Bills Behind Dallas Lines: Five Questions With an Enemy Blogger

Welcome to another successful installment of Five Questions with an Enemy Blogger, where each week, via email, I will be exchanging hot questions and [sometimes] answers with a rival blogger about their team and the upcoming matchup.

This week I sat down with Rafael Vela of The 'Boys Blog, an independent column that covers the Dallas Cowboys.

Dan Benton: "At one point last year, I recall Bill Parcells saying Tony Romo is more lucky than good, and that he had a lot more developing to do. Well, looks like good 'ole Bill was a tad off. How has Romo developed into one of the league's best so quickly?"

Rafael Vela: "Romo developed by working hard. He was a bit lucky last year, getting away with dangerous throws and throws off his back foot.

Look, Romo has shown magic almost from day one in camp. I spoke to a member of the Cowboys scouting staff a while back who told me that he was making at least one play per practice that had people shaking their heads. The reason he didn't start sooner was his inability to shake his street ball-gunslinger mentality. He's taking some of the good parts of Brett Favre's game but he also emulated the bad Brett of '05 and '06 who tried to score 21 points with one pass.

Romo is still as dangerous getting out of the pocket but he's much more disciplined this year. Hence, fewer INTs."

DB: "Although the Cowboys and their fans have to be extremely optimistic after a promising 4-0 start, how much of their success can be contributed to their schedule? The four teams they've beaten this year are a combined 3-13."

Vela: "I see this question a lot. Hey, the Patriots first four opponents are 4-12. You can only play who they put in front of you and who could have predicted the Giants, Rams, Bears and Dolphins would suck so bad this year? That's two 8-8 teams and one 13-3 team from last season.

I don't think the schedule has anything to do with it. Dallas' closest game has been 10 points and they scored 45 in it. Their average margin of victory has been 20 points. That's impressive in college. That's sick in the NFL.

Finally, who are these phantom demon teams that can slow Dallas' offense down and have the QB to burn the Cowboys' secondary? I can think of three teams that fit that bill -- New England, Indy and Seattle. Green Bay may be a fourth. Dallas plays the Pats next week, so we'll get the answer to that question soon enough. They also play the Packers in November so be patient.

DB: "It's obvious to any football fan who the better running back is, so why are the Cowboys still splitting carries with Julius Jones and Marion Barber III?"

Vela: "Dallas is splitting carries because while Barber is a better runner (Jones is a better receiver) neither is an elite back. Some people on my site get carried away with the comparisons but Marion Barber isn't an elite back. He's a very good all-around back and he fights for every inch, but he's doesn't read holes like Emmitt Smith and he can't make guys miss in the hole like the great ones do. He'll run over guys and spin and lunge, but somebody like Emmitt would have faked the same guy out of his jock and gotten the same yards unimpeded."

DB: "Looking ahead to Sunday, what worries you most about the Buffalo Bills? Could this be a trap game?"

Vela: "To be honest I'm not worried about anything Buffalo has. They're a good young team on the upswing but they're one dimensional offensively. Lee Evans is an excellent player, and Marshawn Lynch looks for real, but if the Cowboys double Evans who else in Buffalo's receiving corps can make Dallas pay?"

There is the chance that Dallas is looking forward to New England. That's the only way Buffalo has a chance. But I heard trap a lot last week and Dallas cleaned up. The Cowboys were very inconsistent under Parcells but they've gotten better every single week under Wade Phillips.

DB: "Prediction time! Who wins, and what's the score?"

Vela: "Dallas 30, Buffalo 10"

A special thanks to Rafael Vela for taking the time. Again, you can read his Cowboys coverage over at The' Boys Blog.