Shoot the Messenger Guards. Dallas Falls to Seattle, 13-10
Posted: October 24, 2005 @ 1:04 am
The mantra is thick on the threads here and I imagine it’s the same on Metroplex radio: “the play calling was too conservative.” “Parcells is playing not to lose.” “Sean Payton has play- calling dementia,” or some far less polite description.
I’m sticking to assessing the team’s execution. Why look for a complex explanation when a simpler one is at hand? And Sunday, there was a brutally simple explanation for the 13-10 loss. A brutally ugly explanation.
The offensive line sucked.
Seemingly not alarmed by its poor protection against the Giants, the line regressed even further. It was not only the frequency of the protection breakdowns that’s alarming, but the incredible timing; the sacks and penalties were evenly spaced, and placed for maximum damage. Submitted for your consideration:
Drive one: Dallas starts inside its ten, thanks to a Terence Newman interception, but moves smartly outside the 30. Al Johnson then bounces a center snap off his own thigh. Dallas recovers, but it’s the second time in two weeks that Johnson opens the game bungling a snap. They punt two plays later. It’s hard to get a hot start when you can’t even get the ball to your QB.
Drive three: One series after Dallas has driven for a 7-0 lead, the offense is zipping again, moving from it’s own 14 to the Seattle 47 in six plays. But Rob Petitti gives up a seven yard sack on second and nine, blowing up a promising drive and earning a loud sideline lecture from his coach.
Drive five: On a third and two from the Dallas’ 40, Sean Payton sends in this week’s special. The Cowboys line up in a diamond backfield, with Marion Barber as the I back and Jason Witten and Lousaka Polite in offset fullback positions behind the left and right guards. At the snap both Witten and Polite go left. Barber takes one step left, faking a toss, then runs right where Andre Gurode and the right side of the line are setting up a screen. He takes the pass 22 yards to the Seattle 38. The play is negated by a needless holding call against RG Marco Rivera, who hooked Seattle CB Jimmy Herndon with his right hand. Dallas has to punt.
The results got even worse in the second half:
Drive one — facing a third and five, Bledsoe is sacked. Dallas punts.
Drive two — facing a third and two, Bledsoe is sacked. Dallas punts.
Drive four — facing a third and goal from the four yard line, Dallas spreads the field with a three WR, one-back set, with Witten set right. At the snap, Witten cuts inside the Seattle safety, who falls down. The linebacker playing the short zone in front of Witten runs to his left to help cover the slot receiver, opening a huge lane between Bledsoe and Witten. Witten was all but doing jumping jacks in the middle of the end zone. Bledsoe could have shot putted the ball to him.
And if he had the protection he enjoyed the first month of the season, he would have. Today, he never saw Witten, because both his tackles were bullrushed into his lap. Seahawks ends Grant Wistom and Bryce Fisher met at the quarterback, sacking Bledsoe for the third time in the half and forcing a chip shot field goal that Jose Cortez promptly missed.
Bad play calling? I don’t think so. Your Pro Bowl TE is wide open. Conservative? Perhaps. But know that this was only the sixth pass play Dallas had called that half. And yet it was the line’s third sack allowed.
You can call me conservative too, but if my line is letting my QB get sacked 50% of the time I call pass, I’m not going to throw more, not when the defense is again playing well and the score is only 7-3. In addition, the situations don’t afford an excuse. Bledsoe was not holding the ball trying to complete third-and-18s, or third-and-20s. This is probably why Payton and Parcells ran the ball when Dallas faced third and short the remainder of the game.
The truly sad fact is that the crumbling protection is also eroding Bledsoe’s confidence. The one offensive constant of the first five games has suddenly and frighteningly regressed into FrankenDrew, the monster from Buffalo with the club feet and tunnel vision, who locks onto receivers and rushes throws. He forced three passes to Terry Glenn today when Glenn was double covered. Two were intercepted. He hurried a pass to Keyshawn Johnson in the second quarter when Johnson’s corner had fallen down. The incompletion was a sure touchdown, as Seattle was blitzing and had nobody in the deep middle.
The irony of the line’s passing meltdown is that it was having its best run blocking day of the year. Marion Barber had the best day of any Cowboys rusher in ‘05, gaining 95 yards on 22 carries. Tyson Thompson averaged a guady 5.7 yards on his six carries. The offense averaged 4.2 yards per run, its best of the year against a defense that stacked eight and often nine players to stop it.
If there is a postive to take from this forgettable afternoon it’s this: The line has protected Bledsoe well before. There is no reason to believe it cannot again, especially with the bye coming up after the Cardinals game. The line has not run blocked consistently and today it did. If that extra week can put both phases of the line’s play into balance, the second half and the season can be saved.
But the fix needs to come soon. The antacid supplies in Cowboys Nation can’t be sustained at this current pace.
Comments
197 Responses to “Shoot the Messenger Guards. Dallas Falls to Seattle, 13-10”
Rafael:
The conclusion I figured out also at the end of the game, some guys already call Parcells a moron, I guess they weren’t calling him that October 9th…
Some guys are also complaining about some penalties that weren’t called, want some more? Take a look at the film and watch Seattle OLine, there were a bunch of holding penalties that weren’t called and a push in the back from Jones to Ware.
And about the Cardinals game, our DLine will eat a red bird in #12 uniform, they got just one sack in this game…
I have a new name for the Cowboys Defense. Remember when Da Bears had the 46? Our defense should be called the 56. They’re great for 56 minutes! Unfortunately, games are 60 minutes long. Seriously, I can’t fault the defense. It should never have come down to that.
You’re right, the offensive line sucked, but I think the Cowboys really miss Jeff Robinson. I think that letting him go is looking like the worst move Jerry and Bill made before the season. The snap was bad on the missed 49 yarder, and McBriar should become a back up wideout for being able to snare all those bad snaps!
The defense is actually doing a great job, having shutdown three high-powered offenses in a row. Now if only the offense can put enough points on the board to be able to absorb the defense’ 4 minute drill meltdowns. Seattle makes a 50 and a 55 yard field goals, and Dallas can’t get a 29 yarder, because Jerry and Bill get cheap and don’t want to keep Robinson for another year! I wonder if Dale Hellestrae would be willing to come out of retirement for the league minimum? Sigh…….
I meant a missed 29 yarder in my previous post.
onepaniolo,
Now that I’ll fault Parcells for. He makes one whopper of a personnel mistake every year it seems. Last year it was passing on Bert Berry, though he was probably already dreaming of the 3-4 then. The year before he went bust on Ryan Young, the RT.
Rafael,
Once again, you make us all look like fools. I agree totally the o-line play was not there from the start…and oh yes there were warning signs. Rafael, I know you don’t want to talk about complex stuff and you just want to talk about execution but I really think most of us are right here. I mean, i saw it…everyone else saw it…the play calling was awful…it was not only an F in was a super F i’m talking way low…like those tests you took in high school that you didn’t study for at all.
