A Touch of Hostility...Week 2

[Stash]

A positive assessment to be sure with some good points made.

That said, I'm tired of the 'passing team' argument, I really am.

I think it's an excuse for our 'half a coordinator' who can't handle the run aspect of an offense.

If this is a 'passing team', then that needs to change, because despite first downs and gaudy yardage numbers, it's an offense that can't do the most important thing - score points.

At one point yesterday, I saw a 'failing running game' run for 7 yards, 8 yards, and 7 yards (or thereabouts) consecutively. But again, the coordinator calls the same few tired run plays and then doesn't stick with it when the results aren't great. Here's a hint, scrap the uninspired Wilcat attempt, everybody knows Choice keeps the ball!

It amazes me how circumstances inevitably arise where this team simply has to give up on the running game. (Those 'circumstances' being the coordinator's insistance in passing on first down).

I don't pin all of the blame on Garrett as I feel that Wade got conservative after getting burned on the Olsen touchdown and played into the Bears' hands the rest of the way.

But I think the all-show, no-go offense of Jason Garrett is still this team's biggest issue at this point.

However you slice it, averaging 10 points a game on offense is inexcusable with the talent this team has.

I'm getting very frustrated watching 'The Greatest Team on Paper' struggle against inferior competition.

 

[Silver N Blue]

check out sdogo post...i agree with what your saying 100%, but if his source of info is true a new era of leadership is needed...

 

[Randy White]

Jenks is fine and Witten, going by the he was ranting in the sidelines, should be fine too. I don't think too many concussed people act as if they want to strangulate the medical staff the way Jason wanted to yesterday. Not that I blame the medical staff. I would have done the same thing, if I were in their shoes.

The take about the execution is my beef with the " replace everybody " crowd in here. It's not that the players are bad, it's that they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing. Maybe it's because they're, individually, putting alot of pressure on themselves to " make the extra play " in crunch time and all they end up accomplishing are mistakes.. killer mistakes.

TR wasn't on his game yesterday, as scary as that sounds because there were times where he' threw some passes that would leave me breathless. Neither was Miles Austin. I don't know if Miles had a good night sleep, or if he was sick, but he wasn't running routes with the same " I got ants in my pants " style that he ususally does. And that's scary too because if that's a bad day, which it was, the good days are going to be incredible.

The defense just went to sleep after that first quarter. IT's as if they got scared. They didn't stop rushing the passer, as some pundits are saying, but all of the sudden they come out, hit the Bears scquare in the jaw, saw the Bears stumble, but when the Bears didn't go down, it was: " ohhhh man.. now what ? " as opposed to hit them again.. and again.. and again..

So Johnny Knox got a completion on a 3rd down for a big gain..so what ? That's what happens with Martz offense. They're going to attack and keep attacking no matter if they're turning the ball over 30 times and the QB keeps getting killed. Eventually they will complete those types of passes, but that's no reason to curl up in a fetal possition ( defensively ) and act all scared.

As far as turnovers are concerned, y'all better becareful what you wish for. This defense, although fast and aggressive, are not exactly " dominant ". That means that if these particular group, with inxeperience at the S possition, the man to man style that they play, but also the tendency to not breakdown properly and miss tackles from time to time ( I'm looking at you Mr. Spencer and Mr. Newman ), start taking gambles ( which is how turnovers are really created ) sure there will be INTs and fumbles, but there will also be big plays allowed.

I tend to side with Wade's philosophy in this situation. I rather concentrate on NOT giving up points ( or as little as possible ), which IS the ultimate goal of any defense, than on creating turnovers. I mean, if you seriously think about it for a moment, the offense's problem is not due to the lack of opportunities to score, it's that they're not scoring with the opportunities they do have. Giving up big plays just so the offense can get a couple of more shots at the endzone, at this point, I don't think it's a good strategy to follow. Don't get me wrong, I don't want the defense to NOT try, I just don't want them to all of the sudden start taking crazy gambles just for the sake of an INT or fumble.

 

[NextGenBoys]

A positive assessment to be sure with some good points made.

That said, I'm tired of the 'passing team' argument, I really am.

I think it's an excuse for our 'half a coordinator' who can't handle the run aspect of an offense.

If this is a 'passing team', then that needs to change, because despite first downs and gaudy yardage numbers, it's an offense that can't do the most important thing - score points.

At one point yesterday, I saw a 'failing running game' run for 7 yards, 8 yards, and 7 yards (or thereabouts) consecutively. But again, the coordinator calls the same few tired run plays and then doesn't stick with it when the results aren't great. Here's a hint, scrap the uninspired Wilcat attempt, everybody knows Choice keeps the ball!

It amazes me how circumstances inevitably arise where this team simply has to give up on the running game. (Those 'circumstances' being the coordinator's insistance in passing on first down).

