Cowboys know who's to blame for all the penalties

by Associated Press

IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells has repeatedly said he
doesn't coach penalties. And the Dallas Cowboys, one of the NFL's
most penalized teams, agree that their coach isn't the one
responsible for solving the problem.

"It's all mental. Yes, it is on the players," three-time Pro
Bowl safety Roy Williams said Thursday. "It's not coaching. The
coaches aren't behind you pushing you forward to jump offsides, or
get a pass interference, or get a facemask. That's just all mental
and concentrating."

The Cowboys (4-4) were penalized 11 times for 153 yards in last
week's 22-19 loss at Washington. That included a 48-yard pass
interference call against Williams to start the fourth quarter, and
a crucial though questionable 15-yard facemask penalty against Kyle
Kosier that set up the Redskins' game-winning field goal with no
time on the clock.

"That's one reason we're not winning. ... There's no secret,"
veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn said. "We've got to go out and fix
it. Most of the time, penalties are a judgment deal. We have to
make better judgment."

Dallas' 60 penalties this season are the second-most in the NFL.
The 610 penalty yards are the most. That's an inordinate number of
penalties for a team coached by Parcells, who stresses mental
toughness.

"What else can you do? You can tell them what the rules are,"
Parcells said.

Parcells keeps an index on how the Cowboys compare to the rest
of the NFL in several categories.

The Cowboys are the best in the NFL scoring touchdowns once
inside the opponents 20-yard line at 61 percent (20 of 33), and
only Indianapolis has a better third-down conversion rate than
their 47 percent. Dallas is also in the NFL's top five in rushing
(137 yards a game) and scoring (28 points a game).

"It's pretty obvious what's holding you back," Parcells said.
"Yeah, it's frustrating."<