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2010-2011 Regular Season: Texans Chainsaw
Massacre Averted
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- September 27,
2010
At 11:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
Word has it that the Houston Texans and their fans were going to
exact revenge on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon – for
several humiliating decades of being made to feel like second class
citizens.
The Texans have been around for less than a decade, but their
Houston-area fan base still includes a large number of bitter Oilers
fans who decided not to follow their former team to Tennessee.
The Texans had everything going for them: a 2-0 record, the best
offense in the NFL, and the very recent memory of pasting the
Cowboys in the pre-season.
The Texans gobbled up the Cowboys’ vanilla effort in their
pre-season showdown, and they wanted an opportunity to make their
own sundae on Sunday.
America’s Team and fans everywhere – after two miserable
performances – were admittedly suffering from a little cotton mouth
as they prepared for a whole lotta’ Leather Face.
Houston and their fans finally got what they wanted – the eyes of
Texas all over them – and they simply could not take the heat.
The abundance of Cowboys’ fans at Reliant Stadium reminded the
entire city of Houston that the eyes of Texas were really just
watching the Dallas Cowboys . . . as always.
The Cowboys entered Sunday’s game looking like a stinkweed, and they
exited Houston smelling like the yellow rose of Texas.
The Texans can keep the Governor’s Cup (rewarded to the winner of
the now annual pre-season game between Dallas and Houston) – with a
year’s free supply of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream to help soothe
their hurt feelings.
The Cowboys will gladly accept a regular season victory over a
pre-season prize any day.
The Texans were the toast of Texas for two weeks, but the Cowboys
applied enough heat to turn the Texans into just another piece of
burnt toast.
The Texans Chainsaw Massacre turned into a Houston disaster. Against
the Cowboys, Houston had no case – and there was certainly no place
for Leather Face.
Operational Offense
Much has been made of Jason “Red Ball” Garrett’s offensive
coordination being truly offensive, reactive, stale, and
unimaginative, as well as the dreaded “P” word: predictable.
While offensive schemes are ideally executed with a full and healthy
complement of players, a coach is supposed to make the best of his
available resources – even if it means proactively revising the
playbook during games to give his players the best chance to
succeed.
Red Ball had a full set of starters at his disposal for the second
straight week, and he used a well-balanced game plan to avoid
disposing of his players’ full efforts for the second game in a row.
While rushing attempts were once again split between Barber, Jones,
and Choice, the entire line – including Leonard “Stone Feet” Davis –
helped them deliver more than 100 yards. It was not the return to
rushing for which the fans have been clamoring, but it was enough to
keep Houston from hounding Romo.
Marc Colombo and Doug Free stayed strong in stopping Super Mario
Williams from reaching Romo – allowing Tony the time to make
masterful music with his receivers.
The offense was not perfect, but it was more than effective and
proactive – providing a good foundation upon which the Cowboys can
build as the season goes on.
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- While no one in the league questions
the explosive potential of the Cowboys' offense, their performance
against Houston might have been less potent if not for the absence of Houston’s suspended outside
linebacker, Brian Cushing.
Cushing - one of Houston's emotional leaders - might have helped his
team apply more pressure on Tony Romo. Fans – on either side – will
never truly know how much more competitive the game would have been
unless both teams make the playoffs and end up facing each other in
Dallas on Super Bowl Sunday.
Romo To Roy Revival?
Tony Romo did not release receptions to the entire roster of
receivers, but almost everyone got in on the receiving action.
While Jason Witten resumed his customary status “he who shall make
the most receptions” as Romo’s reliable security blanket, Martellus
Bennett made the most of his moments on the field as well.
While Austin was miles from his usual output, he still made a strong
showing on the receptions he received – almost backing his way into
the end zone through an overpowered defender.
Though Dez Bryant has been playing through a variety of nagging
injuries, he continued a steady diet of doing damage to pass
defenses. Bryant is a man among men after the catch - playing
through a rib injury while collecting substantial yardage with one
or more defenders draped across his back and biting his ankles.
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- He certainly does and should remind
fans of Michael Irvin and once he gets completely healthy - and gets
longer sleeves on his jersey - fans may believe Irvin has, in fact,
come out of retirement.
