mmohican29
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 7,482
- Reaction score
- 6,404
I had to work yesterday so I didn't want to comment on the team's performance until I had seen the game in its' entirety.
I knew what the score was and I knew how the fan reactions were and I know that may of our concerns are valid, but:
I dont think the Cowboys played badly at all.
This was a game where I think we outcoached ourselves a little bit on the offensive side of the ball, and I think the defensive performance was pretty damn near flawless, minus a few missed tackles and third down conversions.
A few observations shine through from this ballgame:
Offensively:
3 Good RB's or not, we are a PASSING football team first and foremost. This Cowboys team must establish a rhythm passing game early and let the rest of the offense grow around it through 60 mins of football.
Romo has to be the focal point of the offense and fight through his hit or miss accuracy series to series for this team to score the points it can, and usually does- game to game.
I have seen this team move the football effectively on the ground, but to the detriment of the OVERALL points scored. This is what happened yesterday.
Barber looked good early. Then a fumble. We go back to the run and it comes up a bit short. Third down- stuffed. B
efore you know it the game is in the 2nd Qtr and Romo is completely out of synch in the passing game.
The passing game needs to be established FIRST for this team to have the success it can down the road.
Defensively:
Another strong performance... it's just unsettling that our breakdowns seem to concentrate around a certain #41 in your program. He's not playing "badly" per se... but he seems to keep our D on the field more than he has on the past with penalties or getting beaten or guessing wrong- which he did to Dave Campo's dismay (lol). BTW good job by Campo jumping his *** on the sidelines.
Scandrick I thought played fairly well in this ballgame despite his critcism. He seems to be in position on every down, but it's the quick hitters that hurt this team most, and they have and still center around the slot CB, whoever it is in coverage. If we can get even a notch better play from Orlando, we will be a dominant D.
Jenkins is a complete stud, and that illegal contact penalty was as bogus as it gets. IMO, Jenkins is looking like he will be a top 5 CB within a year's time. He's arrived and playing lights out even with a fairly painful injury to his arm.
Ratliff and Ware- seem to be in a bit of a slump. DeMarcus is active and gets pressure and may have had a few half sacks, but he's still not at his '08 level or even close. On some plays seems too easily pushed to the perimeter of the pocket.
Jay is fighting an injury I think, but I don't think he would tell anyone if he were limited a little bit. Loved Olshanksy's play in this game tho.
Great job overall by the D and again give credit to Wade- his unit continues to improve week to week by correcting mistakes quickly ballgame to ballgame.
I think we right the ship so to speak vs Oakland. I'm looking for a great offensive performance because I don't think we're as far off as some would have us believing.
The Defense might be good enough for a Super Bowl run right now if it gets help from the Offense again.
Thoughts?
I knew what the score was and I knew how the fan reactions were and I know that may of our concerns are valid, but:
I dont think the Cowboys played badly at all.
This was a game where I think we outcoached ourselves a little bit on the offensive side of the ball, and I think the defensive performance was pretty damn near flawless, minus a few missed tackles and third down conversions.
A few observations shine through from this ballgame:
Offensively:
3 Good RB's or not, we are a PASSING football team first and foremost. This Cowboys team must establish a rhythm passing game early and let the rest of the offense grow around it through 60 mins of football.
Romo has to be the focal point of the offense and fight through his hit or miss accuracy series to series for this team to score the points it can, and usually does- game to game.
I have seen this team move the football effectively on the ground, but to the detriment of the OVERALL points scored. This is what happened yesterday.
Barber looked good early. Then a fumble. We go back to the run and it comes up a bit short. Third down- stuffed. B
efore you know it the game is in the 2nd Qtr and Romo is completely out of synch in the passing game.
The passing game needs to be established FIRST for this team to have the success it can down the road.
Defensively:
Another strong performance... it's just unsettling that our breakdowns seem to concentrate around a certain #41 in your program. He's not playing "badly" per se... but he seems to keep our D on the field more than he has on the past with penalties or getting beaten or guessing wrong- which he did to Dave Campo's dismay (lol). BTW good job by Campo jumping his *** on the sidelines.
Scandrick I thought played fairly well in this ballgame despite his critcism. He seems to be in position on every down, but it's the quick hitters that hurt this team most, and they have and still center around the slot CB, whoever it is in coverage. If we can get even a notch better play from Orlando, we will be a dominant D.
Jenkins is a complete stud, and that illegal contact penalty was as bogus as it gets. IMO, Jenkins is looking like he will be a top 5 CB within a year's time. He's arrived and playing lights out even with a fairly painful injury to his arm.
Ratliff and Ware- seem to be in a bit of a slump. DeMarcus is active and gets pressure and may have had a few half sacks, but he's still not at his '08 level or even close. On some plays seems too easily pushed to the perimeter of the pocket.
Jay is fighting an injury I think, but I don't think he would tell anyone if he were limited a little bit. Loved Olshanksy's play in this game tho.
Great job overall by the D and again give credit to Wade- his unit continues to improve week to week by correcting mistakes quickly ballgame to ballgame.
I think we right the ship so to speak vs Oakland. I'm looking for a great offensive performance because I don't think we're as far off as some would have us believing.
The Defense might be good enough for a Super Bowl run right now if it gets help from the Offense again.
Thoughts?
.