OL will be tested

jr40usa

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this week against the Dolphins defense. The true test for the Cowboys will be this week on the road. We all know how different this team plays in front of a hostile crowd. Romo, will not have the time to survey the field like he did against the Giants. He will have to make quick decisions. Receivers will have to run quick routes. If the offense can put up 30+ points on the Dolphins Defense. Then I will believe this offense has arrived. Especially winning on the road.
 

theogt

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Last season we actually played better away than at home.
 

zrinkill

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jr40usa;1641143 said:
We all know how different this team plays in front of a hostile crowd.

:confused:

We have not played on the road this year.

This is a new team.
 

Real1st

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zrinkill;1641163 said:
:confused:

We have not played on the road this year.

This is a new team.

uhhhh.. same line.. 4 returning starters...
 

lspain1

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theogt;1641156 said:
Last season we actually played better away than at home.

That may be true overall....but we played poorly in Jacksonville on opening day last season....remember Bledsoe?
 

Rack

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lspain1;1641169 said:
That may be true overall....but we played poorly in Jacksonville on opening day last season....remember Bledsoe?

Yeah. He doesn't play for the cowboys anymore so mentioning him is irrelevant.


:D
 

utrunner07

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i agree this week will be a bit tougher but at Chicago will be the real test...I think after that game we will really know what to expect from this offense and Tony Romo.
 

Bizwah

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I'm not sure how we match up.

Spencer
Spears
Ratliff
Canty
Ware

vs

Shelton
Hadnot
Satele
Liwienski
Carey

**Now, before Sunday's game, I'd say this was a matchup in our favor. But now, I'm not sure. I think their OL has better run than pass blockers, but they were terrible vs the Commanders. On reviewing the game, we did get close to Manning several times for pressures. He's a tough one to get to. Ware and Spencer should be able to apply pressure. Ratliff impresses me every time I see him. He should have an edge over the rookie Satele. I think we have the edge here.

Reeves (Newman)
Henry
Jones
Hamlin
Williams

vs

Chambers
Booker
Hagan
Ginn
Martin

With a healthy Newman, we'd probably own this. As it stands, we aren't going to have a healthy Newman. So, I think we'll probably still struggle. I don't think we'll struggle as much as with the Giants WRs. I still have visions of Chambers destroying our defense four years ago. Booker is a good possession guy. I don't fear these guys though....push here.

Our Front Seven

vs.

Trent Green
Ronnie Brown

Brown hasn't really broken out yet. I hope he's not due. I don't think he's a great blocker, so I'd like to see us blitz. He's actually caught the ball out of the backfield well. Let's hope our defense has improved against backs catching passes on us. I'm not sure which Green we'll see. Pre-concussion Green was darn good. But in KC, he had Gonzo and LJ. He really doesn't have those weapons now. He's not as difficult to get to as Manning. I think we'll be good for a couple of sacks and a lot of pressures.

Adams
Kosier
Gurode
Davis
Columbo

vs

Taylor
Holliday
Traylor
Roth
Porter

Tough one here. We looked good vs the Giants...even with Osi in. I worry with our OL and the fact that we've struggled mounting a consistent running attack (looking at last year and PS and first game). This is important to do on the road. It's going to be hot and humid so our large guys may be huffing and puffing if we don't get some momentum vs the run defense of Miami. Miami's run d was beaten by the Commanders last week. Portis had a good day. Betts was ok. I think our backs are comparable, so we may be able to wear the Dolphins down....especially, with our massive size, vs their smallish line (minus Traylor) My greatest worry is with Taylor and Porter against Adams and Columbo. Adams struggles with athletic, speedy ends. That's Jason Taylor. I think we'll help him, but I also worry about Porter vs Columbo. I feel we have a slight edge here.

Owens
Crayton
Hurd
Witten

vs

Allen
Daniels
Tillman?
Allen?
Hill

With Bell's injury, I'm not sure who's starting for them. There's no one on the Dolphins that can matchup with Owens. He will probably be doubled most of the game. I think Crayton and Hurd can beat single coverage. Witten should also have a big game. I'm not sure if Thomas or Crowder will guard him, but he has the edge either way. Big edge for us.

Romo
Barber
Jones

vs

Dolphins front Seven

If Romo get's protection....it's over, naturally. I think our OL should give him enough time. Romo shouldn't get much pressure from the middle of the Dolphin's line, so he should have pretty clear passing lanes. I think there's a possibility of a rush from the outside. Romo does a pretty good job of getting outside that. Jones and Barber should be fresh. Again, I think we have the edge here.

