Monday, October 10, 2005

Bledsoe Leads the Way



This may be burying the lead, but I want to start with QB. I am sure I was the only one who was shocked to see Drew Bledsoe play QB this well, right? 10 TD’s, 3 INT’s and 1300 yards in 5 games. Of course, everyone expected that, right? I have lived in Dallas, Texas since 1998. No Cowboys QB (and yes, I mean Troy Aikman 1998-2000) has played QB at this high a level that entire time. We are basically a third of the way into the season and I have nothing but compliments for a position on the field that has seldom been worthy of compliments in almost a decade. The Cowboys now have a QB who can get the ball where it needs to go. If he keeps this up, I am confident the Cowboys will be playing post-season football this season. Quite confident.

Now, on to the game. It has been a long time since the Eagles have had their heads handed to them in this emphatic a fashion. Congratulations, Cowboys. Many, many, many people around the league were happy to see someone give the Eagles a dose of their own medicine for once, and all the sweeter that the Philly dopes can enjoy a bye week knowing that the Cowboys were their daddy last time they played.

There really is no way to explain this away if you are Philadelphia. They just got abused. Every way, all day, the Cowboys looked like the team that was impossible to beat. Where was the unstoppable MVP candidate at QB? McNabb looks hurt again, and you must wonder if surgery is scheduled for this week on his hernia. Where was TO? Non-factor. Where was the feared Jim Johnson blitz? Perhaps they were not wanting to show too much prior to the playoffs, but that was weak.

Were the Cowboys that good, or were they playing a team that was due for a pounding? Perhaps a little bit of both. But, it was nice to see this team finally treat a great opponent like they should be treated when they roll into Texas Stadium. This old barn has been easy to play in recently for the road teams, and this was anything but easy.

Look, we know the truth. The Eagles are not that bad. When the season is over, odds are real good that they will be in Detroit for Super Bowl XL. And, the Cowboys are not that good. There is a good chance that they give it back next week against the Giants if they aren’t careful. But, they showed what they are capable of, and that is something that 100% of us did not think they are capable of: On a good day, they can humiliate the best team in the NFC. That should give this team plenty of confidence moving forward.

And no, I don’t understand Keyshawn v. Drew either. Of course, I also don’t understand how the Sooners did not have a deep safety on that play before halftime, either. This weekend presented the unlikely in Dallas, the Sooners and Eagles going home crying. What a nice change of pace.

Trends broken at Texas Stadium


The Eagles had won nine of 10 games against Dallas since the start of the 2000 season by an average of 22.1 points. Six times, they had scored more than 35 points.
"I know it was awful important to some of the guys who have been here awhile," Bledsoe said. "It was a very important win for the fans who support the Cowboys. We know we're going to face this team again next month, and they're going to have revenge on their minds."

The fans certainly enjoyed it, serenading the Eagles fans in their green-and-white jerseys as they filed out of the stadium early in the fourth quarter.

The win overshadowed a third-quarter sideline altercation between Bledsoe and Keyshawn Johnson and an ankle injury that sidelined running back Julius Jones for the second half.

"I'm happy with the way we came out today and controlled the ball and the game," Parcells said. "I thought our special teams were good, our defense was good and our offense was good. You play like that, you have a chance to beat anybody."


Meanwhile, the Philly papers track what Owens wore after the game


The people are the same. The results are the opposite.

"We have to figure out what kind of team we are," Dawkins said. "We are not as passive as we acted out there."

"We've just got to come out and sucker-punch somebody," middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said.

Here's a good place to start:

Owens got on the team bus to the airport wearing a white Dallas Cowboys jersey with Michael Irvin's name and No. 88 on it.

If he made it home without one of his teammates ripping it off him and stuffing it down his throat, the Eagles are in even more trouble than the Texas Stadium scoreboard said.


Aggies disappoint…again


When people compare the A&M and Colorado programs over the past two seasons, they'll see a split in the head-to-head series. It's an uneven split in favor of the Buffaloes, though. Colorado pushed A&M to overtime at Kyle Field last year, then beat the holy heck outta the Aggies at Folsom Field. Over that stretch, the Buffaloes also have at least one Big 12 North crown, with a good shot at a second.

What has A&M done over that time?

