Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Vault
1. Well this was a tale of two different games. One game the defense could not stop the passing game and was letting receivers get open left and right. The other, the passing game is getting crushed. So what defense will show up? We need consistency on this side of the ball. The offense is just fine. In fact, it is a great offense. But I cannot say that about the defense. You win championships with defense. Remember the '85 Bears and the '00 Ravens? They virtually had no offense. The defenses were just that good. I am not saying an elite offense can't win the Super Bowl. But even teams that had elite offenses also had great defenses. The problem is that the offense gets the glory. The 49ers of the 80s and the Cowboys of the nineties all had great defenses. So that was able to offset that. This Cowboys defense is good but I cannot say with a straight face that it is an elite group. The offfense I can but if we make it to the Super Bowl, I just have a feeling what team it will be and you know we will have trouble all day if this group the way it does.
2. On the other hand you can make the argument the Jets offense is just that much worse than the Redskins offense and the Redskins had more weapons. But the playoffs are not typically filled with bad offenses. But why was Chris Cooley getting so wide open. Every time they throw I knew he was going to get going. I do not know if it was personnel, meaning we did not have the talent to match the receivers or poor defensive play calling. I think our run defense gets too much credit for stopping the run because most of the teams we face are trailing so they tend to abandon the run and start passing. Now having said that I do think the passing defense is mediocre. I mean the numbers do not take into account the clutch catches or completions for first down. I mean Chris Cooley was getting wide open and does not always translate to big yards. I mean the key to any good defense is stopping the third down play.
3. TO is just amazing me. I would name him offensive player of the year and Romo MVP. Of course I feel that Randy Moss and Tom Brady will get those accolades but hey I am biased.
4. Terence Newman has played like a Pro Bowler the last couple of seasons and has not gone because he lacks the big plays. Hopefully that interception TD return against the Jets plus the game winning interception against the Redskins will let him go. Plus he is still battling that plantar fasscitis.
5. I guess someone reminded Julius Jones that he was in a contract year because lately he is tearing it up. I still feel he will be gone at the end of the year and the Cowboys will draft a running back in the upcoming draft.
6. Roy Williams start streak was snapped. Who cares? That is so overrated. I mean you get in on the opening play and that is considered a start? I think the majority of snaps taken should be the deciding factor on how much a guy plays.
7. I feel that was Joe Gibbs last visit to Texas Stadium. As much as I dislike the Redskins, you can not help but like Gibbs. I will miss him. I wish Jason Campbell was leaving though. He is going to be a threat to the Boys for the next few years.
8. The special teams has got to get going. I do not feel like the special teams is a necessary evil, where I would just put random people in there. I would use the draft to draft players specifically for special teams and to look at a players ability to play special teams alongside his own position. The kicking/punting is fine, it is the coverage that is soft.
9. Now comes the game of the year part 2. Part 1 was the Patriots. I guess the Giants could have been a part 2 but I am not going to give it that. The Packers have now discovered a running game with the emergence of Ryan Grant. Donald Driver is the big play threat with Donald Lee the huge tight end. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are the corner threats and the two huge pass rush in Aaron Kampan and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Almost sounds like the Cowboys doesn't? And I have not mentioned the quarterbacks with Romo being a younger version of Brett Favre, with that gunslinger mentality. I predict an average score, Cowboys 24, Packers 17. I don't feel the offenses will get a lot of points, most of the Packers games have come down to the wire and have been low scoring, but I don't think it will be a shootout like the Patriots or Giants game.
10. Why NFL do you want to hold this game on the NFL Network? Where is the strategy on that. If I am in charge of making sure America sees my product, I want to make sure 95% of the households can see my product. Not 35%. I blame both sides but I strongly blame the NFL. I mean no one will watch this network except for the games and the games have to be close. If it is anything like the Colts-Falcons, no one will watch. I have taken a glimpse at NFL Total Access and I am sorry, if ESPN jumped the shark with all the overexposure and over analysis, then you have done the same as well.
11. Obviously my cable company does not carry NFL Network but I am not worried. I will be at the game in section 133 so I do not have to worry. Go Cowboys!
