SPORTSDAY

Posted by Barton @ 9:16 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

Tim...you're right on. Play calling was not the issue today. It was poor play execution at one position. Unfortunately, the position stumbling through today's game wasn't fullback or flanker, it was one considerably more important.

Posted by Jason @ 9:21 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

It seems the national media has been much higher on the Cowboys all summer than the local media. I'll take the analysis of the Cowboys by the local media any day over the national guys because they have a much better read on the team and are much closer to it.

Two things. First, Bledsoe absolutely stunk today. He was terribly inaccurate. He makes some of those plays early in the game that he missed and it might have been a blow out. Second, let's hold off on annointing this Cowboys defense the 2nd coming of Doomsday. They have a lot to prove and until they become much better at rushing the passer, they will never be an elite defense. Also, Anthony Henry is overrated. OK player, but nothing special.

Posted by Shorty Pettit @ 9:30 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

Expect nothing, I am not upset when I get nothing. Five people calling plays and none of them called the right play and if they did Bledsoe screwed them up too. TO close is only good in horseshoes. Having the weapons does not mean you use them right and can still lose the war as like today.

Posted by eric @ 10:09 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

Well, it is only one game, but at least last year the team played hard every game except for the final two minutes in four or five contests. This game, they quit after one quarter. Someone tell the first string preseason is over, and it takes four full quarters to win in the NFL. Stupid penalties at the wrong time, Bledsoe throwing picks at the end of each half, and the kicker making only one of two. Looks like we picked up right where we left off last season. Hope next week is better than this trainwreck.

Posted by GG @ 10:13 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

Can we still get Leftwich?

Posted by Spats @ 10:23 PM Sun, Sep 10, 2006

The Witten penalty was bogus. Reggie Williams threw Anthony Henry to the ground and nothing was called, and the Jaguars cornerback wasn't exactly Josh Howard taking a charge. And you're spot-on (or maybe Owens is) about Bledsoe. This is Vinny Testaverde Lite, and anyone who wants to defend him is either an idiot or simply wasn't watching the game.

Posted by JB @ 4:29 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

This game was lost at one position...QB. I really wish Bledsoe would take responsibility for this game. He used "WE" a lot in his post game comments. Bledsoe was given a chance to use one of the best receiving corps in the NFL and blew it. What was Parcells thinking challenging a un-challengeable play that resulted in a loss of a time out!

Posted by Jailbird Doogie @ 5:39 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I am still wondering how much of the offensive problems were caused by inproperly run routs and lack of reps in practice between T.O. and Bledsoe. A number of times I heard "he seemed to expect T.O. to cut left" or similar comments on the play-by-play. If you throw to an area where to receiver is, but is SUPPOSED to be, to the passer-by it looks like a bad pass and you blame the QB.

Posted by sfcjdl33 @ 5:50 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I don't have an issue with "how much they threw the ball" I have an issue of "when they threw the ball" You have JJ ripping off a couple of nice runs and I'm thinking good time for play action, 2nd and 3, 1st and 10, and what do they do??? run it between the tackles and loose 2, now its 3rd and 5 or 2nd and 12....this happened several times....in the 1st QTR they used play action, after that it was like an after thought. Too predictable

Posted by Murray @ 6:41 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

TO will get his jabs in at Bledsoe all year. If he isn't getting the catches and TDs that he is use to he will have to let the public know why. .

Posted by rcg @ 7:31 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

The play calling was conservative and predictable. We did not spread the defense out.
When they did pass, the passes were short and usually in obvious passing situations. Also, we do not know how to pressure the qb from the 3-4. We rely on our LB's to beat their man. There was no disguising coverages and blitzes.

Posted by Chris Barra @ 8:23 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I watched Bledsoe for years in New England. He has had decent aggregate numbers, but will always (and has proven he will continue to) make the wrong decision and the big mistake when the game is on the line. The Cowboys have no chance as long as he is the QB.

Posted by Mike T. @ 9:06 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Simple explanation for the loss. Old Tired Q-back, Old Coach, Old General Manager, Bad decisions all over. Pretty obvious that either Bledsoe got real tired after one quarter or his eyes went bad. Did he ever win a big game? Some of those throws were awful and the others were just so so. Too bad that Dallas has such a good defense. They probably got disheartened after the turnover and bad Q-back play.

I believe Super Bowls for Dallas Cowboys are probably out of reach this Century and if Football survives to 2100, maybe something will happen then.

Mike T.

Posted by bob5 @ 9:13 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Bob, from Philly checking in, If you thought yesterday's post game remarks by Owens might have been a subtle jab at Bledsoe, you haven't seen or heard anything yet. Drew better step up his game or you guys are going TO have a mess on your hands in that locker room. Great, great reciever, but you are dealing with the devil. boys. Very much looking forward to October 8

Posted by Darrell Bingham @ 9:45 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I thought the Cowboys had gone thru the worst part of their history post Jimmy Johnson and post Troy Aikman. But the parade of inept coaches and players pretending to be a quarterback continues. I have been a die hard fan of the Cowboys for 46 years and this is hard to watch.
Drew Bledsoe was solely resposible for yesterday's loss to Jacksonville. He changed the momentum of the game. The Cowboys could have been ahead 21-0 or more at half time, but instead it was a tie game.
Parcells stupidly says that TO is not going to catch a ton of passes this year. Why not Bill? He is a play maker. He plays on Sunday. Why contrary to what you say to the press do you make such statements?
You are in control or at least you say you are. Why not coach like you are interested in the Dallas Cowboys winning rather than showing that you are in control.

Posted by Randy Surles @ 9:46 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Give the Jaguars some credit; they were the better conditioned team. Drew is like a rookie quarterback when pressured. The O-line could not stop the Jaguars. They were manhandled! Face it!!!

Posted by Tom Klinger @ 10:02 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

All the sacks Bledsoe has endured is now getting in his head. Everytime he drops back, he can hear the footsteps. This causes him to hold onto the ball too long or make poor, panicked throws. Not saying Romo is the answer, but he shows a lot more poise and confidence than the "veteran".

Hearing a lot of blame on the secondary but did ya'll notice the lack of a pass rush? Leftwich was getting so much time that they started blitzing Roy Williams late in the game. What happened to the Ware/Ellis sack duo?

Posted by Tom @ 10:19 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I bet every reporter in the lockerroom tried to get TO to bad mouth Bledsoe. Leave him alone and let him play football. You reporters quit trying to create news!

Posted by Pats Fan @ 10:35 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I'm a Pats fan who watched with considerable interest to see what Drew would do with that high octane receiving corp and I'm not surprised to see him make the same exact mistakes that he made in N.E and Buffalo. He still has a fantastic arm and a daft head. He's primary receiver all the way and never learned to check down or to just make the smart play. Tuna should pull the plug on him real quick!

Posted by Steve @ 11:34 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Too many piling on Bledsoe & the secondary - we lost this one in trenches. The O-line was just pathetic. RT was OK, the rest of them were just terrible. Holes in the running game were few and far between, and the pass protection was leaky at best.

And the D-line? They couldn't even get close to Leftwich. He had all day back there!

I'm sorry I wasted so much time reading about this team in the offseason. I'll still watch the games but this team isn't going anywhere until the linemen pick it up a few notches.

Posted by Eagles Fan @ 11:55 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Bob5 from Philly is definitely not kidding - if Bledsoe continues to under-perform in subsequent weeks, TO will not be able to hold his tongue. This guy is all about himself; the team means nothing (ask SF or Philly). He is a great player, but I'm not convinced he can change his negative behavior. I like Parcells and hate to see him have to deal with a problem like this at the end of his career - he deserves far better.

Posted by Mark Kupka @ 11:57 AM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Looked like a 2005 Cowboys performance to me. Inconsistent offense with generally poor o-line and QB play. Underachieving defense and mediocre special teams. How do they fix the o-line?

Posted by Tom Cummins @ 12:06 PM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Overall just a very disappointing game and effort. First quarter looked great, the other 3 absolutley stunk. Another performance like that from Flozell and no QB can survive. One more time like that from Drew and it will be time for Romo.

Posted by Robert Powell @ 1:09 PM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

Slow down guys. Remember last year when the Seahawks lost to the Jags on opening day. They did not hit the panic button but rather turned it around to end up in the super bowl. This team just needs time to gel. Plus it is very difficult to beat an elite team on the road.

Posted by Victor @ 1:10 PM Mon, Sep 11, 2006

I don't know whose fault it is, but the offense stunk. Was play selection limited because Drew is an awful QB, or was it limited because the play callers are too eager to run? Don't know, but either way - there's a problem.

And, I'm sorry, but don't use statistics about percentage of pass plays to run plays to try to convince me of something I know is true. Time after time a situation was open for a down field pass play (e.g. 2nd and short) but the team would call some ridiculous run play up the middle. I don't have all the game stats at my finger tips so I can't fire back with all manner of stats to prove my point, but were it otherwise I am sure I could produce numbers to refute your position.