Decoding the Offense: Game 15 vs Baltimore

Here are the very misleading stats from the Baltimore game. It is nice that Romo and the passing game in S11 has impressive numbers and all, but we know the numbers were pretty much picked up as the game was getting out of hand late.

The final numbers for the final game at Texas Stadium:

68 Offensive plays – (21 runs/47 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (26 = 6 different packages – 7 runs/ 19 passes)

“12” – 6 (1 runs for 29 yards, FD/5 passes for 11 yards)
“21” – 1 (1 runs for 9 yards)
“22” – 2 (1 runs for 3 yards/ 1 pass for 0 yards)
“11h” – 2 (2 runs for 7 yards)

Shotgun

“S11” – 13 (1 runs for 0 yards/12 passes for 40 yards, FD)
“S11H” – 2 (1 run for 2 yards, 1 pass for 0 yards)

2nd Downs (24 plays – 5 looks – 8 runs/16 passes):

“11” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“12” – 5 (2 runs for 8 yards/ 3 pass for 27 yards, FD)
“21” – 3 (2 runs for 4 yards/ 1 pass for 0 yards, INT)
“22” – 4 (4 runs for 15 yards, 2 FD)
Shotgun

“S11” –11 (11 passes for 82 yards, FD,2 TD to Witten, TD to Owens)


17 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 3 looks (6 runs, 11 passes) (8 for 17, 47%)
“22” – 1 (1 run for -1 yards) 0-1

Shotgun

“S11” – 14 (5 run for 15 yards, 2 FD, TD Choice/ 9 passes for 80 yards, 5 FD, INT) 8 for 14
“S11H” – 2 (2 passes for -5 yards, Sack) 0-2

1 4th down
“S11” – 1 pass for -2 yards – 0 for 1

Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

21 runs - 47 passes

UNDER CENTER (25 – 14 runs/11 passes)

“11” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“12” – 11 (3 runs for 37 yards/ 8 passes for 38 yards, FD)
“21” – 4 (3 runs for 13 yards/ 1 pass for 0 yards, INT)
“22” – 7 (6 runs for 17 yards, 2 FD/ 1 pass for 0 yards)
“11h” – 2 (2 runs for 7 yards)

SHOTGUN (43 – 7 runs/36 passes)

“S11” – 39 (6 runs for 15 yards/ 33 passes for 202 yards, TD to Witten, TD to Owens)
“S11H” – 4 (1 run for 2 yards, 3 passes for -5 yards, Sack)

Shannon Sharpe Speaks

Our man, over at DCFanatic.com has posted the Shannon Sharpe greatness from yesterday's show. Check it out, it is worth hearing.

Decoding the Offense: Week 14 vs NY Giants

Here are the numbers I ran from the final win of the Cowboys season, the home game against the Giants. This, of course, was the bizarre game that was played the week of the “rat” incident where Terrell Owens had the entire locker-room taking sides over his idiocy. That incident was the last moment I cared to have him on the team, by the way.

Anyway, the Cowboys in this game were reasonably productive in some phases, but 2 more disconcerting signs of problems:

• Another horrendous 3rd down effort (3 for 11)

• And, when running under center, the Cowboys tried 14 times for 45 yards. Of course, 38 yards came at the end of the game when Tashard Choice broke a TD run to seal the game. So, the other 13 carries against the Giants front yielded a very impressive 7 yards...TOTAL! Wow.

So, Jason Garrett was even more reliant on the shotgun, which put Romo back as a sitting duck, and the blitzes were on in S11. 3 more sacks in that formation.

But, in the rare game in which the Cowboys won the turnover battle, they grabbed what would be their last win of the season.

55 Offensive plays – (20 runs/35 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (25 = 6 different packages – 14 runs/ 11 passes)

“12” – 7 (3 runs for -3 yards/4 passes for 49 yards, 2 FD)
“21” – 5 (5 runs for 2 yards)
“22” – 6 (4 runs for 45 yards, TD Choice/ 2 passes for 3 yards, SACK)
“knee” - 1

Shotgun

“S11” – 5 (1 runs for 0 yards/4 passes for 29 yards, 2 FD)
“S12” – 1 (1 run for 4 yards)

2nd Downs (19 plays – 6 looks – 3 runs/16 passes):

“12” – 2 (2 pass for 14 yards, FD)
“21” – 3 (1 runs for 2 yards, FD, 2 passes for 25 yards, FD)
“23” – 1 (1 pass for 1 yard, TD to Anderson)
Shotgun

“S11” –11 (2 run for 41 yards, FD/ 9 passes for 96 yards, 3 FD, TD to Crayton, Sack)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)

11 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 2 looks (3 runs/8 passes) (3 for 11, 27%)
“22” – 1 (1 run for -1 yards) 0-1

Shotgun

“S11” – 10 (2 run for 11 yards, FD/ 8 passes for 13 yards, 2 Sacks, 2 FD) 3 for 10


Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

20 runs - 35 passes

UNDER CENTER (26 – 14 runs/11 passes)

“12” – 9 (3 runs for -3 yards/ 6 passes for 63 yards, 3 FD)
“21” – 8 (6 runs for 4 yards/ 2 passes for 25 yards, FD)
“22” – 7 (5 runs for 44 yards, TD to Choice/ 2 pass for 3 yards, SACK)
“23” – 1 (1 passes for 1 yard TD to Anderson)
“knee” -1

SHOTGUN (29 – 6 runs/23 passes)

“S11” – 26 (5 runs for 52 yards/ 21 passes for 138 yards, TD to Crayton, 3 Sacks)
“S12” – 2 (1 run for 4 yards,1 pass for 0 yards)
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)

Decoding the Offense: Game 13 At Pittsburgh

I have to believe this is the most shocking post of the month. As we hit Jan 29th, I have finally gained enough life-force to ponder the Cowboys December. So, you will randomly find the offensive breakdown of the final 4 Cowboys games here sometime in the near future. Here is Game 13 – the disaster at Pittsburgh.

As I look at this garbage, a few things jump out at me – and I think they are related:

• The Cowboys shotgun package sucked
• The Cowboys 3rd down package sucked (3 for 14)
• The Cowboys 3rd down package is their shotgun package

And don’t think for a second that this is where Romo/ Owens/ Williams/ Garrett/ Witten/ Crayton and the gang all had their little disconnect.

As I look at the other games in December, it doesn’t get better.

65 Offensive plays – (27 runs/38 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (28 = 5 different packages – 15 runs/ 13 passes)

“12” – 12 (7 runs for 14 yards/5 passes for 17 yards, FD, INT)
“21” – 5 (4 runs for 16 yards, FD/1 passes for 0 yards)
“22” – 2 (2 runs for 3 yards)

Shotgun

“S11” – 8 (2 runs for 12 yards, FD/ 6 passes for 57 yards, 3 FD)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass for 11 yards, FD)

2nd Downs (20 plays – 7 looks – 7 runs/13 passes):

“12” – 7 (3 runs for 65 yards, 2 FD /4 pass for 13 yards, FD, SACK)
“21” – 3 (1 runs for 2 yards, 2 passes for 0 yards)
“22” – 1 (1 pass for 3 yards)
“12H” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
Shotgun

“S11” – 6 (3 run for 10 yard, FD/ 3 passes for 0 yards, INT)
“S12” – 1 (1 pass for 12 yards, TD to Owens)
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 6 yards)

14 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 3 looks (4 runs/10 passes) (3 for 14, 21%)

Shotgun

“S02” – 1 (1 run for 1 yard) 0-1
“S11” – 12 (3 run for 25 yards/ 9 passes for 14 yards, 2 Sacks, INT) 3 for 12
“S11H” – 1 (1 pass for 9 yards) 0-1

3 4th Downs – 3 looks (1 runs/2 passes)
“22” – 1 (1 run for 0 yards)
Shotgun
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
“S11” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)


Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

27 runs - 38 passes

UNDER CENTER (32 – 18 runs/14 passes)

“12” – 19 (10 runs for 79 yards, 2 FD/ 9 passes for 30 yards, 2FD, INT, SACK)
“21” – 8 (5 runs for 18 yards/ 3 passes for 0 yards)
“22” – 4 (3 runs for 3 yards, 1 pass for 3 yards)
“12H” – 1 (1 passes for 0 yards)

SHOTGUN (33 – 9 runs/24 passes)

“S11” – 27 (8 runs for 47 yards/ 19 passes for 71 yards, 2 INTs, 2 Sacks)
“S12” – 2 (2 pass for 23 yards, TD to Owens)
“S02” – 3 (1 run for 1 yards, 2 pass for 6 yards)
“S11H” – 1 (1 pass for 9 yards)

Tuesday Reading

Great Fiesta Bowl finish last night. You know me, I have no stake in this, but I should tell you that Texas was the team that I think should be playing Thursday from the Big 12. No offense, Sooners, but head to head will always out-weigh any other debate you can toss at me for two 1-loss teams.

Regardless, Colt McCoy and the Longhorns looked like they were in trouble, looked like they were in control, looked like they were in trouble again, and then finally won the game at the end. Heck of a finish to a heck of a season that turned on 1 dropped interception and 1 miracle play about 60 seconds apart in Lubbock…

the report from the San Antoinio Paper …

Actually, Colt McCoy did fold under the pressure.

With his Texas Longhorns trailing Ohio State by four, less than two minutes on the clock to mount the comeback, and the entire focus of the University of Phoenix Stadium centering on his jersey, McCoy bounced up and down on the sideline and then lowered himself to one knee.

McCoy bowed his head, collected his thoughts and silently steadied his shoulders underneath the weight of an entire team.

He lifted himself up, calm and cool, and then he lifted the third-ranked Longhorns to a remarkable 24-21 Fiesta Bowl victory in a manner that defines his entire season — poised and precise.

McCoy and the Longhorns trailed 21-17 with 1:58 on the clock and the ball on their own 22-yard line. One minute, 42 seconds later, they were celebrating in the end zone, and it was all because of McCoy.

Literally.

UT needed 11 plays to gain 78 yards, and McCoy was responsible for every one. He was 7-of-10 passing for 76 yards, including the 26-yard touchdown connection to Quan Cosby, and McCoy also picked up the other 2 yards on a sideline scamper.

“To me, that’s a Heisman-type drive,” UT coach Mack Brown said. “He has tremendous faith. He’s strong-willed. He’s very confident, and he never thinks he’s going to lose.”

McCoy will never take sole — if any — credit for this.

When he was runner-up to Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford for the Heisman Trophy, McCoy was most disappointed to let down his team, because he considers the honor to be the “ultimate team award.”

But on Monday, McCoy carried the Longhorns to their school-record fifth straight bowl victory — and third BCS triumph in the past five years. UT rolled up a Fiesta Bowl record 486 yards of offense, and McCoy picked up all but 69 of them. He completed 41 of 59 passes for 414 passing yards and two touchdowns, and ran in for another score.

