The Next Big Game is Here

seems a little quick huh ?  that’s life in the NFL.  time to pack away those great feelings from philly and look only to Green Bay.  it would be a HUGE mistake to think that the 4-4 Packers is one of those games where you just show up and claim the Win.

In reality there are no games like that.  The NFL has bad teams and great teams but the beauty of sports is that there is no scripted ending.  Great teams do lose, bad teams do win.  I wouldn’t put Green Bay in the bad team category.  They are a team that has not put it together yet but the potential is there.  A good young QB who still holds the ball too long sometimes.  Some problems along the O-line contribute to that as well.

Bums son , as well as the team leaders need to preach that just showing up won’t cut it this week.  It shouldn’t be hard to get pumped up about going to Green Bay but the Good Guys do have some young players that need to be reminded that EVERY game counts.

A win here will look mighty sweet after Thanksgiving, a loss here could be magnified later.  The good teams know you never want to miss on a chance to win a game.  Picking up a win, on the road, against a team in your conference could go a long way if The Boys end up scrambling for a wild card spot down the road.

To me this game will show me just as much how different this team is from last years team as the win last week.  Piling up wins before Turkey Day puts you in great position when things start heating up like they usually do late in the year.

I feel like our Heroes will show up, ready to play and do what they need to do to win, but hey its a show-me league so come on Boys and show us what ya got.

later…Poke

Where Are All The Naysayers Now ?

The moaning, groaning and woe is me crowd seems to have been quieted for a moment.  The gnashing of teeth has subsided temporarily.  Amazing what winning cures.

All the internet geniuses, most of whom have never been on a football field that wanted to bury the Boys after the first 5 games have scurried back down into their momma and daddies basement.  Maybe they can perfect their play calling on Madden 10 while feasting on all the crow they should be eating.

Apparently Wade does know how to get a team ready.  Jason Garrett does know how to mix things up on offense and the Good Guys do have heart and the ability to show up for a “big” game.

Sadly in football winning a big game in November, no matter how great it feels, doesn’t mean you are destined for greatness.  It doesn’t even mean you are guaranteed a victory in the future against teams with poor records.  All it means is you keep your team in position to play the “next big game”. 

I liked what I saw from the Boys last night.  It definitely shows their potential.  Now for it to mean anything more they have to keep doing it.

I am not going to make the same mistake those naysayers made when this team was 2-2 or 3-2 and they were proclaiming the end of the world.  I am not anointing this years Heroes but I sure was proud of them last night.

later…Poke

More Ado About Not Much

Okay I have been shamed into writing a hard hitting investigative blog by the readers worldwide who pay the bills for this highly regarded and widely read blog.

So, recent Cowboy events here we go.  First up the infamous Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader picture in blackface.  In case you missed it you didn’t really miss anything.

It was a Halloween Party, I saw pictures of way worse costumes online and sure I think it is dumb but gimme a break.  No story here.

Next up, the Roy threw Tony under the bus breaking story.  I watched the video and read all the quotes and just don’t see much to worry about there. 

I then went to hear what the guys Jerry pays say about the story and they didn't seem to think it was all that big of a deal either. When you get on the page find the story that says “ Roy/ Romo Controversy “. For some reason i can’t get it to link directly to the story I wanted. Listen to the first 10 minutes to hear them.

I tend to agree that Roy should have quit talking sooner but to be honest the throws from Tony to Roy have been off target for the most part and Roy has dropped 2 or 3 he should have caught.

The worst thing about it all is that now the national sports guys wanna turn it into TO Chapter 2.  I feel like Tony and Roy won’t let that happen and what you may not hear about is they worked after practice to try and correct whatever problems they have.

So far this week no words of wisdom? have been heard from Jerry and thats always a great thing.

As for the football game itself.  It’s Cowboys vs Eagles, anything from greatness to sickness could occur.  Nobody last year thought the Good Guys would lose 44-6 against the iggles.  Stuff happens.  This is a road game, against a hated division rival.  It’s big.  BUT…it is not the be-all, end-all of football games.  No matter who wins it doesn’t guarantee that they go on to the Super Bowl.  No matter who loses it doesn’t mean they go into the Toilet Bowl.

I could list all the 5 things the Boys need to do to win lists and all the 3 most important things to watch for lists too, but in the end it won’t matter.  Footballs bounce funny and those lists never seem to account for things like that.  Just outscore them.

