DMN Blog | Key matchup: Cowboys pressure vs. QB Matt Hasselbeck

[Bluefin]

Key matchup: Cowboys pressure vs. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck



1:00 PM Sat, Oct 31, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck will be making his sixth regular-season start against the Cowboys since joining Seattle in 2001, and he has posted a 3-2 record with four touchdown passes and four interceptions.

The Seahawks are 2-2 in Hasselbeck's four starts this year with him missing two full games with a rib injury. The ribs are still sore, so getting pressure on him is a must and the Cowboys are in the middle of a hot streak.

After failing to post a sack in their first two games they have put up 14 in their last four, including four last week against Atlanta's Matt Ryan, who had not been sacked since Week 1.

To get to this week's quarterback from Boston College should be easier. Hasselbeck has been sacked seven times in his four games, and the Seahawks are working with a patchwork offensive line. And last year the Cowboys sacked Hasselbeck seven times.

But he remains a difficult test. In the Seahawks' two victories he was sacked once. The result: seven touchdowns and just two picks. In the two losses, he was sacked six times.

"They're a totally different team when Hasselbeck is in there," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "Their record shows you that and watching film shows you that. They're coming off their bye week rested and healthy. We're going to see their best."

EDGE: Cowboys

 

[Bluefin]

Keys to the game



12:00 PM Sat, Oct 31, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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GOTTA HAVE A GOOD SHORT GAME: The Cowboys' offense is predicated on spreading the ball around to wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. This could be a week for the tight ends and running backs because of Seattle's two-deep defense in the secondary. In its first six games, Seattle has not allowed a receiver to reach 100 yards but its attention on the outside has hurt what happens inside. Running backs and tight ends have combined for 58 catches against the Seahawks, including an eight-catch, 80-yard game for Indianapolis' Dallas Clark. Last week vs. Atlanta Tony Romo was able to work the ball to tight ends Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett and all three tailbacks but there should be more room for them to roam against the Seahawks.

"WARING" HIM OUT: Fresh off a six-year, $78 million contract extension, DeMarcus Ware is facing a team on its fourth different starting left tackle. Last Thanksgiving Ware had three sacks of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and that was with Walter Jones playing. Seattle will do what it can to make sure Ware does not beat it, which means extra attention. That's good news for Anthony Spencer. He is looking for his first sack of the year but has caught on as of late in the pressure department with seven in his last three games. Besides Ware, seven other Cowboys have sacks. If the Seahawks want to send two blockers on Ware, then they leave themselves susceptible to Jay Ratliff, if he's healthy, and Stephen Bowen, who is second on the team with 12 pressures, up the middle. In three-plus games, Hasselbeck has been sacked seven times.

PROTECT THE BALL: Since 2005 Seattle is fourth in the NFL with 187 sacks (the Cowboys are second with 190, by the way) and Patrick Kerney has four this season even while slowed some by injury, tying him for the team lead with Lawrence Jackson. Cornerback Marcus Trufant will make his 2009 debut today, which should benefit the Seattle secondary even if he plays a smaller role. It's the key every week, but ball security is a must from Tony Romo. The Cowboys are 11-2 when he doesn't throw an interception, including 4-0 this year, and 3-6 when he throws more than one. Since his third-quarter interception at Denver by Champ Bailey, Romo has thrown 84 passes without a pick. If he makes it through today's game without an interception, he will have more pick-less games in 2009 than he has had since taking over in 2006.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: The Cowboys felt like last week's win against Atlanta was needed to make a statement. They can carry on the message by continuing to play at a high level today. They were sloppy in their wins against Tampa Bay, Carolina and Kansas City. The Seahawks are a different team away from home and the Cowboys have to show they can put a team away from the beginning. Last week Atlanta rolled out with an 80-yard scoring drive. Seattle is coming off the bye as rested and as healthy as they have been. Since 2005 Seattle is 22-11 when scoring first and 16-21 when it is trailing. The Cowboys need a fast start and have yet to score a touchdown on their first drive of the game. This would be the week to stop that trend.