Forget that question, and answer this one: How weak is the Big 12 North? I mean, really?

At least at the top of the division, the North is stronger than A&M.

And that's what A&M lost Saturday. It lost reputation. It lost perceived power.
Aggie fans comforted themselves with the idea that A&M was good enough to win the North title last year. It would be tough to buy that this year after Colorado 41, A&M 20.

Worse, people are going to start begging the question: Is A&M's rebuilding project under Dennis Franchione regressing?

After watching A&M struggle to dominate Division I-AA Texas State ... then watching A&M survive (barely) a home game against former Big 12 doormat Baylor ... then watching A&M get dismantled by a team many Aggie fans liked to believe A&M was better than. ...

I mean, at some point, Aggie fans will simply grow tired of watching.




Tech silences its critics by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a late win in Lincoln …I have to admit that I thought they were going to lose all week. Then, I thought they were going to lose the entire 2nd half. I must offer big credit to the Raiders for showing a lot more spine than I thought they had…



And if that wasn’t crazy enough, BAYLOR WINS A ROAD GAME!!! ….


Baylor won a Big 12 road game for the first time in the league's 10-year history on Saturday, getting three field goals from Ryan Havens and two big fumble recoveries to beat Iowa State 23-13.

"It's another gorilla off our back," Baylor coach Guy Morriss said.

And a huge setback for Iowa State, now 0-2 in the Big 12 after sharing the North title last year. The league's North division already had been ridiculed as being the league's weak link. The division's co-champion losing to Baylor will only add to that perception.

"I can't even express in words how disappointed we are in this loss," Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman said. "We didn't play Cyclone football like we know how."

Baylor had been 0-37 on the road in the Big 12 and had lost 38 straight conference games overall away from home. The Bears' last league victory on the road had been on Nov. 11, 1995 _ 48-7 over SMU in the old Southwest Conference.


This is kind of amusing: Texas Sports Information department ignores Stoopes


Interesting cutoff point: The Texas football notes included a chart of the winningest active coaches since 1990 based on winning percentage. Florida State's Bobby Bowden was first at .839, while Texas' Mack Brown was third at .757. Curiously, OU's Bob Stoops was not listed. The chart had a minimum requirement of 70 wins. Stoops entered Saturday's game with 69 wins. His winning percentage of .831 would have placed him second on the list.


More on the Sooner Bomber

Boom meets Lost

Damian Cox examines the early season on ice

Packers Update, Week 5: Packers 52, Saints 3. Just a few quick hits about a win that was never in doubt. #1, since Minnesota is the rival up there, and since a trip to Minnesota is next after the bye week, it is worth noting that both teams have 1 win on October 10th, and both wins are at home against the New Orleans Saints. It also is worth noting that the hurricane would be a great excuse for Jim Haslett and the Saints playing such silly football, except the fact that they underachieve every season, and while 52-3 is worse than usual, they really need a new coach and a new approach in New Orleans or San Antonio or wherever. Incidentally, they could use a new coach in Green Bay, too. #2, even when they win, they still lose as the Pack lost Najeh Davenport for the season with a broken ankle …So with Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport unavailable, care to guess who was carrying the ball late in the game? Rashard Lee had 7 carries for 7 yards. I am sure Troy Hambrick is sending a resume to Lambeau Field as we speak…

Art Garcia with Dirk

Yankees stay alive, force game 5 tonight …Otherwise, Chicago, Houston, and St Louis advance…Hopefully, my baseball coverage is not too disappointing. I am all football all the time right now..

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Texas and Tech take care of business this week, then it gets very, very interesting. However, just as Texas has a brainfart game in them each year, Tech always seems to melt when the spotlight is on...sigh.

As an Astros fan, I'd love to see them win it all. As a realist, St. Louis is an really, really, really, good team. Cards in 6.

Question: Are we going to get @sswhipped about Bledsoe and Keyshawn's spat like Drese and Barajas? Please for the love of God, let it go.

Nice to see Sport Sturm up early. I have to wonder if he would've been so eager if Green Bay had lost by 49.

For the record: Only idiots bet on pro sports..Hi, I'm an idiot, please take my wallet and save me the heartache of watching Buffalo cover the spread with a backup QB.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Green Bay is only 1 game out of first in the NFC North!!!!

7-9 wins that division?