No doubt that the O-line was at their collective worst. Yet, I think it is as equally easy to see that the play calling was bad as it was the O-line. I don’t know who really is calling the plays anymore after the conflict they showed on the dallas sideline but I do know whoever is calling needs to either A) Be taken to the wood shed and given a “come to Jesus talk” or B)Fired- THERE, I said it!!!! you can give me your worst. But this is beyond a matter of winning or losing…this is becoming a serious health risk for alot of us. Next game like this I’m going to have to be taking blood presure meds, I’m sure of it!!!!
Oh, football Gods…HAVE MERCY ON US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The O-line takes the longest to gell together. If only one member of the line screws up, the entire offense can get bog down. With two new members joining this year, I knew it was going to take a while to get used to each other. As weeks progressed there were signs that the line had the ability to dominate. But the last 2 opponents have shown just how weak this group is (mentally and physically). Bad snaps, penalties and overall poor play has made Bledsoe timid. If you can’t score even one TD when your in the red zone twice in the 4th quarter you’re in a world of hurt. As Rafael said, let’s hope that the coaching staff can fix this problem going into the second half of the season otherwise Cowboys management will be looking to spend the entire offseason next year to overhaul this very “offensive” unit.
It’s tempting to blame Payton/Parcells for playcalling. But the only time I question them is the first red zone opportunity in the fourth, which was a perfect play action opportunity. Instead they went with two rushes to Barber, for 3 yards. Seattle sold out on the run on both plays. Everyone knew run was coming. I knew it. A play action might have been an easy 6. But, who knows.
I agree Raf that most calls are questions of execution. It’s the old Zampese line: if a call works, it was good. If it doesn’t, it was bad. Take the flea flicker, for example. Aikman ripped the call during the game. But if Barber had handled the football and the play had worked, we’d all be lovin’ on Payton.
Also, drop the penalty complaints. It’s just part of the game. I lost respect for Hasselback when he complained about “3 bad calls” in the first half after throwing an obvious intentional grounding pass. Don’t bitch and moan; just execute. I don’t like it in the opponent and I don’t like it on our side, either.
I hate to say this, but Arizona is now a must win. We can’t afford to drop to 4-4 in this division. 5-3 at the bye might still set us up for 10-6, but the second half schedule is killer, with 3 divisional road games, plus Carolina, Denver, KC and the Rams. 3-3 Detroit is the easiest game on the books. There are no games against teams with losing records in the second half. So I’m not sure 10-6 is a given, and even if it is, will it be enough in this division?
“let’s hope that the coaching staff can fix this problem going into the second half of the season”.
How does the salary cap affect spending on coaching? Can the Cowboys get extra specialist coaches, or does the cap limit that possibility? Can Petitti and Tucker be given individual tutoring, if they’re not already getting it?
I’ll blame Jacob Rogers for this mess, because he couldn’t stay un-injured.
A google search for Torrin Tucker produces many pages of opinions that he was expected to be picked in 2003’s round 2 or 3, and opinions seem to be that he was better at run blocking than pass protection.
If they can’t protect Bledsoe, maybe Thompson could be the quarterback in a Wishbone, with Barber and Jones as his ‘options’. I know that’s not an original idea, because someone on this blog mentioned the Wishbone last week.
With the defence they have, the Wishbone Cowboys could win.
The Cowboys running the Wishbone in the Super Bowl against a conventional offence also would be a nice contrast, and could be more entertaining for audiences in Europe, South America, and Australasia.
Geez, even a decent effort by the offensive line and the Cowboys win in a walk. The Seattle defensive line COMBINED FOR 29 TACKLES AND 5 SACKS ( 18 and 3 by the defensive ends)! God, I hope that Ethan Brooks can contribute right away.
Other than the first drive and the last few minutes, Seattles’ offense did diddly. Shaun Alexanders’ longest runs were 14 yards and 6 yards. Hasselback was so flustered he committed an intentional grounding penalty from the middle of the pocket with no one around him. The Cowboys dominated the top offense in the league and came away with another heartbreaking loss.
In two of their three losses this year, the Cowboys beat themselves. Last season, the Cowboys were getting their asses kicked every week, so I consider this season to be an improvement and remain hopeful for a playoff spot.
Andy
Does anyone knows who’s a free agent after this season??? We need so much help on that O-line. Whats up Stephen Peterman???
This was such a dissapointing loss. The Cowboys deserved to win this game. And the defense especially deserved to win this game. The Seahawks had the top rated offense in the NFL,coming into the game averaging over 400 yards of offense. Shawn Alexander is the leagues top rusher averaging over 5 yards per carry. Yet Dallas held the Seahawks to 289 total yards and limited Alexander to just 61 yards. While the Dallas D
played a great game,the Dallas Offense was way too conservative.
The difference in the game was the fact Dallas started two fourth quarter Red-Zone drives and only came away with three points. On the first Red zone drive,they had it first and goal and couldn’t score a TD,then Cortez missed a 29 yard FG. The second drive,they had the ball on the Seahawks three yard line and could get a first down by reaching the one. On third and one from the three yard line and up by the score of 7-3 they decide to call a naked bootleg and Bledsoe rolls to the right,then tried to get the first down by diving head first into three defenders. This is the best play they could come up with in that situation? You’ve got a slew of capable backs,Terry Glenn,Keyshawn Johnson,Jason Whitten and this is the best you could come up with? Payton and Parcells need to be far more creative in the Red Zone and stop playing Not-to-lose but to win. You’ve got to be aggressive in those situations and you’ve got to get touchdowns. Dallas has a lot of weapons and needs to stop being so conservative.
Everytime the Cowboys play conservative on offense they lose. I think Jerry Jones needs to tell Parcells to always open up the offense and attack the others team defense every game.
I was worried all week what the absence of Flo Adams would do to Bledsoe and his blindside. Looks like I was justified. Why won’t Tuna move Larry Allen to tackle and let Gurode play guard? It seems like the best possible line right now.
Last week with all the T Tucker and F Adams talk it was determined the offensive line would be the doom of the Cowboys. Could it be a self fulfilling prophecy? It doesn’t have to be if skill people will step up.
Obviously Seattle decided to allow running yardage to keep our passing underneath. They felt correctly we could not sustain drives or score touchdowns as running became more difficult close in. They saw the NY and Washington film and knew exactly how to defense us.
Our offensive game plan took what they allowed. Whoever said the defense gets to dictate our offensive strategy? And, who ever said the quarterback and other skill players gets a pass when the pressure comes?
Hassleback was under pressure all day and his slow receivers got no separation even at the end, but they finally made a couple of plays. We had chances but failed to make those same plays. (To his credit, Drew made them last week.)
Every team would like add a better offensive lineman to their mix. As good as the Seahawks line was purported to be, they were overwhelmed by Dallas pressure. The bottom line, their QB and receivers made plays under pressure and we did not.
