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
posted by Shawn @ 9:38 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
You're very right in your ASSessment of Haynesworth's actions. Reminds me most of Rudy Tomjanovitch getting cheap-shotted on court, way back in the day.
Note to the NFL:
Bring the hammer,
and more than just a "Haynesworth" rule.
Note to Fisher: Maximum sentence.
And really, not much more needs to be said.
I've read the Cowboys game-plan looked like what the Dr ordered, especially as a tune-up for McNabb, and potentially Vick in the playoffs. Let's hope we learn something from this game, aside from the obvious:
1. We're good enough to pound a patsy
2. VanderSHANK is still not a sure bet.
But seriously, after playing McNabb for years, will this game against a struggling rookie really teach us anything new? We've been schooled by the best "mobile" QB in the business twice a year repeatedly, and only rarely have we risen to the occasion defensively. If we hope to contain or overcome a mobile QB, we need to take a page from those D's that have proven consistently capable over the years: Tampa and Carolina. Their personnel are different than ours, but their schemes are simply so effective. That comes from coaching, putting your best in positions to do their best, and being aggressive. No QB can hurt you if he isn't on the field. Takeaways are the key, and that comes from aggression.
cadmiumred,
It's not the mobility of McNabb that scares me. What really worries me is the time that we have given him in the pocket over the years. He can shred any defense if he has time to sit back in the pocket and let the play develop. They did a pretty decent job of putting pressure on him last year, especially in the first game. I hope they go into Sunday with that same mentality.
If they do go into the game with the same gameplan they had against V. Young, the Eagles will torch us. There is a huge difference in trying to cover routes for 3.5 seconds vs. 4.5 seconds against a veteran QB. I don't think anyone could blame the secondary if they continually don't put pressure on the QB.
I think Sundays game is going to be a lot tougher than people expect. Even though we did sweep them, we really got lucky to win that last game against them last year.
Just in:
Haynesworth suspended by the League for 5 games, to the tune of almost $200-large.
Too soft a sentence I say, and not just as a fan of the 'Boys.
Remember the individuals involved were a couple of linemen. Nearly anonymous, "faceless", we rarely see them in the highlights, and NEVER in high-profile commercials.
Now what if:
It had been Bill Romanowski instead of Haynesworth? Romo would be barred from the league.
It had been Tom Brady instead of Gurode? The stomper would be barred from the league.
Instead the NFL takes low-profile individuals and goes easy on it's verdict. "Let's clean the rug as quickly as possible and try to make it go away".
A little lip-service goes a long way sometimes, but this time the League has an opportunity to make a real statement.
And they fumbled.
Cad,
I agree. I was hoping for at least 8 games, but it's not to be. If T.O. had been the one doing the stomping, he would've been out for the season, but like someone said, 5 games is the football equivalent to 50 games in baseball.
Was glad Haynesworth apologized, but I also wonder that had it not been recorded and him getting caught, would Haynesworth still have apologized?
-M
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