Chargers Stuff...

[Cotton]

Chargers DE: Key is rattling Tony Romo
September, 26, 2013

By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com

Getting into the head of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is apparently the key to the San Diego Chargers' game plan this week.

“We know that once he’s rattled and whatnot, it’s easy to take him out of the game,” Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

That’s a pretty bold statement from a member of a defense that ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass and has forced a grand total of one turnover in three games. San Diego is allowing an average of 340.7 passing yards per game, having failed to rattle Philadelphia’s Michael Vick or Tennessee’s Jake Locker the past two weeks.

Romo, whose turnovers have tended to come in bunches over the course of his career, has steered clear of catastrophic errors during the Cowboys’ 2-1 start. He has committed two turnovers -- a fumble after a sack, and an interception caused by rookie receiver Terrance Williams running the wrong route after an audible.

To hear Liuget tell it, Romo has benefitted from a dumbed-down Dallas offense this season.

“It’s a simple offense,” Liuget said, according to the Union-Tribune. “They don’t do too many plays. The key is to definitely hit Romo early and try to take Romo out of the game and put the ball in [DeMarco Murray's] hands.”

Rest assured that putting the ball in Murray’s hands will be a big part of the Cowboys’ plan after he rushed for 175 yards on 26 carries in the Week 3 victory over St. Louis. After all, the Chargers also rank 28th among rushing defenses, allowing 130 yards per game and 5.1 per carry.

If Romo is rattled, it certainly won’t be by anything he studies in the film room this week.

 

[Cotton]

Scandrick has 'world of respect' for Rivers
September, 26, 2013

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- In the late stages of training-camp practices in 2012, the Dallas Cowboys visited the San Diego Chargers for a few days to scrimmage.

The most eventful event of these sessions occurred between Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. During a two-minute drill, Rivers scored a touchdown and spiked the ball.

It drew the ire of Scandrick, who said something.

Sunday the Chargers and Cowboys meet again. But Scandrick and Rivers are playing nice. In fact, there's now a mutual respect between them.

"We had some fun, that guy, we talked after the practice and I kinda picked his brain a little bit and see what he was thinking because it was preseason," Scandrick said. "I just like to talk to the quarterbacks to see what they're thinking so I can get a better understanding of what their reads are so it can give me a better understanding of how to defend things."

Scandrick and Rivers both have played well in the first three weeks of the season. Scandrick has taken the starting job from an injured Morris Claiborne, and Rivers is second in the NFL in passer rating (116.2) and tied for second in touchdown passes (eight).

"I love Philip," Scandrick said. "Just from over the years competing with him, practicing with him, I love that guy, man. I got the world of respect for him. For a lot of years, 10 years for him, outside of his rookie year, nine of those years have been on his back. He's a stand-up guy, he takes so much of accountability. I remember watching him at North Carolina State when I was a kid, and now I'm playing against him. He's about as outstanding as they come, he's smart, he's tough and he's competitive."

Said Rivers: "He’s a heck of a competitor. He can play at the outside corner position, obviously, and he’s a real crafty guy there in the slot when he plays the nickel. I best describe him as 'a football player,' which means he’s just a complete player. He’s so competitive. He has a knack for making plays and he plays the ball well. He’s certainly a big contributor for them. I know with [the Cowboys having] Claiborne and [Brandon] Carr, but he’s also been outside and he comes in the nickel and third-down situations, so he’s a solid player for him."

 

[Texas Ace]

So the Cowboys are going to face the AFC's Cowboys.

Something's got to give.

 

[Simpleton]

The Chargers OL is all sorts of banged up so that should be helpful.

 

[Texas Ace]

The Chargers OL is all sorts of banged up so that should be helpful.

 

[ravidubey]

Yeah, I'm not sure I agree Romo is easily rattled by sacks or pressure. He's more of his own worst enemy in the fact that if he does throw a INT, he usually starts to spiral downhill and its a flip of the coin if he can pull it back together or keep throwing shitty passes. Some of Romo's biggest INTs have come when he's had little to no pressure on him.

I think Romo has some kind of anxiety issues and has a tough time settling down early in games. He never seems to get going until the second quarter, so when he fricks up early in the game, he can go on tilt trying to compensate if the team gets behind.

A real consistent running game, not the insane hit or miss crap you get Murray or even Marion Barber, would be a Godsend for Romo. His passing in the Rams game was outstanding because he was able to pick his moments and is too talented for it not to show.

You just can't rely on him too heavily. Like any QB, really.

 

[ravidubey]

If we win, it will be significant at least in terms of breaking a decade long pattern with the franchise.

Christ we have been the very definition of average.

 

[Simpleton]

I think Romo has some kind of anxiety issues and has a tough time settling down early in games. He never seems to get going until the second quarter, so when he fricks up early in the game, he can go on tilt trying to compensate if the team gets behind.

