Monday, October 17, 2005

First Place Dallas Cowboys



4-2.

That is about as good a record as anyone could have hoped after 6 games of looking at that schedule. If all of what I am about to say appears repetitious due to the fact that every game except Philly has been similar, bear with me.

The Cowboys showed intestinal fortitude in winning a game that they deserved to win but could have easily lost. In the end, the Cowboys offense marched right down the field with ease and scored.

The defense surrendered a crucial 4th and long for the 3rd time this season late in a game. But, like the San Diego game, they escaped with a win anyway.

Drew Bledsoe surely wasn’t helped with all of the turnovers, but once again, he passes for 300+ yards and perhaps shows more evidence that he is not part of an elaborate fluke.

The Offensive line was in fact offensive. Marco Rivera was dominated the whole game, which was the first time I thought he was a liability. Al Johnson and Rob Pettiti struggled. Adams and Allen were their normal mediocre.

Other quick hits:

DeMarcus Ware gets his 4th sack in 6 games. 4 in a row. My preseason claim that he will get 10 sacks seems very reasonable. 10 sacks in Dallas? When was the last time that happened, Cowboys fan? Scroll down for the answer.

Cowboys at one point were a -4 in the game with 4 consecutive giveaways. Not to be outdone, the Giants gave it away 4 times in the remainder of the game. Including 3 times inside the Cowboys 21, and one time inside their own 20. Ouch.

Laroi Glover = Cowboys best defensive player….still.

Keyshawn Johnson with another tremendous game, despite another fumble.

I am a pretty big fan of Anthony Henry.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy football.

With Seattle and Arizona in the next two weeks, it would seem 5-3 at the bye week is likely, and 6-2, while difficult, is not impossible. Good. Because those final 8 games are daunting.

Anyone displeased with having Anthony Thomas and Peerless Price, now? Looks like they are both important now.

A wise man once said, "at the end of the season, it is not "how", it is "how many"".

A win is a win


“I consider ourselves pretty fortunate to win this one," Parcells said. "I think it's going to be a competitive division. The sides are even. I don't think last week was a reflection of Philadelphia. The Giants are going to be a good competitive team."

With the win, Dallas (4-2) leads the NFC East by a half-game over New York (3-2), Philadelphia (3-2) and Washington (3-2).

The victory spared Dallas the ignominy of losing a game it dominated against a division rival for the second time this season. The Cowboys committed four turnovers, had a field goal blocked, a punt deflected and scored just one touchdown in four possessions inside the Giants 20.

"I just hate sloppy," Parcells said. "I don't know whether we deserved to win any more than they did."


Greg Ellis for tailback?


Defensive end Greg Ellis said people will now know why he doesn't play offense.
Ellis rumbled 37 yards with a fumble in the fourth quarter, setting up a Cowboys field goal and a 13-6 lead.

"When I started off I thought I was going to get to the end zone," Ellis said. "Then I was like, 'Man, that's a long ways.'

"Then I saw the blue jerseys coming. I thought, 'Those guys are faster than you and are going to tackle you. It may hurt a little bit, but just hold onto the ball.'"


Steve Serby on Eli Manning and the Giants Offense


The Giants lost a game in overtime yesterday they should have won in regulation.
When the best offense in the league looks like the worst offense in the league, and Eli Manning-to-Plaxico Burress no longer inspires comparisons to Peyton Manning-to-Marvin Harrison, when NYTD Blue becomes NYFG Blue or Just Plain Blue following three first-half takeaways by Big Blue, you deserve to lose 16-13. You take a bite of a slice of pepperoni pizza and throw it back in the box, as Jeremy Shockey did, because the Cowboys are in first place now, and you're not, and you should be.
"We beat ourselves, man," Burress said. "I don't think we had a 100 yards of offense going into the fourth quarter. I mean, that's not us."



A p1 found this in the Arizona Republic - This makes me very, very happy this morning


Wayne Gretzky is learning on the job, and the hockey world is watching his every move.

It has been a mettle-testing first 10 days of the season for the Coyotes coach with four one-goal defeats, an embarrassing lineup mistake, an arena with soft ice, several injuries to key players and the retirement of Brett Hull.

Gretzky has kept his cool.

Not even a question from some moron posing as a reporter after last week's defeat in Dallas could make him go Danny Bonaduce:

"So, champ," the "reporter" said in a lame Edward G. Robinson voice, "how do you think the zebras called the show? Were they the cat's meow or were they giving your boys the business?"

Gretzky didn't answer, but he kept his composure.


This makes me happy, too: No one is watching “Quite Frankly” …I mean no one. Less than the few that used to watch ESPN at that time. Could it be, Stephen A has nothing in his bag???

Michelle Wie’s first pro tournament does not follow the script

Evidently , Vince Young can pass the ball a little bit


By connecting on a school-record 86.2 percent of his attempts while throwing for a career-high 336 yards and two touchdowns, Young flashed the kind of skills that teammate Michael Huff considers worthy of acclaim from voters who select the nation's top college football player.

"He's a Heisman [caliber] quarterback," Huff said. "This shows it. If I had a vote, I'd vote for him."

Young downplayed any Heisman talk in the wake of a 25-of-29 passing performance that undermined Colorado's plan to stymie No. 2 Texas (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12) by consistently dedicating eight defenders to run support.

But Colorado coach Gary Barnett offered plenty of praise for Young after the 24th-ranked Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1) held Texas to a season-low 145 yards rushing and still found themselves looking up at a 35-3 deficit after five Longhorns' possessions.
"Twenty-five of 29? Are you kidding me?" Barnett said when told of Young's final passing line. "That's hard to do against air. Vince made great throws all day."


Tech screws around with K-State for 30 minutes, then steps on the gas


At 6-0, Tech is off to its best start since 1998 and now puts its focus on next Saturday's Big 12 South showdown against second-ranked Texas in Austin.

"I think it's the kind of game you dream about," Hodges said. "If as a quarterback you can't get excited about a game like that, then there's something wrong with your pulse."


Aggies force 7 takeaways – win easily


Turning it over: A&M is 12-0 under coach Dennis Franchione in games when it has an advantage in turnovers. In games with an even or negative turnover margin, the Aggies are 3-15 under Franchione.


Blackistone assures us Baylor is on the right road



And the best game played in this millennium? USC v Notre Dame …Above, 4th and 9 looks so easy…


There aren't many afternoons when both teams think they've won the game in the final seconds. Then again, there aren't many afternoons when you have three touchdowns scored in the final 5 minutes 9 seconds, when you have three or four Heisman Trophy-caliber players taking turns trying to win a very bitterly contested game, when you complete a high-risk pass for 61 yards on fourth and nine from your 26, as Southern Cal did to keep alive that final drive. There aren't many afternoons where a coach tells his team, playing on the road, that overtime isn't good enough.


Vikings doing fine


During the week, a caller to KFAN radio suggested that the Vikings should replace the names on their jerseys with one of two phrases: "On the boat," or "Not on the boat."

"It doesn't matter," safety Darren Sharper said of the scandal. "I'm not going to comment."

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, unlike Sharper, has not been identified as one of the Vikings on the boats. He was asked what he would think were he a fan.

"I wouldn't watch it anymore," he said. "We're not putting anything good on the field, not scoring, not really stopping anybody."

After the game, Vikings mingled with Bears at midfield, many of them kneeling together in prayer.

"We still have a chance to do," said Culpepper, "what we set out to do."
Considering the events of the past week, you're afraid to ask just what that was.


How the dunk was born

If you are feeling fine and enjoying your morning and want to be put in a bad mood, please enjoy this screaming fat “lady”

Are you in the NHL?

Trivia Answer: Tony Tolbert had 12 sacks in 1996, the last time a Cowboy had more than 9.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

LMAO...

1920's reporter guy must go visit Parcells...

