Defense concerns Cowboys the most
Tom Orsborn
Express-News
IRVING — The new year is just beginning. But as far as Bill Parcells is concerned, 2006 might as well be 1906.
"Fellas, I'd like to get on to Seattle. If you want to talk about history, go down to the museum," the coach of the Dallas Cowboys said after a series of questions about the team's dreadful December.
The Cowboys lost their last two regular-season games to finish the month 2-3, hardly the kind of late-season showing that inspires thoughts of a Super Bowl run.
Factor in that the five quarterbacks Dallas faced last month combined to complete 65 percent of their passes for 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions, and you've got a team that is being given little chance to win Saturday's NFC wild-card playoff game at Seattle.
But Parcells didn't want to hear any of that Tuesday before he led his team onto the field for its first practice since Sunday's 39-31 loss to lowly Detroit.
"The sides are even here now," Parcells said. "We're starting over. There are very few teams that aren't going into this tournament without some questions about things that have happened (in the regular season). And all of that makes no difference now. It's who plays well now that counts."
That's true, but Dallas showed no signs in its last game of pulling out of a tailspin that began with a 42-17 loss to New Orleans on Dec. 10. On Sunday, the Lions shredded the Cowboys' defense for four TD passes, continuing a trend started by the Saints of attacking Dallas' biggest weakness, a porous secondary made worse by an anemic pass rush.
The Cowboys finished the season ranked 19th in sacks and 24th in pass defense. Only three teams allowed more TD passes than Dallas' 25, an embarrassing statistic for a secondary that includes two first-round draft picks in cornerback Terence Newman and Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams.
"If we don't solve the problems (on defense), we're not going to beat (Seattle)," Parcells said. "We have to play better than we have, definitely. But part of that is not giving the ball up on the 20-yard line or the 25 or the 30, or the 13 like we did last week. I think if we had not done that (committed three turnovers, all by quarterback Tony Romo), Detroit would not have had the points they had. We have to go there, too."
Parcells offered no plan to solve the defense's problems, saying only that he's seen it play better.
"I just think we're capable of playing good football at some point in time," Parcells said. "I'm confident we have that capability. I'm not confident 100 percent that we're going to do it, but I know we have the capability because I've seen it."
He's also seen his team win on the road. Dallas was 5-3 away from Texas Stadium this season, a fact several players embraced Tuesday.
"I'd rather play on the road," Julius Jones said. "We come together well as a team on the road. It's kind of us against the world. Plus, there are too many distractions at home. Here, there are all types of things going on. People got family in, and they're wondering what they will be doing after the game.
"We play great on the road, so we are in a good position."
Said Romo: "We've done it before (on the road). Plus, there is a lot of parity in this league. Any given Sunday, right?"
Express-News
IRVING — The new year is just beginning. But as far as Bill Parcells is concerned, 2006 might as well be 1906.
"Fellas, I'd like to get on to Seattle. If you want to talk about history, go down to the museum," the coach of the Dallas Cowboys said after a series of questions about the team's dreadful December.
The Cowboys lost their last two regular-season games to finish the month 2-3, hardly the kind of late-season showing that inspires thoughts of a Super Bowl run.
Factor in that the five quarterbacks Dallas faced last month combined to complete 65 percent of their passes for 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions, and you've got a team that is being given little chance to win Saturday's NFC wild-card playoff game at Seattle.
But Parcells didn't want to hear any of that Tuesday before he led his team onto the field for its first practice since Sunday's 39-31 loss to lowly Detroit.
"The sides are even here now," Parcells said. "We're starting over. There are very few teams that aren't going into this tournament without some questions about things that have happened (in the regular season). And all of that makes no difference now. It's who plays well now that counts."
That's true, but Dallas showed no signs in its last game of pulling out of a tailspin that began with a 42-17 loss to New Orleans on Dec. 10. On Sunday, the Lions shredded the Cowboys' defense for four TD passes, continuing a trend started by the Saints of attacking Dallas' biggest weakness, a porous secondary made worse by an anemic pass rush.
The Cowboys finished the season ranked 19th in sacks and 24th in pass defense. Only three teams allowed more TD passes than Dallas' 25, an embarrassing statistic for a secondary that includes two first-round draft picks in cornerback Terence Newman and Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams.
"If we don't solve the problems (on defense), we're not going to beat (Seattle)," Parcells said. "We have to play better than we have, definitely. But part of that is not giving the ball up on the 20-yard line or the 25 or the 30, or the 13 like we did last week. I think if we had not done that (committed three turnovers, all by quarterback Tony Romo), Detroit would not have had the points they had. We have to go there, too."
Parcells offered no plan to solve the defense's problems, saying only that he's seen it play better.
"I just think we're capable of playing good football at some point in time," Parcells said. "I'm confident we have that capability. I'm not confident 100 percent that we're going to do it, but I know we have the capability because I've seen it."
He's also seen his team win on the road. Dallas was 5-3 away from Texas Stadium this season, a fact several players embraced Tuesday.
"I'd rather play on the road," Julius Jones said. "We come together well as a team on the road. It's kind of us against the world. Plus, there are too many distractions at home. Here, there are all types of things going on. People got family in, and they're wondering what they will be doing after the game.
"We play great on the road, so we are in a good position."
Said Romo: "We've done it before (on the road). Plus, there is a lot of parity in this league. Any given Sunday, right?"
posted by The Gryphon at 10:14 PM
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