Achilles' heel of the Cowboys

[GimmeTheBall!]

1. Secondary is finding itself out of position way too many times.

2. Special teams. I keep looking for that big play. Can we block a kick? Can we rip off a 50-yarder on a kick or punt return? Can we knock someone on his ash and recover a fumble deep in their territory?

3. Vandy. It's his head now. That is way more difficult to correct than to correct kicking mechanics.

4. Not so much a problem, but I will list it, loyal listenders.
We get within an eyelash of the opposing QB and he somehow manages to throw the ball away or run for yardage.
The Boys have one of the finest run defenses in the land, so this is not that big of a deal, but I keep hoping for lots more sacks.

 

[Bryan8284]

Sacks would be nice, of course, but the lack of running teams can do makes them pass and at least our secondary generally is ready for it.

Not a lot of play action since it doesn't make safeties move when the front 3 eat the line up.

 

[theebs]

2. Special teams. I keep looking for that big play. Can we block a kick? Can we rip off a 50-yarder on a kick or punt return? Can we knock someone on his ash and recover a fumble deep in their territory?

You need to do some more research bro.

Thompson was leading the league in kick returns, and guess what Miles austin's numbers are almost identical, almost. He is doing an outstanding job.

If you think that doesnt matter think again. The field position we keep getting from our kick returns and punt returns is allowing us to be aggressive with play calling and take deep shots. That is allowing us to score more points and put pressure on the other team. In turn other teams know they cant just grind away the clock and then beat us with field goals like last year, now other teams are forced to be agressive as well but our defense has been playing to that. That is why we are a +8 in the turnover margin and are currently third in the league in takeaways.

Good kickoff and punt returns leads to good field position which leads to aggressive offense and forces other teams to be aggressive playing to our strength especially at home.

Oh and as I said yesterday newman is going to win a game for us before the end of this season.

 

[SupermanXx]

2. Special teams. I keep looking for that big play. Can we block a kick? Can we rip off a 50-yarder on a kick or punt return? Can we knock someone on his ash and recover a fumble deep in their territory?

remember @ Carolina?

 

[theogt]

By secondary I assume you mean Keith Davis, and only Keith Davis.

 

[theebs]

1. Secondary is finding itself out of position way too many times.

2. Special teams. I keep looking for that big play. Can we block a kick? Can we rip off a 50-yarder on a kick or punt return? Can we knock someone on his ash and recover a fumble deep in their territory?

3. Vandy. It's his head now. That is way more difficult to correct than to correct kicking mechanics.

4. Not so much a problem, but I will list it, loyal listenders.
We get within an eyelash of the opposing QB and he somehow manages to throw the ball away or run for yardage.
The Boys have one of the finest run defenses in the land, so this is not that big of a deal, but I keep hoping for lots more sacks.

One more thing, we are not blitzing we are rushing with 4 guys and those 4 guys particularly ware, ratliff and hatcher have been tremendous the past 4 games. This is allowing us to force throws quick and underneath, and also allowing us to stay in cover 2 or 2 man under looks which should give us a shot at more interceptions since the play is in front of our secondary most of the time.

This is why roy has 5 interceptions.

 

[DallasDomination]

The only players not playing up to standards now are Henry and Kieth..Roy Williams gots his game on lockdown..


He's BACK

 

[big dog cowboy]

1. Secondary is finding itself out of position way too many times.

Remember the Indy game last week? We took away their routes with the positioning of our DB's.

 

[ZeroClub]

Right now, the achilles heel is Vanderjagt.

He's the number 1 candidate for the guy who chokes at the critical postseason moment.

He needs to get his stuff together before the playoffs ....

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

You need to do some more research bro.

Thompson was leading the league in kick returns, and guess what Miles austin's numbers are almost identical, almost. He is doing an outstanding job.

If you think that doesnt matter think again. The field position we keep getting from our kick returns and punt returns is allowing us to be aggressive with play calling and take deep shots. That is allowing us to score more points and put pressure on the other team. In turn other teams know they cant just grind away the clock and then beat us with field goals like last year, now other teams are forced to be agressive as well but our defense has been playing to that. That is why we are a +8 in the turnover margin and are currently third in the league in takeaways.

Good kickoff and punt returns leads to good field position which leads to aggressive offense and forces other teams to be aggressive playing to our strength especially at home.

Oh and as I said yesterday newman is going to win a game for us before the end of this season.

If you put down the bottle and read again, I point to the big runbacks. Not the run-to-the-middle and then fall down after 10 yards.
And runbacks do matter, otherwise I would not be taking up your valuable time with my lament.

If you think we are OK in runbacks, then there is no point discussing it, bro.

 

[theogt]

If you put down the bottle and read again, I point to the big runbacks. Not the run-to-the-middle and then fall down after 10 yards.
And runbacks do matter, otherwise I would not be taking up your valuable time with my lament.

If you think we are OK in runbacks, then there is no point discussing it, bro.

