This Team is (still) Mediocre
by 5Blings on Sep 30, 2009 1:44 PM CDT
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PrintThey just are. I can't say that many of us didn't already think that before the season began, but after 3 games, this is not an elite team, by any stretch of the imagination. It seems the pundits and talking heads at ESPN were right.
Let's start with the Defense, which many (including me) believed the organization was betting the farm on for this season. The shoddy play from Dave Campo's group, coupled with the lack of QB pressure up front, doesn't suggest that the coverage issues over the last several seasons in Dallas were always about the lack of a safety to pair with Pro Bowler Ken Hamlin. The run defense, while much more solid on Monday, has also underperformed. Finally, the off season focus on generating turnovers on the defensive side of the ball has not panned out, at all. The difficult pill to swallow is that Dallas hasn't faced a truly prolific offense like the ones it will see from Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Diego, etc.
On Offense, having seen the horrific first half production in these games along with some of what has become suspect play calling, the team has not been able to overcome the lack of an outside game breaker and generate big plays early in games (I am STILL glad he is gone). Romo's play has not been up to snuff, and his accuracy at times has been awful, but some of his poor play could be attributed to the fact that he doesn't have the downfield threat of prior years. One bright spot on offense has been the play of the offensive line. Hudson Houck's group has done a very fine job in both blocking phases of the game. Unfortunately, Marion Barber's injury has forced FJ and TC to pick up blitzers and they haven't been able to consistently neutralize the pressure there.
One thing that really makes me smile is the play of Special Teams. I will be the first to admit that I was unsure of how things might go with Joe D, but so far, so great. Guys are staying disciplined and in their lanes. The returners look like they have a general plan in terms of how to beat the oppoenent's coverage, which suggests they are using film to help them gain an advantage. The tackling on this unit has been better than that displayed on defense (okay, that's not a good thing when you really think about it, but let's celebrate good stuff where we can find it!). What discussion of Specials would be complete without a mention of Ferris? David Buehler has lengthened the field for opposing offenses and they owe him a debt of gratitude. All in all, Joe D has made a huge difference.
My real beef with this team is that they haven't shown a competitive fire and or an identity that can carry them through a long hard slog of a 16 game season. Anecdotally, it 'feels' like they still don't have a common vision or know who they are. I have to point my finger at the Coaching staff. Winnie, Jason and the others have not distinguished themselves in terms of the team's preparation, situational awareness and overall execution in many key areas. It seems that all of the off season and training camp rhetoric around a change in philosophy doesn't seem to have elevated the team's discipline on the field.
Overall, I see this team being too enamored with their 2 wins against teams they should have easily crushed in the first halves, but did not because of poor offense (and in the case of Tampa, defense too). They continue to be an extension of their Head Coach, who really has no business having that title, and I would bet that their next HC (take your pick from the Holmgren, Shanahan, Gruden deck) will be the kind that will take them to the woodshed for such lackluster perfromances.
Sadly, 8-8 or 9-7 and third place in the East seems reasonable, given who and where we are.
Nevertheless, GO COWBOYS.
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
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Might be true...
…but give it some time. Seems like every “America’s Game” episode I see, the eventual Super Bowl-winning team is a cluster or has some sort of issue at the beginning of the season. Even the 1985 Bears, their defense was struggling to start off the year.
We will see. In the meantime, enjoy the season 5Blings!
To blog creater
even the lions in their years of terrible teams had the confidence to guarantee 9 wins every year. the cowboys still have on the most talented teams in the league. call it homerism, call it whatever you want. unless you are realistically going to go 3-13, you should never predict mediocracy. seriously, how can you even watch games now with the thought in your mind that they are goin to lose. then you say go cowboys at the end like you actually think they can win? come on man. we dont need the negativity. i know you will call it “being real” whatever that even means, but its not. how can you look at this team and have any negative thoughts? why not think positively?
31 till I die
It is not an unfair assessment, I know that before the 2nd half of this past game I had stopped watching
mainly because it looked like they were going to let this one slip away and it did not help that hte MNF crew were getting on my nerves. I listened to the rest of the game via the radio broadcast. I think this team will need to win in spite of the coaches at times because we know about wade and jason has some funny quirks. The bronco game will be another test, a home team with good homefield advantage and a team that has confidence. Dallas will be tested physically and mentally again.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
We forced 3 turnovers on Monday Night
about as many turnovers as we had all last season.
but you were playing carolina......
Jake Delhomme is an INT machine. He threw 5 on opening day. So three is like a first half for him.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
by Troy Hufford on Sep 30, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions
You say this as if playing against Jamarcus Russell is some sort of challenge…
LOL
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Not to mention the mighty Browns
those guys look like a powerhouse for years to come.
Russell is just horrible
Probably the strongest arm in the NFL, but no accuracy at all.
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Oct 2, 2009 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions
give it some time
while i agree we don’t have an identity yet, we just bullied two teams and completely shut down their run game….we’ll see, I’m a little doubtful as well that we this will be a staple for our offense, but if it is, its more than i could ever have asked for.
Also, teams are still feeling us out, like teams are with the giants – we gave eli and their wrs no respect cause we had no reason to, really, and they burned us. TB started off putting a bunch of guys in teh box and making romo beat them: he did. NYG and Carolina played back more and kept guys deep – the run game destroyed them. In one of the two, Romo pressed, and in the other, he played very comfortably.
I also don't see this team being enamored with two wins
there wasn’t a whole lot of excitement form anyone about the carolina win, Romo especially. And there was sure as heck no fingerpointing or diminishing the loss to the giants in week 2…
And I don’t believe any coach in this league can make our oline stop making dumb mistakes. The first half, they ended drives. I’d bet that 2/3 or more of our drives where we got less than 10 penalty yards, we either scored on or folk missed the kick. That tells me our offense is moving the ball well, but they beat themselves yesterday.
How about a positive there – Romo looked MUCH better to me than the first two weeks. He was generally pretty darn accurate and didn’t take too many risks. While the stats in the tampa game are great, he was pretty off in the first half that game, and i though he was a little more accurate this game, although there were so many penalties in the first half that he was constantly taking what the defense gave him on long yardage situations.
I agree, the team definitely isn't emamored with two wins
and quite frankly I don’t where 5Blings came up with that, there hasn’t been one player or coach that said they are satisfied with the level play, they all say they need to get better and improve which I think they will.
Judging a team after three games is extremely premature, you really won’t know anything until after Thanksgiving.
In Romo we Trust
I'm judging them based on the last 19 games, not 3
Romo is the same Romo.
Winnie is the same Winnie.
The defense is the same defense.
Etc.
The positive changes are on Specials and the O-Line.
"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
fair enough, but...
In Romo’s defense…he used to fumble a lot. He hasn’t fumbled yet this year. He has 3 turnovers, 2 of which were awful and cost us a game. But big picture…if he plays 16 games and has but 16 turnovers, it’s a huge step for him.
by TimSchultz36 on Sep 30, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Every year is different
and every team is different each and every year, the Steelers and Cards are finding that out the hard way.
This isn’t the same team from last year, there have been too many additions and subtractions from the roster.
Of course Romo is still Romo and thats a great thing because he still is one of the best qbs in the game regardless of his occasional stinker.
Quite frankily, you don’t really know what this defense is yet, too many new starters from last year as I already pointed out.
In Romo we Trust
that is such a significant difference though
Special teams and a dominant run blocking oline is a HUGE difference. How many ames last year did we run for 200 yards? How many this year?
THe negative I see defensively is a major lack of depth in our linebacking crew, and its just killing us.
Overall, I think we are a better team than last year, and this team sure has a better attitude
+1 on the attitude comment
I knew we were short a gamebreaker outside when we cut T.O. and the team is suffering for it.
