DC.COM Blog: Confidence Seems High; Phillips Pleased/Ken Hamlin Likely Out For Sunday

[WoodysGirl]

Confidence Seems High; Phillips Pleased
Posted by jellis at 12/4/2009 10:59 AM CST on truebluefanclub.com

When you're around the team everyday as we are, there are times when you can just get a feeling about things.

I could be completely wrong about this, but there seems to be a nice bit of confidence going around Valley Ranch right now, from the players to the coaches.

Didn't think there was anything wrong with Mike Jenkins talking about getting the Giants out of the way by beating them. Loved what Bradie James said about not liking New York and not dodging the December questions.

Just seems like the Cowboys are feeling good about this one. Wade Phillips seems to be, applauding the week's preparation during Friday's press conference.

"I thought we've had some of our best practices the last two practices," Phillips said. "And I hope to continue it today.

"The more you go along, the more you have opportunities, I think you're looking forward to the next game - it is a bigger game than the last one. And every time you win it puts you in position to have those kind of games. I think they look forward to playing in these big games."

They only get bigger from here, so this would be a good time for the Cowboys to build up a little swagger.

Ken Hamlin Likely Out For Sunday
Posted by rphillips at 12/4/2009 11:35 AM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Free safety Ken Hamlin is not practicing again today, and it appears his high ankle sprain will sideline him for a third straight game Sunday against the Giants.

"I don’t know if we’ve counted out Hamlin yet, but I doubt that he will play," head coach Wade Phillips said.

A more realistic target might be Dec. 13 against San Diego. In the meantime, Alan Ball will continue to start.

-Rob

 

[Jon88]

Ball has been presented with a great oppportunity. If he plays well he could take Hamlin's job next year.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Ball has been presented with a great oppportunity. If he plays well he could take Hamlin's job next year.

If Ball is a factor in this upcoming game then he'll take Hamlin's job from there on out. But Ball not only has to "bring it" in the passing game; he has to be facotr in run support because the Giants will feature Jacobs and their running game and job-1 for Dallas' defense is to shut that down.

 

[dbair1967]

If Ball is a factor in this upcoming game then he'll take Hamlin's job from there on out. But Ball not only has to "bring it" in the passing game; he has to be facotr in run support because the Giants will feature Jacobs and their running game and job-1 for Dallas' defense is to shut that down.

As much as I'd love to see hamlin replaced for good, I doubt it happens regardless of what Ball does. Wade supposedly loves Hamlin. I think most coaching staffs might have replaced Hamlin a long time ago, but Wade really praises Hamlin alot no matter how poor he does.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

As much as I'd love to see hamlin replaced for good, I doubt it happens regardless of what Ball does. Wade supposedly loves Hamlin. I think most coaching staffs might have replaced Hamlin a long time ago, but Wade really praises Hamlin alot no matter how poor he does.

Yeah, but he praised Roy 38, TO, and Crayton before he got benched a lot, too.

The guy I'd really like to see back there is Mike Hamlin. Not sure how he works his way in, though.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Jacobs will be looking for Ball. It will be like Larry Allen in the SB when he layed out Greg Lloyd. :laugh1:

 

[theogt]

As much as I'd love to see hamlin replaced for good, I doubt it happens regardless of what Ball does. Wade supposedly loves Hamlin. I think most coaching staffs might have replaced Hamlin a long time ago, but Wade really praises Hamlin alot no matter how poor he does.

I think most coaches would love a safety that only gives up about 30 passes every 2200 snaps.

 

[Doomsday101]

Jacobs will be looking for Ball. It will be like Larry Allen in the SB when he layed out Greg Lloyd. :laugh1:

Hopefully he finds LB and DL before he reaches Ball.

 

[DallasDomination]

Put it this way Ball is a better cover Safety then Hamlin, no doubt about it.

 

[theogt]

Put it this way Ball is a better cover Safety then Hamlin, no doubt about it.

It's impossible for you to have any opinion on this due to not having enough information, but based on the information we do have it appears unlikely.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I'm jacked about this game, can't imagine how our guys are feeling.

Sunday can't get here soon enough.

 

[dbair1967]

I think most coaches would love a safety that only gives up about 30 passes every 2200 snaps.

We've been through this, and as I said the last time I dont believe it.

He doesnt play much man to man here, he is usually sitting back in a zone or providing help over the top (of which he is almost always late on). He's a terrible tackler who's responsible for giving up several long td plays because he blew routine open field tackles. He almost NEVER gets his hands on a football, despite the fact that he plays FS on a team with a good pass rush and quality CB's.

He's awful, and IMO he was given the worst contract we've ever signed a player to.

 

[Chief]

We've been through this, and as I said the last time I dont believe it.

