ESPN: Will Cowboys take advantage of Ross' absence?

[BrAinPaiNt]

LINK

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

From looking at the reports coming out of New York, it's hard to imagine cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring) playing against the Cowboys on Sunday. At least one blogger believes the Cowboys could victimize Ross' backup, Terrell Thomas, on Sunday. I'm not so sure.

Tim MacMahon of ***BANNED-URL*** reports that Thomas struggled with Commanders wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who finished with seven catches for 98 yards. I didn't really see it that way. The Giants were rolling their coverage to Santana Moss' side and they were willing to let Randle El make some catches. I don't think there's a huge dropoff from Ross to Thomas.

And if Kevin Dockery can come back and play the nickel this week, I think the Giants will be fine. Just something to think about. Do you guys think Thomas is a liability for the Giants?

 

[Yeagermeister]

They should sign Pete Hunter.

 

[adbutcher]

They should sign Pete Hunter.

The cowboy stopper, I hope they won't because that will spell our doom.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This game has little to do with the Giants secondary. This game will be determined at the LOS on both sides of the ball. No secondary can cover all our weapons if Tony has time in the pocket.

BUT, our ability to protect Tony will be severly tested this week. Frankly, I'm a little concerned. Tony has been harrassed in the pocket already even though he hasn't been sacked much. He is constantly having to move and sidestep oncoming pass rushers and he has taken some shots.

It's one reason I like for us to run the football because that cuts down on the wear and tear Tony takes over the course of a season.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just stay with the ideal of finding the open man and try to spread the ball around.

 

[juck]

Whos is gonna watch that huge TE name Martellus?

 

[theogt]

Terrell Thomas ain't no slouch.

 

[garyv]

Doomsday101 Excellent because thats exactly what they need to do but in my opinion we need to Pass in this Game to Win. I actually think the large Crowd and the Noise it generates will give Eli Manning fits. In my opinio he is one of the QB's in the League that can be intimidated and thats exactly what needs to happen. I think we can pass at will against the Giants and I would really plan to utilize the Screen pass when they come at Romo. What the Boyz need to do is take some shots down field just to back the Giant Defense up which will also open some running lanes.

 

[Doomsday101]

Doomsday101 Excellent because thats exactly what they need to do but in my opinion we need to Pass in this Game to Win. I actually think the large Crowd and the Noise it generates will give Eli Manning fits. In my opinio he is one of the QB's in the League that can be intimidated and thats exactly what needs to happen. I think we can pass at will against the Giants and I would really plan to utilize the Screen pass when they come at Romo. What the Boyz need to do is take some shots down field just to back the Giant Defense up which will also open some running lanes.

We need to pass but Dallas has to run as well to keep the Giants front honest. We can't allow them to pen their ears back and just come after Romo. I want to see Dallas spread the ball around to get guy involved because I think it helps keep guys heads in the game when they know they are part of the attack than they do when they feel their role is just an afterthought.

I think Dallas running occasional screens is a good ideal but Giants have an athletic group up front and the way defender react to the screen you have to be careful (See Brady vs Bills Monday night).

Main thing I want to see is Dallas mix things up to help keep the Giants defense off balance.

 

[skinsscalper]

This game has little to do with the Giants secondary. This game will be determined at the LOS on both sides of the ball. No secondary can cover all our weapons if Tony has time in the pocket.

BUT, our ability to protect Tony will be severly tested this week. Frankly, I'm a little concerned. Tony has been harrassed in the pocket already even though he hasn't been sacked much. He is constantly having to move and sidestep oncoming pass rushers and he has taken some shots.

It's one reason I like for us to run the football because that cuts down on the wear and tear Tony takes over the course of a season.

I like your line of thinking, but in all honesty, I don't think our O-line has what it takes to jam the ball down the Giants throat all day. For a bunch of big men they have to be some of the softest run blockers I've seen in a while. I hope they prove me wrong, but I haven't been impressed with our running game for a while. I wish Barber would go back to just being Barber and hit the hole with the ferocity that he used to. He's done way too much dancing the past couple of seasons. I don't mind a dance step or two, but Barber is doing too much of it behind the LOS. He NEVER used to do that until last season. His wiggle typically came when he hit the linebacker level, then he'd deliver the blow to the defensive backs. I don't know if it's more of an indictment of the O-line's inability to create a lane or Barber just trying to make too much out of something, but the whole back-field two-step is aggravating to watch. Let Felix dance, Marion. You just pound. It's what you are best at.

 

[triplets92]

I think the running game will spark this wk. the giants have a great d-line inside and out so i feel that we are going to see allot of two TE sets this wk

 

[viman96]

I'd expect some quick strike slants, TE outs and screens to help offset the Giants rush. Felix and MB3 can handle their LBs on the 2nd level for some decent gains.

 

[lspain1]

I like your line of thinking, but in all honesty, I don't think our O-line has what it takes to jam the ball down the Giants throat all day. For a bunch of big men they have to be some of the softest run blockers I've seen in a while.

Did you watch the Pittsburgh-Tennessee game last Thursday? The Pittsburgh line looked VERY soft trying to run block and the statistics showed it. Our line does not always inspire confidence but they were a far better group trying to run the ball than the world champions this past weekend. I'll note here that even when it wasn't working....the Steelers did not give up on running the football.

I think the Cowboys need to run the ball a lot this week. The Giants try to physically defeat our guys and running the ball lets our guys do the attacking.

 

[gimmesix]

LINK

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

From looking at the reports coming out of New York, it's hard to imagine cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring) playing against the Cowboys on Sunday. At least one blogger believes the Cowboys could victimize Ross' backup, Terrell Thomas, on Sunday. I'm not so sure.

Tim MacMahon of ***BANNED-URL*** reports that Thomas struggled with Commanders wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who finished with seven catches for 98 yards. I didn't really see it that way. The Giants were rolling their coverage to Santana Moss' side and they were willing to let Randle El make some catches. I don't think there's a huge dropoff from Ross to Thomas.

And if Kevin Dockery can come back and play the nickel this week, I think the Giants will be fine. Just something to think about. Do you guys think Thomas is a liability for the Giants?

Considering the Giants' pass rush, I think the linebacker/tight end matchups will be more important than corner/wide receiver.

 

[Aikbach]

they should trade for Jacques Reeves.

 

[theebs]

This game has little to do with the Giants secondary. This game will be determined at the LOS on both sides of the ball. No secondary can cover all our weapons if Tony has time in the pocket.

BUT, our ability to protect Tony will be severly tested this week. Frankly, I'm a little concerned. Tony has been harrassed in the pocket already even though he hasn't been sacked much. He is constantly having to move and sidestep oncoming pass rushers and he has taken some shots.

It's one reason I like for us to run the football because that cuts down on the wear and tear Tony takes over the course of a season.

I agree. I think this game is about who gets up last after getting hit. This will be a slugfest like last december. I think someone will make a big play in the passing game late, and if they are missing ross that helps us on some level, but really its about who can keep delivering the blows without making mental mistakes or giving in.

The giants gave in to us in december late and we gave in to them in ny late.

Its all about power, want to, desire discipline sunday.

If it turns out to be a back and forth scoring battle I will be completely shocked.

 

[skinsscalper]

Did you watch the Pittsburgh-Tennessee game last Thursday? The Pittsburgh line looked VERY soft trying to run block and the statistics showed it. Our line does not always inspire confidence but they were a far better group trying to run the ball than the world champions this past weekend. I'll note here that even when it wasn't working....the Steelers did not give up on running the football.

I think the Cowboys need to run the ball a lot this week. The Giants try to physically defeat our guys and running the ball lets our guys do the attacking.

It's funny you mention the Pittsburgh game. I actually made a comment to my buddy about how Pittsburgh's identity has changed a bit over the past couple of seasons. They sucked at running the ball last year, too, and really struggled in short yardage situations. It's truly Big Ben's team, now. With the absence of a stout running game, as Ben goes, so go the Steelers.

I agree we shouldn't abandon the run. And, much like the Steelers last week, we'll be facing a stout rush defense this week. I just have very little faith that we can lean on our running game to control football games. And, unless we demonstrate throughout the season that we can be consistent with it, it's going to spell trouble late in the year with a tough December schedule. It's been said before that a solid running game travels better than a spectacular passing attack. That's never more true than in December and January when the temperatures dip and you have to win a tough game in Chicago, Green Bay, or New York.

 

[TD-33]

It's truly Big Ben's team, now. With the absence of a stout running game, as Ben goes, so go the Steelers....

True except when he screws up or can't get it done he knows the defense will either do it themselves or fetch him the ball so he can try, try again.

 

[skinsscalper]

True except when he screws up or can't get it done he knows the defense will either do it themselves or fetch him the ball so he can try, try again.

That is true, also. Actually the defense is the most dangerous aspect of the Steelers team. They constantly give Rothlesberger the field positon advantage through turnovers and a stack of 3 and outs.

If the Titans even had a pedestrian group of receivers, they'd be the same way. Though Gage may end up being pretty special for them this year. Time will tell. Doesn't look like that defense misses Haynesworth one bit this year. They looked damn good against the Steelers the other night.

 

[TD-33]

Yeah Collins was playing a very solid game. But when you have Robomalu darting around making every tackle, intercepting the ball it makes it tough. When he went down there was a significant difference in their defense.