Larry Allen cant play tackle, he doesn’t have the quickness or the footwork anymore to play tackle, he’s an in the box guard. I think the offseason will be spent revamping the offensive line, Allen will be gone after this season and Flozells big money starts to kick in after this season and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s cut loose either. He an average left tackle. Gurode is a free agent after this year and I dont think he’ll be back, so look for another free agent signing and drafting a tackle, guard and a backup center.
Very disappoiting this is the 2nd Game we gave away in the 4th Quarter. Our defense played one of its best games and go home demoralized cuz we cannot get a kick off……is this the line, snapper, holder or kickers fault……..I don’t know I just know last year Robinson and Cundiff were better.
If you are going to play run the ball and stop their defense………FINE……..but by golly you better find a better kicking game!
The offense finally ran ok, and the statue that is Drew decides to show up and telegraph his passes.
I saw “Give me the Damn Ball” Keyshawn drop a few that were catchable………hardly perfect buy catchable.
These are the kind of losses you cannot have if you want postseason play. Also the “bus driver” cannot give up a pass like that in the 4th with only a few seconds left in the game. That is just a stupid mistake………we should have never been in that position……….but we were and it happened……………
Well Cardinals up next then a buy before Philly. I don’t expect Philly to play the same way they did the first time we played em. We need to ROLL over Arizona and then rest and study up for Philly. This division is the black and blue and we are in LAST PLACE……………Giants and Eagles pull off miracle wins and the Redskins Roll and we decide to give up miracle win to Seattle. AHHHHH!!!!! I know Parcells is pulling his hair out.
Does anybody know where you can get info. on when players contracts are in their final year? Or any contract length info.
The O line has 2 pro bowlers in LA and MR but does anyone think they are playing pro bowl level? BP jumps on the first year guy for giving up an 8 or 9 yard sack but I don’t see him jumping on Rivera for having a 22 yard gain called back for a bad holding penalty. I guess it is easier to pick on the rookie :-)
Here is hoping that the draft next year brings some O line help, a starting FS, (and maybe a WR, LB, and CB as back ups). JB is more a strong safety I think when he returns next year. WR takes a year or so to adjust to NFL. CB just in case one is injured. How long is Pile’s contract for?
It is to bad the D played well, and the O didn’t match their play. I did enjoy seeing Shanle running up the middle for the birds QB. I think the D is getting really good really fast! D Coord. is doing well on his learning curve with the 3-4.
Well, another day of taking $h!t from my co-workers (don’t live in TX). They take great pleasure in seeing the Boys getting the L. Win or lose the Star logo goes to work with me. Can’t be a fan just after the wins.
IMO I don’t think their is a team out there thats wants the Boys on their schedule including filthy delphia for a potential payback game.
A few questions and comments. Was the missed 29 yd fg a bad snap? I didn’t see much of the game but when I heard he missed that kick I immediately assumed he would be cut. If it was a bad snap, I’d cut the snapper. We can’t missed 50% of chip shot FG’s and have any hope of making the playoffs.
I think the questions about coaching/strategy should actually be on the defensive side. Again, I couldn’t watch the game but a defense as strong as this that melts down in the last 2 min almost every week makes no sense. Those players don’t suddenly forget how to play. I place at least some of the blame on coaching, maybe a lot of it.
I did see a replay of the int with 5 seconds left. I have no idea why the pass was even thrown. If the pass had been completed at that point on the field (to a double covered receiver), we still wouldn’t have had time to attempt a FG. We needed quite a few more yards to even consider a kick. What a stupid decision to throw that pass.
Looked to me like TTucker had a reasonable day, certainly better day than Petitti. This season is coming down to:
1.) Cortez cannot make a field goal without a perfect snap and hold
2.) Bledsoe cannot complete a pass without perfect protection
Dudes, this is the NFL. These guys need to get it done. No one is asking for big numbers, just a couple of plays under pressure.
BTW, it is possible (not probable) to survive with a feeble offense and dominant defense (e.g., Baltimore a few years back). There is no way possible to do it with a poor kicking game like ours. If we made the 29 yd FG yesterday, we win.
Horribly off topic, I’m sorry, but does anyone know of a way to obtain recordings of anything cowboy in spanish? Games or shows in mp3.
BTW, anyone know what coach Parcells pushed? He argued with Payton earlier, but was that him he pushed during his discussion with the ref?
great analysis, Raf. there may be other problems and areas to pick on but what you write was very insightful and helpful.
does anyone know why one of the big papers hasn’t picked up Raf as a columnist/analyst? they’ve got nobody doing half as good a job.
Couldn’t see the game.
I know the kicking game screwed up.
I know the offense had problems.
But what I don’t know-at the end of the game, did the defense switch to a “prevent” sort of look? Were substitutions made? I’m talking about the long drive, not after the interception. Because, if so, then the coaches had better just throw that one out of the books, annd we stay in our regular D no matter the situation. Did we switch to a zone instead of aggressive man-man like the whole rest of the game?
Heres the deal..we all agree parcells is OLD school (he also knows more about football than I would even pretend too) however, as I said before he plays the percentages and makes the “right” conserative call and puts the game in the defenses hands with time running out and the opponent with a long way to go against the odds…whats changed the NEW pass interferance rules. It’s much easier today to go 40 yards with one bad, or touchy call..this did not use to happen. In the old days it was hard, if not down right impossible to go 80 yards and score, much less twice in 50 seconds.
larry:
The D played with the same intensity displayed until that moment, the turn of events had more to do with Seattle performing to his capabilities, they manhandled the DLine, Alexander finally broke a good one and the receivers went short and fast routes (those are pretty though to defend if you don’t know where the ball is going).
I don’t know about that whole “if it works it’s a good call, if not it’s a bad call”
—Flea flicker that failed becouse barber couldn’t handle the ball—that was a bad call—why you might say??? Well, we had mishandled a snap, mishandled a place kick and nearly lost the ball with a fumble in that point in the game…it was raining cats and dogs…i don’t think it is ever wise to turn your play into a circus when it is raining….just a thought
Bledsoe threw a good bomb to Terry Glenn that was bobbled and then picked off like the guy was Derek Jeter or something catching a one hopper. The recievers today played more like Seattles recievers.
Witten only had 2 catches for 47 yards? Why is Bledsoe not looking at one of the best pair of hands on the team. With Crayton our other hands guy out I say Witten is probably our top guy. With Price and Glenn stretching em deep Bledsoe should have been looking underneath not only at KJ but also more to Witten. Also I gotta say Bledsoe’s passes when he had time to pass were anything but perfect and our hands were not all that well. I guess you could blame it on the weather until Hasselback drives down the field with nothing but pass after pass late in the ballgame.
