Manster68
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Now that is a little bit better. A week after an extremely lackluster performance against a hot team like the Giants, the Dallas Cowboys girded their loins, tightened their belts, and went at it in a hostile Carolina stadium. Not many people gave the Cowboys much of a chance; they were underdogs by greater than five points. Also, the Cowboys started a brand new quarterback. Well, new as in first ever start.
So how did the Cowboys fare?
FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, the Cowboys seem to have been in sleepwalking mode. It was eerily familiar to the performance last Monday Night against the red hot Giants.
I was getting angry to say the least. It just looked like the Cowboys were not getting any breaks. This is especially true when it came to the men in stripes. It appeared to me that any decent play the Cowboys made that was positive; it got called back due to penalty. Several drives were extended for Carolina due to penalties as well. I also thought many of the spots the line judge gave were in Carolina’s favor.
Oh, and yes, THAT INTERCEPTION BY GAMBLE WAS ABSOLUTE HORSEDUNG! That gave Carolina seven points!
Now, a lot of those penalties were legitimate – like the Julius Jones chop block. However, the second pass interference penalty on Henry, and the holding call on Owens were totally bogus to say the least.
Despite the penalties, Dallas just fully could not get it in gear. The defensive line was not getting decent pressure on Delhomme. Ware got sucked inside on the reverse by Smith, allowing him a touchdown. I was frustrated.
One final rant: I hope the player that horse-collared Tyson Thompson on the sideline, and broke his ankle, should be fined more than what Roy Williams got for Tiki Barber last Monday night. This guy ended Thompson’s season!
THE GAME TURNED on that pass to Keyshawn Johnson – the one that he dropped when the only thing between him and the goal line was air. In fact, I was surprised that Carolina punted when the ball was on the Dallas 38-yard line.
Regardless of my frustration, there were many bright spots. Of course, it begins with Tony Romo.
The comparisons are out. One poster relates this to the 1971 season. Madden compares him to Joe Montana. The Brady comparisons are out in force too.
Guess what? I LOVE IT!!!
Tony Romo, at the very least, has given this team and the fans hope. Hope that the long awaited legitimate replacement for Hall of Famer Troy Aikman has come to an end. What I enjoyed the most was how he just kept plugging away with the game plan regardless how grim the circumstances were in that hostile environment last evening. When Romo hit Owens near the left sideline for about 20 yards on the 3rd and 8 early in the 4th quarter told me that this guy is a gamer. It is just too bad Owens could not stay in bounds. That would have been highlight film otherwise.
Romo’s play, I believe really bled over the rest of the team.
Colombo had a great game. You didn’t hear Julius Peppers’ name too much did you? It is good to see some nastiness from the right tackle position. That is something we haven’t seen since Erik Williams. Colombo, though, has a long ways to go to Big E’s level. He played a fabulous game never the less.
The entire offensive line stepped it up as a whole. Kris Jenkins was a thorn in Dallas’ backs. However, that is Jenkins. He is one of the best defensive linemen when healthy. Kosier had his hands full.
Witten and Fasano got more into the passing game. Imagine that? The ball is being spread around more. Granted, Terry Glenn didn’t see as much action, but he should have more opportunities in the games to come.
How does a Cowboys fan not love the hard running by Marion Barber? No knock on Julius, but Barber laid the lumber in the 4th quarter! What a nice running back combination Dallas currently has?
And who notice the crushing “Moose” blocks delivered by Oliver Hoyte? When Hoyte and Barber go in the game, that puts two undrafted free agents and a 4th round draft pick in the Cowboys backfield. This was at the time in the game when the game was not yet sealed for the Cowboys.
Then there is Terrance Newman. Hey, he held Smith to under 100 yards receiving. Smith was contested on every pass play. I think it is now 23 straight games that Newman hasn’t given up a touchdown pass. Next up is Santana Moss again.
FINAL ANALYSIS: This was definitely a great first step back to respectability coming off that embarrassing loss a week ago. Romo is still inexperienced, and he will make some mistakes. However, his play very well can inspire this team to play above their expectations. Only time will tell as to how far the Cowboys can go this season.
So how did the Cowboys fare?
FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, the Cowboys seem to have been in sleepwalking mode. It was eerily familiar to the performance last Monday Night against the red hot Giants.
I was getting angry to say the least. It just looked like the Cowboys were not getting any breaks. This is especially true when it came to the men in stripes. It appeared to me that any decent play the Cowboys made that was positive; it got called back due to penalty. Several drives were extended for Carolina due to penalties as well. I also thought many of the spots the line judge gave were in Carolina’s favor.
Oh, and yes, THAT INTERCEPTION BY GAMBLE WAS ABSOLUTE HORSEDUNG! That gave Carolina seven points!
Now, a lot of those penalties were legitimate – like the Julius Jones chop block. However, the second pass interference penalty on Henry, and the holding call on Owens were totally bogus to say the least.
Despite the penalties, Dallas just fully could not get it in gear. The defensive line was not getting decent pressure on Delhomme. Ware got sucked inside on the reverse by Smith, allowing him a touchdown. I was frustrated.
One final rant: I hope the player that horse-collared Tyson Thompson on the sideline, and broke his ankle, should be fined more than what Roy Williams got for Tiki Barber last Monday night. This guy ended Thompson’s season!
THE GAME TURNED on that pass to Keyshawn Johnson – the one that he dropped when the only thing between him and the goal line was air. In fact, I was surprised that Carolina punted when the ball was on the Dallas 38-yard line.
Regardless of my frustration, there were many bright spots. Of course, it begins with Tony Romo.
The comparisons are out. One poster relates this to the 1971 season. Madden compares him to Joe Montana. The Brady comparisons are out in force too.
Guess what? I LOVE IT!!!
Tony Romo, at the very least, has given this team and the fans hope. Hope that the long awaited legitimate replacement for Hall of Famer Troy Aikman has come to an end. What I enjoyed the most was how he just kept plugging away with the game plan regardless how grim the circumstances were in that hostile environment last evening. When Romo hit Owens near the left sideline for about 20 yards on the 3rd and 8 early in the 4th quarter told me that this guy is a gamer. It is just too bad Owens could not stay in bounds. That would have been highlight film otherwise.
Romo’s play, I believe really bled over the rest of the team.
Colombo had a great game. You didn’t hear Julius Peppers’ name too much did you? It is good to see some nastiness from the right tackle position. That is something we haven’t seen since Erik Williams. Colombo, though, has a long ways to go to Big E’s level. He played a fabulous game never the less.
The entire offensive line stepped it up as a whole. Kris Jenkins was a thorn in Dallas’ backs. However, that is Jenkins. He is one of the best defensive linemen when healthy. Kosier had his hands full.
Witten and Fasano got more into the passing game. Imagine that? The ball is being spread around more. Granted, Terry Glenn didn’t see as much action, but he should have more opportunities in the games to come.
How does a Cowboys fan not love the hard running by Marion Barber? No knock on Julius, but Barber laid the lumber in the 4th quarter! What a nice running back combination Dallas currently has?
And who notice the crushing “Moose” blocks delivered by Oliver Hoyte? When Hoyte and Barber go in the game, that puts two undrafted free agents and a 4th round draft pick in the Cowboys backfield. This was at the time in the game when the game was not yet sealed for the Cowboys.
Then there is Terrance Newman. Hey, he held Smith to under 100 yards receiving. Smith was contested on every pass play. I think it is now 23 straight games that Newman hasn’t given up a touchdown pass. Next up is Santana Moss again.
FINAL ANALYSIS: This was definitely a great first step back to respectability coming off that embarrassing loss a week ago. Romo is still inexperienced, and he will make some mistakes. However, his play very well can inspire this team to play above their expectations. Only time will tell as to how far the Cowboys can go this season.
