Calling off the dogs...

[dallasfaniac]

Now I know how other teams felt when we trotted out Hutch and Anthony Wright.

I think both of them attempted more than 2 passes per half though, lol.

 

[tomson75]

There was nothing to be afraid of, ever.

I've only feared we would lose twice all season...after we missed on the two point conversion at Buffalo, and about midway through the fourth quarter against the Patriots. Last year, i constantly lived in fear of losing. This years team just feels better.

 

[5Stars]

Good summary. That's probably my fault, didn't take the thread title into account when posting, knowing that that's all some people read before posting in a thread. That's exactly what I meant. We didn't stop trying, or start loafing - we just scaled things back and let the markedly superior talent take over. Instead of getting cute and chhucking the ball ANOTHER 30 times in the second half, we just marched out and showed how much better we were than the competition.

Call it what you will - I call it an easy ***-kicking. That was gravy. There was nothing to be afraid of, ever. Now I know how other teams felt when we trotted out Hutch and Anthony Wright.

The Cowboys have it REAL good now days...nobody really knows what team will show up next...

Let them figure it out in the next two weeks...


:starspin

 

[iceberg]

Crapping in late on this one, but I've read every post.

Just so I have this right, and DO correct me if I'm wrong...it is suggested Dallas called off the dogs, while they were behind, then, took a 10 point lead and resorted to a conservative game plan to secure the victory.

In my estimation, that is playing not to lose....and there are a whole lotta people here that despised that last year.

But now it's a good thing.

Alrighty then.​

to be clear - i think we toned it down *after* romo was injured so we could get through the game w/our best talent on the field as well.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

It reminded me of when a good sprinter is in a big race and gets beat out of the blocks. The best ones don't panic and tense up, which is the worst thing you can do. They just relax and run their race, knowing that their speed is going to overtake the guy by the finish.

I think some people are misinterpreting "calling off the dogs", as meaning that we just took it easy on them. What I took it to mean is that we didn't panic when we were behind. We just calmly went about our business, knowing that we were a superior team and that we'd win in the end.

How true, that is exactly what Canadian hero Donovan Bailey did in 1996 in Atlanta. He was third in the 100 at 60 metres behind Ato Boldon and Frankie Fredericks but he just ran his race and won.

 

[FLcowboy]

Championship teams, don't call off the dogs.

Dallas may or may not be a dominate team. They have three straight division games coming up that will dictate whether the season is a success. Until the final whistle blows in Philly, with a Cowboy victory, I don't think anybody, including the coaches, know just how good this team is. Why haven't we seen T.O. moving around, like he did in the Chicago game? What haven't the plays calling for Crayton and Hurd breaking deep been called? Why haven't we seen Barber starting?

I'm thinking these games have been used to develop certain strategies, like they did this past week with the no-huddle.

I'm thinking the armory is being loaded for the big meaningful games coming up the next month and a half.

I'm thinking the best is yet to come.

 

[LeonDixson]

i do and that's why winning by *only* 10 doesn't bother me. it was good to see the gound game eat up the clock, however.

Yeah.

That's why these "disappointment posts" are especially unfathomable to me today. Did these people not see how badly we dominated the Vikings? How we trashed them, and beat them up, and had them cringing every time Marion came on the field?

This was an ***-whoopin'. That 10 points might as well have been 50.

In my thread I talked about some things we and the players did that I didn't like, but I should have added that while at the game, I never really got the feeling we were in trouble or were going to lose. The Vikings play a ball control game, but they never controlled the clock. Our defense stopped them too much and our offense was eventually going to get something. The blocked kick and return was gravy and allowed us to settle down.

I think we played sloppy some, but I think we also dialed it in to an extent, if that makes sense.

I agree with you guys. We outplayed them in almost every way. If we hadn't shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers this game would have been over by halftime.

 

[trickblue]

Championship teams, don't call off the dogs.

Sure they do... we regularly did that in the early 90's. Landry did it as well...

 

[Doomsday]

Witten said they came out a bit more conservative in the second half because Romo was banged up in his interview at dc.com.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I don't feel like Garrett ever "called off the dogs." We just took what was given and played the clock and circumstance. We only lead for 7 and 10 for much of the second half. The clock became our friend and the defense was playing well. Also, Witten missed an easy catch that could have kept a drive alive on third down. I just think Romo didn't want to force anything.

I agree. Romo had faith in the D and didn't feel like he had to put it on his shoulders.

The game was tight, as you said, so I dn'tt hink a win was nessecarily guaranteed. Minnesota still was able to run the ball. Im just surprised they stopped feeding Peterson.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Sure they do... we regularly did that in the early 90's. Landry did it as well...

We were dominant back then. I don't think we are at that point yet.

 

[iceberg]

We were dominant back then. I don't think we are at that point yet.

what difference does it make when you've already said that dominate teams don't let up?

just askin. : )

 

[khiladi]

Most of what we saw in Buffalo was just "one of those nights" and yet I think part of it was a reminder of Romo's somewhat reckless abandon style and his relative NFL game inexperience. I think the coaches are keeping a close eye on Tony and are willing to pull in the reins a bit (for him and the team) if it looks like things are getting a bit too frenetic.

Please inform me what reckless abandon Romo was showing the night of the Minnesota game? From what I can tell, he was on money, and was making almost every single pass he was throwing.