This is another example of a game that the Dallas Cowboys were in position to win but failed to close it out. I was in a local watering hole watching the game with some friends………..it is never on TV around here thanks to the Redskins………but at any rate………..me and a few fellow Cowboys fans were all sitting there looking at that scoreboard and saying……..that ain’t going to be enough to win……..we gotta put some more points on the board.
Also………whatever happened to “In the Grass”. I saw Hasselback wrapped up twice and on his way down and they let him throw it away once and throw a completion the other time………..
that is not fair to the defensive players. The rules are so tough for late hits, and hits with your helmet………..and make sure you sack like a sisssy rules………..and then they don’t call the “in the grass”……….that is crap. I would ask the League about that one. Some bad officiating in my opinion also.
How can you expect the players to step up if the coaching staff does not. They have players that they are not allowing to play to their potential,
Play agressive and smart and confidence will grow individually and as a team. In week seven, they are making the same mistakes over and over again. The opposing team is blocking the field goal attempt. Cortez continues to miss field goals, the defense continues to give up touchdowns in the last quarter. There are no leaders or play makers on offense. Why did they sign Price.
There is no positive characteristic about our team. The only thing we do consistently is squander talent and opportunities.
Every player on that team is good and if someone goes down the next guy will rise to the occasion. It starts with the coaching staff, let the players play and stop stiffling them. The players who are not producing need to be replaced.
on the positive………
Scott Fujita played well and should see more time than Singleton.
Bradie James continues to improve. Not sure why he is better with Dat out of there, but hope it continues when Dat Returns!
Dat and Julius and Crayton were not on the field. That is our leading rusher, our leading tackler and our best pair of hands and punt returner not in the lineup.
Despite that the Dallas Cowboys have played well against both the Seahawks and the Giants especially on the defense side of things. Have teams figured out our offense already? I was really upbeat earlier but Drew looked bad the last two weeks, protection has been awful in his defense but he held the ball too long on plenty of plays………Bill needs to put a radio control cattle prod up his arse and hit the remote after a few seconds………DREW THROW THE BALL!………if you the happy feet of McNabb you can run around back there and complete a bomb……..but you ain’t got those feet.
We played the Eagles, Giants, and Seahawks. Three of the best offenses in the league and shut Philly out of the endzone and held them to just 3, and gave up only 13 points to the Giants and Hawks. Not bad the Defense is there. I think we should have had two in the grass sacks called. I blame that on the refs.
We need serious improvement in our pass protection. We need Julius healthy and establish a run. Marion Barber looked pretty good, as did Tyson Thompson. I just don’t think Bill has the trust in those guys hanging on to the ball that he does with JJ. Neither is as talented as Julius. Get back on the field JJ we need ya.
Jason Witten needs to go give Drew Bledsoe a little of the Keyshawn……hey Drew THROW ME THE DAMN BALL………Witten is often open and even when covered can make plays over linebackers and Safeties. We need to utilize him while we still got Terry Glenn, Price and KJ on the field………not wait til they are all injured too. Take notes Parcells, Payton and Bledsoe……….get Witten involved. He is a big Target……….Doug Cosby, Jay Noacek and Dwight Clark all agree.
rha,
It was receivers coach Todd Haley that Parcells pushed away while he was discussing the none call interference in the end zone. I also felt that shoulda been called. Even when the Seattle defender fell down on his own he’s not allow the hold , for any moment, on the receiver. A call there would’ve given us a first down at the one. Of course, the way the O-line was playing, there’s no guarantee that we would’ve gotten a TD.
Someone wake me up from this nightmare. As I am flipping through the games today, I see that the Washington Redskins put up 52 points against a team the Cowboys beat in the last minute. The Eagles are on the verge of being handed a loss at home by San Diego and they return a blocked field goal for a touchdown to win. The Giants are having their butts handed to them by the Broncos when the snot-nosed little brother of Superstar Peyton Manning leads his team down the field and throws a touchdown to some scrub wide out to win with five seconds left. Even with all of these highly unlikely and unfortunate things that could have happened, the worst was still to come.
The Dallas Cowboys crumbled in the waning moments of their game against the Seattle Seahawks and lost for the third time this NFL season. Despite how hard the Seahawks tried to give the game away early in the second half, the Cowboys offense could not take advantage. Instead of putting the game far enough out of reach, the offense failed to score any touchdowns (and missed a chip shot field goal) given the ball twice inside of Seattle’s 20-yard line. The result: another nail-biting, heart-wrenching loss. Blame ultra conservative play calling in the second half for this loss. When twice given the ball deep in Seattle territory, Dallas Coaching staff though it wiser to continue to run the ball against stacked defenses then to try and, heck I don’t know THROW THE BALL! I know they have two less experienced tackles out there protecting Bledsoe, but its not like he would be taking a 7-step drop near the goal line. If they have decided to just pack it in and not pass anymore this year, then they should just not show up to play any more games this year. Since they were running well, I thought the lack of play action hurt the team’s chance to win. Use the tight end near the goal line like every other team in the NFL does. Please!
Sure we could blame the defense for failing to make a play on Seattle’s final drive. However, I thought they did an outstanding job on the day. For the third straight week and 5 out of 7 games, the defense held a top offense to less then 2 touchdowns. Only 3 teams this Sunday allowed 13 points or less and lost. The other two teams, Cleveland and Baltimore, have no offense to speak of. That is what makes this loss fall on the shoulders of the offense and the truly ‘offensive’ play calling. 39 running plays compared to 24 passing plays against a team using a backup to start at safety. You have the sort of run-to-pass ratio when you are well ahead in the game or your team is averaging over five yards a carry. The play calling was unimpressive. The final result is very unacceptable.
How many times do we have to put up with these heart-breaking defeats? The answer is as long as we are cowboys’ fans. Don’t get me wrong, I am very pleased they have been competitive in each and every game this year, but enough is enough already. This is a hard defeat to take for the fans that live and die with this team. I could be a fair weather fan and say its no big deal, but I’m not and this is a big deal. How many times do we have to put up with these heart-breaking defeats? When will Coach Parcells allow the offense to win the game instead of hoping to hold on at the end? So protect the quarterback with an extra blocker if you need to, but don’t be a predictable, one-dimensional team with a small lead. I wish I really was asleep and I could wake up from this nightmare, but I’m not sleeping. My guess is that Coach Parcells won’t be getting much sleep either. Good. I’m glad I am not alone.
The cowboys D is good. You can’t expect them to hold for 60 min. Teams will score, this is a top d and they will be a top 5 d by the end of the year. I will take this D every game. Our offence SUCKS, why does our offence suck? They have tried their best to give away the last two games.
One the line is not good.
Two the coaching. We are not playing to win the last two weeks we could have put the game away with a TD but we go with a FG. We shouldn’t win putting up 10 points.
Three we have no game breaker. If we have to make a play we have no one to turn to.
We have the best D in the east and the worst offence. We are back in last place. Our offence hasn’t played well since the Philly game. Our D needs some help.
