erod
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Even great teams - which the Cowboys aren't - have 1 or 2 games per season that defy explanation or logic. Troy and the boys used to splat a time or two against the dregs of the league now and again.
Yes, yesterday looked an awfully lot like so many games in recent pass, yet I still very much contend that this team isn't like those we've seen the past few years. I still think this is a vastly improved team from a year ago.
But that kerplunk in KC happened, and it must be dealt with today, so here are the some observations I'm left with in the fog of defeat.
1. Why Callahan isn't running more is beyond me, but (1) is Romo audibling out of run plays, and (2) what is wrong with Murray's vision? Twice, there were gaping holes for Murray to hit for major yardage, and yet he just plowed into the backsides of his offensive linemen for three yards.
2. Dunbar has made nice plays the last two times he's caught a pass, and both times he's fumbled. That has to be fixed, or he can go sit with the Giants young running back. All the speed and quickness in the world is useless if you carry the ball like that. Dunbar carries it VERY loose.
3. For all Dez' amazing excellence, he is not in the league of Calvin Johnson until he learns to finish games. Not only did he drop the potential game-winner, Dez was too tired to finish the game and was checking himself out.
4. Laufenberg made the point, Romo was having a hard time throwing to the left side of the field because of his ribs. Why wasn't the playcaller taking that into consideration? Or, why was Romo insisting on going that way? His throws were noticeably weak and off target when he had to torque his body to throw that way. He took injections for his ribs beforehand. This should improve greatly by the Rams game.
5. Garrett handled the time outs perfectly. So much nonsense flowed afterward with his approach, but he is right to be aggressive with them because, either way, you have to make a stop. I would rather have no time outs with more than 2 minutes remaining than have two timeouts with 30 seconds left. Coach Garrett handled those correctly; you can't take them with you, and you just have to make a defensive play, which Dallas couldn't in the end.
6. The call on Claiborne was bad, but not nearly as bad as the offensive call on Dez. Both plays had huge impacts on the outcome, and we could be talking a very different tune today had they gotten them correct. (And I'm not a referee complainer often.) I thought the referees had a very poor day around the league, not the least of which was our game.
7. Wow, have we found a player in Selvie. When Spencer is back at full strength, that three-man rotation at defensive end looks formidable. In the cooler air this weekend, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Same goes for Hayden.
8. Bernadeau wasn't awful, but you could see a difference with Waters in the game. It's not a struggle for him to hold his ground, and we ran right behind him a couple of times for nice gains. He needs to get conditioned to play a whole game asap.
9. The special teams look fixed. Whoever we signed, and whatever adjustments were made, Basascia has his coverage units playing well, considering how awful they looked in the preseason.
10. If you're going to lay an egg, and let's hope this is one of only a couple this season, you want to do it against an AFC opponent on a day when the whole division gets wiped out. While an opportunity was missed, no ground was lost. There's your silver lining.
That's a good Kansas City team. They will make the playoffs this year because their defense is legit, and Smith fits Reid's passing scheme very nicely. They play a lot of mucky games like yesterday, and they'll get good at it. I give them some credit.
Heads high, everyone. I still believe there are bright days ahead as this finds its track.
Yes, yesterday looked an awfully lot like so many games in recent pass, yet I still very much contend that this team isn't like those we've seen the past few years. I still think this is a vastly improved team from a year ago.
But that kerplunk in KC happened, and it must be dealt with today, so here are the some observations I'm left with in the fog of defeat.
1. Why Callahan isn't running more is beyond me, but (1) is Romo audibling out of run plays, and (2) what is wrong with Murray's vision? Twice, there were gaping holes for Murray to hit for major yardage, and yet he just plowed into the backsides of his offensive linemen for three yards.
2. Dunbar has made nice plays the last two times he's caught a pass, and both times he's fumbled. That has to be fixed, or he can go sit with the Giants young running back. All the speed and quickness in the world is useless if you carry the ball like that. Dunbar carries it VERY loose.
3. For all Dez' amazing excellence, he is not in the league of Calvin Johnson until he learns to finish games. Not only did he drop the potential game-winner, Dez was too tired to finish the game and was checking himself out.
4. Laufenberg made the point, Romo was having a hard time throwing to the left side of the field because of his ribs. Why wasn't the playcaller taking that into consideration? Or, why was Romo insisting on going that way? His throws were noticeably weak and off target when he had to torque his body to throw that way. He took injections for his ribs beforehand. This should improve greatly by the Rams game.
5. Garrett handled the time outs perfectly. So much nonsense flowed afterward with his approach, but he is right to be aggressive with them because, either way, you have to make a stop. I would rather have no time outs with more than 2 minutes remaining than have two timeouts with 30 seconds left. Coach Garrett handled those correctly; you can't take them with you, and you just have to make a defensive play, which Dallas couldn't in the end.
6. The call on Claiborne was bad, but not nearly as bad as the offensive call on Dez. Both plays had huge impacts on the outcome, and we could be talking a very different tune today had they gotten them correct. (And I'm not a referee complainer often.) I thought the referees had a very poor day around the league, not the least of which was our game.
7. Wow, have we found a player in Selvie. When Spencer is back at full strength, that three-man rotation at defensive end looks formidable. In the cooler air this weekend, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Same goes for Hayden.
8. Bernadeau wasn't awful, but you could see a difference with Waters in the game. It's not a struggle for him to hold his ground, and we ran right behind him a couple of times for nice gains. He needs to get conditioned to play a whole game asap.
9. The special teams look fixed. Whoever we signed, and whatever adjustments were made, Basascia has his coverage units playing well, considering how awful they looked in the preseason.
10. If you're going to lay an egg, and let's hope this is one of only a couple this season, you want to do it against an AFC opponent on a day when the whole division gets wiped out. While an opportunity was missed, no ground was lost. There's your silver lining.
That's a good Kansas City team. They will make the playoffs this year because their defense is legit, and Smith fits Reid's passing scheme very nicely. They play a lot of mucky games like yesterday, and they'll get good at it. I give them some credit.
Heads high, everyone. I still believe there are bright days ahead as this finds its track.
