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Get Dallas Cowboys news on your cellThe Mosley Afternoon Report New Year's edition
3:57 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006 | Permalink
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February 2008
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Movers and Shakers Pre-season Texas Stadium dallasnews.com
Sports Blogs |
The most important thing to remember when dealing with a divided locker room is to make sure and keep it that way. This is accomplished by asking players subtle questions like, "Are you aware that Terence Newman hates your guts?" As you may have heard by now, Newman told T.O. that he wasn't talking about him when he called out several teammates yesterday. Bill Parcells delivered his popular "show-me" speech to players this morning and continued to drive home his "why not us?" rally cry. Now, continue reading for at least five minutes of uninterrupted joy: Let's get the T.O. news out of the way quickly. He said he still wants the ball and that the pain in his ring finger is "excruciating."... We're hearing rumblings about a pretty significant scheme change on defense. Bill has no interest in providing details, but after talking to a couple of players in the locker room today, it wouldn't surprise me to see the return of the 4-3 on Sunday. Look for a defensive line that includes DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson and Jason Hatcher. The linebackers would be Bob Carpenter, Bradie James and Akin Ayodele. It's amazing that two years into this 3-4 scheme, Parcells would be thinking about scrapping it right before the playoffs. I think you'll see them experiment with the defense Sunday, but I have a hard time thinking they'll make a wholesale change right before the playoffs. Join me for Happy Hour on the blog in 20 minutes. |
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Comments
Posted by Michael Fleet @ 4:58 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Hey Matt...I believe I mentioned this very scenario on the blog a week or two ago. Apparently someone on the coaching staff is reading the blog, trying to find some outside help. If they require any more assistance, feel free to give my email address to anyone inside the Cowboys organization.
Posted by Willy @ 5:07 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Bobby Carpenter? Are you SURE? I had already labeled him a bust.
Posted by P @ 5:08 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
A scheme change would have been nice earlier. The Lions are so bad it will be tough to gauge if the 4-3 is the answer, or if it's just a talent issue. T.O.'s finger hurts....good. Maybe he should just go on IR now, have the surgery, and spare us the distraction.
Posted by S L @ 5:08 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
I don't know that it's as much about reverting to the 4-3 as it is giving playoff opponents an additional scheme to have to study and game plan against (1 game vs Detroit = 2 prior seasons of film to watch). He isn't a zen master for nothing.
Posted by tony @ 5:12 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
At a certain point, one has to start wondering if the talent level is up to par with a SuperBowl caliber team. Can any of these guys perform in the clutch? When is the last time we had a kickoff or punt return score? Why is Terence Newman still returning punts? Is he really a guy that can take it the distance?
Posted by paul @ 5:12 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
missed the "mercurial" and kevin steele references you teased us with
Posted by Stephen @ 5:33 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Has Julius Jones ever returned a punt? He's fast and can likely find places to run if given enough room.
Posted by joe cates @ 6:07 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Hey Matt, check out what this guy said, maybe an ideal to pass along to the cowboys, if its true about going back to 4-3, i would make one change at linebacker, the weakside linebacker, like when we had coackley there, i would put our fastest linebacker there, Burnett,
Posted by crazy e-man @ 6:30 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Awesome report! sarcasm, humor AND valid information. 5 stars for you buddy. seriously
Posted by kameleon_o @ 6:55 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
I think this is a great idea. Never should have switched to the 3-4 anyway. We were supposed to be much more flexible on D than we've turned out to be. New England game plans their D for certain opponents and will play whatever they have to. Parcells just needs to put the best 11 players on D out there and design a scheme around them instead of being so scheme driven where he forces players to play a D that they're not suited for.
Posted by Robert @ 7:26 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
So what is the difference in this Defense? Same players on the field except for Canty being benched in favor of Hatcher.
4-3 to 3-4 and vice versa is about the type of talent you find and draft moreso then scheme. When Ware goes down in a three point stance (alot) what the hell is he anyway?
Most 4-3 today use two big tackles, a big ILB and big SS to plug the middle while moving light and fast players outside. This is how they generate rush and cover flats.
In fact, look at the Giants and Eagles. Both DE look like 3-4 OLB. Both Giant and Eagle OLB are small and fast.
The Cowboys Defense looked more like a 5-2 with slow LB when Ellis was around. This is the team's pass rush problem. Slow but big.
Posted by James @ 7:49 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Zimmer just needs to figure out the 3-4! We have to be the worst blitzing team in the league! We sent 5 guys all at the center guard gap and NO ONE gets through, yet we do it every game. Zim, go study some Steeler or Panther game film from a few years ago!
Posted by mike in nyc @ 8:10 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
I'd much rather hold back the 4-3 and the stunts until the playoffs. Either win or lose, they're going on the road in week 1 of the tournament... Save the surprise for a real situation, and maybe practice this week and next. Don't let Seattle or Phily get game tape...
Posted by joseph capp @ 9:05 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
changin to the 4-3 makes sense since your best linebacker is lost for the season. that likely is the reason. things were great before ellis got hurt. i say smart move.
Posted by Tony @ 9:07 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
Whats with all the TO hating?
The guy is playing with a torn tendon in his hand. Considering some of the catchs he has made that is pretty impressive. I realize he is polarizing, but he is still the best WR in the game right now, and by that I mean his ability to grab yards after the catch.
To has always said that he expects more from himself, and playing hurt shows it. Lets not forget how many TDs he has! Lets not forget if it wasn't for a idiot head coach who couldn't manage a clock (Reid) and a vomiting QB, TO would probably have a ring, and we would have to listen to Eagle fans acting like they have 5 Lombardi trophies.
My question is when is Bill going to realize that maybe Marion should be the feature back with Julius being the change of pace.
Posted by mark @ 10:46 PM Thu, Dec 28, 2006
yea i would rather have burnett than carpenter. They would be better off, they have no idea how to play the 3-4,can't blitz, cover, or contain. I remember in bill's first year they had some subpar players on defense and still used the blitz very effectively. they had the top defense for a while. then they didnt trust their corners who were at that time a rookie Newman and mario edwards. They are better personnel wise now and should use more 4-3
Posted by Dan @ 1:00 AM Fri, Dec 29, 2006
They should be shifting defenses like a college basketball team shifts defenses, from man-to-man, to zone, to 3-2 matchup, 1-3-1, full-court press, half-court pick-up. We should be shifting between 3-4 and 4-3.
Remember what Bill Belichick did to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. Philadelphia expected New England to play a 4-3, New England came out in a 3-4, and by that single action, FORCED Philadelphia to change their ENTIRE offensive plan for the game. And it clearly impacted McNabb, who later had a towel wrapped around his head.
There isn't any logical reason to avoid frequent defensive shifts. Just because it hasn't been done in a game, doesn't mean that it wouldn't be successful.