commented on this as well.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
No, nobody carries the horn around any more...
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
very true
We need the O-line to get there blitz pick-ups together.. Way to many free blitzers last year.
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
Excellent, if we can pick up our blitz we can pick up anybodys.
Give them hell Wade and cut them no slack!!!!
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
No...
If we can pick up Philly’s blitz, then we can pick up anybody’s…
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I was basing my post on the fact that we had more sacks last year and Wades D get just as many sacks as Philly if not more.
Anyway, I feel our D bringing it against our Offense is the best way to get ready to play the rest of the East.
It beats the hell out of practicing against a D capable of 30 sacks.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
Um
Did you see our last game?
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Yeah I did, and it looked like a team that needs intense work on picking up the blitz.
You think their pass rush is good. We had more sacks than them. With the established fact that we had more sacks than them, I believe our pass rush is better. If you want to be the best then go against the best, giving their absolute best.
Again, give em hell Wade. Our offense needs the best you have to offer.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
Are they still not tackling?
This team had a major problem with tackling last year, with the first Eagles game and the Ravens game quickly coming to mind. Are they doing any drills to work on tackling fundamentals like wrapping up, tackling guys’ waists not their shoulders, etc.?
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions
That's why
they make tackling dummies and have preseason games. Let’s not beat up our own guys in practice.
To paraphrase Wade’s dad: “Dallas ain’t on our schedule.”
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
I understand that logic.
But this team is not good at tackling. They are pretty bad, actually. So are they hitting the tackling dummies, or doing anything to improve in that area? I just think about that Eagles game when they had like 5 called facemask penalties and a couple that weren’t called, not to mention guys breaking tackles all over the place.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions
I see that they're hitting.
But I wonder about actually tackling. Because that’s what they did on the field last year, ran up and popped guys, but didn’t actually wrap them up well and take them down.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
it would be stupid to tackle
that’s how major injuries occur. That’s why they play preseason games.
In Romo we Trust
Ken Hamlin knows how to tackle? Canty? Spears? Burnett? Davis?
Yes, as we have seen many examples of their work in other situations, so it isn’t as if they need to practice their fundamentals, they just need to be sharp and consistent.
Those are the main problems, which also apply to:
- The QB.
- Coaches.
- OLine.
- WR hands and routes.
- Defensive coverages.
- STs.
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
I don't understand what you're trying to say.
3 of those guys aren’t even on the team anymore. Watching games last year, the defense, including Hamlin, Burnett, and Davis, showed a tendency to run up and pop guys with a shoulder and then have that guy bounce off of them or keep on going because they didn’t wrap up.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I can't talk about the future, so I talk about the past...
… and those players were on our team…
They missed tackles? Welcome to the NFL, Offense players are supposed to make defenders miss their attempts and they’re professionals, too.
According to last season, were there moments in which you saw them doing textbook tackles? Yes. Then, they know how to tackle. Do they need to be more consistent? Yes, just like the rest of the team.
Is this a problem due to no tackling in the Offseason? Maybe, but I just don’t know how no-tackling also affects the consistency in all of the other areas… So, consistency may have to do with something else…
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
Oh my god.
Please, please, please, please, please.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm worried about ILB depth as it is
Let’s not go and trade Carp just yet. I also think Carp would flourish in a 4-3 so let’s hope he doesn’t stay in our division.
I agree.
Let’s not thin out what could be a deep group at ILB. And Carp hasn’t looked bad. He, at least, knows what he’s doing out there.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
barbie carpenter stays with the cowboys
by CowboysFan4Life on Aug 3, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
it was a "live" scrimmage.
Reggie Brown (lol) put a move on him and Bradley got twisted up trying to tackle him.
bummer
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
dropped some butter
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
That is huge
They may have to shake things up now…
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I amd excited about the safety
position this year, looks like it might be a strength on defense. I’m hearing good thiongs even at the backup positions. finally.
couldn't agree more
If we can tighten up the back end our Defense will go to the next level.
