What Have We Learned So Far About The 2007 Cowboys?
Originally posted by manofaiki from a sports forum:
Two games into a 16 game regular season, here's what I take away from watching this team in action:
1. More heart.
Our guys don't just stand around and watch two of their team-mates struggle to bring down a runner. We now have white and silver jersey's flying to the ball and gang tackling, stuffing the run, pushing those runners back instead of letting them prone out and knife forward for an extra yard or two.
2. Special Teams help
Some good kick returns in these two games, and some nice FG kicking topped off by the best damn punter in the NFL. Crayton and Thompson have contributed some nice runs on kicks that got the Cowboy's excellent field position at key points of the games. We have gotten used to years of the team always starting on it's 20 or worse; we saw flashes under Parcells and now it's starting to look like the return game can be a regular contributor. Nick Folk has made every kick thus far, including a 47 yarder that would have been good from 55. And what can you say about McBriar out there, quietly and consistently booming punts that pin the other team deep on their own side of the field. I love watching our team lined up at it's own twenty five yard-line, the other team salivating over the good field position they think they are about to get....and then McBriar booms one of those punts and the other team's kick returners have to frantically back up to field the ball, catching it back on their own twenty-five or thirty.
3. Romo's leadership
This guy LEADS a team. I often got the impression Bledsoe was kind of laid back and sleepwalking out there. Romo has fire and it shows. His numbers weren't as impressive in the second game since he was facing a much better defense, but that also allowed him to shine in other areas. Such as his sheer athletic ability in running away from pressure and avoiding sacks while still getting the ball away. 6 TD passes in 2 games, one pick, one rushing TD. He's shown great field vision, ability to sense where the pressure is coming from and move away from it. He's also got a very quick release. Once he sees someone open he gets rid of the ball very quickly.
4. Killer Instinct.
They are starting to develop it at last. Get out ahead, then build the lead up in the second half and close teams out by the start of the 4th quarter. The Miami game had lost all suspense by the start of the 4th quarter, and that's what we need to see more of, Dallas up by 17 or more as the quarter starts. No let up, keeping the pressure on, not letting the other team comeback.
5. Anticipation on the timing routes.
Eli ate us alive in the first game on the timed routes, short stuff thrown quick off of 3 and 5 step drops. You can tell the Cowboys spent time working on this for the Dolphins game since of the 4 interceptions only one was a gift that sailed right to a Cowboy; the other 3 were a result of our guys anticipating the route and cutting off the ball. Even in the deflected pass caught for a TD late in the game by Miami that padded their score, you can see that ball hit a Cowboy defender that read the route and just messed up the interception after getting in front of the receiver. Expect to see more of that this season. This secondary will only get better with Newman coming back, and more QB's are going to watch their balls getting taken away by silver jerseys.
6. Marion Barber III breaking loose in the second half.
Two weeks in a row MBIII delivered the dagger to the heart of a defense tired from all the pounding by breaking a big 40+ yard TD run. First against the Bears and then against Miami Barber III cut outside and left a tired defense in his wake on the way to the goal line. We can expect to see more of this as the Boys pound away in the first half with Julius Jones and Barber III, until in the second half the big runs start coming. Sometimes all you need is one, and Barber III has shown he will get it for us.
7. TO really is a team player.
You make TO happy, he works hard to make you happy. Lots of people have dismissed him as a declining WR who's best years are behind him but last year despite all his struggles with hand injuries and dropped balls he was far more productive than many receivers in one crucial category: passes caught for a TD. TO was extremely excited about this year with the new offense being installed by Jason Garrett, who talked to TO and Romo about what they liked to do with the ball. TO knows with Romo throwing to him he can have a monster year. 20 or more TD catches are not out of the question. Whatever problems he had in Philadelphia, TO left them behind and is obviously happy playing for the Boys. And Romo is going to keep him that way.
8. Wade Phillips knows how to make 2nd half adjustments.
Parcells believed in his schemes so much he often refused to change them at halftime, even if they weren't working. So far this year the Cowboys have entered the lockerroom at halftime with scores of 10 to 6 in the Miami game; 17 to 16 in the New York game. Leading both times, but with the other team breathing down our necks. Then Wade called the coaches together and made the second half adjustments. The results? Dallas scores 28 points in the second half of the Giants game, while holding the Giants to 19; in Miami they explode again for 27 second half points while limiting Miami to 14, one a gimme with the game already pretty much over. With the adjustments being made to the offense, they are freeing TO up in the second half, and the running game is more effective as well. Meanwhile the defense merely has to hold serve 2 or 3 times, holding the other team to punts or FG's as the offense racks up 3 or 4 TD's.
9. Jerry Jones is the coolest owner in the NFL.
What other NFL owner/GM makes nationally broadcast commercials for products like Dominoes Pizza and Diet Pepsi Max? Think Danny Boy in D.C. is gonna be making a commercial for Pizza Hut soon? Jones grabbing the headphones away from the sleepy OC while saying "I'll take those!" is one of the most priceless commercial moments ever for Cowboy fans. Just imagine, our worst nightmares playing out in real life! Jones of course, is aware of this, which is exactly what makes the commercial so funny. Most other owners could never poke fun at themselves like this. Which is what makes Jones so cool.
