Post by prossman on Jan 20, 2009 12:08:25 GMT -7
DC.COM: Profitable Weekend; Spagnola: A Whole Lot Of learning Going On
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Profitable Weekend;
Spagnola: A Whole Lot Of learning Going On
Mickey Spagnola
January 19, 2009 5:47 PM
IRVING, Texas - So we learned a lot over the weekend, some of which the Dallas Cowboys should be thankful and some others they should have been taking notes for the coming years.
We learned there is no sin in going, say, 9-7, if that record gets you into the playoffs, and that no never-mind should be paid to those who would detract from anything less than a perfect season coming on the heels of 13-3.
We learned there is no shame in losing back-to-back games or even struggling through a stretch of three losses in five games so long as you keep playing without panic.
We learned you can get beat, oh, say, 47-7, by the New England Patriots or, 56-35, by the New York Jets or embarrassed, 48-20, on a national holiday TV broadcast yet come back to beat that same team for the NFC title as long as you get there.
We learned whether you are the first seed or the fourth seed, whether you have a first-round bye or have to play three playoff games, as long as you get in, anything is possible, even a "cold day in hell," as former Cardinals player and exec Larry Wilson called Sunday afternoon's happening at climate-controlled University of Phoenix Stadium.
We learned your offensive coordinator can get into a sideline shouting match with your star receiver, the two angrily barking at one another during the heat of the battle, yet who gives a darn if he's calling the right plays on the winning touchdown drive.
We learned - once again - offense, like scoring seven more than a quarter-hundred, does win NFC championships.
We learned - once again - winning should never be taken for granted or treated cavalierly, making me think somehow had the Cowboys earned a Super Bowl berth as the Cardinals did, there would not have been those same tears of joy flowing from Adrian Wilson's eyes leaking from anyone's on this team.
We learned the Cowboys were two plays - the first of the game and the last of the game - from going on the road this 2008 season to defeat the eventual NFC champion, 24-17, a victory that would have placed them in this you-never-know tournament.
We learned once you qualify for this you-never-know tournament, it makes no difference if you are playing in your fifth NFC title game in eight years or you haven't won a playoff game in 12 seasons or an NFL title in 61, history don't mean squat on game day.
We learned even if your team plays in a palace with a retractable roof - and in this case, field, too - and goes by some silly corporate name, that in itself does not destine you to years of continued mediocrity.
We learned, and this one makes me chuckle a little, that a bunch of old friends and acquaintances in the St. Louis area who had thoroughly forgotten about your intrepid columnist over the past quarter century are now having to read "Spags" in their morning headlines.
But, all kidding aside and maybe best of all, we learned the Dallas Cowboys should be quite thankful the St. Louis Rams chose Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as their head coach, causing The New York Post to proclaim It's A Rams Shame in a headline, instead of Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
And don't you dare even try asking, how come by pointing out not even the Rams, dude, would hire Garrett, who would have been taking a pay cut as it turned out after seeing Spags signed a four-year, $11.5 million contract.
Yeah, I know, you're going to tell me they didn't want Garrett in St. Louis, but look, you're talking the media and fans, like they know what's what. All they know is the Rams beat the Cowboys, 34-14, this year for one of their only two wins, and somehow that colored Garrett in some sort of pale shade, as if there is shame in losing with a 40-year-old backup quarterback starting his first game in nearly one-and-a-half years.
And say what you want about this Cowboys offense, one which, by the way, lost starting quarterback Tony Romo for three games and was forced to play with his little finger in a splint three more, lost its only speed weapon (Felix Jones), lost its one-time Pro Bowl punter, lost its starting guard for 13 games, and was playing without for parts or most of the season until trading for Roy Williams its third and fourth receivers - and at times, the fifth guy, too.
But let's consider this since so many want to claim the league has figured out Garrett's offense, and boy, I'd sure hate to take Terrell Owens' word for that one (Wonder if he was cheering on Anquan Boldin during that championship-game shouting match with his former Cowboys receiver coach-nemesis Todd Haley on Sunday?):
In the 29 games Romo has started during Garrett's two years as coordinator, the Cowboys have averaged 26.8 points a game, which certainly tops the 20.8 they averaged over the previous four seasons (2003-06).
While the Cowboys finished the 2008 season ranked 13th in total yards, their 13-game average with Romo starting would have jumped them to fourth at 378.1, just ahead of Arizona.