Cosby caught 14 of those passes for 171 yards and two scores.

This season, McCoy passed iconic Vince Young on the all-time UT victories list, and passed fan-favorite Major Applewhite as the all-time passing touchdown leader. And this victory was the perfect testament to the leadership he has given the Longhorns all season.

AA with the highlights …



The Pro-Prospect Watch from the Fiesta Bowl….

Ohio State

Full Name Pos Number Year Round
Chris Wells RB 28 3Jr 1
Malcolm Jenkins CB 2 4Sr 1
James Laurinaitis ILB 33 4Sr 1
Marcus Freeman OLB 1 5Sr 2
Anderson Russell S 21 4Jr 2-3
Brian Robiskie WR 80 5Sr 3rd
Justin Boren C 65 3Jr 2-3
Kurt Coleman CB 4 3Jr 2-3
Jim Cordle C 64 4Jr 3-4
Brian Hartline WR 9 4Jr 4-5
Donald Washington CB 20 4Jr 4-5
Alex Boone T 75 4Sr 5-6
Chimdi Chekwa S 5 3So 5-6
Doug Worthington DE 84 4Jr 6-7
Jake Ballard TE 86 3Jr 7-FA
Rory Nicol TE 88 5Sr 7-FA
Steve Rehring G 71 5Sr FA
Nader Abdallah DT 93 5Sr FA
Todd Boeckman QB 17 5Sr FA
Maurice Wells RB 34 4Sr FA
Nick Patterson S N 5Sr FA


Texas
Full Name Pos Number Year Round
Brian Orakpo DE 98 5Sr 1
Sergio Kindle OLB 2 3Jr 2-3
Adam Ulatoski T 74 4Jr 2-3
Colt McCoy QB 12 3Jr 2-3
Roy Miller DT 99 4Sr 3-4
Quan Crosby WR 6 4Sr 4-5
Chris Hall C 71 4Jr 5-6
Ryan Palmer CB 13 5Sr 6-7
Cedric Dockery G 55 4Sr 6-7
Jordan Shipley WR 8 4Sr 7-FA
Rashad Bobino ILB 44 5Sr FA
Aaron Lewis DE 95 4Sr FA

I was so fascinated with yesterday's turnover findings about the Cowboys, that TC and I wanted to break down the season on a game by game basis. Of 16 games, the Cowboys won the turnover battle 5 times. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

-	Cowboys	Turnovers	Opponents	Turnovers	-
Game	Fumbles (Lost)	INTS	Fumbles (Lost)	INTS	+/-
W @ Cle	1 (0)	1	2 (0)	0	-1
W vs Phil	2 (1)	1	3 (1)	0	-1
W @ GB	3 (1)	1	2 (1)	0	-1
L vs Wash	1 (0)	1	0	0	-1
W vs. Cin	2 (1)	1	1 (1)	1	0
L @ Arz	4 (1)	0	2 (2)	1	+2
L @ St Lou	2 (1)	3	0	0	-4
W vs TB	0	0	1 (1)	0	+1
L @ NYG	1 (1)	3	3 (2)	1	-1
W @ Wash	1 (0)	2	0	1	-1
W vs SF	1 (1)	0	2 (1)	1	+1
W vs Sea	0	1	2 (1)	1	+1
L @ Pitt	3 (2)	3	2 (2)	0	-3
W vs NYG	2 (0)	0	2 (0)	2	+2
L vs Balt	2 (0)	2	5 (1)	0	-1
L @ Phil	4 (4)	1	1 (1)	0	-4
Totals	29 (13)	20	28 (14)	8	-11

Table Tutorial

A little more on the Cowboys:

Michael Lombardi with this little detail ...

I hear the Cowboys are not sweating the notion of losing Jason Garrett to another team as a head coach. They are actually hoping this might happen.

My thoughts exactly.

Rafa's autopsy on the Defensive Line ...

In pass rush, the front took one giant step forward and one annoying step backward. Herring was running rushing drills on the first day of camp that Pasqualoni did not include in his repertoire. It took about half a season for the lessons to sink in, but Demarcus Ware finally began to incorporate better hand usage and change of direction into his rushing patterns. He appeared to finally attack left tackles with a game plan, rather than trying to out rush then on every play.

The results speak for themselves. He lead the NFL with 20 sacks, and if he can begin the '09 season the way he ended '08, the sack record will become his. On the line, Jay Ratliff showed by the team made him the first -- and only -- young DL to get a contract extension. His rush skills blossomed and he finished the year with 8
sacks, an unheard of number for a nose tackle.

The overall sack numbers jumped 28%, from a good 46 to a league-leading 59 this year. For their aggression and better technique, the d-line gets the award for the least disciplined unit on the team. They didn't take as many penalties as the offensive line, but when you consider good linemen and lines almost never take penalties, the groups 25 total penalties is unforgivable.

The 2009 Draft Order ...

Mike Mayock looks at the best Seniors in College Football with Draft prospects ...

Canada wins the Juniors ...

Canada captured its fifth straight World Junior Hockey Championship gold with a 5-1 victory over Team Sweden in front of a record crowd on Monday night.

Canadian netminder Dustin Tokarski saved his best performance of the championship for the final, turning aside 39 shots in the win. While he was shaky at times during the tournament, the native of Watson, SK was sharp against Sweden.

Tokarski's play coupled with steady pressure from Canada on Sweden's goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, were the difference. Markstrom looked rattled during the game and
there were several run-ins with Canadian players.

Head coach Pat Quinn's decision to go with Tokarski in the final was met with some skepticism following rough starts against the United States and then Russia in the semifinal game.

"I knew I had to come out better tonight and I think I did that," Tokarski told TSN after making the game.

"Pat Quinn was smart. Dustin Tokarski's pedigree is phenomenal," said TSN's Pierre McGuire. "You think about being the Memorial Cup MVP and when he needed to be at his best, he was in the gold medal game."

Debates over Canada's starting goaltender are nothing new.

"Canada went through this last year too," explained McGuire. "Craig Hartsburg had to make a decision in the Czech Republic, go with Steve Bernier or go with Steve Mason. He ended up going with Mason. He picked right and Pat Quinn picked right tonight."
Following the win, Tokarski was asked about his knack of coming up big in high-pressure games.

"It's all about battling, people can put you down and say you're not good enough but if you believe in yourself you can do anything," said the 2008 Memorial Cup MVP.
The attendance for the game was announced at 20,380, a single game record for the WJHC and the five straight gold medals equals a Canadian record for the tournament (1993-97).

"There's nothing like this," John Tavares told TSN before the medal presentation. "There's nothing like it at all. Listen to these fans. That's five, Canada."

Tavares was named most valuable player and top forward for the tournament and made a strong case to be the top pick in the 2009 NHL Entry draft with his performance in Ottawa.

Stoops to center stage, please ...

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops bristles when asked about his recent failures in Bowl Championship Series games.

He proudly rattles off his team’s successes in the Big 12, including appearances in seven of the last nine championship games with six victories. What he does not mention is that his teams have lost four consecutive times in the B.C.S., including the national title games at the end of the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Nor does Stoops, whose team plays Florida for the title Thursday, point out that his only crystal trophy for winning the B.C.S. championship game bears the fingerprints of his predecessor John Blake.

The only black head football coach at Oklahoma, Blake recruited more than half of that championship team’s 22 starters, including future N.F.L. players like safety Roy Williams and linebacker Rocky Calmus.

The mere mention of that fact seems to agitate Stoops, who did recruit quarterback Josh Heupel, tailback Quentin Griffin and linebacker Torrance Marshall, all vital players in Oklahoma’s 13-2 victory against Florida State for the national title at the end of the 2000 season.

“You’ve got to go there after all these years?” Stoops said in a telephone interview last month. “Are you kidding me?”

But the matter is no joke to Blake, an associate head coach at North Carolina. A defensive tackle for Oklahoma from 1979 to ’82 under Barry Switzer, he was later an assistant for the Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys. He returned to his alma mater in December 1995 for his first head-coaching job, taking over after the Sooners went 5-5-1 in Howard Schnellenberger’s only season as the coach.

“I’m happy for Bob because sometimes one man’s sacrifice is another man’s gain, and I really believe that,” Blake said last month in a telephone interview. “Through the process, I sacrificed a whole lot and took a whole lot of negative things. But if it’s for one man to gain the glory, then I’ll just accept it. That’s fine with me.”
Although Blake’s contributions to the Sooners’ 2000 national title is barely a footnote nationally, it is known in Oklahoma. It is still occasionally fodder for sports talk radio stations and Internet message boards.

“It’s probably a no-win situation for Bob,” Al Eschbach, a longtime sports radio host in Oklahoma, said in a telephone interview. “He doesn’t want to say that John had nothing to do with it. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to give John all the credit, either, because the program was in pretty bad shape when he took it over.”
Still, Blake wonders what might have been had he been able to coach a fourth season at Oklahoma. Instead, he was fired in November 1998 after posting a 12-22 record during the worst three-year stretch in the program’s history.

“I really felt that we had the recruiting class and young talent to turn the program around,” Blake said. “I just needed another year.”

Less than two weeks later, Stoops was hired from Florida, where he had been the defensive coordinator. In his first season, the Sooners went 7-5 and lost to Mississippi in the Independence Bowl.

The next season, Stoops claimed his first and only B.C.S. title.

“We weren’t even a couple of years away,” Blake said.

We Like Sportz - language alert



Tank Johnson on Ice Skates

Why Take Care of the Ball?

I was spending plenty of time in deep thought this weekend pondering the playoffs – how certain teams made the playoffs (like Miami) and how certain teams managed to miss the playoffs despite having a better collection of talent than those that did (Dallas, anyone?).

I think the following to charts will dazzle you with the simplicity to explain much of it. Take any year that football has ever been played, and do the following experiment. Find the teams that have the 10 fewest giveaways, and chances are most if not all of those teams are in the playoffs. Find the teams with the 10 most giveaways on offense, and you will find that most if not all of the teams are not in the playoffs.

Let’s start with the teams that took care of the football this season. Here are the Top 10 (actually 11 with ties) who did not give the ball away much…Keep in mind that teams with a “*” after their name were in the 2008 playoffs:

Team	Giveaways	+/-
1. Dolphins *	13	+17
1. Giants *	13	+9
3. Colts *	17	+9
3. Titans *	17	+14
5. Redskins	18	0
6. Panthers *	19	+6
7. Chargers *	20	+4
8. Ravens *	21	+13
8. Patriots	21	+1
8. Falcons *	21	-3
8. Packers	21	+7

Table Tutorial

So, of the top 11 teams in fewest giveaways, 8 made the playoffs. Of the other 3, the Redskins and Patriots had very few takeaways from their defense for even +/- ratios, and the anomaly was Green Bay, who somehow finished a +7 and still finished only 6-10 in a pretty lousy division.

Now, the worst 10 teams:

Team	Giveaways	+/-
32. 49ers	35	-17
31. Cowboys	33	-11
30. Texans	32	-10
29. Rams	31	-5
29. Vikings *	31	-6
29. Jets	31	-1
26. Bills	30	-8
26. Broncos	30	-17
26. Cardinals *	30	0
23. Lions	29	-9

Table Tutorial

So, of the worst 10 offenses for giveaways, 8 missed the playoffs. Of the other 2, the Cardinals had an equally huge number of takeaways (30) and finished even. Then the anomaly was the Vikings who gave the ball away 31 times, finished a -6, and still made the playoffs in that same lousy NFC North.

If you are interested, the league average for a team is about 24 or 25. So, 25 giveaways is about normal, and of course, 25 takeaways would be the same. So, the Cowboys were well above the giveaways with 33, and below in the takeaways with 22.

Now, as you know, I don't believe the object of the game of football is to Not turn the ball over. The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent, and thus win the game. But, there are certain things that can equalize a difference in talent or speed or even execution. And that is gifting the ball to the other team. And in 2008, the Cowboys were far too generous.

In 2007, the Cowboys gave the ball away 24 times (33 in 2008) and took the ball away 29 times (22 in 2008) for a +5 instead of a -11. There is the difference in your record. What is bizarre? The interceptions in 2007 were 19. In 2008, 20. That is right. Tony Romo (and the backups) had 1 more INT than last season. But the fumbles rose from 5 to 13. In fact, Romo and Barber, despite both playing far less than full-time, both saw a rise in fumbles. Romo went from 3 to 5, and Barber went from 3 fumbles in '07 to 7 fumbles in '08.

More interesting year to year numbers on the defense. Last year, the Cowboys recovered just 10 fumbles. This year, 14! But that must mean that Interceptions dropped dramatically. They did. Instead of 19 INTs, in 2008, they only picked off 8passes. After adding Pac Man, Mike Jenkins, and getting that Roy Williams off the field, they picked off only 8 passes all season. Ouch. In 2007, All 4 starting DB's had multiple INTs. In 2008, only Newman had more than 1 pick.

While we are talking turnovers, let's finish our tracking of game by game turnovers and the 100 yard rushers, and 300 yard passers.

Final Turnover Data

In weeks 16 and 17, the winner of the turnover battle was 23-2. That put the final numbers almost to where they are every year. Almost every year they have done this, the final numbers are between 80% and 85%. Well, in 2008, the final numbers were 159-44, for a final win percentage of 78.3%. Regardless of the teams or the home field advantage, if you win the turnover battle, you win 4 out of every 5 games.

Final 100 yard rusher Data

Weeks 16 and 17 saw the 100 yard rusher actually only go 15-6, with Steven Jackson bringing down the average as he ran for 100+ in both games for in a losing effort. But, the final season numbers for teams that had a runner get to 100 yards was a convincing 102-29, for a win percentage of 77.9%.

Final 300 yard passer Data

And, just to prove that throwing for 300 yards has almost no correlation to winning, we have tracked this again. The final two weeks, QB's with 300+ yards were 5-6. That put the season record at 46-27-1, for a win percentage of 63%.

Here are some final thoughts from TC the intern who compiled my data this year:

The thing about turnovers that stood out to me was that teams that win the turnover battle by two are equally as likely to win as teams that win it by three. That was not the case all season, but that's how it ended up. It seems clear that a two-turnover lead is a pretty commanding one that even great teams will usually not come back from. Another thing that stood out was that there were only seven weeks when Drew Brees didn't make the 300-yard passer list, and one of them was his bye week. I know he almost broke Marino's record, but looking at it this way put a new light on it for me. Especially because 100-yard rushers are more rare than 300-yard
passers.

Tell me this isn't comedy - Here is Rey Malaluga, top draft prospect and Erin Andrews...

Week 17: Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 (9-7)

That is going to leave a bad taste in your mouth about Dallas Cowboys Football. I realize that hope shall spring eternal, and right about the time training camp rolls around (I was going to say the draft and then I remembered that the 1st round pick is in Detroit for that receiver that broke out yesterday for 2 catches and 4 yards) you will attempt to locate that jersey that you tore off yesterday during the Cowboys trouncing at the hands of the hated Eagles, but wow.

It would seem that breaking down the various elements of yesterday’s game instead of focusing on the far bigger picture would be a bit like pointing out a few weeds in the sidewalk of a house that just burned down, so I think we should attempt to do both here this morning.

First, the big picture. I am reminded of a quote from the Rams game, when Moose was calling the game on TV, he began to suggest to us that the Cowboys mix was not to his liking:

”Adversity doesn’t build character; it reveals it” – Daryl Johnston, On Fox, October 20, 2008, Dallas versus St Louis.

I certainly don’t want to be the old man here, especially if the “young man” needing the lecture is Jerry Jones, but what kind of team has been built? What kind of selfish, narcissistic, ego maniacs have you assembled here? This season has revealed so much. It has shown that when adversity hits, this team reveals its character. And while a large portion of the team may have the “good” kind of character, there is a faction that certainly seems to lack it. That faction affects everything. It undermines leadership, it teaches the kids how to conduct themselves, and when things go poorly, they are the first to turn knives on the team. As they say, this team is not a team of character. It is a team of characters.

So, now you combine a team of characters – many who have already been promised their money - with a coaching staff that seems to command almost no respect from those that would undermine them, and you have what you have right now…a pile of rubble.

What do you do with this underachieving crew that seemed to shrink to the occasion for the better part of the entire year? Jerry Jones has already said he plans to do nothing to his head coach, Wade Phillips. What folly that seems. The statistic Fox offered yesterday says plenty about this entire crew: The Wade Phillips Cowboys started 12-1, since then, they are 10-10. For anyone who thinks that Bill Parcells had this team set up to dominate, and then Wade and Jerry have allowed this thing to erode back into a mess, that statistic will make your case pretty well.

I think a new coach is very necessary. I also think that Jason Garrett is not who I would hire. I might entertain the idea of Garrett staying at coordinator, but I would surely not promote him after this mess. I think the days of not considering elements of team building when assembling a roster needs to stop. From now on, if they are a head ache, they don’t play here. If they require special rules, they don’t play here. If I have to hire a special security detail to babysit them, they don’t play here. If Ed Werder makes a full time living reporting on what my diva WR says everyday, then my WR doesn’t play here.

But, I know that expecting Jerry Jones to stop being Jerry Jones is an exercise of complete stupidity. So, with a new stadium ready to open, we can only hope that the man has learned a lesson. Fat chance.

Anyway, since we did all suffer through 44-6, let’s at least look at a few moments of the last chapter of a very bad book:

• Tony Romo is a mess right now. I hardly recognize the guy who I have bought stock in. His grasp of where to go with the football is completely screwed up right now, and his decisive ability to make reads and throws seems long gone. I think this off-season will be an interesting one, because for the first time in his life, he is going to have a lot of doubt. He is going to begin to question how good he is going to be, and how badly he wants it. His stock is way, way down, and his own organization is going to begin to question whether he is the man. I caution everyone against declaring a player of his quality and age a complete failure (see: Manning, Peyton), but at the end of the proverbial day, it is not very important what you or I think about this situation. It is important what he thinks. If he spends the off-season trying to convince himself that he has it all figured out, then I will be afraid. But, if he is obsessed with figuring out where it all went wrong and what he needs to get back to doing to make it all make sense again, then I think he will be one of the best QB’s in the league again.

• Speaking of Romo and Garrett, for an offense that was not nearly affected by injuries in December like the defense was, is there a chance we can figure out the confusion before next season? You know, the WR and the TE and the QB looking like they are not on the same page? How many times in the last few weeks have they looked like they had never played together? How many years before Roy Williams looks like he knows what plays are being called? And why am I already tiring of his routine this early in the game? Bad routes, drops, body language, and at times looking like he is just out there running around. Some franchise Wide Receiver.

• If the Eagles are dumb enough to let Brian Dawkins get away, I would send a jet to go pick him up immediately. I know he is just a shadow of what he once was – he once was the best safety in football – but if there is a guy who understands the position, it is that guy, the heart and soul of the Eagles defense for all of these years. His blitzing again yesterday was superb, and his sure tackling is something the Cowboys defense has lacked. Roy Williams may have faults, but when Williams, Patrick Watkins, Keith Davis, and friends are all hurt, we see the big plays multiply. Safety appears to once again be a sizeable hole in the defense. And Ken Hamlin may be paid like a great safety, but I am not sure he is much better than average.

• Bradie James is one of the positives of this season. Wade has really figured out how to best utilize him through blitzing. But, there is still that issue of covering receivers, and opposing QB’s still look for 56 on defense in the red zone to isolate a back or TE. Easy money.

• Did you know the Eagles only had 5 more yards than the Cowboys? When you see a drive chart that has 5 consecutive drives that end with: “Interception, Fumble, Fumble, Fumble, Fumble” then odds are good that total yards will not matter.

• Did Tony Romo pull Wade’s pants down when he waved the punt team back to the sideline? Is that a reasonable enough sign that your coach lacks respect? I guess I must be forgetting all of the times Parcells was waved off.

• If Pac Man Jones ever plays another second in Dallas, I will be disappointed. Dumb players make dumb plays. We saw about a dozen this season – in 9 games.

• Nick Folk kicks field goals very, very well. He does not kick off very well. No touchbacks, and then he kicks the ball out of bounds, too? It might be time for the designated KO specialist.

• By the way, if Bruce Read is coaching special teams next year, I will be disappointed.

• Plays of the game: The 59 yards catch and run by Correll Buckhalter on 3rd and 8, and then 3rd and 9 pass to DeSean Jackson for 34 yards. Both plays put the Eagles inside the Cowboys 10, and ready for a Touchdown. And both plays featured Terrence Newman coming up empty.

• I roll my eyes when I hear the December records brought up, but there is no running from that reality anymore. This team cannot close the deal. They cannot rise to the occasion. And when their backs were against the wall the last two weeks, all units of the team failed miserably. Jerry Jones must consider any and all alternatives after the way 2008 ended. The message must be sent loud and clear that this is unacceptable. But, will that message be sent?

• And so it ends, one of the most disappointing Cowboys seasons ever. For some reason, it might take several months for many of us to work up a renewed enthusiasm for this thing. Here is a vote for change if there will be hope.

Week 16: Ravens 33, Cowboys 24 (9-6)

There is very little to say right now about how the Cowboys wet the bed Saturday night in their final game at Texas Stadium. The simple fact of the matter is that much like a great deal of their season; the Cowboys saw it slip through their fingers in the most agonizing fashion possible. To put it mildly, it would seem that 2008 is just not their year. I am a big believer in hanging in there and keeping hope alive until the last breath in a league where 31 of 32 teams will end their season in disappointment, but it is surely a tough time to keep the faith around here.

The plain truth is this: They had the season right where they wanted it. All they had to do was beat a Baltimore team that certainly has skills on the field, but doesn’t have the talent resources at the key positions that Dallas has. The Ravens have a rookie QB that they protect from having to move the ball down the field in the air. They grind and grind and count on the defense to win the turnover battle and the war in the trenches. If Dallas could make a play or two down the field, they would quite possibly open the game up and put the Ravens in a very uncomfortable spot. It would depend on the defense of Baltimore completely stopping Tony Romo and his mates. And you know something? They made it look easy.

If you read this blog, you know I am a Tony Romo supporter to a very strong degree. I believe in his quality, and I surely have walked a plank with the young man to a point where people claim I have lost my credibility because of my defense of the QB. Well, I accept the critiques coming my way, but I also can see things for what they are. While I believe Romo will ultimately hold a Lombardi Trophy overhead in a Cowboys uniform, I also recognize that he is nowhere near a finished product. Why he played the way he played on Saturday night is beyond any reasonable explanation. He hasn’t honestly looked right to me for huge chunks of 2008, and while he has put up numbers and wins, he also has appeared shaky, uncomfortable, and unsure of what this offense needs out of him. It would be easy to blame the coaching staff, but at the end of the proverbial day, he has to know better. He has to know that you cannot make the spinning desperation throw into double coverage. In a game where you can only lose if you turn the ball over, he turned the ball over. He appears to press when the booing begins. He appears to press when the pressure is on. And he appears to press when the games are vital and mandatory to stick in the win column. These are points that I cannot dispute. I never said he was perfect. I said he was a stock I believe in and would buy. I still do, but he is surely NOT infallible.

The lasting memory of the final game at Texas Stadium will be the back to back runs of 77 and 82 yards. And why wouldn’t it? The longest opponent’s runs in the history of the stadium happened in the final 4 minutes of the final game ever played there? Are you kidding me? Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain? Alas, sometimes you cannot write these things. If it wasn’t so sad, you would laugh to make yourself feel better.

Here are some various random notes from Week 16, Game 15 against the Ravens – the day the Cowboys lost control of their own destiny:

• What are they doing with Marion Barber? What are they thinking dressing him against the Giants, getting nothing out of him, and then dressing him against the Ravens, and getting nothing out of him? Talk about not learning from your mistakes.

• Joe Flacco was impressive last night. He threw for less than 150 yards, but he made some big throws into tight spots. He looked calm and cool, and once they got the lead, they could stop throwing the ball for the most part on 1st and 2nd downs. I don’t see Baltimore much, but I really enjoyed his composure and calm in the storm on a night in which he got sacked 5 times in the first half. You would think Saturday night was going to be a tough spot for a rookie to succeed, but Baltimore must be giddy about his rookie campaign.

• How much would the game have changed if Tony Romo doesn’t miss a streaking Miles Austin on 3rd and 9 in the middle of the 3rd Quarter? He was wide open. Wide open. And, that play was the play of the night. If he hits him, it is a 79 yard touchdown pass that gives the Cowboys a 14-9 lead. Instead, on the next snap, the punt, which Jim Leonhard returns to the Cowboys 37. A few plays later, Ken Hamlin does not recover a fumble that is in his hands. A few plays after that, a fake field goal is run for a first down, and a few plays after that, Derrick Mason is scoring a touchdown to put the Ravens up 16-7, and game was slipping out of reach. All because Romo missed a wide open receiver. When you are playing the Ravens, you cannot miss wide open receivers. It is that simple.

• Suggs, Lewis, Reed, Scott. They have some hitters on that team. That is a system and a culture of laying a beat down on your opponent.

• Roy Williams cannot beat Frank Walker? The same Frank Walker who has not been a starter in this league? Sorry. 9 games into his Cowboys career, I have to check and make sure I still have the receipt. He seems to be a whole bunch of style and a small bit of substance. Ed Reed is sitting on top of Owens while Samari Rolle is jamming him. Wasn’t the point of getting Roy Williams to punish the opponents that would dare do that? And he can’t expose Frank Walker? Ouch. And to think he has been labeled a future #1 WR when Owens moves on.

• 10 more penalties. Don’t be afraid to play a clean game at some point.

• I think Brad Sham said this first, but allow me to echo it. Jason Witten needs about 2-3 months on the beach. I have not seen a player take a beating like that in quite a while.

• Would I have tried an onside kick? No. I think they made the right call. Look, you had all of your time-outs. You knew that there was only one thing the Ravens were going to do. Run the ball between the tackles. There was no mystery. You could put 11 defenders in the box. You have no excuse for allowing those two runs. Ken Hamlin will not win the critical eye of the league on those two efforts. Of course, like so many on this team, he already has his money, so I am sure he will be fine.

• As I was leaving a frigid Texas Stadium after the game, I was walking right behind a Dad and his boy. The boy must have been 7 or 8 years old and was crying about the result. Some people might roll their eyes, but I knew how the boy felt. When you are young, and you love a sports team, you believe the games and the seasons will all have the happy endings of the Disney movies that you watch. Guess what, son, if you are going to pledge allegiance to a team as it appears you have with the Dallas Cowboys, I want to welcome you to the fellowship of the die-hards. Understand, that once you do, you are not allowed out of this commitment, and you should also understand that most seasons are going to end in tears. A favorite team is the only thing a male human feels the same about when he is 5 and when he is 45 and when he is 75. You will change your mind on everything else. Girls, money, hobbies. But, you will always still feel the adrenaline rush of a win, and the gutting sadness of a horrible loss. I didn’t say anything to the boy, as his Dad was handling it (and he might not have welcomed my advice) but I felt for him. Welcome to sports, young man. Someday, you may live to see a championship or five, but most years will end with your guts spilling onto the floor.

• So now what? Hope. Is there time for still another redemption with this team? Thanks to the Redskins and Chargers, perhaps there is. A trip to Philadelphia. A chance for a glorious clutch win, or one final agonizing opportunity for Cowboys fans to end their holiday season in tears. Is this all there is in 2008?

• 4,376 days and counting….

Week 15: Cowboys 20, Giants 8 (9-5)

In what would have to go down as one of the craziest weeks in the history of this storied franchise (and consider for a moment what that is saying), we see yet again that winning cures cancer. At least temporarily, that is. It would seem that cancer does exist in the Cowboys locker-room, and I understand how a fans hope and dream is that the media is creating everything, but I would think it would take naiveté of the highest order to believe that there is no civil unrest in that Cowboys room. Something smells badly, and I think we all know who the usual suspect is on that front; but for a day, the Cowboys beat the Giants and everyone feels better and believes that they are now prepared to fight another day.

I said after the Seattle game : If there is anything that Wade Phillips can say that did not exist before he arrived it is that ability to sack the QB. The last time the team broke the 40 sacks barrier before Wade arrived was 1994. Now they have done it both years Wade has been here. The last time they had done it in back to back seasons is 1987-1988. Well, 8 more sacks against the Giants have the Cowboys high atop the National Football League with 53! The pass rush is relentless, and whether it is due to Wade taking control of the defensive playcalling, or the return of Terrence Newman, or a combination of many things…the
fact is quite clear. It is tough to block the Dallas Cowboys pass rush right now.

Now, to the much-maligned QB, Tony Romo. He has had prettier performances. He has made things look easier. But if football legends are made when a guy takes a beating and guts his way through a difficult game and a tremendous amount of punishment, then I think Tony Romo took another step in quieting his critics. The game was a December win, so put that one on the positive side of the ledger, and go back and review the throws he made while someone had a helmet in his sternum. Playing QB is tough, playing it in Dallas is tougher, and playing it in Dallas during the circus of #81 is next to impossible, but I think Tony Romo can limp around his house today feeling pretty darn proud of his evening. 0 turnovers (granted the fumble in the end zone was close) and a QB rating of 113.7 constitutes an amazing night given the piano he was carrying around on his back entering the game. Meanwhile, Eli, he the wearer of the Super Bowl ring, put a rating of 43.9 up, with 2 interceptions and looks like he wouldn’t mind having Plaxico and maybe Shockey back in the mix. I have said it a dozen times, and I have been ridiculed for saying it. But I haven’t changed my mind: “They have Eli, We have Romo…Give me Romo”.

Now, on to thoughts and comments from a big win against the Giants:

• We talked about the difficulty of this defensive gauntlet that the Cowboys are trying to survive. Well, they may be surviving, but the bruises are mounting up. I sure think the physical toll is mounting, and question what will be left of the Cowboys if they do make the playoffs. This Steelers-Giants-Ravens-Eagles December is as rough and tough as it gets. That was some hitting on that field yesterday. As a fan, you have to love it. As a player, you have to love when it is over.

• Jason Witten is as money as it gets. On 3rd down, Tony Romo looks at Witten 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Why? Because he makes the catch, and then he fights and fights to get that yard. Terrell can do a lot of things, but fight for that yard? I think we all saw that hook slide one yard short of the marker from Owens. Did he slip? Doesn’t matter. He didn’t come close to the marker. And then on the play of the game, Witten gets a 3rd and 9 even though he was being tackled 3 yards short of the marker. You want the ball on 3rd down? You better get that yard. Or 3.

• Audible boos during the starting line-ups, and during a few various moments of the game for Owens. I wonder if that has any effect on him at all? Nah. I am sure, Rosenhaus, Irvin, and Sanders will all assure him that the fans were calling him “Moose”, and that he is in the right and that everyone else is conspiring to keep him down. Surely, this is the last season with the narcissist known as T.O., right?

• Roy Williams: 1 catch for 5 yards. Something tells me the Cowboys anticipated more than 14 catches for 182 yards in his first 8 games here. That projects to a season of 28 catches and 364 yards over 16 games. YIKES. Apparently, Terrell refers to him as “Decoy Roy”. So far, I cannot argue with that point.

• Big credit to the coaches and players for figuring out how to slow down the Giants pass rush a bit as the game moved to the 2nd Quarter and beyond. It appeared the first step was to get Cory Proctor some much-needed help. Then, the next step was to use some screen plays and catch the Giants in some blitzes. Regardless, aside from Gurode snapping the ball well before the team was ready on that safety, the protection improved dramatically as the game went on. The first quarter was plenty damaging as it was.

• DeMarcus Ware is an animal. Everything you could say about his domination has already been said. 3 more sacks takes him to 19, and a legitimate chance to catch the all-time official NFL record of Michael Strahan (22.5) and the unofficial Cowboys record of Harvey Martin (23). Last night, they loved flipping Ware from Right End to Left End, to give both of the Giants tackles a chance to get Eli killed, and he just had his way. The best part of that night though, was when Ware was on the sideline with what appeared to be an equipment issue. That was during the Giants 2nd drive of the 3rd Quarter, and after they moved the ball from their 7 to their 45, A Ware-less defense scored back to back sacks with Spencer/Canty on 2nd down and Ellis/Ratliff on 3rd down getting the meet at the QB sacks. Loved the pressure.

• It was quite clear that Marion Barber had very little burst and ability to get up to speed last night. Luckily, it sure looks like Tashard Choice is ready to get the ball and make something happen. He also has the ability to catch the ball pretty well, which I didn’t realize back in Oxnard. I can’t imagine the depth in 2009 when Felix is healthy again.

• Having Newman make plays changes everything. He has had a very uneven year, but last night he really changed momentum with his first interception of the night. And who is the 2nd best corner on the squad? I think it has been Orlando Scandrick, recently. I love his fight. I love his effort. And I think he has some raw talent. Hard to believe you can find Choice and Scandrick on day 2 of the draft, but like Ratliff and Crayton, it demonstrates why scouts mean everything in the NFL.

• Too many penalties, boys. I know this is something they don’t seem very worried about, but good gosh, another 108 yards in flags? Attention to detail!

• Only 5 more days to Baltimore, and the final home game ever to be played at Texas Stadium. Heal fast, because this is another game you must win. Hey, Cowboys, how about everyone zip the lips for a few days, ok?

Week 14: Pittsburgh 20, Dallas 13 (8-5)

It surely wasn’t lost on me that the disaster of the 4th Quarter in Pittsburgh – that may or may not cost the Dallas Cowboys a spot in the 2008 playoffs – happened on December 7th. While this certainly will not live in infamy quite to the extent as the real reason 12/7 is infamous, the 67th (not 57th...sorry) anniversary of Pearl Harbor seems a somewhat fitting day to hold a true ambush disaster in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This game wasn’t necessarily won, but it was close. Real close. They don’t say this thing is a game of inches for nothing. Consider the following that all happened in the late stages of the disaster:

1) – If Tashard Choice can stay in bounds and finish his long reception into a touchdown instead of out of bounds at the 10…

2) – If Jay Ratliff can grab that interception that he nearly grabs off the ground, the play before the home run heave to Santonio Holmes…

3) – If Jeff Reed doesn’t get the most generous carom off the upright…

4) – And, If Jason Witten is looking for the ball on 4th and 10 and ball nearly hits him on the head…

Maybe the result is different. But, it surely isn’t. In a game of inches, the Cowboys were done in by a couple. And now, you sit at 8-5. And your playoff hopes have dimmed.

Now, on to the QB; I said on the pregame show that if he does what he is capable of doing (win the game in Pitt) then by the evening highlight shows he could be the front-runner in the MVP running. Err, forget about that, please. That was one of those performances where the QB got you beat. Most of the other departments of the team (The entire defense, Tashard Choice) played about as good as you can possibly hope. But, the QB made too many poor decisions, and let’s face it: As good as he is, he was not good enough yesterday to win a game in a very difficult environment. The last thing you can have in a game of that magnitude is horrible ball protection. The Cowboys were way too generous with the ball, and that goes to your QB.

I love the fact that somehow I am now the target of emails about Tony Romo when he plays poorly. If his email address were public, you could write to him and get in his face, but since it isn’t – people feel better about Romo blowing it by emailing me personally and telling me how “idiotic” and “stupid” I am for backing Romo like I do. Like I say every time; I believe in Tony Romo. I believe that he will one day get this team another Super Bowl victory. I have made my bed, and I will be happy to sleep in it. I am convinced that he is the real deal. Does that mean he will never play a poor game? Never throw a pick? Or three? Of course, not. But, if your first inclination when he has a poor outing is to email me, you may have to explain that one to me. Unless, you are also quick to email me and congratulate me when he plays well.

On the other hand, if you have determined that Romo will never win anything, and that the Cowboys are wasting their time on this “loser”, then make your position very clear and enjoy the carnage. I think you are wrong, but the odds are greatly in your favor by saying he will never measure up to Roger or Troy. Anyway, enough about that.

Let’s get to various notes and such from the big game and the bigger loss:

• Santonio Holmes won that game last night. Without his big catch on 3rd and 16 for 47 yards when Terrence Newman didn’t think Ben Roethlisberger could throw it against the win that far, and without his big punt return, the Steelers don’t have a chance. He had some big clutch moments yesterday late to save the game.

• Meanwhile, how about that goal line stand. You do wonder what spot that stand would have had in the NFL Films season video if the Cowboys won yesterday. They didn’t win, but I believe we all have to be gaining some respect for what this defense is capable of. To consistently get to the QB like they are, to hang in there and hang tough in a tough situation, and to keep getting stops after Romo mistakes is quite impressive. I think they are finally gaining some steam. I can live without the 12 men on the field penalty and the Greg Ellis lined up offside flag, but I cannot quarrel too much with that defense. Especially as banged up as they are.

• Terrell Owens thought he was open? No way! And what is that? He is throwing a tantrum on the sideline in disgust after things go wrong because he needs the ball more? No way! That is so out of character for him. What? It is because he wants to win so badly? That’s right. I guess that excuses his petulance. What a great example for the young lads he must be.

• Bradie James is playing better than he has ever played. I can't tell you how impressed by #56 as I have been. He is flying around the ball making plays on a regular basis. I think he has really taken the next step as a linebacker.

• List of things Pac Man did yesterday that make you believe in the cliché, “dumb players make dumb plays”. Amazingly poor judgment in fielding a punt at his 5; Lined up out of position causing Scandrick to call a timeout; On the field when he wasn’t supposed to be (I am guessing based on Wade yelling at him) when the Cowboys were penalized giving the Steelers a first and goal; and then another incredibly mediocre punt return and three mediocre kick returns….So, is this guy worth all of this trouble? At some point, he has got to make a play on returns to make us all understand why the Cowboys moved heaven and earth to accommodate him.

• Tashard Choice is a very impressive young man. There is no doubt the Cowboys got too conservative in the 4th Quarter thinking that Choice and OL could grind down the Steelers in the final Quarter, but for his first professional start for him to produce like he did is very encouraging moving forward. I thought early in the game that he was nervous and that explains his loss of footing, but once he gained his composure and calm, he played better than anyone could have hoped. It is encouraging to see the depth at RB when everyone is healthy. Now, is Barber ready for New York?

• Troy Polamalu is wonderful. I don’t see enough of Ed Reed to be able to give you a detailed comparison and breakdown, but I do see the Steelers enough to know that yesterday was just another day at the office for that guy. He is at the top of the safety position in the NFL. Very, very high level of quality. Seeing him run down a RB from behind down the line of scrimmage is a thing of beauty.

• Some of the emails received about the appearance of Wade Phillips yesterday: “Is he wearing Gor-tex?” and “Why is he wrapped up like Paddington Bear?” - Meanwhile, I know coach demeanor can be over-rated, but does Mike Tomlin jump around and celebrate like he is a member of the special teams or that he is the head coach? I might advise him to crank it down a notch, because coaches are allowed a fist pump or two, but not much more than that.

• It has already been established that Romo was nowhere near good enough, but how about Owens quitting on one route and Witten admitting to running the wrong route on another leading to 2 of the 3 interceptions. Of all of the receivers to betray you on plays when the blitz is running you down, you would think you could count on 81 and 82. Yikes.

• I think Ben Roethlisberger is pretty strong. He really makes plays and keeps plays alive. I think he takes a tremendous beating, but his toughness is remarkable. You can win with Big Ben if you have a team built like that.

• If you read this blog, and you know the Tra Battle story. Well, add another chapter when the ball bounced off his leg on the short punt. The life of a special teamer.

• Bottom line time? If the playoffs ended today you are in the playoffs. Also, you should have won in Pittsburgh against a Steelers team that could be in the Super Bowl. You didn’t, but that doesn’t take away that you showed you can compete there. Three weeks left, and if you take care of your business, it is all good. 6 days to the Giants at home.

Decoding the Offense - Week 12 Sea

OK, finally got a chance to break down the Seattle game, and despite the complete and total attack on the scoreboard, there were a few interesting things to see.

First, notice how horrendous the 3rd downs were. 2 for 9 is a number that Brad Johnson is capable of, but who would have thought that in one of the more lethal performances from the offense, they were actually quite lousy on 3rd down.

Next, many of these numbers indicated a team that a) was way ahead and b) was trying to get the game over without anyone else getting hurt after Barber and Ware went down. Due to that, they went “22” the entire 4th Quarter and just fed the rock to Tashard Choice.

Otherwise, nothing jumps off the page at me at first glance. How about you?

58 Offensive plays – (24 runs/34 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (31 = 8 different packages – 13 runs/ 18 passes)

“11” – 1 (1 pass for 2 yards)
“12” – 5 (2 runs for 17 yards, FD/3 passes for 39 yards, 2 FD, INT)
“21” – 9 (2 runs for 23 yards, FD/ 7 passes for 82 yards, 4 FD)
“22” – 10 (8 runs for 35 yards/2 passes for 16 yards, TD to Bennett)
“23” – 1 (1 run for 0 yards)
”13” – 1 (1 pass for 19 yards, TD to Owens)


Shotgun

“S11” – 3 (3 passes for 20 yards, Touchdown to Witten, FD)
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 13 yards, FD)



2nd Downs (17 plays – 6 looks – 8 runs/9 passes):

“11” – 1 (1 run for 13 yards – reverse to Williams, FD)
“12W” – 1 (1 pass for 8 yards)
“13” – 1 (1 pass for 19 yards, FD)
“21” – 3 (2 runs for 0 yards, 1 passes for 0 yards)
“22” – 5 (4 runs for 29 yards, FD/1 pass for 11 yards, FD)

Shotgun

“S11” – 6 (1 run for 1 yard, TD to Barber/ 5 passes for 51 yards, 2 FD)


9 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 4 looks (2 runs/7 passes) (2 for 9, 22%)

“22” – 2 (1 run for -1 yards, 1 pass for 0 yards) 0-2

Shotgun

“S10” – 1 (1 pass for 4 yards) 0-1
“S11” – 5 (1 run for 0 yards/ 4 passes for 15 yards) 1 for 5
“S11H” – 1 (1 pass for 33 yards, FD) 1-1


Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

24 runs - 34 passes

UNDER CENTER (41 – 21 runs/19 passes)

“11” – 2 (1 run for 13 yards, 1 pass for 2 yards)
“12” – 5 (2 runs for 17 yards/ 3 passes for 39 yards, 2FD, INT)
“21” – 12 (4 runs for 23 yards/ 8 passes for 82 yards, 4FD)
“22” – 17 (13 runs for 63 yards, 4 passes for 27 yards, FD, TD to Bennett)
“23” – 1 (1 run for 0 yards)
“13” – 2 (2 passes for 38 yards, FD, TD to Owens)
“12W” – 1 (1 passes for 8 yards)


SHOTGUN (16 – 2 runs/14 passes)

“S11” – 14 (2 runs for 1 yard, TD to Barber/ 12 passes for 86 yards, TD to Witten, 3FD)
“S10” – 1 (1 pass for 4 yards)
“S02” – 1 (1 pass for 13 yards, FD)

Decoding the Offense - Week 11 SF

I know this extremely late, and therefore borders on irrelevent, but here are the results of the 49ers game...

