Bledsoe has a backup in Troy
By Randy Galloway
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
STAR-TELEGRAM/RON JENKINS
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, left, and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, back center, had a few moments in the opener when they didn't appear on the same page.
More photosOn behalf of the much dumped-on Drew...
While the rest of us were screeching all week about that pathetic overthrow of a wide-open Eldorado Owens in the Jacksonville game, Troy Aikman saw something different.
In fact, Aikman mentioned it immediately to the Fox TV national audience:
Wrong route.
Or, as Aikman put it, "a miscommunication between a quarterback and a receiver who have had minimal practice work together."
So did Owens screw it up maybe because he spent most of August riding a stationary bike?
Not exactly.
First, according to other voices who broke down the game film, what went unnoticed on that fatal play was that Owens and tight end Jason Witten collided just past the line of scrimmage.
That threw Owens off his route, which was supposed to be straight down the hash mark. Instead, he ended up wide open in the middle of field.
OK, but doesn't the quarterback have to make the adjustment?
Yes, but it's not as simple as those of us sitting on bar stools or press box chairs happen to think.
"When a receiver is on the right route, the quarterback thinks he knows where every cover guy is going to be located," said Aikman. "But on a play like that, the immediate worry is where's the safety? You are trying to account for the safety."
On behalf of the much dumped-on Drew, the timing of the route was gone after the collision, and because of the unknown whereabouts of the safety, Bledsoe made the proper choice, according to Aikman.
He attempted to loft the ball with the hope Owens could run under it, instead of rifling a pass down the middle.
The overthrow looked real bad, but if you've been there, you understand the problem, according to those who have been, such as Aikman.
In fact, he was laughing this week about all the Tony Romo clamor after Bledsoe's poor game.
"In my time as a starter here, I heard that same noise," he said.
But Aikman emphasized he was not attempting to defend Bledsoe.
"Obviously, he didn't have a good game, and he's going to have to have a much better game [Sunday night against the Redskins]. I think he will.
"But let's face it, when a quarterback opens the season with that kind of performance, he's left himself wide open for criticism. Because it was the first game, it was magnified much more."
As expected, Aikman doesn't buy into the notion that Bledsoe's starting job is on the line against the Redskins, or in the immediate future.
"Drew gets knocked for lack of mobility and for holding on to the ball too long," he said. "But he's also normally a very good pocket passer.
"Now, to me, no matter what else a team has going for it -- running game, defense, whatever -- to win in this league consistently you have to make passing plays downfield.
"The best downfield passers are pocket passers, not the so-called mobility quarterbacks."
So...
"The question for the Cowboys is not Drew's lack of mobility. The emphasis is on the guys blocking the defense," added Troy.
No matter how far we stray in Cowboy critique, sooner or later it always comes back to a suspect offensive line.
Both head coach and owner left Bledsoe dangling by saying last week that "pressure wasn't a problem" against Jax. It also sounded like praise for the offensive line.
But I went to more trusted sources, like NFL scouts, for a second opinion.
To my surprise, they somewhat agreed with head coach and owner. But not totally.
Outside sources say the two offensive tackles and guard Marco Rivera were right at the failing-grade mark in Jacksonville.
Speaking of a surprise, center Andre Gurode and guard Kyle Kosier drew praise, and both were considered weak links.
But as Akiman noted, "Maybe not so much in Jacksonville, but overall, some other people need to be doing their jobs better so the quarterback can do his better."
He meant the offensive line.
Yet also be aware that to a man, from Aikman to other NFL voices, all observed that the biggest Cowboys' negative in Jax was not offense related.
"I had no idea that Jacksonville could move the ball on the Dallas defense like it did," said Aikman.
One scout added, "If they don't come up with some pressure, and they continue not to generate turnovers, there will be more of what was seen [in Jacksonville] And this team will obviously not be as good as some people thought it might."
Just a little something to keep in mind for tonight.