Opponents are bracing – with every game – for a Bryant breakout performance
that is lurking just beneath the surface of a well-balanced Cowboys
offense.
Even Sam was Hurd from – delivering the goods once again in spot
duty on a crucial play.
Roy Williams provided the biggest surprise of the day with the most
production of any receiver in the game – and the most since first
becoming a Dallas Cowboy.
While fans have to be pleased with such output from Williams, it is
not necessarily a sure sign of a Romo to Roy revival and – for once
– this is not a knock on Williams.
The Texans secondary had been shredded for more than 400 yards
passing per game this year before facing the Cowboys – who came up
about 120 yards short of being the third team in a row to eclipse
that total.
Williams’ successful Sunday at minimum improves confidence in Roy’s
ability to reel in the receptions. His success at maximum will
result in similar – or more reliable – production over the remainder
of the season.
Such long-term success may not be likely, but not necessarily
because of Roy’s inexplicable lack of production over the last two
years. Even a focused and fine-tuned Williams – like everything else
in professional sports – can be affected by chance.
Chance plays an unwanted role in every element of professional
sports. Internal and external forces and intangibles from teammates
and opponents alike – effort, intensity, accuracy, focus, and number
of touches in practice and on game day – can help or harm production
for any player.
No matter how hard-working, talented, and smart – there is a chance
one player can always be outplayed by his opponent . . . and the
chance is much greater if one player is lacking in any one of the
intangibles.
This is far less an excuse for what Roy may or may not accomplish in
the coming games. It is far more a fact of what may increase or
decrease his chances of repeating the success he experienced against
the Texans.
Fans would be thrilled at the Cowboys being able to literally plug
in Miles, Roy, or Dez – all of whom take a lickin' and keep on
tickin' – and absolutely not skip a beat.
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- While such offensive
interchangeability would be new to the Cowboys, it is not impossible
to create, and it certainly exists elsewhere in the NFL (SEE the
Colts – where perfectionist Peyton Manning, reasonable pass
protection, and ANY receiver have generally succeeded at will this
season).
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- Maybe the Cowboys' offensive players
need to know their offensive playbook as well as their offensive
coordinator - which might allow them the freedom to be
interchangeable . . . but I digress.
Roy is ready – as I stated in the article on the Redskins game – and if the Cowboys
move forward with the team mentality and complete effort they
displayed in Houston, Roy may be ripe for a rewarding repeat.
Determined Defense
While the Texans certainly got their yardage – with Arian Foster
rushing for more than 100 of his own – they got it in measured doses
– controlled and administered by the “bend but don’t break defense”
Wade Phillips had so carefully installed.
Some good ole’ fashioned “Flex” defense – under the right
circumstances – never hurt anyone, and in the face of a potent
Houston offense, the circumstances were right.
The Texans were lucky to be “treated and released” against the
Cowboys.
Dallas could have kept their defensive starters in for the remainder
of the fourth quarter and ultimately prevented Houston’s garbage
time touchdown.
Mike Jenkins helped jail Houston’s Andre Johnson for most of the
game – delivering an interception as part of a lockdown performance.
Terrence Newman also did his part with a big fumble recovery with
the Texans on the move.
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- Rookie safety Danny McCray finished off the Texans’ last gasp with
an interception of his own.
The Cowboys’ defensive front seven exploded for several quarterback
pressures and four sacks.
Keith Brooking was as intense as always – impressively blasting
Schaub and halting a red zone scoring opportunity.
DeMarcus Ware had a monster game with three sacks of the Texans’
Matt Schaub.
While no one in the league questions Ware’s ever-increasing
greatness, his performance against
Houston might have been less potent if not for the absence of Houston’s suspended
left tackle, Duane Brown.
Brown might have allowed Houston a little more breathing room on
offense. Fans – on either side – will never truly know how much more
competitive the game would have been unless both teams make the
playoffs and end up facing each other in Dallas on Super Bowl
Sunday.
Weirder things have happened – like an 0-2 start to the season.
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- Getting Better At Being
Special
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- The Cowboys had one of their better
games on special teams this year - by putting better wraps on the
Texans' two-stepping returners. Owusu-Ansah had another solid
round of kick returns, and Dez Bryant was able to focus more on his
offensive duties with but one punt return.
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- While Bryant's punt return for a
touchdown against the Chicago Bears last week was great, his
teammates made enough mistakes on special teams to negate Bryant's
scoring effort.
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- While another Bryant punt return for
a touchdown against any future opponent would be great, it will be
unnecessary if his teammates can avoid making mistakes – like the
late game onsides kick recovery by Houston – that seemed
refreshingly absent from last year's more experienced special teams squad.
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- Fewer mistakes by a squad relatively
rich in rookies will help the Cowboys
get better at being special – and place less pressure on their kick
returners to make such an incredible difference.
Keeping It To Themselves
Right in line with playing a complete game, the Cowboys had zero
turnovers.
A turnover is like a sick joke – especially after an 0-2 start - and
the Cowboys were better off keeping it to themselves with sure hands
on offense and special teams.
Plentiful Penalties
The Cowboys applied a pretty good pounding to the Texans but not
without eight more silly penalties.
A game completely devoid of penalties in today’s NFL is harder to
accomplish than ever before, but the Cowboys have plenty of room to
improve in their push for fewer penalties. ‘Nuff said – again.
Getting A Kick Out Of
Buehler
David Buehler did what was asked of him in successfully kicking two
field goals of 40+ yards.
He might have had at least three more opportunities if the Cowboys
had not elected to go for it on fourth down – making it on two of
three possessions.
Fans and prognosticators who suggest a lack of trust in Buehler
certainly have proof on their side – for now.
Another angle would suggest the Cowboys needed to prove to
themselves, the Texans, and future competition that they could and
would sustain drives that normally stalled too soon.
While Buehler’s personal growth is as important to the Cowboys’
future as anything else, the Cowboys also benefit from the
confidence built in sustaining and finishing offensive drives –
every single one of them.
Where the Cowboys can aspire to finish drives, they should expect to
finish drives – whether kicking field goals or scoring touchdowns.
Battle At Wounded Knee
Kyle Kosier’s knee simply will not allow the Cowboys’ offensive line
to get cozy. He sprained his right medial collateral ligament in
pre-season, forcing him to miss the first game of the season.
He sprained the same knee against the Texans – leaving teammates and
fans hoping the upcoming bye week will give him enough time to
recover.
“The MCL’s have it.” Jason Witten and Kyle can compare sprains
during strength and conditioning sessions. Witten – in his typical
tough guy fashion – played through his own MCL sprain in an obvious
effort to insure the Cowboys left Houston with a victory.
If Witten misses any playing time at all, John Garrett’s theory of
Witten and Martellus Bennett being “interchangeable” will be put to
another test.
The Battle at Wounded Knee is an ongoing one for the Cowboys.
One Week Wonders?
If the Cowboys had gone 0-3, their bye week would have become their
die week.
After successfully beating back the boo birds, the Cowboys can take
the next two weeks to get healthy and maintain the same ferocious
focus for the titanic Titans – whom they host at Cowboys Stadium.
While the bye week certainly could dampen some of the momentum built
by defeating the Texans, fans are simply going to have to hope the
Cowboys understand the importance of having the same focus and
intensity week in and week out.
Proof of that understanding – that slowly growing maturity – exists
in a quote by Romo from his post game interview:
"There's no sense of relief. We're still in a position where we've
got to keep grinding to get out of this and we understand that. We
know that it's not always going to be perfect, but we've got to find
a way to keep getting wins."
Fans could not have hoped for a better comment from one of the
players charged with leading the Cowboys. Fans can only hope that
Romo’s teammates all feel the same way.
The Cowboys are under no obligation to make themselves miserable,
but they are under an obligation to respect each grid iron
opportunity they receive.
The Sundays can stop at sixteen or they can continue into the
playoffs. It is – as always – completely up to the Cowboys to
determine how far they really want to go this season.
“There’s no sense of relief” . . . but a sense of respect can result
in that relief.
Will the Cowboys maintain and move forward or are they one week
wonders?
We shall see. We always do.
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