Relieved...

[Chuck 54]

I officially bow down at the feet of Drew Bledsoe. I knew he would be an improvement over Testeverde, but I must admit I was very worried by his tentative and weak play in preseason. Today, and under great pressure at times, he really showed me something. His QB rating for this game has to be the highest we've seen in the past 10 years, maybe. He threw some beautiful balls, like the one to Keyshaun on the sideline, that were thrown in the only spot that was safe from the defender.

Crayton? What's to say...who knows if he'll ever be a #1 or #2 WR...there's never a way to know till they do it, but he's definitely going to be huge as our slot guy who moves the chains.

I was also pleased with JJ...not huge stats, but he ran hard, protected the ball, and kept banging it in there...though I was really getting angry at all of BP's calls to run right in the second half when he was getting stuffed or worse every time...I also don't understand why we never tried to run him wide, but I'm sure the coaches were calling the plays best suited for the defense.

The OL was very ragged and weak sometimes...very good pass protection at other times...a work in progress...Rivera didn't show me much, but I guess he's still working back into form.

Major concern for the future...Bledsoe didn't look Witton's way at all, but who's complaining when we won and the WR's were so involved for a change...I do hope somewhere down the road they make a serious connection just to dismiss the concern that Bledsoe isn't looking that way.

Certainly major concerns on defense, unless the Chargers are one of the top offenses in the league...we still can't make a stop on 3rd down. The secondary played lights out, though the only time I saw Davis do anything was stepping in with a hit in the endzone...he also bit on the QB scramble leaving McCardel wide open behind him for a TD...we still struggle to bring consistant pressure, even when seemingly blitzing the entire team. That final 4th and 13 When SD completed the pass in the middle over Henry had me fuming...that was the time to rush 4 and have everyone in coverage, making Brees throw something underneath, imo.

Cortez is probably the leading tackler on Special Teams with 2 solos today...that can't be good. Sproiles is impressive, but give me a break...our coverage units sucked today, and our own return teams are still putrid. From the day BP was hired, we've heard a lot of crap about Special teams, but imo our special teams have gotten worse and worse till they are now among the worst.

ON that point, where the hell was our probowl punter today...did he even kick one 40 yards???

A great win...the best kind...impressive offense with Bledsoe being the STUD, something we all needed, including him. Timely offense...Henry was incredible, and TNew must have been doing something right or Henry wouldn't have had so many chances...still there are things to improve upon...BP loves that.

First game win, on the road, in a tight game, 4th quarter win, huge Offensive game winning drive, followed by goal line stop to save it...that's great stuff for a young team.

Ware gave great effort, but he really hurt us several times with bad plays...he'll learn.

Bring on the Commanders....2-0 baby....

 

[Rick_Deckard]

Bledsoe didn't look Witton's way at all, but who's complaining when we won and the WR's were so involved for a change...I do hope somewhere down the road they make a serious connection just to dismiss the concern that Bledsoe isn't looking that way.

Bledsoe said on the post game show that the Chargers were committed to taking Witten away. Bledsoe made them pay by spreading the ball around to Key, Crayton, and Glenn.

 

[Nors]

But I get it in spades when I'm wrong.

I've seen probably 100 football games(regular season) and Bledsoe really, really is a Very talented QB.....

I see a huge DB/BP reunion here. We just beat a 12-4 playoff team on the road....

 

[Chuck 54]

Bledsoe said on the post game show that the Chargers were committed to taking Witten away. Bledsoe made them pay by spreading the ball around to Key, Crayton, and Glenn.

Maybe teams will be doing that all year...but as I said, it was sure nice to see the WR's involved...wow.

 

[Chuck 54]

But I get it in spades when I'm wrong.

I've seen probably 100 football games(regular season) and Bledsoe really, really is a Very talented QB.....

I see a huge DB/BP reunion here. We just beat a 12-4 playoff team on the road....

I knew he had talent if the protection was there, but he really had to contend with a great deal of pressure, and he was extremely accurate...I wasn't expecting that.

Not to nitpick, but his sacks would definitely be minimal if he'd just learn to throw it away now and again. On one play there was a big blitz, lots of pressure, he side stepped, found a tiny hole to avoid it, and instead of throwing the ball away, held it even longer and was sacked...he's got to realize that you can't make the blitz miss and still be there looking around, but I guess he'll counter that by occasionally finding a guy in time for a big play.

The offense certainly played well on a day when the defense was inconsistant...the stats make it look like SD didn't have a good day, but we gave up huge 3rd and longs all game and even 4th and longs...I'll give SD some of the credit, but I sure hope to see our D do better in the future, like next week versus the Commanders .

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I'd certainly like to see Witten get more touches, but I am not worried about Bledsoe ignoring him. The important thing is that Bledsoe was not forcing it into any one receiver at the expense of a wide open Witten. He was getting it to the open man, and as long as he continues to do that, I'll be happy.

