Cowboys - Raiders Preview
Posted: September 29, 2005 @ 12:42 am
Two teams in search of an identity square off this Sunday when Dallas travels to Oakland. Though Dallas is 2-1, it could easily be 3-0 or 0-3. It’s inconsistent pass defense has forced the more experienced offense to carry the team and thus far it has. On the other side of the field an 0-3 Raiders squad has been crippled itself with foolish penalties and a failure to execute at key moments of the game. With a little more grit and a bit of luck, Oakland could be 3-0.
When Oakland Has the Ball
Kerry Collins is the fantasy football equivalent of the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow Man. He gets great statistics. He makes big plays. His QB ratings are fine. But his numbers show no ability, at least this year, to translate into wins. That’s because Collins is one of the streakiest QBs around. His three starts have all followed the same pattern. He starts hot, with two TDs on opening drives. In the other game, he found the end zone on his second drive. But Collins then seems to fall asleep in the middle of games. Against the Patriots, he started 4-for-4 and a TD. He then was only 7 of 23 in the middle two quarters. Sure, one of them was a 73 yard bomb to Randy Moss, but he left his defense on the field and by the time he cranked it up again late, he was trailing 30 to 14.
Against Kansas City, he was 6 of 7 and put seven on the board before he struggled. Last week was the most streaky performance yet. Four straight and a TD on the opening drive, followed by 8 straight incompletions. Then four straight completions. Then six of seven missed… He got hot late and led the Raiders to a tying score, but his erratic play has to be driving Norv Turner crazy.
The key to slowing Collins down is to keep him guessing. The Eagles regularly stacked the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball, but frequently dropped seven men into coverage. Collins was never sure whether he was going to be blitzed or baited into quick throws into zones and he could not regain his early rhythm until late. The Dallas rush has been inconsistent, in part because Mike Zimmer has so many young players who are still thinking first and running second. The fear of mental mistakes has taken some of the edge off the Dallas blitz. There have been few stunts because the risk of getting out of position and giving up the big play is probably greater than the chance that the rookies will make a play.
Mike Zimmer knows that he cannot play it safe against Collins or his big weapon Randy Moss. Last year, Zimmer played a soft zone against Moss’ Vikings and suffered a slow death. Minnesota was happy to take the yards the Cowboys corners were conceding, all the way to the end zone. Terence Newman was especially distressed by the passive scheme; he plays much better in press coverage and will get his chances against Moss. Newman has been the rock of the secondary thus far; he has not made as many big plays as new cornermate Anthony Henry, but has also conceded fewer of them.
Henry comes off a horrid performance against the 49ers, where he was burned by second year man Brandon Lloyd. Henry was acquired to face off against big receivers and he’ll get his shots against Moss as well.
The question is how much support do you offer the corners? The Eagles never let Moss leave the line single covered. FS Brian Dawkins offered help on almost every play. In the second quarter, DC Jim Johnson paid Moss the ultimate complement; facing a second and short near midfield, Oakland called a deep pass to Moss out of a short yardage formation. It was a one man route, with all the other Raiders faking a line plunge. The Eagles didn’t fall for the fake and had bothcorners, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown bracketing Moss. That’s respect.
The Cowboys have played strictly positional packages thus far, with Newman lining up at LC and Henry at RC in base formations, with Aaron Glenn playing LC and Newman lining up in the slot when Dallas goes to nickel. I think they’ll change up this week and have one of the starters, probably Newman, cover Moss across the field. Washington got a major mismatch when it lined Santana Moss against the aging Glenn. If Parcells and Zimmer sit back and let Norv Turner match up the 6′5″ Moss against the 5′9″ Glenn, they have nobody but themselves to blame for the outcome.
Another question is which team will win the ground battle? The Cowboys did an effective job of containing LaDainian Tomlinson and Clinton Portis in the first two games, but leaked rushing yards like a sieve last week against the 49ers. Conversely, the Raiders have been criticized for underusing new running back Lamont Jordan. Jordan flashed some big play ability against the Chiefs, but has yet to get a 20 carry game or top 80 yards in a game. Last week the Eagles shut him down completely, allowing Jordan just 19 yards on 16 carries.