I don't pin all of the blame on Garrett as I feel that Wade got conservative after getting burned on the Olsen touchdown and played into the Bears' hands the rest of the way.

But I think the all-show, no-go offense of Jason Garrett is still this team's biggest issue at this point.

However you slice it, averaging 10 points a game on offense is inexcusable with the talent this team has.

I'm getting very frustrated watching 'The Greatest Team on Paper' struggle against inferior competition.

We score when we pass well, and it's blatantly obvious.

On our lone touchdown drive yesterday, we ran the ball 5 times for 7 yards. Meanwhile, Romo went 8-8 for 72 yards and a touchdown.

We're a passing team, and it's a passing league. Yes you need a running game, but we do not open very good holes, therefore putting us in even more passing situations. You can't blame an OC for calling passes when the run isn't working and you are thus forced into longer down and distance.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Good read, this is a tough place after a loss.

 

[Randy White]

I sometimes think that games like Madden and fantasy football contribute to the anarchy that follows a loss.

The video game, instant gratification mentality has been infiltrating fans minds for the last few years now. Especially the younger generation that never saw the old days and how winning actually was a hard thing to accomplish and not " the norm ".

The QB is not going to throw for 8,000 yards and 70 TD, while the RB rush for 2,000 yards and 30 TDs, with each receiver getting 1,500 yards and 20 TDs each, plus the TE..

That doesn't happen even in Arena football, which is the closest thing to video game football that exists right now.

 

[Randy White]

check out sdogo post...i agree with what your saying 100%, but if his source of info is true a new era of leadership is needed...

what post ? I missed it.. Could you link it ? Thanks

 

[Stash]

We score when we pass well, and it's blatantly obvious.

10 points a game = 'blatantly obvious'. Keep making the baseless excuses for Jason Garrett.

On our lone touchdown drive yesterday, we ran the ball 5 times for 7 yards. Meanwhile, Romo went 8-8 for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Take a look at what you yourself just said - in your rush to defend Jason Garrett.

We're a passing team, and it's a passing league. Yes you need a running game, but we do not open very good holes, therefore putting us in even more passing situations. You can't blame an OC for calling passes when the run isn't working and you are thus forced into longer down and distance.

I can blame the coordinator for the running game not working because, last I checked, that's also part of his job description. One which he - like you - seems to have forgotten, if he ever knew it in the first place.

 

[Hostile]

That said, I'm tired of the 'passing team' argument, I really am.

I just don't know how we can deny it though Stash.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

I hope u prayed for them in church.They need it.

Finally let go emotionally and cut the umbilcal cord about halfway thru the 3rd quarter yesterday.


The players have to win within themselves first, that is a battle they are facing rightnow as we speak and will continue to wage no matter the results on the field.

Pray that the 2010 Dallas Cowboys will face their Demons, and take their time.


:starspin

 

[Stash]

I just don't know how we can deny it though Stash.

No, I'm not denying that is what the team does. It's obvious that it's a pass-first mentality. But it's also obvious that Garrett struggles with his run-game playcalling and therefore avoids it. The team has given him help in that area in the past and they attempted to give him help in that area last year.

It's obvious that his struggles in that area continue.

He's not good at designing run plays or calling the running game and his solution is to simply avoid it, resulting in a predicatable, one-dimensional team. And the results have been unacceptable.

 

[Silver N Blue]

what post ? I missed it.. Could you link it ? Thanks

its still there on the fanzone page

titled "trouble in big D"

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I just don't know how we can deny it though Stash.

Well, we can't deny it but I think you know Hos, in fact I'm certain that you know, you can't tell what kind of running game you have if your money back is only getting 10 or 12 carries a game. I mean, you gotta give your back more opportunities IMO. The fact that every one of our backs is different only compounds the issue if your an OL IMO. You don't have consistency because your running a different type of offensive running game on each carry. 2.8 won't cut it but if your throwing for 300, you should be able to increase that average if your just not killing yourself with penalties and TOs. That should allow your running game to see more lanes. I just think we need to settle on a back in a game and run the ball more, even if we are not having huge success. It keeps the defense honest. Doesn't allow those safeties to just stay back and play downhill on our receivers like they did yesterday.

 

[Randy White]

We score when we pass well, and it's blatantly obvious..

I agree.. Those who keep saying that this team does not have an identity have not been paying attention over the past 4 years.

It's very easy to tell a team's identity. That we, as fans, might not like it is another matter, but this team does have an identity.

Who are the best player on offense ?

A: Tony Romo (QB) , Miles Austin (WR), Jason Witten (TE), Dez Bryant (WR).

That's their identity right there. The Dallas Cowboys are a passing team, period. We set up the run by passing the ball and that's the way it should be because that's what best players' talents are.


