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2011-2012 Regular Season: Outlast Should Be
An Outcast
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- December
9, 2011
At 10:05 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys had won four in a
row and – by all accounts – were on the verge of outlasting their
fifth straight opponent in Arizona . . . and in front of a
considerably Cowboy-crazed crowd.
America’s Team was mere seconds from taking a potential two-game
lead in their NFC East division race with the New York Giants.
The congratulatory conclusion to their contest, however, had flown
the coup . . . with a kicking catastrophe and cornerback chaos
collaborating to create a Cardinals conquest.
The Cowboys completed their day by perusing the “Swiss Colony”
online catalogue.
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- They ordered eleven of the “Jumbo Cheese Trio” platters . . . to be
sent next-day air to the Green Bay Packers offensive starters for
preventing suddenly hard-charging New York from tying Dallas.
The Cowboys – for all their errors – should have beaten an Arizona
team they kept in check for most of the game, but they froze in the
final seconds of regulation and failed in the first minute of
overtime . . . losing 19-13.
On The Outs
The Cowboys should cast out their outlast mentality.
While the outlast approach shows opponents they should be ready for
a 60 minute melee, it also shows opponents the Cowboys may either be
unprepared or unwilling to be aggressive on any given Monday,
Thursday, or Sunday.
The outlast approach shows an opponent the Cowboys may quite
literally accept “what the defense gives them” . . . and never
really do their best to dictate terms of the contest.
The outlast approach empowers an opponent to believe they have a
(good) chance to be aggressive, to fear no (blitz-beating) reprisal
for their aggression, and to win . . . against a team that may not
give a sincere effort to dump their opponents into the consolation
bin.
I stated last week that none of the troubled teams on the remaining
schedule out-and-out fear a team like the Cowboys that – at the drop
of a helmet – could see its journey become just as jostled.
It takes but one dumb decision to deny victory, deliver defeat, and
downgrade destiny . . . from division winning payoff to staying home
for the playoffs.
13 points scored from 8 visits into any team’s territory is
certainly not the best way to ensure victory, but poor decisions by
an opponent – especially forced mistakes – can help balance this
problem out.
While Ryan’s Roughnecks controlled Arizona for all but a late-game
“handful of mindless penalties and blown tackles,” those very
mistakes (especially on the final play in overtime) send an opponent higher . . . and create conditions for an
outlast backfire.
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- The outlast approach may have thickened their hide, but it has yet
to be seen if the Cowboys can take on elite teams and avoid a slide.
Any doubts could put them on the outs, but “the real kicker is” that
the Cowboys’ fate remains at the mercy of quality coaching and
exacting execution – as it always has been – to determine if the sad
strange story of this past Sunday turns into a truly tragic tale or
a playoff date.
Icing On The Kick
Everyone in the free world now knows the sad strange story of “Goofy
Garrett And The Treacherous Timeout.”
Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense had gotten within the minimum
safe distance necessary for Dan Bailey to be able to make yet
another game-ending and game-winning field goal.
Jason Garrett appeared – from every available camera angle –
perfectly willing to watch Bailey’s last field goal attempt of the
game sail successfully through the uprights . . . without
hesitation, interruption, or regret.
Jason Garrett – in the final milliseconds leading up to Bailey’s
attempt – was suddenly urged by pleading special teams coach Joe
DeCamillis to call timeout before the Cowboys could snap the ball.
DeCamillis – who was flapping his arms at Garrett like a confused
turkey running towards a Thanksgiving Day conclusion – was clearly
concerned about the impending quality of the snap, hold, and kick
before execution.
Garrett – in hindsight – probably and privately wishes he had been
blind to DeCamillis’ distraction . . . but it occurred and Garrett
suffered from a bout of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).
The snap was off, the ball was placed, the whistle was blown, and
the 49-yard kick sailed cleanly through the uprights . . . without
any further adjustments in pre-flight. Cowboys’ fans everywhere were
celebrating five wins in a row and a possible two-game lead . . .
that might have put a crowning fork in New York.
Then, reality set in with the supposed win: the Cardinals were
supposed to yield but no one was leaving the field.
Fans everywhere went into a collective spasm and screamed: “What?
