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October-28th-2010, 09:01 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/cowboys/2010-10-28-tony-romo-cowboys-cover_N.htm
By Gary Graves, USA TODAY
ARLINGTON, Texas — At a host committee luncheon Thursday that was supposed to herald the countdown to the region's first Super Bowl— 99 days away — the main topic at Cowboys Stadium was how quickly the home team appears to have been counted out of the equation.
This scenario seemed impossible two months ago for the Dallas Cowboys, who began the season fresh off their second consecutive NFC East division title and first playoff victory since 1996. There were heightening expectations of becoming the first team to play for the NFL championship on their home field. But that's how quickly a 1-5 start and three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo's broken left collarbone have shifted the fortunes for a team desperately seeking a win Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars
"If you know anything about human nature, you also know it's the 'fight or flight' syndrome," defensive end Igor Olshansky said. "You're either gonna run or you're gonna fight. (But if) you challenge me, I'll fight anybody."
Former Cowboys fullback Daryl "Moose" Johnston played on the 1989 team that went 1-15 before righting itself and winning three Super Bowls in the 1990s. But he says the source of the problems for this squad are much harder to pinpoint.
"This team is much more talented:rolleyes", and we were finding our way," said the Fox Sports NFL analyst, one of several Cowboy greats present at the event. "It's hard to figure out exactly what it is. It's just one of those things right now that I don't think anybody can really put the finger on what is the core issue."
The Cowboys' hopes for regrouping:ols: now lie with backup Jon Kitna, 38, a 14-year veteran who will make his first NFL start since Oct. 5, 2008.
"There's a lot of resolve with this team," said coach Wade Phillips, whose team is trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since the last three contests in 2002 and the '03 season opener. "This week, this game, right now. That's it."
That approach was echoed by owner Jerry Jones, who's inclined to ride it out with Phillips. Not everyone in Dallas agrees. Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway this week called for Phillips' firing.
But Jones acknowledged his team's uphill climb, particularly with a five-game docket to includes Green Bay, the New York Giants, the Indianapolis Colt and the defending champion New Orleans Saints.
"Every game is going to be a dogfight," Jones said. "You look at how close these games are in the best of circumstances.
"What I'm realistic about is what a challenge we've got ahead of us. If we can get what we expect out of Kitna, then we're up to the challenge."
The Cowboys have a 0-3 record in their $1.2 billion, two-year-old palace, which will host Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6. They're 1-2 away from home, with each loss by a touchdown or less. Now Romo, who broke his collarbone in a 41-35 loss to the Giants, is sidelined for six to eight weeks and possibly the season.
Kitna, a reclamation project whose last stints were with Detroit, where he made his last start, and Cincinnati — now is thrust into the spotlight.
"I would hope that (experience) helps," Kitna said. "You'd think that experience is a great thing for you to have in this league. … But sometimes, ignorance is bliss too.
"I just have to go out and perform at a level that this team could rally around."
Viewing this Texas-sized disappointment, their next-door neighbors, baseball's Texas Rangers, and their $55 million payroll, will host Games 3 and 4 (and a fifth game if necessary) of the World Series this weekend against the San Francisco Giants. That surprising development has actually been a good thing for the Cowboys from a news media perspective, with most of the region's print and broadcast outlets devoting heavy coverage to the Rangers this week in the Bay Area.
The Rangers have also rewarded the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 39 years of loyalty while softening what has been a tough autumn.
"All of that is a complete positive and is not impacted nor diminished by the challenges that we're having with the team," Jones said.
So illustrates the quandary for a team with a $166.5 million payroll that sent eight players to the Pro Bowl last season including Romo. The Cowboys' offense is ranked fifth overall with the defense 10th, and for the most part both outfits have played well enough to win most Sundays.
Dallas' biggest problem has been getting out of its own way, committing mental mistakes or penalties that have killed drives and momentum. The Cowboys rank sixth in both penalties and yardage (54 for 446 yards), an improvement from a couple of weeks ago, but some have been beyond description.
•Alex Barron's caught-on-tape hold of Washington Redskins' defensive end Brian Orakpo that negated Romo's game-winning touchdown pass to Roy Williams at the end of a 13-7 season-opening loss also noteworthy for an ill-timed screen pass just before halftime that running back Tashard Choice fumbled away to DeAngelo Hall, who returned it for a touchdown.
