Don't forget defense when playing blame game
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
It's Redskins Week, which means the holdovers from the Cowboys' 2005 defense are being forced by the media to relive how they cost their team a victory last season.
Of course, it's nothing they haven't heard before.
"I don't think I have to remind them," Bill Parcells said. "I mean, it's been written upon the entire year around here. Someone has made reference to it on a weekly basis. I think they are pretty much aware of what happened."
What happened was arguably one of the greatest collapses in team history. In a Week 2 game a year ago, the Cowboys saw their 13-0 lead over the Redskins evaporate late in the fourth quarter on Mark Brunell touchdown tosses of 39 and 70 to Santana Moss.
Parcells said he doesn't need to remind the defense about the collapse, but maybe he should. Just like he should remind the unit that its weak play was a big reason why the Cowboys blew a 10-point lead in Jacksonville last week en route to a 24-17 loss.
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe is getting most of the blame for the loss, but the defense should also be held accountable.
It wasn't Bledsoe who dropped a sure interception inside Jacksonville territory at the start of the second quarter. It was cornerback Anthony Henry.
It wasn't Bledsoe who failed to record a sack or quarterback hit. It was outside linebacker Greg Ellis.
It wasn't Bledsoe who allowed Byron Leftwich to score on a quarterback draw up the middle early in the fourth quarter. It was middle linebacker Bradie James.
The defense can and should do better. The Cowboys have spent first-round draft picks (see DeMarcus Ware, Terence Newman and Roy Williams) and money (see free-agent signees Jason Ferguson, Akin Ayodele, Aaron Glenn and Henry) to make it better. And it's a unit that's coordinated by one of the top assistants in the league, Mike Zimmer.
So bash Bledsoe all you want. But just remember the defense had its share of blunders in Jacksonville too.
Five reasons why the Cowboys beat the Redskins
1. The revenge factor. Washington beat Dallas twice last season, including a 35-7 rout on Dec. 18.
2. Terrell Owens wants to make a statement in his Texas Stadium regular-season debut.
3. Drew Bledsoe usually bounces back after a poor outing and could be playing for his job.
4. Clinton Portis' shoulder won't hold up against a well-placed Roy Williams hit.
5. The secondary proved in Jacksonville it couldn't handle big receivers. Fortunately for the Cowboys, the Redskins' tallest wideout is 6 foot.
Five reasons why the Redskins beat the Cowboys
1. Gregg Williams' defensive game plan will baffle Bledsoe, jolt Julius Jones and torment T.O.
2. Portis is getting closer to 100 percent.
3. Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle-El fly by Newman, Henry and company.
4. H-back Chris Cooley picks up where he left off Dec. 18, when he caught TD passes of 8, 2 and 30 yards against the Cowboys.
5. In a battle of shaky kickers, the 'Skins John Hall trumps either Shaun Suisham or Mike Vanderjagt.
Prediction
Aided by Owens, Bledsoe bounces back to lead the Cowboys to an 18-14 victory.
Express-News Staff Writer
It's Redskins Week, which means the holdovers from the Cowboys' 2005 defense are being forced by the media to relive how they cost their team a victory last season.
Of course, it's nothing they haven't heard before.
"I don't think I have to remind them," Bill Parcells said. "I mean, it's been written upon the entire year around here. Someone has made reference to it on a weekly basis. I think they are pretty much aware of what happened."
What happened was arguably one of the greatest collapses in team history. In a Week 2 game a year ago, the Cowboys saw their 13-0 lead over the Redskins evaporate late in the fourth quarter on Mark Brunell touchdown tosses of 39 and 70 to Santana Moss.
Parcells said he doesn't need to remind the defense about the collapse, but maybe he should. Just like he should remind the unit that its weak play was a big reason why the Cowboys blew a 10-point lead in Jacksonville last week en route to a 24-17 loss.
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe is getting most of the blame for the loss, but the defense should also be held accountable.
It wasn't Bledsoe who dropped a sure interception inside Jacksonville territory at the start of the second quarter. It was cornerback Anthony Henry.
It wasn't Bledsoe who failed to record a sack or quarterback hit. It was outside linebacker Greg Ellis.
It wasn't Bledsoe who allowed Byron Leftwich to score on a quarterback draw up the middle early in the fourth quarter. It was middle linebacker Bradie James.
The defense can and should do better. The Cowboys have spent first-round draft picks (see DeMarcus Ware, Terence Newman and Roy Williams) and money (see free-agent signees Jason Ferguson, Akin Ayodele, Aaron Glenn and Henry) to make it better. And it's a unit that's coordinated by one of the top assistants in the league, Mike Zimmer.
So bash Bledsoe all you want. But just remember the defense had its share of blunders in Jacksonville too.
Five reasons why the Cowboys beat the Redskins
1. The revenge factor. Washington beat Dallas twice last season, including a 35-7 rout on Dec. 18.
2. Terrell Owens wants to make a statement in his Texas Stadium regular-season debut.
3. Drew Bledsoe usually bounces back after a poor outing and could be playing for his job.
4. Clinton Portis' shoulder won't hold up against a well-placed Roy Williams hit.
5. The secondary proved in Jacksonville it couldn't handle big receivers. Fortunately for the Cowboys, the Redskins' tallest wideout is 6 foot.
Five reasons why the Redskins beat the Cowboys
1. Gregg Williams' defensive game plan will baffle Bledsoe, jolt Julius Jones and torment T.O.
2. Portis is getting closer to 100 percent.
3. Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle-El fly by Newman, Henry and company.
4. H-back Chris Cooley picks up where he left off Dec. 18, when he caught TD passes of 8, 2 and 30 yards against the Cowboys.
5. In a battle of shaky kickers, the 'Skins John Hall trumps either Shaun Suisham or Mike Vanderjagt.
Prediction
Aided by Owens, Bledsoe bounces back to lead the Cowboys to an 18-14 victory.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:28 PM
<< Home