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February 2008
Categories
Movers and Shakers Pre-season Texas Stadium dallasnews.com
Sports Blogs |
It's tough to be too critical of an offense on pace to break the NFL record for points, but the Cowboys have one glaring flaw. It takes them a while to get going. The Cowboys have scored a grand total of six points in the first quarter this season. Compare that to 38 in the second quarter, 59 in the third and 48 in the fourth. Some offensive players said it's a matter of seeing what the defense is doing and making adjustments. C Andre Gurode isn't trying to hear all that. He blames poor execution for the slow starts. "We need to definitely focus in a little bit more and stop making those mistakes," Gurode said. "Just go out there and execute. It can't take us a quarter and a half or two quarters to get started. We need to come flying out of the gates." |
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Comments
Posted by Chris @ 3:41 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I'm sure Andre would agree that it would help some if his snaps would no longer "come flying" out of his hands.
Posted by drhorton @ 3:45 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I agree Andre. We cannot keep coming out of the gate slow. We need to hit them hard and hit them often, and then let our running game work it's magic in the fourth quarter.
I would love to see Romo hit T.O. with a long touchdown on the first play of the game Monday.
Posted by Rodney in Nashville @ 3:59 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I don't know Chris. Ironically that snap last week kinda woke everyone up and changed the momentum.
Posted by Mark @ 4:00 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
This has bugged me, as well. It isn't that we are playing well in the first quarter, because we really aren't. I mean we aren't bad, we just don't open it up until later. What would happen if we played this way with the Patriots, and let them get a two touchdown lead on us?
As long as we can score points we are ok, but waiting until the second half is asking for problems... like I said, what if we get behind by two touchdowns going into half time - and then have to kick off to them at the start of the third?
If I remember correctly, we were slow starters under Parcells, too. This is where Jason G needs to kick start the offense with some serious aggression - wake us up!
Posted by craig @ 4:06 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Agreed... I've commented on this before. The upside is you can call us "closers", the downside it not every team is gonna let us put a ton of points in the 2nd half ( like the Pats).
I actually blame Red Ball for this, not execution. I think he still hasn't learned how to land the first punch. So far it hasn't mattered because this offense's ability to adjust and react to an opponent's game plan has just been amazing.
Posted by Brian Switzer @ 4:10 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Better to start slow than finish slow.
Plus, we are not making mistakes(turnovers) in the first half so it is not hurting us. I think we are using the 1st half to feel teams out and then the 2nd half to crush them.
I like the patient approach and I like that the team does not panic.
I am very impressed with how good the leadership has been from the coaches and players.
Posted by Fraggy @ 4:14 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
if scoring 38 in the second quarter, 59 in the third and 48 in the fourth is your biggest problem, then you must be doing something right!
Posted by Jim in Austin @ 4:15 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Hey, who likes to watch a blowout in the first quarter? Then you start thinking about all the chores that need doing, and where's the fun in that? I say keep it the way it is, just don't forget to wake up!!
And, don't try it on the Pats or we'll get our heads handed to us!!
Posted by David H @ 4:24 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I think I read somewhere that the vast majority of Romo's interceptions happen within his first 10 pass attempts of the game. This has been true with 2 out of his 3 ints this year, and remember last year against the Giants (both times). That can't help with slow starts.
Posted by Mark @ 5:41 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I agree that scoring 35 points in the second half is better than not scoring any, and I agree with Craig, some of the blame has to be put on Garrett. He just doesn't come out with the same attitude as he does after he 'adjusts' in the second half.
Against weaker opponents that might be ok, and who knows, maybe actually having to play a tough game where we have to come from behind against a good opponent is what we need.
Better a slow start than a slow finish I don't agree with. We could finish by scoring 14-21 points and still not win... I won't feel totally secure until we control all the quarters, as do the Patriots. They have some sort of record now about scoring in consecutive quarters.
The Patriots are a good football team, there is no doubt, but I seem to recall a team a few years ago that started winning and had something to prove and went on to win a superbowl 3 years after going 1-15... any resemblances?
Posted by Steven @ 5:58 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Well I guess it would be too hard to just let this 4-0 start go without somebody whining about something.
You go into a game with an idea of what you want to do and what the other team is going to try and do. We have gone into games trying to get both the run and pass going early. Teams have been stopping our run early on and so we turn to the air. Once we get that going then our run opens up. But if we went into the games just throwing the ball teams would stop that and then it would be even harder to get going.
I like our approach so far. Our defense has goten exponentially better each week and so I am not worried about falling behind NE. Its going to be a good game but a slow start will not cost us.
Posted by Ken In SA @ 6:18 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
The last time I checked, the winner was the team with the most points at the end of the game, not the first half. I couldn't care less when the points come as long as they come before the final gun, and they are more numerous than the opponent.
Posted by Larry @ 6:46 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
You guys are right. It isnt a problem to average 1 1/2 points in the first quarter unless you are playing the pats, colts, ect.,
But it could be a big problem if you let yourself slip behind good teams, like in the playoffs.
Hopefully Jason will figure this first quarter drout out and we will start to see as much agressive offense there as we do in the other three quarters.
Posted by Buddy @ 7:02 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Speaking of Gurode, was it just me or was *every* snap out of the shotgun a little high (as well as the one that was over Romo's head)?
Posted by Lee @ 7:31 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
I don't know about you guys, but I would rather have a team that starts slow and finishes strong than the other way around.
Posted by Mr Rogers @ 7:43 PM Wed, Oct 03, 2007
Surprised all the ESPN, NFL Net and DMN Einsteins, AND the Boys coaches have not figured this out: The reason the offense can't score in the first quarter is because No. 21 is taking most of the snaps at running back. That guy is about as elusive as Vinny Testaverde. Opponents don't have to respect the run in the first quarter.
Posted by mysterA @ 2:03 AM Thu, Oct 04, 2007
why people would complain is beyond me. remember our old teams? we could be up by 20 at the half, and the next thing you know this wierd uneasy feeling comes across as the players jog out for the second half. next thing you know s moss is catching bombs from hiroshima...bombs away!!! yes, i will take the finishing strong any and everyday...