| This site created and maintained by Jeremy Dunklin. cowboy-fan.com is in no way affiliated with the NFL or the Dallas Cowboys. All material on this site is copyrighted 2007 cowboys-fan.com |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Latest News
I Need Help With This Site!
I'm asking anyone who is a fan of this site to become a co-writer for
it. I have a new job that will take away from the amount of time I can
put into this website. I'm probably only going to have time for a
couple of articles a week, which is hardly enough to keep visitors
coming back. All you would have to do is e-mail me the article and I
would be able to post it and give you credit for it.
Have your opinion heard! A different viewpoint would be great for
this site. Please e-mail me if your interested. My e-mail address is
admin@cowboys-fan.com
I'm asking anyone who is a fan of this site to become a co-writer for
it. I have a new job that will take away from the amount of time I can
put into this website. I'm probably only going to have time for a
couple of articles a week, which is hardly enough to keep visitors
coming back. All you would have to do is e-mail me the article and I
would be able to post it and give you credit for it.
Have your opinion heard! A different viewpoint would be great for
this site. Please e-mail me if your interested. My e-mail address is
admin@cowboys-fan.com
| Cowboy's Trivia Question of the Week! What college has the most current Cowboys' players as alumni? Last Week's Answer: LSU |
Finally A Tangible Defensive Change
We've been hearing for over five months now how much our
defense is going to be different and better next year. According to
the DC.com propaganda Roy Williams won't have to cover,
DeMarcus Ware will rush more, the defensive ends will come free
on nearly every play, and Jason Ferguson will only have to face a
single guy on every play. Is it just me, or does it sound like the
opposing offenses are going to play with three offensive lineman
instead of five?
Now I'm not knocking Wade Phillips. He will certainly help our
defense because we will be more active and our pass rush should
improve, but the propaganda is getting annoying. You keep
hearing about how Roy is going to play close to the line more often
and we are going to be sending a bunch of guys at the QB on
every play. Is it just me, or does that sound dangerous. We could
hardly cover anyone with two deep safeties, how do you think we
are going to do with just one back there. You better be getting to
the QB in a hurry.
The reality is that all the defensive changes will be subtle. Roy will
play close to the line more, but he is a safety which means he is
going to play deep. That is where a safety plays. He isn't a
linebacker, he is a safety. We aren't going to be sending six or
seven guys at the QB on every play. No team does that. I also
have read where many fans in San Diego didn't like Phillips at times
because they felt he was too conservative on 3rd downs.
I was excited yesterday when I heard the first actual change in
tangible scheme we will be implementing since I heard Phillips
talking about how they would stunt the defensive lineman more in
an attempt to cross the offensive line up and get guys coming
unblocked into the backfield. This change is how the cornerbacks
will be playing.
Under Bill Parcells and Mike Zimmer our cornerbacks played an
inside technique. An inside technique is exactly what it sounds like.
The corneback shades the wide receiver about two feet to the
inside. This technique is the best way to stick with a receiver. The
sideline limits how far the wide receiver can go to the outside, so
the inside is really what you have to worry about. It makes it easier
to cover inside routes when you are already on the inside. There
are two problems with this technique. First, this technique gives the
receiver a clear path down the sideline on a go route. Secondly,
when the corneback turns to run with the wide receiver he is turning
his back to the middle of the field. This is why you so often saw
Cowboys' corners right with the receiver only to give up the
completion anyway. They didn't know exactly when the ball was
coming. They could be right on top of the guy and still not knock
down the pass.
Our new defensive coordinator Brian Stewart stated that we would
be playing an outside technique. This technique also has its
advantages and disadvantages. The two advantages were the
disadvantages of the inside technique. The outside technique will
force a receiver running a deep route to head more towards the
hash as opposed to right down the sideline. This makes it easier
for our safeties to get back for deep help because they don't have
as far to go. The other advantage is that when you turn, you have
you back to the sideline which makes it easier to look and see what
is happening in the backfield. Now, don't confuse this with zone
defense. Our corners won't be able to simply stare into the
backfield the whole time, but they can glance that way and see
what's going on. This should lead to more pass deflections and
interceptions and it will also help our cornerbacks to support run.
The will be able to sniff out draws or delays quicker and they will
also be able to tell if the ball is already out of the QBs hands and
they can go towards the ball and tackle the tight end or back that
received the underneath pass.
