Oh Carolina!

Who would have thought that a guy could be that poised in his first NFL start, on the road and against a pretty tough defense? He did about everything you could ask for considering the circumstances. You think Drew Bledsoe leads Dallas to a win in Carolina? I don't think so.

The thing with Romo is, he allows Dallas to run plays that they WANT to run. They don't have to max-protect every single time they want to throw the ball and he adds another dimension with his ability to run. This is something that this offense (especially the O-line) really needed. And it showed. Witten returns to the Pro Bowl caliber TE that we have missed this season and Terrell Owens gets more involved and actually looks like a true weapon out there. Those are just some of the things that were absent while the team was hand-cuffed by the limited Drew Bledsoe.

Romo did make a few questionable decisions in the game, but as I said last week, he is going to make those rookie mistakes and we have to live with them for a while. But if you ask me, I actually thought there would be MORE bad decisions made by a guy making his first start. I thought he played excellent and I have much more faith in this team with him behind center and I think his team agrees with me. You can tell that this team wants him in there.

Columbo was flat out nasty... he and Fasano did an excellent job against Julius Peppers, the league sack leader. I thought the rest of the O-line did a pretty decent job against a tough Carolina defense (compared to last week) and Julius Jones continued to show that he is making strides to become a top tier RB in the NFL. And who doesn't like the one-two punch with Marion Barber. Man... that guy's fearless, never give up running style of running is a great compliment to Jones.

The defense still worries me. Like Mike said... if Keyshawn makes that catch, it might have been a different game. They did look pretty good at times, I have to give them that. They looked like they did mix things up a little, but I'm not sure that it is enough to get them to the next level. Like I said before, this team is there on paper defensively. It's the philosophy that is holding them back.

Good win. The team really needed the shot in the arm they got from Tony Romo. All is well... at least for a week.

- S

Feeling Fina In Carolina

Not gonna lie, I started writing this in the first half, so it had quite the negative tone, but truth is, wow, what a big win. A new QB (shoulda been playing earlier), a tough opponent on the road, quite a bad vibe surrounding the team and down 14 in the 1st quarter.

• Carolina was the end of the last great era ('96), so could Carolina also be the start of the next good one?

• Romo has something. Still not sure he's going to be the long-term answer (need to string together a lot more games like this), but he has a spark that Cowboys fans haven't seen from the QB position in a long time.

His ability to sense the rush and slide in the pocket has long been absent in Dallas QBs (see Testaverde, Hutchinson, Bledsoe), and it's nice to have a QB who can actually pick up a first down with his feet if his receivers are covered.

Like his cool. Man, how great would it be if he was the next "one." Along with more wins, in the offseason, we could focus on other positions like OL and young, WR.

• If the OL could EVER get shored-up (could this be the game?), the offense could be extremely dangerous. There really is some talent at the skill positions.

• Jason Witten could very well be the next Jay Novacek, good and bad, because as a blocker, he's a great pass-catcher.

• I know he had an excellent pick tonight, but is there another so-called "superstar" that disappears more, for longer periods of time, than Roy Williams?

• To get better, QB pressure needs to be applied more often, and tighter coverage couldn't hurt. Game might have been much different had Key caught that pass.

• You get the feeling at halftime, Parcells told his team, "we ain't losin' cuz of the QB, so pick up your games!!!"?

• Should I start the Julius for the Pro Bowl campaign?

• I know a lot of people have the J. Jones/M. Barber debate, but what's wrong with acknowledging both of their contributions?

• Great to see Parcells fired up. You just know he wanted to make the Romo move sooner.

Don't Cowboys victories make the whole week seem better?

Bring on the Skins!

- M

It's all on Parcells

It's all on him. Like D&M said on The Ticket this morning... They let him shop for the groceries, he's just not that great of a cook anymore. We have to face reality that Bill and his coaching scheme/philosophy doesn't work in the modern day NFL.

I am convinced that this team will never be anything more than mediocre as long as he is the head coach of this team. Stubborn, conservative coaching that makes little or no adjustments whatsoever just won't work today. I don't know which side of the ball is more disappointing either. I guess we shouldn't expect much from the patchwork O-line that was barely addressed in the offseason. Which is surprising since Bill had planned on going into this season with the statue of David as his starting QB. The defense, in my opinion, is there... on paper. I do feel like this young, talented group of players are being hand-cuffed by the conservative and robotic scheme that doesn't let the players use their skills.

