Califan007
September-29th-2008, 01:05 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_lombardi/09/29/Week4/index.html
Week 4 Grades: Broncos, Cowboys continue poor defensive showings
Grade: D
Cornerback Terrance Newman and the Dallas defense. Now, I know the Cowboys have played some tough games the last few weeks, but there was no excuse for their poor play yesterday. They allowed the 'Skins to control the ball for over 38 minutes, they never slowed down the running game, and when it came to covering Santana Moss -- they didn't.
Moss wore down Newman with double moves, basic moves; short passes long passes and basically anything he wanted. Moss is the number one man in the 'Skins pass offense, and when you lose a game and allow the opponent's best player to beat you, you deserve to lose. At what point in the game where they going to press Moss and double cover him and force someone else to defeat them?
And what might have been the most costly mistake of all by the Cowboys was early in the fourth. Behind 23-17, they stopped the Redskins on a third and two but had 12 men on the field, allowing Washington to continue its drive. The 'Boys, in the last three weeks, have allowed more than 243 yards per game passing and 7.4 yards per pass attempt. This looks like an area other teams may be able to exploit all season long.
All the talk of an improved secondary with the addition of Adam Jones and first-round pick Mike Jenkins appear to be just that -- talk.
Grade: A+
Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins. One of the many things to love about the NFL each week is that you get an opportunity to go from rags to riches, and the Washington Redskins have done just that.
They looked horrendous in Week 1 in all phases against the Giants, but have won three straight and quarterback Jason Campbell looks like the real deal. Campbell has not thrown an interception this season and has adjusted to the modified Jim Zorn-version of the West Coast offense.
But the player who amazes me each week is wide receiver Santana Moss. He has been sensational, making plays all over the field, some short, some long, and is very effective with the ball in his hands. Yesterday, the Redskins played toe to toe with the best team in the NFL and came out ahead -- winning the game solidly. They might have started slow, but they finished strong, scoring in six of seven possessions, and always looked to be in control of the game.
The 'Skins never tried to play the game cute. They went out and play tight man-to-man coverage on the and made quarterback Tony Romo have to make perfect throws all game long. And since the Cowboys had no desire to run the ball yesterday, (only 11 times), it forced the 'Skins to play their brilliant man-to-man pass defense, which has been impressing me the last three weeks on tape. The Skins were resilient and determined yesterday to prove they will be a force in the NFC East this year.
Week 4 Grades: Broncos, Cowboys continue poor defensive showings
Grade: D
Cornerback Terrance Newman and the Dallas defense. Now, I know the Cowboys have played some tough games the last few weeks, but there was no excuse for their poor play yesterday. They allowed the 'Skins to control the ball for over 38 minutes, they never slowed down the running game, and when it came to covering Santana Moss -- they didn't.
Moss wore down Newman with double moves, basic moves; short passes long passes and basically anything he wanted. Moss is the number one man in the 'Skins pass offense, and when you lose a game and allow the opponent's best player to beat you, you deserve to lose. At what point in the game where they going to press Moss and double cover him and force someone else to defeat them?
And what might have been the most costly mistake of all by the Cowboys was early in the fourth. Behind 23-17, they stopped the Redskins on a third and two but had 12 men on the field, allowing Washington to continue its drive. The 'Boys, in the last three weeks, have allowed more than 243 yards per game passing and 7.4 yards per pass attempt. This looks like an area other teams may be able to exploit all season long.
All the talk of an improved secondary with the addition of Adam Jones and first-round pick Mike Jenkins appear to be just that -- talk.
Grade: A+
Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins. One of the many things to love about the NFL each week is that you get an opportunity to go from rags to riches, and the Washington Redskins have done just that.
They looked horrendous in Week 1 in all phases against the Giants, but have won three straight and quarterback Jason Campbell looks like the real deal. Campbell has not thrown an interception this season and has adjusted to the modified Jim Zorn-version of the West Coast offense.
But the player who amazes me each week is wide receiver Santana Moss. He has been sensational, making plays all over the field, some short, some long, and is very effective with the ball in his hands. Yesterday, the Redskins played toe to toe with the best team in the NFL and came out ahead -- winning the game solidly. They might have started slow, but they finished strong, scoring in six of seven possessions, and always looked to be in control of the game.
The 'Skins never tried to play the game cute. They went out and play tight man-to-man coverage on the and made quarterback Tony Romo have to make perfect throws all game long. And since the Cowboys had no desire to run the ball yesterday, (only 11 times), it forced the 'Skins to play their brilliant man-to-man pass defense, which has been impressing me the last three weeks on tape. The Skins were resilient and determined yesterday to prove they will be a force in the NFC East this year.