Anonymous said...

Tech is a solid 16 point dog at UT and that's probably about right.

Tech is also ranked 10th in the country and that is just flat crazy (though I'm happy about it). However if Tech pulls off the stunner, surely they'd jump Notre Dame, UCLA and any other 1 loss teams.

Gribble was "posing" as a reporter? Gribble is a "moron"? However Gretzky was professional enough to ignore Tom?
Bob, how sad it is that the only good things that can be said about Coach Gretzky is that he can handle a bit by Gribble. Very, very sad indeed.

Anonymous said...

The Packers are only one game out of first place and about to get on a roll!!!

Could you win that division at 6-10?

Anonymous said...

Tech might not win but the game will be close.

Get your guns up!

Anonymous said...

I see your fat, crazy bitch and raise you one of my own. http://www.big-boys.com/articles/tradingspouses.html

Anonymous said...

Texas will destoy Tech this Saturday. Tech cannot stop Vince and the Longhorn offense, and Tech has not faced a D like the Longhorns throw out there. Tech fans should enjoy this week. That is how long you get to say you are a top ten team. After this week you are playing for the 2nd or 3rd place Big XII bowl bid. And that ain't bad for Tech!

Anonymous said...

the cowboys better start learning how to put teams away, b/c with the second half schedule the way it is, it's gonna be awfully hard to come out on the good end of these close games. however, it is great to be in first place in the division again. bledsoe continues to be money. even with price ready to play, crayton's injury is gonna be a big blow to the cowboys. he's made great plays, and there is no question he has the best hands on the receiving corp. the defense was outstanding for 59 minutes. if roy didn't look to the sideline to get the assignment from zim like he said, then he should be ripped b/c that is unacceptable. why is no one talking about that? he almost cost the cowboys a game b/c of his lack of focus in such a critical time in the game.

Anonymous said...

Why does Sunday night/Monday morning SportsCenter still have that tired-ass "I love (yada yada)...and twins" bit still going on? It's not clever anymore, considering that Coors Light spot hasn't been on the air in 3 years. Since I work weekends, I have to watch SC to figure out what happened, but every time they throw that 2 minute time-waste up on screen, I turn into Elvis with my .45 and want to blow out the screen.

Anonymous said...

does this mean the cowboys will now have people answering the phone with "first place dallas cowboys" ?

Anonymous said...

I saw the note about Anthony Thomas being an important sign, but didn't you think he just sucked yesterday?

He runs East-West instead of North-South. Plays involving him appeared to be a waste to me.

I think Parcells has his can't-play status figured out.

Anonymous said...

College Gameday in austin. yes tech should lose, but tech has won in austin before, and they almost won there last time. vince is great and tech will not stop him, but tell me you cant see a few bad decisions, maybe 2 picks, and tech hanging around. final maybe 41-34 UT. but i think tech covers. people down in austin have worried about this game every year for the past few years, no matter what they say, last years game was the only time texas really really handled tech, in the last 3 or so years. ut is 6-3 in the last 9.

Anonymous said...

As a Texas fan, I worry at least a little about every game. I think Tech will give Texas a unique challenge as they haven't faced an offense that explosive since they faced them last year in Lubbock. But on the other side of the coin, Tech hasn't faced a defense this year anywhere near as good as what the Horns have. Something has gotta give obviously.

In the end, I think VY will be too much for Tech to stop and while Tech will move the ball between the 20s, they'll run into some trouble in the red zone.

It won't be 51-21 like it was last year in Lubbock, but the 16 point line sounds about right to me too. Can't wait for Saturday!

Anonymous said...

I'm no UT fan, but I love how each week people keep calling for a Vince Young meltdown, yet he only keeps getting better and better instead. I heard that before the Mizzou, OU and CU games, yet he was awesome in all 3 of them. If Tech wins this weekend, it almost certainly won't be because of a Vince Young meltdown, it'll be because Tech simply outscores Texas.