•A 34-27 home loss to the Tennessee Titans that featured three pass interference penalties by the Cowboys on the opening drive alone. The Titans' winning score was set up by a 73-yard kickoff return helped a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration following the Cowboys' tying touchdown, forcing them to kick off from their 15-yard line.
"It's just one play here or there that's hurt us," Phillips said. "We've had some breakdowns that we shouldn't have."
The Cowboys also appear to have abandoned their running game despite a healthy Marion Barber, who rushed for a team-high 932 yards and seven touchdowns last season. They've called nearly twice as many pass plays than run plays (247-133), putting top rusher Felix Jones (264 yards) and Barber (181) on pace for just 704 and 483 respectively.
Phillips conceded that his backs haven't been given a chance to run the ball and said that's an area he's trying to improve. He also hinted at trying to involve more players in the scheme, which could mean a bigger role for No. 1 draft pick Dez Bryant, who caught two Kitna touchdown passes along with returning a punt 93 yards for a score against the Giants.
"I'm just going to go out and play football, take every opportunity I get and take full advantage of it," said Bryant, third with 22 receptions for 265 yards and three TDs. "I'll do whatever they want me to do."
Defensively, the emphasis is just on playing better and smarter at key moments. There's certainly room to grow for the Cowboys' 21st-ranked run defense, which allowed 200 yards against the Giants and saw running back Brandon Jacobs break off a 30-yard TD run.
"Regardless of what happens throughout the game, we have to step up to the challenge," linebacker Bradie James said. "We can't make any excuses."
Despite the huge obstacle facing the Cowboys — such as the fact only one previous 1-5 team (the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals who finished 8-6) has made the playoffs — they have a legion of believers including two from their 1970s glory days. Running back Calvin Hill, now a player development consultant, recalls how a 6-5 team trailing the Giants by two games in 1970 closed the season with five consecutive wins and reached the Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Drew Pearson caught Roger Staubach's 50-yard Hail Mary pass that beat Minnesota in a 1975 playoff game. Like Hill, he believes the Cowboys' focus must be on the small picture instead of the big stage.
"They're in that urgent state, not just for the season but for this week," he said. "They need to look at who's next, not look far ahead."
By Gary Graves, USA TODAY
ARLINGTON, Texas — At a host committee luncheon Thursday that was supposed to herald the countdown to the region's first Super Bowl— 99 days away — the main topic at Cowboys Stadium was how quickly the home team appears to have been counted out of the equation.
This scenario seemed impossible two months ago for the Dallas Cowboys, who began the season fresh off their second consecutive NFC East division title and first playoff victory since 1996. There were heightening expectations of becoming the first team to play for the NFL championship on their home field. But that's how quickly a 1-5 start and three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo's broken left collarbone have shifted the fortunes for a team desperately seeking a win Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars
"If you know anything about human nature, you also know it's the 'fight or flight' syndrome," defensive end Igor Olshansky said. "You're either gonna run or you're gonna fight. (But if) you challenge me, I'll fight anybody."
Former Cowboys fullback Daryl "Moose" Johnston played on the 1989 team that went 1-15 before righting itself and winning three Super Bowls in the 1990s. But he says the source of the problems for this squad are much harder to pinpoint.
"This team is much more talented:rolleyes", and we were finding our way," said the Fox Sports NFL analyst, one of several Cowboy greats present at the event. "It's hard to figure out exactly what it is. It's just one of those things right now that I don't think anybody can really put the finger on what is the core issue."
The Cowboys' hopes for regrouping:ols: now lie with backup Jon Kitna, 38, a 14-year veteran who will make his first NFL start since Oct. 5, 2008.
"There's a lot of resolve with this team," said coach Wade Phillips, whose team is trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since the last three contests in 2002 and the '03 season opener. "This week, this game, right now. That's it."
That approach was echoed by owner Jerry Jones, who's inclined to ride it out with Phillips. Not everyone in Dallas agrees. Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway this week called for Phillips' firing.
But Jones acknowledged his team's uphill climb, particularly with a five-game docket to includes Green Bay, the New York Giants, the Indianapolis Colt and the defending champion New Orleans Saints.
"Every game is going to be a dogfight," Jones said. "You look at how close these games are in the best of circumstances.