"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z
Twitter Account
I'm gonna go with thongs*
Sounds better out of context
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Thongs and tightening up back ends?
I don’t know what kind of sight this is turning into while Grizz is in the air.
Hehe
It’s the kind of site that winz at the internetz.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Aug 3, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Can anyone help out on how to make another contribution to the blog
I did it before using a PayPal button, can’t find one now. Anyone know where it went?
by StillHateTheGiants on Aug 3, 2009 2:22 PM CDT reply actions
Grizz took it down a week or two back...
If we keep bugging him, he’ll be forced to put it back up, if only to shut us up.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
Thanks Grizz-
This is the first year I’ve really been monitoring developments out of camp, and your writeups have been invaluable, something I’ve really looked forward to. Thanks to you and Raf for keeping us out of the staters in the loop. Otherwise, I’d be there with you.
I have noticed a new resurgence in Cowboy hating in 2007, which can only mean one thing- We're back.
Scandrick rocks.
I even saw him blow up a toss play to his side.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for another great job at camp Grizz
Also, I just finished going through the MSP Cowboys Annual. Really outstanding writing and production quality! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Training Camp '09 = Mega Thunder Dome....80 men enter, 53 men leave.
This is off topic, but. . .
I found it interesting. It’s from a Peter King interview with Ellis Hobbs, who discusses Belichek:
“I respect Bill as a coach more than anyone I’ve met,‘’ Hobbs said. "Bill was so smart. He went about it like the team we’re playing is a building. You don’t just throw a bomb at the building; it has to be strategically placed. Like against Dallas a couple of years ago. Everyone’s analyzing the game and saying, ’We’ve got to stop T.O. to win.’ Bill said to us that the key to the game for Dallas was [tight end Jason] Witten, not T.O. You stop Witten, you stop Dallas. We did, and we won.
You guys may have discussed this two years ago, but I wasn’t part of this blog then.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
It could still very well be true.
Hopefully, Romo can find another security blanket or two.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Perhaps by the names of
Martellus Bennett and Felix Jones?
The 2 TE set we’ve been seeing/discussing will really help diversify the offense, keep the defense guessing. If Martellus Bennett demonstrates he can do a lot of the things Witten can do, defenses will have a hard time keeping up.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
They were doing some crazy formations today...
with Felix/Choice out wide, or Marty B out wide, Roy in the slot.
The season begins in 3...2...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys
by Aaron Novinger on Aug 3, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
sign me up
for liking those alignments
by CowboysFan4Life on Aug 4, 2009 12:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Thats funny
I remember scoring points in that game, it was our defense that got toasted. Did Witten play defense that day?
by Musiccitynorm on Aug 3, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions
They stopped Owens, too, though.
Plus Brady threw 5 TD passes and the Cowboys had 12 penalties. The turning point in the game was in the fourth quarter with the score 31-24, when Dallas blew the 4th and 1 because of a holding call. New England scored a TD on the ensuing drive and then Dallas had to settle for a FG after 1st and Goal on their next drive, and it was all over.
by Baked Potato Soup on Aug 3, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah...
I never thought of that loss as, oh dallas can’t move the ball, I thought of it as a Dallas can’t stop Wes Welker.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 4, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Let's start off Positive!
From the practice reports on this blog, they make it sound like ROMO is bumbling and needs to get his act together right off the bat… I say it’s early still, so let’s give ROMO a break and don’t put too much negative energy out there in universe that will cause him doubt himself and his ability… we know he’s got “IT”…
I’m just glad we’re not distracting our players with the HARD KNOCKS show this year… don’t get me wrong I LOVED seeing our boys on HBO last year. Couldn’t get enough… but I fear it’s just too distracting for them.
Sounds like the DEFENSE is starting off pretty good. I sure hope Special Teams can make a significant change in the right direction this year too.
P.S. I will miss T.O. this year… I just hope some of his attitude towards winning rubbed off on some peeps!!!
GO DALLAS!!!!!!
I don't take that from
the camp reports, just a few of the comments. My take is that Romo has been pretty sharp but not perfect. I get that from the DMN blog as well.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Does anybody have any doubts about our D this year?
