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Breaking Down the Dallas Cowboys

TO, Romo bring electricity to Buffalo (Courtesy: MSNBC Sports)

Four wins, zero losses. Nearly 38 points per game. A rising star at QB, a current star at wideout, and a Head Coach that is a perfect fit for the defense. Oh, right - there's also an owner with an insatiable thirst to win as he did nearly a decade and a half ago. Despite their opponents' win-loss record (3-13), make no mistake about it: the Dallas Cowboys are back among the NFL's elite franchises.

Think that will intimidate the young, inexperienced and one-win Buffalo Bills? Not a chance. Buffalo has an uphill climb in this contest, to be sure, but a home crowd on Monday Night means that anything can happen. But a home-field advantage and a little momentum won't make up for the matchup difficulties the Cowboys present: this team, in reality, has very few weaknesses.

Offense: Points, Points, Points Galore
Romo developing into a star: Dallas has a sound running attack and some big-play weapons, but the offense starts with Tony Romo. With elite statistics (1,199 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT, 112.9 QB rating, 2 rush TD), Romo has a flair for the big play, excellent awareness in the pocket and enough mobility to keep defenses incredibly honest. His one weakness remains the same as last season: he still has the propensity to throw a bad pass or two per game. As Grizz from Blogging the Boys mentioned in yesterday's interview, however, Romo has gotten much better with ball security this season. He's flawed, but the Cowboys are playing so well that those flaws have been completely masked to date - and the flaws are not huge ones as it is.

It's Not Just the T.O. Show: Terrell Owens remains an elite target league-wide (19 catches, 362 yards, 3 TD), but his success has hinged directly on the excellent play from the Cowboys' other offensive weapons. TE Jason Witten is on his way to a Pro Bowl season, amassing 304 yards and 3 touchdowns already this season. Patrick Crayton has filled in admirably for the injured Terry Glenn, picking up 184 yards and two scores last week as the St. Louis Rams limited Owens to just three grabs. These guys are good, and they make Romo look good as well. All of them are big-play threats, and they'll need to be contained come Monday Night.

The Perfect Closer: Dallas still operates with a two-back set, but Julius Jones is merely the "starter" - it's been the Marion Barber III show this season. Barber is currently averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and has proven himself as a nice dump-down target for Romo as well. When the Cowboys build up a big lead - it's happened often this season - the ball goes to Barber, and he runs behind Dallas' monstrous O-Line (average weight: 324). With his hard-nosed running style, it's been a very effective way for the Cowboys to ice games with ease.

Defense: Talk about a Cake Job
Missing Jason Ferguson: While they haven't exactly faced the league's most explosive offenses thus far (that comes next week), the Cowboys defense has been stellar enough to allow Dallas to close games early. Their job is certainly made easier by the offense, but once again, there are flaws. The team is missing nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who is out for the season; his replacement, Jay Ratliff, is not quite the anchor to the 3-4 as his predecessor. The front three of the Cowboys have been merely average to this point; if the Bills run often, they should hit the second level a fair amount of the time.

Impressive Package at LB: Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is one of the elite 3-4 pass rushers in the NFL, and he's the heart and soul of the Cowboys' defensive attack. With a rookie under center for the Bills in Trent Edwards, look for Wade Phillips to move Ware around and stunt him on blitzes to keep the Bills' O-Line guessing. The rest of the Cowboys linebackers are superb as well - they stuff the run well, and with Greg Ellis back from injury, they're deep, versatile and explosive. This unit is clearly the strength of Phillips' defense.

Room for Big Plays?: Anchored by strong safety Roy Williams - a perpetual liability in coverage - the Cowboys' secondary has always been susceptible to big plays. They've improved at free safety with the addition of Ken Hamlin, and Terence Newman is fully healthy as well. But this is still the weak point of the defense - especially since starting corner Anthony Henry is scheduled to miss this game. He'll be replaced by Jacques Reeves; look for the Bills to pick on Reeves early and often with the combination of Lee Evans, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and possibly even Marshawn Lynch. Any of those four targets have the ability to burn Reeves one-on-one.

Special Teams: The Weakest Link
Trouble with Dante Hall: One player was able to get the better of Dallas in last week's matchup with the Rams, and it was return man Dante Hall. His 85-yard punt return for a score was the Rams' only points of the game; he also ripped off an average of 30 yards per kick return. Dallas' coverage units have struggled, so there is a great chance for some big plays from Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish. Rest assured that the Cowboys are aware of the Bills' explosive return men; it may not do them any good, however.

Pick-a-Punter: It may seem trivial, but the punting matchup of Buffalo's Brian Moorman and Dallas' Mat McBriar truly is a matchup of the league's best punters. Make no mistake: Moorman is the superior. Their career averages are similar (McBriar 44.1, Moorman 43.5), and each averages about 19 punts downed inside the 20 per season. McBriar's career long punt of 75 yards (2006) is nearly as impressive as Moorman's career long of 84 (2002; he also had an 80-yarder in '04). What sets Moorman apart? His longevity and his ability to match McBriar stat-for-stat despite kicking in Buffalo. McBriar is a stud, to be sure, but he is still merely the apprentice. The NFL's best punter resides in Buffalo, folks.

