I'm not sure I agree with your subjective ranks, but this is a great post and a very good use of advanced statistics to make your point. Well done.coremiller said:
2014 Cowboys: Deja vu all over again
- Thread starter Bosoxen
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BigSoxFan said:
Let's not forget Julio Jones. He's better than a whole lot of the guys mentioned.
Whether you think Bryant is the 7th best receiver in football right now, or the 2nd best doesn't matter a whole lot when you're talking about a time period loaded with all world WR talent all over the NFL. IMO, there hasn't been a better group of WR's in the history of the game than the guys playing right now. If it weren't for off field issues and question marks, and his general craziness, I'd probably want him on my team ahead of virtually everyone except Calvin, AJ Green and Julio, however, it should be noted that he may be less of an injury risk than any of them, which is mighty important. If someone wants to argue that Antonio Brown or Jordy Nelson or DeSean Jackson is better, knock yourself out, but I personally don't think there is a catch that any of them can make that Dez can't. The guy is a weapon, at a position, in a league, loaded with them, and he's one of the best. Period. Advanced stats again don't tell the whole story. They just plain can't. The only way to truly figure out who is "better" than who is to watch the games, watch the throws, watch the drops, watch the catches and go from there. Larry Fitzgerald is as good a wide receiver that has ever put on a uniform, but the last few years of his career has been destroyed by the fact that he hasn't had anyone that can get him the ball. If he were playing in New England in 2012, I think he puts up 2007 type Randy Moss numbers instead of the 71-798-4 line he put up with flotsam and jetsam tossing the rock. Conversely, if you sent Jordy Nelson to Arizona or Jacksonville, I can guarantee the advanced statistics would show him in a much worse light than if you sent him to New Orleans or New England. I've seen Bryant make catches that I'm perfectly comfortable saying that only a handful of people on Earth could have made. He could be the best WR in football or the 8th best. Does it really matter?
I just want to get back briefly to London's repeated question about the usage of Murray. Frankly, I hadn't addressed it before because, well, I'm not sure how you address it. What happens to Denver tonight if Peyton Manning's neck gets blown up again? What happens to the Patriots if someone takes out Brady's knee? We could do this about every team in the league and almost every star player. With respect to Murray, I think folks would be very surprised at just how good Dunbar and Randle are, and just how good they would look behind this steamroller of an offensive line. Given 16 games behind this line, I would bet plenty of money that either of them would rush for 1,200+ yards. Dunbar is probably not as well known as Randle to most folks because he played at North Texas in college, but make no mistake, that kid is a stud, and may very well be a better receiver than Murray. I'm also pretty confident that both players are less likely to cost the Cowboys a back-breaking fumble at an inopportune time somewhere down the road. Don't believe, go ahead and throw "Lance Dunbar highlights" into a Youtube search and watch the video from 2011-2012. Kid is a stud, and every time he touches the ball, he's a threat. He may not be as polished as Murray, and likely would require a lot more reps to understand the offense and hit the holes, but by all accounts, he's a pretty good blocker, and he's an incredibly gifted instinctive runner. I'm not as high on Randle as I am Dunbar, but again, behind this offensive line, I think he'd fill in plenty well enough if called upon. Shit, if Stevan Ridley and Benjarvus can go for 1,000+ yards behind New England's offensive line, I've got no concerns that those two guys can easily surpass that mark behind Dallas' front. Yeah, if the offensive line gets decimated by injuries, they'll struggle. I'll concede that point. I'll also concede the sky is blue and water is wet.
I just want to get back briefly to London's repeated question about the usage of Murray. Frankly, I hadn't addressed it before because, well, I'm not sure how you address it. What happens to Denver tonight if Peyton Manning's neck gets blown up again? What happens to the Patriots if someone takes out Brady's knee? We could do this about every team in the league and almost every star player. With respect to Murray, I think folks would be very surprised at just how good Dunbar and Randle are, and just how good they would look behind this steamroller of an offensive line. Given 16 games behind this line, I would bet plenty of money that either of them would rush for 1,200+ yards. Dunbar is probably not as well known as Randle to most folks because he played at North Texas in college, but make no mistake, that kid is a stud, and may very well be a better receiver than Murray. I'm also pretty confident that both players are less likely to cost the Cowboys a back-breaking fumble at an inopportune time somewhere down the road. Don't believe, go ahead and throw "Lance Dunbar highlights" into a Youtube search and watch the video from 2011-2012. Kid is a stud, and every time he touches the ball, he's a threat. He may not be as polished as Murray, and likely would require a lot more reps to understand the offense and hit the holes, but by all accounts, he's a pretty good blocker, and he's an incredibly gifted instinctive runner. I'm not as high on Randle as I am Dunbar, but again, behind this offensive line, I think he'd fill in plenty well enough if called upon. Shit, if Stevan Ridley and Benjarvus can go for 1,000+ yards behind New England's offensive line, I've got no concerns that those two guys can easily surpass that mark behind Dallas' front. Yeah, if the offensive line gets decimated by injuries, they'll struggle. I'll concede that point. I'll also concede the sky is blue and water is wet.
I like Dunbar as the main backup, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say he's a sure bet to hit 1,200 yards. There have been hundreds of examples throughout the years of running backs who did extremely well as backup or change-of-pace backs, but struggled terribly when they became the featured back. I agree he's a better receiver and blocker than Murray, which is why you see him come in during obvious passing downs, but I think I'd pump the brakes a bit regarding his rushing ability. He's a complete and utter unknown and I'm not sure I'm ready yet to put him along with names like Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker. What do those guys have to do with this? They're the only running backs in Cowboys history to rush for 1,200 yards in a single season. Not even Calvin Hill managed that feat.
I tend to believe that a RBs success is 85% dependent on the ability of the OL. I suspect that had Dunbar or Randle replaced Murray for the past seven games then their production would approach Murray's.
The Cowboys are off to a great start, obviously. But the Eagles OL is getting healthier and I still think they're going to win the division unless injuries dramatically change things one way or the other.
The Cowboys are off to a great start, obviously. But the Eagles OL is getting healthier and I still think they're going to win the division unless injuries dramatically change things one way or the other.
Romo has been a good QB for year and has been playing like a very good QB this year. If he keeps playing within the system I have to think QB is a pretty huge edge for Dallas within that division.
It's all good. If one sweeps the other then that team is likely winning the East. Fairly obvious I suppose. A split, then who knows? I may be putting too much stock into the Eagles getting back Kelce & Mathis in the next 2/3 weeks. That line was so dominant last season that I'm likely being biased in thinking that just getting those guys back will mean improved performance by McCoy & Foles (who have both looked very inconsistent to outright bad at times this year). Philly has six road games left, including AZ, GB and Dallas on a short week. Each of those games should be tough and all could easily be losses. Dallas has only five away games left, with seemingly Phi and Chicago as the only tough ones remaining.
Now that I'm looking at their schedules I'm not so sure about Philly and the division. Seems like Philly might need a sweep to get there.
Now that I'm looking at their schedules I'm not so sure about Philly and the division. Seems like Philly might need a sweep to get there.
Yep, this is why I keep talking about Dallas not only winning the division and making the playoffs, but I really, really believe that Dallas has a very good chance at the #1 seed in the NFC. Their schedule is incredibly favorable, and with the NFC west about to beat up on each other, if they can split with Philly (or even sweep Philly), I think 13-3 is a legitimate possibility.
Bosoxen, it only takes 75 yards rushing per game to get to 1,200 in a season. The way this offensive line is playing right now, I have no doubt in my mind that Dunbar would easily be at 600+ at this point in the season. Shit, I'm not sure I could name a RB in the NFL that wouldn't get 1,200 yards behind this offensive line if given 15-20 carries a game. Well, maybe I can name a few (Hi Shonn Greene), but my point is that they are that good up front. I'm fairly certain that you could run for 800 yards in a season behind them the way they are opening holes, and I've seen you.