He doesnt play much man to man here, he is usually sitting back in a zone or providing help over the top (of which he is almost always late on). He's a terrible tackler who's responsible for giving up several long td plays because he blew routine open field tackles. He almost NEVER gets his hands on a football, despite the fact that he plays FS on a team with a good pass rush and quality CB's.

He's awful, and IMO he was given the worst contract we've ever signed a player to.

That's pretty much the way I feel.

If you look at the starting defenders, he's the weak link, IMO.

 

[Chief]

I'm jacked about this game, can't imagine how our guys are feeling.

Sunday can't get here soon enough.

Man, I am too.

Maybe it's because the Giants are so mouthy, or that they beat Dallas in the opener at the new stadium, or because Dallas hasn't played in 10 days, but I am really looking forward to this.

 

[theogt]

We've been through this, and as I said the last time I dont believe it.

You don't believe what? Those stats? Okay, if you just want to ignore stats, that's fine. I'm not going to make you face facts if you don't want to.

He doesnt play much man to man here, he is usually sitting back in a zone or providing help over the top (of which he is almost always late on). He's a terrible tackler who's responsible for giving up several long td plays because he blew routine open field tackles. He almost NEVER gets his hands on a football, despite the fact that he plays FS on a team with a good pass rush and quality CB's.

He's awful, and IMO he was given the worst contract we've ever signed a player to.

If you think other free safeties in the league are playing much man to man, you're clueless. Strong safeties have to cover more man to man than free safeties, because they'll line up over the TE more often. And Hamlin almost never gets his hands on the ball because he almost never gets thrown at. Ball plays for two games at safety and already gave up as many TDs as Hamlin did in the first 9 games. If Hamlin had been healthy, we might have actually shut out the Raiders.

He may be a "terrible tackler" or a liability in the running game (most free safeties are), but he's terrific in coverage.

 

[dbair1967]

You don't believe what? Those stats? Okay, if you just want to ignore stats, that's fine. I'm not going to make you face facts if you don't want to.

No, I dont.

If you think other free safeties in the league are playing much man to man, you're clueless. Strong safeties have to cover more man to man than free safeties, because they'll line up over the TE more often. And Hamlin almost never gets his hands on the ball because he almost never gets thrown at. Ball plays for two games at safety and already gave up as many TDs as Hamlin did in the first 9 games. If Hamlin had been healthy, we might have actually shut out the Raiders.

He may be a "terrible tackler" or a liability in the running game (most free safeties are), but he's terrific in coverage.

He isnt playing much (if any) man to man, which is why I hold him so accountable for being so poor when it comes to making plays. He should be getting his hands on alot of footballs because he is roaming around, but almost never does. Then he compounds the problem even more by taking bad angles or just out and out blowing tackles.

 

[BAT]

He may be a "terrible tackler" or a liability in the running game (most free safeties are), but he's terrific in coverage.

Slight overexaggeration here. He may be better as a center fielder than Ball, but that's not saying much. Neither Ken Hamlin or Ball are ball hawks, and both are below average against the run. Hamlin due to poor technique and bad angles, and Ball due to size limitations.

In either case, the FS position is the biggest weakness (BY FAR) on the defense.

 

[Fletch]

Ball has been presented with a great oppportunity. If he plays well he could take Hamlin's job next year.

In this crucial time of year, the better a backup plays, the better the chance a backup replaces a starter for the remainder of the year, or even permanently replacing said starter.

 

[theogt]

No, I dont.

I totally understand that one has to ignore the facts to claim that Hamlin is a liability.

He isnt playing much (if any) man to man, which is why I hold him so accountable for being so poor when it comes to making plays. He should be getting his hands on alot of footballs because he is roaming around, but almost never does. Then he compounds the problem even more by taking bad angles or just out and out blowing tackles.

Free safeties don't play man coverage. I'm not sure why you would want your free safety playing man coverage. That is terrible football.

Slight overexaggeration here. He may be better as a center fielder than Ball, but that's not saying much. Neither Ken Hamlin or Ball are ball hawks, and both are below average against the run. Hamlin due to poor technique and bad angles, and Ball due to size limitations.

In either case, the FS position is the biggest weakness (BY FAR) on the defense.

Well, considering there has only been a couple safeties over the past three years give up fewer passes and fewer TDs per play than Hamlin, I'd say "terrific" is pretty accurate.

 

[khiladi]

Slight overexaggeration here. He may be better as a center fielder than Ball, but that's not saying much. Neither Ken Hamlin or Ball are ball hawks, and both are below average against the run. Hamlin due to poor technique and bad angles, and Ball due to size limitations.

Alan Ball hasn't had enough playing time to compare against Hamlin as far as being a ball hawk is concerned. Hamlin doesn't get any INTs, but who knows why...

All I know is the guy was flat-out sucking last year and in the beginning of this year, as well. But for the last few games he was playing better...