Random thoughts
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:11 PM CDT
Email
Print
I've been wanting to post some thoughts for a while, so here it goes.
Thought number 1
Our team has changed a great deal since Parcells helped Jerry understand the draft. Not all our draft picks hit but we get some real jewels in late rounds. I think that is the sign of a great team and one with staying power in today's NFL. But what it does to the average fan is limit our exposure to the developing players. What little we get to see is usually in the pre season and against lesser competition. Case and point- "Doug Free". If i had not done a play by play on him last year I would have never known he was any good. I watched him every single play of the pre season and realized he was dominating lesser competition and holding his own against the likes of Hayes from Tennessee. The funny thing I heard on this very board by a poster when Colombo got hurt was "Free hadn't even made the game day roster and now he's the starting right tackle" . No one really knew what to expect. My point to this is unless we are exposed to these players we don't know who are what they are. Players like McQuistan or Brite, or even Choice before we saw him play. So temper the "we have no depth on the line" because frankly none of us know for sure what we have but I will be paying extra close attention to the development of some guys.
Thought number 2
I don't buy the offensive line is a weakness on this team. Free, and Brewster seem to be starting material according to the coaches. Brite has exceptional strength and could make the ideal future center and should get at least a couple years of training. Alex Barron is young and an unknown in this environment, lets see what becomes of him, Romo has made lesser men look like all pro linemen. Montea Holland is the ideal backup and could even start admirable. And this coming years draft will probably yield a lineman or two. I think we are developing more Doug Free's and we the average fan are just not paying attention. The coaching staff kept telling us we were fine at receiver and most all of us were panicking after T.O. was cut.
The one thing that puzzles me was Procter playing for Kosier, if he truly was the only other guy to know the line calls and that was the reason he was playing is just sickening.
Thought Number 3
I swear an Eagles fan made this years schedule for us. Our Road schedule is brutal and the one game that really burns me the most is we play the Redskins in Washington the first week of the year. I think we lose this game for several reasons. First we play a team that hates us and I don't think we give a second thought about anymore. It will be Cowboys week in Washington with baners and posters and flags all over town, with a circus like atmosphere. Secondly Shannahan has his guys motivated; well, except Haynesworth. And they will be over hauling the whole team from running game to new defense. There is no way to sufficiently prepare for them the first game of the year. What do you prepare for? maybe Belecheck can loan us some of his OTA tapes of the Redskins?
Thought number 4
Get ready for the heat! I think the move to Allen Ball is one of necessity.I believe Wade is going to bring the heat this year. Newman, Jenkins, Scandrick, Sensibaugh, and Ball can all cover man to man. Look out here comes the house. Neither of our linebackers are great cover guys but they both can blitz. our offense will score and if our defense gets them the ball with turnovers or punts we should win a lot of games. i think we blitz effectively and like crazy this year.I expect to see the bear formation a lot too. (9 guys near the line of scrimage)
Thought number 5
I might be the last man on earth who still believes Roy will have a good year. He's not going to put up huge numbers but will make plays when we need them. I agree he's vastly over paid for what he has done but at the same time Romo was hitting his ankles, throwing behind him, and Roy's best rout is the slant and Romo has never been great at that pass. He dropped his share of balls too. I have nothing to hang my hat on to say that Roy will improve but the one thing I do believe is Roy is way better than Ogletree.
Thought number 6
Teams to watch out for in the NFL this year you may not see coming are
49ers- alex smith is the only thing holding them back and he is much improved from what I've read.
Bears- Julius Peppers and Mike Martz are going to help this team in bunches.
Giants- swept us and we looked like we were beating the hell out of them in both games but it didn't show up on the score board. A very complete team that matches up well against us.
Titans- the coaching staff swears they taught Vince Young to read this off season! They actually claim he has made huge progress in learning the playbook and is making good reads.
Redskins- just might make the playoffs, they are more focused than I've seen in years. there players actually seem to care about football this year.
Eagles- just because they might "sting they asses" I get a giggle every time I think about Deshawn Jackson trying to sting Newman in his a$$.
Thought number 7
Where are the cowboys weak? Unlike most I think the line is a point of strength. I don't know for sure and will need to see the pre season but the middle linebacker and backups worry me. Allen Ball was Donnie Possners pet a couple years ago and I know he used to watch him, wish he could put his two cents in on this one, I would trust his judgement on it. Right now I want to see him tackle, I trust his coverage skills.
The one weakness that just scares me to death and maybe it's because of recent history is Buehler. I love the guy but geeeez can we find a kicker that can stick please!
Well there are my seven random thoughts
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
75 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I like the raiders too,
hell i think if you put McNabb and Campbell in the same situation Campbell is just as good as McNabb right now.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Last to First is pretty normal in the NFL
They could totally do it… if Phillip Rivers gets hurt early on. Other wise, the best QB is going to win that Division
by AustonianAggie on Jul 27, 2010 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
I too believe
the Skin game will be alot tougher than most think, but what better way to start the season. Everything else will be down hill right haha
Really?! Really?!
Dallas should come out of the gate fast.
I think the Skins will take sometime to get it together. New HC with a new system, new old QB and it is the Redskins playing the Cowboys.
new old QB
who knows us inside out. Granted he was looking at as from his back a lot but he still knows us pretty well.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Knowing Dallas and producing against their defense is two different things.
He knew Dallas last year, and look what happened. I think The Dallas D is going to be kickass this year.
yea me too
i think were in the position to bring unreal pressure this year.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions
And that Redskin O-line is still an unknown.
Will Shanny be able to turn it around with these new bodies and have it gel this quickly? Or will McNabb be scrambling for his life like Romo was in Minny?
Rabid and luvin' it
Shannahan does that zone blocking scheme
and has had great sucess with it.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I am that other guy in the world who believes Roy could have a good year.
I don’t think he will put up any pro bowl numbers or anything but I really think he will put up around 900 yards (which is only averaging 56.25 yards per game) and something like 8 TDs. I think Garrett will have an even better idea of how to use Roy effectively and I will buy the fact that him and Tony are having a better offseason.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
yea,I hope to hear
Roy and Romo are hooking up this pre season, but in no way is he going to be the first option, shoot he may be the third or fourth option. 60 yards average a game will be pretty good considering.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I also don't understand why so many people hate RW
He gave us 7 TD’s last year. If he makes 5 catches per game with 2-3 as first downs and 7 TD’s this year, he is a success.
Stop crying about how much money he makes. Is it your money?
Who cares what # receiver he is? If he is on the field with MIles, Dez, and Witten and gives us 2-3 first downs per game and 7-8 TD’s for the year we will be partying in Big D.
by fan since '65 on Jul 24, 2010 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions
i expect 50-55 catches and 800 yards
just if garrett uses his strenghts well instead of trying to converting him in another miles asustin, he’s not that
I like to pick and root for an underdog
and this year he is a record setting WR that holds these records:
NCAA Records
• 207 – combined receptions in one season (FCS record with former teammate Michael Mayers in 2007)
• 395 – career receptions (all NCAA Division I record)
• 123 – receptions in a season (done in 2009; FCS record)
• 8.8 – career receptions per game (FCS record)
• 5,250 – career receiving yards (all NCAA Division I record)
• 116.7 – career average yards gained receiving per game (FCS record)
• 28 – career games gaining 100 or more yards receiving (all NCAA Division I record)
• 1.2 – career touchdown passes caught per game (ties FCS record)
• 34 – career games with a touchdown catch (FCS record)
• 4 – career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (all NCAA Division I record)
Competition will be fierce at WR this preseason.
I'm way to lazy to look it up
is that Roy’s carrer?
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions
5.2 40?
im sure our starting left tackle is faster than that?
can he play tight end?
can he block, hell can he catch a corner to bloxck him?
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Free, Lassimore, and Buehler are all faster
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
No doubt
Maybe an H back or FB, but I doubt it. He’s a long shot, looking forward to seeing him in action, was held out of the other work outs due to a skin graft.
The guy I would like to replace is FB Anderson, have more of a receiving threat there, and that would be with another FB or TE/H Back. Now, if Hudgins could block…..
Or Crayton. He’s a long shot at very best, but at least an underdog to root for.
If you really want an underdog
root for Holley.
by fan since '65 on Jul 24, 2010 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Different Underdog for Me
Speed kills…fastest man on the squad…great looking kick returner. “Flyin Ryan”
Titus Ryan
Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
Yeah, I'd love to see what he can give us in the return game...
as well as once in awhile as a 4th WR to REALLY stretch the field.
Too bad he’s got a really tough road to crack the top 6 WR’s.
Rabid and luvin' it
Tony can and will throw slant routes..
it not that Tony cant throw but it Roy who doesn’t run a great slant route. Roy needs to get off the LOS and cut on a dime for Tony to feed him the ball which doesn’t happen to often. Remember back in 06, when Indy rode into town with an undefeated record, Tony hooked up with Terry Glenn for two beautifully thrown slant that allowed us to run out the clock and win the game
He badly sprained an ankle way back in high school at Permian
and, having watched him for 4 years at Texas and most of his snaps in the NFL, I think that he’s NEVER fully recovered his old quickness. Texas guys that saw him play at Permian swear he had a lot more quicks out of his break in HS than he’s ever shown since.
Tony hasn't been that sharp since
I know what I’ve seen and Tony misses the slant passes as much as he hits them. Not saying he’s a bad QB just that is an area that he’s not Troy Aikman at.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
very fair to compare in that area
I think Tony Romo is better in many more areas than Aikman, but hes middle of the league in slant passes. That is just my opinoin on the eye test.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Many more areas?
Tony moves better than Troy and dates bigger name celebrities, but otherwise I don’t see it. Troy was one of the best ever.
There full of sh!t about being elite.
Stats don’t tell you what Troy did as a QB. Dallas loved to run the ball and eat up the clock. There wasn’t a pass Troy couldn’t throw with great accuracy. In a passing offense he would have put up big #s, instead he has 3 rings.
i remember this team winning when Aikaman was hurt
but if smith got hurt or was holding out they did not win much.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Emmitt was a big part of the offense.
So was the OL, the TE, Irvin, Troy and the defense was one of the best in the league. It was a great team, thats why they won 3 out of 4 SBs.
yes but if you took any one piece away
it still worked, unless you took Emmitt out.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Is that a testament of how bad the backups were?
Or what?
Arnold, almost 5 years of good memories, you'll be missed.
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
Maybe how bad the backup RBs were.
What did we have? Alonzo Highsmith, Sherman Williams, Troy Hambrick? I’m sure I’ve missed a few, but Dallas doesn’t miss them.
Garrett at QB > Williams at RB
At least the guy was smart and knew the whole playbook to go with his noodle, but accurate, arm.
Can you tell me the backup RBs strengths in those days?
Arnold, almost 5 years of good memories, you'll be missed.
Viva México! Go Cowboys!
Able to bring water to Emmitt during commercial breaks and timeouts?
:)
Hell, Hambrick would of tripped over his own feet. Worthless sack of .
If Troy had missed a long string of games
in the SB years, I very much doubt they would have won as many as they did. The fact is they stayed healthy and won 3 out of 4. If Jimmy had of stayed I think they would have won 4 in a row, at least. The 3rd SB they won was in spite of Berry not because of him.
Aikaman played with a line that could block a mack truck
Tony spends a great deal of his time avoiding the rush.
He has a very quick release
He moves both in and out of the pocket better
Tony has a nact for making great plays on third and long
Tony in no way throws the ball better than Aikaman in any part of the game.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 23, 2010 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
You've got some interesting points, some I agree with, some, well....
Agree: 1) Your read of Romo’s slant passes above. It’s not just RW, even when they are caught they are often caught by the WR reaching up or behind. I’ve been specifically noticing this, but thought I saw some improvement in leading the receiver near the end of the year. This team could pile up even more YAC if he can hit guys in stride.
2) The OLine is stronger than any time recently. I don’t know how much stronger, but it looks to be much deeper. However, most here would agree that while the backups are better, the play of the starters (Gurode/Davis especially) has regressed. And we’re also not sure how Kosier and Colombo are going to look.
3) The 49er’s and Redskins should be better this year-but not real threats with the QB’s they’ve got.
Disagree:
1) Please, in no way shape or form wish for Posner to show up in this site. For any ‘insight’ he added there were 10 instigated Wars of Words. Most here have no idea, Mont.Tex is nothing compared to him!
2) Martz + Cutler? I see a train wreck in Chicago. How is a QB like Cutler going to run that kind of offense without 30 Ints.? And there’ll be no Marshall Faulk in Chicago.
3) Roy Williams will improve? Well, he can’t be worse..never mind. Look, the guy was an experienced pro when he showed up, if he hasn’t fit in with this offense yet, he’s not going to figure it out now. Sure, Romo threw him some bad passes, but I think there was a lot more times he was in the wrong place. I don’t think he thinks quickly enough to make the “Reads” the way this offense is run. It’s not just, “Here’s your route, run it.”