In four of the 11 losses the Cowboys have suffered during Garrett's two years as offensive coordinator, the club has scored at least 24 points - including in three of the seven losses this season.
In his two years (29 games) as the Cowboys starting quarterback under Garrett, Romo has compiled a 94.6 QB rating - the highest of any single season for a Cowboys quarterback starting at least 13 games in a season before Garrett's arrival since Troy Aikman's 99 in 1993.
In his two years in Garrett's offense, Owens has totaled 29 touchdown catches, the best two-year stretch in his pre-Garrett offense career since stringing together seasons of 13, 16, 13 back in 2000-02; the most receiving yards (2,407) in two consecutive seasons since 2001-02; and the most receptions (150) in two consecutive seasons since 2003-04. Yeah, I know, the Cowboys basically (inhaled) that final game against Philadelphia, scoring all of six points, but remember, they had two lengthy drives to start the second half (54 and 85 yards) terminated by lost fumbles inside the Eagles 20-yard line, for which you would be hard pressed to blame Garrett, along with that deadhead throw by Romo intercepted with 1:30 left to go in the first half of a 17-3 game.
See, this bashing of Garrett has become far too fashionable, and too easy of a crutch for players, who rarely take responsibility for failure - you know, that's not me, that's someone else. Because even though he did not get a head coaching job this year, why would three clubs bring Garrett in for interviews? Why did two last year offer him jobs?
And let's face it, something fishy went on in St. Louis from early Friday evening when Garrett arrived with his wife and Saturday noon when the story broke the Rams were naming Cousin Steve their new head coach. Didn't it make you think either the owner or money caused a last-second switcheroo?
Also, remember this, had Garrett departed, that would have meant Romo going on to his fifth NFL play-caller/offensive coordinator in seven years, never good with a young quarterback who now has only started two full seasons in the NFL.
So see, in a way, this has been a profitable weekend for the Cowboys, realizing once again nothing is guaranteed, that, who knows, they might have been just a play or two off this season, that panic should never set in, that overbearing wide receivers should be kept at arm's length and that maintaining a little continuity is a good thing.
All this coming to them - and you - compliments of a bunch of Cards and a couple of Spags.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profitable Weekend;
Spagnola: A Whole Lot Of learning Going On
Mickey Spagnola
January 19, 2009 5:47 PM
IRVING, Texas - So we learned a lot over the weekend, some of which the Dallas Cowboys should be thankful and some others they should have been taking notes for the coming years.
We learned there is no sin in going, say, 9-7, if that record gets you into the playoffs, and that no never-mind should be paid to those who would detract from anything less than a perfect season coming on the heels of 13-3.
We learned there is no shame in losing back-to-back games or even struggling through a stretch of three losses in five games so long as you keep playing without panic.
We learned you can get beat, oh, say, 47-7, by the New England Patriots or, 56-35, by the New York Jets or embarrassed, 48-20, on a national holiday TV broadcast yet come back to beat that same team for the NFC title as long as you get there.
We learned whether you are the first seed or the fourth seed, whether you have a first-round bye or have to play three playoff games, as long as you get in, anything is possible, even a "cold day in hell," as former Cardinals player and exec Larry Wilson called Sunday afternoon's happening at climate-controlled University of Phoenix Stadium.
We learned your offensive coordinator can get into a sideline shouting match with your star receiver, the two angrily barking at one another during the heat of the battle, yet who gives a darn if he's calling the right plays on the winning touchdown drive.
We learned - once again - offense, like scoring seven more than a quarter-hundred, does win NFC championships.
We learned - once again - winning should never be taken for granted or treated cavalierly, making me think somehow had the Cowboys earned a Super Bowl berth as the Cardinals did, there would not have been those same tears of joy flowing from Adrian Wilson's eyes leaking from anyone's on this team.
We learned the Cowboys were two plays - the first of the game and the last of the game - from going on the road this 2008 season to defeat the eventual NFC champion, 24-17, a victory that would have placed them in this you-never-know tournament.
We learned once you qualify for this you-never-know tournament, it makes no difference if you are playing in your fifth NFC title game in eight years or you haven't won a playoff game in 12 seasons or an NFL title in 61, history don't mean squat on game day.
