Gameday thoughts

[dbair1967]

I guess this is a must win, but I'm not sure they can win. To me last week was THE must win, because the Rams are terrible and nobody really expected us to beat Tampa or NYG with Brad Johnson, especially with how he looked last week. I cant see him looking much better against two teams with vastly better defenses than STL had.

1) I wonder if they will play Bollinger today. His arm strength probably isnt that much better than Johnson's, but he is more mobile and that could give him a better chance against the pass rush.

2) Speaking of the OL, its paramount that we be able to run the ball today and run it consistently. I suspect that wont happen, and I also expect Tampa's front 4 to eat up our OL on pass downs.

3) Is there any WR Anthony Henry can play one on one anymore? At least Garcia doesnt have much of an arm either and even if their WR's run by him, he has a chance because the ball might not get there.

4) Will our new Roy Williams catch a pass today? Witten should be able to get open all over the middle of Tampa's cover-2, but we need someone to step up and make some plays on the outside. If Tampa really smothers our outside WR's, the 2 TE sets with Witten and Bennett could be huge.

5) Can the defense stop the run today? It's probably the key to us having a chance vs Tampa.

My expectations are so low now that I actually have none. Frankly I'll be surprised if the game is close. I hope I'm wrong and we somehow pull out a much needed win, but unfortunately I see something like a 27-7 loss. Our offense wont be able to block anybody, we'll have a few turnovers, we wont force any and the special teams will make two or three really awful plays. Jones says he has no intention of firing Phillips, but I wonder if a blowout home loss where the fans boo the team off the field would cause Jones to reconsider that.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

come off the ledge blair!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goliadmike]

I agree dbair, but you left out our secondary problems. If we play off the ball again and allow those little slants to be completed I can see Bryant and Galloway turning them into big gains with our tackling problems or just using them as a running game to kill us slowly.

Like you I just hope they come out with some fight show us they are embarrassed, show us they care and at least be competitive.

 

[This is Our Year]

All week I was pretty confident we would bounce back for what ever the reason. Now that it's game day I'm very nervous. I don't have a good feeling all of a sudden.

Two keys and neither is ground breaking, Defense steps up and FINALLY plays a good game, Brad Johnson doesn't throw 3 ints.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I want to see if the Dallas Cowboys will circle the wagon and rally around the following themes:

1) The Cowboys are soft

2) The Cowobys are done

3) Wade Phillips will be fired if he loses this game

The Tampa Bay Bucs are a better team than the St. Louis Rams, so I have little faith in Brad Johnson or even Bollinger.

I just don't think this team has any heart and I don't know when the last time I felt this group did have heart.

 

[dbair1967]

I want to see if the Dallas Cowboys will circle the wagon and rally around the following themes:

1) The Cowboys are soft

2) The Cowobys are done

3) Wade Phillips will be fired if he loses this game

The Tampa Bay Bucs are a better team than the St. Louis Rams, so I have little faith in Brad Johnson or even Bollinger.

I just don't think this team has any heart and I don't know when the last time I felt this group did have heart.

been awhile...and it aint coming back this yr I'm afraid

 

[DaBoys4Life]

been awhile...and it aint coming back this yr I'm afraid

yeah and it's sad.

 

[RCowboyFan]

been awhile...and it aint coming back this yr I'm afraid

I am afraid I came to that conclusion after Arizona game and then got re-affirmed after St. Lious game.

And I coming to conclusion, Cowboys will never get to SB, with Jerry as GM, and since he ain't going re-sign as GM, I guess I just don't see much of hope.

I would love to be proved wrong though.

 

[boyz04]

In order for the team to win nobody should be wearing a blue jersey...its pretty plain and simple...White jersey=win!!!

 

[LowTech]

And I coming to conclusion, Cowboys will never get to SB, with Jerry as GM, and since he ain't going re-sign as GM, I guess I just don't see much of hope.

I would love to be proved wrong though.

You must be forgetting we have already been to the SB 3 times with Jerry as GM.

 

[EveryoneElse]

I look at it this way. No suprises today.

I won't be suprised if we get:

Blown Out: It's an ugly thing when a team quits on it's coach.

Lose a close one: This team can't win a close game with brad Johnson and this defense.

Win big: Stranger things have happened.

Win close: Nick Folk is about the only player I have confidence in right now, and even he started to scare me last week.

 

[RCowboyFan]

You must be forgetting we have already been to the SB 3 times with Jerry as GM.

Oh Please!!

And second, its not his talent acquistion I have major issues with. Its his HC selections I have issues with.

 

[bbgun]

Had BJ shown me anything last week, I'd feel a lot better about today's game. What good are TO and RW if the QB can't get them the ball?

 

[Smith22]

Had BJ shown me anything last week, I'd feel a lot better about today's game. What good are TO and RW if the QB can't get them the ball?

Yeah. Brad has to show much better today for us to get a W. Hopefully Brad and the defense both show up and we get that much needed W! Would it save the season? Who knows? But it sure would be a step in the right direction!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think we're going to take a hellacious beating.

