From: mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Dallas Cowboys *notes*
Date: 29 Dec 1992 18:29:13 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aerospace.aero.org


The final regular season installment of *iced* notes,
readem' and think!

Two games, each with its own intrigue and interesting happenings.
Also, a final game which saw the commentators go completely away
from the game at hand and talk about every inane fact that could
be dug up.  I severely dislike John Madden's commentary and would
prefer to listen to almost anyone else....

Let's get started and try to pack in some random comments:

* Curvin' Richards is gone.  I liked this back's style a lot, and
  I thought that he had a chance to be a very good player for
  Dallas.  He did not yet have the full use of his instincts, but
  I felt very comfortable putting him in for Emmitt in Dallas's
  offense.  Now with Richards gone, Agee is the backup and Derrick
  gainer will get the third stringer's job.  Although Agee is a 
  very good back, he lacks the lateral mobility to be a halfback
  on a regular basis.  He would give Dallas a running game, if not
  a credible one :-).  I would have preffered to see Dallas activate
  Michael Beasley from the practice squad, I liked what I saw of him
  in the preseason.  Derrick Gainer is a ST'er and is not the answer.
  The cut was not only due to the fumbles in the Bear's game that    
  almost lost the game for the 'Boys (JJ almost put the starters 
  back in), apparently Richard could not handle the pressure and 
  boredom of being a backup back in the NFL.

* Alfredo Roberts is lost for the season with a knee injury.  The 
  possilbilities for Dallas here are a lot more narrow, and I 
  really don't like any of them.  First of all, the young TE/T
  Pat Evans is definitely a blocking TE, but is untested.  Gogan
  and Veingrad can play tackle but are definitely no TE's.  Finally,
  the least likely but most interesting activation would be 
  getting Fallon Wacasey from the practice squad.  In case you have
  forgotten, this guy is 6'7" (at least) and only 241.  He is not
  a blocker, but he is pretty big!  Is TE Bartlewski still available?
  :-)

* I was not as upset to see the sloppy play from the Cowboys late as
  JJ was, but I am glad to see he is such a perfectionist.  If it is
  not off the deep end (which I don't believe it is), the cut of 
  Richards is a good "wake-up" move which should carry into 2 or 3
  more seasons of "easy, meaningless" games.  We saw very little of
  Chad Hennings again (<5 plays at end) and I don't like what that 
  implies.  He is definitely following the Roger Staubach path to
  fame and fortune in the NFL so far ....


Milestones:

* JJ is now at 32-32 for his regular season record, getting back to 
  .500 in record time.  He is 33-33 overall (of course!).  The Cowboys
  have set a record for regulard season wins at 13.  The Cowboys got
  their 300th franchise win.

* Ken Norton is the first non-MLB to win the tackling title in many
  years.  He did play MLB in the nickel package however...

* Dallas's Defense finished 1st in rushing D, 1st in overall D, and
  either 3rd or 4th (4th I think) in scoring D.  Best in opponents
  3rd down percentage as well.

* Irvin missed by a few yards in his bid to become the first NFL 
  player to gain 1500 yards of receiving yardage in consecutive
  seasons.  He did collect $50,000 for catching 80 passes.

* Stepnoski was named 2nd team All-Pro center.  Jay Novacek is
  1st team TE beating out Keith Jackson.  Smith is 1st team RB,
  and Aikman is 2nd team QB, tied with Cunningham.  No Cowboy
  defensive players made the All-Pro team and neither did any
  other OL members.  Irvin was also 2nd team All-Pro (Rice and
  Sharpe first team).  Unbelievably, Deion Sanders got 2nd team
  DB after missing 5 games at the start of the year!

* Elliot missed his chance to become NFL scoring champ by less
  than 10 points.  He may have won the NFC title or may lose it
  by less than the 28 yard FG he missed vs. the Bears.  He could
  be rookie of the year in the NFC, you read it here first!

more *Notes*

* vs. Atlanta and Chicago (notably NOT the Eagles or Saints),
  E Smith looked as good as he has looked in a while.  I guess it
  helps when they have little to play for.  Aikman looked bad
  (read bored) vs. the Bears and Irvin's bid to pass Sharpe 
  suffered.  Irvin looked ticked off at times.

* Godfrey Myles made a very good interception and Kevin Smith 
  looked very good.  Hopefully one of the two (Myles or Edwards)
  linebackers that stil remain unknown quantities will step 
  forward next year.  Hate to have those two draft picks 
  wasted.

* Newton sat out the game with knee problems to give him the 
  full 3 weeks to rest.  His weight is back up to 315 (he was
  at 260 at one point in the preseason) and could have played
  if needed.  Gogan made his first start of the year and played
  well.

* Leon Lett took a cheap shot at Bears QB Furrer, the first meaness
  I have seen out of Cowboys defenders.  He was penalized and hope
  fully we won't see that again... 

* Charles Haley, the supposed "big name" of the defense did not have a 
  single tackle, assist, or sack.  Now I know that his role has been
  muted, but he had a poor game by most standards.  I was surprised
  that he was still in there toward the end. 

* Russell Maryland had a decent game (the fumble return not withstanding)
  and got a defensive game gall.  Darryl Johnston got the offensive
  ball and Gant got the ST ball for a massive hit on a Bear's return
  man...

* Novacek looked good and is at peak form entering the playoffs.  The  
  Cowboy's continued their trend of passing significant amounts to 
  Martin, Harper, and Johnston.  This is two games in a row that the
  Cowboys diverse offense has produced big dividends.  Much better than
  the game vs. the Redskins...

anyway..... look for my rookie wrapup coming to a station near you...

*ice*  
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro