Closing - We must learn to close games out.

[JoeCorrado]

We just let them (anybody) just hang around.

Second half, defense did OK, offense basically shut out in scoring, ST sucked- especially punting.

Can this team learn to close?

Can these guys get a killer instinct? When a team is down- step on them, don't let then think they can get back into it.

We must do better.

A nice win. We were solid in all three phases in first half. I liked the changes on defensive play calling- there seemed way less confusion.

Your thoughts?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

We just let them (anybody) just hang around.

Second half, defense did OK, offense basically shut out in scoring, ST sucked- especially punting.

Can this team learn to close?

Can these guys get a killer instinct? When a team is down- step on them, don't let then think they can get back into it.

We must do better.

A nice win. We were solid in all three phases in first half. I liked the changes on defensive play calling- there seemed way less confusion.

Your thoughts?

I don't think our coaching staff considered Tampa Bay's offense any kind of threat considering we pulled Demarcus and Ratliff out of the game. Had it been a close contest, I doubt they're sitting on the sidelines.

Raheem Morris is probably unemployed in the next few days.

It's a great win regardless.

 

[CCBoy]

The Cowboys handled a team they should have. Next test for them, is handling a very talented Philadelphia game that loves nothing better than to beat the Cowboys. That should take a solid game defensively for Dallas.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This is one game that I really don't think people should be talking about learning to close teams out. We allowed one offensive TD and I think people might already forget that we could have easily scored another TD but sat on the ball at the end of the game.

I can understand saying that in other games this year, or going forward...just don't see how someone could say it for this game.

As up and down and crazy as it has been this season, enjoy this win, we won in convincing fashion and did well.

 

[burmafrd]

TB offense was pathetic; they were no threat despite some accounts that tried to make the game closer then it was. The only thing I think we did wrong was passing down by ourendzone leading 28-0. I really hope Red Ball thinks about that the next time.

We had domintated them and we gave them an oppurtunity. Just DUMB. Run the ball there and if the TB O gets good field position so what? You still can make them work for it.

 

[CoCo]

After Tampa got within 31-16 I was hoping for a statement from either or both units. Offense turned it right back to Tampa quickly, defense allowed them to move down the field again though ultimately Tampa failed.

I'm not all up in arms about it but I was disappointed. In the NFL, as long as another game remains there is always hope to adjust and come back strong. I still have that hope for this team. But I have to say that I am not encouraged by what I see from the D when they need a key stop or the O when they have opportunity to close out an opponent with some ball control and particularly now that Murray is out.

Next week is a BIG test. And if we pass that one, the following week will be as well. I'm hopeful, but not confident.

 

[JoeCorrado]

The Cowboys handled a team they should have. Next test for them, is handling a very talented Philadelphia game that loves nothing better than to beat the Cowboys. That should take a solid game defensively for Dallas.

We won the game. Total domination in the first half. There was a let down in the second. Especially offensively and we held nobody out there.

Romo was pressured too often in the second half by a defense not known for getting pressure. I liked our run game. Morris is yet another solid pickup. Kudos to our talent evaluation scouts - they are hitting well. But 3 points in the second half? Not good.

Defense looks improved and was solid even resting Ware and Rat.

ST - ie McBriar, not pretty.

This should not have been a two score game. It should have been a straight up rout. I am happy for the win but as my daughter pointed out, our players are nice. I just laughed. Yep, nice guys is right. That may once again become an issue over the next two weeks.

Good news is that my daughter is now a Cowboy fan. She likes them... they're nice.

 

[Hostile]

7 first downs, just over 22 minutes time of possession, less than 200 total yards...and one scoring drive means we didn't close a team out?

I don't know whether to :laugh2: or :bang2:

 

[Eddie]

I'm happy with this win.

Winning in the NFL isn't an easy thing. We won and lost some very close games this year. We could easily be in TB's shoes.

Nothing wrong with a 16 point win.

Now it's time for Philly and the Giants.

 

[Joe Realist]

One thing that concerns me is the kicking game. It appears to me that when Romo was the holder, Bailey was nailing kicks with ease. With McBriar his kicks look alot different.

 

[Everson24]

I don't think our coaching staff was all that worried in the second half of this game. If we were we would have played Ware more and passed more if we needed to. I've seen Green Bay do this many times this year. (I have Aaron Rodgers on my fantasy team so I know first hand). Our offense could have put up a ton more points in the second half but they chose to shorten the game and get out of there as quickly and as healthy as the can be. Next week is the big one.

 

[Hostile]

One thing that concerns me is the kicking game. It appears to me that when Romo was the holder, Bailey was nailing kicks with ease. With McBriar his kicks look alot different.

3 of McBriar's last 4 punts aren't all that grand either. The one at the end of the Giants game was awful, 2 touchbacks last night. This after a foot injury. I'd like to see the big punts we've come to rely on for these last 2 weeks and on into the post season.

 

[JoeCorrado]

7 first downs, just over 22 minutes time of possession, less than 200 total yards...and one scoring drive means we didn't close a team out?

I don't know whether to :laugh2: or :bang2:

We won, right? Everything must be swell.

We win next week... and then in NY too, and I will admit to seeing ghosts. In the meantime hey, a win is a win... right? To you, I say enjoy it. Though I am already starting to worry about next week. We get out scored 15-3 second half next week... even you may see why it matters. Till it does matter though ....

GO COWBOYS!!! (I always say that.)

 

[CoCo]

7 first downs, just over 22 minutes time of possession, less than 200 total yards...and one scoring drive means we didn't close a team out?

I don't know whether to :laugh2: or :bang2:

I'm not looking to make a big deal out of this. But your overview glosses over the game within the game, more specifically the first half vs second half contrast and how the team responded after Tampa (a really bad team right now) got within 16.

I am specifically looking for this team to a) grind clock late when it needs to b) have the D make key stops late when momentum has swung. I remain concerned about both of those areas. I thought we essentially played the same game this week as last but against a much lesser opponent. I'm not confident that will be good enough for these next two weeks.

 

[Hostile]

We won, right? Everything must be swell.

We win next week... and then in NY too, and I will admit to seeing ghosts. In the meantime hey, a win is a win... right? To you, I say enjoy it. Though I am already starting to worry about next week. We get out scored 15-3 second half next week... even you may see why it matters. Till it does matter though ....

GO COWBOYS!!! (I always say that.)

Wait, I thought we were discussing "closing teams out." Now, we're discussing something else?

Did we or did we not hand them their heads? Did we or did we not rein in the 2nd half and run the football? Did we or did we not rest players, particularly Ware?

Look at the stats I posted. Look at the final score. Look at the 3 and outs. Look at the 4th down stops late. I don't think it is a case of me not understanding the point of your thread. I think it's a case of you didn't have one to begin with.

You looked at one second half turnover and one scoring drive and the sky fell. So don't come to me with your we won so it must be swell nonsense. Know what you are actually talking about next time.

 

[Hostile]

I'm not looking to make a big deal out of this. But your overview glosses over the game within the game, more specifically the first half vs second half contrast and how the team responded after Tampa (a really bad team right now) got within 16.

I am specifically looking for this team to a) grind clock late when it needs to b) have the D make key stops late when momentum has swung. I remain concerned about both of those areas. I thought we essentially played the same game this week as last but against a much lesser opponent. I'm not confident that will be good enough for these next two weeks.

We had over 37 minutes time of possession. That isn't grinding the clock? We stopped them on 4th downs twice in the last quarter. Those aren't key stops?

What game were you watching? I don't give a damn about your confidence. I care about the confidence of the men on the field.

 

[ZeroClub]

The lack of RB depth makes closing out a game interesting.

Don't want to wear out Felix in garbage time ... and Morris was gallantly faking it.

 

[JoeCorrado]

Wait, I thought we were discussing "closing teams out." Now, we're discussing something else?

Did we or did we not hand them their heads? Did we or did we not rein in the 2nd half and run the football? Did we or did we not rest players, particularly Ware?

Look at the stats I posted. Look at the final score. Look at the 3 and outs. Look at the 4th down stops late. I don't think it is a case of me not understanding the point of your thread. I think it's a case of you didn't have one to begin with.

You looked at one second half turnover and one scoring drive and the sky fell. So don't come to me with your we won so it must be swell nonsense. Know what you are actually talking about next time.

Don't be coy. It is all about closing teams out. Not just weak teams but tough teams. We have lost three games this season after leading by 12 points or more in the fourth quarter. And yet you prtend the context of the conversation eludes you?

You ain't that dumb. Right?

 

[Patton]

The lack of RB depth makes closing out a game interesting.

Don't want to wear out Felix in garbage time ... and Morris was gallantly faking it.

They might seriously need to look into getting another RB in here. I like Morris as the savvy vet, but he doesn't appear to have much as a runner these days. I don't think he could make Keith Brooking miss.

 

[CoCo]

We had over 37 minutes time of possession. That isn't grinding the clock? We stopped them on 4th downs twice in the last quarter. Those aren't key stops?

What game were you watching? I don't give a damn about your confidence. I care about the confidence of the men on the field.

I'm not gonna go tit for tat with you on this. You obviously choose to focus only on the complete game stats. That's fine. You want to be in "defend my team" mode. That's fine too.

I'm not going to be pushed into an extreme position that portrays me as overly critical because its not true. My comments are very fair.