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GOOD POST TAKEN FROM ANOTHER FORUM POSTED BY juansz1982:
Ok, let's stop thinking about yesterday's stupid game and focus on what is to come in two weeks. Here is a list of what will, what won't, and what needs to happen for the Cowboys in the playoffs.
A) What to expect:
1) Expect Tony Romo to play well. He played well in 13 of 16 games this year. You do not just forget how to play QB. Gurode will have had 4 full weeks to rest his knee so he should be back. This means Romo will be protected and will have time to pick teams apart. Romo will play well and he will be accurate.
2) Ellis and Ware will make plays. These guys have been consistent and they will get sacks and hurries. The only question is the timing of these plays, which I will address later under column C.
3) Jacques Reeves will give up plays. Do not slit the wrists everytime Reeves gives up a reception. It is gonna happen. We must pray that it does not happen in the red zone. Reeves will give up 8 to 15 yard outs. It has happened all year and it will happen in the playoffs. Expect it and don't kill yourself over it. This is something that cannot be eliminated but can be limited.
4) Miles Austin will give us good field position. He has been good and he will help out the offense by giving us the ball around the 35 or 40 everytime. However, I do not want to see him returning too many kicks because that will mean that we are giving up lots of points.
5) The offensive line will cost us at least 15 penalty yards a game. This is bound to happen and nothing indicates that it won't. Let us pray that these penalties are just meazly false starts on 1st down around midfield and not on 3rd down when we are inside the opposition's red zone.
6) Anthony Henry will slip and fall and miss a tackle. I love Henry but he has tendencies of being in perfect position only to slip and fall and give up an extra 10 yards. Expect to see this at least once.
7) Roy Williams will give up a TD. Roy will be exposed. Hopefully, he won't be exposed every play but he is gonna give up a TD in these playoffs. It is gonna happen. Pray that it does not happen more than once or that the TD he gives up is not one that coughs up a lead.
8) Barber will knock at least two defenders on their azzes. I hope this happens on a TD run or a long run for a first down. It is so fun to watch defenders get clobbered by 24.
9) Witten will score in each playoff game we play. Witten is too good. We will get him the ball. Garrett has been good at getting our best guys the ball and I think Witten is gonna see the end zone a lot especially if TO is not at 100%. I am confident in Witten.
B) What not to expect:
1) Do not expect Reeves to intercept a pass. It has not happened since week 1 and he needed a WR to slip in order for that to happen. There is no reason to believe that Reeves will intercept a pass unless the guy he is covering falls down. However, none of his WRs have fallen since week 1, so why expect that to happen again?
2) Do not expect any opposing QBs to lay an egg. I have often talked about how opposing QBs never seem to lay the proverbial egg against us. You know what I mean? When was the last time an opposing QB just came out and stunk in the 1st quarter and gave us an easy W before the halftime show? Do not expect any of the opposing QBs, not even Eli (if we face him) to come out and just flat out suck. It just does not happen. Everyone gets up for the Cowboys. Given that this is playoff time, do not expect the opponents to come out flat.
3) Do not expect us to become a good-tackling team overnight. The reality is that we are not, as a whole, a good tackling team. We miss way too much and we will miss tackles in the playoffs. We just need to limit the damages of the misses. For example, if Henry whiffs, Hamlin needs to be there to wrap up and put out a potential fire.
4) Do not expect Julius Jones to break a run longer than 25 yards. It won't happen unless someone kicks him in the nuts. It has been a year since someone kicked him in the balls, so maybe he is due. Until someone low-blows the Juice, do not expect 21 to do any game-changing plays in the running game. He will do his blitz pickups fine and will make a first down or two catching a pass, but not much more.
5) Do not expect Folk to start booting balls in the end zone. Folk usually does not kick touch backs. Do not expect him to. Won't happen. We need our coverage team to be sharp. Hopefully Watkins and Davis will be back. Also hope Folk stays accurate kicking FGs and XPs.
C) The Gray Area: What we cannot say for sure will or won't happen but what needs to happen for us to win the Super Bowl
1) Ware and Ellis need to make most of their plays on 3rd down. We know these guys are gonna do stuff of significance. How significant is the question. Are they gonna get a sack on the first play of the game, then don't get near the QB until right before halftime on a meaningless desperation 2-minute drill? Are they gonna hit the qb all day on first and second downs then disappear on 3rd down to give the opposing QB enough time to convert 3rd and longs, thus negating the yards lost on the sacks? Are they gonna get to the QB just 0.5 seconds too late allowing him to get a throw off and allowing our secondary to miss tackles? Or are they gonna bring the heat on 3rd downs like Ware did vs Aaron Rodgers in the 4th quarter? Are they gonna force fumbles when the opposing team is driving like Ware did to Campbell? Are they gonna force fumbles to set up easy points like Ellis did to Brady or Ware did to Collins yesterday? Will they get the sacks to knock opponents out of FG range or to prevent TDs in the red zone? The question is not whether Ellis and Ware will make plays but rather WHEN they will make plays. It will make all the difference in the world.
2) Romo needs to take easy yards with his feet. Yards are precious in the playoffs. There are zero teams in the postseason that have BAD defenses where you can just take it for granted that our offense will just have its way because the other team's D is just that bad. All of the teams: wash, TB, nyg, Sea, GB all have good defenses and you need to make the most of your opportunities against them. This means keeping drives alive as LONG as earthly possible. Message to Romo: When you see 15 yards in front of you, just take off! GET YARDS first, then worry about the points. No need to be glamorous in the playoffs and throw 30 or 40 yard TD passes. Move the chains baby. If TO is not available, then Tony you need to make ****** happen whenever and however possible. This means run. Don't take sacks. Get yards. We need all the help we can get. God gave you nimble feet, use them. We cannot have 3 and outs and waste possessions. Keep drives alive with your feet. Not only will you help by simply moving the chains you will also make the opposition think more about how they can stop you. This may open up something big later in the game. Remember, if TO aint playing, it is unlikely that someone is just gonna magically get open downfield. Instead of waiting for it and throwing a low percentage pass, just take off running and get first downs. Also, remember to slide or get to the sideline. Do not dive unless you absolutely need to (like trying to reach the pylon). You do not get extra points by throwing a pass an extra 8 yards to the back of the end zone into double coverage even if your guy comes down with it. Sprinting 5 yards across the goal line without being touched is also worth 6 points. Keep that in mind TR.
3) Hamlin needs to lay someone out or make a game-changing play on the ball. Kenny has been great and we need him to better in the playoffs. Newman and Henry are hobbled still. Reeves is not just gonna get it together. Kenny this means you need to do something cool like knock the **** out of a WR or take an INT to the house. You have made plays all year. You need to make even more in the playoffs. You are the QB of the defense. You are prolly the smartest guy in the secondary. Be a leader. Step up. When you notice that teams are picking on Reeves, do not be afraid to cheat over to that side and lay the wood to that WR or jump on the ball. We need you to take a chance or two Kenny. Step up and help out our secondary. You are the healthiest one out there. Take on the burden and make ***** happen.
4) We need a dark horse to come out and do something. This may mean Austin finally breaking kickoff for a TD. It may mean Spencer coming free and creating a key turnover. It may also mean Hurd winning a one on one (which he will see a lot of) and breaking a long one for a score. Maybe even Courtney Brown or Watkins forcing a fumble on punt coverage.
5) We cannot have too many "almosts". It is now or never. Can't have lots of "almost caught the pass" or "almost made the pick or sack". We have to do everything now. There may be no next week to iron out the kinks. Make ***** happen boyz. No more drops. No more missed FGs. I will concede the "almost tackled him" because that will happen, but turnovers cannot be missed nor can TDs.
6) Last but not least, Gurode and Ratliff need to be back. I think Romo is good enough to win us one playoff game without TO, but he needs Gurode to protect him. We also need Ratliff there to sure up the run d. Can't have this run D go to **** now. It has been a strength. TO we need ya too baby. I will take ya even at 75% percent.
Feel free to agree or disagree with any of this.
GO DALLAS COWBOYS GO!
Ok, let's stop thinking about yesterday's stupid game and focus on what is to come in two weeks. Here is a list of what will, what won't, and what needs to happen for the Cowboys in the playoffs.
A) What to expect:
1) Expect Tony Romo to play well. He played well in 13 of 16 games this year. You do not just forget how to play QB. Gurode will have had 4 full weeks to rest his knee so he should be back. This means Romo will be protected and will have time to pick teams apart. Romo will play well and he will be accurate.
2) Ellis and Ware will make plays. These guys have been consistent and they will get sacks and hurries. The only question is the timing of these plays, which I will address later under column C.
3) Jacques Reeves will give up plays. Do not slit the wrists everytime Reeves gives up a reception. It is gonna happen. We must pray that it does not happen in the red zone. Reeves will give up 8 to 15 yard outs. It has happened all year and it will happen in the playoffs. Expect it and don't kill yourself over it. This is something that cannot be eliminated but can be limited.
4) Miles Austin will give us good field position. He has been good and he will help out the offense by giving us the ball around the 35 or 40 everytime. However, I do not want to see him returning too many kicks because that will mean that we are giving up lots of points.
5) The offensive line will cost us at least 15 penalty yards a game. This is bound to happen and nothing indicates that it won't. Let us pray that these penalties are just meazly false starts on 1st down around midfield and not on 3rd down when we are inside the opposition's red zone.
6) Anthony Henry will slip and fall and miss a tackle. I love Henry but he has tendencies of being in perfect position only to slip and fall and give up an extra 10 yards. Expect to see this at least once.
7) Roy Williams will give up a TD. Roy will be exposed. Hopefully, he won't be exposed every play but he is gonna give up a TD in these playoffs. It is gonna happen. Pray that it does not happen more than once or that the TD he gives up is not one that coughs up a lead.
8) Barber will knock at least two defenders on their azzes. I hope this happens on a TD run or a long run for a first down. It is so fun to watch defenders get clobbered by 24.
9) Witten will score in each playoff game we play. Witten is too good. We will get him the ball. Garrett has been good at getting our best guys the ball and I think Witten is gonna see the end zone a lot especially if TO is not at 100%. I am confident in Witten.
B) What not to expect:
1) Do not expect Reeves to intercept a pass. It has not happened since week 1 and he needed a WR to slip in order for that to happen. There is no reason to believe that Reeves will intercept a pass unless the guy he is covering falls down. However, none of his WRs have fallen since week 1, so why expect that to happen again?
2) Do not expect any opposing QBs to lay an egg. I have often talked about how opposing QBs never seem to lay the proverbial egg against us. You know what I mean? When was the last time an opposing QB just came out and stunk in the 1st quarter and gave us an easy W before the halftime show? Do not expect any of the opposing QBs, not even Eli (if we face him) to come out and just flat out suck. It just does not happen. Everyone gets up for the Cowboys. Given that this is playoff time, do not expect the opponents to come out flat.
3) Do not expect us to become a good-tackling team overnight. The reality is that we are not, as a whole, a good tackling team. We miss way too much and we will miss tackles in the playoffs. We just need to limit the damages of the misses. For example, if Henry whiffs, Hamlin needs to be there to wrap up and put out a potential fire.
4) Do not expect Julius Jones to break a run longer than 25 yards. It won't happen unless someone kicks him in the nuts. It has been a year since someone kicked him in the balls, so maybe he is due. Until someone low-blows the Juice, do not expect 21 to do any game-changing plays in the running game. He will do his blitz pickups fine and will make a first down or two catching a pass, but not much more.
5) Do not expect Folk to start booting balls in the end zone. Folk usually does not kick touch backs. Do not expect him to. Won't happen. We need our coverage team to be sharp. Hopefully Watkins and Davis will be back. Also hope Folk stays accurate kicking FGs and XPs.
C) The Gray Area: What we cannot say for sure will or won't happen but what needs to happen for us to win the Super Bowl
1) Ware and Ellis need to make most of their plays on 3rd down. We know these guys are gonna do stuff of significance. How significant is the question. Are they gonna get a sack on the first play of the game, then don't get near the QB until right before halftime on a meaningless desperation 2-minute drill? Are they gonna hit the qb all day on first and second downs then disappear on 3rd down to give the opposing QB enough time to convert 3rd and longs, thus negating the yards lost on the sacks? Are they gonna get to the QB just 0.5 seconds too late allowing him to get a throw off and allowing our secondary to miss tackles? Or are they gonna bring the heat on 3rd downs like Ware did vs Aaron Rodgers in the 4th quarter? Are they gonna force fumbles when the opposing team is driving like Ware did to Campbell? Are they gonna force fumbles to set up easy points like Ellis did to Brady or Ware did to Collins yesterday? Will they get the sacks to knock opponents out of FG range or to prevent TDs in the red zone? The question is not whether Ellis and Ware will make plays but rather WHEN they will make plays. It will make all the difference in the world.
2) Romo needs to take easy yards with his feet. Yards are precious in the playoffs. There are zero teams in the postseason that have BAD defenses where you can just take it for granted that our offense will just have its way because the other team's D is just that bad. All of the teams: wash, TB, nyg, Sea, GB all have good defenses and you need to make the most of your opportunities against them. This means keeping drives alive as LONG as earthly possible. Message to Romo: When you see 15 yards in front of you, just take off! GET YARDS first, then worry about the points. No need to be glamorous in the playoffs and throw 30 or 40 yard TD passes. Move the chains baby. If TO is not available, then Tony you need to make ****** happen whenever and however possible. This means run. Don't take sacks. Get yards. We need all the help we can get. God gave you nimble feet, use them. We cannot have 3 and outs and waste possessions. Keep drives alive with your feet. Not only will you help by simply moving the chains you will also make the opposition think more about how they can stop you. This may open up something big later in the game. Remember, if TO aint playing, it is unlikely that someone is just gonna magically get open downfield. Instead of waiting for it and throwing a low percentage pass, just take off running and get first downs. Also, remember to slide or get to the sideline. Do not dive unless you absolutely need to (like trying to reach the pylon). You do not get extra points by throwing a pass an extra 8 yards to the back of the end zone into double coverage even if your guy comes down with it. Sprinting 5 yards across the goal line without being touched is also worth 6 points. Keep that in mind TR.
3) Hamlin needs to lay someone out or make a game-changing play on the ball. Kenny has been great and we need him to better in the playoffs. Newman and Henry are hobbled still. Reeves is not just gonna get it together. Kenny this means you need to do something cool like knock the **** out of a WR or take an INT to the house. You have made plays all year. You need to make even more in the playoffs. You are the QB of the defense. You are prolly the smartest guy in the secondary. Be a leader. Step up. When you notice that teams are picking on Reeves, do not be afraid to cheat over to that side and lay the wood to that WR or jump on the ball. We need you to take a chance or two Kenny. Step up and help out our secondary. You are the healthiest one out there. Take on the burden and make ***** happen.
4) We need a dark horse to come out and do something. This may mean Austin finally breaking kickoff for a TD. It may mean Spencer coming free and creating a key turnover. It may also mean Hurd winning a one on one (which he will see a lot of) and breaking a long one for a score. Maybe even Courtney Brown or Watkins forcing a fumble on punt coverage.
5) We cannot have too many "almosts". It is now or never. Can't have lots of "almost caught the pass" or "almost made the pick or sack". We have to do everything now. There may be no next week to iron out the kinks. Make ***** happen boyz. No more drops. No more missed FGs. I will concede the "almost tackled him" because that will happen, but turnovers cannot be missed nor can TDs.
6) Last but not least, Gurode and Ratliff need to be back. I think Romo is good enough to win us one playoff game without TO, but he needs Gurode to protect him. We also need Ratliff there to sure up the run d. Can't have this run D go to **** now. It has been a strength. TO we need ya too baby. I will take ya even at 75% percent.
Feel free to agree or disagree with any of this.
GO DALLAS COWBOYS GO!