Post game thoughts

[21Savage]

I was one who called Crayton out in pre-season (and took a lot of flak for it I might add) but I never "hated" him. I called him out for good reasons, he was sucking mightily! What I find interesting is that once we replaced Crayton at WR and on returns he suddenly stepped it up and has been playing like we all though he would, at least on punt returns anyway.

No need for anyone to eat crow, Crayton has finally started playing like he should have been all along. Whatever it took to get him motivated I am happy that something has finally gotten through to him and he is playing well. His returns the last couple of weeks have been huge for us!

He still needs to step it up as a receiver and make some big plays though. he has one play of over 20 yards and that was in week-1. Since then he has had a couple of 18 yard receptions and one for 17 (yesterday) but that is it. He did catch a 5-yard TD last week but he is far from regaining his starting spot at WR.

What do you expect from a slot WR? Look around the league for perspective man.

And when should you eat crow? Give me an example of a time when it'll be appropriate for you to eat crow

 

[HoosierCowboy]

we should have had 2 picks today but the DBs can't catch

 

[kmd24]

5) No other team in football could possibly have fans criticizing the offensive coordinator of a team playing as well as ours is.

6) Romo is now up to 120 passes and 3 straight games without a pick, thats VAST improvement. His accuracy today though could have been better. He wasnt as sharp as last week.

8) Our special teams are dominating. We definitely have 1 of the 3 or 4 best special teams units in football, if not the best. For all those who were on the hate Crayton bandwagon, please let us know how you like that crow served. Two weeks in a row he's put away games with TD returns.

Nice post, dbair. I thought I'd comment on the above items.

5) I agree. I have been critical of Garrett in the past, but I think some of it is deserved. It still bothers me that he opts for deception in short yardage. We are good enough to win almost every battle in those situations, and I think it is demoralizing for the opponent when you essentially tell them, "We know you know what's coming, and we're gonna beat you anyway." Still, he's doing some great things, building a great running attack yet still winning when we aren't running well.

6) Romo's walking a thin line between playing carefree and careless. I though he got away with a couple of foolish throws yesterday. All in all, he's improved over last season.

8) Crayton deserves praise, but he muffed another fair catch, and that needs to stop. The biggest change on the returns isn't Crayton, but the blocking. Kevin Ogletree and Sam Hurd had great blocks on the touchdown. I do like seeing Crayton head straight upfield. He also did a good job of getting past the punter.

 

[Hostile]

1) 5-2, tied for 1st and 1st place on the line in Philly next week. After we lost to Denver I PM'd Hos and asked him if he was worrried, he said he wasnt. I really was. Hats off to Hos for showing faith when so many of the rest of us were growing concerned and many just flat out giving up.

We will lose again. I promise everyone that. It might even be this week. The Eagles at home are tough to take down. Not impossible. A loss will not mean the Cowboys are doomed. This will fall on deaf ears. It always does. A win will not mean we are heaven bound. This too will fall on deaf ears. It always does.

The Cowboys are good folks. How good? I don't know and neither does anyone else. Not the people proclaiming #6 is in the bag, and certainly not the people reminding us that it isn't December yet.

I still think we will finish 12-4 and win the NFC East, but we will not go to the Super Bowl. I think we will win in the post season and get that monkey off our backs, but I think there are better teams than the Cowboys in the NFC.

Thus I am not worried. My faith is already tempered. I have never let bitterness blind me. Not about to start this year.

 

[Hostile]

So the first thought that came to your mind was Hostile having faith?

Let the guys nuts breathe.

He isn't on them, but I could point you towards an entire forum who often are.

 

[Foolhardy]

He isn't on them, but I could point you towards an entire forum who often are.

 

[Hostile]

Don't worry, there's room for you too.

 

[Alexander]

7) Somewhat frustrating was the lack of better (ie, more consistent) pressure defensively, but overall it was a pretty good game. They made some plays when they had to and Seattle got basically nothing downfield. If Philly makes no plays downfield against us we're gonna be in tremendous shape next week. Whatever adjustments they've made in coverage since the NYG are working. Still wish we could get more picks though.

