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Post by prossman on Dec 13, 2009 0:49:48 GMT -7
Key matchup: Cowboys nickel defense vs. Antonio Gates 12:30 PM Sat, Dec 12, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
Wade Phillips wondered if he had seen the best of Antonio Gates a couple of years ago because of a severe toe injury. Last season Gates caught 60 passes for 704 yards, averaging a career-low 11.7 yards per catch although he still caught eight touchdown passes.
"But he's back to the way he was before," Phillips said.
Gates has 67 catches for 994 yards, good for 14.8 yards a pop, and four touchdowns. Like the Cowboys' Pro Bowl tight end, Jason Witten, Gates is coming back consecutive 100-yard games with 285 yards against Kansas City and Cleveland.
So far this season the Cowboys have played some of the NFL's top tight ends, like Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, and improved greatly over past performances. Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow caught the most passes among tight ends against the Cowboys in the season opener with five. Gonzalez had four for 37 yards. Only Winslow, Carolina's Dante Rosario and Philadelphia's Brent Celek have found the end zone.
When in trouble quarterback Philip Rivers will look to Gates and the Cowboys know it. Carpenter bumped Gonzalez at the line of scrimmage, not giving a free release, but the Chargers might flex Gates out more than Atlanta does with Gonzalez.
"He looks like a wide receiver but he's not really a blazer, he just runs great routes and has great hands," said Carpenter, the Cowboys' nickel linebacker. "And he goes and gets the ball."
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ccboy
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Post by ccboy on Dec 13, 2009 9:21:54 GMT -7
Very good post here, Pross...and it well could tell the game.
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