Dallas Cowboys 2014 Season Thread

[eagle eye]

The practices have begun. When Dallas cut down the final 53 man roster Jason Garrett made a comment in his press conference I found very, very telling. When he took over 3 and a half years ago the talent on the the Cowboys began to get better. They ended up 8-8 the past 3 seasons because of injuries that whittled the Cowboys defense down to zip. I have defended Garrett for this reason and I have told anyone who would listen Jerry Jones isn't going to fire Garrett unless the team quits on him like they did Wade Phillips in 2010 which isn't going to happen. Jason was asked about the whys of some of the cuts and Garrett replied, to paraphrase him he basically said, When he took over as head coach he had a plan to build a program that would not be for a year or two but one that would be solid for years. That sort of plan takes more than one year to build. Garrett knew this and so does Jerry Jones. Jones believes in Garrett and I think he believes Garrett's vision is the right one for a man hungry as hell for a trip to the playoffs and another Super Bowl ring before he dies. Garrett has made mistakes but not as many as his injury riddled defense has made the last few years. Now, it seems like the Cowboys are getting healthy going into the season and if new DC Rod Marinelli can work his magic on the pieces he's got in place the days of Dallas being 32nd in the NFL are over.

 

Roster moves by the Cowboys in the last couple of days since the final cuts were made:

> Acquired DE Lavar Edwards from Tennessee for an undisclosed draft pick in 2015. He's from LSU and was a 5th round pick in 2013.

> In a move to increase the depth on the O-line Dallas claimed Donald Hawkins off waivers. He had been on the Eagles roster but was waived in the last of the Eagles cuts to 53.

> Dallas claimed former 49ers safety C J Spillman. Spillman was with SF the past 4 seasons and will add experience and depth to a position of need for the Cowboys. To make room for Spillman Dallas waived Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon. Dixon could still be signed to the Cowboys practice squad.

> Dallas added former Seahawks LB Korey Toomer. To make room for Toomer Dallas released DB Jamea Thomas.

 

Here's an article from DallasCowboys.com's David Helman about how these moves will help the Cowboys going forward.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-DavidHelman/Notes-LB-Toomer-Joins-Roster-More-On-New-Additions/65707f67-ddc8-4cbe-8a9b-2c6b27c3fb25

>

[Boomer]

so here is the word on the street. Source: #Cowboys are doing research and due diligence into the plan of signing DE Michael Sam to their practice squad.

3:23 PM - 2 Sep 2014

Looks like Jerry will find a jersey he can make money off of one way or another.

[eagle eye]

so here is the word on the street. Source: #Cowboys are doing research and due diligence into the plan of signing DE Michael Sam to their practice squad.

3:23 PM - 2 Sep 2014

Looks like Jerry will find a jersey he can make money off of one way or another.

 

Wow, bangin on Jerry. It couldn't be that he is desperately looking for someone who can pressure the opposing QB? Nah, Dallas has plenty of those guys. NOT! If the Rams weren't already deep as the ocean with defensive linemen Sam would've never been cut. If Sam can be a good situational pass rusher and do some good then why not take a chance. You know the guy will come cheap. Line that dog up on the weak side defensive end spot and yell sic 'em and let the man's speed take a path to the backfield. You don't even need much practice or know the scheme very well to do that.

 

DL Josh Brent who was involved in a tragic traffic accident that resulted in his good friend Jerry Brown's death and who has spent time in jail for DUI and vehicular manslaughter has been reinstated to the NFL by Roger Goodell and the NFL league office but he has been suspended for at least 10 weeks by that same office. All this is conditional as long as Brent complies with his probation rules, passes drug tests and doesn't get into any more trouble. If he does he could be banned for life. On the Jones side of this issue he stated a few weeks ago Brent had a spot waiting on him when and if he was reinstated? Why promise a roster spot to a guy who was just an okay player who hasn't played for 21 months? A promise to Jerry Browns mother who said she wanted Josh to be forgiven and one thing about Jerry, he is an extremely compassionate man and I'm sure he takes Brown's mother's request to heart. It may be too hard to assimilate Brent this season given that he's missing more than half the season but if it can be done--it will.

 

The Cowboys have been busy as bees, at least the player personnel dept has been. The Cowboys have signed defensive end Jack Crawford who was just cut by the Oakland Raiders. Oakland drafted him in the 5th round of the 2012 draft and he will come in to try to give the Cowboys some pass rush help. To make room for Crawford the Cowboys put Demarcus Lawrence on the short term IR which means he won't be eligible to come back for six weeks which is roughly the time frame for his recovery from a broken metatarsal in his right foot suffered in training camp. Crawford and recently signed Lavar Edwards who came to Dallas from Tennessee join Tyrone Crawford, Jeremy Mincey and George Selvie as a platoon of defensive ends the Cowboys will utilize to hopefully provide a decent pass rush off the edge.

 

Dallas has completed filling their 10 man practice squad by signing two players they just cut on Saturday. OL John Wetzel and DB Jemea Thomas to round out the Cowboys 10 player practice squad. They join other players who were cut RB Ryan Williams (this is a good thing), WR Tim Benford, LB Will Smith, DL Kenneth Boatright. The other four players are former Cowboy Micah Pellerin, Nikita Whitlock, Keith Smith and Ronald Patrick.

