DCFanatic Pre-Game Report - Cowboys vs Saints
August 20, 2006 ---
Drew Bledsoe Back In The Starting Lineup
Bledsoe will be looking to come out strong so the 'Romo Bandwagon' gets a little lighter this week. He will be missing two of his top three receivers as T.O. and Patrick Crayton sit out due to injuries, but don't expect that to stop him from slinging the ol' pigskin. Terry Glenn and Jason Witten should see plenty of throws coming their way to open up this game. The main thing that Bledsoe will need is good protection from his offensive line. If they provide him time to find an open receiver he should put up some good numbers against a mediocre Saints defense. Look for him to start with a few confidence building throws to Witten. Then we should see him try and air it out deep downfield for one of his wideouts. If he plays up until halftime I would be happy, but he won't be in there when the second half comes around.
Take 2: Greg Ellis As A Linebacker
Ellis passed his first test last week in Seattle by looking like a linebacker. Now he gets to do it again and may have to square up one on one against Reggie Bush in the open field. Yes, that's a scary thought, but it's also going to be a great test for Ellis. If he can tackle Bush in the open field then I would hope he can take down Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis and Tiki Barber in that same situation. Keep your fingers crossed. Look for him to come up with a sack in this game because he will get plenty of time as the Defensive End in the Nickel.
Who Is It Going To Be: Hurd, Rector, Green, Copper, Austin?
Coach Parcells usually keeps five roster spots for wide receivers. So we already have three guys that are locks to be on the roster in Owens, Glenn and Crayton. This game is going to do a lot in determining who the other two spots go to. Copper has been around for a few years now and is a good special teamer. Hurd has been spectacular so far in training camp. Green was drafted to be the punt returner and has been handling those duties all summer. Rector had a few flashes in camp and played well last week in Seattle. Austin would seem to have the least likely chance to make the club because he isn't as consistent as the others. So who is going to be the #4 and #5 receivers? No idea, call me on Tuesday.
First Half For Fabini, Second Half for Colombo, Petitti Going Left
The Right Tackle job is still very much an open contest at this point. Not sure if that's a good thing though. Jason Fabini has been getting bad reviews all throughout training camp. Marc Colombo has received mix interpretations. Rob Petitti and his new physique have not locked up the job and now he's playing a little Left Tackle. Let me try to figure this out here. I think this is the opportunity for Fabini to put or shut up. He has always been known as a better player in games than in practice. If he comes out and stinks it up then he may not make it back to Dallas. Colombo is working on some technical issues, but he seems to be playing a little better than Petitti at this point. If he comes out and plays well I think he wins the Right Tackle job immediately. Petitti is going to be the 'swing tackle' and that's why he is getting time behind Flozell Adams in this game. That's my opinion as of right now.
Looks Like Bobby Is Stuck In The Middle
When the Cowboys drafted Bobby Carpenter most people penciled him in at the Outside Linebacker spot opposite Demarcus Ware. Not so fast folks. Carpenter is playing behind Akin Ayodele as a middle backer in the base defense, but he is starting in the Nickel alongside Kevin Burnett. For this game he may only see time working with the Nickel because his foot may still be a little sore. I liked his work in the Seahawks game last week and I expect the same again on Monday.
Sean Payton Is The Head Coach For The Saints
The Cowboys know Payton and he knows them. So what's his plan in this game? He should be running out his first team units for at least a quarter, but I wonder if he is going to really show the Cowboys anything but vanilla offensive and defensive sets. These two teams do play in the regular season so neither team will probably do anything too irregular. Payton is a smart coach though so on offense look for him to attack Greg Ellis and Keith Davis early in this game. He knows Ellis is still learning and he knows Davis is still not a great Free Safety. On defense I think he will do some blitzing and try to rattle Drew Bledsoe. This is going to be a good chess match between Coach Parcells and Coach Payton, at least for a quarter or so.
Here's A Bunch Of Stuff I Hope To See...
Greg Ellis nailing Reggie Bush on a screen pass, Marcus Spears show us that he is back to his old self, Bobby Carpenter showing no ill effects from that foot injury, Andre Gurode continue to play well at Center, Drew Bledsoe leave the game without having been sacked, Terry Glenn in the End Zone celebrating a long TD pass, Roy Williams coming up with an INT, Jason Ferguson forcing the run outside, Mike Vanderjagt making all of his FG attempts, Skyler Green making some noise on punt returns, Coach Parcells smiling in the fourth quarter and lastly...
