Defense peaking at perfect time for 'Boys
The question is, can the team that has allowed 17 points in 3 games maintain its success?
By Nick Fierro Of The Morning Call
January 8, 2010
IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips has spent nearly three full seasons getting the Dallas Cowboys' defense to where it is now -- as definitely the hottest and probably the best in football heading into the stretch that matters most.
All that's left is for the head coach -- and quarterback Tony Romo -- to break through with the first playoff win of their careers.
Considering they shut out their first-round opponent, the Eagles, when they met to end the regular season last Sunday, the Cowboys at least like their chances. When you throw in their shutout of the Washington Redskins the week before and their manhandling of the sport's top offense in a 24-17 victory on the road at New Orleans the week before that, their juggernaut status cannot be disputed.
The Cowboys own the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFC (15.6 points per game), thanks to an abundance of rising talent and the always sound schemes of Phillips, who doubles as the defensive coordinator.
Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer is the latest extreme standout, earning NFC Player of the Week honors on Wednesday for his part in a 24-0 demolition of the Eagles.
Spencer finished with five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble as he completed his first full season as a starter since becoming a first-round draft pick in 2007. He has grown into his role.
"It's a copycat league," Spencer explained. "A lot of teams run a lot of the same stuff, so once a play starts developing, you can see it a lot faster. And the more you're out there, the easier it is to see stuff. So that's the biggest thing, I think."
Conversely, inside linebacker Bradie James has been doing his job full time for five seasons running, which means he's been here for all the low points. Where they are now is the result of patience, he believes.
"We know where we've been," he said, "and we know how hard it was for us to get to where we are. It's been up and down, and the season is like a roller-coaster. You have ups and you have downs. But this team has definitely found a way to remain balanced and stay together.
" ... We're 11-5. That's a pretty good team. But it doesn't matter until you win more games. We've achieved one goal, which is to win the NFC East. Now, our next goal is to win a playoff game and we've still got some ball to play and guys will really focus on that."
To expect another shutout would not be realistic. To expect another great defensive performance is very reasonable, especially considering how much the Cowboys have contained wide receiver DeSean Jackson this season.
That hasn't kept Jackson from running his mouth this week about how the Cowboys are still afraid of him and can't cover him deep down the field.
The Cowboys were careful not to get caught up in the response game this week. Their one goal is to just get past the Eagles and let the good times roll.
"I don't know if that's too realistic [to keep shutting everybody out]," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "But if we can, we'll give ourselves a hell of a chance to win."
The problem for the Eagles is that the Cowboys come from everywhere with their pass rush. Nine players have at least two sacks, with DeMarcus Ware's 11 leading the way and nose tackle Jay Ratliff with 6.
And even though the Eagles haven't fared very well against this defense in either of the previous meetings, Phillips doesn't believe they must brace for a whole new look.
They're going to change some of the things they did [offensively]," he said. "And some of the things they could have been successful on, I'm sure they'll repeat. "They have a prolific offense that has scored a lot of points throughout the season. ... So they're going to come back and do a lot of things that they've done in the past."
By Nick Fierro Of The Morning Call
January 8, 2010
IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips has spent nearly three full seasons getting the Dallas Cowboys' defense to where it is now -- as definitely the hottest and probably the best in football heading into the stretch that matters most.
All that's left is for the head coach -- and quarterback Tony Romo -- to break through with the first playoff win of their careers.
Considering they shut out their first-round opponent, the Eagles, when they met to end the regular season last Sunday, the Cowboys at least like their chances. When you throw in their shutout of the Washington Redskins the week before and their manhandling of the sport's top offense in a 24-17 victory on the road at New Orleans the week before that, their juggernaut status cannot be disputed.
The Cowboys own the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFC (15.6 points per game), thanks to an abundance of rising talent and the always sound schemes of Phillips, who doubles as the defensive coordinator.
Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer is the latest extreme standout, earning NFC Player of the Week honors on Wednesday for his part in a 24-0 demolition of the Eagles.
Spencer finished with five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble as he completed his first full season as a starter since becoming a first-round draft pick in 2007. He has grown into his role.
"It's a copycat league," Spencer explained. "A lot of teams run a lot of the same stuff, so once a play starts developing, you can see it a lot faster. And the more you're out there, the easier it is to see stuff. So that's the biggest thing, I think."
Conversely, inside linebacker Bradie James has been doing his job full time for five seasons running, which means he's been here for all the low points. Where they are now is the result of patience, he believes.
"We know where we've been," he said, "and we know how hard it was for us to get to where we are. It's been up and down, and the season is like a roller-coaster. You have ups and you have downs. But this team has definitely found a way to remain balanced and stay together.
" ... We're 11-5. That's a pretty good team. But it doesn't matter until you win more games. We've achieved one goal, which is to win the NFC East. Now, our next goal is to win a playoff game and we've still got some ball to play and guys will really focus on that."
To expect another shutout would not be realistic. To expect another great defensive performance is very reasonable, especially considering how much the Cowboys have contained wide receiver DeSean Jackson this season.
That hasn't kept Jackson from running his mouth this week about how the Cowboys are still afraid of him and can't cover him deep down the field.
The Cowboys were careful not to get caught up in the response game this week. Their one goal is to just get past the Eagles and let the good times roll.
"I don't know if that's too realistic [to keep shutting everybody out]," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "But if we can, we'll give ourselves a hell of a chance to win."
The problem for the Eagles is that the Cowboys come from everywhere with their pass rush. Nine players have at least two sacks, with DeMarcus Ware's 11 leading the way and nose tackle Jay Ratliff with 6.
And even though the Eagles haven't fared very well against this defense in either of the previous meetings, Phillips doesn't believe they must brace for a whole new look.
They're going to change some of the things they did [offensively]," he said. "And some of the things they could have been successful on, I'm sure they'll repeat. "They have a prolific offense that has scored a lot of points throughout the season. ... So they're going to come back and do a lot of things that they've done in the past."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:52 PM
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