DC.COM Blog: Playing Keep-Away Not A Great Strategy

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by jellis at 12/16/2009 5:48 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Two ways to approach Saturday night from a game-planners perspective:

The Cowboys could just try to sit on the ball and run off as much clock as possible, thereby keeping Drew Brees and the explosive Saints offense off the field. Not much margin for error there, because New Orleans has shown the ability to score quickly. A 10-minute Cowboys drive that nets three points wouldn't be as good as a 45-second Brees-to-Robert Meachem strike.

That's not a bad plan if you're the Cleveland Browns or some other team that can't score. The Cowboys are blessed with a good quarterback and good receiving options and a big play running back or two. There's reason to believe if the offense is sufficiently opened-up and executes its best, the Cowboys could score with the Saints.

The one team to have challenged the Saints most this season, Washington piled up points in their near-victory against Brees and Co. a couple weeks back.

"It was 33-30 in overtime," Wade Phillips said. "They would've won in regulation if they don't make a very short field goal."

Phillips believes the Cowboys can't go into a shell offensively and be very competitive.

"This game you almost have to say you're going to have to score," the coach said. "Because they're going to be able to do that. You have to score, hopefully not 50, but you can't go into it thinking we're going to hold them to 10 or 17, maybe.

"That would be a great game if we did, and I'm not saying we can't, but I think realistically-speaking we're going to have to score some."

 

[CF74]

"That would be a great game if we did, and I'm not saying we can't, but I think realistically-speaking we're going to have to score some."

Great but let's make sure our least dynamic back gets the majority of the entire offenses reps...:bang2:

 

[Kevinicus]

Posted by jellis at 12/16/2009 5:48 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Two ways to approach Saturday night from a game-planners perspective:

The Cowboys could just try to sit on the ball and run off as much clock as possible, thereby keeping Drew Brees and the explosive Saints offense off the field. Not much margin for error there, because New Orleans has shown the ability to score quickly. A 10-minute Cowboys drive that nets three points wouldn't be as good as a 45-second Brees-to-Robert Meachem strike.

That's not a bad plan if you're the Cleveland Browns or some other team that can't score. The Cowboys are blessed with a good quarterback and good receiving options and a big play running back or two. There's reason to believe if the offense is sufficiently opened-up and executes its best, the Cowboys could score with the Saints.

The one team to have challenged the Saints most this season, Washington piled up points in their near-victory against Brees and Co. a couple weeks back.

"It was 33-30 in overtime," Wade Phillips said. "They would've won in regulation if they don't make a very short field goal."

Phillips believes the Cowboys can't go into a shell offensively and be very competitive.

"This game you almost have to say you're going to have to score," the coach said. "Because they're going to be able to do that. You have to score, hopefully not 50, but you can't go into it thinking we're going to hold them to 10 or 17, maybe.

"That would be a great game if we did, and I'm not saying we can't, but I think realistically-speaking we're going to have to score some."

So....this is a good week to have Romo, Austin, and Witten (and Williams if I wanted) on my fantasy team??

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I just hope that we can at least stay within a single score the majority of the game. I get the feeling that if we fall behind by a couple of scores, we might panic and it could get real ugly real fast.

 

[Rampage]

Jason Campbell was ballin against that secondary 2 weeks ago. If the o-line can get their act together Romo can do even better.

 

[DatNguyen59]

I just hope that we can at least stay within a single score the majority of the game. I get the feeling that if we fall behind by a couple of scores, we might panic and it could get real ugly real fast.

I agree, cause when we go down by more than one score, we basically toss all of the running plays out of the playbook and become one dimensional.

 

[jobberone]

This may be a game where we need to pass most of the offensive plays. I'm not generally a big fan of 50 pass plays a game but that may be the only way to score with these guys.

I'll be surprised if we don't stay in the game though. They are beatable. We need to at least get some pressure on Brees. We do that we can win this game.

 

[Disturbed]

Great, another game where we need to score last to win....probably need a field goal....Folk misses it to end our season.

Not addressing our field goal kicking situation earlier in the year will probably come back to bite us here. Folk has been terrible all year and Phillips has ignored it.

Game probably not that close, but if it is....it would be fitting for Folk to miss the FG to end our season.

 

[btcutter]

Hey Wade,

Did you watch the NE game? Belicheat and Brady figure they can score with NO and got BLOWN away. Take any notes? I think Miami was much closer at beating them than NE ever was.