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys have added another player to their practice squad. You've all heard about it. The hubbub around Michael Sam was like a firestorm in the days before this year's draft. He was going to become the first openly gay player in the NFL--if he got drafted. At the NFL Scouting Combine Sam didn't do so well. He was heavy and he didn't look like the player who was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was projected anywhere from the 3rd to the 7th rounds. The media, the dad-blasted media, made a circus out of the draft hounding Sam through the whole process of the 3 days of the draft. The Rams took him and darned if he didn't play pretty well during the preseason. He got into better shape and he showed up in the preseason games. Unfortunately for Sam the Rams are deep as heck on the D-line and he was released in the final cuts last weekend. He cleared waivers and for some reason the Rams didn't want to sign him the practice squad. The other side of the story is the Cowboys, the worst defense in the NFL in 2013 largely because of a truly lame defense. The Cowboys have made moves to try to upgrade the defense in free agency, the draft and trades. The one player the Cowboys targeted to provide the DeMarcus Ware-like pass rush was another DeMarcus -- Lawrence. Unfortunately for Dallas Lawrence broke his foot and will not be back until early October. The Cowboys have traded for a defensive lineman and signed another in an effort to find a guy who can rush the quarterback. Not a down has been played and Dallas is still looking for defensive help. In the last couple of days they have traded for a player, signed one off waivers and now they have taken a guy who isn't likely to fly under the radar as long as the media keeps bringing the gay card to the table.. The most important part of the deal is Sam is almost a free look. He's only making practice squad money and for the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 that a pretty good deal. His draft stock dropped after a lackluster NFL Scouting Combine. The St Louis Rams took a seventh round draft chance on Sam and he showed up. He was pretty good logging 3 sacks during the preseason along with tackles in the backfield and generally made cutting him rather difficult. But, cut they did and after clearing waivers the Rams didn't sign him to their practice squad. Enter the Cowboys, needing pass rush help and Sam showed that he can come in on 3rd down and pressure the QB. Just what the Cowboys need right now. So, sit back and relax and don't let some misguided homophobia prevent you from what the Cowboys are really looking at here. A football player. Nothing more and nothing less.

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys injury report today was a little shocking. Out since Wednesday was rookie G Zack Martin and WR2 Terrence Williams. Martin was not at practice due to some mysterious foot injury and Williams was missing due to a back issue. That's freaking great. I guess Dallas felt bad because so many 49ers are going to miss this weekend's game and they wanted to even the odds a little bit. You know, fair play and all that rot. DL George Selvie had limited participation today but he's probably not going to play this week. Same with free agent signee Terrell McClain. Both are rehabbing injuries and should be back in a week or two barring setbacks. I'm worried about the loss of Martin and Williams. Moreso Williams because the WRs are a little thin after Williams unless you talk about Dwayne Harris or Cole Beasley. Both are primarily slot guys but Beasley has been working out wide this summer some. Hopefully both Martin and Williams will be back but since they havent' practiced it doesn't seem likely. Jason Garrett has a rule, no practice-no play. For Martin and Williams though he could make an exception.

[eagle eye]

Zack Martin and Terrence Williams returned to practice today but it's still not clear whether they will play Sunday or not. The back injury Williams suffered came as a result to falling to the ground after making a catch in practice. Martin strained his foot but neither injury is believed to be significant enough for them to miss the game Sunday.

 

Two players to watch this Sunday would DL Davon Coleman the UFA out of Arizona State and RB Lance Dunbar. Coleman has taken full advantage of the absense of Henry Melton and Terrell McClain to show the Cowboys he is worthy of their trust. He is one guy who DallasCowboys.com writers are pretty unanimous about as being a real keeper. Dunbar finally got a lot of playing time in the Thanksgiving game last year against Oakland until he was injured and didn't play again all season. In his brief time on the field Dunbar flashed some of the potential the Cowboys have seen on the practice field. Dez Bryant joined in on an interview in the Cowboys lockerroom yesterday and bragged about how much Dunbar is going to show up this season. Speaking of Dez, the guy has emerged as a real leader on the Cowboys team. The guy has matured and grown and he's definitely one of the top 5 WRs in the NFL. Make that 3 players to watch because Dez may just be turning into something special.

 

I'm going all homer here but I think that between the players that San Francisco will be missing due to injury or suspension and the unknown quality of the Cowboys defense I'm saying that Dallas is primed for an opening day win. So.......

 

Dallas 31 San Francisco 21.

[coachacola]

As a lifelong Cowboys fan it pisses me off that Jerry Jones just keeps pretending year after year he knows how to be a GM. The Cowboys will continue to suck until he sells the team. Nowadays I kinda follow the Cowboys but I know in the end they won't be that good. They had a good chance of making it to the Super Bowl a few years ago with Wade Phillips but Jones' incompetence took care of that notion.

[eagle eye]

As a lifelong Cowboys fan it pisses me off that Jerry Jones just keeps pretending year after year he knows how to be a GM. The Cowboys will continue to suck until he sells the team. Nowadays I kinda follow the Cowboys but I know in the end they won't be that good. They had a good chance of making it to the Super Bowl a few years ago with Wade Phillips but Jones' incompetence took care of that notion.

 

We could have a long discussion about Jerry Jones but the bottom line here is this. I have never in all the years of being a Cowboy fan have I ever rooted for management. I didn't root for the Cowboys pre-Jerry owners like Clint Murcheson, I didn't root for the GM (Tex Schram) and I didn't root for the head coach (Tom Landry). I rooted for the guys on the field. Many people bailed on the Cowboys when the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson rift resulted in Johnson's resignation. Jones didn't fire Johnson, Jimmy quit. You want to blame someone listen to Troy Aikman who said the team was pissed at both because as much as they asked you to sacrifice personal stuff for the team neither Jones nor Johnson would practice what they preached.

 

Quote from AP on March 29, 1994--

"After our discussions, we have mutually decided that I would no longer be the head football coach of the Dallas Cowboys," Johnson said, sitting to the right of Jones at the NFL team's Valley Ranch headquarters after two days of meetings.