"What I'm realistic about is what a challenge we've got ahead of us. If we can get what we expect out of Kitna, then we're up to the challenge."
The Cowboys have a 0-3 record in their $1.2 billion, two-year-old palace, which will host Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6. They're 1-2 away from home, with each loss by a touchdown or less. Now Romo, who broke his collarbone in a 41-35 loss to the Giants, is sidelined for six to eight weeks and possibly the season.
Kitna, a reclamation project whose last stints were with Detroit, where he made his last start, and Cincinnati — now is thrust into the spotlight.
"I would hope that (experience) helps," Kitna said. "You'd think that experience is a great thing for you to have in this league. … But sometimes, ignorance is bliss too.
"I just have to go out and perform at a level that this team could rally around."
Viewing this Texas-sized disappointment, their next-door neighbors, baseball's Texas Rangers, and their $55 million payroll, will host Games 3 and 4 (and a fifth game if necessary) of the World Series this weekend against the San Francisco Giants. That surprising development has actually been a good thing for the Cowboys from a news media perspective, with most of the region's print and broadcast outlets devoting heavy coverage to the Rangers this week in the Bay Area.
The Rangers have also rewarded the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 39 years of loyalty while softening what has been a tough autumn.
"All of that is a complete positive and is not impacted nor diminished by the challenges that we're having with the team," Jones said.
So illustrates the quandary for a team with a $166.5 million payroll that sent eight players to the Pro Bowl last season including Romo. The Cowboys' offense is ranked fifth overall with the defense 10th, and for the most part both outfits have played well enough to win most Sundays.
Dallas' biggest problem has been getting out of its own way, committing mental mistakes or penalties that have killed drives and momentum. The Cowboys rank sixth in both penalties and yardage (54 for 446 yards), an improvement from a couple of weeks ago, but some have been beyond description.
•Alex Barron's caught-on-tape hold of Washington Redskins' defensive end Brian Orakpo that negated Romo's game-winning touchdown pass to Roy Williams at the end of a 13-7 season-opening loss also noteworthy for an ill-timed screen pass just before halftime that running back Tashard Choice fumbled away to DeAngelo Hall, who returned it for a touchdown.
•A 34-27 home loss to the Tennessee Titans that featured three pass interference penalties by the Cowboys on the opening drive alone. The Titans' winning score was set up by a 73-yard kickoff return helped a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration following the Cowboys' tying touchdown, forcing them to kick off from their 15-yard line.
"It's just one play here or there that's hurt us," Phillips said. "We've had some breakdowns that we shouldn't have."
The Cowboys also appear to have abandoned their running game despite a healthy Marion Barber, who rushed for a team-high 932 yards and seven touchdowns last season. They've called nearly twice as many pass plays than run plays (247-133), putting top rusher Felix Jones (264 yards) and Barber (181) on pace for just 704 and 483 respectively.
Phillips conceded that his backs haven't been given a chance to run the ball and said that's an area he's trying to improve. He also hinted at trying to involve more players in the scheme, which could mean a bigger role for No. 1 draft pick Dez Bryant, who caught two Kitna touchdown passes along with returning a punt 93 yards for a score against the Giants.
"I'm just going to go out and play football, take every opportunity I get and take full advantage of it," said Bryant, third with 22 receptions for 265 yards and three TDs. "I'll do whatever they want me to do."
Defensively, the emphasis is just on playing better and smarter at key moments. There's certainly room to grow for the Cowboys' 21st-ranked run defense, which allowed 200 yards against the Giants and saw running back Brandon Jacobs break off a 30-yard TD run.
"Regardless of what happens throughout the game, we have to step up to the challenge," linebacker Bradie James said. "We can't make any excuses."
Despite the huge obstacle facing the Cowboys — such as the fact only one previous 1-5 team (the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals who finished 8-6) has made the playoffs — they have a legion of believers including two from their 1970s glory days. Running back Calvin Hill, now a player development consultant, recalls how a 6-5 team trailing the Giants by two games in 1970 closed the season with five consecutive wins and reached the Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Drew Pearson caught Roger Staubach's 50-yard Hail Mary pass that beat Minnesota in a 1975 playoff game. Like Hill, he believes the Cowboys' focus must be on the small picture instead of the big stage.
"They're in that urgent state, not just for the season but for this week," he said. "They need to look at who's next, not look far ahead."