Soon, I’ll be drinking Terry’s beer as proof.
Funny thing is that each team T.O. has left (SF, Philly, Dallas) failed to make an off season acquisition to beef up their WR corps and minimize the loss despite the fact that he always exited as the receiving leader in each case. Strange…
Boy, Kevin Burnett is sure making a name for himself in SD, isn’t he?
"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
Its a totally different situation for us with TO
first of all, TO wasn’t nearly as potent a threat when we cut him as any other point in his career-this is being proven by his total lack of production in buffalo. The guy cannot beat press coverage, and hes lost a step….I dont think we are any worse in terms of a downfield threat now than last november and december with TO.
Kevin Burnett has had one single good game, before that he did nothing…but we do miss him. Not exactly our fault though – he wanted to start, we couldn’t offer that. The ironic thing is that…hes not starting in SD.
This is why I don't care what pundits say anymore
The positive changes are on Specials and the O-Line
That’s good enough for me. The team is showing exactly what we hoped for a dominant ground game and way way way better ST play. I like that.
Also totally agree with Terry, you can’t judge this years team fairly when you include last season. Two separate teams.
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Sep 30, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions
And its WAY to soon to say romo is the same romo
You’re basing that on on game. If he gets by the first 5 weeks, and only has one game with a turnove, that was be a HUGE difference to me.
And while I agree, I won’t be thoroughly convinced untill he does it against some great competition, its obvious already to me that hes doing amuch better job of taking what the defense gives him..
The O line isn't a positive change. They looked good last year about this
No
They looked bad because Kosier went down and Gurode needed help with line calls.
"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
Do you know this for a fact?
Seriously, I’ve seen you write this before, but I haven’t read it anywhere else. Do you have a link?
If it’s true, they definitely need to re-sign Kosier (I think they should anyway).
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Oct 2, 2009 12:50 AM CDT up reply actions
i do want Kosier back as well
he is very underrated and has been playing very well
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 2, 2009 3:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I remember Todd Archer being the first to point it out a while back
…and found it interesting, but not shocking, given that Gurode had trouble with the mental aspect of playing OG early on.
"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
Ah, yes, you're right. It was the year before during the Giants
playoff game that they wore themselves out on their own long drive while the Giants defense continued to look fresh as daisies. Let’s hope Kosier stays healthy, since this only confirms my concerns about age and depth.
Agree and Disagree
AGREE
1) Wade has no business being the coach of this team. No team would hire him on the open market to be a HC in 2009, and he’s mainly our HC because Jerry wants him to coach D. To his credit, Wade has changed by elevating special teams as a preparation priority. We need a strong coach to counteract the perpetual circus and cheese-eating that Jerry creates to (effectively) market the team. We don’t need someone as astringent as Parcells, but someone who creates a little healthy tension would help.
2) A lot of our “things are different this season!” is just marketing. How can a team be “all football” if they come onto the field through a bar and are met by cage dancers? PT Barnum made a lot of money, but I doubt he’d be a successful football GM.
3) Our O-Line and Special teams were actually my biggest worries headed into this year, and they’ve both been great. That’s one reason I have more hope than you: had our O-Line and special teams been this good last year, we beat the Cards in Tempe and we (probably) beat Pittsburgh. That’s why I’m a little more bullish than you about our final record, which was exacerbated last year by Romo’s 3 game absence.
DISAGREE
1) This isn’t solely about the coaches. The average ‘Boys fan would say that our roster is Top 3. It isn’t. Again, Jerry very effectively markets the players, which also makes him look good as GM, but I’d say our talent is 3rd best in the division. Three teams are run on the Owner-GM Model. The Raiders, ‘Boys, and ’Skins. It can be a profitable way to do things, but it’s not a way to win Super Bowls.
2) I don’t know how you knock an Offense that is #2 in FootballOutsiders ratings through Week 3. Have there been hiccups? Sure. Lack a deep threat and Tony is still Tony? Check and check. But this is an offense that can win a Super Bowl if the Defense plays like it did for a five game stretch last year. Not that I think that is all going to happen at once…
3) I don’t think the players are satisfied. You don’t hear any of that Spagnola-esque “a win is a win” this year. It actually helps us that no one thinks we’re any good, and I think the players (if not Wade and Jerry) are eating zero cheese. Except for perhaps the prematurely anointed “breakout star” Marty B.
LOL @ #2 and the "cage dancers"
What? you don’t approve of the ‘Cheetahs’ environment?
On #1, I think the cowboys roster is JUST AS TALENTED as the Steeler roster and better than the Giant roster that won the year before.
On #2, I think you were complimenting the O-Line as well as the backs and I made the point about the O-Line and Houck doing a very good job thus far. But they’ve had the luxury of being able to run despite crappy offensive first halves because their opponents aren’t high-powered offenses like the ones I mentioned. Those days end after the bye when we get Atlanta, Philly and Green Bay, which is a three game stretch where we will see the team’s true colors.
"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
couldn't agree more 5blings
I liked some of the offseason moves, just didn’t think they went far enough, Wade should of been fired as soon as the plane landed back in dallas after the Eagles game. Things look good in the long run in the locker room with those players off of this team, but this team often when punched in the mouth, seems to fold in big games. This team really doesn’t have an identity, although it should be a smash mouth running football team but plays a finese type of game, you seen an example of that when second and goal at the one yard line, this team attempts two fades when they should man up and smash it in to the endzone behind their big offensive line. This team still takes too many penalties and the quarterback has to play managing the game, take care of the football and stop trying to do it all himself.
I had very little expectations for this team going into the season, thought 9-7 and third was about the right spot for this team in this division, especially with what the Giants and Eagles did in the offseason and the draft. The Giants loss is a huge loss, you can’t belttle that loss, it’s a divisional home game, you can’t give those games away, regardless if it’s only the second game of the season, you can’t win a division or playoff spot in September, but you can sure lose one..
Turnover Tony - BIG IN NAME, NO BIG GAME.
Deke - I thought Romo had regressed last year as a quarterback, Poor Mechaniics,Poor Footwork,Poor decsions, Poor Throws. His game and numbers just don't lie. Tony has to get it in his head, that he has to take better care of the football and make better decisions on the field if he wants to be an elite Quarterback. He has tools, he just has to put it all together on a consistant basis.
Aikman on Romo - When the games are close, you have to be smart with the football and that has been a problem with Tony.
JJT - by the numbers - In Romo's first 23 games as a starter, 17-6 with 50 touchdown passes, 24 interceptions and a 101.7 passer rating. The Cowboys were 12-1 and en route to earning the NFC's top playoff seed.
Since then, Romo is 11-9 as a starter with 34 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 85.0 passer rating.
The guy from the first 23 starts can lead the Cowboys to a championship; the guy from the last 20 starts can't.
Jimmy Johnson on Romo - KISS as in "Keep It Simple Sir: (If Romo keeps turning the ball over like he did against the Giants, KISS might stand for, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID
If the defense was actually really good
I’d agree with your assessment about our qb play, however, thats hasn’t been the case.
You show me a successful managing qb in the NFL where his teams wins a lot of games, and I’ll show you one that has a great defense.
In Romo we Trust
The problems in that game
The QB: It’s another huge game on a grand stage and he lays an egg.
STILL the same Romo until he can prove otherwise.
The pass defense: no pressure, no turnovers, no stopping the bad guys.
Again, all that in the face of solid O-line play.
"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
got news for you
The Carolina game was just as big if not bigger on a grand stage (MNF) and he played well.
He has proven he can play well in big games already.
In Romo we Trust
No
It’s only big because Romo wasn’t putrid. But your history suggests you would downplay the game too if he had thrown the game-clinching INT instead of Delhomme.
