DMN Blog: Random notes from Wild Card weekend

[WoodysGirl]

3:40 PM Sun, Jan 04, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Now that the Eagles-Vikings game is up and running, that means NFL Wild Card weekend has almost drawn to a close. Some terrific games out there. Here, in no random order, are some things I've been kicking around here at El Rancho Davis.

I hope none of this is wrong. Wouldn't want blog ombudsman Tim MacMahon to get on my case.

1. If Tony Romo wants to become a serious quarterback, he shouldn't spend one second watching Kurt Warner. He needs to watch Phillip Rivers. Warner's deep throw to Larry Fitzgerald in double coverage paid off. Fitzgerald hauled it in for a touchdown. That's something Romo would definitely try. Instead, how about the way Rivers wasn't afraid to throw the ball into the ground and avoid a turnover? I really liked the way he threw it at Darren Sproles' feet after the Colts knocked the former Kansas State scatback to the ground on an attempted screen play. Protect the football at all costs.

2. Who among us thinks Romo would have handled the chess match between Manning and the Chargers' defense? Not me, for one. San Diego's defenders moved around everywhere and waited for Manning to call his play in the final 10 seconds of the play clock. Frankly, I'm not sure the Cowboys are talented enough defensively to do something like this, either. Meaning, I don't think they could move all over the place before the snap and then get lined up right just before the snap. That leaves too much to chance.

2A. You think Romo could identify when a defense is slow when making a personnel change and fire a strike to T.O.? Manning had no problems seeing the Colts' defensive lineman walk/jog off the field. That's why he asked for the ball and fired it to a streaking Reggie Wayne for an easy six points. Can you just imagine what Antonio Cromartie was saying, "Hey, why is he running past me? Oh #$@!"


3. Considering how the Chargers and Ravens -- and the Dolphins to some degree -- both had success with multiple running backs, I'm convinced more than ever that Marion Barber should NOT be the "featured" back next season. That's not a knock on Barber. But when you have Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, you must use all three to your advantage. Frankly, what's wrong with starting Choice and then bringing in Barber for a change of pace and then mixing in Jones for a home-run threat?

4. Le' Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. Good gosh, how in the world did the Cowboys let those guys run wild? Did you see McGahee's 48-yard run late in the fourth? I'm not saying I'm faster than him, but c'mon...

5. Barry Switzer's new Coors Light commercial is the best of the bunch. "Hey, mom, you want to come to the Super Bowl?" For those who are wondering, that stuff came from a pre-game presser leading up to Super Bowl XXX.

6. All of you should read this story in the New York Times. It's a fun look at the history of the first-down marker and the 10-yard chains.

 

[Rampage]

2. Who among us thinks Romo would have handled the chess match between Manning and the Chargers' defense? Not me, for one. San Diego's defenders moved around everywhere and waited for Manning to call his play in the final 10 seconds of the play clock. Frankly, I'm not sure the Cowboys are talented enough defensively to do something like this, either. Meaning, I don't think they could move all over the place before the snap and then get lined up right just before the snap. That leaves too much to chance.

new england,the chargers,pats, and steelers all do it. but Wade is supposedly some defensive guru.

 

[Faerluna]

3. Considering how the Chargers and Ravens -- and the Dolphins to some degree -- both had success with multiple running backs, I'm convinced more than ever that Marion Barber should NOT be the "featured" back next season. That's not a knock on Barber. But when you have Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, you must use all three to your advantage. Frankly, what's wrong with starting Choice and then bringing in Barber for a change of pace and then mixing in Jones for a home-run threat?

Agree 110%

 

[CF74]

2. Who among us thinks Romo would have handled the chess match between Manning and the Chargers' defense? Not me, for one. San Diego's defenders moved around everywhere and waited for Manning to call his play in the final 10 seconds of the play clock. Frankly, I'm not sure the Cowboys are talented enough defensively to do something like this, either. Meaning, I don't think they could move all over the place before the snap and then get lined up right just before the snap. That leaves too much to chance.

new england,the chargers,pats, and steelers all do it. but Wade is supposedly some defensive guru.

Wade and Bradie James, will eventually figure it out

 

[BAZ]

That is like the third time I have seen Rivers referenced today and how Tony should take a page out of his book. Am I going insane or did I not see Rivers loft an air ball right into a DB's chest in the end zone? I'm going crazy right?

 

[Mike_45]

That is like the third time I have seen Rivers referenced today and how Tony should take a page out of his book. Am I going insane or did I not see Rivers loft an air ball right into a DB's chest in the end zone? I'm going crazy right?

