Key to the Game!

[Jimbo]

I've said it all pre-season, DeAngelo Hall is going to have a Pro Bowl season - I'm just feeling it. 2 picks all by his lonesome Sunday night, Rogers with another. And Romo won't finish this game.

WOW, talk about a bold prediction. Would absolutely LOVE to see Romo get knocked out or get pulled due to being ineffective or being WAAAAY behind. Might as well go one further and say Hall takes one to the house.

 

[the Omniscient]

I see Albert has been moved to the o-line. What did he do this time?

In fact, Shanny has him so scared, he has turned white. Poor thing.

The banners have been really cool. They have caught my eye.

 

[Birdlives]

Isnt it always the same thing? Running the ball and stopping the run.

 

[servumtuum]

From the other side

Just for general interest. I found this article on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's website by Jan Hubbard on their take on "Keys to the game"

Cowboys GameDay: Five things to watch vs. Redskins
Posted Saturday, Sep. 11, 2010Comments (0) Recommend (0) Print Share Buzz up!Reprints
Topics: Washington Redskins, Football Players, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Touch downs
Tags: Redskins, cowboys, field goals, total offense, high ankle sprain
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BY JAN HUBBARD
jhubbard@star-telegram.com

1 Looking for rhythm. The Cowboys' first-team offense was not good in the preseason, producing only two field goals and one touchdown in 12 possessions. The touchdown came on an 8-yard drive, and the total offense was 263 yards. The Cowboys contend, however, that the preseason was more about testing personnel than winning games or accumulating statistics. The Cowboys weren't particularly impressive in the 2009 preseason, but they won their first regular season game 34-21 over Tampa Bay and Tony Romo threw for 353 yards and three TDs. The Redskins have a better defense than the Bucs, so the Cowboys will have a stiffer test.

2Line in the sand. As the Cowboys world knows, Marc Colombo and Kyle Kosier will not play and will be replaced by Alex Barron and Montrae Holland on the offensive line. Barron and Holland have extensive experience as starters for other teams. Barron started 74 of 76 games for the St. Louis Rams, but they were not reluctant to trade him to the Cowboys. Why would any team let a good starting offensive lineman go? Holland started 48 games in New Orleans and Denver but was on the Cowboys' inactive list for all 16 games last season. Barron and Holland will have huge challenges. Can they help protect Tony Romo? Can the running game, which was horrible in preseason, find any room to run?

3Dez on display. In the first week of training camp before he fell victim to a high ankle sprain, rookie Dez Bryant was impressive. Admittedly, it was mostly in drills, but Bryant has huge hands and showed a knack for catching anything remotely close. He has fascinating potential, but he's also had a long layoff. Bryant played in only three games at Oklahoma State last year before being suspended for an NCAA violation. And then he missed four of the five weeks of training camp with the injury. The Cowboys say he will play in certain packages but would not specify how much he will be on the field.

4Romo's start. In the three opening-week games Tony Romo has started, here are his average statistics: 23 of 33 passing for 328 yards. He has eight touchdowns and only two interceptions and the Cowboys are 3-0 in those games. Like many of the Cowboys' starters, Romo had a blah preseason, completing 26 of 46 passes for 287 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Romo, however, is one of the Cowboys' premier workout warriors, not only physically training, but also studying the game to improve. His confidence seems at an all-time high, and the Cowboys are hoping that translates to increased success on the field.

5Cowboys' running game. Marion Barber and Felix Jones had a combined 43 yards in 21 carries in the preseason. Barber looked clueless and Jones looked anything but darting. With the changes on the offensive line, can they make the running game work? Head coach Wade Phillips said he is not concerned. He pointed out the Cowboys had a successful running game last year and the same group of players -- except, of course, for the injured linemen -- have returned. The Cowboys ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing yardage per game last year with a 131.4-yard average.



Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/11/2460929/cowboys-gameday-five-things-to.html#ixzz0zJsidVVB

 

[fansince62]

1) run defense -> game is over before it starts if we can't make the 3-4 work

2) pass rush/pressure from front 3 -> Dallas TEs/RBs will eat us up if the backers can't mix blitzing and pass coverage

3) Skins running game -> foundation to Shanahan's offense...didn't do much in preseason

4) Skins pass protect -> fix glaring weakness from last season; ensure DM is upright at end of game