Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Giants 36, Cowboys 22 (3-3)

• Let’s get this out of the way right now: The Cowboys are in complete disarray. How this happened so quickly is hard for me to put into words. I swear, around 7:30, we were talking about how they are one evening of football from being alone in first place in what we considered to be the best division in football. Then, by 8:30 we were all quite sure that this team should not be considered a favorite to win almost any game they have left on the schedule. That must be some sort of record for a team that did not lose any significant player to injury in that one hour. The entire house of cards collapsed last night, and I hate to agree with those that knee jerk, but it is hard not to agree when one of the chief knee jerkers appears to be the Head Coach of the team.

• Someone suggested that when you have 2 QBs that appear so close, then you really have none. I thought the first half and second half of the Monday Night mauling demonstrated that with perfect clarity. Where the plot twists to take us next Sunday is anyone’s guess. But, wow. I swear, they were only down 12-7 at the half. This was still a winnable game that could have made you 4-2. When you pulled your veteran QB, you pulled your season off the table. This is not to say you were going to win the Super Bowl this year, but this is to say what I believe to be obvious: As average as you may thing Bledsoe is, and as promising as you may think Romo is, you had to expect exactly what you saw out of Romo if you have ever watched pro football before yesterday. That is exactly what new QB’s do against good defenses. And if you thought that was bad, wait to see what Carolina does against him when they have a week to game plan. In one halftime strategy session, Bill Parcells removed Jerry Jones from the “All-In” hand that he promised everyone last spring when he signed Terrell Owens. They just folded before seeing the flop for 2006. I sure hope they know what they are doing.

• This offensive line is the reason why there are in this mess to begin with. Check that. This front office is the reason why the offensive line is a mess. Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Fasano are the two most pedestrian top draft picks in NFL History it would seem. To spend valuable picks on guys who make no impact, and to spend valuable dollars on Wide Receivers and Kickers when the heart of your OL looked so bad last December, you must wonder what the heck the Cowboys brain trust was thinking. It is ok for fans to live with some optimism, but your decision makers in personnel must be able to see something for what it is. This offensive line would not be suitable for pretty much any QB.

• The New York Giants are good.

• A quick message to Cowboys fans who have Romo optimism. I really like the kid. Many who see the kid play (including me) have labeled his style somewhat “Favre-like”. So, it may interest you to hear what the first few years of Favre were like: A lot of heart. A lot of interceptions. Many plays you really get excited. But through it all, you will see excitement – basically much of what you saw last night. Now, whether he is another flash in the pan gun-slinger or one of the most prolific passers in the history of the game will come down to his ability to learn very quickly. But for Cowboys fans who have not had to deal with a crazy improvisational QBs since before Troy Aikman, this could be unsettling. Gun slingers will gamble at every opportunity. Whether he is a good gun slinger or a poor one will be decided on the scoreboard.

• Drew Bledsoe took a shot at Bill Parcells last night on the way to his car. He called it a “bad decision” to pull him at the half. He has also said he would not be a backup again, after his experiences in Foxboro and Buffalo. Should we expect a retirement this week? He certainly doesn’t need the money.

• Terrell Owens cost this team mightily on that dropped 4th down pass. I certainly don’t care to see a smile on his cocky face moments later. Make no mistake: Your patience for him will likely dissipate quickly now that the season is in the tank.

• What did Bledsoe see on the pass that may have ended his career? There was no place to throw the football when Terry Glenn was totally covered by Sam Madison. He wasn’t open and the decision was brutal. If you just take the FG, you are only down 12-10 at the half. Why force it in there? Why was Owens such a small part of the game-plan again through the first 5 possessions? Why did they use Witten so little again? Well, Romo is looking for Witten and Owens at every opportunity, so now we can look ahead. I just don’t understand how we got to this point.

• I don’t believe Michael Strahan is washed up.

• Lost in all of the blame on the OL and QB is the fact that the defense has once again let down the team. They allowed several more big plays on Monday night. This Cowboys team needed domination from its defense and has gotten nothing of the kind. For all of the money and draft picks sunk into this unit, you would certainly expect more. But, alas, it is a very average defense. The Giants defense is so much better.

• Except DeMarcus Ware. He is a man-child.

• Best Line of the Morning by some guy on Sportscenter: Lucky Tony Romo is more mobile than Drew Bledsoe, it helps him run down interceptions better. Seriously, at what level of football was that screen pass interception acceptable?

• Tiki Barber looks like he could still play plenty of football. His elusive ability at this age is far superior than he seemed in his mid-20’s. I have all the respect in the world for Tiki.

• Nothing makes me more crazy than seeing Eli Manning play well at Texas Stadium. He put several passes up for grabs and the Cowboys let them slip through their fingers – kind of like the season. That QB is over-rated, but he looked just fine last night.

• What an incredible departure for Bill Parcells to look ahead. 2006 is now an elongated 2007 preseason. Is this the same coach that rode out Vinny for 16 games in 2004? I really didn’t think that Parcells had it in him to roll with a young QB. It must be an indication of what he thought Bledsoe had left.

• Nice blitz pickup on Arrington on that flea-flicker. Witten and Jones could not contain a stinking Linebacker together? I am not saying that was an automatic touchdown, but it would be nice if your QB could throw the ball without someone hitting his arm on the throw.

