Bleacher Report - Articles by Derek Major

Dallas Cowboys Injury Report: November 30th

Derek Major — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:53:47 -0500

The Cowboys came out of Oakland healthy and with the Cowboys playing on a short week they have nine days before their next game against the New York Giants.

Linebacker Victor Butler suffered a sprained knee against the Raiders Thursday. He practiced on a limited basis toady but Coach Wade Phillips said it was unknown if Butler would practice on Wednesday.

Safety Ken Hamlin missed practice on Monday but the boot was taken off of his sprained ankle. He's expected to miss 2-4 weeks but it looks like he's recovering faster than expected. Alan Ball will start a third straight game at safety if Hamiln can't go this week.

Tight End Jason Witten played despite a sore foot and looked fine on the field, catching five balls for 107 yards. Witten has missed just one game his entire career and he's expected to practice and play this week.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware is still playing with a stress fracture but did have a sack in Thursday's game against the Raiders and has eight sacks on the season. Ware is also expected to play against the Giants.

Quarterback Tony Romo played a great game against the Raiders and showed no signs of having a sore back. He practiced on Monday and is expected to start on Sunday.

Running back Marion Barber (Thumb), Linebacker Keith Brooking (Ankle), Safety Gerald Sensabaugh (Wrist), Corner Mike Jenkins (bicep), and Kicker David Buehler (Toe) all played in Thursday's game despite minor injuries and aren't expected to miss any time.

Cowboys Crush Raiders 24-7, Face Tough December

Derek Major — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:49:38 -0500

The Cowboys know that December is going to be a tough month and with a game against the lowly Raiders the Cowboys didn't play with their Thanksgiving food as they dominated the game start to finish.

The Cowboys' offense was as perfect as a Thanksgiving turkey. Tony Romo went 18-for-29 for 308 yards and two TDs. Receiver Miles Austin and Tight End Jason Witten benefited from Romo's good day as they had plenty of balls to catch.

Jason Witten had five catches for 107 yards, his longest catch coming in the third quarter when Romo avoided a sack and hit Witten for a 44-yard catch and run that led to a Roy Williams TD. Witten was questionable on Monday but his sore foot improved during the week and he showed no signs of the injury during the game.

Miles Austin had been held in check the last two games but busted out on Turkey Day with seven catches for 145 yards and one TD. Austin beat pro bowl safety Nnamdi Asomugha a few times and was able to score on a screen pass after his TD two plays before was overturned after a official challenge.

The running game for the Cowboys was great. Smash, Dash and Tash each had one run of over 30 yards and finished with 196 yards combined. Marion Barber had 61 yards on 14 carries and also added a 42-yard catch. Felix Jones finished with seven carries for 68 yards including a 46-yard TD run that gave the Cowboys a 10-0 lead. Tashard Choice ran mainly out of the Wildcat and finished with three carries for 67 yards including a 66-yard scamper that set up a Nick Folk Field goal to make it 3-0.

The Cowboys defense gave up less than 10 points for the second straight game. Bruce Gradkowski (18-for-35, 200 yards and one TD) was pressured throughout the game and sacked three times. Gradkowski connected with Darrius Heyward-Bey for the Raiders only TD in the third quarter.

Linebacker Anthony Spencer finally got his first two sacks of the season while the man he replaced Greg Ellis, sat on the Raiders bench with a swollen knee. DeMarcus Ware also had a sack and a forced fumble recovered by Jay Ratliff to end the first half.

The running game for the Raiders was successful early in the game, but as the game went on the Cowboys front seven took control. Justin Fargas finished with 63 yards on 12 carries; Darren McFadden had eight carries for 23 yards and added 43 yards receiving.

The Cowboys secondary shut down the Raiders receivers as tight end Zach Miller led the team with 73 yards on five catches. Heyward-Bey, Chad Schilens and Louis Murphy combined for just six catches and 75 yards.

The Cowboys now head into December where the Cowboys are 17-29 since 1999 and this December won't be an easy one. The Cowboys face the Giants on the road, and then face the Chargers at home before going on a two game road trip to New Orleans and Washington.

Week 12: Oakland Raiders Vs. Dallas Cowboys

Derek Major — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:33:47 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys host the Oakland Raiders on their annual Thanksgiving Day game.

The Oakland Raiders come into Dallas riding high off their comeback win against the Cincinnati Bengals. Bruce Gradkowski is now the starting quarterback for the Raiders and played efficiently last week (17-for-34, 183 yards, two TDs and one INT)

This week Gradkowski will try to play better than the last time he faced the Cowboys. In 2006 as the QB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gradkowski went 10-for-20 for 120 yards and 2 INTs in a 38-10 loss on Thanksgiving Day.

The Raiders receivers haven't gotten many opportunities this year and their numbers show it. They're dead last in passing offense averaging 125 passing YPG. Tight end Zach Miller leads the team in receptions (34), yards (495) and TDs (2). The Raiders best wide receiver is Louis Murphy who has 17 receptions for 261 yards and two TDs. Rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey (seven receptions, 103 yards) hasn't done much this season, only catching a pass in six games this season and hasn't had more than two receptions in a single game.

The Raiders running game ranks 20th in the NFL. Michael Bush is second on the team in attempts (81) and leads the team in yards (377) and also has two TDs. Justin Fargas is the team's second leading rusher with 336 yards on 90 carries and two TDs. Darren McFadden (57 carries, 182 yards and one TD) hasn't had the season the Raiders thought he would as he's battled injuries.

The Raiders defense has been on the field too long, ranking fourth in the league in plays from scrimmage with 669 plays. Oakland's front seven can generate some pressure as former Cowboy Greg Ellis (5) and Richard Seymour (4) have combined for nine sacks this season. Linebacker Kirk Morrison leads the team in tackles with 84 and has five for a loss.

The Raiders secondary ranks 12th in the league, giving up 207.5 YPG. Chris Johnson leads the secondary with 49 tackles and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and has 12 passes defended. Nnamdi Asomugah was a pro bowler last season and is having another good season. Safety Michael Huff is also having a good season with three interceptions and nine passes defended.

Tony Romo will try to revive a Cowboys offense that has scored just two TDs in their last two games. Even though Romo still has a sore back, he's expected to start this week.

However he could be without his best friend, tight end Jason Witten who will be a game time decision with a sprained foot. Witten leads the team in receptions with 54 for 481 yards and one TD. If Witten can't go then Martellus Bennett will take his place.

Romo will still have Miles Austin to throw to. Austin hit his stride late in last week's game and finished with a team high 47 yards on four receptions. Roy Williams had no catches last week and he'll need to make an impact if Witten is out. In last year's Turkey Day game Williams had two catches for 51 yards.

The Cowboys running game seems to be back on track and should take advantage of the Oakland's 30th ranked rushing defense. Last week against the Redskins the Cowboys ran the ball 31 times for 149 yards. Marion Barber was the high man with 20 carries for 99 yards, Felix Jones ran the ball 10 times for 49 yards and Tashard Choice ran the ball once for one yard.

The Cowboys defense is still riding high after holding the Redskins to just six points, and they'll be looking to take Gradkowski down a few times. Keith Brooking (73 tackles, three sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (39 tackles, seven sacks) lead the seventh ranked rushing defense in the NFL. The Cowboys also rank eighth in the league with 25 sacks this season.

The Cowboys secondary also played well last week. Corners Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick have combined this season for 26 passes defended and five interceptions. Safety Alan Ball played great last week in place of Ken Hamlin who's still out with an ankle injury. They also got help from linebacker Anthony Spencer who recorded an interception to put last week's game away.

The Cowboys need to come out and make an impact early to kill Oakland's hopes of pulling out a win—the longer the Cowboys keep the Raiders in the game, the more the momentum shifts to silver and black. They also need to get to Gradkowski, something the Bengals didn't do last week. The Raiders will definitely make this game interesting but the Cowboys will keep their three game Thanksgiving Day winning streak alive. Cowboys 24-17.

Dallas Cowboys: Injury Report Nov. 23

Derek Major — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:35:11 -0500

The Cowboys came out of yesterday's game healthy, but have a short week before Thursday's Thanksgiving day matchup against the Oakland Raiders.

Quarterback Tony Romo has been diagnosed with a bruised hip from when he tackled DeAngelo Hall after Hall picked up a fumble by Marion Barber. Romo didn't miss a snap and finished the game. He said after the game that he will start on Thursday and the injury isn't significant.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins got his bell rung on the Redskins' last drive of the game, but said after the game he was fine but, "I was out of it for a few minutes." He played through the bicep bruise he suffered against the Packers and will do so again on Thursday.

Jenkins was held out of practice on Monday however as Coach Wade Phillips said he wanted to be cautious with injured players. Linebacker Keith Brooking (foot) was limited in practice and Tight end Jason Witten (ankle) was held out of practice on Monday.

DeMarcus Ware (foot), Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), David Buehler (toe), and Marion Barber (thumb) all played through their injuries with no problem and are expected to do the same this week.

Tackle Marc Colombo (fibula) and Safety Ken Hamlin (ankle) are expected to miss this week's game.

Kickoff returner Allen Rossum has been released and corner Cletis Gordon was signed to the team to take Rossum's spot.

Cowboys Offense Comes Through in Final Minutes, Win 7-6

Derek Major — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:51:23 -0500

It wasn't pretty but the Cowboys' lone TD drive was enough to beat the Washington Redskins 7-6 in an ugly game in Dallas.

The Redskins should have won this game but Suisham missed a 39-yard field goal just before the half then missed a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth.

The Cowboys ran the ball well but were out of rhythm all day passing. Tony Romo finished 15-of-27 for 158 yards, one TD and one interception but was baffled by the Redskins top-ranked passing defense; he didn't hit a wide receiver until the last play of third quarter.

However Romo and the offense came together after Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham missed his second field goal. Romo was six of seven passing on the TD drive and with the ball on the ten-yard line, Romo scrambled and found Patrick Crayton wide open in the end zone for the TD.

Jason Witten (five catches, 43 yards) caught two key passes on the drive and Miles Austin (four catches, 47 yards) also had a catch on the drive. Roy Williams was held without a catch for the entire game as him and Romo struggled to connect.

The running game for the Cowboys was efficient but didn't give the Cowboys a chance to score. Marion Barber had 20 carries for 99 yards but fumbled in the first quarter while the Cowboys were in the red zone. Felix Jones had 10 carries for 46 yards and Tashard Choice had one carry for one yard as he couldn't get a first down on a third-and-two.

