Dave Campo: 'We're desperate to not be 1-2'

by Mike Fisher on Sep 28, 2009 10:00 AM CDT

Dave Campo's last 24 hours or so have been spent at the Cowboys' night-before-the-game hotel, the massive Gaylord Texan. It's easy to get lost in this place - in terms of size, it's the hotel version of Cowboys Stadium - but I somehow locate Campo, the Dallas secondary coach who is filling the time before Monday night's kickoff against Carolina by watching football, grabbing a quick meal, watching more football, prepping for meetings ...

And worrying.

"Our secondary needs to play with a greater sense of urgency,'' Campo tells me as we stand in front of a faux Alamo inside the theme hotel. "I hear everybody talking about how Carolina is a ‘desperate team' and all this, because they are 0-2. But we're desperate. We're desperate to not be 1-2. We're desperate to be the good team we think we are. We're desperate to not start 1-2. We're desperate to get that first win at the new place.''

Campo has seen most everything in his 20 years as an NFL coach, from winning Super Bowls as a Jimmy Johnson lieutenant to being fired as Jerry Jones' head coach and then re-hired to work with this era of Cowboys. And he's excited to see something else new on Monday night.

"We need a win in that building,'' says Campo of Cowboys Stadium. "We need to put all the hoopla behind us and just make the whole thing about football.''

Campo thinks some of that starts with improved play from the secondary, which in last week's home-opening loss to the Giants especially struggled in man coverage against a group of receivers that, on paper, are not as gifted as the Panthers' Steve Smith.

"We're anxious to go prove ourselves,'' Campo says. "Our guys are up to the challenge. The hardest part is waiting to go do that. A Monday night game makes for a long wait at the hotel. You feel like you're ready ... we're anxious to get out there and prove something.''

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Great post.....

Campo it’s time to get these guys rolling because they were pa-the-tic last week. T-New needs to stick with Smith like glue and the others (Jenkins and Scandrick) don’t need to make the other receivers look like pro-bowlers. Sensabaugh needs to play sensible.

by texstar on Sep 28, 2009 10:07 AM CDT reply actions

Im anxious to get a win at our new castle

by rioplayer7 on Sep 28, 2009 10:14 AM CDT reply actions

Nice post

Entertaining and well written. Keep up the good work, I appreciate it.

I hope Campo can get his guys to play with more urgency. I just wish they would work a little harder to take away the easy catches because they let the receiver cross in front of them. I’ve always thought that’s mostly letting the other guy outwork you.

by StillHateTheGiants on Sep 28, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

agreed......

that’s what drove me nuts on that last drive against the Giants. They just left this huge cushion for guys right over the middle. You could just tell by the way it was going that they were going to drive right down the field and get a field goal-which they did.

by texstar on Sep 28, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah, I had absolutely no faith in the defense

stopping the GMen on the last drive, especially after they converted after the holding call which made it 1st and 20 from their 15.

There just wasn’t any pressure and attacking the pocket is the key to playing good defense in this day and age of spread offenses.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Not just attacking the pocket, but

also how you attack it. We keep throwing LB’s at the line and they get picked up easily. Do something a little different. Find their weak link and attack it. Overload a side and then cover the soft spot with the ILB. This vanilla defense stuff is getting eaten up like big Davis going after Ice Cream.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Sep 28, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Time to break out the 46 variations like last year after Stewart got fired.

The time is now Wade.

Unleash The Dogs.

Celebrity or Imposter?
YOU Decide...
http://www.xanga.com/metaltometal/689036052/celebrity-or-imposter/

by silverblue5 on Sep 28, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

How long has it been...

Since Dallas lost to Carolina during the regular season?

~Texas Massacre '09~

by TheHeat on Sep 28, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

More than 7 years.

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply ...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Sep 28, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Wounded Tiger

Watch out for a team on the slide. In the NFL things can change quickly. Ask the Skins. But I think Dallas win by 10.

by DIRE WOLF on Sep 28, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

last time we lost to the panthers in the regular season was 1997 i think.

but i know for a fact it was on a monday night. so take that for whatever voodoo hoodoo you want.

by TARHEEL PAUL on Sep 28, 2009 11:02 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

yep, since 1997

Carolina was 4-12 that year

by DavidH22 on Sep 28, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions

wasn't Romo's starting debut (against Carolina) in 2006

also on MNF? Fwiw…

I am sure nervous about this game.

by DavidH22 on Sep 28, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

no, that was a Sunday night game

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

i am at work

In meetings all day, w absolutely no focus. I am reading the blog from my blackberry, I think I have a problem.

Cowboys 38
Panthers 20

by TONYINCC on Sep 28, 2009 11:17 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Don't we all

but, I’m at lunch, so it’s legal for me.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Sep 28, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Great write-up ... and perfect follow-up (as if you care) to those asking for more "football-insider" interviews

I still can’t get that image of pinching Ware’s cheeks out of my head!

Dallas doesn’t need to want it more … they were dwelling on that Eagles loss for 7 months and now they’ve got the sting of that Giants game… if those losses don’t motivate you, hang ’em up.

All Dallas needs is to execute. Consistently doing the right things. This offense can only stop itself. This defense is capable of better things. The coaches need to create game-plans that work. It’s not rocket science here … if we execute our game-plan, we are clearly the better team.

