ESPN Dallas: Werder's latest excrement

[Eskimo]

He may not always be right but Werder is right about Colombo. The proper decision right now is to play a healthy Free who just destroyed the Eagles right side all game-long along with Davis. He was a bigger key to the victory than any of the RBs as the holes were large enough for even journeymen RBs to exploit. Now we put back in Colombo who assisted us to only 76 yards rushing.

The Eagles could stuff us again with Colombo and try to force Romo-RW to beat us by trying to expose him as the hot read. They'll want to see if RW can get on the same page as Romo and catch the ball while hearing the footsteps on Eagles' DBs.

Anyhow, maybe we are playing good enough now as a unit upfront that we can overcome the loss of Free.

 

[RainMan]

Again, his points contradict each other like they did in his last piece of excriment that he calls a column.

It starts off that Wade should be extended, then no he shouldn't, then he should be offered a multi year deal instead of a one year deal, then he's screwing up by having Marc Colombo starting instead of Doug Free. And apparently the Cowboys cannot sub in Free for Colombo during the game.

Oh wait, Mr. Blue Suit didn't think of that.

He's dying to rip into Jerry, Wade and RW if the Cowboys lose tomorrow. It's so blatant it's ridiculous.





YAKUZA

He's definitely got his bases covered.

 

[gimmesix]

I think there's basically a week lead time on this. Last week he was able to function and move normally and do a lot of football-specific conditioning. So this week may be the first he put the pads back on, but it's not like they just cut his cast off yesterday and are rolling him out there cold.

And IIRC, before he got hurt there were a few games where Wade said he graded out higher than any of our OLmen.

Personally, I like his experience and leadership. It is the playoffs after all, and it will be a bit of a different animal.

Before he got hurt, Colombo was our best lineman (heading into the Green Bay game). I think people tend to forget or not notice how well he was playing.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Parcells quit after the Seattle Super-Hold.

Yes he did. In fact, Jerry point blank stated that he wanted Parcells back for another year, mainly because he thought that if Romo got a full seasons as starter with Parcells, something special could happen.

He wasn't fired, he wasn't going to be fired, the concept of firing Parcells never came about. Mr. Blue Suit trying to spin it another way, even implying it may have happened or was going to occur before Parcells retired, is a flat out lie.




YAKUZA
but, he's well respected by his peers

 

[Eskimo]

Before he got hurt, Colombo was our best lineman (heading into the Green Bay game). I think people tend to forget or not notice how well he was playing.

Colombo is better than Flo and much more consistent than Davis but Kosier is our best OL overall followed by Gurode. Free will be our best lineman next year assuming Wade let's him play.

 

[gimmesix]

Colombo is better than Flo and much more consistent than Davis but Kosier is our best OL overall followed by Gurode. Free will be our best lineman next year assuming Wade let's him play.

Thanks for playing, but no. Kosier's had a really good year, but he's gotten pushed around at times (see Washington game vs. Albert Haynesworth).

Gurode has probably been our second-best lineman overall, but if you go back and look over the tapes of Colombo's play, you'll get a greater appreciation of the season he's had and understand why Dallas is eager to restore him as the starter.

 

[vta]

IRVING, Texas -- Even though he just motivated the Dallas Cowboys' defense to a historic feat, Dallas head coach Wade Phillips still inspires doubt.

I didn't read it all, to be honest. But the title of this topic is ****ing hilarious and this is too. Somehow I'm not ignoring the reality of how good this team is and feeling doubt because Wade is the coach.

 

[Eskimo]

Thanks for playing, but no. Kosier's had a really good year, but he's gotten pushed around at times (see Washington game vs. Albert Haynesworth).

Gurode has probably been our second-best lineman overall, but if you go back and look over the tapes of Colombo's play, you'll get a greater appreciation of the season he's had and understand why Dallas is eager to restore him as the starter.

We'll just disagree over this point. Kosier is never going to do well lined up over a snarly, motivated Haynesworth but that is true of most interior OL in this league. Haynesworth is the sort of guy who doesn't come to play every down but when he wants to bring it and is rested, he is a load and recognized as the best interior DL in the game.

Kosier's game is making blocks in space and he is a master at getting to the second level and hitting those blocks perfectly. When we break a big play, it is often due to his play. I also think he has been superb in pass protection. He has given up only 1 sack all year.

Colombo is solid against pass and run but is terrible at making blocks in space or at the second level. He is also bad getting out on screens and that looked like something we were trying to do a lot to combat the Eagles pressure (this is something we can do much better with Free out there).

Anyhow, I don't dislike Colombo at all. He is our 3rd best OL. If I had it may way, this is our OL with a healthy Colombo next year:

Free Kosier Gurode Davis Colombo

That will be a very good line, IMO. Less mistakes and much more athletic.

 

[cowboys2233]

Before he got hurt, Colombo was our best lineman (heading into the Green Bay game). I think people tend to forget or not notice how well he was playing.

THANK YOU! Finally, a voice of reason - Free runs downfield to make a block on Felix's run and all of the sudden he is the next best thing. He has played well in Colombo's absence, but cmon! Colombo gives our line the attitude to seek and destroy. I promise, a couple of months off is not that big of a deal. Our line is so much better when he's in there - he's healthy, he is ready to dominate.

 

[Muhast]

Hadn't seen it yet.


Thursday, January 7, 2010
Jones praises coach, hasn't signed him
By Ed Werder
ESPNDallas.com

Jones has fired every coach the Cowboys have ever had who didn't quit on him first


Ed Werder covers the NFL for ESPN.com and contributes weekly to ESPNDallas.com.

Umm, isn't that also true of every owner of every sports team ever? Your coach either quits and moves on or is eventually fired. Duh.

 

[Eskimo]

THANK YOU! Finally, a voice of reason - Free runs downfield to make a block on Felix's run and all of the sudden he is the next best thing. He has played well in Colombo's absence, but cmon! Colombo gives our line the attitude to seek and destroy. I promise, a couple of months off is not that big of a deal. Our line is so much better when he's in there - he's healthy, he is ready to dominate.

Re-watch the first half - lots of big runs between Free and Davis who were doing a number on Parker and Patterson. That first 32 yarder by Barber was right through the gap between Davis and Free. Those two were just on all-game long against the Eagles and we had easy yards anytime we went this way.

I'll believe a couple of months off isn't a big deal for a player that has hardly played for half the season and only begun practising last week. And that is practicing in a position where it is very difficult to simulate game conditions.

I hope Colombo does okay. If he stinks it up, it is Wade's head on the line.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Re-watch the first half - lots of big runs between Free and Davis who were doing a number on Parker and Patterson. That first 32 yarder by Barber was right through the gap between Davis and Free. Those two were just on all-game long against the Eagles and we had easy yards anytime we went this way.

I'll believe a couple of months off isn't a big deal for a player that has hardly played for half the season and only begun practising last week. And that is practicing in a position where it is very difficult to simulate game conditions.

I hope Colombo does okay. If he stinks it up, it is Wade's head on the line.

The contra would be to look at the Green Bay game. Once Columbo goes out, everything starts to unravel at the point of attack for the running game. I'll give you though that Free had taken zero snaps in the first team offense and he's steadily been improving throughout the year.

Come the DE's of Minnesota however, I want Columbo in there bloodying their noses.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I agree. No Marc Columbo. But Werder is a nitwit.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Re-watch the first half - lots of big runs between Free and Davis who were doing a number on Parker and Patterson. That first 32 yarder by Barber was right through the gap between Davis and Free. Those two were just on all-game long against the Eagles and we had easy yards anytime we went this way.

I'll believe a couple of months off isn't a big deal for a player that has hardly played for half the season and only begun practising last week. And that is practicing in a position where it is very difficult to simulate game conditions.

I hope Colombo does okay. If he stinks it up, it is Wade's head on the line.

Playing Columbo is boneheaded. I can't believe they're actually thinking of doing this.

 

[trueblue1687]

DOOSH. He does make a valid point on the right tackle position. While I think Columbo is better talent wise....he has been out 7 weeks and is coming off a broken leg while Free has been playing VERY well of late. I am admittedly concerned about that move. Werder is still a tool, tho.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

hurry Ed.....get ONE MORE ARTICLE IN about the Cowboys lack of playoff success over the last 13 years....one more article in about Wades lack of playoff success....one more article in that reminds us Tony has never won a playoff game. Gotta get them in because all of this just might be false in 24 hours....and then you will ACTUALLY have to write something original!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Doomsay]

Re-watch the first half - lots of big runs between Free and Davis who were doing a number on Parker and Patterson. That first 32 yarder by Barber was right through the gap between Davis and Free. Those two were just on all-game long against the Eagles and we had easy yards anytime we went this way.

I'll believe a couple of months off isn't a big deal for a player that has hardly played for half the season and only begun practising last week. And that is practicing in a position where it is very difficult to simulate game conditions.

I hope Colombo does okay. If he stinks it up, it is Wade's head on the
line.

It's a dumb risk to reward calculation. The downside to Free isn't that much, he held his own last week, so we know that we can win with him. Colombo is a better player at 100%, but it seems like there isn't a lot of time to determine if he's at that level after being out for so long. It's not like they can put him through a simulated game like a pitcher. I just hope that the hook is ready if he falters.

 

[cowboyed]

Sorry, I left out the end somehow... Just put that back in.

Gotta love it. Roy wasn't motivated the right way, according to coach Werder.

And starting Marc Colombo could well cost us this game.

Werder just makes a bigger *** of himself with each passing day.

Well this only further proves that Wade is more involved in the team contrary to what a number of forum members have speculated and that Garrett having been hired first was not an undermining factor at all. I always felt it was that way because Wade took the job with his eyes wide open.

From what I have read and perceived Wade asserted himself more in his position because he knew that totally delegating to other coaches, particularly those learning on the job, wasn't going to get the job done. Wade had to be in on more meetings and not just allow the offense to operate totally autonomous.

Negative fan speculation was that Jones meddled and pressured Wade to fire Stewart, even Read, but that was Wade taking the initiative based on a number of reports you can read lately. The changes Wade talked about for 2009 included him getting more involved, and directly using his coaching talent and experience on defense.

Wade has made Garrett more accountable to him as well and inputing whom to put back in the line up when appropriate as in the case of Columbo. So in effect Wade is much more involved and demanding with his coaching style. And forecasting payoff for effort has really taken hold of this team.

I was critical myself in 2007 and 2008 of Wade Phillips because of the way we kept cratering late each of those seasons. But I read and realized the positive change that was taking place with the players during the regular season and I stopped criticizing and appreciating what Wade was starting to accomplish.

I didn't even state anything negative or jump off the bandwagon when we lost those first 2 games in December. Even if we lose this game and I believe we won't, I want Wade to be back next year because we did make progress and played well against some very good teams.

Fan nature is something else. Note that there is less criticism of Wade and particularly Jerry lately. It seemed every game we struggled or lost especially in December certain forum members took the initiative of hammering or mocking Phillips let alone Jones. Phillips is getting some praise now and stifling critics but why not Jerry Jones.

If Jerry can be skewered every time we lose then why can't he be positively acknowledged when we win. Not very equitable is it.