Zimmer will probably keep SS Roy Williams close to the line a lot this week, to prevent Jordan from breaking out and to help in blitzes against Collins. He cannot get carried away, however, as doing so will leave only the shaky Keith Davis in deep coverage. Look for Dallas to roll the dice more on blitzes and stunts, in the hope that they can get to Collins before he finds Moss or Jerry Porter.
Keep an eye on young TE Courtney Anderson. With Dawkins occupied by Moss, the second year man from San Diego State made some big plays against the Eagles’ linebackers. He’ll likely get similar matchups this week against the Dallas backers.
When Dallas Has the Ball
When Drew Bledsoe takes the offense on the field, he’ll see a defense similar to his own. One with some playmakers and some inexperience. A defense with linebackes and safeties who are suspect in coverage. The primary difference is that the Cowboys have made plays to negate their mistakes. The Raiders are desperate for playmakers. Through three games, the Raiders have just two sacks and one interception. Dallas, in contrast, has nine sacks and five INTs.
The Cowboys will likely stick with their ball control philosophy, because it has worked. Bledsoe has led seven TD drives this year longer than 70 yards. Establishing the run has been an early objective, though Dallas might defer the run a little this week. Last week the Eagles opened with an 18 to 4 pass/run ratio. Chasing the QB tired out Oakland’s 300+ lb. tackles Ted Washington and Warren Sapp, who are not in the best of shape. Later in the half Andy Reid turned Brian Westbrook loose and he posted some big runs. This isn’t the Cowboys’ style, but passing to run could work again. The key matchup will come in the middle, where C Al Johnson squares off against the mammoth Washington. Johnson has struggled getting a push against big tackles, but has gotten the nod over Andre Gurode because he’s better in pass protection and makes fewer mental mistakes.
The real damage was done by the Eagles’ tight ends and running backs against the invisible Raiders’ linebackers and safeties. TE’s LJ Smith, Chad Lewis and RB Westbrook amassed an incredible 260 yards receiving against the core of Oakland’s pass defense. The open middle should have Jason Witten salivating. Witten finally had a big half against the 49ers before he was assigned double coverage. The Raiders are thinner than the 49ers and will pay a price if they devote too much coverage to Witten.
Look for Dallas to run a lot of two TE sets and a base three WR, one RB, one TE set, with Patrick Crayton in the slot and Witten split wide off the line opposite him. This will put both Crayton and Witten in space against Oakland defenders and create the opportunities for big gains.
Another key will be the ability to pass to the backs. Julius Jones got a long gain on a pass last week but is still primarily a blocker or a check down option. The coaches have talked about throwing more to Jones and this could be a good week to experiment. The Eagles got their offense going when they split Westbrook wide and let him outrun Raiders safeties.
Whether its with Crayton, Witten or Jones, expect Dallas to paint a target on Raiders’ safety Derrick Gibson. Gibson has struggled in coverage, to put it politely. Last week he took two holding penalties to prevent being burned. In the third quarter, Philly got Westbrook wide on Gibson and completed a 62 yard pass. Later, Westbrook torched Gibson for a 38 yard gain.
Gibson is having every bit as much trouble as Keith Davis, perhaps more. Don’t think the Cowboys will go easy on him.
Special Teams
Both teams enter the game with major issues. Dallas has just changed long snappers, releasing Jon Condo. Condo developed the yips and almost got kicker Jose Cortez killed last week. The Raiders continue to suffer kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who has already missed four field goals this year. He missed two midrange kicks last week that could have won the game.
Prediction: Bill Parcells likes to say you are what your record says you are. I’m going to take him at his word. Right now, his Cowboys are a moody team that runs hot on offense and cold on defense, with just enough big defensive plays mixed in to keep the win/loss ledger in the black.
The Raiders, on the other hand, are becoming comfortable with losing. If they were merely victims of bad luck, they would be no worse than 1-2 or perhaps even 2-1. But they’ve been consistent in their mistakes, which is why they’re still looking for a win. Sebastian Janikowski has consistently missed field goals. Kerry Collins has been consistently streaky. The defense has been consistent in extending opponents’ drives with penalties. Etc., etc., etc.
I can almost guarantee that the Collins will start hot and get the Raiders and early TD. He has in all of their games. I can also predict with some certainty that sometime in the middle of the game he’ll hit Randy Moss for a deep score. He’s done that in two of their games. In addition, the Cowboys have allowed a bomb in each of their last two games. Oakland will move the ball. The Raiders will score points.
But we can also be fairly certain that they’ll bog down, commit silly penalties, take sacks at the wrong time of the game and hand Dallas a turnover or two. Dallas has been good, most of the time, at making the big plays. Oakland has been even more consistent at giving them up. I’ve gone back and forth on this all week, but I’m playing the most consistent streak, which is Oakland’s losing one.
Dallas 27, Oakland 24
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Being a Cowboys fan in Oz, I appreciate the previews and in-depth analysis.
Sure beats the 1 minute I get on ESPN sportscenter. Hopefully Fox Sports in Australia will televise the game this week. We get 4 games a week maximum - the Monday & Sunday night games on ESPN, and 1 on Fox (which has a double header this week so that makes 4 this weekend).
Take very few penalties this weekend and hopefully the Boys will get it done against a team that usually gets flagged quite a bit.
However I see the Raiders being in a similar spot to the Vikings last weekend, and they get a 30-21 win. Really hope I’m wrong…
Until our young defense gels we need to score points!Our rookies are gonna make costly mistakes one minute and the highlight reel the next so as long as we consistantly put up 27-34 points a game I think we will be in the hunt until our defense gets going!
The one thing that scares me is Moss. We need to keep him at least double teamed. You make an excellent point if they think Glenn can handle him we are goners. Collins still can throw bombs so we need to prevent anythign long from being caught.
In addition. I still think we should be 3-0 right now. That loss against the Redskins was pathetic.
Julius and Witten show in this game why they are both getting free plane fare to Honolulu in February. KJ also burns the secondary and Glenn is mostly covered by Woodson……..who is actually making some big plays for this Raiders team.
Rafael mentioned the Raiders will make mistakes, the key is the Cowboys capitalizing on those, and mot making many of our own. It is still a tough road game and Randy Moss scares the hell out of me and probably Mike Zimmer. After all has Zimmer ever beaten Randy? Of course he has also never had two corners that are this talented, a good nickel and a SS like Roy……..but those guys all need to play to their paychecks this week!
This will likely be the toughest test for our secondary so far. With all the focus on Moss, we forget that Jerry Porter on the other side is also a freak of nature. Plus the coaching staff and Kerry Collins love the vertical attack. I expect our DBs to be challenged early and often by the Raiders regardless of the score.
On another note, the Raiders are the fifth best rushing defense in yards per carry (and allow only 94 yards per game) thanks to their strong line play. With Sapp playing his best in years (thanks to slimming down apparently), the Raiders are a team we must build an offensive game plan against–not just line up in basic sets and expect to ram it down their throats with JJ.
Since they’re the 2nd worst passing defense in the league (allowing 300 yards per game!), I love Rafael’s idea of passing first. Get them on their heels early, try a reverse and after some completions look for a few draws. They are so unbalanced that we should win, but this is the NFL of parity….
The Raiders play a 4-3 defense with two OLBs 280 lbs +. Irons (285) and Brayton (280) would be OLB tweeners in a 3-4 scheme, at best. What are they doing playing LB in the 4-3? It is almost as if the Raiders are playing with 6 defensive linemen. … So this is why our “running” game may be passes to our RBs, much like Philly did with Westbrook. Oakland plays a lot of zone, and I would expect as long as Bledsoe has time and sets his feet, he will pick them apart.
Parcells said earlier this week that this team did some things that can “battle-harden” them. What I saw that stood out to me was the first drives in the second half. The defense held San Fran to a three and out, netting 3 yards and :57 seconds of ball control. Dallas took the ball and moved down the short field, 10 plays, 55 yards and a touch, while keeping possesion for about four and a half minutes. … If I preached one thing last week, it was show some “toughness”!! Keyshawn (5 stars for the toughness he exhibited), Drew, the entire O-line, Julius (with his tough straight ahead runs), Newman, Canty, and Glover stepped up. This week, the Cowboys have to start winning the opening drives of halves. They won the second half against the 9ers, and it gives the team something to build on going into Oakland. … Last week Dallas improved in a few areas. The pass rush was better, especially Ware as the game moved along. Our offense got “tough” yards in critical situations, and showed the ability to consistantly drive the field and run the clock. They are playing smarter football. On the road, down by 12 points, they kept their cool and stayed within the game plan. Didn’t panic, and didn’t make a lot of stupid mistakes. … One step at a time with a young team.