Homer alert: We should blow these guys out of the stadium. In fact, we should have blown the Giants out of that stadium. I don’t see us losing many more if we can just tighten up our execution… we’ve got the talent on the field, and we’ve got proven coaching. I don’t buy it that this defense is lacking talent. They are capable of shutting teams down. And tonight would be a good time to prove it. Blow-out Carolina, continue to improve, and this team’s got Super Bowl written all over it.

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions

We would have blown out NYG

Had it not been for 4 ridiculous turnovers. We have to take care of the ball!

by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Sep 28, 2009 11:59 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

i dont know if we would have blown them out..

But I do think we would have won by 10…

I don't need a compass to know which way the wind shines....

by hashishkabob on Sep 28, 2009 1:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I love the way you think

There should be more homers like us on this blog, lol.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Terry, let me echo that back to you... Mr. Defender of Romo!

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions

you do a pretty good job yourself I must say

Don’t short change yourself in that regard, I can always count on you having my back in the Romo debates.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I ignored the comments for the first few days after last Sunday

I knew it would be a bonfire of everything Cowboys … funny how fans complain about how the media perceives the ’boys, yet the comments on here are FAR WORSE after a loss.

I really can’t wait for all of them to start jumping off the nay-sayers bandwagon!

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply ...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Sep 28, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

excellent

… and exactly: The sky! It’s falling!

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

In my book your full name is:

Aaron “My Kingdom for a GIF!” Novinger.

Viva México! Go Cowboys!

by Chandus on Sep 28, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Campo has his work cut out for him

Not only did his defense get shredded, but he needs to take Scandrick back to pee wee league and teach him to tackle on a smoke route. I hope Newman shows up for this game and smothers Steve Smith. The front 7 have to get pressure this game or it’s going to be a long evening.

by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Sep 28, 2009 11:58 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

At least make him slow down for pursuit.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Sep 28, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Panthers 27-24

My faith in this D is paper thin at this point.

Summarizing the Dallas Cowboys in two words; inconsistently amazing.

by sublimezg on Sep 28, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

reverse psychology, that might work

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions

yea, yea ... like Emmitt

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

ROMO

Everyone here rags on the D, the corners…blah blah blah…If Romo doesnt throw the picks, the D looks amazing…how many times do you want to just put them back on the field. How many times did you want them to stop a Super Bowl winning qb. Tell Wade to grab Romo’s face mask and tell him who is boss!

by Love Me Some Me 1 on Sep 28, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

I don't care if Romo looked like Aikman or Staubach Sunday

that defense could in no way, shape or form could have been considered amazing. They had a few nice stops in the red zone, but that’s about it.

They made Eli look a lot better than he really is.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Defense was not great...but neither was it bad

they did stop the Giants running game…at the beginning of the season everyone around here was touting the secondary especially the corners as the best in the league..i guess we can put the anointing oil back in the closet…Romo and the secondary are equally culpable for the loss against the giants…i am not sure what the fix for our secondary woes are…we seem to suck equally playing man or zone!!!

by thejanusman on Sep 28, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

don't forget the pass rush as well

The bottom line is that the defense is last in the league in yardage allowed and we’ll have to improve significantly in that department for us to make the playoffs, I don’t care how well Romo and the offense plays, if the defense is allowing opposing offenses to march up and down the field each game, we’re not going to win many games.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Sep 28, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Im still believe in Romo but

as crappy as the D they played better than Romo. No TOs, no loss.

KICK ASS every day!!!

by squidlo97 on Sep 28, 2009 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

"Hello, Newman."

It will be all about T-New tonight. If he can play like a pro bowl shutdown corner, Dallas wins. If he plays like he did against the Giants we may lose. He not only will have to cover Steve Smith like a blanket but will also have to tackle. None of the half a$$ attempts he made last Sunday night.

So, …Terrence (in case you read this blog) please play like you are one of the best corners in the league. After all that is what you are getting paid for.

by eightball on Sep 28, 2009 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

Any Cowboy player would have to be INSANE to read this blog.

At best they get clips related to them… but even that is doubtful.

Most players don’t bother with ANY media, why would they chose a site where people can rag on their performance? Not that it is never warranted, just that I can’t see them seeking out criticism.

Doomsday returns... Wade Phillips style.

by DalaiLuke on Sep 28, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I was being facetious, ...

… but he has played poorly so far this year.

by eightball on Sep 28, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Campo

I’m worried that he might be the problem. TNew is a top quality corner but hasn’t looked great, and Jenkins and Scandrick are I think a lot better than what we’ve seen, and when all 3 of them are underperforming, and showing problems with basic technique and communication, then I look at the coaching. Get it together Campo!

by scottmaui on Sep 28, 2009 1:05 PM CDT reply actions

My opinion

A really good player is going to be good regardless of the coach.

I could list great players who were ALL-PRO and had outstanding seasons, even under very poor coaches.

TNew should be good under any coach.

by BishopWest on Sep 28, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

Most of his errors haven’t been coaching errors anyways. That tampa bay catch at the end of the half, and being burned by mario manningham deep wasn’t coaching.

by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Sep 28, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions