Post by ccboy on Nov 11, 2008 9:47:44 GMT -7
No denying it, season is now for the Dallas Cowboys
By MAC ENGELtengel@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Denial Fest 2008 is over — the Dallas Cowboys freely admit that a win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 was a mask that has now come off.
The depth in the secondary isn’t quite so deep. An offensive line that was regarded as one of the best in the league has been revealed as something other than that. The skill players on offense need their starting quarterback, and nothing less.
They weren’t playing as well as their 4-1 record indicated. Everyone from the head coach on down has admitted as much. Now they are 5-4, and a season in which so much was expected is down to this: If the return of injured players Tony Romo, Terence Newman, Kyle Kosier and Felix Jones for the next game doesn’t translate into instant success, all that was once hoped might be gone.
The Cowboys have seven games. Seven games to prove they are as good as so many people thought they were, including themselves. Seven games to reach a postseason that was once thought to be a given. Seven games to help save a head coach’s job.
"No question this team understands there are important times whether it’s during a football game, during a season, whatever, but as an athlete and a competitor you understand when those times come up, and this is no question one of those times," Romo said. "I don’t think there is a magic potion; I don’t think there is a secret."
If there were a secret or a potion, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones already would have bought it, regardless of price. But here are 10 ways to start those seven games the right way.
10Don’t give away the gimmees: The Cowboys have two "easy" games remaining — at home against the 2-6 Seattle Seahawks and at home against the 2-6 San Francisco 49ers. They already lost one of their "easy" games against the now 2-6 St. Louis Rams. They can’t do it again.
9Hope another team trips: The Cowboys aren’t quite in a position where they need help from another team, but if the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Redskins go on an unexpected losing streak, it would really help the cause. FYI: The combined records for the Eagles’ opponents is 39-29 and the Redskins’ is 27-31.
8Stay healthy: The past three games pretty much said everything the Cowboys need to know about their depth, or an obvious lack thereof. They have lost nearly 50 games to injury. All of the major players who were hurt are back, and that should solve a lot. But if Romo is hurt again, the season will be gone.
7Win two games they shouldn’t: Winning at Washington and against the New York Giants would be a good place to start, but the Cowboys are going to have to finish 5-2 to reach 10 wins, which is usually the standard to make the postseason. The NFC East might produce three playoff teams for the second consecutive season. A fourth is not possible. Currently, the Cowboys are in fourth.
6Use the skill players: Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will have all of his toys — Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens — for the first time with Tony Romo against the Redskins next Sunday. Owens is on pace for his worst season since 1999, and Williams has three catches since the Cowboys acquired him from Detroit on Oct. 14. Those trends can’t remain flat for the Cowboys to expect to win.
5Block: The Cowboys’ offensive line sent three players to the Pro Bowl last season — Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis. Even when Romo played last, at Arizona on Oct. 12, he was sacked three times and hit hard several times. The linemen always benefitted from Romo’s quick feet, but it can’t count on them to bail them out.
4Create turnovers: The Cowboys have three interceptions this season. Coach Wade Phillips prides himself on creating defenses that create havoc, but this unit has been sporadic.
3Big-money players have to play better: The only player to play up to his off-season extension thus far has been running back Marion Barber — he ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing. Safety Ken Hamlin, tackle Flozell Adams and receiver Terrell Owens all have taken a step back. Save for Jason Witten and Jay Ratliff, you can probably name any number of "big-time" players who need to be better.
2Tony Romo has to be Tony Romo: There might not be a single greater cure for the Cowboys than the return of the Pro Bowl quarterback. The team’s offensive production was more than cut in half when he was out with injury. With him, the Cowboys averaged 29.3 points per game and ranked third in the league in offense. Romo’s return might not guarantee immediate success, but the past three games without him indicated the Cowboys’ only shot is with their starting passer.
1Finally close a season: The best way for the Cowboys to reverse this season is to reverse a trend that has been going on for a long time. The team hasn’t posted a winning record after Dec. 1 since 1996 — winter collapses at Valley Ranch are the norm. Now would be an ideal time to finally end that streak. The alternative is too unappealing to consider.