The Cowboys defense played great keeping the Redskins from getting deep into their territory all day. The Cowboys managed just one sack by linebacker Keith Brooking but kept Jason Campbell (24 of 37, 256 yards, one INT) under constant pressure.

They also stifled the Redskins' running game as they knocked Ladell Betts out of the game with a knee injury and backup Rock Cartwright had 67 yards on 16 carries but most of it came on a 34-yard run in the third quarter.

Linebacker Anthony Spencer had a great game as he deflected one pass and intercepted another pass that was deflected on the Redskins' final drive to put the game away.

The Secondary also played well as Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins kept the Redskins' receivers in front of them all day and Campbell was forced to check down to Cartwright most of the day as he had seven receptions for 73 yards.

The Cowboys now have three days to rest and prepare before they host the Oakland Raiders and December comes right after that. If they can win on Thanksgiving, they'll have some margin for error in December as they'll be 8-3 and they'll need it with their December schedule.

Week 11: Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys

Derek Major — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:33:51 -0500

The Cowboys begin a two-game homestand when they host the Redskins on Sunday.

The Redskins come into Dallas riding high off their win against the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Jason Campbell is having a rough season as he's 168 for 254 for 1,870 yards with 10 TD's and eight interceptions. He's also been sacked 28 times this season. Campbell has been throwing the ball well but no one is catching it.

Receiver Santana Moss is still producing with 35 receptions for 508 yards and two TDs, but second year receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas haven't produced as they've been expected to. Kelly and Thomas have played in every game this season but have just nine receptions each and have 203 yards combined. Running backs Ladell Betts and Mike Sellers have more receptions then Kelly and Thomas.

The running game has also been mediocre for the Redskins. Clinton Portis is the leading back for the Redskins, but missed last week's game against the Broncos with a concussion and is out for this game. Ladell Betts has been serviceable as the backup (52 carries, 205 yards and two TD's) but the Redskins are just 19th in the NFL in rushing at 107.1 YPG and four TD's.

The Redskins are a team that is constantly on the field, but has good players.

London Fletcher leads the team in tackles with 77. Rookie defensive lineman Brian Orakpo has seven sacks this season and their other end, Andre Carter, has eight on the season.

Albert Haynesworth had three sacks but hasn't been the player the Redskins paid $100 million for. He hasn't helped a front seven that gives up 125 YPG rushing. He also hasn't practiced this week although his status for the game is unknown.

DeAngelo Hall has four interceptions this season and seven passed defended. But, he's the only player in the Redskins' starting secondary with an interception. Still, the Redskins are first in the NFL in passing defense giving up a league low 162 YPG passing.

Their cover two defense helps that by not allowing deep throws and they can take advantage if Tony Romo gets pass happy and tries to force things down the field.

The Cowboys return after being insulted and injured in Green Bay.

Tony Romo will be looking to get back on another winning streak after losing last week. Romo (183-303, 2,466, 14 TDs, six interceptions) will try to reconnect with Miles Austin, who had just four catches for 20 yards last week but still leads the Cowboys in yards (632), yards per catch (20.4), and TDs (7).

Roy Williams will want to redeem his game last week where he fumbled after a huge catch and dropped a wide open pass in Packers' territory. He took the blame for the Cowboys losing, but this week he'll want to be praised for them winning.

Jason Garrett took a lot of heat for the Cowboys not running, but you can bet the Cowboys will be running a lot on Washington's soft front seven this week. Smash, Dash, and Tash will get more carries this week and should perform well.

Barber is expected to play this week. Barber has participated in practice every day this week after aggravating his broken thumb last week, and will start.

Felix Jones will get the ball a lot more after just three carries and no catches last week, and Tashard Choice should get more runs out of the wildcat.

The Cowboys' defense played well last week holding the Packers for three quarters to just a field goal before giving up two TDs in the fourth—one on a drive which started at the Cowboys' own three-yard line. The Cowboys still managed to get four sacks and hold Packers running back Ryan Grant under 100 yards rushing and Aaron Rodgers under 200 yards passing.

Expect the same as the Cowboys will be aggressive against the Redskins' weak offensive line. Keith Brooking leads a front seven that's tenth in the NFL against the run, and tied with 24 sacks as a team. Brooking is the Cowboys' leading tackler with 64, including four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had two sacks last week and leads the team with seven on the season. Defensive Tackle Jay Ratliff is second on the team with four, and they're excited about getting to Jason Campbell.

The Cowboys will be without Safety Ken Hamlin this week and Alan Ball looks like he'll take his place. Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, and Mike Jenkins did a good job last week and will try to stop Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Jenkins came out of last week's game but has practiced every day this week and will start on Sunday.

The Cowboys will win this game. It's at home and without Portis playing, the Redskins' running game won't be at its best and their passing game is a joke. The Cowboys will eventually break through the Redskins' defense, put the pressure on Campbell, and should get a turnover.

Cowboys, 28-13.

Cowboys Injury Report Nov. 17

Derek Major — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:01:14 -0500

The Cowboys came into Green Bay the healthiest team in the league, but the injury bug finally bit the Cowboys.

Offensive lineman Marc Colombo broke his left fibula in the second series for the Cowboys offense. Owner Jerry Jones said that Colombo is out for the season, but the Cowboys haven't put him on injured reserve yet, hoping that he can be ready in case the Cowboys go on a deep playoff run.

Wade Phillips hasn't said who will take Colombo's place but did say that Doug Free was "fine" in Colombo's place during the game.

Safety Ken Hamlin suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's game and will be out two to four weeks. Rookie Mike Hamlin has been activated, but it'll be either Pat Watkins or Alan Ball (who took over at Hamlin's spot after he left the game) who starts in Ken Hamlin's place.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins bruised his forearm during Sunday's game and came out twice because of the injury but said that he won't miss any of Sunday's game. Coach Phillips said the same thing about him, Andre Gurode (ankle), and Kyle Kosier (ankle).

Placekicker David Buehler hurt the pinkie toe on his kicking foot when he was stepped on after blocking on a punt return, and he doesn't know if he'll be able to kick off this weekend. His 17 touchbacks are a big reason the Cowboys haven't allowed a return TD this season.

Running back Marion Barber was limited in Sunday's game because his broken thumb caused him a lot of trouble pass blocking. Linebacker Bradie James suffered a stinger and cornerback Terence Newman was stepped on. All are expected to play this weekend.

Cowboys-Packers: Roy Williams Fumble, Dropped Pass Kill Offense in 17-7 Loss

Derek Major — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:47:59 -0500

The Cowboys' high-scoring offense was grounded yesterday, and the defense held the Packers for three quarters, but finally broke in the fourth as the Packers won 17-7.

Tony Romo racked up a lot of passing yards, but little else (24-of-39, 251 yards, one TD, one interception, and two fumbles), as again and again the Cowboys couldn't convert on third downs (3-for-12), and penalties (10 for 67 yards) killed every drive.

Romo was also under constant pressure, as he was sacked five times, especially after offensive lineman Marc Colombo broke his left fibula. Colombo could be out for the season.

The Cowboys' running game was nonexistent, as they ran just 14 times as a team, even though they were down just three points going into the fourth quarter. Marion Barber had five carries for 26 yards, Tashard Jones had three carries for 13 yards, and Felix Jones also had three carries for just six yards.

The receiving corps didn't do much, either. Miles Austin was silenced yesterday (four catches, 20 yards). Jason Witten had a decent game (five catches, 47 yards), but didn't get many yards after his catches, and Patrick Crayton had four catches for 52 yards.

Roy Williams was another story.

Williams had five catches for 105 yards, but his fumble after a 41-yard catch, which led to a Packers field goal just before the half, changed the momentum of the game.

In the second half, on a 2nd-and-13, Romo threw a pass to a wide-open Williams that would've put the Cowboys in Packers territory, but Williams dropped the pass, and the drive was stalled after an offensive pass interference penalty on third down.

"The fumble, it's on me," Williams said after the game. "The one in the lights, that's on me, but if the lights weren't there that's a caught ball."

"I'm going to account for that. I lost this game for this football team. That's the way I feel."

The Cowboys' defense did all they could to keep the game close. Aaron Rodgers (25-of-36, 189 yards, and one TD) was sacked four times, twice by DeMarcus Ware, and the Packers couldn't sustain a drive in the first half until their field goal just before halftime.

Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, and Mike Jenkins, who came out of the game with a forearm injury, held the Packers' receivers in check for the first three quarters. However, the Cowboys had the ball for just four minutes in the third; the defense was on the field for the other 11, and that killed them.

After Rodgers had a one-yard TD run, Romo fumbled just two plays into the next drive after he was sacked on a blown blocking assignment. Jones appeared to land on the ball and was down by contact, but the Packers pulled the ball out and recovered it, and Wade Phillips was told he couldn't challenge because possession can't be challenged on a fumble.

That gave the Packers the ball on the Dallas three-yard line, and Spencer Havner caught a two-yard pass for a TD, making it 17-0.

This loss makes the next two weeks very important for the Cowboys, as their next two games are at home against the Redskins and Raiders. The Redskins beat the Broncos on Sunday, a team the Cowboys lost to earlier this season, so that'll be a test for them. Then they have only three days' rest before their Thanksgiving matchup against the Raiders.

The Cowboys had a chance to really turn the corner with this win, but once again they bought into the hype and paid the price for it.

Week 10: Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers

Derek Major — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:12:00 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys head into Green Bay to play their first game in sole Possession of the NFC East.

The Packers will have their high-powered offense tested this week by the Cowboys' aggressive pass rush, and run defense.

Aaron Rodgers is having a fine season at quarterback (164-260, 2255 yards, 16 TD's, five interceptions), but his offensive line is having trouble keeping Rodgers upright as he's been sacked 37 times this season. The Packers' line will have their work cut out for them with DeMarcus Ware and company blitzing relentlessly during the game.

The Packers have great receivers on their team. When Rodgers has time to throw he loves to distribute the ball. Eight players have at least 100 yards receiving on the season.

Donald Driver has been their most consistent receiver for years and this season is no different (37 catches, 613 yards, and four TD's). Greg Jennings is also having a solid season with 34 catches for 498 yards and two TD's.

The Packers' running game has done its part to take the pressure off Rodgers. Ryan Grant has 149 carries for 621 yards and four TD's, but they've had trouble finding consistency in Grant's backup.

Rodgers is second on the team in carries, yards and TD's. Ahman Green was signed two weeks ago but has only eight carries since returning to the team.