I’m usually a skeptic. But I have no doubt we can be a top-5 defense this year – especially with the way Igor and the DB’s are playing. I’m not a fan of Spencer. But I think Wade will put everybody in a position to succeed. I even like our depth (Ware and Rat are irreplaceable but I think we are ok with backups everywhere else.)
Offense, on the other hand, has me worried. You need WR’s to stretch the field no matter what else you do. 2 great TE’s is fantastic. I like the idea of a 2 TE power offense. But, TE’s operate within 15 yards of the LOS. Any Defensive Coordinator will put 8-9 in the box to take away the run and short passing game unless they are forced to respect our WR’s deep. I just don’t think our receiving crew is capable of making teams respect them with double coverage deep. And, while I trust Wade to call a brilliant defensive game, I’m not so sure Garret is at that level as an OC.
OK.
Any Defensive Coordinator will put 8-9 in the box to take away the run and short passing game unless they are forced to respect our WR’s deep.
That’s a myth. I hope that defensive coordinators do that, because TE’s are more than just 15 yard operators these days and I feel like if healthy Austin can burn someone with just pure deep speed. WR’s aren’t what defensive coordinators look at when stacking the box, QB’s are.
They weren’t stacking the box against the Patriots when Reche Caldwell was their #1 receiver and while I don’t think Romo is Brady(nor anyone else in the league.) that concept is just ill conceived.
Defense’s stacked the box against Jacksonville this last year with Dennis Northcutt and Troy Williamson on the field and they both have speed.
Speedy receivers help spread the field more, but you QB’s IMO are what make defense’s respect you.
I dare a defensive coordinator to put 8 or 9 in the box every time and see if a player doesn’t get a 30 yard pop on them.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
great point
putting 9 in the box means bringing the safeties up and, we could send Witten and M Bennent down the seam all day, not to mention that would make LB’s cover Felix out of the backfield, another matchup that heavily favors Dallas.
The 2 tight end package will be the key to the offense this year.
We are hearing a lot of Bennett stuff happening at camp. The 2 tight end set will allow us to do soo many things. Depending on what defensive package is on the field, whether it’s the D’s base or if they are in the nickel, Romo will pick a play that he feels is the best against their D when they are lined up from a personel standpoint. I suspect that we will be in a 2 tight end set with Roy and Crayton/Austin on the field most of the time with one of our RB’s in the backfield.
If the base D is on the field, their LB’s will need help against Bennett and Witten which will leave 1 on 1’s with our WR’s. That alone will make them play their safties back and that’s when we posistion Bennett and Witten in tight at the line of scrimmage. We spread either one or both of them out wide, guess what the D will have to do then? That’s right, a LB will have to go out with them or they will be passed off to a CB, but that move would then require their LB’s to cover Roy or Crayton/Austin in tight. Good luck with that one.
Should the D put in their nickel, then we pound the ball with our 2 TE’s set as long as our down and distance is manageable. This I believe is why in this camp that guys are being replaced when they false start. Keeping the down and distance in manageable situations will increase the effectiveness of the 2 TE set and give the D fits.
Having 2 very good TE’s will keep the safties from stacking the box. We can move them anywhere to exploit mis-matches to our liking. If you really stop for a moment and think about what we can do out of the 2 TE set with the guys we have, the mis-matches are plentiful. Most teams in the NFL wish they had one good TE, heck, we have 2 very good ones. Can you imagine our D playing against an O with 2 players like Antonio Gates on the field at the same time? What headaches do you think that would cause for the safties and LB’s? Chasing those two guys for 3 quarters will drain your vein and then here comes Barber for the 4th quarter all fresh and ready to pound you. I like it !!!!!
Very good and fast LB’s will slow our TE set down, but they won’t stop it. The Eagles have to be hating the fact that one of their best LB’s just went down for the season. (and it was their MLB to top it off) Our TE stock value just went up a major notch when we play them. And they know it !!!