This is the key to the Eagles game. We need to be able to press McNabb much as the Raiders did. What impressed me about their drubbing of the Giants yesterday was the time McNabb had. Give him that kind of time, he's going to kill your defense.

8) Our special teams are dominating. We definitely have 1 of the 3 or 4 best special teams units in football, if not the best. For all those who were on the hate Crayton bandwagon, please let us know how you like that crow served. Two weeks in a row he's put away games with TD returns. He averaged almost 30 yds per return on 4 returns today. Might be leading the league in PR now. Folk missed a 48 yarder, yet I see people questioning his ability now. Come on people, 48 yarders arnt gimmees. He's 12 of 15 for the yr and all 3 misses were over 40 yds. He's hit fgs of 51, 47, 49 and 46 yds. There's nothing wrong with him. Buehler and McBriar are huge weapons and our kickoff and punt return coverage is the best in football IMO.

Crayton is doing the same solid job he's done all along. I give more credit to DeCamillis for getting a young group of players to execute their blocking assignments so well. Buehler is simply a demi-god. I also was impressed with Victor Butler on coverage. He's going to cause a turnover soon if he keeps striking that well. My only concern here is what is wrong with Folk.

 

[jterrell]

Nice, solid victory. I have to admit I was a little worried how we'd play today, knowing our MO of the past few seasons of winning a key game and then playing mediocre to an inferior team. I dont think they played a GREAT game, but it was a very solid victory and a game we controlled basically throughout.

1) 5-2, tied for 1st and 1st place on the line in Philly next week. After we lost to Denver I PM'd Hos and asked him if he was worrried, he said he wasnt. I really was. Hats off to Hos for showing faith when so many of the rest of us were growing concerned and many just flat out giving up.

2) Impressed with Romo completing passes to TEN different guys. TEN. If the OL pass blocks plays consistent this offense is going to be difficult for any team to handle. What we saw today would have never happened the past couple of seasons, with so much of the passing offense having to run through a certain player.

3) Miles Austin could go to the probowl. Yeah, he really might.

4) Impressed with the offense getting 26 first downs and controlling the clock for almost 35 mins. Also impressed by us starting to convert regularly on 3rd downs. We were over 50% today. Red zone offense, pretty damn good too.

5) No other team in football could possibly have fans criticizing the offensive coordinator of a team playing as well as ours is. Its really pretty pathetic. According to some of you any play that doesnt work is Garrett's fault or a horrible call, and the one's that do somehow work are only the result of our guys overcoming his bad coaching or the other team laying down.

6) Romo is now up to 120 passes and 3 straight games without a pick, thats VAST improvement. His accuracy today though could have been better. He wasnt as sharp as last week.

7) Somewhat frustrating was the lack of better (ie, more consistent) pressure defensively, but overall it was a pretty good game. They made some plays when they had to and Seattle got basically nothing downfield. If Philly makes no plays downfield against us we're gonna be in tremendous shape next week. Whatever adjustments they've made in coverage since the NYG are working. Still wish we could get more picks though.

8) Our special teams are dominating. We definitely have 1 of the 3 or 4 best special teams units in football, if not the best. For all those who were on the hate Crayton bandwagon, please let us know how you like that crow served. Two weeks in a row he's put away games with TD returns. He averaged almost 30 yds per return on 4 returns today. Might be leading the league in PR now. Folk missed a 48 yarder, yet I see people questioning his ability now. Come on people, 48 yarders arnt gimmees. He's 12 of 15 for the yr and all 3 misses were over 40 yds. He's hit fgs of 51, 47, 49 and 46 yds. There's nothing wrong with him. Buehler and McBriar are huge weapons and our kickoff and punt return coverage is the best in football IMO.

9) Our secondary brought some wood for the 2nd straight week today.

10) Bobby Carpenter continues to play pretty good football in his nickel role. His sack today was a key play but he also had several other solid plays. Anthony Spencer should get alot of kudos too. He still doesnt have a sack, but that will definitely come. He was all over the place today and came really close to a pick, broker up two passes and had several good pressures.