Jon-”in the grass” left when Quincy did.
I was having a fit at the end of the 1st half when we burned the final 30seconds and 3 time-outs from the 30. Why not try to take the momentum back by getting 40 yards and attempting a FG. I know there was little chance that Cortez would have made it but at least your trying to win the game.
Why don’t we run any quick slant patterns? That can help your protection as much as anything.
onepaniolo,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see L. P. Ladouceur on the waiver wire this week…
Mickey Spagnola has a great piece explaining the Cowboys situation in obvious terms. You may remember he posted statistics showing the winning percentage of teams scoring 13 points (less than 20%).
You cannot win in the NFL with 13 points, simple as that. We were just plain lucky last week with NY (but still we only scored 13 in regulation).
If during any game you think you will win with only 13 points scored, 80% of the time you will not, doesn’t matter how much time is left. It has been painfully proved by Dallas 3 out of 4 games (and a coin toss prevented it from being 4 of 4).
BP made a mistake not being more agressive on those 4th quarter drives after turnovers. I know it is easy to say afterwards, but statistics don’t lie, you cannot win with 13.
I have a single comment…..I remember back in the 90’s when the boys would build a lead - even as little as a field goal..i had this gut feeling that the combination of the offense and defense would win the game. If we were up by 3 w/ 3 minutes left and punting the ball, i never got sick to my stomach, as i do now, just an eerie feeling. The defense has been playing lights out lately, with the exception of the last 3 minutes of seemingly every game. I think Drew Pearson said it best yesterday when he stated that “offenses’ are “forced” to play well at the end of every game, simply because they play such sloppy football for 56 minutes every game”. Unfortunately it seems that our O-line cant get out of their own way because if they would play even 1/2-assed then we wouldnt be letting teams back into the game simply because we could have had 21 points yesterday, bad play-calling or not.
Snowed in,
Cortez needs to make that kick, the ball was spotted and he had time. A NFL kicker has to make that kick.
I’m getting tired of people coming down on the D for letting teams score in the last min of the games. For three straight weeks the number one offence has come in and they didn’t leave number one. Our D has had one bad game our offence has had FOUR BAD GAMES and we are 1-3 in those games. 13, 13, 16 AND 10 points in those games. We gave up 14,19,13 and 13 points in those games.
What makes this loss even tougher to swallow is the fact the Redskins,Eagles and Giants all won their games.
Dallas started the day in first place atop the NFC East and ended it in last place.
Don’t look now,but the NFC East is the tightest division in the NFL.
Hard to believe,but just a couple of years ago a lot of people refered to the NFC East as the NFC Least.
Rafael,
You hit the nail on the head. Conservative play calling killed the Cowboys yesterday. The Dallas D played a great game,shutting down the league’s top rated offense and they deserved the win. Problem was Dallas shut down their offense too.
Raf is right, the main problem was our OTs. Can’t blame Bledsoe for being rattled when he was pressured constantly. And can’t throw if the QB is on his back.
Petitti was exposed. Bad. Now we see why they’ve had a TE/RB helping him all year; he’s too slow-footed to stop a speed rush. And his hand- & foot-work miscues allowed a couple of bull rushes, too. If he doesn’t take a big step forward soon, we’ll have to draft his replacement in the 1st or 2nd round next year.
Tucker did a good job run blocking yesterday, as usual, but needed help against the pass rush. Hey, that’s why he’s a backup. And not bad, really. Remember him playing RG last year? One reason the Cowboys could run up the middle more often then.
But our Centers are now officially below average, a drop from last year. They get no push run blocking and lose ground pass protecting.
So we’ll likely draft two O-Liners on the first day next year. Isn’t that what we all expected before the season anyway?
Can someone please explain to me why the Cowboys picked up Peerless Price? Up until yesterday he had been inactive. Then they use him as a PR and KR. He and Bledsoe hooked up for something like 1200 yards and nine
TD’s when they were with Buffalo. If he was brought on as a third receiver,fine,then why aren’t they using him in that role. Even Bledsoe wants to see him play WR. If they got him for insurance then why in the world would you let him return kicks? That’s about the quickest why to get someone injured who’s not used to returning kicks. I just don’t understand what is role is. Why is he in Parcells’ doghouse?
the o line was certaintly one of the reasons that our cowboys lost, but cortez was a big reason we lost. if he had made that measely 29 yarder, an easy kick for an “nfl kicker”, the cowboys would still be up by 3 after the seahawks scored that td and from there they could have just run the clock out.
cortez seem to always blame someone else. he should shut up and do his job. when he missed that field goal, the snap was high, but he still had time to kick it through. any other quality kicker would have made that kick. should i reminder everyone about the redskins game. cortez also missed a field goal on that game. if he made that fg we also win that game.
CORTEZ MUST GO!!!
another thing, i thought Tucker played better than Petiti and “veteran” Rivera struggled yesterday. Petiti definitely needs more help than Tucker.
unlucky 13……….we score 13 and shutout the Redskins for 56 minutes…….then allows them 14 in 4. LOSS
we score 13 points. Squander many opportunities. Our kicker sucks…….please Bill fire Cortez now or let Larry Allen have a little time alone with him in the locker room and straighten him out…….provide an interpreter in case Cortez does not understand a “swirlie” in spanish!
Re sign………Cundiff………and put him on the IR……..and put him back on the field when the guy is healthy.
If we want to win ball games with one TD and a few field goals and heck of a Defense………..fine……..but we ain’t going to do it with Cortez. I ain’t for drafting a kicker……..I just know that finding a kicker better than Cortez should not be as hard as getting a franchise QB!
I saw too many dropped balls, turnovers, penalties, and stupid mistakes on mostly offense. I would say if Aaaron Glenn’s call was for pass interference then they gotta not pick up that flag and call it when Witten is held! Be consistent refs. But you know we still had plenty of opportunities. We are killing ourselves with stupid penalties……..holding the ball too long……..and turnovers. The one INT I say hey it was just a fluke………but that last second one in the 4th Q well that is squarely on Bledsoe. Why throw that ball anyway. Why aren’t we throwing the ball downfield to where we would have had a shot at a kick?
The Dallas Cowboys are showing up on Defense. Now it is time for Julius Jones to get back on the field. Our overpaid guards to earn their money………AJ or Gurode or somebody to snap the cotton picking ball and lets run over the Cardinals. We better blow them away. They suck. There is no reason we should not roll the Cardinals!
Now let’s cheer up. Why?
1. This Defense is for real. Held a playoff team to 13 points Sunday. Crushed the best rushing team in the NFC with their new 3-4 that is supposedly weak vs the run. Pressured the QB all day. Covered receivers like a blanket. Someday soon the analysts will notice and the “Doomsday” moniker will be back.