Oh yeah, as more proof of my superior investigative skills I searched and looked through thousands of cheerleader pictures to show ya’ll what the offending cheerleader looks like normally.

See I told you I thought her costume was dumb…she should have just went as a Cowboys Cheerleader.

later….Poke

Not Quite Nail Biting Time

So Sunday night begins a whole new level of worry.  Our guys have to go to Philly and play the dern iggles.  It was bad enough worrying the Yankees past the phillies this week, now I gotta keep on hating the city of brotherly love.  oh well, that’s easy enough to do.

BUT before all that serious worrying commences I thought I would share some of the lighter moments from last week when the Good Guys tore up another bird team, the Seahawks.

The tailgating was a bit subdued since it started about 8 am and it took a while for everybody to ease into the morning.  From the looks of some of these fans it appears people finally got into the spirit of it.

As always I had my sharp eye looking out for goofy hats, masks, or any other clothing that looked a bit unusual.  I found some.

its not just Cowboys fans either

I did enjoy watching the game.  It’s been a while since the Heroes have looked good in 2 games in a row.  This is the punt Crayton took all the way for a touchdown.

And since this has turned into a pictorial blog instead of my usual fine literary stylings  I feel I should include the obligatory pictures of Americas Sweethearts.

So enjoy fellow fans of the Blue Star Cult.  Soon enough the battle will begin anew and the time for looking back will be past as the struggle of Good (the Cowboys) over Evil (the eaglets) continues.

For me, the time to start fretting and pondering ways to beat the Eagles starts as soon as I hit the enter button and post this blog for all to see, you guys can wait until you work your way through my ramblings…..later Poke

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Dallas Sports: Texas Rangers News Dallas Cowboys News Dallas Mavericks News Dallas Stars News InsideCorner Blog D Magazine » Blog Archive » Football 301 – Decoding Garrett – Week 7

It's Getting Better

It's Getting Better
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I already liked the Stadium. I already liked tailgating there too.

I am pleased that the experience is getting better every game. Nothing major has changed but some little tweaks have been made. Getting into the parking lot went quickly even though they have to scan your pass, having a lot of attendants probably helped or maybe the ones they have are learning how to move us in better.

I like the recycle bins placed in the parking lot. I admit I don’t do enough recycling but when it’s made easy even I don’t mind doing it.

The issues in the Stadium, like lack of info about other game scores and game statistics were remedied by putting that info on the ribbon scoreboards and two good size screens in the west endzone.

The play clocks, which some said were hard to see looked like they had been brightened up with higher intensity bulbs. I have no idea if thats correct but to me it looked brighter.

The sound in the 100 level seemed a bit better although I did still hear some echoes. I don’t expect it to sound like Bass Hall so that doesn’t bother me.

Whoever is in charge of the Big Screen and the music used to fire up the crowd seems to be getting a better feel for when to do it and when not to.

It appeared that they put less emphasis on the Cage Dancers, make your own mind up about whether that’s “better” or not.

The sun shining in through the West end had no affect on my section but it did look like it would bother those sitting in the East endzone and corner sections. I expect the Cowboys to use their curtain for the next 3:15 game. Not because it’s a major issue, just to make it a non-issue.

The results of the game are definitely better !! A Cowboys fan had to enjoy that game.

The Arlington PD seems to be doing a good job. I’m sure there will be disagreement from some over that statement but it’s based only on what I have seen. I never have any problem getting out of our Parking Lot onto Collins and heading home, the Police were getting people to walk across Collins at traffic lights, and every one of them I talked to was pleasant, informative and helpful. They also have these cool little 3 wheelers !

Those are my impressions after 3 games. Anybody feel differently ?

Prediction

I don't do predictions.

For one thing I am not good at it. Secondly nobody else is either so
usually I just figure why bother.

This week is different. A bye week leaves me with too much time on
my hands.  I get tired of reading the same old stories the local
mediots have written for 2 solid weeks.

I get it, nearly everybody could run the team better than Jerry Jones.
I get it, nearly everybody could coach the team better than Wade.
I get it, all of you guys could easily throw better than Tony, block better than Flozell, catch better than Roy Williams, break up passes better than Newman, run faster than Felix and implement World Peace if somebody would just let you.

Forgive me if I think it's too soon to write off the season, fire the Coach, trade young players, and all the other asinine solutions I have read from experts and message board GM's.

I see a team that has not played up to their potential yet. I have watched as the Good Guys made mistakes, fumbled the ball, committed penalties and generally looked out of whack for 5 games. Amazingly they won 3 of those and came close to winning the other 2.

