A Touch of Hostility... Week 16

[MetalHead]

Zero points=Zero toppings.

 

[cowboyjoe]

50 years ago today, Clint Murchison and Tex Schramm hired Tom Landry to be the 1st Head Coach in the History of the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas didn't even have a team yet. They were awarded the team on January 28, 1960.

A great way to celebrate this History was to shut out the hated Commanders in their house on National TV. We have never lost a game on this calendar date.

This was the 15th season sweep of the Commanders in our head to head History. We finished this decade with a 14-6 edge over the Commanders, our best decade against them ever. We now hold a 26-24 advantage over them in their house.

The win today means that for the 25th time in our 50 seasons we have achieved double digit wins. For some that may not be all that important. For me, it is. The win also means we will finish this decade over .500. That too is important to me because we have never had a sub .500 decade.

Are you ready for the Playoffs? We clinched a berth today and knocked the Giants out of the picture despite their sweep of us this year. This will be the 30th time in 50 seasons that we have advanced to the Post Season. Will we win the NFC East for the 17th time and our 21st Division title? Or will we go as a Wildcard team for the 9th time? Those questions will get answered when the Eagles come to our house next week to close out the 2009 season.

The lasting image and statistic of the game today for me will be getting stuffed twice on 4th and inches. Our short yardage Offense needs serious work this week in practice. I don't mind trying to run it with Barber on 4th and inches, but we have got to have a push by the O-line and a Draw play is not the call we need to be making. Power up and do a straight ahead run from the I with lead blocking. I believe we make it.

I don't know about anyone else, but I do not like the Razorback. I really don't like running a gimmick play out of a gimmick formation. In my not so humble opinion, Miami runs that formation great, no one else does. It is not worth keeping it in the playbook. We do not need gimmicks in order to beat teams. Just let us line up and beat guys head to head. I believe we are good enough to do that. I know why we run it. I know it keeps teams honest. I still don't like it. I don't think it is worth it. We are a much better team with the ball in Tony Romo's hands than any other option. His TD pass to Roy was magical.

I only saw Tony Romo throw a couple of bad passes today. He had 13 incompletions and I swear at least 10 of them were catchable balls and our WRs simply dropped them. His streak of 168 passes without an INT and consecutive games without one ended today and it really is on the WR not the QB, but the stats have never reflected that and certainly won't now. He has been nearly flawless this December. As good as I have ever seen him. The drops reflect on him but as with the INT, they shouldn't.

These things on the Offense caused points to be left on the football field. Way too many points. It was a great game because of the shutout. It could have been so much more. Drops, poor short yardage blocking, questionable play calls in short yardage, and a tip drill INT. That is really all we have to gripe about today. It was a great game in every other facet of the game.

Once again, we dominated the Time of Possession. 35:02 to 24:58. I love this stat. I like our chances of winning almost any game when we do this.

We only had 4 penalties for 21 yards. Yet another stat I can smile about.

But if you really want me to smile, talk to me about our Defense. They deserved this shutout. For the last month and more they have been carrying this football team on their shoulders. As things stand right now, they lead the NFC in fewest points allowed and are 3rd in the NFL. 2 points behind the Ravens and 14 behind the Jets. That could change with the high scoring Eagles coming next week. There is good reason to be proud of the Defense. That is my point.

We hit Jason Campbell 8 times and sacked him 3 times. Jay Ratliff rattled his cage twice. The first one was a bone jarring hit. Because of this kind of pressure the Commanders never once made it into the red zone. Not one trip. We held them to 4.5 yards per pass and 2-4 yards per rush. Washington fumbled the ball 3 times, but recovered each fumble. It still affects their psyche to be scrambling for their lives.

That is how you shut a team out. By the way, we have shut the Commanders out 4 times. They have never shut us out. This season we didn't allow them a touchdown. That has never happened in the 50 years we have been playing them.

Coach DeCamillis, get well.

Good post again as usual Hostile, but did you forget my boy Jason Witten? How did you like that long rumble for 69 yards I think. Also, dont forget Jason Witten just passed Mike Dikta on all time TE receptions list, 8th overall I think.

 

[skinsscalper]

I like the Razoback as a change up and it has had some nice results.

The reverse off of it certainly didn't work last night, but maybe having the play on tape will cause the future opposition to freeze for a half second next time the reverse is faked.

The one thing I don't understand is when players are losing big yardage like that on a failed reverse why7 they don't throw the ball out of bounds. You see it every week. A guy takes a 10+ yard loss when he could have just chucked the ball out of bounds.

Also, regarding the 4th and inches plays, someone asked why we didn't run a play action pass out of that formation. Honestly, I don't think the Cowboys want to tip their hand to that play just yet. They were dominating the Skins and wanted to see if they could hit it up in there. They didn't and they knew they could rely on their defense. Once the playoffs roll around and we HAVE TO HAVE THAT PLAY, I think they put it in Romo's hands and dump it off to a guy like Anderson or Bennett.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I am not understanding this either.

I thought it was a backwards pass too, the refs sure missed that too didnt they and how about the vicious Helmet hit on Crayton. Where was the penalty flag on that?

 

[goshan]

Hostile

I don't understand why you continue to give Barber a free pass on those short yardage runs, blaming solely the o-line. Two of the runs were horrible. He should have easily had a first down - the blocking was good enough.