2. Newman continues to shine against all opponents. He’s finally got it.
3. Marion Barber III looked very good. Quick. Fast cuts. Found holes. Fought for extra yards. Played smarter. If he shows off those catching hands some more, he’ll be our 3rd down back for years. And TT as our 3rd RB? That is some unreal depth, my friends.
4. McBriar pounded some more punts, a real feat after fielding a couple of wild snaps. He’s a player.
5. Our safeties played much better against the pass while still supporting the rushing D. Hasselbeck couldn’t find openings anywhere for most of the game.
6. Nearly every new player and rookie played great on defense.
So next year is the year to rebuild the O-Line and replenish the receivers. Then we’ll have a completely unstoppable team. Go Cowboys!
Daryl,
Price didn’t get more plays because he was the 3rd WR on a day when the Cowboys played lots of 2 TE and 2 back sets to help pass protection. So blame Flozell’s injury and Petitti’s incompetence, not Price.
Not that Price looked any good returning punts, though.
JJ hasn’t done anything this year yet. We need a play maker, we need help on the O-line. Is our o-line up and down or is our offence just not as good as people think????
RHA,
Parcells pushed the offensive line coach. Parcells told everyone to stay back while he talked to the refs and he tried to butt in.
Hindsight is 20/20…it retrospect we should have seen this coming. All the games so far Dallas has been sucessful by going pass first with a limited (conservative) running game. We knew full well that if Bledsoe got pressured thoughout a game he would hurt us and that is what happened.
I think Dallas needs to focus on the run game. Although Dallas had a 100 plus run game against Seattle, there was never the threat of a long run and that’s really what seperates Dallas’ Offense from the other good teams in the league.
We’ve got a defense and we’ve got a descent passing attack…we need a full on well rounded running attack…sadly this more than likely won’t come this season
Julius will be back.
Our Offensive line can either improve…….or get benched. I am not happy with the play from MR and LA thus far. AJ is making rookie mistakes in his 3rd Season.
Running Backs look fine. We got a rookie in Barber that had 95 on 22 carries. Tyson Thompson looks good when he can cut out the mental mistakes and make it on the field. Julius is yet to have a breakout game but when teams are playing 8 or 9 in the box Drew and company should bomb away which we did and won those games.
We have won the time of possession in every game this year. That is Parcells Football. We are building one hech of a stingy defense. Marcus Spears should have had an INT for a TD, just like his playing days at LSU. The Defensive line is looking good against the run and pass…….and the Defense had Hasselback more times than we got credit for. I would have asked the officials about that, I bet they would have called a late hit on the QB……but no flag on the in the grass?
I think the team actually has the weapons on both sides of the ball. Right now the one missing ingredient and it is glaring is our FG unit. Special teams has always been a Parcells signature, I don’t get why we are happy with this kicker. There are other choices. Trust me.
Bledsoe is showing he cannot be a miracle worker without protection. He made a rookie mistake on that last INT. That has to stop but the team had plenty of opportunities. We got quit the stupid penalties. Score some TDs in the red zone. Make our 45 or less FGs……..consistently……..and continue to improve on our blocking. I don’t understand how we go out and steamroll a good Ealges team and then play so poorly on offense the next two weeks.
We need to put it together for 4 quarters every week. 4-3 when we could be 7-0…………we lost our combined 3 games by what 7 combined total points. Our defense is putting us into position to win some football games but we gotta go out there and start playing some smashmouth offensive football also!!!!
You cannot score 13 and expect to beat the 3 best offenses in the league in 3 consecutive weeks. We should have had 20 points………and Drew would have been handing off to Barber, Thomas or Thompson in the 4th instead of trying to go kick a long FG.
Daryl,
Parcells pushed WR coach Todd Haley, mainly to keep him from being flagged for going after the ref.
Also, I’m NOT blaming conservative play calling. I’m saying that if your line can’t protect you can’t open up. An open attack has routes that go down the field. Five and seven step drops. You need lots of protection to run those. And to put maximum pressure on the defense you need to send lots of five man packages out on routes.
With Dallas having to chip for both tackles, they’re running a lot of three man routes. If the defense knows your running max protection a lot, it’s much easier for them to control three guys than five.
One more point. When Bledsoe hit Glenn for that long bomb on the last TD drive in San Francisco, the drive that ended with the pass and then the two pointer to Keyshawn, he stood in the pocket for five full seconds. I ran that play over and over and timed it. It always came out to 4.8 to 5.0 seconds. He slid, bounced and was able to look at all his receivers.
The Cowboys never gave Bledsoe that kind of time today. When he gets sacked on third and three, which is normally a three step drop, that means he’s barely getting 2.0 seconds, if that.
I’ll say it again. If you can’t protect your QB, calling to “open up” the playcalling is nothing but wishful thinking.
Sean,
Your “in the grass left with Quincy Carter” line is quality.
As we all know, we’re a different team without JJ. I dont care if he’s only got a 3.5 average, Defenses respect him. Pettiti played horrible yesterday, TT looked alot better without help. Bledsoe won us some games and probably lost us one yesterday. Lets not get on him too harshly.
- If Price is going to be active, we need better protection schemes to get 3 WR on the field. I think Bledsoe would be more comfortable instead of forcing balls in like at the end.
- Our CB’s look great. ESP Henry. The guys arguably a top 5 CB in the NFL.
- Our D has looked GREAT facing the 3 #1 offenses. Shaun ALexander couldnt do a thing against us.
- We beat the Cards next week. At home. They aren’t good, just DONT KEEP BERRY ON PETITI. If he is, we need ALOT of help.
- And our D and Offense have only played 1 real game good together, and look what happened.
Our worst case scenario has come true T Tucker is starting on th O-line. If you can’t give the q-back enough time to complete a 3 step drop, you are not going to win many games.
Cortez, just demonstrates why he was cut by the 49ers. He cannot kick in the clutch. If everyone remembers he went through a streak of missing a few kicks in a row that would have won games for them.
yeah we were not agressive enough, but there is no excuse for missing a 29 yard field goal. Most kicker are near 100% inside the 30, our kicker has missed 2 already.
get rid of this guy!!
Jose Cortez has been cut. Thank God!!! He sucks. He cost us the game
yesturday. I hope they get rid of the deep snapper to. He was horrible.
I’ve been niserable all day. They should’ve won that game.
This was the last Sunday I’ll spend my day watching the Boys for a while. I’ll still passionately root for them, but they aren’t there yet. This team lacks a killer instinct. Say what you want, but they are a bunch afraid to lose. That starts at the top. Taking a knee at the end of the first half, with time on the clock and a few timouts left. This coaching staff doubts itself as well as its team. Enough of the “we must trust in BP” nonsense. He’s a great football mind and would be great in the front office. All of his teams except when he was proving himself in the 80’s lacked the ability to close the deal. Simply put, he’s afraid to lose so he doesn’t unleash everything the team has to smother the other team.
lou
BP has a saying you are what you are. JJ hasn’t done anything this year yet until he does we are not missing much the last two weeks.