Let me be clear. Dunbar is not an unknown to me. I'm a complete and total college football junkie, (I actually follow the FCS more than I do the FBS, which is almost impossible) and have been following him since he showed him in North Texas in 2008. This was not a kid playing for a good football team. They were winning 3 games, 5 games, etc. a year when he was there, and he had literally nobody else around him on offense. They would just hand him the ball against 8 and 9 man boxes and let him do his thing. He landed on a lot of radars when he went for 305 yards from scrimmage and 4 td's in the final game of his junior year against Kansas State, but he was blowing my mind long before that. Just watching him run in the limited amount of time he's gotten this year makes me wish that they would go to a platoon and see what he can do. I think he's just as explosive, runs with more ferocity and has better moves than Murray. I think Murray is much better at getting that extra 1-2 yards per run due to his strength and ability to fall forward and he will never get you less than what a play should get, but I think Dunbar is more capable of making a big play out of nothing than Murray. Call Murray Emmitt to Dunbar's Barry to use a strained analogy. I hope Dallas blows out some folks or like London keeps talking about, starts resting Murray, so the world can see what Dunbar can do. He's the real deal.
Bosoxen, it only takes 75 yards rushing per game to get to 1,200 in a season. The way this offensive line is playing right now, I have no doubt in my mind that Dunbar would easily be at 600+ at this point in the season. Shit, I'm not sure I could name a RB in the NFL that wouldn't get 1,200 yards behind this offensive line if given 15-20 carries a game. Well, maybe I can name a few (Hi Shonn Greene), but my point is that they are that good up front. I'm fairly certain that you could run for 800 yards in a season behind them the way they are opening holes, and I've seen you.
Let me be clear. Dunbar is not an unknown to me. I'm a complete and total college football junkie, (I actually follow the FCS more than I do the FBS, which is almost impossible) and have been following him since he showed him in North Texas in 2008. This was not a kid playing for a good football team. They were winning 3 games, 5 games, etc. a year when he was there, and he had literally nobody else around him on offense. They would just hand him the ball against 8 and 9 man boxes and let him do his thing. He landed on a lot of radars when he went for 305 yards from scrimmage and 4 td's in the final game of his junior year against Kansas State, but he was blowing my mind long before that. Just watching him run in the limited amount of time he's gotten this year makes me wish that they would go to a platoon and see what he can do. I think he's just as explosive, runs with more ferocity and has better moves than Murray. I think Murray is much better at getting that extra 1-2 yards per run due to his strength and ability to fall forward and he will never get you less than what a play should get, but I think Dunbar is more capable of making a big play out of nothing than Murray. Call Murray Emmitt to Dunbar's Barry to use a strained analogy. I hope Dallas blows out some folks or like London keeps talking about, starts resting Murray, so the world can see what Dunbar can do. He's the real deal.
Yep, a Romo injury obviously changes everything. They still should have won this game easily, but from the opening snap onwards, they just gave away chance after chance.
And as good as Murray is, and as impressive as his records and achievements are getting, I think it's time folks stop looking the other way and excusing his fumbling problems. That's 5 lost fumbles through 8 games (he also fumbled the ball on his very last catch of the night which he fell on that nobody seemed to notice). This one hurt them. It came inside the 10 yard line early in the game after a long pass down the sideline. If Dallas scores there and ends up 14-3, this game has a completely, 100% different feel to it. I don't care how good you are, eventually, giving the ball to the other time too many times has to overshadow the yards.
Weeden impressed me though. If he can just be a serviceable QB, and Dallas doesn't go into this "will Romo play, won't Romo play" weekly conversation, I think he can win them some ball games. At 6-2 right now, they only have to go 4-4 from here to have a very realistic shot at the playoffs, and given their schedule, I think that's very, very doable with Weeden at QB and the weapons around him. They just have to commit to giving the guy first team reps throughout the week and not dangling the potential starting job out in front of him only to snatch it away every weekend and put a broken Romo in there to cost them games.
And as good as Murray is, and as impressive as his records and achievements are getting, I think it's time folks stop looking the other way and excusing his fumbling problems. That's 5 lost fumbles through 8 games (he also fumbled the ball on his very last catch of the night which he fell on that nobody seemed to notice). This one hurt them. It came inside the 10 yard line early in the game after a long pass down the sideline. If Dallas scores there and ends up 14-3, this game has a completely, 100% different feel to it. I don't care how good you are, eventually, giving the ball to the other time too many times has to overshadow the yards.
Weeden impressed me though. If he can just be a serviceable QB, and Dallas doesn't go into this "will Romo play, won't Romo play" weekly conversation, I think he can win them some ball games. At 6-2 right now, they only have to go 4-4 from here to have a very realistic shot at the playoffs, and given their schedule, I think that's very, very doable with Weeden at QB and the weapons around him. They just have to commit to giving the guy first team reps throughout the week and not dangling the potential starting job out in front of him only to snatch it away every weekend and put a broken Romo in there to cost them games.