I'm just glad that the Bledsoe era in Dallas is over... at least I hope it's over. I'm glad Bill finally pulled the trigger because I'm not sure how much more of that I could have stomached. I officially jumped on the Romo band-wagon as soon as Drew Bledsoe threw the INT at the end of the first half. After all that went wrong... After being completely out-played in the first half... We get a gift-wrapped opportunity, courtesy of Tiki Barber, to head into the half with a lead? Are you kidding me? A lead? But that's when it happens. That's when Drew Bledsoe officially lost his team.

Romo may not turn out to be the next Tom Brady, but the guy has upside. He is going to make mistakes. Rookies make mistakes. But those mistakes will fade as the season goes on and if they don't, well, then we finally know. We don't go into another offseason wondering if he can be "The Guy." You could see the team feed off of his play. You can read between the lines when the players are speaking to the media after the game. They want Romo. So do I.

-S

Now, On to The Future!

• ESPN flashed Bledsoe's career record least night — 98-94 in 14 years. FOURTEEN YEARS. Yikes. His TD-INT ratio so far this season 7-7, now 7-8 after the game. He's just not that good. As I've said before, Bledsoe is what he is  — a highly NFL-measurable QB with very average career stats. I've heard him interviewed many times, and he seems like a standup guy, but being a good guy doesn't equate to wins, as Bledsoe has shown. So, now we move on to (literally and figuratively) to...

• Romo. Seriously, what did you expect? Monday night, Giants defense, mid-game replacement...he did what most of us expected. In truth, I expect more of the same for the next few games, if not all season, but Romo gives Cowboys fans HOPE. He's essentially a rookie, and will play like one until he gets more game experience. As noted above, Bledsoe just isn't that good, and Romo may not be either, but now we can actually find out instead of imagining what might be.

What's the worst that will happen? Romo plays poorly, we lose, and Parcells retires. As a Cowboys fan, I wouldn't want any of those things to happen, but we move up the draft board, and closer to the top of the draft. Number 1 or 2 pick (Brady Quinn) is probably out of reach, but the Boys could end up in the top 10. Matt Leinart was a top-10 pick and do you think fans wish he was lining up in the backfield for the Cowboys right now?

The best thing that could happen? Romo plays like we've all been told he can, and the Cowboys go on a roll. The team catches a spark and starts to play with confidence and fire and Parcells decides to stay and finish what he's started. A Superbowl victory this season? Not gonna happen, but with the NFC as even as it is right now, the playoffs are definitely an option. Perhaps even a playoff victory that could slingshot the team into next season. That would be a nice change.

• Offensive Line stinks. This one area is why the Cowboys haven't improved much under Parcells. Poor drafts and free agent decisions have handcuffed the offense which has quite a few offensive weapons. Against good teams, they can't run or protect the passer. The team will NEVER get better until the OL has been shored up.

• Defensives line sucks. Marcus Spears isn't very good. I was VERY excited when the Boys drafted him, but he hasn't done anything of note. Canty is another highly-touted player by the coaches, who hasn't done much of anything. Jay Ratliff, a 7th-rounder, has more fire than these guys do, which isn't saying much for the rest of the guys.

• Linebackers are O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D. I watched Bradie James a lot last night, and he was mostly invisible. Akin Ayodele appears to be another poor free agent signing, because he hasn't brought much in his tenure with the Boys. Ware is great and will get better as those around him improve. Ellis is what he is - a converted defensive lineman who has good pass rush skills and OK LB skills. Maybe time to consider Carpenter and Burnett?

• Secondary is overpaid. Good-to-average players, but they are paid to be great players.

• Julius had no chance last night. I still think he'll be fine.

• Good to see Witten back in the offense, and as I've said before, I like how Crayton plays. He's not going to be a number one guy, but he should be a solid 2 or 3 for many years.

• I know it's only the regular season, but the Dallas Stars look good, if only Turco can play like this when the games really count.

• At least now there's hope. This team is pretty young and supposedly really talented, and now we can find out about the QB. In the off-season, they can assess the QB position, address the OL and other holes, but at least the rest of the season will be interested.

-M

Cowboys Roll

• A good win over a poor team. You can only play who is on your schedule, but I must admit, the first half was WAY too close given the opposition.

• Wanna perfect example of why I'd rather see Romo over Bledsoe? On Romo's TD pass to T.O., he deftly slipped inside of a pass rusher to throw the scoring pass. My guess is Bledsoe would've been tackled for a loss or would've rushed the pass. I said it last week and I'll say it again, Bledsoe is just good enough to keep you hoping (Texans game), yet poor enough to keep you cussing (Jags/Eagles games). Romo, IMO, can do no worse, and his playing can only help to see if he's the QB for the future.

• I REALLY don't like mentioning T.O., because it just drains me, but now that he's caught his 3 TDs, all is well in T.O.'s sad little world — for now.

Can you imagine if those 3 TDs went to Glenn instead of T.O.? He is the petulant 3-year old who wants his candy, no matter what. Give him his candy and he's fine, but if he doesn't get it, he'll cry forever until you appease him. Also, like a 3-year old, if you punish him, he'll say something like, "I don't like you cuz you're mean." Sorority houses have less drama.

I'm not saying T.O.'s not a talent, because I love what he brings to the offense, but I've just had it with his drama. I appreciate his contribution to the win, but I'm fairly certain that, in the event that he was released, his passes could be distributed amongst Witten, Glenn, Crayton, Jones, Fasano, Barber or Hurd.

• I don't claim to be a defensive coach, but after today's game, I'm convinced I've never seen such a vanilla set of blitz packages. I watched a lot of the blitzes (AGAINST THE FREAKING TEXANS of all teams) and all I witnessed was straight ahead, stay-in-your-lanes paths to the QB, with maybe ONE guy, usually Ware, running a stunt.

I only bring this up because against good teams, the Cowboys will get shelled. The line, with under whelming number one pick Spears, doesn't seem to get much push, and we never seem to flood a lane or run multiple stunts with blitzers. The Cowboys must find a veteran 3-4 defensive coordinator in the offseason.

• The penalties must be shored up if the Cowboys plan on winning anything.

• This may become a weekly note of mine, but Julius Jones is on his way to becoming a Pro Bowler. He's definitely getting his rookie spark back, but with steady production.

• LOVE the Jones/Barber combination.

• Very happy to see Crayton back into the gameplan. I love the way he catches the ball with his hands.

• I feel weird talking about a punter, but wow, McBriar is kicking the snot out of the ball.

• Always good to see a Cowboys victory combined with Eagles and Skins losses.

- M

Random Thoughts From The Game

• Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, Danny White, Jim Kelly, Mark Brunell...all statistically fine quarterbacks. Had great seasons, good careers and the occasional great game, but more often than not, when it really counted, they spit the bit. After 14 seasons, I think it's safe to throw Bledsoe into that group. He just seems to make the worst possible decision at the worst possible time. He's good enough to make fans think, "maybe he'll do it this time", but bad enough to make fans say, "maybe he'll do it next time."

• Is Romo the answer at QB? Not sure, but with a few potential studs available in the next draft, it's time to find out. As noted above, Bledsoe in NOT the answer, so Romo deserves his shot. Truthfully, after what we've seen out of Bledsoe for 20 games, can Romo be any worse? What will he do? Throw a momentum killing INT? This team will never contend until they find the next #1 QB.

• I think Julius Jones IS the next great Cowboys RB. To me, injury prone is the annual nagging hammy injury, ankle sprain, etc., but injury prone is not a fractured clavicle, which is just a freak injury. I know Jones had the ankle problem last year, but again, injury prone is the ANNUAL injury, a la Fred Taylor, Brian Westbrook or Ahman Green. Jones' rookie season contained a few mind-blowing games, and last years Panthers game (post injury) was amazing, so once he can prove he has none of the perceived injury issues, he'll be a stud for a long time.

• The OL is a-v-e-r-a-g-e. Does great against poor teams and miserably against good teams - average. They must get this shored-up.

• IMO, T.O. was right to be upset (could he have been any more open for a TD?), but his antics are so tiresome.

• In the late '90s and early '00s, the Cowboys team and fans were DESPERATE for the next Cowboy's "star." After Aikman, Irvin and Haley retired and with Emmitt winding down his career and Randy Moss, passed on by the Boys, becoming a superstar, the Cowboys drafted and anointed Roy Williams the next star. Why not? Stellar All-American career at OU and played lights-out in our backyard during the Red-River Shootout. His rookie season, teamed with Darren Woodson by the way, just fueled the madness. Truth is, as far as safeties go, he's a great hitter, but incredibly inadequate as a cover-guy and hasn't gotten any better in 5 years in the NFL. For every great play he makes, he gives up one or two the other way. He's the defensive equivalent of, gulp, Drew Bledsoe, and not worthy of the deity-status which most fans give him.

• Take this Cowboys defense and swap them with the Eagles. In my opinion, Zimmer would struggle even more if he had the inferior Eagles talent, but can you imagine what Jim Johnson would do with the Cowboys defense?!?!?! They easily would be a top-5, if not the #1 defense, and no doubt, they would be the most feared defense in the league. Zimmer must go.

-M

Coaching staff to blame for this one

From previous post: (I know they probably wanted to keep Young in the pocket and I know that the scheme worked today, but if they go into Philly next week with the same gameplan, they will be torched by McNabb. They have to put pressure on McNabb... they just have to.)

This is exactly what I was afraid of and I was worried for a good reason. They had the same gameplan. It worked against a wet-behind-the-ears rookie QB, but there was no way that scheme would work against one of the best Qb's in the league. The coaching staff should have known this. The defense looked horrible, there's no denying that, but the coaches didn't give them a chance in this game. There isn't a defensive backfield in this league that should be expected to blanket receivers for 4 or 5 seconds on every pass play. Almost every QB in the league will have a field day with that much time no matter what receivers they throw out there. The Cowboys should be embarrassed that they let McNabb go through our defense like Ex-lax with the likes of Hank Baskett and L.J. Smith. But that's what happens when you send four guys to rush and let an All-Pro QB do whatever he wanted all day long.

There are a lot of people blaming the O-line and Bledsoe (although I'm not real sure that I can stick up for ol' cement feet), but I blame the coaching staff here also. Is this some new thing that the Eagles have employed to their defensive gameplan? Bringing the team picture on a blitz? Is that new? NO. No it's not. They have been doing it to us and other teams for years. You mean to tell me that with all of the weapons that we have on this team, and knowing that we have a QB back there who can't move, that you don't have any kind of adjustment or counter for that? Heck, what's stopping every team on the rest of our schedule from doing the same thing?

As for Bledsoe... man, I just don't know. After all that went wrong in that game, we were sitting on the goal-line with a chance to tie it up and BAM... game over. One of many lousy decisions by him tonight. Would Romo have given us a chance to win in that game? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I'm not sure that we won't see him very soon.

- S

All eyes on TO

That's right kids... It's TO week! Facing his former team for the first time, you know TO has to be pumped. Both coaches, as well as the players, seem to be playing it down in the media, but everyone knows what this game is really about. With a lightning rod like TO, the Eagles players are going to be out for revenge and you know that TO wants to stick it to the team that he felt didn't give him what he deserved. It's time to get the popcorn out.

I am, however, kind of worried about this game. Based on their style of play, Philly is a team that can ride emotion and rise above injury problems and match-ups, where as the Cowboys seem to be a more structured, disciplined group. I have to be honest, that makes me nervous. In rivalry games, you can throw out the record books that includes a sweep by Dallas last year. In fact, that probably favors Philly in this situation.

I am really curious as to how Bill will handle this weeks game. I don't think he really cares much for the flamboyant TO (which I am guessing he wanted no part from the very beginning) and a part of him would like to see him put in his place. And what a better venue for that than this Sunday's showdown. But here's hoping that Bill realizes that he has a gun in a knife fight. TO is a beast. There are few players that have his ability and as X's and O's go, we are lucky to have him here in Dallas. If it were up to me, I would look for every opportunity to get TO the ball. He's that good. I just hope that the O-line can keep Bledsoe upright long enough to get him the ball.

I am really looking forward to this weekend. Cowboys/Eagles, Texas/OU... You can't beat it. Oh yea, and Texas Tech/Missouri... Sorry Mike & friends.

- S

Cowboys stomp the Titans

The first thing that I have to talk about is the head-stomp by Albert Haynesworth on Andre Gurode. There is absolutely no place in football for something like that. He could have ended Andre's career with that cheap shot. It will be really interesting to see how the league will respond, not to the mention legal ramifications that could be coming. I can't imagine what would bring someone to do something like that. I have read that he is sorry for his actions out there, but there has to be a massive consequence for something of that nature.

I thought the Cowboys offense looked pretty good today... especially the O-line and the running game. The line protected Bledsoe and opened up some holes for Jones and Barber. Maybe they are starting to come together? Although it was against a really porous Titans defense. Next week will be the big test for them.

On defense, I really don't know what to think. One week they completely dominate and the next, they look like they are average. I know they probably wanted to keep Young in the pocket and I know that the scheme worked today, but if they into Philly next week with the same gameplan, they will be torched by McNabb. They have to put pressure on McNabb... they just have to.

If Dallas could pull out a win in Philly next week, it would really prove to me that they are capable of contending for a championship. It's obviously a big division game for both teams and there is no doubt that it will be intense with TO returning to Philly to face his former team. It would be picture perfect if TO could drill the Eagles and, at the same time, vault the Cowboys to the division lead, but we know that the Eagles and their fans are going to be real hungry to payback a team that swept them last year. I hope that they go into this game and match the intensity of bitter Eagles... if not, it could be ugly.

– S