FEATURED Impressions from Silver and Blue

[CooterBrown]

I just re-read my last sentence in my first post in this thread. I'm glad I got my adjectives in the right order.

 

[Idgit]

The Defense is the strength of this team. Running the ball helps them more than anything. Help the defense. Run the ball.

Running the ball more effectively doesn't even necessarily help you with ToP. If you can move the ball, you can control the clock. Running the ball effectively in short yardage and in the red zone is a plus, though. I'd like to see us have plenty of success there.

Taking the ball away and playing with a lead is probably the best thing we can do for our defense this season that we didn't do much of last season. A few quarters of of one-dimensional pass rushing would do wonders for those guys on defense at the end of games.

 

[DandyDon1722]

As someone who reported from camp I gotta say I was excited to read your guys report and wish I was there too. Now I know jow it feels. Thanks for taking the time!

 

[Big D]

Running the ball more effectively doesn't even necessarily help you with ToP. If you can move the ball, you can control the clock. Running the ball effectively in short yardage and in the red zone is a plus, though. I'd like to see us have plenty of success there.

Taking the ball away and playing with a lead is probably the best thing we can do for our defense this season that we didn't do much of last season. A few quarters of of one-dimensional pass rushing would do wonders for those guys on defense at the end of games.

Running the ball helps with TOP by default as even a 3 yard loss will result in the clock continuing to run. An incomplete pass stops the clock. We lost games these past few seasons we've had the lead in due to leaving too much time on the clock for the opponent to come back. I'm not saying we need to totally revert to the Parcells way of 3yds and a cloud of dust but Garrett or whoever is going to call the plays needs to learn to throttle the offense. It's frustrating because it seems we have the talent to whatever to opposing defenses yet we consistently shoot ourselves in the foot.

 

[Idgit]

Running the ball helps with TOP by default as even a 3 yard loss will result in the clock continuing to run. An incomplete pass stops the clock. We lost games these past few seasons we've had the lead in due to leaving too much time on the clock for the opponent to come back. I'm not saying we need to totally revert to the Parcells way of 3yds and a cloud of dust but Garrett or whoever is going to call the plays needs to learn to throttle the offense. It's frustrating because it seems we have the talent to whatever to opposing defenses yet we consistently shoot ourselves in the foot.

As long as you're able to move the ball, you're able to get more time for your offense on the field. I don't think the ToP statistics correlate necessarily with teams that are most effective running the ball these days, but, I"m admittedly too lazy to actually look it up.

Again, though, I'm in the camp that, if we don't lose the turnover battle so convincingly last season, a lot of these unfortunate statistics reverse themselves. I don't see us having much of a problem moving the ball. It's only that we have fewer possessions than I'd like and we have the well-documented problems in the red zone to contend with.

 

[Big D]

As long as you're able to move the ball, you're able to get more time for your offense on the field. I don't think the ToP statistics correlate necessarily with teams that are most effective running the ball these days, but, I"m admittedly too lazy to actually look it up.

Again, though, I'm in the camp that, if we don't lose the turnover battle so convincingly last season, a lot of these unfortunate statistics reverse themselves. I don't see us having much of a problem moving the ball. It's only that we have fewer possessions than I'd like and we have the well-documented problems in the red zone to contend with.

You are correct in that turnovers killed us. Looking at stats here:

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team-stat/turnovers-category
http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team-stat/turnovers-category
we had the 5th most interceptions per game and the 14th most fumbles lost and overall 8th most team giveaways per game. I assume most the the fumbles were made in the run game which leads me to believe we're losing the ball more in the passing game, which is even more reason to run the ball more lol.

 

[Galian Beast]

You are correct in that turnovers killed us. Looking at stats here:

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team-stat/turnovers-category
we had the 5th most interceptions per game and the 14th most fumbles lost and overall 8th most team giveaways per game. I assume most the the fumbles were made in the run game which leads me to believe we're losing the ball more in the passing game, which is even more reason to run the ball more lol.

I'd like to look further and see how many turnovers in the passing game came from aggressive passing after we were down on points.

 

[ufcrules1]

Actually, I had a very similar impression of the stretching period at TC in Oxnard. That session--and that session only--was like one of my high school practices. There were guys with tight hamstrings and bent legs barely going through the motions. Guys were slow to switch legs sometimes, and not a lot of consistency and effort to it overall. I commented to my buddy how sloppy it looked, and how surprising it was from such elite athletes given how important good pre and post stretching is for avoiding soft tissue injuries.

This could explain why we have so many injuries every year. I also don't like the nonchalant attitude out there.

 

[Aurican]

You are correct in that turnovers killed us. Looking at stats here:

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team-stat/turnovers-category
we had the 5th most interceptions per game and the 14th most fumbles lost and overall 8th most team giveaways per game. I assume most the the fumbles were made in the run game which leads me to believe we're losing the ball more in the passing game, which is even more reason to run the ball more lol.