Personally, I think Texas' defense is too good to give up 40+ myself, and you know Texas will score at least 40 on Tech, since they have on everyone else (except for Ohio State @ Columbus and Tech's D isn't in the same league as OSU's is).

Anonymous said...

start sad piano music.......

Dumb and Dumber actor commits suicide

http://www.lawandorder-fr.com/photos/ci/guests/rocket01.jpg

end sad piano music........

Ken in Burleson

Anonymous said...

Anthony Thomas is the 2005 version of Troy Hambrick. No moves, no speed, no power. Get the ball, hit the line, and fall down, generating a remarkable 2.6 ypc average.

Hurry back, Ju-Jo.

Anonymous said...

It's official. Texas is #2 and Texas Tech is #7 in the BCS standings.

Anonymous said...

Anyone got a BCS link yet?

Anonymous said...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bcs.htm

Anonymous said...

Wow, Texas is a very solid #2, they're closer to #1 USC than they are to #3 Virginia Tech. So much for the strength of schedule argument.

If they win out (which would have to include a win over #7 Texas Tech), there is no doubt now that they will definitely be in the Rose Bowl.

Anonymous said...

"Texas will destoy Tech this Saturday. Tech cannot stop Vince and the Longhorn offense, and Tech has not faced a D like the Longhorns throw out there. Tech fans should enjoy this week. That is how long you get to say you are a top ten team. After this week you are playing for the 2nd or 3rd place Big XII bowl bid. And that ain't bad for Tech!"

Thank you for reminding me why I hate Texas fans.

Anonymous said...

"Wow, Texas is a very solid #2, they're closer to #1 USC than they are to #3 Virginia Tech. So much for the strength of schedule argument."

Umm, that's because Va-Tech has yet to play Miami or Florida State.

Anonymous said...

Brandon sounds bitter! A confident Texas fan and a pleasantly surprised Texas fan put in their two cents and he gets upset. Poor guy. Tech fan? Aggie? Or just from the Mike Rhyner "I hate all big time programs" school of thought?

Anonymous said...

We're F-ing #7? Wow...I'll take it, but wow!!.

Notre Dame is 16 and TCU is 21?
Good Gawd Ahmighty, they lost to SMU. Oh well, it'll keep Norm busy for a while I guess.

Anonymous said...

"Umm, that's because Va-Tech has yet to play Miami or Florida State."

Umm, ok...and both are one loss teams already (plus Fla State isn't on Va Tech's regular season schedule either). Texas Tech doesn't have a loss yet, so the point stands. Texas wins out and they're in...

Anonymous said...

notre dame should be higher than 16, sure they lost but they freaking lost to the #1 team, and barely lost at that

Anonymous said...

Virginia Tech has bigger issues, like that Georgia is ahead of them in the computers for one. Plus, they don't even play Florida State this year unless it's in the ACC Championship game. There is no way they can catch Texas unless the Horns stumble.

Anonymous said...

wow flozell out for the year. who the hell will play lt now?

Anonymous said...

I jumped on Brandon's blog. I think he is a bitter Sooner fan. Which begs the question...How can you love the arrogant, super cocky Bob Stoops and then turn around and bash the confident Texas fan? Hypocrite? If OU was 6-0, he would no doubt be just as confident as the Texas fan above.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, call us back when OU can actually hang 20 on Kansas ok Brandon?

Back on topic...as far as Notre Dame is concerned, the computers really hate a 2 loss team huh? That's why ND is only #16, those 2 losses kill them.

Sturminator said...

Actually, Fake Me:

As a VT fan, too, I must remind you that the win over W Virginia is helping them quite a bit, too.

Anonymous said...

Question:

If Notre Dame had two losses to USC and UT by 1 point each, would the computers STILL have them so low?

It seems that logically, the #1 team should be able to beat everyone, the #2 should be able to beat everyone except #1 and the #3 theam should beat everyone except for #1 and #2, and so on down the line. So why do the computers barbecue ND for the two losses? Just curious.