Go Pack Go!

Anonymous said...

Hello?!?!?!

SMU win? If Rich is going to win homercall of the year, and he will, you should at least mention the game.

Andy Douthitt said...

What a game yesterday!

Bledsoe was not sacked once, and rarely hit even after he threw the ball. That is amazing. If the O-Line can protect Drew like that every week, he will avg. over 250 a game easily.

Another solid day for the Defense. I think Cowboy fans are starting to see what all of our offseason moves have brought us...a very good defensive nucleus. Only will play better week to week.

Finally, Terry Glenn is money. As long as that guy stays upright, he is a top receiver in this league right now (even better than Key because he is a burner that can stretch the field).

By the way, the end around with Key needs to be replaced with an end around to Glenn. That play only got us 3 yards, when the defense was going the other way. That play should pick up 8 or more every time.

This is the first time in 10 years that I see players that might contend for a Super Bowl soon.

Will said...

I just wanted to give you and Dan a heads up to the Atlanta Falcons call of that 58 yard FG by their punter. Either the play by play guy or the color man talked some great smack about the NE timeout they called. I am sure Dan is already onto it, but just in case he isnt I wanted you to be aware. It is quite funny to hear that announcer bow up.

Anonymous said...

yeah what was with that end around to the slow as hell keyshawn, it should have been glenn or crayton.

Anonymous said...

And how about a mention for Irving's own Tyson Thompson? He had 75 yards yesterday and only played one half of football. And as far as his two "fumbles" were concerned, replay clearly showed he was down both times, so there is no point in counting against him for that.

Anonymous said...

Rumor is that Julius Jones is hurt much worse than has been let on.....probably won't practice much at all and may need surgery or at least significantly less carries....if true, this will be a killer I'm afriad.

They are supposed to do a "thorough" evaluation/exam today or tomorrow, but he is in serious pain.

I do give him credit, he didn't want to come out of the game.

Anonymous said...

the way thompson played yesterday tells me that the Cowboys may be ok without Julius for a few games...

but if he is done for the season, it could get bad...

Anonymous said...

can julius stop limping after every carry. i dont remember seeing emmitt ever limp. i dont want to compare him to emmitt, but emmitt is a guy a saw every week for a ton of years. if people think julius is the answer, i need to know the question. i dont think julius is the warrior we had hoped.

Anonymous said...

suggestion for homer call.....

on the smu-uab game, if you listen to the uab radio announcers call of the game winning touchdown by smu, you can hear rich phillips screaming in the background. they was so loud that you could hear them on the uab broadcast from the next room over....

Anonymous said...

Andy Doutitts is a moron and should have his blogger status taken away.

Mike

SMU Football Blog said...

suggestion for homer call.....

on the smu-uab game, if you listen to the uab radio announcers call of the game winning touchdown by smu, you can hear rich phillips screaming in the background. they was so loud that you could hear them on the uab broadcast from the next room over....


Actually, those are the SMU coaches screaming like little girls on the UAB broadcast. The SMU broadcasters were flanked by the UAB coaches and the replay booth.

Observer said...

I had really mixed feelings about the Tech win. On the one hand, it would be nice to shut up the obnoxious Tech fans. On the other hand, as a Texas alum, I'm wanting Tech to be as highly ranked as possible so that when Texas beats 'em, Texas will get help in the BCS (they certainly aren't going to get any help from Oklahoma or A&M).

Andy Douthitt said...

OK anonymous. Identify yourself.

I will not have any of that. I always have good sports feedback.

Period

Anonymous said...

Observer,

It sucks, but if you run the numbers...

USC stays #1 and undefeated, they are in the Rose Bowl

IF Va Tech, SEC Champion, or PSU stays at #3 and undefeated...

Than Texas is out, and headed to the Orange Bowl. The SOS is gonna kill them, and it will get worse as the season goes along...

Anonymous said...

(Still shaking my head with how Buffalo covered the spread).

Norm said that Tech @ K-State is a toss-up this week...uh...hopefully K-State will show up in Lubbock since that's where the @ss kicking will be this week (let me enjoy it since UT will probably hang 50 on us in two week anyways).

UT, VT/FSU, Bama/Georgia all end up undefeated, then UT will end up 4th in the BCS poll...sorry, UT's SOS is horrible. I'm not happy about it either.