Regardless, now that you’ve seen that the new offense can’t go downfield like you predicted, CAN YOU SEND ME MY DAMN BEER?
"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
No Bling
Romo was good and the game was big because losing our first 2 home games and falling to 1-2 would have been a back breaker.
And you’ll also wrong about the offense not being able to go downfield, guess you didn’t watch the TB game.
The Giants and Panthers played a deep cover 2 against us so of course we weren’t going to go down field when we can run for over 200 yards.
When teams try to stop our run and put 8 defenders in the box, then Romo will go down field plenty, thats the beauty of this offense. Pick your poison.
So please send me my beer, it’s already been proven you’re wrong.
In Romo we Trust
LOL@TB
If that is your measuring stick, I suggest you watch the other teams who’ve played them.
They made Buffalo look like Air Coryell. Who exactly are you trying to kid with this stuff?
"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
just stating the facts
I think you’re the one trying to kid us with your harsh negativity.
In Romo we Trust
Well worded Deke
I like this analysis of yours. I’ve read alot of posts of yours over the years, and I like this one the best, especially where you describe what Jason Garrett did at the goal line with those two passes. When I have spoken out in disapproval of the play calling in the past, alot of people have come out to criticize me personally because they don’t like the sound of my opinion.
I only hope that they can realize that I have said these things not to demean him, but rather to point out a flaw in our team that has already cost us. We don’t really know if we wouldn’t have won a super Bowl by now or not because of decisionmaking. What we do know is that strong leadership at the top making good decisions will lead to victories, even in big games.
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Sep 30, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions
1st Game we saw great passing offense
2nd game we saw great rushing offense
3rd game we saw great defense
All 3 games we’ve had solid special teams play.
Now if we can only get rushing and passing offense and defense all working at one time along with the ST, we’ll be in good shape!
third game
if we have both a great rushing offense and great defense, that would make us beter than 25 + teams in this league.
Less oline mental screwups and we put a ton of points on the panthers yesterday. But I still see 1 penalized game out of 3 as a massive improvement.
If Delhomme isnt a train wreck, Carolina blows us out
Let’s not deal in “if’s” as it really serves little purpose.
The facts are the facts.
"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
"The facts are the facts"
except when you predict what would have happened. This quote is suprisingly uninformed coming from you –
If Delhomme isnt a train wreck, Carolina blows us out
Delhomme threw one bad pass to Mohammed, the slant to Smith was all smith’s fault. The Dallas defense completely shut down the carolina run game and came alive in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
Why don’t you admit that you are only satisfied with perfection and stop acting like this year’s cowboys stole your puppy or something? The O-line and run game is miles better than last year and this team is much more of a solid team compared to the cowboys of a year ago.
They may not win the superbowl but tap the brakes on shovelling dirt on the team after three games.
Yeah I agree totally...
Plus those ints weren’t really Delhommes fault.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Sep 30, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions
And to top that off...
That would have been the same as if I were a Giants fan and said, “Well face it we would have lost by 14 points if Romo hadn’t have played horrible.”
That’s purely speculation, because who knows how the game would have turned out?
It’s a complete glass half empty point of view.
I don’t think that Dallas is going to the super bowl, I don’t even know if they are going to make the playoffs, but I’m willing to watch a work in progress.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Sep 30, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions
well said, fist.
Celebrity or Imposter?
YOU Decide...
http://www.xanga.com/metaltometal/689036052/celebrity-or-imposter/
I used that to deride your flawed use of "If P Then Q" hypotheses
Delhomme is not the same since his elbow surgery and needed a 4th quarter INT to ice a close game. Using your myopeia-laced view, if Dallas loses the Carolina game, are you still as supportive as you are in this thread?
As far as admissions, I’ll admit that I’m only satisfied when we win Super Bowls. But in the same vein, why don’t you admit that all these years without a playoff win have made you as soft as Winnie’s gut. Your lack of passion around their poor play for years fits right in with the nature of this team. You’re satisfied with this. I’m not.
Oh yeah, one more thing, my puppy is barking at all hours and chewing me out of house and home. I have no problem with the Cowboys stealing him.
"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 am frustrated as the next guy about no playoff wins
but I also have a full life that doesn’t include the cowboys and it does me no good to whine and complain about every flaw the team appears to have.
I’ll take any win, any day and hope that they can put something together when it counts.
As far as this goes -
Using your myopeia-laced view, if Dallas loses the Carolina game, are you still as supportive as you are in this thread?
again, right back at you. If Romo doesn’t throw that awful pick in the second half against the Giants and the cowboys hold on to win, are you still so bitter about this team’s chances this year?
If Romo elevates his level of play, I am ecstatic
What Cowboys fan woudn’t be?
I am lamenting the fact that he HAS NOT developed year over year.
I wrote a freakin’ treatise on it in the off season. Where were you? :-)
"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 read it
and I don’t disagree with anything you say. I guess as I approach 40 there are enough things in my life to worry about so I just try to milk all the joy out of a cowboys victory that I can and fool myself into thinking they are finally turning the corner.
And we love you for it
Keep believing, because I don’t want to wreck that in you.
"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
Huh??
I know I’m repeating Billito, but Delhomme wasn’t a train wreck. He had one bad pass. The defense just completely shut down their run game, and starting in the second half, we finally got pressure….Steve Smith deserves the blame for the INT, and he did that because Newman once again pantsed him on national tv.
If you wanna say “If the panthers didn’t beat themselves so much”, I may buy that – stupid penalties hurt them a lot. Although…same with us.
He has more INT's in his last 4 games than Romo...THAT is a train wreck IMO
He’s not the passer he was before the surgery.
"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
The majority of those have been in 1 game
he has one awful unforgiveable game and two decent ones so far…
The fact is, that hasn't been the case yet
…but I’ll let you know when it happens.
"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 wrong when I said Romo played great against the Giants
Oh wait, that was you.
"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
actually it wasn't
I didn’t comment after the Giants game, remember? Oh, that’s right, your memory isn’t very good.
In Romo we Trust
If we had beaten the Giants.....
and were 3-0, would you be saying the same things??
I said it during the season when we were 13-3
…and the pass defense was painful to watch.
Why not now when it is awful and Romo’s play has declined?
Note: there are other 2-1 teams who won’t fare well as the season wears on.
"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
Kinda like...
how I bet you were saying Romo has played great this year.
Also kinda like what happens in game 2 when Romo doesn’t get sacked but tosses ridiculous interceptions. I’m sure the O-Line, receivers and backs were the cause.
"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
You called his Tampa performance great?
Come on Terry, look at the first half again and you will retract that post.
Really, I know you’re a Romosexual, but you have to be at least somewhat unbiased about these things, don’t you?
I mean, you don’t call you area of Pennsylvania the “new Hawaii”, do you?
"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
he didn't play great but you have to acknowledge he played well
He threw for 353 and 3TDs w/ 0 INT, that is a good game, Yea he sucked it up in 1 game so far but that was one game, stop writing him off anytime he makes a mistake.
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 2, 2009 3:49 AM CDT up reply actions
In my book a qb rating of 140 is actually better than great
it’s almost perfect. In case you don’t know, the game consists of 60 minutes, not just 30, and 30 + 30 = 60, which = one game.
BTW, I consider the area I live in the arm pit of the universe in case you were wondering.
In Romo we Trust
Your standards have sunk in line with your geography
"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 don't expect perfection like you
At least my standards are realistic, it must really suck being a fan like you always frustrated if perfection isn’t attained.
In Romo we Trust
Terry, they can be imperfect, but I want the blings
…and guess what, I think it must suck for you to have such low expectations. Don’t worry, I blame the Cowboys and not you for that.
I’m obviously a more demanding fan.
"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
got news for you
blings aren’t won in September. I could understand your critcism if it was currently December, but not now. Season is too young to judge any team.
Believe it or not, I have the same expectations of the team as you do, I just realize they aren’t always going to play great every week, no team or player does.
If you say they can be imperfect, then why do you harshly criticize them when they are, especially this early in the season?
In Romo we Trust
Because it isn't imperfection Terry...
This team isn’t good in the key areas that make a championship team.
"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 think thats areasonable question
Last year with Romo we went 8-5 (4 of 5 losses were against the championship game teams). Even if Blings is right,and we’re not great, and will contine to lose to the best teams, that still puts us at 9-11 wins…
I don’t see this team, when healthy, as “average”. “good but not great?”…maybe. But we sure aren’t average.
You're only as good as your draft position next year...
Ours will be between 12-18 IMO
"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
only way its that bad
is if Romo, Ratliff or Ware get hurt.
Again, even though we were flat out bad for much of the last 8 games last year, we were 8-5 overall with Romo….Criticize the guy all you want, but with him, we’re a winning team.
And frankly, I think the improved oline run blocking more than makes up for the loss of TO from an offensive standpoint.
Not in points scored it doesn't
TOP and ball control only matter when you have an elite defense.
T.O.’s production have not been replaced. His distractions have been.
"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
What has TO done yet...hmmm
NOTHING… He would decline more and gripe more this year if he was still here, also I don’t remember who posted it but Roy so far has more yards, receptions and is tied w/ TOs TD production from last year.
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 2, 2009 3:51 AM CDT up reply actions
1300 yards and 10 TD's
Are you saying Roy will fill that void?
"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
1300 yards and double digit TD's every year
You’re saying Roy is going to fill that void?
14 points on Carolina (ZERO in the first half) doesn’t get me as jazzed as it does you.
"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
we had quite a few games in 06
where we struggled to score points in the first half. And that was WITH TO.
Not the same
…as you saw with the Denver game.
"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
1300 yards and double digit TD's every year
You’re saying Roy is going to fill that void?
14 points on Carolina (ZERO in the first half) doesn’t get me as jazzed as it does you.
"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
1300 yards and double digit TD's every year
You’re saying Roy is going to fill that void?
14 points on Carolina (ZERO in the first half) doesn’t get me as jazzed as it does you.
"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 think the point is
that even if TO had stayed, even he would not have been able to fill that void. TO is no longer an elite player and his horrible attitude diminishes what skills he still has. He is going to singly handedly destroy Buffalo’s season and then he will fade into obscurity except the almost unwatchable reality shows he will be in.
Possibly
…but do you think his presence would draw more defensive attention than anyone on the current roster and open it up more for others?
"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
hardly with the way he's playing in Buffalo
His days of being among the best receivers in the game are clearly behind him.
In Romo we Trust
He has Trent Edwards
Be serious.
"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 honestly don't
TO drops too many balls and the only thing he seems to have left is going long once in awhile. He is not a reliable possession reciever and is too much of a bitch to just let the game come to him.
I’m a little surprised by the lack of Miles Austin in our games but I think Redball is just taking what the defense is giving us/ not wanting to rely on Romo too much until he shows he can play consistently.
Drops are one thing
Not being to get open is another.
"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
no
and I think thats evidenced by his total lack of productivity in buffalo.
TO was average at best last december. In fact, considering his very low reception rate compared to number of attempts, you’d have to say TOs stats were almost force fed. The only game in te last 2 and a half months he got consistently open was the SF game where they refused to press him.
Right now, wouldn't you take average?
"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
We're just coming off a great win in the new stadium
So, despite our relatively poor recent history, I am loathe to admit that we are mediocre.
What I will say is that we struggle to execute in all three phases — off, def and ST — in the same game, especially against good teams. I feel that’s where we need to get in sync. More often than not, one of our units will actually let the others down, which just puts the next unit on the field in a bigger hole.
This is not surprising — after all, the other team will not just let us walk over them just because we are the Cowboys. However, I am looking forward to more even swings in momentum on our side this season.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Sep 30, 2009 6:31 PM CDT reply actions
A great win?
Did you only watch the second half?
We struggled mightily with an 0-3 team whose QB has lost all confidence.
Calling that a “great win” typifies my statements about mediocrity.
"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
QB that has lost all confidence?
Again, Delhomme wasn’t bad. He wasn’t bad the week before against Atlanta either. But when we shut down the run, and Newman handles steve smith (handles is understating this), and Jenkins covers Muhammed well…..what the heck is delhomme gonna do about it?
Give the team some credit for once.
To me, ti isn’t a great win cause of our ridiculous number of offensive mistakes in the first half. But we were great in two phases (defense, special teams) and played one half of great football in the other. Its probably one of the more solid victories this team has had, up there with the wins against the Packers and Giants last year.
Blings, it was a good win
Maybe ‘great’ overstates it to a degree, but it felt great to have that W in Jerryworld.
The D rose to the occasion, the ground game was imperial, and Romo made no mistakes. Isn’t that what we all wanted before the season started?
More of the same is what I’m looking for, but mediocrity is not the word that comes to mind this week.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Oct 1, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions
We beat a team everyone else has beaten.
We beat a team that has a QB who is shaken.
I agree with you that the D stepped up (I was happy with them in the first half of the Giants game too).
But beating a team that was winless is never going to be something to puff out your chest about.
Beating Denver this week in Denver would be a good win.
"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
Winless after 3 games
Is almost meaningless. That was a game that we should have won, and we did displaying all the characteristics I mentioned earlier.
I mean, it wasn’t as dominating as Giants-Bucs but a step forward nonetheless.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Oct 1, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Winless after 3 games isn't meaningless at all
It means you have a team that is a virtual lock not to make the post-season. Playing teams in their down cycle and struggling with them is not a good thing.
"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
It's Human nature to find facts that support your arguement
rather than consider opposing points of view. Look no further than contemporary American politics for all the evidence you need to show that.
Rather than use the word mediocre, which to an extent, I believe is deliberately provocative, I would call this team competitive. It’s lost 1 game in 3 tries – by 2 points on the last play of the game. We’ve beaten clearly ‘inferior’ teams after falling behind. Discounting the victories due to the quality of opponent or aesthetics is flawed. They still count. It’s simply way too early to define what this team is other than incomplete. But as long as we remain competitive, it means we have a chance every game. Until I see evidence to the contrary, I can’t form any other conclusion. Tell you this – competitive at this point is a hell of an improvement over how DAL finished last season.
Do I wish we were better – of course. However, there are some clear areas we have improved – O Line and ST play that were glaring deficiencies. Defense is still a work in progress, somewhat surprisingly – I expected the pass rush to maintain and secondary improve. The former has regressed and the latter wildly inconsistent.
However, it’s a considerable improvement the media circus has moved on, so that most of the focus, energy has been on football, not BS.
Realize I almost got through this entire post without a reference to Romo, but that would be a glaring omission. We’ve now seen Good TR, Bad TR and Competent TR in 3 different games. I’ll take 2 out of 3 most of the time. My concern is you never know when Bad TR is going to show up. He’s a lot like my Evil Golf Twin – arrives unexpected, absolutely uninvited and you never know how long he’s going to stay around to drive you crazy. Figure that out and we’ll both dominate our games.
Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
by tdships on Oct 1, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm not here to sway you toward less subjective interpretations on your part
You can call something “deliberately provocative” and that has meaning to you…but not to me.
I was allowing myself the literary lattitude to assess the team through my eyes, which I believe to be somehwat more objective than yours. Yes, the wins count. So too, does the loss. We don’t yet know everything about this team, but after this week, 25% of the season will be over. If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are, it’s a ______.
Your point about Romo is well taken. I think it is his inconsistency (although you could easily make a defensible argument that he is consistently bad in December and January) that makes me question him, but I’d also point out that the difference between Good and Bad TR is so bloody dramatic. Most teams with our talent level can overcome a Bad QB day in the same way a hot chick can take a bad hair day, put it in a pony tail and wear a really short skirt. We can’t overcome Bad Romo because when he is bad, he isn’t just bad, he’s horrible.
"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
Not to beat a dead horse, but...
Stating your opinion is more objective is a contradiction in terms. I’ll admit my opinion is subjective, because that’s what an opinion is.
The point – your bias is showing. You collect facts to support an opinion that DAL is mediocre, while minimizing evidence to the contrary. They well could be, we just can’t know right now. Again, I have no problem with legitimate criticism of The Boys(or legitimate critics), I have plenty myself. But it is incomplete without balance. I still contend using the term is chumming the water in order to get a response.
Didn’t BP says something to the effect of , ‘your record states what you are.’ At 2-1 I think that’s very appropriate for this team. Better than average, but way too early to conclude anything.
The real discussion for me is not what, but why. Perhaps a discussion for another day.
Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
Horse = dead
You = still beating it.
I was pointing out that I felt my opinion to be based more on fact, and thus more objective than someone who refused to look at who we beat as part of the equation. It is less biased because I don’t exclude relvant factors from impacting my assessment.
Face it, we’re going to disagree here. But I will be right.
"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
Romo is the greatest QB ever
How’s that? Now am I in your good graces?
"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
Let me make sure I understand
Opinions are subjective, but yours are more factual. Opinions are biased, but more correct when they are yours. Conclusions are absolute even though the event is less than 20% complete.
You must be a Republican.
Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
I agree with your first paragraph
"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
so Blings, according to your logic
the Steelers are less than a mediocre team because they lost to 2 average teams in the Bears and Bengals, right?
In Romo we Trust
Yeah Blings,
but in all fairness, that 0-3 team was 12-4 last year and went to the playoffs. Would you have bet Carolina would be 0-3 coming out the gate this year? I wouldn’t have.
They have even bigger QB issues than we do and less talent on their roster
and opened with Philly and Atlanta.
Yes, I had them going 0-2 out of the gate, but I don’t think I was alone in that prediction.
"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 don't get it. How are you guys saying you were great EVERYWHERE? You beat carolina and TB. Both are terrible teams......
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
Who is saying...
they we’re great everywhere?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Sep 30, 2009 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions
scottmaui said that every game has shown greatness in some category.
look up like four comments.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
by Troy Hufford on Sep 30, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions
I am pretty sure that is not a contestable statement.
In TB, we threw for 350+ yards and 3 TD’s. I would call that pretty great.
In the last two games, we have run for 200+ yards. I would call that great as well.
Against Carolina, we shut down Steve Smith and got 2 INT’s. I would call that great.
In the last two games, we have considerable slowed two of the top rushing offenses to them being a non-factor. Sounds great to me.
And in all three games, our special teams have been solid.
So yes, I would agree with scottmaui that in every facet of the game, there have been times this season where the Cowboys have looked great. Our issue is that we can’t get them going all at once, and that is why we are 2-1 and not 3-0.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Oct 1, 2009 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I've said it before, I'll say it again. TB and CAR are not good teams.
They are bloated stats against bad teams.
Steve Smith is their only good reciever, Denver has about 5 good recievers.
“Two of the top rushing offenses”? Last year, maybe. But this year they haven’t shown much in 3 games.
The reason you are 2-1 and not 3-0 is because the Giants were better than the Cowboys. Plain and Simple.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
The raiders beat the chiefs and just about beat the chargers, too.
TB and CAR haven’t done anything.
The Browns are terrible, no arguing that.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
it's more wins than CAR and TB
Seriously, you think you had a great game getting 3 picks against Jake Delhomme?
He throws 10 picks before he eats his morning cereal.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
Dallas didn't blow out the panthers, either.
They were down 7-0 at half time. If the real Jake Delhomme didn’t show up in the second half, Carolina would have won. lol.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
I disagree
I never said we blew them out, but we were in control of the game, what makes you think they were going to score in the 2nd half, they never even reached the red zone?
In Romo we Trust
Control of the game?
I swear you must watch a different NFL than I do.
"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
if you don't think our defense had control of that game
in the second half, you clearly weren’t watching the same game I was.
In Romo we Trust
I wouldn't describe it as "control"
it was more the feeling that, once our oline stopped shooting themselves in the foot, we wouldn’t have trouble scoring. And that proved to be true.
The defense was flat out dominant. In that second half, they were great.
Also, you say that the Raiders "just about beat the chargers, too."
Using that same argument, the Bengals just about beat your Broncos were it not for a completely fluke play.
20-24 on the chargers
True, “just about” isn’t a win, though. Playing tough is more what I was going for there. The raiders were beating the chargers until the last SD drive.
By the same token, The broncos were beating the bengals until 2 minutes left in the game. Then, they had to get the stokely reception to win it. That’s how football is sometimes.
In the raiders/chargers game, the better team on that day last drive. In the Denver/Cincy game, the better team that day won by the last drive
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
Yeah but your win over the Bengals
was a high quality win, right? We’ll see on sunday when orton is gorging on a grass sandwich.
So your wins against the panthers and redskins with a combined win percentage of 0-6 were quality wins too?????
Romo will probably make a few “grass sandwiches” himself, with Dumervil coming around the corner. Remember…….6 sacks in 3 games.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
by Troy Hufford on Sep 30, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
redskins????? Bucs!! either way 0-6
Woodson is a Hall of Famer!
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Sep 30, 2009 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions
haha my bad. Trying to write a fanpost and comment is a bad idea.
Good call.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
It will certainly be interesting to see because our offensive line has already eaten up Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Gaines Adams, and Julius Peppers. If you are relying on one guy to pressure Tony, I think you are in for a sorry surprise because the only patented way to get to Tony is to bring more than your basic 5 man pressure rushes. So yes, Elvis Dumervil is a great player. If you think his presence alone will make life tough for Tony though, I think you are mistaken.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Oct 1, 2009 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions
yep - plus
if DAL runs right at Dumervil, negating his speed, with a heavy does of Adams, Kosier, Witten, Bennett, and/or Anderson blocking for the Barbarian or Choice; Elvis will be singing the blues by the 4th quarter.
Now fair is fair...
Let’s not try and pretend that beating the Raiders or Browns is anything special either. Those might be the two worst teams in the NFL.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
I'm not saying they are playoff team. But at least teams we have beaten have won other games, proving they are better than.........someone. 3 to be exact.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
The Raiders beat the Chiefs, so that holds zero value.
And you guys beat the Bengals on a fluke play.
A win is a win.
Holding Cincy to 7 is an accomplishment, no matter who you are. They scored 31 on GB and 23 on PIT. Against denver, it took them 58 minutes to score.
Beating CAR and TB doesn’t hold value either. 0-6
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
But holding
Carolina to 7 points isn’t an accomplishment??!! Carolina was 12-4 and a playoff team last season. Cincy? Not so much.
Okay, let's live in the past.
We still have shanahan and our safeties are calvin lowry and marquan manuel. We have the 2nd worst defense in the history of the NFL behind the Lions. If we played this game in 2008, no doubt you would win.
It’s 2009. Cincy is different. Carolina is different. Dallas is different. Denver is different.
You can’t live in the past jevans. Let’s talk 2009. Delhomme 2 TD 7 INTs.
Man, you must be right, Delhomme sounds like a QB ready to lead the panthers to the playoffs.
Please, come up with a legit thought. Carolina is not a playoff team.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
I'm not living
in the past because Carolina has essentially the same personnel that took them to a 12-4 record. Their major problem has been injuries not personnel. I saw Arizona get ripped by N.E. last year something like 44-3 and they went to the S.B. It’s way too early to be writing off teams, any team.
