Just got a scoop of Wade Phillips Pre-Game Speech..... <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SCJeR0UebR8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SCJeR0UebR8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I hope they do exactly what the Redskins did defensively. Schaub will just throw for another 500 yards. Look, I'm not going to sit here and guarantee a win like many here are doing. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we lost. But our offense is much more balanced this year than last. If the Girls put 8 in the box and blitz, Schaub will burn them like he did the Redskins. Remember, he was sacked 5 times and hit on almost every pas play.....but he still threw for 500 yards and the offense put up 20 points in the 2nd half. If they only rush 4 and drop everyone else back in coverage, Foster will have a field day. We'll control the clock and keep Romo and Co. off the field. This offense can move the ball and score on anybody in this league, provided we avoid turnovers. The defense is what worries me. The Girls offense has been a joke the 1st 2 games. I don't expect it to be 3. Too much talent on that side of the ball. This is going to be a shootout. I suspect that whoever has the ball last will win.
They need to give it to Foster early and often to counter the pass rush. I wouldn't be surprised with another 200 yard rush game. . .
The Texans are going to be 3-0 after they beat the Cowboys. Book it! And give Foster the damn ball, and give it to him early and often.
Point noted but I worry that if Schaub has to attempt 40+ passes on Sunday, he's going to get killed. Also Schaub does not do well if he's backpeddling and that's what could happen a lot if Ratliff wins the battle against Myers. As for the Cowboy secondary, they have been dreadful and Wade has supposedly been all over their collective asses this week but a lot of the reason they looked bad so far has been the result of poor scheme. Simply put: they appear to have been woefully unprepared for what has been thrown at them thus far. The blame for this has to fall on the Cowboys' coaching staff particularly head coach #2 Wade Phillips who acts as the defensive coordinator. Even given this, the Cowboys defense on gave up 13 points in game 1 (with no offensive TDs). In game 2, Wade inexplicably called off the dogs after getting burned for that long TD. Even then, their pass coverage was awful with the safeties looking like they were still Lost on the island. Again, I have to reiterate the point that the Cowboys didn't get a lot done during training camp due to the circus atmosphere orchestrated by Jerry Jones and believe me it shows. The guy I am most concerned about is Spears. He could potentially be as disruptive as Landry was last Sunday. No matter what, I expect a different Cowboys team to show up on Sunday - more focused and angry.
Uh, no, I didn't see that at all. Keep wishing. I saw a Redskins' defense that didn't feel like they could generate pressure with the front four, so they sent complex blitzes, utilizing a number of linebackers and safeties (how often did Laron Landry get back there?) to get after Schaub. This is from Lance Zierlein, after watching the scouting tape: http://twitter.com/lancezierlein And you know what happened? Because the Redskins took so many guys out of coverage to try and sack and hit Schaub, there were so many guys open downfield that he threw for 500 yards! If the Cowboys want to do that, be my guest - Schaub can pick them apart, too. But to imply the Redskins consistently generated pressure with just their front four is just misleading, and the 500 yards passing shows it. Now, if you want to say the Redskins overwhelmed the Texans with their blitz packages - uh, sure, I guess. Has nothing to do with size or speed - of course if one team sends seven rushers against five blockers, they might have an advantage and get to the QB. But it leaves you vulnerable in coverage, and Schaub torched them. If the Cowboys want to follow in the 'Skins footsteps on that, they can go right ahead.
But that's just it: from what I'm hearing up here, the Cows aren't going to follow the Redskins' strategy. They honestly believe that they can generate pressure with their base defense without the need for any exotic blitz packages. Whether that works remains to be seen although I do believe that Arian will have a tough time again finding running lanes because the Cowboys LBs are very good against the run. I see your point. However, this is predicated on how fast Schuab can get rid of the ball. I expect Schaub and Dennison not to call a lot of long pass plays and to go with 3-5 drops and get that ball out of there fast. Then, use Foster when the time is right. Of course, this is all academic if the Texans' OL cannot handle the Cowboys. Wade may look clueless but he is very very good at disguising his defenses and coming up with the right kind of tactics to disrupt an offense like the Texans'. Should be a most interesting game to watch.
I hope they blitz on EVERY play against the Texans, the same way they did the Bears....because I'm thinking if the high-flying Chicago Bear offense can figure out a way to pick them apart with it, the Houston Texans might be able to as well.
Texans fan living in Dallas as well. Here are my concerns for the game, some of them echo what HillBoy is saying. I think that if the Cowboys can get pressure up front with just Ratliff, Spencer, and Ware they will keep 7 in the box and try to play coverage in the secondary. What's going to be a key is how Jenkins recovers from his leg injury. If they're down a CB, they may be forced to bring more pressure to make up for the loss of their starting CB. I don't think they have a safety that can do what Landry did to us last week. That guy was playing like a Troy Polamalu last week in the 'Skins new 3-4. Interesting conundrum this week for the Texans, do we try to run to set up the pass or do we try to pass to set up the run? A good, flexible gameplan is what we'll need to survive the early surge that the Cowboys will be playing with. I really wish we had the pre-injury OD for this game. Him and Walter would've made life easier for Matt going up against this defense. On offense, the Texans better get to Romo, because those WRs and TEs that Dallas have will give us problems if they get that passing game going. I don't think GQ or KJ can stay with Miles Austin, and I think Dez Bryant might be in position to break a couple of he's given room to work with. Also, it goes without saying that Witten is a beast. Teams have had success when they can force the Cowboys to keep Witten in to block rather than go out and run his routes. Hoping the Texans come up big this week; need to reclaim those bragging rights!!
I will be very surprised if the Texans do not try to establish the run early. If the Texans can get the running game going, it will be a long day for Dallas.
Understood, but you were the one who compared the Cowboys' plan to the Redskins' scheme a week ago - at least in terms of beating the Texans' OL at the point of attack. Maybe Dallas can generate a lot of pressure with just the front four, and if they do, I'll tip my hat to you and say you made a good prediction. But I don't think it's analogous to how the Texans' OL performed last week, because the Redskins were constantly sending complex blitz packages. Apples and oranges.
Yeah, good luck with that. I think the days of opponents being able to do that to the Texans on a regular basis are history. It's not 2005 anymore. Since we may have finally found a RB who fits our quasi-ZBS, our offense is truly clicking on all cylinders right now (knock on wood). Try to stop the run, get burned by Schaub and AJ. Try to stop the pass, get burned by Foster. As Calvin Murphy used to say..... "if the right one don't getcha, the left one will."
Are you also hearing up there that they are 0-2 and have two of the most unprepared and confused looking coaches on the planet? Seriously - how can you play for Wade? EVERYTIME the camera turns to him on the sideline he has a blank, confused stare going on with his mouth open looking completely exasperated and lost. Jason Garret has to be the most overated OC in the league. Run the ball fool! You have 3 plus running backs! If the Cowboys got Cowher - look out. I feel they are a HC and new OC away from contending for the Super Bowl for real.
still have to have players make plays. the cowboys aren't doing that right now, and that isn't solely on the coaches.
I think we will see more screen plays in this game from our home team. Get their front seven off balance.
Well for one, I wouldn't be caught dead rooting for the Cowboys. That's describes me exactly...but seeing one Texans game made me a fan. The team is fun to watch, and the fans are great. I'm over the Oilers and I'm looking forward to Sunday.
Don't forget that Schaub pulled a Peyton and just fell to the ground for most of those sacks. He's gotten a lot smarter.
Some sportswriter from Dallas writes a column dissing the city of Houston and his point is that Houston has a problem with Dallas: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/columns/story?columnist=mosley_matt&id=5606754
