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2012-2013 Regular Season: Bucs
Stopped Here And Bearing Down
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- October 1, 2012
At 6:00 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- The Dallas Cowboys picked a fine
time – two weeks ago – to get pocked, pecked, and flat out decked.
Cowboys Nation wanted to believe “America’s Team” had merely sampled
the Kool-Aid by mistake, that the Cowboys had suffered an early
season mental break.
Fans wanted to believe Jason Garrett still had the Cowboys on the
straight and narrow, and that any number of players would reverse
course against Schiano’s pirate ship . . . ready to play the hero.
Fans wanted to see if the consistency they wanted and deserved to
see from America’s Team would rear its head rather than stay in bed.
Some fans are eternally optimistic, others are pessimistic, but most
followers – this year – have been realistic, and they all braced for
potential pillaging by some pissed pirates.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked their own plank – the previous week
– against a Giants team they thought they would spank. They were
entering Cowboys Stadium pretty irate.
Those in attendance were wondering if the Bucs (were) stopped here .
. . and – as usual – it was on Dallas to settle any Cowboys Nation
fear.
Just Enough
The Cowboys faced a Bucs team that – in the week prior – beat up,
lit up, and should have finished up with a Giants team that came
roaring back to help Tampa Bay cough it up.
The Cowboys won a mentally and physically brutal battle against the
Bucs – as Cowboys Nation hid their eyes from their favorite
star-studded guys – and it was . . . just enough.
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- The Cowboys offensive line play was – for the second straight game –
deplorable. While they did everything they could to ensure Tony Romo
left the game feeling horrible, he survived their pathetic pass
protection – and it was . . . just enough.
The Cowboys run-blocking was also downright criminal – stealing
rushing another opportunity from hard-charging DeMarco Murray and
making him look despicable. His touchdown run early in the game
allowed him to remove the unwarranted tarnish from his name – and it
was . . . just enough.
The Cowboys receivers continued rewarding Romo’s efforts to remain
alive with their ongoing reliability nosedive. It seemed – at times
– some of them could not catch a cough, but they fought the Bucs’
defensive rebuff to deliver . . . just enough.
While Dez Bryant – once again – came up small potatoes on the
receiving end, he delivered a big special teams return that helped
pay timely dividends.
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- The Cowboys offense played another game as if it was on life
support, but the Dallas defense held the fort – and it was . . .
just enough. Fans – considering all of the defensive injuries and
continued game day absences – must be impressed that Rowdy Rob
Ryan’s defense was still able to hang tough . . . just enough.
While Romo calling this win “beautiful” may have caught Cowboys
Nation off guard, he knows more than most that a win without a
legitimate defense can be unmercifully hard.
Fans should take heart in that Romo knows the offense must do its
part . . . and that “America’s Team” could severely crack without a
balanced attack against forthcoming opponents . . . none of which
can be viewed as rodents.
Early season ugly games are followed by exhaustive postgame
interviews. Tired statements – like “in the NFL, a win is a win” –
are made to reporting crews. A win is most definitely not a win if
you are playing to survive or not to lose.
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- Fans – for the umpteenth season in a row – are hoping that, for
their Dallas Cowboys, this is not news . . . that there is no way
“America’s Team” is not in the know.
Anything less – against the rest of their schedule – will turn “just
enough” into a quickly evaporating puff.
CAN DO
The Tortured Cowboys Fan has discussed – last week and at various
times in the past – the Cowboys desire, their drive, their WANT TO.
The team – from Jerry to Jason to Rob and from Romo to Tyron –
absolutely knows what they must improve (creative play calling,
mental toughness, and physical follow-through) in order to find
their groove.
This goes beyond injuries or even the draft. It speaks to what you
WANT TO do when alone on an island or what you CAN DO in the middle
of the ocean on a tiny little raft.
This team’s very recent history, however, leaves the amount of WANT
TO as a curiosity and the amount of CAN DO as a complete mystery.
The Cowboys’ problems on offense have been as well documented over
just three games this season as the Cowboys’ defensive problems were
all last season . . . and for darn good reason.
The Cowboys – with the exception of (former?) starting center Phil
Costa and Jason Witten – have been enjoying a relative wealth of
physical health.
Mental health – on offense – has shown far more stealth. The
oft-injured Kyle Kosier’s offseason release from the team was
towards honest improvement through a necessary youth movement.
It is fair to say, however, that none of the Cowboys’ current
offensive linemen share Kosier’s grasp of and comfort within
Garrett’s offense – nor do any of them possess the mental toughness
Kosier repeatedly displayed in playing with pain. Kosier’s absence –
to most fans – on that point alone . . . makes no sense and shows no
gain.
Kosier – for a former seventh round draft pick – was great . . . and
if he had been able to remain healthy far more often than not, he
would have suffered a different Cowboys fate. Kosier is still
available and – as a backup, for the right price and (potential) ego
massage – he could help make the line more stable.
Nonetheless, while fans expected Tyron Smith to struggle a bit getting
comfortable with the switch to right tackle, Doug Free continues to
leave fans disappointed at left tackle where – three years ago – he
seemed to be a shoe-in to be anointed.
When Free was signed to his lucrative contract, fans expected Doug
to flex his skill – not devolve into a dysfunctional pill. While he
still has the Freedom to be all he can be . . . Doug knows his time
with the Cowboys will end much sooner if he believes he is simply
Free to be dumb.
Fans are savvy enough to know that Offensive Line Coach Bill
Callahan – respected in both the NFL and NCAA ranks – has done
everything possible to prepare the line with the right technique
from end to end . . . upon which Romo’s life should be able to
regularly depend.
Fans should consider the current offensive linemen very much CAN DO,
but their fear of mental mistakes is getting in the way of their
WANT TO. Good technique is useless if your WANT TO is allowing
defenders wide open spaces.
Fans – all of them – who had been pleading with the NFL to reinstate
the real game day referees . . . may have a change of heart when
they realize fine-tuned officiating will only make the image of
poorly performing players that much more irritating.
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- The Cowboys – for (eternally) better or (infernally) worse – are
determined to experience success with their current offensive line
bunch . . . at least until the 2013 NFL draft, where Dallas may
select another lineman to eat their collective lunch.
Everyone in the NFL Universe knows the fate of Tony Romo and DeMarco
Murray rest on the plate of the Cowboys’ offensive line . . . and if
they can finally start to circle the linemen wagons, the Dallas
offense should do just fine.
The Cowboys – like the other 31 NFL teams – CAN DO if they WANT TO.
Pops And Drops
Cowboys Nation knows Jason Witten has not been quite the same since
he was rocked – early in the Raiders’ preseason game.
Witten is known throughout the NFL – by fans from every team – to be
tough as nails . . . to be able to handle adversity of any theme.
It is natural for a professional football player to have his mind in
the wrong frame – due to an injured spleen – while playing in a
violent football game.
The spleen – for being non-vital blood filter – has one really vital
function. The spleen holds a reserve of blood – approximately one
pint, if memory serves – in case of a major hemorrhage. If someone
were to get into an auto accident and incur a life-threatening
injury that required such a blood reserve – before paramedics
reached the scene – logic dictates it would for that person to have
their spleen available.
If you do not have your spleen at the time of a major hemorrhagic
injury – and the paramedics are somehow unable to reach you soon enough . .
. then, that is quite a scary scenario to ponder. Enter Jason Witten
– ultimate tough guy – who could not wait to return to the grid iron
and score. He is still smart enough to comprehend such a scenario .
. . which can shake him to his core.
The spleen is only non-vital when you are able to avoid major
injuries to your body . . . which is yours to keep, not a rental.
Spleen-altering scenarios aside, Witten is and has been THE safety
valve for Tony Romo his entire Cowboys career . . . a familiar and
reliable target towards which Romo will always steer. Witten is
neither fast nor incredibly elusive, but he has been known to lull a
defense to sleep and have hands like Velcro. He is always a threat
whether between the 20’s or in goal-to-go.
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- Witten is forgiven for any possible fear (to which he refuses to
admit) of pops (he takes) and drops (he makes).
While fans are concerned, they know – deep down – Witten (the
all-time tight end receiving yardage leader) will recover in due
course and become the same reliable, all-purpose tight end with
which they are all smitten. His receiving teammates – particularly
Miles Austin and Dez Bryant – have no injury excuse . . . and – from
the fans – are facing the noose.