The Packers have a great 3-4 defense that ranks ninth in rushing YPG and fourth in passing YPG. However, there's a good chance the Packers will miss their best pass rusher in Aaron Kampman, who hasn't practiced all week after suffering a concussion last week.

Defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who leads the team in sacks with three-and-a-half was also limited in practice on Wednesday and is questionable for the game Sunday.

That could leave linebackers Nick Barnett, A.J Hawk, and Brandon Chillar, who have a combined three sacks with no one to pressure the QB except Clay Matthews, who has three. Barnett (51), Hawk (43), and Chillar (36) are in the top four in tackles on the Packers, however, and have adapted well to their new defense.

In the secondary, Charles Woodson was also limited in practice but is probable for Sunday's game. Al Harris will play opposite Woodson, but they haven't been effective against the Cowboys in the last two years—giving up an average of 284.5 yards passing.

Atari Bigby and Nick Collins are good safeties who aren't afraid to come up and make plays in the run game.

However, they gave up 205 yards passing and three TD's to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend—a team whose QB started his first career game.

The Bucs are averaging 177 YPG passing, and even after last week's game, still have more interceptions (12) than passing TD's (11). That's not a good sign with the Cowboys being sixth in the NFL in passing.

The Cowboys bring their third ranked offense into Green Bay and they'll be looking to score. Tony Romo has been great since Week Five, putting together four solid games, and tries to continue that streak on Sunday.

He'll look to Miles Austin who has had two great games against the Packers. Two years ago Austin drew two huge pass interference penalties that led to TDs in the Cowboys' 37-27 win. Last season, Austin had two catches for 115 yards and a TD in the Cowboys' 27-16 win.

Roy Williams will also look to build on his performance from last week where he had five catches for 75 yards. Jason Witten will also be Romo's reliable safe target.

Smash, Dash, and Tash will be a huge part of this game. With the Packers 3-4 defense the Cowboys won't want to get one dimensional, and using all three backs will be beneficial.

Marion Barber should get his opportunities in this game, especially if it's close late. Coach Wade Phillips said that he'll give Felix Jones more reps in this game and Tashard Choice should get more plays in the wildcat as it was successful last week.

The Cowboys defense is what's going to make the difference in this game. They know the Packers can't protect Rodgers, so they'll want to stop the run and force the Packers into third-and-long situations so they can come after Rodgers.

I expect Anthony Spencer to get his first sack in this game.

Keith Brooking and Bradie James have been fantastic this season and they're rubbing off on Bobby Carpenter, who has been playing well of late and is seventh on the team in tackles with 25.

The Cowboys' secondary will have their work cut out for them with this receiving core. Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, and Mike Jenkins did a great job last week keeping the Eagles from getting big plays. Mike Jenkins and safety Gerald Sensabaugh both had interceptions.

The secondary could end up playing more man-to-man defense depending on how much the Cowboys want to blitz. If they can get constant pressure with their front four, they'll just play zone coverage and look to jump routes. If the Cowboys send five, six, or seven guys then they'll play man in order to keep Rodgers from throwing the ball quickly.

This is another trap game for the Cowboys. They know they could be heading into December at 9-2 if they can win their next three games, and the Packers are the best team out of those three with Washington and Oakland coming up.

That's enough motivation for the Cowboys to show up to this game and the defense will dominate the Packers' offense. The Cowboys will take some time to score but eventually they'll blow it open and the Packers will score late when the game is out of reach.

31-20 Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys Midseason Report Card

Derek Major — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:42:23 -0500

The Cowboys have improved in every way since their last report card and haven't lost since, either, making this quarter a lot better.

Quarterback

Romo has thrown nine TDs and one interception in his last four games. He's also cut down on bad throws and has been is as elusive as ever when scrambling.

The true test comes in December, when the Cowboys will face some legitimate teams, and where the past three seasons have been awful, but for now Romo's the QB everyone in Dallas wanted him to be.

Grade: A

Running Back

Smash, Dash, and Tash have just one individual 100-yard game between them, but they've all contributed greatly to the running game and because of that they're eighth in the league in rushing with 136 ypg.

Marion Barber kept playing despite a broken thumb and had a great fourth quarter against the Eagles last week. Felix Jones is always a big play threat and has come back from his injury and hasn't lost a step and Tashard Choice has been successful in the wildcat in the last two weeks.

Grade: A

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Miles Austin has come on strong and is tied for the league lead with seven TDs. Patrick Crayton hasn't been getting a lot of balls, but catches the ones thrown to him and has improved since his demotion.

Roy Williams has still been a disappointment, but came on last Sunday to catch five passes for 75 yards and Kevin Ogletree has broken out of the practice squad ranks and is getting more playing time than Sam Hurd.

Jason Witten is still as reliable as ever, even if his numbers are down a bit this season. Martellus Bennett has produced a bit in recent weeks, but still has less catches and yards than Tashard Choice.

Grade: B-plus

Offensive Line

This group continues to do a great job run blocking and although Romo was sacked four times last Sunday, you have to expect that against the Eagles' blitz, though they did keep him upright late in the game and on most third downs.

Flozell Adams has cut down on his personal fouls and the unit has stayed healthy throughout the season, something ESPN's John Clayton said wouldn't happen because of their age. Now if they could cut down on false starts, but that might be asking too much.

Grade: B-plus

Linebackers

Keith Brooking is becoming a bigger free agent singing every week and leads the team in tackles. DeMarcus Ware found his game and all it took was a stress fracture in his foot; he leads the team with five sacks. Bobby Carpenter is finally turning into the linebacker the Cowboys thought they were getting when they drafted him.

Anthony Spencer leads the team with four tackles for losses, but still has no sacks. Bradie James is still the leader of this unit and is second on the team in tackles. Victor Butler saved the game last week with his sack on Donovan McNabb.

Grade: A

Defensive Line

Jay Ratliff is going to the Pro Bowl again if he keeps it up. He's got four sacks and has been a huge part of the Cowboys not allowing the Seahawks and Eagles 100 yards rushing in the last two games.

Jason Hatcher, Steven Bowen, and Junior Siavii have been great in the rotation and have also been beneficial in stopping the run game.

Grade: B-minus

Corners and Safety's

Mike Jenkins has a team high three interceptions this season. Orlando Scandrick has been solid in the slot since the Week Two game against the Giants. When receivers do make catches on him, it's been because of a perfect throw instead of bad coverage.

Terence Newman is still one of the fastest corners in the league and leads the team with nine passes defended.

Gerald Sensabaugh has been fantastic in coverage with a broken thumb and isn't afraid to hit in the run game. Ken Hamlin hasn't made any coverage mistakes and has done a great job recognizing what receivers are going to do before the snap.

Grade: B-plus

Special Teams

Patrick Crayton returned punts for TDs two weeks in a row. The Cowboys haven't allowed a return TD all season. Punter Mat McBriar is sixth in the NFL in average yards per punt and Nick Folk is tied for fifth in field goals made.

Grade: A-plus

Coaching

Phillips has the defense playing much better after a slow start and Jason Garrett has found the right mix of running and passing to keep defenses on their toes.

It would seem as if the Cowboys are finally maturing under Wade Phillips. It's very early to say it, but a playoff berth and a division title could save Phillips' job—that is if December goes right and the Cowboys don't fall apart like they've done in the past.

Grade: B

Cowboys Injury Report Nov. 10

Derek Major — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:10:05 -0500

The Cowboys came into Philadelphia healthy and left with no significant injuries and should be healthy going into Green Bay on Sunday afternoon.

Center Andre Gurode injured his ankle in the first half of Sunday night's game against the Eagles but returned to and finished the game. Head coach Wade Phillips said that Gurode is fine.

Running back Marion Barber looks to be 100 percent again from his thigh and thumb injuries. Phillips said that Barber has shown "more juice" in the last couple of games so you can expect him to keep playing.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh should be getting his cast off in the next couple weeks, but he'll keep playing with it for now. Sensabaugh hasn't missed a game since breaking his thumb and having a new plate put in it.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware continues to play despite a stress fracture in his foot and although he didn't record a sack in Sunday's game he was still effective against the Eagles.

Kick-returner Allen Rossum is still about a week away from returning from his strained hamstring. Although he was signed for the rest of the season, it's unknown if Rossum will continue his kick-return duties when he returns.

Cowboys Ground Eagles, Take First Place in NFC East

Derek Major — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:21:17 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys went into the stadium where their 2008-'09 season ended so horribly and were able to quiet those demons and the Philadelphia fans, as they beat the Eagles 20-16 to take sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Tony Romo had another stellar game, going 21-of-34 for 307 yards and one TD.

Romo did throw an interception, ending his three game streak of not throwing a pick, but didn't let the interception affect his play. Romo was able to find some chemistry with receiver Roy Williams, and he also hit Miles Austin for the game winner.

Romo targeted Williams seven times, and they hooked up five times for 75 yards. Patrick Crayton had a 64-yard reception that set up a field goal, and with eight minutes left Romo hit Austin for a 49-yard TD pass to make the score 20-13.

The Eagles made a 52-yard field goal on their next drive but never saw the ball again.

The Cowboys' running game wasn't great, but it was effective, as Marion Barber had 50 yards on 12 carries. Tashard Choice ran three times out of the wildcat formation for 13 yards and one TD, and Felix Jones ran four times for 10 yards.

The Eagles' defense constantly had eight men in the box, making it hard for the Cowboys to run the ball, so they took what they could get and used the passing game to win.

As good as the Cowboys offense was in this game, it was their defense that made the difference.

The Cowboys had two interceptions, which led to 10 points. Safety Gerald Sensabaugh caught a pass that went through Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin's hands and hung in the air. In the third quarter Mike Jenkins picked off a deep pass also intended for Maclin, as he undercut the route and caught the ball at its highest point.

The secondary did a great job holding QB Donovan McNabb to just 227 yards passing and one TD. They also shut down the Eagles' deep passing game, holding DeSean Jackson to just 29 yards on two catches and Maclin to just 44 yards on three catches.

The Cowboys' front seven held the Eagles to 89 yards rushing, and McNabb was sacked four times in Sunday's game. Linebacker Keith Brooking had one and added five tackles.

Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff had two sacks, but it was rookie Victor Butler who had the most important sack on a McNabb scramble that set up a David Akers field goal, which would be the Eagles' last score.

The Eagles had no timeouts left, and Eagles coach Andy Reid said after the game that he thought the Eagles would hold the Cowboys and force them to punt, but they couldn't as Marion Barber had 23 of his 50 yards rushing on the Cowboys' last drive, and Romo hit tight end Jason Witten for a five-yard pass that gave the Cowboys a first down and let them run the clock out.