There are also disadvantages to this scheme. The most obvious
one is that it will be tough to stop underneath routes. We will need
our linebackers to play better in coverage to help out with this
problem. This is another indication that we won't be sending three
linebackers on every play. Good luck having your corners playing
outside technique with one linebacker in the middle of the field.
Teams would dink and dunk you to death. The coaching staff
obviously knows that. If we are blitzing our corners will have a more
neutral stance, but that evidently isn't going to happen that much or
our defensive coordinator wouldn't say we are playing and outside
technique. The other disadvantage is that it can put a lot of
pressure on your safeties on intermediate routes. You've probably
heard Phillips talk about funneling plays to the safeties. This
technique does that because it kind of gets the cornerbacks out of
position for intermediate routes. This forces your safeties to cover
the last few yards of these routes which is dangerous when your
safeties can't cover.
As you can see, this change in philosophy has its advantages and
disadvantages. Only time will tell if this will improve our pass
defense. I definitely think its worth a try, but it isn't a miracle cure.
Parcells and Zimmer aren't dumb. They played the scheme they
thought was the best. If the outside technique was clearly better
every team would use it. It isn't better its just different. Its kind of
like the 3-4 vs. 4-3 debate. Neither scheme is better than the other
because if it was every team would run it.
We've been hearing for over five months now how much our
defense is going to be different and better next year. According to
the DC.com propaganda Roy Williams won't have to cover,
DeMarcus Ware will rush more, the defensive ends will come free
on nearly every play, and Jason Ferguson will only have to face a
single guy on every play. Is it just me, or does it sound like the
opposing offenses are going to play with three offensive lineman
instead of five?
Now I'm not knocking Wade Phillips. He will certainly help our
defense because we will be more active and our pass rush should
improve, but the propaganda is getting annoying. You keep
hearing about how Roy is going to play close to the line more often
and we are going to be sending a bunch of guys at the QB on
every play. Is it just me, or does that sound dangerous. We could
hardly cover anyone with two deep safeties, how do you think we
are going to do with just one back there. You better be getting to
the QB in a hurry.
The reality is that all the defensive changes will be subtle. Roy will
play close to the line more, but he is a safety which means he is
going to play deep. That is where a safety plays. He isn't a
linebacker, he is a safety. We aren't going to be sending six or
seven guys at the QB on every play. No team does that. I also
have read where many fans in San Diego didn't like Phillips at times
because they felt he was too conservative on 3rd downs.
I was excited yesterday when I heard the first actual change in
tangible scheme we will be implementing since I heard Phillips
talking about how they would stunt the defensive lineman more in
an attempt to cross the offensive line up and get guys coming
unblocked into the backfield. This change is how the cornerbacks
will be playing.
Under Bill Parcells and Mike Zimmer our cornerbacks played an
inside technique. An inside technique is exactly what it sounds like.
The corneback shades the wide receiver about two feet to the
inside. This technique is the best way to stick with a receiver. The
sideline limits how far the wide receiver can go to the outside, so
the inside is really what you have to worry about. It makes it easier
to cover inside routes when you are already on the inside. There
are two problems with this technique. First, this technique gives the
receiver a clear path down the sideline on a go route. Secondly,
when the corneback turns to run with the wide receiver he is turning
his back to the middle of the field. This is why you so often saw
Cowboys' corners right with the receiver only to give up the
completion anyway. They didn't know exactly when the ball was
coming. They could be right on top of the guy and still not knock
down the pass.
Our new defensive coordinator Brian Stewart stated that we would
be playing an outside technique. This technique also has its
advantages and disadvantages. The two advantages were the
disadvantages of the inside technique. The outside technique will
force a receiver running a deep route to head more towards the
hash as opposed to right down the sideline. This makes it easier
for our safeties to get back for deep help because they don't have
as far to go. The other advantage is that when you turn, you have
you back to the sideline which makes it easier to look and see what
is happening in the backfield. Now, don't confuse this with zone
defense. Our corners won't be able to simply stare into the
backfield the whole time, but they can glance that way and see
what's going on. This should lead to more pass deflections and
interceptions and it will also help our cornerbacks to support run.
The will be able to sniff out draws or delays quicker and they will
also be able to tell if the ball is already out of the QBs hands and
they can go towards the ball and tackle the tight end or back that
received the underneath pass.
There are also disadvantages to this scheme. The most obvious
one is that it will be tough to stop underneath routes. We will need
our linebackers to play better in coverage to help out with this
problem. This is another indication that we won't be sending three
linebackers on every play. Good luck having your corners playing
outside technique with one linebacker in the middle of the field.
Teams would dink and dunk you to death. The coaching staff
obviously knows that. If we are blitzing our corners will have a more
neutral stance, but that evidently isn't going to happen that much or
our defensive coordinator wouldn't say we are playing and outside
technique. The other disadvantage is that it can put a lot of
pressure on your safeties on intermediate routes. You've probably
heard Phillips talk about funneling plays to the safeties. This
technique does that because it kind of gets the cornerbacks out of
position for intermediate routes. This forces your safeties to cover
the last few yards of these routes which is dangerous when your
safeties can't cover.
As you can see, this change in philosophy has its advantages and
disadvantages. Only time will tell if this will improve our pass
defense. I definitely think its worth a try, but it isn't a miracle cure.
Parcells and Zimmer aren't dumb. They played the scheme they
thought was the best. If the outside technique was clearly better
every team would use it. It isn't better its just different. Its kind of
like the 3-4 vs. 4-3 debate. Neither scheme is better than the other
because if it was every team would run it.
THE NEXT EMMITT SMITH
By: Larry Petton
Who is the next great Dallas Cowboy running back? Maybe you
should look no further than Fayetteville, Arkansas and University of
Arkansas Razorback rb, Darren McFadden. Throughout his two
college years, D-Mac has already eclipsed many records in
Razorback football, the largest perhaps being the most yards in a
single season, accomplished in his sophomore year. He also came
in second for the Heisman award of 2006.Freshman Season
In 2005, his true freshman season, McFadden rushed for 1,113
yards and 11 touchdowns on 176 attempts, earning SEC Freshman
of the Year honors. McFadden was an integral part of an Arkansas
offense, that, although going 4-7, lost to top ranked teams such as
Georgia and LSU only in the closing seconds of those games.
Although being a backup for the first 2 games of the season, and
even gathering interest from defensive coordinator, Reggie Herring,
to become a safety, a position he also played in high school,
McFadden stuck with his position at running back.
McFadden slowly transformed into the breakout star he would soon
become, rushing for long touchdowns in several games. McFadden
ended the season with the most yards a freshman running back
had ever gained in an Arkansas uniform, and became one of only
two SEC players to rush over 1,000 yards as a freshman, the other
being Georgia running back, Herschel Walker.
In 2006, despite a slow start due to a dislocated toe from an
incident at a night club in Little Rock, McFadden rushed for a
school-record 1,558 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and threw for 3
more touchdowns on just 7 passing attempts, becoming a first-team
All-American. Thanks to his efforts, Arkansas streaked to 10
straight wins, the SEC Western Division Championship, but lost to
Wisconsin in the 2007 Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2007.
On December 6, 2006, McFadden was named 1 of 3 finalists for the
Heisman Trophy, along with Troy Smith (Ohio State University) and
Brady Quinn (University of Notre Dame). The next day, McFadden
became the first sophomore to win the Doak Walker Award, given
annually to the nation's top running back. In the final 2006 Heisman
vote, McFadden placed second behind Smith and several points in
front of Quinn. He is a leading contender for the 2007 race and
considered by many to be the favorite over other players such as
West Virginia University's Steve Slaton and Boise State University's
Ian Johnson.
Standing at 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds,
McFadden surpassed Madre Hill as the record holder for most
rushing yards in a season at the University of Arkansas. He is also
the centerpiece of the "Wildcat" formation, an offensive formation
where he lines up as quarterback. Since McFadden often played
quarterback in high school, he is a threat to either throw (6 of 8 on
passing and 3 touchdowns), or to run the ball. In this formation he
also often hands off to another player, usually fellow running back
Felix Jones, thus making the formation a triple threat. The "Wildcat"
formation, as practiced at Arkansas, is also known nationally by
some as "501", McFadden's hometown telephone area code and
the subject of a tattoo on his arm.
