DMN Blog: Four keys to Sunday's game

[WoodysGirl]

11:37 AM Sat, Sep 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/bio-icon.jpg Bio | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips

STOP THE RUN: After seeing how well Tampa Bay ran the ball last week, don't you think the Giants will try to do the same this week? Brandon Jacobs' size and Ahmad Bradshaw's speeed make them a formidable duo, but the Cowboys' emphasis in practice has been to fix their run woes. Part of it was gap responsibilities, part of it was admittedly Wade Phillips' playcalling. When the Cowboys played their base defense, the run defense improved. Look for that to continue this week because the Cowboys have shown they can pressure Eli Manning. Without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants are still working in unknown territory with their wide receivers. If the Cowboys can limit the Giants on the ground, then Phillips can dial up blitz packages to force Manning to get rid of the ball quickly.

SLOW DOWN THE PASS RUSH: New defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is doing many of the same things his predecessor Steve Spagnuolo did, but he has the benefit of Osi Umenyiora's return from a knee injury. Because of their strong front four, the Giants play a lot of games up front with their ends and tackles, but they will bring their linebackers some as well as the occasional safety blitz. This will be a big game for the Cowboys' offensive line in making the right identifications. In the last two years, they have struggled with exotic looks from teams like the Giants, Eagles, Steelers and Ravens. Have some of the off-season changes in protections schemes been for the better? We'll find out this week.



SHORTEN THE FIELD: For all of the good the Cowboys did on special teams with the blocked field goal attempt and the three touchbacks from rookie David Buehler, they need to do better in the return game. It's a feeling out process because of the rule changes banning a three-man wedge for kick returns, but the Cowboys have not consistently blocked well enough in the preseason or regular-season opener. With just a sliver of space Felix Jones can be a difference maker as a kick returner. Provided his bruised quadriceps is OK, Jones can make a big difference. Remember last year's home opener vs. Philadelphia when he brought back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

KEEP THE CROWD IN IT: Jerry Jones predicts a crowd of more than 102,000 at Cowboys Stadium, which will make it loud inside the new venue. In the preseason, the players noticed how loud it can get and with 30,000 more people it should get only more difficult for the visiting team. Some of the players worry that it might be too loud when the offense has the ball. The key will be a good start. Because a crowd so big turning silent or critical can be bad for the home team, even if a chunk of them will only be able to see the 60-yard digital board and not the action live on the field.

 

[btcutter]

Keep Romo upright.

I believe if the OL can give Romo time to pass, we will win the game. We can win in a shootout if we need to.

Yes, D is important but if our O can score it will force the G men to go one dimensional and we will win.

Again, it's too easy to point to multiple keys. I want to hear just ONE key thing you all think will lead to a victory on Sunday night.

 

[DallasEast]

:laugh2: at Archer not including Eli Manning as one of his four keys. I have to agree with him.

 

[sonnyboy]

Keep Romo upright.

I believe if the OL can give Romo time to pass, we will win the game. We can win in a shootout if we need to.

Yes, D is important but if our O can score it will force the G men to go one dimensional and we will win.

Again, it's too easy to point to multiple keys. I want to hear just ONE key thing you all think will lead to a victory on Sunday night.

I think you nailed it.

The real difference in these two teams is at QB. We can win a shoot out and the Giants can't. Under Romo our offense can move the ball and put up points without an effective running game and the Giants can't.

The results of any one game can be off. I don't look at the TB game with any great fear that this team all of the sudden can no longer defend the run. We've been good to very good in that area for some time now.

Our problem over the past four years we've had an above average defense our achillies heel has been pass coverage. I still believe we will be greatly improved in that area this year.

We are facing a balanced offense that really needs to run the ball well. Now even though the need to run the ball, it's still balanced. They are just as likely to run as pass on most plays.

We simply need to play our game, play the percentages and keep changing things up defensively.

If we place too much focus on defending thier run game, will see Manning drop back to pass on first down with little pass rush. We have to mix it up.