The Eagles used their last timeout earlier in the fourth quarter to challenge a 4th-and-1 QB sneak by McNabb that didn't get the first down. McNabb fell behind the line of scrimmage after making an initial push, and Reid felt that the spot was wrong. There was no conclusive evidence to show that McNabb's right arm was past the first down marker, and the Eagles lost their final timeout.

The Cowboys now hit a huge soft spot in their schedule as they face the Packers, Redskins, and Raiders to finish out November.

Week Nine: Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles

Derek Major — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:23:17 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night for sole place of the NFC East.

The Eagles enter this game using big plays on offense to score, although they still use their screens effectively, and Westbrook is still a big part of the offense.

Donovan Mcnabb comes into this game 80-133 for 1008 yards, nine TDs, and one interception. His big play threats include DeSean Jackson, who has 20 catches for 501 yards, and four TD's. Every one of Jackson's TDs have been on receptions of 50 yards, or more. Jackson is also a run threat on reverses and in the kicking game.

Running back Brain Westbrook will play in Sunday night's game after missing last week's game against the Giants with post concussion syndrome. Backup LeSean McCoy still gets a chunk of the carries in Sunday night's game. McCoy is the team's leading rusher with 71 carries for 294 yards, and two TDs, including a 66-yard TD run last weekend against the Giants.

The Eagles love to blitz, and they'll do a lot of it in this game as they want to throw Tony Romo off his game, and force him to make mistakes. They'll also want to shut down the Cowboys' three man rushing attack.

Linebacker Akeem Jordan leads the team in tackles with 46, and also has two interceptions on the season. Trent Cole has come into his own as a blitzer, and he leads the Eagles with six-and-a-half sacks this season, and has 31 tackles. Defensive Tackle Jaqua Parker also has three sacks of his own.

Asante Samuel leads the Eagles secondary with six passes defended, and five interceptions. Samuel is a solid corner who loves to jump routes, and he'll most likely draw the assignment of Miles Austin, who has been great the last three games. Sheldon Brown will play opposite Samuel, and is also a good corner as he has three interceptions this season.

The Cowboys enter Sunday night's game with a balanced rushing attack, and the seventh ranked passing game in the NFL.

Tony Romo has been stellar in his last three games (62-99, 918 yards, and eight TDs), and will try to keep the pace up against the Eagles pass rush. Romo has the ability to move around the pocket, and create plays off the run so the Eagles pass rush will have to stay at home.

Smash, Dash, and Tash will try to run around the Eagles 12th ranked rushing defense. Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice have only individual 100-yard games this season between them, but they all have at least 30 carries on the season, more than 200 yards each, and eight TDs combined.

Miles Austin leads a receiving core that has improved in recent weeks. Austin had 61 yards last week against the Seahawks, but it was still a team high, and his six TDs ties him for second in the NFL. Patrick Crayton has just five catches for 48 yards in the last two games, but has contributed with TDs in each game returning punts, and would like to keep that streak alive. Tight end Jason Witten always plays well against the Eagles, and will be looked for a lot.

Roy Williams is the only receiver who hasn't been producing. Although he had a TD last week, Williams said that Romo hasn't been throwing good balls to him. However, Williams leads the team in drops, and is a below average route runner. However, this week's controversy should provide him with enough motivation to play well.

The Cowboys defense will also blitz a lot in this game as they're 10th in the NFL in sacks after a slow start. DeMarcus Ware has at least one sack in his last three games. Keith Brooking is having an outstanding season, and leads the team with 50 tackles, and also has two sacks this season. The Cowboys have the 13th ranked rushing defense in the league, and will have to stop McCoy and Westbrook from going off in this game if they want to win, the Eagles don't run a lot, but they will if it's successful.

Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, and Mike Jenkins will have to try to limit DeSean Jackson's big play potential, as well as Jeremy Maclin, who also had a TD last week against the Giants. The Cowboys have improved in their pass defense during their bye week, but have yet to see how their two minute defense has improved; they may get a chance in this game.

This will be a close game as both teams know each other well, and know their strengths, and weaknesses. The Cowboys have been a bit more consistent the last few weeks, and have played great since their bye week, and have the advantage with their run game. If the Cowboys can run the ball effectively they can control the clock, and that will go a long way in the fourth quarter. 27-24 Cowboys.

Win or Lose, Dallas Cowboys Will Make a Statement This Sunday Against Eagles

Derek Major — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:10 -0500

On Sunday night the Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East.

Things are looking good right now; the Cowboys are riding high on a three-game winning streak, Wade Phillips has job security, Miles Austin is catching everything, Tony Romo looks like the quarterback everyone thought he was, and the Cowboys have no significant injuries.

Basically things are great in Dallas, but on Sunday night they'll make their biggest statement of the season—whether they win or lose.

The Cowboys have beaten up on some bad teams this season. With the exception of the Falcons, the combined record of the other four teams the Cowboys have beaten is 6-22. Yes, they lost to the Giants by three and Broncos by seven, and they're both good teams. So what? No one ever went to the playoffs losing to good teams.

If the Cowboys win, it'll be their biggest of the season and will prove they're past last year's 44-6 embarrassment at Lincoln Financial Field. It'll also show that the Cowboys are finally growing up as a team and playing to their abilities instead of just listening to the hype.

A win would also benefit Wade Phillips. One of the reasons he's on the hot seat is because of his nice guy personality; the Cowboys haven't responded to it very well, and some analysts think that a more hard-nosed coach would benefit the team. If the Cowboys can keep winning, it'll show owner Jerry Jones that Phillips has control of this team without even with his laid back persona.

A win would also give them some leverage over the Eagles, which could benefit them down the road. The Redskins are out of the division race, and winning a game is their only concern for the rest of the season.

The Giants are falling apart with all the injuries in their secondary, and Eli Manning's foot is bothering him more than he's letting on. It'll take a lot for the Giants to get back in it even if Manning finds his game. Their defense can't generate a pass rush and their safeties are a running joke.

That leaves the Cowboys and Eagles to take the division crown.

If the Cowboys lose, everything changes.

A loss will make the Cowboys another average team that's able to beat inferior talent but can't win statement games against the top-tier teams in the league. With the talent the Cowboys have, that's not acceptable.

The Cowboys have a premeir quarterbck in Tony Romo, a receiver in Austin who's playing at a Pro Bowl level, three running backs who would be starters on any team in the NFL, and one of the most talented and aggressive defenses in the league. Losing games like this isn't an option.

Also, this is the weak part of the Cowboys' schedule, so they need to take advantage. After Sunday night's game, the Cowboys play the Packers on the road and then the Redskins and Raiders at home before December hits. Any Cowboy fan knows how hard December has been in recent years, and this season is no different.

The Cowboys start December at the Giants, followed by the Chargers at home, and then the Saints on the road before a layup against the Redskins.

If they win out before December, they'll be 9-2 going into the game against the Giants. That kind of record will give them a margin for error unlike last season, where they dropped what could've been wins against the Steelers and Ravens and were fighting for their playoff lives in week sixteen.

If the Cowboys can't take advantage, it'll only reaffirm that they're not playing to their potential, and you can't blame the players. The coach has to be held accountable.

The Cowboys know this game is important from a revenge standpoint, and simply to get another win and keep riding high. However, they've already dropped two games against quality teams that they were in until the last minute—now it's time to win one.

Cowboys Injury Report: Nov. 3

Derek Major — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:17:54 -0500

The Cowboys had no injuries in their game against the Seahawks and heading into their game against the Eagles have only one significant injury.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware is still suffering from the stress fracture in his foot, but since the news about the injury has come out he's recorded five sacks, played in every game, and hasn't missed a practice. It's safe to say he's fine.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh has played in the last two games since breaking his thumb and hasn't missed a practice. His availability has kept rookie Mike Hamlin inactive the last two weeks although he's healthy and that will continue.

Defensive Tackle Jay Ratliff suffered a mild knee sprain last Friday, but played in Sunday's game against the Seahawks and will practice and play this week.

According to Wade Phillips, kick returner Allen Rossum is still suffering from a hamstring pull and is expected to miss two more weeks. But Patrick Crayton has been terrific as the punt returner and Rossum may not stick with the team long once he comes back.

Week 8: Cowboys Drown Seahawks 38-17 Move Into First.

Derek Major — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:41:02 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys hosted the injured Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and after a slow start they jumped on the Seahawks and blew them out 38-17 moving them into a tie for first in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys' offense was on fire Sunday as Tony Romo was 21-36 for 256 yards and three TD's. Romo also didn't throw an interception for the third straight game, a personal record.

Romo's first TD pass was to receiver Sam Hurd on a 36-yard catch and run where Hurd avoided three Seahawks defensive backs and tip toed into the end zone. Romo's second score came when he found Roy Williams at the two yard line and Williams reached his arm out as he was getting tackled to get the ball into the end zone. The play was reviewed but upheld as the ball broke the plane before Williams lost it.

The last TD came in the third quarter when Romo threw to the corner of the end zone from the Seahawks three yard line to his favorite new target Miles Austin, who had team highs in receiving (61 yards) and catches (5).

Patrick Crayton had 3 catches for 39 yards but had a punt return for a TD making him and "Bullet" Bob Hayes the only two Cowboys with punt returns in consecutive games. Crayton fielded the punt at his own 18-yard line and found a crease at the 30 then stiff armed Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, who was the last defender and that left Crayton all alone to take it to the house.

Cowboys running backs Smash, Dash, and Tash combined for 26 rushes and 103 yards on the day. Marion Barber had the high in both for the group with 14 carries for 53 yards. Felix Jones had 8 rushes for 39 yards and a 30 yard reception and Tashard Choice had four carries for 11 yards.

The Cowboys' defense took advantage of the Seahawks depleted offensive line as DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter, and Keith Brooking each had a sack and the Cowboys forced two fumbles and recovered both.

Brooking led the team with 11 tackles on the day as the Cowboys blitzed relentlessly and stopped the Seahawks' run game holding former Cowboy Julius Jones to just 57 yards on 15 carries and the Seahawks had only 79 yards rushing as a team. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck had a good game (22-39 249 yards and two TD's) but was hit constantly and beat up throughout the game.

The Cowboys are now on a three game winning streak but face the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday who they share the top spot in the NFC East with. After beating up on soft competition we'll find out which Cowboys team this really is; the team that's shown up in the last three games or the team that commits penalties, turns the ball over, and misses assignments on defense.