A++; I don’t know how I ever made it through the week without this site.
I think we will see a lot of that exotic 4-2-5 that we saw in the SF game where you havefour DL, two true linebackers - Dat and Shanle - along with RWIlliams near the line. Then three DB’s and Willie Pile playing rover in the outfield.
Is the Raiders passing attack a better attack than SD with Brees an McCardell? Possibly better WRs with Porter and Moss as two of the best in the NFL. Down after Down I would take Porter as a player, Moss is a highlight reel that takes off on too many plays…….but he does catch tds.
I saw us continue to Blitz Brees and the Chargers and take chances in the secondary. I liked what I saw. I would rather go down blitzing then play conservative and end up losing. I also saw Collins throw the ball quick and avoid sacks………but his completions were few and far between. I don’t think he and Moss have clicked yet……..he was throwing much more to Porter even in the Red Zone where Randy is well Randy. I think we need to Blitz early and often.
Raiders were a 3-4 team last year and ditched it for 4-3 this year. Much to the pleasure of Warren Sapp. Who hated playing the DE in the 3 man front. I guess they got left over LBs from that scheme. I did not pay too much attention to their draft this year……but they gave up a LB for Moss and added Jordan at RB…………….Just because a guys last name is Ryan does not make the DC great……..you gotta have players making plays………and Buddy had Singletary, Dent, Perry and others in Chi and guys like JB and Reggie White in Philly………I don’t see that kind of talent in OAK……….I think Pass Pass and set up the run…….Drew has played ALL PRO so far this year and I got confidence in Crayton, Glenn, KJ, Witten and Julius out of the backfield as Recievers………..Westbrook killed the Raiders out in the flat and then ate em up rushing after Washington and Sapp were sucking oxygen………..we should try a similar attack with a few more runs mixed in.
Keith Davis or Will Pile will both need to have good games. As will Williams, Henry and TNEW………….I hope we can shake the Randy Randy Randy curse…………..and beat Da Raiders.
Cowboys connections are deep and wide once again this week. Norv Turner and Joe Avezano……….Jerry Jones and Al Davis are by far the two most intersting owners in the NFL……….and Sean Payton and Mike Zimmer were both candidates for the coaching vacancy which Norv filled………funny some of the guys that helped build our special teams to greatness and took our offensive and our QB to heights are on the wrong side this week. Oh well that is pro sports. I figure Avezanno has a hard time coaching against the Cowboys.
EricR…….while I agree we may have been battle hardened by coming back twice on the road at the hands of our Bus Driving Bledsoe………who is in route to a Pro Bowl………last one in Dallas QB was Troy…………giving up 12 points against a lousy SF team looked a little like well maybe we underestimated them………and we were expecting an easier game. I hope Dallas does not make that same mistake this week. Randy Moss alone is reason not to underestimate the Raiders. In some ways I hope that Washington Loss keeps this team nervous about winning and makes us realize we have to close out games. Closers make the big bucks!
Just my opinions………the Raiders weapons are Moss,Porter and Jordan,we all know Norv lives by the passing attack,so we should expect the intermediate and long ball alot.That said lets keep Pile in there at FS a majority of snaps with the understanding that everything stays in front of him!Lets put Henry on Moss(size matchup) with safety help and Newman on Porter(make them one dimensional in the passing game).Let’s blitz alot dis-allowing(is that a word?) Collins the time for the pattern to develope.Lets keep a shadow linebacker on Jordan and another on Collins if the pocket collapses and he decides to run.Let’s NOT be so predictable in our offensive play-calling(run on first,run on second,pass on third).Play to our strengths using our “possesion” reciever(Keyshawn) on some sideline and over the middle stuff,strike with the intermediate route with Crayton and Glenn,and exploit their “Clydesdale” type LB’s with Witten,all the while this will soften up the line for some JJ yardage and some screens….they are gonna be desperate being 0-3 and this might well be their season if they lose,and they will being going for broke against us on this one!The Collins to Moss/Porter bombs WILL be flying(the Oakland media is calling for Norvs head on blogs already!)!As sure as the sun comes up everyday he WILL be airing it out!Lets take away the weapons!Blanket Moss(and Porter) and force them to run!All this is easier said than done,but if we can let our offense open up and score the points(27-34) we have a good chance to beat da Raiders!IMOP
I was watching Cold Pizza this morning and they had the nfl report talking about the secret is out Roy isn’t that fast and he can’t cover. Other team are going to make him cover the crossing plays and the deep ball.
