Pro Football: Horrible starts concern Cowboys
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING — Fast starts have fallen out of fashion at Texas Stadium.
Try as they might, the Dallas Cowboys just can't seem to get anything going offensively in the first quarter. That certainly was the case Sunday when the New England Patriots galloped out of the gate for a 14-0 lead on their way to a 48-27 victory.
"Our starts have been horrible," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "It's kind of like a wet engine. We are giving it gas, but it doesn't crank up."
It's a troubling trend for a team that otherwise hasn't had any problems scoring. Dallas (5-1) is second only to the Patriots with 203 points for a 33.8 average, but the Cowboys have been outscored 33-6 in the first quarter with their points coming via a pair of Nick Folk field goals.
In 1995, Dallas outscored its opponents 102-38 in the first quarter en route to the franchise's last Super Bowl victory.
"The final result is what's important," coach Wade Phillips said. "But you would like to see us start sooner, and we're going to work on some things that maybe will help us a little bit there."
Phillips didn't elaborate, but he did make this clear: There are no plans to replace running back Julius Jones in the starting lineup with Marion Barber.
"I don't think that would make a difference in our game overall," Phillips said.
Fans of Barber think otherwise. They point to his 6.0 per-carry average and the way the offense perks up when he enters the game.
But it was Jones who provided the spark that produced a seven-play, 74-yard drive in the third quarter Sunday. On consecutive plays during the Cowboys' first possession in the second half, he ripped off runs of 25 and 18 yards.
Four plays later, Tony Romo hit Crayton for an 8-yard touchdown pass that gave Dallas its only lead.
Jones finished with 51 yards on six carries, raising his season totals to 268 yards on 69 rushes. Barber stiff-armed his way to 47 yards on eight rushes against New England, leaving him with 381 yards on 64 carries.
"They were both productive, and that's what we were looking for," Phillips said.
The problem may have to do more with attitude than personnel.
"We've got to come out hungry early," Crayton said. "Try to put people away early.
"We almost treat the first drive like a boxing match — trying to get a feel for the defense. You know, jab a little bit, don't throw too many punches. But we need to come out now throwing a few haymakers, throwing a few right crosses. Forget about testing."
Crayton's call for a more aggressive approach may come into play Sunday against Minnesota.
The Vikings are last in pass defense, yielding 288.4 yards. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are third in passing offense, averaging 274.7 yards.
Of course, Dallas didn't do much in the first quarter the last time it faced a team with the league's worst pass defense. The Cowboys were outscored 7-0 in the first at Buffalo, which entered the game surrendering a league-worst 282.3 yards through the air.
"You get something new each week," Romo said. "Teams come up with different game plans and different things. You just try not to make too many mistakes, and we've been successful at that. We're a team that can put points on the board for the most part, but obviously, you want to get off to a good start."
Crayton said the slow starts have nothing to do with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett failing to counter any defensive surprises.
"It has nothing to do with the coaches at all," Crayton said. "The game plan is fine. It's perfect. We just aren't executing."
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING — Fast starts have fallen out of fashion at Texas Stadium.
Try as they might, the Dallas Cowboys just can't seem to get anything going offensively in the first quarter. That certainly was the case Sunday when the New England Patriots galloped out of the gate for a 14-0 lead on their way to a 48-27 victory.
"Our starts have been horrible," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "It's kind of like a wet engine. We are giving it gas, but it doesn't crank up."
It's a troubling trend for a team that otherwise hasn't had any problems scoring. Dallas (5-1) is second only to the Patriots with 203 points for a 33.8 average, but the Cowboys have been outscored 33-6 in the first quarter with their points coming via a pair of Nick Folk field goals.
In 1995, Dallas outscored its opponents 102-38 in the first quarter en route to the franchise's last Super Bowl victory.
"The final result is what's important," coach Wade Phillips said. "But you would like to see us start sooner, and we're going to work on some things that maybe will help us a little bit there."
Phillips didn't elaborate, but he did make this clear: There are no plans to replace running back Julius Jones in the starting lineup with Marion Barber.
"I don't think that would make a difference in our game overall," Phillips said.
Fans of Barber think otherwise. They point to his 6.0 per-carry average and the way the offense perks up when he enters the game.
But it was Jones who provided the spark that produced a seven-play, 74-yard drive in the third quarter Sunday. On consecutive plays during the Cowboys' first possession in the second half, he ripped off runs of 25 and 18 yards.
Four plays later, Tony Romo hit Crayton for an 8-yard touchdown pass that gave Dallas its only lead.
Jones finished with 51 yards on six carries, raising his season totals to 268 yards on 69 rushes. Barber stiff-armed his way to 47 yards on eight rushes against New England, leaving him with 381 yards on 64 carries.
"They were both productive, and that's what we were looking for," Phillips said.
The problem may have to do more with attitude than personnel.
"We've got to come out hungry early," Crayton said. "Try to put people away early.
"We almost treat the first drive like a boxing match — trying to get a feel for the defense. You know, jab a little bit, don't throw too many punches. But we need to come out now throwing a few haymakers, throwing a few right crosses. Forget about testing."
Crayton's call for a more aggressive approach may come into play Sunday against Minnesota.
The Vikings are last in pass defense, yielding 288.4 yards. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are third in passing offense, averaging 274.7 yards.
Of course, Dallas didn't do much in the first quarter the last time it faced a team with the league's worst pass defense. The Cowboys were outscored 7-0 in the first at Buffalo, which entered the game surrendering a league-worst 282.3 yards through the air.
"You get something new each week," Romo said. "Teams come up with different game plans and different things. You just try not to make too many mistakes, and we've been successful at that. We're a team that can put points on the board for the most part, but obviously, you want to get off to a good start."
Crayton said the slow starts have nothing to do with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett failing to counter any defensive surprises.
"It has nothing to do with the coaches at all," Crayton said. "The game plan is fine. It's perfect. We just aren't executing."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:56 AM
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