BTB: FISH on FOOTBALL: A Top-10 X's And O's, Cowboys And Falcons Style

[WoodysGirl]

by Mike Fisher on Oct 22, 2009 7:00 PM CDT

Getting you ready for Cowboys-Falcons ... with a FISH on FOOTBALL Top-10:

1. It's not always just about acquiring good players. Sometimes it's about how you acquire them.

It's too early for the Cowboys to give up on the acquisition of pass-catcher Roy Williams. He's been highly unproductive, but the UT product's pedigree is inarguable. No, the debate is whether the best way to acquire a big-bodied veteran pass-catcher is to spend a first-, a third- and a sixth-round pick for one.

That debate hits the field on Sunday and is embodied not only by the presence of Roy (who says it's time to "call 911'' ... the jersey numbers of Romo and Roy) but also by the presence of another big-bodied veteran pass-catcher.

To acquire Tony Gonzalez to play tight end for them, the Falcons sacrificed a second-round pick.

Roy Williams for a first, a third and a sixth.

Or ...

Tony Gonzalez for a second.

Good players. Both acquired. But the difference is the "how.''

2. Speaking of great tight ends: In Jason Witten's last 15 games, he has three TDs. The Cowboys need to find other blockers to protect against the blitz, tell other pass-catchers to shut their mouths and open their hands, and simplify some throws for Tony Romo.

Jason Witten should score three TDs over the course of a full-season's games almost by accident. Dallas might want to try getting him the ball in the red zone on purpose.

3. In one interview Jerry Jones says the game against Atlanta "is going to be an all-day sucker.''

In another interview Jerry is talking about the Roy trade and says maybe it wasn't "the greatest trade since ice cream.''

Methinks Jerry has a sweet tooth.

4. As the guys at ESPN wrote it, Patrick Crayton "just wishes somebody would have told him about his demotion.'' ... Crayton feels he was "in the dark about the change'' ... and Crayton "just feels that, as a six-year veteran, he deserves an explanation.''

Nope. No you don't. One thing about football: Nobody deserves anything. Your explanation, Patrick, came when you showed up to practice this week and took fewer reps. That's your explanation.

5. Atlanta is doing something wrong to open games: In five opening-game possessions, the Falcons have produced one short scoreless drive, a pair of three-and-outs and two FGs.

Meanwhile. ...

6. Dallas is doing something right to open games: In five first quarters, the Cowboys have given up just 10 total points.

This could be a case of a moveable object meeting an irresistible force.

7. Falcons-at-Cowboys brings Fox' A-minus team to Arlington. We get Troy Aikman, but the play-by-play guy will be Thom Brennaman because usual partner Joe Buck will be off doing baseball.

Joe Buck will not be missed.

8. Here we go again with the anointing oil.
Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White are not Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin. They are not similar in playing styles and - while they have promise as the foundation of the Atlanta offense - they are not even on the same planet in terms of accomplishments. The Falcons are 4-1 and the Falcons have the potential to be better. But this offense, as near-glitzy as it is, doesn't consistently top 300 yards per game, is getting just 3.5 yards per carry from Turner and is about to get tested (theoretically) with four roadies in its next five, at Dallas, at New Orleans, home vs. Washington, at Carolina and at the Giants.

Gonzalez has been terrific and Atlanta's O-line hasn't allowed a sack since Week 1. Those two issues have been as instrumental in the Falcons' success as any of the "next-Triplet'' guys.

Maybe Ryan/Turner/White really is on that track. And maybe on Sunday the Cowboys get to play them before they reach that pinnacle.

9. Here's a weird one about the Atlanta defense: The Falcons aren't special in stopping the run. They rank 23rd. The Falcons aren't special in stopping the pass. They rank 21st.

Yet they only surrender 15 points per game. You win a lot of games if you give up 15 points per game.

So what gives? Atlanta has 12 takeaways in five games. Only two NFL teams have more. The Falcons have five interceptions (that's a middle-of-the-pack number) but they have seven fumble recoveries. Eight leads the league.

All of this is proof of how blemishes can be covered up with play-making. And all of this should be a lesson to the Dallas defense, which has the fewest takeaways (two picks, two fumble recoveries) in the NFL.

10. Yesterday I wrote that I cannot figure out Jerry's motivation in announcing him NOT executing a trade.

"We had a significant offer for a key player that we turned down, and turned down in getting in more extended dialogue for," Jones said after Wednesday's NFL trade deadline. "So we did have that kind of activity ... but I shouldn't name the player or the team. It was a very firm, significant offer for one of our young players that we had a chance for a lot of consideration if we had wanted to take it, and we didn't."

Because Jerry was so willing to talk that much ... you just knew that he (or somebody) would talk a little more. And now we all assume it was Martellus Bennett.

And now maybe we have Jerry's motivation for hinting at all of this: He gets to go to Marty B and tell him, "See how much we love you? Cincy wanted you bad, but we love you even more!''

So maybe you get a more focused Marty B.

Or maybe you get a more cocky Marty B.

Said Bennett today at Valley Ranch: "I get more press than anybody I know who doesn't catch any balls.''

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2009/10/22/1096779/fish-on-football-a-top-10-xs-and

 

[theogt]

Said Bennett today at Valley Ranch: "I get more press than anybody I know who doesn't catch any balls.''

:laugh2:

 

[BAT]

No Joe Buck this Sunday. Thank you God. Without that albatross, Cowboys should win by double digits.

 

[DandyDon1722]

That take away stat is unbelievable. Getting turnovers makes up for a multitude of sins.

 

[Capt.Gut]

Falcons-at-Cowboys brings Fox' A-minus team to Arlington. We get Troy Aikman, but the play-by-play guy will be Thom Brennaman because usual partner Joe Buck will be off doing baseball.

Joe Buck will not be missed.

Great news.

 

[AdamJT13]

Roy Williams for a first, a third and a sixth.

Or ...

Tony Gonzalez for a second.

Good players. Both acquired. But the difference is the "how.''

And the "how old." A 26-year-old player usually costs more than a 33-year-old player.

By the way, why does the pick we got back from Detroit always get left out of the conversation?

 

[dstew60105]

And the "how old." A 26-year-old player usually costs more than a 33-year-old player.

By the way, why does the pick we got back from Detroit always get left out of the conversation?

Especially when that pick was less then 10 picks later? ALWAYS left out.

 

[rynochop]

Here's to the WS going 7 games and Buck missing as much time as possible. I actually like Brennamen.

 

[Alexander]

Good players. Both acquired. But the difference is the "how.''

Or the "what" they do that justifies the "how" when they get there.

Williams is off to very rough start in a Dallas uniform. The longer he remains marginally productive, the worse the trade looks. Gonzalez, on the other hand, cost less to acquire and has had a big impact on the Falcon attack. Yes, he's older and has a shorter shelf life. But if Williams continues to produce like this, he isn't long for a Cowboy uniform either.

2. Speaking of great tight ends: In Jason Witten's last 15 games, he has three TDs. The Cowboys need to find other blockers to protect against the blitz, tell other pass-catchers to shut their mouths and open their hands, and simplify some throws for Tony Romo.

Jason Witten should score three TDs over the course of a full-season's games almost by accident. Dallas might want to try getting him the ball in the red zone on purpose.

I agree to a slight extent, but Witten has never been a touchdown machine. Let's not kid ourselves.

8. Here we go again with the anointing oil.
Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White are not Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin. They are not similar in playing styles and - while they have promise as the foundation of the Atlanta offense - they are not even on the same planet in terms of accomplishments. The Falcons are 4-1 and the Falcons have the potential to be better. But this offense, as near-glitzy as it is, doesn't consistently top 300 yards per game, is getting just 3.5 yards per carry from Turner and is about to get tested (theoretically) with four roadies in its next five, at Dallas, at New Orleans, home vs. Washington, at Carolina and at the Giants.

Gonzalez has been terrific and Atlanta's O-line hasn't allowed a sack since Week 1. Those two issues have been as instrumental in the Falcons' success as any of the "next-Triplet'' guys.

Maybe Ryan/Turner/White really is on that track. And maybe on Sunday the Cowboys get to play them before they reach that pinnacle.

Who exactly is referring them as new Triplets?

9. Here's a weird one about the Atlanta defense: The Falcons aren't special in stopping the run. They rank 23rd. The Falcons aren't special in stopping the pass. They rank 21st.

Yet they only surrender 15 points per game. You win a lot of games if you give up 15 points per game.

So what gives? Atlanta has 12 takeaways in five games. Only two NFL teams have more. The Falcons have five interceptions (that's a middle-of-the-pack number) but they have seven fumble recoveries. Eight leads the league.

All of this is proof of how blemishes can be covered up with play-making. And all of this should be a lesson to the Dallas defense, which has the fewest takeaways (two picks, two fumble recoveries) in the NFL.

This is why Atlanta's defense overachieves and our's is mired in a swamp of inconsistency.

Turnovers. We can't even buy them. It has been going on for the last two years.

That's on the defensive coordinator and the position coaches. I will not be convinced that Atlanta's group of plucky average players is simply better at causing them. They are coached better. Plain and simple.

 

[George]

This type of post is why I love coming to this board. Great job WG.

 

[Randy White]

Who exactly is referring them as new Triplets?.

NFL Network.

 

[theebs]

INteresting that some are blaming the lack of turnovers on the coaches, it could be, but not this season. This season our defensive players have been in the back pocket of the other teams offense and didnt catch the ball or recover it.

Spencer had a ball he tipped away against ny that could have been picked, he was in position and didnt make the catch.

Bradie james had a ball thrown right to him against the giants, but he didnt catch the ball.

Anthony spencer had a ball thrown right to him against denver, he didnt catch it.

T-New had a ball in his hands against KC and didnt catch it.

Jenkins had a pick taken away because of a ticky tack call on sensebaugh.

that is 5 turnovers off the top of my head that the coaches had the players in the perfect spots for and they just didnt make the play. throw in newman being in great position on the TD against denver and you can see its not the coaching.

Players are always in position but rarely do they catch the ball or recover it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry I dont have time to source each play from youtube or the gamebooks. But if you watched the games you can see these plays. If I have a chance later I will post links to each play as to make sure everything that I said actually happened.

 

[Alexander]

NFL Network.

Alright.

Which imbecile on the NFL Network?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Alright.

Which imbecile on the NFL Network?

Not sure which, but somebody even said that with them having Gonzalez, you could actually call them the Quadruplets.

And IIRC, didn't somebody on the NBC broadcast call them that during the ATL-Bears game?

 

[Alexander]

INteresting that some are blaming the lack of turnovers on the coaches, it could be, but not this season. This season our defensive players have been in the back pocket of the other teams offense and didnt catch the ball or recover it.

It still goes back to coaching. If not, what you are saying here is that we have million dollar DBs who can't catch and a defense as a whole that is physically incapable of stripping a football.

Coaches can create a mentality for turnovers. It is part of the culture for many teams and it can be changed. Teams can take a variety of personalities. Some are "pressure" defenses that believe the turnovers will come as the pressure will cause errors. That's Dallas. Others that aren't as talented and aren't able to pressure, stress technique and shortcuts to make themselves more opportunistic. That's Atlanta.

It is all about philosophy. Atlanta has that, we don't. The players don't make that. Coaches do when they stress it as part of the day to day routine. Everyday, I am sure Smith has his defense thinking they have to get the ball for the offense. It is what they do. I don't see that from Phillips. He's more interested in talking about the next sack record his defense is going to threaten.

To my knowledge, Phillips hasn't had great turnover defenses. He can sack the lights out of someone though and he loves to stress the statistics that support it, but you just cannot characterize his defenses as "opportunistic". If I am wrong, please feel free to correct.

 

[theebs]

It still goes back to coaching. If not, what you are saying here is that we have million dollar DBs who can't catch and a defense as a whole that is physically incapable of stripping a football.

Coaches can create a mentality for turnovers. It is part of the culture for many teams and it can be changed. Teams can take a variety of personalities. Some are "pressure" defenses that believe the turnovers will come as the pressure will cause errors. That's Dallas. Others that aren't as talented and aren't able to pressure, stress technique and shortcuts to make themselves more opportunistic. That's Atlanta.

It is all about philosophy. Atlanta has that, we don't. The players don't make that. Coaches do when they stress it as part of the day to day routine. Everyday, I am sure Smith has his defense thinking they have to get the ball for the offense. It is what they do. I don't see that from Phillips. He's more interested in talking about the next sack record his defense is going to threaten.

To my knowledge, Phillips hasn't had great turnover defenses. He can sack the lights out of someone though and he loves to stress the statistics that support it, but you just cannot characterize his defenses as "opportunistic". If I am wrong, please feel free to correct.

You said it. you had tons of sources to prove everyone of your comments. it must be true.

I am now corrected.

 

[Alexander]

You said it. you had tons of sources to prove everyone of your comments. it must be true.

I am now corrected.

I never said it was true. I even offered that statistically Phillips' defenses haven't been evident to me as causing many turnovers. I even suggested that I wasn't sure of my opinion and stated I was willing to be convinced. You of course respond with a thin-skinned response that adds nothing to the discussion.

Obviously, you aren't interested in debating anything and instead just respond in a snippy fashion when someone disagrees with you. You've proven that today. Off you go.

 

[theebs]

Obviously, you aren't interested in debating anything and instead just respond in a snippy fashion when someone disagrees with you. You've proven that today. Off you go.

Right.

off I go.

Whats the point in debating? I already put it out there that the coaches cant be blamed. The players have been in position all year. I dont even like the defensive staff. but this year, the players have been in position and have not come through yet.

only two things can be concluded from that, A. the players are not good enough to make these plays or B. If the trend continues they will start catching the ball and the turnovers will increase.

you completely glossed over what I said and went into a commentary on how phillips defenses do not get turnovers, and then took personal shots at wade.

thats fine. But if your going to be one of the people that asks me for sources when I have an opinion, please backup your opinions with sources. Show me the link that shows me where wade does not preach turnovers, wades philosophy does not result in turnovers.

Otherwise your a hypocrite, who generally uses snippy responses in nearly everyone of your posts.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I never said it was true. I even offered that statistically Phillips' defenses haven't been evident to me as causing many turnovers. I even suggested that I wasn't sure of my opinion and stated I was willing to be convinced.

So in doing your research, what coaches have consistently had lots of turnovers year after year?

I think there's a lot of luck in turnovers. Two years ago we were middle of the pack as far as turnovers IIRC. I've pointed out before that in 2007, the Steelers and Eagles were at the bottom of the list in turnovers forced, and few would take issue with LeBeau or Jim Johnson.

 

[wileedog]

I never said it was true. I even offered that statistically Phillips' defenses haven't been evident to me as causing many turnovers.

Actually Wade's San Diego teams were pretty good at it, but he had a much better secondary there.

I just think its more the way this team has problems with basic fundamentals like tackling and stripping footballs, so it does go back to a root problem I have with Wade's coaching. But CL is right there is definitely a luck factor, and we have been anything but lucky the past couple of years.