In a report from an AP writer in the San Antonio paper keyshawn(who has played with 12 different QB’s) calls Bledsoe the best “pure” QB he has ever played with……
The secret is out? How stupid is that? EVERYONE knows Roy is not that good at coverage- have known it since he was a rookie. Just plain dumb.
Anyone else notice our running plays seem to be very vanilla, right and left, but no pitches like we used to see with Emmit, who wasn’t that fast after all! I’d like to see them string out some defenses and let Julius find a seam and accelerate! And TT would be great for that in relief. Anyone else notice this lack?
larry
All of JJ big runs last year were from that draw or delayed draw whatever its called. I don’t know about JJ yet until I see him do it against Philly, Washington and NY.
you’re definately right about the delayed draw, and I love that play. But everything else seems to down the gut, and I don’t think that’ll work this week-it didn’t do well the last two games. Maybe the coaches know something about the personnel, but on the left side those guys ran that for years! I do know that Julius is taking a beating, even before hearing the concussion rumor…….
larry:
Number 22 was a pretty good receiver, I still don’t know if Julius is a good receiver, do you know that if Julius doesn’t catch those pitches that’s a fumble? Parcells isn’t dumb, he knows he needs to see more from Julius to know if he can trust him in those plays. The same applies on Thompson, who would be a freak in those plays…
i never thought of a pitch as any more risky than a shotgun snap or most handoffs. I could see pitching left or right with JJ and Thompson………I think the best olineman we got are the three in the middle………at least so far. Perhaps…….as Petitti improves and if Adams plays to his potential………..we will see more outside pitches.
I would think Julius Jones has been playing running back since Big Stone Gap, VA and those years at ND…….I gotta believe somewhere along the way they pitched him the ball. He himself has talked about learning to run the routes better and get open as a back out of the backfield and make himself more of a recieving threat………..I can see him and Thompson both as potentially very good recieving backs……….I would probably design a screen with blockers set up for either one of those two on the field. Both have speed. I don’t really want to turn either into Brian Westbrook though, personally I still like a RB that can run it between the tackles even when the D knows its coming. That is what football is about winning the battle upfront!
One possible advantage this week, Payton was Collins QB coach and play caller at the NYG. He might have some insight for the defense on his tendencys and things………..that is if he has time from his own game plan to talk to Zim and Bill.
i never thought of a pitch as any more risky than a shotgun snap or most handoffs. I could see pitching left or right with JJ and Thompson………I think the best olineman we got are the three in the middle………at least so far. Perhaps…….as Petitti improves and if Adams plays to his potential………..we will see more outside pitches.
I would think Julius Jones has been playing running back since Big Stone Gap, VA and those years at ND…….I gotta believe somewhere along the way they pitched him the ball. He himself has talked about learning to run the routes better and get open as a back out of the backfield and make himself more of a recieving threat………..I can see him and Thompson both as potentially very good recieving backs……….I would probably design a screen with blockers set up for either one of those two on the field. Both have speed. I don’t really want to turn either into Brian Westbrook though, personally I still like a RB that can run it between the tackles even when the D knows its coming. That is what football is about winning the battle upfront!
One possible advantage this week, Payton was Collins QB coach and play caller at the NYG. He might have some insight for the defense on his tendencys and things………..that is if he has time from his own game plan to talk to Zim and Bill.
Oakland has a very suspect OL, that has no ability to run block, and is giving up a lot of pressure, though few sacks.
I see the ‘Boys putting significant amounts of pressure on Collins forcing him into hot reads…that is where he becomes very suspect (and usually goes into his “mid-game slump” that Rafael referred to. Makes sense, as teams don’t like to blitz early or late in games.
The 4-2-5 that AlanTDot referred to is definitely going to be our base package until the Raiders prove they can run on us. Our DBs are going to have a very good game.
As far as Oakland’s D…there is nothing I’ve seen, nor any stats I trust, that predict anything other than a Cowboys’ performance that will amaze.
From the homer box…Cowboys 42, Raiders 17
The one area of the Cowboys defense that is still of concern is there inability to get a consistent, effective pass rush from their four down lineman. Against the Redskins they were ineffective in getting pressure on Brunell throughout the game. Most likely, they will have to imploy a blitz from either a saftey, corner, or linebacker in order to keep Collins off balance, plus disquise it as best they can. If they can improve in this area, it will work wonders for their defense.
Cowboys 34 Raiders 21…….
I hope our offense is ready to cut loose,on certain chat blogs rumor has it that a source close to the Raiders executive management sez Norv Turner is done if they lose to the Cowboys!They will be all over us on Sunday and airing it out!This is THEIR superbowl,win or else!The radio stations in Oakland are urging the fans to “rock the stadium” with noise when the Cowboys have the ball!I hope the Cowboys match the intensity!The Raiders are gonna be playing for their season on this one!0-4 is a death sentence…..!
But in conclusion,I think we’ll ‘woop” their asses…….lol 34-21
I saw this story on NFL.com and thought to myself is it the Oline or JJ the reason our running game hasn’t taking off??? I think its JJ, I don’t know if he is the answer or not at RB. He had two big games last year or was it three? But when he plays against a good D he doesn’t give us anything.
Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams is quickly becoming one of my favorite players. What makes this story so interesting is the perceived weakness on the offensive line. The Buccaneers offensive line was not able to run block or pass protect before Williams came to town, but now it looks like one of the better O-lines in the league during Williams’ first three games. There has been a long debate about whether it is the line or the back that makes the difference. There is no question that Williams has added a big-play dimension to the Bucs offense that has not been there in quite a while.
I see AW has decided that JJ is a bust.
Typical.
Probably was badmouthing him all last season even when he was tearing up teams.
The fact that AW is calling him a bust tells me that JJ is the real deal.
Poor Cadilac.
He now is doomed.
Burmafrd
I never said he was a bust or called anybody else a bust. I asked a question. But I did say sit a-train and let the rookies play two weeks ago and that is what is happening now. So are you saying its the Oline???
This is a little off subject but…
I just saw that the 49ers were looking to trade Jamie Winborn their young and super fast outside LB. He had a good year in 2004. He could be had cheap. He has been injured off and on. but he could put pressure on QBs. What does everyone think about him?
AW,
You have to take some factors into account when you try to compare JJ and Cadillac, One main point which is key is that teams are putting 8 and sometimes 9 guys in the box, run blitzes, to stop JJ, which isn’t the case with Cadillac so far, penealties are killing some of what JJ is doing, putting us in passing downs, atleast four times this year, JJ had good runs called back because of holding penealties on the O-line. If Cadillac continues, do you think teams will change their game plan against tampa and put some 8 man fronts and run blitzes, I guarantee that will happen. Teams that play us are forcing Bledsoe to win the games which he is, and if that continues, teams will change their fronts. You also have to take into account the teams they both play, Dallas played SD, Wash, and SF, the first two had pretty good run defenses from last year, where Tampa completely revamped their offensive line from last year and have played Minn,Buff, and Greenbay, two of those have bad defenses and Buffalo is really struggling so far this year, they miss Williams in the middle. Its a 16 game season, its not how you start the season when you compare the two backs, its where you finish. JJ will be fine, not a hundred yard game and we have two wins, and we should of won the third.Ill take the wins, and I think JJ will too over the hundred yard game.He’ll get his share of those Hundred yard games.
Cadillac is a good back, infact if you were to ask me before the draft who I thought would have the best impact out of the three that were taken in the top ten, I would say Cadillac, then Brown followed by Benson.
Gman,
I would trade singleton and Ogbogu for winborn, but I dont think San Fran would go for that.
And since A-train seems to be in Bill’s dog house, I’d throw him in instead of Ogbogu.
