thevalleyranchreport
08-20-2007, 02:56 AM
I watched the NFL Network's replay of the first half, rewinding a bunch of plays and trying to pick up stuff I missed live. Some random observations:
*RT Marc Colombo, who played two series in his preseason debut, struggled in pass protection. DE John Engelberger batted down Tony Romo's pass on the first play because Colombo missed his cut-block assignment. Romo had an incompletion later in the series when he couldn't step into his pass because Engelberger bullrushed Colombo into him. Rookie DE Jarvis Moss of Denton Ryan fame beat Colombo with a speed rush to sack Romo, who tripped when he tried to avoid Moss. On the next series, Colombo ended up on his butt and almost fell into Romo after a Moss spin move, but Romo was still able to complete the pass.
*Julius Jones had two nice gains on sweeps during the first series, but neither play was blocked particularly well. Jones did a great job of being patient but decisive while weaving his way through traffic on the perimeter.
*I mentioned that rookie OLB Anthony Spencer almost came up with two big plays (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/spencer_all_ive_got_to_do_now_is_finish.html#comme nts). He had another near-miss. Spencer was the first player to get a hand on the fumble recovered by Marcus Spears.
*Spencer is still having trouble jamming the tight end and reading run-pass (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/simplifying_things_for_spencer.html)when he has coverage responsibilities. RB Travis Henry had a nice gain on a draw when Spencer dropped and was blocked five yards downfield by TE Daniel Graham. Spencer did not jam Graham on the play where Spencer deflected the ball into Graham's hands. Spencer showed good athleticism by recovering, but he was only able to get a hand on the ball because it was underthrown by Jay Cutler with Bradie James in his face.
*TE Tony Curtis, who showed his receiving skills against the Colts, had a great block on a DE to spring Marion Barber for his second touchdown. It was almost identical to Jason Witten's block on Jones' TD run (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/watch_witten_on_the_td.html#comments).
*South Grand Prairie's Remi Ayodele got playing time with the starters during the second quarter and held his own. He's the clear leader in the backup NT competition now.
View the full article (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/after_further_review.html)
*RT Marc Colombo, who played two series in his preseason debut, struggled in pass protection. DE John Engelberger batted down Tony Romo's pass on the first play because Colombo missed his cut-block assignment. Romo had an incompletion later in the series when he couldn't step into his pass because Engelberger bullrushed Colombo into him. Rookie DE Jarvis Moss of Denton Ryan fame beat Colombo with a speed rush to sack Romo, who tripped when he tried to avoid Moss. On the next series, Colombo ended up on his butt and almost fell into Romo after a Moss spin move, but Romo was still able to complete the pass.
*Julius Jones had two nice gains on sweeps during the first series, but neither play was blocked particularly well. Jones did a great job of being patient but decisive while weaving his way through traffic on the perimeter.
*I mentioned that rookie OLB Anthony Spencer almost came up with two big plays (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/spencer_all_ive_got_to_do_now_is_finish.html#comme nts). He had another near-miss. Spencer was the first player to get a hand on the fumble recovered by Marcus Spears.
*Spencer is still having trouble jamming the tight end and reading run-pass (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/simplifying_things_for_spencer.html)when he has coverage responsibilities. RB Travis Henry had a nice gain on a draw when Spencer dropped and was blocked five yards downfield by TE Daniel Graham. Spencer did not jam Graham on the play where Spencer deflected the ball into Graham's hands. Spencer showed good athleticism by recovering, but he was only able to get a hand on the ball because it was underthrown by Jay Cutler with Bradie James in his face.
*TE Tony Curtis, who showed his receiving skills against the Colts, had a great block on a DE to spring Marion Barber for his second touchdown. It was almost identical to Jason Witten's block on Jones' TD run (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/watch_witten_on_the_td.html#comments).
*South Grand Prairie's Remi Ayodele got playing time with the starters during the second quarter and held his own. He's the clear leader in the backup NT competition now.
View the full article (http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/after_further_review.html)