Those who knock Bledsoe's mobility have a point as he did hold the ball a little long on a couple of those sacks. But there were some others like the corner blitz where he had no chance. Polite just whiffed. But to say he is a statue is wrong. If you saw him early in the first quarter, he was surrounded and calmly stepped up in the pocket, still found no receiver and took off for an 8 yard gain. Michael Vick? No. But it shows he has more awareness than most are willing to give him credit for.

Lastly on Bledsoe, that is as accurate a passing display as I have seen from a Dallas QB in a *long* time. He was putting the passes exactly where they needed to be to be caught by the receiver and noone else.

 

[Cbz40]

Gentlemen ....SD took Witten out of the O today. 2 Lbs and a S were on him all day.

 

[JackMagist]

First I gotta say that it was a sloppy game for both teams. We made mistakes that could have killed us but they returned the favor. I think we clean it up in the weeks to follow. For now I'll take the win with a big smile.

I was impressed with our offense. I know we got lucky with some penalties but then again if not for the fouls we might have made something on those plays on our own. Therefore, I do not feel the least bit embarrassed by 'getting lucky' on those plays.

Bledsoe still looks like a deer in the headlights in the pocket and he still holds the ball too long. But that is what you get with him and it was to be expected. And he did after all end up with a very good game with 3 TD's and no INT's. I'll take that performance every time.

I think Keyshawn answered all those who were concerned about him being ready to play. Two TD's and some critical catches and some very difficult catches as well.

I think Crayton laid to rest any thoughts of demoting him for Price. He was a superb weapon for us today and was clutch. We'll be seeing this kid a lot this year and for years to come. I really expected to see Witten get more catches but I'm sure he will as the year goes on. But he is going to lose some catches to Crayton.

Julius ran well, I don't know how many yards he ended up with but he looked good in there overall. He had some nice runs and that TD run was nice; I like the way he wanted it and went all out for it.

I think we will see more and more of Gurode as the season goes on. He looked much better than Johnson which was also expected against the huge NT of theirs.

I thought the O-line did pretty good all the way around. They created some running lanes for Julius and protected Bledsoe as well as could be expected. No one can keep the defense out as long as Bledsoe holds the ball so I do not put the 4 sacks on the line. And at least we got most of the mental errors out of the way all on that one drive. I think here were only two penalties on the line the rest of the game.

Ware looked like a rookie but that is what he is after all. He had good pass rushes and poor run defense which was all expected given how he did in preseason.

Canty and Spears both looked good. Spears was in on some plays where he didn't get his name called. Fergie looked good plugging up the middle when he got in there but so did Glover.

I don't know if Fujita made in into the game of was even active. But I have a feeling that our run defense will get much better when he starts getting some PT.

And I think Dat answered any questions about his ability to play in this defense. He was pretty much all over the field just as I've come to expect from him.

I didn't see much out of Bradie James; I think he tipped a pass once but was pretty much invisible although I didn't see them making any runs through his area so he must have been doing something right.

Barber looked slow coming out on the kickoffs. Better either give it to A. Glenn or let Thompson do it because Barber wasn't getting it done.

Newman started off pretty slow but picked it up as the game went on. Henry is worth every dime and so is A. Glenn.

Overall I'm happy with the game and the team and I think we only get better.

 

[baj1dallas]

I'd rather have Bledsoe take a sack then turn the ball over, so if he gets two sacks in a game due to "holding the ball too long" when nobody is open, that's fine with me. Especially since he'll gain more confidence in his receivers as the season goes along.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The OL was very ragged and weak sometimes.

The key the the season IMHO is the O-line. They must create running lanes for JJ and protect Bledsoe. When he got the time, he looked very good today.

 

[Doomsday101]

I officially bow down at the feet of Drew Bledsoe. I knew he would be an improvement over Testeverde, but I must admit I was very worried by his tentative and weak play in preseason. Today, and under great pressure at times, he really showed me something. His QB rating for this game has to be the highest we've seen in the past 10 years, maybe. He threw some beautiful balls, like the one to Keyshaun on the sideline, that were thrown in the only spot that was safe from the defender.

Crayton? What's to say...who knows if he'll ever be a #1 or #2 WR...there's never a way to know till they do it, but he's definitely going to be huge as our slot guy who moves the chains.

I was also pleased with JJ...not huge stats, but he ran hard, protected the ball, and kept banging it in there...though I was really getting angry at all of BP's calls to run right in the second half when he was getting stuffed or worse every time...I also don't understand why we never tried to run him wide, but I'm sure the coaches were calling the plays best suited for the defense.

The OL was very ragged and weak sometimes...very good pass protection at other times...a work in progress...Rivera didn't show me much, but I guess he's still working back into form.

Major concern for the future...Bledsoe didn't look Witton's way at all, but who's complaining when we won and the WR's were so involved for a change...I do hope somewhere down the road they make a serious connection just to dismiss the concern that Bledsoe isn't looking that way.

