Ick’s Corner

*Disclaimer - If you are a blind Cowboys fan that can’t read or hear anything bad about the Cowboys, you need not read any further*

This team has gone from heavy favorites to win the Superbowl, to a team that is falling apart. So I guess lets start with all the injuries that have come up after the game in the desert.

* indicates key injuries (in my opinion)

Tony Romo* - Out for 3-4 weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand.

Matt McBriar* - Out for 6 to 8 weeks with a broken foot

Felix Jones* - Out 2 weeks with a hamstring injury

Anthony Spencer* - Out 2 weeks with hamstring injury

Keith Davis - Lacerated thumb, noticeable limp

Flozell *False Start* Adams* - Stinger

Sam Hurd - High Ankle Sprain, possible season ending surgery to come soon

Add this to the list of already hurt players like

Tank Johnson - Ankle issues

Kyle Kosier* - Foot injury suffered in Greenbay

Roy Williams - Forearm that was fractured in Eagles game, could return in a few weeks

Andre Gurode*  Ankle issues

Terrence Newman* Sports hernia surgery out 4-6 weeks

The long list of injuries are the least of the Cowboys problems. After the play of the Cowboys over the last 3 weeks, I no longer want to hear the word Cowboys, and Superbowl in the same sentence. This Cowboys team (and I use the term team very loosely) is not playing like a Superbowl contender, they are playing like a very talented, and very expensive roster. The chemistry this team used to put together a 13-3 season is missing, If you have any information to its whereabouts, please call Valley Ranch. With all the expectations, hype, and media circus that follows the Cowboys day in and day out.. its amazing they can focus on anything.

Its no big secret to anyone that has followed the Cowboys that Jerry Jones loves to have complete control of this team. This was only obvious when he put the head coaches staff in place before he hiring of the head coach after the Tuna had enough.  Now why Jerry Jones thought it would be a good idea to bring back Dave Campo for anything other then a waterboy is beyond me. Dave Campo, former head coach was brought back in the offseason to coach the secondary and it would appear that the secondary has only gotten worse. Which I didn’t think was humanly possible. It always brings a smile to my face when I see Dave Campo on the sidelines after his secondary gives up a big play, and he looks like he can’t believe what just happened.

Wade Phillips was hired as the head coach, coming from San Diego where he was the defensive coordinator. There were big hopes from Cowboys fans that Phillips would be able to recreate that Chargers defense here in Dallas. Needless to say that hasn’t happened. Now I will say this, one consistent shining star for the Cowboys defense is Demarcus Ware, who was taken one pick before Shawn Merrimen in the 2005 NFL draft. Now there are other bright spots on this Cowboy defense, like veteran Greg Ellis, the recent play of once considered bust Anthony Spencer, and the recent play of Zach Thomas. Serviceable defensive line, then you stumble across the secondary on the depth chart. With Terrence Newman out, the only other bright spot I can see right now is Anthony Henry. Sure first round draft pick Mike Jenkins is coming along nicely, and you have former Longhorn killer Roy Williams back there, but do we really need to examine Williams?? Once the hardest hitting saftey in the league, now he is an arm tackling figure pointer when there is blown coverage.

The addition of Pacman Jones was supposed to give us some depth, supposed to give us a threat as a punt returner, and in week 6 I’m happy to report he is merely a warm body on the field. Sure his name gets called for making some plays, but more times then not he looks very lost. Not to mention that everytime he touches the ball to handle his punt return duties, and starts all that running around trying to make something happen, it always results in a *blocking in the back* penalty. One of the handlers that Jerry Jones pays to make sure he stays out of trouble should not be fighting with him in a bathroom breaking mirrors. They need to have look in the mirror and remind him he is not Deion Sanders, or Devin Hester.  The special teams coach needs to tell him to catch the ball, secure the ball, and run up field with the ball. Please keep it simple for Pacman. Perhaps the Cowboys pass out  signs to the crowd to direct Pacman on what to do.

Now we move over to the offensive side of the ball. Now I understand when you have a quarterback that can extend a play, and make things happen like Tony Romo can, your going to have to accept the fact that they are going to turn the ball over. I also understand that Romo has run up several 300+ yard passing games this season, can we hold on to the ball? Not only are you frustrating the hell out of Cowboy fans, your upsetting T.O.

You can’t get T.O. the ball if your fumbling the ball because your holding on to the ball to long. Now what Jerry Jones deemed the *best offensive line* the Cowboys have had is not completely innocent in the reason Romo is either having the ball stripped from behind, or finding himself flat on his back. With 3 of his lineman either hurt, or playing through injury, its to be expected. T.O. wants the ball more, he is starting to *express* himself to the media, but yet offensive coordinator Jason Garrett finds himself trying to get T.O. the ball despite the continuous double coverage. Meanwhile recent big money contract signer Patrick Crayton continues to drop passes he should catch. Incase Owens hasn’t told Crayton this, allow me. If Crayton steps up and starts making catches and becomes a threat, then it will free up the double coverage on T.O.  Its no big secret to any defense that is scheming for the Cowboys that if they take T.O. and Jason Witten away from Romo, the chances dramatically increase that they  will beat the Cowboys. First round draft pick Felix Jones continues to impress everyone in Dallas, its only obvious that when he touches the ball big things can happen.

Until the Cowboys address the following issues, they will not be a serious threat to bring a championship back to Dallas

-Piss poor special teams play

-Horrible secondary play

-Stagnate offense when the killer instinct needs to take over

-Remove Dave Campo for Valley Ranch, exercise extreme force if need be

-Find Demarcus Ware a consistent pass rusher for the other side of the line

This Cowboys team needs to stop being compared to the 90’s Cowboys, not only by the media, but the fans as well. Until this team starts playing like a team and not just a talented and expensive roster, the Cowboys will be nothing more they are right now. A team with a ton of talent, alot of internal questions, and alot of problems. Just because you go out and bring in a bunch of troubled players with a ton of talent for bargain basement prices, doesn’t mean you have punched your ticket to the Superbowl. With no chemistry, or team work your just asking for the wheels to completely fall off.

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