By MAC ENGELtengel@star-telegram.com
IRVING — Denial Fest 2008 is over — the Dallas Cowboys freely admit that a win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 was a mask that has now come off.
The depth in the secondary isn’t quite so deep. An offensive line that was regarded as one of the best in the league has been revealed as something other than that. The skill players on offense need their starting quarterback, and nothing less.
They weren’t playing as well as their 4-1 record indicated. Everyone from the head coach on down has admitted as much. Now they are 5-4, and a season in which so much was expected is down to this: If the return of injured players Tony Romo, Terence Newman, Kyle Kosier and Felix Jones for the next game doesn’t translate into instant success, all that was once hoped might be gone.
The Cowboys have seven games. Seven games to prove they are as good as so many people thought they were, including themselves. Seven games to reach a postseason that was once thought to be a given. Seven games to help save a head coach’s job.
"No question this team understands there are important times whether it’s during a football game, during a season, whatever, but as an athlete and a competitor you understand when those times come up, and this is no question one of those times," Romo said. "I don’t think there is a magic potion; I don’t think there is a secret."
If there were a secret or a potion, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones already would have bought it, regardless of price. But here are 10 ways to start those seven games the right way.
10Don’t give away the gimmees: The Cowboys have two "easy" games remaining — at home against the 2-6 Seattle Seahawks and at home against the 2-6 San Francisco 49ers. They already lost one of their "easy" games against the now 2-6 St. Louis Rams. They can’t do it again.
9Hope another team trips: The Cowboys aren’t quite in a position where they need help from another team, but if the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Redskins go on an unexpected losing streak, it would really help the cause. FYI: The combined records for the Eagles’ opponents is 39-29 and the Redskins’ is 27-31.
8Stay healthy: The past three games pretty much said everything the Cowboys need to know about their depth, or an obvious lack thereof. They have lost nearly 50 games to injury. All of the major players who were hurt are back, and that should solve a lot. But if Romo is hurt again, the season will be gone.
7Win two games they shouldn’t: Winning at Washington and against the New York Giants would be a good place to start, but the Cowboys are going to have to finish 5-2 to reach 10 wins, which is usually the standard to make the postseason. The NFC East might produce three playoff teams for the second consecutive season. A fourth is not possible. Currently, the Cowboys are in fourth.
6Use the skill players: Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will have all of his toys — Felix Jones, Marion Barber, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens — for the first time with Tony Romo against the Redskins next Sunday. Owens is on pace for his worst season since 1999, and Williams has three catches since the Cowboys acquired him from Detroit on Oct. 14. Those trends can’t remain flat for the Cowboys to expect to win.
5Block: The Cowboys’ offensive line sent three players to the Pro Bowl last season — Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis. Even when Romo played last, at Arizona on Oct. 12, he was sacked three times and hit hard several times. The linemen always benefitted from Romo’s quick feet, but it can’t count on them to bail them out.
4Create turnovers: The Cowboys have three interceptions this season. Coach Wade Phillips prides himself on creating defenses that create havoc, but this unit has been sporadic.
3Big-money players have to play better: The only player to play up to his off-season extension thus far has been running back Marion Barber — he ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing. Safety Ken Hamlin, tackle Flozell Adams and receiver Terrell Owens all have taken a step back. Save for Jason Witten and Jay Ratliff, you can probably name any number of "big-time" players who need to be better.
2Tony Romo has to be Tony Romo: There might not be a single greater cure for the Cowboys than the return of the Pro Bowl quarterback. The team’s offensive production was more than cut in half when he was out with injury. With him, the Cowboys averaged 29.3 points per game and ranked third in the league in offense. Romo’s return might not guarantee immediate success, but the past three games without him indicated the Cowboys’ only shot is with their starting passer.
1Finally close a season: The best way for the Cowboys to reverse this season is to reverse a trend that has been going on for a long time. The team hasn’t posted a winning record after Dec. 1 since 1996 — winter collapses at Valley Ranch are the norm. Now would be an ideal time to finally end that streak. The alternative is too unappealing to consider.