Hostile
The Duke
- Messages
- 119,565
- Reaction score
- 4,544
Thanks to Suspect Corner for this one. This is the greatness that is Blackie Sherrod.
Blackie Sherrod: Kiddie Cowboys spank elder Eagles
1/11/1993
IRVING – Out of the mouths of babes, like it says in the Book of Psalms. Out of the yaps of young 'uns, one may gain strength to silence the foe and the avenger.
And so, from the Texas Stadium pulpit, we refer you to the leathery Philadelphians, a congregation of foes and avengers whom the Cowboy babes silenced Sunday, almost beyond recognition.
Normally, at a large playoff game as this one between the Iggles and Your Heroes, you count the grizzles and the grayhairs on each side and weigh them with great care. Experience is the surest teacher.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/football/
The formula didn't work this time out. The kids won the picnic from here to the parking lot and back. I think the fire marshal estimated the loss at 34-10, but he may have been on the conservative side.
Of course, the Big Cigars had prophesied a Dallas day, but by a narrow margin. If it came down to a test of poise and seasoned intelligence, the older, wiser Iggles figured to have the edge.
Wrong again. There was considerable poise and intellect on display, but it all belonged to the youngsters. Other than one brief opening flare, the Iggles were outpointed, outclassed and, more significantly, outthought.
You sensed the plot early enough. Jimmy Johnson's fuzzcheeks didn't own the ball until halfway through the first period. They also were presented with a 0-3 deficit, a rarity with the Iggles who score in the first quarter about as often as you win the lottery.
But the youths strode to the go-ahead points with the poise of an old wagonmaster. And their confidence, displayed in strategy of Norv Turner from his upstairs sanctum, bordered on arrogance. The effrontery of these chillun! They would give a hotfoot to Amos Alonzo Stagg.
Stalled on the Philadelphia 33, third down and a large eight needed, with a large portion of the civilized world expecting a Troy Aikman pass, Turner called for a draw play by Emmitt Smith. Apparently it caught the Eagles unaware, for Smith slithered through the keyhole for 16 yards.
Actually it all made sense. Rather than shoot the works with a chancy long pass, let Smith gather a few yards and then risk Len Elliott with 45-yard kick. But Smith's longer run gave the Cowboys new life.
A few plays later, Your Heroes were on the Eagle one, courtesy four straight beneficial rushes. Up was second down and here, the laws of civilization demanded another running play. The Eagles stacked what amounted to an eight-man line, their sights set on Smith's stout thighs. And sure enough, Aikman stuck the ball in Smith's direction and the visitors, in their mature ferocity, rose up to smite him dead or very near.
However, instead of giving the ball to his plunging tailback, Aikman pulled it back, rolled out to his right and flipped to an old friend from UCLA with whom he had recently renewed acquaintance. The recipient was fellow named Derek Tennell, whom Mr. Johnson found in the unemployment line just last week. A tight end by trade, Tennell was hired when Alfredo Roberts threw a shoe.
But here are the Cowboys on the one-yard line on second down, the league's leading rusher stomping in his stall. And Norv Turner calls a rollout pass to a rank stranger making his very first appearance in Cowboy blue. Is this cute or what?
"I was surprised we called that play so early," said Aikman. "I thought we would give it another running shot."
"I was surprised they called my number," said Mr. Tennell. I was just thinking, "Don't drop the ( . . . ). You can be the biggest hero or the biggest goat when you're that open."
There were other instances of superior thought. Or, perhaps, lucky thinking, a phrase outlawed from Coach Johnson's vocabulary.
With two minutes left in the first half, ball in excellent position at midfield, first down, Aikman received his instruction and executed – including a nifty double pump – a 41-yard pass to Alvin Harper. And shortly after, with the Cowboys again on the front porch, Turner again called for a second down pass, and Aikman completed this one calmly enough to Jay Novacek in the end zone.
That seemed the most impressive point about the Cowboy offense. The Dallas defense, as usual, was its patient, efficient self, reducing Randall Cunningham to a non-factor, throwing enough ground balls to qualify for Bowling For Dollars. But the Dallas offense simply played smarter than the opposition.
"I don't think they get all the credit they deserve,' said Cunningham. "They are a young team and they'll be around for a while so we, and others, better get used to them."
Perhaps least surprised by the thoroughness of Cowboy superiority was Johnson and his staff. "I felt like we were going to win the game because I felt like we had the best team," said the coach. "I told the players, if they would take care of business Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, then the deal was done."
Johnson was so confident that he broke one of his cardinal rules. He looked ahead. Prior to Sunday's game, he spoke with workmen about wetting down his practice field next week, to prepare for soggy footing expected at Candlestick Park, where the 49ers already awaited, one playoff week hence.
