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2008-2009 Regular Season: Postgame - A
Win Is Not Just A Win
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- October 5, 2008 At
5:21 PM EST
- By
Eric M. Scharf
Regarding a win like this one, against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals,
the idea that "a win is a win" does not apply, when it comes to the
fans. We want to be encouraged by this win, but all we can see are
more shortcomings.
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- All we can see is more proof that the Cowboys are
lowering themselves to the perceived level of the competition; more
proof that the 2008 Cowboys believe all the hype and think they can
"just walk into the stadium and see if the other team just shakes in
its cleats."
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- What we saw is yet another
completely foolish interception by Romo (almost as "entertaining" as
the fourth quarter fourth down “throw-away” by the 49ers QB today, against New England).
And to think that parents everywhere in the world try to convince
their children that “just because you can does not mean you should.”
Consider this additional fact: our defense simply may not be as good
as everyone says it is supposed to be. Outside of a handful of new
players who may receive significant playing time this season, our
defense should have gotten its sea legs in training camp and during
the pre-season (whether involving vanilla schemes or not).
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- Our
defense, for now, is what it is: above average and that is all. How
many interceptions did Adam “Pacman” Jones and the other
knuckleheads in our secondary drop today? The one person who had no
business making an interception (Greg Ellis) made his with hands as
soft as butter. Adam "Hands like Stones" Jones needs to do less
chest-thumping (after some of the least important plays of the game)
and more hand-eye coordination (whether he is playing tight man
coverage, like today, or not).
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- Anthony Henry cannot be converted
into a free safety soon enough. He looked slower than
snot-on-a-slick-downhill for the second straight game. Our secondary
must think "keep them in front of you" means doing it all the way
into the end zone. Our opponents must be just giddy at this: “Why
should we even lift a finger for a big play when the Cowboys
defenders can simply escort us, at 10 yards-a-pop, right into the
end zone?”
Regarding T.O., that look of disgust he had on the sideline towards
the end of the game (while you could see Jerry Jones telling him
something that looked an awful lot like "we'll get you more passes
next week") is righteous.
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- T.O. knows that, while he is running his
route on a given play, his quarterback should be scanning the entire
field, going through his progressions (either from a static,
protected position or on-the-run, where Romo excels).
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- While Romo
deserves kudos for not trying to force the ball into T.O. (this
time), he looked like a goof with his other targets. It does not
matter if he threw a few more TD passes (one which was
dropped-then-caught), as we are all looking for consistency and not
seeing it from Romo.
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- And Crayton: his drops (even if just one per
game) grow more incredible looking than any TD catch he has made in
the past or may make in the future. It must be "in" and "cool" to
walk off the field shaking your head and telling anyone within
earshot "I will make the next catch, no worries."
Yes, the Cowboys won. Yes, the Giants needed overtime to beat the
very same Bengals by 3 points. Big deal. Yeah, yeah, they ran the
ball well, but they looked half-brain-dead when passing (and
Cincinnati's defense is simply not that good, people). Where is the
consistent improvement sports fans have come to expect from a team
that is allegedly so bloody loaded with talent?
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- This team, right
now, is consistently out of whack. As I watch the beginning of the
Jaguars / Steelers game, I see a team in the Jaguars that, for now,
is consistent, tough, no-nonsense, no flash.
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- The Cowboys will never
be without flash (both on the field and off), but what does that
make our team? All flash and a lot less of everything else (after
the new, better players we added in the off-season)? Unbelievable,
yet very believable.
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