How Vanilla was this game really?

[LarryCanadian]

I watched the game and was as frustrated as any fan despite understanding that it is difficult to get up for a game like this under the circumstances.

My question is regarding the game planning, play calling, coaching etc.

Did we blitz? I didn't see much. We didn't show a lot of different looks from what I could see. No trick plays. No new looks. Pure Vanilla on both sides of ball I think.

Execution was poor, particularly in run blocking and the dropped passes, yes. ON the other hand, WHY would Dallas show any wrinkles that Washington or any team could use against them down the road anyway.

I think it was pretty Vanilla.

Disappointing, but tough to extrapolate from this game.

A couple of thinkgs did stand out to me.

Ware rocks!
Spears is coming on, and looked good in middle and is hustling hard and making plays this year. I'm fully back to routing for him instead of yelling at him.

Roy Williams continues to P me off. Terrible tackle on the 1st Portis TD. He once again hits one of our own guys harder than the other teams player. It has gotten to the point where the coaches need to recognize that his attemps to lay a big hit are not worth it compared to the numbers of yards Roy gives up because of poor technique in his tackles. That particular play really set a tone for this game if you asked me. I hate to do this? But what was Williams' Wonderlic score. He strikes me as someone who isn't playing super bright football and remains stubbornly unwilling to adjust his game and maybe work on his weaknesses (penalties, angles, tackling technique, etc). I know he's a star in the community and tries, but I'm at a loss to understand what happened here. 1st down after first down or TD came after the other team focussed on Roy.

Hurd dropped one, but seemed to play ok. Austin really hurt himself dropping 2 easy ones, 1 of which could have been a TD and changed whole complexion of the game.

Glenn was quiet other than the pick.

I don't know about anyone else, but if Flo isn't here next year how can anyone in this organizaion feel that that isn't a slip backward in probable performance. Flo didn't light it up out there today, but I think he is still significantly better than what we have behind him. I think it's critical he be resigned for at least a year and hopefully 3.

I'm gonna try and forget this game as I don't think it means as much as will be made out of it. The rest is important. 2 weeks to get sharp on the timing and passing game. Romo bounced back well the last 2 years. The last few weeks trend is concerning, BUT I think thinks can be turned around without drastic measures. COACHING will be improtant in next few weeks. I hope the team doesn't get too much time off. They should be fresh, now they need to be drilled to death!

It's a brand new season now. What happened getting here really doesn't mean squat except we have a bye and home field if we keep winning.

Wake up and get hungry!

LarryCanadian

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I was keeping track in the first quarter and then quit, but we didn't blitz very much and were still able to get pressure. Not to mention Wade had guys like Ball, Brown, and Ogelsby out there. The Commanders can rave about how many "backups" they have, but those are at least 2nd string guys. Not guys 3rd/4th stringers, some of whom were cut earlier in the season.

Offensively we didn't see much motion. The Glenn INT was pretty vanilla, although I don't know how that doesn't get called PI and Henry who does the same exact thing gets called PI. Washington definitely outplayed Dallas and if Dallas came out with the same type of emotion and focus they'll be beat again, but it's pretty silly how much stock is being put in this game. I guess only in Cowboys-land.




YAKUZA
laughed today when GB was lauded for their play coming into the playoffs despite getting mauled in a must win game just 1 week ago.

 

[Joe a Cowboys fan]

lo-fat no sugar vanilla

which one has to ask, why eat ice cream with no cream?

 

[CM Duck]

i'd have to say even more vanilla than this!!!!!!!

.....or even this.....

 

[CowboyWay]

Not to make excuses or anything, but I said outloud very early on "wow, I wasn't expecting this much vanilla"...................

 

[HardHittingRoy31]

I watched the game and was as frustrated as any fan despite understanding that it is difficult to get up for a game like this under the circumstances.

My question is regarding the game planning, play calling, coaching etc.

Did we blitz? I didn't see much. We didn't show a lot of different looks from what I could see. No trick plays. No new looks. Pure Vanilla on both sides of ball I think.

Execution was poor, particularly in run blocking and the dropped passes, yes. ON the other hand, WHY would Dallas show any wrinkles that Washington or any team could use against them down the road anyway.

I think it was pretty Vanilla.

Disappointing, but tough to extrapolate from this game.

A couple of thinkgs did stand out to me.

Ware rocks!
Spears is coming on, and looked good in middle and is hustling hard and making plays this year. I'm fully back to routing for him instead of yelling at him.

Roy Williams continues to P me off. Terrible tackle on the 1st Portis TD. He once again hits one of our own guys harder than the other teams player. It has gotten to the point where the coaches need to recognize that his attemps to lay a big hit are not worth it compared to the numbers of yards Roy gives up because of poor technique in his tackles. That particular play really set a tone for this game if you asked me. I hate to do this? But what was Williams' Wonderlic score. He strikes me as someone who isn't playing super bright football and remains stubbornly unwilling to adjust his game and maybe work on his weaknesses (penalties, angles, tackling technique, etc). I know he's a star in the community and tries, but I'm at a loss to understand what happened here. 1st down after first down or TD came after the other team focussed on Roy.

Hurd dropped one, but seemed to play ok. Austin really hurt himself dropping 2 easy ones, 1 of which could have been a TD and changed whole complexion of the game.

Glenn was quiet other than the pick.

I don't know about anyone else, but if Flo isn't here next year how can anyone in this organizaion feel that that isn't a slip backward in probable performance. Flo didn't light it up out there today, but I think he is still significantly better than what we have behind him. I think it's critical he be resigned for at least a year and hopefully 3.

