-
-
-
2011-2012 Regular Season: Coming Up Small In
A Big Moment With Pirates On The Prowl
-
- December
16, 2011
At 11:35 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
-
- The stage was set and NFL appetites
from Dallas to New York were wet.
Fans were ready for a football feast to determine who – with three
games left – would control the NFC East.
-
- The New York Giants arrived at
Cowboys Stadium straight from the Meadowlands Trauma Unit – with
what amounted to half a team.
The Dallas Cowboys arrived at Cowboys Stadium straight from a
crooked performance against the Cardinals – with what amounted to
half a defense . . . or half a brain, depending upon your selective
perspective.
The Cowboys and Giants both enjoyed offenses that were scoring . . .
and nearly committed suicide with defenses that – by and large –
swapped back and forth between beaten up and snoring.
-
- The Cowboys – for most of the game – displayed a teaser that was a
pretty good crowd pleaser and when the contest ended . . . the
Cowboys’ progress had ceased, Dan Bailey was caught in another time
out crease, with a follow-up that was blocked down, and fans felt
like they had been cheering for the NFC Least.
Ryan’s Roughnecks were all about the season of giving against a
Giants team that would have done anything possible to remain among
the post-season living.
The Giants won it 37-34 and climbed back aboard their mobile medical
clinic . . . determined to spend their entire trip home mocking
every single cynic.
After the game, my mother happened to e-mail me a Colonoscopy joke.
I responded by telling her I had just experienced one on national
television – while watching the Cowboys choke. This may have been
too much to personally confess . . . but I digress.
Band-Aid, Anyone?
The Giants might have arrived at Cowboys Stadium resembling a
walking hospital wing, but the Cowboys exited the game with a little
damage to everything.
Giants’ defensive end Dave Tollefson took a toll by getting on a
roll (up the back of Murray’s legs). Dynamic DeMarco is out for the
rest of the season with a fractured ankle, a high ankle sprain, and
a potentially severe drain on the Cowboys’ ability to generate
ground gains.
-
- This marks the second year in a row
the Giants have taken a major piece out of the Cowboys’ offensive
pie. Felix Jones had a solid game in place of Murray, but if Felix
has any more magic in his bag of tricks he needs to apply it
generously . . . for the rest of his new starting opportunity. The
Cowboys' offense must avoid becoming one
dimensional and – with Felix's potential presence in the slot – Romo
and Co. always have a shot to be more than simply conventional.
Mike Jenkins has been enduring medieval jousting and – with the
state of the secondary – the Cowboys are hoping he can still
function enough for Saturday night’s outing.
Barry suffered a separation of Church and shoulder. While every
player is different, this kind of injury always has fans pining for
an inspirational Emmitt sighting . . . who played even bolder with
his banged up shoulder and simply kept on fighting.
Phil Costa was lost very early in the game with a concussion, and
the Cowboys hope he is part of the starting lineup discussion. If
this is not the case, the Bucs will face rookie Kevin Kowalski – who
stands ready and willing to jump back into the fire. After his
performance against the Giants, he can only go higher.
Jon Kitna is the latest Cowboy to land on injured reserve – with an
unending back injury that may bring his 15 year career to a close.
If he has, indeed, played his final game, fans will always remember
him fondly for being one of the few bright spots in an otherwise
horrible 2010-2011 season . . . when a broken collarbone saw Romo to
pull up lame.
The NFL is on a full-blown mission against attrition – with nearly
everyone looking for healthy talent anywhere under the sun – and the
Cowboys are the latest limping team to be asking players . . .
“Band-Aid, anyone?”
Convenience
Everyone on the Cowboys’ coaching staff – like all other pro sports
coaches – pride themselves on being able to maximize the positives
and minimize the negatives in their players . . . always aiming to
conveniently leave postulating prognosticators simply splitting
hairs.
It would be convenient for fans to believe the Cowboys did not
comprehend the importance of their game against the Giants, were
woefully slow to prepare, or simply did not care.
-
- It would be convenient for Cowboys
coaches and fans to blame the loss on injuries which – this year –
have become an unrelenting boss. More hurt to the hired help makes
the Cowboys want to yelp . . . but all NFL teams are making do with
rosters that have not a wealth of players in good health.
It would be convenient for this to be true to ease the pain from a
game in which the Cowboys had so much to gain . . . only to see them
take on a task not so incredibly tall and come up with a (defensive)
result so disappointingly small.
It would be convenient for the defensive backfield issues to be
truly secondary to the primary lack of a consistent pass rush . . .
completely turning the Cowboys’ cornerbacks into mush.
It would be convenient for the Cowboys to have allowed Brandon
Jacobs to rumble for 100+ yards, if they had kept Eli Manning under
wraps – but they allowed big gains by both . . . and fans fear they
will soon be playing Taps.
It would be convenient for fans to keep telling themselves “if only
Romo and Austin had connected on that wide open third-and-five, the
Cowboys’ playoff potential would not be fighting to stay alive.”
Romo – if he makes that throw – does not solve the bigger long-term
issue at cornerback and could not possibly help the
defense with what they seem to seriously lack.
-
- Everyone on the Cowboys’ coaching staff – like all other pro sports
coaches – pride themselves on careful planning, clear instruction,
and instilling confidence (or a healthy fear of failures) in their
players.
Garrett prides himself on being emotionally steady, a real head
coaching rock but – outside his most recent and successful play calls – his rep
continues to need more pep with his management of the clock. Garrett
certainly could have told Ryan to allow Jacobs to walk in for the
Giants' go-ahead score – which would have left Romo with more time
rather than having to press . . . but I digress.
Time of possession issues aside . . . Garrett does not make any of
the bad blocks, dropped catches, fumbles, poor passes, (recently)
puny punts, or terrible tackles and (untimely) turnovers that have
contributed to this recent slide. Teams who execute the fundamentals
(that Garrett insists) they are repeatedly taught usually win the battles they have fought
– but the players' (unconfirmed) confidence in him as head coach may
make that all for naught.
Rob Ryan prides himself on creating chaos and confusion for
quarterbacks throughout the league – and while he succeeded only in
creating chaos and confusion for his own defense . . . he is not
entirely responsible for the jog-along ("Give me your number, and I
will call you after the game") and shoulder-tackling
secondary that continues to make fans wince.
-
- The Cowboys’ coaches and players surely are not overlooking any
matters of the mind. “If you don’t mind (what a desperate opponent
might attempt on game day), it (your preparation) doesn’t matter.”
Neither coach nor player is a perfect robot forever breathing
rarified air.
The Cowboys have little choice but to make absolutely sure they
meticulously mind what their opponents do – for the rest of the
regular season – so that their preparation does matter, creating lenience
from mistakes, and enjoying the convenience that results from doing
whatever it takes.
Haven't You Hurd?
Fans learned yesterday that former Bears and Cowboys wide receiver
Sam Hurd may not be heard from again . . . after allegedly
attempting to distribute drugs to quite the NFL herd.
Anyone and everyone – in an out of NFL circles – who has met or
worked with the happy-go-lucky Hurd is in complete and total shock
that he could have become such a deviant turd.
The NFL is already on full alert after learning of an alleged double-digit NOC List
– which is said to contain the names of numerous active
players who (completely against their collective will, no doubt)
were lured by the career-savaging scent of narcotics to Hurd.
If Hurd is convicted and if this list is real, the NFL will be
hoping against hope those thus-far-unnamed players are no more valuable than some
low-end practice squad dope. The NFL – with “encouragement” from
authorities – may simply have to find some brand new pieces to
rebuild at least a few of their personnel puzzles . . . rather than
making sure they have properly tightened their PR muzzles.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Cowboys – for the umpteenth year in a row – have made one of
their annual goals (reaching the playoffs) much harder than
necessary . . . and causing their fans to worry.
The Cowboys know the deal and understand they will quickly lose
their remaining appeal . . . if they do not score points in bunches
to counter Ryan’s Roughnecks potentially giving away more free lunches.
The Cowboys face the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay tomorrow for a special
Saturday night game . . . but special for whom?
Will the Bucs stop here? Will Raheem Morris – by the end of an
eighth straight loss – be looking to duck the head Buc . . . or will
Josh Freeman suddenly play like a passing demon, while bruising
rushing yards mount with LeGarrette Blount and Kellen Winslow sets
up goal-to-go?
Will the Cowboys unload on the pitiful pirates . . . or will they
return home as Clown Boys for having underestimated yet another team
so desperate?
“Do not bring a knife to a gun fight” - unless you know the gun will
not fire . . . or the chamber is empty.
-
- Will the Cowboys have a loaded gun
that executes wisely? Will the Cowboys have enough talented
ammunition to fill the chamber? Will the Cowboys be able to aim
straight for 60 full minutes . . . or will the Cowboys shoot
themselves in the foot, again?
Will the newly signed veteran running back Sammy Morris play too ole'
in his backup role?
Will recently-activated Dwayne deliver enough kick return
“Harris-ment” to help the Cowboys’ avoid further special teams
embarrassment? Will there be a fan riot if Bryant signals for a fair
catch and still attempts to block for it (again)?
Will Romo be spared from another sack dance or will his linemen
continue performing like they have ants in their pants? Will Garrett
continue spreading out (his formations) and encouraging Romo to roll
out?
-
- Will Felix find a way to fill in for
the full-featured DeMarco and will Fiammetta continue to help him
find the right path to follow?
-
- If the secondary remains painfully
sciatic (and if Felix finds it frustrating to remain fleet of foot),
will Romo finally be able to put the Cowboys on his back – and
outgun the opposition – without suffering another detrimental
decision attack?
-
- While not everyone will legitimately
lose the football in the stadium lights – or cover for their QB –
will all four of the Cowboys' top reception wranglers repeatedly run
enough reasonable routes for Romo to realize righteous results?
-
- Will DeMarcus have the "Warewithal" to endure a painful stinger that
continues to linger, or will he become high profile bench
warmer – leading to another defensive squeaker . . . and encouraging
fans – fair or not – to point a disappointed finger at Anthony Spencer?
The Cowboys' defensive line may ultimately be struggling to make a
bigger dent due to the continued absence of Josh Brent.
The Cowboys should have beaten quite a few teams this season, and
they should beat the Bucs. If they are not amped up for Tampa, they
might as well start packing up the (off-season) trucks.
The Cowboys still have three excellent reasons to keep on keepin’ on
this season – attrition be damned – but will they do it or commit
quitter’s treason?
-
- Will the Bucs keep it close, claim
the spoils, and make sure the Cowboys' blood boils . . . or will
Dallas make Tampa Bay walk the plank and take their loot to the bank?
-
- Will the Cowboys come up small in
another big moment . . . or will they Buc up and take Tampa down?
We shall see. We always do.
|