 

[Chuck 54]

dbair1967

I guess this is a must win, but I'm not sure they can win. To me last week was THE must win, because the Rams are terrible and nobody really expected us to beat Tampa or NYG with Brad Johnson, especially with how he looked last week. I cant see him looking much better against two teams with vastly better defenses than STL had.

1) I wonder if they will play Bollinger today. His arm strength probably isnt that much better than Johnson's, but he is more mobile and that could give him a better chance against the pass rush.I don't think Bollinger is ready...however, I'm sure he's the #2 guy today, and while Brad can't carry this team, if everyone else is doing their job and Brad is the player costing us the win, then I would expect us to go to Bollinger sometime in the second half.

2) Speaking of the OL, its paramount that we be able to run the ball today and run it consistently. I suspect that wont happen, and I also expect Tampa's front 4 to eat up our OL on pass downs. I agree with you, and if Tampa plays the cover 2 with both safeties back, there will be no excuse for NOT running the ball effectively unless our OL just really sucks...we may have to throw first to open up some running...I hope they let Brad throw a little on first down.

3) Is there any WR Anthony Henry can play one on one anymore? At least Garcia doesnt have much of an arm either and even if their WR's run by him, he has a chance because the ball might not get there. If we had to face Bryant and Galloway, with HIlliard as #3, I think we'd be in big trouble...I'm hoping we only see Bryant and get a good pass rush on Garcia...most importantly, I think, we have to stop the run and the outlet passes to Dunn if he's playing...I think we can win this game if we make them one-dimensional.

4) Will our new Roy Williams catch a pass today? Witten should be able to get open all over the middle of Tampa's cover-2, but we need someone to step up and make some plays on the outside. If Tampa really smothers our outside WR's, the 2 TE sets with Witten and Bennett could be huge. I expect Roy and TO to take turns, one running the slant on a 3-step drop, and the other running a deeper route or a double move...both TO and Roy are big physical targets...if they can't run the slants, again, we just aren't very good...you can't take the slant away on both sides of the field. I think we need to use max protection and let Witten sometimes release on a delay...he should have a big game.

5) Can the defense stop the run today? It's probably the key to us having a chance vs Tampa.Yep...I already jumped the gun on that one...if we don't stop the run, we're toast.

My expectations are so low now that I actually have none. Frankly I'll be surprised if the game is close. I hope I'm wrong and we somehow pull out a much needed win, but unfortunately I see something like a 27-7 loss. Our offense wont be able to block anybody, we'll have a few turnovers, we wont force any and the special teams will make two or three really awful plays. Jones says he has no intention of firing Phillips, but I wonder if a blowout home loss where the fans boo the team off the field would cause Jones to reconsider that.[/QUOTE]

I am actually foolishly hopeful, but very anxious. I expect the defense to show up and play with a little pride today and hold Tampa below 20 points...if we can't, then we have some serious talent and character issues on defense, imo...my greatest concern is the OL doing a good enough job to allow our offense to put 20-24 points on the board, which is what I think we need...we CANNOT turn the ball over, and We CANNOT allow any big special teams plays.

 

[WarC]

I'm gonna draw a parallel to the Wisconsin Badgers this year.


Before the college season started, the Badgers were ranked 8th nationally with Rose Bowl aspirations, the glimmer of the BCS Title Game in sight.

Well, they came out to a 3-0 start and then proceeded to lose, lose lose. They are now an unranked team and before yesterday had lost four games in a row.

The QB, Allan Evridge, was a turnover making machine - The guy was NOT the answer because in games his composure falls apart and he throws all over the place.

The coach two games ago replaced Evridge with Dustin Sherer, the second QB.

In Sherer's first game he was pretty rough and turned the ball over a few times in a loss.

But yesterday, against Illinois, Wisconsin at 3-4 won to go to 4-4. Sherer did not turn the ball over and threw for a TD and rushed for a TD to win 27-17. It wasn't a blowout and Sherer is no superstar QB, but he got the win and played smart football with short throws and a power running game.



A team of good talent who finds a QB to "drive the bus" can WORK. The Badgers were in freefall until a guy who put the ball in the right places and didn't make stupid mistakes came in to direct the show.

I believe Brad Johnson can drive the bus today for the Cowboys. He doesn't need to win the game by himself and he doesn't need to throw for 400 yards. He just needs to put the ball in the right place. We'll go one step at a time. Step 1: Win Today. Run hard, run often, throw short. Don't turn the ball over and victory is ours.

I'm ready, I'm optimistic, and I think we'll win this game. I got faith in Brad Johnson!

 

[big dog cowboy]

My expectations are so low now that I actually have none. Frankly I'll be surprised if the game is close. I hope I'm wrong and we somehow pull out a much needed win, but unfortunately I see something like a 27-7 loss.

I understand where you are coming from. But it won't be that bad today.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

The ol will be the key to VICTORY