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Beleaguered Cowboys defense needs confidence boost - George Riba, WFAA DFW
Against the Saints, Dallas couldn't stop the pass and couldn't stop the run, something that's weighing on the players' confidence, Riba writes. The Cowboys now have the bye week to fix this.
"It’s very timely," said Cowboys linebacker [sic] Barry Church. "We've got a couple of injuries, and hopefully guys can work through it during this bye week. We're at a rough spot right now, but we've got to come back as defensive unit and as a team and improve."
Dallas Cowboys DT Jason Hatcher apologizes to fans, says ‘bad film’ comment was misinterpreted - Rainer Sabin, DMN
Hatcher clarified a comment that generated some headlines heading into Sunday's game. However, much more interesting is the progress he's making from the stinger he suffered against the Vikings: He underwent an MRI on Monday and said he should be ready to return after the bye week, and that "the strength has come back tremendously."
MRI came back negative. Should be ready to roll after the bi. Thanks pops!!!
— Jason Hatcher (@hatcher97) November 11, 2013
The Morning After: Saints 49, Cowboys 17 - Bob Sturm
Sturm has a sobering take on Sunday's events and summarizes the Cowboys' predicament nicely:
Here is a much needed week off to try to get some bodies back, but it looks like life without Sean Lee is a reality for the rest of November and possibly a bit longer, so they are going to have to plan on scoring 35 because the defense doesn't look capable of stopping teams. But, can this offense figure out its own issues?
Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant says back is ‘fine’ after playing 93 percent of offensive snaps against Saints - Rainer Sabin, DMN
Much was made last week about Dez Bryant's potential back problems, but Bryant said his back wasn’t giving him problems in the game.
"I can’t be moving like that if something was wrong," said Bryant, who made one catch for 44 yards Sunday. "I promise you … ain’t nothing wrong with it. I’m fine, man."
Was Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' choice on offense wrong, too? - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Bill Callahan has taken a lot of heat for his playcalling, and not just since the loss in New Orleans. Archer deftly points out that Jason Garrett could take over the play calling whenever he wants, and wonders why Garrett, who may be fighting for his job, would have Bill Callahan throwing the punches for him in that fight by calling the plays in his own offense.
'Where are they now?' A look at the Cowboys' projected starting lineup on defense from the preseason - DMN
Warning: This is a slideshow. And a depressing one at that. if you do click through it, you'll see what happened to each member of the preseason projected starting lineup on defense.
Cowboys can't escape .500 funk - Tim MacMahon, ESPN Dallas
Rick James once said: "Funkers are people who dig the funk; Little funkers, Big funkers, Old funkers, Young funkers, Foxy funkers ... " He left out the .500 funkers.
Heath says he did 'everything' bad against Saints, didn't do his job - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
A big mea culpa from rookie safety Jeff Heath, who didn't have a very good game against the Saints.
"I just didn’t play good. I missed tackles. Guys catching the ball in the middle of the field, and that’s my one job, to not let anyone catch the ball in my area."
"They’re a good team, but you know, if we just do what we’re supposed to do and do our jobs, it doesn’t get like that," he said. "We didn’t do that, and I especially didn’t do that."
Brandon Carr says there comes a point when Cowboys have to say, 'Enough is enough' - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Just like Heath before him, Carr seems to suggest that the defensive meltdown is more a question of execution than a talent or scheme issue:
"We got to make plays, man. We leave too many plays on the field. Woulda, coulda, shouldas and all those things."
"It’s frustrating," he said. "We don’t have average players on this team. We know we have some guys that can make plays. There are special players on this team, and we’re not showing the capabilities that we have out there as a whole. It’s frustrating. At the same time, man, it’s all a learning process."
Tony Romo's Dallas Cowboys continue to be mired in mediocrity - NFL.com
Judy Battista needs 1,233 words to tell us that it's all Jerry's fault.
More from Blogging The Boys:
- NFL Power Rankings (Week 11): Seahawks, Saints And Panthers Climb
- Cowboys Special Teams Only Ones Actually Special
- Inexcusable: Cowboys Failing To Get Dez Bryant Involved
- Jerry Jones: "I Didn’t Expect This. I Didn’t See This Coming."
- Cowboys Defense Finds More Trouble; Justin Durant Expected To Join Sean Lee On Sidelines