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Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman: Tony Romo "makes things happen late in Games" - Chicago Sun-Times
Trestman sees some similarities between Jay Cutler and Romo:
"I think their skill sets are similar in terms of their athleticism, their ability to move the pocket, make all the throws, make things happen late in games," Trestman said.
"I think Tony Romo is one of those guys in the league that in the fourth quarter, he’s never going to be out of it. He’s got that kind of personality. He’s wired that way."
Cowboys' Tony Romo seeing 'subtle' differences in Bears 'D' - CSN Chicago
Last year's Bears defense had Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Henry Melton, Israel Idonije, Nick Roach, and Brian Urlacher playing for it. None of those players will suit up for the Bears on Monday.
"There’s some subtle differences, things here and there; I don’t want to go into it," Romo said, suggesting that no Briggs, Melton, Urlacher etc. falls under the heading of "subtle." "I think you can definitely tell they have a similar system but are doing some different things in situational football."
Can Tony Romo turn bad weather into an advantage? - Jon Machota, DMN
Machota points out that Romo has some experience in cold weather games from his youth in Wisconsin and college days at Eastern Illinois.
"I played a lot of our games in cold weather and I think you become comfortable with it over time," he said Friday. "The more technically sound and fundamental you are with your throwing motion, you can neutralize that stuff and I think it can be an advantage for a football team."
Cowboys should have success running the ball Monday night - Tom Orsborn, Express News
The Bears rank last in the league in defending the run, and Orsborn writes that the Cowboys game plan should center around DeMarco Murray, who now has a lead blocker to clear running lanes for him.
Jason Garrett explains fullback signing - Calvin Watkins, ESPN Dallas
The signing of a fullback as the 53rd guy on the roster does not signal the end of the two-tight-end set, nor does it mean the Cowboys are necessarily going to run more - or any of the many other theories cooked up over the last few days. According to Garrett, the move adds a little more physicality to the team and Clutts was a guy the team "had an eye on" for a while.
"We’ve been in 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, and three receivers) a lot, we’ve been in 12 (one back, two tight ends, and two receivers), we’ve been in three-tight-end sets and we've been in a four-receiver-sets with no backs," Garrett said. "And we've tried to use a variety of personnel groups to attack defenses in different ways and this [is] another element to that."
DeMarco Murray vs. Bears Run D - Pro Football Pocus
PFF are optimistic about Murray on Monday.
"DeMarco Murray has not proven himself durable yet, but the Dallas RB is dangerous – he can juke a defender, run over a defender, out-race defenders or just stiff-arm them. Averaging 4.9 yards-per-carry (tied for fourth-best in the league) with 25 forced-missed tackles (10th best), the former third-rounder will be called upon more than usual for two reasons: backup Lance Dunbar’s season-ending injury last week, and Chicago’s horrific run defense.
Dallas Cowboys secondary has been burned by tall receivers all season long - Rainer Sabin, DMN
I chuckled when I saw that the list of "tall receivers that burned the Cowboys" contained 6-0 Victor Cruz and 6-1 Hakeem Nicks.
Scandrick says Cowboys have some things 'gameplan-wise' to deal with Bears' height advantage at receiver - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Orlando Scandrick says the key to covering tall wide receivers is to "stay on top of the route, turn around and play the ball."
"Obviously they’re going to catch passes. But we need to limit their big plays and keep them from getting on top of the defense," Scandrick said. "I feel like last week there were a couple of times where the Raiders got on top of our defense, and we can’t let that happen. I also feel like in the second half we did a much better job. I feel like we’re going to have some things gameplan-wise that will help us out."
Of gloves, Cowboys QB Tony Romo and former coach Bill Parcells - David Moore, DMN
This time I chuckled for the right reasons. David Moore writes:
There is [only] one time Romo has worn a glove with the Cowboys. That came in a 2006 preseason game during a downpour. Then coach Bill Parcells forcefully suggested that Romo wear a glove for the game.
Why hasn’t he worn one since?
