Pro football: Cowboys will roll the dice more with Phillips
Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — If Sunday's opener is any indication, the Dallas Cowboys under Wade Phillips won't be a team afraid to take offensive risks.
And don't expect them to burn timeouts debating the pros and cons of taking such gambles either.
"I just hate it when coaches have to call timeout to figure out what to do," Phillips said. "To me, that's not coaching."
Phillips' decisive, go-for-broke style was on display in the second quarter Sunday night.
After a Tony Romo pass to Jason Witten gained 10 yards, the Cowboys were faced with a fourth-and-1 from the 18-yard line. The New York Giants nursed a 6-3 lead at the time, and more than a few observers in the press box at Texas Stadium figured Phillips would play it safe and call on rookie Nick Folk to kick another field goal.
But Phillips had other plans and quickly told offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to call a play.
"The thing I pride myself on is making the decision beforehand where you don't have to say, 'Timeout. Let's think about it,'" Phillips said. "You have to know what you're going to do in that situation, and I felt like we're really strong in the offensive line, especially on our right side."
Phillips also viewed it as an opportunity to build confidence among his offensive players.
"It was a chance to establish that we're going to make short-yardage plays, the plays we need to make," Phillips said.
After taking the handoff from Romo, hard-charging Marion Barber scurried around right end and somersaulted into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season and 22nd of his three-year career, all but two of which have come on the ground.
Dallas never trailed after Barber's TD, going on to win 45-35.
"You want to back your team," Phillips said. "We felt like we could make it. I know the players felt like it. If we'd just run in the field-goal team, it would've been a letdown for our team as far as me believing in them and them believing in themselves.
"Before the game, I had thought about doing that if those situations came up. Turned out it was the right decision. The coach is fixing to get run out of town if you don't make it. (Barber) helped me out."
Making the offense more proficient in short-yardage situations is a priority for Phillips.
"Third and ones, we didn't make last season," Phillips said. "And Marion made a lower percentage than you would think. We're stronger than we were last year certainly, so I thought we'd have a better chance of making it."
Although Barber got the call against the Giants, Phillips said Julius Jones won't always come out on short-yardage and red-zone situations this season.
"Each game certainly is different," Phillips said.
On Sunday, Jones gained 66 yards on 16 carries, including a 21-yard sprint. Barber bulled his way to 65 yards on 11 attempts.
And, as usual, the fans cheered more for Barber and his angry running style.
"I don't really pay attention, I just go out there," Barber said of receiving a hearty welcome from the fans when he entered the game late in the first quarter.
Barber said he's also not worried about the distribution of labor between himself and Jones.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Barber said. "I feel like you have to find your role, and however they want to use me, I just have to be ready."
Especially when Phillips is ready to roll the dice.
Notebook: The Cowboys placed nose tackle Jason Ferguson (biceps) on injured reserve Tuesday. They filled his roster spot by signing nose tackle Remi Ayodele, who was released by Dallas on its final cut to reach 53 players.
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — If Sunday's opener is any indication, the Dallas Cowboys under Wade Phillips won't be a team afraid to take offensive risks.
And don't expect them to burn timeouts debating the pros and cons of taking such gambles either.
"I just hate it when coaches have to call timeout to figure out what to do," Phillips said. "To me, that's not coaching."
Phillips' decisive, go-for-broke style was on display in the second quarter Sunday night.
After a Tony Romo pass to Jason Witten gained 10 yards, the Cowboys were faced with a fourth-and-1 from the 18-yard line. The New York Giants nursed a 6-3 lead at the time, and more than a few observers in the press box at Texas Stadium figured Phillips would play it safe and call on rookie Nick Folk to kick another field goal.
But Phillips had other plans and quickly told offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to call a play.
"The thing I pride myself on is making the decision beforehand where you don't have to say, 'Timeout. Let's think about it,'" Phillips said. "You have to know what you're going to do in that situation, and I felt like we're really strong in the offensive line, especially on our right side."
Phillips also viewed it as an opportunity to build confidence among his offensive players.
"It was a chance to establish that we're going to make short-yardage plays, the plays we need to make," Phillips said.
After taking the handoff from Romo, hard-charging Marion Barber scurried around right end and somersaulted into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season and 22nd of his three-year career, all but two of which have come on the ground.
Dallas never trailed after Barber's TD, going on to win 45-35.
"You want to back your team," Phillips said. "We felt like we could make it. I know the players felt like it. If we'd just run in the field-goal team, it would've been a letdown for our team as far as me believing in them and them believing in themselves.
"Before the game, I had thought about doing that if those situations came up. Turned out it was the right decision. The coach is fixing to get run out of town if you don't make it. (Barber) helped me out."
Making the offense more proficient in short-yardage situations is a priority for Phillips.
"Third and ones, we didn't make last season," Phillips said. "And Marion made a lower percentage than you would think. We're stronger than we were last year certainly, so I thought we'd have a better chance of making it."
Although Barber got the call against the Giants, Phillips said Julius Jones won't always come out on short-yardage and red-zone situations this season.
"Each game certainly is different," Phillips said.
On Sunday, Jones gained 66 yards on 16 carries, including a 21-yard sprint. Barber bulled his way to 65 yards on 11 attempts.
And, as usual, the fans cheered more for Barber and his angry running style.
"I don't really pay attention, I just go out there," Barber said of receiving a hearty welcome from the fans when he entered the game late in the first quarter.
Barber said he's also not worried about the distribution of labor between himself and Jones.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Barber said. "I feel like you have to find your role, and however they want to use me, I just have to be ready."
Especially when Phillips is ready to roll the dice.
Notebook: The Cowboys placed nose tackle Jason Ferguson (biceps) on injured reserve Tuesday. They filled his roster spot by signing nose tackle Remi Ayodele, who was released by Dallas on its final cut to reach 53 players.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:59 AM
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