In Search Of An Identity

[Bleu Star]

I come away from this win wondering exactly what we have as a team this year. I loved the grit and determination the team showed in the 2nd half. Somehow they have to figure out how to exhibit those same tendencies for 60 minutes. They often say that a team takes on the identity of its head coach. In our case, that's not a good thing. Don't get it twisted. This team won tonight despite the deficiency at the head coaching position. A win is a win and I will take it but the 3-0 Broncos won't be as forgiving as the 0-3 Panthers. How we managed to go into the locker room down 0-7 totally escapes me...

This team is desperately in search of an identity and I think they might have stumbled upon it accidentally in the 2nd half of tonight's game. We have harped on the fact that they should run the ball more and keep Romo out of desperate situations. They finally adopted that mode of thought and it paid dividends. My boy Choice is a MAN. He may not be as flashy as Felix or the bruiser that is MB3 but he is, in my opinion, the perfect blend of the two. When Felix came up gimpy in the 2nd half I told a buddy "don't even worry about it. We've got Choice and he'll carry the load". I said it last year and I will say it again. Choice needs more carries. I don't care how they do it. Just make it happen. That Wildcat direct snap to Choice/ fake to Felix/ dart up the middle was sexy.

I'm not sure why we chose to run two fade routes in the corner after practically hammering it down their throats to take ourselves to the two yard line. When you try to get cute at the goal line you will come up short more often than not. They should have lined up and let that Oline get two yards. I don't care if we tell them we're running a dive. Hand it off to Choice and let him do his thing... The deficiency in the coaching department still worries me...

Lastly... The highlight of my night... Mr. Victor Butler!!!! I tell you what... Spencer can share time with the beast for all I care. I'm still not overly impressed with anything Spencer has done thus far. Losing Ellis was a huge worry of mine and Victor Butler's presence on the field went a long way in helping me forget about Ellis. They said they were going to work some of the backup DEs into the game and they did. I'll give Wade credit for that. Victor Butler needs to see more of the field. Period.

Good win... If we're going to be the gritty grind it out type of team I am perfectly cool with that. Just find an identity that works and go with it. Oh, & get Choice and Butler on the field more often while you're at it.

• Romo drove the bus and that's what I love to see.
  
• Jenkins played fairly well tonight.
  
• TNew needed oxygen after intercepting a pass and running it in from the 20 yard line??? Really???? What does Wade have these guys doing in practice? Singing Kum Ba Yah?
  
• Keith Brooking is manly.
  
• Barbie Carpenter looked like a rag doll getting dragged by DeAngelo Williams.
  
• If I were female I would want to have David Buehler's babies.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

our identity looks to be a team that runs the football and stops the run

it's funny how we're good at both, but are inconsistent on both passing O and D

 

[RainMan]

My feeling is teams will start to stack eight in the box against us at some point and we'll see yards are tougher to come by on the ground. Until then, we are most certainly a run-oriented team, but a run-oriented team that wants to be something else. Garrett seems like he gets antsy when running a lot, almost as if he's uncomfortable with that being the identity of his team.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Great post bro. We FINALLY found our identity. Run the damn ball and have Romo be the busdriver while making some spectacular plays once in awhile. We left 11 points on the board tonight. Missed FG,Dumb FS penalty and the two horrible fades. I thought Romo played the way he NEEDS to play on a consistant basis.

Two things I want to correct you on

Newman ran stride for stride with Smith for 60 yards on that prior play. That's why he was a little gassed.

And that "dragged" tackle by Carp on Deangelo so that he would stay in bounds. He was trying to get position to shield him away from the sidelines. I hate Barbie but I gotta stick up for him on that one

 

[SLATEmosphere]

My feeling is teams will start to stack eight in the box against us at some point and we'll see yards are tougher to come by on the ground. Until then, we are most certainly a run-oriented team, but a run-oriented team that wants to be something else. Garrett seems like he gets antsy when running a lot, almost as if he's uncomfortable with that being the identity of his team.

Make them pay on playaction.

8 in the box officially starts next week.

 

[Doomsday]

My feeling is teams will start to stack eight in the box against us at some point and we'll see yards are tougher to come by on the ground. Until then, we are most certainly a run-oriented team, but a run-oriented team that wants to be something else. Garrett seems like he gets antsy when running a lot, almost as if he's uncomfortable with that being the identity of his team.

Carolina had 8 men in the box and Felix was still breaking off big runs. That was the most impressive part of our running game. The interior of the oline was pushing the Panthers around all game.

 

[Bleu Star]

Newman ran stride for stride with Smith for 60 yards on that prior play. That's why he was a little gassed.

And that "dragged" tackle by Carp on Deangelo so that he would stay in bounds. He was trying to get position to shield him away from the sidelines. I hate Barbie but I gotta stick up for him on that one

I stand corrected on Newman. Forgot about that.

