NYG VS COWBOYS GAME THREAD

Post #1 » by **boogiesdad** » Sun Sep 9, 2007 5:47 pm

The Dallas Cowboys seem rejuvenated after moving on from Bill Parcells' harsh ways. Parcells disciple Tom Coughlin remains tough on the New York Giants, but this could be his last chance to make his system work.

Wade Phillips makes his debut as coach of the Cowboys as they open the season against Coughlin and the Giants on Sunday night in an NFC East matchup at Texas Stadium.

Parcells stepped down as Dallas coach in the offseason, four years after arriving and turning the franchise into a playoff-caliber team again. The Cowboys, though, never won a postseason game under Parcells - and haven't since 1996 - and his tough approach was beginning to wear on the players.

After four years as defensive coordinator in San Diego, Phillips brings a decidedly more upbeat approach to Dallas than his predecessor did.

"It's totally, totally different," Cowboys linebacker Bradie James said. "You see the smiles. I think you can see from our body language, we're actually having fun."

Coughlin, meanwhile, learned under Parcells as New York's receivers coach from 1988-90, and has tried to instill his mentor's brand of toughness with the Giants since taking over in 2004. The no-nonsense coach appears to be on the hot seat, though, after failing to get past the first round of the playoffs two straight years amid all kinds of turmoil.

The NFC East appears wide open again this season, and it may come down to who does the best coaching job.

Phillips already has won over finicky star receiver Terrell Owens, who didn't always agree with Parcells' methods during last season's 9-7 campaign.

"I feel very confident in going on record now saying we are going to make the playoffs," said Owens, who will be used in a variety of different formations by new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. "We are going to win some playoff games."

Last season, Owens had a hamstring problem in training camp, a broken hand in the third game that required surgery, followed by a finger injury that required offseason surgery. He still caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and an NFL-best 13 touchdowns.

Owens, who has had issues with numerous quarterbacks in the past, has developed a good rapport with Tony Romo, who has gotten the entire offseason to prepare as the starter after making the Pro Bowl last season following just 11 career starts.

Dallas returns 10 offensive starters from the unit that scored the third-most points in the NFL last season, with the only change being an upgrade at right guard with the offseason signing of Leonard Davis.

One key offensive player Dallas won't have available Sunday, however, is receiver Terry Glenn after he injured his right knee during practice. The 33-year-old Glenn suffered the injury to the same knee on which he had preseason surgery to remove a cyst, although the current problem isn't related to the earlier injury.

Glenn, entering his 12th season, caught 70 passes for 1,047 yards and six touchdowns last year and gave the Cowboys a deep threat that helped Owens lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns.

"It's a blow not to have him for this ball game, but there are no excuses," Phillips said. "We're not crybabies. No crying in football."

Patrick Crayton, who has 1,019 yards and seven TDs in three seasons, will move into Glenn's No. 2 role behind Owens.

On defense, the Cowboys will still use a 3-4 front, but it will be more of an attacking scheme than Parcells'. Phillips is a proven defensive coach, and has plenty of talent to use with Dallas.

The Cowboys defense won't have to contend with Tiki Barber this season. Barber, New York's all-time leading rusher, retired for a television career. He will be replaced in the backfield by third-year bruiser Brandon Jacobs, who led the team with nine rushing touchdowns in 2006.

"I'm not here to be Tiki," Jacobs said. "I'm here to be me."

Though Reuben Droughns was signed to take some of the carries from Jacobs, Barber's absence puts more pressure on Eli Manning to finally become the elite quarterback the Giants expected after acquiring him from San Diego during the 2004 draft. The former No. 1 overall pick has had second-half slumps in each of his three seasons in the NFL.

Manning will have former quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride as the offensive coordinator, and he is also being tutored by Chris Palmer, another longtime quarterbacks guru.

New York's offense has the potential to carry the team, with a deep receiving corps consisting of Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, rookie Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss along with Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey.

The Giants defense is more of an unknown, with new coordinator Steve Spagnulo taking over a unit that just got Michael Strahan in the fold on Tuesday.

Strahan, the NFL's active sacks leader with 132 1/2 and the single-season record holder with 22 1/2, dropped thoughts of retirement before deciding to return for a 15th NFL season because his desire to play football was rekindled.

Neither Strahan nor Coughlin was certain the 35-year-old defensive end would play in Dallas.

"He appears to be in good shape," Coughlin said. "Of course he hasn't had any contact. But we have to work our way through all of that."

Justin Tuck has been outstanding filling in at left end, and would likely start there if Strahan doesn't. At the other end position, Osi Umenyiora remains a force.

New York's weakness is the secondary with cornerback Sam Madison nursing a hamstring injury, and that could mean a long day against Romo and Owens. Rookie cornerback Aaron Ross should provide help once he becomes acclimated with the system.

The Giants and Cowboys have split their last eight games, including two meetings last season. Dallas beat New York 23-20 on Dec. 3 at Giants Stadium in the teams' last meeting.

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Minhee · Post #2 » by **Minhee** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:37 am

Go Cowboys! 17-6 in the 2nd but the Giants are threatening.

Does anybody have any injury updated? Is Glenn really out for the season? How long will Newman be out for? Gramatica is on IR and I thinkg NBC said Jason Ferguson is out for the night. Is the injury serious? Who else is hurt on this team? This really concerns me.

Post #3 » by **Geddy** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:52 am

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #4 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:37 am

Ferguson is out for the year. Torn Biceps.

Witten is probably the most underrated TE in the league.

We desperately need another DB, and we need to notice that a 6'5 guy that has been killing us the past couple years shouldnt be left 1 on 1 in the endzone with a much smaller defender.

