My Observations From Being at the Game

[LaTunaNostra]

Wonderful read, TH!

It was almost like being there...

We've been debating all day how much was oline, how much Bledsoe, and of course anyone with eyes saw that the AZ dline OWNED us.

So despite the ball patting (and Mick and his radio partner just said a minute or so ago that Tuna stated: "we really didn't let him throw that much" , beat that excuse, Chief), and what APPEARED to be limited read progression (how could it not be), please tell us....

WERE OUR FREAKING FIRST TEAM RECEIVERS EVER OPEN?

Or was Drew an all around sitting duck for that excellent pass rush ?

Thanks....glad you had such a good time.

 

[WoodysGirl]

While at camp, Cali and his son were throwing the ball around and Cali, said "Just call me newspaper because I cover everbody." It dawned on them that it would be a great nickname for Newman.

He told Newman about it, and he loved the idea.

Cute story. I like it. Glad Newman does too. Wonder if it'll take off in the fandom.

Thanks BZ.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Great recap Hos. Sounds like a real blast. While the game pretty much sucked at least all you guys had a good time and that is all that sounts. Those are some great memories you will keep from the experience. Some day I will be able to participate.

 

[Hostile]

Hostile, I'm so jealous... Sounds like you guys had a great time.

Edit: I liked the name newspaper for Terence Newman. Whats the story on that Hos?

At TC, CaliCowboy, CowboyGolfer, and AZCowboy were playing some football. Cali knocked away a pass and shouted, "call me newspaper because I cover everything."

As soon as he said it the wheels were turning and they told Newman about it and he loves it.

 

[Zaxor]

It's gonna be a tough call.

Parcells likes Ryan, Thompson, Polite and Pierce all played very well.

You are so right Thompson will not make it to the PS I think...Polite maybe the only FB we keep... I think Ryan and Pierce may make it to the PS but that leaves us short at TE

 

[CoCo]

Hos,

Really appreciate that long write-up and your first hand view of things. I like to hear people's staright up opinion of players after an up close view even if it was just a single preseason game. Sounds like we have some players to be excited about and that perhaps Mr Tucker is headed out. Perhaps.

On top of that the profiles of fellow Zone members was cool too.

I think it is also worth mentioning that although I have never met you I am truly impressed by the respect you give other people on this site. Its written all over your post above as a case in point. It is most likely a quality man who has the vision to see quality in others and then give them their just reward. You da man!

Thanks again.

 

[Hostile]

Great re-cap Hos.

So why do you think L. Polite makes the team?

I've been rooting for him as well, but I was getting the feeling that we may go with 4 TEs this year and no FBs, esp. if Thompson makes the roster (which I hope he will).

Dale should tell the story if he is of the mind to at some point. Parcells said something to the team reporters that he asked be kept "off the record."

Polite runs hard, picks up blitzes and showed decent hands last night. I am more amped than ever for this kid.

BTW, described by one coach as "the smartest player on the team."

 

[CowboysFan02]

CF02, Crayton is smooth personified. This kid had my heart leaping in my chest more than once. Even when the ball does not go to him he runs crisp routes. He's got 2 vested veterans to compete with but I really loved watching him last night.

BTW, I didn't say this in my analysis but he throws better than Romo. Kid has a gun. No joke.

Hos are you talking about Crayton that has a Cannon? If you are I remember reading about him having a great arm while looking up something in the archive a few weeks back.

And when I was at camp he was warming up with the Qb's and seemed to have nice spiral. I think we have finally found that late round gem at WR we have been looking for.

How did Copper look, I heard his name called a few times on the radio broadcast.

Thanks again Hos!

 

[Tio]

Oh come on hos...You think we would keep information like that from you?

 

[CowboysFan02]

Dale should tell the story if he is of the mind to at some point. Parcells said something to the team reporters that he asked be kept "off the record."

Polite runs hard, picks up blitzes and showed decent hands last night. I am more amped than ever for this kid.

BTW, described by one coach as "the smartest player on the team."

I guess this puts the Bickerstaff may make the team as a FB/RB then. Figuring out who we are going to keep RB/FB wise is going to be tough, with Julius locked as the starter, that leaves, MBIII, A-Train, Thompson, Bickerstaff, Polite, and Barnes.

I see us keeping 4: Julius, MBIII, Thompson/A-Train and Polite.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Great Recap Hos...and it sounds like meeting the guys was actually better then the game.

 

[Hostile]

Wonderful read, TH!

It was almost like being there...

We've been debating all day how much was oline, how much Bledsoe, and of course anyone with eyes saw that the AZ dline OWNED us.

So despite the ball patting (and Mick and his radio partner just said a minute or so ago that Tuna stated: "we really didn't let him throw that much" , beat that excuse, Chief), and what APPEARED to be limited read progression (how could it not be), please tell us....

WERE OUR FREAKING FIRST TEAM RECEIVERS EVER OPEN?

