leeblair
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Two years ago, the Dallas Cowboys were humiliated on a Sunday night on national television by the New Orleans Saints.
Sean Payton correctly game planned for our offense, and it was as if the defenders knew the pass patterns, and were sitting there waiting on the recievers. The linemen contained Romo in the pocket, and silenced our brand new superstar as we all sat in disappointment.
It didn't have to happen that way. Bill Parcells wouldn't adjust, even after it was clear that New Orleans had our number. The linemen containing Romo, and the Defenders sitting back waiting on the recievers left a glaring hole in the New Orleans defense- the screen pass- yet Parcells never called the first one. The result was a humiliating loss on national tv, sending critics into a frenzy because the Cowboys weren't as good as they thought they were.
But, it wasn't like that. Adjustments would have allowed our offense to control the ball, and take it away from New Orlean's offense. Parcells wouldn't make them, but Jason Garrett does.
But, under Parcells, no one quit until the final whistle. Last year, they began to assume that lowly teams would fold, and began to play somewhat lackadaisically in the early parts of games. The result was a couple of close calls, and an early exit from the playoffs.
Despite our offense getting out of sync, and lacking continuity last year, the one strength we had was Jason Garrett's willingness to "shoot from the hip"; which allowed the offense to change plays and redirect their game plan as needed in the middle of the game to exploit weaknesses in the other team's defense.
Garrett's first season was a success. If he can correct the overconfidence, and the apathy that led this team to play uninspired- as if they thought the other teams would just fold when they walked onto the field, and go back to playing 60 minutes of football, the Cowboys should move to the next level easily, and bring home the trophy this year.
But, this idea that teams that are struggling will just quit when they see the Cowboys walk on the field must stop. Two years ago, the Panthers seemed to be ready to cruise to an easy victory agaisnt the Cowboys- but the Cowboys were just getting ready to play, and didn't quite agree. The Cowboys came from behind, and defeated the Panthers in an embarassing loss to them at home, launching a playoff run that ended in heartbreak for us in Seattle.
This past season, the Cowboys seemed to change from that team that took nothing for granted, and played the full 60 minutes, to a team that seemed to think they would walk out with an easy victory- often surprised when the other team didn't agree.
So, their strength they have gained, versus a weakness they have developed, must be tuned up this year. Get rid of that weakness, and we've got ourselves something to be excited about.
Sean Payton correctly game planned for our offense, and it was as if the defenders knew the pass patterns, and were sitting there waiting on the recievers. The linemen contained Romo in the pocket, and silenced our brand new superstar as we all sat in disappointment.
It didn't have to happen that way. Bill Parcells wouldn't adjust, even after it was clear that New Orleans had our number. The linemen containing Romo, and the Defenders sitting back waiting on the recievers left a glaring hole in the New Orleans defense- the screen pass- yet Parcells never called the first one. The result was a humiliating loss on national tv, sending critics into a frenzy because the Cowboys weren't as good as they thought they were.
But, it wasn't like that. Adjustments would have allowed our offense to control the ball, and take it away from New Orlean's offense. Parcells wouldn't make them, but Jason Garrett does.
But, under Parcells, no one quit until the final whistle. Last year, they began to assume that lowly teams would fold, and began to play somewhat lackadaisically in the early parts of games. The result was a couple of close calls, and an early exit from the playoffs.
Despite our offense getting out of sync, and lacking continuity last year, the one strength we had was Jason Garrett's willingness to "shoot from the hip"; which allowed the offense to change plays and redirect their game plan as needed in the middle of the game to exploit weaknesses in the other team's defense.
Garrett's first season was a success. If he can correct the overconfidence, and the apathy that led this team to play uninspired- as if they thought the other teams would just fold when they walked onto the field, and go back to playing 60 minutes of football, the Cowboys should move to the next level easily, and bring home the trophy this year.
But, this idea that teams that are struggling will just quit when they see the Cowboys walk on the field must stop. Two years ago, the Panthers seemed to be ready to cruise to an easy victory agaisnt the Cowboys- but the Cowboys were just getting ready to play, and didn't quite agree. The Cowboys came from behind, and defeated the Panthers in an embarassing loss to them at home, launching a playoff run that ended in heartbreak for us in Seattle.
This past season, the Cowboys seemed to change from that team that took nothing for granted, and played the full 60 minutes, to a team that seemed to think they would walk out with an easy victory- often surprised when the other team didn't agree.
So, their strength they have gained, versus a weakness they have developed, must be tuned up this year. Get rid of that weakness, and we've got ourselves something to be excited about.
