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2009-2010 Regular Season: Postgame -
Cowboys Melt Down Mentally And Physically
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- November
16, 2009
At 9:04 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Cowboys’ game this past Sunday afternoon against a shell of their old NFC
playoff rivals, the
Green Bay Packers, was simply an ooey, gooey, disgusting melt down
- creating and validating concerns for the rest of the season.
Misplaced Expectations
I posed the following question at the end of my last TTCF edition:
"Will the Cowboys continue their recent show of physical toughness
or will they melt down into so much Wisconsin cheese whiz in the
face of renewed expectations from the fans?"
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- While I always prefer a good sharp
cheddar, I am no cheese connoisseur. Anyone who watched the
Cowboys' second straight nationally televised game, however, saw -
plain and simple - how the Packers repeatedly spread the Cowboys
like so much pungent bargain brand queso. The Cowboys arrived
at Lambeau Field clearly bored, and they left the stadium clearly
bored to tears - paying the price for an unprofessional oversight.
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- Offense
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- Fans had high hopes that Romo and
Co. were going to continue their steady play - spreading the wealth
by involving everyone. This concept ideally only involved the
Cowboys - not their opponents, as well.
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- Romo and his starting wide receivers
were expected to play Packers safety Atari Bigby like a cheap and long-forgotten video game system.
Romo and his teammates were instead the victims . . . of their own
disinterest and misfortune.
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- Romo and his regressing teammates
were completely out of sorts against yet another 3-4 defense.
Fans must be wondering out loud - for at least the third time this
season:
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- 1 - Are the Cowboys excluded from
making half-time adjustments?
- 2 - Are the Cowboys excluded from
getting their back-ups into serviceable condition before facing an
emergency situation?
- 3 - Is it really that bad to throw
away a bad pass before it becomes a bad pass?
- 4 - Can a star wide receiver really
catch a pass with his facemask, or is that just for circus
performers?
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- Miles Austin was kept miles away
from Romo by the Packers. Roy Williams stepped up for a better
performance - making a nice 41 yard catch only to cough it up after
being hit from behind. Romo was stripped from behind for
another fumble, and he threw an interception near the Packers' goal
line for another turnover.
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- Witten was barely visible, and he
was popped pretty good in the fourth quarter just in case he thought
he was being ignored.
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- If Witten was barely visible, then,
Martellus Bennett was the invisible man. Romo did attempt to
go to Bennett early with meager results. Now that Roy Williams
has had two reasonably successful games in a row, it appears that
Bennett will have to have a cage match with Sam "Unheard Of" Hurd
for the title of Mr. Useless.
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- The Cowboys' three-headed running
attack - Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice - was
minimally productive all afternoon, even in the passing game.
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- Lost in all of the Cowboys chaos was
another quiet-but-solid receiving performance by Patrick Crayton -
delivering four out of six catches for a little more than 50 yards.
Surprise, surprise - or, look what happens when the pressure is off.
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- Nonetheless, the offensive line was a sieve and,
then, it lost two of its linemen - one temporarily and one
most-likely for the year.
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- And, yet, outside of any injuries .
. . you just knew the Cowboys could not
help themselves. You just knew they wanted to overlook and
underestimate at least one opponent during their now former four
game winning streak. Everyone was aware of how big the game
was for the Packers - and how necessary a win was for the Packers -
except the Cowboys.
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- Defense
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- The writing was on the wall when the
defense sacked Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers causing him to fumble and turn over the
ball - only to have to give the ball right back due to an
unnecessary roughness call on the Cowboys.
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- The defensive line sacked Rodgers
four times (including two more from DeMarcus Ware) and provided
plenty of pressure, which usually works great as long as:
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- 1 - You wrap up and tackle your
opponent at the point of contact.
- 2 - You jam receivers at the line of
scrimmage.
- 3 - You shadow running backs
underneath and out of the backfield against a screen pass-happy
offense.
- 4 - You flatten an opposing
quarterback that has taken off running . . . rather than whiffing
on an attempted "flying shoulder tap."
- 5 - You avoid comparing a
knee-to-the-bicep injury to the formerly and famously dislocated
shoulder of one Emmitt Smith.
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- The Cowboys secondary - even in
preventing Rodgers from breaking 200 yards - still managed to look .
. . truly secondary.
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- Terence Newman put on an average
performance - not bad but not good, either - continuing to bait
opposing QB's only to find himself having to play catch-up with his
opposing receivers . . . after a successful catch . . . more and
more. Objectively - it is clear that even in some of Newman's
best games this year, he needs starting right cornerback Mike
Jenkins (or another good right cornerback) in order to be at his
best. Terence is not Deion - as is roundly accepted in NFL and
fan circles. There is no shame in playing as part of a strong
pair if your individual performances have been spotty at best.
Fans will applaud your desire to find another way to succeed for
your team.
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- Nonetheless, Jenkins left the game - in the second half - with a severely bruised
arm (due to a player's knee smashing into it). I can only
imagine how much it must have hurt him as it was obviously enough to
end his day early. Fans, of course, would have preferred to
see Jenkins gut it out, grind it out - just like former Cowboys
running back and current NFL rushing king Emmitt Smith did against
the New York Giants in the playoffs so many years ago.
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- Mike Jenkins, to be fair, has come
along way in the past 4+ games - including some aggressive hitting
and tackling. Fans, however, see Gerald Sensabaugh playing
with a cast on his hand, and it must make them wonder: "Last
year, Jenkins sidesteps Brandon Jacobs and, this year, he cannot
drag himself back onto the field and attempt to play with one arm?"
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- The Cowboys' secondary - without
Jenkins - suddenly became a joke with scatterbrained Scandrick.
More on this subject later.
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- Special Teams
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- The Cowboys' special teams have
officially come back down to Earth, but most fans will agree that
their special teams are still playing much better than anyone could
have expected entering the 2009 season. There are still seven
more games in which special plays can be made by the Cowboys'
special teams.
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- Fans - in the meantime - would be
pleased to settle for quality kicking, timely tackling, and
reasonable returns . . . all of which disappeared during the Green
Bay game. Fans can live with a desperate opponent making a
Herculean effort to minimize the potential damage of a
well-performing Cowboys special teams unit. It is - for once - a poor performance from the
other primary football phases that should draw the ire of Cowboys
fans everywhere.
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- Penalties
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- While the Packers were called for 12
penalties for over 100 yards, the Cowboys were still nailed for 10
of their own for nearly 70 yards. When a player is using
perfect offensive or defensive techniques to succeed on a play only
to be called for a questionable penalty that could have gone either
way, the result is forgivable. Whether mental mistakes are
made by a rookie or a veteran - innocently or premeditated - if they
appear foolish to even the most novice of fans, then, the result is
unforgiveable.
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- While there may, indeed, have been a
few more than questionable calls by the refs, at the end of an ugly
loss, "it is what it is." The Cowboys players continue to
receive far more unforgiveable penalties which continue to reflect
on the quality and depth of the coaching they continue to receive .
. . which continues to enhance or damage their ability to maintain
focus on the grid iron.
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- Extend This
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- I am curious to learn how many
Cowboys fans and prognosticators still feel like discussing a
contract extension for Wade Phillips now.
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- While Dom Capers has historically
been an excellent defensive coach with solid mastery over the 3-4
defense, Mike McCarthy has been far from a rocket scientist since
the exit of one Brett Favre. The Packers were embarrassed by
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and humiliated by the Minnesota Vikings on
consecutive Sundays. The Packers were expected to be angry,
desperate to save their season, and out to prove a point against the
Cowboys.
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- If the fans knew this, then, logic
dictates that most people around the NFL - including the Cowboys -
knew this as well. Assumptions like these are as accurate as
teams are perfect. The 2007 New England Patriots - of the
perfect regular season and imperfect post season - can tell you all
about it.
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- Coaches - from peewee to
professional football - can know their material front-to-back, but
if they are fumbling communicators or weak enablers, they will never
be able to get enough out of their players to acquire the ultimate
prize . . . without lots of luck and divine intervention. If
those same coaches are stuck with mentally challenged players, then,
no amount of luck or heavenly help will make a difference.
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- Consider the play in Sunday's game
where the Packers were goal-to-go from the one yard line. They
were about to snap the football when Cowboys middle linebacker
Bradie James calls a quick timeout after noticing something he did
not like - such as his teammates out of position or an inappropriate
defensive scheme being called by Wade. Bradie, after calling
the timeout, proceeds towards the bench - gesturing angrily and
mouthing something to the tone of "Why in God's name were we in that
defensive alignment, Wade?" Wade, on the other hand, is seen
gesturing back to him - in a far more subdued Snuffleupagus-like
manner - mouthing something similar to "Why did you call timeout?"
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- Such an exchange - depending upon
your perspective - is incredibly embarrassing and should never
happen . . . even more so than allowing twelve men on the field . .
. or silly false starts caused by an untimely itch in a player's
jock.
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- Objectively, fans can count on the
fact that Jerry Jones is going to allow Wade to earn his way into a
contract extension. The same should be said for Red Ball as
well - for the right to remain on staff and continue mentoring Romo.
Nothing more, nothing less, and - under the circumstances - as it
should be. If Wade and Jason succeed in bringing a Super Bowl
victory to Dallas, the fans will be understandably thrilled, and
Jerry will most-likely reward them with favorable extensions.
No gimmees, no free Texas BBQ.
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- Tom Coughlin - head coach of the
Jekyll and Hyde 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants - can tell
you all about it.
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- Injuries
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- Sunday was a day of untimely
injuries for many NFL teams, but that fact does not make the Cowboys
injuries hurt any less.
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- The Cowboys lost starting right
tackle, Marc Colombo, early in the game with a broken left fibula.
Starting right cornerback Mike Jenkins left the game with a deep
bruise to his left arm.
Back-up cornerback and safety Alan Ball left the game with an injury
as well. Starting strong safety Ken Hamlin left the game with an ankle injury.
Starting left tackle Flozell Adams also left the game with an ankle
injury. Considering the secrecy with which NFL teams keep
their injury lists, it is safe to say there are a number of
additional walking wounded fans will learn about as this painful
week progresses.
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- While Colombo was supposed to have surgery
as soon as possible on Monday morning, it will take a miracle for
him to recuperate in time to rejoin the Cowboys . . . in the
playoffs . . . if they make the playoffs. Colombo has
generally been a bright spot on the Cowboys offensive line since
joining the team a couple years ago, but it is hard to fight the bad
luck associated with jersey number "75." Phil "Forever Penalized"
Pozderac did much to ruin anyone's desire to either wear or purchase
a Cowboys jersey with such a number.
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- Tony Casillas - the former Atlanta
Falcon and standout defensive linemen from the early 90's Cowboys
championship teams - also wore number 75, but he does not count
against this theory on a technicality: he was on defense.
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- All fans should want Colombo back -
with his "nasty" lineman attitude - as soon as possible, but the
team needs to begin preparing his replacement in earnest . . . for
long-term work. No exceptions. No excuses. Romo's
right arm demands it.
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- Mike Jenkins' arm must have been
absolutely killing him . . . to prevent him from not wanting to drag
himself back on the field like Emmitt Smith had done on at least two
major occasions in the Cowboys' glorious past.
He played with his excruciatingly painful dislocated shoulder
against the New York Giants in the NFC divisional playoffs.
Emmitt also played with an incredibly painful hamstring injury
against the San Francisco 49ers in the 1994 NFC Championship game.
He received electrical stimulation from a small leg-strapped device
in-between offensive series until his hamstring finally gave out.
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- Troy Aikman spent numerous games in
horrible pain or halfway out of it from a combination of back issues
and concussions . . . in both regular season and post season games.
It did not seem to matter to him which type of game was being
played. It was GAME ON for Aikman, either way.
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- Anyone can call out a player as not
being tough enough, and it is unfortunate that fans remember
Jenkins' jaking (Brandon) Jacobs on his way into the end zone last
year. It is of paramount importance for Jenkins to understand
that - no matter how much his injury may hurt - he needs to reach
down deep and find his inner tough guy. The Cowboys simply do
not have enough warm, competitive, and experienced bodies to replace
what Jenkins has accomplished so far this season.
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- Jenkins needs to get treatment on
his arm "yesterday," as his replacement, Orlando Scandrick, showed
why he lost out to Jenkins for the starting right cornerback role.
Scandrick may never be any better than a nickel or slot cornerback,
and after his performance in the Packers game, fans hope they never
again have to find out. Fans should rest assured that Jenkins
is "painfully" aware of the injuries his team must absorb and what
he must endure in order to help his secondary mates.
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- Ken Hamlin seems to have one of
those nagging injuries that he, his teammates, and fans will have to
simply endure until he returns to full strength. The sooner
the better, but Hamlin's status should be enough of a reason to
finally activate promising rookie safety Mike Hamlin - ensuring at
least one healthy Hamlin will be on the field for the next game.
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- Regarding secondary reservist Alan
Ball, his importance as a role player should not be underestimated,
as so much of Wade's defensive playbook relies on the participation
of role players. The same can be said for Scandrick - even
with his poor showing - because he has, of course, proven valuable
in the slot.
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- Fans - objectively - want Flozell
Adams to do well, but they continue to count the days until Flozell
flows away from Romo's blindside for good. The peanut gallery
may say "Better to have a half-deaf, twitchy, and poor technique
left tackle watching Romo's blindside than a rookie," but smart fans
know that depends entirely upon the rookie backing up Flozell.
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- The Cowboys freed Doug Free once
Flozell left the Packers game, and they need to find a way to free
up some reps for Free. The team needs to show a little nerve
regarding Flozell and begin preparing his replacement in earnest . .
. for a reasonable chunk of game day work. No exceptions.
No excuses. Romo's blind side demands it.
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- Staying with the Wisconsin theme -
and stealing a line from an Old Milwaukee television commercial:
"Unleash the best! Unleash the beast! Free the Free!"
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- Related Notes
Isaiah Stanback played well as a backup wide receiver for the New
England Patriots in their game against the Indianapolis Colts.
He, evidently, has been playing well in spot duty for most of the
season. Before any fans get irritated, everyone should
remember that hind sight is 20-20.
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- Yes, Stanback was a walking injury
magnet during the generous amount of time he was given with the
Cowboys. It will certainly not sit well with Cowboys fans, of
course, if Stanback manages to magically spend the next few years
injury free . . . even in spot duty. Time will tell and, at
least, the time is no longer the Cowboys' to spend.
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- Speaking of receivers - did anyone see how Reggie Wayne made
that final touchdown catch to help the Colts beat the Patriots?
He was basically physically violated on the way into the end zone -
without a single flag being thrown against his Patriot defender -
and he made the catch with his bare hands. No bread basket
effort. No broken concentration.
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- Do the Cowboys have a receiver even
remotely like Reggie Wayne? Do many teams have such a receiver
- to be fair? No.
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- Miles Austin was schemed away from
Romo by the Packers, and Roy Williams stepped up, making 5 catches
for over 100 yards. While it was nice to see Roy respond when
his number was called, it was simply no fun seeing Roy "The Number
One Receiver" Williams allow a perfect Romo pass to bounce right off
his facemask - at a time when a catch would have really helped the
Cowboys.
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- Miles Austin may, in fact, be the
new number one receiver on the Cowboys, but he does not seem to need
to remind anyone. While this may change as he gets better and
better, he just goes about his job for now. The more Roy
decides to squawk, the more his detractors will continue to balk
until he proves he can make catches consistently . . . whether they
are thrown accurately or not.
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- Ready For The Redskins?
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- The Redskins beat a reeling Denver
Broncos team with guts and a couple trick plays. If Denver QB
Kyle Orton had not gotten hurt, it appears the Broncos might have
been able to pull off the win against the hapless Snyderskins.
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- These facts and theories are
meaningless for the Cowboys, of course, because they decided the
Packers were not worth the effort. The Cowboys, once again, do
not have the right to overlook another team . . . not in today's
NFL. How many times must this statement be repeated by NFL
personnel, the press, bloggers, and fans? How long before the
Cowboys get it?
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- The Cowboys have another opportunity
this coming Sunday to prove to their fans and the rest of the NFL
that they are for real - that their performance against the Packers
was just a sleep-walking blip. The Cowboys can get back on
track against another hated NFC East rival . . . and another
desperate team that lives to ruin anything positive for America's
Team.
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- The injuries on the Cowboys'
offensive line will finally give Jason Garrett the excuse he needs
to rely heavily on both Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett.
Both tight ends will have plenty of opportunities - against what
should be an aggressive Snyderskins defensive front - to chip and
release off the line for swing, underneath, and seam passes.
If the Snyderskins bite - and Red Ball sends Romo on pre-planned
rollouts - then, all of the Cowboys wide receivers (including
both Felix Jones and Sam Hurd in the slot) should have some
legitimate chances for success. Hearing from Hurd - just like
using the Razorback formation - gives future opponents just one more
challenge to ponder when playing the Cowboys.
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- The Cowboys defensive line,
linebackers, and what is left of the secondary must get on Jason
Campbell early and often. They need to put a real beat down on
him and make him forget about the marginal success he
experienced against the struggling Broncos. If the Cowboys can
consistently clobber Campbell, from beginning to end - with the
Bradie Bunch jamming the running backs out of the backfield and the
tight ends off the line - then, the Cowboys defenders will have a
good chance to succeed. Campbell, otherwise, will be licking
his chops - right or wrong - and going after the Cowboys sliced up
secondary with a samurai sword.
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- Do the Cowboys have any nerve left?
Can they restore any of the mental and physical toughness they were
beginning to display only five short games ago? Can the
Cowboys overcome their injuries and still come out on top . . . like
some other winning NFL teams?
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- Will the Cowboys corral the
Snyderskins back into the Washington reservation and show them who
rules the ranch? Will the Cowboys succumb to the Snyderskins'
scalp scraping and bitter blood lust?
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- We shall see. We
always do.
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