Henry's 80-yard blitz

[jesusphreak]

One play that REALLY stood out to me yesterday and I thought was one of the worst calls I've seen on defense all year was the decision to blitz Henry when it 3rd down and the Eagles were backed up inside the 15.

Philly hadn't had a single sustained drive all day (they never did), and we had the momentum at that point. If you remember, it was 21-17. Yet for whatever reason, instead of making Philly drive down the field to score on us, we blitz our cornerback, leaving our rookie free saftey exposed 1 on 1 with a receiver. Not suprisingly, perhaps, that led to an 80-yard TD and it was from that point on that the Cowboys were fighting an uphill battle.

I just really hated the playcall there. I understand being aggressive, but there are much smarter ways than that.

 

[Marktui]

I agree, horrible call!!

 

[Cowboy4ever]

One play that REALLY stood out to me yesterday and I thought was one of the worst calls I've seen on defense all year was the decision to blitz Henry when it 3rd down and the Eagles were backed up inside the 15.

Philly hadn't had a single sustained drive all day (they never did), and we had the momentum at that point. If you remember, it was 21-17. Yet for whatever reason, instead of making Philly drive down the field to score on us, we blitz our cornerback, leaving our rookie free saftey exposed 1 on 1 with a receiver. Not suprisingly, perhaps, that led to an 80-yard TD and it was from that point on that the Cowboys were fighting an uphill battle.

I just really hated the playcall there. I understand being aggressive, but there are much smarter ways than that.

I Disagree. The result was bad, but it was not the play call that caused it. The blitzed actually worked. ELLIS missed the tackle, he was free and had a clear shot at Mcnabb and missed, can't blame the players not executing on the coach's.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

One play that REALLY stood out to me yesterday and I thought was one of the worst calls I've seen on defense all year was the decision to blitz Henry when it 3rd down and the Eagles were backed up inside the 15.

Philly hadn't had a single sustained drive all day (they never did), and we had the momentum at that point. If you remember, it was 21-17. Yet for whatever reason, instead of making Philly drive down the field to score on us, we blitz our cornerback, leaving our rookie free saftey exposed 1 on 1 with a receiver. Not suprisingly, perhaps, that led to an 80-yard TD and it was from that point on that the Cowboys were fighting an uphill battle.

I just really hated the playcall there. I understand being aggressive, but there are much smarter ways than that.

Well, on the other hand you can say that was aggressive playcalling and taking a chance.

The offense without a doubt wouldnt expect that.

This is a man's league. We took extreme risks with Terence Newman when he was Rook, I see no reason we cant do the same with Watkins.

Heck, Parcells said in a press conference that he was happy with the Rookie so far. Maybe last night, he felt that he could step it up a notch for the Rookie and take more chances.

It didnt work, but we can extremely close to sacking McNabb on that play.

The only suggestion I could see is maybe blitzing Newman.
- Mike G.

 

[superpunk]

I hate Zimmer for being too aggressive.

 

[jwhardin]

I don't understand why you would bring a blizter from that far from the QB

 

[Hostile]

I hate Zimmer for being too aggressive.

:laugh2:

 

[acheman]

This sounds like a good place for a "the play I hated most yesterday" post.

For me I hate the 2nd INT by Bledsoe on the underthrown ball (and I am not sure T.O. was the primary target or not on this play). Why on 3 & 2 do we try to go deep to Owens, rather than picking up the 1st down? We were moving the ball well on that drive, and I think there were still at least 7 minutes in the game. Grind away at the clock and get your TD on that drive, or at least 3. With Philly's big plays all afternoon, I would have been playing keep away at that point, not going for a quick 6. That just bothered me, not just the INT. but that we did not even try to just get the first and keep the drive alive. Of course some will say they liked going for the jugular, and that is well and good, just giving you my honest gut level reaction at the time it happened.

 

[jazzcat22]

One play that REALLY stood out to me yesterday and I thought was one of the worst calls I've seen on defense all year was the decision to blitz Henry when it 3rd down and the Eagles were backed up inside the 15.

Philly hadn't had a single sustained drive all day (they never did), and we had the momentum at that point. If you remember, it was 21-17. Yet for whatever reason, instead of making Philly drive down the field to score on us, we blitz our cornerback, leaving our rookie free saftey exposed 1 on 1 with a receiver. Not suprisingly, perhaps, that led to an 80-yard TD and it was from that point on that the Cowboys were fighting an uphill battle.

I just really hated the playcall there. I understand being aggressive, but there are much smarter ways than that.

And yet again...another ZIMMER ill timed blitz.

 

[jesusphreak]

This sounds like a good place for a "the play I hated most yesterday" post.

For me I hate the 2nd INT by Bledsoe on the underthrown ball (and I am not sure T.O. was the primary target or not on this play). Why on 3 & 2 do we try to go deep to Owens, rather than picking up the 1st down? We were moving the ball well on that drive, and I think there were still at least 7 minutes in the game. Grind away at the clock and get your TD on that drive, or at least 3. With Philly's big plays all afternoon, I would have been playing keep away at that point, not going for a quick 6. That just bothered me, not just the INT. but that we did not even try to just get the first and keep the drive alive. Of course some will say they liked going for the jugular, and that is well and good, just giving you my honest gut level reaction at the time it happened.

