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Waiver Day

Watch the waiver wires. Teams have until Saturday to make their cuts but expect LOTS of action today.

As for last night’s game, don’t spend too much time on it. It was something both teams tried to endure. If they could have played a half and stopped they would have. The only reasons they did not were the paying fans in the stands.

I see no reason why the NFL can’t cut back to two or three preseason games. Every NFL team was ready to start the season a week ago.

The action was used to evaluate the few positions up for grabs. The final corner spots. The final receiver spots. Special teams slots. Here’s what I think we can take away from the Vikings game:

1. The kick coverage teams, especially the kickoff coverage teams, still need work.

2. Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones played much better than they did last week. Reeves in particular showed some aggressive play.

3. Joey Thomas on the other hand, had another bad week. The biggest Vikings pass play of the night came against him.

4. Courtney Brown is green, but he’s got wheels and is starting to wind up closer to the ball. He’s in a tough spot, however, because Abram Elam plays well on special teams and the Cowboys need every quality special teams hand they can get. Which one will be the 5th safety? Brown has the much better upside, but Elam is more valuable at this minute.

5. Miles Austin was getting a challenge from Jerheme Urban but Urban’s fumble of a short pass probably settled the issue in Austin’s favor.

6. Isaiah Stanback has miles to go before he’s even close to being ready. He blew a couple of routes last night that made his QBs look bad. He’ll stick however, because he’s got too much athletic ability.

7. Jason Hatcher started to show that power rush off the left edge I saw so much in the early days of camp. With Anthony Spencer struggling, the Cowboys need somebody to help Demarcus Ware.

8. Dallas will have a tough decision on Matt Moore. He needs lots of time to get the timing system down. He completed a lot of passes last night, but had an awful average yards per attempt, meaning he dinked and dunked a ton.

His passes down the field were off. He’s got a solid arm, so it may be that he hasn’t mastered the art of throwing to the necessary spot and letting the receiver catch it. That said, he was sloppy protecting the football at times. I’ve touted him for a while, but I can’t defend that.

10. Stephen Bowen got some reps at NT and was pushed back. He played much better at RE. The announcers claimed he’s drawn some attention. I wonder if he’s good enough to barter for a decent CB.

11. A very, very vanilla look last night, even more basic than the first preseason game. The game plan was thin and the Cowboys played a lot of basic zone defense, something you do not expect them to play against New York. The Cowboys gave the Giants staff nothing to take from this game’s tapes.

Cowboys - Vikings Open Thread

Last stop before Kickoff ‘07

Update 1: Dallas starting a backup defense. Akin Ayodele is inside but Anthony Spencer and Junior Glymph are the OLBs. Jacques Reeves made two breakups to end Minnesota’s first series.

Update 2: Jerheme Urban gets great blocking, so he fields a punt at his five. He goes right, shakes a guy on the sideline, runs though the punter at midfield, cuts back left and ends up in the end zone 95 yards later. 7-0 Dallas.

Browns Watch- Bentley Edition

Cleveland Browns C LeCharles Bentley was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list late yesterday. This means Bentley will not be eligible to suit up for a minimum of 6 weeks into the regular season.

Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowler with New Orleans, signed a six-year, $36 million contract in March 2006 to join his hometown team, then tore his left patellar tendon on the first full-contact play of Cleveland’s training camp last summer.

Starting in Bentley’s place will be 29 year old Hank Fraley, the former Eagles starter. Fraley’s an average center, but certainly not in the same league as Bentley when both are healthy.

Stoke the Boilers

Some thoughts on surviving Terence Newman’s injury.

1.  Rest him.  I’ve read several pieces on treatment for plantar fasciitis.  I spoke to a doctor tonight about it.  All come to the same conclusion — rest is what heals the problem.  Working on the foot too soon undoes all the healing and forces the body to start the rebuilding process over.

The question is whether the team and the player have the patience to see the treatment through.  Newman will have rehabbed for three weeks by opening day.  I’d rather see him miss a quarter of the season and have him healthy for the final ten to twelve games than try to tape him up, shoot him up and see him try to gimp his way through sixteen.

