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2014-2015 Regular Season: Corralling
The Cats, Waving BYE-BYE, And No Time For A Nap With A Gigantic Trap On Tap
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- November 16,
2014
At 10:57 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Picture a big, private charter jet
slowly coming to a stop on the Heathrow International tarmac.
A nervous security detail is about to suffer a panic attack as it
strains to keep a rabid crowd back.
The jet bridge ambles up to the main passenger entry, which swings
open so deliberately . . . to reveal none of familiar “Sirs” (Sir
Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick
Stewart), nor the Rolling Stones, nor even the Royal Family.
Why – it is none other than “America’s Team” . . . fulfilling many
a(n imagined British) boyhood dream.
Soccer may be all the rage outside of North America, but there is a
(magnificently marketed) mystique about the Dallas Cowboys that
forces even the fiercest fanatical futbol followers to fade from
their favorite game of footsy . . . for an oh-so-rare North Dallas
Forty look-see.
The Cowboys (though few of the current incarnation) are infamous
veterans of international attention . . . always able to enjoy some
center stage action while remaining focused with same page
satisfaction.
After a few days of engaging the United Kingdom’s very best NFL
fans, the Cowboys got down to the business of finalizing their game
day plans.
Dallas was previously pecked by some high-flying red birds . . . as
Brandon Weeden tortured his teammates by tossing terminal turds in
the temporary absence of Tony Romo – their “bone-a-fide”
offensive leader.
The hapless-but-hungry Jacksonville Jaguars hoped – with their
sack-leading defense – to emulate Arizona’s achievement . . . by
transforming a still-fragile Romo into a turnover bleeder and
leaving the Cowboys to bereavement.
The Cowboys had something else in mind for their Sunday afternoon
tea time. Romo was starting – one way or another and for better
(results) or worse(ned back issues) – because rolling Weeden back
out there would have been an absolute crime (with no complimentary
tissues).
Would the Cowboys corral the cats on another continent – or would
the feisty Floridian felines be defensively dominant . . . and make
a Fancy Feast of one of the best of the NFC East?
Welcome To Wembley
While the Jaguars were the host team for each of the NFL UK games
this year, there were plenty of fans in the stands proudly
displaying Cowboys gear.
Dallas received the ball to start the game, and everyone was waiting
to see if Romo had come back too soon – against another aggressive
defensive front – only to risk pulling up lame.
The Cowboys began with a boat load of their bread and butter.
DeMarco Murray hit the Jags with rushing and pass-catching flurry.
Dallas seemed well on its way to another opening drive touchdown
score, but progress stalled before they could collect one yard more
in Jacksonville’s end of the field.
Dan Bailey hit an “automatic” 54-yarder giving the Cowboys a lead
they would only once yield . . . after absorbing a solid Jaguars
drive and touchdown catch (from promising rookie QB Blake Bortles to
former college QB Denard Robinson) from which fans feared America’s
Team might have regressed and reeled. The Jaguars, however – in the
blink of an eye – went from an early lead to asking “Why? WHY?!” . .
. as a punt catch proved too much for Ace “All Over The Place”
Sanders, their return guy.
Cowboys Nation breathed a tentative sigh of relief at seeing the
immediate return of Dallas’ vaunted rushing attack . . . due – in
“large” part – to the full complement of healthy offensive line
starters to get the Dallas offense back on track. And while Romo was
moving as gingerly as a Geritol spokesperson, it appeared he would
be able to spend the bulk of the contest doing nothing to make his
back condition worsen.
From there on in, it was all about the Cowboys and – in particular –
Dez Bryant who finally broke out for some incredible offensive noise
. . . doing it all in short order within the second quarter. He had
six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville had hoped
to claw and fight Bryant – resembling a defensive heavy hitter . . .
but Dez made them look like kitty litter and poor coverage clowns.
The Cowboys continued to add points at a solid, steady pace and
might have added at least 14 more if Jason Witten had not uncommonly
dropped a sure Romo pass with Dallas knocking at the door . . . and
Cole Beasley – in very limited action – had not prematurely put the
rock on the floor.
While Romo’s “standup” routine had everyone all smiles, Murray
continued to log his miles . . . picking up another 100 yard
performance and (was) stopped at 19 carries. Garrett and “The Hans”
may have been sending prognosticators one of their own commentaries
. . . that DeMarco can still hit the century mark in spite of
somewhat sharing the load (with Joseph “The Underwear Vandal” Randle
and Lance “Go Quick And Far” Dunbar) and regardless of the number of
touches reaching the twenties.
The Cowboys had managed a consistent fix for the Jaguars’ Meow Mix
until the fourth act. Kyle Wilber got called for a special teams
hold in the end zone on a Cowboys punt that made him out as a mental
runt . . . and prevented single-digit score from remaining intact.
Denard Robinson – at around the 3:20 mark – struck again for a
rushing score . . . and with Bortles to his other (Allen) Robinson
for a successful conversion of two more.