I agree, running the ball well should be a priority. From taking the pressure off Romo to carry the whole offense and not being 1 dimensional to improving red zone scoring having an improved running game would fix a lot of the problems with this team. I expect more of the same if they are unable to run the ball again this season.

 

[CooterBrown]

I didn't see a "nonchalant attitude" out there. Yes, during stretching, some players weren't doing the same stretch at the same time. But, I suspect that might have something to do with individual recommendations by the training staff rather than, "I don't have to do what everybody else does" attitude. The players ran or jogged from drill to drill. Not a bunch of ho-hum strolling that would indicate "nonchalant."

 

[BlindFaith]

Was there anything you liked? That almost sounded like an obituary. Lol.

I went with basically the sole purpose of taking a look at what was going on with the oline.

Baily looked good.
Defense will be good.
WRs looked good and Romo looked sharp.

Cheerleaders opened up the practice and were in mid season form...

 

[BlindFaith]

I appreciate you post your personal observations on the OL.

Is this the second whole day Free practiced at guard? I'm having trouble piecing together the various reports I've read the last couple of days re: Free playing guard.

Practicing st guard 1 day is a contingency plan.

Two days exclusively at guard would be a sign of a more serious look by the Cowboys at shuffling the OL.

Free has practiced there all week.

 

[BlindFaith]

If you think Frederick is not a mauler you might want to ask Docket and Campbell.

When I say mauler I guess I meant more along the lines as in attitude. We have no Larry Allen, or Columbo types. I don't feel we have anyone that a defense would dread to play against. Not saying our line is bad...just not badarse.

 

[BlindFaith]

I'm wondering on the stretching drills- were you referring to the entire team, or the OL?
Was Garrett doing anything about the nonchalant attitude? Callahan? Or was it deja vu of Camp Cuppycake?

It was the whole team. Again, it may just have been the nature of this type of practice. I did see Woichek working exclusively with Bryant and helping him stretch. But I did also see a lot of players just not putting in any effort really. Who knows, they may have stretching sessions during workouts. So maybe its more of just warming up at the beginning of practice. Could be nothing, but I guess I'd expect more from "professionals".

 

[BlindFaith]

Doesn't make sense to put a guy on IR if his contract is guaranteed either way?

I actually think the opposite. If you have to eat that money, maybe he can get healthy. Then again, it's not like he was a stud so whatever.

Reports are that he dogged the off season work out program and has basically been a bum. I don't want that guy on my team.

 

[BlindFaith]

Not seeing the connection between our OL and picking on Felix of all the players JG's brought in.

I guess its about being a RKG. Tone, attitude, demeanor. I pointed out Felix because he was a Redball pick. And to spend a first round pick on a complimentary player was questioned at the time and turned out to be a bad pick.

Thanks for observations.

Can I assume you are not a fan of Garrett's and just end it there?
Lol

BTW...Freddy most certainly is a mauler.
Furthermore, if you go to 90% of NFL practices in the year 2003, you will see non synchronized stretching. To say that says something about the leadership tells me you were looking for something in the first place.

That is fine, as long as you admit it.

I was mostly not a fan of Garrett the play caller. I think he's a great guy. Not real sure if he has the skill/insight to build a winning team. The head coach has a big say on what kind of guys are brought in. Who knows. We'll see how things play out this year.

 

[BlindFaith]

I would not read too much into the team stretching drills without knowing exactly what the players were told to do. Now, if you saw someone leading the drills and the players weren't following, then ... maybe there's a reason for that, too.

We rush to judgment on things we have no insider knowledge about.

I went out of my way to state that we shouldn't rush to any conclusions based on what I saw. I think really it was more of a dog and pony show so things have may been toned down a notch or two.

 

[WoodysGirl]

When I say mauler I guess I meant more along the lines as in attitude. We have no Larry Allen, or Columbo types. I don't feel we have anyone that a defense would dread to play against. Not saying our line is bad...just not badarse.

Everything I've read on twitter is that guy is Leary.

May have read something similar about Bell, but I can't recall where, even if I did.

 

[BlindFaith]

What I gather from these reports and the tweets WG posted is that we will place no importance on the run game yet again. I truly hope not.

You make a very good observation. It was very clear from practice that Garrett is still very focused on the passing game. I think moving Free inside is an effort initiated by Garrett to make sure we have better pass protection.

Now this is just a hunch and is highly speculative, but I don't think Callahan is totally on board with the move.

 

[BlindFaith]

Everything I've read on twitter is that guy is Leary.

May have read something similar about Bell, but I can't recall where, even if I did.

Leary could be that guy, but he wasn't out there. If Bell was out there, I didn't see him get any reps with the second team. It was Weems and Coughman. Kinda surprised me.