December collaps won't happen this year..

[Zman5]

I don't think the our yearly December collapse will not happen this year because.

* The way our defense is playing, it will keep us in the games even if the offense doesn't start out great.
* We play 3 out of next 5 games indoors. There are some who think Romo doesn't play that well in cold weather. Maybe he doesn't but since we play 3 games indoors, so the cold weather factor shouldn't matter as much.
* We are healthier than we have been past few seasons going in to December.
* We have better depth overall this year.
* We play the Deadskin again.
* Giants are looking very beatable.

I think we win at least 3 more games and 11-5 will get us in the playoffs. It might be good enough to win the division.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I don't think the our yearly December collapse will not happen this year because.

* The way our defense is playing, it will keep us in the games even if the offense doesn't start out great.
* We play 3 out of next 5 games indoors. There are some who think Romo doesn't play that well in cold weather. Maybe he doesn't but since we play 3 games indoors, so the cold weather factor shouldn't matter as much.
* We are healthier than we have been past few seasons going in to December.
* We have better depth overall this year.
* We play the Deadskin again.
* Giants are looking very beatable.

I think we win at least 3 more games and 11-5 will get us in the playoffs. It might be good enough to win the division.

...I am worried about is the offensive line. I still don't trust that group of guys and I don't trust Houck to have them ready for playoff ball in December.

I hope I am wrong.

 

[RainMan]

...I am worried about is the offensive line. I still don't trust that group of guys and I don't trust Houck to have them ready for playoff ball in December.

I hope I am wrong.

That is one of my concerns, and the other is whether our receivers (and offense as a whole) can create big plays against tough, physical defenses in inclement conditions. Or heck, can they simply put up enough points to compete in such conditions.

My biggest worry about this offense is that it's pretty when it produces big plays (like it did today against hapless Oakland) but inconsistent when it can't. We get bogged down by our own mistakes when we're forced to put together long drives, and our offensive line is usually good for a mental breakdown or two along the way to finish off what our penalties started.

Point being: Can we win a game like the one we lost to Green Bay?

 

[Phoenix]

Five December games, coming right up. Years of December meltdowns looking over our shoulders, hell, sitting on them. Weighing us down.

(except....side question here...did we have a December meltdown a few years back when we finished 13-3?)

*I* say, This Year will be different! THIS year, we will go at LEAST 3-2 in December, and not only that, but one or both of New Orleans and Phily are GOING DOWN! I think we beat the Giants as well, next week. Okay, I think we beat the Chargers too. Okay, no way we lose to the Skins either.

Sigh. Okay then. We are going to SWEEP December! 5-0 baby! There, I said it.

We still probably won't get a first round bye even if we sweep and finish 13-3 again, but can you think of any team that would actually want to play us in the playoffs?

I'm thinking at this point, Vikings vs Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game this year. Again. I hope that happens, and I hope that if it does, the Cowboys will grant the Vikings a Holiday gift by beating them and preventing them from becoming the first team in history to lose five Super Bowls while winning exactly zero of them.

That reminds me of a really, really old joke. (Better said aloud than typed...)

How do you spell Bills?

B-I-L-L-L-L-S

Vikings are damn lucky such jokes haven't been thought of for them matching the Bills.....least, none I've ever heard.

 

[MapleLeaf]

That is one of my concerns, and the other is whether our receivers (and offense as a whole) can create big plays against tough, physical defenses in inclement conditions. Or heck, can they simply put up enough points to compete in such conditions.

My biggest worry about this offense is that it's pretty when it produces big plays (like it did today against hapless Oakland) but inconsistent when it can't. We get bogged down by our own mistakes when we're forced to put together long drives, and our offensive line is usually good for a mental breakdown or two along the way to finish off what our penalties started.

Point being: Can we win a game like the one we lost to Green Bay?

...behind my original opinion that if you attack the Cowboys line between Kosier and Gurode and bring pressure on Romo, then Garrett will be forced to keep Barber in for protection.

That singular strategy right there keeps both Choice and Jones off on the sidelines and takes a portion of the explosiveness away from the Cowboys.

Bracket coverage on Austin and force Roy Williams to be the man. With added pressure on Romo you know that Witten will have to stay at home to help protect.

The Giants have pass rushers we can consider a grade above what the Raiders have. It's going to be a difficult game.

 

[RainMan]

Five December games, coming right up. Years of December meltdowns looking over our shoulders, hell, sitting on them. Weighing us down.

(except....side question here...did we have a December meltdown a few years back when we finished 13-3?)

*I* say, This Year will be different! THIS year, we will go at LEAST 3-2 in December, and not only that, but one or both of New Orleans and Phily are GOING DOWN! I think we beat the Giants as well, next week. Okay, I think we beat the Chargers too. Okay, no way we lose to the Skins either.

Sigh. Okay then. We are going to SWEEP December! 5-0 baby! There, I said it.

We still probably won't get a first round bye even if we sweep and finish 13-3 again, but can you think of any team that would actually want to play us in the playoffs?

I'm thinking at this point, Vikings vs Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game this year. Again. I hope that happens, and I hope that if it does, the Cowboys will grant the Vikings a Holiday gift by beating them and preventing them from becoming the first team in history to lose five Super Bowls while winning exactly zero of them.

That reminds me of a really, really old joke. (Better said aloud than typed...)

How do you spell Bills?

B-I-L-L-L-L-S

Vikings are damn lucky such jokes haven't been thought of for them matching the Bills.....least, none I've ever heard.

We went 2-2 in the December of 2007 if I'm not mistaken, with one of the losses being the pointless, season-ending loss to Washington in which we weren't going to play our starters but did for a half, before taking everyone out because of how bad they looked and how insignificant the game was.

Wow, that was one long sentence.

 

[RainMan]

...behind my original opinion that if you attack the Cowboys line between Kosier and Gurode and bring pressure on Romo, then Garrett will be forced to keep Barber in for protection.

That singular strategy right there keeps both Choice and Jones off on the sidelines and takes a portion of the explosiveness away from the Cowboys.

Bracket coverage on Austin and force Roy Williams to be the man. With added pressure on Romo you know that Witten will have to stay at home to help protect.

The Giants have pass rushers we can consider a grade above what the Raiders have. It's going to be a difficult game.

The one thing I like about this matchup better than, say, the Philly one in December is that I'm not sure New York's pass rush is what it once was. That and that outside of our playoff loss to New York, I'm not sure how often their relentless pressure has been the biggest reason we've lost to them. Heck, Flozell has never allowed a sack to Osi, no?

That's not to say it's an easy game. By no means. Just that moving forward, I'm not sure the Giants are even the most physical, toughest team capable of exposing what I fear could be our achilles heal.

Lastly, great point on Roy being the man. Frankly, these next five games are exactly why we traded for him in the first place (to give us a guy that could beat single coverage as T.O. was successfully taken out via the double team).

Roy simply has to be able to be a guy that salivates at man coverage. The worrisome part is that he has done nothing to date to illustrate he can make a defense pay for trying to take Austin out of the game. Definitely a concern moving forward.

 

[Phoenix]

I think Roy is going to earn his game checks from here on out. Not sure why, but I have never doubted his talent. I can't see him staying down like he has been so much. I have faith that Romo and Roy will finally start clicking much more than has been.

 

[RainMan]

I think Roy is going to earn his game checks from here on out. Not sure why, but I have never doubted his talent. I can't see him staying down like he has been so much. I have faith that Romo and Roy will finally start clicking much more than has been.

We could certainly use it. He's a guy who has the ability to be fed the football, but for whatever reason seems to give us no reason to suggest that is possible.

I'll give him this, though: That catch he made along the sideline today was exactly why he was brought here, and why I'm so critical of those would-be-tough-catch drops he's had over the middle. He's the only receiver on this team that can extend for the football like that.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Heck, Flozell has never allowed a sack to Osi, no?

That's not to say it's an easy game. By no means. Just that moving forward, I'm not sure the Giants are even the most physical, toughest team capable of exposing what I fear could be our achilles heal.

Lastly, great point on Roy being the man. Frankly, these next five games are exactly why we traded for him in the first place (to give us a guy that could beat single coverage as T.O. was successfully taken out via the double team).

Roy simply has to be able to be a guy that salivates at man coverage. The worrisome part is that he has done nothing to date to illustrate he can make a defense pay for trying to take Austin out of the game. Definitely a concern moving forward.

... I think teams are having more success going after Kosier and Gurode with stunts. Even between Kosier and Adams with stunts. That's how the RAiders got their free release on Romo with a CB. Adams dropped inside and Kosier never popped outside. I can't see them challenging Adams one on one too much.

As for the Giants being physical I expect them to get up for this game. When the last time we have blown out an NFCE opponent in an important game?

As for Roy, if he can't beat single coverage, the either Crayton, Hurd or Ogletree better do it. With what Austin has accomplished this year DC are going to have to account for him.

They sure as heck are not going to let Witten run free!!! The other REceivers need to contribute consistently or we will go no where.

 

[RainMan]

... I think teams are having more success going after Kosier and Gurode with stunts. Even between Kosier and Adams with stunts. That's how the RAiders got their free release on Romo with a CB. Adams dropped inside and Kosier never popped outside. I can't see them challenging Adams one on one too much.

As for the Giants being physical I expect them to get up for this game. When the last time we have blown out an NFCE opponent in an important game?

As for Roy, if he can't beat single coverage, the either Crayton, Hurd or Ogletree better do it. With what Austin has accomplished this year DC are going to have to account for him.

They sure as heck are not going to let Witten run free!!! The other REceivers need to contribute consistently or we will go no where.

Good stuff, david. Especially enjoy the football 101 talk concerning stunts and such. I'll freely admit I'm not always looking for those sorts of things on game days.