Blackie Sherrod: Kiddie Cowboys spank elder Eagles
1/11/1993
IRVING – Out of the mouths of babes, like it says in the Book of Psalms. Out of the yaps of young 'uns, one may gain strength to silence the foe and the avenger.
And so, from the Texas Stadium pulpit, we refer you to the leathery Philadelphians, a congregation of foes and avengers whom the Cowboy babes silenced Sunday, almost beyond recognition.
Normally, at a large playoff game as this one between the Iggles and Your Heroes, you count the grizzles and the grayhairs on each side and weigh them with great care. Experience is the surest teacher.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/football/
The formula didn't work this time out. The kids won the picnic from here to the parking lot and back. I think the fire marshal estimated the loss at 34-10, but he may have been on the conservative side.
Of course, the Big Cigars had prophesied a Dallas day, but by a narrow margin. If it came down to a test of poise and seasoned intelligence, the older, wiser Iggles figured to have the edge.
Wrong again. There was considerable poise and intellect on display, but it all belonged to the youngsters. Other than one brief opening flare, the Iggles were outpointed, outclassed and, more significantly, outthought.
You sensed the plot early enough. Jimmy Johnson's fuzzcheeks didn't own the ball until halfway through the first period. They also were presented with a 0-3 deficit, a rarity with the Iggles who score in the first quarter about as often as you win the lottery.
But the youths strode to the go-ahead points with the poise of an old wagonmaster. And their confidence, displayed in strategy of Norv Turner from his upstairs sanctum, bordered on arrogance. The effrontery of these chillun! They would give a hotfoot to Amos Alonzo Stagg.
Stalled on the Philadelphia 33, third down and a large eight needed, with a large portion of the civilized world expecting a Troy Aikman pass, Turner called for a draw play by Emmitt Smith. Apparently it caught the Eagles unaware, for Smith slithered through the keyhole for 16 yards.
Actually it all made sense. Rather than shoot the works with a chancy long pass, let Smith gather a few yards and then risk Len Elliott with 45-yard kick. But Smith's longer run gave the Cowboys new life.
A few plays later, Your Heroes were on the Eagle one, courtesy four straight beneficial rushes. Up was second down and here, the laws of civilization demanded another running play. The Eagles stacked what amounted to an eight-man line, their sights set on Smith's stout thighs. And sure enough, Aikman stuck the ball in Smith's direction and the visitors, in their mature ferocity, rose up to smite him dead or very near.
However, instead of giving the ball to his plunging tailback, Aikman pulled it back, rolled out to his right and flipped to an old friend from UCLA with whom he had recently renewed acquaintance. The recipient was fellow named Derek Tennell, whom Mr. Johnson found in the unemployment line just last week. A tight end by trade, Tennell was hired when Alfredo Roberts threw a shoe.
But here are the Cowboys on the one-yard line on second down, the league's leading rusher stomping in his stall. And Norv Turner calls a rollout pass to a rank stranger making his very first appearance in Cowboy blue. Is this cute or what?
"I was surprised we called that play so early," said Aikman. "I thought we would give it another running shot."
"I was surprised they called my number," said Mr. Tennell. I was just thinking, "Don't drop the ( . . . ). You can be the biggest hero or the biggest goat when you're that open."
There were other instances of superior thought. Or, perhaps, lucky thinking, a phrase outlawed from Coach Johnson's vocabulary.
With two minutes left in the first half, ball in excellent position at midfield, first down, Aikman received his instruction and executed – including a nifty double pump – a 41-yard pass to Alvin Harper. And shortly after, with the Cowboys again on the front porch, Turner again called for a second down pass, and Aikman completed this one calmly enough to Jay Novacek in the end zone.
That seemed the most impressive point about the Cowboy offense. The Dallas defense, as usual, was its patient, efficient self, reducing Randall Cunningham to a non-factor, throwing enough ground balls to qualify for Bowling For Dollars. But the Dallas offense simply played smarter than the opposition.
"I don't think they get all the credit they deserve,' said Cunningham. "They are a young team and they'll be around for a while so we, and others, better get used to them."
Perhaps least surprised by the thoroughness of Cowboy superiority was Johnson and his staff. "I felt like we were going to win the game because I felt like we had the best team," said the coach. "I told the players, if they would take care of business Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, then the deal was done."
Johnson was so confident that he broke one of his cardinal rules. He looked ahead. Prior to Sunday's game, he spoke with workmen about wetting down his practice field next week, to prepare for soggy footing expected at Candlestick Park, where the 49ers already awaited, one playoff week hence.