11) For all the criticism he is taking from fans and media, Roy Williams doesnt seem to be letting it affect his attitude or his effort. When other guys make big plays or score he is one of the first one's there congratulating them and celebrating, and his downfield blocking on run and pass plays is exceptional. He's gonna have some big games eventually. Miles Austin isnt a fluke, Jason Witten has gotta be accounted for. RW is gonna get favorable coverage sets. He's getting open but they arnt connecting. Eventually, they will.

Good solid win. I think had their been a poll of what our record would be after 7 games after the Denver game, most would have had us at 4-3 or even 3-4. Next week at this time we could potentially be all alone in first place. It'd be a huge win, but its not a season ender if we lose. I'd be happy with a split of these next two, and then beating Wash and Oakland, if that happens we're 8-3.

good stuff all around and i'll comment via number.

1) We lost to two teams playing really good football by close margins. We clearly weren't really sharp but we stayed in those games until the end. I wasn't worried either.

2) Love the 10 different receiver thing bu not gonna bag on Owens here. Not with RW11 getting a fair amount of targets but doing nothing with them. Will say the attitude of the team is light years better but again Owens is gone, and I could care less. Whether he has 0 catches or 150 for Buffalo mean zero to me. Maybe that's a bigger indictment than anything but alas that's how it is for me.

3) Yea, he could. i mentioned this last week. His plays end up on sportscenter and that helps with voting.

4) The first downs are impressive because we have been a big play offense mostly. That more consistent approach really made it easy to control the game.

5) Garrett has really done a great job adjusting to defenses and using the talent available to him. His main detractors now are simply guys too hung up on Choice or who couldn't let Owens go.

6) Definitely playing smarter football. Taking less chances, meaning he gets burned far less. Because his accuracy won't always be 100% on point he has to take less chances. He has to learn like a pitcher when he has the great stuff and can take chances and when he is a bit off and needs to play it safe imho. No one is on 100% of the time. Ben R. has made a hall of fame type career of being nearly awful half the game then playing really well down the stretch. McNair was another really slow starter he who heated up.

7) Offenses saw all those sacks last year and are determined to get rid of the ball quickly. We face a ton of screens and other stuff designed to slow a rush and also a huge percentage or 3 step drops. Guys basically have to be totally unblocked to get sacks. I think the picks will come as Sensabaugh gets healthy. He is touching balls weekly. Teams seem quite scared of Jenkins lately so he may not get big pick totals but he does a great job of playing the ball. He can still be beaten but if you try to test him a fair amount he'll also make you pay.

8) That hiring and emphasis has paid huge dividends. I really think this December that will make a big difference as teams go into more bottled up offensive strategies in bad weather.

9) The off-shoot of all those short drops is WRs have to catch short passes. DBs can then sit back and tee off. If you aren't getting 15 yard penalties nothing is more fun in all of football hen trying to decapitate some WR.

10) I am lower on Spencer than most everyone, probably because OLB is my favorite position and I judge everyone by LT standards there but alas I only give Spencer a plus when he is in the flat. His pass rush is just the expected off the edge burst, and while consistent he isn't gonna get sacks unless the other DL get super-blocked and the QB holds the ball a long time. And I think he does a good job keeping plays inside of him but gives up wayyyy too much inside to hold that edge.

11) RW11 has been pretty bad in route-running, mainly because he doesn't seem to make the same call as Romo. But he may be the best blocking WR going. Owens was good at it but RW is zero threat as a receiver and still drives guys 10 yards off and pins them away from plays. That takes serious effort.

 

[xWraithx]

So the first thought that came to your mind was Hostile having faith?

Let the guys nuts breathe.

:laugh2:

:clap2:

 

[theebs]

This is the key to the Eagles game. We need to be able to press McNabb much as the Raiders did. What impressed me about their drubbing of the Giants yesterday was the time McNabb had. Give him that kind of time, he's going to kill your defense.



