Cowboys vs. Giants: A Chat with Big Blue View

by Dave Halprin on Sep 18, 2009 8:18 PM CDT

For this week's talk to the enemy segment, Ed Valentine over at Big Blue View suggested we do a quick chat over IM instead of the standard Q&A. So we did, and here were the results.

Ed Valentine (BBV): So, first question. Tampa Bay chewed up Dallas' defense with the run last week. How are the Cowboys going to deal with the Giants highly-regarded running game?

Dave Halprin (BTB): We'll have to see, but the middle of the defense was extremely soft against the Bucs. From our analysis, it was the linebackers more than NT Jay Ratliff. In the first half, they weren't diagnosing the plays quickly enough and were getting blocked on their side of the ball instead of penetrating, but they improved on it in the second half of the game.

More below...

Ed Valentine (BBV): Cowboys-Giants is always big. But, with this being the first game in 'JerryWorld' and all that how much of an impact do you think the atmosphere will play?

Dave Halprin (BTB): I think it's going to be electric in the building, they are supposedly expecting close to 100,000 people (from what I've read) and with it being the new stadium and with the Giants as the opponent, playoff atmosphere might be expected,

Ed Valentine (BBV): Related question. What do you think of 'JerryWorld' and the 'Jerrytron?' A beautiful place the Cowboys deserve, or just a monument to Jerry Jones' greed?

Dave Halprin (BTB): That stadium is the future of sports venues, I know people give Jerry a lot of crap, but he did it right for the stadium and for the Cowboys fans. We couldn't be happier with the stadium and can't wait to play a real game there. Now, the Jerrytron placement is something I think they should modify eventually, but having that HD screen there for the fans int he stadium is great, I've heard from people attending that you can see every replay in detail on the screen during games, the refs are going to hate it!

Ed Valentine (BBV): Is this a 'different' Cowboy team this season w/out T.O. and 'Pacman,' and all that nonsense? Or, is it too soon to tell?

Dave Halprin (BTB): Well, it's too soon to tell in terms of the regular season, but it was a different offseason. Much more business like without all the circus that accompanied those players and a few others. It seems to have created some good chemistry on the Cowboys but that stuff is never really tested until the team struggles a bit, then you find out.

Dave Halprin (BTB): OK, so everybody wants to talk about Plax being gone and what it means. What does it mean?

Ed Valentine (BBV): In some ways, the same thing T.O. being gone from Dallas means. One huge distraction gone from a team that still has plenty of talent. It means we will find out if Eli Manning can succeed without a superstar wide receiver (I think he can). We'll find out how good Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, etc. really are. Sunday against Washington there were no problems in the passing game.

Dave Halprin (BTB): Is Steve Smith now the go-to guy in that group?

Ed Valentine (BBV): Hard to say. Smith was the 'go-to guy' last season on third downs, and he still is. He is one of the best slot/possession guys in the business, and he is usually Eli's first target on third down. The jury is still out on whether he can be a vertical threat.

Dave Halprin (BTB): What do you think about the uptick in trash-talking between the two teams this week?

Ed Valentine (BBV): I'm enjoying it, actually. We know the fans feel it, even though I think your folks and mine have gotten along pretty well this week. It's refreshing to actually hear players give real feelings, instead of just tired cliches that don't tell you anything. How about you?

Dave Halprin (BTB): I'm enjoying it, too. It gives a little more spice to the game. I think it also reflects a re-building of the rivalry between the two teams, not that that ever went away, but it seems to be growing again, thanks to Brandon Jacobs and Patrick Crayton, who both like to talk.

Thanks Ed. I like the guys over BBV, even though were mortal enemies, they're good people.

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Comments

1st

haha

by PFISH on Sep 18, 2009 8:21 PM CDT reply actions

Good idea

but I think I’m partial to the customary format. Seems like we got more in depth answers that way.

by sublimezg on Sep 18, 2009 8:38 PM CDT reply actions

agreed

The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!

by aussie_cowboy on Sep 18, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Personally I don't like the trash talk

Crayton has put his foot in his mouth a few times, and everytime Brandon Jacobs opens his mouth the Moon disappears.