Dan Patrick is shaking his head about the Baltimore Ravens today--who gives a rat's @ss!! No wonder Hansen still has a job.

Anonymous said...

seems the saints have lost deuce mcallister for the season with a torn acl. guess things cant get much worse for them.

Anonymous said...

AttnyDan, pick your poison from 12 to 1 on Mondays and Fridays:

1. Hansen
2. Norm for another hour
3. BaD starting on time
4. Doocey or somesuch

My money is on BaD starting on time. By the way, 103.3 is starting to do drops and funny bits about their hosts--i.e. Galloway's stuttering--did Gribble get a new job?

I hate the P1

Anonymous said...

oh ok....it was still funny to hear screaming from another room through the uab broadcast...

cracker1743 said...

Yesterday goes down as one of my greatest sports Sundays ever (aside from Cowboys' Super Bowl wins). Here in Houston, we get @rsewhipped with the spare Texans, so I'm always checking tv schedules to map out any Cowboys games that will be on. I figured yesterday would be perfect: Astros at noon to advance to the NLCS, and Cowboys at 3 to hopefully not get beat too bad by the Iggles.

Well, holy crap. It's 5:30pm, I'm still watching the Astros duke it out with the Braves in one of the best games I've ever seen, and the Cowboys are massacreing ... massacring ... uh, beating the snot out of the Iggles. There's nothing better than watching Atlanta and Philly get their @rses handed to them.

Anonymous said...

Joe Buck rules!


mark that!

Unknown said...

I was at the Astros game for 12 innings with a couple of my Astros-fan-friends. I, for one, couldn't wait to get the hell out of there so I could witness Donovan-domination. I'd pick watching Donovan and Terrell's blank stare of defeat over the parade of spares at Minute Maid for 6 hours, any day.

It was a great game I guess...too bad Houston is headed for a Philly-like beating in St. Louis.

Anonymous said...

Nobody is coming out of the SEC this year undefeated. Period. It's just too tough of a conference. As for the ACC, we'll just have to see what happens. So called BCS experts I've read say if Texas wins out, they're likely to finish #2 no matter what VT or FS do. But with 6 more games or so left, it's still too early to really speculate too accurately yet. Who's to say that USC, Texas and VT won't all trip up and lose a game between now and the end of November? All I know is that in all 3 polls (AP, Coaches & Harris), Texas gained ground on VT this week. VT plays unranked Maryland, while UT plays #24 Colorado this coming weekend, so if both win, VT won't improve their position any.

Anonymous said...

Ok, so remind me again why everyone seems to think that Texas' S.O.S. is so much weaker than Virginia Tech's is? Here's the schedule for both teams with the results so far. According to this, Texas actually has the slightly stronger schedule to this point of the season, not VT.

Texas
W Louisiana-Lafayette (1-4)
W @Ohio State* (3-2)
W Rice (0-4)
W @Missouri (3-2)
W Oklahoma (2-3)
- Colorado* (4-1)
- Texas Tech* (5-0)
- @Okla St. (3-2)
- @Baylor (4-1)
- Kansas (3-2)
- @Texas A&M (3-2)
Opponents Current Combined Record: (31-23 .574)

Virginia Tech
W @NC State (2-2)
W @Duke (1-5)
W Ohio (2-3)
W Georgia Tech (3-2)
W @West Va* (5-1)
W Marshall (2-3)
- @Maryland (4-2)
- BC* (5-1)
- Miami FL* (4-1)
- @Virginia (3-2)
- N Carolina (2-3)
Opponents Current Combined Record: (33-25 .569)

*: Currently Ranked in Top 25

Anonymous said...

because the teams they've played have a worse record than VT's opponents thus far

Anonymous said...

(not that) Dan...

did you read Rob's stats?
Texas Opponents Current Combined Record: (31-23 .574)
VT Opponents Current Combined Record: (33-25 .569)

Last time I checked .574 is a BETTER winning percentage than .569!

Anonymous said...

y'all have weak reading comprehension skillz

I said teams they've ALREADY played. The records posted are the current records of all the teams they WILL play this season

The opponents Texas has played thus far are 9-15 (.375)

The opponents VaTech have played thus far are 15-16 (.484)