12. On the other hand, shame on all you ebayers trying to make a profit from the true fan. I wish someone would come up with a way to sell these tickets to the fan and not these ticket brokers and merchants looking to cash in on the true fans. Of course I gave in but hey what is a guy to do huh?
2. On the other hand you can make the argument the Jets offense is just that much worse than the Redskins offense and the Redskins had more weapons. But the playoffs are not typically filled with bad offenses. But why was Chris Cooley getting so wide open. Every time they throw I knew he was going to get going. I do not know if it was personnel, meaning we did not have the talent to match the receivers or poor defensive play calling. I think our run defense gets too much credit for stopping the run because most of the teams we face are trailing so they tend to abandon the run and start passing. Now having said that I do think the passing defense is mediocre. I mean the numbers do not take into account the clutch catches or completions for first down. I mean Chris Cooley was getting wide open and does not always translate to big yards. I mean the key to any good defense is stopping the third down play.
3. TO is just amazing me. I would name him offensive player of the year and Romo MVP. Of course I feel that Randy Moss and Tom Brady will get those accolades but hey I am biased.
4. Terence Newman has played like a Pro Bowler the last couple of seasons and has not gone because he lacks the big plays. Hopefully that interception TD return against the Jets plus the game winning interception against the Redskins will let him go. Plus he is still battling that plantar fasscitis.
5. I guess someone reminded Julius Jones that he was in a contract year because lately he is tearing it up. I still feel he will be gone at the end of the year and the Cowboys will draft a running back in the upcoming draft.
6. Roy Williams start streak was snapped. Who cares? That is so overrated. I mean you get in on the opening play and that is considered a start? I think the majority of snaps taken should be the deciding factor on how much a guy plays.
7. I feel that was Joe Gibbs last visit to Texas Stadium. As much as I dislike the Redskins, you can not help but like Gibbs. I will miss him. I wish Jason Campbell was leaving though. He is going to be a threat to the Boys for the next few years.
8. The special teams has got to get going. I do not feel like the special teams is a necessary evil, where I would just put random people in there. I would use the draft to draft players specifically for special teams and to look at a players ability to play special teams alongside his own position. The kicking/punting is fine, it is the coverage that is soft.
9. Now comes the game of the year part 2. Part 1 was the Patriots. I guess the Giants could have been a part 2 but I am not going to give it that. The Packers have now discovered a running game with the emergence of Ryan Grant. Donald Driver is the big play threat with Donald Lee the huge tight end. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are the corner threats and the two huge pass rush in Aaron Kampan and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Almost sounds like the Cowboys doesn't? And I have not mentioned the quarterbacks with Romo being a younger version of Brett Favre, with that gunslinger mentality. I predict an average score, Cowboys 24, Packers 17. I don't feel the offenses will get a lot of points, most of the Packers games have come down to the wire and have been low scoring, but I don't think it will be a shootout like the Patriots or Giants game.
10. Why NFL do you want to hold this game on the NFL Network? Where is the strategy on that. If I am in charge of making sure America sees my product, I want to make sure 95% of the households can see my product. Not 35%. I blame both sides but I strongly blame the NFL. I mean no one will watch this network except for the games and the games have to be close. If it is anything like the Colts-Falcons, no one will watch. I have taken a glimpse at NFL Total Access and I am sorry, if ESPN jumped the shark with all the overexposure and over analysis, then you have done the same as well.
11. Obviously my cable company does not carry NFL Network but I am not worried. I will be at the game in section 133 so I do not have to worry. Go Cowboys!
12. On the other hand, shame on all you ebayers trying to make a profit from the true fan. I wish someone would come up with a way to sell these tickets to the fan and not these ticket brokers and merchants looking to cash in on the true fans. Of course I gave in but hey what is a guy to do huh?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Vault
1. These guys continue to amaze me. I mean going into what seemed to me the most hostile crowd because the Philly crowd sure did not seem hostile and just taking apart the defense was amazing.
2. I still am going to gripe about the stupid bonehead penalties. If this team is serously going to go deep into the playoffs, these penalties are going to have to stop. Taunting, hitting and shoving players? The one that bothered me was the taunting because we had just robbed the Giants of any momentum going into the half aftger Craytons score and instead of burying them and forcing them to run the clock, we gave up a field goal which is enough to spark momentum. Thank God the Giants have a QB that still cannot figure out how to get the play off by the time the play clock expires.
3. Wow, Terrell Owens really seems to be maturing and I am now wondering if that prediction of a blowup is going to ring true now.
4. I will count Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre as teams that have a better QB than the Cowboys right now. Tony Romo is the real deal.
5. Remember when I said that the great QBS have bad games? Well Tony Romo's 5 interception game sure looks a lot better than the 6 interception game of Peyton Manning. I sure don't see anyone questioning Mannings ability the way they qquestioned Romo's.
6. The real test is coming though because the Cowboys have not had a winning record in the second half particularly in December. If another collapse happens, no more blaming the story about how Parcells wore out these players and that he was too tough. No more excuses guys, you have a coach that is easy going laid back and is not pounding you as much as the Tuna would have and Julius Jones better not say he is running like a robot, or TO complaining about how Parcells is to set in his ways or anything else.
7. This brings an interesting point, if the Cowboys run the table and win the Super Bowl, who gets the credit? Mr Fix it or the Tuna? I they both deserve credit. PArcells did not leave the cupboard bare and Phillips has not exactly screwed it up because he does know how to coach. I mean look at the Chargers situation. I mean Norv Turner almost became our head coach and have you ever seen a team look so deflated after the ugly weird win the Chargers had over the Colts? I just don't believe the Cowboys would be 8-1 with Norv Turner at this point.
8. And of course Jerry Jones does deserve credit it for bring in Phillips and for bringing in Jason Garrett. Problem is that Garrett will probably be gone and be a head coach after this year and I am just hoping GMs will look at his inexperience and not hire him because of that and we keep him here a few more years.
2. I still am going to gripe about the stupid bonehead penalties. If this team is serously going to go deep into the playoffs, these penalties are going to have to stop. Taunting, hitting and shoving players? The one that bothered me was the taunting because we had just robbed the Giants of any momentum going into the half aftger Craytons score and instead of burying them and forcing them to run the clock, we gave up a field goal which is enough to spark momentum. Thank God the Giants have a QB that still cannot figure out how to get the play off by the time the play clock expires.
3. Wow, Terrell Owens really seems to be maturing and I am now wondering if that prediction of a blowup is going to ring true now.
4. I will count Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Brett Favre as teams that have a better QB than the Cowboys right now. Tony Romo is the real deal.
5. Remember when I said that the great QBS have bad games? Well Tony Romo's 5 interception game sure looks a lot better than the 6 interception game of Peyton Manning. I sure don't see anyone questioning Mannings ability the way they qquestioned Romo's.
6. The real test is coming though because the Cowboys have not had a winning record in the second half particularly in December. If another collapse happens, no more blaming the story about how Parcells wore out these players and that he was too tough. No more excuses guys, you have a coach that is easy going laid back and is not pounding you as much as the Tuna would have and Julius Jones better not say he is running like a robot, or TO complaining about how Parcells is to set in his ways or anything else.
7. This brings an interesting point, if the Cowboys run the table and win the Super Bowl, who gets the credit? Mr Fix it or the Tuna? I they both deserve credit. PArcells did not leave the cupboard bare and Phillips has not exactly screwed it up because he does know how to coach. I mean look at the Chargers situation. I mean Norv Turner almost became our head coach and have you ever seen a team look so deflated after the ugly weird win the Chargers had over the Colts? I just don't believe the Cowboys would be 8-1 with Norv Turner at this point.
8. And of course Jerry Jones does deserve credit it for bring in Phillips and for bringing in Jason Garrett. Problem is that Garrett will probably be gone and be a head coach after this year and I am just hoping GMs will look at his inexperience and not hire him because of that and we keep him here a few more years.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The Vault
1. Well that was a convincing win. I have never seen the Eagles crowd go so dead so quickly. Even at their upmost, this was always a brutal crowd and I saw a beat up squad that the Cowboys took apart. Either the Cowboys are really good or the Eagles are really bad. Donovan McNabb has sure taken a step below what he usually plays. I have a feeling he is not entirely healed up from his leg injury.
2. Julius Jones looked like a better runner for a change and actually scoring. I see him with the Packers next year.
3. Wow the penalty flags were not flying. Amazing.
4. I do not feel the contract and the celebrity status is going to affect the play of Tony Romo. His contract is a good one and I feel well deserved. Jerry Jones modeled it after Marc Bulgers and it assures that Romo will be a Cowboys until he is 34. Romo for all the celebrity hangouts he goes to and other stuff is a down to earth well grounded guy and I feel that he is mature enough to not let the money get to him.
5. TO finally had the revenge game he craved so much and he sure did not really call attention to himself on that score other than flapping his arms like an eagle. I am now starting to wonder if there will be a TO blowup.
6. The contest with the NY Giants will be a tough one. The Giants are playing great lately especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys need this win for an advantage on the tiebreaker and some momentum going heading toward the second half of the season. Now we see if this team can not fold like past teams.
7. Offensive line is awesome. This line better step up and protect Romo against that menacing pass rush the Giants will unleash on them.
8. Jason Wittens helmetless run. Tough or stupid? Both. I admire the toughness and this team the way it plays shows it is not soft. For all you Parcells haters, you have to thank him for this. I mean you think this would show up if Dave Campo had been here? At the same time it was foolish. With the extra attention going to concussions, you would think players would take the precaution if he ran out of bounds at the last. I mean would not have thought of him less.
9. My position with Andy Reid's situation is take a leave. Take as long as you need and get this situation settled with your family. That said, I do not know the situation and how bad it really is. I mean Tony Dungy did not leave after his child committed suicide and is still coaching. But I would just say that if this is affecting his coaching situation, he needs to move on.
10. The judge that desribed the situation at Andy Reids home is either a publicity seeking jusge like the Anna Nicole Smith baby judge or does not know how much of this was going into the media reports. I mean a CEO of an important company does not get this kind of attention. The judge should have known better.
2. Julius Jones looked like a better runner for a change and actually scoring. I see him with the Packers next year.
3. Wow the penalty flags were not flying. Amazing.
4. I do not feel the contract and the celebrity status is going to affect the play of Tony Romo. His contract is a good one and I feel well deserved. Jerry Jones modeled it after Marc Bulgers and it assures that Romo will be a Cowboys until he is 34. Romo for all the celebrity hangouts he goes to and other stuff is a down to earth well grounded guy and I feel that he is mature enough to not let the money get to him.
5. TO finally had the revenge game he craved so much and he sure did not really call attention to himself on that score other than flapping his arms like an eagle. I am now starting to wonder if there will be a TO blowup.
6. The contest with the NY Giants will be a tough one. The Giants are playing great lately especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys need this win for an advantage on the tiebreaker and some momentum going heading toward the second half of the season. Now we see if this team can not fold like past teams.
7. Offensive line is awesome. This line better step up and protect Romo against that menacing pass rush the Giants will unleash on them.
8. Jason Wittens helmetless run. Tough or stupid? Both. I admire the toughness and this team the way it plays shows it is not soft. For all you Parcells haters, you have to thank him for this. I mean you think this would show up if Dave Campo had been here? At the same time it was foolish. With the extra attention going to concussions, you would think players would take the precaution if he ran out of bounds at the last. I mean would not have thought of him less.
9. My position with Andy Reid's situation is take a leave. Take as long as you need and get this situation settled with your family. That said, I do not know the situation and how bad it really is. I mean Tony Dungy did not leave after his child committed suicide and is still coaching. But I would just say that if this is affecting his coaching situation, he needs to move on.
10. The judge that desribed the situation at Andy Reids home is either a publicity seeking jusge like the Anna Nicole Smith baby judge or does not know how much of this was going into the media reports. I mean a CEO of an important company does not get this kind of attention. The judge should have known better.