Drew Bledsoe Back In The Starting Lineup
Bledsoe will be looking to come out strong so the 'Romo Bandwagon' gets a little lighter this week. He will be missing two of his top three receivers as T.O. and Patrick Crayton sit out due to injuries, but don't expect that to stop him from slinging the ol' pigskin. Terry Glenn and Jason Witten should see plenty of throws coming their way to open up this game. The main thing that Bledsoe will need is good protection from his offensive line. If they provide him time to find an open receiver he should put up some good numbers against a mediocre Saints defense. Look for him to start with a few confidence building throws to Witten. Then we should see him try and air it out deep downfield for one of his wideouts. If he plays up until halftime I would be happy, but he won't be in there when the second half comes around.
Take 2: Greg Ellis As A Linebacker
Ellis passed his first test last week in Seattle by looking like a linebacker. Now he gets to do it again and may have to square up one on one against Reggie Bush in the open field. Yes, that's a scary thought, but it's also going to be a great test for Ellis. If he can tackle Bush in the open field then I would hope he can take down Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis and Tiki Barber in that same situation. Keep your fingers crossed. Look for him to come up with a sack in this game because he will get plenty of time as the Defensive End in the Nickel.
Who Is It Going To Be: Hurd, Rector, Green, Copper, Austin?
Coach Parcells usually keeps five roster spots for wide receivers. So we already have three guys that are locks to be on the roster in Owens, Glenn and Crayton. This game is going to do a lot in determining who the other two spots go to. Copper has been around for a few years now and is a good special teamer. Hurd has been spectacular so far in training camp. Green was drafted to be the punt returner and has been handling those duties all summer. Rector had a few flashes in camp and played well last week in Seattle. Austin would seem to have the least likely chance to make the club because he isn't as consistent as the others. So who is going to be the #4 and #5 receivers? No idea, call me on Tuesday.
First Half For Fabini, Second Half for Colombo, Petitti Going Left
The Right Tackle job is still very much an open contest at this point. Not sure if that's a good thing though. Jason Fabini has been getting bad reviews all throughout training camp. Marc Colombo has received mix interpretations. Rob Petitti and his new physique have not locked up the job and now he's playing a little Left Tackle. Let me try to figure this out here. I think this is the opportunity for Fabini to put or shut up. He has always been known as a better player in games than in practice. If he comes out and stinks it up then he may not make it back to Dallas. Colombo is working on some technical issues, but he seems to be playing a little better than Petitti at this point. If he comes out and plays well I think he wins the Right Tackle job immediately. Petitti is going to be the 'swing tackle' and that's why he is getting time behind Flozell Adams in this game. That's my opinion as of right now.
Looks Like Bobby Is Stuck In The Middle
When the Cowboys drafted Bobby Carpenter most people penciled him in at the Outside Linebacker spot opposite Demarcus Ware. Not so fast folks. Carpenter is playing behind Akin Ayodele as a middle backer in the base defense, but he is starting in the Nickel alongside Kevin Burnett. For this game he may only see time working with the Nickel because his foot may still be a little sore. I liked his work in the Seahawks game last week and I expect the same again on Monday.
Sean Payton Is The Head Coach For The Saints
The Cowboys know Payton and he knows them. So what's his plan in this game? He should be running out his first team units for at least a quarter, but I wonder if he is going to really show the Cowboys anything but vanilla offensive and defensive sets. These two teams do play in the regular season so neither team will probably do anything too irregular. Payton is a smart coach though so on offense look for him to attack Greg Ellis and Keith Davis early in this game. He knows Ellis is still learning and he knows Davis is still not a great Free Safety. On defense I think he will do some blitzing and try to rattle Drew Bledsoe. This is going to be a good chess match between Coach Parcells and Coach Payton, at least for a quarter or so.
Here's A Bunch Of Stuff I Hope To See...
Greg Ellis nailing Reggie Bush on a screen pass, Marcus Spears show us that he is back to his old self, Bobby Carpenter showing no ill effects from that foot injury, Andre Gurode continue to play well at Center, Drew Bledsoe leave the game without having been sacked, Terry Glenn in the End Zone celebrating a long TD pass, Roy Williams coming up with an INT, Jason Ferguson forcing the run outside, Mike Vanderjagt making all of his FG attempts, Skyler Green making some noise on punt returns, Coach Parcells smiling in the fourth quarter and lastly...
posted by The Gryphon at 10:39 AM
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