I also like the fact that Romo is checking down to his backs in camp with regularity, at least is sounds that way. With all the attention that the WR’s and TE’s will garner, Barber, Felix or choice will have some very good yards to gain.
I hope that D’s play 8-9 in the box because that means that we will have some very nice long yardage plays because Romo will make them pay all day long when they do that.
+1
Every time I hear about the 2 TE set, or the 12 Personnel as the coaches are calling it, I get giddy with excitement.
by One.Cool.Customer on Aug 4, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I think our 2 TE's are enough
to keep opponent’s safeties worried about the middle of the field at all depths. That should open up the edges for our WR’s even if they don’t have blazing speed.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
Stanback
I give up – Cut’em Dan-o
I live and die with the Dallas Cowboys
Had to show you guys this....
Future NT for the Dallas Cowboys.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:34 PM CDT reply actions
Dammit....
here just go to the link
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/V9M5uV-JAwo/SncOCRZaMjI/AAAAAAAAB90/5n3h9zV7UWs/s1600-h/DSC0118.jpg
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions
There is no doubt to the smoldering intensity in those eyes.
Might be a LB. Cute kid. They wouldnt happen to be some of your better work.
I find the harder I work, the luckier I get. Thomas Jefferson
Definitly my better work.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Emmit Smith eyes, Mike Singletary eyes.
Yeah, I see it. He’s ready to strap on a helmet and start hitting.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
Yep.
Michael Irvin already called me about him being on his next reality series.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions
AFB? As in airforcebat?
If it is, nice to see you again and good looking baby.
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
I don't know if anyone has posted this but...
The Eagles Stewart Bradly is out for the season.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 6:51 PM CDT reply actions
The Romo Endzone debate.
Because I didn’t want to get caught up in a series of threads that yips at each other here is how I feel.
I don’t like him throwing into double coverage in the endzone… HOWEVER I don’t take as much out of these drills because you are constantly throwing in the same area and half of these times the defense sort of knows what is coming.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 7:04 PM CDT reply actions
We might be the first team ever to line up a number 1 reciever
and him be the fifth most dangerous player on the field.
Jones, Austin, Witten, Bennett
Ha!
Hadn’t thought of it that way.
"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin
Dangerous and productive are different things in my opinion
Irvin was productive, Harper may have been more dangerous.
by I_miss_Switzer on Aug 3, 2009 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Aaron...
remember fantasy draft saturday at 2 central.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 3, 2009 8:33 PM CDT reply actions
I see I stirred up some dust on this post
Of course, just the mere mention of Romo brings out opinions.
When Romo threw that pick in practice today, I didn’t think twice. Yeah, it was a bad pass, but Romo has looked just fine at camp. I am in no way worried about him (like I am about the backup CBs). It was one pass, sure it was in the endzone, but really, he looks fine. He’s allowed to make a bad play every once in a while. (Just not too often, which he hasn’t).
On the Witten play, let me add some context that I left out of the report. It was a long pass and Witten was running to the endline, Romo led him to the endline, and if everything would have happened perfectly, maybe they connect. He should have gone elsewhere, but it wasn’t as reckless a pass as my phrasing might have led you guys to believe.
I’ll do a post soon with some more context stuff, like the thing I was thinking while practice was going on, but didn’t write, was how well the o-line actually held up against relentless blitzing. And Wade’s done that for days in a row – release the hounds. I’ll put together a post with more stuff like that soon. I know that my play-by-play style can leave out some stuff like that. I just remember before I started going to camp I always wanted to know what actaully happened throughout the practice, not just highlights like we used to get. I wanted to know everybody who was making plays so I could evaluate the bubble players. So that’s where the style came from, back in Oxnard during Parcells’ final year.
Yes, I’m back home and I see the request for the PayPal link. I will get that back up sometime tomorrow.
O-line
Glad you mentioned the offensive line. IMHO most off romo’s bad decisions were a byproduct of bad o-line play such as when romo was running for his life. If the o-line can bopen the running game up, and pick up the blitz, romo won’t have to gamble. It seems to me that romo has made this o-line look better than it was due to his elusiveness. I’m really wondering how flozell has looked?
by just4fun on Aug 4, 2009 12:36 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hold on there Grizz
Romo’s a reckless gunslinger who throws nothing but picks inside the 20. You must be thinking about Kitna.
