Coaches need to trust T.O.
Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
As distasteful as it may be for them, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and passing game coordinator Todd Haley should listen to Terrell Owens. Drew Bledsoe did, and he's better off for it.
Bothered by his lack of productivity in the 38-24 loss to the Eagles two weeks ago, Owens had a heart to heart with Bledsoe before the Texans game.
"I told him, 'Dude, just trust me. I know how to play the game. When the ball is in the air, I know how to attack, I know how to go get it. I know every (pass) isn't going to be perfect, but just trust me,'." Owens said.
Bledsoe did just that, going to Owens in the second half even when Texans defensive backs were nearby.
The result? The two hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, turning a tight game into an easy 34-6 victory for the Cowboys.
But on Wednesday, Owens was at it again. Surrounded by reporters in the locker room at the team's training headquarters, he questioned why he hasn't gotten the ball more in the first half.
In the last two games, Owens has had only one reception in the first half - an unacceptable number for a player who has been one of the league's top offensive weapons for most of this decade.
"I mean, the game is getting boring," Owens said. "The first half the last two games, it's like I'm not in the ballgame."
"I feel like I need to be in the offense, involved a little bit earlier in the ballgame," Owens added.
Such talk is nails-on-chalkboard stuff for many Cowboys fans, but Parcells and Haley would be wise to listen.
The Cowboys' offense will never truly sizzle against a tough defense until the coaches figure out how to get the ball to Owens early and often. Do that and Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, Julius Jones and Jason Witten will have a much easier time doing their thing.
Make no mistake. Listening to Owens whine week after week is annoying, but his football-related complaints are often valid. Sure, it would be better for him and everybody else involved if he aired them behind closed doors, but, hey, that's Owens.
Nobody ever said he was a mature, unselfish regular guy.
Even his teammates seem to side with him. Here's what Glenn said about Owens in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "The job of a receiver is to score touchdowns and make plays in the end zone. Nobody does that better than T.O."
So why not get him the ball more in the early going?
It's a safe bet Bledsoe will do just that Monday night against the Giants. Unlike Parcells and Haley, Bledsoe seems to have grown comfortable with Owens. After what happened in the second half against Houston, don't be surprised if Bledsoe isn't so quick to go elsewhere if, at first glance, Owens appears to be covered.
Remember, Bledsoe and Owens lost valuable practice time together at training camp and in the preseason because of Owens' injured hamstring. Perhaps five games and the last six weeks of practice have helped them gain chemistry.
But Bledsoe can only do so much.
It's up to Parcells and Haley to make a commitment to get Owens the ball more.
As distasteful as that may be, it's the right thing to do.
San Antonio Express-News
As distasteful as it may be for them, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and passing game coordinator Todd Haley should listen to Terrell Owens. Drew Bledsoe did, and he's better off for it.
Bothered by his lack of productivity in the 38-24 loss to the Eagles two weeks ago, Owens had a heart to heart with Bledsoe before the Texans game.
"I told him, 'Dude, just trust me. I know how to play the game. When the ball is in the air, I know how to attack, I know how to go get it. I know every (pass) isn't going to be perfect, but just trust me,'." Owens said.
Bledsoe did just that, going to Owens in the second half even when Texans defensive backs were nearby.
The result? The two hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, turning a tight game into an easy 34-6 victory for the Cowboys.
But on Wednesday, Owens was at it again. Surrounded by reporters in the locker room at the team's training headquarters, he questioned why he hasn't gotten the ball more in the first half.
In the last two games, Owens has had only one reception in the first half - an unacceptable number for a player who has been one of the league's top offensive weapons for most of this decade.
"I mean, the game is getting boring," Owens said. "The first half the last two games, it's like I'm not in the ballgame."
"I feel like I need to be in the offense, involved a little bit earlier in the ballgame," Owens added.
Such talk is nails-on-chalkboard stuff for many Cowboys fans, but Parcells and Haley would be wise to listen.
The Cowboys' offense will never truly sizzle against a tough defense until the coaches figure out how to get the ball to Owens early and often. Do that and Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, Julius Jones and Jason Witten will have a much easier time doing their thing.
Make no mistake. Listening to Owens whine week after week is annoying, but his football-related complaints are often valid. Sure, it would be better for him and everybody else involved if he aired them behind closed doors, but, hey, that's Owens.
Nobody ever said he was a mature, unselfish regular guy.
Even his teammates seem to side with him. Here's what Glenn said about Owens in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "The job of a receiver is to score touchdowns and make plays in the end zone. Nobody does that better than T.O."
So why not get him the ball more in the early going?
It's a safe bet Bledsoe will do just that Monday night against the Giants. Unlike Parcells and Haley, Bledsoe seems to have grown comfortable with Owens. After what happened in the second half against Houston, don't be surprised if Bledsoe isn't so quick to go elsewhere if, at first glance, Owens appears to be covered.
Remember, Bledsoe and Owens lost valuable practice time together at training camp and in the preseason because of Owens' injured hamstring. Perhaps five games and the last six weeks of practice have helped them gain chemistry.
But Bledsoe can only do so much.
It's up to Parcells and Haley to make a commitment to get Owens the ball more.
As distasteful as that may be, it's the right thing to do.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:26 AM
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