I’ve looked into whether and how the Cowboys could try to weather a short term Newman-free campaign.  Consider these two teams:

Team X — 5990 offensive yards, 7th rank;  5176 defensive yards, 10th rank;

Team Y — 6003 offensive yards, 6th rank;  5388 defensive yards, 12th rank;

They’re almost identical, though team X’s defense was a click better than Y’s.

Team X is the 2006 Chargers, who went 14-2.  Team Y is the ‘06, 9-7 Cowboys.

This limited stat line doesn’t tell the story of how one team can be five games better than the other when both are so similar in yards gained and allowed.  For one, the Chargers took much better care of the football;  Phillip Rivers threw very few interceptions while the Dallas duo of Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo threw more than double Rivers’ total.

The Chargers also racked up 61 sacks to Dallas 34.

Which gets me to my next point:

2.  Crank it up — on both sides of the ball.  Don’t play for the 17-14 wins, as Bill Parcells often seemed to do, especially on the road.  The offense is loaded at the skill positions.  Put them to work.

Try what San Diego did last year.  Get early leads then turn the pass rush loose. Think that’s too risky?  Ponder these names –

Drayton Florence, Terence Keil, Marlon McCree, Quentin Jammer.

That was the ‘06 Chargers secondary.  See any Pro Bowlers there?  Me neither.  McCree is a journeyman, signing with San Diego after stops at Houston and Carolina.

The Chargers let Keil leave gave up a draft day mint to snag Eric Weddle.  Right now he’s running behind Clinton Hart, a 30 year vet with five years under his belt.  He’s started six games the last four seasons.

Florence and Jammer aren’t bad, but is Florence better than a healthy Anthony Henry?  Would anybody swap Jammer for a healthy Newman?

Wade Phillips wasn’t afraid to blitz in front of this unit.  In fact, he probably blitzed to cover for this unit.  Given his history, I doubt he’ll back off blitzing in Dallas.

If he can get his front eight guys to gain some swagger to approach his Chargers’ bunch, getting a healthy Newman in October would have the same effect that getting Deion Sanders had on the ‘95 team, giving the defense a shot of confidence for the stretch run.

Are the Cowboys willing to let his heel heal properly?

Fantasy Update

Just a short note — I have received registrations for 18 people for this year’s fantasy league. Of those, 5 people did not send me their Transaction ID. I have also setup a mailing list for communications about the fantasy league. The 13 people who have been identified have been sent a message. If you did not receive a message, then I do not have your Transaction ID. This should have been in the email you received after making payment.

Info on the mailing list can be found here. If you did not get the email, go to this location and subscribe.

The Blog will be mainly for football-related discussions. Any discussions on Fantasy should be using the mailing list.

Any other questions, email me at FFL@theboysblog.com.

Thanks

UPDATE: We now have only 2 people who have not identified themselves. If you signed up but have not heard from me about the league via email then you need to get me the TransactionID so I can identify you.

Moving Day

Teams are cutting players.  I’ve been moving all day.  Will be moving tomorrow.

This is an open thread. Try to discuss something besides the plantar fascia.

A tear is a tear folks.  Nothing to do but wait for Terence Newman’s heel to heal.  Dallas can’t quit.  They can’t postpone the season and they can’t cry.

Now It Gets Interesting

This is what instructors call a teaching opportunity. Dallas just lost its first game under its new coach.

– It didn’t handle playing for the first time on the road well;

– it didn’t handle getting mentally prepared for a non-playoff team well. (That’s been a problem for Dallas even under Bill Parcells. These guys have shown the last two years they can go toe-to-toe with the Colts, Broncos, Seahawks and Chargers of the world, but have a real tough time with the Lions, bad-49ers and Texans of the world);

– the new coaching staff looked ragged at times;

Minnesota is our risk free chance to see how Wade Phillips and his staff get the team to bounce back. How they motivate. How they adjust.

I imagine a lot of the adjustments will be internal and will never be discussed in the press. But I also think that however Phillips exercises a whip hand, he will do so this week, because some of his team was clearly unmotivated last night. And Phillips, judging from his transparent sideline tells, was none too happy about it.