Randy Galloway's Galloway & Co. can be heard weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN/103.3 FM.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
STAR-TELEGRAM/RON JENKINS
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, left, and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, back center, had a few moments in the opener when they didn't appear on the same page.
More photosOn behalf of the much dumped-on Drew...
While the rest of us were screeching all week about that pathetic overthrow of a wide-open Eldorado Owens in the Jacksonville game, Troy Aikman saw something different.
In fact, Aikman mentioned it immediately to the Fox TV national audience:
Wrong route.
Or, as Aikman put it, "a miscommunication between a quarterback and a receiver who have had minimal practice work together."
So did Owens screw it up maybe because he spent most of August riding a stationary bike?
Not exactly.
First, according to other voices who broke down the game film, what went unnoticed on that fatal play was that Owens and tight end Jason Witten collided just past the line of scrimmage.
That threw Owens off his route, which was supposed to be straight down the hash mark. Instead, he ended up wide open in the middle of field.
OK, but doesn't the quarterback have to make the adjustment?
Yes, but it's not as simple as those of us sitting on bar stools or press box chairs happen to think.
"When a receiver is on the right route, the quarterback thinks he knows where every cover guy is going to be located," said Aikman. "But on a play like that, the immediate worry is where's the safety? You are trying to account for the safety."
On behalf of the much dumped-on Drew, the timing of the route was gone after the collision, and because of the unknown whereabouts of the safety, Bledsoe made the proper choice, according to Aikman.
He attempted to loft the ball with the hope Owens could run under it, instead of rifling a pass down the middle.
The overthrow looked real bad, but if you've been there, you understand the problem, according to those who have been, such as Aikman.
In fact, he was laughing this week about all the Tony Romo clamor after Bledsoe's poor game.
"In my time as a starter here, I heard that same noise," he said.
But Aikman emphasized he was not attempting to defend Bledsoe.
"Obviously, he didn't have a good game, and he's going to have to have a much better game [Sunday night against the Redskins]. I think he will.
"But let's face it, when a quarterback opens the season with that kind of performance, he's left himself wide open for criticism. Because it was the first game, it was magnified much more."
As expected, Aikman doesn't buy into the notion that Bledsoe's starting job is on the line against the Redskins, or in the immediate future.
"Drew gets knocked for lack of mobility and for holding on to the ball too long," he said. "But he's also normally a very good pocket passer.
"Now, to me, no matter what else a team has going for it -- running game, defense, whatever -- to win in this league consistently you have to make passing plays downfield.
"The best downfield passers are pocket passers, not the so-called mobility quarterbacks."
So...
"The question for the Cowboys is not Drew's lack of mobility. The emphasis is on the guys blocking the defense," added Troy.
No matter how far we stray in Cowboy critique, sooner or later it always comes back to a suspect offensive line.
Both head coach and owner left Bledsoe dangling by saying last week that "pressure wasn't a problem" against Jax. It also sounded like praise for the offensive line.
But I went to more trusted sources, like NFL scouts, for a second opinion.
To my surprise, they somewhat agreed with head coach and owner. But not totally.
Outside sources say the two offensive tackles and guard Marco Rivera were right at the failing-grade mark in Jacksonville.
Speaking of a surprise, center Andre Gurode and guard Kyle Kosier drew praise, and both were considered weak links.
But as Akiman noted, "Maybe not so much in Jacksonville, but overall, some other people need to be doing their jobs better so the quarterback can do his better."
He meant the offensive line.
Yet also be aware that to a man, from Aikman to other NFL voices, all observed that the biggest Cowboys' negative in Jax was not offense related.
"I had no idea that Jacksonville could move the ball on the Dallas defense like it did," said Aikman.
One scout added, "If they don't come up with some pressure, and they continue not to generate turnovers, there will be more of what was seen [in Jacksonville] And this team will obviously not be as good as some people thought it might."
Just a little something to keep in mind for tonight.
Randy Galloway's Galloway & Co. can be heard weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN/103.3 FM.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:32 AM
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