CCBoy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 53,028
- Reaction score
- 25,008
Redskins2136;4131307 said:
For a week, at least your team is tops of the NFC East. Hey, that would flicker a little joy in this Cowboys' camp as well. You have some reason for optimism, and a bone thrown out as such....that was earned. A victory is a victory is a victory, in the NFL. So be it.
As to comparisons, on a whole, you show your optimism. As with any undertaking, there can be discussions that ensue. Not all are correct in context, but some are.
Let's start with QB...from where I'm looking, as objective in an opinion is fleeting sometimes. But this is a discussion:
Rex Grossman has given your team understandable confidence and optimism as well. He had a very good initial period during Exhibition Games, and has started solidly against the opponents that he was given to beat. He successfully did just that...and beat them. That is a positive.
But being a tad more objective, at least in an analysis, one has to also notice that he didn't exactly leave scorched earth in the wake of his journey to the sea.
On the Cowboy side of things...Tony Romo did more than win a game while injured last week. He earned the respect of media, opponents, and most of all...his very own team. Not only does his name appear strongly among accomplishments of all time Cowboys' Quarterbacks: Roger Staubach, Don Meredith, and Troy Aikaman, but he now forged the trust of his entire team for a dominant leadership trait. Simply, guts. He proved, that even if he was severely injured, he'll show up for the fight. In the NFL, that is a major calling card.
All fans know that specifics at play in a single game are more of a functional element. And along this line, Tony Romo will be an injured soldier for yet another two to three weeks...painfully so. Injury creates cowards in all people, the difference being the degree to which one can endure. Tony has a very high pain tolerance as well as functionality. He will show up for the curtain rise...and unless injured even more dramatically, he will be bowing the the curtain falls.
As to his backup, that still falls to Jon Kitna. He may be around his last roundup or two, but he still can get the job done in an efficient manner. He got little off season time on the field, so his time last week was important, as it gets him much closer to starting speed. He will get more looks this week, to holding Tony of the physical aspects in preparations going on now, but Kitna will be much closer to game speed and his productivity of last season once Monday rolls around.
The advantage is still on the side of the Cowboys here at QB.
If continued in the same manner as above, this would take a whole publication to finish...so, I'll just cut to the chase:
Offensively, Dallas is a top 4 in the NFL. It has gone up against a quality defense in the Jets, and a very strong run defense in San Francisco. Despite feast or famine, injury or tragedy, it has produced at a top clip.
I think the real storyline on a comparison between running games, boils down to the injury picture within the Dallas offensive line. They haven't been standing around and scratching their buttes, but this is where the game will be challenged, won, or lost.
I liked Stephen Bowen, before he became a Washington Commander, and have an autographed football of his. But he will be challenged this game as will your two youthful, and good outside linebackers. Last week, Doug Free had an uncharacteristicly weak game. If he is back in stride, with all the line changes going on around him, then with Tyron Smith on the other side, your two young OLB's will have their hands full.
You will have to attempt to explain just how strong and acdept your team is at creating inside havoc, mis-direction, and blitzing up the gut. That is the weakest part of the Dallas offensive line. Kyle Kosier can still be bull rushed, there is a coin flip as to whether the center will be Phil Costa or Kowalski. Then Bill Nagy should be coming back from injury himself.
At least early on, the heat from Washington should be coming up the middle and right for Tony Romo, intensely. We shall see how it goes from there.
But even here, a wincing Tony Romo still has some magic in his wand. And he knows how to wave it.
As to the defense, don't look now, but it is a top four as well. It has become surprisingly stout against the run. Having limited two consecutive and strong running teams to pedestrian levels of turf.
The injuries in the secondary have been this side's achiles as well. But that is a little misleading also. The Cowboys have a league high of what, ten sacks in two games? It also has a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery. This means a much more intense and effective box area as well. Although there has been some success against the pass defense, it took a downward spiral against San Francisco. Blame that on Smith, or an increase in heat being brought as you may, but the big play has been much more limited, even with the first three slots at cornerback being very limited or completely missing during game time.
Oh, this unit is still unsettled to present, but with Terrence Newman, and Mike Jenkins able to join Alan Ball and Frank Walker, your wide sets should at least have some troubles catching balls downfield. Gerald Sensabaugh and Abram Elam may not be household words at present, but they do show up enough to be counted upon as players.
There is enough questioning to enjoy this next game, in both camps. Both sides have had degrees of early successes. But we are Cowboy fans, and will bite the bullett until the fat lady sings. And this week, there will be a ton of show before she starts to warm up...but so be it.
Warning: the Homerland Security Warning System was just raised to a level 3....lol.
