Anyone Else Underwhelmed This Weekend?

[CliffnDallas]

I'll probably tape and go out Christmas shopping then watch it later.

 

[cowboyz]

tennesse was a fun game
this will be a fun game too, the defense will dominate, bledsoe will throw tds, everyone on the cowboys will score, then everyone will be on the sidelines laughing it up. and the media will have glowing reports of the cowboys. That was the whole point of bringing in TO to enjoy winning, not worrying about the next loss.

 

[Hoov]

Oh yeah, i almost forgot we have a game this sunday.

But MW, i feel the same way about the texans. I am looking to the giants game as a measuring stick.

 

[Iago33]

Sure Tennessee was fun, but it really didn't say anything about the essence of our team either. Just because the media may swing back the other way like a manic-depressive doesn't mean that we've fixed anything.

 

[dbair1967]

. I am looking to the giants game as a measuring stick.

not really sure what we'd be measruing...its a game against another bad team, thats all

measuring stick type scenarios would be winning 2 or 3 of those upcoming road games...showing some sort of real defense against Indy, beating Atlanta on the road and getting solid revenge against Philly on Christmas Day

David

 

[MichaelWinicki]

BTW, I would say what I really think but I don't want to take three hours of Kittymama's time....which is how long it would take for her write a post calling me every name in the book (and some that aren't )

Actually, underneath it all...I think she likes me.

I'm sure you'll make a fine Kittypapa!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

not really sure what we'd be measruing...its a game against another bad team, thats all

measuring stick type scenarios would be winning 2 or 3 of those upcoming road games...showing some sort of real defense against Indy, beating Atlanta on the road and getting solid revenge against Philly on Christmas Day

David

That's kinda what I'm looking for at this point. To beat Indy would be a "statement" game.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

rebounding from a tough loss, and keeping their focus is what I would like to see from this game

if we lose this one, I'll be right here griping along w/ the rest of ya

 

[Crown Royal]

This game: 'We talkin about PRACTICE.'

New York: We need to handle them well for me to feel excited about the next game.

@ Carolina: Play well and beat Carolina, then we look good with the three wins strung together.

WE HAVE to go on a winning streak of some kind for me to get back on the playoff bandwagon. Good teams beat Philly and play well against tough competition. Period.

 

[DragonCowboy]

The thing is, I won't be happy either with a win over Houston. We need Bledsoe to have a good game against a good-great team.

Houston is a lose-lose situation. I won't really be happy with a win, but if we lose gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

But when we play New York, Carolina, Washington, and Arizona, and if we escape with 3 wins. We'll be sitting pretty at (probably) 6-3. THEN i'll be ecstatic.

 

[Draegerman]

It was this kind of underestimation of the opponent four years ago that cost us a defeat at the hands of the Texans. I think it could easily happen again. What will that tell you about this team?...

That we suck?

 

[cobra]

Will el dorado...

Are you that moron Grandpa Urine? Or do you just try to talk like that idiot?

 

[DBoys]

Anyone else suffering from a "Philly Hangover"?

I suppose it's not that we lost to Philly but how we lost.

And whooping up on the Texans isn't going to fix it for me. I want us to play and beat a contender. I want to see that "statement" game where all the pieces come together. We don't have to blow out a good club by 2 touchdowns. Just play well-- all across the board. Don't give up big plays on defense... Don't give up 7 sacks... Have Bledsoe complete 17 out of 25 with a couple TD's and no picks... Show some conistency along all 3 facets of the game.

And while I'll be happy with a victory over the Texans, I don't think it's going to prove an awful lot. Many of the questions will still remain...

Can we handle stunts and blitzes?
Can we stop the big play?
Can our kicker show some consistency?
Will the "TO show" calm down?
Will Canty & Spears pick up the pace?
Will Bledsoe show any accuracy?

A lot of unanswered questions that for the most part won't be answered against the Texans.


What do you think?

Good post and I feel the same way. I will never understand why we abandoned the run specially in face of the OL and Bledsoe playing like crap.

