What makes us different

[RainMan]

There are a lot of things we're doing right right now. We have one of the best quarterbacks, one of the best wide receivers, one of the best cornerbacks, one of ... you get the idea. TE, OLB (two of them), nose tackle can be added to this list, and even Felix might be one day.

But what makes us different? My two cents? I think we're morphing into a mix of a Baltimore and Indy/Arizona/New Orleans/Minnesota/any other passing team.

By that I mean this. Listening to an analyst earlier, he said Baltimore likes to make a game of football a boxing match. Even offensively, I think we're becoming this with our offensive line play. Certainly defensively we are. Rewatching last night's game, I'm amazed by our physicality. From Hamlin delivering kill shots (twice penalized) to what Ware, Ratliff and Spencer do, to Jenkins locking down on his man. I think if given the choice, Philly would have liked to have walked out of that stadium midway through the second quarter. Their nose was bloodied (thank you, Brooking) and they were tired of getting their tail kicked. We didn't just beat them -- we hurt them.

So why are we unique? First off, I think few teams can claim they own that mentality. But even fewer teams can claim that mentality when their offense is, in theory, a finesse-based, passing attack.

Think about it. We love draws, we have a speedster at running back, and we love to throw the rock offensively. I'm not sure the Phillys, Arizonas, etc. -- pure finesse teams -- have any element of physicality to balance out their attack. I think it's the inherrent flaw with being a passing-based team. But we buck the trend, and we do it on both sides of the ball.

I'm curious to see how physical Minnesota's defense is. On paper, their defense looks tough. We'll see if it's like ours.

Just an observation -- perhaps not a new one -- from rewatching last night's game. We really demoralized Philly, and I think it's all about our physicality. Soft we are not.

 

[Don Corleone]

Great post!

I saw the game in person last night, and it really opened my eyes. TV cuts out a lot of what is happening on the field.

Your points are spot on. Our team was much, much faster and more physical than Philly. It was no comparison. I know that we've been drafting that way over the last 5 or 6 years, but I was completely blown away.

 

[Galian Beast]

This team was battle field raised through the NFC East and the NFC South.

We went 11-5, they went 12-4...

the difference is they had chicago and detroit in their division and they played the NFC West I believe.

 

[thssanders]

Our team is as balanced as it gets. On offense, we can throw it deep or throw it short. Mix in wr screens every now and then. We can run it inside or outside. So as a defense, what do you do to stop it. We run the draw to perfection, but at the same time, romo decides to pass instead of handing off sometimes, which really keeps the defense off balance.

On defense, we can cover all over the field. We can get pressure without blitizing, but mix in blitzes every now and then to catch the offense by surprise.

It truly is amazing how this team does just about EVERYTHING well. We can play any type of football we want. Like the analysts are saying, how do you prepare to stop an offense like this.

The same thing on defense. How do you come up with an offensive game plan when we shut down everything that is thrown at us.

 

[Don Corleone]

This would be a great game for the Starcaps suspension to take effect.

 

[LeonDixson]

This would be a great game for the Starcaps suspension to take effect.

Mind explaining?

 

[Eskimo]

Our one weakness has been coverage from the safeties and ILBs. But even this has looked better down the stretch with Brookings actually looking quicker than he was earlier in the year. Hamlin has returned and is playing well. Sensabaugh, after going through a rough patch, also seems to be playing better. Even Scandrick looks like he is back to his rookie form again in his role in the slot.

The last real existing weaknesses right now are KORs (which had been a strength for a few years), FG kicker and short-yardage running.

 

[CATCH17]

The biggest difference is we are playing great in all 3 phases at the same time.

 

[Galian Beast]

Our one weakness has been coverage from the safeties and ILBs. But even this has looked better down the stretch with Brookings actually looking quicker than he was earlier in the year. Hamlin has returned and is playing well. Sensabaugh, after going through a rough patch, also seems to be playing better. Even Scandrick looks like he is back to his rookie form again in his role in the slot.

The last real existing weaknesses right now are KORs (which had been a strength for a few years), FG kicker and short-yardage running.

I really think the linebacker coverage is scheme or at least a mix between scheme and ability.

Our safeties are doing exactly what we need them too, thats why we are shutting out high end receivers.

 

[AtlCB]

Since the players' only meeting after the Chargers game, the players seem to be playing with the attitude that they hate the opposing team. They are preparing harder, playing more aggressively, hitting harder, and blocking better. The Eagles are more business-like and simply could match the intensity of the Cowboys. The Jets, Ravens, and Chargers are also playing with that same intensity. The Vikings and Saints are not playing with a lot of intensity.

 

[BAT]

I agree that Cowboys offense, defense & ST are playing more physically. They now play w/an edge, confidence bred by doing rather than talking. I believe very strongly that the infusion of Wade personnel (players & coaches) have taken this team to another level.

But I disagree on Hamlin's play. Until this game he had been playing smart, not doing anything to hurt the team. But those "kill shots" were anything but, unless you consider "shooting yourself in the foot" a "kill shot". He had 3 huge penalties_2 unecessary rougness penalties sandwiching an "unsportsmanlike". None of those hits were necessary, I would even describe them as "selfish", almost cowardly. The hit on Celek was borderline, but man he could have pulled up, the TE and the defender covering him were clearly slowing down, it looked like Hamlin himself pulled off a tad before delivering the shoulder 2 steps after Celek missed the pass. It was borderline but still thought Hamlin, being the vet he is should have known better. The other 2 big penalties were mind boggling in sheer stupidity. Slamming helmets when he already drew the "unsportsmanlike" on Maclin, wow. He should have just smiled at Maclin and told him "that's 15" and "I'll get you on the field". And then trying to spear the guy when he's already on the ground? Stupid.

Cowboys have to be more disciplined. Especially in games they are controlling. Otherwise they will beat themselves. Play ultra-physical, but w/in the rules. Let the other teams resort to cheapshots, Cowboys do not need to.

 

[Eskimo]

I agree that Cowboys offense, defense & ST are playing more physically. They now play w/an edge, confidence bred by doing rather than talking. I believe very strongly that the infusion of Wade personnel (players & coaches) have taken this team to another level.

But I disagree on Hamlin's play. Until this game he had been playing smart, not doing anything to hurt the team. But those "kill shots" were anything but, unless you consider "shooting yourself in the foot" a "kill shot". He had 3 huge penalties_2 unecessary rougness penalties sandwiching an "unsportsmanlike". None of those hits were necessary, I would even describe them as "selfish", almost cowardly. The hit on Celek was borderline, but man he could have pulled up, the TE and the defender covering him were clearly slowing down, it looked like Hamlin himself pulled off a tad before delivering the shoulder 2 steps after Celek missed the pass. It was borderline but still thought Hamlin, being the vet he is should have known better. The other 2 big penalties were mind boggling in sheer stupidity. Slamming helmets when he already drew the "unsportsmanlike" on Maclin, wow. He should have just smiled at Maclin and told him "that's 15" and "I'll get you on the field". And then trying to spear the guy when he's already on the ground? Stupid.

Cowboys have to be more disciplined. Especially in games they are controlling. Otherwise they will beat themselves. Play ultra-physical, but w/in the rules. Let the other teams resort to cheapshots, Cowboys do not need to.

The call on Celek was borderline. But Celek had been running too freely across the field and he needed to be reminded of the price you sometimes have to pay. Hamlin didn't entirely lay him out and the ref could have swallowed his whistle but because Celek looked like he had his bell run the flag was thrown.

On the 1st penalty against Maclin, I don't really see what Hamlin did to warrant a flag.

On the 2nd penalty against Maclin, I think that was one of those payback shots. I'd actually prefer Hamlin get that out of his system in a rout. Hopefully he did it understanding the game situation where he would not be threatening a win. Probably a little childish but all good defenses that seek to intimidate will draw a few unnecessary roughnesses. Having said that, I still think he should have pulled up and not Maclin on the ground.