Who are the best players on Defense ?

A: DeMarcus Ware (LB) , Jay Ratliff (NT), Terrence Newman (CB), Mike Jenkins (CB), Anthony Spencer (LB).

That's their indentity on defense: fast, aggressive, but not physically dominant. That's the way it should be because that's where their talent resides.

Trying to change either in order to fit in some " conventional wisdom " is simply a waste of time and even counter productive.

 

[Phoenix]

Both of the INTs were kind of flukes I thought. Just Bad Luck.

No run blocking. Secondary got torched.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Both of the INTs were kind of flukes I thought. Just Bad Luck.

No run blocking. Secondary got torched.

I believe they were both bad throws.

 

[Hostile]

No, I'm not denying that is what the team does. It's obvious that it's a pass-first mentality. But it's also obvious that Garrett struggles with his run-game playcalling and therefore avoids it. The team has given him help in that area in the past and they attempted to give him help in that area last year.

It's obvious that his struggles in that area continue.

He's not good at designing run plays or calling the running game and his solution is to simply avoid it, resulting in a predicatable, one-dimensional team. And the results have been unacceptable.

I said we, not you. This is a passing team. We're built that way. We pass block better than we run block. We have a good QB. We have weapons. Passing to set up the run is the winning combination in the NFL right now. We just have to sustain drives and finish them and this team can be fun to watch.

 

[NextGenBoys]

No, I'm not denying that is what the team does. It's obvious that it's a pass-first mentality. But it's also obvious that Garrett struggles with his run-game playcalling and therefore avoids it. The team has given him help in that area in the past and they attempted to give him help in that area last year.

It's obvious that his struggles in that area continue.

He's not good at designing run plays or calling the running game and his solution is to simply avoid it, resulting in a predicatable, one-dimensional team. And the results have been unacceptable.

Jason Garrett see's Dallas more and knows more about Dallas than any of us combined.

You think there might be a reason why he's not calling running plays?

I don't think it's as simple as many of you try to paint it.

"Ohh he forgot about the running game!" "He abandoned it!"

Maybe, we don't run much because we're not good at it unless we're passing efficiently. Besides Washington in 2008, I can't remember a time when this offense bucked up and ran the ball down ANYONE's throats.

I might be wrong. And if I am, give me examples please.

 

[StarWiz2]

Look, this is a bad football team. Collectively, that is. They couldn't execute a perfect game plan right now if they had cheat sheets or the other team forfeited. Why? Because this is a team of individuals going in a dozen different directions on game day—sort of like an ant farm that gets sprayed by an exterminator.

But there's another reason for their ineptitude. Coaching. What kind of game plan calls for a pooch kick when the kicker has the leg to kick it out of the endzone? And if I hear the words directional kicking one more time, I'm going to cry. Is it possible, that poor Buehler, in his attempts at directional kicking is getting a little confused on the field goal. Maybe he now thinks the goal posts are gonna move like two players on the receiving end of a kick off. What happened to Joey D? Stop it, man! Continuing on, what kind of game plan calls for a hail mary pass on the last play of the first half that has virtually no chance of working? A STUPID, ill-advised, ill-thought out one. JG needs to go. He is no longer a work in progress, but a wreck in progress.

There's more. What kind of defensive game plan calls for a DB to play 100 yards off a receiver? What kind of defensive game plan can't outsmart the Martz? That guy is not Norv Turner or Sean Peyton. Look at the Detroit game that Chicago got a gift on.

What we have here, folks, once again, is a failure by our coaches to execute a winning game plan. If I were a player, I'd be confused and frustrated too.

Jones has got to stop the bleed. But that's hard to do when you're the wound, plus an enabler.

So, the Cowboys continue to spin their wheels in a vast football world of suckage. And I don't see them coming out of it anytime soon. And I don't see JJ getting desperate enough to make changes unless the team falls further down the crapper. But, they seem to be executing that move quite well, so maybe . . . . . .

 

[Hostile]

Well, we can't deny it but I think you know Hos, in fact I'm certain that you know, you can't tell what kind of running game you have if your money back is only getting 10 or 12 carries a game. I mean, you gotta give your back more opportunities IMO. The fact that every one of our backs is different only compounds the issue if your an OL IMO. You don't have consistency because your running a different type of offensive running game on each carry. 2.8 won't cut it but if your throwing for 300, you should be able to increase that average if your just not killing yourself with penalties and TOs. That should allow your running game to see more lanes. I just think we need to settle on a back in a game and run the ball more, even if we are not having huge success. It keeps the defense honest. Doesn't allow those safeties to just stay back and play downhill on our receivers like they did yesterday.

We didn't have a money back yesterday. Week 1 it was Barber. The Bears took away the run. They deserve credit for that. It dramatically helped their chances to win and they did.