"Because Bill’s not here,’’ Romo said.
Sean Lee on comments about Cowboys being 'Hollywood': 'If you're distracted or you have lost focus, it’s your own fault' - DMN
The DMN has a transcript of Sean Lee's interview with KRLD-FM, in which he talked about the upcoming game. An excerpt:
On comments from former Cowboys players that playing in Dallas was too "Hollywood":
"I think we have an unbelievable opportunity to focus on football here. We have everything you could want to focus and become the best football player you can be. If you’re distracted or you have lost focus, it’s your own fault."
Lee Ready To Play After Exhaustive Recovery Process - Rowan Kavner, DallasCowboys.com
Kavner details the steps Sean Lee took to speed up his recovery, including diet, working with trainers, hyperbaric treatment, massages, active release therapy, stretching, acupuncture and Tiger Balm. Yep, Tiger Balm.
Callahan says new 'tweak' in play-calling system benefits all in fast-moving game, plus gives Witten a sideline coach - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
Offensive coordinator Bill Callahan said the tweak to the Cowboys' play-calling mechanics helped streamline communication because things happen so fast in the NFL, it's difficult for one person to keep up.
Bill Callahan pleased with Friday's practice - Calvin Watkins, ESPN Dallas
Callahan was pleased with Friday's practice, especially the tempo at which the Cowboys practiced.
"I thought practice was great," Callahan said. "When you get into an environment when it's closed and you're on FieldTurf it lends itself to a fast, fast practice and because of the travel, Coach cut down on the number of reps and periods we had today. I thought the players did a great job just executing. More than that, the tempo of the practice compared to yesterday, coming off a long break and coming into today's practice, I thought we came up a few notches so that was really encouraging to see. You need that type of timing obviously when you're getting ready to go on the road and play in a game like this on Monday night."
Scout says Cowboys defense short on talent - USAToday
USA Today quotes what they claim is "a high-ranking scout for another NFL team, speaking on the condition of anonymity," though this sounds much more like the uninformed ranting you might find on a Eagles message board than what an actual scout would say. Here's what the guy apparently said:
"[The Cowboys] are not very talented. That's why they're 32nd (in yards allowed)."
"Their D-line is a bunch of backups other than (DeMarcus) Ware, and he's hurt," the scout said. "Linebackers are hurt, and they don't have any safeties. They have a young guy (rookie J.J. Wilcox) who's going to be OK. They've struggled at corner. The LSU guy (Morris Claiborne) hasn't played that good. (Brandon) Carr – he's OK, but he's not worth what they paid him."
Pro Bowl: Eagles Getting The Shaft - PhiladelphiaEagles.com
More whining out of Philly: The Eagles don't have a single player among the top two vote-getters at their positions and believe "a grave injustice is being committed," because there are "so many Eagles deserving of making the Pro Bowl."
Someone please call whine-one-one and request a Waaaambulance.
The Giants' weekend elimination scenario - New York Daily News
The NFL issues "playoff scenarios" whenever a team has a chance to clinch a playoff berth over the weekend. Ralph Vacciano proposes an elimination scenario that's pretty simple: If the Giants lose, the 49ers don't lose and either the Cowboys or Eagles win, the Giants are done.
The San Diego Chargers will win against the New York Giants - Bolts From The Blue
Jon Gennaro writes that the Giants' five wins have come against bad QBs (Josh Freeman (Vikings), Michael Vick / Matt Barkley, Terrelle Pryor, Scott Tolzien, Robert Griffin) and since Philip Rivers is a good QB, the Giants will lose. Impeccable logic.
Shanahan's future a hot topic at Redskins Park - roanoke.com
Looking ahead to the future has become a popular pastime in Washington, and the players are already discussing Shanahan's future.
Breaking Madden: A land where 'offsides' has no meaning - SBNation.com
Jon Bois takes Madden beyond its breaking point as he looks at how many fumbles you can cause in one half playing Madden. He also does away with the offsides rule, which results in some pretty funny game-play sequences.
