Tivo'ed the game. Here's the analysis.

[Shotgun Dave]

#1. WARE IS A BEAST!

He was just absolutely all over the place. I don't know how they came up with 3 official sacks because I counted 3.5 in the first half alone. He very nearly had another 3 or 4 sacks, and he had several tackles that WOULD have been sacks but for Kitna managing to fall forward. No doubt in my mind Ware is THE BEST defensive player we have.

#2. Our o-line played like dog crap. Blame goes fairly evenly although Columbo played well and I guess Gurode "bent but didn't break". Rivera was abused. Adams got beaten several times. Our backs that stayed in to block managed to keep Romo upright but got shoved back into him regularly.

#3. Romo played very well but for several critical bad decisions. His passes were usually very accurate. Given the amount of time and space he had to throw the ball it's a dang miracle he completed as many passes as he did. Where he hurt Dallas were the few times he was careless with the ball carrying it and when he tried to make more of a busted play than he hould have. He seemed to get this "go long" mentality and started to direct the receivers. That's what screwed us up, and it was definitely not necessary.

#4. Roy is awesome and Roy is awful. Detroit's Roy Williams is just amazing. That guy is one of the best receivers playing the game (and I don't care how few TD's he's caught this year). Dallas' Roy Williams needs to go back to tackling school. He seems so interested in getting big hits that he simply used bad form. He allowed that one guy to pick up a first down on a 3rd and 9 that led to Detroit's next TD (on the very next play). Several times today he was out of position to make a tackle. He should NOT be blitzing because he's too danged slow (it would help if the offense didn't know the play before that he was coming - we practically send out flyers that we're blitzing).

#5. Detroit is a MUCH better team than their record indicates. MUCH.

#6. Our LB's are SLOW. Everyone seems to be piling on James and there's good reason in coverage - he's slow and often several yards behind the play. However, he is great in run coverage and tackles as well as anyone on the team (except Ware).

#7. Our secondary is not horrible, but their more horrible than good. The call on Newman (to start the game) was a TRAVESTY. What the heck is he supposed to do? It's not like the ball had sailed 5 yards past the receiver - it was barely past his hands when Newman LEVELED him. Other than the punt return for a TD, Newman had an average game in which several really bad decisions hurt us bad, bad, BAD. He got burned on the Furrey TD when Furrey - who was locked up in what appeared to be run-blocking with Al Singleton - broke loose. Singleton looked like he had cement shoes on and Newman was off picking daisies near the goal posts. He never had a chance.

#8. Don't pin this on the lack of pressure. Dallas had pressure on probably 75% of pass plays, but Kitna found the open receivers well (which, with our coverage in the secondary, wasn't very hard). Our front 7 looked very good today as far as QB pressure.

#9. Our secondary stinks. Not that you didn't know that already but Glenn, Henry and Roy Williams are undisciplined and SLOW. Did I mention that they are SLOW? By the way, they're also SLOW.

#10. If this is on Parcells, it's only insofar as the "buck stops here" kind of thing. The playcalling was much more aggressive (when was the last time you saw a flea-flicker?). No, this is on some combination of our secondary stinking it up and/or the defensive scheme not working. I'm calling out the players in the secondary - and averaging nearly 5 TD's a game the last 4 weeks backs me up.

#11. As down as I've been on Julius lately (and he was hitting piles all night) I have to say that the o-line never helped him much. The o-line just never got much push, and they don't appear to be working as a LINE - just guys who have to get the guy in front of them. They don't seem to have a sense of what being a lineman means.

#12. Owens played much better - no doubt. He DID have one clear drop in the first quarter (hit him smack in the middle of both hands) but he definitely played better than last week. He should be plenty glad he got past the Detroit CB on his long TD because that ball was laid into his hands like a doctor hands a mama her newborn baby. Had he dropped that one he would have been run out of town on a rail. That one pass also accounted for about half his receiving yardage. Still, he played better.

#13. Glenn was his usual spectacular self.

#14. Miles Austin may have been one of the biggest advantages we had in the game with his excellent kickoff returns. He has got some wicked wheels. With a little help he could have taken two of them all the way.

That's it in a long nutshell. In my opinion, after careful analysis and slow-mo replays and such, this falls mostly on the S/CB's and then hits the LB's next. There is NO doubt in my mind that we will have to make a change from Henry and Glenn, and we must get Roy out of pass coverage so much.

I am really beginning to think that we must either switch back to a 4-3, get a true 3-4 def. coordinator, or get new LB and CB's. Romo's deal was a few bad decisions (in an otherwise very good performance), and that should be fairly easily fixed. Our defense, however, is another story.

Finally, I have to give credit to Detroit. They played their butts off and were the better team - no doubt about it.

 

[Woods]

Good stuff.

What do you think of Watkins going into next year?

 

[bbgun]

#5. Detroit is a MUCH better team than their record indicates. MUCH.