Week 8: Seattle Seahawks Vs. Dallas Cowboys

Derek Major — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:32:15 -0400

The Cowboys will try to continue their winning streak in Dallas as the Seattle Seahawks come to town.

The Seahawks (2-4) sit in third place in the NFC West and bring a banged up team into Dallas.

The Seahawks will be without linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) and offensive lineman Walter Jones (Knee) as they have been put on injured reserve by the team. QB Matt Hasselbeck also hasn't practiced this week because of a rib injury but Coach Jim Mora said that Hasselbeck will play on Sunday.

Hasselbeck is having a good season when he's been able to stay on the field. He's 65-113 for 729 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. The Seahawks are 18th in passing with receiver Nate Burleson leading the way in receptions (38) yards (398) and TD's (3). #2 receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh is having a good first year with the Seahawks with 31 receptions for 359 yards and two TD's.

Former Cowboy Julius Jones will look to get some revenge on the team that wouldn't resign him two years ago. However the Seahawks are 28th in rushing yards per game so it will be an uphill battle for Jones with the Cowboys' stout run defense and the Seahawks missing two starters on their offensive line.

This season Jones has 74 carries for 290 yards and one TD. Last year Jones was non-existent against the 'Boys carrying the ball 11 times for just 37 yards. Edgerrin James and Justin Forsett complete the Seahawks running game but they have just 211 yards on 58 carries and no TD's. The Seahawks as a team have just two rushing TD's and one is by backup QB Seneca Wallace.

The Seahawks defense is the strength of their team. They shut out their opponents in both of their wins. (granted they were against the Rams and Jaguars, but I have to give them something) Rookie Aaron Curry leads the team in tackles with 37 and is second on the team in sacks with two. Patrick Kearney leads the team in sacks with four, but is questionable for Sunday's game. The Seahawks are tied for 8th in the NFL with 16.

The Seahawks blitz a lot and don't give up many yards. They're in the top 16 in both rushing (99.3) and passing yards (220.3) against per game. Safety Ken Lucas leads a Seahawks secondary that includes 10-year veteran Deon Grant. The Seahawks are a good coverage team but don't create many turnovers, they have just three interceptions and five fumble recoveries on the year.

The Cowboys are still riding high from their first signature win of the season against the Falcons last week. However they need to stay focused because this has trap game written all over it.

Tony Romo had his second 300-yard passing game in a row last week. On the season Romo is 117-194 for 1652 with nine TD's and four interceptions. Romo will need to use his elusiveness to keep the Seattle front seven off him and to get the ball out to his receivers as the Seahawks are good at getting to the QB.

Miles Austin will once again be targeted a lot by Romo. In just two weeks Austin has become the Cowboys leading receiver in yards (502), yards per catch (23.9) and TD's (5) The Cowboys #1 receiver Roy Williams needs to step up, this could be a big game for him and Patrick Crayton is back in his element as the third receiver.

Tight ends Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett were a big part of the passing game last week combining for eight catches and 85 yards.

The Cowboys running game wasn't at its best last week but still productive. Felix Jones proved that he's 100% as he carried the ball eight times for 37 yards and will resume his kickoff return duties this week as well. Marion Barber got the bulk of the work carrying the ball 14 times for 47 yards and showed his toughness playing with a broken thumb.

The Seahawks have a good run defense but the Cowboys rarely get away from their running game, instead letting it take it's time to develop so expect the Cowboys to feed Jones and Barber a lot.

The Cowboys defense will be very aggressive with two of the Seahawks starting linemen out. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware will be lined up against Damion Macintosh, a ten year veteran who was signed two weeks ago by the Seahawks. That should be an advantage for the Cowboys and knowing Wade Phillips, the Cowboys front seven will be very aggressive in this game.

The Cowboys secondary was dominant last week against the Falcons and will try for a second week in a row. Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick all made plays in last week's game.

Jenkins and Scandrick had one interception each and Jenkins had a huge hit on Falcons receiver Marty Booker in the fourth quarter, on the very next play Newman blew up receiver Roddy White after he caught a pass and forced him to fumble. They also held tight end Tony Gonzalez to 37 yards on four catches.

This week they have their work cut out for them with Houshmandzadeh being a deep threat and Burleson known as a great route runner, however if the Cowboys can get pressure they should be able to intercept a ball or two like they did last week.

The Cowboys should win this game as they've been able to beat second tier teams. Romo may get hit once or twice but he'll have another good game and If the Cowboys can cut down on their penalties they should have control of this game by the third quarter. It won't be a blowout but the Cowboys will keep the lead large enough to put it away early in the fourth. 35-20.

Does Dallas' Roy Williams Need To Be Demoted?

Derek Major — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:44:15 -0400

Two weeks after Miles Austin's record setting game against the Chiefs, head coach Wade Phillips promoted Austin into the second receiver spot and demoted Patrick Crayton to the third receiver spot.

But did Phillips demote the wrong receiver?

Since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones traded for Roy Williams, he's done nothing but underachieve. Williams used to make catches like this every once in a while if nothing else, but not anymore. Instead, he just drops passes or doesn't even get targeted by Tony Romo.

During the preseason many analysts said that Romo and Williams need to develop some chemistry, but that hasn't happened yet. Williams is fourth on the Cowboys in yards, hasn't had a TD since week 1 and running back Tashard Choice has more receptions than Williams.

Since Williams joined the Cowboys he's played 17 games caught 31 passes for 428 yards and two TD's.

In the last two games, Austin has 16 catches for 421 and four TD's. Now I'll be the first to admit that Austin's last two games were fantastic, but that's what happens when a receiver does his job.

Williams has been called out on NFL Network's Playbook and ESPN's NFL Live as being lazy in and out of his breaks and waiting for the ball to get to him instead of going after it.

Williams was targeted five times in Sunday's game against the Falcons but only caught one pass for 15 yards, and dropped two passes. One drop came on third down of the first possession for the Cowboys and Williams' drop forced them to punt.

Meanwhile, Crayton hasn't been great but his demotion motivated him. He had just two catches for nine yards but made the most of it with a TD and a punt return for a TD. He's also third on the team in catches and yards.

Crayton also had something to say after Sunday's game.

"There you go," Crayton said of winning the punt return job back by default last week. "I've been dealing with that my whole career. He can't get it done. He's too slow. He can't run. He ain't fast. He ain't a deep threat. We've got him back there to catch punt returns because he can catch them. Not really to score, just to catch them. Good. I appreciate that."

Crayton is the type of guy who lets criticism motivate him, He wasn't upset at all by the demotion at punt returner or wide receiver, instead he just went out and did his job.

Despite all of this evidence, Williams won't get demoted no matter what and the reason is simple; Wade Phillips.

Jerry Jones owns Phillips, and Jones doesn't want to admit that Williams has been a disappointment since he got to Dallas, and in a contract year, Phillips won't go against Jones.

Jones said on his radio show last week, "I'm glad we got him because we got where we want to be - a young wide receiver in Miles Austin on the way up and a chance to stretch the field, and then Roy Williams as your No.1 receiver with a chance to have a great year because of how hard he's been working."

Williams either has Jones deceived or Jones simply won't admit his mistake considering he has Williams locked up for another four years. Right now, Williams' isn't a No. 1 receiver; he hasn't been since the day Calvin Johnson was drafted.

Williams needs to be demoted, simply because Romo barely looks at him. At some point Austin's production will slow down, and Romo will have to look at his tight ends a lot more without another receiver able to get open.

Cowboys Injury Report: Oct. 27

Derek Major — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:17:12 -0400

The Cowboys had some injury concerns going into Sunday's game against the Falcons, but all of their ailing players came out of the game just fine except for their newest acquisition.

Kick returner Allen Rossum injured his hamstring and didn't return to the game. His status for next week is unknown, but considering that Patrick Crayton returned a punt for a TD, Rossum could be cut to make room for another player.

Running back Felix Jones ran eight times for 37 yards and one fumble, but Wade Phillips said he was fine and should participate fully in practice this week and will play on Sunday against the Seahawks.

Running back Marion Barber played with a cast on his hand and started. Phillips said that he was fine throughout the game and expects him to play again this week.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had two sacks and a forced fumble, proving that the stress fracture in his foot has no effect on his game. His new $78 million contract should also keep that foot nice and healthy.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh started on Sunday against the Falcons and tied for the team lead with seven tackles. With Sensabaugh starting, Pat Watkins returns to his special teams duties and although Michael Hamlin is now healthy, he wasn't put on the active roster last week and didn't dress for the game.

Receiver Roy Williams also came out of Sunday's game healthy although he had just one catch in the game. He is also expected to return to practice and to start next week.

Cowboys-Falcons: Dallas Dominates Matt Ryan and Co. in Statement Win

Derek Major — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:53:08 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys came into Sunday knowing their game against the Falcons was a statement game, and the Cowboys made one on both sides of the ball as they claimed a convincing, 37-21 victory.

The Cowboys' defense gave up a touchdown on an 80-yard drive by the Falcons to start the game, but gave up little else throughout. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had a rough day as he went 19-of-35 passing for 198 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Ryan was sacked just twice all season coming into this game, but the Cowboys' defensive line housed the Falcons' front line and sacked Ryan four times. DeMarcus Ware sacked Ryan twice and forced a fumble that linebacker Anthony Spencer recovered, and the Cowboys scored on the next play when Tony Romo found Miles Austin for a 59-yard catch-and-run.

Second-year corners Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins each had an interception, and the Falcons gained only 298 yards total on offense. Marcus Spears and Jay Ratliff also had one sack apiece, and a Cowboys defense that had trouble generating turnovers and sacks early in the season recorded four sacks, two picks, and three forced fumbles against the Falcons.

The Cowboys offense shined just as brightly as the sun did in Arlington yesterday.

Romo had his second consecutive 300-yard game as he went 21-of-29 for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Romo also didn't throw an interception for the second straight game.

Austin made the best of his promotion this week, catching six balls for 173 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons' corners couldn't stay with him and were called for holding on two plays, including Austin's 22-yard touchdown catch.

Patrick Crayton, who was demoted to the third receiver spot, caught a five-yard touchdown just before halftime after Romo escaped the Falcons' entire four-man rush and found Crayton wide open in the back of the end zone. In the fourth, Crayton put the game on ice when he returned a punt 77 yards for a score.

Tight end Jason Witten had five catches for 53 yards, and Martellus Bennett also got into the game with three catches for 38 yards.