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?"

by White Wolf on Sep 18, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

I like trash talk in any sport

As long as its relative to the game and doesn’t get personal ie talking about family or any off-field issues a player might have.

I don’t really believe in “bulletin-board material” in rivalries like this. These 2 teams want to destroy each other regardless.

by MicThaRock on Sep 18, 2009 9:22 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm with you Mic...

All Crayton needs to do is catch that frickin’ slant, take it to the house, and every Cowboy fan would have been wanting more trash talking from him… as it is, he needs to back up his talk… so it’s easy now as a Cowboys fan to say you don’t like it – because we lost that game.

In the end, I agree that the motivation is already there … the talk doesn’t add much except drama and entertainment value.

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 19, 2009 4:30 AM CDT up reply actions

yep Crayton better back it up on the field,

the slant still gives me nightmares.

by dcfanz on Sep 19, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Talk is cheap....

let your play do the talking, hear that P.C?

by fiverings37 on Sep 18, 2009 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

Nice Tom Bradyesque

by rioplayer7 on Sep 20, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Hel..er, heck of a game coming up!

I hate to wish away a weekend but damn I’m ready for this game to start. Be keeping an eye on Nawlins/Philthy game too..Go Boys!

by Benthere on Sep 18, 2009 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

Dallas 41 Giants 28

I think Dallas will score early and often. I think they will get a lead then TEE OFF on Manning. Ware had him pretty good last year and he ain’t a strong or mobile QB he is very sackable.

I think Garret is going to let the Giants D meet Felix early and often. I think the run will set up the pass and the TEs will again be important. The Dallas Offense was running on all cylinders and Tony Romo plays well, very well under the lights as Raf has pointed out so many times.

The GMEN are going to be so busy watching the Jerrytron that they won’t even pay attention to what is going on on the field and Tony, Felix, Marion, Jason, Marty B, PC, RW, Miles and maybe Hurd and Oggletree get in on the action this week as well……..

Dallas wins big but lets the GMen get some trash points late…………oh also look for a Special Teams special play………..my guess 28 gets a TD this week from a KR.

by Jon B. on Sep 18, 2009 9:49 PM CDT reply actions

I think...

that I hope that you are right.

by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Sep 19, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions

No he is not very mobile at all

I have noticed most games Eli is pressured to throw, he makes several mistakes.

by witten82 on Sep 19, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Big Complaint!!!

I always go over to our rivals site to check out there comments on this same post for their end. They got Cowboys cheerleaders pictures all over theirs. Don’t you think you could purty this one up a little?

by shaneshot on Sep 18, 2009 10:06 PM CDT reply actions

sorry, shane, this is a SERIOUS sight!

… nah, screw it…

CHEERLEADERS! WE WANT CHEERLEADER PICS! RAH! RAH! RAH!

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 19, 2009 4:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Whats Up??

Sorry to bring this up, but what happened to gd88 and jim vance. We were introduced to them, and followed them and you just cut them without any info…are they alive…I for one would like to tell them how much I appreciated them in the LEAN months (JAN-AUG). If they couldnt handle the blog load just tell us….its gotta be a monster…no disrespect intended. I hope they will be frequent contributors to our blog from the side lines for years to come…JMHO

Thanks…Jim

American by birth, COWBOYS FAN by the grace of God.

by jgoddard8409 on Sep 18, 2009 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

Glory Days was great. What happened?

by twistmypepsi on Sep 19, 2009 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions

+1 Always liked his angle, or if I disagreed I respected it.

by Benthere on Sep 19, 2009 2:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, I'm still here.

The pressure to come up with relevant and cogent stories is tremendous. Add to that the BTB bloggers are all very knowledgeable and have rapier wits and will challenge anything they don’t agree with. I really started to feel like I was in over my head.

I went through a couple of personal issues recently (but all is well now) and I still read every BTB article and post.

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them and I enjoyed my stint on the front page. Honestly though, I’m enjoying the blog much more now without the pressure. I’m still part of the family and will make comments (when I have something brilliant to add) or if I’m FIRST!!! to post.

Thanks again for the kind words, it is a monster. Be appreciative of the writers here, they are doing a phenomenal job.

"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams

by Jim Vance on Sep 19, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

I can understand that.

It’s amazing to me how prolific this bunch of writers are. Thanks what you did contribute. It was all first-rate.

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

by dunkman on Sep 19, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Totally agree... I really appreciate the different writers, different styles, different slants...

I understand, to be a writer on BTB requires thick skin, because even Fisher was getting ripped in his very first post! Nature of the game… but Jim, you should know your work was EXCELLENT … not just in quality of writing, but in creativity of content (wow, I feel like a poet) … you obviously put time and effort into what you covered, how you covered it … and how it was received.

Before all that, you were “merely” an excellent blogger – at the very least I hope we continue to get that from you :)

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 19, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, Jim

Sorry to hear about the personal issues. Going through some of my own. I know it sucks

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Sep 19, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Jim

Sorry about the troubles.

You are a phenomenal writer. I love reading your stuff.

God bless you.

Ich bin ein Berliner--JFK

by HudBaby on Sep 19, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Didn't see this anywhere on this site

Flo and Sensabaugh fined $5K each for various actions last week. Still new to these blog things, not really sure how to post a hyperlink or w/e it’s called. Read this at profootballtalk.

by robolundgren on Sep 18, 2009 11:27 PM CDT reply actions

perhaps

I should’ve tried harder. Here

by robolundgren on Sep 18, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions

robo, you're an inspiration to us all!

… maybe I’ll even start looking at those old tax return forms…

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 19, 2009 4:34 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL. Yeah, or figure out how to make the VCR clock quit flashing 12:00.

I know, some of you youngsters wonder what the heck is a VCR? It’s how we taped games before Tivo.

"We'll see." --Bill Parcells

by Uncle Angus on Sep 19, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Beta or VHS?

Viva México! Go Cowboys!

by Chandus on Sep 19, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Video 2000!

by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 19, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm a role model, what can I say

by robolundgren on Sep 19, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Why all the haters for Jerry Jones?

Why did ned valentine have to throw in that Jerry is greedy? Most players would love to play for him because he pays well…Maybe hes mad because dakota manning is overpaid? We have the Palace in Dallas while the gints and the jets will never have their own facilities…does one get mad if the other forgets to turn the lights off?

"Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

by BlueZombie on Sep 19, 2009 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

The Palace in Dallas...catchy

by Joon on Sep 19, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

+1 ...seriously!

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 19, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

They're jealous...human nature...

The truth is that no other team will be able to build anything better for a long time to come…Jerry has to hype it in order to pay for it…the stadium didn’t come cheap…

Have you seen pictures and mock-ups of the new Jets/Giants stadium? There’s really nothing unique or special about it…

by CaliFanInTx on Sep 19, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

The rest of the league will be hard pressed to keep up with the Jones’s

I think the new digs look amazing.

So it begins...

by APerfectStar on Sep 19, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I had not heard it called the palace in Dallas but I like it

by rioplayer7 on Sep 20, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I am starting to get fed up with all the talk about the Jerry's stadium

its a freaking stadium thats all, most of the articles written on other web sites about the game all center around the stadium and nothing in substance about the game. Its like everybody (including players and coaches) will go to the stadium and watch the Jerrytrone for 3 hours and forget there is a game scheduled actually.

by dcfanz on Sep 19, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions

Well

The only thing that really irks me when people are speaking down about the stadium is that not only was it set at the appropriate height, the NFL APPROVED the “Jerrytron”. They did everything by the books and people still find a way to whine.

by robolundgren on Sep 19, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions