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2011-2012 Regular Season: No Cover For Tampa
2 & Birds Of Prey In The Way
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- December
22, 2011
At 10:05 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Cowboys had a giant opportunity
– in their last game – to stomp on the playoff toes of an NFC East
foe.
The Cowboys had a giant opportunity – with their eyes on the NFC
East prize – to create even more space between themselves and the
New York Giants with just a few games remaining in the regular
season.
The Cowboys had a giant opportunity – to show offensive, defensive,
and special teams unity . . . by ruining the Giant’s postseason
pathway just like Green Bay.
The Cowboys had a giant opportunity – to put away a physically
demolished Giants’ defense that looked anything but polished.
The Cowboys had a giant opportunity to do a lot of things but – in
blowing a 12-point lead and losing 37-34 – they appeared to be
waiting for pigs to sprout wings.
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- After being up by two games and going down twice in fourth quarter
flames, the Cowboys found themselves in an embarrassing tie for the
division lead . . . and facing some insufferable swashbucklers
looking to make them bleed.
Passing The Bucs
Fans – some but not all – were convinced the Cowboys were
emotionally shot as they headed into Tampa Bay against a bumbling
Buccaneers team looking for any way to get hot.
Fans – some but not all – were convinced the Cowboys were on the
verge of performing an NFL Network Saturday night rendition of
“Mutiny on the Bounty” . . . after enduring the cockeyed clock
management of Lieutenant Bligh, err, Jason Garrett and the kooky
play calling of his defensive first mate Rob Ryan.
Fans – some but not all – were convinced the Buccaneers were
determined to do-in a decidedly down-and-out Dallas. Every team in
the league, no matter how good or bad or the time of year – after
all – seems interested in seeing America’s Team take a fall.
Raymond James Stadium has a
great pirate ship on tap, and victory
was sure to fall in someone’s lap. Who would be forced to walk the
plank? Who was going to go (further) into the tank? The winner was
going to have to earn some R&R from their ruinous ways . . . and the
loser was going to get just more ARGH & ARGH in the following days.
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- Fans – to their immense relief and
near-complete satisfaction – saw the Cowboys show up to the Bucs’
knife fight with all guns o’ blazing . . . stopping an initial
series scare, kicking butt for much of the contest, and claiming the
pirates’ booty.
The Cowboys won 31-15 – by scoring early and often – and keeping
their decisions clean and their mistakes lean. Dallas wiped the
floor with the Bucs on each and every score . . . or – to remain in
character – they swabbed the deck with so much Tampa dreck.
Tony Romo continued his solid play in passing the Bucs – again and
again and again – and even “throwing in” a quarterback sneak for his
fourth touchdown of the evening.
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- His stable of horses continued to gallop to great gains – with
Austin, Dez, Robinson, and Witten running circles around the Bucs’
secondary like they were a bunch of declawed kittens. Several teams
– this season – have caused the Bucs’ once-formidable defense
to stumble and stew, and it was clear to the Cowboys there would be no
cover for the Tampa 2.
While fans – only a couple games ago – took comfort in the fact that
Murray made the Cowboys’ offense into a multidimensional attack . .
. Felix Jones – in rushing for over 100 yards for the second
straight game – has shown some every-down meat on his limited-role
bones.
The absence of Murray and Tanner forced the Cowboys to bring in
Sammy Morris and his 12-year matured manner. Morris was uprooted –
by former Dolphins teammate and current Cowboys head coach Garrett –
from the nearly-retired forest.
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- Sammy had strong legs and fresh feet for coming in off the street –
grinding out 50 yards on 12 hard-nosed carries . . . and giving a
gassed Jones a breather once it was clear the Bucs had, indeed, been
safely passed.
Second Half Riffraff
The Cowboys dominated the first half 28 to zero and their biggest
challenge seemed nominating their game ball hero – but they had yet
to play the second half . . . where several of their opponents have
overcome seemingly-legit late-game leads and gotten the last laugh.
The Cowboys began the second half a mere handful of yards from their
own end zone, and all it took was a blindside sack-strip of Romo and
a Tampa defensive score . . . for fans to twitch violently to their
core. That opportunity – thankfully – was just a blip . . . as Romo
and Co. got right back to further blunting Tampa’s hopeful second
half hunting.
While the Cowboys’ defense held the Bucs to just seven first downs
and 190 total yards, it was the timing of those limited offensive
touches – once again, in the second half – that could have
snowballed and placed the Cowboys’ lead on crutches. Almost no
Dallas leads have been safe from second half deficit bleeds . . .
and fans have earned the right to worry about the potential plight
of Garrett’s second half plans.
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- Ryan's Roughnecks almost seemed to ignore reserve running back Kregg
Lumpkin . . . as if he were harmless Rumplestiltskin. They may have
been keeping everything in front of them – guarding against the big
play in Ryan’s standard bend-but-do-not-break scheme, but his 5
catches for 50 yards might otherwise have exposed another Dallas
defensive deficiency to their next opponent . . . the “Dream Team.”
While the Bucs could not force the Cowboys into a complete-game
effort to stop the second half riffraff, Dallas will need to play
with urgency from the opening gun against the Eagles . . . to avoid
another high scoring bird bath in the first half.
Ferocious Feathers
Fear is near.
Fear is ready – once, again – to kick the Cowboys in their
collective rear.
Fear is necessary – to fine tune their focus . . . so they can see
through Philly’s play call hocus pocus.
Fear is fine – as long as it is a healthy fear of failure . . .
against any opponent on any given Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or even
Saturday.
Fear is fine – when it involves playing to win . . . because playing
not to lose is an absolute sin.
Much has been made of Jerry Jones’ remark that he is “scared” . . .
that he suffers from terrible tingles when thinking of the Eagles.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan is among those who believe Jerry when he
explained the reverse psychological purpose of his comment so
nervous.
Rob Ryan was correct – in suggesting Jerry’s fear was over the
potential for even more defensive neglect . . . rather than the fear
of Philadelphia. Jerry’s sound byte was probably even out of
calculated spite – to challenge every Dallas defender to earn their
dough and actually do their division-winning job in December.
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- Fans should actually be encouraged to learn Jerry has been posting
Parcells-style signs around Valley Ranch and their Cowboys Stadium
locker room that read: “Fear The Ferocious Feathers Of Philadelphia!
When They Fan Out, Foes Get Flattened!”
Now that Garrett’s offense is the unit that has been regularly
clicking so well, there is no shame in lighting a raging fire under
a delinquent defense that has been none too swell . . . thus,
helping to ensure Ryan and his Roughnecks are truly on full alert
when the refs sound the bell.
What about the defensive performance against the Bucs? What about
it? They beat a team they should have beaten – a struggling team
comprised of a struggling coaching staff and struggling players . .
. and it was but one game. There is no rest for the weary in any
professional sport – especially when all efforts must combine with a
prized postseason appearance on the line.
The defense needs to believe – with every fiber of their being –
that this is their final shot to make their playoff chances lava
hot. If they truly believe in Rob Ryan and Jason Garrett, they will
focus on the Eagles game and try to win it. They should not even be
thinking about the Giants game . . . nor dare
to compare it.
DeMarcus Ware spoke of wanting to get back his manhood before the
recent mistake-filled home loss against the Giants. Others – like
Jerry, Jason, his coaching staff, and the whole of Cowboys Nation –
might explain that his manhood simply went on vacation . . . to
avoid another round of humiliation. The Dallas defense may
occasionally be mentally bereft – like Martellus Bennett – but its
manhood never left.
Everyone in the free world knows the Dallas Cowboys must fear (and
master) only their mistakes in facing their fine-feathered foes from
Philly. The Cowboys – outside of Stephen Bowen’s offseason bow out –
have better defensive personnel than they did last season . . . when
they nearly beat the Eagles at Cowboys Stadium.
While the Cowboys and Eagles know each other inside and out, “a mind
is a terrible thing to waste” . . . and – from play calling to play
execution – the Eagles and many prognosticators are convinced the
Cowboys will counter this claim, once again . . . sending Philly
barreling towards another possible postseason appearance, posthaste.
The Eagles and many prognosticators are also convinced the Cowboys
have yet to adopt “The Art Of Heart” – which can sometimes transcend
the most talented personnel and the most practiced game plans.
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- While no one is expecting another blowout in the Dallas-Philly
rematch, it feels like a 2009 rehash – when the Cowboys faced the
seemingly impossible task of taking down the perfect Saints. The
Cowboys chose not to faint – with a similarly dinged DeMarcus – and
took down New Orleans without complaint.
The Cowboys can fear the Ferocious Feathers all they want – worrying
about Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin,
Brent Celek, and the Eagles’ (currently) Jekyll and (formerly) Hyde
defense – or they can be resolute in their desire to execute, fine
tune their focus, and see through Philly’s play call hocus pocus.
Will They Or Won’t They?
If the Cowboys – from here on in – attempt a shortcut, their
postseason possibilities will be cut short. This does not take into
account the possibility of Dallas being outplayed again – without so
much as a Dream Team retort.
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- While the New York Jets may
turn the Giants into their Big Apple pets . . . if the Cowboys dare
look ahead (to their own Giants game) – with their
questionable confidence and limited consistency – they could be
seeing a different kind of red.
The Eagles – playoffs or not and straight out of the City of
Brotherly Hate – are looking for blood. Philly – like everyone else
in the NFC East – would not hesitate in the least to shank Dallas in
broad daylight, strolling away without waiting for them to hit the
turf with a thud.
The Cowboys know what is at stake and they know exactly what must be
done – and if not . . . fans will have to watch them repeatedly step
on their familiar mental rake and that will be no fun.
Will Ryan’s Roughnecks finally force Philly’s high flyers to fizzle
out . . . or will they be left to cry and pout? Will his defense be
a big play buster or just another feather duster? Ryan is hoping for
a Mulligan but – if his defense, once again, is not fluid enough to
prevent the Eagles from swinging for the fence – he may have to turn
to Culligan.
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- Will (forever) fragile Felix feel fine just in time with Saturday’s
big game on the line . . . or will fresh ole’ Sammy grind out tough
smash-mouth yards while Jones recovers from a tight hammy?
Will Tony Romo continue his hot streak – exposing the Eagles’
playoff plans as bleak . . . or will the Cowboys’ offensive line
have trouble keeping Jason Babin and his wide-nine buddies outside
of Romo’s passing bubble?
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- Will Garrett and Ryan be game
against Reid and Castillo or will their plans come up lame?
Will the Cowboys remove the birds of prey from their playoff pathway
and bid a forceful farewell to Philly – or will Dallas have to
wait until next week for a chance to put a vengeful fork in New York
and bring the NFC East crown back to town?
The Cowboys – like the Eagles – have a chance to give themselves and
their fans a grand holiday gift. Which team will be giving and which
team will be receiving? Which team will be celebrating and which
team will be grieving?
We shall see. We always do.
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- Happy Holidays.
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