Miles knows how to run his receiving routes, and he had a pretty
good day after finding another second half rhythm against
Tampa Bay. When it comes to
Dez, fans still have their doubts. Even before Romo’s passing
pocket is prematurely punctured – which has happened often this
season – Romo’s receivers need to be prepared to box out, fight for position
in the paint . . . just like in the NBA.
The San Diego Chargers’ Antonio Gates and Atlanta Falcons’ Tony
Gonzales – with great respect to Jason Witten – are former college basketball
players who have proven the very best at fighting for position (and
forcing defenders to hand-check like heck) .
. . as if they were, in fact, back in the paint on the court of
their other favorite sport.
Miles and Dez – of course – are not big, bulky tight ends. They are
speedy wide outs . . . who allegedly have the elusiveness and strength to
carve out some receiving space before their quarterback is
potentially planted on his face.
While defenses – from first to worst – will always attempt to take
one or more of your weapons away . . . a defense can only bump, jam,
and double-cover so many of those weapons. Miles and Dez have no
excuses – unless they simply cannot manage to get past jams at the
line of scrimmage . . . and they have proven they know how to launch
off the line.
If (a healthy) Witten chips a linebacker at the line and releases
out into the flat . . .
If DeMarco Murray cuts a blitzing corner and heads out into the flat
. . .
If Miles Austin beats a jam off the line and heads into his route .
. .
If Dez Bryant gets stuck on a jam and eventually fights through it
into a truncated route . . .
. . . and after one or both opposing safeties roll towards their
chosen target(s) . . . at least one of Romo’s receivers will be
open.
If Romo’s pocket has collapsed too soon, and he is looking for a
(really) hot receiver . . . at least one of his targets must find
a way, must be on an absolute mission to fight for playing position. They do not have to
be able to dunk over the goal post, but they have to be able to
carve out their space when it counts the most . . . or run the
unnecessary risk of Romo – no matter his escapability – becoming
toast.
Romo’s receivers can no longer afford to be in lockstep with a drop
step. Romo's receivers can no longer afford to "helplessly" struggle
in the first half and, then . . . suddenly fight harder for better
position and collect more catches in the second half. They must face possible pops and hold on tight to avoid the
drops.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Bucs left Cowboys Stadium knowing they did no worse than losing
the latest battle of NFL bumblers. If they had made even one less
imbecilic mistake, the Cowboys might have been the power ranking
tumblers.
While the Cowboys need no longer worry about getting stabbed in
their weak side protection, the claws of the Chicago Bears can cause
just as nasty a loss column infection.
While the Bears and Cowboys appear to share a similarly flat
offensive look, both teams will be counting on their similarly
aggressive defenses to turn up the heat and really cook.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan has referenced Super Bowl Champions from
the recent past – in the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers who –
in the face of unreasonable injuries and mental adversity – could
have easily become slackers. They – instead – became still-fresh
examples of how you can overcome, outlast, and enjoy a successful
postseason blast.
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- The Bears and Cowboys – albeit early in the season – have also
endured their share of injuries and mental adversity. Mental
toughness, roster depth, and trust in that depth are not exclusive
to a handful of teams.
These components of success are readily available to all teams who
WANT TO and CAN DO to achieve their professional dreams.
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- The Bears and Cowboys – as individuals and teams – have been VOWING
since their first victories of the season to fix their various
problems . . . and start giving their fans good reasons to believe
they really can move past their adversity demons.
Which team will sport solid run blocking and potent pass protections
as sweet as candy confections?
Which team will put on a rushing attack . . . the kind of which both
teams appear to lack?
Will Ryan’s Roughnecks continue to show solid depth, flexibility,
and resilience as they continue to be faced with so many, an injury
absence?
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- Will the Cowboys put on a star-spangled performance, showing the
Bears – and the rest of the league – they really WANT TO and CAN DO
simultaneous quality convergence on offense and defense?
Will the Cowboys bear down and beat the Bears . . . or are these
teams going to play so ugly that fans from both sides will just be
splitting hairs?
Which team will take their interview vowing and turn it into game
day WOWING?
We shall see. We always do.
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