I haven't seen anybody excusing Murray's fumbling issues but they sure shouldn't be if they are. The one he lost tonight, I applaud the effort but you just have to go out of bounds there. You're not going to score and you avoid taking a hit.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it in the heat of right after the game but I think they were exposed badly tonight. Colt McCoy just carved them up and it looked like the old, mistake-prone, poorly coached Cowboys team. That offensive game plan, never taking advantage of zero coverage with a slant to Dez or more screens/draws, just absolutely awful. And as bad as that fumble was, DeMarco's blitz pickup ability (or inability) might have been even more atrocious.
And now Justin Durant is out for the season at LB and Ron Leary strained a groin. And that doesn't even get to Brandon Weeden likely being the QB.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it in the heat of right after the game but I think they were exposed badly tonight. Colt McCoy just carved them up and it looked like the old, mistake-prone, poorly coached Cowboys team. That offensive game plan, never taking advantage of zero coverage with a slant to Dez or more screens/draws, just absolutely awful. And as bad as that fumble was, DeMarco's blitz pickup ability (or inability) might have been even more atrocious.
And now Justin Durant is out for the season at LB and Ron Leary strained a groin. And that doesn't even get to Brandon Weeden likely being the QB.
I didn't hear about Durant. That's a massive loss. The guy led the team in tackles tonight too. Not sure they can recover from that, even if Romo comes back healthy. I say it all the time, new QB's come into the league and regularly surprise everyone for a game or three. It happens all.the.time. Then the league catches up to them, and their real ability shines through. This is one of those early games for McCoy, so I'm willing to excuse Dallas' defense a little bit tonight. They were put in some bad positions by the offense in the first half and stood tall, and held the Skins to only 3 points. It got a little ragged in the second half, but I'm not sure the numbers tell the whole story on that front. They were on the field a lot, particularly down the stretch, and holding Washington to a field goal on that drive in OT was a pretty good result when they could have just rolled over. They gave their offense a chance to win the game repeatedly, and the offense came up small. They got good pressure and had 5 sacks, and basically committed no penalties. All in all, I'd grade them a B to a B- tonight, and like I've said for a while, if they hold their opponent to under 24 points like they did, they should win these games. The offense lost this game tonight. They should have destroyed that makeshift defense that Washington had out there, but they were thoroughly and completely outcoached both in the game plan and during the game.
The only thing I can come up with is that they started to believe their own hype. The way the offense was run yesterday was very "we're going to do what we do and try to stop us". Well, they did, and the Cowboys never adjusted. Worse still, they reverted back to the Jason Garrett-run pass-happy days of old at the worst possible time.
Why the fuck did they not run the ball on 3rd & 3 in overtime? They knew it was four down territory. They knew Washington was going to bring the all-out blitz. They knew Romo was struggling after getting kneed in the back*. They knew Dez had been shut down all night. They knew they were having trouble with the blitz in obvious passing situations. Yet they still threw the ball three fucking times in a row after being set up with a 2nd & 2 by Murray's 8-yard run.
I'm ok with trying to take a shot downfield on 2nd down, but when that turned into a dump off that lost a yard, the correct call there is to pound the ball and try to set up a 4th and short situation. Hell, maybe Murray breaks through and gets the 1st down. What was called was a low-percentage play and it bit them in the ass. Then they compounded the problem by lining up in the shotgun again on 4th down, inviting the blitz again. Dreadful game management.
*I know it's been covered, but I would like to echo that they should not have let Romo back in. It was clear from the first snap he took that he wasn't right. Weeden wasn't going to set the world on fire, but he actually looked ok, albeit a tad rusty.
Why the fuck did they not run the ball on 3rd & 3 in overtime? They knew it was four down territory. They knew Washington was going to bring the all-out blitz. They knew Romo was struggling after getting kneed in the back*. They knew Dez had been shut down all night. They knew they were having trouble with the blitz in obvious passing situations. Yet they still threw the ball three fucking times in a row after being set up with a 2nd & 2 by Murray's 8-yard run.