The Cowboys running game combined for 28 carries for 115 yards. Marion Barber was the high man for Dallas with 14 carries for 47 yards. Felix Jones had eight carries for 37 yards. Surprisingly, Tashard Choice didn't have a carry after owner Jerry Jones said that Choice would be the starter this week. Romo scrambled six times for 31 yards.

The Cowboys have some soft games coming up with Seattle, Green Bay, Washington, and Oakland coming in the next five weeks. If they can build off this win, the Cowboys can really gain some position in the NFC East, as well as in the NFC.

The Cowboys need to stay consistent, though; next week's game against the Seattle Seahawks has "trap game" written all over it. They better take advantage now, because, come December, they're going to be fighting for their playoff lives.

Atlanta-Dallas: Falcons Soar into Texas for Week Seven Statement Game

Derek Major — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:39:59 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys host the Atlanta Falcons in a huge statement game. The Cowboys haven't defeated a team over .500 all season and losing this game could be the difference between making the playoffs and finishing a game out like last season.

The Atlanta Falcons are second in the NFC South only trailing only the New Orleans Saints. Second year quarterback Matt Ryan is the reason the Falcons are a pass happy team; Ryan is having a solid season going 101-156 for 1162 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

Ryan's favorite is receiver Roddy White, who leads the Falcons in receptions, yards and touchdowns with 27 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns.

White along with tight end Tony Gonzalez is sure to create problems in the Cowboys' secondary. Gonzalez is the Falcons second leading receiver with 23 catches for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

The running game for the Falcons is ranked 24th in the NFL averaging just 98 yards per game.

Michael Turner leads the running game with 100 carries for 353 yards and six touchdowns, but Turner has been fumble prone this season with four and two were recovered by the opposition. The Cowboys run defense has been their only bright spot on defense so the Falcons may have trouble moving the ball on the ground.

The Falcons defense gives up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. They're 24th in yards per game, giving up 359. However they're fourth in the league in points given up per game at 15.4.

Leading the Falcons defense is linebacker Curtis Lofton, who has a team leading 57 tackles on the season. John Abraham and Kroy Biermann are tied with three sacks each for the team lead.

The Falcons defense is better at defending the pass than they are at defending the run. The Falcons give up an average of 241 yards passing per game which is 21st in the league, but they give up 118 on the ground, which isn't good because the Cowboys are third in the league averaging 160 rushing yards per game.

So you can bet that Tashard Choice and Felix Jones are excited.

For the Cowboys, this game could define their season. The turnovers, penalties and bonehead plays need to stop.

Tony Romo had a good game two weeks ago against the Chiefs and will try to build on that after a week of rest and reflection on his game.

Romo will get more chances to throw to Miles Austin, who's now starting opposite Roy Williams, while Patrick Crayton will now be the third receiver. However, Williams' status for Sunday is unknown as he's still experiencing pain in his ribs, if doesn't play then Crayton will start as the second receiver.

Romo will need to be accurate against a Falcons secondary that has five interceptions this season. He also needs to find a way to get Jason Witten involved. Witten is the team leader in catches with 28 and second in yards with 259, but has only one touchdown on the season.

The key to this game for the Cowboys offense is the running game. Choice will get the bulk of the carries according to owner Jerry Jones.

While Choice doesn't have a 100-yard game this season, he did rack up 92 yards against the Chiefs and 82 yards against the Panthers.

Jones will be back from his PCL tear and will wear a knee brace, but he should be fine to back up Choice. Barber is still fighting his quad strain; he was also diagnosed this week with a broken thumb and will wear a cast Sunday, so he'll probably get the least carries of the three.

The Cowboys' defense had a week to get things squared for this game and should be fine. They've been successful in stopping the run but the secondary has been burned three times this season by the opposition's two minute offense.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware got his first two sacks of the season two weeks ago against the Chiefs, but Ware was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot earlier this week. He said that it hasn't contributed to his lack of productivity and that he'll be fine for Sunday's game.

If he can't go for some reason, expect Bobby Carpenter or Victor Butler to take Ware's place, which would mean Anthony Spencer will need to step up. The Cowboys let Greg Ellis go because they thought Spencer was ready, but he's shown little this season with just 13 tackles and no sacks.

Whoever is playing Wade Phillips will make sure that they're blitzing, and often. Especially if the Falcons have trouble running the ball and are stuck in a lot of third and long situations.

The secondary will need to have a stellar game this week. Terence Newman will most likely draw the assignment of covering Roddy White. Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick will also have a heavy load as the Falcons like to spread the ball around.

It would also go a long way toward winning if the Cowboys could force a turnover, although that's hard for them to do. The Cowboys have forced just four turnovers on the season in five games.

This game will be close just like every game the Cowboys have played against elite competition, but I can't see them winning. They haven't beaten anyone respectable and that's just what the Falcons are.

The Cowboys will keep the fans interested, but whether it's a turnover, the defense failing with minutes left in the game, or the offense shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, they'll do something that will cost them.

Falcons 24-20.

Cowboys Injury Report; Crayton Gets Demoted

Derek Major — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:26 -0400

The Cowboys used the bye week to get their injured players healthy, but it's still uncertain who will be ready for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Running back Felix Jones returned to practice for the first time since injuring his PCL against the Carolina Panthers. Jones wore a knee brace during the practice, and while signs were encouraging, it's unknown if he'll play on Sunday and how much he'll play if he does.

The Cowboys will wear pads for the first time this week on Wednesday and that should give head coach Wade Phillips and the rest of the coaching staff a good indication on how healthy Jones' knee is and if he can play at 100 percent this week.

Jerry Jones said today that Tashard Choice will get more carries this week than Marion Barber, who has been limited in the second half of the Cowboys' last two games due to his thigh injury and a nagging thumb injury which was diagnosed as a broken thumb.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh didn't practice on Monday but said he will have his surgically repaired broken thumb re-evaluated today. However, he hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game. Phillips said he wants Sensabaugh's thumb to heal for a few more days.

If Sensabaugh can't play, Pat Watkins will start in his place and rookie safety Mike Hamlin will be available, but the Cowboys will have to clear a spot on their 45-man roster for him to play.

Wide receiver Roy Williams also practiced on Monday and seems to have recovered from his bruised ribs he suffered during the Cowboys game against the Broncos. Williams missed week five against the Kansas City Chiefs, but will be ready on Sunday.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was placed on the injury report this week with a stress fracture in his foot. Ware hasn't missed a practice or a game and is expected to play on Sunday against the Falcons.

Miles Austin to take over second receiver spot.

Head coach Wade Phillips said that receiver Miles Austin will take the place of Patrick Crayton in the Cowboys' base packages as the second receiver. Crayton will now be on the sidelines and will be in the slot when the Cowboys are in their three and four receiver formations.

Austin had a career day against the Chiefs two weeks ago, but this is more about the chemistry that Austin and Romo have and Crayton's bad route running.

Austin is a better route runner than Crayton, has more speed, and isn't afraid to compete for the ball in the air. Austin was supposed to be a huge part of the offense this season, but wasn't on the field a lot as the Cowboys run game limited the number of plays the Cowboys ran with three receivers.

Crayton had four catches for 135 yards in week one against the Buccaneers, but since hasn't had more than four catches for 44 yards in any game.

Crayton, meanwhile, hasn't been the same receiver since dropping two big passes in the Cowboys divisional playoff game against the Giants in 2007. Crayton can only run drag routes and hasn't been able to get off man press at all this season.

While Crayton doesn't mind taking a hit, most of the routes he runs over the middle are under the defense so he doesn't get hit at the point of the catch.

Who's the Worst NFC East Coach, Wade Phillips or Jim Zorn?

Derek Major — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:50:52 -0400

For the last four seasons the NFC East had four competitive teams that would beat up on each other and run over softer competition outside the division. The Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins all made the playoffs at least once in that span and the Giants came away with the big prize.

This season however, the Redskins and Cowboys are in the basement of the East, and it has a lot more to do with than just their records. Penalties, turnovers and losing to inferior talent are common among these two teams, but the biggest reason is bad coaching.

Wade Phillips and Jim Zorn have drawn the criticism of fans, analysts and in some cases former players. Every day fans wake up hoping that these two guys are gone like a kid waking up on Christmas hoping for that one present he wanted more than any other, only to be disappointed that the two still have their jobs.

The question is which coach is worse. Both are considered "nice guys" and have the support of their teams, but what they don't have is quality wins and in Zorn's case just wins. So here it is; the case for which coach is worse.

The Case for Jim Zorn:

To be honest all the blame shouldn't be put on Zorn. This team is loaded with over the hill players and huge contracts. GM Vinny Cerrato is the worst GM and would be tied for worst if Matt Millen was still the GM of the Lions, but this isn't about him.

Jim Zorn's ability as a head coach is so bad he wasn't even hired as the head coach of the Redskins; he was hired by owner Dan Snyder as the Offensive Coordinator. When Snyder couldn't get anyone else to take the job they promoted him.

Yesterday the players asked Snyder to support Zorn and his staff, which Snyder has yet to do, mostly because Snyder doesn't know how much patience he has left when it comes to Zorn. Quarterback Jason Campbell and Zorn don't like each other, after Zorn spent the entire offseason trying to trade Campbell, which has made the offense a joke around the league.

If those reasons aren't enough for you then just watch this . If you want evidence on the field think about this. After playing the Giants to open the season, the Redskins schedule consisted of the Rams, Lions, Bucs, Panthers and they play the Chiefs this week. Those aforementioned teams have a combined record of 2-17. The Redskins gave the Panthers and Lions their first wins of the season, the Lions their first win in a year and a half.

All of this brings the Redskins to a 2-3 record and a lot of people have the Chiefs beating the Redskins. Snyder isn't one to let a coach play out a season, so if Zorn can't motivate his team somehow, you can bet Zorn is going home.

The Case for Wade Phillips:

Bill Parcells left Wade Phillips a shiny Cadillac Escalade with 20' rims and leather interior. Somehow Phillips has turned this into a Jeep Liberty with stock parts. The Cowboys may not be as bad as the Redskins, but they're not far off.

Phillips got the support of owner Jerry Jones today.

"Two years ago the Giants were seemingly not in disarray, but they were in trouble," Jones said. "It was also absolutely expected that something was going to happen with the coach, [Tom] Coughlin. ... Well, that same year they won the Super Bowl. You've got to be mindful that this is a long, long journey. ... A lot can happen from the beginning to the end."

I'm telling you right now, the Cowboys are not winning the Super Bowl. They might get better, they may even make the playoffs, but they're not winning the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys have more talent that the Redskins, which directly attributed to wins against the Chiefs, Panthers and Bucs, but Phillips' player friendly style has the Cowboys as the most unfocused and undisciplined team in the NFL.