Rafael Vela
Every time we have a bad game its the line’s fault, I’m sorry there is enough blame to go around. Its the offence whole unit including the game plan with play calling. We don’t have that one player that can get it done. One game breaker can make others better. We don’t have a number one WR that can make a play that we need. JJ is not that game breaker yet. Don’t know if he will be but he can be good. Yes I know every starts with the line and I expect it to be addressed next year.
Quit watching because “this team lacks a killer instict”? What is that about? We played a first place team with the best offense in football. It could have gone either way. We lost. That’s it.
Obviously, the game was disappointing, but Raf hit it on the head. We couldn’t protect our QB, so we couldn’t call our aggressive 5 and 7 step drops.
That said, all is not lost.
We have arguably the best defense in football, and some building blocks on offense. We’ll be 5-3 after next week. Some other NFC East teams will lose, so we’ll push back toward the front of the division. Also, some of the division teams will lose the folloiwng week while we’re sittling idle.
Can we get to the playoffs? Yes. We’ll finish 10-6 just like most of us predicted, save any more serious injuries.
This site is like a see-saw. One week, we’re the best team in the NFL. The next, we’re the a bunch losers with a terrible coach. Have faith.
well my prediction that Cortez would get cut at the break was a little off wasnt it? Everyone could see that coming
BP says the play calling was not too conservative
but I dont see how the Seattle play calling was less conservative than playcalling prior to the Eagles game
And when BP had his revelation about conservative playcalling, well, see Eagles outcome.
BP’s comments seem to support Rafael’s analysis that it was the O-line but the Cortez cut coupled with BP’s press statements say there will be no major adjustments…. Hope this is a sign of good coaching
Gene,
T Tucker had a good game yesterday as he did against NY. This guy is not the problem. Petitti is much more a problem and was obviously struggling yesterday.
The fact is every team has at least one and often two offensive lineman they wish they could upgrade. Remember also, Marco Rivera has had significant issues.
So, this is an OL problem by committee as Parcells sez.
I agree with Madcowboy, this is a seesaw.
BTW, Hassleback had no time to throw yesterday either and he has one of the best offensive lines in the league. Your skill players have to make plays when the pressure is on, simple as that.
Whoever gets in the playoffs will not have all day to throw and the QB and WRs that deal with that pressure the most effectively will win.
Its the whole offence…..
rha
You are right and we don’t have a game breaker.
Lou,
Berry will be going against the LT tucker.
Madcowboy,
At this point I’d rather spend Sunday afternoons teaching my 6 year old to catch a football. I’m not down on the ‘Boys, I just can find better things to do with my day rather than sit through another BP called game. Like I posted a couple of weeks ago, I haven’t liked his approach to a game for a couple of years. My disgust didn’t just start with this season. I’m a rabid fan, maybe that’s the problem. Every time I see a team take a knee except at the end of the game I think the coach is telling his team “hey, we’re not losing the battle too badly, maybe we can avoid a mistake and get lucky at the end of the game.” So much for all the vaunted toughness BP is supposed to bring to a team. Like I said, his teams haven’t closed the deal in 20 years. It’s not all about lack of talent.
AW,
We indeed do not have a game breaker per se but our defense can make up for most of that. Our offense needs only some consistencyand the ability to make some key plays just like Hassleback did yesterday.
Single teams in todays NFL are not stocked with too many all world players like before free agency. A good defense can neutralize a good receiver and a good running back even if they are on the same team.
Just think what our record would be today if we had a more consistent offense, one that could pick up a 3rd and 1.
Thompson could be a game breaker if Jones can’t play, and the Cowboys should aim a heavy dose of running plays right at Bertrand Berry, to give Tucker a chance to maul him early. Barber is good, but Thompson’s extra speed could help keep Arizona off balance.
that’s right Lee…that’s what I’ve been screaming…there’s running game and then there is running game…160+ yards aint’ bad for yesterday….BUT let us all think about this…Dallas hasn’t scored many rushing TDs so far this year…frankly I can’t remember one off the top of my head…but my point is—that is what dallas is lacking in the running game…a “home run hitter” We need rushers with the speed and vision to bust 40 yarders when we can’t get it done in the air…I’m of the opinion it may not happen but I tend to believe thompson is the closest we get to it this season…never thought I’d say that coming into this season
AW, you can fill your gas tank with supercharged jet fuel, but if you don’t have tires, you’re not going anywhere.
If our little center can’t move NGs off the line, if Rivera is playing poorly, if Petitti is giving up sacks and missing assignments, if Tucker is giving up sacks and missing assignments, and if the line as a whole is committing penalties, there is nothing an offense can do. Take a quick peek at the Houston Texans and tell me why their really good RB and great QB can’t do anything at all.
The offensive line isn’t a unit operating in a vacuum. If they play badly, you can’t just say, “well, we’ll overcome that and just pass the ball. We’ll ignore their mistakes.” EVERYTHING begins and ends with the play of the offensive line. If the Cowboys had the Steelers offensive line, we’d be undefeated and it would never have been close.
Rafael said Bledsoe was being hit after 2 seconds. Count that out. One one thousand, two one thousand, and he’s down already. There’s NO chance to complete a pass in that instance. However there are plenty of chances to fumble, get sacked for loss, get hurt, throw an INT. There is SOME chance to break a run through missed tackles, and, by running you’ll keep your QB clean.
The offense has loads of playmakers, for crying out loud. Good lord. Witten, Jones, Barber, Bledsoe, Key, Glenn and Crayton until a few days ago are all playmakers of high caliber. How many pro bowls do they all account for? 12?
By the way, the Cowboys will beat the Cardinals by 20+ next week. The middle of the line will be shamed into better performances. The running game will be established, and the defense will just get buck wild and score 2 TDs and wreak general havoc.
but, until the tackles’ play is improved, good football teams will exploit that weakness, and the Cowboys will probably not make the playoffs.
Does anyone have the ability to see more then just week to week, its absolutely ridiculous to hear talk about how our D is the best in the NFl, how many points did we let San Fran score against us? Give me a break…. We have played well defesively the past few weeks, but don’t forget it was the offensive who bailed out the defense in the Charger and 49er wins, but when its the defenses turn to bail out the offense they just can’t do it, all of those who have a memory longer then 1 week will surely agree with me.
The offensive line play yesterday was a joke, I will agree, but you can’t go blaming Petitti for having a bad game. The kid was a 6th round draft pick who has stepped in because Rogers Tucker and Vollers (all multi year players) couldnt perform well enough to start. Now Flozell goes down and it was his first game playing without help because Tucker had it all game, should he have done better yes, but don’t go praising Tucker when you leave a 6th round draft pick all alone for the first time in his career.
