Todd Archer's Cowboys report card
RUN OFFENSE
B Julius Jones became the first Cowboys runner to reach 100 yards in three straight games since Emmitt Smith in 2000. Marion Barber chipped in with 57 yards on 10 carries. The offensive line and tight ends had an excellent game, including clinching blocks from right tackle Marc Colombo and tight end Tony Curtis on Jones' game-long 33-yard run.
RUN DEFENSE
A David Carr led the Texans with 15 yards, which says something about this group. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson was dominant again. Ron Dayne, who had a big game vs. the Cowboys last year while with Denver, was a non-factor (10 carries, 14 yards) as was Samkon Gado (four carries, 5 yards). The Texans had eight carries in the first quarter go for 1 or no yards.
PASS OFFENSE
B- Call it efficient. Drew Bledsoe was sacked only two times, both in the first half, and the Cowboys burned the Texans when they blitzed. Owens caught three touchdown passes, but it was Bledsoe's ability to mix it around that helped: Patrick Crayton, Owens and Terry Glenn each caught five passes. On a few occasions Bledsoe wisely through the ball away.
PASS DEFENSE
B+ The pass rush could have been better, but Anthony Henry had his best game of the year, intercepting one pass and knocking away five others. He also kept Andre Johnson to a quiet nine-catch day. Safety Roy Williams set the tone with some big hits. Carr was intercepted on back-to-back drives in the third quarter by Greg Ellis and Henry.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C A 45-yard punt return at the end of the second quarter contributed to a Texans field goal. Despite the return, Mat McBriar had a 46-yard net average. Mike Vanderjagt's kickoffs did not hurt the coverage team, and Kevin Burnett forced a fumble that led a field goal. Skyler Green had a penalty for trying to return a punt after calling for a fair catch.
COACHING
B+ This was a big game for the coaching staff after what happened in Philadelphia. The defense did not allow a play longer than 21 yards and allowed only three third-down tries to be converted in 13 chances. Owens got the ball, Jones ran the ball and Bledsoe protected the ball. Going for it on fourth down was gutsy, but the call was dubious considering how they were running the ball.
OVERALL
B+ They did what they were supposed to do, just like they did two weeks ago at Tennessee: They beat a bad team. They did not look commanding, especially in the first half, but they came out strong in the second half, scoring 31 points. In a week filled with emotion – from the loss to Philadelphia to the practice-field dust-up between Terrell Owens and Todd Haley – the Cowboys could breathe easy in the fourth quarter.
B Julius Jones became the first Cowboys runner to reach 100 yards in three straight games since Emmitt Smith in 2000. Marion Barber chipped in with 57 yards on 10 carries. The offensive line and tight ends had an excellent game, including clinching blocks from right tackle Marc Colombo and tight end Tony Curtis on Jones' game-long 33-yard run.
RUN DEFENSE
A David Carr led the Texans with 15 yards, which says something about this group. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson was dominant again. Ron Dayne, who had a big game vs. the Cowboys last year while with Denver, was a non-factor (10 carries, 14 yards) as was Samkon Gado (four carries, 5 yards). The Texans had eight carries in the first quarter go for 1 or no yards.
PASS OFFENSE
B- Call it efficient. Drew Bledsoe was sacked only two times, both in the first half, and the Cowboys burned the Texans when they blitzed. Owens caught three touchdown passes, but it was Bledsoe's ability to mix it around that helped: Patrick Crayton, Owens and Terry Glenn each caught five passes. On a few occasions Bledsoe wisely through the ball away.
PASS DEFENSE
B+ The pass rush could have been better, but Anthony Henry had his best game of the year, intercepting one pass and knocking away five others. He also kept Andre Johnson to a quiet nine-catch day. Safety Roy Williams set the tone with some big hits. Carr was intercepted on back-to-back drives in the third quarter by Greg Ellis and Henry.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C A 45-yard punt return at the end of the second quarter contributed to a Texans field goal. Despite the return, Mat McBriar had a 46-yard net average. Mike Vanderjagt's kickoffs did not hurt the coverage team, and Kevin Burnett forced a fumble that led a field goal. Skyler Green had a penalty for trying to return a punt after calling for a fair catch.
COACHING
B+ This was a big game for the coaching staff after what happened in Philadelphia. The defense did not allow a play longer than 21 yards and allowed only three third-down tries to be converted in 13 chances. Owens got the ball, Jones ran the ball and Bledsoe protected the ball. Going for it on fourth down was gutsy, but the call was dubious considering how they were running the ball.
OVERALL
B+ They did what they were supposed to do, just like they did two weeks ago at Tennessee: They beat a bad team. They did not look commanding, especially in the first half, but they came out strong in the second half, scoring 31 points. In a week filled with emotion – from the loss to Philadelphia to the practice-field dust-up between Terrell Owens and Todd Haley – the Cowboys could breathe easy in the fourth quarter.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:51 PM
<< Home