We learned even if your team plays in a palace with a retractable roof - and in this case, field, too - and goes by some silly corporate name, that in itself does not destine you to years of continued mediocrity.
We learned, and this one makes me chuckle a little, that a bunch of old friends and acquaintances in the St. Louis area who had thoroughly forgotten about your intrepid columnist over the past quarter century are now having to read "Spags" in their morning headlines.
But, all kidding aside and maybe best of all, we learned the Dallas Cowboys should be quite thankful the St. Louis Rams chose Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as their head coach, causing The New York Post to proclaim It's A Rams Shame in a headline, instead of Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
And don't you dare even try asking, how come by pointing out not even the Rams, dude, would hire Garrett, who would have been taking a pay cut as it turned out after seeing Spags signed a four-year, $11.5 million contract.
Yeah, I know, you're going to tell me they didn't want Garrett in St. Louis, but look, you're talking the media and fans, like they know what's what. All they know is the Rams beat the Cowboys, 34-14, this year for one of their only two wins, and somehow that colored Garrett in some sort of pale shade, as if there is shame in losing with a 40-year-old backup quarterback starting his first game in nearly one-and-a-half years.
And say what you want about this Cowboys offense, one which, by the way, lost starting quarterback Tony Romo for three games and was forced to play with his little finger in a splint three more, lost its only speed weapon (Felix Jones), lost its one-time Pro Bowl punter, lost its starting guard for 13 games, and was playing without for parts or most of the season until trading for Roy Williams its third and fourth receivers - and at times, the fifth guy, too.
But let's consider this since so many want to claim the league has figured out Garrett's offense, and boy, I'd sure hate to take Terrell Owens' word for that one (Wonder if he was cheering on Anquan Boldin during that championship-game shouting match with his former Cowboys receiver coach-nemesis Todd Haley on Sunday?):
In the 29 games Romo has started during Garrett's two years as coordinator, the Cowboys have averaged 26.8 points a game, which certainly tops the 20.8 they averaged over the previous four seasons (2003-06).
While the Cowboys finished the 2008 season ranked 13th in total yards, their 13-game average with Romo starting would have jumped them to fourth at 378.1, just ahead of Arizona.
In four of the 11 losses the Cowboys have suffered during Garrett's two years as offensive coordinator, the club has scored at least 24 points - including in three of the seven losses this season.
In his two years (29 games) as the Cowboys starting quarterback under Garrett, Romo has compiled a 94.6 QB rating - the highest of any single season for a Cowboys quarterback starting at least 13 games in a season before Garrett's arrival since Troy Aikman's 99 in 1993.
In his two years in Garrett's offense, Owens has totaled 29 touchdown catches, the best two-year stretch in his pre-Garrett offense career since stringing together seasons of 13, 16, 13 back in 2000-02; the most receiving yards (2,407) in two consecutive seasons since 2001-02; and the most receptions (150) in two consecutive seasons since 2003-04. Yeah, I know, the Cowboys basically (inhaled) that final game against Philadelphia, scoring all of six points, but remember, they had two lengthy drives to start the second half (54 and 85 yards) terminated by lost fumbles inside the Eagles 20-yard line, for which you would be hard pressed to blame Garrett, along with that deadhead throw by Romo intercepted with 1:30 left to go in the first half of a 17-3 game.
See, this bashing of Garrett has become far too fashionable, and too easy of a crutch for players, who rarely take responsibility for failure - you know, that's not me, that's someone else. Because even though he did not get a head coaching job this year, why would three clubs bring Garrett in for interviews? Why did two last year offer him jobs?
And let's face it, something fishy went on in St. Louis from early Friday evening when Garrett arrived with his wife and Saturday noon when the story broke the Rams were naming Cousin Steve their new head coach. Didn't it make you think either the owner or money caused a last-second switcheroo?
Also, remember this, had Garrett departed, that would have meant Romo going on to his fifth NFL play-caller/offensive coordinator in seven years, never good with a young quarterback who now has only started two full seasons in the NFL.
So see, in a way, this has been a profitable weekend for the Cowboys, realizing once again nothing is guaranteed, that, who knows, they might have been just a play or two off this season, that panic should never set in, that overbearing wide receivers should be kept at arm's length and that maintaining a little continuity is a good thing.
All this coming to them - and you - compliments of a bunch of Cards and a couple of Spags.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.