I'm ok with trying to take a shot downfield on 2nd down, but when that turned into a dump off that lost a yard, the correct call there is to pound the ball and try to set up a 4th and short situation. Hell, maybe Murray breaks through and gets the 1st down. What was called was a low-percentage play and it bit them in the ass. Then they compounded the problem by lining up in the shotgun again on 4th down, inviting the blitz again. Dreadful game management.
*I know it's been covered, but I would like to echo that they should not have let Romo back in. It was clear from the first snap he took that he wasn't right. Weeden wasn't going to set the world on fire, but he actually looked ok, albeit a tad rusty.
Bosoxen said:
Some bad deja vu there for me last night. As in 2007 Super bowl deja vu.
The game got ugly early and stayed that way. The opponent hung around. They were hopeless protecting the QB -- Haz coached the game of his life and had the Cowboys totally flummoxed on when the blitz was coming and when it wasn't.
The running plays were there to be made. When Murray gains 8 on first down in OT, when a score is needed, and they follow that up with 3 straight passes, that's dome historic malpractice right there.
One of our resident doctors said in the game thread last night that it could be just a contusion -- i.e., a bruise.
I totally understand the inference being drawn that Jurrah' forced Romo back in. I do not understand everyone leaping to the worst case conclusion re Romo.\
Frankly, from where we were positioned as viewers, we had no idea whether he should have been sent back in or not. We didn't know how much pain he was in, whether he in fact was shot up, or whether he was at any risk of aggravating the injury.
I'm far more miffed about the play selection.
I totally understand the inference being drawn that Jurrah' forced Romo back in. I do not understand everyone leaping to the worst case conclusion re Romo.\
Frankly, from where we were positioned as viewers, we had no idea whether he should have been sent back in or not. We didn't know how much pain he was in, whether he in fact was shot up, or whether he was at any risk of aggravating the injury.
I'm far more miffed about the play selection.
Not to mention his visit to the locker room, after which he spoke with ESPN's reporter about the injury.Bosoxen said:
Definitely something to the "giving Romo his moment" notion. I'm guessing the fans of the team would have preferred to keep riding Murray and take the win.
Greg29fan said:
That is natural, but until contrary word is received, I think you can now proceed on the assumption that he'll be playing this season.
The short term problem is that Arizona can really get after the QB. The antidote to that is pretty clear. You have road graders on that o-line, but not unusually gifted pass protectors.
dcmissle said:
I'm guessing you're referring to the game thread, of which I wasn't a part. My point of view was that Romo didn't look right once he came in (I wanted him back in, but it was immediately clear things weren't right). He was tentative and wasn't moving as well as he has been. He looked more like the Romo of Week 1, than the Romo of Week 6. Any coaching staff with even the slightest bit of autonomy would have yanked him from the game to not only give the team a better chance to win, but also to preserve him for later in the season.
I guess it was only a matter of time before Jerry's influence started to creep back in and mess things up. As he did with Parcells, he simply can't help himself. He just has to be in the spotlight one way or another. I figured that he was being less Jerry-like because he now has his hand-picked guy running the show, so he could sit back and bask in the glow of a good season while a guy willing to give him his share of the credit ran the team. Clearly, I was wrong.
For the record, I'm with you regarding the play selection. That was the biggest issue for me, too. They still could have won the game, despite all of the antics, but for game management that you'd see a 10 year-old do in a video game.
Our possession in overtime was the cherry on top of the turd sundae of playcalling. You have 9 minutes to go and score a TD (or at worst a FG) and you're in four down territory. No time related pressure to pass the ball. Just line up and punch them in the mouth all of the way down the field. Make them prove that they can stop the run given their allowing 7 yards per carry on the day. Murray runs for 8 yards on 1st down....THEN THREE STRAIGHT PASSES. Even worse was the fact that they were big blitzing every time and your QB had been rushed back on the field after lying motionless for 5 minutes due to being planted by a blitzing defensive back. Agreed with everyone above that the playcalling was borderline criminally negiligent. Jesus Christ. Had flashbacks to Detroit and Green Bay games in which there was a seeiming commitment to not run the ball.
The fact that the game went into overtime as bad as we played in every facet of the game is a testiment to how shitty this Redskins team is. They should have put that game to bed before halftime.