I've never seen a team that will move the ball forty yards down the field without trying then one holding call will freeze everything, and it will happen again and again in the same game.

Every week they turn the ball over on just mistakes. Receiver's give up on routes, Flozell Adams tripping, holding and anything else he can think of on the fly. It's all due to Phillips inability to get his players to focus, because he doesn't push them. Instead of yelling he's rather pat them on the back and say it's ok.

Last week against the Chiefs ws a perfect example. They needed overtime to beat a team that doesn't have a rushing TD, one of the leagues worst defenses and no wins. After the game Phillips said they battled to win a tough game and praises them for the victory.

As a result the Cowboys won't beat anyone with more talent than them because they don't play smart and they don't play hard. Everyone in Dallas is waiting for Jones to drop the hammer and get Mike Shanahan or Bill Cowher in here, but by the time Jones makes a move it may be too late.

Verdict: It's pretty obvious that both of these guys shouldn't be head coaches. At least Phillips was a good coordinator and he took the Bills to the playoffs, although my friend Brian still throws his beer at the TV every time he sees the Music City Miracle.

Zorn was a good player and could probably be a great assistant, but anything more than that is beyond him.

However one guy has to win this two man race to be fired. So ill leave it to the readers; Who's worse?

Cowboys Injury Report:Oct. 13th

Derek Major — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:52:23 -0400

The Cowboys head into their bye week with no new injuries and should have two starters and a safety back for their game against the Atlanta Falcons in two weeks.

Running back Felix Jones will have another week to rest his sore PCL with the bye week and should be ready for their game against the Falcons on October 25th. However Jones won't practice this week as Phillips has said he will hold out all players who were injured from practice this week.

Wide Receiver Roy Williams should also be ready for the game against the Falcons, he wanted to play last week but Phillips held him out as Williams didn't practice all week. Williams most likely won't practice this week either.

Safety Mike Hamlin will be back as well after sitting out the last five games with a broken forearm. Hamlin has said that he can practice this week but Phillips will hold him out also. Don't expect Hamiln to start at safety when he comes back as he'll play mostly on special teams, where he made a huge impact during the preseason.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh could be back by Oct. 25th from a broken thumb but it isn't likely. Chances are he will be available for week eight against the Seattle Seahawks.

Cowboys-Chiefs: Miles Austin Has Career Day, Salvages Ugly Win for Dallas

Derek Major — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:02:45 -0400

Miles Austin had a franchise-record 250 yards receiving, and his 60-yard touchdown gave the Cowboys an ugly win on an ugly day in Kansas City.

The Cowboys once again shot themselves in the foot and had to overcome their own mistakes.

Patrick Crayton muffed a punt that led to a Chiefs field goal. A bad exchange between Andre Gurode and Tony Romo was recovered by Chiefs safety Mike Brown, which led to a Chiefs TD. The Cowboys also racked up 13 penalties for 90 yards.

Despite the mistakes, the Cowboys offense moved the ball often as Romo and the running game came back from 10 down in the second half. Romo was 20-of-34 for 351 yards and two TDs. For the first time this season, Romo didn't complete a single pass to a running back. The Cowboys' offensive line also kept Romo upright as he was sacked only once.

Tashard Choice did the ground work with eight carries for 92 yards, including a 36-yard TD that cut the Chiefs' lead to three points at the end of the third quarter. Marion Barber had 15 carries for 53 yards, but for the second week in a row he wasn't a factor in the second half.

In the fourth quarter Nick Folk hit a 28-yard field goal that tied the game at 13, and after Jay Ratliff jumped over two linemen to block Ryan Succop's field goal attempt, Romo hit Austin for a 59-yard catch and run for a TD.

The Cowboys' defense couldn't hold a lead with less than two minutes in the fourth for the third time this season, however, as Matt Cassel (23-of-41, 262 yards, and two TDs) drove the Chiefs down the field and on 4th-and-7 hit Dwayne Bowe in the middle of the end zone with a 16-yard strike to tie the score.

In overtime both teams received the ball once and punted. On the Cowboys' second possession of overtime, Romo hit Austin on a buttonhook route, and Austin broke two tackles and ran 60 yards to put an end to the game.

The Cowboys' defense sacked Cassel four times, including DeMarcus Ware getting his first two sacks of the season. Linebacker Keith Brooking and defensive end Igor Olshansky were also invited to the sack party.

The run defense held Larry Johnson to less than two yards a carry on his 21 carries, and backup Jamaal Charles had three carries for nine yards. Cassel had the Chiefs' best day in the running game as he scrambled four times for 28 yards.

The Cowboys won, and that's the main reason you play the game, but heading into a bye week, the Cowboys shouldn't be happy with this win; they played sloppily and only came back because they were facing inferior talent.

The Giants put up 40 on the Raiders, and the Eagles put up 33 on the Buccaneers, but the Cowboys had to fight and scratch because of their own mistakes to win against the Chiefs.

The Bottom line is they're still undisciplined and unfocused, and until that changes, consistency and winning won't stick around in Dallas.

Week Five: Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Derek Major — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:45:45 -0400

The Cowboys go into Arrowhead stadium on Sunday to face the lowly Kansas City Chiefs as they try to go over .500 before their bye week.

The Chiefs have yet to win a game this season, but they do play hard. However, they rank 31st in total offense and the defense has its holes too.

Matt Cassel is the quarterback for the Chiefs, and after being traded from the Patriots, he's learning that not having an offensive line can make life difficult.

Cassel has good numbers, completing 53-of-89 passes for 458 yards, but that's just a five yard average per completion, proving even more that he isn't given much time. If Cassel is able to get time in the pocket he has some good receivers to get the ball out to.

Dwayne Bowe has been in Head Coach Todd Haley's doghouse since training camp, but you can't argue with his production. He's second on the team in receptions and yards with 10 catches for 107 yards and tied for first in touchdowns with two. Mark Bradley also has 10 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.

The running game hasn't been as fortunate this season. The Chiefs don't have a rushing touchdown this season, and Larry Johnson is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Backup Jamaal Charles is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, but has just 12 carries on the season.

Running the ball so poorly makes it hard to keep their offense on the field and directly impacts their defense.

Things don't get much better on defense as the Chiefs are ranked 28th in the NFL in total defense, and they give up an average of 4.1 yards per rush on defense. They'll have to buckle down if they want to stop the Cowboys' third-ranked rushing offense.

Mike Brown and Mike Vrabel are veterans on a young defense and are in the top three on the team in tackles, but the Chiefs just aren't very good against the run. Marion Barber and Tashard Choice are waiting for this game, so the Chiefs will bring eight guys on first down and hope it's enough.

Cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr have two years experience each, and it's shown as they've been beaten because of missed assignments and tackles. The Chiefs are giving up 250 pass yards per game, which means this is the game for Romo to get some swagger back and find his rhythm with his receivers.

However the Chiefs were very good on defense to start the game against the Giants last week, but they just got tired because their offense doesn't make long drives down the field. So don't be surprised if the Chiefs make some plays early in the game.

Although the Cowboys are the favorite, some analysts are calling for an upset; therefore the Cowboys have to take the Chiefs out of the game early so they don't get any momentum.

It's been two tough weeks for Tony Romo, so he needs to have a good game, and this is who he'd want to see. The run game will be there, so Romo needs to use that to open up the passing game. He'll be without his top receiver Roy Williams, who is out with a rib injury.

Miles Austin will take Williams' place, and he needs to produce. Austin has been non-existent since week where he had a 41-yard touchdown reception. Patrick Crayton will also have to have a big game for Romo to be successful.

The ground game is where the Cowboys will attack primarily. Marion Barber is 100 percent and Tashard Choice has been playing great since Felix Jones has been on the injured list. Expect these two to get a heavy load, especially because the Cowboys offensive line has a huge size advantage against the Chiefs front seven.

The Cowboys defense has done a better job of getting to the quarterback in the last two weeks, and with Matt Cassel and the Chiefs weak offensive line anything less than three sacks is underachieving.

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer have no sacks between them, which has to change on Sunday.

Patrick Watkins will start in place of Gerald Sensabaugh, who is out with a broken thumb, but it's Ken Hamlin who needs to stop up his game in the secondary. He's left his teammates out to dry a few times this season and has also missed some tackles that have led to big runs for the opponents.

Terence Newman will try to bounce back from the Denver game by covering Dwayne Bowe on Sunday. Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins will also have to bring their A-game, as every touchdown the Chiefs have on offense has been a passing touchdown.

The Cowboys should beat the Chiefs, but I'm not expecting a blowout considering the Buccaneers and Panthers stayed with them until the fourth quarter of both games.

The Chiefs will have at least one big play and their defense will confuse Tony Romo early, but eventually the Chiefs defense will get tired of being on the field, and Barber and Choice will take advantage.

Cowboys 24-14.

Dallas Cowboys First Quarter Report Card

Derek Major — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:05:22 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys are through the first quarter of the season and the grades are in. Although they're 2-2, things are not looking good.

Quarterback: Tony Romo looked great against Tampa Bay, but has been confused and inconsistent since. He's 76-131 for 990 yards, which is good for a four-game stretch, but has four touchdowns and four interceptions. Last week in Denver, he overthrew a lot passes, including one that almost got Roy Williams killed.

It would seem that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has tried to limit Romo by running more, but the passing game is supposed to benefit because of the run game. Not fall apart because of it.

Grade: D

Running Back: The only bright spot of the offense really.

The Cowboys are third in the NFL in rushing yards per game and that's despite both Marion Barber and Felix Jones missing one game each. Smash, Dash, and Tash (Tashard Choice) have combined for 589 yards and five TDs on 100 carries. Jones should be back by the time the Cowboys play Atlanta on Oct. 25.

Grade: A

Wide Receiver and Tight End: Jason Witten is leading the team in catches, ranks second in yards and tied for first in TDs. Roy Williams has done good things when the ball is actually thrown on target to him, and Patrick Crayton has 11 receptions for 199 yards.

Everyone one else has been non-existent since Week One.

Miles Austin, who was supposed to be the Cowboys deep threat, has five catches on the season and gave up on a pass that resulted in an interception at the Broncos' five-yard line last Sunday. Sam Hurd had a 53-yard reception last week, but has three catches besides that. These two need to find a way to get open.

Tashard Choice has more catches than both Hurd and Austin combined. Martellus Bennett has more penalties than catches.

