YosemiteSam
Unfriendly and Aloof!
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A simple breakdown.
Julius Jones: Is not an NFL back. Last night what I saw is what we've been getting for a while now. If someone touches him, he is down. He doesn't have the vision to be an NFL running back. Last night, I saw a run were if he would have cut right (from what I can see on TV) he would have had open field yet instead he ran right into a pack of defenders.
The only thing Jones seems to have is wheels, (as we saw in the 77 yard scamper) problems is those wheels are made out of Gingerbread. One touch and they crumble. In the NFL you can't expect a team to open up a whole the size of the english channel everytime you run the ball. The outcome, Jones should not return next year. That doesn't mean I think Barber needs to be the starting back. I think he lacks the speed required to be a starting back. I think he is perfect for the position he plays now.
Romo: The Golden Child isn't so golden anymore. Actually, I think he is playing about the same except he is facing more pressure. Many of his throws arn't as accurate as they should be. That is correctable problem, and I still think he is the Cowboys future. I think he is going to be a very good QB, he just won't maintain the same level of play we saw in the first 5 games as a starter. He has been less than steller the last two.
Defense: What a mess last night. They were not ready to play at all last night. On Bush's TD, Bradie James didn'y look like he was paying any attention. The play had complete developed before he even left the stop he was standing at when the play started. The Cowboys were playing a 2 deep zone and Roy Williams gave up another TD as did Keith Davis. You should never give up deep TDs when you are playing a two deep zone. The safety play was laughable. I'm glad we signed a new safety, to bad he is a strong safety just like Williams and Davis. (sure he started his career as a free safety, but there is a reason he didn't stay there) The defensive line started out like they wanted to make a point and they did. Then they didn't only return to their ways, they regressed.
Refs: I don't blame the Cowboys loss on the refs, but that was a pretty bad display last night too. Several calls on Ware were odd to say the least. The "actions unrealated to football" call on the false start was dumb. The offsides on Ware's sack was stupid. At best it *could* have been a neutral zone infraction for leaning into the neutral zone. The ball was snapped before Ware's feet moved from their set position.
Zimmer: Zimmer got owned last night. While the players were a huge part of the loss, you can't blame them for all of it. I expected a Two Deep Man defense. That isn't what we got. We got full blown zone and Brees ate the Cowboys secondary for breakfast since we didn't have a pass rush. Akin Ayodele cannot pass rush, stop sending him. He is good stopping the run, but it ends there. Bradie James can't either. Maybe it's not such a bad move to convert Carpenter to inside LBer. I think he will have some pass rush skills and we need to be able to rush up the middle at times. Without Ellis, we have nothing opposite Ware. This Karney guy ran over us. Most of the time he was not covered at all. So many people hate cliches, but they exist because they are true. Fool me once, shame on you, fool be twice shame on me. Karney ate our lunch at least six times, yet Zimmer never adjusted. Who's to shame when you've been fooled six times? I like Zimmer, I think he has a good football mind, but I find single big flaw in his game. A sheer lack of ability to adjust.
Keith Davis: I've been protecting this guy because he is playing out of position. (Strong Safety playing Free Safety) Well, after last nights display. No more free passes. Strong safeties are expected to be able to play zone. Williams and Davis looked like high school players last night. If you are playing a two deep zone, you had better not give up a long TD.
Receivers: Their age is showing. Glenn and Owens are starting to show their age (over 30) They still have talent, don't get me wrong. Glenn made some big plays last night, but both Owens and Glenn fade in and out of the game. Owens was playing against a shorter weaker opponent yet he couldn't dominate him. While I'm not a fan of Plaxico Burress, one thing he does is dominate smaller CBs. Owens doesn't do that anymore. It goes back to my rule of refusing to sign any free agent over 30 years old. I'm not saying Owens is a bust, but what I am saying is Owens today isn't the same Owens of the 2004 season and before. Also, Crayton has to play with more focus. When he plays with focus he is a dominating third receiver, if he doesn't. Mistakes a bound and effort lacking.
Offensive Line: Romo makes the line look better, but they still have holes. There is a reason you are seeing more protection even with Romo's mobility. Three tackle sets, RBs and TE staying in for protection instead of giving Romo more weapons. To top it off, the running game isn't what it should be. Of course I lay part of the blame on Jones. A brisk wind will blow him over. (Gingerbread wheels)
******
The good,
Miles Austin is looking good on returns. I hope to see more of him receiving next year in preseason.
Even with Romo's struggles, I see something in him. (and I don't mean through homer glasses or just because he was playing good) I think part of it is held down by Parcells trying to control his wild aggressiveness. Then again, I think his inexperiece with his wildness can cause more problems that it will fix. I think we are on the right track even though the struggles are starting. Without question, the offensive line must be repaired. It IS the most important part of an offense. Far more important than receivers, RBs and QBs.
Special Teams: Even with a few problems on special teams, they are playing very well overall. (besides our kicking issues)
In the end, I think Parcells has softened up and doesn't control the team like he used too. I think he needs to take more control in the defense and also he needs to hire an offensive coordinator. I believe an offense cannot run by committee, I beleive most things cannot operate that way, it's why you have presidents, Kings, Generals, CEOs, etc. Some single person has to be running the show.
Julius Jones: Is not an NFL back. Last night what I saw is what we've been getting for a while now. If someone touches him, he is down. He doesn't have the vision to be an NFL running back. Last night, I saw a run were if he would have cut right (from what I can see on TV) he would have had open field yet instead he ran right into a pack of defenders.
The only thing Jones seems to have is wheels, (as we saw in the 77 yard scamper) problems is those wheels are made out of Gingerbread. One touch and they crumble. In the NFL you can't expect a team to open up a whole the size of the english channel everytime you run the ball. The outcome, Jones should not return next year. That doesn't mean I think Barber needs to be the starting back. I think he lacks the speed required to be a starting back. I think he is perfect for the position he plays now.Romo: The Golden Child isn't so golden anymore. Actually, I think he is playing about the same except he is facing more pressure. Many of his throws arn't as accurate as they should be. That is correctable problem, and I still think he is the Cowboys future. I think he is going to be a very good QB, he just won't maintain the same level of play we saw in the first 5 games as a starter. He has been less than steller the last two.
Defense: What a mess last night. They were not ready to play at all last night. On Bush's TD, Bradie James didn'y look like he was paying any attention. The play had complete developed before he even left the stop he was standing at when the play started. The Cowboys were playing a 2 deep zone and Roy Williams gave up another TD as did Keith Davis. You should never give up deep TDs when you are playing a two deep zone. The safety play was laughable. I'm glad we signed a new safety, to bad he is a strong safety just like Williams and Davis. (sure he started his career as a free safety, but there is a reason he didn't stay there) The defensive line started out like they wanted to make a point and they did. Then they didn't only return to their ways, they regressed.
Refs: I don't blame the Cowboys loss on the refs, but that was a pretty bad display last night too. Several calls on Ware were odd to say the least. The "actions unrealated to football" call on the false start was dumb. The offsides on Ware's sack was stupid. At best it *could* have been a neutral zone infraction for leaning into the neutral zone. The ball was snapped before Ware's feet moved from their set position.
Zimmer: Zimmer got owned last night. While the players were a huge part of the loss, you can't blame them for all of it. I expected a Two Deep Man defense. That isn't what we got. We got full blown zone and Brees ate the Cowboys secondary for breakfast since we didn't have a pass rush. Akin Ayodele cannot pass rush, stop sending him. He is good stopping the run, but it ends there. Bradie James can't either. Maybe it's not such a bad move to convert Carpenter to inside LBer. I think he will have some pass rush skills and we need to be able to rush up the middle at times. Without Ellis, we have nothing opposite Ware. This Karney guy ran over us. Most of the time he was not covered at all. So many people hate cliches, but they exist because they are true. Fool me once, shame on you, fool be twice shame on me. Karney ate our lunch at least six times, yet Zimmer never adjusted. Who's to shame when you've been fooled six times? I like Zimmer, I think he has a good football mind, but I find single big flaw in his game. A sheer lack of ability to adjust.
Keith Davis: I've been protecting this guy because he is playing out of position. (Strong Safety playing Free Safety) Well, after last nights display. No more free passes. Strong safeties are expected to be able to play zone. Williams and Davis looked like high school players last night. If you are playing a two deep zone, you had better not give up a long TD.
Receivers: Their age is showing. Glenn and Owens are starting to show their age (over 30) They still have talent, don't get me wrong. Glenn made some big plays last night, but both Owens and Glenn fade in and out of the game. Owens was playing against a shorter weaker opponent yet he couldn't dominate him. While I'm not a fan of Plaxico Burress, one thing he does is dominate smaller CBs. Owens doesn't do that anymore. It goes back to my rule of refusing to sign any free agent over 30 years old. I'm not saying Owens is a bust, but what I am saying is Owens today isn't the same Owens of the 2004 season and before. Also, Crayton has to play with more focus. When he plays with focus he is a dominating third receiver, if he doesn't. Mistakes a bound and effort lacking.
Offensive Line: Romo makes the line look better, but they still have holes. There is a reason you are seeing more protection even with Romo's mobility. Three tackle sets, RBs and TE staying in for protection instead of giving Romo more weapons. To top it off, the running game isn't what it should be. Of course I lay part of the blame on Jones. A brisk wind will blow him over. (Gingerbread wheels)
******
The good,
Miles Austin is looking good on returns. I hope to see more of him receiving next year in preseason.
Even with Romo's struggles, I see something in him. (and I don't mean through homer glasses or just because he was playing good) I think part of it is held down by Parcells trying to control his wild aggressiveness. Then again, I think his inexperiece with his wildness can cause more problems that it will fix. I think we are on the right track even though the struggles are starting. Without question, the offensive line must be repaired. It IS the most important part of an offense. Far more important than receivers, RBs and QBs.
Special Teams: Even with a few problems on special teams, they are playing very well overall. (besides our kicking issues)
In the end, I think Parcells has softened up and doesn't control the team like he used too. I think he needs to take more control in the defense and also he needs to hire an offensive coordinator. I believe an offense cannot run by committee, I beleive most things cannot operate that way, it's why you have presidents, Kings, Generals, CEOs, etc. Some single person has to be running the show.