The new Jason Garrett toy here is the "S11" Bunch. I did not distinguish the bunch plays from the other S11 plays because I have not tracked them all season. However, the Cowboys really started pounding this package for the first time against the 49ers. What they like to do is put Owens and Crayton to the right, Witten and Williams to the left and they are all bunched inside the numbers. This makes the defense declare its intentions and also makes them matchup in man to man. Well, the Cowboys ran this formation 5 times:

All 5 plays were passes:
5 yards to Barber
Inc Pass to Williams
10 yard TD to Crayton
75 yard TD to Owens
52 yards to Owens

5 plays for 142 yards and 2 Touchdowns is a nice return.

69 Offensive plays – (29 runs/40 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (26 = 8 different packages – 14 runs/ 12 passes)

“11” – 2 (2 runs for 1 yard)
“12” – 7 (6 run for 16 yards/1 pass for 8 yards)
“21” – 5 (2 runs for 11 yards/ 3 passes for 9 yards)
“22” – 3 (3 runs for 14 yards)
“12H” – 2 (2 Passes for 14 yards, FD)
”13” – 1 (1 pass for 0 yards)
Knee - 1

Shotgun

“S11” – 5 (5 passes for 6 yards, SACK)


2nd Downs (25 plays – 7 looks – 12 runs/13 passes):

“11” – 2 (1 run for 5 yards, 1 pass for 0 yards - FUMBLE)
“12” – 5 (4 runs for 11 yards, FD, 1 pass for 0 yards)
“13” – 2 (1 run for -1 yards, 1 pass for 7 yards)
“21” – 6 (1 run for 0 yards, 5 passes for 61 yards, 3 FD )
“22” – 4 (4 runs for 12 yards, FD)
Knee - 1

Shotgun

“S11” – 5 (5 passes for 10 yards)

18 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 4 looks (2 runs/16 passes) (9 for 18, 50%)

“22” – 2 (1 run for 5 yards, 1 pass for 16 yards) 2-2
“23” – 1 (1 pass for 1 yards, TD to Bennett) 1-1
Knee – 1

Shotgun
“S11” – 14 (14 passes for 209 yards, 2 TD) 6 for 14 – Touchdowns to Owens and Crayton


Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

29 runs - 40 passes

UNDER CENTER (45 – 28 runs/17 passes)

“11” – 4 (3 run for 6 yards, 1 pass for 0 yards, FUMBLE)
“12” – 12 (10 runs for 27 yards/ 2 passes for 8 yards)
“21” – 11 (3 runs for 11 yards/ 8 passes for 70 yards, 3FD)
“22” – 9 (8 runs for 31 yards, 1 pass for 16 yards, 2FD)
“23” – 1 (1 pass for 1 yards, TD)
“13” – 3 (1 run for -1 yards, 2 passes for 7 yards)
“12H” – 2 (2 passes for 14 yards, FD)
Knee - 3

SHOTGUN (24 – 24 passes)

“S11” – 24 (24 passes for 225 yards, 2 TDs, 4 FD, SACK)

Personnel Package	Description
”11”	1 running back and 1 TE
”12”	1 running back and 2 TE
”12W”	same as 12, just with both TE’s in the backfield in front of Barber
”13”	1 running back and 3 TE
”21”	2 running backs and 1 TE
”22”	2 RB and 2 TE
”22*”	2 RB and 2 TE, Barber at FB
”23”	2 RB and 3 TE
”31”	3 RB’s and 1 TE. Jones, Barber, and Anderson.
“11H”	1 RB and 1 TE, but Witten is playing the “H” or “F” back
“12H”	1 RB and 2 TE, with Witten playing “H”.
“S11”	Romo in Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE
“S10”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 0 TE, 4 WR
“S02”	Shotgun, 0 RB, 2 TE
”S11H”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, Witten playing “H”
”S12”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 2 TE
“S21”	Shotgun, 2RB, 1TE
“S01”	Shotgun, 0 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR

Week 13: Dallas 34, Seattle 9 (8-4)

Thanksgiving feasts in Dallas are becoming a relative formality for the Cowboys in the Tony Romo era. In 2006, the Cowboys demolished the Buccaneers 38-10. In 2007, they destroyed the New York Jets, 34-3. And yesterday, true to form, the Cowboys ate up the Seattle Seahawks, 34-9. Three Thanksgiving games in the Romo-era, three wins. Combined score? 106-22.

After the clinic put on in the 1st half yesterday, and after the last 5 days of Cowboys football where they hang 69 on the NFC West, I seem to be less likely to buy that the league has sorted out the Jason Garrett offense. There is no amount of defensive scheming that is going to slow down a Romo-Witten-Barber-Owens-Williams offense. Forget it. Add in a Crayton here, a Bennett there, and I am convinced this team can still achieve what it dreams to achieve despite the fact that the odds are almost nil that the Cowboys could play a playoff game in Irving.

I guess it all comes down to a few things. Can they quiet the December reputation (which I don’t honestly care about given that the number of 10-16 in that month since 2003 takes into account Quincy, Vinny, and Drew. You want to show me a number, show me Romo’s December record – 4-5) and can they stay healthy? If the Romo injury wasn’t enough to give you indigestion last month, than the Marion Barber and DeMarcus Ware situations give you grave concern. I think they will both be ok, but I am particularly worried about the pending MRI of Ware because we all know how ordinary the Cowboys defense would look if they didn’t have the absurd play-making of #94 on the flank. Further, after Brenden Morrow blew out his knee without experiencing much discomfort at all and even thought he could keep playing in the short term, all he could say was that his knee just “wasn’t quite right”. As odd as it seems, you could completely blow your knee out and not know it. So, cross your fingers.

I think we all know that every team has a few guys that are irreplaceable. If it wasn’t true, then you would pay all of the players the same amount. For every case of Osi Umenyiora and the way the Giants have marched on without him, there are 10 cases of a team losing a “big 5” player and the season crumbles far below expectations. If Romo, Barber, Ware, Witten, or Owens end up missing for a month, this team is not the contender it is. So regardless of how much preparation and execution you pour into this thing, one thing about winning the Super Bowl that nobody likes to admit is the sheer luck of health. Let’s all hope for that in this particular case.

Anyway, we said they had to figure out how to get to 8-4 as the calendar turns to December, and they did it. I think they deserve great marks for coming out of the bye and taking care of their business. Now, the weather turns, the schedule improves, and the pressure accumulates. But, at least they are back in the game. We all know how close they were to being out of the mix with a loss to Tampa Bay or at Washington, this team would be relegated to playing out the string in the ultra-competitive NFC playoff picture.

But, they won in such a way that the 2nd half was only necessary for record-keeping, and they can take a 10-day rest, then report to Pittsburgh for the big final push on December 7th.

Notes and observations from the very last Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium:

• You know you are playing well when you run 20 plays without ever having a 3rd down. The Cowboys actually did have one 3rd down, but due to a penalty, it is ruled a “no play” in the stats, so they went right up and down the field in the 1st 3 drives with almost no need for the 3rd down package. The ease was amazing. How great does this offense look when it is fully operational? At least almost. No Felix, but I am focusing on the good.

• Jason Witten’s last 4 games: 4 catches for 53 yards. Witten in the 1st Quarter yesterday: 4 catches for 67 yards on his way to 9 for 115. I think he is healthy again, and I think his interview with Deion helped, too.

• So, the Cowboys have a pass rush now? Or should we assume that the Seahawks were trying to play with a new Left Guard and a new Center because of injuries. Regardless, 7 sacks used to make up about 30% of a season’s total of sacks for the Cowboys. In 2000, the Cowboys had 26 sacks for the year. 2001, 24, and 2002 just 24. The Cowboys now lead the NFL in sacks with 40, after nailing 46 last year. If there is anything that Wade Phillips can say that did not exist before he arrived it is that ability to sack the QB. The last time the team broke the 40 sacks barrier before Wade arrived was 1994. Now they have done it both years Wade has been here. The last time they had done it in back to back seasons is 1987-1988.

• Observations that have nothing to do with the game: I don’t get the Jonas Brothers, but my daughter does. And, if I had the time to play video games anymore (I think less blogging would help) I am pretty sure I would buy the new Tomb Raider game that was advertised during the 2nd half. Looks pretty cool.

• Every time they show Terrell Owens, something appears to be going on with him. They show him once, it looks like Rocky Bernard wants to kill him. They show him again, Pac Man Jones is pulling him away from an animated discussion with Tashard Choice (I think?). The man does not lack for excitement in his life.

• Don’t look now, but Martellus Bennett looks like he is making all of the progress a young man should be making in his rookie season in the NFL. And as well as he is playing, he is getting on the field plenty. He was on the field 17 of the last 18 plays yesterday as the Cowboys began running the ball. Meanwhile, if your name was Roy Williams or Patrick Crayton, you played 1 play in the 4th Quarter for that same reason.

• Orlando Scandrick is also really showing himself well. I like his ability to fight his way through routes and make a few plays on the ball.

• Favorite story from yesterday? Tra Battle. From what I understand, Tra Battle has been on the practice squad of the San Diego Chargers for 2007 and a good part of 2008. Then, 2 weeks ago, he was activated when the Chargers needed another safety and was credited with 1 tackle in that famous game played between the Chargers and Steelers in Pittsburgh on November 16th. Then, he was pushed back to the practice squad on Saturday for the Chargers. On Tuesday, he is having lunch in California and told to get to an airport because the Cowboys, who needed another DB with the Pat Watkins and Mike Jenkins injuries, and wanted to sign him to the 53. He landed in Dallas Tuesday night, worked with special teams on Wednesday, and was activated for the Thanksgiving day game for the Cowboys on Thursday. Then, put right on kickoff coverage, the Cowboys lined him up at “R2” which is the second man in from the right on the cover team. With 12:36 left in the 1st Q, he runs down the returner with such speed and conviction that it certainly caused a fine reaction at the Stadium. Very cool to see #35 make a play in his first play as a Cowboy.