 

[tyke1doe]

Speaking of which, did he not get credit for a sack on that play? It should be irrelevant if they think Campbell's arm was going forward, because the ball went backwards and was a fumble. Seems like Scandrick should get credit for a FF and sack there, but it doesn't look like he did.

It was a forward pass, so no, he doesn't get credit for a sack.

 

[Crown Royal]

To me, I see no difference in our Razorback than when we go shotgun empty backfield. In both instances, you are telegraphing to the defense what you plan to do. The beauty of the Razorback is that it is truly 11 on 11 rather than 10 on 11 running plays, the latter of which favoring the defense. I do agree with Yeager that it would be far more effective if Choice was a threat to throw the ball. But I do like the Razorback in certain instances.

last night, against a pretty damn good Washington middle, I do NOT like it.

 

[LeonDixson]

It was a forward pass, so no, he doesn't get credit for a sack.

I'm confused. If the "forward pass" went backward, then shouldn't it be a lateral and the Cowboys get the ball where they recovered it? Or did the ball hit the ground at a forward point and then bounce backward? I don't remember the details of the play.

 

[Hostile]

Hostile

I don't understand why you continue to give Barber a free pass on those short yardage runs, blaming solely the o-line. Two of the runs were horrible. He should have easily had a first down - the blocking was good enough.

I didn't give anyone a free pass. I don't like a slow developing play such as a Draw or Delay. I don't like the blocking. I don't like not doing it with a lead blocker.

I disagree that the blocking was good enough. If it was good enough we would have got the first down each time. That is what defines good blocking. We went backwards, not forwards, and no RB is going to make a first down when that happens.

 

[Hostile]

To me, I see no difference in our Razorback than when we go shotgun empty backfield. In both instances, you are telegraphing to the defense what you plan to do. The beauty of the Razorback is that it is truly 11 on 11 rather than 10 on 11 running plays, the latter of which favoring the defense. I do agree with Yeager that it would be far more effective if Choice was a threat to throw the ball. But I do like the Razorback in certain instances.

last night, against a pretty damn good Washington middle, I do NOT like it.

The difference in a shotgun empty backfield is that there are still receiving options and the QB can still run. In the Razorback we really only have 2 options. It is too limited.

 

[cowboyfreak]

I know a lot of people bust on you a lot, and I did it all last summer, but you really are a fantastic writer.

I concur. In fact, Hos, I was wondering if you had finished the book you were writing? If so, I'd love to purchase it for a belated ******mas gift to myself.

 

[dbair1967]

It was a forward pass, so no, he doesn't get credit for a sack.

It definitely was not a forward pass:

3rd and 8 at DAL 34 (Shotgun) J.Campbell FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 44, ball out of bounds at DAL 44.
4th and 18 at DAL 44 H.Smith punts 32 yards to DAL 12, Center-E.Albright, fair catch by P.Crayton.

My guess is that instead of ruling it a sack, they instead are ruling it a lateral/backward pass and gave credit to Scandrick for the fumble without a sack.

I still think it was a sack and think it might be changed.

 

[dbair1967]

The difference in a shotgun empty backfield is that there are still receiving options and the QB can still run. In the Razorback we really only have 2 options. It is too limited.

shotgun >>>>> wildcat

Also, any formation we run without Romo at QB is helping the other team IMO. The guy that owns the Patriots made the same comment about the wildcat as it pertains to Tom Brady, that having him out of the play was good for teh opponents defense because he's too good a QB. The same applies here.

 

[tomson75]

I know a lot of people bust on you a lot, and I did it all last summer, but you really are a fantastic writer.

So what's the deal dude? Is that Judas crap all over with or what? Is your alter ego banished forthwith forever?

 

[Crown Royal]

The difference in a shotgun empty backfield is that there are still receiving options and the QB can still run. In the Razorback we really only have 2 options. It is too limited.

How often do you see romo running out of an empty backfield shotgun? at best its a scramble and I feel like he does that far less than ever. The defense knows its a pass and is going to defend it as such. With the Razorback, it's a run and they will defend it as such as well. Fact is we've gotten yards out of it before so it obviously works.

Now if the reason for not liking it is because you are telling the defense exactly what you are doing, I agree completely. I hate going empty backfield shotgun in the middle of a game for exactly the same reason. telling the defense whether you are running or throwing presnap takes away any element of surprise.

 

[Crown Royal]

shotgun >>>>> wildcat

Also, any formation we run without Romo at QB is helping the other team IMO. The guy that owns the Patriots made the same comment about the wildcat as it pertains to Tom Brady, that having him out of the play was good for teh opponents defense because he's too good a QB. The same applies here.

So? That can be said for any running play. Neither Tom Brady nor Tony Romo do a lot of blocking.










Although i guess the case could be made for those fake throw-draws that Romo and Garrett are fond of.:laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

I concur. In fact, Hos, I was wondering if you had finished the book you were writing? If so, I'd love to purchase it for a belated ******mas gift to myself.

It will be finished as soon as this season is over. I will be contacting the Cowboys to try and get the rights to some pictures and then will be deciding on a Publisher or to self publish it. The only thing left for me to do as far as writing it, is to compile it in the order I want it to appear in the book.

Once I have firm details of publication I will be making sure to let everyone know. There is a website already under construction for the book.

BTW, I am also writing my very first fiction novel. I plan to have it out in 2010 as well.

I also am writing a script for a new documentary on the Buffalo Soldiers. I am doing that research right now and hope to have that script done by the 10th of January. They want to film it in 2010.