Nah your not crazy. I saw it to. He made some stupid Romoesque throws but then made some decent decisions to throw the ball away as well.

 

[BAZ]

Nah your not crazy. I saw it to. He made some stupid Romoesque throws but then made some decent decisions to throw the ball away as well.

Right, so people overlook the stupid ones he made because he made enough decent one to win out the game. So Tony should copy this? :bang2:

 

[casmith07]

Right, so people overlook the stupid ones he made because he made enough decent one to win out the game. So Tony should copy this? :bang2:

That's what happens when the Cowboys win too. I'd be interested to see some threads after last season's Bills game.

 

[WoodysGirl]

2. Who among us thinks Romo would have handled the chess match between Manning and the Chargers' defense? Not me, for one. San Diego's defenders moved around everywhere and waited for Manning to call his play in the final 10 seconds of the play clock. Frankly, I'm not sure the Cowboys are talented enough defensively to do something like this, either. Meaning, I don't think they could move all over the place before the snap and then get lined up right just before the snap. That leaves too much to chance.

new england,the chargers,pats, and steelers all do it. but Wade is supposedly some defensive guru.

Actually Wade does do something similar. I think Vela calls it the "Chaos package" where he has all the linebackers stand up and kinda move around until just before the snap so the QB doesn't know which LBer is pass rushing. It's actually been pretty effective when they've used it.

 

[jterrell]

2. Who among us thinks Romo would have handled the chess match between Manning and the Chargers' defense? Not me, for one. San Diego's defenders moved around everywhere and waited for Manning to call his play in the final 10 seconds of the play clock. Frankly, I'm not sure the Cowboys are talented enough defensively to do something like this, either. Meaning, I don't think they could move all over the place before the snap and then get lined up right just before the snap. That leaves too much to chance.

new england,the chargers,pats, and steelers all do it. but Wade is supposedly some defensive guru.

Wade's SD defense was one of the first to give Manning fits.
It also put a real test to Tom Brady.

 

[Rampage]

Actually Wade does do something similar. I think Vela calls it the "Chaos package" where he has all the linebackers stand up and kinda move around until just before the snap so the QB doesn't know which LBer is pass rushing. It's actually been pretty effective when they've used it.

but we barely do it. you see it from those other teams almost every game.

Wade's SD defense was one of the first to give Manning fits.
It also put a real test to Tom Brady.

well his defense here is pretty poor against good qbs.

 

[WoodysGirl]

but we barely do it. you see it from those other teams almost every game.

Maybe you don't see it, but it doesn't mean he doesn't do it.

 

[Rampage]

Maybe you don't see it, but it doesn't mean he doesn't do it.

:laugh2: ooooooooooooooook

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

The comments about Romo is the truth... He doesn't make great decisions, bottom line.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Actually Wade does do something similar. I think Vela calls it the "Chaos package" where he has all the linebackers stand up and kinda move around until just before the snap so the QB doesn't know which LBer is pass rushing. It's actually been pretty effective when they've used it.

You're right Wade does do it quite a bit until he has a lead at which point he goes conservative and let's the other team catch up.

 

[ddh33]

The Cowboys lost. So the Cowboys are extra bad, and Romo is awful now.

Had they won, Romo would have been a stud, and Wade would have been a defensive genius. But this is what losing does to a team.

 

[TD-33]

The Cowboys lost. So the Cowboys are extra bad, and Romo is awful now.

Had they won, Romo would have been a stud, and Wade would have been a defensive genius. But this is what losing does to a team.

You're right, but I will be much happier going into the new season with the monkey on our back and all media expectations set for "fail". Watch them slobber all over the Cowboys when things go well.
I love being the underdog rather than the flip-side of that.

 

[tyke1doe]

2A. You think Romo could identify when a defense is slow when making a personnel change and fire a strike to T.O.? Manning had no problems seeing the Colts' defensive lineman walk/jog off the field. That's why he asked for the ball and fired it to a streaking Reggie Wayne for an easy six points. Can you just imagine what Antonio Cromartie was saying, "Hey, why is he running past me? Oh #$@!"

I was watching the Eagles-Cowboys game again, and I noticed on that third down unsuccessful throw to Roy Williams, the Eagles defender was playing at least seven yards off T.O. Romo didn't even look T.O.'s way.

If Romo had look in T.O.'s direction, you would think they'd have some signal where Romo tosses it to T.O. for an easy first down. It's almost like Romo was glued toward Roy Williams and didn't even survey the defense to see what the alignment was or to notice that T.O.'s man was no where near him.