Trying to take the emotion of being a cowboy fan and having to sit thru OT even of this pathetic game, a few things really hit me today.
1.Flo Adams is washed up. He is only capable of handling power rushers; small speed rushers like Dumervil and Hali eat him up. He is borderline pathetic in pass protection
2.something is wrong with D ware. I think they are doing a good job hiding it but late in the game the camera showed him on the sidelines holding his arm as if his shoulder was bothering him. I wonder if going back to the injury early in the Tampa game hasnt had an effect on him. He doesnt flatten out on his outside speed rush anymore and resorts to a power rush into the opposing tackle mixing in a few inside moves. He doesnt seem to have the hand strength he showed in previous years when I remember him dragging QB's down with one hand on the jersey.
That being said he was essentially dominant for large parts of the game, and he should have been against that CFL talent
3. Spencer and Jenkins are coming along. Young players progress at different speeds and this is essentially both of their first years starting. Jenkins has been solid tackling lately and Spencer shows good instincts. I enjoy how he sniffs out the wide receiver screens or passes out in the flats. It seems he is doing quite well to my untrained eye in pass coverage as a LB as well. Jenkins got beat by Bowe to tie the game BUT WHERE was the safety help. A step late as usual
4.Tashard, Brookings, Ratliff, Columbo are flat out warriors. I certainly have to beleive that Brookings will rub off. I jumped out of my seat on the last defensive series in OT when he just flew thru the air hurdling bodies to get in the tackle.
5. Ken Hamlin is just collecting a paycheck. Other than noticing when he fails to make a tackle --never wrapping up, he does not make any plays and is virtually unnoticeable. I seem to see him always in the background standing there after a play.
This is a major position upgrade necessary for 2010. The middle of the defense is exploitable time and time again
6. Why is there no killer instinct in our defense late in the game? Inevitably, I beleive our pass rushers tire out and fail to apply the killer sack. On the game tying drive Cassel had virtually no pressure on him. No big play contributions from either safety allow completions and allow the opposing QB to establish a rythm and down the field they go. Failure to have a rotation with outside pass rushers is a problem not solved with this past draft as of yet.
7.I have to beleive this game, even though it was a win, is the beginning of the end of the Phillips era. Lack of concentration, lack of emotion, lack of accountability all point to a coach who has lost control long ago.
8. When is Marty B going to be implemented in this offense????? Again some very puzzling play calling although I was heartened by Tony doing a bit more movement and some improvisation in the pocket.
9.Miles Austin was fabulous--some of it was poor tackling but also a large part of it was Romo putting the ball in a tiny window--Miles making the grab and then being physical with the run after the catch. Perhaps dropping that TD early in the game which to me seemed like he tried to snatch it instead of just securing the ball and getting his feet down may have increased his resolve. If a young player can turn a negative play into a learning experience and raise his level of performance from it then all the more power to him!
