Wade's 3-4 Taking Shape- so is my attitude

[Sitting Bull]

Obviously a lot to like about this team beyond just our record- Romo's play, Barber running with bad intentions, T.O. being a team player, our ballhawking secondary, etc. But I've actually enjoyed these first four games more than any in recent memory, for non-statistical reasons I couldn't readily explain.

I'm used to gamedays being a stressful, gut-wrenching exercise- and that's when we win! No lead is ever big enough for me. When we killed the Eagles in the first game in 2005, I actually felt like we lost because I'd spent the entire game expecting them to get back into it. I missed Romo's botched hold in the playoffs because I was outside nervously sweeping an already clean porch (technically, I expected Gramatica to miss the chip-shot FG but, whatever, the outcome only fueled my negative mojo). I despise negative board trolls, so I don't tend to share my pre-game concerns, but I'll admit I'm used to watching Cowboys games half-expecting us to blow it and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Something is very different about this team that makes me expect the big play, instead of dreading the one that will be hung on us. Last week, I realized that part of it is watching an o-line that physically and mentally wears down the defensive line in the second half each week. This week, I realized that Wade's version of the 3-4 actually inspires "viewer confidence" as well as player confidence. When our opponent is in the red zone, we tend to get more aggressive and keep the pressure on. I actually came to this realization today exactly one play before Hamlin picked off Bulger in the end zone, effectively icing the game.

I know, I know: Long season, put away the anointing oils, blah blah. But if we keep this up, I may actually be able to make a run at Crazy Cowboy for best positive attitude on the board...

 

[cowboyz]

yeah it's no longer dreading a pick/fumble or a long td pass

it's about getting that long td pass or sacking the qb

fans gotta go through the coaching change too

 

[tnbk]

I appreciate what Parcell's brought to this team....I am just thankful he is no longer running the offense. We could have done this last year.

 

[Catch-22]

That one play with no down lineman until right before the snap was a thing of beauty.

 

[Sitting Bull]

That one play with no down lineman until right before the snap was a thing of beauty.

Did I read/hear somewhere that we call that play "chaos?"
Or maybe someone else calls it that. Whatever, it got Ellis a nice sack and we even run it in the red zone.

 

[Bleu Star]

Did I read/hear somewhere that we call that play "chaos?"
Or maybe someone else calls it that. Whatever, it got Ellis a nice sack and we even run it in the red zone.

Yes. that was Chaos and it was truly a thing of beauty. Their Olinemen had absolutely no idea where we were going to come from. Result: Sack

 

[Hostile]

I appreciate what Parcell's brought to this team....I am just thankful he is no longer running the offense. We could have done this last year.

Your avatar is hilarious.

To me anyway.

 

[tunahelper]

Obviously a lot to like about this team beyond just our record- Romo's play, Barber running with bad intentions, T.O. being a team player, our ballhawking secondary, etc. But I've actually enjoyed these first four games more than any in recent memory, for non-statistical reasons I couldn't readily explain.

I'm used to gamedays being a stressful, gut-wrenching exercise- and that's when we win! No lead is ever big enough for me. When we killed the Eagles in the first game last year, I actually felt like we lost because I'd spent the entire game expecting them to get back into it. I missed Romo's botched hold in the playoffs because I was outside nervously sweeping an already clean porch (technically, I expected Gramatica to miss the chip-shot FG but, whatever, the outcome only fueled my negative mojo). I despise negative board trolls, so I don't tend to share my pre-game concerns, but I'll admit I'm used to watching Cowboys games half-expecting us to blow it and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Something is very different about this team that makes me expect the big play, instead of dreading the one that will be hung on us. Last week, I realized that part of it is watching an o-line that physically and mentally wears down the defensive line in the second half each week. This week, I realized that Wade's version of the 3-4 actually inspires "viewer confidence" as well as player confidence. When our opponent is in the red zone, we tend to get more aggressive and keep the pressure on. I actually came to this realization today exactly one play before Hamlin picked off Bulger in the end zone, effectively icing the game.

I know, I know: Long season, put away the anointing oils, blah blah. But if we keep this up, I may actually be able to make a run at Crazy Cowboy for best positive attitude on the board...

We lost to the the Eagles twice last year.

 

[Sitting Bull]

We lost to the the Eagles twice last year.

True enough. Two years ago.

 

[RomoIsBack]

i cant wait to beat the eagles

 

[Nors]

Mr Fix it is bringing it

 

[big dog cowboy]

I may actually be able to make a run at Crazy Cowboy for best positive attitude on the board...

That is a very big challenge to take on.

 

[FCBarca]

Very nice win, albeit against a weaker opponent...Lots of positives all around, particularly the play of Crayton and Romo...There's a highlight reel play by Tony in nearly every game, eh?...Crazy...Any game where a receiver other than TO, Witten or Glenn features prominently is a good game...Double TO, pay with Crayton...I'd like to see a lot more of that...QB pressure...Banged up Ram O-Line and a quick releasing QB but still a lot of pressure, finally...Reeves, still some occasional large cushions but otherwise solid play...Nice forced fumble from him too...Hamlin...A couple of nice hits and key INT...Barber and JJ...I'm starting to appreciate and buy into the tandem system as I am the 3-4 with 'freedom to make plays'...Something is working right there...Ellis coming into the game and instant sack...Nice...Any game where Roy doesn't end up on the highlight reel for botched plays is a positive, for me, even when he doesn't end up on the reel for positive plays...But, seriously, where was he today?...Any game where there are no Flo penalties, a good game

Very few negatives...Slow starts...Of course, when you pile on plenty of points in the 2nd half, it's hard to get too worked up about it...But I can't recall a Cowboy team doing what this one has been doing...Sputtering to start but then finishing with such efficiency...Impressive...Credit, again, to Jason Garrett...Still, some plays up the middle?...That middle lane on a delay was open a lot of the day...Never really saw any draw plays or screens, why not?...The punt return for the TD...Dante Hall is a tough customer and sometimes you lose the guy when your punter lines one to him and outkicks your coverage...That and the fact that Carpenter should have had em...T.O. irked me a couple of times out there...Never known for his blocking, there was an early play in the game after a short pass over the middle to someone other than TO and he didn't even muster a real effort to block and allow him to get the first down...He was in pefect position but didn't even try (It looked like)...I'll have to see the game replay to be more specific of the particulars...The drops...Both of these things are part of the TO package I guess...And, of course, losing Henry to a high ankle sprain...Bummer

I hadn't read hat Ellis had his contract work done, glad to hear it and better still to see him back in the mix.

 

[theogt]

Very nice win, albeit against a weaker opponent...Lots of positives all around, particularly the play of Crayton and Romo...There's a highlight reel play by Tony in nearly every game, eh?...Crazy...Any game where a receiver other than TO, Witten or Glenn features prominently is a good game...Double TO, pay with Crayton...I'd like to see a lot more of that...QB pressure...Banged up Ram O-Line and a quick releasing QB but still a lot of pressure, finally...Reeves, still some occasional large cushions but otherwise solid play...Nice forced fumble from him too...Hamlin...A couple of nice hits and key INT...Barber and JJ...I'm starting to appreciate and buy into the tandem system as I am the 3-4 with 'freedom to make plays'...Something is working right there...Ellis coming into the game and instant sack...Nice...Any game where Roy doesn't end up on the highlight reel for botched plays is a positive, for me, even when he doesn't end up on the reel for positive plays...But, seriously, where was he today?...Any game where there are no Flo penalties, a good game

You probably couldn't see it on TV, but we played 2 deep safeties all game. He was hardly ever up around the LOS.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

You probably couldn't see it on TV, but we played 2 deep safeties all game. He was hardly ever up around the LOS.

Yeah, but Roy was pretty invisible today. In Roy's case though, that is probably a very good thing.

 

[RomoIsBack]

I appreciate what Parcell's brought to this team....I am just thankful he is no longer running the offense. We could have done this last year.

i agree i am glad he is going

 

[DallasInDC]

That one play with no down lineman until right before the snap was a thing of beauty.

I loved watching all of the movement up front. OL's will not no where anybody is coming from. The more the players get comfortable the more havoc and destruction they will cause. I hope Tank gets his suspension dropped to 6 games. With TNEW back (and hopefully Henry now) Ellis and Tank soon. This defense could become awesome, especially if the offense keeps putting up points like they have and the defense can just tee off on the opponents.

 

[PBJTime]

Yeah, but Roy was pretty invisible today. In Roy's case though, that is probably a very good thing.

On a totally unrelated to Roy Williams side note, I watched Bob Sanders go for a big hit today and fail to wrap up, leading to a first down. Just saying...

 

[jrumann59]

Man Roy can't win can he, if he is up on the LOS he expecyed to make 100% of all tackles and they should be for losses, or he needs to blow everyone up. Today you hardly see him and everyone wants to know where he is at. From my football days it is always good that your safeties have low tackles it usually means the front seven are having a great day.

 

[theanimal23]

Thats true, I don't remember anything about Roy Williams today. But thats a good thing too as he made no mistakes. He definitely did something right.