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This was definitely a must win, the Cowboys had to win one of two next games, and the Cowboys avoided a last minute surge from the Bucs to take the win at home. Wade probably saved his job here, it was do or die.

Much of the talk leading up to the game centered itself around the supposed demotion of Brian Stewart. Several reports and comments on the matter still leave the change on defense in question; however, it did look like Phillips was making calls from the sideline, and the defense stiffened up throughout the game. There were some nice blitz packages that were actually effective. Jerry gave the gameball to Phillips:

Jerry stood in the Cowboys’ locker room in Irving today and gave Phillips the game ball.

That might have been a first for Jerry. He couldn’t recall for sure, but handing the game ball to his head coach after a win is certainly rare.

“Wade Phillips did his job today,” said Jerry, who praised Phillips “gutsy” calls and shrewd psychological moves. “Today was a big victory for this team. It gives us a chance to stay in the hunt of where we want to be at the end of the year. (DMNBlog)

This was an ugly win, I’ll take it. We are now 5-3 going to NY, and we’re still in the hunt in the NFC despite all the distractions and horrid play from previous weeks. I hope this game is a preview of things to come from the defense because it was good.

It’s gameday, and the Cowboys’ season is at a crossroads. No one really knows what’s going to happen against the Bucs, there are so many scenarios for a team that is just a pathetic shell of its former self. While the most diehard fan wants to remain optimistic you know inside that this team is in trouble.

Let’s just be real here, the Cowboys have not played a solid game outside of week 1, the rest of the games have been sloppy, and fortunate in most wins, we could easily be 1-6 right now. Has Wade lost the locker room? That is my biggest concern, and I think we’ll have our answer within the first couple of drives on defense and offense. We’ll know early on what path this game will go.

The Bucs are playing well right now, and Jeff Garcia has had some success against the Cowboys, so it’ll make for an interesting game. Garcia is 3-2 against the Cowboys; and, for the most part, the wins were in dominating fashion, while the two loses were relatively close games. Coincidentally, I think the game will follow the same path. The Bucs will either dominant us or we pull out a close win at the end.

The Madden Forecast calls it, Cowboys 24 Bucs 13

How we win:

- Pocket protection

- Run blocking

- Execution

- Sack/Hurry Garcia

- Get Owens in favorable matchups

- Playaction / Draws

- Staying power on defense

How we lose:

- Fall behind early

- Turnovers

- Quick 3 & outs

- Lack of pressure

- Sloppy tackling

- Bad pass/run blocking

- Sloppy special teams coverage

This is do or die for the Cowboys, each game getting closer to the bye week has been a must win, and this game could save or cost Wade’s job, its as simple as that. Jerry has laid out the ground work for his dismissal based on his semi-scathing comments on Wade’s approach with the defense as the Head Coach.

Yes, we’ve read that Jerry Jones will keep Wade Phillips onboard as the Head Coach for the rest of the season; but, we all know that anything can change quick in Dallas. The coaching market is not doing to well, and firing coaches midseason is en vogue right now, and Wade will need to pull out a win over the next two games to have a remote chance at staying aboard.

With quick changes in San Fran, Oakland, and St. Louis, its well within the realm that Jerry will follow suit to jumpstart this way underachieving unit, two more devastating losses and you can call it over.

Supposedly, Wade will take command of the defense, something he should have been doing since he was hired. If we get blownout, there needs to be serious consideration at making a move, otherwise we’re in for a high 2nd round pick and the Lions will have a sweet pair of high 1st rounders.

We’ll see what happens

Looks like the seat got hot, and Phillips is getting up and making some moves, Defensive Coordinator, Brian Stewart has been removed from that position…or is this something being mandated by Jerry Jones? Fact is, Jerry brought in Wade to run his version of the 3-4 which was said to be aggressive and in your face, much like the Chargers defenses he ran. We have not seen an ounce of this is Dallas, nothing.

So, whether the removal of Brian Stewart was Wade’s or Jerry’s idea, something had to change. We should have never reached this point. I thought this team was going to be molded around Wade as the HC/DC and Garrett as the AHC/OC; a two headed coaching attack. Instead for whatever reason, Phillips handed over the scheme to Stewart and he sucked at it, and that’s been cleaned up for our younger readers.