• Chalk-talk of the day: The Owens Touchdown late in the 3rd (2:23 left) is a perfect example of how coaching and scheming can get you points. The Cowboys are in “13” personnel – 1 RB, 3 TE, and Owens. Owens is wide left with Marcus Trufant in his face. Tony Curtis is technically in the FB spot in front of Barber, with Witten on the left of Adams and Bennett on the Right of Colombo. They then motion Curtis all the way out to the Seattle sideline, and the Seahawks coaches no doubt gasp in horror because they know what their soldiers are going to do. Trufant follows his automatic defensive principles which state that when motion crosses his man, he then slides out to cover the outside man (Curtis) while the man who had Curtis (LB Julian Peterson) originally grabs the guy who is now essentially in the slot (Owens). Oh dear. Major mismatch and I am sure the Seahawks coaches were trying to call timeout. Romo snaps, looks away, but knows he is going to Owens who will beat the safety to the endzone. Touchdown. It reminds me of the same thing they did to Washington in Week 4 with Felix Jones did the same thing to leave Witten up against a LB because of pre-snap motion from the backfield to the sideline. Love it. It just shows you how complicated the NFL really is. If the Cowboys did that more often, the opponent would prepare in practice for that scenario. But, if you do it one play a month, you hope the defense makes the wrong pre-snap adjustment. Then, Romo sees what they did, and he pounces. I was disappointed that the Fox guys did not see WHY the Seahawks had Peterson on Owens. Aikman just went on and on about how he didn’t understand why Seattle would try to do that. They didn’t. They just had 2 players who made a split-second poor decision. But now Seahawks fans think their coaches are imbeciles for trying to put a LB on Owens.

• DeMarcus Ware is amazing, and made Walter Jones look like he has lost a step. When you rip Flozell Adams next time, just remember how bad Walter Jones – who most people consider the best Left Tackle in football – looked. The point is that these speed rushers are just impossible to stop sometimes. And who doesn’t love the blitzing of Bradie James? He seems to have found a knack.

• 10 days off before an absolute huge challenge in Pittsburgh. Keep those players healthy, and let the stretch drive begin….

Week 12: Cowboys 35, 49ers 22 (7-4)

Terrell Owens put on a show Sunday at Texas Stadium. I must tell you, after he opened his mouth last week for another one of his “look at me” interviews with Deion, it is impressive that he then arrives at the stadium on Sunday and proceeds to have the biggest game in the NFL in 2008 for a Wide Receiver. Most athletes can not accomplish the feat of speaking out of line and then backing it up with a huge performance. Many, including me, were starting to wonder again if he is worth the trouble, and if Jason Garrett and Tony Romo need the absurdity of satisfying Owens while trying to keep this team afloat on the way to what they hope is the NFL Playoffs. Making the playoffs is hard enough, but trying to do it while massaging the incredibly high-maintenance persona of Owens sometimes seems like it is more trouble than it is worth.

Until he breaks off a game for 7 catches and 213 yards. Then, you remember why you put up with the diva to begin with. Obviously, if he would pop open on occasion the rest of the weeks, this type of performance may not be so rare and his numbers may have not been so pedestrian. But, there he was, and there San Francisco was, refusing to play “press” coverage – the style of defense that has limited Owens to roughly 4 catches and 51 yards per game for the first 10 games this season.

Each team plays the Cowboys differently, and as long as the objective remains to win the game, the Cowboys can feed off that. However, when the objective evolves into “satisfying the diva”, then I am not sure what Garrett, Romo, and the rest of the Cowboys world can do to get Owens open. Press coverage is his kryptonite, so we are going to see how he like corners putting their hands on him at the line of scrimmage with a safety over the top, when the Cowboys play the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, and Eagles secondary in December.

Isn’t the most maddening thing about Owens boil down to his timing? To come out when the team is just getting healthy and just getting its QB back is just flat out absent-minded. Does he really think that his role and his stats are not affected dramatically by having Brad Johnson on the field? If he does realize that, then why the rant? If he doesn’t realize that, then should he be fitted for a straight jacket?

Now look what he made me do. 5 paragraphs into my game story and I have not mentioned the Cowboys won the game. They did what they needed to do in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to systematically grind the San Francisco 49ers into a mound of powder to get their record to 7-4. The good news is that they effectively and efficiently (no major injuries it would appear) took care of their own business and now see a date in 3 days against the very beatable Seahawks to get them to 8-4 on Thanksgiving. The bad news is that nobody else in that Wildcard race obliged them by losing their way out of the mix. The Falcons, Bucs, Redskins, Vikings, and Bears, all kept the winning up. Therefore, the road still looks incredibly difficult to navigate. But, keep winning, and good things will keep happening on that front.

So, besides that, let’s all wonder how long it will be before the 49ers are an NFL power again and break down the 35-22 win at Texas Stadium…

• What constitutes a “monster game” for an NFL QB? You know, not just a great game, but a flat-out monster? In my estimation, that would be hitting the daily double of 300 yards and 3 Touchdowns…an incredibly rare feat. Well, Mr Romo did that yesterday. And against Washington, Philadelphia, and Arizona this season…Against the Giants, Rams, Eagles, and Packers in 2007, and against Tampa Bay in 2006. That is right. Romo has thrown for at least 300 yards and at least 3 Touchdowns in the same game 9 times already. In 34 career starts, he has done it 9 times. Now, cross reference that with other QB’s in other cities and other eras to see how absurd that stat truly is. Next time someone tells you he is over-rated, agree with them and save yourself a headache.

• The complete list of 49ers QBs who have started a game since 2004: Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, Alex Smith, Cody Pickett, Trent Dilfer, JT O’Sullivan, Chris Weinke, and now, the great Shaun Hill. Yikes. Joe Montana and Steve Young are no longer around. When you get really spoiled and bitter about some goofy Romo turnover streak, imagine how long it will be before teams like the 49ers are good unless they find “the guy” at QB. The key, of course, is to take “the guy” when it is your turn at the top of the draft. I am not saying Aaron Rodgers will be in the Hall of Fame, but when you take a guy who is not the “home town guy” over the guy who is and wants to play for you like 2005 when they took Alex over Aaron, you better be right. The 49ers appear to have been wrong. And now their penalty is sorting through these guys. Hill looks ok, but I wouldn’t get carried away just yet.

• Tough day for Jason Witten. Nate Clements really hit him hard, and he only caught 1 ball for 11 yards. Thankfully, Witten appeared no worse for wear, but that dude is surely banged up as bad as he has been. After the St Louis game in Week 7, Witten was on top of the NFL with 45 catches and 541 yards. In the 4 games combined since, he has 4 catches for 53 yards. I would imagine Jason Garrett needs to be called out by Witten to get his numbers back up, but something tells me that Witten will likely not be asking Deion to put on his goofiest sweater and head over to the condo anytime soon.

• If San Francisco could convert in the red zone, you have to wonder how that game would have been different. Surely, a case could be made that the Niners could have been up 17-0 at the end of the 1st Quarter, and that would have tested everyone’s resolve. But, they settled for 3 FG attempts, only made 2 of them, and the deflation must have been immense when Romo dropped back early in the 2nd Quarter, hit Owens on 1 play and put the Cowboys ahead for good after being dominated in the first 15 minutes of the contest.

• Was it just me or did the Cowboys leave their starters in there way too long in garbage time? Wade, you have a game on Thursday. I don’t want to even imagine what would happen if the Cowboys have to go into Pittsburgh without a healthy Marion Barber. They must keep him healthy, and part of that process is NOT giving him 9 touches in a 4th Quarter where the game is most certainly not on the line.

• Nick Folk is an exceptional FG kicker. He is generally flat-out money, and once again yesterday hit all 4 kicks, all over 40 yards. I will trade the good of hitting 85% of all of his career FG attempts for the bad of just 4 touchbacks in 147 career kickoffs (2%). I wonder if Parcells would demand 2 kickers so he could get a designated kickoff guy in here and flirt with the occasional touchback?

• I had almost no opinions of #52 Carlos Polk until yesterday. Then, of course, he unleashed his much-needed special teams expertise. He ran down and made a big tackle on a return, and of course, his blocked punt may have helped turn that game as well. If you are at the game, you can see his dancing and gesturing before the kickoff that rivals Keith Davis for most animated on the cover crew. They say those special teams guys have to be part-nuts, and I think Polk is. For some reason, #52 still registers in my head as the great Dexter Coakley, but I will have to move on it appears.

• Have you ever seen Terence Newman look so lost like he did on that deep pass to Issac Bruce in the 1st? Bruce, who had a season-high of 5 catches, caught 4 in the 1st Q alone yesterday on his way to 8 grabs for 125 yards.

• The Cowboys two biggest plays to Owens yesterday were both out of the same personnel package and formation. “S11” is shotgun with Barber and Witten and 3 WR’s. Then, they were deployed in a “Bunch” lineup with Owens and Crayton in tight on the right, and Williams and Witten on the left. Then, Crayton goes shallow, Owens goes deep, and Romo stayed alive to make them both work. I swear, they might have even been the exact same play that went for 75 yards one time, and 52 yards the next. Mark Roman cannot run with Owens.

• Manny Lawson is a freak of nature. I remember him on draft day and remember for a while being convinced the Cowboys were going to grab him at #18. Instead, they tabbed Bobby Carpenter. Could you imagine Lawson opposite Ware? Holy Cow. The league might not have allowed that because it could have been unfair to the opponent.

• Keep taking care of business and get to the holiday at 8-4. You absolutely must beat Seattle. Then, enjoy your weekend. On to the Seahawks.

Decoding the Offense - Week 10

Ah, everything feels a bit better when the Cowboys put one in the win column, and especially when you have the return of a QB who is NFL competent.

I know it is obvious to say that Tony Romo is amazingly better than any of the alternatives kicking around here, but to see with your own eyes the obvious evidence, consider the following 10 numbers, which in order represent the yards per attempt of each of the 10 games this season. Keep in mind that games 7, 8, and 9 were not Romo.

10.0 – 10.4 – 6.9 – 6.4 – 7.3 – 7.3 – 5.9 – 2.8 – 3.3 – 7.3

So, with Romo, the average yards per attempt are: 7.9

And without Romo, the Cowboys average yards per attempt: 4.0

Even more remarkable, they won the game with 2.8 (Tampa Bay).

In other news, the Cowboys ran plenty out of an interesting look that we call “12W” which is basically 1 RB and 2 TE’s, but both TE’s are in the backfield in a bit of an inverted wishbone. Anyway, many in the media suggested this was some new look, but here, we all know that is not the case, because they actually debuted this look in the first Washington game in Week 4 . A few differences – for instance, now it is not 82/89 as much as it is 82/80. Martellus is proving himself worthy of doing many things now, and the staff is placing more responsibility on him. Also, this time, they actually experienced some success with 5 rushes for 34 yards and 2 passes for 4 yards.

So, why have they run this look 15 times this year and all 15 are against Washington? I have no idea. But, if I ever get 10 seconds with Jason Garrett, I want to ask him.

2 more interesting findings were as follows:

In shotgun, S11 meant 100% pass, and they called “S11H” once, which was the run for Barber’s TD at the 2.