I'd rather get the ball every kickoff on the 35 than get the ball 9 out of 10 times on the 15 and have the 10th taken back for a TD.

 

[theebs]

If you put down the bottle and read again, I point to the big runbacks. Not the run-to-the-middle and then fall down after 10 yards.
And runbacks do matter, otherwise I would not be taking up your valuable time with my lament.

If you think we are OK in runbacks, then there is no point discussing it, bro.

Check your kickoff return numbers and get back to me.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I would rather check the kick and punt returns that come back for big gains. and that was my focus, not the return average.
So I appeal to you, again, Bro, to put the bottle down.

 

[theebs]

I would rather check the kick and punt returns that come back for big gains. and that was my focus, not the return average.
So I appeal to you, again, Bro, to put the bottle down.

Now you have totally lost me? I dont even understand you.

The ones that come back? Are you referring to penalties?

In your initial post you complained about our kick and punt returns. Plain and simple. A quick check at the stats and the way the games are being played would show you that our kickoffs have been above average.

I dont know what else you want from them, no one around the league is returning kicks for td's this year, not even Dante hall.

 

[bluestar4ever]

1. Hey, the defense is ranked in the top 5, I think. Give them a break. Sure, they might give up a great play ever now and again, but not everyone can be in the right place all the time. They step up when they really need to.


2. We have forced the fumble deep in their territory, and with the offense we have now, as long as we have a little play between us and the endzone, we should be okay.

3. I am completly with you on that one. I hope none of the games come down to a field goal to win.

4. Yeah, we may not be getting the sacks, but there is pressure. That will lead to bad passes, which leads to incomplete passes, if not interceptions.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

In other news, it's a fay-liah to cah-municate.

OK, in very basic terms for you, bro.
We have not been returning the ball for LONG runs. After punts to us or after kickoffs to us.
We be not returning the ball as FAR as I would like.
That's it. No hidden meaning. No pointing to the diagrams or stats. Just a fan stating he wishes our runbacks were LONGER. As in with more yardage.

If that is not clear, I can ask the middle school player next door to splain it to you, Lucy bro.

 

[UVAwahoos]

Vandy will end us if he's allowed to. Even the Rams and their ridiculous offense with Warner needed some field goals during that Super Bowl season.

Seriously, we can't count on this guy to make anything beyond an extra point. That's a terrible terrible feeling.

 

[Seven]

Right now, the achilles heel is Vanderjagt.

He's the number 1 candidate for the guy who chokes at the critical postseason moment.

He needs to get his stuff together before the playoffs ....

Ding! Ding! Ding! Tell him what he's won, Johnny..............

 

[ghettogandhi]

Vandy Had His Best Kickoffs Of The Year Last Game- They Were Reaching The Endzone

Our Kickoff Coverage Is Mediocre At Best- Teams Regularly Start Above The 35 Yard Line

 

[theebs]

In other news, it's a fay-liah to cah-municate.

OK, in very basic terms for you, bro.
We have not been returning the ball for LONG runs. After punts to us or after kickoffs to us.
We be not returning the ball as FAR as I would like.
That's it. No hidden meaning. No pointing to the diagrams or stats. Just a fan stating he wishes our runbacks were LONGER. As in with more yardage.

If that is not clear, I can ask the middle school player next door to splain it to you, Lucy bro.

So we are not getting enough yards for you on kickoffs, yet we are in the top tier on kick return yardage.

And you are talking to me like I am stupid and constantly insulting me?

Facts are brutal things. I guess no team is good enough for you. We all wish our kick returners were putting it in the end zone every time, but that is not reality, so might as well be above average every time than great one time and below average all the time.....

Then again apparently I am just a middle schooler who doesnt know what he is talking about.

NFC Kick Returns
Rank Player Team Rets Yds Avg LG TDs
1 Tyson Thompson DAL 21 546 26.0 41 0
2 Allen Rossum ATL 28 726 25.9 51 0
3 Bethel Johnson MIN 19 474 24.9 49 0
4 Maurice Hicks SF 33 807 24.5 59 0
5 Rock Cartwright WAS 42 1014 24.1 100 1
6 Rashied Davis CHI 25 593 23.7 42 0
7 Willie Ponder SEA 25 587 23.5 41 0
8 Troy Williamson MIN 13 303 23.3 44 0
9 Eddie Drummond DET 40 919 23.0 65 0
10 Michael Pittman TB 35 795 22.7 37 0
11 Michael Lewis NO 17 384 22.6 46 0
12 Brandon Williams SF 13 291 22.4 36 0
13 Chad Morton NYG 29 622 21.4 51 0
14 J.J. Arrington ARI 45 962 21.4 36 0
15 Richard Marshall CAR 14 291 20.8 26 0
16 J.R. Reed STL 17 346 20.4 40 0
17 DeAngelo Williams CAR 18 363 20.2 39 0
18 Dexter Wynn PHI 18 362 20.1 34 0
19 Josh Scobey SEA 17 315 18.5 33 0