That game was it for me and Bledsoe. It was another statement game he didn't deliver on. No doubt he will play good against the Texans but what about the Giants next week or the toughest part of our schedule coming up after that? All those teams have really good defenses. Bledsoe is going to get killed.

 

[Mansta54]

Are you that moron Grandpa Urine? Or do you just try to talk like that idiot?

 

[Concord]

Anyone else suffering from a "Philly Hangover"?

I suppose it's not that we lost to Philly but how we lost.

And whooping up on the Texans isn't going to fix it for me. I want us to play and beat a contender. I want to see that "statement" game where all the pieces come together. We don't have to blow out a good club by 2 touchdowns. Just play well-- all across the board. Don't give up big plays on defense... Don't give up 7 sacks... Have Bledsoe complete 17 out of 25 with a couple TD's and no picks... Show some conistency along all 3 facets of the game.

And while I'll be happy with a victory over the Texans, I don't think it's going to prove an awful lot. Many of the questions will still remain...

Can we handle stunts and blitzes?
Can we stop the big play?
Can our kicker show some consistency?
Will the "TO show" calm down?
Will Canty & Spears pick up the pace?
Will Bledsoe show any accuracy?

A lot of unanswered questions that for the most part won't be answered against the Texans.


What do you think?

I agree with you. Beating the Texans this weekend isn't really going to do anything for me...We better beat them.

Next weekend is the one for me. We need to not only beat the Giants...But play well and no fluke victory, if we really are a Playoff team.

 

[jem88]

Anyone else suffering from a "Philly Hangover"?

I suppose it's not that we lost to Philly but how we lost.

And whooping up on the Texans isn't going to fix it for me. I want us to play and beat a contender. I want to see that "statement" game where all the pieces come together. We don't have to blow out a good club by 2 touchdowns. Just play well-- all across the board. Don't give up big plays on defense... Don't give up 7 sacks... Have Bledsoe complete 17 out of 25 with a couple TD's and no picks... Show some conistency along all 3 facets of the game.

And while I'll be happy with a victory over the Texans, I don't think it's going to prove an awful lot. Many of the questions will still remain...

Can we handle stunts and blitzes?
Can we stop the big play?
Can our kicker show some consistency?
Will the "TO show" calm down?
Will Canty & Spears pick up the pace?
Will Bledsoe show any accuracy?

A lot of unanswered questions that for the most part won't be answered against the Texans.


What do you think?

The kind of game we need, indeed the kind you seem to be calling for, is the 1991 victory over the undefeated Commanders. It was a close enough game, yet Dallas decisively won it (perhaps that sounds paradoxical but that's how I remember it.) Irvin stepped up and took control of the game. If T.O. (or any other player for that matter) is able to do that the next time we play Philly or some other contending team, then we could be on to something good.

 

[odog422]

A lot of unanswered questions that for the most part won't be answered against the Texans.

That game was it for me and Bledsoe. It was another statement game he didn't deliver on. No doubt he will play good against the Texans but what about the Giants next week or the toughest part of our schedule coming up after that? All those teams have really good defenses.

im with you MW, and the second poster quoted above expressed my sentiments with regard to bledsoe. when he came here i heard all the "he holds the ball too long, statue, backbreaker in big games with picks, fumbles, etc.," but i reserved judgement bc i knew he couldnt do it alone.

but now, im convinced. i feel like every position on this team, with the exception of maybe rivera at RG, is going to get better as the year goes on. and it will all be for naught as long as bledsoe is at the helm. again, im convinced. he cannot and will not get it done.

this game is definitely a "ill watch bc thats my team" game, and its funny but just last night, i started thinking, this may turn out to not be the gimme everyone says....

one more thing, i respect parcells and what he has achieved. but im really ready to get someone at HC who will bring in a DC, or even let zimmer if hes capable, that will allow this defense to be an attacking, aggressive defense. we have the players now, lets use them.

 

[scottsp]

Anyone else suffering from a "Philly Hangover"?

I suppose it's not that we lost to Philly but how we lost.