Keep in mind that we really struggled on 2nd and 3rd and short yesterday.

 

[Hoofbite]

I Disagree. The result was bad, but it was not the play call that caused it. The blitzed actually worked. ELLIS missed the tackle, he was free and had a clear shot at Mcnabb and missed, can't blame the players not executing on the coach's.

BINGO!!!

The play did work.....if Ellis doesn't miss the tackle, they don't score right there and people praise the call.

What can you do?

 

[Hoofbite]

And yet again...another ZIMMER ill timed blitz.

Did you watch the play? The game even?


That play was a perfect call but Ellis whiffed....he didn't do his job and as a result the play failed.......remind me how that is Zimmers fault?

 

[DallasEast]

One play that REALLY stood out to me yesterday and I thought was one of the worst calls I've seen on defense all year was the decision to blitz Henry when it 3rd down and the Eagles were backed up inside the 15.

Philly hadn't had a single sustained drive all day (they never did), and we had the momentum at that point. If you remember, it was 21-17. Yet for whatever reason, instead of making Philly drive down the field to score on us, we blitz our cornerback, leaving our rookie free saftey exposed 1 on 1 with a receiver. Not suprisingly, perhaps, that led to an 80-yard TD and it was from that point on that the Cowboys were fighting an uphill battle.

I just really hated the playcall there. I understand being aggressive, but there are much smarter ways than that.

If it had been Watkins' only miscue, I would agree, but it wasn't. He also bit hard on the flea flicker to Reggie Brown. A free safety has to always be mindful of never letting a receiver get behind him. He's the last line of defense and he got toasted extra crispy on both plays yesterday. I'm putting the blame solely on Watkins' rookie shoulders for his mistakes. Even with his lack of experience, he's still my favorite at free safety though. Keith Davis can remain on special teams as far as I'm concerned.

 

[acheman]

That is because we never worked the middle of the field with our TE's. All day I kept hoping Bledsoe would just check down to a back in the flats or a TE on a quick out. Just like this play in particular, Witten should be getting a truck load of passes his way, especially on third and short.

 

[superpunk]

Did you watch the play? The game even?


That play was a perfect call but Ellis whiffed....he didn't do his job and as a result the play failed.......remind me how that is Zimmers fault?

I see you're new here.

I'll help you out a bit. Zimmer can be blamed at any time, without reason, for players not executing, big plays, or even global warming. The reasons include, "He's not aggressive enough", "He's too aggressive", and of course "He hates the ozone."

 

[joseephuss]

Did you watch the play? The game even?


That play was a perfect call but Ellis whiffed....he didn't do his job and as a result the play failed.......remind me how that is Zimmers fault?

Two people failed. Ellis first missed the sack and then Watkins bit on the double move. If Watkins just sits back instead of coming forward, that play doesn't work. McNabb was flushed and if Basskett isn't so wide open, he may not even attempt to throw the ball or at worse, it is just incomplete because Watkins is back there. Two guys in Dallas screw up and a good QB does his job.

 

[joseephuss]

If it had been Watkins' only miscue, I would agree, but it wasn't. He also bit hard on the flea flicker to Reggie Brown. A free safety has to always be mindful of never letting a receiver get behind him. He's the last line of defense and he got toasted extra crispy on both plays yesterday. I'm putting the blame solely on Watkins' rookie shoulders for his mistakes. Even with his lack of experience, he's still my favorite at free safety though. Keith Davis can remain on special teams as far as I'm concerned.

You are right, Watkins has to sit back a little and read his keys. I did think that was a good play design on the flea flicker. It wasn't run straight into the middle, but out a little. A little more difficult to read, but still the safeties job to stay back.

 

[jazzcat22]

Did you watch the play? The game even?


That play was a perfect call but Ellis whiffed....he didn't do his job and as a result the play failed.......remind me how that is Zimmers fault?

No, I'm making blind opinions having not seen the game. :

I was being sarcastic. The blocker came off his guy, and picked up Henry just enough to let McNabb step up to avoid Ellis and make a great play. Other teams can make great plays also sometimes. Give the Eagles credit for that one.

 

[Doomsday]

I dont understand why Watkins was in man coverage and Roy was providing deep help on 2 of those long TDs. Shouldnt that be the other way around? How many times do we have to watch Roy take a bad angle on a long ball before it sinks in?

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Two people failed. Ellis first missed the sack and then Watkins bit on the double move. If Watkins just sits back instead of coming forward, that play doesn't work. McNabb was flushed and if Basskett isn't so wide open, he may not even attempt to throw the ball or at worse, it is just incomplete because Watkins is back there. Two guys in Dallas screw up and a good QB does his job.

I agree with you to a point. But it is easy to say that Watkins should have just layed back and not bit on that double move. But the facts are, he bit because that is what he has been coached to do. It was just a good route by the WR and a POOR play by Ellis. I would venture to say that in that particular situation, there is not a Safety that would not have reacted to that move. As a DB, you expect the WR to break his route shorter because of the blitz, the wR knew that the cowboys blitzed, so when he went to the inside, it was a perfectly natural and good move to jump that route, unfortunatley it was a very well ran route by the WR, a missed tackle and a great throw. Sometimes, instead of blaming people, you just have to tip your hat and say, well done. Ellis is more to blame for that td than any DB, but it was a well ran play on the eagles part as well.