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Pretty Good breakdown
Of the Cowboys but you got a few things wrong. Special teams coverage has been very good with the exception of Hall last week, which was injury related. The Week before they completely shut down the best kick returner in the game, Devin Hester, including causing him to fumble twice (Bears recovered). The Rookie place kicker has ice water in his veins, the kid just doesn't miss. And their own kick return teams are money, as well. If I'm not mistaken, Crayton still averages more yards per punt return than Dante' Hall does despite the long TD last week, and he's not even Dallas' best punt returner(that would be Newman who hasn't been able to assume those duties yet this year).

And McBriar is clearly the best punter in the game, though Moorman does get more practice ;-)McBriars only weakness is he occasionally out kicks his coverage unit. He's the only Punter I've ever seen who had to work on not kicking the ball quite so far.

Dallas has one major weakness and it's not something the opponent can control. Zebras love to throw yellow hankies at them.

by FunCowboysFan on Oct 6, 2007 10:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thanks
Thanks for stopping by with the critique. I'm going to agree with you on just one of your points :), and it's about Nick Folk: it looks like your Cowboys have finally found a kicker. He hasn't had to make any high-pressure kicks, obviously, but he's at least brought some stability to the position for you guys.
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Oct 6, 2007 11:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'd say
He's made two of them, now ;-)

by FunCowboysFan on Oct 9, 2007 12:06 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also
If McBriar is the only punter you've ever seen out-kick his coverage, then you've never seen Brian Moorman punt a ball. You honestly think the Bills' gunners could adequately cover an 84-yard bomb? :)
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Oct 6, 2007 11:16 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That's not what I meant.
And I'm pretty sure that 84yd punt was of the bounce and roll variety ;-)

by FunCowboysFan on Oct 7, 2007 1:52 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

In the air
Actually, Moorman's longest punt of the year was from 9 yards deep in his end zone and caught at the NE 24, which was 85 yards in the air; NO bounce and roll at all.

by Krenn on Oct 7, 2007 1:15 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cut me a f-ing break
NFL officials blow calls in every game. Complaining about bad calls against "YOUR" undefeated team is either sarcasm or arrogance and BS one way or another in Bills territory.

by Zumone on Oct 7, 2007 12:17 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You mis-understood me
I wasn't complaining about bad calls against the Cowboys, I was complaining about the Cowboys making stupid mistakes to draw flags. Flozell Adams is a beast, but he's also been committing 2-3 bonehead penalties nearly every game. T.O.'s TD celebrations may be amusing, but when they draw a 15 yard flag, I'm not laughing.

IOW, I was criticizing the Cowboys, not the Zebras.

by FunCowboysFan on Oct 7, 2007 1:42 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Fair enough
Lets hope T.O. is in rare form in front of the  Monday Night Football audience.

by Zumone on Oct 7, 2007 9:26 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The guy who I'm most afraid of is....
Marion Barber III.

What an absolute beast.  If the Cowboys decide to run it often with him, we are in trouble.  

He's the best RB in the NFC that I've seen this year....

~K

by Kurupt on Oct 6, 2007 11:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

3 words
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY.

let's give em hell fellas. i hope the stadium is rockin

by buffgetlowbills on Oct 7, 2007 2:54 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cowboys fans should relax
And wait 'til they play someone (opp record 3-13) before they get excited.

That said, tomorrow night will be a train wreck.  I'm just hoping the fact that the Cowboys propensity for stupid mistakes (per the Cowboys' fan above) carries over from penalties to turnovers.

Also, Lynch should be able to get some yards against the Cowboys soft run D (He'll be the most talented back the Boys have faced all year -Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown, Jacobs/Ward and Brian Leonard weren't exactly world beaters)

by thetaxman on Oct 7, 2007 2:18 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

On the contrary
Ronnie Brown has been an absolute beast this season. But yes, Lynch will have some opportunities tomorrow night.
Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Oct 7, 2007 2:31 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

taxman
all NFL teams are worthy opponents, to say an undefeated hasn't played anyone is ridiculous.

You'll see how soft our defense is when Lynch will be lucky to get 50 yds.

by Terry on Oct 7, 2007 3:03 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're right - Miami Rules
I'll keep that in mind next time I'm wagering for an 0-4 team to win outright*

Brian - you're right re. Brown (although he got off to a very slow start this year).  Larger point is that while I'm sure the Cowboys will beat the Bills, they're not reminding me of any of the Super Bowl Cowboys that ran over GOOD teams 15 years ago.

*today's results notwithstanding.

by thetaxman on Oct 7, 2007 3:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

you can't compare any team
to the greatest dynasty in NFL history.

by Terry on Oct 7, 2007 7:11 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're right
The '01-Current Pats are pretty good.

Sixties Packers were also excellent.

In all seriousness, if I were a betting man, I would be irrational and take the Bills because they're my team.  In reality, I see this as a 38-6 kind of game with poor Trent Edwards falling back to earth.  After all, he'll still be hungover from celebrating Stanford's win over USC.

by thetaxman on Oct 7, 2007 10:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Where do you get
"Soft run D" from? They haven't allowed a running back to gain 100 yet and only one TEAM has gained that many. Add in the fact that Lynch himself hasn't run for 100 in a game yet and this makes no sense.

by FunCowboysFan on Oct 8, 2007 12:01 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wishful Thinking??
It's my only excuse.  Dallas was #10 in the NFL against the run last year.  

by thetaxman on Oct 8, 2007 1:48 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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