Cowboys Fans Have New Scapegoat

                Wade Phillips is gone but Sunday night gave Dallas Cowboys fans across the world a new scapegoat, well, I guess more of a recycled scapegoat that has returned to attract the ire of those fickle Boys fans.

                Tony Romo, returning from a broken collarbone that ended his 2010 season early, had an absolutely terrific three quarters against a hyped Jets defence.  He was in control of the offense, making good decisions, looking for Miles Austin and Jason Witten once Darrelle Revis jumped onto Dez Bryant and took him out of the game, beautifully improvising in the way that has made Romo a star and fan favorite.  It was perfect Romo and the Boys had a 24-10 lead shortly after the start of the 4^th quarter.  Not even a TD drive by Mark Sanchez and the Jets to pull within 7 seemed like it would be enough to overcome the Romo-led Cowboys.  A 64-yard rumble from Witten to the Jets 3-yard line should have ended the game.

                Unfortunately, the bad Romo sprang up.  Instead of just going down and throwing it out of bounds, Romo tucked and ran.  Even that wasn’t a terribly horrible decision but he will be lambasted for it by everyone because of how the play ended, with the ball in the hands of Jets NT Sione Pouha.

                The Cowboy defence, a shell of its former self in 2010, made the plays it needed to make to keep the Cowboys ahead and put the ball back in Romo’s hands with a chance to hit field goal range.  Getting the ball at the Jets 47-yard line, Romo instead took the offense backwards.  This was the start of Romo’s unravelling.

                A 2-yard loss on a run by Felix Jones (who woulda thunk that Jones wouldn’t be the closer the 30lbs heavier Marion Barber was for them?) followed by two straight delay of game penalties as the offense just couldn’t get its act together.  Pushed back to their own 41, the Boys at least had the opportunity to make life incredibly hard for the Jets by pinning them back deep in their own territory.

                Instead, little-used Jets RB Joe McKnight burst through the middle of the Cowboys line on the punt and leaped just far enough to get a hand on the ball and send it bouncing back behind punter Mat McBriar.  The Jets scooped it up and ran it back for a TD.  Tie game, 24-24. 

                Sanchez and the Jets even gave Romo two more opportunities to get the lead back.  The first chance resulted in a punt for a touchback.  It was the second squandered opportunity that has everyone rankled.

                The drive lasted one play.  Picked off by Revis on a horribly thrown pass well behind Bryant.  And he’s lucky it didn’t go back the other way.  Romo admitted after the game that it was a “dumb decision” and he’s right.  But he wasn’t quite done yet.

                Nick Folk booted what would be the game winning FG and the Boys got the ball back with little time to get down the field and at least get in FG position.  Getting a first down at their own 34 with 8 seconds remaining, the Cowboys again looked disorganized, C Phil Costa snapping the ball before Romo was even ready.  The ball bounced around for a second before Romo grabbed it and threw incomplete.  Instead of getting some yardage and possibly stepping out of bounds and stopping the clock, the Boys had to call their last time out with 3 seconds remaining and the game basically over.

                Romo stepped up after the game and took responsibility for the loss.  Leaders step up and take responsibility.  He’s the QB, that’s a cross he has to bear as the QB.  But is it all his fault?  Let’s not forget that Romo carried this team for 3 quarters.  Tossed 2 TD and kept the offense moving despite Jones proving pretty obviously that he’s not cut out for lead back duties.  Jones had 44 yards on 17 carries, good for 2.6 yards a pop.  What about Bryant, who absolutely disappeared as soon as Revis started blanketing him.  Bryant’s not the only receiver to get lost on Revis Island but after 3 catches for 71 yards a TD in the 1^st quarter, Bryant went catchless the rest of the way.  How about Bryant standing around watching Revis pick off that pass?  That’s some great effort fighting for that ball there Dez.  What about Witten’s offensive pass interference penalty on the first play of the final drive that erased Austin’s 22 yard catch?  Or how about a defence that knocked around the Jets offense for 3 quarters and then couldn’t make enough plays at the end to keep Sanchez and the Jets from getting the points they needed?  What about the special teams breakdown that led to the game tying TD, is that Romo’s fault?

                Did Romo make some mistakes?  Yeah, some real ugly ones that a QB in his 5^th year as a starter, with 3 Pro Bowl selections under his belt, probably shouldn’t make.  We all know the old saying about quarterbacks: “they get too much credit when things go right, and too much blame when things go wrong.”  At least Romo had the balls to stand up and accept that responsibility.  Let’s assign blame where blame is due.  The Dallas Cowboys couldn’t beat the Jets in the clutch.

                Good thing Romo got them that far. 

Monday Morning Canadian: Week 1

Newton Magic in Debut

Today at least, Cam Newton was exactly what a lot of people didn’t think he was, something they never thought he could be: a pocket passer.  Not this early, not Game 1, no way would this *spit* running QB stand tall in a pocket and find open receivers, not with the rottweilers in his face and a road crowd in his ear.  But there was Cam, in the pocket, firing strikes, using his legs to buy time and find space, standing tall, hitting receivers. 

Ball, White Keep Badgers Offense Running

                The 116^th ranked rush defence in 2010 offered little resistance against the 12^th ranked rushing offense from last year, allowing Wisconsin Badgers backs Jr Montee Ball and Soph James White to rush for 127 yards on 21 carries.  Ball ran for 3 TD, caught another and White added another score as the Badgers rang up a 51-17 beating over UNLV.

                Ball came on late in the year, rushing for 777 yards over the final 6 games of the season.  He scored 11 rushing TD in three games against Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern as the Badgers won by a combined 201-71.  His 18 rushing TD tied him for 8^th in the country despite getting only 167 carries.  He should be around 200 this year and is certainly off to a good start approaching last year’s totals. 

                Losing weight and spending time in the weight room has significantly improved his speed and quickness, adding a whole new dimension to his game.  He still has the same power, possessing a strong lower body and compact frame at 5-11 212lbs.  Benefits quite a bit from strong Badger offensive lines but is adequate in short yardage.  Rips through arm tackles and can be difficult to bring down.  Enhancing his speed has answered a huge question about him and he should climb draft boards. 

Ball is not asked to pass protect much and is below average as a receiver.  Is tough for defensive backs to handle in the open-field but is not overly elusive.  Speed is better but it is not elite.  Still is not explosive but is more than just a grinder now.

                White led the team is rushing with 1,052 yards as a Freshman in 2010.  He tied John Clay with 14 TD on his way to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the conference’s coaches.  Sitting on the Doak Walker, Walter Camp and Maxwell Award Watch Lists, he could steal carries from Ball this year after earning 156 last year.  He got a little banged up in late October, missing the Purdue game, but came back strong with games of 19, 23 and 20 carries over the next three weeks (Indiana, Michigan and Nwestern), rushing for 459 yards during Wisconsin’s explosive late stretch.  TCU closed him down in the Rose Bowl though, holding him to 23 yards on 8 carries.

                He’s slightly undersized at 5-10 195lbs but makes up for it with the elite speed that Ball lacks.  He is very elusive in the open field and possesses the extra gear to break away.  He will run hard between the tackles but looks to break it outside.  If he gets there, he’s gone.  Has good vision, quick feet and the balance to bounce of tackles.  A strong runner for his size, White has been productive as a kick returner and can handle those duties in the pros.

                Like Ball, White doesn’t get many opportunities to pass protect.  He’s on the fringe of the size necessary to withstand the rigorous workload of a lead NFL back but is well proportioned and shows good core strength.  Flashes as a receiver but needs work on route running. 

                Gaining 3,194 yards on the ground in 2010, the Badgers will play to their strength once again though may not have the expected drop-off from Scott Tolzien with Russell Wilson able to start.  The Badgers should once again be passable passing the ball and Wilson brings a rushing dimension not there with Tolzien.  The o-line returns 3 starters and two others who have started at least one game.  It’s a storm waiting to run roughshod over the Big Ten.  And in case of emergency, Wisconsin already has the next generation off hard-earned yardage on the roster.

                Freshman Melvin Gordon and Jeffrey Lewis got reps against UNLV and both produced.  We’ll be talking about them come 2014 as the next great Badgers runners.

Trophy Watching

Heisman Candidates

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide, Junior

2010 stats: 112 carries, 700 yards, 6 TD

And a runningback shall lead them.  Crimson Tide RB Trent Richardson looks poised to follow in former backfield mate Mark Ingram’s shoes as a Heisman winner.  A complete package of strength and speed, Richardson will be the horse the pulls the Bama buggy right into the championship game.  With Ingram off to the NFL, Richardson is the lone horse in the stable now and should put up the stats in the toughest conference to be a finalist and eventual winner.

EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State, Junior

2010 stats: 69.9%, 861 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT

Florida State will challenge for a BCS bowl and possibly a national championship, which will give Manuel the stage to put on a Heisman performance.  A skew towards quarterbacks could even push favour his way if the Seminoles are as a good as they can be.  Manuel got a bit of experience last year and looked pretty good, but with an off-season as the leader of this team he’s poised to breakout.

Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma, Junior

2010 stats: 65.6%, 4,718 yards, 38 TD, 12 INT

Jones is one of the nation’s most productive passers on one of the nation’s most consistent teams.  Just saying “Sooner’s starting QB” carries Heisman implications.  Maybe next year.  I’m on record believing that Texas A&M will go to Oklahoma and win in Norman, which will basically kill Jones’ trophy chances.  He’ll be in the discussion and could still be a finalist.

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina, Sophomore

2010 stats: 249 carries, 1,197 yards, 17 TD

Lattimore is a monster who burst onto the scene last year as SC`s freshman rushing record fell by more than 300 yards.  The Gamecocks are handing the team over to fellow sophomore Connor Shaw at QB which could give Lattimore the bulk of the offensive responsibility.  If he`s up to it and South Carolina goes to the SEC championship, Lattimore could pull off the win.

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

2010 stats: 71.3%, 3,845 yards, 35 TD, 6 INT

A winner, Moore is 38-2 in three years as BSU’s starter.  He’s put up fantastic numbers and won bowl games.  He was 4^th in voting last year.  That’s about where he’ll be again this year.  A win in Atlanta against Georgia to open the year could make him an early leader in the race but the trophy will go to someone in national title contention.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2010 stats: 70.7%, 3,332 yards, 32 TD, 8 INT

Will either need to put up sick numbers or lead the Cardinal to the national title game.  He is hands down the best QB in the nation but his team just won’t do enough to get him that trophy. 

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

2010 stats: 294 carries, 1,731 yards, 21 TD

Much like Luck, James is a victim of his own success as he’ll be expected to match or improve his numbers from 2010.  1,700 yards and 21 TDs will be tough to duplicate.  Oregon will be in the title hunt but if they don`t get their James` chances will be hurt.