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2010-2011 Regular Season: Edged By Eagles
But Getting Ready For Some R&R
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- December 18,
2010
At 11:45 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
The Cowboys outlasted the
Colts – two weeks ago – by winning battles in time of possession,
rushing yards, and turnovers . . . causing more than they made.
The Cowboys nearly outlasted the Eagles – last Sunday night – by
winning only one battle in time of possession, drawing even on
turnovers, and being outrushed by an almost two to one margin.
The Cowboys were missing three of their star players and a few role
players – all on injured reserve – and they were facing a potent
Eagles’ offense with a physically beaten up defensive secondary.
The Eagles were temporarily missing two of their star players and a
few role players – and lost two more players during their contest at
Cowboys Stadium.
The Cowboys failed to challenge one of the more inexperienced
defensive secondaries in the league with any deep passes, thus, they
also failed to really challenge one of the worst red zone defenses
in the league as well.
The Cowboys failed to challenge Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy on
all but a handful of running plays.
The Cowboys – more accurately – failed to get a hand on McCoy late
in the fourth quarter while time still remained for a potential
tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown. The Cowboys’ defensive line
was literally unable to get a single finger on McCoy as he ran
through some gaping running lanes.
Most people thought the Dallas Cowboys would keep it close against
the Philadelphia Eagles but ultimately lose by three points.
Most people were right and, for the first time in a while . . .
there is no in-depth soul searching required following a loss by the
Cowboys.
What most people did not expect or prognosticate is that the Cowboys
lost this game entirely because of what they failed to do to the
Eagles . . . rather than what the Eagles failed to do to the
Cowboys.
The Eagles had no Asante to assail a Cowboys aerial assault.
The Eagles were going to receive no justice without Winston.
Garrett’s Gang is well aware they gagged on a golden opportunity.
Giveth & Taketh
The Cowboys made a solid effort to get pressure on Michael Vick all
night long – hurrying him into a couple interceptions and getting a
couple sacks as well – even succeeding with a couple of the blitzes
that had backfired on so many other teams this season.
Quarterbacks have thrown “plenty” of interceptions in the history of
the NFL. Pro football is such a team game – more so than ever before
with some plays requiring incredible coordination – that
interceptions will always be a big part of the game.
The quality of those interceptions is what drives or dooms a team’s
chance to absorb and conquer such mistakes.
While Kitna threw the same number of interceptions as Vick – two –
one of them glanced off the unprepared hands of Miles Austin and the
other appeared to be thrown late. Then, again, there were two such
pass plays in which Roy Williams also appeared to break out of his
route late . . . with one pass resulting in said interception.
Miles Austin has already suffered from glancing hands this season,
but we may never know if he was supposed to be ready for Kitna’s
pass . . . or if Kitna released it too soon.
Roy Williams has – in the past – occasionally been known for
breaking out of some of his routes a bit slower than desired. Was
this one of those instances? Did Kitna throw the ball too late? Did
the Eagles’ corner got a good jump on the route and simply take the
ball away from Roy?
Would the young Eagles’ corners have played off Austin and Williams
a bit more if Kitna had actually gone deep a few times? But – then –
why was Witten repeatedly so wide open?
Fans prefer no interceptions at all, but if interceptions are going
to be thrown – during the holiday season of giving – fans want the
hard-earned taketh . . . rather than the lazy, late, and rushed
giveth stuff.
Fans can either blame late, lazy, and rushed Cowboys or the early
birds that got the interceptions.
Pick-Offs And
Punt Returns
Bryan McCann coughed up a punt return against the Colts – which was
safely recovered by his teammate right before reaching an overtime
victory – and McCann made another mistake against the Eagles’ punt
coverage after a hard hit.
The rookie returner and cover corner has been a bit of a sensation
this year – certainly in adding a spark to both suspect special
teams and secondary units.
McCann and fans would do well to remember making an interception and
running it back for a touchdown is far different than catching a
punt . . . and running for your life.
Cornerbacks need only outmaneuver a few star offensive players a
bunch of uncoordinated lumberjacks in order to make it into the
clear and make it into the end zone for a pick six.
Punt returners face an entire unit focused on annihilating the ball
carrier – smashing that player into the turf with such an impact
that a fumble is inescapable.
McCann has promise to, indeed, be the man that can . . . but he
needs to remember that pick-offs and punt returns will always be
birds of a different feather – especially against a team like the
Eagles where field position is key.
Zoned Out
Most fans would believe the Cowboys had nearly identical defensive
personnel on Sunday night to the squad that squashed DeSean Jackson
and his fine feathered friends three times in 2009.
Most fans would believe wrong.
While the Cowboys’ secondary has been improved under interim
defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni – using zone coverage to
scheme away their many man to man meltdowns – the unit has been
largely secondary and forgettable in 2010 . . . as a shell of their
2009 profile.
Pasqualoni’s zone coverage has worked out rather nicely over the
past five games, but it was bound to come up short against a team –
like the 2009 or 2010 Eagles – that requires a little more man to
man face time.
The Cowboys’ zone coverage succeeds in taking some of the pressure
off a secondary unit that tried and failed to be so accurately glued
to their opposing receivers for much of the season.
Pasqualoni deserves credit for completely canceling Brent “I Am Not
Tom” Celek, but the same system that shut down big bad Brent allowed
DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avante to set up shop in
soft spots . . . where poor tackling was devastating and plenty of
dangerous YAC (Yards After Catch) loomed.
Pasqualoni’s system – to be clear – was not at fault for requiring
his players to make good, wrap up tackles. His system was not at
fault for requiring his players to avoid overrunning plays at all
costs – especially against a player who can stop on a dime and
accelerate back to full speed just as quickly.
Pasqualoni’s system has admirably covered up the Cowboys’ defensive
secondary warts for most of Jason Garrett’s head coaching tenure,
but the two hemorrhoids on the outside require a heavier dose of
defensive design.
Dynamic Duo Or
Duds?
The Cowboys were already operating at a deficit with their “shot
down” corners – Terence “Toast” Newman and Mike “Juked And Jived”
Jenkins – but it was those very victimized players who the Cowboys
needed to step up in man coverage . . . whenever DeSean was ready to
dash.
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- If the Cowboys could have stopped even one of the four passes
delivered to DeSean, the Cowboys could have enjoyed much greater
Sunday night success.
If the Cowboys could have aggressively jammed on even one of the
four passes delivered to DeSean – just like the same players did
thrice in 2009 – the Cowboys could have won the game.
Does everyone realize that Michael Vick threw for only 60 yards –
without the 210 yards furnished by the poorly defended and
despicably tackled DeSean?
Most fans realize Newman has been playing through a variety of
nagging injuries – which is incredibly admirable for all the press
punishment he has been taking. He could have chosen to shut it down
several games ago after taking a painful shot to the ribs, but he
stayed with it for the greater good.
Maybe Newman should have been shut down by a higher authority –
rather than shot down under his own limited power – as continually
getting smoked like salmon by heavy hitters is no better than
placing an inexperienced Bryan McCann into the defensive plan.
Newman – as fast as he is – has been beaten in good health and in
bad. McCann is one of the fastest players on the team, and his
inexperience may fade with experience just like anyone else given
the chance to pull his own weight.
What is worse – watching a limping race horse get passed at every
turn . . . or watching a young buck keep up but temporarily take the turns a
little topsy-turvy? One learns to race hurt and the other learns to
race better. No one ever said Newman was an absolute thoroughbred .
. . and no one ever said McCann has no upside.
Most fans realize Jenkins has been playing through a maddening
mental curse all season long. Either Jenkins is a one year wonder,
or his hair stylist is winding his braids too tight. If that is the
case, how long would it have been before Parcells berating his
braids – forcing him to lacerate his locks . . . and allow his brain
to breathe?
When your hair looks better than your play, things are about as
backwards as possible. Did anyone notice how Green Bay star
cornerback Charles Woodson gave up his “kid cut” right about the
time he joined the Packers? He has been playing much better . . .
and even his maddening turf toe injury has all but disappeared.
Maybe Jerry can ring up Michael Irvin on the speed dial and arrange
for another Scissor Gate extravaganza – where Jenkins plays the part
of poor Everett MacGyver and Irvin actually hacks hair rather than
“nicking” necks . . . but I digress.
Maybe Jenkins thinks he is an intergalactic Predator out on an
otherworldly hunt. He should know that only the Williams sisters –
Venus and Serena – can make that claim . . . and that his level of
play for most of the season certainly “has-been” otherworldly.
It would be easy to suggest Jenkins start using Head & Shoulders
shampoo, but the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu was playing an excellent
brand of football long before landing that endorsement deal. Maybe
Troy can share some hair care, err, tackling tips . . . but I
digress.
Jenkins is such an easy target, because he has been relatively
injury free for most of the season – while Newman continues to
knuckle down with a banged up body that may finally cost him his
roster spot this off-season.
“What about Newman at safety,” you say? If he cannot find his
physical way beyond the nagging injuries, how can he play safety?
“Deion Sanders played safety and the slot for the Baltimore Ravens
in his twilight years,” you say? Deion – even that late in his
waning career – still had more pure skill than Newman does
now (which is nothing to be embarrassed about when compared to one
of the best ever). Deion also had the incredible Ed Reed roaming the
middle with him . . . allowing for a little more risk-free
freelancing.
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- Fans who would blame the
failures of Newman and Jenkins on the safety situation . . . need to
adjust their collective focus on individual defensive assignments –
rather than collaborative efforts where starting corners assume they
can simply let a player run past them because a safety is supposed
to be there to help.
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- While Alan Ball has been
with the Cowboys for a few years, 2010 is the first season he has
been playing as a dedicated safety – rather than a utility fill in
for injured starters. He has not been Darren Woodson perfect – nor
should there be that unrealistic expectation – but he has been
serviceable . . . and reasonably better in pass and run
defense than Ken Hamlin.
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- Ken Hamlin's former
partner at safety, Gerald Sensabaugh, had a reasonably good year in
2009, and he has withstood a few nagging injuries – and a less
experienced Alan Ball – to have another
reasonably good year in 2010 . . . and a far more productive time as
part of Garrett's Gang.
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- Whatever happened to
cornerbacks who had the confidence and skill to follow – and
sometimes even blanket – a deadly receiver anywhere and everywhere
on the field . . . regardless of safety help over the top? That type
of player must have retired with Deion.
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- The existence of safeties
in the defensive backfield does not account for any specific
player's ability to cover an opposing receiver. Safeties help – with
run defense and double or even triple pass coverage – but they do
not replace a cornerback . . . unless that player has slipped or has
been chucked aside by a more physical opponent.
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- The existence of safeties
in the defensive secondary only
accounts for "safety HELP over the top" – not on the job training
for veteran cornerbacks playing within five to ten yards of the line
of scrimmage.
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- Fans would love nothing more than to see Newman and Jenkins realize
their full potential – and become a deadly and dynamic duo – but one
or both of them may simply prove to be a defensive dud.
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- Will Jerry give these
complex corners another off-season to get healthy and another season
to prove "they are who we thought they were?"
Dashed And
Dissed By DeSean
DeSean Jackson is an incredibly-fast-if-physically-frail talent who
continues to behave like he has never played in front of a national
television audience. DeSean is confident, not cocky. He simply does
not know how to express that confidence like a mature professional.
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- The Dallas Cowboys failed
to legally jam him, slam him, and keep the ball away from him – like
they successfully did in 2009 – and they deserved to be mocked on
his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
Maybe the Cowboys will choose – in the final game of the season – to
play DeSean the same way they played him all of last season . . . or
maybe they prefer being posterized for 60 yards a pop.
Maybe the Cowboys will take the approach of another team and turn
DeSean into Dijon . . . but I digress – again.
Speed kills in the NFL. The Eagles should be playing him two yards
off the line every time he is on the field. He should be able to
make it around any cornerback jam and get open for any type of pass
play (short, intermediate, or long).
What about those plays that are regularly run in the CFL and AFL –
where a receiver is put in motion, running a half circle from one
side of the formation to the other and behind the quarterback,
building up to full speed the moment the ball is snapped and eating
the defender alive . . . in most cases? That type of play – or that
type of motion – is illegal in the NFL or someone like DeSean would
truly be unstoppable.
If the Cowboys had done their jobs, DeSean would not have been
Broadway Dancing (into the end zone) against Big D.
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- The Cowboys have one more
game against DeSean – and one more chance to determine if he dashes
and disses . . . or if he is downright dominated defensively.
Execution Line
While the Cowboys’ secondary has faced, fought, and failed some
tough challenges this season, they are only as efficient as the
defensive line and linebackers behind which they play.
When the secondary is loaded with talent – choose your favorite
Super Bowl squad from the past – it can make up for most poor
execution up front.
When the secondary is healthy and of the right mind, it can make up
for occasionally poor execution up front.
When the secondary is playing zone coverage in order to offset
deficiencies, it struggles enough just to perform its game day best.
Does the current state of the Cowboys’ secondary put unfair pressure
on the rest of the Dallas defense? Sure it does, but Garrett’s Gang
has no choice.
The Cowboys’ defense stopped the Eagles’ offense several times on
third down – with a solid collective effort – but the remaining
efforts went mainly from feast to famine with no in-between.
Stop DeSean Jackson on just one – maybe even two – of those catches,
and the Cowboys have an excellent chance to come back and tie or win
the game outright.
Stop LeSean McCoy on just one – maybe even two – of those late game
rushes, and the Cowboys have an excellent chance to come back and
tie or win the game outright.
The Eagles’ LeSean McCoy has been good as the valuable replacement
for former flyer Brian Westbrook, but he is not that good – not yet.
Mike Jenkins had a chance – however slim – to make a tackle on
LeSean McCoy during one of his longer runs. Jenkins looked prepared
to pounce – successful or not – and instead froze just long enough
for McCoy to run right past him. Jenkins turned and chased – hoping
to catch a tiger by his toe.
While it was irritating that Jenkins chose to chase rather than
trajectory-altering challenge, his effort was not nearly as bad as
when he side-stepped the New York Giants’ Brandon Jacobs – twice in
the same year if memory serves.
Jenkins is not the first to flunk such an open space test, and he is
far from the last – but if Jenkins was on punt coverage (which he
has been of late), would he triangulate in on the ball carrier and
attempt to at least dive at him . . . or would he simply late him
run past?
Maybe Jenkins wanted a jogging buddy. Maybe Jenkins needs his brain
jogged to remember how he played last season. Maybe the Cowboys’
defensive line took offense to Jenkins’ tackling skills . . . and
followed suit – not getting a single hand on him when they had to through the last few failed minutes of the fourth
quarter.
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- Front line execution will help prevent this season’s back line from
being executed even more.
Tackle Eligible
A tackle eligible offensive lineman is supposed to be announced out
loud by the lead referee. Which of the defensive leaders is
responsible for listening to that announcement, being aware of that
announcement, and making immediate adjustments to that announcement?
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- No NFL defense should allow a tackle eligible offensive lineman to
release into the end zone unchecked for a touchdown catch . . . and
yet it seems to occur as often as a tackle eligible lineman is
announced.
When a tackle eligible lineman is announced, defenders should not
have to be reminded that they are eligible to tackle that lineman.
While plays at the goal line and for fourth-and-inches happen fast
and furiously, elbowing the eligible exception in the ribs would not
be a bad thing to do.
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- When a lineman becomes
tackle eligible, it presents a chance for an offense to outman and
out-scheme a defense . . . unless that defense makes even the
smallest effort to alter the outcome. A chipped receiver – in this
case – can be just as valuable as a tipped interception.
Autograph Gate
First there was Water Gate, then there was Spy Gate, and recently
there was Autograph Gate.
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- Tashard Choice may have made Cowboys fans queasy for asking Vick to
autograph his glove after the game ended – with Vick even appearing
a little surprised – but he seemed to be on the
level with his desire to procure a holiday gift for his two year old
nephew.
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- While Tashard made a
questionable choice in not securing the signature on the side, count
me among the fans who understand
Autograph Gate cannot and should not be connected to his effort and
results in practice and on game day.
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- Do these types of autograph requests usually happen off camera? Yes.
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- Are they usually dealt with through a team representative? Yes.
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- Do Jerry, the coaches,
and Tashard's teammates understand that Choice was not choosing to
disrespect anyone within the Dallas Cowboys organization? Yes.
Fans should rest assured that Tashard will make the right choice in
similar situations in the future, because he understands
distractions are the last thing the Dallas Cowboys need.
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- Tashard Choice should not
be remembered as Tarnished Choice.
While Autograph Gate may have taken attention away from the
collectively poor rushing performance by Choice and Felix Jones,
fans should expect to see Choice choose to channel his rushing chops
against the Redskins – with a more potent push up front by his front
line mashers . . . especially with Marion still on the mend.
R&R
Rest and relaxation? No, no, silly. Redskins and revenge.
The Cowboys are playing ‘em, and they should want it on ‘em.
The team that helped kick-start the Cowboys’ cave-in is returning to
Cowboys Stadium for their final faceoff of the year.
Both teams began the year with the promise of something greater.
Shanahan and son showed up like lucky leprechauns – making McNabb
their man, installing instant offense, and driving a good defense
towards greater gains.
Wade Phillips was ready – and Jerry Jones was willing – to raise the
stakes and send their squad to the Super Bowl.
A lot can change over the course of 13 games.
The Washington Redskins were all the rage in pre-season, but McNabb
has become McNone – being pulled for performing so poorly. T-Rex
Grossman is set as the starter with an opportunity to operate the
Redskins offense with his walnut-sized brain. Even “The Ole’ Ball
Coach” considered Grossman more of a strong-armed rock thrower than
a patient and polished passer at Florida.
Grossman may, in fact, be more familiar with Kyle Shanahan’s
offensive system than his predecessor . . . but memorizing a
playbook and having the insight to execute that playbook in
different mental modes are two distinctly different things.
Even with a relatively poor supporting cast, McNabb still managed to
play his way out of the starting job and quite possibly off the
roster once the gun sounds on the season’s final game.
"Wait 'til we get our Haynes on you?" Not this Sunday and not for
these Redskins.
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- Albert Haynesworth is not worth a pair of Hanes underwear – having
been suspended for the remainder of the season for conduct
detrimental to the team. Angry, big, and flat (results) with a fat
contract.
The Dallas Cowboys played poorly in the pre-season – with fans and
prognosticators willing to withhold wild speculation until the real
games got going.
While the real games got going, the Cowboys got their spurs stuck in
the stable house. They went an inconsistent 0-2 before soundly
beating an up-and-comer that was really a down-and-outer.
The Cowboys’ season went into a terminal nosedive at 1-7 until
Phillips was fired – finally giving Jerry the chance to justify
Jason as the head coach in waiting. The results have been mixed, but
Garrett’s got moxie in making the most of his mega mission.
While it is hard to believe the Redskins are ready to roll with all
of their issues, the Cowboys seem ready to render their revenge on
the Redskins. It never is that easy in this NFC Least rivalry,
however, and the Cowboys always seem to underestimate how reviled
they are with the Redskins.
Will the Cowboys avoid any new embarrassments by making no old
assumptions?
Will more back-ups be elevated for evaluation – because the Cowboys
now need the warm bodies both in practice and on game day?
Will Austin get many miles closer to his 2009 results – knowing he will
be with Witten, hearing from Hurd, may be seeing major movement from
Martellus, and just getting a chance to jive
with Manny Johnson . . . but without Williams and branched away from Ogletree
– who was place on injured reserve?
Will Miles be mindful of the success he enjoyed in 2009 without Dez
Bryant on the roster?
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- Will a resurgent
Scandrick and some limping linebackers be able to keep the
always-competitive Chris Cooley on ice?
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- Will Newman and Jenkins allow Santana Moss to enjoy a DeSean-like
day?
Will T-Rex turn the tables on his would-be Texas tormenters and
torture them with some long-armed lasers to Mr. Moss?
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- Will the Cowboys’ defensive front line reel in the Redskins rushing
attack – putting tremendous pressure to perform on T-Rex?
We shall see. We always do.
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