Let’s remember, last year’s Cowboys chewed through their early preseason games too. Their defense didn’t allow any early points, and Parcells said he was worried because things were too easy and his defenders had not had to respond to a good punch in the mouth.

And when the season opened, they looked sluggish. Their pass rush was toothless in Jacksonville and the Jags players were bragging after the game that the Cowboys players looked gassed and that they had “worn [Dallas] out.”

Dallas took its first punch in the mouth last night. We’ll see what type of resiliency and what type of coping skills Phillips has now.

4th Quarter Blogging

– The kickoff coverage has been much better in the second half, stopping the Texans at the 15 on both the last two kickoffs.

– Brad Johnson was just saving his arm in camp.  He doesn’t have a gun, but he dropped a perfect throw over a linebacker to Tony Curtis on Dallas last scoring drive.

– Nick Folk’s kickoffs have been inside the five tonight.  The last one went to the two.  He’s nosed ahead in the kicking derby.  Martin Gramatica still kicks off better, but missing an extra point doesn’t help him.

– Bad, bad night for Jacques Reeves.  His sell by date might be passed.

– Gary Kubiak is throwing some funky stuff at Dallas, using a rocket pitch to fool Junior Glymph.  Sam Gado took the run 21 yards. 

–  Alan Ball gets an education, biting on a pump and go.  Abram Elam was way too late over the top and the Cowboys fall behind 28-16.

– Pat McQuistan has the last two Cowboys kickoff returns.  Draw your own conclusions.

– Browns watch:  I’m watching Brady Quinn play Denver.  He looks good.  He’s moving his team.  OTOH, the Broncos D looks weak.  Let’s keep that in mind when we look at the preseason.

3rd Qtr. Live Blogging

Aha.  You miss the details while you’re trying to type.

There was an obvious clip on Lousaka Polite in front of Jones on his 91 yd. punt return.  It’s preseason for the refs too.

Kickoff — return to Dallas 30.

1 & 10 stop fade to Johnsonon  Henry for 7

2 & 3 - Green rt. for 2 yds.

Update:  Bobby Carpenter dragging his right arm coming off the kickoff.  Kevin Burnett’s x-rays are negative but he will have more tests in Dallas tomorrow after complaining of pain.

2 & 6 - Ware just misses knocking the ball from Schaub on a rush.  He throws the pass inc.

3 & 6 - Quick trap to Ron Dayne for 4

TO - Houston

Punt - Urban FC at 20

1 & 10 - Jones off LG for 3.

2 & 7 - Romo to Witten on deep seam for 17.

1& 10 - Jones off RT for 1.

1 & 9 - Romo rt. to Hurd for 14.

1 & 10 - Dumpoff to Jones for 2.

2 & 10 - Romo rolls out, ducks a DE and has a deep floater to Crayton bounce off his fingertips at the Hou. 10.

3 & 10 - Romo hits Crayton on crossing route for 10.

1 & 10 — Romo hits Barber on a delay for 15.

1 & 10 - Barber inside for 2.

2 & 8 - double TE left, Witten bracked.  Romo throws pass away.

3 & 8 - Witten flexed in left slot.  Romo floats a seam route to him for a TOUCHDOWN.  PAT is good.  Houston 21, Dallas 13

Note:  The Houston safety left his feet and took a head first shot at Witten in the goal line.  This will bring a sure fine from the league after they review the tape.

Kicloff — Grammatica knocks it one yard deep in the end zone.  Return to Houston 15.  PENALTY for illegal block in the back.

Houston

1 & 10 - Dayne off RT for 3.

Sage Rosenfels in for Matt Schaub.

2 & 7 - Reverse to Jacoby Jones for 8.

1 & 10 - Dayne inside for 2

2 & 8 - flanker screen to Andre Davis for 4

3 & 4 - slant to Davis for 4

1 & 10 - Dayne inside for no gain

2 & 10 - Anthony Spencer blows up Rosenfels, who throws a fade for Davis who drops it as he falls OUB.

3 & 10 - two men hold Ware while Houston tries a quick TE screen for  6.

