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1:51 PM Tue, Dec 09, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Anthony Henry's role as a safety in the Cowboys' nickel and dime packages appears to be permanent. (Well, assuming Pacman Jones doesn't violate the NFL's parole program again.)
The idea is to put the best players on the field. After one game, it looks like a pretty good idea.
Pacman played very well on defense during his return, breaking up the only two balls Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger threw his way. Henry allowed a 23-yard catch by Nate Washington on his first snap at safety but was solid after that.
By my count, the Cowboys were in their various nickel and dime packages for 18 plays (including an offsides penalty on Greg Ellis but excluding the extra DB that cost them a 12-men-on-the-field penalty).
Seven of those plays would be considered successes for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was 7-of-14 for 113 yards against the nickel and dime packages.
Big Ben did hit complete a couple passes against the nickel that were key to the Steelers' comeback. The 47-yarder to Santonio Holmes that flipped field position was simply a case of Terence Newman biting on a pump fake. Ken Hamlin didn't close quickly enough on a 16-yard pass over the middle to Washington on the play before the Steelers' touchdown.
Those plays certainly weren't cases of the Steelers exploiting holes created by the Cowboys' personnel changes made last week. A couple of Pro Bowlers players just gave up plays.
Pacman and Henry handled their roles in the substitution packages well, which means the adjustments made during the week by Wade Phillips were good ones.
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Anthony Henry's role as a safety in the Cowboys' nickel and dime packages appears to be permanent. (Well, assuming Pacman Jones doesn't violate the NFL's parole program again.)
The idea is to put the best players on the field. After one game, it looks like a pretty good idea.
Pacman played very well on defense during his return, breaking up the only two balls Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger threw his way. Henry allowed a 23-yard catch by Nate Washington on his first snap at safety but was solid after that.
By my count, the Cowboys were in their various nickel and dime packages for 18 plays (including an offsides penalty on Greg Ellis but excluding the extra DB that cost them a 12-men-on-the-field penalty).
Seven of those plays would be considered successes for the Steelers. Roethlisberger was 7-of-14 for 113 yards against the nickel and dime packages.
Big Ben did hit complete a couple passes against the nickel that were key to the Steelers' comeback. The 47-yarder to Santonio Holmes that flipped field position was simply a case of Terence Newman biting on a pump fake. Ken Hamlin didn't close quickly enough on a 16-yard pass over the middle to Washington on the play before the Steelers' touchdown.
Those plays certainly weren't cases of the Steelers exploiting holes created by the Cowboys' personnel changes made last week. A couple of Pro Bowlers players just gave up plays.
Pacman and Henry handled their roles in the substitution packages well, which means the adjustments made during the week by Wade Phillips were good ones.