On a positive note, they probably needed this reality check. The hype machine was in full swing and our idiot owner was already talking about smelling the godamn roses despite the fact that this team has done exactly NOTHING in the postseason for the last decade plus. This kind of humiliation against a clearly inferior team (as a UT fan I was kind of pulling for McCoy, but he was garbage in the first half and bailed out by Jackson in the second half) will hopefully serve as a wake-up call that this team hasn't earned shit in the way of respect. That goes from the owner (whishful thinking) to the coaches and players. From the interviews I've heard, it seems like the coaching staff and players have figured that out. This Sunday's game against the Cardinals will be a huge test for Garrett and the coaching staff. If they show up, play hard, eliminate mistakes, have better game planning, and are competitve, they may be able to make some noise in the postseason. If they shit the bed, well, they will probably collapase like the Cardinals did a few years ago after their hot start.
Romo should not have come back into the game. Espeacially with Weeden playing competently. No one in their right mind would have thought it was Weeden's team or would have crapped on Romo for not coming back in in light of his back surgeries. (On the other hand, think of what a horrible shitshow circus it would have been had Manziel been on the roster and performed the same as Weeden.....ESPN would have literally exploded). Classic indefensible move with limited upside and tremendous downside. This is the type of move that has doomed the franchise to mediocrity for such a long period of time. Hopefully they learn their lesson and take it easy on Romo coming back. With this offensive line and the weapons on offense, Weeden can be servicable for the next few weeks.
Of course GM Jerry has already doomed this by saying that Romo can play if he doesn't puss out on Sunday. He should be waking up every day and thanking the football gods for Dan Snyder keeping him as the second worst owner* in the NFL (*purely in terms of his impact on the teams inability to consistently succeed on the field).
The fact that the game went into overtime as bad as we played in every facet of the game is a testiment to how shitty this Redskins team is. They should have put that game to bed before halftime.
On a positive note, they probably needed this reality check. The hype machine was in full swing and our idiot owner was already talking about smelling the godamn roses despite the fact that this team has done exactly NOTHING in the postseason for the last decade plus. This kind of humiliation against a clearly inferior team (as a UT fan I was kind of pulling for McCoy, but he was garbage in the first half and bailed out by Jackson in the second half) will hopefully serve as a wake-up call that this team hasn't earned shit in the way of respect. That goes from the owner (whishful thinking) to the coaches and players. From the interviews I've heard, it seems like the coaching staff and players have figured that out. This Sunday's game against the Cardinals will be a huge test for Garrett and the coaching staff. If they show up, play hard, eliminate mistakes, have better game planning, and are competitve, they may be able to make some noise in the postseason. If they shit the bed, well, they will probably collapase like the Cardinals did a few years ago after their hot start.
Romo should not have come back into the game. Espeacially with Weeden playing competently. No one in their right mind would have thought it was Weeden's team or would have crapped on Romo for not coming back in in light of his back surgeries. (On the other hand, think of what a horrible shitshow circus it would have been had Manziel been on the roster and performed the same as Weeden.....ESPN would have literally exploded). Classic indefensible move with limited upside and tremendous downside. This is the type of move that has doomed the franchise to mediocrity for such a long period of time. Hopefully they learn their lesson and take it easy on Romo coming back. With this offensive line and the weapons on offense, Weeden can be servicable for the next few weeks.
Of course GM Jerry has already doomed this by saying that Romo can play if he doesn't puss out on Sunday. He should be waking up every day and thanking the football gods for Dan Snyder keeping him as the second worst owner* in the NFL (*purely in terms of his impact on the teams inability to consistently succeed on the field).
Agreed with everything you said, except that McCoy was bailed out by Jackson. Colt did what he has always done, and that's dink and dunk a defense to death. He is one of the best quarterbacks I've ever seen at that, and it's only the fact that he can't make the "NFL throws" that he's not seen as at least a premier backup.
Dude is the quintessential bus driver. That has some value to a well-run team. It's a shame he's about to be tossed side yet again because Griffin is "physically ready".
To bring this back around on topic, they really should have pounded the rock in overtime. Which, again, kind of begs the question about Jerry's sideline visit.
I'm still buying into "The Process", but it's obvious it's not there yet.
Dude is the quintessential bus driver. That has some value to a well-run team. It's a shame he's about to be tossed side yet again because Griffin is "physically ready".