They were 2-13 and hadn't won a road game in over a year. Mike "Total Bust" Williams hadn't caught a TD in ages. We make other teams' dreams come true.

 

[Cochese]

They were 2-13 and hadn't won a road game in over a year. Mike "Total Bust" Williams hadn't caught a TD in ages. We make other teams' dreams come true.

I completely agree. I have seen some fans claim Detroit was decent, someone even called them a "damn good football team". They suck. They are pathetic. As in as bad as the Raiders and we made them look like a 14-2 team. How many players were hurt for today on the Lions?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nice job. Nothing I can disagree with.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Good stuff.

What do you think of Watkins going into next year?

Hard to say but if gets a feel for the speed of the NFL game I think it'll be hard to keep him out of the lineup. He jumped for that pick today and saw the field well on the runback. He might be a keeper, but if a top FS fell to us I'd absolutely take one. Watkins could be an outstanding player in a nickel or dime package.

 

[WV Cowboy]

#12. Owens played much better - no doubt. He DID have one clear drop in the first quarter (hit him smack in the middle of both hands) but he definitely played better than last week. He should be plenty glad he got passed the Detroit CB on his long TD because that ball was laid into his hands like a doctor hands a mama her newborn baby. Had he dropped that one he would have been run out of town on a rail. That one pass also accounted for about half his receiving yardage. Still, he played better.

#13. Glenn was his usual spectacular self.

Thanks for your opinion, can't say I agree with all of it but I do agree with some.

Why can't you just say Owens had a good game ?

That pass in the first qtr was not a "clear drop". It was a pass that I have seen him catch, and a pass I have see others catch and I would have liked it if he had caught it. But even though the pass hits you in the hands, if the DB is hitting you in the back and attempting to reach around or through your arms that is a "pass defensed", not a drop. He has had drops, but that wasn't one of them. A drop is when nobody is around and you miss a pass that was catchable.

You said he should be glad he got past the DB, ... that is called beating your man.

And then to say that one pass accounted for 1/2 of his receiving yards, and turn around and say TG was spectacular when 1/2 half of his receiving yards was also on one pass and it was a flipping flea flicker to boot.

Keep it fair man. Why can't you just say they both had good games.

They both had big games, ... when you go for over 100 yds as a receiver it is big. And with both having the same # of catches for about the same yardage and both having one catch of about 50 yds, just say they both played well instead of differentiating between the two.

 

[Clove]

Great Job. I too rewatched the game and I'll make my quick observations.

1. Glymph is the second best pass rusher on this team. The few times he was in, he was extremely disruptive. Maybe he's a liability in run coverage or BP is hiding him for the playoffs.
2. The 4-3 is what suits us right now, period.
3. We need to revamp our LB core, we are way too slow, and I mean wayyy!
4. Henry actually played safety on one play, and he dropped the INT on that play, that's where he needs to be because he's too SLOW.
5. Romo will be a STAR, book it!
6. Rivera/Flozell/Kosier needs to be replaced.
7. We need a featured back, with SPEEEEEEEEEEEED.
8. Time to see what Nate Jones has.
9. Miles Austin is great at KO returns.
10. Parcells' needs to go.

 

[windward]

I was on the fence for what Cowboy jersey I'll get next and I've decided it has to be Ware.

 

[Woods]

Great Job. I too rewatched the game and I'll make my quick observations.

1. Glymph is the second best pass rusher on this team. The few times he was in, he was extremely disruptive. Maybe he's a liability in run coverage or BP is hiding him for the playoffs.
2. The 4-3 is what suits us right now, period.
3. We need to revamp our LB core, we are way too slow, and I mean wayyy!
4. Henry actually played safety on one play, and he dropped the INT on that play, that's where he needs to be because he's too SLOW.
5. Romo will be a STAR, book it!
6. Rivera/Flozell/Kosier needs to be replaced.
7. We need a featured back, with SPEEEEEEEEEEEED.
8. Time to see what Nate Jones has.
9. Miles Austin is great at KO returns.
10. Parcells' needs to go.

With respect to our LBs, let's assume for a minute we do go the the 4-3.

If Ware plays one spot, Carp the other, and B. James/Akin the middle, we shouldn't be too slow.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

I completely agree. I have seen some fans claim Detroit was decent, someone even called them a "damn good football team". They suck. They are pathetic. As in as bad as the Raiders and we made them look like a 14-2 team. How many players were hurt for today on the Lions?

I might have said the same thing given their record. However, I watched them nearly beat Chicago last week (but for Mike Williams dropping a pass even TO would have caught they would have won at the buzzer). Not only that, but they've "been in" almost every game they lost right up to the end. Their defense is solid (if unspectacular) and when they get Rogers back they'll be even better. The NFL better be very happy Mike Williams and Charles Rogers didn't pan out or they would be unstoppable - just Roy Williams and Furrey are hard enough to cover.

Detroit will likely pick Brady Quinn in the draft if Oakland doesn't, and if they can get an o-line together they'll be a force. Tell yourself we got beat by a crappy team if you want but I say otherwise. Now, do they score 39 all the time? No, they don't, and that's what playing Dallas does for you lately. But Detroit IS a better team than their record says.

 

[Clove]

One more thing.

The next time I see the Cowboys line up in a 3-4 or 4-3 set against an offense with 4 WRs on the field, I'm going to go and jump off of my roof. Don't do that Parcells, just don't do that anymore.

 

[Clove]

With respect to our LBs, let's assume for a minute we do go the the 4-3.

If Ware plays one spot, Carp the other, and B. James/Akin the middle, we shouldn't be too slow.

Ware plays End, period. I can handle Akin in the middle, but James is a backup, Burnett should start and Carpenter should start but come off in the nickel. We need speed when we go into the nickel and the dime.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Thanks for your opinion, can't say I agree with all of it but I do agree with some.

Why can't you just say Owens had a good game ?

That pass in the first qtr was not a "clear drop". It was a pass that I have seen him catch, and a pass I have see others catch and I would have liked it if he had caught it. But even though the pass hits you in the hands, if the DB is hitting you in the back and attempting to reach around or through your arms

Because given his travails lately I didn't feel like it.

And it WAS a clear drop. The ball got there BEFORE the DB did, the ball hit him in BOTH hands, and the DB NEVER touched the ball. It was a CLEAR drop, and the NFL has recorded it as such. Was it a game breaker? No, not really. It was just a drop.

Just like I said.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Because given his travails lately I didn't feel like it.

Duely noted.:laugh2:

That answered my question.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Duely noted.:laugh2:

That answered my question.

Sorry about that! What I meant was that his dropsies have been a hot topic lately and I thought it should be noted that although he DID have a good game he ALSO did have another drop.

Didn't mean to be all smarty-mouth about it.:

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Good stuff.

What do you think of Watkins going into next year?

I think the talent is there to be a pretty good free safety in the NFL. He's got 3 INT's this year, which is 3 more than Pile and Davis had last year at FS combined....and we had a better defense and pass rush in 2005. I still don't see how people pile on the secondary in this game. They weren't that bad, but Bradie got eaten alive today. I expect Seattle to follow suit with using their WR's to run mostly short drag routes and getting their WR one-on-one with Bradie and killing the defense all day long. He's easily the worst starter on the team, the biggest weakspot on the team and probably one of the worst true starting LB's in the game.


YAKUZA

 

[WV Cowboy]

Sorry about that! What I meant was that his dropsies have been a hot topic lately and I thought it should be noted that although he DID have a good game he ALSO did have another drop.

Didn't mean to be all smarty-mouth about it.:

You weren't a smarty mouth, maybe it's me, but of all of the years I have watched, played, or coached football, ... if the defense is involved in a player missing a pass, that has never been a drop in my book, just a pass broken up.

After all, let's not forget that they are trying to make the offense miss the ball.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

I think the talent is there to be a pretty good free safety in the NFL. He's got 3 INT's this year, which is 3 more than Pile and Davis had last year at FS combined....and we had a better defense and pass rush in 2005. I still don't see how people pile on the secondary in this game. They weren't that bad, but Bradie got eaten alive today. I expect Seattle to follow suit with using their WR's to run mostly short drag routes and getting their WR one-on-one with Bradie and killing the defense all day long. He's easily the worst starter on the team, the biggest weakspot on the team and probably one of the worst true starting LB's in the game.


YAKUZA

No disrespect, but were we watching the same game? We caught a few breaks here and there, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that our secondary wasn't the biggest problem. James got blasted in pass coverage several times but he was nowhere NEAR the problem on the TD's. The Mike Williams TD was on Newman, the Furrey TD was on Singleton/Newman, and the Roy Williams TD's were on Glenn.

What's that got to do with James? Granted, he stank in pass coverage, but he's not expected to stay with the WR's in our scheme beyond the first few yards. He turns it over to the cornes and safeties, and THAT is where we stunk it up.

In my opinion.

 

[Clove]

I think the talent is there to be a pretty good free safety in the NFL. He's got 3 INT's this year, which is 3 more than Pile and Davis had last year at FS combined....and we had a better defense and pass rush in 2005. I still don't see how people pile on the secondary in this game. They weren't that bad, but Bradie got eaten alive today. I expect Seattle to follow suit with using their WR's to run mostly short drag routes and getting their WR one-on-one with Bradie and killing the defense all day long. He's easily the worst starter on the team, the biggest weakspot on the team and probably one of the worst true starting LB's in the game.


YAKUZA

First off, how and why does Bradie drop so deep into coverage? I don't understand this from our coaching staff. Also Rich, what do you think of Junior Glymph as a nickel/dime DE? If you've not replayed his performance, go back and check it out.