And whooping up on the Texans isn't going to fix it for me. I want us to play and beat a contender. I want to see that "statement" game where all the pieces come together. We don't have to blow out a good club by 2 touchdowns. Just play well-- all across the board. Don't give up big plays on defense... Don't give up 7 sacks... Have Bledsoe complete 17 out of 25 with a couple TD's and no picks... Show some conistency along all 3 facets of the game.

And while I'll be happy with a victory over the Texans, I don't think it's going to prove an awful lot. Many of the questions will still remain...

Can we handle stunts and blitzes?
Can we stop the big play?
Can our kicker show some consistency?
Will the "TO show" calm down?
Will Canty & Spears pick up the pace?
Will Bledsoe show any accuracy?

A lot of unanswered questions that for the most part won't be answered against the Texans.


What do you think?

Stunts/twists/blitzes - IMO, this is an area the OL and backs could improve upon. I do believe it's a recognition issue, as has been mentioned numerous times this week. As the season progresses, I think it could be remedied for several reasons, provided we continue to be relatively healthy up front.

Stopping big plays - This is something that worries me because, typically, it's a problem that tends to carry through a season. I don't know when safeties will ever understand that it's the plays they don't try to make that will make this unit better in the long run. Discipline has not been a staple of this defense for many, many years.

Kicking game - The wild card. We are forced to go forward with Vandy. History says we can trust the guy. However, when kickers go south, they don't usually make it back. I will say MV is better than this club has had in some time. The kickoffs are what concern me more than anything. I feel pretty good about FG attempts.

Terrell - This will continue to be what it is. I understand the media takes the situation to heights unseen by other players in that lockerroom, but I don't necessarily blame ESPN, FOX, or the DMN for that. Owens could shut a lot of this down on his own by simply not giving the soundbite. Will the cameras still follow? Hell yes, but T.O. doesn't need to supplement that with additional ammo. Go to work, be on time (like everyone else), and perform.

Will he do that? Not friggin likely based on the guy's history. I so want him to do well here - just as I'd love nothing more for this team to take off - but I must call this one as I see it.

Canty & Spears - Bill has publically challenged these kids, and again this week. They have been anything but consistent. Personally I believe that is part of the process for young players like these. It's obvious neither guy has brought their A-game each week so far, not that I expect that. Though effort in some spots has been lacking. Chris & Marcus are not the only culprits in that front seven.

Bledsoe - He is what he is. Drew needs space to step up and deliver the ball. If defenses put people in his face, he's going to struggle. Unlike some passers, he is not adept at sidestepping the rush and resetting. Bledsoe wants to drop, set, and fire. He is a rhythm passer and when he gets going, the offense will gain yardage in bunches. When rushers are able to get in his mug, this unit will be limited.

That's when he becomes rattled (like last week) and he misses relatively easy throws he would ordinarily convert. I will say most quarterbacks become rattled when they're under siege like that, but more savvy passers will make adjustments on their own. Jim Plunkett would never be mistaken for Michael Vick. The man was not that mobile, but he was tough to sack. Sidestep, step up, step by. But that is not what Drew is. Never will be.

This staff must do a better job of compensating for that. And we all know the issues this team has up front. Emptying the backfield, sending so many out in pass patterns would work well for a team that can amply protect and/or for a passer that gets the ball out quickly. I will also say there are certain receivers (ahem), who aren't cutting their routes in tune with the QB in blitz situations. Recipe for disaster? Certainly.

Winicki, I concur. While a win is always welcome, pillaging the Texans will only go so far in healing the wounds. Dallas, if they're to anything meaningful this season, must improve all the way into December - ideally, playing their best football late in the year. I expect some bumps along the way, but the breakdowns last week had an all-too familiar look to it.

 

[TheSkaven]

A win is a win, and no matter how insignificant, and it will make me feel better. If this team somehow loses on Sunday, that would be devastating (for the fans and the team).

 

[Juke99]

I'll probably tape and go out Christmas shopping then watch it later.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!??

It's not December 24th yet.