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2009-2010 Regular Season: Postgame -
December
Maintains Choke Hold On America's Team
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- December
8, 2009
At 1:00 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Fresh off of a Thanksgiving football
feast, the Cowboys brought some of their reawakened offense to New
York and not much else as their December malaise has returned – with
another loss to a New York Giants team that was on the brink of
seeing their season go down the tubes.
The Giants certainly showed up with emotion and heart . . . but not
nearly enough to win without the Cowboys giving them a few holiday
freebies.
One Dimensional Again
Tony Romo played nearly out of his mind against the Giants –
connecting on 41 of 55 passes for close to 400 yards. He threw for
three touchdowns, with no interceptions, and no fumbles.
Romo threw large chunks of that yardage to Jason Witten (a
ridiculous 14 catches for almost 160 yards) and Miles Austin – who
was no slouch with 10 catches for over 100 yards and one touchdown
that came in what amounted to garbage time. Witten’s performance
actually propelled him into second place on the Cowboys all-time
receiving list, behind none other than Michael Irvin.
While Witten and Austin were essentially moving the chains all game
long, Romo threw two of his touchdown passes to Roy “Growing
Contribution” Williams. The first touchdown, in fact, involved a
beautiful-if-robotic double fake by Romo followed by a crisp pass
right into the hands of a wide open Williams.
What about the running game, you say? The running game consisted of
a paltry 23 carries split unevenly among Marion Barber (15), Felix
Jones (6), and Tashard Choice (2).
Marion received just enough touches to maintain room temperature –
but obviously not warm enough to prevent his untimely fumble on what
was turning into a pretty good run play.
Felix received just enough touches to laugh out loud.
Tashard received just enough touches to cry on the bench.
It is arguable the Giants capitalized on Cowboys mistakes so quickly
that it forced Jason Garrett to abandon the run far too soon.
It is also arguable that Felix Jones should have spent at least half
the game in “the Herschel Walker position” – otherwise known as the
slot – while Marion remained in the backfield to protect Romo or
release for a quick underneath or swing pass.
Did Red Ball also feel the need to abandon any hint of the Razorback
as well? The Razorback – depending upon your point of view – is
either a professional version of the old wishbone offense from Barry
Switzer’s Oklahoma Sooners . . . or it is a waste of time.
The Razorback – and the Wildcat before it – tends to remove the
traditional QB and replace him with a running back capable of a toss
play to one or two more players – other running backs and / or wide
receivers coming around on a reverse.
The Razorback is less a gimmick formation and more an opportunity to
replace pass-protecting the QB with smash mouth forward progress
from the running game. Generally speaking, the runner / option QB
lowers himself into a “below sea level” stance and forces defenders
to pick their gaps prematurely. Imagine how Doug Flutie must have
felt . . . but I digress.
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- Choice has proven his value in and
out of the Razorback, but with the choices Red Ball made, Choice had
little choice but to go along with some of the poor choices that
were chosen. Some Choice is better than no Choice at all, but
the Cowboys could have certainly used more of him.
What seems to happen when the Cowboys run their no-huddle / hurry-up
/ two-minute offense? This season – at least – they seem to succeed.
While this year’s Cowboys team may not be built to run the no-huddle
offense for a full 60 minutes, they certainly are capable of doing
so for one or two series per quarter . . . even in the bitter cold
on display at Giants Stadium.
Most teams understand that you pull out all the stops – you do
whatever you need to do within the rules – to win a game you need to
win. It appears that Red Ball left a handful of helpful offensive
plays out on the field . . . rather than choosing to do everything
he can to help the Cowboys send a message to their NFC East rivals
in a statement game.
The immortal Jim Rome would say “if you’re not cheating, you’re not
trying.” What does that say about the Cowboys offense? If you are
not going to squeeze every last creative ounce out of your
apparently limited playbook – or you are not going to “Billicheat” .
. . then what exactly are you bringing to the table?
Late in the season – whether you are preparing for a guaranteed
playoff spot as a division winner or you are gunning for a potential
wild card spot – you give your team a fighting chance that does not
require them to be perfect on every play.
Such an effort requires a broader selection of offensive plays that
makes greater use of your available and healthy talent. Red Ball
knows this and if he continues to play conservatively – taking
exclusively what the defense is giving him rather than dictating on
a few more plays – his relative inaction is an indictment of the
Cowboys offensive roster of players.
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- Maybe Red Ball still suffers from a
somewhat uncontrollable urge to be cute with his play-calling? Being
called "predictable" tends to do that to some NFL coordinators.
Sometimes, successful play-calling is less about being clever and
more about acknowledging your talent and putting that talent in a
position - or a scheme - that collectively delivers success.
Sometimes, you simply have to line up your best guys against your
opponent's best guys, gulp hard, and dare them to stop you.
Defensive Disaster
The Giants offense was pretty banged up as offenses go. Ahmad
Bradshaw - the Giants running back who shares time with Brandon “I
Hate The Cowboys” Jacobs – was playing with two sprained ankles.
Jacobs has been dinged up for most of the season as well.
Giants QB Eli Manning has the most talked about foot injury since
Deion Sanders had the same injury during his playing days with the
Cowboys.
The Giants lost one of their best offensive linemen – in Chris Snee
– early enough in the game where fans would have expected to see the
Cowboys defense take full advantage.
The Cowboys’ defense limited the Giants’ offense to the following
pedestrian performances:
Just over 21 minutes of possession time
Just 11 pass completions and 237 passing yards
Just 100 rushing yards – with no single player gaining more than 47
yards
The Cowboys’ defense allowed the Giants’ offense to convert those
average numbers into 31 quick-strike points . . . through poor
coverage, poor pursuit, and poor tackling on simple plays that
should never have turned into big plays.
What was honestly a solid defensive effort by the Cowboys turned
into mush, because the Bradie Bunch could not finish again in December . . . again.
The Cowboys defensive line and line-backing unit applied plenty of
pressure on the Giants’ slow and gimpy QB, and they only managed to
sack him once – by DeMarcus “Fractured Wrist” Ware no less. Manning
was the victim of several knock downs as well. There were plenty of
tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses on running plays.
Everyone watching the game was expecting to eventually see Jay “The
Beast” Ratliff and his motley crew smash through on several jail
breaks – against a Giants offensive line held together with chewing
gum and toothpicks (similar to what has been protecting Tony Romo
lately).
Yet, Manning and his opportunistic teammates made the most of the
limited breathing room the Cowboys’ defenders offered.
Anthony Spencer was one or all of the following on the play that
allowed Brandon Jacobs to score a 74 yard touchdown on a simple
swing pass:
A) He was asked to play out of position by Wade Phillips (highly
doubtful but you never know).
B) He was out of position, because he misunderstood the defensive
scheme.
C) He was guilty of suffering an incredibly bad mental lapse at the
worst possible time.
D) He was able to succeed where a few of his blocked and slower
teammates could not – by running down Jacobs and nearly shoving him
out of bounds before he reached the end zone (Bradie James looked so
exposed and slow on that play as well).
Terence Newman – in succumbing to his old ways – was caught playing
possum with Eli Manning at least 2-3 times, allowing his opposing
receiver to get a little too far ahead. Steve Smith and Mario
Manningham – the Giants’ sneaky “possession” receivers made the most
of Newman’s desires to tip a pass away versus making a solid wrap-up
tackle. While the coverage efforts of his teammates were not
airtight and perfect, his “slack and attack” routine was not proving
highly successful, either.
Mike Jenkins is really beginning to assume the lead cornerback role
in the defensive secondary, but – understandably – he cannot do it
alone. He needs all of his secondary teammates to begin making
primary plays.
While Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh continues – almost
single-handedly – to valiantly hold down center field until Ken
Hamlin returns, Alan Ball is beginning to make more negative plays.
He is consistently being caught out of position on coverage plays
where he, unfortunately, has been the last line of defense. Fans
know that Ball is undersized for a safety, but that does not excuse
mental lapses in pass coverage.
Secondary specialist Orlando Scandrick is suffering from similar
problems. He has to understand that being a slot defender is a
luxury rather than the norm. He has to be able to do more than
continue getting caught out of position on pass plays – as very few
receivers are that good, and he is not that bad.
Scandrick effectively replaced a former Cowboys cornerback who is
now playing for the Houston Texans. There is a reason that player is
now with Houston, and Scandrick has so much more talent and upside
than his predecessor. None of that lip service matters if it does
not translate in practice and on game day. It is absolutely
imperative that Wade Phillips and Dave Campo get Scandrick’s mind
right and prepared for multiple tasks.
Most of the Cowboys’ remaining opponents are going to push their
secondary to their maximum. There is nowhere for Ball and Scandrick
to hide, and they have to perform. No exceptions.
Special Teams No Longer
Special
In my last article, I suggested “fans should continue to hope that
Nick Folk’s recent make-one-miss-one routine is only temporary.”
Nick Folk has officially become a special teams liability with two
missed field goals (and one complete shank) against the Giants.
Can Folk turn it around? Depending upon your point of view, yes, he
can correct his untimely mechanics problem. His chances of making
such a correction are as good as any other kicker in the NFL, and
therein lies the rub. Kickers experiencing one or more misses per
game do not have a good successful correction rate.
Wade Phillips and Joe DeCamillis have another kicker named David
Buehler.
Wade Phillips and Joe DeCamillis know Buehler has a relatively accurate and
powerful leg.
Wade Phillips and Joe DeCamillis know Buehler is capable of more
than just booming kick-offs.
Wade Phillips and Joe DeCamillis know they may – sooner than later -
need to give Buehler more opportunities to help the Cowboys win
their remaining games.
Fans expect Wade and Joe to make a business decision as soon as the
team returns to practice – encouraging Folk to work harder and make
the necessary adjustments to his mechanics – and instructing Buehler
to get more involved with field goal auditions leading up to the
next game.
Folk is a big boy. While he knows he is not solely responsible for
any of the Cowboys’ four losses this season, he knows his poor
kicking is contributing. Fans should expect Folk to take the
potential for any shared game day field goal duties in stride. Folk,
hopefully, does just that, because like the fans, he wants very much
for his team to succeed.
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- Could Folk's problem be a problem
that is not his at all? Could the issue reside with Matt
McBriar? This is certainly a possibility, but - with all the
game film and close-up replay footage available to coaches and
Cowboys fans - such a problem should have and would have been
spotted after just the first of what has become a four game missed
kick streak. And if the problem did exist with McBriar's
ability to properly receive the snap, place the football, and spin
the laces away from the kicker - who else would hold for field
goals? Surely not the retired Jay Novacheck? Maybe,
gasp, Tony Romo? And the crowd goes eerily silent.
Folk can at least rest-assured fans do not blame him for the
incredible number of one-armed tackles offered up by his “special”
teammates (by Orlando Scandrick, Pat Watkins, and Bobby Carpenter to
name a few) on the touchdown-scoring 79 yard punt return the Cowboys
surrendered to the Giants. Sam Hurd had an opportunity to track down
the runner, but he could not fight through the bigger blocking
wingman.
The Cowboys almost had a great kick return of their own – only to
see hard-playing but still young linebacker Victor Butler get called
for a holding penalty. Butler has been coming in towards the end of
impending victories this season and putting on nice spot duty
performances. If he wants to make a bigger contribution – especially
on his regular special teams tasks – he simply cannot have another
mistake like that one. It does not matter if it is the first time he
has been called for such a penalty all season, but it does matter
when it is called and in which important game it has been called.
The longer your season lasts – with the hope of playoffs right
around the corner – the better, harder, and smarter you need to play
– lest your season ends sooner than anyone wishes.
Patrick Crayton would certainly have attempted to run back any Giant
punt – had the Giants ever allowed him the field position to do
anything more than call for fair catch after fair catch after fair
catch.
Crayton has been nearly mistake free with timely production ever
since his benching – a few games ago – and fans should pray that he
continues with his renewed diligence and determination through the
rest of the season. The Cowboys are going to need him in every
capacity in which he is capable – as each of their remaining
opponents attempt to take away one or more of Tony Romo’s offensive
weapons.
DeCamillis is held in high regard throughout the league as a
coordinator who knows what makes a successful special teams unit
tick correctly. While he calls the schemes, he does not execute the
plays. Even though special teams plays tend to be of the
all-or-nothing variety, DeCamillis’ “special” players should feel
lucky and be grateful he is not empowered to employ executions.
The Cowboys’ special teams can recover – and quickly – but the only
way to do so is to limit or completely eradicate the types of
mistakes they made against the Giants.
Murderous Mental Mistakes
The Cowboys physically and statistically dominated all areas of
their game against the Giants – except for collective rushing yards
and the final score.
I posed the following remarks in my last article:
“The Giants think they can win the game, because they remember how
mistake prone the Cowboys were early in the season. The Giants know
how to take advantage of those mistakes and steal another victory.
They graciously accepted their first gift-wrapped victory against
the Cowboys this season, and if the Cowboys let them, the Giants
will be only too happy to accept a second win, as well.”
Jerry Jones should have sent a gift-wrapped silver platter to the
Giants locker room after the game – with a personalized card that
read “Ask and you shall receive. Kind regards – Jerry’s Kids.”
While there were only five penalties called on the Cowboys – which
was shockingly delightful – they made just enough mental blunders to
obliterate an otherwise dominating performance against a Giants team
they have statistically dominated through two games this season.
Anthony Spencer, again, was out of position – and chasing in vain –
all the way downfield on the long Brandon Jacobs touchdown play.
While he managed to catch up to Jacobs and almost pushed him out of
bounds, you have to wonder out loud: “Where was the lineman,
linebacker, or up close safety who made any attempt to violently
chip the 260 pound Jacobs before he left the backfield?”
Spencer is not alone in being guilty of a mental malfunction on what
should have been a play of no more than 15-20 yards. Wade Phillips
called the play – zone all the way. The Giants’ offense would have
crumbled if Wade had simply instructed players hovering on or around
the line to chip anyone coming out of the backfield – and asked
Jenkins and Newman to maliciously jam the Giants’ wideouts.
Scandrick would have been in his element – putting the squeeze on
the slot – with Sensabaugh and his outfield partners closing in to
clean up the mess.
The Cowboys basically took Giants tight end Kevin Boss out of the
game early but – on swing passes – there is virtually no difference
between him and Jacobs – who should have been receiving similar
treatment all game long.
Tony Romo – on the 4th quarter series where the Cowboys turned the
ball over on downs – should have thrown a perfect pass to a
streaking Roy Williams. Romo, instead, threw one of his hip pocket
specials and completely blew a fourth touchdown pass.
Romo should have run for it on 4th down rather than throw it to a
soon-to-be-decked Marion Barber – who simply had no chance to break
the oncoming tackle. Then, again, Barber might have coughed up a
second fumble as well. Hind sight is 20/20 – woulda’, coulda’,
shoulda’.
Victor Butler, again, ruined a great punt return with a holding
penalty, and he will be one of a few scapegoats until the Cowboys
get back into the win column and protect their slim division lead of
mere percentage points over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Flozell Adams pulls up the rear as a real mental giant. True Cowboys
fans hate the Giants, but not so much that they want to see Flozell potentially get
himself suspended from a future game at the worst possible time . .
. in exchange for taking a swipe at Justin Tuck.
We do not yet know if Tuck did or said something to Flozell during
the course of the first half, and one can only imagine what it might
have been. Flozell lucked out that the Giants oddly refused to
accept or enforce the personal foul penalty. Flozell must be smarter
for the greater good of his teammates, but fans may eventually come
to the conclusion that Flozell is a hopeless liability when it comes to
false starts, holding penalties, and maturity . . . no matter whose
blind side he is protecting.
What Kind Of Fan Are You?
Are you the kind of fan who sticks with your favorite team through
good times and bad times – in sickness and in health?
Are you the kind of fan who jumps off the bandwagon the minute there
is a sign of trouble?
Are you the kind of fan who expects absolute perfection from your
favorite team – only seeing room for improvement even after
resounding victory?
The Cowboys enjoy an incredible fan base and an international
celebrity following that only the New York Yankees and Los Angeles
Lakers could hope to match.
Regardless of how mild or hard core – local or long distance – you
are as a fan, no amount of dedication can dismiss how poorly the
Dallas Cowboys have performed during the month of December for more
than a decade.
Before the Cowboys can defy their December doldrums, regain entry to
the playoffs, and attempt to pursue the old but familiar scent of
post season success, they must first face and conquer their mental
demons.
Fans can only encourage the Cowboys to keep their collective chin up
and keep fighting with every ounce of their being.
The coaching staff can only give the players their very best play
selections – and make the players practice, practice, and practice
some more until they get it right.
“Practice makes perfect” but game day can be made gut-wrenching with
just one mistake.
The Cowboys have four more game days in which they can either cement
a playoff spot or grab a seat in the stands . . . again. Fans will
be waiting for them in the stands, helplessly watching and wondering
if the Cowboys efforts will pass muster.
Only the Cowboys can determine whether or not fans will be cheering
for them from above the grid iron . . . or sitting next to them,
asking them to pass the mustard.
Divine Intervention
The entire world has learned by now that the Cowboys have lost a
statement game to a division rival whose season was potentially on
death’s door. The Cowboys have – once again – succumbed to the heart
and nerve of a threatened team.
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees suggested – after his team’s narrow
victory over the Redskins in overtime – that his team may begin
benefiting from some divine intervention . . . that they may win one
or more of their remaining games on something more than just hard
work and desire. His comment was partly in jest and partly, because
he was at a loss for words to logically explain how he and his
teammates recovered in time to steal a victory from their
snake-bitten opponents.
The Cowboys should know better than to think divine intervention
will prevent them from actually having to overcome their mistakes.
How else would they learn how to achieve success on their own if God
did, in fact, peer through the hole in the roof of Cowboys Stadium
and prevent the grid iron gaffes of his favorite team?
While the show through the roof must be a divine sight, the Cowboys are
responsible for their own mistakes, and are obviously being made to
earn their keep . . . just like everyone else.
The Giants have officially tightened an NFC East division race that
was firmly in hand for the Cowboys. The Eagles have officially begun
their traditional second half of the season surge. The Redskins are
doing their very best to play spoiler to all of their remaining
opponents.
All three teams are just drooling over the very real possibility the
Cowboys will choke away another season rather than poke their way
into the playoffs.
Only the Cowboys can prevent their division rivals from collectively
laughing out loud at yet another blown opportunity for “America’s
Team.” Wade Phillips must resemble “Smokey Bear” in team meetings
this week: “Only you can prevent forest fires, err, silly mistakes.”
Not God, not the NFL commissioner, not Jerry Jones, not Jessica
Simpson, not the fans . . . just the Cowboys players and to a lesser
extent, the coaches.
Prepare To Be Shocked
The San Diego Chargers and former Dallas offensive coordinator
turned head coach Norv Turner are headed to Cowboys Stadium for a
bull-riding showdown. Who will be the bull? Who will be riding the
bull? Who will be spouting the bull? How do you stop a team like San
Diego that is behaving and performing on offense very much like the early 90’s
Cowboys – when your own team is playing inconsistently?
The 2009 Cowboys are going to have to play a perfect game to beat
the Chargers – and they are either going to have to run a
ball-control offense to keep the Chargers' offense off the field . . . or attempt to match San Diego quick
strike for quick strike.
The “Eyes of Texas” will be upon the Cowboys’ defense and special
teams for 60 minutes to see if they have what it takes to play
mistake-free football and stop a playoff-ready team cold in its
tracks.
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- The Cowboys' defenders will have a
big and relatively slow moving target in Chargers QB Phillip Rivers.
While Rivers has proven he is not afraid to run for a first down,
there will be no room for near misses on sack attempts by DeMarcus
Ware, Anthony Spencer, and Jay Ratliff. Rivers will pick a
defense apart if given time. The Cowboys' secondary must
aggressively jam the Chargers' receivers at the line . . . without
getting called for any hands to the face penalties (Terence Newman).
The Cowboys' linebackers and edge rushers absolutely must chip
anyone coming out of the Chargers backfield - whether it is up the
gut or out on the flank.
Nonetheless, Rivers is probably getting his Sharpie marker
ready to write his name next to Eli Manning’s in the visitor’s
locker room at Cowboys Stadium. Maybe Bradie James will save up what
is left of his autograph anger, cut the interview chatter, and
challenge the Chargers . . . on the field.
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- Romo will not be able to sacrifice
any of his pass attempts for this game. No hip-check
overthrows. If the offensive line struggles early to run-block,
then, Red Ball needs to employ the Razorback for some good
old-fashioned goring.
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- Shawne Merriman - in the presence of
DeMarcus Ware - will be out to prove he is still one of the best
sack artists around. The Cowboys' tight ends, running backs, and
fullback need
to be ready to chip and chip often. Yes, the Cowboys actually have a
legitimate blocking back on their roster. A delayed inside handoff - here
and there - might not be a bad idea against any over-pursuing
Chargers edge rushers.
The upcoming game against the Chargers will be a shocker one way or
another. The Chargers will either electrocute the Cowboys or the
Cowboys will overload the Chargers with an incredible array of
creative play-calling, physical toughness, and mental accuracy.
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- The Cowboys can certainly accomplish
the job ahead of them this Sunday, but they - the players and the
coaches - will have to fight for the win . . . with real heart, true
grit, and unflinching nerve. This description may sound like another
team entirely, but it is up to the Cowboys to determine if the shoe
fits and if they want to wear it.
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- Concerned fans and critical prognosticators eagerly await the
results.
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- We shall see. We always do.
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