Going Where Only Few Cowboy Teams Have Gone
By Manster68
Cowboys Pride Staff Writer
Of the 48 years the Cowboys have been participating in the NFL, there have only been two other Cowboy teams that have been 9-1. Those two years were 1983 and 1976. The Cowboys have never reached a 10-1 start to a season. This is why a victory over the Jets becomes important. Even though anything can happen in the playoffs, having the home field advantage is essential for success. So even though players and coaches have denied a 15-1 goal, stating that there are even bigger prizes down the road (which is true), it does secure a home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Not every game is going to be a cakewalk. This is especially true when the Cowboys have a rich and interesting history with great rivals like the Redskins. Fans of both teams are well versed on the many times the team that struggles more either wins or gives their opponent a good scare. A good scare is what happened yesterday.
As the division rivals Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are cringing over the development of Tony Romo, Jason Campbell is developing also. Slowly but surely Campbell is validating his late first round worth. He had a great game. Dallas went into that game with the intentions of focusing on Clinton Portis. Dallas basically told the Redskins that if they were to move the ball, they would have to nickel and dime them through the air. That means that the bull’s eye was on Roy Williams. Fortunately for Cowboy fans, Tony Romo overshadowed it.
I was so thrilled in 2002 when the Cowboys drafted Roy Williams. He has made many big plays over the last five and a half seasons. However, something has got to get done about his liability against the pass. Either change some coverage schemes, or get Pat Watkins in there and shift Hamlin to the strong side. I will always be a Roy Williams fan – I just wished he would get this facet of his game shored up.
There were a couple of really good plays yesterday. That catch by Santana Moss was absolutely beautiful! That is highlight film material forever. He almost had another one just inside the two-minute warning. Thankfully, Campbell let that pass sail on him in the end zone.
Demarcus Ware just might be the best outside linebacker in the game today. Maybe Parcells wasn’t kidding when he reminded him of another linebacker he once coached in New York. Ware has a ways to go to get to Taylor’s though, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. He prevented three or seven points in the 3rd quarter with his strip and sack. He almost had another sack on Campbell, but the play got flagged for Intentional Grounding. Dallas was better off taking the penalty as it brought back the Redskins a few more yards with a loss of down.
Terrance Newman came up huge when the Cowboys needed him most. Quarterbacks do not normally throw in his direction in fear of an interception. Jason Campbell learned that in the 4th quarter of yesterday’s game.
Then there is this Terrell Owens guy. With six games to play, he is only two receiving touchdowns behind Frank Clarke’s record at 14 set in 1962. Granted, I was one of the folks who did not originally want him here. It would take quite a bit of high caliber play for me to truly accept him. This is doing it. You have got to love the way Phillips, Garrett, Sherman, and Romo are handling this. He has been invaluable to Dallas’ success this season.
The bottom line is this:
Regardless whether or not the Cowboys get to 15-1 with home field advantage, the liability on the pass defense is going to come back and bite them. The defense needs to come up big (like the Colts last year), if the Cowboys have any dreams of hoisting the Lombardi trophy in February.
Cowboys Pride Staff Writer
Of the 48 years the Cowboys have been participating in the NFL, there have only been two other Cowboy teams that have been 9-1. Those two years were 1983 and 1976. The Cowboys have never reached a 10-1 start to a season. This is why a victory over the Jets becomes important. Even though anything can happen in the playoffs, having the home field advantage is essential for success. So even though players and coaches have denied a 15-1 goal, stating that there are even bigger prizes down the road (which is true), it does secure a home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Not every game is going to be a cakewalk. This is especially true when the Cowboys have a rich and interesting history with great rivals like the Redskins. Fans of both teams are well versed on the many times the team that struggles more either wins or gives their opponent a good scare. A good scare is what happened yesterday.
As the division rivals Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are cringing over the development of Tony Romo, Jason Campbell is developing also. Slowly but surely Campbell is validating his late first round worth. He had a great game. Dallas went into that game with the intentions of focusing on Clinton Portis. Dallas basically told the Redskins that if they were to move the ball, they would have to nickel and dime them through the air. That means that the bull’s eye was on Roy Williams. Fortunately for Cowboy fans, Tony Romo overshadowed it.
I was so thrilled in 2002 when the Cowboys drafted Roy Williams. He has made many big plays over the last five and a half seasons. However, something has got to get done about his liability against the pass. Either change some coverage schemes, or get Pat Watkins in there and shift Hamlin to the strong side. I will always be a Roy Williams fan – I just wished he would get this facet of his game shored up.
There were a couple of really good plays yesterday. That catch by Santana Moss was absolutely beautiful! That is highlight film material forever. He almost had another one just inside the two-minute warning. Thankfully, Campbell let that pass sail on him in the end zone.
Demarcus Ware just might be the best outside linebacker in the game today. Maybe Parcells wasn’t kidding when he reminded him of another linebacker he once coached in New York. Ware has a ways to go to get to Taylor’s though, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. He prevented three or seven points in the 3rd quarter with his strip and sack. He almost had another sack on Campbell, but the play got flagged for Intentional Grounding. Dallas was better off taking the penalty as it brought back the Redskins a few more yards with a loss of down.
Terrance Newman came up huge when the Cowboys needed him most. Quarterbacks do not normally throw in his direction in fear of an interception. Jason Campbell learned that in the 4th quarter of yesterday’s game.
Then there is this Terrell Owens guy. With six games to play, he is only two receiving touchdowns behind Frank Clarke’s record at 14 set in 1962. Granted, I was one of the folks who did not originally want him here. It would take quite a bit of high caliber play for me to truly accept him. This is doing it. You have got to love the way Phillips, Garrett, Sherman, and Romo are handling this. He has been invaluable to Dallas’ success this season.
The bottom line is this:
Regardless whether or not the Cowboys get to 15-1 with home field advantage, the liability on the pass defense is going to come back and bite them. The defense needs to come up big (like the Colts last year), if the Cowboys have any dreams of hoisting the Lombardi trophy in February.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:54 PM
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