That mess with DeAngelo was more DeAngelo being an idiot versus Barbie actually doing something worthwhile. 2:11 seconds left and you try to stay inbounds? Get the extra timeout by just running out of bounds. Dummy.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I stand corrected on Newman. Forgot about that.

That mess with DeAngelo was more DeAngelo being an idiot versus Barbie actually doing something worthwhile. 2:11 seconds left and you try to stay inbounds? Get the extra timeout by just running out of bounds. Dummy.

I thought Carp MADE him stay in bounds..I'll have to watch it again but it looks like he shifted his body to guard the sidelines..

 

[Rampage]

our identity looks to be a team that runs the football and stops the run

it's funny how we're good at both, but are inconsistent on both passing O and D

word Bob

 

[MONT17]

Brooking should get more snaps... Barbies snaps if its cool with Jerryland!

 

[tunahelper]

I am with you on the identity of a football team. This team needs to be about ball control and running the ball.
This is the only chance this team has for playoff success. The defense needs to be rested because it can be on the field and playing a good physical team for 35 minutes a game. Also Romo needs to be harnessed and allow him to find his spots throughout a game. Romo the bus driver with him finding his spots will lead this team to wins.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Phenomenal post! It's like you read my mind.

First, there is no identity. It's like we just kind of draw things up but they work, so, I it's hard to classify it as a bad thing but I believe that stuff catches up with you later in the season in bad weather and in the playoffs..

Second, I completely agree about Newman. Are we in that bad of shape. He only ran it 20 yards, there was a commercial timeout and he was still on the sidelines.

 

[Bleu Star]

Phenomenal post! It's like you read my mind.

First, there is no identity. It's like we just kind of draw things up but they work, so, I it's hard to classify it as a bad thing but I believe that stuff catches up with you later in the season in bad weather and in the playoffs..

Second, I completely agree about Newman. Are we in that bad of shape. He only ran it 20 yards, there was a commercial timeout and he was still on the sidelines.

Thanks. I really hope they build upon the trend that developed in the 2nd half. One good thing about bad weather, a stout running game will come up huge in it. They must build upon this.

Slate corrected me about Newman. I forgot he had just ran step for step with Steve Smith for 60 yards on the previous play just before intercepting that pass. That knowledge makes it less strange. :

 

[Benny Blue Boy]

Brooking should get more snaps... Barbies snaps if its cool with Jerryland!

Yeah not gonna happen, gotta play the 1st rounder...Don't want to cause any kind of thing here (I live in southwestern ohio). But a guy I work with who is also a big time NFL fan is from the same area as Bobby Carpenter(Lancaster)...I was *****ing earlier about how he hasn't lived up to what I hoped for...and he was like "yeah right, I saw that kid take way too many drugs over the years to think he would be that great"...Not facts, and not trying to be slanderous or anything like that. Kinda something for my memory bank though.

 

[LowTech]

"not trying to be slanderous"

You are being slanderous, your evidence is hearsay. I have no great love for Carpenter, but I wouldn't be saying that.

 

[Benny Blue Boy]

"not trying to be slanderous"

You are being slanderous, your evidence is hearsay. I have no great love for Carpenter, but I wouldn't be saying that.

Well I apologize to Bobby Carpenter then...I have no way of knowing if it is true and I don't care...Just kinda something I was thinking about earlier, and in quick retrospect not my business anyway...

I explained that it was hearsay, and never claimed it to be true, so I have to say...it wasn't slanderous...maybe just something better left unsaid though

 

[Bleu Star]

maybe just something better left unsaid though

Definitely... without evidence.

 

[Bleu Star]

Choice deserves LOVE. Embrace him fans. He's going to be special.

A huge part of finding that identity will consist of getting the ball to Choice regularly.

 

[Bleu Star]

My feeling is teams will start to stack eight in the box against us at some point and we'll see yards are tougher to come by on the ground. Until then, we are most certainly a run-oriented team, but a run-oriented team that wants to be something else. Garrett seems like he gets antsy when running a lot, almost as if he's uncomfortable with that being the identity of his team.

Garrett would do very well just continuing to follow the tide that says run run run. At this point, we have zero worries about any teams being interested in his services at the end of the season. Run (often) to setup the (occasional) pass. That should be the recipe for success with this team.

 

[jay cee]

Garrett would do very well just continuing to follow the tide that says run run run. At this point, we have zero worries about any teams being interested in his services at the end of the season. Run (often) to setup the (occasional) pass. That should be the recipe for success with this team.

I looked up some stats from the past 2 seasons and the Cowboys averaged 25.1 carries and 34.2 pass attempts in '08.

In '07 they averaged 26.2 carries and 33.2 pass attempts.

So IMO, Garrett has tried to run more this year. But it is obvious to anyone that watches a game, he prefers throwing the ball.