• Roy Williams cannot cover anyone in pass defense. No offense, but he cannot do it. He does many things well, but coverage will never be one of them.

• How would you like to be a fly on the wall in Jerry Jones office today?

• Carolina awaits in 5 days. Ouch.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Because Bob didn't say it himself (in as many words), I'll say it: Bob was 100% right on the Bledsoe-Romo issue.

He had been saying that (1) if you see Romo in a game, other than mop-up duty, the season isn't going as planned, and (2) Romo has potential, but he's not as good an option as Bledsoe b/c Bledsoe will make the veteran decision and Romo will make the rookie decision.

That said, the offensive line wouldn't have given many quarterbacks an opportunity to succeed. Romo had flashes of competence, but nothing spectacular.

Dammit I'm pissed. At least the Stars keep winning. Last night's finish in Vancouver was exciting hockey. In the final seconds, the puck snuck past Turco and dribbled onto the goal line. Zubov got his stick on the line and kept it from going over to save the game.

Itzadavey said...

Right when Romo came out I told my friends, "I don't have a good feeling about this" What happened? Interception. I don't understand people that are saying the season is a wash now, but it truly is insane to think that you are done in a 12-7 game. Bledsoe made 2 bad decisions in the first half: the interception at the goal line, and holding on to the ball too long on ONE of the sacks. The offensive line was atrocious. Julius couldn't run the ball either. Dallas is still just a game out of first right? The only way to stay in it is to have a veteran there.

I beleive that the ship can still be righted by putting Bledsoe back in. I understand this is highly unlikely, but hey, the mavs just couldn't lose the NBA Finals being up 2-0....right? Too soon?

PHE said...

Artist (and other Bledsoe-haters) - there is no excuse for the goal-line INT. It was terrible, and a terrible mistake.

But, does ANYONE really think Romo is the answer? He's got more mobility, sure. But who cares? What does that really get you?

Maybe he has more upside than Bledsoe. It's possible, but I doubt it. I thik we're gonna go into this offseason asking what the Cowboys are going to do at QB.

And what are the Cowboys going to at QB?

The Pear Shaped Football Genius admitted the season is over last night. Good luck keeping a lid on the TO Owens cauldron now. Good luck selling the garbage we've been handed for years - we've got a QB, we've got a great D, we've got the best receivers in the league, Julius Jones is the next Gale Sayers, etc.

Prepare for a return to the QCar, Chutch, Ryan Leaf, QB of the month revolving door.

And then, at the end of the year, when the Pear Shaped Football Genius goes off into the sunset to do whatever it is he does, prepare for the return to the Campo, Gailey, spare coach-o-rama.

This is so delicious.

Wes Mantooth said...

Artist, did Bledsoe sleep with your wife or something? Why so much hate for Drew? He cannot succeed behind this O-line, true. But Tony Romo is a freaking undrafted free agent! The positive signs we saw last night were because he is young and energetic, not because he is the next Favre. Romo will be a solid backup qb in the league, but we are going to have to go out and find the next Staubach, Aikman, etc.

My only questions now are:

1. What quarterbacks are available in the draft next year?
2. Can we lose enough games this year to get a good qb in the draft?
3. Why didn't we go after Drew Brees? All it took was money to get a solid young qb in here.

We also need to spend some serious cash and picks on O-line help. We suck.

Wes Mantooth said...

1st - love the name
2nd - jump shot celebration is very gay

Krust said...

Can't wait to hear the Drew Bledose show on Wednesday... assuming that it's still gonna happen. I'm going to set the over/under on how soon Dan pisses him off at 2:37 into the interview.

Anonymous said...

Look, let's look at this the way we should. The problem is the O Line. Plain and simple. Can you have a passing game w/o a good O/Line? No, can you set up the passing game w/o a good O/Line? No. Any mediocre QB and RB can be amazing with a good O/Line and decent defense. So as we debate Drew/Tony, remember the guys in front of them are more important. Spend draft picks and free agent dollars there and watch the Cowboys turn around.

~Jef

PHE said...

Jef, you are dead solid right. The O line is the root of all evil on this team.

I would throw in the over-rated defense and the obnoxious, over-rated head coach, but let's start w/ the O line.

mrowlou said...

more proof that the BAD radio curse is doing well!

(someone should have told Drew)

Itzadavey said...

I don't understand why Bledsoe can't start Sunday. Lets look at Parcells past here.

In 2004 Henson started Thanksgiving day against the Bears. Parcells can't turn back, right? Nope. Parcells goes with Testaverde in the second half and Henson never plays again....ever.

Parcells isn't driven by conventional thinking. Its a week by week decision on what gives him the best chance to win. He thought he could throw a screwball to get the Giants off-balance, but that didn't work.

Back to Bledsoe

Andy Douthitt said...

Formerly anon Sooner...

You should have your blogging rights stripped from you.

Your fired.

You probably have homework to do tonight, so get on it before you go to bed.

I am so shocked about that comment I have nothing left to say.

Flaco said...

oh im sorry i was watching the Stars game....a team that knows how to win even when they suck. who get no attention, despite early DOMINANCE

did the Cowboys play?