By all accounts, we should win. But, this is our first road game and the Dolphins are always good at home in September. I think our defense will play with an attitude, and should step up. I don't think Romo and Co will put up 45 points, but they should still move the ball. This will be another close one. I think we'll win....game will be closer than score indicates.

Cowboys 23
Dolphins 13
 

Clove

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I'm sure hoping we don't go through a year of, "this week will be the true test" and then we pass, then afterwards "that team sucked anyways, but next week is the true test"

That drove me in sane last year.
 

jrumann59

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Clove;1641328 said:
I'm sure hoping we don't go through a year of, "this week will be the true test" and then we pass, then afterwards "that team sucked anyways, but next week is the true test"

That drove me in sane last year.

This thread sucks but the next one could be your true test :laugh1:
 

silverbear

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jr40usa;1641143 said:
this week against the Dolphins defense. The true test for the Cowboys will be this week on the road. We all know how different this team plays in front of a hostile crowd.

Inasmuch as this is their first road game, how exactly do we know that??
 

Mr Cowboy

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This forum should be re-mnamed the Lou Holtz forum.

Every team we face is the greatest team in the NFL. Have the best linemen, rb, qb defense, etc. We stand no chance against them, but we have no choice but to show up.
 

TheCount

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lspain1;1641169 said:
That may be true overall....but we played poorly in Jacksonville on opening day last season....remember Bledsoe?

Bledsoe? What's that, some kind of disease?
 

YosemiteSam

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jr40usa;1641143 said:
this week against the Dolphins defense. The true test for the Cowboys will be this week on the road. We all know how different this team plays in front of a hostile crowd. Romo, will not have the time to survey the field like he did against the Giants. He will have to make quick decisions. Receivers will have to run quick routes. If the offense can put up 30+ points on the Dolphins Defense. Then I will believe this offense has arrived. Especially winning on the road.

Oh it's gonna be hostile. I will be hostile towards the rest of the Miami fans in my section! :lmao2:
 

firehawk350

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Bizwah... To say your OL even closely matches the front seven of the Phins is absurd. DPOY Jason Taylor, tackle king Zach Thomas and added a very good player in Joey Porter. One of the tops in the league, and your OL is probably about average at this point. I think you'll struggle to establish the run and we'll see a lot of three step drops from Romo to negate the pass rush and use TO's YAC ability. Romo won't have forever and a day to spot a wide open guy who can moonwalk into the endzone.

Also, Ronnie Brown is much better then Ward and Droughens, so I'm not sure you have the edge there either. The OL of the Giants isn't definitively better then the OL of Miami, so I think it's hard to say (since you didn't exactly own the Giants OL given your leading tackler was a safety) who has the edge there.
 

YosemiteSam

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firehawk350;1641954 said:
Bizwah... To say your OL even closely matches the front seven of the Phins is absurd. DPOY Jason Taylor, tackle king Zach Thomas and added a very good player in Joey Porter. One of the tops in the league, and your OL is probably about average at this point. I think you'll struggle to establish the run and we'll see a lot of three step drops from Romo to negate the pass rush and use TO's YAC ability. Romo won't have forever and a day to spot a wide open guy who can moonwalk into the endzone.

Also, Ronnie Brown is much better then Ward and Droughens, so I'm not sure you have the edge there either. The OL of the Giants isn't definitively better then the OL of Miami, so I think it's hard to say (since you didn't exactly own the Giants OL given your leading tackler was a safety) who has the edge there.
Ok Skinzer.
 

joseephuss

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jr40usa;1641143 said:
this week against the Dolphins defense. The true test for the Cowboys will be this week on the road. We all know how different this team plays in front of a hostile crowd. Romo, will not have the time to survey the field like he did against the Giants. He will have to make quick decisions. Receivers will have to run quick routes. If the offense can put up 30+ points on the Dolphins Defense. Then I will believe this offense has arrived. Especially winning on the road.

The Dolphins defense surrendered 191 yards rushing and 209 yards passing in their opening game. This is not the same Dolphins defense from years ago. Late year opponents could play very conservatively against the Dolphins defense because the Dolphins offense was so bad. Opponents did not need to take chances on offense because they knew the Dolphins offense would cough up the ball at some point and certainly not score many points. The Dolphins do have good players on defense, but it is not a dominant squad.

Dallas does not need to dominate and score 35 or anything like that. They just need to play solid offense and not turn the ball over.

Of course Dallas can lose the game, but there will be a few teams with better defenses that the Cowboys will face this year.
 
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