Also, with the game on the line, the Boys went to “11” on that 4th down run. A finesse formation which worked wonderfully, especially to the weak side.

55 Offensive plays – (28 runs/27 passes) Here is how we break it down:

1st Down plays (24 = 7 different packages – 15 runs/ 9 passes)

“12” – 3 (1 run for 4 yards/2 passes for 27 yards, TD)
“21” – 10 (7 runs for 27 yards/ 3 passes for 26 yards, 2FD)
“12W” – 6 (4 run for 22 yards, 2 Passes for 4 yards)
”13” – 1 (1 run for 7 yards)
Knee - 1

Shotgun

“S11” – 2 (2 passes for 32 yards, FD)
”S11H” – 1 (1 run for 2 yard TD run)

2nd Downs (19 plays – 5 looks – 12 runs/7 passes):

“11” – 2 (2 runs for 9 yards)
“21” – 11 (8 run for 36 yards, 3 FD, 3 pass for 5 yards, INT )
“12W” – 1 (1 runs for 12 yards, FD)
Knee - 1

Shotgun

“S11” – 4 (4 passes for 36 yards, FD)

11 3rd downs for the Cowboys – 2 looks (2 runs/9 pass) (5 for 11, 45%)

“12” – 2 (2 runs for 6 yards) 0-2

Shotgun
“S11” – 12 (9 passes for 57 yards, INT) 5 for 9

And 1 4th Down
“11” – 1 (1 run for 3 yards, FD) 1 for 1

Regardless of Down and Distance, here are the yardage results for each personnel package:

28 runs - 27 passes

UNDER CENTER (39 – 27 runs/12 passes)

“11” – 3 (3 run for 12 yards, FD)
“12” – 5 (3 runs for 10 yards/ 2 passes for 27 yards, TD)
“21” –21 (15 runs for 53 yards, 3FD/ 6 passes for 31 yards, INT)
“13” – 1 (1 run for 7 yards)
“12W” – 7 (5 runs for 34 yards, 2 passes for 4 yards)
Knee - 2

SHOTGUN (16 – 1 run/ 15 passes)

“S11” – 15 (15 passes for 125 yards, INT, 7 FD)
“S11H” – 1 (1 run for 2 yards, TD)

Personnel Package	Description
”11”	1 running back and 1 TE
”12”	1 running back and 2 TE
”12W”	same as 12, just with both TE’s in the backfield in front of Barber
”13”	1 running back and 3 TE
”21”	2 running backs and 1 TE
”22”	2 RB and 2 TE
”22*”	2 RB and 2 TE, Barber at FB
”23”	2 RB and 3 TE
”31”	3 RB’s and 1 TE. Jones, Barber, and Anderson.
“11H”	1 RB and 1 TE, but Witten is playing the “H” or “F” back
“12H”	1 RB and 2 TE, with Witten playing “H”.
“S11”	Romo in Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE
“S10”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 0 TE, 4 WR
“S02”	Shotgun, 0 RB, 2 TE
”S11H”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 1 TE, Witten playing “H”
”S12”	Shotgun, 1 RB, 2 TE
“S21”	Shotgun, 2RB, 1TE
“S01”	Shotgun, 0 RB, 1 TE, 4 WR

Week 11: Cowboys 14, Redskins 10 (6-4)

What a Night. The Season is alive. Marion the Barbarian and the boys in the trenches may have saved 2008 on a brisk night in Washington.

We talked in the pregame show about the lines of scrimmage and how it was so important for the big boys to dominate and stand their ground. The offensive line especially had to step up and keep Tony Romo off the deck. And they had to jump back at a Washington team that beat them physically in Irving back in September.

0 sacks. 66 yards of rushing in the 4th Quarter where the Cowboys killed off the game. And most importantly, 3 yards on 4th and 1, on a play that put the Cowboys back in the win column and seemingly ready to spring back to life in the race for the playoffs. That 4th down call was exactly what I hoped they would do. Conservative kicks to go up 7. But a team with swagger puts a dagger in your chest right there. Good work, Wade, on that one.

The Return of the Jedi was also a welcome sight. It took a bit to knock off some rust and get some confidence back, but when the game mattered, it was easy to see that #9 was getting his swagger going and the offense was starting to rise up and look like a bully yet again. Surely, a game with 2 interceptions is nothing to send to Canton, but under the circumstances, Romo brought home a win with just enough key passes to keep the offense balanced and threatening.

Without taking anything for granted in a season that has seen the Cowboys blown out by the Rams, I should say that the Cowboys will be heavy favorites to be 8-4 as the calendar turns to December. If they do that, then 10 wins seems manageable and 11 wins is possible. 11-5 is my preseason prediction for this team, but surely not the road I anticipated them taking. Regardless, last night was fun football. Let’s offer some observations:

• At the risk of sounding a bit like a cheerleader here, I want to point out how nice it was to see Romo enjoying himself. One of my theories back in October was that Romo did not appear to be having fun and that the expectations of winning every game on the way to the Super Bowl weighed on his back like a piano. Maybe, a break from the team would clear his head and he would return looking like Romo ’07. Well, I like the returns so far. The smile, the poise, and the ability to not allow frustration in to the mix is a lot easier when you aren’t picking your body up off the turf every play, but it was nice to see it back last night.

• Jay Ratliff is an awesome football player. I am convinced that he is miscast as a NT in a 3-4. I am further convinced that priority #1 in the off-season needs to be to secure an anchor in the middle that demands a double-team block on every play and move Ratliff to DE after Spears moves on to that next employer. That is what most 3-4 teams have as a foundation in their defenses (Vince Wilfork, Shaun Rogers, Jamal Williams, Grady Jackson) and that should allow the Guards to stay off the Middle Linebackers who sweep in to make plays. The Cowboys are too easy to gash up the middle because they have no anchor in the middle. However, Ratliff is a talent. A big-time talent. In the pass rush you better double team him because he will whip most centers or guards in a 1-on-1 matchup. His quickness and power make him a wonderful inside pass rusher on passing downs, and I suggest that his sack dance is one of the best I have ever seen.

• Sunday Night Football is always fun and it brings some things to the table that you don’t always get. First and foremost, the Sunday Night crew comes up with numbers that nobody else does. For instance, have you heard that Nick Folk has no touchbacks in over a year? Or, that statistic of Barber passing Bronko Nagurski for all time leading rushers for Minnesota Golden Gophers? Or, Barber’s 2007 4th Quarter rushing production versus 2008? I enjoy that very much. Then, NBC brings you the great John Madden. Sorry, I know he goes on and on about Larry Allen and Brett Favre, and that he always jumps on Flozell Adams for penalties, but Madden is awesome. I wish they would let him get into his football jargon chalk talk that he occasionally shows you, but I am sure the national broadcast people want the broadcast dumbed down for the first time football viewer. I look forward to the Cowboys being in prime time. It always seems like good things happen there, too. At Green Bay this year, At Carolina in Romo’s debut. In 2007, the Cowboys beat the Giants, Bears, and Eagles on Sunday Night Football. So unless I am mistaken, the only loss in the Romo era in front of Madden and Michaels is the Sean Payton ambush of December 2006. 6-1 is nice.

• Didn’t it appear early that Jason Garrett and Romo had no idea what he was capable of? The had nothing but short routes and misdirection gadgets early on. A reverse that was doomed, a waggle with Owens in motion that was blown up. The only thing that saved the Cowboys on offense was when Romo demonstrated he could get the team down the field with a few darts on consecutive plays to Jason Witten for 28 and Terrell Owens for 25. Once he did that, the Redskins safeties had to play it honest. And that is when the running game really got cooking.

• Mike Jenkins had another “meow mix presents the play of the week” moment. Take a look at the kickoff return that Rock Cartwright busted open near the end of the 1st half, and see which Cowboys coverage member wanted nothing to do with busting the wedge. That is right, Mike Jenkins with an “ole” on Mike Sellers. Of course, Rock followed Sellers right past Jenkins and the huge return was on.

• Terence Newman was absolutely awesome last night. He as chasing his nemesis Santana Moss all over the field, and with an interception and tight defense on the big 4th down at the end of the game. He almost got burned on the home run pass to Moss on the first play of the Redskins only 4th Quarter possession, but the ball was not secured by Moss. If that play is made, the game is likely lost, but it just missed. Newman tackled hard, covered well, and brought those All-Pro credentials to the table for the first time this year. Maybe he is finally healthy. That could be huge.

• Did Jason Taylor play? I am not saying he has instantly become Shaun Alexander or anything, but he was awfully invisible last night.

• I give a great amount of credit to Clinton Portis. He was trying to play when he was not healthy enough to go. But, he knew that the Skins would be doomed if they were left to Jason Campbell’s ability to march the team down the field. I know he is talented, but I think Campbell is going to have to get the ball down the field if they are to be taken seriously offensively. WR screens can only take you so far, and the Skins would really be dangerous if they could threaten the secondary a bit more with vertical stretching. Of course, Tennessee has managed to go 10-0 without any sort of vertical stretch so I guess this isn’t a completely air tight sports theory.

• Keith Davis brings the wood pretty well. Jenkins should ask him how to do it.

• The last time the Cowboys ran the ball like they did was the game in Green Bay. What do those games have in common? Well, in both cases, it appeared they were determined to run the football and have Romo throw as a compliment to the run, not the other way around. Of the 55 offensive snaps, 37 were from under center last night. Using the shotgun is good. Relying on the shotgun gets the Cowboys into trouble. Let’s hope Garrett uses this game and the Green Bay game as the template to win. “21” and “12” personnel make the Cowboys very tough to stop. 3 WR sets make the Cowboys far more predictable and teams bring in a base Nickel to counter.

• Jason Witten had a crucial drop on the drive in the 4th Quarter that could have really hurt. It hit him right in the hands and right in stride. Luckily, on the next 2 plays, Romo hit Austin with a chest pass for a first down, and then on the very next play, Romo throws a beautiful pass to Martellus Bennett of all people for the winning TD. Bennett is beginning to show what he is capable of, which is pretty exciting to consider.

• What a game with serious hitting. NFL football is awesome on nights like that.

• Disappointing elements of the game? I was under the impression that we were going to see a ton of Anthony Spencer, and I hardly saw him. Also, the penalties were bothersome yet again. Other than that…not much was disappointing. Even the 14 points doesn’t bother because they surely could have had 7 more if they needed it at the end. And the 2 interceptions took points off the boards as well. I think the offense is fine when Romo is on the field. Sadly, now you better prepare to hear about Pac Man Jones this week. I wouldn't let the guy near this locker-room, but we all know Jerry.

• Time to save the season. To do that, the 2 home games in 4 days stretch is mandatory. San Francisco and Seattle are both teams having lousy years, but the Cowboys are already 0-2 against the silly NFC West. That better be evened at 2-2 by Thanksgiving night. It is alive.