Final Score: Dallas 31, Raiders 27
- I think we are going to come out fired up because we are 2-1, their 0-3, and we’re the underdog. They have two 300+ lineman, but their not that good. I watched Oak play against Philly and they weren’t really getting any pressure. This game really could be JJ coming out party. I’m calling for a huge game for him, esp catching the ball. The Eagles showed that Oak, and just about every other team, can’t handle a RB that can run AND catch. Westbrook is one of the best in the game, LT’s 1st, and BP knows how valuable that is. A RB that can go in the slot and get downfield and catch the ball is one of the hardest things to cover. We have to open up plays like that and LIMIT LAMONT JORDAN CATCHING THE BALL. They seemed to get rolling when they would dump the ball out to Jordan in the flat and let their blockers set up. Moss will be Moss, I would put Newman and Davis/Pile on him all game, constant double team. Play Pile 5 yards in back of him and have Newman press him all game. Our offense I think is just as potent as theirs, they have more talent at WR, we have a better RB, right now a better QB, a better line, and better TE’s. We have faced 2 good defenses and 1 decent one.
AW,
I think we need to see how JJ holds up over a full season. His stats last year didn’t come against some JUCO in Arizona. He can play. Is he a top five or Top seven Back? We don’t know yet.
JJ has had over 100 yds combined in every game. Plust he’s a great goal line back. So he isn’t Williams, he also didn’t cost as much as Williams. I think with JJ and another one of our younger backs to share time, we should be just fine for the future.
Here are a couple of questions:
1. How many of ya’ll wanted Dallas to pick Randy Moss in the draft AT THE TIME? (Be honest.)
2. How many of ya’ll think passing on Moss was a good/bad decision NOW, even having seen his antics over the years?
Great analysis everybody, I agree, high scoring, another Dallas win at the end, 31-27.
Great questions, Rich!!
Well, honestly, I thought we blew it when Moss fell to us in the draft and and we didn’t take him. Furthermore, I thought taking Ellis was a safe, uninspired pick. I felt we were gonna regret not taking Moss, AND that Ellis was a wasted pick….
But would I have drafted Moss knowing what I know now? Yep. I STILL woulda drafted him. Reason being- he’s an incredible talent. He’s just too good a football player- better on the field than even some of his proponents predicted he’d be.
It’s too hard to say how things would be if we’d taken him- How would Campo have delt with him? Would he have taken us to the playoffs? Would we have Parcells today? Would he still be a Cowboy? Would he have torn our franchise apart? I dunno. But I think most teams that passed on him regret it, even to this day.
After all, if he didn’t work out, we could always have traded him to the Raiders for a 1st round pick, right?
If you think Moss caused trouble at Minn when things went bad, imagine what it would have been like here. And when Aikman went downhill and left, Moss would have been going postal every week.
I HAVE NO REGRETS at passing on that particular spoiled child headache.
Well,I will say this much……Moss hasn’t helped ANY team win a championship and the one he’s on is 0-3! In other news check out the article on Yahoo sports,it sez Oakland is a lock to win this weekend….I’d love to shut them up! GO COWBOYS!
Derrick
I’m not comparing JJ to cadillac. What I wrote is after reading that story it made me thank why hasn’t JJ gotten off yet??? Is it the Oline or JJ??
rich
You are right with Moss.
rich,
If you are asking would I trade Greg Ellis for Moss straight up then the answer is yes. Since that’s the guy we took instead. I believe that Aikman would just now be retiring.
If played in Dallas or a neutral field, I think Dallas wins, but in Oakland I think they lose. The Raiders have lost three in a row and I’m sure they’re hungry to win, especially at home. I think it stays pretty close until midway through the fourth quarter when Porter and Moss catch deep balls over Roy Williams and the Boys come home 2-2. Raiders 27 Dallas 21.
AW,
You said that you don’t think that JJ is the answer at RB, so I believe that you just answered your own question. Don’t be doubting him, or the offensive line after week 3. It’s way too early in the year to be down on our running game. We’re 2-1, and should be 3-0.
As far as the comparisons to Cadillac, I agree with Derrick. Dallas has played against teams with decent run defenses, whereas Tampa has played against some sorry defenses and have re-tooled their offensive line. Bottom line; It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
As for Randy Moss, I don’t care what kind of numbers he’s putting up, I wouldn’t take him. How many championships did he win in Minnesota anyway? His former team is 1-2, and his current team is 0-3. It’s not all about Moss. Football is a team game, and it takes a whole TEAM to win. Randy Moss’ idea of TEAM, is walking off the field early with time left on the clock, while the TEAM is still trying to win a game. No surprise that he’s not on that TEAM anymore. No Thanks!
