It is that time of the year where I populate the Hangout with threads about every game for the Cowboys...or at least every game until they start playing like crap, causing me to not even bother...but that won't happen...I hope....let's put in one more pause...there. I'm somewhat optimistic for this year. So many parts of the team seem much improved. The running game is like 10^29 times better than last year. Our WRs and TE are at least as good as last year, although I think it will be much better with Keyshawn, Bryant improving, and Witten emerging. O-Line is better just because Larry Allen is better, although others have improved as well. At QB, it is probably a wash since Vinny can do things that QC couldn't do but QC could do things Vinny couldn't. Our special teams is probably much better since we have a punter who can punt farther than 39 yards...and he's an Aussie...whatever impact that has to the team. D-line is better with Wiley. The LBs are at least deeper with Bradie James and Keith O'Neil. The only areas I'm concerned with is the Dallas secondary...duh! I'm a little worried about the CBs. None of the corners are really stepping up, excluding Newman. At least one of them, probably Hunter, will have to start and defend some good WRs every play and they need to be ready. On the other hand, Edwards wasn't very good and we still had the no.1 D last year. Safety is my biggest concern by far. Not having Woodson for 6 games, and then only getting a Woodson who is rusty and probably not quite the same is really going to hurt. Combine that with the soon to be Pro Bowler Tony Dixon and you can understand my concern. I was hoping Dallas would pick up another safety before this game (I think Kwame Lassiter was cut, but don't know much about him...think he is hurt), but looks like Dixon will be the man, or at least the man for this game. Unfortunately, it looks like the team's biggest weakness will be going against a team that routinely rips apart teams' secondaries. Yea! This is going to be a tough game since Dallas will probably have to score a lot more than last year just to keep up with Minnesota's offense, even if the D is playing well. I guess we'll see how they play after today's game. The chat will be a good place to talk about the game, but I'll probably won't be there today. Stupid Bucs...they suck.
On that catch by Terry Glenn with 5 seconds left in the first half...I just found it amazing that he stuck out his left foot out and got it to drag inbounds even though he had his right side down in bounds. Just great concentration on his part, 10-14 Vikes, good game so far.
Yeah...he also adjusted the ball in his hands in mid-flight before coming down as he initially had a fingertip catch. Sweet catch. We needed that...in 20 seconds no less. That's a nice first TD for Vinny as a Cowboy.
That was a sweet, and much needed, catch for the TD. I couldn't even believe he did it. He does have awesome concentration. I think I remember him making a TD catch against Detroit last year where he barely got the TD by dragging his toes, IIRC. She ( ) is pretty good. Thank goodness they got a TD in the half. To have that many yards and plays on offense and only have 3 points in pretty bad, especially with Culpepper having his was with the defense. I hope we don't have to depend on any more amazing catches just to keep up with the Vikings.
How about that Rashard Lee? Man, that guy can run and he's fast. The whole drive to his TD run was all Rashard running and gaining 10+ yards per gain...along with the 60 yard kickoff return or whatever it was. He continues to impress me. Wow. Larry Allen and company are blocking great on that left side as well.
I'm happy to see him playing well. I thought he looked pretty good last year before he got hurt. I'm glad that he is better now and helping the team out. Just hope our O can make up for our D. Never thought I'd say that.
Keyshawn is the real deal, serious upgrade over Joey. Also Vinny is playing very well. Why hasn't Eddie played in the 2nd half? He gives you the same thing Anderson does running the ball but he doesn't fumble. I can see R. Anderson playing FB and 3rd down back but why feature him as the HB in the 2nd half? Anyways i think the Boys have played well but they can't stop Moss, and the offense has made too many mistakes (2 great drives for 3 points and now Richie's fumble).
A promising start turned into a blow out. We may have the worst D in the NFL now. We've gone from first to last. Just an awful game by our secondary. I don't know if it's all Minnesota or our secondary is that bad. It's probably a combination of both with the latter being an obvious, glaring weakness. But, Moss is really that good so it is not a good team to open the season at. It's not a good day for Texas NFL teams today...especially us.
I like Keyshawn as well. In fact, I like our offense as a whole a lot better than last year. Except for the fumble and the 2 great drives ending in only 3 pts, they've played very well. I normally like Richie over George in some situations, but I also don't know why they haven't been using George in the 2nd half. I would have rather used Lee on these tosses, although, like the commentators are saying, I don't know why we keep going outside when the inside runs have produced some good runs. For the most part, I also like the way the team is playing. I'm saying they suck and not liking some particular plays, but I knew the Vikings were going to get at least in the mid-20's. With Culpepper, Ontario, and Moss playing, our defense has had a lot to defend. Just hope that they can get better than this though since there will be a lot of offensive weapons in the league that can take advantage of the Cowboys weaknesses on D. Even with the great Viking O, we don't even look like a top 10 D, let alone #1. BTW, we sure tried to mess up Moss and others today. It seemed like every time the secondary had an chance to get a "little" physical with them, they did, although that didn't help them really. While they were busy taking shots at Moss, Smith or Culpepper were getting 1st downs.
Beatdown, though not unexpected. That viking o is great. D did a good job of containing Moss early, but that left other weapons open and they converted. And Anderson does bring something Eddie doesn't - burst. Eddie usually doesn't even make it to the hole before it closes. Sad that a converted fullback has more speed and quickness than EG.
Wow, did I have fun taunting a diehard Cowgirls fan while watching this game. Maybe I shoulda drafted Moss over J. Lewis in my fantasy league!
And that was an ugly throw too. Would have made QC look like Troy Aikman. Unfortunately, Moss is WR and QC is a QB. Maybe it was just me but I thought Eddie looked a bit quicker today that in the few preseason games I saw. He still looked pretty slow, but he looked better than anything I saw from him in preseason. I do agree about Richie's burst though. That's what I like from him, Lee, and JJ. I love that speed burst.
this is why I picked Minny in the suicide league, they are the greatest September team in NFL history.
I just don't see any "burst" by Anderson that George doesn't have (meaning neither can get outside). He's like George except with better hands, so i understand him playing late in the game when we got down big but I don't understand not playing Eddie at all in the 2nd half while making Anderson your feature back. I'm guessing it's Parcells playing fresh guys but I don't agree with it. I can tell this years RB situation will really bother me. I didn't agree with cutting J. Martin who is a great blocking FB, I didn't agree with trading down to take J. Jones, and I don't agree with making Anderson a TB. I know Eddie isn't an everydown back and I know Parcells is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) coaches of getting everything out of his teams but i get very worried when I hear us banking on Julius Jones as our lead back (and it's great to see teh Cowboy beat writers saying there was not a great RB int eh draft, but moments later they go goo-goo over a guy who slipped into the 2nd round). I know he has speed but until I see him break a tackle I don't think speed does a thing for you at RB. Not many sleepers at premier positions come out of Notre Dame, it's not like he played under the radar at a small school. Just please let us beat Cleveland next week, I live/work among too many Browns fans.
