From: mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Dallas *ice!cream!notes*... How sweet it is!
Date: 14 Oct 1992 00:45:00 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aerospace.aero.org

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy!

Boy that smell of a big win smells sweet.  Does anyone else remember
the Thanksgiving day feast that the Cowboys had over the hapless
Seahawks about 10 years ago?  Wasn't the score about 51-0 and wasn't
it just about as ugly?  In that light, and in quite a haze after seeing
the team FINALLY come on big against a weakened patsy, I bring you this
week's *iced!cream!notes*.  How sweet it is.....

THE GOOD:

* The pass defense was the big winner, giving up only 52 total net yards.
  Let's break down the numbers, as boring as they might be:
  24 yards passing (0.9 per pass), 38 yards rushing (1.3 per rush),
  7 sacks for 55 yards, 6 first downs (one on a penalty), 1-12 on 3rd
  downs, 3 punt returns for 11, NO kickoff returns.... WOW!!!!!!

* Robert Jones came up big again.  He is lookin' better and better...
  I didn't see him mess up a play in this game.

* Tolbert is on a major tear now, with 2 sacks and 3 tackles.  The        
  addition of Haley has left the door open for him, but Haley has
  not produced since the first game.  I see him pressuring the QB and
  that is giving Jeffcoat (2 sacks) and the interior line + Tolbert a
  great chance to get major heat on the opposing QB's.

* E.Smith had a good first quarter but ended up flat. He needs a great
  game in the next few weeks but doesn't look to get it vs the good D of
  the Chiefs.  Of course, he has surprised in the past.....

* Irvin as usual, boy this is getting repetetive.....

* Martin has played well enough.  He should be starting.  Period.
  However, he was playing the punt return game ultra conservatively and
  didn't get much chance to return any.  He had 3+ fair catches because
  the blocking has been not so good as the ST go after the punt...

* Offensive line looked good except for some of the running plays.  Hard
  to tell vs. Seattle though (sorry Seattle fans).

* Stepnoski didn't get hurt for the first time in 3 games.

* the penalties got back down to below par, only 3 for 15 yards

* on and on and on and on and on GREAT GAME for the Cowboys, but.....

THE BAD:

* Troy Aikman has had another degredation of his passer rating, 2 INT's
  and no TD's.  Vs. what I saw of the Seattle secondary and pass rush, 
  he should have done far better.  He is hitting the 20 yard darts great
  as he always does, but the set up swing passes and screens and the
  long passes to the outside receivers (fly patterns) are just not there.
  I believe that the Cowboys can win the Superbowl with Aikman at QB,
  but I don't believe that he can win a Superbowl.  He needs to work on
  the nuances of the game, because frankly I don't believe he has them
  right now.

* Dallas had a let down in the second half on offense, scoring only
  7 points on an INT return by Horton.  Where was the offense?  Granted
  JJ went conservative to run the clock, but Dallas went a long time without
  a first down in the second half and only ended up with 16 in the game.
  In contrast, only 5 other teams out of 18 had fewer than 16 first downs
  on Sunday.  This is a bad stat in a game that was a blowout from the
  outset.  The defense had the killer instinct in this game, but the offense
  still has a ways to go when Dallas is ahead.

* Dallas needs a backup running back to spell Emmitt and to back him up
  in the event of an injury.  Agee does not look like a 20 times a game
  type of runner since he became a full back.  Dallas needs a backup soon,
  and if Blake truly is out for the year due to being out of shape and
  Curvin is going to be out for a while, get someone else in there.

THE UGLY

* Bates tore knee ligaments while getting caught on the Texas turf
  and is lost for the season.  He wants to come
  back for 1993, and I wouldn't bet against him doing it.  He will need to
  learn to play with a reduction in his speed though  :^)

* McGuire was knocked out for the year on a mean hit by R.Jones (but not 
  dirty).  Gelbaugh looked very ugly although I thought he was going to be
  dangerous.

* the sun at Texas stadium was brutal on the camera work.  Half the time
  we couldn't see the ball or the players.  It affected Kmarts punt returns
  and the DB's play on the ball.

* Elliot made 2 of 3, including a 51 yarder, but still missed a 41 yarder
  at the end of the game.  I don't have full confidence in him (far from
  it), and he could have done far better had he hit just that one.  I said
  he needed 3 vs. the Hawks last week and he didn't get it....   The vigil
  over Dallas's kicker continues....

GENERAL NOTES

* Wright to the LA Raiders for a #3/#4 has been discussed.  This deal is
  done (according to JJ) and is a steal for the Cowboys.  Even if Wright
  performs at Pro Bowl levels, he will never do it for the Cowboys and
  getting what is slightly less than what was given for him (#2) is a 
  great move.  I therefore finally close the books on Ace as a Cowboy
  and salute one of the best kick returners and athletes (all around)
  in the league.  I wish him well and won't miss him a big, no matter
  how good (or more realistically knowing Ace), or how bad he does.

  P.S. on that, I think that JJ really hornswaggled Davis on this one.
  Jimmy J. said that "we had a logjam at WR and that is why we are looking
  for a trade", and Dallas does have 4 good looking WR.  However, Ace was
  not now and never was part of that logjam.

* Everett will start in the nickel package next week in the place of Bates.
  The next target will be Horton's starting spot and he may take a lot of
  time from Horton this week as it is.  He saw a lot of action vs. the
  Hawks as did Kevin Smith.  Smith is almost ready and we will see him
  starting one way or the other by the end of the season.

* There are two roster spots open, and the possiblities are too much
  to believe.  I don't think Curvin' Richards is ready, so there 
  are very few people that are available to come off IR.  Here are
  a few possibilities and non-possibilities:

  1) Bobby Abrahms has been picked up by Cleveland so he won't be back
  2) Beasley at RB looked good in preseason (practice squad), but JJ
     has shown reluctance in pulling him of the squad this year.
  3) 3rd round draft pick Greg Briggs (safety) is a good bet to be
     brought on from the PUP if he is ready.
  4) WR Tim Daniel on the PUP is also a possiblity.     
  5) Mickey Pruitt would be a good replacement for Bates and Abrhams on ST
  6) look for other kick returners and ST players on waivers.


That's all for now, take care til next week!!!!!!!

*ice*

Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro