Oh yeah, I know: "We woulda totally whupped em if tony had bin playin"Save it, homers.
The St. Louis Rams dominated the Dallas Cowboys today. Yes, the major difference was not total yardage or first downs. It was turnovers ... and Brad Johnson had three of them. But would Tony Romo have prevented Marion Barber from losing his fumble? And what about on the other side of the ball?
The Cowboys defense was ranked 10th in the NFL, allowing an average of 300 yards per game. Well, they allowed the Rams to pile up 325 ... a Rams offense which was only gaining an average of 237 (good for 31st in the NFL). Romo doesn't play linebacker.
I understand the Cowboys have injury issues on defense. Of course, the issues are in the secondary -- even moreso with Roy Williams (the defensive one) going down. None of the front seven were banged up entering the game, though, and Steven Jackson -- with his patchwork offensive line -- embarrassed the formerly seventh-ranked run defense with 160 yards on 25 carries.
On the flip-side, we'd be remiss not to mention the winners. The Rams are now 2-0 under Jim Haslett. We know from many sources that the players were really sick of Scott Linehan, and maybe these two games are a sign that Haslett somehow breathed some life into the Rams. In a terrible division, you can't really count them out at this point ... though I don't think the Cardinals are faltering this season.
Still, you'll start to see the confidence grow in this Rams unit, and I don't believe they'll be embarrassed again this season. I don't really see them taking more than six games, but after the 0-4 start I'm sure their fans are fine with 6-6 finish.
For the Cowboys, rosier times are ahead when some guys heal, sure, but you can't blame everything on injuries. If this team was as beastly as you guys all thought after three weeks, they would have taken care of business today. Clearly some things need to be fixed. I'm also not sure this mix of personalities is best suited to deal with adversity. We've seen Terrell Owens when things don't go his way. Pacman Jones already cost them. Roy Williams has never been especially quiet. These are just a few examples of the fact that there are a ton of big personalities here, including the owner who assembled this group.
Romo's return will obviously help the recovery process, as will the infusion of Roy Williams into the offense. The secondary, however, is totally in flux right now, and might never get fixed. Terrance Newman's return would help, but he hasn't exactly been an ironman the past few seasons concerning injury history. When Donnie Avery is torching you, I'd think having to face up against Plaxico Burress in the playoffs would be a daunting task.
If they even make it. Because if the playoffs started this week they would not. Who woulda thought that a few weeks ago?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-20-2008 @ 9:48AM
Sean Carmichael said...
Even with Terrance Newman, the Cowboys' secondary isn't much better. Remember when the Skins came to town? Moss torched Newman all day. The Cowboys should have definately traded for an elite corner rather than another receiver who will be begging for the ball all year long.
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10-20-2008 @ 9:50AM
Sean Carmichael said...
Kudos for the Skins for not beating themselves this year (with the exception of the Rams game). Keep it up Skins!
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10-20-2008 @ 10:42AM
roger said...
They need to step back and take a long hard look at how they need to come together as a team. We need for someone to step forward and be that leader, T.O. is a great player but he needs to be more of a leader instead of get me the ball. Gurode or Adams on the offensive line needs to get these guys to jell and work like that know how to produce, and Greg Ellis needs to get the defense together, with Ware and let each and everyone know that they are not playing to their full potential. Why not look for help in the secondary I believe that Ty Law is looking for a job it can't hurt play with Heart like last year and quit blaming each other you are a team no act like it and play with more determination and show everyone that you are not down even if you have a bad game or play keep playing hard that is all that we ask as fans.
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10-20-2008 @ 10:45AM
Dave c said...
Now maybe finally all the talking heads can shut up about Dallas having a lot of tallent and that they are one of the better teams I know they want it to be true so bad but not this year .
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10-20-2008 @ 11:51AM
sean said...
All I know is Brad Johnson is terrible. He should retire after that performance. Brad was supposed to be the accurate QB with questionable arm strength. His accuracy is awful just like his arm strength. I never thought I would be saying this but bring in brooks bollinger.
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10-20-2008 @ 12:55PM
Ken said...
The Cowgirls can't blame the refs, the other team cheating, the other team for paying off the refs for this loss, they got a good old butt whipping. This is one of their most over rated teams. They only have 2 players that even deserve a probowl vote, Witten and Ware and Cooley is a lot better than Witten.
Whwn are their crybaby fans going to realize that their team is full of a bunch of over rated prima donnas that look out for themselves moreso then the team
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10-20-2008 @ 3:51PM
dennisg40 said...
Ken, I don't think anyone who is a fan of the cowboys doesn't realize they have some serious issues on both sides of the ball.
The coaching staff is weak and many of the players just don't seem to care. you could see that frustration in Brian Stewart's face yesterday. He did motivate them in the second half to at least start to slow down the run.