If you're standing still, your falling behind.
You can’t expect to do the same things and expect the same results. Coaches are too smart, nowadays. If you show the same thing over and over, someone is going to catch on and exploit you. (see wildcat formation).
Notice how the Chargers have gotten continually worse and worse since 2006. They were a 14-2 team. Their personnel is pretty much the same. Rivers, LT, Merriman, etc. They resign players and extend contracts. What has it gotten them? They aren’t a 14-2 team every year. What does this tell you? You don’t play in a vacuum. Just because things stay the same, doesn’t mean they stay the same. (too deep?)
If you do nothing, someone else has done something to screw up whatever you had accomplished in the past.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
Hey...
why don’t we not come to our blog and throw condescending comments toward people dude?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 1, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
How was this comment condescending?
I’m just trying to get some Bronco/Cowboy debate flowing.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
(too deep?)
You don’t find that condescending?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 1, 2009 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions
I just thought I was being too philosophical. I felt maybe I was not being clear.
I wasn’t trying to be condescending, I was just afraid I was becoming unclear with my ideas.
I’m sorry.
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
No big deal...
I get what you’re saying.
I just think that you need to realize that you can bend numbers, records, blah blah blah, to meet your point at any time.
I don’t think Dallas is going to win because of who they played or who Denver played.
I think Dallas is going to win because I think this Bronco’s team is closer to the 3-0 2007 Lions team than being legit.
And if I’m wrong I’ll totally admit it, but the fact that Vegas is going against a 3-0 team at home by 3 points against a team that is going to be without one of it’s more explosive playmakers tells me that I’m not the only one.
Guess we’ll find out.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 1, 2009 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions
You're probably one of the people who predicted a 3-13 4-12 or whatever record for denver
Much like John Clayton, Jamie Dukes, Deion Sanders, etc. etc. yada yada yada.
Its easy to bash a team that nobody can put their finger on. Nobody knows why they win, so they come up with excuses (it’s a fluke win, browns are bad, raiders are dysfunctional).
The fact of the matter is, Denver is outperforming expectations, albeit low expectations. They played the bengals really hard and won in the final seconds, beat up on the browns like they should, and shut up critics saying that the Raidaz wuz bakkkk………..
If the broncos beat the Cowboys, they’ll say that romo had a bad night, or that the defense just let the offense down. It won’t be “wow, we underestimated denver. They are good.”
Heaven forbid that someone in the MSM is WRONG. Good lord. Go ahead and side with Vegas. They just listen to the MSM and base wagers off of who is said to be good and who is said not to be good. However, if you actually look at this team instead of writing them off and listening to the MSM and their “knowledge”, you will find a good “team”. Sure they got rid of their “pro bowl QB”. WHO CARES? He wasn’t a team player and didn’t go along with the TEAM philosophy that Josh McDaniels was installing in this organization.
We have a TEAM this year. The players and coaches have bought into it. Doom contributed his 6 sacks to pressure from Dawkins and the Defensive line. He didn’t say “Hellz yeah, I’m the boss.” Guess what? That’s why you win football games. It’s not an individual game. You don’t win with one player or even a few players. You may have better individual talent. So what? Denver is going to play together and wipe the arrogant smiles off of every cowboy player. Just ask Dawkins.
Sure, you may not be the only one that believes Denver will lose. It doesn’t make you all right, though. People have doubted the broncos since January when they shipped out Cutler.
You may not agree with me, still, and that’s fine. I don’t care because the broncos are going to win regardless of if you are a believer or not. However, I would boldly ask that you think for yourself. Watch this team yourself. Analyze this team yourself. Ignore the bias. Ignore the MSM and vegas. Ignore your friend who knows all the fantasy football stats. Ignore your mom. Ignore your bud who has the inside scoop. MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION. Put Vegas behind you. They have no better idea what is going on than you or I or anyone in the country. Hell, I could even make my own over/under and get loads of money. Unacceptable.
Sorry for my rant, but this just grinds my gears. Good luck on sunday. cya later
Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away
Could you come off...
as more insecure?
Cry me a f’n river. Grow up dude.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 1, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Dude
You can talk all you want about how “people just don’t get it”, but at the end of the day, there are very legitimate concerns regarding the Denver Broncos. They were horrible last year, and happened to get off to a fast start against mediocre teams.
Most people favor Dallas because even in a loss, they’ve proven more. They played one of the best teams in the NFL really well, and they beat who they were supposed to beat exactly how they should beat them.
It’s not a matter of people “overlooking” your Broncos, it’s a matter of people not willing to go out on a limb on a team that really hasn’t proven much other than they can beat up on a couple of teams that are bottom feeders and won on a fluke against a potentially good Bengals team.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Oct 1, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions
1 ? for u
Do you think Dumervil is better than both Osi Umenyiora and Julius Peppers… I don’t think so and Flo shut them both down
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 2, 2009 3:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Grinds my gears
Family Guy reference?
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Oct 2, 2009 12:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I see,
So with your logic you should just the gut the team every year? Are you saying Rivers, Merriman, etc. should have been cut? Nothing is “the same” every year. Players retire, there is a draft and free agency so it’s not “the same” for any team. The point is that the core players of most good teams are retained and the Panthers core was good enough to get them to the playoffs in 08.
BTW, coaches aren’t really so smart as you may think. The “wildcat formation” is really nothing but the old single wing that was run in the 40s. The spread offense used to be called the “run and shoot” and was run by Jerry Glanville in the 70s. The 3-4 defense is really the old Oklahoma 5-2 except the ends are now linebackers and stand up instead of getting in a stance. Very minor changes to the same schemes.
Too early to write this team's legacy in stone...
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
What's wrong in Dallas?
I have to say that as a Cowboys fan living in Alabama, I’m surprised by the level of negativity that I constantly see from the Dallas media, the commenter’s on the web sites, and some people on this site. The Cowboys are 2-1 and lost on a last second field goal to what is generally considered the best team in football. Our quarterback generally gives us a chance to win, we have a great running game, an improving defense, and we’re a young team with lots of room to improve. Would you guys rather be Cleveland or Kansas City fans? I remember 5-11 and Vinny frickin Testaverde, lets be thakful that we have adecent team to root for
Dude, that's like saying you never want to upgrade your whisky from the hooch to something that is aged in oak barrels
…we are Dallas fans and the standard of performance here cannot be one where we come to appreciate ‘not being crappy’.
The day I use Cleveland or KC as my measuring sticks for MY Cowboys is the day they put me in the ground.
Period!
"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
Again your wisdom Blings
And you bring up some very good points about the Dallas Cowboys.
I myself have lost a little faith in the coaching. But they may surprise and get it together.
But I will believe that the players talent will have more to do with it than confidence from the coaching. I like our coaches. But results is what speaks to the job, not how nice they are. Part of the problem is they are too nice maybe. The moment you see Garrett yell at Romo for a mistake and let him know it’s unnacceptable, then I’ll have more faith in the coaching staff. I can’t expect that from Wade. I like Wade. But he is not the head coach we need for this team anymore. I hope no one talks to me about the soft touch as being effective. Wade has been here for almost three years. I wish the situation wasn’t what it is. Strong leadership at the top, and expectations from there, trickle down and form the team. I hope Wade stays as a D-coordinator. Like I said, I like Wade. It’s the coaching situatioin that Jerry has created that I don’t like.
