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Eagles @ Cowboys For NFC East Title
By Dave Trollope
SJ Advisor/Contributing Author, Blogger
Quote:
But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.
One thing that this Cowboys team has taken since the 44-6 debacle, it has been hits. But, I must say that they stayed the course, made a few adjustments along the way and now find themselves in contention for the NFC East title. During the preseason, nobody gave this team a shot. NOBODY, to include me. It was supposed to be the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, then the Dallas Cowboys. I was hopeful, but my expectations were low.
Well, here they are fighting the very same team that gave the Cowboys their final defeat last season. The Cowboys went to Philadelphia earlier this season and came out with a victory, 20-16. Tony Romo spread the ball around to seven different receivers for 307 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The defense held the running game in check (minus Brian Westbrook) with a bend and not break run defense and intercepted Donovon McNabb twice. They did not allow any of the big plays to DeSean Jackson, who was held to only two receptions for 29 yards.
The Cowboys again will need to be ready for the Eagles to come out with their big plays. Each team should have a wealth of knowledge of each other and make the appropriate changes. This time, Brian Westbrook will be back in the game. He is a Cowboy killer, if the defense is to get after McNabb, they will need to know where Westbrook is at all times. McNabb always knows where he is and will dump the ball off to him and that will always result in a big play. To get after McNabb, they will need to have a defender on Westbrook at all times.
They will need to keep McNabb in the pocket and don't let him scramble for a big gain, need to control the lanes as they rush McNabb. The Eagles have a lot of options to go to. They of course have Jackson, but they also have tight end Brent Celek, running back LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant has also been more involved lately. They secondary and linebackers will have a lot of work to keep them covered long enough to get pressure on McNabb.
We are going to need a strong performance from the offense. Romo and the receivers will need to be on the same page and catch the ball. The Cowboys will need to come up with their own big plays in the receiving game as well.
The Cowboys for some odd reason, has been having trouble lately in the short yardage game. It has been noticed by some analysts and former players that the Cowboys are handing off seven yards back for a one yard pickup. They believe that Marion Barber should receive the hand off closer to the line of scrimmage and get the line to just push that defensive line back. The Cowboys have one of the biggest lines in the league, they should be able to just push that pile back. Change the plays as well, fake the dive in the middle and go outside pitch or play action.
This will be a hard fought game, the Cowboys will get hit and hard. Will they get up and keep moving forward? This has been a 15 round boxing match so far with the final round this Sunday. Playoffs will start a new boxing match for the ultimate prize.
It is time for this team to take something that wasn't supposed to be theirs. It's time to put everything aside and fight for all they got in them. The NFC East title is within reach, and the Super Bowl will be closer to them. There is no easy way out, they need to come out fighting. Strike early and strike hard. Take it to them!!
By Dave Trollope
SJ Advisor/Contributing Author, Blogger
Quote:
But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.
One thing that this Cowboys team has taken since the 44-6 debacle, it has been hits. But, I must say that they stayed the course, made a few adjustments along the way and now find themselves in contention for the NFC East title. During the preseason, nobody gave this team a shot. NOBODY, to include me. It was supposed to be the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, then the Dallas Cowboys. I was hopeful, but my expectations were low.
Well, here they are fighting the very same team that gave the Cowboys their final defeat last season. The Cowboys went to Philadelphia earlier this season and came out with a victory, 20-16. Tony Romo spread the ball around to seven different receivers for 307 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. The defense held the running game in check (minus Brian Westbrook) with a bend and not break run defense and intercepted Donovon McNabb twice. They did not allow any of the big plays to DeSean Jackson, who was held to only two receptions for 29 yards.
The Cowboys again will need to be ready for the Eagles to come out with their big plays. Each team should have a wealth of knowledge of each other and make the appropriate changes. This time, Brian Westbrook will be back in the game. He is a Cowboy killer, if the defense is to get after McNabb, they will need to know where Westbrook is at all times. McNabb always knows where he is and will dump the ball off to him and that will always result in a big play. To get after McNabb, they will need to have a defender on Westbrook at all times.
They will need to keep McNabb in the pocket and don't let him scramble for a big gain, need to control the lanes as they rush McNabb. The Eagles have a lot of options to go to. They of course have Jackson, but they also have tight end Brent Celek, running back LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant has also been more involved lately. They secondary and linebackers will have a lot of work to keep them covered long enough to get pressure on McNabb.
We are going to need a strong performance from the offense. Romo and the receivers will need to be on the same page and catch the ball. The Cowboys will need to come up with their own big plays in the receiving game as well.
The Cowboys for some odd reason, has been having trouble lately in the short yardage game. It has been noticed by some analysts and former players that the Cowboys are handing off seven yards back for a one yard pickup. They believe that Marion Barber should receive the hand off closer to the line of scrimmage and get the line to just push that defensive line back. The Cowboys have one of the biggest lines in the league, they should be able to just push that pile back. Change the plays as well, fake the dive in the middle and go outside pitch or play action.
This will be a hard fought game, the Cowboys will get hit and hard. Will they get up and keep moving forward? This has been a 15 round boxing match so far with the final round this Sunday. Playoffs will start a new boxing match for the ultimate prize.
It is time for this team to take something that wasn't supposed to be theirs. It's time to put everything aside and fight for all they got in them. The NFC East title is within reach, and the Super Bowl will be closer to them. There is no easy way out, they need to come out fighting. Strike early and strike hard. Take it to them!!