To bring this back around on topic, they really should have pounded the rock in overtime. Which, again, kind of begs the question about Jerry's sideline visit.
I'm still buying into "The Process", but it's obvious it's not there yet.
I used to be a very bad sport as a kid and couldn't handle it when my team lost. I still have a (small) scar from elbowing a hole into the wall when the Giants choked against the 49ers (AND GOT FUCKED BY THE REFS AS THE NFL ADMITTED DAMMIT THAT WAS FUCKING PI). But that - that's a whole other level right there. Dude has serious anger issues.
Ed Werder @Edwerderespn 37m37 minutes ago
I'm told Tony Romo will either start or be inactive vs #Cardinals. If he can't play, Brandon Weeden starts, undrafted Dustin Vaughan No. 2
You really needed sources for this?
I'm told Tony Romo will either start or be inactive vs #Cardinals. If he can't play, Brandon Weeden starts, undrafted Dustin Vaughan No. 2
You really needed sources for this?
soxhop411 said:
Isn't is possible he could be active, but serve as the emergency backup or something? Makes more sense to either let him start or just inactivate him like they are doing, but it's not the only option I suppose.
On a separate note…. looks like Romo has a couple of spine (transverse process) fractures after all. Unless significantly displaced, unlikely they could see these on the X-rays they took during the game, so this isn't very surprising to find out now. No real risk of playing with these fractures, as they don't serve any stabilizing function and aren't near the spinal cord. It will just be a question of how much pain he can tolerate.
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/11803228/tony-romo-dallas-cowboys-suffered-two-fractured-transverse-process-back
Arizona actually has a terrible pass rush, only sacking opposing QBs on 2.4% of dropbacks, dead last in the NFL. That's a big reason they're worst in the NFL, allowing 302.9 passing yards per game.Greg29fan said:
I'm surprised that happened, especially after the pick-six. I guess AZ is better than I thought they were. Any event, Jacksonville up next and that should be a win with or without Romo. Then the bye then NYG which despite the divisional battle randomness should be another win. So 8-3 hosting Philly on Thanksgiving is looking pretty likely. And sounds like it'll be Sanchez for Philly then, too.
Even with the loss I think it was a pretty good day for Dallas.
Even with the loss I think it was a pretty good day for Dallas.
Oil Can Dan said:
Is this just poor phrasing on your part, or did you see something I didn't see? The only encouraging things I saw were some additional pressure on the opposing quarterback and a running game that still moved the ball, despite the Arizona defense putting all 11 men in the box. Other than that, the game was a complete and utter disaster. Weeden was worse than could have been expected, the defense had an uncanny ability to not get off the field and they lost two key defensive contributors to knee injuries (their extent is as yet unknown, but Crawford has at least an MCL strain).
They even had a field goal blocked and made another poor coaching decision by going for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter, when a field goal would have made it a 14-13 game. Your worst-case scenario with the field goal is that you need a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie it. If you don't get it, you're leaving the defense with yet another short field to defend. Raise your hand if you were shocked that the Cardinals marched right down the field to make it 21-10 and put the game away.
Now, if you meant that it could have been worse and that the loss isn't going to end their season, then I'd agree with that. Even though it was a conference loss at home, it's not like that game was chalked up as a win anyway. But there was absolutely nothing about that which made it a "pretty good day".
I would suggest he means the Eagles losing Foles (and Ryans and maybe the Niners both losing and looking pretty blah again).
Personally I'd say Foles has been bad enough that's not the blow it would have been in Week 1
I see 2 teams missing out on the playoffs, Lions and Packers in the North, Saints OR Panthers in the south, Arizona Seattle and San Fran out West and Dallas and Eagles in the East are in the running.
Panthers loss makes it clearer than it's unlikely a South team gets a wild card, every loss for Seattle and San Fran is going to make them more on the outside looking in.
Personally I'd say Foles has been bad enough that's not the blow it would have been in Week 1
I see 2 teams missing out on the playoffs, Lions and Packers in the North, Saints OR Panthers in the south, Arizona Seattle and San Fran out West and Dallas and Eagles in the East are in the running.
Panthers loss makes it clearer than it's unlikely a South team gets a wild card, every loss for Seattle and San Fran is going to make them more on the outside looking in.
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