But Wade showed his fangs apparantly during halftime of the Carolina game. It may be nothing, but it may mean something. Also Garrett finally showing faith in Tashard, and going with him, and sticking to the running game against Carolina, to me shows he’s possibly willing to accept that his way on offense hasn’t worked. If Romo would have thrown a pick early in that game from a forced pass, we would have lost our momentum, and probably lost the game. I know these sound like harsh words, and when I’ve spoken about Garrett, it has always sounded like harsh words, but I am not trying to demean him or anyone or speak down or put down anyone. I am just speaking my opinion. Why? Because I want to get that 6th Super Bowl. I want to blow past the Steelers. I want to shut the Giants mouth up (at least for 1 week) although you all know that won’t happen. But mostly because it’s the Dallas Cowboy way- victory at all cost. They may surprise us Blings, and actually come through. I’m not expecting it, but you never know. I do believe we will develop and play better as the year progresses. One game at a time is all we can do for now. The coaching staff knows that they’re job is on the line. Everything that has happened is for the team to play more as a team. isn’t that what we want?
"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"
by DallasPalace on Sep 30, 2009 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions
KC in reality mode now with no Bling in the near furture or the near past
I told many of Chief fans here in KC there problem is they don’t know what it takes to build a championship team. Most fans here are only interested in winning the next game not championships. If they loss this week it’s forgotten if they could win the next week. But now that reality has set in at 0-3 and the heart of the NFC East on the schedule they are not as optimistic and the interest in the season is really starting to drop off.
Bottom line if you are not trying to win championships your just wasting your time.
Woodson is a Hall of Famer!
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Sep 30, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Some fans just want to dwell in the negative
Nothing is set in stone in the NFL. Look at the 2008 Cards as a perfect example. They play badly through most of the season, but win enough to get into the playoffs because their division is so weak, and then go on a hot streak and almost won the SB. The 2007 NYG looked mediocre to good, at certain times, then go on a hot streak in the playoffs and dump the almost perfect Pats. Anything can happen.
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Oct 1, 2009 12:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Well said
Anything can happen.
I am simply commenting on what we’ve all seen thus far and how it relates to last year’s 9-7.
"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
sept-oct
who cares about the team’s identity or whatever in sept or oct? it seems as though we need to find our identity by mid season or even later. and it doesn’t take a great team to make the superbowl. look at arizona. you only have to be good or great for a stretch.
Things that have bothered me this season
I will start by saying I am more in the mold of the Fighter, I almost always look for the rosy side of any situation, but recently somethings have really PMO.
1. Play calling by JG has lead to many negative play which been drive killers.
2. The mental offensive penalties that have also had lead to drive killers. Penalties on Defense that have extended drives.
3. Where the heck is Marty B. Why are they not running plays for him? Garret? Garret?
4. No pass rush and don’t give me 3 sacks in the Carolina game. Where are those exotic blitzes we have all been expecting.
5. Carpenter.
6. Wade. Even my kids make fun of him. They think his a cartoon figure. His side line antics are not those of a leader of men.
7. Romo being blamed solely for the Giant’s lose. What the heck did any of this other guys do in the game to win the game; Ware, Newman, Ratliff, Williams. Can anyone tell me why we paid Hamlin franchise money for tier 2 play?
8. Our Fans cheering loud on 4 and goal with our offense on the field. So much for home field advantage.
I feel better now. With that said I still think we can win 12.
Go Cowboys!!!
Woodson is a Hall of Famer!
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Sep 30, 2009 11:22 PM CDT reply actions
Give me a few more details and I might climb on board with you....
1. Can you point out more than one or two plays called by Garrett that were drive killers THAT WERE PROPERLY EXECUTED BY THE PLAYERS?
2. I agree
3. Marty B and Romo are not on the same page yet. Consider…..
Versus TB –
1) inc to Bennett
2) 13 yard reception
Versus NYG –
3) inc to Bennett
4) 11 yard rec
5) inc to Bennett
6) inc to Bennett
Versus CAR –
7) 3 yard rec
8) inc to Bennett
9) inc to Bennett
10) inc to Bennett
- 70% of the passes Romo has thrown to Bennett were INC – (that’s not Garrett’s fault)
4. Sacks? I think we got untracked against the Panthers, and I’m expecting more in the weeks to come.
5. Carp? doesn’t even belong on the team
6. Wade? JJ didn’t hire him to look good on the sideline.
7. Romo only? After the NYG game, just about every player on both sides of the ball got blamed by BTB bloggers.
8. Home Field Advantage? The Fans need to wise-up!
supporting data
1. Your right I went back and looked at the only two games I had on DVR and could only find 2 plays. Most of the drive killers were Penalties and Romo.
3. I am looking for plays up the seem behind the linebacker constantly double teaming Jason’s button hooks. Not fade routes.
4. I went back and looked at both of Butler’s sacks. His hand work was as good as a fast Greg Ellis. On both plays the OT was left pushing air and looking to hold. I hope we see a lot more of him during other quarters.
5. Carp is Cr.. I can’t wait to get Jason Williams back. I think he could be a devastating player on 3 and long situations. I think he would be great at running down plays or getting after the QB.
6. I personally do not care what he looks like either, but he certainly doesn’t oohs leadership.
7. I did not read all the post, but I did read a lot of the ones on Rafael’s “cow and bucket thread”. It seemed like every other post was coauthored by Tex. Believe me I felt like going to look for that old bucket during the game. But the guy did put us back in the lead before he left the field.
Woodson is a Hall of Famer!
by I'm a Cowboy Babe on Oct 1, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Mediocre was less than a minute away from winning the Super Bowl last year.
The year before that mediocre got hot and handed the alleged greatest team of all-time its only loss of the season. The sooner Garrett embraces this team’s core strength instead of being obsessed with cutesy fiddle faddle (like calling consecutive fade routes from the 1-yard line) the better.
Nice
Beat me to the post.
So it begins...
by APerfectStar on Oct 1, 2009 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions
That was a horrible play call
i’m referring to the 2nd fade to Bennet.
But really, I’d still grade Garrett’s play calling vrs CAR a B+
I thought the run/pass ratio was balanced, and we took what the defense was giving us (the run)
am i too much of a logical simpleton...
… when i suggest that on a 2nd and goal from the one, that Romo simply take the snap, get behind Bigg Davis, and lean forward for the TD.
i mean, we’ve got an O-line that averages over 310 lbs. what’s a fan got to do to get a QB sneak for one measly yard behind those huge blockers?
co-sign on MadMick’s comments above.
Celebrity or Imposter?
YOU Decide...
http://www.xanga.com/metaltometal/689036052/celebrity-or-imposter/
and in 2006
the worst run D in the league, one of the worst i ever saw, had one player return from injury and instantly became elite, the Colts defense led them to that superbowl, they put Peyton on their back and carried him. That happened the same year Rex Grossman had something like 10 games with a 100+ qb rating. Parity has taken its toll on this league.
My biggest concern…
…coming into this season was with the team’s depth and it still is. So far the most significant injuries have come in the one area where the Boys do have some depth, at RB. Imagine if you will what will happen if one or two o-lineman go down; season over right there. Same thing if they lose a line backer or two, or a safety or how about a wide out or two.
This team just next to no room for injuries to occur, (worst than most teams have it).
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Meant to say...
This team just has next to no room for injuries to occur
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
two of...
..not many. But look at this injury list for the Giants:
Ahmad Bradshaw RB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice -
Chris Canty DT Calf Did Not Participate In Practice -
Justin Tuck DE Shoulder Did Not Participate In Practice -
Danny Ware RB Elbow Did Not Participate In Practice -
Adam Koets C Ankle Full Participation in Practice -
Kareem McKenzie T Knee Full Participation in Practice -
Kevin Dockery CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice -
Domenik Hixon WR Knee Limited Participation in Practice -
Hakeem Nicks WR Foot Limited Participation in Practice -
Aaron Ross CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice -
Clint Sintim LB Groin Limited Participation in Practice
Yet they still win. Give the Cowboys a similair injury list they are most likley not to. The Cowboys cannot afford any injuires to the o-line for example.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
The Giants may be an exception
or one of FEW teams that can lose that many players and still compete.