While the Cowboys' Wembley welcome ended with Dallas winning 31-17,
the time of possession was surprisingly close. The difference –
consistent with most of the Cowboys’ performances this season – was
Dallas’ opportunity efficiency versus Jacksonville’s untimely
deficiency. The contest – otherwise – was not close from the results
seen on screen.
As the NFL’s latest international event concluded, the locals were
probably shaking their heads at the Jaguars and their irritatingly
familiar inability to consistently function well . . . rather than
disturbingly diluted. It is anyone’s guess as to when the Jaguars
(the iconic British autos with the fancy gleam and the pungent
professional football team) will get better. Who knows?
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- Royal Pains And Potential
Gains
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- Just when the Cowboys seemed to have
cultivated some much needed depth for their cornerback attack – in
rookie Tyler Patmon (who – against Arizona – resembled Batman) . . .
it was during a pedal back against the Jaguars that he developed a
royal pain. He will be out for up to a month due to bum ankle and a
left knee medial collateral ligament sprain.
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- While the Cowboys do NOT want to
rush Patmon into an early return and potentially make things worse,
Cowboys Nation may have to watch more of the Dallas secondary
struggle and burn. They may eventually have to call a hearse.
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- It has been their defensive line,
however – deemed by preseason prognosticators to be the NFL's
absolute worst – that has granted Marinelli's Men the surprising
strength to steadily "suppress" an unstable secondary and possibly
help catapult the Cowboys back into the faintly familiar first.
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- Speaking of faintly familiar, none
other than "hell bent" Josh Brent has been cleared to rejoin the
Cowboys 53-man roster . . . adding another big pincer and potential
gain to Marinelli's defensive lobster. While it is – indeed –
abnormal for ANYONE to drive drunk, cause the death of a vehicle
passenger (let alone a best friend), and server "minimal" prison
time, Brent has done as he has been legally required . . . and he is
not a mobster.
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- Jerry Jones continues to channel his
inner Al Davis in engaging select NFL undesirables – or those who
simply need (and sometimes deserve) a second chance . . . in the
hope his helping hand will be rewarded with an improved opportunity
to return to the big dance.
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- Brent still must get back into
playing shape before being cleared to officially go nose tackle ape.
There is also the small issue of how best to use a player who would
be trading in his 3-4 badge for a 4-3 gap-control cape . . . as part
of a defensive line rotation that may currently be deep
enough to keep one or two players on inactive vacation.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Dallas Cowboys left London (calling for more) and enjoyed a
comfortable trip home knowing a well-earned bye week was in store.
The break was perfectly timed to get Romo and others well-rested and
primed against a struggling New York Giants team . . . that would
love nothing more than to unload their frustration on Dallas and
really blow off some pent up steam.
Cowboys Nation endures eight reminders per year that records are
meaningless when “ancient” NFC East rivals engage. One team can have
superior measurables on paper, but the lesser opponent can still win
on pure pride and age-old rage.
The remainder of the Cowboys’ schedule is heavy with NFC East
contests and – whether they are facing the Giants, Redskins, or even
the Nick-Foles-less Eagles – they must treat each opportunity as a
trap . . . and a critical chance to gain entrance into the big
dance. The Cowboys must NOT nap a Giant trap on tap.
The Giants may have lost the first game of their annual two-part
battle, but they are convinced they were but a few plays away from
having won that game . . . rather than appearing dumb as Eli
Manning, err, cattle.
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- Will the Cowboys bring the same
approach to the Big Apple . . . or will they add a few wrinkles in
preparation for a Giants squad determined to be a much greater
challenge with which to grapple?
Will Romo be “back” to his old self with no (further) ill-effects
from his transverse process . . . and reasonable flexibility no
less? Will “The Best Offensive Line In The NFL” be ready to give the
angry blue Giants hell from the starting to the finishing bell?
Will Murray continue to keep up his end of the bruising bargain –
efficiently hitting his marks and his stride for “Fred And The
Blockheads” again . . . taking overconfident defenders for a painful
ride?
Will Dez – facing another “mediocre secondary” – succumb to still
more aggressive double and triple coverage . . . or will he be more
of a pass-catching primary – in both halves – with a successful
scoring overage?
Will Marinelli’s Men continue to overachieve with a solid, deep
defensive line rotation and timely linebacking . . . or will shaky
secondary skills continue expose what the Cowboys are truly lacking?
Will Brandon Carr continue to play with a loose suspension, a leaky
transmission, and simply crash every time a Giants receiver decides
to dash? Will Cowboys Nation continue to be treated to a Terence
Newman sighting . . . or will the Dallas secondary – with more help
from Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox – put forth an effort that better
resembles fighting?
The Cowboys would be advised to head into MetLife with a gun instead
of a knife – and pay zero heed to the Giants strife so
well-advertised.
After enjoying so much time off – will the Cowboys have the instant
energy and nasty attitude to play that way on game day . . . or will
they cave, gag, and cough?
We shall see. We always do.
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