Z's Random Thoughts

[Zordon]

-Travis Frederick is Jerry Jones best decision since Bill Parcells. I almost shed a tear watching him (brute) and Martin (tactically) destroying that Titans dline. I cannot wait to watch them on the film, it was a thing of beauty.

-We're a 2nd or 3rd round RT away from being an elite oline, I'm talking best in the league. I would not mind Free back for cheap for another year since we have other more pressing needs but eventually we need to get a big stud replacement in the draft. Leave Martin at guard. I really hope the Cowboys don't ignore this group...you're doing good...keep adding pieces and building depth. This isn't the time to get comfortable when you have a rapidly aging QB at the helm.

-McClain would be back in Alabama right now shooting rabbits if it wasn't for Lee's injury. It's funny how life works sometimes. That interception was one of the most athletic plays I've ever seen for a man his size. I know it's not that serious but I'm praying he's fully back mentally. Him and Lee together next year should be fun.

-The team played angry yesterday for maybe the 2nd or 3rd time under Jason Garrett. It was a spirited feisty yet clean game for both teams which made it a throughly enjoyable watch on TV...you don't always get that with the 12pm kickoffs. Even Garrett's sideline demeanor was completely different than the norm. I'm pretty sure the camera caught him dropping a **** bomb. Now if we could only find a way to duplicate that energy at home.

-You can tell Bisaccia lit into his unit all week. That was superb effort from the special teams unit. I'm not into football jerseys but if I were to buy one today it would be a Dwayne Harris one. To me that guy personifies the real RKG. Bailey is a machine. Best player relative to his position on the team. By the way, have you guys noticed all the ex-Cowboys kickers doing well around the league?

-So far Lance Dunbar does not look like a player that deserved the superstar treatment he received in the preseason. They handled him with kiddie gloves, not b/c of the injury (he's been healthy for awhile) but b/c they see him as a vital piece to the offense. I'm still waiting for it. I'm waiting for that 40-50 yd screen play from him.

-Yesterday for the first time in a long time, I saw a team that wasn't dependent on elite quarterback play. I saw a team that could plug and play nearly any above average QB and still win the game. Finally all 3 phases showed up for Mr. Garrett. This is good for the long run but still leaves a sore taste in my mouth considering Romo's contract. The team I saw yesterday is ideal for a young QB. Great special teams, great oline play, good defense. I hated the contract then, hate it even more now.

-I finally saw something tangible from Crawford yesterday in the 1st half. I like him, Wilcox and even Hitchens at times. I think I'm going to bite my tongue on all three and let them get their feet wet before I start judging them. All 3 are still obviously learning the pro game.

-We've faced two players so far I wanted a few years ago in free agency: Delanie Walker and Anquan Boldin. I think adding a physical 3rd down option like them in the future will be beneficial to this offense. Love watching them play. Did you see how he blew by Barry Church on that TD?

-That being said, I'm still not 100% sold on T. Williams. I feel like with all the attention Dez is getting, he should have had a better start to the season. Last week he did not catch the ball in traffic, this week he was non-existent.

-That smirk and fist pump from Jerry during the 4th quarter "Let's go Cowboys" chants was classic. I've never wanted to like a man so much as him.

-It's week 3 so I think it's a good time to do start doing some things to improve the roster. Let's do something to improve the interior of that defense. We're going to need more pressure than we've seen in the first 2 weeks if we're going to beat Drew Brees on turf. I know who to cut (Clutts) but do you guys have any ideas who we can bring in?

-Speaking of the defense, with a healthy Spencer and D-Law and a motived Scandrick and Brent...how good can these guys be? Is top 5-10 achievable? I'm drinking the koolaid after the first 2 weeks (I don't buy the theory that San Fran held back last week).

 

[Crown Royal]

-Speaking of the defense, with a healthy Spencer and D-Law and a motived Scandrick and Brent...how good can these guys be? Is top 5-10 achievable? I'm drinking the koolaid after the first 2 weeks (I don't buy the theory that San Fran held back last week).

I think that's a little optimistic. There are still yards to be churned away from this group.

 

[CowboyStar88]

I think that's a little optimistic. There are still yards to be churned away from this group.

I hate the prevent defense. The titans started moving the ball when we went Tampa 2 and Prevent defense. On the Walker TD it looks like someone blew and assignment and didn't get underneath. I need to go back and look at that play again. I thought maybe Carter did not drop deep enough into his Zone.

 

[Zordon]

I think that's a little optimistic. There are still yards to be churned away from this group.

14th in yards and 12th in points so far (that's with the Eagles/Colts yet to play tonight) with all those guys out. I think 10-12 is realistic. 5-10 would have me ecstatic.

 

[Sportsbabe]

-The team played angry yesterday for maybe the 2nd or 3rd time under Jason Garrett. It was a spirited feisty yet clean game for both teams which made it a throughly enjoyable watch on TV...you don't always get that with the 12pm kickoffs. Even Garrett's sideline demeanor was completely different than the norm. I'm pretty sure the camera caught him dropping a F bomb. Now if we could only find a way to duplicate that energy at home.

The "clean" part really stood out to me yesterday. Also played physical but not dirty. I was really proud of that. RoMc was throwing guys around like rag dolls. Love it. Refs did nice job not being ticky tacky and letting him play football.

 

[Zordon]

The "clean" part really stood out to me yesterday. Also played physical but not dirty. I was really proud of that. RoMc was throwing guys around like rag dolls. Love it. Refs did nice job not being ticky tacky and letting him play football.

Walt Coleman is a good referee. Arkansas man too.

 

[Crown Royal]

14th in yards and 12th in points so far (that's with the Eagles/Colts yet to play tonight) with all those guys out. I think 10-12 is realistic. 5-10 would have me ecstatic.

I think it has more to do with our running game staying dominant on TOP than those guys coming back. I don't know what impact Spencer and Lawrence will have to the overall ability to pressure. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but I want to see this for a full month first.

 

[romothesavior]

-That smirk and fist pump from Jerry during the 4th quarter "Let's go Cowboys" chants was classic. I've never wanted to like a man so much as him.

You and me both! If he kept that same arrogance and swag while letting the football minds run the team, he'd be my favorite owner in all of sports.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think that's a little optimistic. There are still yards to be churned away from this group.

to think we can go from one of the worst ever, to top 5 or top 10, its a bit over the top. if we finish in the low to mid 20's I think its a great step forward. and will lead to a couple of extra victories.

 

[AsthmaField]

I hate the prevent defense. The titans started moving the ball when we went Tampa 2 and Prevent defense. On the Walker TD it looks like someone blew and assignment and didn't get underneath. I need to go back and look at that play again. I thought maybe Carter did not drop deep enough into his Zone.

Yeah, it is pretty telling that the only TD the defense allowed in the game was essentially a blown assignment and a missed tackle. Heck, had Claiborne acted like he actually had arms and wrapped up the ball carrier, they still might have not allowed a TD.

And Nice post @Zordon

 

[conner01]

the run blocking was great, the pass blocking was'nt as great
the defense played well in both games so far. don't see them as a top 5 but i think they can be better than last year and if we got up in the middle of the pack that would be a huge improvement

 

[jazzcat22]

Nice Op.
I can't see they can be top 5. But they can inprove to low 20's, I think that is a huge improvement. If they finish above 18, I think that's more that anyone truly expected.

Pass protection needs cleaned up, but how often were they blitzing too. I haven't seen a breakdown on that yet.
I like how they changed it in the 2nd half, Seemed they used a bity more play action, moving Romo around a bit too. To avoid the pass rush.
Defense, 2nd half, gave up some yards, but also even the best defense is not going to stop any team all the time. Look at Seattle from game 1 to game 2.

They just need to keep the foot on the pedal, and not let up and build off of this. Need a few more games, to see how consistent they are. Defense and the running game.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Yeah, I surely don't see us in the top 5 or 10...but my hope has been getting into the 15-20 range. That would be a significant improvement over a year.

 

[gimmesix]

-Speaking of the defense, with a healthy Spencer and D-Law and a motived Scandrick and Brent...how good can these guys be? Is top 5-10 achievable? I'm drinking the koolaid after the first 2 weeks (I don't buy the theory that San Fran held back last week).

I'm not there yet. We've got better quarterbacks to face than Locker, who missed some easy throws that could have changed things some.

Maybe I'm a little picky, but I'll get excited when we're applying more pressure and forcing those missed throws instead of breathing a sigh of relief because the QB was off.

As far as San Fran goes, I don't think the 49ers held back in the sense that they weren't trying to score, but I do think they played conservative to protect their lead.

 

[sbark]

Caught a post late sunday on how Romo, wasn't using the play clock down to last seconds. Could it be on OLine pass protect that was hindering the lines protection calls by TFred? Or was it just Free getting beat man to man more often than not?
***
Would like to see, as Romo struggles, some motion, something to give Romo a look at what the D is in.......motion, stacks etc would help him get a pre-snap look at man vrs zone. Seems as is Linehan is putting all those on hold vrs pre-season writeups

 

[big dog cowboy]

-It's week 3 so I think it's a good time to do start doing some things to improve the roster. Let's do something to improve the interior of that defense. We're going to need more pressure than we've seen in the first 2 weeks if we're going to beat Drew Brees on turf. I know who to cut (Clutts) but do you guys have any ideas who we can bring in?

Good OP Zordon. Don't know the answer to your question but hope the Cowboys do.

 

[gimmesix]

Yeah, it is pretty telling that the only TD the defense allowed in the game was essentially a blown assignment and a missed tackle. Heck, had Claiborne acted like he actually had arms and wrapped up the ball carrier, they still might have not allowed a TD.

And Nice post @Zordon

I never get too upset when a corner fails to tackle a tight end. I do get upset when they fail in coverage, and I thought Claiborne did a much better job against the Titans' lesser receivers than he did against San Fran's.

In fact, all of the corners had a pretty good game ... although the Titans did miss some opportunities that teams with better QBs won't.

 

[Zordon]

I never get too upset when a corner fails to tackle a tight end. I do get upset when they fail in coverage, and I thought Claiborne did a much better job against the Titans' lesser receivers than he did against San Fran's.

In fact, all of the corners had a pretty good game ... although the Titans did miss some opportunities that teams with better QBs won't.

Delanie is a physical specimen so I'm with you. I was more upset that he didn't show 6th pick instincts and try to intercept or knock down that ball. I thought he had a chance to make a play on that ball.

 

[reddyuta]

Tfred was the 8th olineman taken in the 2013 draft but he may be the first one to make the probowl.

 

[CyberB0b]

I think the defense is more bottom 5 than top 5, but they're definitely not going to be the worst in the league.