Nothing cures a football hangover like a little rest and the Detroit Lions. At least that is what the 9-6 Dallas Cowboys, who suddenly find themselves in 2nd place in the NFC East, have to hope. It's been a long three weeks in Big D. First, ex-Cowboy assistant Sean Payton exposed flaws in the Dallas defense in a 42-17 rout. Then the Falcons torched Bill Parcel's defense before Dallas rallied to a 38-28 win. The coup de grace was administered on Christmas Day 23-7 by an Eagle team that had heard the Dallas hype and was not at all impressed. So, what gives?
Greg Ellis was the anchor for what is now a drifting defense. Ellis made a surprising, but successful, transition from defensive end to outside linebacker this season. Since he went down with an Achillies tendon injury in the Arizona game, Dallas hasn't had much of a pass rush and has shown alot less heart. Disappointing first round pick Bobby Carpenter hasn't made much a mark as Ellis' replacement.
Dallas is still a very young team in spots. Key mistakes by rookie fullback Oliver Hoyte and 2nd year linebacker Kevin Burnett resulted in momentum killing plays by the Eagles. The defense has the talent to be very good, but potential can't stop a good offense. Two long Eagle drives starting deep in their own territory with numerous third down conversions along the way showed how inexperienced Dallas is, especially in the front seven.
Terrell Owens. New week, different circus. This week Owens spent the day before the game playing cards and dominoes with old Eagles teammates. Jerry Jones can put whatever smiley face he wants next to this week's episode of 'As Terrell Turns" but it can't cover up the fact Owens is a suddenly old 33 and no longer opens up opportunities by forcing other teams to adjust game plans to stop him. Chemistry is an over rated theme, but it is real and Owens doesn't add value with his attitude. Even if nobody else is affected by Owens, it's hard to make the arguement that he's mentally ready to play football on Sundays.
There is no safety for Dallas in the secondary. Darren Woodson retired two seasons ago, but hasn't been replaced. Roy Williams usually turns up in highlight film running behind whatever receiver is having their career best game this week. At some point you have to ask what a bunch of press clippings and a rep for hard hitting mean. Yes, Williams hits like a linebacker. But he often looks like one in deep coverage.
Romo is? Romo has a head and heart for football and is one of the bright spots on this year's team. But what will he be in the playoffs? The Cowboys opponents likely took note of the Eagles success in pressuring Romo. How well he adapts will be a key factor in how far Dallas goes in January.
The Cowboys runs well, but hasn't established the run. Julius Jones can make alot of yards off delays, but he can't make consistently make 4 yards on 1st down. Marion Barber is effective in short yardage situations, but can he function as a featured back? At some point Dallas needs to find out, because Jones isn't getting the job done in most situations.
Parcells and his staff are getting out coached. Sean Payton of the Saints knows the Cowboys from his years as an assistant. But the Cowboys knew how familiar Payton was with their offense and defense and weren't able to adjust. And you have to wonder whether defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has ever fully adjusted to the 3-4. More importantly, is the 3-4 the right defense for a team that can't generate a pass rush?
Dallas could still get it together. In a weak NFC you can see the Cowboys going to the Super Bowl or watching it on TV at home. Losing the division, and home field in the first round, is a blow. Dallas has players (Romo, Owens, Jones, Williams) with the potential to step up or blow up. Maybe expectations have been too great all along. As December turns to January this looks like a team a year away from contending for Super Bowl rings.
The main problem is the same problem the Cowboys have had since Aikman retired.. The Quaterback postion... Romo looked completely lost against the Eagles, and has looked more like Joey Harrington than Joe Montana lately. His newness has worn off and teams now know how to gameplan for him. And what happened to the Cowboys D line?. i havent heard Ferguson's name mentioned in a game since about week 7. other than Demarcus Ware and Terrence Newman, the whole defense has fallen completely off. Its sad to say, and as a long time Cowboys fan, its discouraging that Parcells actually thinks nothing is wrong with this team, but the best player right now for the Boys is Matt McBriar, the Punter.
Over the years other things have overtaken my love for professional football. Once an avid addict I now look in from time to time when it appears my Cowboys might offer more than 3 hours of negativity spent in front of a TV. sigh.
So I certainly don't claim to be an expert on the NFL today but it sure seems to me, since I'm probably the only Cowboy fan old enough to have seen their inagural season with leBaron at quarterback, that over the years the Cowboys have seriously contended when they has a bona fida all pro quarterback despite whatever else their team might be or not be. And all the rest of these increasingly mounting number of total seasons,that without that quarterback???????? We can dress a pig in a tutu but it serves no useful purpose. It's still a pig and it annoys the hell out of me that I fall into the trap over and over again that maybe the Cowboys will be winners without a hall of fame quarterback. They never have. SIGH
Fair warning: Beware the microcosm of the 2006 Detroit 4th quarter storyline, whereupon they stay competitive but at the last minute hand Oakland the first round pick -- ironically by beating the Cowboys in the final week of the regular season.
You know, the way my family plays dominoes would be an appropriate way to get pumped up for football...
Dudski... Well written. I agree with just about everything you say. You forgot to mention the weak offensive line. Why is Romo having to throw on the run? Blitzes get through when they shouldn't. Receivers don't get open or even worse they just plain out drop well placed passes. This very well may not be Dallas' year for a Super Bowl appearance but we shouldn't always rush things. This team needs some building including the coaching staff. And did they say something about Parcells getting another 4 years with the Cowboys last night or was it just me hearing things??
As long as TO is there, Parcells and Al are not going anywhere..TO is a distractor perhaps he needs going to TEXANS which have stolen the game vs Indiana last Sunday.Green would be a better receiver without TO grimacing on the sideline.
Your last point "Dallas could still get it together" is something that I think people aren't understanding. Jerry Jones has turned into Steinbrenner, calling this the "most disappointed that he's been in his 17 years as owner".
All good points...the most surprising should be that this team is being outcoached. Just don't expect Parcells to shoulder any of the blame.
Wait, wasn't Sean Payton their offensive coordinator last year?
Uh, yeah. Last seen he was turning Drew Brees into an MVP candidate, Marques Colston into a possible ROY and helping Reggie Bush press towards 100 receptions.
They can't call plays. Their weapons are totally wasted. To wit:
TE-Witten has 1 touchdown reception? Sure, he has his 4-5 catches every game, but why are they ignoring him in the red zone? Slamming Marion Barber at the line multiple times in a row isn't exactly play calling genius. More like what an 8 year old would do on Madden07.
RB-Jones or Barber? Barber or Jones? Make up your mind and get a guy into rhythm. You can use two backs, but Jones can't be expected to have any confidence with the 10-13 carries he has had in the past 5 games. Only a 77 yarder against the Saints helped him over 40 yards in any of those gams. Barber's carries are even more erratic although centered towards the end zone. 16, 12, 2, 11, and 6 the past dozen games. Get a runner in rhythm and keep them both active!
This probably happens because the team is so worried about getting the ball to Owens, but they don't have to. Just run it 20-25 times, hit the tight end when you get inside the 20 and when they have fallen asleep on TO burn them with a 50 yard touchdown. It's not that hard.
look guys, i'm not looking for a TO hype session. i'm looking for a fair assessment of the situation. none of us has any idea of whats going on in the Dallas locker room. the problems on the field arent TO. its real easy to blame him for a drop. but then no one wants to credit him for the plays he IS making. check his stats, we still look at stats these days right? - he's got the most TDs, 3rd in yardage with 30 less receptions. yo, thats on 5 catches a game! not dominant? Sean Salisbury said that - and i would disagree with anything he has to say about anything. The hand is still broken. he still needs surgery, and he still suits up because he wants to win. i dont know what else he has to do. but i do know that if we didnt stick to the TV like trained dogs, the reporters wouldnt try so hard to get him to say something. its not like he has a choice. all players have to spend time with the media every week or they get fined. when he finally said something positive about Garcia, Salisbury explained to me why it was really an 'insult in disguise.' no cowboy has come out and said anything bad about TO - so why must we assume problems. why are we inventing issues?
Parcells spends the first half icing his WRs trying to run the ball behind the same #### line they had last season. he doesnt throw to the TE, either of them. balance, folks.
the WRs just wanna play in the first half, too. they have a genuine gripe. its hard to lose after you spent half the game run-blocking. i would have screamed a long time ago. When is Billy-boy gonna fix that secondary? its been 2 years already. they still suck and everyone seems to know this. maybe its TO. Maybe his presence in the locker room this year is making the DBs suck... retroactively.
You raise a good point. This was going to be the year of the two tight end offense. That didn't work out. And how long into the season do you have to go before you stop getting burned over and over on deep passes down the middle.
Texascudaguy-McBriar is something else. Now there is a kicker worth investing some money in. He changes the dynamic of every game by giving Dallas another 40 or so yards of field position they wouldn't have with an average punter.
Dusty-There are teams, but you're right not Dallas, who have won it all with less than a top drawer quarterback. Romo is good, but the jury is out on how good he can be. And not alot of first year starters go all the way to the Super Bowl.
MCLioness-That would be the ultimate irony, a loss to Detroit headed into the playoffs. I just wish the Lions had hired the guy the Jets got (Mangini). I miss the old "black and blue division" and the epic battles between Detroit and Chicago, or the Lions and Packers on Thanksgiving Day. Where have you gone Lem Barney?
Benjamin-I think if I were Parcells I would want an open ended contract and to stay until the job is done. It might take another year or two. There is enough young talent there to do it.
Norcal-Your comment reminds me of something else unusual about Dallas. You almost never see a pass to a running back. With Jones speed you would think they would get him out in the open to create something.
Romo has to throw on the run because thats the kind of o-line we have to deal with. The protectiong has never been that great. Lets be thankful we have a "quarterback" who is mobile. He is the future and will develop to be "the quarterback of the future for the cowboys. "Patience , my friends, patience. The defensive secondary is what needs to be worked on next. That part needs to be revamped , big time. As for Roy Williams, i think he is one of the greatest defensive players the cowboys have ever had. I will always wear #31.
Total agreement. What irks me is how close this young team is to being great. In the Terrell Owens, Jason Fabini, Mike Vanderjerk and various other free agent signings I think many have forgotten how young this team actually is. Especially on Defense.
But there's got to be something done about the offensive game plan. The defense you can chaulk up mostly to inexperience at the Free Safety position and a lack of effort. But on offense their just typical. Nobody's saying it cause Parcells is a "legend" but he needs a strong personality like Payton helping run his offense.
Good post and lets hope those pesky Lions don't trap us!