 

I don't know why the loyalty to the team was affected so much. Jerry was the owner and Jimmy was the coach and only Jones got the brunt of the bile in the aftermath Johnson's departure. The rest was a total dismissal of the Cowboys team because Jerry was the owner. It took Jerry years to admit he needed a coach to lead the team. Such was the anger that arose because of the feud with Jimmy Johnson. That's a Jerry problem, no argument there. But after 3 straight 5-11 seasons under Dave Campo Jerry relented and came to the realization that Dallas needed a good coach. Enter Bill Parcels. Parcels calls his time with Jerry very good and he and Jones are still good friends. Parcels quit because the game Dallas lost in Seattle when it looked like they would win was too much for Parcels to bear. Wade Phillips was hired because of his experience with defense. Trouble was it was that defense that cost them a playoff game. In fact for the better part of the last decade the defense hasn't stopped anyone when they needed to when the game was on the line. Jerry hired Jason Garrett because Garrett had a plan to build the team into a program that could win for years and not just a single season. That's why Garrett won't be fired at the end of the year if Dallas doesn't make the playoffs because Jones has seen the talent level increase on the team since his permanent hire in 2011 and he also knows the spate of injuries that have plagued the Cowboys especially on defense is not Garrett's fault. It is why Dallas will continue to build the team under Garrett and his staff and the player personnel department, especially Will McClay who DallasCowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus constantly credits for his player moves both in the draft and during the season. There is a momentum building and work ethic instilled by Garrett and his staff. That's to Jerry's credit now. Stephen Jones is taking an active part in personnel too. It was Jones son who stopped his dad from drafting Johnny Manziel when everyone looking at the Cowboys expected that him to do because it was the sexy pick at the time. Stephen made Jerry come back down to earth and listen to the people in the draft room say the best player on their board was available and the ended up drafting Zack Martin instead. That was the right thing to do. A real strength of Jerry's is said to be his ability to listen and he's been listening a lot more as the years pass. Dallas will get there, it may not be 2014 but it won't be long and I can hardly wait.

Edited September 6, 2014 by eagle eye

[eagle eye]

With all the hand wringing over the Cowboys defense it was the offense, and Tony Romo in particular, that was the downfall in the team's loss to the 49ers. If Romo knew how much crap I have to take when he plays bad and/or the Cowboys lose he wouldn't do stupid things like he did today. It was 4 turnovers in the first and second quarters that did in the Cowboys. First DeMarco Murray fumbled on the Cowboys first possession that San Fran picked up and took to the house. San Fran drove down and scored on a 29 yard pass to Vernon Davis to stretch the lead to 14-3. The next possession Dallas had a 1st and 10 at their own 32 when Romo inexplicably threw into triple coverage to Dez that was picked out and return to the Cowboys 2. The next play it was SF 21 Dallas 3 when Colin Kaepernick hit Vernon Davis for TD #2. The Cowboys next possession it looked like the Cowboys offense we expected to see. The took the kickoff and began at their own 20 and drove to the Niners 5 when Romo tossed up a lame duck pass he should never have thrown intended for Jason Witten that was picked off in the end zone.

After Dallas forced the 49ers to punt 5 plays into the Cowboys drive Romo threw into double coverage to Dez and was picked off yet again. The Niners drove the ball down to the Cowboys 2 in 8 plays. With :43 seconds left in the half Carlos Hyde got his first NFL TD blasting right up the middle of the Cowboys D-line. That was the end of the 49ers scoring but that's all they needed. Dallas scored twice in the second have to make the score look better but it was just window dressing. Final score San Fran 28 Dallas 17. Believe me, it wasn't that close. Dallas is going to need a rivet buster to knock the rust off Tony Romo by next week's game at Tennessee.

[eagle eye]

The good thing that came out of the Cowboys loss to the 49ers was the fact they came out relatively healthy. The only ones on the injury report was LB Justin Durant and S CJ Spillman both suffered groin injuries in the game. Durant playing weak side LB had a good game tying for the team lead with 8 tackles and pass deflection. (That was an interception blown because he lost control when he hit the ground.) Spillman and Durant are day-to-day according to Jason Garrett and the Cowboys are hopeful both will be ready to play against Tennessee this week.

 

DT Henry Melton got some reps in the 49ers game and he should see more going forward. Terrell McClain should get some PT this week. He has yet to get on the field since suffering a high ankle sprain the first week of training camp. It's a good thing to start getting players back but the front seven of the Cowboys defense played pretty solid defense against the 49ers. Jeremy Mincey played right defensive end very well and LB Rolando McClain flashed some the talent that made him a first round pick 4 years ago.

 

Two things that need to be fixed. 1) Tony Romo needs reps he didn't get in preseason. It was obvious that the decisions he was making were born of a lack of work. He was not seeing the field like he should and he wasn't setting his feet to throw the deep balls he threw. 2) the defensive backs need to learn where they need to be in zone coverage. The one big failing of the linebackers was their apparent lack of knowledge of where or how they need to make their drops to cut off passing lanes. The Cowboys have had two years to iron this out and you have to wonder WTF. One question yet to be answered is, Is Mo Claiborne a bust?

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys returned to practice today and everyone was front and center except for WILL LB Justin Durant who was at practice but just spent time on the elliptical while rehabbing a groin injury suffered against the 49ers. It doesn't look good for his return this week against Tennessee so Dallas will need to fill his spot. But who to plug in? According to the Cowboys beat writers it won't be Bruce Carter. He played okay as the SAM last Sunday and Rolando McClain seems to be right at home at the MIKE so who will step in? Best guess from accounts at practice today it looks like rookie Anthony Hitchens will be the guy. The Cowboys writers are pretty much unanimous when they nix Victor Butler. Nick Eatman even said Butler is player without a position. Too small for the D-line and too slow to be a linebacker.

 

Speaking of Nick Eatman, on the daily podcast of the Lunch Break on DallasCowboys.com he was saying that Rolando McClain is the real deal. It was his thought that McClain should be put out at middle linebacker and Bruce Carter can make the defensive calls and just let McClain's athleticism shine. At this point, according to Eatman, he doesn't need to be hampered by having to think to much and he is a special athlete. He's long, he's fast and Eatman and the others on the podcast agree you can just see when McClain makes a hit. It's different than anyone else. His pop and power can be readily seen and that power needs to be let loose. The question was asked if McClain develops into something special, and indications seem to be pointing in that way, what about Sean Lee? Simple, Lee moves into the WILL. Also, if Carter is a bust then Hitchens can play SAM.

 

In another podcast called Talkin Cowboys (#talkincowboys) Bryan Broaddus and Mickey Spagnola both agree that cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Mo Claiborne need to start playing better---a lot better. Neither one seems capable to making a play and Claiborne can't prepare for a season because he's always hurt in training camp. Claiborne was the sixth pick in the draft 3 years ago and you almost have to consider him a bust at this point. They paid Carr a huge salary to come over as a free agent from Kansas City and he's had one good year. It's early yet and only one game has been played but for crying out loud can we just catch a break once in a while?

[eagle eye]

It's time to forget about last Sunday. Spilled milk and all that. Everyone who is, and I guess for that matter who isn't, a Cowboys fan know Tony Romo has a forgettable game every once in a while. All QBs have their off days. Anyone see Tom Brady vs Miami last week? Only two picks and lost fumble. 3 turnovers, the same as Romo. As they say, sh*t happens. It's time to turn and take a look at the next game on the schedule. The Tennessee Titans are next up and in case you didn't know they beat the Kansas City Chiefs pretty handily. In KC. Now, the Chiefs do have Jamaal Charles but to be honest not much else that scares you. No Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery is good but, eh. The Chiefs also lost 2/5 of their O-line for one reason or another and the defense that was pretty good last year no but that unit isn't the same either. So, I guess what I'm saying is KC isn't the same team who blew through the league last year undefeated in their first 9 games or so. Injuries hurt them last year and two losses to the Broncos brought them down to earth. Now Tennessee is good. They've got a new coach with a new offense and the promise Jake Locker showed before he was lost for the season was on display last week. He's got receivers to throw to like Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and TE Delanie Walker. They added big left tackle Taylor Lewan in the draft as well as DT Daquan Jones to add to a decent group in both trenches on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys are looking a 0-2 right?

Let's look at from Tennessee's side. Did you see the Cowboys run the ball on the 49ers. Damn good O-line they've got there. Not to mention DeMarco Murray to tote the rock. They've got Dez and Terrence Williams leading a pretty explosive receiving corp and then you add 9 time pro bowler Jason Witten and 2nd year guy Gavin Escobar who is just looking for his breakout game. And then there's Romo. Yeah, he had a stinker of a game but this is a guy who, in every single year he's started all 16 games has thrown for over 4,000 yards and over 30 TDs. That ain't chump change buddy. The Cowboys had the 5th best offense in 2013 that managed to win 8 games despite being drug down by the worst defense in the NFL. Heck they were the 3rd worst defense in NFL HISTORY! Speaking of the defense they have gotten better. Against the 49ers they only gave up one drive to the boys from the bay of over 60 yards. One TD was a fumble return for a TD and 2 yard drive after an interception. The other TD came off a short drive after another Romo INT. On top of that they shut out the Niners offense in the second half. Granted they had probably dialed it back to cruise control some but still, after last year that was something to take note of. The Cowboys seem to be fairly strong and as MIKE LB Rolando McClain gets back into the NFL groove the Cowboys may have found something. In fact Dallas' front seven looks solid, not spectacular, and may be even better after free agent acquisitions Henry Melton and Terrell McClain get back into the groove after being slowed by injuries over the summer. The weak link could very well be the secondary. Brandon Carr and Mo Claiborne weren't exactly shutdown corners last week. Both have trouble in zone defense and for the money paid Carr in free agency and the top ten Claiborne was in the draft you would really think they would be better than they've show. We (the Titans) can exploit the Cowboys secondary IF we can block the solid 8 man rotation on the D-line. Besides the corners FS JJ Watt isn't very good so if we go 3 wides we may be able to exploit that weakness. We probably can't get into a shootout with Dallas but if we can score early and if Romo has a hangover from Week 1 and we take lean on our home field advantage we can beat the Cowboys. It's going to be tough because if that offense is on we're in trouble.

 

Final score? Dallas 31 Tennessee 27.

[eagle eye]

There's one bit of news that isn't on the Cowboys web site or anywhere else that I can find but with NFLPA ratifying the new NFL drug policy, which happened much sooner than expected, means that players suspended for drug use are now eligible to play tomorrow. Now, most positions need practice time but cornerback isn't one of them. I'm not saying CBs don't need practice but what I am saying is that Orlando Scandrick who is an experienced player, participated in all off season activities, OTA's, mini camps and training camp as well seeing PT in all four preseason games isn't without practice. He's missed the past two weeks due to his suspension but it was only one game and there isn't any reason to believe he can't step right in and help on area of the Cowboys team considered a weakness. I'd be willing to bet Scandrick is in uniform tomorrow at the noon kickoff with the Titans.

[eagle eye]

I believe that I told ya'll Dallas was going to win. Trouble was, I gave the Titans offense too much credit or maybe just not enough credit to the Cowboys D. Or maybe a combination of the two. Dallas did a good job on defense today stymying the Titans offense, except for TE Delaney Walker, but Dallas defense is definitely better than last year and certainly better than expected two weeks ago before the season began. Dallas offense did what fans have been screaming for--they ran the ball. DeMarco Murray began the day the same way he did against San Francisco last week but this time it didn't cost the Cowboys points. Instead a highly motivated Murray stormed through the Titans defense to the tune of 168 yards and a TD on 29 carries. For all you stat boys that's a 5.8 YPC average. Tony Romo was efficient going 19-29 for 176 yards and a TD to Dez Bryant. It looks to me like he's not right just yet. His passes are sharp and he's lacking some zip on the ball but you know what? I don't care because that just means as the weeks pass he's just going to get better.

The defense got a couple of turnovers today on a fumble recovery and 2 picks of Jake Locker. This gave the Cowboys a 3-1 win in the turnover battle and, as they say, win the turnover battle and win the game. Today that cliché was true. Part of the reason is the Cowboys defense. First thought to be a liability is turning into an asset. Henry Melton made his presence felt by tipping a pass at the line of scrimmage that led to a spectacular catch for an interception by MIKE LB Rolando McClain. What a sweet catch it was as he dove for the ball and flicked it up in the air just inches from the ground and as he fell he played a little hot potato before gaining control of the ball. The only downer to the play was the refs called the pass incomplete negating McClain hustling to the end zone after getting off the ground. After a booth review and several replays it was clear McClain did a yeoman's job staying with the ball to complete the INT.

Next week Dallas will face the Rams in St Louis and who knows how to gauge that team but it looks like Dallas has a little more than most experts thought before the season began. 6-10 indeed.

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys didn't suffer any losses last weekend and that's including injury-wise as well. As a matter of fact, the Cowboys got Terrell McClain back for the Titans game and now it looks like Anthony Spenser will be back soon, barring any setbacks, within a couple of weeks. He's making a lot of progress from his micro fracture knee surgery last October. He gotten to the point he may actually be able to do football stuff with pads and everything! It's way too much to hope that Spense will play this week against the Rams but it could be possible he sees some snaps against the Saints in two weeks. Jerry Jones, in a local Dallas radio interview, indicated that Spencer is making good progress and they (the Cowboys) hope that he will be back by the Saints game. Take it with a grain of salt but we can only hope.

 

Despite the NFLPA ratifying the new NFL drug policy last weekend it wasn't soon enough to get Orlando Scandrick reinstated by the league office but it's very likely Scandrick and the other players serving drug related suspensions will get their reinstatements made official today. At any rate I would be shocked if Scandrick isn't in uniform Sunday against the Rams.

 

If you've watched Tony Romo during his career you know that there is something wrong. It's not clear if it's a back related thing or a mechanical thing or a lack of practice thing but something is wrong. Passes are sailing high and in some cases just not getting to the intended target. Most Cowboys and Romo fans are hoping it's just a slight hangover effect of the back surgery he had last December. It will take a little more time to get back to where he wants and needs to be. He has to feel that the 3 sacks he suffered against the 49ers opening weekend and the 4 sacks Tennessee put on him plus the hits he's taken has been proof his back is structurally sound. At least enough to take an NFL game pounding. What we don't know is how much the beating he takes affects him in as far as his soreness and ability to bounce back. My hope is that right now where he is isn't the best he can be because while Dallas is running the ball very well right now they will likely need the old Tony to be able to step up and put the team on his back and lead them to a victory or three this season. For me Romo Watch begins Sunday and won't be terminated until he shows the old Tony in his ability to pass the ball. If he gets back to that level, or should I say when--after all I will be the glass-half-full guy in anything Cowboys--this team could be a much different team than I and a lot of people thought before the season began. By different I mean better--much better at it's because of the defense. The defense has been better than most Cowboys fans had a right to hope for after an epically bad 2013. A healthy Romo AND a defense that could actually be considered good? Wow.

Edited September 16, 2014 by eagle eye

[eagle eye]

Well, it took and extra day but the NFL officially reinstated 3 players who had been suspended for PED use when they had taken amphetemine laced molly in the off season. Under the new agreement situations like that fall into the substance abuse program and not the PED use program which means their suspensions were to be lifted. It was finally made official just minutes ago.

The players involve is Broncos WR Wes Welker, Rams WR Stedman Bailey and the Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick. What this means for Dallas is they get their best CB from last season back in the lineup this week. Against a past trend that saw Cowboys defensive players falling like ten pins and landing on the injury list. Instead, so far this season, Dallas is gradually getting healthier. In the last couple of weeks the defense has seen DT Henry Melton return, DT Terrell McClain easing back into action and reports are that DE Anthony Spencer could be back in pads as soon as this week. Now, Scandrick's return comes in time to bolster what is considered a team weakness, the defensive secondary.

 

A sidebar to this is that the Rams get Stedman Bailey back in time to reinforce their WR corp after Tavon Austin was lost for a time last weekend due to an MCL sprain.

 

One of the biggest surprises so far has been the play of MIKE LB Rolando McClain. A couple of years ago he was a top ten pick in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders and he flashed the promise of a player who was taken so high in the draft. Trouble was he didn't have his life in order and off-field issues derailed his time in Oakland. He was traded to Baltimore in the off season after the 2013 season. He participated in just a bit of the Ravens off season work that spring when he decided to retire from football. He came back and unretired in the spring of 2014 but he quickly retired a second time. Over the summer not long after Dallas lost Sean Lee for the season with a torn ACL Dallas began beating the bushes for a guy who replace and almost irreplaceable player. Jerry Jones, the master salesman, called McClain and convinced him to give football one more try. It coincided with McClain's own mission to turn around his life and become a better father and man in general. It was perfect timing because McClain was on a better path in his life and he was ready to play football again and Dallas desperately needed to fill a huge void left by Lee's injury. Dallas was the ying to McClain's yang and it's is paying huge dividends so far. Here is an article from DallasCowboys.com culled from an interview with McClain earlier this week.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-RowanKavner/McClain-Earning-Respect-Happy-To-Be-Playing-Again/f4666e06-6fda-4117-a1fe-a91180436967

Edited September 17, 2014 by eagle eye

[eagle eye]

I'm sorry. I take all the blame here. A few posts ago I remarked how the Cowboys were getting healthier and it looked for all the world that the Cowboys streak of bad luck with injuries was a thing of the past. Now, on Wednesday, we find out the Cowboys newest star in the making, Rolando McClain appears on the injury report with a groin issue. On the podcast Talkin Cowboys said that he not only missed practice again yesterday he was seen walking on a treadmill, very gingerly, today. The bottom line McClain will be out this week and maybe several more weeks to come. So, I take responsibility for jinxing the Cowboys and I am truly sorry.