Ed Werder of ESPN broke the news of Stewart’s demotion:

…reports Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has been relieved of his duties. Head coach Wade Phillips will handle the play-calling in place of Stewart.

This is one step in the right direction, I expect to see an instant difference on the defensive attacks, if not, then get Wade out of here next, that’s it.

Looks like others are thinking like me in regards to what is going to happen next with Wade Phillips. I blogged about this yesterday during the 3rd quarter of the game. I layed out the scenario in which Wade will be given until the bye week at the lastest; at which point, Jason Garrett would be handed over the team as the Interim Head Coach.

DMN Blog had very similar thoughts on this scenario, which further reinforces my thinking as well:

But Jerry might be forced to make a move, especially if the Cowboys lose their next two games (a likely scenario) and enter the bye week with a losing record. Dallas would be in Save Our Season mode at that point.

Maybe it makes sense to give Garrett a trial period for the last half of the season. If he can’t right the ship, Jerry can make a run at Bill Cowher or another big-name coach this winter.

For now, Wade Phillips is still at the wheel, and the league’s most talented team appears to be headed for a fiery crash. (DMN)

That’s pretty close to what I said yesterday, so there are obviously more writers and fans thinking the same thing…Wade Phillips’ days in Dallas are numbered, as in 14 days to be exact.

I’m going to add more into the scenario I layed out yesterday. I think Jerry Jones thought ahead and brought in the people he did to supplement Wade’s staff. Prime example would be Dave Campo. Dave Campo knows Jerry, and he’s a defensive mind, he’s been a successful defensive coordinator in the NFL. Judd Garrett was also hired as the Assistant Director or Pro Scouting, let’s not forget that part. That being said, if Wade Phillips is indeed canned by the bye week, which I believe will indeed happen, then you’ll be saying good bye to Brian Stewart as well. There is no way we keep the horrible Phillips understudy in training on board as our defensive coordinator. Campo will likely take over as DC.

Both Garrett and Campo will be judged on how they handle the team on the interim basis. If all goes well, and I mean a complete turnaround into the playoffs, then Garrett will remain as head coach, and Campo will remain on as DC. Furthermore, with Campo on board, we could make a transition back to the 4-3 if we wish. The 3-4 has been a complete utter failure under Parcells and Phillips, who were supposedly 3-4 gurus, so if neither could get it going, then why keep running it? Some defensive systems are cyclical, and I think the 3-4 has run its course in Dallas.

Now, I know we’re getting ahead of ourselves, but I thought it would be interesting to see the potential makeup of the staff in the coming weeks. Jerry is not dumb, and clearly has his contingencies well in place.

Week 7 will bring as much post drama as last week. Without a doubt this is going to be a huge game with major implications. First off, its been announced that Brad Johnson will indeed start the game, but, Romo will still be active as the #2 QB today. To me this is the right move, let Romo get healed, and let him get his mind right on the sidelines. This game will give us a glimpse of things to come in the next few weeks leading up to the bye week.

We’re sitting at a modest 4-2 record right now, but over the next three games we could very well be 4-5 going into the bye. Anyone that thinks the Rams will be an easy game will be grossly mistaken. The Rams will be at home, they have a new found confidence playing for Haslett, and they will show up to deliver a KO to the Cowboys. The question will be whether or not Phillips has prepared this team. Wade has always said the mistakes are on him, so if we keep up on this mediocre path, then he’ll be the mistake Jerry has made, and a change could happen if we lose a streak of games, you can guarantee it. For now, lets hope for some wins, or our chances of a playoff spot will be greatly diminished.

This is a huge game for Wade and Cowboys Nation.

How we win:

- Feed the Barbarian

- Play action

- Offensive aggressiveness, dynamic playcalling
- Pressure Bulger, sack him, force INTs

- No defensive let ups

- Special teams coverage must improve

How we lose:

- Turnovers

- Falling behind early

- Sloppy tacking

- Bad Special Teams coverage

- Lack of running game

- Quick 3 & outs

Potential Fallout

The Cowboys must win this game, and preferrably win big over the lowly Rams, anything less than that and the questions of the state of the Cowboys will remain. Jerry Jones has been patient, but you can bet that another sloppy game and sloppy special teams with a loss will cost someone’s job, and that would start with Bruce Read. The special teams unit has put us in some bad situations early and throughout whole games, you can’t win games, let alone get to the playoffs with that piece of the puzzle being so bas as it is right now. Next game is a rematch with the Bills, and they will be looking for revenge, and the Bills are a good team, after that we visit the Giants on the road. We need to win the very winable game today. We’re either going to rally the troops, win, and go home more confident against an upcoming Bills game, OR we can faulter against the Rams, go home withered and completely deflated and probably lose the next two games. Which team will show up? We’re about to find out.

