FOLKES: Dallas Cowboys plan? Run like clockwork
Cowboys plan? Run like clockwork
By Andrew Folkes
Thu, Dec 8, 2005
Link
Coach Bill Parcells knows that even under ideal circumstances his Dallas Cowboys would have a tough time keeping the Kansas City Chiefs off the scoreboard as 3-point favorites Sunday.
Unfortunately, these are not ideal circumstances, in particularly those surrounding the secondary. Starting cornerback Aaron Glenn missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury while position mate Anthony Henry was held out of Dallas’ last four contests with a groin strain. Both are listed as questionable.
“I think our defense will be challenged this week to a greater degree than it has all season,” he told the San Antonio Express News. “They have a pretty good array of talent to deal with, so we just have to be at our best.”
A wounded secondary doesn’t bode well against K.C.’s ninth-ranked air attack. But because the Chiefs have a rush-based offense, oddsmakers weren’t overly concerned with the Cowboys` cornerback situation when they set Sunday’s line.
“[A secondary’s effect on the pointspread] depends on if they are playing a run or pass oriented team,” explains betWWTS.com linesman Michael Pierce. “K.C. loves to run the ball, plus the secondary is one of Dallas’ strengths, so the effects are minimal.
”The Chiefs’ love of the ground game is perhaps even more troubling for Dallas backers considering how susceptible their team has become to the run lately. Although ranked No. 10 in rushing defense, the Cowboys have given up nearly 110 yards to opposing ball carriers through their past three games.
They now have to deal with Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, who’s averaged 156.6 yards and scored five majors in his last three outings.
“[That] is becoming an ugly trend the past couple of weeks," defensive end Chris Canty said. "We don`t like to do that.”The Cowboys believe their best defense is a solid rush offense of their own. Parcells had his offensive backs, receivers and linemen focused primarily on their blocking in the midweek practice.
Parcells hopes Dallas can rag the clock enough to keep Johnson off the field for any length of time.“Today we had an excellent practice,” right guard Marco Rivera told reporters Wednesday. “Guys were running around and sustaining blocks. Hopefully that’ll carry over… to Sunday.”
Dallas supporters had better hope that improved blocking is enough to overcome Kansas City’s motivational edge. At 7-4 the Cowboys are just a win behind the New York Giants in the NFC East. But at 8-4 and third place in the ultra competitive AFC West, the Chiefs will likely need this win to keep their playoff hopes in good standing.“It’s going to take a better record in the AFC to make the playoffs than in the case of the Cowboys,” explains Pierce. “Plus K.C.’s last three games (at New York Giants, and San Diego and Cincinnati at home) are against teams with a combined record of 25-11.”
By Andrew Folkes
Thu, Dec 8, 2005
Link
Coach Bill Parcells knows that even under ideal circumstances his Dallas Cowboys would have a tough time keeping the Kansas City Chiefs off the scoreboard as 3-point favorites Sunday.
Unfortunately, these are not ideal circumstances, in particularly those surrounding the secondary. Starting cornerback Aaron Glenn missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury while position mate Anthony Henry was held out of Dallas’ last four contests with a groin strain. Both are listed as questionable.
“I think our defense will be challenged this week to a greater degree than it has all season,” he told the San Antonio Express News. “They have a pretty good array of talent to deal with, so we just have to be at our best.”
A wounded secondary doesn’t bode well against K.C.’s ninth-ranked air attack. But because the Chiefs have a rush-based offense, oddsmakers weren’t overly concerned with the Cowboys` cornerback situation when they set Sunday’s line.
“[A secondary’s effect on the pointspread] depends on if they are playing a run or pass oriented team,” explains betWWTS.com linesman Michael Pierce. “K.C. loves to run the ball, plus the secondary is one of Dallas’ strengths, so the effects are minimal.
”The Chiefs’ love of the ground game is perhaps even more troubling for Dallas backers considering how susceptible their team has become to the run lately. Although ranked No. 10 in rushing defense, the Cowboys have given up nearly 110 yards to opposing ball carriers through their past three games.
They now have to deal with Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, who’s averaged 156.6 yards and scored five majors in his last three outings.
“[That] is becoming an ugly trend the past couple of weeks," defensive end Chris Canty said. "We don`t like to do that.”The Cowboys believe their best defense is a solid rush offense of their own. Parcells had his offensive backs, receivers and linemen focused primarily on their blocking in the midweek practice.
Parcells hopes Dallas can rag the clock enough to keep Johnson off the field for any length of time.“Today we had an excellent practice,” right guard Marco Rivera told reporters Wednesday. “Guys were running around and sustaining blocks. Hopefully that’ll carry over… to Sunday.”
Dallas supporters had better hope that improved blocking is enough to overcome Kansas City’s motivational edge. At 7-4 the Cowboys are just a win behind the New York Giants in the NFC East. But at 8-4 and third place in the ultra competitive AFC West, the Chiefs will likely need this win to keep their playoff hopes in good standing.“It’s going to take a better record in the AFC to make the playoffs than in the case of the Cowboys,” explains Pierce. “Plus K.C.’s last three games (at New York Giants, and San Diego and Cincinnati at home) are against teams with a combined record of 25-11.”
posted by The Gryphon at 9:45 PM
<< Home