Wade clearly identified the two main problems with week one and that makes me feel better. We didn't play discipline and his calls we're a little too aggressive. Apparently we worked on the run defense this week with some more physical practices and that's good.

Getting after the QB isn't about blitzing or not blitzing, it's mostly about the assignments your defenders have.
You either have your DL ingaging an OL and playing two gaps, or you have them shooting a gap and getting up field. Your LB's also have varying assignments that will place them in a better position to defend the run, pass or pressure the QB.

I think Wade admitted to dialing up a few too many pass oriented type defenses and too much man coverage.
He had his new speed and improved coverage ability in the secondary and wanted to play with it. Too much man and not enough zone.

BTW- Zone coverage inherently helps your run defense becasue more of the DB's have their eyes in the backfield on the QB. That puts them in a better position to see run and move up to play it. When a DB is in man, his back is often turned to the offensive backfield and is slower to react to a run.
Just because you have faster DBs, it doesn't mean you have to play predominately man coverage. Better faster DBs can play zone well and succeed just as well.
And when you're consitently switching from man to zone, you're making it much harder for the QB to read you.

So we just need to keep changing it up and let our talent prevail.

 

[Rampage]

I'm really nervous about this game

 

[LandryFan]

I believe if the OL can give Romo time to pass, we will win the game. We can win in a shootout if we need to.

Yes, D is important but if our O can score it will force the G men to go one dimensional and we will win.

Again, it's too easy to point to multiple keys. I want to hear just ONE key thing you all think will lead to a victory on Sunday night.



As you stated, keep Romo clean (no more than two scks, no picks).

 

[big dog cowboy]

They Giants D-line is their key. Slowing it down and creating some running room for our trio of RB's is the key.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

LINK

Todd Archer

STOP THE RUN: After seeing how well Tampa Bay ran the ball last week, don't you think the Giants will try to do the same this week? Brandon Jacobs' size and Ahmad Bradshaw's speeed make them a formidable duo, but the Cowboys' emphasis in practice has been to fix their run woes. Part of it was gap responsibilities, part of it was admittedly Wade Phillips' playcalling. When the Cowboys played their base defense, the run defense improved. Look for that to continue this week because the Cowboys have shown they can pressure Eli Manning. Without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants are still working in unknown territory with their wide receivers. If the Cowboys can limit the Giants on the ground, then Phillips can dial up blitz packages to force Manning to get rid of the ball quickly.

SLOW DOWN THE PASS RUSH: New defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is doing many of the same things his predecessor Steve Spagnuolo did, but he has the benefit of Osi Umenyiora's return from a knee injury. Because of their strong front four, the Giants play a lot of games up front with their ends and tackles, but they will bring their linebackers some as well as the occasional safety blitz. This will be a big game for the Cowboys' offensive line in making the right identifications. In the last two years, they have struggled with exotic looks from teams like the Giants, Eagles, Steelers and Ravens. Have some of the off-season changes in protections schemes been for the better? We'll find out this week.

SHORTEN THE FIELD: For all of the good the Cowboys did on special teams with the blocked field goal attempt and the three touchbacks from rookie David Buehler, they need to do better in the return game. It's a feeling out process because of the rule changes banning a three-man wedge for kick returns, but the Cowboys have not consistently blocked well enough in the preseason or regular-season opener. With just a sliver of space Felix Jones can be a difference maker as a kick returner. Provided his bruised quadriceps is OK, Jones can make a big difference. Remember last year's home opener vs. Philadelphia when he brought back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

KEEP THE CROWD IN IT: Jerry Jones predicts a crowd of more than 102,000 at Cowboys Stadium, which will make it loud inside the new venue. In the preseason, the players noticed how loud it can get and with 30,000 more people it should get only more difficult for the visiting team. Some of the players worry that it might be too loud when the offense has the ball. The key will be a good start. Because a crowd so big turning silent or critical can be bad for the home team, even if a chunk of them will only be able to see the 60-yard digital board and not the action live on the field.