Crayton is doing the same solid job he's done all along. I give more credit to DeCamillis for getting a young group of players to execute their blocking assignments so well. Buehler is simply a demi-god. I also was impressed with Victor Butler on coverage. He's going to cause a turnover soon if he keeps striking that well. My only concern here is what is wrong with Folk.

The Commanders, saints and skins all put pressure on eagles qbs.

The giants havent been able to really pressure anyone this year. I thought it was by design when we played them, but its been a trend. I think bill sheridan is struggling to find when to blitz and when not to. He doesnt seem to know how to generate pressure.

but your absolutely right, hitting mcnabb is key number 1. If he is forced to read the field and make intermediate accurate throws, he is pretty ordinary. When he can stand tall and lock on to his deep targets and throw the ball he is deadly.

Against oakland and washington he didnt look like he could move around at all and seemed to lose his senses about what was going on around him.

If ratliff can cause inside pressure ware is going to have a huge game I think.

 

[FCBarca]

Good points, I concur.

I think the thing to remember is that the club is playing better and that they don't need to be a finished article today anymore than they need to be next week...Come December/January is when we'd all like, I would think, to see them firing on all cylinders.

There was definitely some good out there.

I continue to like to see Tony making few mistakes out there...That, in it of itself, gives the Cowboys a fighting chance each game...Seeing the ball being spread around is good for everyone except the opponents...Seeing so many fewer flags (Especially from the OL) is really remarkable..Seeing the special teams make key contributions is not only a sight for sore eyes but it's the key ingredient in going to the next level...Pressure on the QB by the D is also a welcome return, even if it isn't to the extent it 'should' or 'can' be.

So there's a lot to feel good about going forward but it is, again, about going forward.

I would like to see better use of the run game as I think it's still not being entirely well balanced with the passing game...Red seems to now be infatuated with the passing game and I think we could be grinding teams down better using a better dose of the run game too...That will matter later in the season, IMHO.

I'd like to see the defense play better too...They've been a big part of the winning streak of late but they're also giving up a lot of yardage...That too will matter later in the season and in those games where the offense will get fewer and fewer cracks at scoring.

Some real positives, though, going forward...So long as it can be built on and not see the regression we've been all too familiar with in recent years

Philly game will be a great litmus test of just exactly where the 'boys are

 

[THUMPER]

What do you expect from a slot WR? Look around the league for perspective man.

You might need a little perspective yourself by remembering that until the Falcons game, Crayton was the starting WR opposite Williams, not a slot receiver.

And when should you eat crow? Give me an example of a time when it'll be appropriate for you to eat crow

When you call someone else out and find out that you were wrong all the time (see the above correction).

 

[AsthmaField]

Crayton is doing the same solid job he's done all along. I give more credit to DeCamillis for getting a young group of players to execute their blocking assignments so well.

That's what I think too. Crayton is the same player he has been... but the blocking on the punt return team is much, MUCH better than it has been.

I think it has taken all of training camp and the first quarter of the season for everyone to be playing where and how the new special teams coach wants. Finally, they are starting to get the hang of it and we are starting to play really well.

I don't hate Crayton... but it's not like he's trying harder now than he was. There has simply been more room to run straight upfield on those punt returns.

 

[BAT]

I disagree about Crayton being the same guy, at least on punt returns. While the blocking has definitely improved, Crayton is looking to run now (instead of just field kicks cleanly), more explosive hitting the seams and most importantly finishing his runs, no more running out of bounds to avoid kickers now.

And I will gladly eat crow, bbq sauce (and TDs) make it go down real nice. Crayton keeps it up, I'll keep eating it up.

And the key to pressuring the Eagles is the corners pressing the WRs while keeping the safeties over the top. The Eagles are no longer a dink and dunk WCO, they have now become a deep vertical offense always looking for the big play, especially on the edges. But that means McNabb has to hold the ball longer, giving pressure D's opportunities to make big plays too.

 

[dallascowboyfanboy]

So the first thought that came to your mind was Hostile having faith?

Let the guys nuts breathe.

Brah, one of the best all time posts I've seen on this board! Kudos.