Two games into a 16 game regular season, here's what I take away from watching this team in action:
1. More heart.
Our guys don't just stand around and watch two of their team-mates struggle to bring down a runner. We now have white and silver jersey's flying to the ball and gang tackling, stuffing the run, pushing those runners back instead of letting them prone out and knife forward for an extra yard or two.
2. Special Teams help
Some good kick returns in these two games, and some nice FG kicking topped off by the best damn punter in the NFL. Crayton and Thompson have contributed some nice runs on kicks that got the Cowboy's excellent field position at key points of the games. We have gotten used to years of the team always starting on it's 20 or worse; we saw flashes under Parcells and now it's starting to look like the return game can be a regular contributor. Nick Folk has made every kick thus far, including a 47 yarder that would have been good from 55. And what can you say about McBriar out there, quietly and consistently booming punts that pin the other team deep on their own side of the field. I love watching our team lined up at it's own twenty five yard-line, the other team salivating over the good field position they think they are about to get....and then McBriar booms one of those punts and the other team's kick returners have to frantically back up to field the ball, catching it back on their own twenty-five or thirty.
3. Romo's leadership
This guy LEADS a team. I often got the impression Bledsoe was kind of laid back and sleepwalking out there. Romo has fire and it shows. His numbers weren't as impressive in the second game since he was facing a much better defense, but that also allowed him to shine in other areas. Such as his sheer athletic ability in running away from pressure and avoiding sacks while still getting the ball away. 6 TD passes in 2 games, one pick, one rushing TD. He's shown great field vision, ability to sense where the pressure is coming from and move away from it. He's also got a very quick release. Once he sees someone open he gets rid of the ball very quickly.
4. Killer Instinct.
They are starting to develop it at last. Get out ahead, then build the lead up in the second half and close teams out by the start of the 4th quarter. The Miami game had lost all suspense by the start of the 4th quarter, and that's what we need to see more of, Dallas up by 17 or more as the quarter starts. No let up, keeping the pressure on, not letting the other team comeback.
5. Anticipation on the timing routes.
Eli ate us alive in the first game on the timed routes, short stuff thrown quick off of 3 and 5 step drops. You can tell the Cowboys spent time working on this for the Dolphins game since of the 4 interceptions only one was a gift that sailed right to a Cowboy; the other 3 were a result of our guys anticipating the route and cutting off the ball. Even in the deflected pass caught for a TD late in the game by Miami that padded their score, you can see that ball hit a Cowboy defender that read the route and just messed up the interception after getting in front of the receiver. Expect to see more of that this season. This secondary will only get better with Newman coming back, and more QB's are going to watch their balls getting taken away by silver jerseys.
6. Marion Barber III breaking loose in the second half.
Two weeks in a row MBIII delivered the dagger to the heart of a defense tired from all the pounding by breaking a big 40+ yard TD run. First against the Bears and then against Miami Barber III cut outside and left a tired defense in his wake on the way to the goal line. We can expect to see more of this as the Boys pound away in the first half with Julius Jones and Barber III, until in the second half the big runs start coming. Sometimes all you need is one, and Barber III has shown he will get it for us.
7. TO really is a team player.
You make TO happy, he works hard to make you happy. Lots of people have dismissed him as a declining WR who's best years are behind him but last year despite all his struggles with hand injuries and dropped balls he was far more productive than many receivers in one crucial category: passes caught for a TD. TO was extremely excited about this year with the new offense being installed by Jason Garrett, who talked to TO and Romo about what they liked to do with the ball. TO knows with Romo throwing to him he can have a monster year. 20 or more TD catches are not out of the question. Whatever problems he had in Philadelphia, TO left them behind and is obviously happy playing for the Boys. And Romo is going to keep him that way.
8. Wade Phillips knows how to make 2nd half adjustments.
Parcells believed in his schemes so much he often refused to change them at halftime, even if they weren't working. So far this year the Cowboys have entered the lockerroom at halftime with scores of 10 to 6 in the Miami game; 17 to 16 in the New York game. Leading both times, but with the other team breathing down our necks. Then Wade called the coaches together and made the second half adjustments. The results? Dallas scores 28 points in the second half of the Giants game, while holding the Giants to 19; in Miami they explode again for 27 second half points while limiting Miami to 14, one a gimme with the game already pretty much over. With the adjustments being made to the offense, they are freeing TO up in the second half, and the running game is more effective as well. Meanwhile the defense merely has to hold serve 2 or 3 times, holding the other team to punts or FG's as the offense racks up 3 or 4 TD's.
9. Jerry Jones is the coolest owner in the NFL.
What other NFL owner/GM makes nationally broadcast commercials for products like Dominoes Pizza and Diet Pepsi Max? Think Danny Boy in D.C. is gonna be making a commercial for Pizza Hut soon? Jones grabbing the headphones away from the sleepy OC while saying "I'll take those!" is one of the most priceless commercial moments ever for Cowboy fans. Just imagine, our worst nightmares playing out in real life! Jones of course, is aware of this, which is exactly what makes the commercial so funny. Most other owners could never poke fun at themselves like this. Which is what makes Jones so cool.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:56 PM
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