kickholder
October 12th, 2006, 02:50 AM
Here are the Questions Waiting for Answers for the week:
(1) Which offensive line do we see this week? In two wins, the offensive line has been quite effective. Andre Gurode looked as if he were beginning to become a very good center. The acquisition of Kyle Kosier made the loss of Larry Allen more bearable, and Flozell Adams appeared to be returning to form. The collective performance of the lineman against Philadelphia made all of these positives vanish. This has continued to be a good source for discussion at the Dallas Cowboys Fan Zone (http://blog.dallascowboys.com/blogs/the_rant/archive/2006/10/11/64771.aspx).
(2) How does Drew Bledsoe respond after his pounding by the Eagles? Bledsoe came back from the week one loss to Jacksonville very nicely in the game against the Redskins. However, Washington chose not to blitz. If Houston does, many people will hold their breath wondering what Bledsoe will do.
(3) Does Dallas play with a sense of urgency? A poster on Cowboys Central named mymaveric wrote a good piece raising this very question (http://www.cowboyscentral.com/bb/showthread.php?t=13238). The Houston game looks like a gimme, which makes it a very dangerous game. And the fact that the Giants come into town on the following week make it even more dangerous because it will be easy to look past the Texans.
(4) Does the defense cut down the big plays against it? This defense seems to have brief lapses that can hurt the team severely. One would have to think that some of this has to do with the safeties. Roy Williams has never been the best cover safety, and Pat Watkins is a raw rookie. The corners are very good, but we don’t think any of them are great in the sense that they can always be left alone. The Texans have some very good receivers in Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds, so that has to cause some concern.
(5) Do David Carr’s statistics mean anything? How many of you realized that Carr has the leading passer rating in the NFL? He does (108.9 rating), but we had no clue. Of course, Damon Huard of Kansas City is second, so that should tell you at least something.
(6) Does the defensive line get to Carr? Carr has taken 15 sacks this season, which puts him on pace to take 60. That is only eight fewer than he took last season. The Cowboys pressured Donovan McNabb last week effectively, and the line should have a better game against Houston.
(7) Prediction: Dallas 30, Houston 13. Dallas responded well the last time it had a tough road loss, and we think the Cowboys will do the same this week. Look for Owens to get the ball at least three times in the first quarter, and expect Bledsoe to run several plays designed to get the ball out of his hands more quickly.
http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com/?p=301
(1) Which offensive line do we see this week? In two wins, the offensive line has been quite effective. Andre Gurode looked as if he were beginning to become a very good center. The acquisition of Kyle Kosier made the loss of Larry Allen more bearable, and Flozell Adams appeared to be returning to form. The collective performance of the lineman against Philadelphia made all of these positives vanish. This has continued to be a good source for discussion at the Dallas Cowboys Fan Zone (http://blog.dallascowboys.com/blogs/the_rant/archive/2006/10/11/64771.aspx).
(2) How does Drew Bledsoe respond after his pounding by the Eagles? Bledsoe came back from the week one loss to Jacksonville very nicely in the game against the Redskins. However, Washington chose not to blitz. If Houston does, many people will hold their breath wondering what Bledsoe will do.
(3) Does Dallas play with a sense of urgency? A poster on Cowboys Central named mymaveric wrote a good piece raising this very question (http://www.cowboyscentral.com/bb/showthread.php?t=13238). The Houston game looks like a gimme, which makes it a very dangerous game. And the fact that the Giants come into town on the following week make it even more dangerous because it will be easy to look past the Texans.
(4) Does the defense cut down the big plays against it? This defense seems to have brief lapses that can hurt the team severely. One would have to think that some of this has to do with the safeties. Roy Williams has never been the best cover safety, and Pat Watkins is a raw rookie. The corners are very good, but we don’t think any of them are great in the sense that they can always be left alone. The Texans have some very good receivers in Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds, so that has to cause some concern.
(5) Do David Carr’s statistics mean anything? How many of you realized that Carr has the leading passer rating in the NFL? He does (108.9 rating), but we had no clue. Of course, Damon Huard of Kansas City is second, so that should tell you at least something.
(6) Does the defensive line get to Carr? Carr has taken 15 sacks this season, which puts him on pace to take 60. That is only eight fewer than he took last season. The Cowboys pressured Donovan McNabb last week effectively, and the line should have a better game against Houston.
(7) Prediction: Dallas 30, Houston 13. Dallas responded well the last time it had a tough road loss, and we think the Cowboys will do the same this week. Look for Owens to get the ball at least three times in the first quarter, and expect Bledsoe to run several plays designed to get the ball out of his hands more quickly.
http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com/?p=301