Anonymous said...

You're right Bob, as a matter of fact, that victory over West Va. is VT's lone "quality win" of the year...so far anyway. They still have Miami and BC coming up, although both already have one loss. But if Texas beats currently unbeaten Texas Tech, it still probably won't be enough to catch UT. But that's why they play the games eh? We'll know for sure on December 4th.

Anonymous said...

I see that Bob posted a message during the Parcell's whippin'..uh press conference.

You know it's bad when the host of the show would rather talk VT football than listen to the @ss whip of the daily Parcell's show.

For the love of all things good and holy, move it to Norm's show, or don't carry it at all. I bet you'd gain 3 listeners to every one you lost if The Ticket let 103.3 go solo with it.

cracker1743 said...

I wish they'd schedule Parcells' press conference during Hanson's weekly asswhip shows. I could kill two birds with one stone by not listening.

Anonymous said...

Good strong BCS analysis...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/5000350

Anonymous said...

Umm, that's because Va-Tech has yet to play Miami or Florida State.

Yes, I'm waiting for Va Tech to lose both of those as well. ;)

My guess on how the unbeatens shake out:

USC: toss-up with UCLA
Texas: runs the table
Va Tech: loses to Miami
Georgia: runs the table
Alabama: loses to Tennessee, maybe LSU as well
Texas Tech: loses to Texas
UCLA: toss-up with USC

That leaves Texas, Georgia, & the USC/UCLA winner as the lone unbeatens. I'm betting Georgia is left out of the title game(if USC win) or possibly UCLA(if they beat USC).

Anonymous said...

Why does nobody point out that the Pac 10 sucks? I hear how weak the Big XII is, but the Pac 10 sucks to high hell. Other than the non conference game with Notre Dame, the only decent team USC plays all year is UCLA (and please don't say Arizona St is good because they really aren't), and they're probably overrated at this point. They barely got past Wash St. on Saturday night in OT.

Anonymous said...

by the way, notre dame may "be back" but again tell me how a team who has not beaten one ranked team and has lost to the only 2 ranked teams they'be played getting so much love.

Anonymous said...

I agree on the Pac 10. USC did beat Oregon who is ranked in the top 20, but then again, Oregon hasn't really played anyone of any significance all year except for USC. Oregon is only ranked as high as they are because they're 6-1, not because they've actually beat anyone that's all that good.

From top to bottom, I think the Big XII is better than the Pac 10. Of course they were last year too as Tech proved when the whipped the whiners from Cal.

I agree too on Notre Dame. Who have they really beat this year? They're only #16 in the BCS because they haven't beat anyone that's currently ranked. No question they're a good team after hanging with USC to the bitter end, but #16 is right about where they belong until they actually beat a ranked team.

Anonymous said...

"How can you love the arrogant, super cocky Bob Stoops and then turn around and bash the confident Texas fan? Hypocrite? If OU was 6-0, he would no doubt be just as confident as the Texas fan above."

Two things:

1. Show me an example where Stoops is 'super cocky'? Confident? Absolutely. And you can't tell me that as a Texas fan you wish your coach exhibited more of that trait.

2. Unlike Texas, Stoops' teams have actually won some conference championships, played in National Title games and have even won one.

I'll grant that barring a miracle, Texas will give Mack Brown his very first conference championship this season and may actually get to play for a National Championship.

As a Big 12 fan, I actually hope they do.

But until you do (or even beat Tech), please stop with statements such as 'we're going to destroy Tech'.

"Yeah, call us back when OU can actually hang 20 on Kansas ok Brandon?"

Call me back when you have enough balls to actually use your real name.

Anonymous said...

"Yeah, call us back when OU can actually hang 20 on Kansas ok Brandon?"

Call me back when you have enough balls to actually use your real name.


Ok, you got it pal...

Anonymous said...

Before I start, I'll state my affiliation as an LSU alum so I don't get jumped on as being a Texas and/or Mack Brown apologist (as if they need one these days as damn good as they are)...