What if they play a good game ? What if the offense, defense and
special teams play a complete game ? I like our chances if that happens.

I just have a feeling we may see it this week. It's time. We had the
bye week and this week to iron out some wrinkles. Get some people over nicks and bruises. Spend time working on little things that may have been passed over during the other weeks.

Traditionally the Boys play well after a bye. The game is at home.

So here ya go....Dallas 27 Atlanta 24.

I just hope my heart can stand getting there ! later Poke

Call me crazy. For one thing why wou...

Call me crazy. For one thing why would a sane person be writing this at this hour ?

Maybe I am afraid if I write it during the day the internet police would send the guys in the white suits to haul me off to the loony bin.

If you read this while drinking your morning coffee I hope you don't spit it out all over your expensive computer...oh who am I kidding, surely the people who read this don't own expensive computers.

So how bad were the Cowboys on Sunday when they played the once Dallas Texans in a game billed as "the game that never was" ? ( that alludes to the fact that the Boys never played the Texans, mainly because they were in 2 different leagues but also because the Texans were better than the Cowboys at that time).

The Boys of the Blue Star turned in a stellar performance that included 4 fumbles, a missed FG, some really bad punt receiving, a 41% 3rd down conversion rate, 4 offsides penalties ( 3 on the same drive, no less) on the DEFENSIVE line, the always present false starts on the Offensive line, and forced NO..ZERO...ZIP...NADA turnovers. They even managed to lose the coin toss in overtime to decide who got the ball first but I am getting ahead of myself.

BUT...and this is important, their opponents managed to display an even worse showing of American football and due to the heroics of a guy named Miles, the heroes of my youth won a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the first time EVER !

So to sum it up the Good Guys played what seemed to be uninspired, sloppy, poorly planned mediocre football.
Now here is where ya'll might start thinking my train has left the tracks.

I was kind of impressed.................................. I will wait while you get some towels to clean up the coffee.

I am being serious. Quit laughing. No really I mean it. Okay maybe I am crazy.

But, have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes right, where in spite of your best intentions you keep messing stuff up ? Where the faster you go the further behind you get ? Where you know you are smarter than what you are messing with but it still kicks your butt. I have had some of those days. Well maybe a lot. This aint about me though so lets move on.

The Cowboys seemed to have that kind of day Sunday (and 3 other Sundays this year).  It was painful to watch.
An optimist can always find that silver and blue lining though so heres where I am going with my rambling.

THEY DID NOT QUIT...GIVE UP...THROW IN THE TOWEL or hang their heads and look whipped.  Am I the only one who noticed that ? That is way more important for this team than winning style points. If you watched them last year lose to Philly in the last game you had to be questioning their heart. You had to think that maybe there were some quitters in that bunch.

Not Sunday. Nope, even when the defense got soft and let KC tie the game up the players looked mad about it.
Then the defense found its resolve again and stopped KC in OT...twice. I know KC was bad but only a few minutes before they had scored to tie the game.

Ya see, they did what we all have to do when things aren't going the way you plan, dream or envision. They sucked it up,did what they had to do and this time they got rewarded. A guy named Miles ( who had started the day off not so good his own self) had a career day and a bucket full of determination and scored the winning TD.

Then did ya see those overpaid, uncaring, in it for the money professionals mob him on the ground in the end zone ?
So for a moment maybe I saw some guys who do care, who won't quit and for now I will take that. I don't require pretty.

later Poke

How Bad Are The Chiefs ?

well now we know why KC is 0-5.

the Cowboys played terrible for the most part.

the Chiefs still managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

They really are bad.

Congrats to Miles Austin, he played his heart out.

First Half Thoughts

im gonna have to do this as the game goes along cuz i am already
losing track of all the mistakes.

so a fumbled punt, missed FG, too many penalties to count, a fumbled snap, and 2 wasted time outs by the offense in the first quarter leads to the 0-4 Chiefs leading by 10 points.

the Chiefs are so bad i still think the Boys can get their act together enough to win this game.

i may be totally wrong since we are at the goal line and throw 2 incomplete passes when barber would have been so happy to run it in if they would just keep calling his number.

uhh is it a bad thing to wish the clock would just run out before
your team can screw something else up ?

best play of this game so far was Crayton letting that last punt just land, staying far away from it and heading to the locker room.
ya see prayers do get answered.