Great to hear more about the line. I think most of us are more than a little interested in how they are holding up.
Thanks for the reports. These things are pure pre-season gold.
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
Respectful Correction, Grizz...
Kitna found a wide open Bennett on the sidelines at the 1-yd line, Felix ran a short one, then Kitna threw a swing pass to Choice but DeAngelo Williams and Mike Mickens were there for the stop.
I think you meant DeAngelo Smith.
Thanks for your outstanding work, Grizz.
I must admit, this BTB annual tradition of you covering camp is one of the many things I’ve always loved about this site.
Celebrity or Imposter?
YOU Decide...
http://www.xanga.com/metaltometal/689036052/celebrity-or-imposter/
I saw that too and thought
when did we trade for him (rb for Panthers) and when did he start playing defense?
Nah, just kidding Grizz, knew it was an obvious typo.
In Romo we Trust
Headlines!
ROMO OUT FOR REST OF SEASON!
…. Golf season, it’s football time
WARE GETS IN ARGUMENT WITH FOX ROBOT!
,,, Twitching pile of nuts and bolts left on floor
BUEHLER MISSES END ZONE ON KICKOFF!
… Kicks helmet, last spotted passing orbit of Mars
FJONES CHALLENGES AUSTIN TO FOOT RACE!
…Cowboys have to replace scorched turf
COWBOYS REACH DEAL WITH AFB’S KID!
…Drop Carpenter to make room on roster
ELLIS CIRCLES FEB 7TH ON CALENDAR!
…Big party in Cali to watch Dallas/NE Super Bowl
Just having fun while waiting for new Camp updates….
Be interesting....
to see a race with those 3 and TNew…
put a hamburger at the finish and throw in Flo and Bigg…
TANSTAAFL - Lazarus Long
I wish that was true.
I would probably be going into retirement.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Aug 4, 2009 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Lol
I was referring to you, what with the ‘sensationalist’ headlines. Well played, sir.
by One.Cool.Customer on Aug 4, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Lottery Bound
For those of us that donate to the Texas General Fund….
The Texas Lottery and Dallas Cowboys introduced a new $5 scratch-off game Monday in which players can win cash prizes up to $100,000, but can also return losing tickets for a chance to win Cowboys memorabilia, season tickets and trip packages.
Approximately 12 million Dallas Cowboys scratch-off tickets will go on sale statewide Aug. 17. The Houston Texans also have a scratch-off ticket with about 4 1/2 million going into circulation.
Non-winning Cowboys scratch-off tickets can be returned by mail to be eligible in five second-chance drawings. Prizes include a suite for 20 people at a Cowboys home game; a draft-day trip to the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch facility for a glimpse into the team’s War Room; and a trip for two to a Cowboys away game.
Other prizes include gift certificates, signed jerseys and pairs of season tickets.
TANSTAAFL - Lazarus Long
LOL
12 Million Dallas and 4.5 million Houston….
That line moves further south every year….
TANSTAAFL - Lazarus Long
Sad but true...
I’d compare it to New York, where the Giants and Jets have a habit of overshadowing the Buffalo Bills, but in this case, Houston is the bigger city – by far.
Then again, we’re talking about the Cowboys.
Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.
I know
it took me forever to find this one new post…
Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.
hmmm...
press the ‘Z’ key and it will take you to the newest entries automatically and mark them as read, no need to tediously scroll
by One.Cool.Customer on Aug 4, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Peyton Manning’s face on all 32 NFL logos
- Todd Haley could be in for a bumpy ride in Pittsburgh
- Alex Smith caddied for Jim Harbaugh at AT&T Pro-Am
- Boston (in) Common: Kevin Youkilis set to marry Tom Brady’s sister
- Giants to be honored with commemorative NY license plate; some would rather see a 9/11 plate
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
