Dallas Cowboys know post-play flags must stop flying
Todd Archer writes about the Cowboys for The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has not gotten angry with his team too many times, so when he does, the players know he is serious.
There was the training camp blowup when several rookies were late for a special teams' meeting. There was the release of tight end Andy Thorn after he blew curfew. Last week, Phillips warned his team that he thought the ship was getting a little too loose.
And on Wednesday, Phillips had another moment that caught the players' attention.
He had pieces of paper handed out to the players that had a pledge they would not hurt the team with post-play penalties – like the ones against the Giants last week by Bradie James, Kevin Burnett and Keith Davis.
Phillips told the players they didn't have to sign the paper, but they all did.
Phillips understands penalties are a part of the game, but he believes post-play penalties are about discipline. If Flozell Adams has a false start penalty because he's attempting to get a jump on a pass rusher, Phillips can live with that.
But James didn't need to push Brandon Jacobs after taking what he thought was a late nudge. Burnett had no need to taunt Jacobs after a second-quarter run. Davis' extra shove hurt him when his hands moved into the face of a Giants player.
James' penalty helped lead to a touchdown. Burnett's penalty led to a field goal.
Phillips really did not need to act because the players took care of the issue among themselves at halftime. Phillips' leadership style has allowed the players to take ownership of the team.
"He allows us to be more in control of the situation," wide receiver Terrell Owens said. "If he needs to say something he will."
With double-digit penalties in four games this year, Phillips felt like enough was enough. The Cowboys were able to overcome 11 penalties for 101 yards at Miami and 12 penalties for 100 yards at Chicago, and even the 10 for 84 against the Giants. In the Cowboys' only loss this year to New England, they can point to a fourth-quarter holding penalty that helped lead to their demise. Against the Patriots, the Cowboys were penalized 12 times for 98 yards. Four of those penalties led to New England first downs.
The two best teams in the NFC are living dangerously. The Cowboys have been penalized 66 times. Green Bay has been flagged 71 times. Only Arizona and Baltimore have been penalized more.
New England has been penalized 47 times. Last year's Super Bowl champ, Indianapolis, has been hit 37 times. Pittsburgh is at 44.
As the Cowboys hit the stretch, they cannot be so generous.
"We've been able to get by with it this past week, but the further we go, the tougher the games become and it's just not going to work," tight end Jason Witten said. "We have to make those changes. It's simple concentration."
IRVING – Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has not gotten angry with his team too many times, so when he does, the players know he is serious.
There was the training camp blowup when several rookies were late for a special teams' meeting. There was the release of tight end Andy Thorn after he blew curfew. Last week, Phillips warned his team that he thought the ship was getting a little too loose.
And on Wednesday, Phillips had another moment that caught the players' attention.
He had pieces of paper handed out to the players that had a pledge they would not hurt the team with post-play penalties – like the ones against the Giants last week by Bradie James, Kevin Burnett and Keith Davis.
Phillips told the players they didn't have to sign the paper, but they all did.
Phillips understands penalties are a part of the game, but he believes post-play penalties are about discipline. If Flozell Adams has a false start penalty because he's attempting to get a jump on a pass rusher, Phillips can live with that.
But James didn't need to push Brandon Jacobs after taking what he thought was a late nudge. Burnett had no need to taunt Jacobs after a second-quarter run. Davis' extra shove hurt him when his hands moved into the face of a Giants player.
James' penalty helped lead to a touchdown. Burnett's penalty led to a field goal.
Phillips really did not need to act because the players took care of the issue among themselves at halftime. Phillips' leadership style has allowed the players to take ownership of the team.
"He allows us to be more in control of the situation," wide receiver Terrell Owens said. "If he needs to say something he will."
With double-digit penalties in four games this year, Phillips felt like enough was enough. The Cowboys were able to overcome 11 penalties for 101 yards at Miami and 12 penalties for 100 yards at Chicago, and even the 10 for 84 against the Giants. In the Cowboys' only loss this year to New England, they can point to a fourth-quarter holding penalty that helped lead to their demise. Against the Patriots, the Cowboys were penalized 12 times for 98 yards. Four of those penalties led to New England first downs.
The two best teams in the NFC are living dangerously. The Cowboys have been penalized 66 times. Green Bay has been flagged 71 times. Only Arizona and Baltimore have been penalized more.
New England has been penalized 47 times. Last year's Super Bowl champ, Indianapolis, has been hit 37 times. Pittsburgh is at 44.
As the Cowboys hit the stretch, they cannot be so generous.
"We've been able to get by with it this past week, but the further we go, the tougher the games become and it's just not going to work," tight end Jason Witten said. "We have to make those changes. It's simple concentration."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:21 PM
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