Certainly major concerns on defense, unless the Chargers are one of the top offenses in the league...we still can't make a stop on 3rd down. The secondary played lights out, though the only time I saw Davis do anything was stepping in with a hit in the endzone...he also bit on the QB scramble leaving McCardel wide open behind him for a TD...we still struggle to bring consistant pressure, even when seemingly blitzing the entire team. That final 4th and 13 When SD completed the pass in the middle over Henry had me fuming...that was the time to rush 4 and have everyone in coverage, making Brees throw something underneath, imo.

Cortez is probably the leading tackler on Special Teams with 2 solos today...that can't be good. Sproiles is impressive, but give me a break...our coverage units sucked today, and our own return teams are still putrid. From the day BP was hired, we've heard a lot of crap about Special teams, but imo our special teams have gotten worse and worse till they are now among the worst.

ON that point, where the hell was our probowl punter today...did he even kick one 40 yards???

A great win...the best kind...impressive offense with Bledsoe being the STUD, something we all needed, including him. Timely offense...Henry was incredible, and TNew must have been doing something right or Henry wouldn't have had so many chances...still there are things to improve upon...BP loves that.

First game win, on the road, in a tight game, 4th quarter win, huge Offensive game winning drive, followed by goal line stop to save it...that's great stuff for a young team.

Ware gave great effort, but he really hurt us several times with bad plays...he'll learn.

Bring on the Commanders....2-0 baby....

On Cowboy radio they talked about how the chargers were running 2 LB and a safety over the top on Witten, given the attention they were paying to Witten that is why Drew did not go to him. Even Drew commented on the attention Witten was getting and on a couple of plays that were called for Witten he was forced to go else where with the ball. If teams want to pay that type of attention to Witten then fine that opens things up for the other guys.

 

[Eddie]

See what a Pro Bowl TE does for a team? Even when he only has 2 catches, he opens up the door for other players. This is how one good player makes the other players around him better.

 

[TheSkaven]

On Cowboy radio they talked about how the chargers were running 2 LB and a safety over the top on Witten, given the attention they were paying to Witten that is why Drew did not go to him. Even Drew commented on the attention Witten was getting and on a couple of plays that were called for Witten he was forced to go else where with the ball. If teams want to pay that type of attention to Witten then fine that opens things up for the other guys.

This is really the key point. Witten wasn't open, and he's the reason that Crayton was getting so many balls. I counted three times that Witten ran a crossing route, drew the safety over and left Crayton in one on one coverage. I'll take that all day if a defense will give it to us.

Pick your poison.

 

[Hostile]

But I get it in spades when I'm wrong.

I've seen probably 100 football games(regular season) and Bledsoe really, really is a Very talented QB.....

I see a huge DB/BP reunion here. We just beat a 12-4 playoff team on the road....

When you first started touting Bledsoe it was 40 games. How high is this number going to climb while you pat yourself on the back. I swear it is a 30 game jump now. Last I read it was 70 games. I mean you're now basically claiming to have been a Patriots and Bills season ticket holder and hit some road games too to have seen that many.

 

[Chuck 54]

I'm very happy with where this team is compared to last season, and I'm excited about the growth we should see during the season.

However, I do believe that the weak link right now is still the linebacking corps...We still don't have the type of inside backers that can step into the hole or even into the backfield and stuff runners....other teams running the 3-4, like NE, have guys whose names everyone knows because they make all the plays.

Our linebackers are mediocre at best as a group, usually dragging guys down. Singleton blitzed quite a bit from his side and never got anywhere. I love DAT like the next guy, but I think we'll definitely have to go bigger at some point.

 

[Reality]

I've seen probably 100 football games(regular season) and Bledsoe really, really is a Very talented QB

You know, I thought you were a closet Patriots and Bills fan but 100 games!?!?!?! I would say that makes you an outright huge Patriots and Bills fan. How in the world have you had time to follow the Cowboys?

 

[Hostile]

You know, I thought you were a closet Patriots and Bills fan but 100 games!?!?!?! I would say that makes you an outright huge Patriots and Bills fan. How in the world have you had time to follow the Cowboys?

You noticed the same math I did.

His eye witness expertise started at 40 games and has really amplified.

 

[Zman5]

When you first started touting Bledsoe it was 40 games. How high is this number going to climb while you pat yourself on the back. I swear it is a 30 game jump now. Last I read it was 70 games. I mean you're now basically claiming to have been a Patriots and Bills season ticket holder and hit some road games too to have seen that many.

Hahaha. That's just too funny.

Nors caught lying again.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You noticed the same math I did.

His eye witness expertise started at 40 games and has really amplified.

What's a few games between friends?

 

[TheHustler]

But I get it in spades when I'm wrong.

I've seen probably 100 football games(regular season) and Bledsoe really, really is a Very talented QB.....

I see a huge DB/BP reunion here. We just beat a 12-4 playoff team on the road....

You know Nors, I was thinking the other day that you put up with a lot of crap here. But you just want what the rest of us want, a Cowboys win. Who cares if you're a homer about certain players? But you're right, Bledsoe, for the most part, looked good. Just wished he would throw it away when the pocket collapses instead of taking a sack.