-
-
-
2012-2013 Regular Season: Ridiculous
In Ravensville & Preparing To Be Pawed
-
- October
20, 2012
At 10:15 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
-
- The Dallas Cowboys entered Baltimore
– fresh off a sensational self-destruction and ravenous for a win .
. . with Cowboys Nation mentally prepared for bad things to happen
all over again.
Everyone – from fans to prognosticators to other NFL organizations –
knew the Cowboys to face a Ravens team that was known at home for
flying in fierce formations.
No one knew if the Cowboys were going to emerge from their bye week
eager, refreshed, and ready to perform at their peak.
No one knew if the Cowboys were just going to play harder – or play
with a greater sense of urgency . . . and smarter.
No one knew if the Cowboys were just going to think about the run .
. . or finally commit to it until the final gun.
Cowboys Nation had its doubts and hopes . . . that “America’s Team”
would be able to fight through its performance droughts and avoid
playing like mindless dopes.
The Cowboys clearly had their struggles coming in, and the Ravens
had their own issues no less. Most people would confess . . . the
result of this game was going to be anyone’s guess.
It was ridiculous in Ravensville – with more than enough to thrill .
. . and just the right amount to make fans (more) incredibly ill.
Mindless In Maryland
The Cowboys’ 31-29 loss may have been ridiculous in Ravensville, but
the battle in Baltimore would build up differently than indicated by
the score.
While the Ravens’ defense had endured its own struggles leading up
to their contest with the Cowboys, Dallas knew to expect plenty of
Baltimore harm during their visit to the city of charm.
Cowboys Nation expected – from first fan to last – “America’s Team”
to put up a fight early on . . . and start to fade fast.
Cowboys Nation expected Jason Garrett to commit to the run right up
until the first false start or holding call . . . and, then, start
forcing “No, Tony, No” Romo to overload on throwing the ball.
Cowboys Nation expected – it would seem – another lost episode of
“Gomer Pyle: USMC” . . . leaving them like Sgt. Vince Carter –
feeling so mad he could scream.
-
- A funny thing happened on the way to the universally-shared
assumption the Cowboys had no gumption. Garrett’s Gang suddenly
announced “Surprise, surprise, surprise!” Fans simply could not
believe their eyes.
The Cowboys – by game’s end – had nearly eclipsed 500 yards of total
offense . . . with a jaw-dropping 227 yards of rushing and another
254 of passing combining for an implausible offensive blend.
The Cowboys held the ball for over 40 minutes . . . leaving the
Ravens to work under unexpected limits.
It did not seem, however, to matter how immense the Cowboys rushing
attack looked against the Ravens suddenly rudderless defense.
The Cowboys – right on queue – sacrificed much of their miraculous
momentum being equally mindless in Maryland. Dallas simply made too
many mental mistakes with potential victory at hand.
While there was the now-typical game day gift – another interception
from Tony Romo to give the opponent a lift – there was also a
humongous special teams failure, Dez Bryant’s terrible 2-point trip
up, and 13 more penalties.
If the Cowboys have proven anything – no matter how well they do
everything else – they are incapable of winning in the face of so
many negative amenities.
Blame Jordan
Fans – most but not all – may choose to remember the loss to the
Ravens coming down to a Dan Bailey missed field goal . . . causing
the Cowboys’ miraculous comeback to suddenly stall.
Dan Bailey – until he receives another clutch opportunity – may
choose to remember the loss to the Ravens coming down to his missed
field goal . . . as the only obstacle to game-winning serenity.
While true professionals – in most walks of life – tend to just take
a loss on the chin, learn from their mistakes, and focus on the next
chance to win . . . Miles Austin and Kevin Ogletree are the
shockingly slow-footed culprits at the center of this latest loosing
sin.
It was clear Tony Romo – the painfully hesitant leader of the
Cowboys’ offense – could have called timeout the moment he saw
Austin and Ogletree lagging behind. He either was not paying
attention or had suddenly become completely blind.
It was clear that Jason Garrett should have called a timeout the
moment he saw Romo calling the next play . . . even though it was
plain as day Austin and Ogletree were not hustling – not going out
of their way.
While Garrett froze in another scenario involving time sensitivity –
with Romo still showing no real leadership proclivity . . . Austin
and Ogletree evidently believed they could get back to the line of
scrimmage through a little Jordan jogging activity.
-
- “Jordan who,” you say? Why – His Royal Airness – Michael Jordan . .
. who made a popular habit of hitting a smooth shot and gliding
slowly back down court in his own unique way. It has become all the
rage in today’s NBA – even for (lots of) players who cannot seem to
hit the side of a barn door . . . and do not really belong on any
professional court floor. But I digress from the stress of the
Cowboys’ current mess.
It would be absolutely reasonable for fans to blame “The Men With No
Brains” – Jason Garrett, Tony Romo, Miles Austin, and Kevin Ogletree
– for their multiple game-ending mental sprains.
It would be completely understandable if fans still felt even more
frustrated in the continued absence of even one winning intangible.
If Cowboys Nation really wants to blame someone, it is all Jordan’s
fault . . . for somehow convincing Austin and Ogletree to get back
to the line of scrimmage – with no time to spare – a bit slower than
Willie Gault.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys are about to go from ridiculous in Ravensville to
the very real possibility of being pawed to pieces by a pack of
Carolina cats.
While the Cowboys can be accused of weekly teases, Rootin’ Tootin’
Cam Newton has seemed overwhelmed in his second year . . . and the
Panthers have struggled for answers.
-
- This game – like the past five – has far less to do with the
Panthers’ potential . . . and far more to do with the Cowboys’
mistakes eventual. This game is a big cat trap, and the Cowboys are
in no position to take a nap.
The press can continue to scream – from the top of Cowboys Stadium –
that Jerry Jones needs to step away from begin GM . . . and how much
everyone hates him.
The press can continue to howl – from anywhere on the Cowboys’
schedule – that Garrett is a Princeton-educated fool.
The press can continue to tweet how the Cowboys’ talented roster is
– ironically – still incomplete.
The press is paid to print, but the fans – including some in the
press – are free to just wait and see . . . or stop watching the
mess. Fans can leave Jerry’s fabulous sports venue in search of a
more rewarding football menu. Fans can turn the television off
instead of sit and scoff.
Even as fans – from diehard to bandwagon – continue to flip-flop, it
has never been in their power to force the number of Cowboys’
injuries to drop . . . nor bad performance habits to stop.
Garrett stated earlier in the week: "We make it abundantly clear
there's no such thing as moral victories. This is a bottom line
business and you need to win games."
If his instructions Garrett can get his team to follow, then, his
wise practice words will no longer ring game day hollow. If Garrett
says bad performances will land culprits on the bench, then, the
throats of slacking starters he must clench.
If Garrett’s players say they believe in him and his coaching staff,
the players’ performance must start to regularly and repeatedly
reflect this . . . with him and Jerry getting the last laugh.
If Garrett’s players perform, the Dallas Cowboys will find
themselves in fewer situations where bad, delayed, or non-calls are
the norm . . . and they will be able to avoid the Cowboys Nation
storm.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan has stated numerous times in the past and
present – and will undoubtedly state the same in the future – the
Dallas Cowboys are the only ones empowered to get it done.
Fans – even the hardest of hardcore – are starting to become bereft
of belief, because the Cowboys have turned into a notorious good
performance thief.
Fans are tired, and the Cowboys’ problems will not be solved through
a quick fix . . . or another head coach getting fired. It may seem
like "a good start" but – just this once – it may not be smart. It
may be a professional sports belief that a team adopts a head
coach's approach to all things practice and performance. If this
were really true, the Cowboys' players would not be dressing
themselves – almost daily – in mistake-riddled adornments.
-
- No one on the Cowboys has been
particularly sharp as a dart – even the sensational Sean Lee to some
degree – but more than one key player has suffered multiple times
from a brain fart.
-
- Jerry
may talk far too often – pregame, postgame, and throughout practice
– but he is more than willing to oblige when the press continues to
show such interest. Jerry is simply not involved in the coaching
(much) . . . and he certainly has no affect on what the
players do with each game day touch in the
clutch.
-
- Garrett may offer interview insight
too little, but his approach – knowledge, preparation, and efforts –
with the players has been relatively fit as a fiddle. The players
say they believe in him . . . just like they believed in Wade "The
Fade." It is on the players to prove this statement true and nothing
else – short of that – will do. The players – like their head coach
did after the Baltimore bungle – need to prove of responsibility
they are not afraid . . . or simply admit they are helping Garrett
make sure his death bed is nicely made.
Fans are looking for a reason to believe the Cowboys will drop the
childish teasin’ or – as usual – the pressure will just keep
increasin’.
Will the Cowboys – players and coaches alike – continue delivering
inconsistent results . . . to the frustration of a Cowboys Nation
desperate for less stagnation and a more aggressive configuration?
-
- Will the Cowboys finally go from
slow-peddling a kiddy trike to full-on riding a big boy bike?
-
- Will the Cowboys preemptively put
the Panthers in their place . . . and try to avoid another late game
chase?
-
- Will Dallas – regardless of untimely
circumstance or "impossible" scenario – stop stringing together
incomplete AM performances and start playing like FM stereo?
-
- Will America's Team begin to truly
mind that a complete-game performance matters . . . in order to
prevent the latest game day result from being left in tatters?
-
- Will Dallas finally start to grow up and Cowboy up?
We shall see. We always do.
|