As far as Bledsoe’s play… stop making excuses for him. A veteran like himself shouldn’t be rattled, thats the job for the 30 guys on our team in their 3rd NFl season or less. Although Seatlle did a good job if disguising their defense all game, he contiually threw to Gelnn in double coverage, and if anyone noticed he refused to throw to Whitten after he dropped that pass along the sideline. Bottom line is if Bledsoe ran on the 3rd and goal a little earlier instead of being so indecisive, he gets in, we win the game, and everyone here get get each other off talking about how good our team is. The NFL is a long season, to get too emotionally tied into 1 game is just ridiuclous………………..
rha
no our D can not. A good D can neutralize a good player but that opens up things for others. But game breakers come up big in big games. We don’t scar other teams with our offence. Hassleback is a playmaker.
Shaun Suisham: K 6-0 199 Bowling Green
Suisham ended his collegiate career as the NCAA Division I all-time leader in both point-after-attempts made (226) and PATs attempted (232). Suisham also leaves BGSU as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 361 points and as the school’s all-time career leader with 45 field goals.
In 2004, the Wallaceburg, Ontario, native was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, named second-team All-MAC, and the GMAC Bowl Special Teams MVP. He also set a MAC record with 69 consecutive PATs made and made 14-of-20 field goals. Suisham was drafted in 2004 by the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.
His longest field goal was 52 yards.
But…he was released from our practice squad as recently as 10/11. Not likely to be much better than Cortez, unfortunately.
Can we sign back Billy Cundiff ??
Something has to give, I’m 40yrs old and about to die watching these games
Joey2zs
We have players that can make plays but we don’t have a game breaker. We don’t have a Moss( either one) TO or LT. We don’t have that one player on offence that makes others better. The line hasn’t played well this year. But its not all on the line. The Washington game 0 sacks 13 points. People need to wake up. Yes we need to address the o-line but we need to get # 1 WR, we need to address the game plans. Its more then just the O-Line.
Bye Bye Jose…….Dallas cut Cortez and signed Shusamn……..or something like that.
Smart Cowboy
I agree with some of what you say but our D has had one bad game. That was against SF. The D and offence have played well together for one game. Every loss this season has been because of the offence can’t put up points. The game against SD was a wash the D didn’t play great nor bad. The D is doing a great job when you turn the ball over 4 times and still win that is the D bailing you out. The D can’t bail you out when you don’t want to win. The last two week the D has given the Offence a change to put the game away and they couldn’t do it. We got lucky last week.
Got an email with the following:
NEWSFLASH
Jose Cortez attempted to commit suicide after learning of his release from the Dallas Cowboys. Apparently he attempted to shoot himself in the head only to miss “Wide Left”. Thankfully there were no injuries. In a statement Jose Cortez blamed the gun manufacturers and the person who sold him the gun for the misfire.
AW,
The game plans on offense have been conservative, yes, but why?
1. “They run on 1st down almost every time.” BP is trying to keep this team from 2nd & long to prevent 3-and-outs and pass blitzes, and to soften up secondaries. Has worked well in the sense that Drew had not been sacked much until Sunday.
2. “They never run the draw.” Rivera and AJ are much worse this year at opening running holes in the middle than Tucker and AJ were last year. AJ is getting inexplicably worse.
3. “They run on 3rd and long.” And “They never throw it deep.” When the O-Line can’t pick up a blitz (like yesterday), passing is not a very good option, either. Especially long passes, since they take longer to develop and leave the QB a sitting duck. But running might work and keeps Drew healthy–while avoiding INTs like the one that doomed us yesterday.
4. “Why not go for it on 4th down?” The Cowboys are 3 for 8 on 4th down conversions, good for 21st in the league. Translation: they are bad on 4th down conversion. Perhaps the weakness running up the gut is to blame; the ‘Boys are the 4th worst team in yards per carry.
5. “Where are the trick plays? (fleaflickers, reverses, etc.)” Many of these take time to develop, and the O-Line is providing enough. And when a defender gets penetration in the backfield early in the play, most are doomed. Still, they have tried these on several occasions anyway; many have failed.
6. “Why not run 4 WR sets?” 4 WR sets leave only one extra blocker (typically the RB or FB). That means both guards and one tackle are man-to-man with no help. Our RT can’t handle that, our current LT (Tucker) can’t handle that, and many times one of the other three can’t handle it, either. And it replaces Witten with our 4th receiver (Copper?!?). Bad idea.
So pick your poison, fans. Gunslinging carries its price in this league unless you have a good O-Line. We don’t.
Nink,
Due to the injury settlement the Cowboys had with Cundiff, they cannot sign him until the week before Thanksgiving.
I don’t know if anybody noticed, but ever since Dat has been out, our defense has been playing better. Now, we can’t blame the OL for losing the game, it’s the play calling. The play calling has to change to passing more, you got the WR use them, they are not there for looks. BP is getting to old for this, he won’t change from his conservative play calling no matter what anybody says. He is very stubborn, it’s either his way or no way. Jerry Jones has to tell him you have to open up this offense, if that doesn’t happen soon, then all of ‘us’ Cowboys fans will be watching the playoffs once again without them in disgust!
Remnant
What was wrong with the line against SF, Philly or Washington? Tucker was RT he was not opening holes inside last year. The line is not good but its not the worst. Its not all the o-line fault. If you get the ball on the 12 yard line with a chance to put the game away, you need to do it. Make adjustments. We still need a game breaker period. If our line is so bad we wouldnt have won 4 games so its not all on the line.
Dallas Dan
yea Dat days might be coming to an end. Dat or James will be gone next year.
Dallas Dan……I wondered about that too. I think it took Dat being hurt for Bradie James to wake up and play like a linebacker.
He has been solid since Dat has been out. It is good to see and hope his play continues when Dat returns.
Also you gotta figure Spears, Canty, Ratliff, Ware and Burnett are all getting better each week as they learn the Defensive responsiblities more and more and get more time on the NFL gridiron.
While Marion Barber did ok carrying the ball when we needed first downs he failed. He failed in the red zone, and he fumbled twice. I think we do need Julius back, and I think he would have made a difference………if nothing else I doubt he fumbles twice. Anthony Thomas will be gone next year and Thompson and Barber need to both learn to hold onto the ball.
Cundiff coming back the week before Thanksgiving sounds just fine with me. Too bad he got hurt he would have been our kicker if not for the injury………that injury has cost us two games so far this year!
Raul……I heard you’re joke for the Bills Scott Norwood after Bill Parcells Giants won the Super Bowl………it is not as funny when it involves our K and our LOSS. But it was very funny back then.
Guys:
Have any of you figured out that Parcells and company knew throughout the week that Bledsoe wouldn’t have much time in the pocket? Bledsoe might had been asked in passing plays to look at his first, and maybe second, option and to make throws in a hurry. Rafael is right on, how many times Bledsoe had the time in the pocket to look even to his second option? He looked to his third even less.
I can only put the blame of that second interception into Bledsoe’s shoulders.