Post by ccboy on Oct 22, 2008 4:24:15 GMT -7
Special Effects
Depleted Special Teams Critical To Turnaround
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Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 21, 2008 5:33 PM Change Font Size A A A A
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Cowboys' altered kicking game could play a large role in whether they remain above .500 next week.
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OTHER RECENT NEWS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Nothing We Expected 10/21
• Jerry Jones Says The Rams Were Underestimated 10/21
• Here Are The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10/21
• Mick's Mail: Tuesday, October 21, 2008
• Both Phillips, Players Say It's Time To Simplify 10/20
• Mick's Mail: Monday, October 20, 2008
• Notes: Jones Denies Phillips' Job In Jeopardy 10/20
• Brutal Truth Now Facing These Cowboys 10/20
• Cowboys Unsure Of Romo's Status This Week 10/20
• Cowboys, Yankees Partners in Hospitality 10/20
IRVING, Texas - Mat McBriar didn't know exactly who or what hit him as the ball left his foot.
But it hurt. A lot.
"It just felt like a lot of weight, a lot of force," he said, referring to the blocked-punt-turned-touchdown that fractured his foot and ended his season in overtime of the Cowboys' loss to Arizona two weeks ago.
The same could be said for the sudden torrent of mini-crises (a "perfect storm," team owner Jerry Jones says) that has slammed into Valley Ranch - three defeats in four weeks, climaxed by Sunday's 34-14 blowout loss to the lowly Rams in which poor execution mixed with crippling injuries.
Many of those injuries have spilled into the Cowboys' special teams units, forcing personnel changes with coverage, returns and, of course, the punter. McBriar, a Pro Bowl selection in 2006, was projected to miss six-to-eight weeks and subsequently landed on injured reserve.
The Cowboys must forge ahead on offense and defense this Sunday against Tampa Bay without cornerbacks Terence Newman (abdomen) and Adam Jones (suspension) and possibly quarterback Tony Romo (fractured little finger), who could be a game-time decision again.
The Cowboys' altered kicking game could play a large role in whether they remain above .500 by next week. Favorable field position would help a short-handed, struggling defense that started three straight drives on the wrong side of the 50-yard line against St. Louis. A long return or two would mean less work and better scoring opportunities for 40-year-old quarterback Brad Johnson if he makes another start.
Punting Picture
Before last week, a typical day for new punter Sam Paulescu included wedding plans, part-time work at Cascade Athletic Club in Portland, Ore., where his future brother-in-law is a manager, and training/waiting for another NFL opportunity.
He never expected the Cowboys would call him for a full-time gig. Not with McBriar entrenched as their starter.
"It's funny because I talked to my agent and I said, 'One team we don't have to worry about is the Cowboys. They know about me, but McBriar's there,'" said Paulescu, who spent training camp with the Cowboys in 2007 and played in one game for the Broncos. "That's probably the last team I had on my list to go to, but stuff happens."
Paulescu is no longer a camp body. The Cowboys need him to maintain solid field position even if he can't be a McBriar-like weapon.
He'd probably like his first punt back from Sunday - the wobbly 36-yarder that landed at the Cowboys' 44-yard line and set up St. Louis' second touchdown drive.
Paulescu finished with a 42.0 average on five punts and hit one inside the 20. He'll have another chance Sunday against Tampa Bay's return specialist Dexter Jackson.
"You can't replace Mat," he said. "All I can do is just do my best and do what the coaches want me to do here."
Return Policies
Head coach Wade Phillips said rookie Felix Jones' hamstring injury could sideline him the full projected four weeks, and there's no guarantee Adam Jones will return from his tentative four-game suspension.
Without either player, the Cowboys have turned to a couple of reliable contributors on kickoff and punt returns: Wide receivers Miles Austin, who has returned kickoffs for the last two seasons, and Patrick Crayton, who has 58 punt returns since 2005.
Austin averaged 25.3 yards against the Rams and Isaiah Stanback had one return for 29 yards. The Cowboys reverted to a two-kick returner set Sunday after placing Felix Jones by himself and using another blocker in the formation to guard against Arizona's unpredictable kickoffs.
Crayton might not have the same speed, but he quadrupled Adam Jones' 5.0-yard season average with 41 yards on two punt returns against the Rams, including a 33-yarder into St. Louis territory.
Coverage Changes
The Cowboys placed extra emphasis on kickoff coverage following Arizona's opening touchdown return - a play Deon Anderson called "a slap in the face."
Several assistant coaches aided special teams coach Bruce Read in meetings last week, and aside from Dante Hall's 32-yard opening return, the coverage units contained the Rams' dangerous returner with several new faces.
The Cowboys substituted Courtney Brown, Alan Ball and newly-signed Carlos Polk for injured core guys like Pat Watkins (neck), Anthony Spencer (hamstring) and Sam Hurd (IR-ankle). Kevin Burnett, the Cowboys' leading special teams tackler, was limited by a calf injury, too.
Phillips wasn't sure if Spencer would return this week. Watkins has missed the last three games with recurring neck stingers and said he's remaining cautious on the advice of the team's medical staff.
"Of course it bothers me, but at the same time I know I've still got to get healthy," Watkins said. "It's disappointing to watch, but what can you really do when you've got an injury like this."
On top of all that, special teams captain Keith Davis probably will have to balance a full workload with starting safety duties because Roy Williams suffered a new arm fracture against the Rams.
Davis narrowly avoided injury himself following a violent collision during a punt return. He said his eyelid rolled up, causing temporary blurriness, but he returned to the game.
Davis is Williams' likely replacement at strong safety, but the Cowboys also need his effort and leadership on special teams.
"You get the momentum on your side by making a tackle inside the 20 or making a big hit," rookie Orlando Scandrick said.