WHO called timeout?! Garrett – why would he dare it?! The kick does not count?!” Bailey – this year’s four-leaf clover – badly
missed his do-over, and insanity began to mount.
Overtime seemed to end before it even began – with Kevin Kolb
narrowly evading an Anthony “Spencer For Hire” sack to throw a short
pass to LaRod Stephens-Howling . . . which he took all the way to
the end zone, blazing a trail of paw prints and mind-numbingly
missed tackles.
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- “Millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly
silenced.”
This was not the first game in which the Cardinals’ Stephens-Howling
had dogged Dallas . . . but I digress.
The NFL is a business – albeit an entertaining one – and it is
always about the bottom line. The Cowboys lost the game in overtime,
not in regulation – but try telling that to millions of fans who
believe that such a loss was sacrilege . . . born only of a Garrett
brain hemorrhage.
All Garrett had to do – in their eyes at most – was ignore his
crazed special teams coach and calmly watch as his confident kicker
cleaned another opponent’s clock in another close game.
All Garrett had to do – in their eyes at least – was call a timeout
with 25 seconds left to confer with his special teams coach and,
then . . . calmly watch as his confident kicker cleaned another
opponent’s clock in another close game.
Fans who did not have the opportunity to watch the mistake-filled,
offensively-stunted game – or watch end of regulation footage from
maximum available perspectives – remain convinced that Garrett
gagged at a moment that required hands-free focus.
Fans – most but not all of them – did not and still do not want to
hear about the very real concern of running “just one more”
potentially negative play (on top of all the others that day) which
would have moved the Cowboys back outside of Bailey’s range.
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- DeCamillis could have claimed regulation ruin, and Ryan could have
claimed overtime over-pursuit (or a gassed give-up), but none of it would have mattered to
a fan base that – by and large – believes Garrett iced his own
kicker.
Fans – fresh from their surreal suffrage – must have blown their
collective top when Garrett repeatedly dismissed the notion that he
made a mistake by calling the timeout.
Fans, prognosticators, and retired NFL stars all wondered out loud
how this man could be so proud . . . and even attempt to defile
their intelligence with his denial.
Garrett repeatedly met questions about the ill-timed timeout with “I
don't have a great answer for you on that.”
Garrett’s response will remind many fans (whose sporting interests
reach beyond football) of a post-game comment made in the 2003 NBA
playoffs by since-retired forward Rasheed “More T’s Please” Wallace.
“It was a good game. Both teams played hard” – said Wallace
following his team’s victory. He was fined $30,000 by the NBA for
making the same non-answer to five straight post-game questions . .
. before the press finally gave up.
Even former Cowboys’ kicker Mike Vanderjagt came out of the woodwork
– referring to Garrett as "our idiot head coach who got confused and
iced his kicker. The sad thing is, he's a good head coach. He's a
good head coach, but he's an idiot."
Garrett clearly is not even going to play ball on the subject and –
while this has irritated many fans and prognosticators to no end –
it is something to strangely be admired. The man knows how to
outwardly stick to his guns . . . without giving anyone inward
access to what he may really be thinking.
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- Legendary Tom Landry was the first
and last Cowboys head coach to behave this way, and he had the
record to back it up every day.
Everyone in the Cowboys organization needs to know that Garrett –
like "the man in the funny hat" – is their
guy . . . whether drawing up game plans on days off or preparing for the playoffs. They need to know he is not going to
crumble in front of a full court press of questions about a
game-extending, win-dashing decision. His players – most of all – need to know he
is going to stay the course as their (progressively) winning horse, as well . . . whether or not he is dealing with
issues of trust or becoming nonplussed.
This was all just "icing on the kick" for the Cardinals. While they
may have no realistic chance to reach the playoffs, they can rejoice
in continuing to have the Cowboys’ number.
Coming, Going, & Staying
Longer
Tony Fiammetta – after an illness of the inner ear kicked his rear –
makes his long-awaited return to the grid iron this week . . . and
he should be able to help stop the running game leak.
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- Miles Austin – after being harangued
and hassled by his hamstrings – is also returning for what is sure
to be a robust round of refreshing receptions.
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- Gerald Sensabaugh has been rewarded with a 5-year deal for
becoming a more reliable center for the Cowboys’ secondary wheel. He
has played through pain and taken his licks . . . and he has been
able to make his picks when either Jenkins or Newman have failed to
click.
Phillip Tanner has been placed on injured reserve with an ongoing
hamstring issue that simply would not let him swerve. He should get
plenty of moral support from Miles Austin who worked both of his
hamstrings to the point of exhaustion.
6 foot 5 inch practice squad wide receiver Andre Holmes has been
promoted to the 53-man roster and – with a roughed up Robinson – fans hope he can do a little more
than be just another special teams toaster.
Players are coming, one is going, and another is staying even longer
. . . and these moves could make the Cowboys stronger.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Cowboys relaxed, the Giants got serious, and Cowboys fans are on
the doorstep of delirious.
The Giants will enter Sunday night’s game with a tremendous chip on their
shoulders and unfinished business on their minds.
The Giants may have blown a golden opportunity against Green Bay but
– regardless of the ridiculous injuries they have endured that have
left their performances blurred – they now know how they can play if
they stay after it all day.
The Giants are determined to convert their one game division deficit
into a dead-even reality.
The Giants are playing like they have nothing to lose, and they plan
on coming after Dallas any way they choose.
The Giants will do their very best to deliver an aggressive,
well-rounded gem . . . and dare Dallas to outlast them.
Stephen A. Smith says Tony Romo is an accident waiting to happen.
Skip Bayless believes Smith suffers from a lack of NBA backspin.
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- Romo is good – with Witten, Bryant, and Robinson – but he can pass in a greater variety of styles with
the return of Miles.
Murray is good, but he and Felix will be able to rush even betta’ with the
return of Fiammetta.
Will Romo and company light up a banged up Giants defense on
national TV in front of the entire country . . . or will his
inexperienced pocket protection suffer from another mental infection?
After all, the Giants' four-man defensive line rotation has been
known to cause many a QB to fall in front of the nation.
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- Have the Cowboys developed a thick enough skin to move past the
Cardinals with defiance . . . and show enough aggression to use
the Giants like a common bathroom appliance?
Will Garrett treat fans to more Poison Ivy League intrigue . . . or
will his coaching against Big Blue re-start the positive Cowboys buzz around the league?
Freezing the kicker created quite the stinker – but will fans be
staring at another epic fail from Yale . . . or will Garrett’s Gang
successfully rail against that misguided label?
Will Ryan have his Roughnecks flyin’ around New York’s offensive
line clowns? Will DeMarcus and his defensive dudes be throwing a
sack-pie at Eli?
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- Will the suddenly higher-salaried
Sensabaugh and the Cowboys' secondary be surprisingly legendary . .
. singing to Eli “Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Us Another Turnover?”
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- Will Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks
flick poor tacklers off their shoulder pads like tiny little tics .
. . or will Ryan's Roughnecks finally commit to a pact of wrapping
up at the point of contact? Will the Cowboys turn the recently
returned Manningham into a ham sandwich . . . or will primitive pass
defense all him to be a point producing pig?
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- While the Giants' starting tight end
is slower than a mallard, would the Cowboys really decide to
overlook Jake Ballard?
Will Sean Lee play a buzz saw to Jacobs and the return of Bradshaw?
Will Lee and the rest of "The Linebackers Three" – Lee, Brooking,
and Brady – leave Jacobs and Ahmad all sad? Might Ryan make an
earlier insertion of brutish Bruce Carter to help the older backers
play a bit faster? Or will the bruising bulk of Brandon and hard
running of Bradshaw leave them in awe?
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- The Cowboys can convert their outlast mentality into an outcast
variety – substituting sensational for situational – but will they?
Will the Cowboys have all their ranch hands on the trail – ready to
hogtie the Giant herd without fail?
Will the Cowboys really allow Eli to turn another locker room
signature into a Cowboys Stadium fixture?
Will the Cowboys put up a big enough fight on Sunday night . . . and
prove how badly they want the NFC East Crown to return to town?
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- Will the Cowboys take any shortcuts
in putting a knife and fork into New York . . . or is Dallas
determined to give the Giants fits for a full 60 minutes?
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- When game day arrives, will the
Cowboys be able to walk all over that New York talk?
We shall see. We always do.
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