Anyone Else Underwhelmed This Weekend?

[MichaelWinicki]

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!??

It's not December 24th yet.

That's the day you get presents for everyone else... I'm sure you've already gotten mine.

 

[Cowboysguy]

The Campo years were bad enough that I am still able to appreciate a win over ANY one...even the Tex-Annes.

The glass is half full side of me really is glad to see that this franchise has come a long way talent-wise in the last few seasons to the point that we don't have to worry about games like this anymore.

The glass is half full...of #%t side of me wonders when (given it's QB and O-line) will ever be able to win a game against the elite teams in the league.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The Campo years were bad enough that I am still able to appreciate a win over ANY one...even the Tex-Annes.

The glass is half full side of me really is glad to see that this franchise has come a long way talent-wise in the last few seasons to the point that we don't have to worry about games like this anymore.

The glass is half full...of #%t side of me wonders when (given it's QB and O-line) will ever be able to win a game against the elite teams in the league.

I would never have thought by Parcell's fourth season we'd still be so unsettled at QB and O-line. The defense, backs, TE's and WR's are all "Parcells' caliber in my book. QB and O-line are still "Campoesque".

 

[Juke99]

That's the day you get presents for everyone else... I'm sure you've already gotten mine.

Oh indeed I have.

I also bought you a Bic lighter to light the fuse.




Happy Holidays,

Kittypapa

 

[Juke99]

I would never have thought by Parcell's fourth season we'd still be so unsettled at QB and O-line. The defense, backs, TE's and WR's are all "Parcells' caliber in my book. QB and O-line are still "Campoesque".

The offensive line is kinda shocking...especially given the style of football he likes to play. And also given the fact that in the last three seasons, we've had QB's who have the mobility of an anvil.

The QB position doesn't surprise me at all. He has truly undervalued the position from day one.

 

[bbgun]

My biggest fear is that Bled will have a big game and seduce everyone into thinking we're "back on track" and headed for glory.

 

[chinch]

Agreed. this week is a waste. win or lose (well i guess losing tells us to write off the season).

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?

 

[Crown Royal]

I would never have thought by Parcell's fourth season we'd still be so unsettled at QB and O-line. The defense, backs, TE's and WR's are all "Parcells' caliber in my book. QB and O-line are still "Campoesque".

I honestly still think this OL is better than it looks. They are blocking in the run game very well, and the pass game is compounded by the QB.

At this point, the weakest areas on the line are the RG and LT (who'd have thought the LT?!?). The LG is OK sometimes - if he could just learn pass blocking.

Who'd have thought that our Center and RT would be our best lineman at this point?

Also, I'm not satisfied with the line for the mere fact that I think they are all over weight and too big. I don't like behemoth lineman. Give me an Alex Gibbs style - quick, smart line anyday.

 

[scottsp]

My biggest fear is that Bled will have a big game and seduce everyone into thinking we're "back on track" and headed for glory.

Yep. I want the guy to do well. I think we could have some success IF he would just get the ball out and take care of it. Control what he can control, ya know?

We could see a huge day from Owens, Julies, Barber, or the defense. Some of those ...and WE ARE BACK will come raining down.

I don't think the sky is falling, but I know all is not right. As is typically the case, it's somewhere in between.

Just take steps. Move forward each week. There will be bumps along the way. Be better in December than we were in September. Not the other way around.

Truth be told, we have little idea what this team is about. Not yet anyway.

 

[MONT17]

At this point, the weakest areas on the line are the RG and LT (who'd have thought the LT?!?). The LG is OK sometimes - if he could just learn pass blocking.


LT (Flo) was a major concern to all of those not named Homer (Simpson)!!!

 

[Novacek84]

I agree that beating Houston tells us nothing new about this team. 2 weeks ago I said burying Tennessee would show us that this team doesn't play down to its competition and they passed that test with flying colors. But another 45-14 score tomorrow tells us nothing new. We know they can handle lesser opponents but they have 4 very difficult games coming up after HOU (the last 3 straight on the road) and they have to start playing well in all phases now. They have to get these next 2 at home and then win at least one of the next three away games to put them at 5-4 with 5 of the last 7 at home. 6-3 would be even better but until they show they can beat a quality team on the road I can't give them 2 road wins in those 3 games. The seeds to show they are a complete team must begin to be planted in this game and then must be expanded upon against the Giants. Because unless they are above the .500 mark after the road trip, 5 of the last 7 at home might not matter. And by the way, who makes this schedule? I usually don't like to complain about scheduling, but 6 of the first 9 games away? Does the NFL want to bury this team before week 10?? I'm sure we'll get it done this week and then next week we have to show we can handle a pretty good NYG team by playing well in all 3 phases as we did vs. WASH. Anything less would be a bad sign of things to come.