Grade: D

Offensive Line: This group has done great when it comes to the running game, opening up big holes for Smash, Dash, and Tash. Center Andre Gurode has fixed his snapping issues.

When it comes to the passing game, however, there's a ton of room for improvement.

Flozell Adams has been fined three times this season for tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct. The unit as a whole has given up eight sacks this season, including five last week against the Broncos.

Grade: C

Linebackers: Keith Brooking has been great this season and has a terrific grasp of the defense. Bradie James is tied with Brooking for the lead in tackles and has been very effective in stopping the run after Week One.

The outside linebackers, however, are having some issues.

DeMarcus Ware doesn't have a sack in his last five games—the longest drought since his rookie season.

Anthony Spencer isn't doing much better. He let a interception go through his hands against the Broncos last week that was caught for a TD. Spencer also doesn't have a sack. These two are the most important part of the Cowboys' blitz packages.

Bobby Carpenter has looked very good and very bad in his time on the field. Rookie Victor Butler has two sacks on the season and has played well since coming back from injury.

Grade: C-

Defensive Line: Jay Ratliff is in Pro Bowl form with one sack and three tackles for a loss. He also got the Cowboys on the board after their first two games without a sack.

Igor Olshansky has nine tackles on the season and he been effective in stopping the run. Stephen Bowen had a sack last week and is playing on passing downs instead of Marcus Spears.

Spears has yet to live up to the draft hype he received and if Parcells was still coach, I think he would've given up on him by now.

Grade: C

Corners: They've been good in wins and awful in losses. Eli Manning and Kyle Orton have passed through the secondary on two-minute drives for game-winning scores this season.

Terence Newman has been good in coverage, but once the receiver has gotten past him, he can't recover at all. Still, his experience and speed lead to good plays and he's thrown his body around in the run game.

Orlando Scandrick is good in the slot and needs to stay there. Playing on the outside isn't for him, and the Giants showed that. He makes great plays on the ball at the point of the reception and has made plays in the run game. His open-field tackling needs work though—he whiffed three times in Week Two when up against Mario Manningham.

Mike Jenkins is good on the outside, but needs more experience there. He also makes plays at the point of the reception, but needs to be more aggressive when the offense runs the ball his way. He rarely makes the tackle and sometimes looks scared to hit running backs.

Ken Hamlin has played great in the run game and is third on the team in tackles, but needs to read the QB faster than he has this season. The corners have been beat a few times thinking he's protecting them.

Gerald Sensabaugh has been solid in his first season with the Cowboys, but is out for the next month.

Grade: C

Special Teams: Punter Mat McBriar has hit 11 of his 19 punts inside the 20. Nick Folk is 6-7 on field goals and 10-10 on extra points. David Buehler is second in the NFL in touchbacks with eight and the opponent's average starting position is their own 21 yard line.

Felix Jones and Miles Austin are both averaging more than 20 yards per return, and Crayton has been fine returning punts.

Grade: A

Coaching: Wade Phillips still hasn't gotten the best out of this team and most likely won't. This is the type of team that needs someone on them 24/7 for them to succeed. They're not a team that can motivate themselves and while that's a sad reality, it's a reality.

Phillips is also running the defense and they should be better. He has to hold players accountable and get them to practice harder because like the saying goes, you practice how you play—and right now that's average at best.

Grade: D

Overall: The Cowboys have a wealth of talent, but aren't very good right now. They don't know their identity on offense and are undisciplined on defense. If this doesn't change fast, Phillips will be looking for another job next season and Mike Shanahan will be coming in.

Cowboys Injury Update Oct. 6

Derek Major — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:31:39 -0400

The Cowboys left Denver with two banged-up starters and will face the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday without them.

Wide receiver Roy Williams took a huge hit from Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. Williams came back in and made one more catch, but everyone could tell he was in obvious pain.

Williams was diagnosed with three bruised ribs and damage to his rib cartilage on Monday and most likely won't play this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he should be ready after their bye week.

"Never in my life have I been hit like that, from Pop Warner through my six years in the league," Williams said on Sunday after the game.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh broke his thumb in the second quarter of Sunday's game. Sensabaugh was seen on the field in full pads with his helmet on but didn't return to the game.

Sensabaugh broke the same thumb in college and had a plate put in it while he played at North Carolina. He had surgery on Monday and will be out about one month. Until then, Pat Watkins, who finished the game at safety, will start in Sensabaugh's place.

Alan Ball could split some time as safety as well, and Mike Hamlin, who broke his forearm in the preseason, should be back by the end of the Cowboys' bye week after their game against the Chiefs.

Center Andre Gurode hurt his knee during the game but didn't miss any snaps, and head coach Wade Phillips didn't address Gurode's injury during his press conference, which means the injury wasn't serious. He shouldn't miss the game, although he may miss some practice time.

Running back Felix Jones, who missed the game against the Broncos, will most likely miss this week's game against the Chiefs but should be back by the end of the bye week as he recovers from a bruised PCL in his right knee.

Marion Barber, who played against the Broncos, seems fully recovered from his thigh injury and will see an increase in carries against the Chiefs.

Dallas Cowboys Fall Two Yards Short, Lose 17-10

Derek Major — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:50:15 -0400

The Cowboys made a nice last minute effort but fell short at the Broncos' two yard line and lose their second game of the season, 17-10.

This game was a defensive battle, but Brandon Marshall's 52-yard catch and run for a touchdown proved to be the difference in the game. The Cowboys played good defense on Marshall before that play as he had just three catches for 40 yards.

Kyle Orton was sacked three times but overcame the Cowboys' pressure to go 20-29 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also hit seven Broncos' receivers and did not throw an interception.

Broncos' running backs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno combined for 102 yards on 20 carries. The Broncos moved the ball with ease for most of the second half, but they got in their own way most of the game as they were penalized 10 times for 81 yards which stalled some of their drives.

The Cowboys once again let their mistakes tell the story.

A bad route by Miles Austin lead to an interception inside the Broncos' five yard line. A holding penalty by Martellus Bennett wiped out a first down, leading to a punt. A facemask penalty by Anthony Spencer extended a Denver drive.

Tony Romo was very ineffective yesterday going 25-42 for 255 and one interception; he was also sacked five times. This marks the second straight game that Romo didn't throw a touchdown. It also marks the second straight game where no Cowboys' receiver had at least 70 yards receiving.

Sam Hurd had three catches for 62 yards, including a 53-yard catch and run on the Cowboys' final drive that set them inside the Broncos' 10-yard line for first and goal with less than a minute left.

Romo hit Patrick Crayton on first down which took the Cowboys' to the two yard line, after Romo spiked the ball on second and goal the Cowboys tried to run two slants inside to Hurd who was matched up against Broncos' CB Champ Bailey. Bailey played perfect defense on both passes, knocking the last pass down on fourth and goal to kill the Cowboys' comeback hopes.

The Cowboys' running game, which had been strong the last two weeks sputtered yesterday. Marion Barber and Tashard Choice shared 25 carries, but only gained 74 yards. Barber looked good in the first half and scored a touchdown, but Head Coach Wade Phillips gave Barber one carry in the second half instead going with Choice.

The Cowboys kept the Broncos from scoring most of the game and had a huge defensive stand in the fourth quarter as they stopped the Broncos on third and fourth-and-one to get the ball back on downs.

However the Cowboys defense fell apart in the last two minutes for the second time this season giving up an eight yard pass to Marshall and a 14 yard run to Moreno before Marshall's touchdown catch. If they want to be known as a good defense they need to make stops at key points in the game and they're not doing that now.

The Cowboys have yet to find their identity and until they do they're going to continue to be what they are now, a middle of the pack team who can beat up on lesser talent but won't beat teams with the same level of talent because they play harder.

Week 4: Dallas Cowboys Vs. Denver Broncos.

Derek Major — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:50:50 -0400

The Cowboys go on the road to Denver to face the 3-0 Broncos in a Sunday afternoon battle.

The Broncos have spent the last three weeks beating up on some of the worst teams in the NFL. Now, their first true test comes in the Cowboys. The Broncos have been stellar this season, averaging in the top 10 in both rushing and passing defense.

The leader of their 3-4 defense is DJ Williams, who leads the team with 22 tackles. Also excelling is Elvis Dumervil, who already has six sacks this season. The Broncos also sport veterans Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins in the secondary; Dawkins knows the Cowboys well after playing in the NFC East for over 10 seasons.

On offense, the Broncos use a balanced attack starting with quarterback Kyle Orton who has thrown for 663 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions this season and has been sacked just three times. That won't stop Dallas from putting the pressure on Orton in hopes that he makes some bad throws and the Dallas secondary cashes in.

Receiver Brandon Marshall will have to have a big game, as the Dallas secondary eluded the mistakes it made against the Giants and got their first two interceptions on Monday against the Panthers. Also Brandon Stokley, who leads the team in receiving yards, has been limited in practice this week and his status is still unknown.

Correll Buckhalter is the starting running back and has 230 yards on 31 carries this season, but he faces a Dallas front seven that has shut down the running game of the Giants and Panthers in the last two weeks. So Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno will have to be patient and try to wear out the Dallas defense over the course of the game.

The Cowboys will go into Denver with their top ranked running game, and although Felix Jones will miss this game with a knee sprain, Marion Barber practiced today and will be active for the game, but Tashard Choice will get the bulk of the carries.

Tony Romo was very efficient last week, but he will have to do a little more for the Cowboys to come away with a victory this week. Romo and Roy Williams need to connect on a few passes in this game, and Miles Austin needs to show up after being quiet in the first three games. Austin is supposed to be the deep threat but only has one TD on the season.

The Cowboys' defense will have its hands full trying to stop Buckhalter and Moreno, but the run defense has been fantastic after a slow start and they should be able to keep the Broncos' run game in check.

Expect DeMarcus Ware to get his first sack this weekend. Orton is not a very mobile QB and he's been sacked three times this season. Also, look out for Victor Butler who had two sacks last week, he'll get more playing time this week. The Cowboys are no stranger to blitzing, and they'll continue to do so on Sunday.

Terence Newman will draw the assignment of covering receiver Brandon Marshall as he did a great job last week covering Steve Smith. This week will be harder for Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick, however, as the Broncos have a deep receiving group that includes Stokley and Eddie Royal. Jenkins and Scandrick will have to play their best to keep the Cowboys in the game.

The Broncos are a good team and should keep this game close. But after playing three really bad teams, they'll underestimate the Cowboys, and it will cost them dearly. The Cowboys will use the run game in the second half to close it out.

Cowboys 28-14.