It seems like the answer the Cowboys are going with is to plug rookie Anthony Hitchens into the MIKE spot. Well, this is what he was drafted for, to be the backup MLB and now he's getting his chance to start. This week the defensive front needs to win. By win I mean they need to pressure whomever is going to start for the Rams at quarterback. Whether its veteran Shaun Hill or 2nd year man Austin Davis, Dallas is going to have to put pressure on him. Hitchens has to be good. He doesn't have to be great but he has to be more than competent. The rest of the defense is in tact and the unit is going to have to continue to play like they have the past two weeks. St Louis offense has not been good and they barely squeaked out a win over an even worse Tampa Bay team last week. Dallas can and should win this game if they can run the ball like they have, if Romo is improving over the start to the season he's had and if the defense can step on the neck of the Rams offense. It won't be easy with the best player on that side of the ball not on the field.

[eagle eye]

The Cowboys have a big game today. They need to get off the 8-8 rut they've been in the past 3 seasons and it starts with beating a team less talented than they are on the road. They have done this once already by defeating Tennessee last week. Now they have to do it again in St Louis. Overall the talent level in Dallas is better than in St Louis. The big questions are these, can Tyron Smith win the battle vs the Rams best pass rusher Robert Quinn? Can the O-line continue to dominate the line of scrimmage to be the motor of the Cowboys newly dominant rushing game? Can rookie LB Anthony Hitchens adequately fill in for injured Rolando McClain? Can the revamped and increasingly healthy D-line pressure Rams starting QB Austin Davis and force him to make mistakes and can Dallas avoid turning the ball over on offense and force Rams turnovers on defense. This is a long winded way of saying Dallas needs to win the turnover battle. All that said I think Dallas is going to find a way to win. Final score? Dallas 27 St Louis 20.

[eagle eye]

It didn't look like Dallas was going to win the turnover battle early as a fumble and a pick six plagued the Cowboys in the first quarter and the early 21-zip lead was looking like an impossible mountain to climb. DeMarco Murray had his obligatory fumble in the first quarter after catching a pass for a first down on Dallas' first drive and two series later Romo was picked by Janoris Jenkins who jumped an out pass to Dez that he took to the house. Dallas rallied though and they closed the gap on the Rams to 21-10 by halftime. In the 3rd quarter Dallas kept closing the gap scoring 10 unanswered points to make it a one point game 21-20. The Cowboys TD came on a 68 yard pass and run to a wide open Dez Bryant who could have strolled to the end zone he was so open. Early in the 4th St Louis extended their lead to 24-20 on a 28 yard Greg Zuerlein field goal. It was fortunate that Dallas only gave up a FG because the Rams Austin Davis hit TE Jared Cook right in the hands for a sure TD if not for the fact that Cook just flat dropped the ball. Dallas took the ensuing kickoff and drove down the field for the go-ahead TD on pass from Romo to Terrence Williams. The biggest play of the drive and maybe of the game was a 3rd and 13 scramble by Romo that actually looked like the old Tony Romo. About 5 yards shy of the first down marker Tony actually put a move on the Rams Alec Ogletree to complete the play. Dallas needed 13 Tony got 15. It was a huge play because Dallas was on their own 13 yard line and a three and out after the field goal by the Rams would've given the Rams good field position and the momentum to take control of the game. Romo completed a pass to Williams on a 3rd and 14 to keep the drive going and a pass interference on the Rams Janoris Jenkins on a pass to Dez gave the Cowboys the ball on the Rams 20 yard line and 3 plays later Romo hit Williams with the TD. Dallas never relinquished the lead. They built on it though. On the next Rams possession Bruce Carter got a pick six on a Davis pass meant for Zac Stacey. Bam 34-24 with a couple of ticks shy of 6 minutes left in the game. Dallas allowed the Rams to march the length of the field on the next possession but they forced them to use 3:22 of clock. Dallas took the kickoff and used up another 2:36. The Rams took over at their own 14 after the Dallas punt with only 1:58 left in the game. After a making a first down on a 3rd and 2 play to their own 26 Davis went deep on the left sideline to Brian Quick but the ball was a little overthrown and Morris Claiborne intercepted the pass at the Dallas 37 nailing down the victory for the Cowboys. A couple of kneel downs and the Cowboys got away with win number 2 of the season.

A couple of pieced of history for the Cowboys in this game;

1. It was the first time in Cowboys history they had come back from a 21 point deficit to win in regulation. The Cowboys have come back and won in overtime but never in regulation. If you consider the Cowboys history that is a pretty significant achievement.

2. Dan Bailey kicked 2 field goals in the game. The first tied Chris Boniol for the longest streak of consecutive field goals in Cowboys history. The second established a new record. 28 in a row and counting.

 

The Rams had a couple fights in the game--both on their sidelines. Seems like they were doing more than pointing a couple of fingers at one another after blowing a 21 point lead and losing the game.

 

I expected Dallas to win, and in the back of my mind I thought it might be a close game but to come back from a 21 zip start to the game is pretty special. In the last few years Dallas has lost these types of games. Start fast, build a big lead and lose in the end. Maybe this year really is going to be different.

[eagle eye]

As usual DallasCowboys.com's Mickey Spanola is able to bring some perspective to the Cowboys universe. This time it's a look at the game just played and question yet to be answered going forward. It's an article that's a good read and one that makes you think.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-MickeySpagnola/Spagnola-Had-To-See-This-Comeback-To-Believe-It/27049297-4907-4365-b6c9-3bdfb2fe49d1

 

DC.com's David Helman recap's the game in a more traditional way with some locker room insights.

 

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-DavidHelman/Cowboys-Top-Rams-With-Franchise-Record-Rally/a9576c74-c910-4974-bca3-a3037244a6db

[eagle eye]

Never a dull moment at Valley Ranch, eh? On Tuesday morning Jerry Jones was asked if CB Morris Claiborne was a good value as a player according to where he was drafted. Three years ago Mo was drafted with the 6th pick in the draft. Not only that but Dallas traded their first round pick and their second round pick for the privilege of selecting what was thought to be "the best cornerback in the draft". Jones response was no, he wasn't playing up to his potential relative to what Dallas gave up to select him. Jones did add that he believed Claiborne could become a very good player in the NFL for Cowboys. Too late, the damage was done. Jones admitting that Claiborne was a bust so far in his career was out there for everyone, including Claiborne, to see. Later that day Claiborne met with a coach. Nobody is saying which coach, but it's speculated that it was Jason Garrett. In that meeting, apparently, Claiborne was told he would not be one of the starting cornerbacks this Sunday against New Orleans. Nobody is inside the Cowboys locker room is saying a word. The meeting was a fact but what was said and who said it remain outside the public domain. But, whatever went down it pissed off Claiborne so bad that he packed his gear and stormed out of the Cowboys Valley Ranch practice facility. That was yesterday.

It seems Claiborne got over his huge case of the red ass and was back at the Ranch for practice at 7:30 this morning. Indignation and pride aside, it seems that the competitor in Claiborne caused him to come to his senses and get back to work. Since Claiborne was drafted it's been one injury after another to either sideline him or slow him down. A shoulder issue caused him to play so badly last season he lost his job to Orlando Scandrick. Claiborne got his chance to start in the 3 games that Scandrick missed because of a drug use suspension and he didn't play very well. However, after his interception of an Austin Davis pass to Jared Cook in the waning minutes of the game with the Rams seemed to have meant a lot to Claiborne. Discussing the play in the locker room after the game he became so emotional he was nearly in tears. Claiborne, who has had so much bad luck, finally got a break and less than 48 hours later his owner/GM called him a bust and he lost his starting job at cornerback. It was too much for Claiborne to bear and he snapped. He walked out on his team. Not a real mature response to the situation but dammit at least he cared enough to get mad. Tuesday could be an epiphany moment for Mo Claiborne. He's no longer the Golden Child he was at LSU and his potential has been questioned with the Cowboys. It was a chance for Claiborne to grow up. He stomped out like a child but he came back like a man and apologized to the team and the coaches. He sucked it up and took his medicine---good for Mo. Now, does this mean he throws away the diva cloak and picks up a lunch pail and gets to work? Got to hope so. Claiborne is physically gifted but he's got a confidence problem. I want to see Mo succeed and truth be told so does JJ and the coaching staff and his teammates. It's time for Mo to put on his big boy pants and get to work. Go get 'em Mo. Don't listen to the tweets, it's just white noise from some dull bulbs. Believe it or not everyone, coaches, players, fans, everyone is rooting for you. Believe it or not, it's true.

Edited September 25, 2014 by eagle eye

[eagle eye]

Okay, now Jason Garrett is just messing with the Saints. Yesterday saw the return of just about everybody on the injured list. Trouble is it is highly unlikely that a few of them will play, they just made an appearence on the practice field. Too bad because the belief of the observers around the Ranch don't think that MIKE LB Rolando McClain will be recovered enough from his groin injury to play. Big loss there. Henry Melton who seems to be having his groin injury sliding down his leg with the latest report listing his hamstring as the injured part. Neither player figures to play Sunday even though they both are officially listed as "questionable". Terrell McClain was cleared for practice Friday which is some good news. He, at least could play Sunday depending on what he looked like after Friday's practice. He had been sidelined with a concussion suffered last week against St Louis so his return to practice bodes well for him playing.

Rolando McClain will likely need one more week to get ready to play again as he recovers from a groin injury suffered against the Tennessee Titans. Justin Durant missed two games with a groin injury and assuming McClain's injury isn't any worse than Durant's he will miss the Saints game and be back next week for the Texans game.

Speaking of Justin Durant he will be in the lineup and that is a good thing. He will bolster a linebacking corp that could use some help. The D line has only 3 sacks so far this season and they need more this game to pressure Drew Brees. Dallas needs to get a push so Brees can't just sit back and pick apart the secondary. Mo Claiborne has been pushed back into his 3rd CB role and despite a bit of a temper tantrum he will play a lot of snaps Sunday night. Let's hope the embarrassment of this past week will awaken something in him and he starts playing like the 6th pick in the draft he was 3 years ago.

 

New Orleans will be missing their best linebacker, David Hawthorne is out. Officially he's listed as questionable but he will miss this week's game. This sort of opens up the middle of the defense for DeMarco Murray. On the other side of the ball the word is starting center Jonathan Goodwin will miss which opens up the middle of the O-line from some interior pass rush.

 

Everyone is rightly worried about Brees and Graham and the rest of the Saints offense but it would do well to keep in mind the Saints and 1-2 so far with road losses to Cleveland and Atlanta and they weren't all that impressive at home last week against an undermanned Vikings team that couldn't get out of their own way. The consensus by everyone, even the writers for the Cowboys are all picking the Saints to win. There have to be some things go right but Dallas can win this game. No, I'm not crazy, they CAN win. The final score?

 

Dallas 33 New Orleans 29

[eagle eye]

Last night Dez Bryant was running with the team down the tunnel to the field and he was yelling, "We dat! we dat!" in reference to the Saints catch phrase, "Who dat? Who dat gonna beat them Saints?" The team was fired up and they laid the law down on the very first drive with about 11 plays and 80 yards ending in a TD to Terrence Williams. It didn't really get any better for New Orleans after that. Dallas ran, passed and bullied their way over, around and through the Saints on both sides of the ball. They dominated the Saints in much the same way the Saints dominated Dallas last season in New Orleans. Jerry Jones said last night after the game one of the longest, most disappointing flights he ever took was the one after last year's beat down in the Super Dome. He continued by saying that it was the Saints turn to suffer though their flight home.

I have never seen Jason Witten so pumped during a game. He was even doing Tiger Woods-like fist pumps after blocking for DeMarco Murray.

Romo is looking like Romo from a few years ago. Spry in the pocket and not shy about taking off and running. It's good to see the old Romo back.

Edited September 29, 2014 by eagle eye

[eagle eye]

It has been a long time since Dallas has shown the ability to shut the door on a game. A long time.

It has been a long time since Dallas' defense has made a stop when the game was on the line. A long, long time.

It could be that the plan set in motion 3 years ago by Jason Garrett has finally started to come to fruition. A plan that included upgrading the play in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Tyron Crawford, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin are the cornerstones of the O-line for years to come. Ronald Leary and Doug Free have combined to become a genuine top of the line NFL offensive line.

The defense has been another story. Not so much a fault of Garrett but of the Gods of Injury. 2nd round pick Tyrone Crawford is just now getting back on the field after a lackluster rookie season followed by a torn ACL in training camp last year that caused him to miss all of last season. Sean Lee, a 1st round player taken in the 2nd round and he's been all he was touted to be only he can't catch a break from the gods. Morris Claiborne was going to be the next shutdown corner only injuries have derailed any chance he's had to develop his potential into a real result on the field. Now, Claiborne is done for 2014 with a torn patellar tendon the result of a non-contact change of direction in the 1st quarter of the game Sunday night. Bruce Carter another highly touted talent who dropped in the draft because, like Sean Lee, has battled injury including what's been reported by Bleacher Report as a severely pulled quad muscle suffered Sunday at the tail end of what Jason Garrett characterized as his best game as a pro. Figures, Carter played last season like he didn't have a clue before injury cut his season short and now that he seems to get it he may have a torn quad. How about 2nd round pick DeMarcus Lawrence being lost for 8 weeks with a broken foot in training camp. On and on the defensive injuries have piled up but now Dallas may be finally getting a reprieve from the those pesky Gods of Injury. Yes, Carter will be out for a while but Dallas seems to have hit the jackpot with LB Rolando McClain. A player Dallas got for mere 7th round pick looks like the beast in the middle of the Dallas defense they have been missing since Ken Norton Jr left for San Francisco. Who. by his play inspires a toughness not seen in Dallas in a long, long time. How about the emergence of LB Justin Durant who was the best linebacker in training camp has come back from a groin injury suffered in Week 1 against the 49ers. What about the play of CB Sterling Moore who showed up big time after Mo Claiborne was injured and broke up a couple of passes and he played well overall in the snaps he was on the field. What about the rotation on the D-line? Jeremy Mincey, Nick Hayden, Henry Melton, Crawford, George Selvie (coming back from an injury of his own) and now the return of Anthony Spenser whose 12 month rehab from microfracture surgery was rewarded with his first appearance on a football field on Sunday. I know we had a couple of guys lost during the game against New Orleans but in reality Dallas is getting healthier as time passes. Even Josh Brent was at Valley Ranch as he tries to come back after the tragedy of the car accident that claimed the life of his friend and teammate. The way Dallas defense is hitting people is noticeably more violent, legally violent, than it has been in years. The defense has a look of a unit who won't go quietly into that good night with an attitude Cowboys fans have been waiting since 1995. I hope this isn't illusion. I hope it's what I believe Jason Garrett had in mind when he took the head coaching position 4 years ago. It's been a good start but we need to see what next few weeks have to show us before we start to really believe. But as for right now? There is definitely a glimmer of hope.

[eagle eye]

Dallas went to work today to prepare in earnest for the Texans this week. The Cowboys are coming off an emotionally charged win over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday night. It was a game virtually no one but me and Tony Dungy thought the Cowboys could win. Not even the guys at DallasCowboys.com were picking Dallas to win. They just hoped it wouldn't be a blowout like last year's game in New Orleans.

So, they did it. That was awesome but now they need to back it up with a win over the Texans. The Cowboys have to try to overcome themselves and their recent history of having one big win followed by a head scratching loss. This is set up for a similar scenario. Dallas has better talent than Houston overall. The Cowboys are playing better on both sides of the ball than Houston and both have had head scratching losses and last, but not least, they both are going into the game with identical 3-1 records. Dallas could lose this game, they really could. You might being saying, "No way, Jose!" but think about what Dallas has done in these past 3 8-8 seasons. One step forward, one step back. That is the exact definition of 8-8. Dallas needs to win more than Houston does for just that reason. If they are ever going to break that ho-hum rut they're in they have to win this game and maintain a momentum going to Seattle next week. A 4-1 record heading into the loudest stadium in the world would be a whole lot better than 3-2. Trouble is keeping Dallas focused on Houston. That's the game that's important right now.

 

Pretty much every player on the 53 practiced today. Everyone except Tony Romo who took his usual Wednesday off and LB Bruce Carter was out with his quad injury. Carter won't be back this week but the Cowboys are hoping he can be ready to play at Seattle next week. As bad as the podcasts describe his quad, Carter may not be back before Thanksgiving. Romo will be back tomorrow. No worries there. LB Rolando McClain survived the Saints game without aggravating his groin injury and DT Henry Melton practiced but was limited as he nurses a balky hamstring. DT Terrell McClain should be available this week because he was cleared by the NFL concussion protocols to practice late last week and he sat out the Saints game. Dallas may have found the ideal 3-technique D-tackle and that guy is Tyrone Crawford. In his first action in over a year after having microfracture knee surgery he played 22 snaps and he had a positive impact on the game. The best front four Dallas puts on the field right now may be George Selvie at left end, Tyrone Crawford at the 1-technique, Henry Melton at the 3-technique and Jeremy Mincey at right end. The rotation of players including Nick Hayden, Anthony Spenser, Terrell McClain and Ken Bishop is solid if not spectacular. Josh Brent is going to be in the mix in a few weeks as will DeMarcus Lawrence at D-end. It the Cowboys can avoid major injuries they should get better and better and the season goes on. By the last third of the season when the schedule turns into a real bitch with most being on the road the could be their strongest. That, my friends, is a good thing.