Seriously, OU fans shouldn't be running any smack this year. You were able to do it for 5 years, but let's face it, Texas fans have the right to for at least this year since they blew OU out of Fair Park.

And cocky and confident are quite interchangeable I'd say, so to call Stoops either one isn't really inaccurate. Besides, right now I don't think any Texas fan would currently trade anything with OU including head coaches, considering how dreadful they've looked this year. Stoops hasn't really done a good coaching job ever since they choked in the Big 12 title game two years ago. After bouncing back during the regular season last year, they got smoked by USC and now this year will be lucky to even get a bowl bid.

Look, when/if OU is back on top, it'll be your turn again, but like the guy said, when you can't even "hang 20 on Kansas," now is certainly not the time to be running it dude.

Anonymous said...

Last time I checked, this is 2005 (not 2000) and Texas blasted OU 45-12, so why are we wasting time discussing a lousy team like ZERO U?!? I'm sure Texas Tech will hand OU's ass to them soon enough as well.

All I know is we have 2 of the top 7 teams squaring off in Austin this weekend and it should be a blast to watch. I think Texas is the better team, but that will be proven either right or wrong on the field this Saturday. In the meantime, I hope UT and TT fans go all out with the smack back and forth this week. That's what should happen when two of the best teams in the country face each other.

Anonymous said...

Orange fuckin sucks.

Anonymous said...

"Seriously, OU fans shouldn't be running any smack this year"

Umm, I'm not running any smack. I'm simply reminding the Texas fans that while their team has looked mighty impressive winning on the road in Columbus, while blowing out everyone else they've played (including my Sooners), they haven't won anything yet, nor are they in any position to assume they're going to destroy Tech this Saturday.

Recall two years ago that some of the so-called experts were annointing that year's version of the Sooners as the best college team ever. We all know what happened after that.

Point being, Yes Texas has bragging rights over us Sooner fans. But don't start assuming your going to destroy eveyone you play or that a Big 12 Championship or even a Rose Bowl berth is a given.

Anonymous said...

"In the meantime, I hope UT and TT fans go all out with the smack back and forth this week. That's what should happen when two of the best teams in the country face each other."

Amen brotha! Hook em!

Anonymous said...

Well as a Texas fan that has followed the team for over 25 years, I can say I sure won't count any chickens before they hatch and most Horns fans I know won't either. I won't feel as though a Big XII championship or a Rose Bowl berth are a given until December 4th when I watch the selection show. I'm sure that the players won't either, they're locked in on Texas Tech right now.

Sure, there are some UT fans that are a little overzealous, but I know there are plenty up in Norman that are at times as well. And yes, I remember how prior to that Kansas St. game it was being said that the '03 Sooners were the greatest team of all time and we saw how that turned out. I was also at Texas Stadium that night in December 2001 and watched the Horns fall 2 points short of going to Pasadena. I'm quite sure Mack Brown hasn't forgotten that night either.

Anonymous said...

Give it up Brandon. Your at the botton of the dog pile. Your like Gribble getting ganged up on during WTDS. No use getting your panties in a wad.

Anonymous said...

Lance-

Thank you for possibly being the only person in this thread to actually understand my point.

Unlike the idiot below you.

Anonymous said...

But until you do (or even beat Tech), please stop with statements such as 'we're going to destroy Tech'.

UT destroyed them last year, and UT is better on both sides of the ball this year. I'm not worried about Tech, they haven't faced a D even in UT's ballpark. As long as Texas doesn't shoot themselves in the foot, this game is UT's for the taking.

Anonymous said...

Brandon,

No need to call me an idiot. I was simply trying to save you some time. The more you talk, the more everybody will dog pile you. It happened again after your last post. I wouldn't think that a Sooner fan would be so bitter after 5 years of such great success.

Go borrow a Kotex from Dan and take a Midol.

Anonymous said...

well whaddya know--Texas destroyed Tech