Double Feature! 10 Minutes . . . and Questions Waiting for Answers
By Matt Cordon (kh). Filed in Our Podcast, Questions Waiting for Answers, Video Clips |
Fell behind this week and did not get 10 Minutes to Know Your Dallas Cowboys done until this evening. That someone actually asked when I was posting it was… a new experience, but thanks to Mark for watching.
So in order to get caught up, I will post both the new episode and Questions Waiting for Answers. What a treat!
Here is Episode 5. In this episode, Gnome interviews a bumbling Saints fan who wants respect. Texas A’Dos needs some energy but gets hooked on Red Bull and nearly ODs. Also has trivia and predictions.
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And here are this week’s questions:
(1) Can Dallas contain the Saints’ running backs? Much has been said of Reggie Bush’s performance last week against San Francisco, and for good reason. Dallas had trouble at times with Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs last week, and Bush and Deuce McAllister are better.
This is from Mick’s Shots:
Here is the Cowboys’ biggest dilemma come Sunday against the Saints, the NFL’s top-ranked offense: How to deal with Reggie Bush. Saints head coach Sean Payton has done a wonderful job of coordinating an offense that implements the running skills of Deuce McAllister and the versatility of Bush at the same time. Bush will help form a three-receiver set, lined up out wide or in the slot, with McAllister at running back. So what kind of defense do you play? Stay standard to respect the run, but then you take your chances with Bush, likely in zone coverage, which gives him space. Go to your nickel so a DB can cover Bush, and now you have one less linebacker to deal with the hard-charging McAllister.
(2) Can the Cowboys maintain an effective rushing attack? I didn’t know this, but the rushing statistics of Jones, Barber, and others are pretty close to those put up by the 1992 and 1993 Super Bowl teams that featured Emmitt Smith in his prime. Here is the breakdown:
Year: Att. (NFL Rank), Yards (NFL Rank), Average (NFL Rank), TDs (NFL Rank)
1992: 500 att. (4), 2121 yards (5), 4.2 ave. (9), 20 TD (3)
1993: 490 att. (6), 2161 yards (2), 4.4 ave. (3), 20 TD (2)
2006 (projected): 518 att. (2), 2113 yards (8), 4.1 ave. (14), 23 TD (2).
One difference is the yards per carry. Another big difference is that Emmitt was always a threat to break a big one on any given play, while Jones has struggled to do so (Barber has had the longer runs lately). But I thought these stats were interesting.
(3) Can the Cowboys give Romo time to throw? Although the Giants only sacked Romo once last weekend, he was pressured enough to make him have to throw the ball away. He’ll need time, because Dallas needs big plays.
(4) Can the Cowboys generate a pass rush? Dallas played its base defense for much of the game last week, and the Cowboys were not able to put any sort of consistent pressure on Eli Manning. With that sort of time, Drew Brees could tear this secondary apart… although he may have to do so without both Marcus Colston and Joe Horn.
(5) Kicking woes… gone?
Okay, let’s not tempt fate.
(6) Prediction: Dallas 31, New Orleans 24. I’d say I agree with RoboStat, but that would emphasize a split personality.
Sunday, December 10th 2006 at 2:12 am
I just have to think, if Parcells was willing to cut Vanderjagt and switch QBs midstream, do you really think he’d refrain from starting Barber over Jones if he truly thought that was the better option? Now Barber has been getting increased carries as of late. He’s really become the team’s 4th qtr back. Wear them out with Jone’s speed for 3 qtrs, then hammer them with Barber. That seems to be what has been going on.