Post by prossman on Nov 28, 2009 12:10:07 GMT -7
MySA:Cowboys eager for next shot at Giants
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LINK
Tom Orsborn
IRVING — It probably would be a waste of time next week for Eli Manning and the rest of the New York Giants' offense to study video from their Week 2 performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
After all, the defense that allowed Manning to complete six passes for 20-plus yards in a 33-31 Week 2 win no longer exists.
“We've learned to keep scoring down,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said after Thursday's 24-7 drubbing of Oakland.
So much so that Dallas (8-3) ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense with 182 points allowed for a 16.5 per-game average. The Cowboys are the second stingiest defense in the NFC after holding its last two opponents to single-digit points, its last five foes to 17 points or fewer and its last nine opponents to 21 points or fewer — the club's longest such streak since 2003.
“The offense certainly helps us in a lot of situations, but the defense has been playing solid for a while,” said Phillips, the unit's coordinator.
The turnaround coincided with Phillips naming Mike Jenkins the starter over Orlando Scandrick at right cornerback in Week 3.
Jenkins' three interceptions lead the team. His 12 pass breakups are second only to left corner Terence Newman's 13.
“Mike Jenkins is hard to throw against,” Phillips said. “He jams them up well. Our pass defense has been good because we've been able to count on him.”
Oakland had only one pass of 20-plus yards despite attempting to go deep several times. Bruce Gradkowski finished with 200 passing yards, but he only had 42 in the first half, when Dallas jumped out to a 17-0 lead.
“We took five or six shots (downfield) and did not hit on one of them,” Oakland coach Tom Cable said.
Preventing big plays is nothing new for the Dallas defense. In the past three games, it has yielded just five completions of 20-plus yards. With Jenkins and Newman shadowing receivers, quarterbacks have been forced to hold onto the ball, a factor in Dallas notching nearly 30 sacks the last nine games.
The Cowboys dropped Gradkowski three times, with outside linebacker Anthony Spencer recording his first two sacks of the season. In his best outing of the year, Spencer finished with eight tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one pass breakup.
“One sack he made was really outstanding,” Phillips said. “He was rushing inside then came back outside and then went through two people. It just showed his athletic ability and his tenacity. He's after them every play.”
Defensive end Marcus Spears agreed.
“He is always around the ball — always,” Spears said.
The defense will come full circle on Dec. 6, when it faces Manning and Co. in the Meadowlands. In the first meeting, the Cowboys gave up season highs for points and passing yards (330). Worst of all, they let the Giants to drive 56 yards for the winning field goal as time expired.
“We're trying to get them back,” Jenkins said. “They came into our house and beat us. What we're trying to do is go back there and take over.”
After playing New York, Dallas faces two division leaders with high-powered offenses in San Diego and New Orleans. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo expects the defense to meet the challenge.
“They've been outstanding,” Romo said. “We're going into a tough stretch, and we'll need to rely on them in different situations. I'm excited about them.”
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LINK
Tom Orsborn
IRVING — It probably would be a waste of time next week for Eli Manning and the rest of the New York Giants' offense to study video from their Week 2 performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
After all, the defense that allowed Manning to complete six passes for 20-plus yards in a 33-31 Week 2 win no longer exists.
“We've learned to keep scoring down,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said after Thursday's 24-7 drubbing of Oakland.
So much so that Dallas (8-3) ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense with 182 points allowed for a 16.5 per-game average. The Cowboys are the second stingiest defense in the NFC after holding its last two opponents to single-digit points, its last five foes to 17 points or fewer and its last nine opponents to 21 points or fewer — the club's longest such streak since 2003.
“The offense certainly helps us in a lot of situations, but the defense has been playing solid for a while,” said Phillips, the unit's coordinator.
The turnaround coincided with Phillips naming Mike Jenkins the starter over Orlando Scandrick at right cornerback in Week 3.
Jenkins' three interceptions lead the team. His 12 pass breakups are second only to left corner Terence Newman's 13.
“Mike Jenkins is hard to throw against,” Phillips said. “He jams them up well. Our pass defense has been good because we've been able to count on him.”
Oakland had only one pass of 20-plus yards despite attempting to go deep several times. Bruce Gradkowski finished with 200 passing yards, but he only had 42 in the first half, when Dallas jumped out to a 17-0 lead.
“We took five or six shots (downfield) and did not hit on one of them,” Oakland coach Tom Cable said.
Preventing big plays is nothing new for the Dallas defense. In the past three games, it has yielded just five completions of 20-plus yards. With Jenkins and Newman shadowing receivers, quarterbacks have been forced to hold onto the ball, a factor in Dallas notching nearly 30 sacks the last nine games.
The Cowboys dropped Gradkowski three times, with outside linebacker Anthony Spencer recording his first two sacks of the season. In his best outing of the year, Spencer finished with eight tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one pass breakup.
“One sack he made was really outstanding,” Phillips said. “He was rushing inside then came back outside and then went through two people. It just showed his athletic ability and his tenacity. He's after them every play.”
Defensive end Marcus Spears agreed.
“He is always around the ball — always,” Spears said.
The defense will come full circle on Dec. 6, when it faces Manning and Co. in the Meadowlands. In the first meeting, the Cowboys gave up season highs for points and passing yards (330). Worst of all, they let the Giants to drive 56 yards for the winning field goal as time expired.
“We're trying to get them back,” Jenkins said. “They came into our house and beat us. What we're trying to do is go back there and take over.”
After playing New York, Dallas faces two division leaders with high-powered offenses in San Diego and New Orleans. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo expects the defense to meet the challenge.
“They've been outstanding,” Romo said. “We're going into a tough stretch, and we'll need to rely on them in different situations. I'm excited about them.”
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