NFL.com Gamecenter

Madden Forecast: Cowboys 27 Rams 24

The Cowboys moved the 3-4 defense in 2005, and after several season’s its been a complete and utter disappointment. There can be several factors that have led to let down of the much hyped system. Parcells was supposedly a guru of the system, and somehow under his tenure, it never lived up to the in-your face pressure it had touted.

Maybe you can blame the ineffectiveness on the instability from the coaching aspect, rather than the scheme. Let’s look at the 3-4 Timeline:

In 2005, our defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, had been a 4-3 guru, and was forced to implement a totally new scheme, it never did much.We brought 3-4 type players; Ferguson, Ware, Spears, Burnett, and Canty were all added.
In 2006, Zimmer had another year under the system, but again, the pressure and production never came to fruition as it had been said to do.

In 2007, Parcells leaves, Jerry Jones interviews several coaches, it came down to Norv Turner and Wade Phillips. The Cowboys had even interviewed the 4-3 guru Ron Rivera, who incidentally now works for Norv Turner in San Diego. The Cowboys hire Wade Phillips who brought a highly vaunted style of 3-4 to the table, something the last version of the 3-4 lacked. It was said that the Phillips 34 was more aggressive, and that we would see all sorts of exoctic disguises, with all sorts of blitz packages galore. Guess what, no it didn’t. Where were the blitz packages and aggressiveness down the stretch and the playoffs? Brian Stewart took over the defensive coordinator position and either watered it down, or was still getting use to the new position coming up from the secondary coaching ranks previously.

In 2008, same story, we still have Brian Stewart, and the Phillips 34 has not been as advertised. We’ve been hoodwinked. The defense is not getting after the QB, there’s no pressure, no exotic blitz packages, no man to man, just cushion and more of the Parcells read and react 34 which we didn’t care for, somehow its still being run in Dallas.

The 3-4, whether it be the Parcells 34 or Phillips 34 has been a second-rate defensive bust of a scheme. I’m ready to dump this system for the next coach that comes on board, because one thing is for sure, Phillips is gone in case you didn’t know it. The only person I’d be willing to try the 3-4 again, would be Bill Cowher, he had a good grasp of the system for years, and he’s a well rounded coach.Cowher on the 3-4 (2005):

“I think it is cyclical,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. “That seems to be the case in the league. You’ve seen a couple more teams, it seems like every week, that are going to it. We’ll see how long people stay with it. It’s one thing to make the change; it’s another to stick to it.”

If we stick with the 3-4 it needs to be Cowher leading the troops; otherwise, get a 4-3 guru back in here and utilize what we have. Our roster is primed to excel back in the 4-3, maybe even the 4-6. Can you imagine having Ware, Tank, Ratliff, Canty, Spencer, Ellis all on the field. That would be 90s SuperBowl defense right there.

Do you know what was the last NFC team that used the 3-4 which made the Super Bowl? The New York Giants, under Parcells, in 1991. Since 1991, all the NFC teams got to big game with the 4-3. Just look at the most recent NFC represenatives:the Bucs, Panthers, Eagels, Bears, and Giants to the Super Bowl.

Screw the 3-4, just based on that, we’re against all odds to make it based on history…since 1991, pathetic.

I wrote earlier that this was a must win for Wade Phillips, and we floundered from the first play of the game until the last play of the game. This was a complete meltdown and disaster. The fact that the Cowboys were in this position of making a late failed rally further proves how overrated this squad is. Without a doubt we have officially taken a step backwards.

Wade Phillips is not getting this team prepared or not motivating the players that need to be motivated. The players have to be held accountable, and Romo is a liabilty in the same vein as Drew Bledsoe…turning over the ball, fumbling around, and not aware of his surroundings cost us today, and hurt us in other uneccesarily close games in weeks past. Something is wrong with Romo.

We’re in trouble. Get ready for the scrutiny and fallout because its here in full effect.

The Cowboys drop to 4-2, their next 3 games are: @Rams, Bucs, @Giants…. all of the sudden this team could lose three more after its all said and done. To think we’re going to turn it around is foolishness. This team has had too many let downs, too many turnover, and too many penalties.

Jerry Jones is disappointed, and you know he’s thinking of the next coach of this team. Its gonna be Cowher. This is not panic mode, its reality.  This hiring cooridinators is not getting it done.

Ever heard of a must win sitting at 4-1? Don’t sell the Cardinals short this week, this is an explosive offense, and this is the type of game we should win; but, its well within the realm that we could get upset.

Let’s be honest here, the Cowboys’ 4-1 is a false-positive. On paper, its a good record, but the way in which we got here is way below expectations; sloppy, blundering play and defensive let ups are driving fans crazy. So, here we are at 4-1, and its a must win for Wade Phillips. Jerry Jones was NOT pleased at all with the win over the lowly Bengals, and when you see the owner on the sidelines its not a good sign in general. Phillips better bring the aggressive pass rush in which his scheme was so highly touted in San Diego….we have yet to see this scheme, whats the deal?

Leaving the desert with a lose will be a big blow to this team, in particular, Wade Phillips. I know it may sound crazy, but its not. I’m telling you, that if we lose this game, there WILL be some contraversy fall out from it. This is a must win. Even the fact that I’m writing this is an indictment of how unpredictable and inconsistent this 2008 squad has been. We should be writing about being undefeated and crushing people like the Patriots did last year, but we’re not. Don’t give me that crap about a “win is a win” or we’ll take that “ugly win”…Im sorry, but most teams with aspirations of getting to the Super Bowl don’t want to take that approach.

How we win:

- Be aggressive on offense & defense

- Consistent pressure from the front 7

- Create turnovers

- Feed the Barbarian

- Pass the ball to Felix Jones

How we lose:

- Bad playcalling

- Penalties & Turnovers

- Lack of running game

- Lack of pressure on QB

- Bad special teams play

We better win this game big, none of this close call bs.

NFLGAMECENTER

Madden forecast: Cowboys 21 Cardinals 16

Nothing but bad news on the defensive front, and the news hits us in our weakest disappointing portions of the defense, the secondary. Apparently, the clock hit midnight on Adam Jones, and his alter-ego, Pacman has reared his ugly head. The news is breaking tonight, so we’re not sure what the implications if any will be. One thing is for sure, just the fact that Adam has his name back out there in a negative light, and off the field again does not bode well for him or the Cowboys.

The leash is probably short on the Cowboys and Adam Jones. I’m sure Roger Goodell is disturbed by this latest development. A suspension is definitely not going to be ruled out, if anything a fine will be dealt. I would think a fine would be what the Cowboys do, just for the fact that a game suspension would be very bad for us right now, we’re all banged up back there. We’ll have to see what comes of this. Here are the latest details:

KTVT-TV in Dallas (CBS 11) is reporting that Adam “Pacman” Jones got into a violent altercation with a member of his security detail at a hotel in downtown Dallas last night.

Per the TV station, a mirror was broken in Pacman’s room, and he left the hotel without paying his bill. No police report has been filed and hotel management declined comment. (DMNBlog)

So, we’ll see what happens there, it could be a non-issue or a big issue considering our market, and the player. On top of the Jones news comes the news that Terence Newman will miss another game. He’s not going to play against the Cardinals. These injuries are happening in greater frequency and should be concern for the future. According to Phillips, Newman is probably out:

Wade Phillips said CB Terence Newman is “probably out” of Sunday’s game in Arizona because of an abdominal strain, not the groin injury that sidelined him from the first week of training camp through the season opener. (DMNBlog)

Its time to let Mike Jenkins earns his bones this week. Start Jenkins opposite Henry, and let him take his lumps and make plays. We can no longer rely on Newman, and Adam Jones is one screw up from being banned forever. Throw Jenkins out there and get him going, we’re going to need him this year, and probably more further down the season; moreover, Jenkins will need to be the guy in 2009, that’s clear to me now. Let’s see what we got.