I'm gonna try and forget this game as I don't think it means as much as will be made out of it. The rest is important. 2 weeks to get sharp on the timing and passing game. Romo bounced back well the last 2 years. The last few weeks trend is concerning, BUT I think thinks can be turned around without drastic measures. COACHING will be improtant in next few weeks. I hope the team doesn't get too much time off. They should be fresh, now they need to be drilled to death!

It's a brand new season now. What happened getting here really doesn't mean squat except we have a bye and home field if we keep winning.

Wake up and get hungry!

LarryCanadian

The boyz will be fine!

 

[LarryCanadian]

Washington was hungrier and sharper, but this wasn't really our best effort or plan out there today. The timing sux from the "going into the playoffs hot or sharp" standpoint but blech!

I don't know. I don't think you can put too much stock into this.

LarryCanadian

 

[ghosttown cowboy]

On "O" we ran about 40 out routes, and the RB into the back of the center all night. We didn't blitz a bunch on D but our back 4 sucked as usual.

 

[jillsfavs]

Demarcus Ware is an animal.

 

[VietCowboy]

lo-fat no sugar vanilla

which one has to ask, why eat ice cream with no cream?

hopefully, in 2 weeks, we upgrade to "The Sky's the Limit" Mint Ice Cream with toppings than including any yummy stuff like gummy bears, sprinkles, coconut, nuts, and hot *****...and some white chocolate to top it all off. yum.

 

[AdamJT13]

Imagine one team playing a preseason game and another playing for its postseason lives. That's a huge difference in motivation, and it makes a huge difference in the game. Then throw in the fact that we rested anyone who was banged-up, pulled a bunch of starters early in the second half and had other guys just trying not to get hurt, and today's result it what you might expect.

 

[LarryCanadian]

That's sure what it looked like Adam. The oline was on tip toes trying not to get rolled up on it seemed.

This was a tough game to really take anything from. I'm a bit disappointed we didn't play the backups more and guys like Stanback at all. Wasn't any really benefit for the starters but potential confidence loss or injury.

Oh well.

We control our destiny yet!! Hehe.

LarryCanadian

 

[LarryCanadian]

Just watched the Post Game comments by Romo and he indicated that the Cowboys showed very little tonight in terms of gameplanning/playcalling because they could potentially face the Commanders again and didn't see it being worth the Commanders learning anything.

Maybe excusitis a bit, but I thought the play calling was really really Vanilla all the way around tonight.

LarryCanadian

 

[cowboyfan4life2]

It basically was a pre-season gameplay put into todays game

 

[VietCowboy]

anyone think dan paid jj to lay down tonight? lol now wouldn't that be interesting....a backyard deal like say a draft pick to get the Commanders in the playoffs teehehee. now wouldn't that be funny. although you might consider that "fixing" games....

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I definitely think it was vanilla. It must be a philosophy of Wade or whoever. I never thought teams really did that before, but it sure seems like we've done it in a few games this year. The Carolina game was the same way on D until they got deep in our territory and then boom, instant QB pressure. Just look at how we *didn't* look like that early in the GB game when we had Favre totally shell shocked.

Either way, I'm not worried. For our first playoff game at home in forever, our team is going to be healthy, rested, and ready to tear people's heads off.

 

[mmohican29]

I will say this. After the game until a few minutes ago I was in total despair after witnessing the game today. Then I just saw Tony's post game interview.

He basically said it was not the team's best effort and nor was it supposed to be. That he's extremely confident in the team and its post season chances. He basically said they held back because they might see them yet again, and the team is far more ready then what anyone thinks.

K Tony... I'm ridin with ya. Please don't let us down.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I will say this. After the game until a few minutes ago I was in total despair after witnessing the game today. Then I just saw Tony's post game interview.

He basically said it was not the team's best effort and nor was it supposed to be. That he's extremely confident in the team and its post season chances. He basically said they held back because they might see them yet again, and the team is far more ready then what anyone thinks.

K Tony... I'm ridin with ya. Please don't let us down.

Beast is ridin with ya also Tony.

If you say the game was treated like a preseason game, I feel a litte bit better.

 

[Rack]

I was keeping track in the first quarter and then quit, but we didn't blitz very much and were still able to get pressure. Not to mention Wade had guys like Ball, Brown, and Ogelsby out there. The Commanders can rave about how many "backups" they have, but those are at least 2nd string guys. Not guys 3rd/4th stringers, some of whom were cut earlier in the season.

Offensively we didn't see much motion. The Glenn INT was pretty vanilla, although I don't know how that doesn't get called PI and Henry who does the same exact thing gets called PI. Washington definitely outplayed Dallas and if Dallas came out with the same type of emotion and focus they'll be beat again, but it's pretty silly how much stock is being put in this game. I guess only in Cowboys-land.




YAKUZA
laughed today when GB was lauded for their play coming into the playoffs despite getting mauled in a must win game just 1 week ago.

That was a HORRIBLE call.

The refs gave them two TDs off weak Interference calls, taking an int away from us on one of them. THat's a 13-6 game right there.

How Vanilla was this game really?

I swear, I saw us open up the playbook more in the preseason. I can't even remember if we blitzed or not. I doubt it.

 

[AdamJT13]

The refs gave them two TDs off weak Interference calls, taking an int away from us on one of them.

I don't have a problem with the call against Ball, although it figures that it would wipe out a turnover (I think Hamlin intercepts that pass even without the interference). That was just a young, inexperienced cornerback getting lost and making a bad play.

But the call against Henry -- who did the same thing Springs did -- was atrocious. If you're making a play on the ball and get in front of the receiver, that's NOT interference. But somehow, it keeps getting called against us (see Watkins against New England).