Minnesota Will Provide a Real Test
By Rafael Vela
The Cowboys have played well this preseason but all enthusiam has been tempered by the latest opponents. The Saints and 49ers both picked in the top six last April and both look like strong bets to draft in the top ten next year.
Dallas will get a much better test of its progress tomorrow when the Vikings come to town. Minnesota was one of the NFC’s biggest flops last year. Picked to win the division by many, they cratered after a team scandal and QB Duante Culpepper’s serious knee injury. They rallied to respectability under Brad Johnson but cleaned house in the offseason. they canned long-time HC Mike Tice and replaced him with long-time Eagles OC Brad Childress.
Minnesota has weak spots, primarily at WR, but has lots of young talent on its lines. The biggest matchup tomorrow will be the Vikings defensive line versus the Cowboys offensive line. We’ve long acknowledged that this year’s team will go as far as the o-line takes them. The protection has been steady so far and the run blocking, while shaky at times, has gotten better every week.
Thursday the big grunts face speed and talent. The Vikings have invested heavily in their d-line, using 1st round picks in ‘03, ‘04 and ‘05 to obtain DT Kevin Williams, a player Dallas seriously considered before drafting Terence Newman, and DEs Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James. (Jerry Jones claimed the Cowboys would have drafted James last year had Marcus Spears been taken.) The Vikings added monster NT/DT Pat Williams in the ‘05 offseason to anchor and let the kids run free.
Williams has turned into one of the league’s best rushing tackles. He will give guards Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera a handful. Watch how well they contain him, especially on passing downs. Inside, the mammoth Williams will give Andre Gurode a challenge.
Outside, James speed will give a clearer indication of rookie Pat McQuistan’s progress. Parcells singled out this matchup in yesterday’s presser, so you know he’s eager to see how far McQuistan has come, or still has to go.
When the Vikings have the ball, watch their left side versus the Cowboys’ right side. Minnesota spent a mint stealing Pro Bowl OG Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle. He’ll team with LT Bryant McKinnie and Pro Bowl C Matt Birk to give Minnesota a solid push on that side of the line. Watch NT Jason Ferguson vs. Birk and see if ILBs Bradie James and Akin Ayodele can hold their ground against the road grader Hutchinson.
The starters probably won’t play very much on a short week, so sharpen those eyeballs and watch those matchups. This will be the clearest signal of how Dallas will likely play against Jacksonville when the real games begin.
The Cowboys have played well this preseason but all enthusiam has been tempered by the latest opponents. The Saints and 49ers both picked in the top six last April and both look like strong bets to draft in the top ten next year.
Dallas will get a much better test of its progress tomorrow when the Vikings come to town. Minnesota was one of the NFC’s biggest flops last year. Picked to win the division by many, they cratered after a team scandal and QB Duante Culpepper’s serious knee injury. They rallied to respectability under Brad Johnson but cleaned house in the offseason. they canned long-time HC Mike Tice and replaced him with long-time Eagles OC Brad Childress.
Minnesota has weak spots, primarily at WR, but has lots of young talent on its lines. The biggest matchup tomorrow will be the Vikings defensive line versus the Cowboys offensive line. We’ve long acknowledged that this year’s team will go as far as the o-line takes them. The protection has been steady so far and the run blocking, while shaky at times, has gotten better every week.
Thursday the big grunts face speed and talent. The Vikings have invested heavily in their d-line, using 1st round picks in ‘03, ‘04 and ‘05 to obtain DT Kevin Williams, a player Dallas seriously considered before drafting Terence Newman, and DEs Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James. (Jerry Jones claimed the Cowboys would have drafted James last year had Marcus Spears been taken.) The Vikings added monster NT/DT Pat Williams in the ‘05 offseason to anchor and let the kids run free.
Williams has turned into one of the league’s best rushing tackles. He will give guards Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera a handful. Watch how well they contain him, especially on passing downs. Inside, the mammoth Williams will give Andre Gurode a challenge.
Outside, James speed will give a clearer indication of rookie Pat McQuistan’s progress. Parcells singled out this matchup in yesterday’s presser, so you know he’s eager to see how far McQuistan has come, or still has to go.
When the Vikings have the ball, watch their left side versus the Cowboys’ right side. Minnesota spent a mint stealing Pro Bowl OG Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle. He’ll team with LT Bryant McKinnie and Pro Bowl C Matt Birk to give Minnesota a solid push on that side of the line. Watch NT Jason Ferguson vs. Birk and see if ILBs Bradie James and Akin Ayodele can hold their ground against the road grader Hutchinson.
The starters probably won’t play very much on a short week, so sharpen those eyeballs and watch those matchups. This will be the clearest signal of how Dallas will likely play against Jacksonville when the real games begin.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:28 PM
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