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2012-2013 Regular Season: Unbearable At The
Bye & Bracing For Baltimore
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- October 12, 2012
At 10:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Writing about what inspires you –
let alone your favorite sports team – is not always sugar and spice
and everything nice.
Writing about a muse – and especially THE muse – should be
challenging and have an emotional price.
Anyone can write “something” – regardless of grammar or spelling –
but it takes conviction to write something with all the trimmings,
something compelling.
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- The grizzly, unbearable result of
the Cowboys’ contest with Chicago was more than enough test a
person’s resolve – whether fan, writer, or both – to objectively
absolve, and ruthlessly withdraw any and all shadowy exits
through which problems might quietly dissolve.
Five For Fighting?
The season of giving has not yet arrived and, yet, the Dallas
Cowboys gave plenty to make sure the Chicago Bears thrived.
If John Ondrasik had any trademark concerns – with the Cowboys
coughing up a careless collection of catastrophes to the Bears,
such worries were unfounded, dismissing the need for legal affairs.
Ondrasik’s stage name – “Five for Fighting” – refers to five minutes
in the penalty box for fisticuffs in hockey. Tony Romo and the
Cowboys’ offense would have rather been in any penalty box – far
away from Cowboys Stadium – after handing the Bears so much and
perpetuating a future still rocky.
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- If the Cowboys Stadium PA announcer had decided to play the Red Hot
Chili Peppers tune “Give it away” to close out the first half, it
would have been prophetic, because the Cowboys offense spent
the second half looking pathetic. Romo may have been pressured by
the Bears, but they sacked him only once, with the turnovers
making him look like a dunce.
In order to “give credit where credit is due,” however, you need to
identify where gift-giving ends and opportunities begin, to
prove which team had more or less of a clue.
While two of Romo’s five interceptions were the fault of their
moving targets – Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree – the other three
were gift-wrapped for free.
Fans have all heard Romo confess that when his teammates begin to
collectively fail, he begins to press. He has also said – and
showed last year – that he has the ability to avoid contributing to
his teammates’ mess.
If Romo has learned anything during his time in Dallas, fan reaction
to minimized risk involves far less malice – even if his more
controlled effort results in a loss, because smart
decision-making must always be the boss.
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- If Romo is under split-second pressure and has even the smallest
doubt (as he does his rounds), he simply needs to eat it or throw it out (of bounds). Romo
made quite the mental and physical impression last season, and with
the latest tour of duty already in full swing, he has no
excuse for this turnover thing.
No one wants Romo to be an uncreative robot, but he should always
feel encouraged to use a little more thought.
The Bears left Cowboys Stadium with a big win, but where does their
game-winning effort really come in? Prognosticators regularly refer
to Lovie Smith’s defense as “opportunistic,” which is a fancy
way of saying their defenders take what is given.
Prognosticators also enjoy talking about “creating turnovers,” something the Cowboys continue struggling to do, through and
through. There are but a handful of ways in which defenders can
create turnovers on any number of game days.
They can diagnosis an
offensive play before it happens or figure it out on the fly, tipping a pass on route, grabbing it from midair, and
waving bye-bye.
They can beat an opponent to the spot where the football is
supposed to be caught.
They can strip away the football on a poorly protected
backfield haul.
They can hit hard enough to cause a fumble, recovering it
without a give-back bumble.
They can get after broken plays which tend to suffer from an
opponent’s mental haze.
The Cowboys and Bears – in this case – share “credit where credit is
due,” even though – for Romo – this was nothing entirely new.
The Cowboys and Bears could both claim to be gluttons for the great
giveaway on their Monday Night game day. The Cowboys offense was
feeling altruistic and the Bears defense was being opportunistic.
Lost – but not completely overlooked – during Romo’s penalty box
presser, was the performance of his good buddy Jason Witten, who looked every bit the familiar pass catcher. When playing against
a gift that kept on giving, Witten’s legitimate and solid night
caused the Bears no misgivings.
Tony Romo and (most of) his truly offensive teammates were all about
“Five for Fighting,” and the Bears found it only too inviting.
Jekyll & Hyde
The Dallas defense – for the better part of the still-young season –
has been the backbone of a team that had previously survived
on a high-scoring but inconsistent offense alone.
The Cowboys knew they were going to experience growing pains along a
rebuilt offensive line and – while they were encouraged from week
one against the Giants – offensive performances since that time have
been anything but fine.
While mental mistakes and poor techniques have been an o-line
culprit, Miles Austin continues to need a hamstring therapist, and
Dez “Beast To Least” Bryant has resembled a dysfunctional armpit, unsure if he should smell (play) good or bad – driving his
teammates and fans completely mad.
As an aside – for those among Cowboys Nation who think
GM Jerry Jones
would really do what he says and cut Dez, you need look no
further than Martellus Bennett’s success that New York managed to
uncork. Each route "MartyB" runs and each catch he makes – and there
have been several – is like mental harassment (making GM Jerry and
Jason feel terrible). GM Jerry is determined to give Dez a bit more time in order for Dallas to avoid the double embarrassment
(and egg on his face so deliciously wearable).
Fans can be as optimistic as they wish towards Dez the physical dish, with
a soft-boiled brain clearly suffering from a mental
squish. Oklahoma State University – in acknowledging his inability
to focus – may have simply allowed Dez to “go up and get it,” rather than watch him struggle through route running adversity.
Cowboys Nation wants and deserves more production, but let us not digress in
conjunction with Dez’s early season show of less.
A reasonable goal for
GM Jerry, for Jason Garrett, for the fans,
and for this season was to continue where the offense (when
completely healthy) left off, blending it with a freshly and fully
installed defensive system, and sprinkling in improved personnel at
whom few would scoff.
The incredible irony from the Bears
game was THE Cowboys’ weak link – the TRULY offensive line –
actually delivered a penalty-free, SINGLE-sack performance, proving
Bill Callahan’s boys were not completely dedicated to generating
abhorrence.
While the offensive line was putting on a pass protection party,
they – for once – could not be blamed for Romo’s turnovers or
for Kevin and Dez’s
brains being so tardy.
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- While the offensive line failed to open holes from DeMarco Murray,
they – for once – could not be blamed the lack of plays that called
for Murray to catch (more) swing passes or to line up – GASP – like
Herschel Walker in the slot, where he, too, is plenty capable
of catching passes as the hot receiver right off the spot.
If the offensive line cannot create daylight for Murray, Garrett
knows he must mix in the no-huddle and spread formation in a hurry, forcing defenders to stop camping outside a stagnant Dallas
o-line push and – instead – chasing Murray around their own
secondary.
Garrett also knows he can call strong side bunch formations that
would – in theory – allow Jason Witten or Murray to chip and make a
quick release into the flat for a catch on the weak side,
encouraging more Jekyll and less Hyde.
Opposing defenses – logically and realistically – cannot cover all
of the Cowboys’ receiving weapons all the time. The Dallas receivers
are paid to beat their opponents to a spot – or fight for playing
position “in the paint” – in order to have a shot.
The Cowboys offense does not have to be absolutely sublime. If
Garrett’s Gang does not become more reasonably balanced – with a
better 3rd down conversion rate and enhanced time of possession – he
could wear down Ryan’s Roughnecks too early (as they did against a
Bears team not-so-burly), and it would be a horrible crime.
Carr and Company only have so much gas before an opposing offense
eventually completes a (deadly) pass.
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- The Dallas Cowboys have certainly
tried but trying is not enough – once again – to stop going from Dr.
Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.
From Cantankerous To
Cultured
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” well – in
theory, anyway. When people fall on hard times – even temporarily –
they either take the high road or start pointing fingers and
resentment lingers.
The National Football League – like other highly visible
professional sports – has made eternal bedfellows of the cultured
and the cantankerous, with exchanges ranging from rousing to
rancorous.
NFL teams and the star athletes that lead them are – fair or not –
expected to be all things to all fans. This expectation continues to
grate against the most personal of player off-time plans.
Charles Barkley – former NBA star and current TNT prognosticator –
once famously said (as part of a Nike Air television commercial): “I
am not a role model.” Barkley’s statement was ignored then, and it
is something with which today’s fans do not even bother to dawdle.
When an NFL team is faced with self-inflicted adversity – one or
more losses via inconsistent, unconvincing performances – they
acknowledge their issues, rise to the challenge, and try to ride the
crest, or they go radio-silent, make clandestine corrections,
and hope for the best.
Football is a violent game and - for most people outside of cold and
calculated espionage - violence involves emotion just the same. NFL
teams (should) have plenty of personal, professional, and – for some
– pre-paid incentive to be just a bit more emotionally inventive.
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- The Cowboys used to be known –
before, during, and after their games – for talking the talk,
walking the walk, and being the most reviled cock of the rock (which
is an actual bird from Peru, who knew?). Whether or not they
sometimes resemble zombies in mimicking Jason Garrett's head
coaching personality – so far this season – the Cowboys have shown
little urgency towards disproving this growing reputational knock.
When a struggling NFL team chooses to go quiet – with key team
members providing only the minimum required postgame sound bite – it can be
maddening to their fan base and potentially cause a prognostication
riot. If the Cowboys cannot give their fans an emotional sign during their games, they could make a better attempt at digging
down deep for an in-depth postgame treat, and certainly
something more insightful than a standard ill-advised tweet.
GM Jerry has never been camera shy but – compared to what he says
to the team in the locker room – his statements to fans are
altogether dry.
Jason Garrett likes to say, "You have to be careful of change for
change's sake."
Rob Ryan has plenty on his mind but – this season
– he has replaced
his postgame statements with Garrett-like abatements.
Tony Romo
– like Garrett – also makes a postgame effort to take a
mistake and obscure it. He likes to say, “It's a process” – to
satiate the ankle-biting press, even though he knows fans will
go irate and think it is obnoxious.
Fans – with all their own societal imperfections – want more than
canned explanations and shrugs, from coaches and players stung
by poor performances and seeking hugs.
Fantasy Football fans – with all their super stimulating statistical
shindigs – well . . . they are a completely unnecessary deviation
from this topic of conversation.
NFL teams – from limelight-seeking executives to Teflon-coated
coaches to PR-programmed players – want better than the behavior
not-so-adult they see from flagrantly furious fans after a flat game
day result.
NFL Fans come from all walks of life – including those fair-weather
folk who show up and go up as no more than a Jumbotron joke.
Most (but not all) fans – because of their walk of life – cherish
the NFL gridiron as a weekly winter escape from their own daily
grind. More and more fans, however, find it harder and harder to
relate to the (in)famous players and coaches they worship, at
once the same as and different from their own kind.
The NFL began as a league based far more on “the love of the game”
than “I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind.”
NFL players and coaches – most of the time – are worth being paid
their astronomical money, but when they play postgame dumb after a
performance that leaves everyone numb, it is no longer funny.
Players and coaches are getting paid, and fans expect them to never
underestimate your opponent so badly that they get played. Players
and coaches – barring unforeseen incidents – should always be ready
to answer the bell, not like artists who have to be in the creative mood
to do well.
Many fans certainly enjoy the entertainment napkin that now
accompanies every game day feast but – when the feast turns out
rotten and teams move forward like they have already forgotten –
fans expect a reasonably postgame response to say the least.
Players and coaches always talk about having a “short memory” for a
bad play but – when those who screwed up show up lame during
postgame – fans understandably react like there will be hell to pay.
Organizations can, indeed, take the high road as long as it does not
cause a nose bleed. “Winning cures everything” and can save the day
but – in the absence of winning – a little emotion and sincere
communication goes a long way.
Cowboys Nation – as self-involved as it may be – does not have a
problem with the Cowboys getting beaten by a legitimately superior
team. When the Cowboys go brainless – with postgame interviews so
listless – it makes fans want to scream.
More and more fans – contrary to popular belief – have a reasonable
understanding of what is playing out on the grid iron, even
from their comfy home environ. When Cowboys Nation hears their 2012
Dallas Cowboys say “take us at our minimalist, robotic word”
instead of taking them seriously, they laugh like it is the funniest
thing they ever heard.
When Rob Ryan formally arrived at Valley Ranch, he said: "We're
going to be a great defense. If I never said that, if I didn't
believe that, then you've got the wrong guy. But the right guy is
standing here in front of you. It's going to be great. The proof
is in the pudding. Anybody can talk the talk, but I can walk it."
There was never anything wrong with that remark. Ryan knows – like
any NFL coach (and outside of unforeseen injuries, poor play-calls,
mental mistakes, and official oafishness) – he can talk all he wants
about being a defensive shark.
Jason Garrett – again – likes to say, "You have to be careful of
change for change's sake."
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- No one is asking the Cowboys – Garrett and Romo in particular – for
state secrets, for which there would certainly be major
regrets.
No one is asking Garrett to be Bill Parcells. No one is asking
Garrett to match his press time charisma or the Big Fish, err, Big
Tuna tales he
tells.
No one is asking Romo to be Troy Aikman – who was willing
to go after a
teammate who was impeding his performance – and vocally rake
him. Romo prefers to lead through the quality of his game day play, even though his performances
can dismay.
Romo – again – has grown fond of saying, “It’s a process,” but
no one is looking for him to outright confess. He is entitled to
stating his “conversation killer,” but he could easily do a bit
better than to feed the press more filler.
Most fans know “actions speak louder than words,” but – in the
absence of successful action – just a bit more detail or emotional
depth will create more traction. It will help give fans the tiniest
peace of mind that – over 16+ seasons – has proven so hard to find.
The human condition always conspires to prevent the perfect
solution. If cantankerous fans receive more proof of life from their
(allegedly) more cultured sports heroes, NFL organizations will
undoubtedly receive more fan empathy on days where – even at their
best – they come up with zeros.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboy have had the better part of two weeks to get
physically healthier and make sure certain members of the team are
mentally wealthier, indulging in many a playbook, practice,
technique chore that apparently bore them to their very core.
Cowboys Nation has had the better part of two weeks to wonder how
much healthier “America’s Team” would get, and whether –
mentally – their lowest performers would still be all wet.
The time is over, to get and to wonder. If the Cowboys have any
doubts on Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens
may just tear them asunder.
These Big Birds of another feather may have had their struggles
recently, but they will have no interest in treating the Cowboys
decently.
Fans and prognosticators could have gone quiet for every day of the
past two weeks – and waited until game day to see whether or not the
Cowboys had successfully applied the necessary tweaks to beat
the Big Bad Baltimore Beaks.
The Cowboys – this century – are a stellar 98-98. There has never
been a better date for them to regain control of their own fate by
rediscovering their winning traits.
Will Jason Garrett really allow himself to – once again – be one of
those predictable play-callers in the face of Ray “I Can Read
Your Mind” Lewis and the other Charm City Maulers?
Will Mackenzy Bernadeau finally earn some of his paycheck or
continue giving fans a reason to scream “WHAT THE HECK?!” Will he
simply give way to Kevin Dockery – who had better be on a mission to
help end the o-line debauchery?
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- Will the return of Jay Ratliff over center be enough to compensate
for the continued absence of Anthony Spencer? Will Spencer’s
pectoral strain turn into a far more serious defensive pain?
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- Will Chris Jones have the stones to
punt through pain or is he simply insane? Truth be told, if Jones is
THAT bold, Tony Romo should not have to hold.
Will Romo be ready with a stress-free reset? Will he be steady in
reaffirming he is the Cowboys best quarterback bet?
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- Will Bryant be a deztructive weapon
against Baltimore, or will he be as obliging as he was with the
Bears in helping them score?
Will the Cowboys do more with DeMarco Murray – whether running or
catching – to keep the offense from continually crashing? If Garrett
decides to run, run, run, will the o-line be hypnotized into being
far more aggressive – which might lead to success and some real deal
fun?
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- Will Felix “Formerly Cat Quick” Jones get another chance to make
fans moan and groan, or will Lance Dunbar get an opportunity to
return a kick sufficiently far?
Will the Cowboys’ underutilized second string continue to do better
with filling in – until the healthy return of the real thing – to
help Dallas win?
Will the Cowboys continue to play like accidents waiting to happen
. . . or will they hit their fairway shot so close to the M&T Bank
Tournament hole that they need merely make a tap-in?
We shall see. We always do.
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