Darren McFadden's junior season will begin during the 2007 NCAA
Division I football season in which he figures, as previously stated,
to be one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
McFadden is eligible to declare for the 2008 NFL Draft and many
are already predicting him to be a high first round draft pick and
possibly the first pick of the entire draft.
And who will hold that number one pick in the 2008 NFL draft? How
about them Cowboys? Dallas holds Cleveland’s number one in the
Brady Quinn deal. Pray for Cleveland to lose every game under
Brady’s Bunch…..then say hello to the next Emmitt Smith. It could
happen. Don’t forget…..Jerry Jones is a former Razorback from
Fayetteville. Hog blood runs deep.
Written by Larry Petton from Springdale, Arkansas. If you have
comments about this article, please send those to lpetton@hotmail.
com.
By: Larry Petton
Who is the next great Dallas Cowboy running back? Maybe you
should look no further than Fayetteville, Arkansas and University of
Arkansas Razorback rb, Darren McFadden. Throughout his two
college years, D-Mac has already eclipsed many records in
Razorback football, the largest perhaps being the most yards in a
single season, accomplished in his sophomore year. He also came
in second for the Heisman award of 2006.Freshman Season
In 2005, his true freshman season, McFadden rushed for 1,113
yards and 11 touchdowns on 176 attempts, earning SEC Freshman
of the Year honors. McFadden was an integral part of an Arkansas
offense, that, although going 4-7, lost to top ranked teams such as
Georgia and LSU only in the closing seconds of those games.
Although being a backup for the first 2 games of the season, and
even gathering interest from defensive coordinator, Reggie Herring,
to become a safety, a position he also played in high school,
McFadden stuck with his position at running back.
McFadden slowly transformed into the breakout star he would soon
become, rushing for long touchdowns in several games. McFadden
ended the season with the most yards a freshman running back
had ever gained in an Arkansas uniform, and became one of only
two SEC players to rush over 1,000 yards as a freshman, the other
being Georgia running back, Herschel Walker.
In 2006, despite a slow start due to a dislocated toe from an
incident at a night club in Little Rock, McFadden rushed for a
school-record 1,558 yards, scored 15 touchdowns, and threw for 3
more touchdowns on just 7 passing attempts, becoming a first-team
All-American. Thanks to his efforts, Arkansas streaked to 10
straight wins, the SEC Western Division Championship, but lost to
Wisconsin in the 2007 Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2007.
On December 6, 2006, McFadden was named 1 of 3 finalists for the
Heisman Trophy, along with Troy Smith (Ohio State University) and
Brady Quinn (University of Notre Dame). The next day, McFadden
became the first sophomore to win the Doak Walker Award, given
annually to the nation's top running back. In the final 2006 Heisman
vote, McFadden placed second behind Smith and several points in
front of Quinn. He is a leading contender for the 2007 race and
considered by many to be the favorite over other players such as
West Virginia University's Steve Slaton and Boise State University's
Ian Johnson.
Standing at 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds,
McFadden surpassed Madre Hill as the record holder for most
rushing yards in a season at the University of Arkansas. He is also
the centerpiece of the "Wildcat" formation, an offensive formation
where he lines up as quarterback. Since McFadden often played
quarterback in high school, he is a threat to either throw (6 of 8 on
passing and 3 touchdowns), or to run the ball. In this formation he
also often hands off to another player, usually fellow running back
Felix Jones, thus making the formation a triple threat. The "Wildcat"
formation, as practiced at Arkansas, is also known nationally by
some as "501", McFadden's hometown telephone area code and
the subject of a tattoo on his arm.
Darren McFadden's junior season will begin during the 2007 NCAA
Division I football season in which he figures, as previously stated,
to be one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
McFadden is eligible to declare for the 2008 NFL Draft and many
are already predicting him to be a high first round draft pick and
possibly the first pick of the entire draft.
And who will hold that number one pick in the 2008 NFL draft? How
about them Cowboys? Dallas holds Cleveland’s number one in the
Brady Quinn deal. Pray for Cleveland to lose every game under
Brady’s Bunch…..then say hello to the next Emmitt Smith. It could
happen. Don’t forget…..Jerry Jones is a former Razorback from
Fayetteville. Hog blood runs deep.
Written by Larry Petton from Springdale, Arkansas. If you have
comments about this article, please send those to lpetton@hotmail.
com.