I thought you were indicating that the Cowboys depth was worse than MOST TEAMS.
Most (majority) – are you thinking that our depth is worse than 16 other NFL teams?
Those oline guys just got hurt for the giants
its not like they’ve been playing with injuries.
The Giants had one olineman – mckenzie i believe – go down last year and their line instantly became so awful, I don’t think anyone can say for sure they have depth there.
What I should have said is…
…the Cowboys depth is worse than most of the GOOD teams.
Most of the good teams aren’t as close to a single injury away from having their enite season getting derailed like Dallas is. The better teams don’t seem to take as large a step back when they lose somone on the Offensive Line. The Cowboys IMHO can aboslutley not survive a single injury to the O-line and very few injuries to the defense.
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys: Talk to me in December.
The NFC East has won 11 Super Bowls; oddly none of those have come courtesy of the Eagles.
Can you please give examples
Of positions of depth on our team vs. other “good” teams (besides the giants) so that I can see that you’re not just talking out of your ass.
NE can lose Welker and still be 2-1
Philly plays without starting RB AND QB and still they are better than Dallas.
San Diego loses half their bloody team and they would trounce us with their aerial attack (BTW, Vincent Jackson should be a Dallas Cowboy at all costs).
New Orleans loses Jamaal Brown. I think they would beat us like a drum and Brees could set a passing yardage record in the process.
"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
wow thats entirely up to your interpretation
I’d say that we’d run all over san diego and new orleans and it would be a good game. Defensively, I think we’d struggle with this currently lack of a pass rush. If Ware every gets out of this funk, hes gonna be philly’s kryptonite with peters on that line….
SD will likely re-sign Jackson, I'd think
That would really weaken their offense if they let him leave.
So it begins...
I'm banking on AJ Smith's arrogance here
Let me dream, will ya?
"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
Everything that comes out of your mouth...
or shall I say onto the blog is always the worst case scenario for this team and a best case scenario for another team.
“Philly plays without starting RB AND QB and still they are better than Dallas.”
Based on what? Them being competitive but ultimately getting creamed by the Saints at home? Beating KC? Or them being able to not lose a lead once McNabb goes out late in the Carolina game?
It’s getting to the point where I think that you would like Dallas to fail so you can wave your finger in peoples face and say “I told you so, nah nah nah.”
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 2, 2009 5:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Was there anything other than vitriol in your post or are you just trying to draw my ire?
"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
Not really.
I don’t even think that you are really wrong about Dallas being mediocre.
But how many times can you repeat yourself? Same as after the draft, where you made about 1 billion(maybe an exaggeration) posts about how the draft sucks.
You aren’t saying anything that with anyone with any Dallas Cowboys intelligence doesn’t know, you’re just running it into the ground and THEN painting the worst case scenarios mostly giving doom and gloom subjective scenario’s.
So my question here is what would Dallas have to do right now to where you aren’t wasting a 13 more weeks of your life watching a team that you already know isn’t going to be any better than 9-7?
And if they can’t do anything about it, why waste precious time posting subject after subject about how they won’t be anything better than mediocre?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 2, 2009 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Because I have hope
It’s that simple.
"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
We knew this going into the season
"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
Excellent Post and I agree w/all points after rewatching the Caroilina game.
Our running is piling up stats running draws from the shotgun. Our offense is built on deception rather than power. All the formations, end-arounds, shotgun, Wildcat, etc. Raf says it works, and that’s all our OLine can do-but it won’t work over 16 games, and certainly not in cold weather or in the playoffs.
I had a terrible thought watching-this O reminds me of the Buff. Bills we used to eat up in the early 90’s! Remember the stupid shovel passes, the no-huddle, etc. Dallas can’t beat good teams like this.
It looks good now, but Garrett is not building a team for a playoff run. This kind of cutesy (as others have also called it-and I’ll even excuse the goalline calls as an abberation) playcalling will falter in the cold winter months against superior opponents.
It’s been a while now, and I think I’m over and done with Garrett as a coach. Maybe a QB coach-he’d be great as one. But Teams reflect the personalities of their coaches, and something is missing on the Off. side of our team, a mental toughness and willingness to just line up and play.
As for the D, I have no idea if they’ll pull it together or not. It wouldn’t surprise me if they gave up 450 yards and 30 points again, or if they shut down a team from one week to the next. But I do know that it’s a Thin Silver Line for our D and 1 or 2 injuries would be a disaster.
You might be right
except for the tiny fact that our running game in fact did work down the stretch last year. We ran on the Steelers, Giants, and Ravens in consecutive weeks with Tashard. Surely I would love to see an offensive line be able to dive well, but if we are the best team at the draw and the trap, that is fine by me and much more than most teams can say. Seems like much ado about nothing.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
The D better not give up 450 to Denver!!
If they do, someone should get taken out to the wood shed.
"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
Didn't the Bills...
make 4 SB runs in the 90’s?
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 2, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Against weak competition in the AFC
and only to get whipped up on by good teams in the SB-
Well, they hung w/the Giants in the 1st one I guess.
I was only watching their last two!
by Realist Larry on Oct 2, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't hold it against them that they got beat by Dallas twice
Getting to a Super Bowl 4 times in a row is still pretty impressive man.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Oct 3, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
The real test...
will come when a good defensive team sells out to stop the run against us. Do we have the passing attack to take advantage of that??? And don’t say look at the Bucs game. Blown coverage after blown coverage distorted the numbers in that game.
From a tight end stanpoint Witten is gold but Marty B worries me in terms of being where Romo expects him to be.
What REALLY concerns me is that we have done very little to improve our receiving corps over the past several years. Granted we took a chance on TO (with mixed results) but where is the young speed receiver we should have been grooming to replace Terry Glen? It sure isn’t Austin because he can’t get seem to beat out Crayton.
Roy and Crayton are serviceable but they aren’t going to scare anyone into changing coverages to account for them being on the field.
Hurd is strictly a special teams player who can “fill in” when needed but he will never be a number 1 or number 2 receiver.
Philly, Washington and the Giants are all drafting young receivers with potential while we are hanging on to our “special teamers” hoping they can contribute something offensively.
Mark my words, this strategy is going to come back and bite us in the future.
Garrett needs to get a clue!
Well-freakin'-said
I’m pissed off I didn’t write it.
You’d think the double TE alignment should help against teams stacking the line, but we haven’t seen that yet.
"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
of course you have
that’s why teams don’t stack our line, that would be suicide for them.
In Romo we Trust
Suicide...
Denver didn’t think so.
When I think of suicide, I think of Romo.
"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
Your'e exactly right.
We need to bring in a young WR with actual star potential. Of course I could see Jerry buying another star WR if this year goes down in flames.
by houseofprime on Oct 2, 2009 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Tampa Bay did this
You say its blown coverage, yet 3 of the 4 long passes involved either a. Romo looking off the safety or coverage mismatches created by our two TE set….considering the giants struggled to cover this too, they just played much more conservatively, I’d say that defenses don’t really know how to deal with it right now.
The GIants and Panthers have both played back father, making us go the length of the field. We scored 31 points on the giants like this, and that was without any help from the defense in terms of turnovers or field position. Once the penalties on the line stopped, we moved the ball downfield with ease in the panthers game…
I would very much welcome this defensive approach. Our oline is generally solid, and if teams put 8 in the box, they’ll hve enough time for any of our wrs to get open.
The O-line wasn't solid against the Broncos...
Dallas is on the verge of sinking below mediocrity.
"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
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