Or was Drew an all around sitting duck for that excellent pass rush ?

Thanks....glad you had such a good time.

Our first team OL was awful in run blocking but in pass blocking Bledsoe had way more time than Romo or Henson.

In warmups Bledsoe and Henson throw it and you can hear it hit the WRs hands. Romo lollypops everything. I'm not trying to be critical but I was unimpressed. Quite frankly I wonder why he is still here. His accuracy is good, but in the NFL that lack of velocity is going to cripple him.

Okay, back to Bledsoe. He was pushing the ball. It was almost like as soon as he threw it he wanted to pull the string and bring it back. I love his pop on the ball but he couldn't have hit McNabb's barn the way he played last night.

I do NOT put this on our OL because they gave him time. Yes, AZ's D was great last night, but he had 4 to 5 seconds on many throws. I doubt Romo or Henson had that on more than 1 or 2 apiece. On one of Henson's he had that time because of a scramble more than the OL.

Being honest and remember, I am behind Bledsoe as our starter. He was horrible last night. Him personally. Other than 1 throw to Witten and 1 to Key he was not on his game at all. The WR and TEs ran clean routes. People were open. He did not get the job done.

 

[Duane]

Great stuff Hos.

 

[Hostile]

Great Recap Hos...and it sounds like meeting the guys was actually better then the game.

That is 100% true BP. These people were as good a group of people as I have ever had the privilege to meet in my life. We have some great people as fans of this team. I'd get together for a game with these guys and their families any time and feel damned privileged to be around them again.

 

[BadKarma]

Thanks for the great player evaluation. Unable to watch the telecast, I had to rely heavily on what I read on this board, which was still very informative.

Glad you got a chance to watch first-hand and provide a great summary. After reading your post, it appears all is not lost. So after last night, who stood out most on offense and defense?

I'm starting to get concerned with right tackle. If we can't lock that down, we're in deep doo-doo.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Great read, Hos. Excellent recaps from you and BlindZebra.

You know, I didn't think Romo had lack of zip as much as Henson has the cannon, but I guess seeing live you would notice it better.

Either way, I do think, Romo might be perfect fit for WCO. He might excel in it. Either way, from early and way premature evaluations, I would prefer him over Bledsoe though. Lets hope those are way too premature and Bledsoe proves me and several of us wrong.

 

[Hostile]

Hos,

Really appreciate that long write-up and your first hand view of things. I like to hear people's staright up opinion of players after an up close view even if it was just a single preseason game. Sounds like we have some players to be excited about and that perhaps Mr Tucker is headed out. Perhaps.

On top of that the profiles of fellow Zone members was cool too.

I think it is also worth mentioning that although I have never met you I am truly impressed by the respect you give other people on this site. Its written all over your post above as a case in point. It is most likely a quality man who has the vision to see quality in others and then give them their just reward. You da man!

Thanks again.

Wow. Thank you very much. Very nice of you to say that.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Being honest and remember, I am behind Bledsoe as our starter. He was horrible last night. Him personally. Other than 1 throw to Witten and 1 to Key he was not on his game at all. The WR and TEs ran clean routes. People were open. He did not get the job done.

Thank you, TH, I could have taken the reality if our receivers not being able to separate if it were so, but you know from the living room, you just can't see an entire route, and often not even the start of it.

One more couch potato observation, other folks need to get your attention...
but TH there was one player on first team D absolutely wowed me.

O! Henry.

Geez, but was he ever around that ball...even in a d formation often ill suited to the offensive play.

That man's a player.

 

[TheDuke]

Terrence "The Newspaper" Newman....I Love It.

 

[CoCo]

Hos,

I'm gonna give you 1 question. Its frankly much bigger than the preseason game you attended.

Can Parcells really get this team back to elite status?

His first year was impressive enough. 10-6 with admittedly some parts missing. Year 2 was a major step back. Easy to forgive if he can quickly regroup. The 2005 offseason looked like a bonanza with the draft and FA's but...

I know its utter foolishness to overreact to last nights game but despite the very good eye for talent and character that I think Parcells possesses I've recently read reports that even Parcells felt last years team did not compete. It seemed to suggest that they (gasp!) quit on him, at least in part. That is somewhat shocking to me. That discipline and effort piece is debated all the time but most would likely conclude that to be Bill's greatest strength - he gets the most from his players.

Couple that with the possibility that Parcells is too in love with some of his guys from the past and I am now amongst those who think its fair to at least ask whether Bill can get it done.

First preseason game aside, if we don't see VERY marked improvement from this team in 2005 and at least close the year as a team most experts (whoever they or we are) agree will be a force to be reckoned with in 2006, then I have to start wondering if there aren't some better options than BP. I won't give a record because that can be so deceiving based upon injuries and when things gel but undeniably significant progress must be evident in 2005 IMO.

Curious to hear your and other sane party's thoughts too.