Control the clock. Doesn't mean run 40x but short control passes with effective running. You have to play a little keep away. We can score but we don't do it consistently so don't try to get into a shoot out with NO.

Hey Garrett,

If you have a trick play in our book, this may be a good game to pull one out of you a*!. Maybe you can show the world that you ARE creative and maybe worthy of consideration like Payton was.

 

[sonnyboy]

We definetly have to go into this game thinking 30 plus to win.

I don't think it's a question of how often we run or pass. I think it comes down to what I would call our "ball control decisions".

You can't expect to upset a team with an offense that potent on the road without taking some risks.

Fake punt, fake FG or a surprise onside kick. I want to see 2 of those three rabbits pulled out of our hat.

Romo needs to make plays. A lot of them. If he throws a few picks, so be it. But we need 3rd and long conversions. Perhaps a couple 4th down conversions. But most of all we need big plays in the passing game.

 

[Future]

I just hope that we can at least stay within a single score the majority of the game. I get the feeling that if we fall behind by a couple of scores, we might panic and it could get real ugly real fast.

Me too. That's basically what happened when we played them in 06 and what happened in the second Philly game last year.

If the Boys can hit the Saints in the mouth early and hold off a response, I think they can win this thing.

 

[craig71]

The offense needs to play a good clean game Saturday and learn to finish a drive.Settling for field goals will get you beat,especially when you have a struggling kicker.

The defense needs to show up.If the game is tied or if you have a lead get a stop.Maybe even force a few turnovers for a change.They need to get in Brees face also,a few batted balls might turn into a pick.

Wade needs to call Mr. Fixit and get the 3rd down crap fixed.

Garrett,you need to call a good game and don't panic if you get down by a couple of points.And call some play action between the fourties a few times,people are wanting to see it.

Special teams needs to step it up.Folk needs to find his mojo.How about a few good kickoff returns as well?Crayton,where ya' been the last few weeks?

Craig

 

[CATCH17]

Like Norv told the Chargers... Quit playing like you are trying to protect something and go take it.

 

[Zman5]

Posted by jellis at 12/16/2009 5:48 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Two ways to approach Saturday night from a game-planners perspective:

The Cowboys could just try to sit on the ball and run off as much clock as possible, thereby keeping Drew Brees and the explosive Saints offense off the field. Not much margin for error there, because New Orleans has shown the ability to score quickly. A 10-minute Cowboys drive that nets three points wouldn't be as good as a 45-second Brees-to-Robert Meachem strike.

That's not a bad plan if you're the Cleveland Browns or some other team that can't score.

We are Dallas Cowboys and we can't score either.

 

[Thatkidbob]

We definetly have to go into this game thinking 30 plus to win.

I don't think it's a question of how often we run or pass. I think it comes down to what I would call our "ball control decisions".

You can't expect to upset a team with an offense that potent on the road without taking some risks.

Fake punt, fake FG or a surprise onside kick. I want to see 2 of those three rabbits pulled out of our hat.

Romo needs to make plays. A lot of them. If he throws a few picks, so be it. But we need 3rd and long conversions. Perhaps a couple 4th down conversions. But most of all we need big plays in the passing game.

I've been wanting to see a fake punt or fake FG since the beginning of the season... Especially now that we've got Romo holding? Sounds like a great gamble to me.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I agree with not playing scared against the Saints.

Ball control is nice, but using that ball control in 7 points is how you beat this team.

No more missed FG's after a 7 minute drive Folk

No more goal line fails Barber/O-line

No costly fumbles or picks.

We win this game. 30-24. Romo puts together a GW TD drive with 4 minutes to go.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Problem is Brees completes it like 70%. Any catch in the open field can go the distance, and a first down is a given w/ the tackling

Rat needs to just generally be pushing the pocket

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I agree, if you keep the game close, one play in the opposite direction could be your death-knell

 

[CF74]

I like what I'm hearing.:saints:


And now they just jinxed themselves. Darren Sharper was on ESPN news running his mouth about going 19-0. :shoot2: :lasso:

 

[Fletch]

Yes it would be good for us to open up the offense and score. That's what we always hope to achieve. But the defense stepping up and taking a fumble or interception back for touchdowns would be a huge help too. If we can score on defense, we have a chance to win this game.