Punt, fielded by Urban on the Dallas 5, runs left for no gain.

Dallas

1 & 10 - Play action bomb for T.O. who is behind the CB.  Ball underthrown and hangs in the air.  INTERCEPTED at midfield.

Houston

1 & 10 - Dayne inside for 8

2 & 2 - FB Cook on crossbuck for 4.

Dallas has mix and match front seven.  Remi Ayodele is rolled on first down.  Ratliff looks lost on the second play.

End of 3rd quarter

Note:  the game is degenerating into a scrub fest.  I’ll make comments on any standout plays or players, but I’m going to stop the live blogging.

Early 4th - Jason Hatcher is showing some moxie rushing from LE.  Bobby Carpenter is back and shows no ill effects from his earlier injury.

Halftime Snapshot

The Houston game plan is simple.  Throw short outs and slants to 6′3″ Andre Johnson, who’s working over the 5′9″ Aaron Glenn.  Then run Ahman Green inside. 

Poor tackling made Houston’s night.  Dallas had them back in 2nd and 16 after a great Bradie James tackle.  Anthony Spencer’s awful attempt to stop Ahman Green let him get Houston into third and short when Dallas was getting Schaub to hurry things.

Two play later, Roy Williams made a pathetic attempt at tackling Jones;  he made a Matthias Kiwanuka-esqe ‘catch and release” where he got two hands on Green and then let him go, leading to a 47 yard sprint.  Once inside the Dallas 20, two short throws at the Johnson-Glenn mismatch put Houston up.

Dallas has been rotating kickoff and punt coverage combinations since camp started, but it’s time to settle on one set and let them gel.  The coverage on Jacoby Jones 91 yd. TD return was awful.  The TV announcers were blaming Mat McBriar for being late in covering Jones up the sideline, but you should never have to rely on your punter to make the tackle.

The vets are clearly missed.  Terry Glenn opens up the passing game.  Sam Hurd and Patrick Crayton - not so much.

And I can’t see Johnson picking on Terence Newman the pay he’s working over Glenn.

It’s an erratic performance.  Some players are having great nights.  Others are missing in action.  The starters will have the third quarter to show their ability to bounce back, if they care to.

2nd Qtr. Live Blog

1 & 10 — Green rt, Roy Williams tries what my coach called a “tittie tackle” and is run over by Green and then turfed by a Texan OL.  Green runs 47 and gets 15 added for a horsecollar tackle on Anthony Henry.

1 & 10 — quick pass rt. to Andre Johnson for 7.

1 & G — play action slant to Johnson over A. Glenn for a TOUCHDOWN.  PAT good.  Houston 14-0.

Kickoff — bouncer to Dall. 10, Miles Austin to Dal. 26.

1 & 10 - out to T.O. knocked INC by D. Robinson.

2 & 10 - lead draw to Barber, bounces outside for no gain.

3 & 10 - Romo gets great protection, find Hurd in the deep middle for 25 to Hou. 49

1 & 10 - bunch left, toss L to Barber for 0.  bad blocking;

2 & 10 - waggle left, Romo to Witten for 9

3 & 1 - Barber off LG for 3; 

Deon Anderson getting all the snaps at FB

1 & 10 - play action, pocket breaks down, Romo eludes two and is dropped for a 5 yard loss

2 & 15 - lead draw - Barber bounces outside left for 7

3 & 8 - Houston blitz, Romo slant to T.O., breaks tackle and runs up the middle for a 35 yd. TOUCHDOWN.  PAT is missed by Martin Gramatica.  Houston 14, Dallas 6

Kickoff - to 8, tackled at Hou. 25.

1 & 10 - A. Green off LT for 2.

This is Denver’s running game the 2nd straight week, but Dallas looks much less inspired against it.  The ILBs are not getting off their blocks as well and the safeties are making the tackles right now.

2 & 9 - delay screen, TE tackled for 7.

3 & 2 - toss right for 4.

1 & 10 - dumpoff to rt. flat, Ware tackles FB for 1

2 & 9 - pass batted down by M. Spears, with good inside pressure.

3 & 9 - Ware grabs Schaub as he throws, forces INC.  4 man rush from nickel.

Punt - fair catch by Urban at Dallas 20

The fudge the defense ate before the game appears to be wearing off.  Ware got mad and ended that drive.  James has been mashing people since the opening gun.  Ferguson, Spears, Canty and Hamlin are hitting people. 

Spencer and Williams made some uninspired tackles.  I haven’t noticed Akin Ayodele yet.

Dallas

1 & 10 - Jones lead draw middle for 3.

2 & 7 - Stretch right by Barber for 1.

3 & 6 - Romo floats pass deep out to T.O. dropped.  Flag - offside Houston

3 & 1 - Romo rolls out L, pass high to open Crayton can’t drag feet in bounds.

4 & 1 - punt - Jacoby Jones returns 20 to Hou. 34.

1 & 10 - A. Green inside for 5;

Two minute warning

2 & 5 - Green right for 5.

1 & 10 - slant to slot WR Kevin Walters, Hamlin tackle for 9.

2 & 1 - Draw rt. to Green for 3;

1 & 10 - “Andre Johnson quick out, shakes Aaron Glenn and runs to Dallas 27.

1 & 10 - slant Rt. to Johnson for 7.  42 secs.

2 & 3 - Dallas rushes 4, Schaub floats right and finds Jacoby Jones behind Jacques Reeves for a TOUCHDOWN.  PAT is good.  Houston 21, Dallas 6

Note:  Kevin Burnett has been taken into the locker room for x-rays on an ankle.

The atmosphere on the Dallas sideline is loud.  Brian Stewart and Wade Phillips are being emphatic, shall we say. 

Kickoff — returned to 31.

1 & 10 - Tony Romo rolls rt. and is sacked.

Halftime.

Cowboys @ Texans Open Thread

Because it’s an important game “for a preseason game.”

I’ll be updating every three or four plays or so.  Update sparingly.  My fingers can’t take play-by-play tonight.

6:56 – How serious is Houston?  They’re making Dallas wear the blue jerseys.  Fellas, it’s a preseason game. 

7:03 — Starters going three tonight. 

7:07 — Kickoff to Dallas — Thompson to the Dallas 27.

1 & 10 - power left, Jones for 1 yard;

2 & 9 - Romo dumpoff delay to Jones for 4;

3 & 5 — Houston blitzes, Romo throws fade to Hurd, who stops and starts.  Inc.

Punt to Houston 9 — Jacoby Jones returns up right sideline for 91 yd TOUCHDOWN.  PAT good, Houston 7, Dallas 0.

Kickoff 3 yard deep, touchback.

1 and 10 — Jones inside for 4;

2nd and 5 — screen left to Jones for 9

1 & 10 - fly for Owens, INC.  Well covered by D. Robinson.

2 & 10 - lead draw for Jones for 12.  Huge hole off LG

1 & 10 Romo flushed left, floats low pass caught by Crayton for 16.

1 & 10 — L. Davis jumps offside

1 & 15 - F. Adams jumps offside

1 & 20 - Stretch rt. Jones for 4

2 & 16 - Floater left to Hurd, outjumps Robinson for10 and runs to Hou. 27 for 1st down. 

1 & 10 — Jones inside for 3.  L. Davis flagged for holding.

1 & 20 - dumpoff for Jones for no gain.

2 & 20 - draw to Jones rt. for 2

3 & 18 - at Hou. 35 - Romo drops snap and is sacked at 49.

Punt — McBriar punt dropped at Hou. 13

The Cowboys go on the road and get whipped with the sloppy stick.  Romo took his eyes off a good shotgun snap and muffed it.  Adams flinches, etc., etc.

Finally, a look at the Dallas D.

1 & 10 - short pass to TE, who is blown up by Bradie James and holds on for 12.

1 & 10 — offsides on Hou.

1 & 15 - Schaub to TE, Inc.  Three plays, three short throws to the TE.  Dallas getting pressure

3 & 6 - Schaub sacked by Kevin Burnett.

Punt - J. Urban fair catch at Houston 46.

Schaub never tried going or even looking deep.  Dallas got in his face on every play.

Dallas 1 & 10 - Jones behind Bigg Davis for 5,

2 & 5 - witten flexes into backfield, leads Jones for 3

3 & 2 — pass to Crayton on shallow cross knocked incomplete, FLAG - offsetting personal fouls after the play.

4 & 2 - punt sails out of bounds at the Hou. 16

Wade Phillips looks, how shall we say, pissed?

BTW, if you doubt Terry Glenn’s value, know that there’s no comparison between Glenn’s game and Sam Hurd’s.

Hou.

1 & 10 — Bradie James run blitzes and blows up Ahman Green at Hou. 10

1 & 16 - screen left ot Green.  Spencer misses tackle, Green goes for 13.

3 & 3 - quick out rt. to Andre Johnson for 7

END OF 1ST QUARTER

Clip and Save — Cornerbacks

Scout brings us the follow up to his Justin King prolife, a list of top senior and junior cornerback prospects.

The Cowboys should be looking at cornerbacks in the 2008 draft, and it is never too early for us to start looking. The senior class appears to be weak at the top of the draft. Look for the juniors to bolt. Here are some names to watch during the 2007 college football season while you cheer for your favorite team.

Forty times come from NFL Draft Scout.com. The first time is the low. The second time is the average of the high and the low. Note: The players are not intended to be listed by their performance on the field. Also, take the measurables and forty times at your own discretion. It will be the NFL draft committee that determines the draft value of these players after the season is finished.

Note:  Todd McShay of Espn.com rates the top five juniors above any of the seniors right now.  Expect several of them to come out early.

SENIORS

Trae Williams	South Florida	5′10″	185	4.34	4.40
Antoine Cason	Arizona	6′0″	190	4.45	4.54
Dwight Lowery	San Jose St.	6′1″	185	4.47	4.55
DeJuan Tribble	Boston College	5′9″	190	4.42	4.49
Jonathan Hefney	Tenn.	5′9″	185	4.40	4.47
Mike Jenkins	S. Florida	6′0″	200	4.49	4.49
Dom. Rogers-Cromartie	Tenn. St.	6′2″	182	4.38	4.44
Tracy Porter	Indiana	5′11″	185	4.32	4.38
Glenn Sharpe	Miami	6′0″	186		4.42
Marcus Walker	Oklahoma	5′11″	198		4.45
Darnell Terrell	Missouri	6′2″	200		4.43
Charles Godfrey	Iowa	6′0″	208	4.32	4.38

JUNIORS

Justin King	Penn St.	6′0″	186	4.34	4.38
Malcolm Jenkins	Ohio St.	6′1″	202	4.37	4.45
Brandon Flowers	Va. Tech	5′10″	190	4.42	4.47
Aquib Talib	Kansas	6′2″	202		4.57
Victor Harris	Va. Tech	6′0″	200		4.47
Joe Burnett	C. Florida	5′11″	185		4.46
Carlos Thomas	S. Florida	5′11″	192	4.37	4.42
Sharrod Davis	Fresno St.	6′0″	185	4.36	4.42

Here’s one very early season matchup to follow — two weeks from tomorrow Virginia Tech visits LSU. You can watch the two highly rated Hokie junior CBs Brandon Flowers and Victor Harris square off against top rated senior WR Early Doucet and the rest of the Tigers receiving corps.

Newman — “Nothing to Worry About”

I just spoke to a source who asked Terence Newman about his heel injury.

The source told me, “I just got a text from him…he said…nothing to worry about…he is cool.”

So there you have it, straight from the man’s, er, fingers.

We’ll Be Blogging Live!

I know lots of you outside the Texas area won’t be able to watch the same Saturday.  Don’t despair.

I’ll be live blogging from an undisclosed location.  Punch us up, limber up your refresh fingers and enjoy.  I’ll be far more up to date than any of those tickers.  They’ve got cute graphics, but we know the team.

We’ll also have game threads and the return of the chat room, which was a big success.

So remember, if you can’t see it, do the next best thing, follow the Cowboys with us.

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