ESPN Mosley: Monday Afternoon Blitz Package

[WoodysGirl]

Nov 15
12:30
PM ET

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By Matt Mosley

I'll be in Landover, Md., tonight for Commanders-Eagles on "Monday Night Football," but let's take a look at the fallout from the Cowboys' 33-20 road win over the Giants:

Cowboys

• Interim head coach Jason Garrett had a great day Sunday. He showed that attention to detail and discipline can create change in a short time period. But all the credibility he gained Sunday could come crashing down if the Cowboys lose to Detroit next weekend.
• Former SMU Mustang Bryan McCann made the play of the day when he picked off an Eli Manning pass and returned it 101 yards for a touchdown. For reasons that we may never know, Hakeem Nicks quit on a slant route.
• In his private meeting with the team Wednesday, Garrett grabbed his players' attention by saying, "The ball. The ball. The ball."
• Pasqualoni's decision to play a lot more zone coverage had a huge impact on Sunday's game. Giants coach Tom Coughlin admitted as much afterward.

Giants

• I don't think Sunday's loss exposed fatal flaws for the Giants. They just came out flat against an inspired team. It's human nature to watch the Cowboys quit on their former head coach and think that sort of performance will continue.
• Ahmad Bradshaw is one of the best young running backs in the league, but he's going to have to commit to securing the football.
• I would seriously think about cutting punter Matt Dodge today. He continues to put his team in awful situations with outright shanks.
• It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Perry Fewell responds to this game.

Read the details: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post?id=21593

 

[Idgit]

I don't think for a second that the Giants came out flat. They just got beat by the better team yesterday.

 

[btcutter]

I don't think for a second that the Giants came out flat. They just got beat by the better team yesterday.

I think they did.

Giants were not prepared for the Cowboys to play Zone instead of man coverage and drop 8 while rush 3. Nice mix up on D. Nor were they ready for Kina to have the day that he had.

 

[Cowboys22]

If I recall correctly, they came out soo called flat in the first game. The difference is that as soon as they made a play, Dallas folded and quit. Dallas rebounded 3 or 4 times yesterday after they seemed to be losing momentum. That goes straight to coaching and intangibles like heart and determination. Those things were none existant under Phillips.

 

[superpunk]

• In his private meeting with the team Wednesday, Garrett grabbed his players' attention by saying, "The ball. The ball. The ball."

Thank god Mosley provided context here, otherwise this nugget might be completely meaningless.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

[/LIST] Thank god Mosley provided context here, otherwise this nugget might be completely meaningless.

:laugh2: He must have been holding one and showing it to the defense.

 

[baj1dallas]

Ahmad Bradshaw is one of the best young running backs in the league, but he's going to have to commit to securing the football.

I think that's a total overstatement. Bradshaw is good enough but he's not one of the best, he's not better than Blount, Foster, Best, certainly not one of the top guys in the league even though he's been around for a little while.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I would seriously think about cutting punter Matt Dodge today. He continues to put his team in awful situations with outright shanks.

I credit #88 being the punt returner.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I think they did.

Giants were not prepared for the Cowboys to play Zone instead of man coverage and drop 8 while rush 3. Nice mix up on D. Nor were they ready for Kina to have the day that he had.

I did also. But I don't think a ton of people thought the Boys would play like they did yesterday. Hopefully it's habit forming.

 

[VACowboy]

I think the Cowboys punched them in the mouth and they weren't prepared for it.

 

[Idgit]

I think they did.

Giants were not prepared for the Cowboys to play Zone instead of man coverage and drop 8 while rush 3. Nice mix up on D. Nor were they ready for Kina to have the day that he had.

Being out-game planned isn't the same thing as 'flat'. Maybe the zone coverage surprised them, but we were hardly doing anything all that unusual for them to adjust to.

We just outplayed them this week. We contained their running game and then made enough plays in coverage to derail them on offense. Had they not had two turnovers at the goal line, we probably wouldn't be talking about how flat they were.

 

[ZeroClub]

My opinion while I was watching the game was that the Giants looked flat. It wasn't until a few possessions in the second half when the Giants showed flashes of being one of the better NFL teams, IMO.

 

[realtick]

I think the Giants did come out a little flat.

 

[realtick]

I think that's a total overstatement. Bradshaw is good enough but he's not one of the best, he's not better than Blount, Foster, Best, certainly not one of the top guys in the league even though he's been around for a little while.

Really?

How is he in any quantifiable way not better than Blount, Foster, or Best?

BTW, who is Foster anyways?

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Dallas just punched the Gnats in the mouth!

 

[BlueStar3398]

I think the Cowboys punched them in the mouth and they weren't prepared for it.

I think so too!! :laugh2: