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by Ed Werder
Phillips taking huge risk in preparing for Steelers: In preparing for what might be the Cowboys' toughest challenge of the season, a cold-weather game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas coach Wade Phillips told 30-something starters Terrell Owens, offensive tackles Marc Colombo and Flozell Adams, linebacker Zach Thomas and outside linebacker Greg Ellis to go home and rest. Meanwhile, their teammates practiced for an opponent they have not played since 2004.
That means three of the players most responsible for protecting quarterback Tony Romo from the fiercest pass rush in the league were not on the practice field -- running back Marion Barber and both offensive tackles. Barber is recovering from a dislocated toe and will be heavily responsible for blitz pickups in Sunday's game.
"If you stay within the system and do things the right way, you have a chance," Romo said. "You're just going to have to sometimes rely on your instincts a little bit because they're going to do stuff that's going to confuse you as a quarterback."
Romo's point is that Pittsburgh uses excellent defensive personnel, a unique scheme and unpredictable tendencies to create confusion and breakdowns that allow James Harrison and Troy Polamalu the chance to win games for the Steelers on defense. It seems logical the Cowboys would want their key blocking personnel to have all the repetitions they could provide those players.
Adding to the oddity of the decision is the fact the Cowboys had four of the previous five days off. Factor in the team's history of December failure and that Phillips has never led a team to an NFL playoff victory as a head coach, and the risk becomes more apparent.
Phillips certainly has opened himself up to criticism if his team plays badly, much as he did when he gave the Cowboys enough time off before last season's playoff loss to the New York Giants that Romo and Jason Witten vacationed in Cabo San Lucas while several defensive starters went to New Orleans for the college championship game.
Clearly, Phillips has made the game's first risky play before even putting on his headset.
-- Ed Werder
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebook?page=sundaycountdown08
Phillips taking huge risk in preparing for Steelers: In preparing for what might be the Cowboys' toughest challenge of the season, a cold-weather game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas coach Wade Phillips told 30-something starters Terrell Owens, offensive tackles Marc Colombo and Flozell Adams, linebacker Zach Thomas and outside linebacker Greg Ellis to go home and rest. Meanwhile, their teammates practiced for an opponent they have not played since 2004.
That means three of the players most responsible for protecting quarterback Tony Romo from the fiercest pass rush in the league were not on the practice field -- running back Marion Barber and both offensive tackles. Barber is recovering from a dislocated toe and will be heavily responsible for blitz pickups in Sunday's game.
"If you stay within the system and do things the right way, you have a chance," Romo said. "You're just going to have to sometimes rely on your instincts a little bit because they're going to do stuff that's going to confuse you as a quarterback."
Romo's point is that Pittsburgh uses excellent defensive personnel, a unique scheme and unpredictable tendencies to create confusion and breakdowns that allow James Harrison and Troy Polamalu the chance to win games for the Steelers on defense. It seems logical the Cowboys would want their key blocking personnel to have all the repetitions they could provide those players.
Adding to the oddity of the decision is the fact the Cowboys had four of the previous five days off. Factor in the team's history of December failure and that Phillips has never led a team to an NFL playoff victory as a head coach, and the risk becomes more apparent.
Phillips certainly has opened himself up to criticism if his team plays badly, much as he did when he gave the Cowboys enough time off before last season's playoff loss to the New York Giants that Romo and Jason Witten vacationed in Cabo San Lucas while several defensive starters went to New Orleans for the college championship game.
Clearly, Phillips has made the game's first risky play before even putting on his headset.
-- Ed Werder
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebook?page=sundaycountdown08
