YR's Pre Game 3 of Preseason Thoughts...

[Yakuza Rich]

- A lot of this reminds me of 2008 when FO.com was predicting injuries and the Cowboys would regress and I thought it was somewhat stupid because I don't like their injury prediction system and I thought the team was too talented. Now we are getting the same thing with the injuries and it's bothering me a bit.

- That being said, I think this team is different. No Owens, no Tank, no Pacman, no relying on 2 rookie CB's (Jenkins and Scandrick). I also think Romo is a far better QB now than he was then...big difference right there.

- My impression of the NFL for quite some time is that you can get away with a weak offensive tackle by putting an extra TE over there. If Bennett can come back we can use him to help out Young or Barron. And it won't throw us off too much since we use a lot of 2 TE sets anyway.

- Here's the thing that may help lift the spirits of those who are 'chicken little' and those who are chomping at the bit to see the Dallas demise. From stats we know that QB play is very important. We also know that sacks correlate to winning and losing in the NFL very well. Wade's defenses get sacks year after year, period. Romo has had an excellent track record of having a high QB rating, year after year...period.

The missing piece last year from a stats standpoint for the Cowboys was that the defense, particularly at the safety position, didn't not get many interceptions. So, if Romo stays healty (remember, 2008 we had Brad Johnson starting for 3 games and then a hurt Romo), if the defense can get a lot of sacks like it almost always does under Wade, and if Ball can provide anything decent with getting interceptions, this team will almost definitely have a winning record and probably will go to the playoffs. There's always exceptions, but if you truly look at those stats, you'll see the odds will be in the Cowboys' favor if those things happen.

- Personally, I'd be far more concerned about the health and the play of Kosier, Gurode and Davis than Colombo. Mainly because with Romo being a bit on the short side for a QB, it's tough for him to play when the interior is getting pushed back. Another problem we had in 2008 with Corey Proctor playing at left guard.

- Gotta say, whoever scheduled this preseason for us didn't think it out very well. Dallas gets 3 days of rest after the HoF game, then has to go from Canton to Oakland.

- And just because you have injuries, doesn't mean you can't succeed in the NFL. The Saints were not exactly injury free last season and won a SB. It's more or less *who* gets injured and *who* replaces that injured player and *how well* do they play.







YR

 

[Fletch]

Always a nice read. You know how to calm the nerves.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Agree mostly, as I posted on Columbo injury thread same thing about FO prediction and my "bad" feeling. Key would be Romo's health and who else will get injured.

I think its safe to assume this trend will continue. I just hope won't be major injuries and not to too many key players.

 

[Picksix]

YR, they didn't go from Canton to Oakland. The game was in Dallas. But I agree that it was a little brutal to have two games 4 days apart.

As for your thoughts on the OL, I agree whole heartedly. When everyone was going ape over the Free/Flozell thing, I was saying that the two guys we need to worry about are Gurode and Davis. At times they look great, but when they're bad, ugh...

Mosely made an interesting point earlier tonight, saying that if we're without Columbo and Barron for the SD game, the coaches might think about sitting Romo. I doubt he plays much anyway, but with the way the injuries are piling up, I don't like the idea of him out there with a rookie blocking for him.

My $.02

 

[Hoofbite]

- Gotta say, whoever scheduled this preseason for us didn't think it out very well. Dallas gets 3 days of rest after the HoF game, then has to go from Canton to Oakland.

Maybe a little along the lines of "conspiracy theory" but it wouldn't shock me one bit if it was done intentionally to give Dallas a "dose of their own medicine" for all those T-Day games over the years. I'd bet the schedule makers would just love it if Jerry or someone on the team said something about being scheduled like that.

 

[CCBoy]

With the exhibition games starting to hit mid-stride, there should be something of a lessening of injuries. The bumps, bruises, and tight muscles now have to be dealt with until the regular season is reached. Then the contact aspects will be reduced in favor of actual games.

The injuries, except for the Dallas 3rd string tight end, John Phillips, have been way far on the minor side of things. Dez Bryant, Holland, Sean Lee, Owusu Ansah, Martellus Bennett, Marcus Spears all will be coming back and getting on track before the season starts. Heck, a little cleaning up of the knee on Marc Colombo might actually improve his mobility, not slow it down. But he'll be back before the season actually starts as well. The last exhibition game is only for final player evaluations anyway.

No, this team is far from limping up to the start line for the start of the marathon regular season....just maye, this same organization is managing even their injuries and getting all players on the same sheet of music despite the expected fluctuations caused by injury. They probably have a well oiled support group just to assist in these contingencies. Think?

As to a conspiracy theory, the complexities and demands of travel, change, confrontation, and intensity of schedule in the pre-season only serves to get the younger 'pups' ready for the intensity and drama to occur during the regular season. The old saying is true, when the going gets tough, the tough get going....

 

[casmith07]

With the exhibition games starting to hit mid-stride, there should be something of a lessening of injuries. The bumps, bruises, and tight muscles now have to be dealt with until the regular season is reached. Then the contact aspects will be reduced in favor of actual games.

This is what I think too. You're going to get dinged up in the first few games because players are getting used to getting back to game speed - after you get used to that, those little bumps and bruises start to go away and players get used to "getting hit."

I also agree that the intensity of practices will start to tail off as the preseason inches toward the 2nd and 3rd games. Remember, our Cowboys started camp a whole week and a half before everyone else, and it hasn't exactly been an easy camp with two-a-days, etc.

 

[YosemiteSam]

- A lot of this reminds me of 2008 when FO.com was predicting injuries and the Cowboys would regress and I thought it was somewhat stupid because I don't like their injury prediction system and I thought the team was too talented. Now we are getting the same thing with the injuries and it's bothering me a bit.

FO.com predicted the injuries in 2008 and I just read an article with them about the Cowboys and they are predicting the same thing again.

 

[CCBoy]

FO.com predicted the injuries in 2008 and I just read an article with them about the Cowboys and they are predicting the same thing again.

If they are any good at the Stock Market, get back to me...predicting injuries.

 

[speedkilz88]

I believe the preseason games were scheduled before the HOF game representatives were announced.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

FO.com predicted the injuries in 2008 and I just read an article with them about the Cowboys and they are predicting the same thing again.

They always predict injuries for Dallas, mainly because we've stayed pretty healthy since 2003. I understand why, but I think there is some flaws and overlooked things in their analysis.

Take the team under Campo, when it had numerous injuries. The 2002 season was ridiculous. Then Parcells comes along and outside of 2004, we stayed pretty healthy. Is Parcells just the luckiest coach in the world and Campo the unluckiest coach in the world? I don't think so.

For starters, Parcells had the 'you can't make the club in the tub' mantra and he forced linemen to wear knee braces and designed the practices and techniques to make injuries less likely.

For years and years, the Titans are usually banged up pretty bad with a lot of injuries. Is it that they are unlucky or that Jeff Fisher's coaching style in practice makes those injuries more likely?




YR

 

[NeonDeion21]

For years and years, the Titans are usually banged up pretty bad with a lot of injuries. Is it that they are unlucky or that Jeff Fisher's coaching style in practice makes those injuries more likely?

I think can injuries happen in any different scenario. Wade uses a "no tackling" policy in camp. Although, we seem to have more minor to moderate injuries than say a team like Pittsburgh which goes full contact nearly everyday.

 

[windward]

Maybe a little along the lines of "conspiracy theory" but it wouldn't shock me one bit if it was done intentionally to give Dallas a "dose of their own medicine" for all those T-Day games over the years. I'd bet the schedule makers would just love it if Jerry or someone on the team said something about being scheduled like that.

It's because the Rangers were off that day. That simple.

 

[BourbonBalz]

FO.com predicted the injuries in 2008 and I just read an article with them about the Cowboys and they are predicting the same thing again.

The mere fact that ANYONE believes they can accurately predict which team/players will be hit with the injury bug tells me all I need to know about them. Wonder if they use that same crystal ball to play the stock market.

 

[Hoofbite]

It's because the Rangers were off that day. That simple.

Guess the game had to be in Texas.

 

[Joe Realist]

Because this camp is a long one and in two locations, I now am glad they have an early bye week. There are alot of minor injuries and an early bye week may be a blessing.