Oh by the way; Oakland is in disarray, while the Cowboys have shown some resiliency and an explosive offense. Kerry Collins is inconsistent, Sapp and Washington get winded, and we break the Moss stranglehold on the ‘Boys. Cowboys - 31, Raiders - 20
AW is simply saying that he’s not 100% convinced that Julius Jones is the answer at running back. He’s NEVER said he was a “bust”, you morons.
SAME HERE- I’m not positive he’s the answer myself, and I’m not ready to annoint him the second coming of Emmitt, like some fans already have.
He’s a good back, AND he’s surely been a factor- getting off some nice runs (what’s his longest THIS year, not last year when nobody knew him?), he CAN catch, block, and he opens up the passing game for us. I see him slowly becoming the “complete back” that Parcells wants him to be. But will he become that All-World RB that can take over a game, like the ones we’ve grown accustomed to here in Dallas? I dunno yet.
It’s still too soon to say JJ is or isn’t the real answer for us at RB. But NOBODY is saying Julius a bust- just that he hasn’t convinced SOME of us more objective fans that he is the All-World stud RB that Emmitt was, that’s all. So forgive some of us for cracking out the pom-poms just yet.
It would take quite a few BIG games against great teams for me to say that he’s the final answer for us at RB. Who knows… maybe it Thompson?
Running backs are not the premium in the leauge they once were. The theory has become good offensive line, and a decent running back……and you are good to go. Otherwise how can you explain the treatment that Brian Westbrook, Shaun Alexander, and Edgerrin James get……….last time I checked some of those guys were Pro Bowl players.
Julius will do fine. He is a quality kid that is what we have also come to expect from our RB. He has speed size and strength. He shows us he is willing to block and I love this young kids humility. He got a lot of attention last year after a terrible start and unfortunate injury. Coming to an organization where your predecessors are guys like Tony Dorsett and Emmit Smith is a pressure cooker in the biggest sense of the word. Parcells not only but the ONUS on Jones……..but made lots of comments about “Oh yeah the trainers say he plays in week whateever it was he plays in week whatever it was……….he wanted to see him out there……….
I don’t think anybody has said this guy is the second coming of Emmit. What fan would. I just think many of us see this kid as special and doing the things it takes to be successful in the NFL. He is in route to 1400 yard RUSHING season……..and probably another couple hundred yards recieving………and we are saying that ain’t good enough. I think some of the best coaches in the league would take that in a second.
Jones will be fine………..and if he ain’t hey……….even Jimmy said of Emmit after he drafted him………..I am going to run the wheels of that kid then just get another. Nobody knew the little guy from Pensacola had the heart of warrior. Jones will be fine……….so will our Cowboys. I think one more good draft and some experience with our new 3-4 and maybe some better communication in the secondary………this team will be as good as any in the NFL and will compete with not only the Eagles but any body the AFC sends to the Super Bowl as well!!!!
Good points, JON.
And maybe we don’t need the “premium” back to get us back to the Superbowl. Maybe the running game we have now will be good enough to get us far into the playoffs. I won’t argue that. I’m thinking its our defense that will ultimately get us back to the promised land, where we belong. Besides, it’s not easy to see into the future and pluck that once-in-a-lifetime RB from the draft. Didn’t Jimmy say he had Blair Thomas rated higher on his draft board than Emmitt?
All that said, I think we did pretty well picking Julius Jones. I think he’s on his way to becoming that complete back Parcells wants. I’m just not absolutely convinced he’s the RB stud that some people believe. But maybe he doesn’t have to be great- just good enough.
And, hell yeah, Julius is a damn good kid. It’s real hard not to be impressed by him.
But nobody’s called him a “bust”. Questioning his ability to be a game-breaker is not heresy. He MAY STILL BE the next in a long line of great Cowboy RB’s. It’s just too soon to say is all….
Lets go easy on the name calling Rich. Remember, it takes one to know one.
The immaturity of a few people on this blog is starting to take the fun out of it. Especially those who resort to name-calling when faced with a dissenting opinion.
I guess that’s the problem with Internet communication; You just don’t know who you’re talking to.