 

[Crown Royal]

At this point, the weakest areas on the line are the RG and LT (who'd have thought the LT?!?). The LG is OK sometimes - if he could just learn pass blocking.


LT (Flo) was a major concern to all of those not named Homer (Simpson)!!!

He was a concern because he was coming off an injury, but most of us felt that he would settle into his old self by now. Unfortunately, he is proving to be one of our biggest liabilities.

 

[Kevinicus]

I agree that beating Houston tells us nothing new about this team. 2 weeks ago I said burying Tennessee would show us that this team doesn't play down to its competition and they passed that test with flying colors. But another 45-14 score tomorrow tells us nothing new. We know they can handle lesser opponents but they have 4 very difficult games coming up after HOU (the last 3 straight on the road) and they have to start playing well in all phases now. They have to get these next 2 at home and then win at least one of the next three away games to put them at 5-4 with 5 of the last 7 at home. 6-3 would be even better but until they show they can beat a quality team on the road I can't give them 2 road wins in those 3 games. The seeds to show they are a complete team must begin to be planted in this game and then must be expanded upon against the Giants. Because unless they are above the .500 mark after the road trip, 5 of the last 7 at home might not matter. And by the way, who makes this schedule? I usually don't like to complain about scheduling, but 6 of the first 9 games away? Does the NFL want to bury this team before week 10?? I'm sure we'll get it done this week and then next week we have to show we can handle a pretty good NYG team by playing well in all 3 phases as we did vs. WASH. Anything less would be a bad sign of things to come.

Really, I EXPECT the Cowboys to be 7-2 after those 3 road games. There is no way I would pick any of the other teams to beat the Cowboys. At most, I see them losing 1 game on the road, and winding up at 6-3 before the 2nd half push. I expect 7-2, 6-3 would be acceptable, anything less is just not acceptable to me. The Cowboys are better than their next 5 opponents. There is no doubt about that to me. They should win the next 5 games, period. Sure, the Giants, Panthers, and Skins might not be easy, but they should win. Parcells always talks before big games about how the guys know they are big and important, well now he has to start getting them to BELIEVE it. To believe that each game is important, and that it is imperative they play well. It's good that they know, but as we all remember...Knowing is ONLY half the battle.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Really, I EXPECT the Cowboys to be 7-2 after those 3 road games. There is no way I would pick any of the other teams to beat the Cowboys. At most, I see them losing 1 game on the road, and winding up at 6-3 before the 2nd half push. I expect 7-2, 6-3 would be acceptable, anything less is just not acceptable to me. The Cowboys are better than their next 5 opponents. There is no doubt about that to me. They should win the next 5 games, period. Sure, the Giants, Panthers, and Skins might not be easy, but they should win. Parcells always talks before big games about how the guys know they are big and important, well now he has to start getting them to BELIEVE it. To believe that each game is important, and that it is imperative they play well. It's good that they know, but as we all remember...Knowing is ONLY half the battle.

See before the Philly game I would have said something similar. But the Philly game took the air out of the optimism balloon for me. WE should have beaten that team. Not badly. Not by touchdowns-- but we should have beaten them. With their secondary banged up and Stallworth out-- and not much of a running game... we should have beaten them. Parcells fed us a line all training camp on how well we would be prepared for the blitz-- and what did we end up with?

A friggin mess. We had offensive lineman react to guys looping to the inside like they had AIDs and weren't to be "touched" under any circumstances.

We had running backs that looked like they hadn't thrown a block in their lives.

The pass blocking was just a total cluster *****.

 

[Kevinicus]

See before the Philly game I would have said something similar. But the Philly game took the air out of the optimism balloon for me. WE should have beaten that team. Not badly. Not by touchdowns-- but we should have beaten them. With their secondary banged up and Stallworth out-- and not much of a running game... we should have beaten them. Parcells fed us a line all training camp on how well we would be prepared for the blitz-- and what did we end up with?

A friggin mess. We had offensive lineman react to guys looping to the inside like they had AIDs and weren't to be "touched" under any circumstances.

We had running backs that looked like they hadn't thrown a block in their lives.

The pass blocking was just a total cluster *****.

Yes, well I expected nothing less than 11-5 last year. I didn't quite get that. What I expect, and what we should all expect, hasn't always been what Parcells delivers. He needs to start living up to the expectations. This is the year.