First Person: DAL @ IND
There will be plenty of play by play recap, I just want to give a feel for the ebb and flow of a remarkably up and down game.
1st Impression: Tailgate. Noticed walking to and at the Blue Crew lot a respectable mix of Cowboy jerseys/fans - I'd say a solid 10-15%. And I've never noticed more than 5% in Indy, it's about a fanatic a home team city as I've come across, and largely without the obnoxiousness of our NFC East brethern.
The mood was anxious, no one here knows what to expect from this Colt team, although I could confidently say the same for DAL. There's a certain fatalism we're all familiar with as Cowboy fans, that the injuries have finally caught up with them. IN a broader context, there's a sense they may be seeing the tipping point as Indy slides form elite to just OK - just as in DAL at the millennium's end.
Very grateful for a domed/temp/controlled stadium on a very cold, blustery Indy winter day. Although many spirits were utilized to fight the cold, I'm just glad it wasn't an outdoor venue.
From the beginning, you could see DAL intent to force its running game. The OLine surge was consistent and a thing of beauty through the 1st 3 Qtrs, but looked like they lost a little steam in the last. We didn't seem to be interested in taking many shots downfield, except for a couple of throws to Miles. The emphasis appeared to be to get the ball out quickly, avoiding the Colts pass rush.
Needless to say, the 17pt avalanche made the locals very nervous, even when they cut it by half. At 17-14, very early in the 2nd half you knew both the fans and players felt they were back in it. DAL played a very uptempo game at the outset, bordering on 2 min drill speed. Indy did the same, but that's more typical. DAL backed off that later on, but remained deliberate in maintaining possession.
Simplistically, I felt the game turned on 3 ST plays in the 2nd Half - Dez Runback and penalty, the blocked punt/TD and McCan's fumble on the KO with 35 secs left. Both the first 2 kept the Colts in a game they were being outplayed, the last almost cost DAL the game. And to think a PS player in his first NFL appearance made the difference on that play.
An observation that might inspire some animated feedback is I didn't think our Pass D/coverage was that awful. Or put another way, I've seen it much worse. Both Jenkins and TNew had solid coverage in the TD's they surrendered. In fact, Jenkins tipped that pass, unfortunately into R Wayne's chest. Our pass rush was non-existent, but Manning was also focused on getting the ball out quickly. Giving credit where it is due - Jenkins play in OT was simply an exceptional individual effort. DAL fans are notoriously unforgiving - just ask Romo and Crayton, but I do believe Jenkins is performing as well as can be expected under some difficult circumstances.
Overall another highly entertaining, game effort from the Cowboys. But yet another example why the line between winning and losing is razor thin in the NFL. And for these Silver Anniversary Cowboys, the self-administered cuts have been the hardest to overcome.
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Was that your first pro game? Cowboy game?
If so what was it like being live. Seeing your favorite players?
Not at all
Probably been to 50 pro games, at least half of them DAL. Started back in the late 70’s Texas Stadium with the Roger-lead teams.
One other observation – thought this was DAL best tackling game of the season. Usually Colt WR’s were hit immediately, and most going down w 1st contact.
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
Jenkins
It is funny how much better a CB can seem if he has safety help. Example, on Alan Ball’s INT, if he hadn’t come over the top on time, that is a completion and we are blaiming Jenkins. On Wayne’s TD (same route, possibly play) Alan was late coming over top so Jenkins was left alone, and while he made a great play to tip the pass, it looked like he got beat when in fact it was Alan Ball that took a mistaken step inside that made him late coming over to help on Wayne. Jenkins’ tip pass was a great play, especially considering that the pass wasn’t even to “his” man. Jenkins had a good day. Most of the passes completed against him were undefensible balls thrown perfectly by Manning.
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
2nd Jenkins tip
mentioned above relates to Sean Lee’s INT (not the aforementioned Wayne TD)
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
Absolutely agree about the safety play
Commented on it several times on the game threads. On another Colt TD pass(maybe the last one), CB took outside position to guard against the fade. Receiver dbl-moved, took inside route, & there was no safety help. Easy 6.
Safety seems to me to be a much more pressing need than CB.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
Well, I know there’s a difference between expecting safety help and not getting it in regards to how good or bad that makes a corner look.
How do you explain Revis island or Nmandi though. Can you imagine if we just put one guy on a top receiver and he’s automatically shut down for the most part?
How to explain it?
You just named the best 2 CBs in the NFL.
And they actually haven’t done a great job of shutting down their part of the field this year. Not saying I wouldn’t happily accept either on our team, but the days of the shutdown corner are becoming extinct as those players at a young age are made into WRs, rule changes continue to benefit the offense, and passing offenses becoming more intricate.
Though I’ll be honest, I still think it is more beneficial to have top flight CBs than topflight Safeties. I know many don’t agree with that statement, but I think an average CB gets beat way more than an average Safety…CBs have to worry about double moves and different ways of covering a WR while a safety primarily only plays overtop and has to be a ball hawk once the pass is in the air (more time to react).
"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry
I love the in-person post, esp. from an enemy stadium.
And you made it out alive even with the Cowboys winning in OT.
You got to witness a really good one sir… got your money’s worth I’d say.
"You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a 2x4." -- Dan Birdwell, Oakland Raiders
Thanks, it was a good time
Lastly, don’t think I can over-emphasize how important McBriar’s punt in OT was. Colt PR retreated at least 15 yds, Critical play at a critical time in the game
We live life forwards and understand it backwards
Glad you posted a game recap because I re-watched the game last night
and have some things to say. First, Sean Lee played a great game. Not just his 2 INT’s but a bunch of good tackles in coverage and against the run.
Second, Jenkins did not play as bad as first appeared. He was very close on several passes completed against him. They were just good plays by Manning and Wayne (he actually got a hand on the TD pass but Wayne came down with the bobble).
Ball showed a lot of improvement. He seemed to be making his reads better and breaking quicker on the plays. I still don’t think he should be a starting safety, but he did a lot better.
Free is the real deal. Yes he got beat a couple times, but who doesn’t against Freeney?
Last, Roy W. is a good player. He stays into the game, makes some plays and has a great attitude. Is he worth the money and the draft picks? No. But we should not hold that against him. Jerry gave him all that. Roy puts out an effort that I like.
- "If you know so much about women why are you here at the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"
- "By choice! Man"
You're right about Roy
It pains me to say it because stupid stuff does seem to always happen to him on the field and I really don’t think that it’s a fluke. But he is a fantastic WR3 option and a more than capable #2. I think he’s definitely worth having back next season. Roy, please stop walking under ladders and shattering mirrors. Oh and put all 13 of your black cats up for adoption. Thanks!
by Dezstroyer88 on Dec 7, 2010 8:56 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Man, thanks, tdships...
Nothing beats first-hand experience, with once-removed impressions a close second when they come, like yours, with a “feel” for the experience.
No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child. - A. Lincoln
Illegitimus non carborundum.