But I think we're both hoping to see similar areas of improvement overall down the stretch run.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Good stuff, david. Especially enjoy the football 101 talk concerning stunts and such. I'll freely admit I'm not always looking for those sorts of things on game days.

But I think we're both hoping to see similar areas of improvement overall down the stretch run.

...much more anxious and therefore impatient this year.

I feel this team has as good a chance as any to make a serious run ala the Giants of a few years ago.

My worry is this defence is relatively healthy and can compete with any team in the league, but their window of opportunity is fading away. I'm fairly confident that Wade won't be back and you don't always have the relative health that we have enjoyed on the defensive side this year.

The offence and especially the offensive line has to hold up their end of the bargain.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

...behind my original opinion that if you attack the Cowboys line between Kosier and Gurode and bring pressure on Romo, then Garrett will be forced to keep Barber in for protection.

That singular strategy right there keeps both Choice and Jones off on the sidelines and takes a portion of the explosiveness away from the Cowboys.

Bracket coverage on Austin and force Roy Williams to be the man. With added pressure on Romo you know that Witten will have to stay at home to help protect.

The Giants have pass rushers we can consider a grade above what the Raiders have. It's going to be a difficult game.

The counter to that we've been running all season. You split out Witten and Marty B off to the right of the line as receivers. The defense rotates the linebackers or safeties out in coverage. Romo calls the audible depending on the match-up. If you've got a linebacker out there, pass play. If the safeties are out there, send Marty B back towards the line in motion and set up behind Kosier. At snap, Kosier pulls around right tackle. Marty B comes up and pops the block on the DT. Marion feints towards the RT, then comes back under Kosier's block.

That said, you're right. We've given up entirely too many sacks this season. We need some upgrades here and there on the LOS. Free might not be a huge drop off from Columbo, but there is a drop off. A little more first team practice might fix that.

 

[lcharles]

Five December games, coming right up. Years of December meltdowns looking over our shoulders, hell, sitting on them. Weighing us down.

(except....side question here...did we have a December meltdown a few years back when we finished 13-3?)

*I* say, This Year will be different! THIS year, we will go at LEAST 3-2 in December, and not only that, but one or both of New Orleans and Phily are GOING DOWN! I think we beat the Giants as well, next week. Okay, I think we beat the Chargers too. Okay, no way we lose to the Skins either.

Sigh. Okay then. We are going to SWEEP December! 5-0 baby! There, I said it.

We still probably won't get a first round bye even if we sweep and finish 13-3 again, but can you think of any team that would actually want to play us in the playoffs?

I'm thinking at this point, Vikings vs Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game this year. Again. I hope that happens, and I hope that if it does, the Cowboys will grant the Vikings a Holiday gift by beating them and preventing them from becoming the first team in history to lose five Super Bowls while winning exactly zero of them.

That reminds me of a really, really old joke. (Better said aloud than typed...)

How do you spell Bills?

B-I-L-L-L-L-S

Vikings are damn lucky such jokes haven't been thought of for them matching the Bills.....least, none I've ever heard.

Homer Of The Year Award goes to......:laugh2:

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

It comes down to this....


When the teams bring the HEAVY pressure and go after Romo(because they know he will stay in pocket) will he get out and:

a.) run when its there so he can improvise
b.) roll out so he can be less predictable

I hope to c) him do what made him successful right out of the gate


Romo cannot sit in the pocket and pick apart good defenses. He is not Tom Brady.

 

[Fletch]

It comes down to this....


When the teams bring the HEAVY pressure and go after Romo(because they know he will stay in pocket) will he get out and:

a.) run when its there so he can improvise
b.) roll out so he can be less predictable

I hope to c) him do what made him successful right out of the gate


Romo cannot sit in the pocket and pick apart good defenses. He is not Tom Brady.

I get what you're saying. But not even Tom Brady can sit in the pocket and pick apart defenses when you only have 1 or 2 seconds to get rid of the ball. Plus, Brady has the advantage of playing in a more West Coast friendly offense. Lots of 3-step drops, slants, and screens.

Again, I still get what you're sayin.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I feel great about this December even with our tough sched. As bad as the skins game was, we showed heart and defense when it mattered. I see some encouraging signs. We just need to get RW going and tighten up on the mental mistakes. We have the talent and the chemistry. Just one game at a time baby!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I get what you're saying. But not even Tom Brady can sit in the pocket and pick apart defenses when you only have 1 or 2 seconds to get rid of the ball. Plus, Brady has the advantage of playing in a more West Coast friendly offense. Lots of 3-step drops, slants, and screens.

Again, I still get what you're sayin.

If he doesnt go back and dip into the Old Tony archives from time to time... it will be our undoing.

 

[popcorn]

Point being: Can we win a game like the one we lost to Green Bay?
We already did at Phiilu IMO

 

[theogt]

We're going to lose multiple games over of the next five. And because of that people will claim it's a December collapse. But the reality is, we have one of the toughest schedules over the next five games and all but one or two teams would drop multiple games over this span.