4) I’m not as high on Ball at safety as you are. He’s a real unknown over the course of a season. I don’t see more blitzes with him back there, he’s another C for average safety back there to prevent the Keith Davis long plays, but I wouldn’t have that much confidence in him!
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
I agree with you
Especially on 1A: the slant was not Romo’s best pass, but I thought he improved on it the latter half of the season
and on 3D: Roy is Roy. A middle of the road receiver. He had one career year in Detroit, which will never be duplicated. He runs lousy routes, does not have especially good hands, and seems to take twenty yards to get up to full speed. I really do not understand what others see in the guy.
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
I have seen Roy take over games before
Not with us but hey he can do it.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 24, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
maybe we need to hypnotize him before games
you know kinda’ “you’re playing on detroit and the QB is jon kitna”
Anyone remember the Bill Cosby/Sidney Poitier movie "Let's Do It Again"?
They hypnotized Jimmie JJ Walker and made him into a boxing champion. Someone needs to do the same to Roy
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
It's worth noting that the Lions called a stupifying 659 pass plays that year.
Now after factoring in that Kitna was sacked a whopping 63 times, he still attempted 596 passes which is 37 passes a game. I don’t have any official target stats to pull out of my ass offhand but I wonder what Roy’s targets and efficiency looked like for that season. Anyhow, the fact is Roy had his one highly productive season playing on a pass-happy shitty team; of course, that shitty team beat the Cowboys in the season finale but miracles never cease to amaze, now do they? You know it’s a crappy day when Mike Williams burns you for a TD. Remind me what was I rambling about. I’ve seem to have gotten sidetracked.
Right; Roy Williams. Anyhow so freaking what about what he accomplished four seasons ago? He did so for an awful team that threw the ball 40 times a game. He’ll never get that many opportunities on a team as loaded as this. I still don’t rule out 60 catches for 800 yards; that’s not impossible. Roy ever playing in another pro bowl? Fuhgetaboutit.
Take over games in high school? College?
How about the NFL?
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
yes the NFL
I used to sit with a lions fan at a sports bar long ago and Roy could play.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 24, 2010 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions
must be something in the water up there in Detroit
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
there's the answer to what they see
He’s had some good years in the past.
They mean squat to me though.
Pessimists say the cup is half-empty, while optimists say it's half-full. Well, isn't it both? Realist Larry, 2009
by Realist Larry on Jul 24, 2010 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Some of Miles' best plays last year
were slant routes. And I would ask: why does MIles do that better than the other receivers? Is it a Romo “connection”? Why can’t RW connect on the same route? It baffles me. However, as I said above, I will be happy with 2-3 first downs per game and 7 TD’s for the year out of RW.
Miles went
from a guy with a major case of the drops to one of the most sure handed receivers in the league, almost instantly.
I thought there were a few times last year Romo made somewhat questionable passes to Miles and Miles came down with them. Now to be fair to Romo, the great qbs need to trust their receivers that way, but my point is that Miles came down with EVERYTHING. He had tons of contested catches and had an awesome, ridiculous catch % rate if I remember correctly.
but to respond to your point
to me I think the reason Miles and Romo connect so well compared to RW is either
a Romo trusts him.
or
b Roy is simply running poor routes compared to Miles
Roy ws not running good routs and there in lies the reason Romo did not trust him
that and he couldn’t catch some of those passes with his feet.
by Musiccitynorm on Jul 25, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
That's what makes a great receiver as opposed to a good one. No QB is 100%
on the money every time. The great receivers go get the ball; they don’t wait for it to come to them.
"Romo has made lesser men look like all pro linemen." Which is why
I think this O line is a huge question mark. He’s had to make them look better than they are.
I think Roy has a good year
800 yards, 8 TDs, not up to his contract, but a good year. Just once I’d like to see him run a straight go route. If he has dropitis at important times though, that may be another reason he leaves Dallas
by AustonianAggie on Jul 27, 2010 11:30 PM CDT reply actions
I'd like to see him run more skinny posts this year
That was his money route at Texas with Simms. I think Romo’s got the arm and accuracy to put the ball where it needs to go on that route (low, fast and hit that LB-S gap) and it lets Roy take advantage of his size and straight line speed while minimizing his need to break precisely.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
