From: mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Giants/Cowboys: 34 points barely suff*ice*
Date: 13 Sep 1992 21:15:43 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aerospace.aero.org

Whew!!!  Man, I don't want to live through another game like that, 
and I'm sure that JJ would agree.  This is probably going to be the 
biggest toungue lashing he has ever given to a team that won in his 
life, you never saw Miami blow a lead like that.  Very unprofes-
sional if you ask me.  If you didn't see the game, here is how the 
scoring went:

Dallas   7     14     17     20     27     34     34     34     34     34     F
Giants   0      0      0      0      0      0      7     14     21     28     F

So, in keeping with the reporting I did last week:

THE BEST:

I don't know what to say.  All I remember at this point is the 
collapase of the offensive line, the domination of the defensive line, 
and the porous and uninspired secondary.... Wait!  It's coming back 
to me...  

* the special teams were average... 'average' for the Cowboys that 
is and spectacular for the rest of the league.  Two blocked punts 
(Norton up the middle, Gant from the left) and a good return game 
by Ace and Martin.  Kick coverage (which got a lot of work) was 
very good although the kicks were short.  Bates made 3 straight 
kickoff tackles between the 15-25 yard line.

* Smith was very good although did not have the numbers he had 
last game.  He averaged about 4.0 and carried about 25-30 times, 
but he made more of less as he usually does.

* Kenneth Gant was left out of my summary last game, and it was a 
major oversight.  He had a good game last week, but had a great 
game today.  He tackles and big plays on running and passing plays 
were something special.  Not only is he a demon on special teams, 
but he is backing it up on every down now.  Gant had a sack too.

* Larry Brown has a legitimate Pro Bowl shot after week 2.  
Although he got beat by a perfect throw for a TD, he had 3 more 
GREAT passes defensed, and looks more like the receivers shadow 
than a DB.  Holt should take lessons, he is still hot and cold.  I 
believe Larry Brown is for real.

* James Washington had an INT and played a good game, looking 
much more consistent than vs. the Redskins.  Good vs. the run and
the pass and he makes THE BIG PLAY.

* Lin Elliot is gaining the confidence of this writer <= I've always 
wanted to write that <=, he had 4 extra points and 2 30+ yard FG.

THE BAD:

* The Dallas defensive line appeared to give out much earlier than 
they should have considering their depth.  Casillas, Tolbert, Lett, 
Jones and Lett were invisible.  Haley and occasionally Jeffcoat 
provided the only DL spark.  Maryland DNP.

* Ike Holt did not make as many big plays as possible, but that is 
not a fault.  The fact that Kevin Smith did not spell him more bodes 
ill for the progress of Mr. Smith at DB...

* Erik Williams, although saddled with Larry Taylor most of the 
game, didn't show his normal composure.  He allowed Taylor in on 
several key plays and had 2 or 3 penalties.

* For whatever reason, Simms threw for almost 300 yards in the 
first half, while the Dallas Offense was anemic except for the clinching 
drive.

* Novacek dropped a key pass.  IRVIN DROPPEN TWO MORE, 
and the lack of training camp is showing.  To be fair to Irvin, he 
came back and caught the 3rd and 8 pass that sealed the game on the 
same play that he had previously dropped.  The defender was 
playing 12 yards off him.  Harper was invisible, and Wright rode 
the pine the entire game.  Jerry Rice Irvin's not....

GENERAL COMMENTS:

* Why did J. Jones not start ahead of Noonan with the game he had 
last week?  (probably because Noonan is better against the run).  
Because he didn't start and play as much, Jones was taken out of his 
mode and his game.

* Robert Jones was on and off again, but still looks very promising.  
There is a lot of pressure on this young man.

* Haley means a lot to this team, and I think will mean more in the 
future.  I can see why they call Tolbert a "slow starter".  He is not 
even out of first gear yet.  Good thing for him no one is pushing 
him for playing time, but the holdout hurt him a lot.  Hopefully he
will reach his stride in the second half of the season.

* Hennings continues to ride the pine with Ace.  I don't think he has 
seen the light of day, the green of the field, or the eye of the camera 
yet this season.

* Tuinei is playing his best football in 10 years.  He has had a 
history of injury, but looks very good this year.

* The Cowboys won 5 straight to end last season, now 7 in a row.......

FIANL COMMENTS:

I can't blame any one element or person on the Cowboys for the 
collapse, however, I do know it doesn't happen to great teams.  
The win should help, and I feel sorry for Phoenix next week.  Games 
like this will happen on the road uphill, and I am glad the got a W 
from this.  I'm sure I'll find more to say (as if this wasn't enough, 
right?) after I digest the game and see the stats.  

Take care,

*iceline*

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