"I think they're two or three plays away from being 2-0," he says.
He's pretty much correct. That's why the Cowboys should be cheap nfl jerseys
angry, not despondent, about two losses by single digits.
Would 2-0 mean this team is flawless? No. The Cowboys have been outplayed in certain areas since the Sept. 12 opener, or head coach Wade Phillips wouldn't be discussing changes this week at Valley Ranch. The players wouldn't be holding their own team meeting, with Phillips' blessing, to constructively dissect what happened and what's ahead.
Props to the Bears last Sunday. Their defense stuffed the run. Their quarterback, Jay Cutler, typically a turnover machine, endured hit after hit on the first three series yet played a like a Pro Bowler (277 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions).
But the Cowboys have made it too hard on themselves in two games. That, as much as any reason in the first eight quarters of the 2010 season, is why they're 0-2 for the first time since 2001.
Listen, it's difficult to win in this league. Nineteen of the first 32 games this year have been decided by a touchdown or less. Eight of the Cowboys' 16 games last year, and two-for-two this year, have been decided by that margin. The champion Saints have squeaked out victories twice already, needing a lucky bounce or two against the young, improving 49ers.
But it's even harder to win, sometimes impossible, when the little things cost you points on either side of the ball.
Little things include:
Turnovers. The Cowboys are tied for 29th with a minus-four turnover ratio. One turnover has been well-documented: Tatar Choice's fumble that led to a Redskins touchdown was a play the coaching staff admitted should've been a kneel-down. Two Tony Room interceptions led to six Bears points, and although it was a seven-point loss, the offense could've managed drives differently in a tighter game.
Meanwhile, the defense is still looking for its first takeaway, but they've at least been effective in getting off the field most games. Last Sunday, blown coverage’s led to big Bears pass plays, including a 39-yard touchdown. Those are communication issues that can easily be fixed; sometimes it's a product of Dallas Cowboys jersey
playing on the road, where noise is a factor.
Winning this battle is usually pretty telling. The Cowboys were 5-1 in games with a plus-turnover ratio, 1-3 with a minus ratio and 10-2 with an even-to-plus ratio. This year, they're 0-2 with a minus ratio.
Missed field goals. Phillips says neither of Buehler's misses (one in each game) cost the Cowboys a win. But there's a momentum shift when the ball doesn't split the uprights. And kickers aren't going to be perfect from 40-plus yards, but Buehler's 44-yarder would've tied the game in the fourth quarter.
Penalties. The Cowboys have the sixth-most in the league: 18 for 131 yards. Of their 12 in the opener, six were offensive infractions that helped stall drives on the Dallas 40-yard line or beyond, Alex Barron's infamous hold on the final play the most damaging. An unnecessary roughness helped the Redskins convert a third down on their lone touchdown drive.
The Cowboys cut their total in half to six against the Bears, but a pair of false starts occurred on two separate stalled drives. One made it second-and-15 on the possession that ended in a 28-yard field goal by David Buehler; the other made it second-and-11 in an eventual punting situation with the Cowboys trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
Pre-snap penalties are bothersome, but Phillips doesn't always fault his players for an aggressive play. Sometimes they happen in a competitive situation. And he's right, winning teams can overcome penalties. But not when those aforementioned factors (turnovers, missed field goals) limit scoring opportunities, too.
There are even smaller things our untrained eyes don't see, like techniques that can lead to a leaked coverage or a missed tackle or block.
Many times, the immediate reaction is to call for sweeping change. Bench this player. Fire that coach.
I don't see a team that's getting whipped out there. They're not perfect - case in point: they've absolutely got to run for more than their 69.5-yard average - but they've dominated total yardage, first downs and time of possession in both games.
It's a team that needs to iron out some creases, and if you've listened to Chargers jersey
the players over the last four days, they don't sound like a defeated bunch. They sound ticked off that they've been too sloppy in certain areas.
Now if it continues, it's a pattern that started last season in some cases, like the yardage-to-points disparity. Even good teams aren't talented enough to overcome mistakes every week. Bad teams aren't able to make those adjustments.
This team can. It's just got to happen soon. Real soon.
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