I say we give Deion a call. Hell, he cant really be worse at this point than our other options can he?

Anthony Spencer looked nice out there, i still wish we could have gotten a DB in the draft. But hopefully next years nice pick from the Brownies will get us one.

Anyways, Good win, a bunch of things to improve on and looking forward to next week.

Minhee · Post #5 » by **Minhee** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:49 am

Kohl Is A Mome wrote:Ferguson is out for the year. Torn Biceps.

Are you serious? That is terrible. I am happy with the win tonight but we will not win many games this year if our defense plays the same way it did tonight. Giving up 400 + yards and 35 pts will almost always result in a L. Luckily their D was depleted and Romo was on his game tonight.

Losing Ferguson is a huge hit to the defense, with Newman most likely being 50% this season, somebody needs to step up on D. Our secondary is terrible.

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #6 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:37 am

Im trying to figure out what the hell happened to Roy Williams. He forgot how to defend the pass 4 years ago and seems to get worse at it each year. He just doesnt seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Add to that, its nice we got another safety (Hamlin) who is fine for a starter, however its a guy who hits but doesnt cover well either.

Post #7 » by **catalyst** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:04 pm

That defense looks very Parcells - esque. Missed tackles, poor coverage, little pressure. HOever, nice win and Offense looked great.

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #8 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:35 pm

Yea apparently we couldnt do the blitzing Phillips wanted without Newman in there.

Hopefully this week regardless of Newmans status we'll do that blitzing. The results on D wouldnt be worse would they?

Dunkin On Ya · Post #9 » by **Dunkin On Ya** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:54 pm

Great day. A Dallas Cowboys win and a Cleveland Browns loss!!!

Post #10 » by **studcrackers** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:37 pm

i say next year with clevelands pick we go for the big defensive tackle glen dorsey b/c he'll most certainly be a top 10 pick and nose tackle is always a need. that guy will be a beast in the league.

that is if the offense keeps doing good if not maybe its time to devote some attention to them (young WR or one of the top tackles next year.)

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #11 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:05 pm

studcrackers wrote:i say next year with clevelands pick we go for the big defensive tackle glen dorsey b/c he'll most certainly be a top 10 pick and nose tackle is always a need. that guy will be a beast in the league.

that is if the offense keeps doing good if not maybe its time to devote some attention to them (young WR or one of the top tackles next year.)

In the first two rounds I definitely want a DB and probably a WR, with DB being a much bigger need.

Dunkin On Ya · Post #12 » by **Dunkin On Ya** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:56 pm

Kohl Is A Mome wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

In the first two rounds I definitely want a DB and probably a WR, with DB being a much bigger need.

The great thing about having Cleveland's pick, is that we can always use our own first rounder in a trade for a disgruntled vet (ie.Randy Moss to the Pats).

It was a great trade, I am not a Brady Quinn fan. The Cowboys have the ability to control the draft next year.

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #13 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:49 am

jdoosmooth wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

The great thing about having Cleveland's pick, is that we can always use our own first rounder in a trade for a disgruntled vet (ie.Randy Moss to the Pats).

It was a great trade, I am not a Brady Quinn fan. The Cowboys have the ability to control the draft next year.

Yeah. Id like Jerry Jones to throw a ton of money at Asante Samuel too. That and a good draft would really set us up.

Post #14 » by **studcrackers** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:40 am

ive heard after this year we'll blow up the defense this year b/c we've spent so much and the cap might force us to make some cuts. so with asante samuel seems sorta out of the question with terrence newman due for an extension soon.

im hoping jerry left himself an out that wouldnt hurt us that much to release bradie james and roy williams. maybe anthony henry too.

as for drafting a cb i dont know any great ones out there. this year was a decent year for corners. cleveland did a great job getting 3 cornerstone position players (joe thomas, quinn and eric wright with there 2nd rounder)

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #15 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:33 am

studcrackers wrote:ive heard after this year we'll blow up the defense this year b/c we've spent so much and the cap might force us to make some cuts. so with asante samuel seems sorta out of the question with terrence newman due for an extension soon.

im hoping jerry left himself an out that wouldnt hurt us that much to release bradie james and roy williams. maybe anthony henry too.

as for drafting a cb i dont know any great ones out there. this year was a decent year for corners. cleveland did a great job getting 3 cornerstone position players (joe thomas, quinn and eric wright with there 2nd rounder)

I know we'll end up giving Romo a deal (I have no doubt he'll perform this year) but i doubt we'll be in cap trouble, Because this year we have 13 mil in cap room. Only 6 teams have more room than us. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7205896

Post #16 » by **catalyst** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:17 pm

Looks like Brady Quinn might be thrown to the wolves. YAY!

Is Quinn On His Way In As Cleveland's QB?
11th September, 2007 - 2:41 am
AP - For one of the rare times in his football life, Brady Quinn was a game-day spectator. Instead of a helmet, he wore a brown-and-orange baseball cap. He carried a clipboard.

Quinn stood on the sideline and watched, maybe for one of the last times.

Tagged since April's draft as Cleveland's quarterback of the future, Quinn could soon become the Browns' man of the moment.

In the aftermath of a 34-7 drubbing against Pittsburgh in Sunday's season opener, Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel didn't rule out Quinn making his NFL debut this week against

http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_wiret ... elands_qb/

Post #17 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:45 pm

Defensively, the Cowboys know what needs to be repaired

Link

NeedsMoreCheese · Post #18 » by **NeedsMoreCheese** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:13 am

He has no such alibi for Sunday.

A trusted Cowboys source told me that a couple of Burress