Something the Cowboys sorely need after a highly disappointing loss in St. Louis.
Depleted Special Teams Critical To Turnaround
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 21, 2008 5:33 PM Change Font Size A A A A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cowboys' altered kicking game could play a large role in whether they remain above .500 next week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER RECENT NEWS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Nothing We Expected 10/21
• Jerry Jones Says The Rams Were Underestimated 10/21
• Here Are The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10/21
• Mick's Mail: Tuesday, October 21, 2008
• Both Phillips, Players Say It's Time To Simplify 10/20
• Mick's Mail: Monday, October 20, 2008
• Notes: Jones Denies Phillips' Job In Jeopardy 10/20
• Brutal Truth Now Facing These Cowboys 10/20
• Cowboys Unsure Of Romo's Status This Week 10/20
• Cowboys, Yankees Partners in Hospitality 10/20
IRVING, Texas - Mat McBriar didn't know exactly who or what hit him as the ball left his foot.
But it hurt. A lot.
"It just felt like a lot of weight, a lot of force," he said, referring to the blocked-punt-turned-touchdown that fractured his foot and ended his season in overtime of the Cowboys' loss to Arizona two weeks ago.
The same could be said for the sudden torrent of mini-crises (a "perfect storm," team owner Jerry Jones says) that has slammed into Valley Ranch - three defeats in four weeks, climaxed by Sunday's 34-14 blowout loss to the lowly Rams in which poor execution mixed with crippling injuries.
Many of those injuries have spilled into the Cowboys' special teams units, forcing personnel changes with coverage, returns and, of course, the punter. McBriar, a Pro Bowl selection in 2006, was projected to miss six-to-eight weeks and subsequently landed on injured reserve.
The Cowboys must forge ahead on offense and defense this Sunday against Tampa Bay without cornerbacks Terence Newman (abdomen) and Adam Jones (suspension) and possibly quarterback Tony Romo (fractured little finger), who could be a game-time decision again.
The Cowboys' altered kicking game could play a large role in whether they remain above .500 by next week. Favorable field position would help a short-handed, struggling defense that started three straight drives on the wrong side of the 50-yard line against St. Louis. A long return or two would mean less work and better scoring opportunities for 40-year-old quarterback Brad Johnson if he makes another start.
Punting Picture
Before last week, a typical day for new punter Sam Paulescu included wedding plans, part-time work at Cascade Athletic Club in Portland, Ore., where his future brother-in-law is a manager, and training/waiting for another NFL opportunity.
He never expected the Cowboys would call him for a full-time gig. Not with McBriar entrenched as their starter.
"It's funny because I talked to my agent and I said, 'One team we don't have to worry about is the Cowboys. They know about me, but McBriar's there,'" said Paulescu, who spent training camp with the Cowboys in 2007 and played in one game for the Broncos. "That's probably the last team I had on my list to go to, but stuff happens."
Paulescu is no longer a camp body. The Cowboys need him to maintain solid field position even if he can't be a McBriar-like weapon.
He'd probably like his first punt back from Sunday - the wobbly 36-yarder that landed at the Cowboys' 44-yard line and set up St. Louis' second touchdown drive.
Paulescu finished with a 42.0 average on five punts and hit one inside the 20. He'll have another chance Sunday against Tampa Bay's return specialist Dexter Jackson.
"You can't replace Mat," he said. "All I can do is just do my best and do what the coaches want me to do here."
Return Policies
Head coach Wade Phillips said rookie Felix Jones' hamstring injury could sideline him the full projected four weeks, and there's no guarantee Adam Jones will return from his tentative four-game suspension.
Without either player, the Cowboys have turned to a couple of reliable contributors on kickoff and punt returns: Wide receivers Miles Austin, who has returned kickoffs for the last two seasons, and Patrick Crayton, who has 58 punt returns since 2005.
Austin averaged 25.3 yards against the Rams and Isaiah Stanback had one return for 29 yards. The Cowboys reverted to a two-kick returner set Sunday after placing Felix Jones by himself and using another blocker in the formation to guard against Arizona's unpredictable kickoffs.
Crayton might not have the same speed, but he quadrupled Adam Jones' 5.0-yard season average with 41 yards on two punt returns against the Rams, including a 33-yarder into St. Louis territory.
Coverage Changes
The Cowboys placed extra emphasis on kickoff coverage following Arizona's opening touchdown return - a play Deon Anderson called "a slap in the face."
Several assistant coaches aided special teams coach Bruce Read in meetings last week, and aside from Dante Hall's 32-yard opening return, the coverage units contained the Rams' dangerous returner with several new faces.
The Cowboys substituted Courtney Brown, Alan Ball and newly-signed Carlos Polk for injured core guys like Pat Watkins (neck), Anthony Spencer (hamstring) and Sam Hurd (IR-ankle). Kevin Burnett, the Cowboys' leading special teams tackler, was limited by a calf injury, too.
Phillips wasn't sure if Spencer would return this week. Watkins has missed the last three games with recurring neck stingers and said he's remaining cautious on the advice of the team's medical staff.
"Of course it bothers me, but at the same time I know I've still got to get healthy," Watkins said. "It's disappointing to watch, but what can you really do when you've got an injury like this."
On top of all that, special teams captain Keith Davis probably will have to balance a full workload with starting safety duties because Roy Williams suffered a new arm fracture against the Rams.
Davis narrowly avoided injury himself following a violent collision during a punt return. He said his eyelid rolled up, causing temporary blurriness, but he returned to the game.
Davis is Williams' likely replacement at strong safety, but the Cowboys also need his effort and leadership on special teams.
"You get the momentum on your side by making a tackle inside the 20 or making a big hit," rookie Orlando Scandrick said.
Something the Cowboys sorely need after a highly disappointing loss in St. Louis.