Our offensive coordinator is like a librarian off to himself too busy to motivate anyone or even talk to anyone it seems. I don't know who Wade talks to on his headset maybe it is weight watchers or suicide prevention but I have seen people get more emotional over cutting their lawn than he does over a football game and that is good because I hate to see a grown man cry.
With an offensive line that cannot seem even slow down the blitz or anything else and an (off center) center that hikes the ball before the signals are even called with a 40 year old immobile quarterback who wouldn't even step forward in the pocket much less run out of it who needs to worry about defensive backs?
10-21-2008 @ 9:52AM
very concerned cowboy fan said...
Boys what are you guys doing? I have been a fan since I was a little girl, and even in your 1 and 15 season I have never seen you guys play that bad!!!!! I know about all your distractions, but guys if its not you DON`T worry about it!!!!!!! Somebody needs to step up like Owens, Witten, and on the D line Ware! or Mr. Ellis STEP UP GET IN SOMEONES FACE and tell them |PULL your head OUT of your BUTT and play some football!! Now dont take me wrong I will always be a huge Cowboy Fan and I still believe in you guys, but you must BELIEVE in yourselves!!!!!!! sincerely a true # 1 fan Shannon Blankenship From Skiatook Oklahoma
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10-24-2008 @ 1:48PM
cowboy fan said...
I agree with you they need to play ball like we know they can or hire jimmy johnson back. i know they would play some real ball then,
10-20-2008 @ 4:48PM
Rob said...
Dallas isnt as bad as they looked yesterday. However, they were not as good as many people thought they were befor the season started. WAY OVER-RATED!!!!
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10-20-2008 @ 6:28PM
frank said...
I enjoy not seeing the smirk on fat boy coachs face when they win, love seeing Jones blame all but his bringing in players that only look out for themselves and wish the best for teams in their division, any team. I hate the damn cowboys who have not won a playoff game in 13 years and want to remind everyone about the good days of being a cowboy or whatever they are now.
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10-20-2008 @ 6:45PM
john said...
oh boy is this great or what?...lol...i hope tampa bay beats them even worse than the rams did....if they miss the playoffs after all the smack they talked in preseason, they will probably get ran out of big d....lol....ive been saying 4 years now that dallas cant win with jerry "the moron" jones trying 2 run that team.....looks like i may be onto something....ahahahahahaha
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10-20-2008 @ 7:12PM
wallyrock said...
I've been a Cowboys fan for 35+years:they need some good defensive backs,the offense will be alright.You can't win a football game just with your offense.Tony Romo will be back;we need to fire our defense coordinator.
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10-20-2008 @ 7:29PM
bob said...
Wade Phillips is a BUST! They have all the talent needed to win but they don't have a good enough coaching staff !
Jerry Jones need to quit trying to give convicts a second chance.
A disappointed Cowboy fan.
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10-20-2008 @ 10:24PM
Bull_Shirt said...
How come we can't blame it all on Johnson? He's delusional, thinking he is still a QB. But, you're right tho. He's not to blame it all on. If any one person is to blame, then I would blame Jerry Jones and his ultra sized ego. Yes, there are Cowboy fans who can't stand the owner as well. There are those of us who still remember Landry being fired the way he was.
When the new stadium opens next year, it wouldn't surprise me that he buys the naming rights himself....The Jerry Jones Stadium. Nice ring to it?
We need some CB's. He goes and gets a WR. Not that this guy can't contribute, because he can. But, when you're bleeding from a wound on your arm, you don't wrap your leg do you? Don't get me started on these coaches.........errrr...puppets. I don't think any of them have the cajones to back talk Jones, or disagree with him about personnel.
I guess I'll have to wait til Jones dies, or sells the team before we get another SB win. His way isn't working. Jimmy Johnson won those in the 90's , not Jones, or Switzer. And Johnson got his fill of Jones. Switzer was an idiot.
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10-21-2008 @ 11:23AM
Tony41455 said...
I LOVE WATCHING THE COWBOYS TAKE IT IN THE ASS!!!!!
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10-28-2008 @ 7:58PM
cowboy fan said...
if you like watching stuff like that move to san francisco were you cln watch it all the time
10-21-2008 @ 8:42PM
nunya said...
Fanhouse, you guys, everyone of ya, are a bunch of Cowboys haters. Jump on the bandwagon guys, you AND ESPN can eat shit!!!!!!!
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10-23-2008 @ 8:46PM
valenang said...
It amazes me how people are quick to talk crap about T O when all he wants to do is win. The guy is a play maker..feed him the ball. Garrett needs to find a way to use him...slot/motion/quick slants....just feed him and let him make plays. Also, how do you not use Felix Jones more often....he's another play maker. "what's the problem" Garrett has become so damm predictable it's pathetic. Go back to basics.
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