From: ronnie@uts.amdahl.com (Ronnie Townsend)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Dallas/Buffalo
Date: 21 Jan 93 17:25:34 GMT
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

In article <1993Jan21.154634.11052@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> iqrh_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Imran Qureshi) writes:
>In <wfLUwRK00aw3AAN0hs@andrew.cmu.edu> mg5c+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael D. Goettsche) writes:
>
>>What's going on with most of these posters?  I've noticed a trend toward
>>the same BS being said about the upcoming Super Bowl as was said about
>>the NFC Championship. So, first and foremost, Dallas is not going to
>>crumble and fold underneath the Super Bowl hype.  They said that Dallas
>>would crumble against Philly, and then they said Dallas would fold
>>against SF.  It seems to me that Dallas turned in two of the best games
>>a team has played this year -- against two tough opponents they were
>>clearly superior.  The SF game was close, but just given the fact that
>>they were able to drive at will against the Niners, and then limit the
>>Niners to yards, not points, is significant.  Once more, the Cowboys are
>>too talented to allow the hype to affect them. 
>
>Two weeks of superbowl hype can't even be compared to any playoff game.

I'm convinced, Dallas doesn't care about hype. They come to play. If there is 
anything Jimmie Johnson learned at Miami, it is that you don't let your 
players get caught up in hoopla like they did in the Penn State game. You 
come, you see, you conquer. Johnson has assembled one of the most talented 
teams in the league. He now has them believing in themselves like you could 
never believe given their age. 
>
>
> I have yet to see Emmitt
>>Smith have a poor game in the last 2-3 years, and I sincerely doubt that
>>Aikman, one of the coolest quarterbacks around under pressure, will play
>>so poorly that Dallas' other weapons cannot save them.
>
>>That said, one person wrote earlier regarding matchups, giving just
>>about all matchups to the Bills.  Here goes:
>
>>QB -  Edge to Buffalo?  Jim Kelly has been too erratic the past two
>>years to really know what type of game he will have.  If he's on, Dallas
>>will have some problems, BUT they won't be in trouble.  Aikman has not
>>had a bad game since the first Philadelphia loss in week 4 of the season
>>-- he has not turned the ball over and directed the offense with great
>>poise.  When Aikman is on, he is every much if not more than the equal
>>of Kelly.  Edge to Dallas (slight).
>
>Aikman over Kelly?!?!?!?

>
>You've got to be kidding.  First of all, please note that Kelly completed
>17 of his 24 passes.  No imcompletions in the second half.  His two INT's
>were clear effects of his rustiness (one pass was short by 18 inches and
>the other was a miscommunication with the reciver).  If Kelly is on, he'll
>kill Dallas and open up holes for Thurman to blow by in...which will open
>up the pass and it will feed on itself.  The Bills don't have a powerhouse
>offense for no reason!

Hmmm... Aikman finished the year with higher rating did he not? He has played 
better in the playoffs (okay Kelly only played one game but Aikman was clearly
better on Sunday).. Why does the concept that MAYBE Aikman has matured into 
the QB everyone thought he would now in his fourth year bother you so much? 

Seems to me that powerhouse offense doesn't need Kelly judging from the first 
two playoff games. 

>>RB - Edge to Buffalo?  Not!  Emmitt Smith is the best RB in the game
>>now, without a doubt.  Thurman Thomas is a close second.  The other
>>poster mentions that the Bills have Kenneth Davis, but I don't see this
>>as a factor -- one or the other of them play, and they both play so
>>similar styles of games that they can be treated as one RB.  Buffalo
>>would have the edge if Smith were the type of running back that wears
>>down as the game goes on, but if you've seen any Cowboys games this
>>year, you'd know that Emmitt Smith only gets stronger as the game goes
>>on.  Edge to Dallas.
>
>Emmitt is good, but he's no Thurman.  TT can catch and run with ball like
>no other RB in the game!!  Kenneth Davis provides FRESH legs...note his
>2nd half long runs in the last 3 games...he was clearly rested and ready
>to blow the tired defense away.

Sorry... Emmitt has passed Thurman this year..  The only reason Emmitt 
doesn't have Thurman's pass-catching numbers is that the Cowboys have a 
different offensive scheme. Emmitt has shown that he has good hands and is 
equally dangerous as a reciever. Buffalo will not stop Emmitt Smith... nobody
else has. 
>
>>WR -  Edge to Dallas!!!!  Is there a doubt after last weeks game in SF? 
>>Buffalo has slightly better DBs than SF, but they still face the problem
>>of being out-sized by Irvin and Harper.  Right now, Irvin, Harper, and
>>Martin are the most dangerous wide receivers in the league.  Reed and
>>Lofton are very good, and Beebe can hold his own, but they are not in
>>the same class as the Cowboy trio RIGHT NOW. (Don't reply that Lofton is
>>one of the best ever because I know that -- but right now he isn't
>>better than the Cowboy's #2 man, Harper.)
>
>Lofton is one of the best ever.  (I just had to say that).
>Your reciever edge is nullified if you count the Bills RB's as receivers...
>did you happen to catch the screen passes last week by any chance?

But we are not comparing RB's are we? 

>>OL - Even.  Buffalo has an outstanding OL, naming several players to the
>>Pro Bowl over the last few seasons.  Dallas' OL RIGHT NOW is just as
>>good, having 2 PB players, and in many people's opinions another couple.
>> Dallas' OL dominates opposing DLs in the second half through their
>>size, whereas Buffalo plays an even keel game throughout.
>
>NOT!!!!!
>The Bills clearly have the best line in the NFL!!! What's more is that they
>are playint their best bal of the year! Huge edge to Buffalo!!!

What? What games have you been watching.? Only a major el foldo by Houston 
got Buffalo this chance. The Oiler D-line ate Buffalo for breakfast. In the 
next two games they had the luxury of playing against two of the weaker 
defenses in the league (among playoof teams).. That will not be the case next
week. 
>>DEFENSE
>
>>Dallas -  There's a reason they are number one - their DB coverage is
>>outstanding and their tackling is impeccable.  They rarely miss tackles,
>>thus preventing opposing wide receivers from breaking open short passes
>>for long gains.  Since this is one of the keys to the Buffalo passing
>>attack is the run after the reception, I don't foresee Buffalo gaining
>>much through the air.  Dallas' DL is one of the best in the game - they
>>generate a lot of pressure on the opposing QB and are also quite
>>excellent at stopping the run. 
>
>Buffalo DL is the best.  Number 1 rushing yards/carry allowed, sacking
>opposing QB's like crazy lately.  BILLS HAVE 32 SACKS IN LAST EIGHT GAMES,
>15 IN THE LAST 10 QUARTERS!!!!!!!!!
>That's one scary line playing awesome.

That's a team with a big lead racking up numbers! And in the case of the 
Miami game, having no respect for the run. Try that against Emmitt and he'll
have trunk full of those "touchdown balls" he's been collecting. 
>
>
>Dallas' team speed on defense is
>>everything.  Their linebacker corps is solid.  Their one weak spot which
>>has proven to be exploited is the zone between the LBs and the DBs -- I
>>feel SF could have won the game if they exploited this more.  Instead,
>>Dallas proved susceptible to the short dump pass to the RBs, which makes
>>them extremely susceptible to Thurman Thomas out of the backfield.  If
>>Buffalo is going to remain competitive, they must make their mark in the
>>first quarter (score at least two touchdowns), because Dallas' defense
>>has proved to be very stingy after the first quarter.  They make
>>defensive adjustments that grind the opposing offenses down to very
>>short drives.  Dallas' strength, going into this game, will be their
>>nickel defense.  If they can get Buffalo into second and long, the Bills
>>will be out of the game by the middle of the third quarter.  Conversely,
>>if Buffalo can avoid 3rd and >3 situations, it will be competitive.
>
>>Buffalo - They have a slightly better defense than the Niners, but only
>>slightly.  I really don't foresee Dallas having any problems with it. 
>>The key once again will be the offensive line - they must open up holes
>>for Smith.  Bruce Smith will be the x-factor - he has had an
>>inconsistant year - at times he has looked unstoppable, at other times,
>>he has looked very ordinary. 
>
>Uh. Ok.
>Smith had his best year of his career.  Despite 14 sacks, he was awesome
>against the run.  Hmmmm, maybe that's why Buffalo has the best run D in the
>league.  This was Smith's most consistent and overall productive season in
>his life.
> If he can get into situations where he is
>>double teamed, things will look very good for the Bills.  I think a lot
>>also depends on the play of Bennett and Conlan -- Dallas really hasn't
>>faced outstanding LBs with the exception of the Eagles.  If Buffalo can
>>stop Smith with their front seven, Dallas' offense will rely on Aikman
>>getting the ball to Novacek, Irvin, and Harper.  There is no way on
>>earth that Buffalo will be able to stop these three if the ball is
>>thrown somewhat well to them, thus for Buffalo to stand a chance to win,
>>they must pressure Aikman into throwing bad passes.
>
>Apparently you missed the last 10 QTrs of the Bills...allowing only 16 pts!
>The last two games have been Odomes and Williams best of their careers.
>Henry Jones is the best SS in the leage, Kelso probably the smartest.
>This unit is really peaking and as a result the Bills are getting a lot
>of coverage sacks.
>   Once more, they
>>must stop both Smith and Aikman to win. (Limit Smith to <80 yards,
>>Aikman to <200 yards and 2-4 INTs.
>
>>Dallas' task is much simpler in this game -- they merely need to get one
>>facet of their offense in gear to win.  Their defense will limit the
>>Bills to about 350 yards total offense, with about 14-17 points.  
>>I believe the final score will be Cowboys 27, Bills 17.
>
>You don't win SB's with only one facet of the game working!!!!

This is an understatement. However I believe the above statement is true 
because in both teams' cases, all facets feed off each other. If the run 
works, it softens the pass rush and makes the safeties check run... then 
you can throw. If the passing game clicks, you make the DB's nervous and 
the linebackers have to play looser and you can run. We have a unique matchup 
this year in the SuperBowl because both these teams have it all. One thing 
that might turn the game is Dallas' emphasis on special teams. I have seen 
the Buffalo special teams improve over the years but they've made some major
Boo-boos in the last two SB's. The other difference is that Dallas simply does 
not turn the ball over. The Bills have shown a tendency to do just that and it
will kill them if they do it against Dallas. 

>         
>The Bills have peaked at the right time, everyone is playing awesome and ther
>are on a 91-16 scoring run with 15 sacks and 6 INTs in the last 10 quarters.
>This is a team possessed.  They shut down the pass and the run=> victory.
>Also the intangibles:
>1.  Bills experience in SB (it does matter)


>2.  Bills have much more to win for

Why? WIll their rings be bigger than the Cowboys? 

>3.  Levy has lately been coaching like a genius

Levy is an idiot who happens to have a great team around him. 

>4.  In case of injury AT ANY KEY SPOT the Bills have a suitable backup.

Wrong... nobody on Buffalo can replace the injury prone Bruce Smith or 
Bennett..  both have been hurt throughout their careers. Look for Dallas 
to really pound on Smith with the heavy boyz to see what he's made of. 

>5.  Bills will be healthier than at any time in the playoffs--they have more
>    to gain from the two week layoff.

>6.  Grass field hurts the Team Speed on Defense factor for Dallas

Ask Steve Young if the grass slowed Dallas' defense down? 

>7.  Dallas already getting cocky with dances, celebs, assuming victory

What? 
>8.  Bills are in a zone
The Bills just played their toughest opposition in their first game. Pittsburgh
and Miami were not as good as the Oilers either. 

>9.  Bills Kicking game is one of the best in the league along with coverage

Sorry I don't buy this... after all.,.. the guy was let go by Tampa Bay :-) 
-- 
Ronnie
-------------------------------------------------------------
Whenever the fates hear someone say, "It can't get any worse than this..." 
They just laugh and double your misery! 


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