Couple of things I think I noticed vs Saints

[TwoCentPlain]

I finally was able to watch the game on Wed night. Too busy to post yesterday. Maybe my memory is a little fuzzy but:

1) Cowboy WR, TE, and RB all took a big hit and held on. WR Williams took a pretty big hit on the opening drive TD catch. I was surprised he held on. TE Escobar took a big pop over the middle by LB Lofton (?) and held on. They showed a close up of Escobar and he looks like he added a lot of muscle in his upper body. Then, RB Dunbar took a wicked hit over the middle and amazingly held on. I don't think those three players would have completed those catches last year. Kudos to them for making the tough catch and setting the tone that this was our game and we were not going to be denied.
2) IIRC, after the Saints kicked a FG to make it 24-3, the Cowboys got the ball back and had a 3rd and 2. A handoff to Murray got 3 yds and a first. Just a year or two ago, we would have had problems running the ball on 3rd and short for a first. Romo later in the drive added a really nice scramble on 3rd and 5 and a little later the Cowboys were up 31-3.
3) It seemed like Saints Byrd was all over the field but didn't do a whole heck of a lot. I remember some people thinking the Saints were going to be dynamite after adding him and Champ Bailey. I don't recall S Vaccaro doing much other than sacking Romo on a blitz. Romo wisely just went down avoiding the hit. Vaccaro said before the game that he had a chip on his shoulder since the Cowboys didn't trade up for him. According to him, his agent called the Cowboys and told them NO was going to draft Vaccaro and they need to trade up now. Cowboys supposedly told his agent 'we don't trade up for safeties.' Do agents really know this stuff and make calls to other teams while the draft is going on?
4) The holding call on Leary during Dunbar's nice run was really ticky-tack. But, can't really complain about the officiating since they missed an obvious lineman downfield call on us.
5) The game started to get a little sloppy after that with Harris getting a stupid 15 yd unsportsman call, the long Saints run where Carter got hurt.
6) Down two TDs, the Cowboys really caught a break when the WR dropped a ball on 1st and 10 and they followed it up with 12 men in the huddle. Recent history has the Cowboys doing self-destructive stuff like that.
7) The fake punt didn't look all that bad. CB Carr had good coverage on his guy and stayed home allowing the other players to pursue. Kudos to Carr on that play. Although, IIRC Carr got beat earlier deep by Stills. That is concerning. Also, beat on a 3rd and 15.
8) Cowboys up by two TDs with about 4 minutes to go in chip shot FG range. You would think they just play it safe and run the ball, chew some time off the clock, and kick the FG. I think it was 3rd and 5. Someone dials up a pass to Bryant? Really? I know it worked out for a TD to Bryant. But had Romo's throw been off that could have been a pick 6. I was shocked by that call. Note to Garrett - don't get cute and kick the FG.
9) That was the first time I saw Garrett's wife. She looks pretty nice.
10) Seeing Jerry's gigantic smile, how could you not say 'How about them Cowboys?'
11) I don't want to see these Saints again in the playoffs. So, I hope they lose a lot but their division is really weak.

 

[speedkilz88]

The Cowboys did get that non call on the men down field but there were a lot of non calls they missed on the saints. It was far from even, the Cowboys were just that much better that it didn't matter.

 

[DallasEast]

2) IIRC, after the Saints kicked a FG to make it 24-3, the Cowboys got the ball back and had a 3rd and 2. A handoff to Murray got 3 yds and a first. Just a year or two ago, we would have had problems running the ball on 3rd and short for a first. Romo later in the drive added a really nice scramble on 3rd and 5 and a little later the Cowboys were up 31-3.

I am glad the offensive line has jelled as well as it has thus far. The addition of Martin has really done wonders for the interior line. So far, my only regret concerning the running game was Tony Romo's reluctance to roll the dice with the offensive line in goal line situations during the San Francisco game. I never yelled so hard at a live game in all my life... "You have a first-round pick at tackle. You have a first-round pick at center. And you he a first-round pick at guard. RUN. THE. BALL!" Of course, Romo threw it up instead. After a few more games, I have contributed the decisions to pass on his health at the time and his past experience of watching short runs getting stuffed. Now Romo knows what his line is capable of. He should continue trusting in it.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I finally was able to watch the game on Wed night. Too busy to post yesterday. Maybe my memory is a little fuzzy but:

1) Cowboy WR, TE, and RB all took a big hit and held on. WR Williams took a pretty big hit on the opening drive TD catch. I was surprised he held on. TE Escobar took a big pop over the middle by LB Lofton (?) and held on. They showed a close up of Escobar and he looks like he added a lot of muscle in his upper body. Then, RB Dunbar took a wicked hit over the middle and amazingly held on. I don't think those three players would have completed those catches last year. Kudos to them for making the tough catch and setting the tone that this was our game and we were not going to be denied.
2) IIRC, after the Saints kicked a FG to make it 24-3, the Cowboys got the ball back and had a 3rd and 2. A handoff to Murray got 3 yds and a first. Just a year or two ago, we would have had problems running the ball on 3rd and short for a first. Romo later in the drive added a really nice scramble on 3rd and 5 and a little later the Cowboys were up 31-3.
3) It seemed like Saints Byrd was all over the field but didn't do a whole heck of a lot. I remember some people thinking the Saints were going to be dynamite after adding him and Champ Bailey. I don't recall S Vaccaro doing much other than sacking Romo on a blitz. Romo wisely just went down avoiding the hit. Vaccaro said before the game that he had a chip on his shoulder since the Cowboys didn't trade up for him. According to him, his agent called the Cowboys and told them NO was going to draft Vaccaro and they need to trade up now. Cowboys supposedly told his agent 'we don't trade up for safeties.' Do agents really know this stuff and make calls to other teams while the draft is going on?
4) The holding call on Leary during Dunbar's nice run was really ticky-tack. But, can't really complain about the officiating since they missed an obvious lineman downfield call on us.
5) The game started to get a little sloppy after that with Harris getting a stupid 15 yd unsportsman call, the long Saints run where Carter got hurt.
6) Down two TDs, the Cowboys really caught a break when the WR dropped a ball on 1st and 10 and they followed it up with 12 men in the huddle. Recent history has the Cowboys doing self-destructive stuff like that.
7) The fake punt didn't look all that bad. CB Carr had good coverage on his guy and stayed home allowing the other players to pursue. Kudos to Carr on that play. Although, IIRC Carr got beat earlier deep by Stills. That is concerning. Also, beat on a 3rd and 15.
8) Cowboys up by two TDs with about 4 minutes to go in chip shot FG range. You would think they just play it safe and run the ball, chew some time off the clock, and kick the FG. I think it was 3rd and 5. Someone dials up a pass to Bryant? Really? I know it worked out for a TD to Bryant. But had Romo's throw been off that could have been a pick 6. I was shocked by that call. Note to Garrett - don't get cute and kick the FG.
9) That was the first time I saw Garrett's wife. She looks pretty nice.
10) Seeing Jerry's gigantic smile, how could you not say 'How about them Cowboys?'
11) I don't want to see these Saints again in the playoffs. So, I hope they lose a lot but their division is really weak.

All the penalties against the Cowboys was basically ticky tack. Not only Leary but also on Free. The only real penalty was on Harris on the personal foul. But in closer look he was actually tackled from behind and the refs failed to call it. Refs also failed to call punt hitting the screen. Two major no calls including the miss call on the fumble at the end should have put Dallas way, way ahead and its not even close.

As for as the call going for the TD to Bryant. I think its a brilliant call. I don't think Garrett made that call. That was Linehan. Going for the jugular is what this team needs. Playing to win the game is better than playing not to lose. When we play not to lose we......actually lose.

 

[Doomsday101]

I am glad the offensive line has jelled as well as it has thus far. The addition of Martin has really done wonders for the interior line. So far, my only regret concerning the running game was Tony Romo's reluctance to roll the dice with the offensive line in goal line situations during the San Francisco game. I never yelled so hard at a live game in all my life... "You have a first-round pick at tackle. You have a first-round pick at center. And you he a first-round pick at guard. RUN. THE. BALL!" Of course, Romo threw it up instead. After a few more games, I have contributed the decisions to pass on his health at the time and his past experience of watching short runs getting stuffed. Now Romo knows what his line is capable of. He should continue trusting in it.

I still don't mind that he called pass and would not shy away from pass in future and he has for a TD. My only issue was if it is not there throw it away and come back on the next play.

 

[basstapp]

I like the pass to Bryant. Don't play conservative - especially when they have some momentum. Throw it Bryant who will fight for the ball.

 

[jazzcat22]

Just seen where Byrd is out for the year with a knee injury.

Anyway, that was a brilliant call to go to Dez for the TD, go get it if it's there. Need more ingenuity like that. Loved to see that.

 

[Seven]

Disagree with #8.

Bring down the hammer.

The old culture cowboys would've kicked.

Screw THAT!!!

JMO, of course.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

12) Claiborne tore his knee up just planting his foot the wrong way. I don't think he was even contacted at all on the play. LB Lee just planted his foot the wrong way and didn't have any contact. Although, with both of them, it is/has been just a matter of time before they get some injury. Talent without durability ain't worth much. I hope Lee bounces back. Claiborne would have been better served if he just took his demotion and sat the bench on Sunday. At least he wouldn't have tore his knee up on the bench.

13) Sterling Moore showed something covering TE Graham. Could our starting CBs next year be Scandrick and Moore with Patmon?

14) Sign LB Rolando McClain for the next three or four years. Get it done. That should be a priority.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I like the pass to Bryant. Don't play conservative - especially when they have some momentum. Throw it Bryant who will fight for the ball.

Especially when he's hungry and watching everybody else feasting off the goodies.

 

[DogFace]

10. The inter web was calling it the creeepiest smile. mr.burns-ess etc.
he didnt seem as drunk as
I was. Surprisingly.

 

[Sportsbabe]

10. The inter web was calling it the creeepiest smile. mr.burns-ess etc.
he didnt seem as drunk as
I was. Surprisingly.

The part about "not as drunk as I was".
When we spank the Houston JJ Watts lets have a contest.

 

[BAZ]

. Throw it Bryant who will fight for the ball.

He didn't on the Int against the Rams.

 

[Lonestar94]

10. The inter web was calling it the creeepiest smile. mr.burns-ess etc.
he didnt seem as drunk as
I was. Surprisingly.

 

[DogFace]

The part about "not as drunk as I was".
When we spank the Houston JJ Watts lets have a contest.

You're on!!!! I'm undefeated

 

[basstapp]

He didn't on the Int against the Rams.

That was a good break by jenkins. The ball thrown by romo didn't have a ton of zip either. In the situation vs the saints, they were loading the box for Murray and we took advantage of that and scored the TD. That put the final nail in their coffin.

 

[BAZ]

That was a good break by jenkins. The ball thrown by romo didn't have a ton of zip either. In the situation vs the saints, they were loading the box for Murray and we took advantage of that and scored the TD. That put the final nail in their coffin.

It was a good break but Dez wasn't going 100%, he could have broke that up.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Lol@ we dont trade up for safeties.

I hope thats true

 

[conner01]

All the penalties against the Cowboys was basically ticky tack. Not only Leary but also on Free. The only real penalty was on Harris on the personal foul. But in closer look he was actually tackled from behind and the refs failed to call it. Refs also failed to call punt hitting the screen. Two major no calls including the miss call on the fumble at the end should have put Dallas way, way ahead and its not even close.

As for as the call going for the TD to Bryant. I think its a brilliant call. I don't think Garrett made that call. That was Linehan. Going for the jugular is what this team needs. Playing to win the game is better than playing not to lose. When we play not to lose we......actually lose.

i thought they ruled a couple years ago a punt hitting up top is still a live ball

 

[theogt]

I like the pass to Bryant. Don't play conservative - especially when they have some momentum. Throw it Bryant who will fight for the ball.

Agree, and I'm not sure I'd even say that call wasn't conservative. It's certainly not a pick six type play -- no one was in a position to break on the ball in the opposite direction.