A real consistent running game, not the insane hit or miss crap you get Murray or even Marion Barber, would be a Godsend for Romo. His passing in the Rams game was outstanding because he was able to pick his moments and is too talented for it not to show.

You just can't rely on him too heavily. Like any QB, really.

This is all true, I also think he has similar problems settling down early in the season in general.

In his last 3 full seasons as a starter (2009, 11 and 12) in the first 8 games of the season he has thrown a combined 35 TD's to 25 INT's as opposed to the last 8 where he has thrown 50 TD's to 13 INT's. That is a huge difference with basically half as many interceptions in the last 8 compared to the first 8. I didn't include 2010 in this sample since he was injured so early in the year.

His TD:INT ratio jumps by almost 3 times.

 

[boozeman]

LT: King Dunlap (if he can't go then Michael Harris will be the starter)

LG: Rich Ohrnberger (regular starter Rinehart has been ruled out)

C: Nick Hardwick

RG: Jeromey Clary (if he can't go then recently signed Steve Schilling would start)

RT: DJ Fluker
---------------

Good stuff if we can take advantage of it.

 

[ravidubey]

The Chargers OL is all sorts of banged up so that should be helpful.

LT: King Dunlap (if he can't go then Michael Harris will be the starter)

LG: Rich Ohrnberger (regular starter Rinehart has been ruled out)

C: Nick Hardwick

RG: Jeromey Clary (if he can't go then recently signed Steve Schilling would start)

RT: DJ Fluker
---------------

Good stuff if we can take advantage of it.

It seems like NFL position groups respond well when they are supposed to be weak. Given the list above though, I can only imagine Ware salivating at the prospect of facing King Dunlap or a rookie in Fluker. Hatcher vs a backup in Ohrnberger should also be a mismatch.

But the NFL is all about motivation, and Dunlap is going to be super-motivated to reclaim some dignity vs. Ware and I can see Hatcher eating cheese all week and having an off game. Fluker vs. Selvie is probably a wash.

 

[Angrymesscan]

The key is to definitely hit Romo early and try to take Romo out of the game and put the ball in [DeMarco Murray's] hands.”

I'm guessing they plan to be behind by 24pts. in the 3rd to accomplish this?

This must be one of the oddest quotes I've ever seen...

 

[Texas Ace]

Christ we have been the very definition of average.

Yea, that's pretty pathetic.

 

[UncleMilti]

Oh shit...former Charger commits suicide, so I expect they'll be playing for his memory.

35-7 Chargers.

 

[NoDak]

Oh shit...former Charger commits suicide, so I expect they'll be playing for his memory.

35-7 Chargers.

What was he thinking?

Now he'll never know how Breaking Bad ends.

And so close, too.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

So the Cowboys are going to face the AFC's Cowboys.

Something's got to give.

That wouldn't bode well for us. The Chargers are 1-2 and we are 2-1. It would only make sense then that both teams leave this game with 2-2 records.

 

[Cotton]

What was he thinking?

Now he'll never know how Breaking Bad ends.

And so close, too.

 

[UncleMilti]

What was he thinking?

Now he'll never know how Breaking Bad ends.

And so close, too.

 

[boozeman]

Scout’s Notebook: Scouting New DTs; Big Day For Hanna?

Posted 14 hours ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout



Some thoughts from the practice field at Valley Ranch:

Edgar Jones next to shine?

With the loss of Anthony Spencer for the season, there are a couple of ways the Cowboys can make up for his loss along the defensive line. There is no question George Selvie will continue to start at left end but who backs him up might be in question.

My gut feeling was that Caesar Rayford would be that guy, but keep an eye on Edgar Jones at that spot. Jones has impressed several folks here with his ability to get off on the ball and attack up the field. He has shown some quality pass rush moves, and he has the size and length like Selvie to hold up on the edge in the running game. His overall game appears to be tailored to this 4-3 scheme.



Defensive tackle help

The pattern of these defensive coaches has been telling. When they get a new player, they work him in practice, then they sit him in the game. There is a chance that process might change with the addition of Drake Nevis this week, as he has been getting reps with the second defense. It’s more likely that we will see David Carter, who has been with the club a week longer, play as the backup defensive tackle. Jason Hatcher and Nick Hayden are the starters and last week Jerome Long and Caesar Rayford were the backups. Long has been waived to make room for Nevis, so Rayford could fill in along with Carter – but Nevis could see action as well. The big question here for Nevis is how much of the defense has he learned this week, and are the coaches comfortable playing him?

Quiet Hanna

On Wednesday, I wrote a piece for DallasCowboys.com about the early development of Gavin Escobar and what I had seen from his game. In studying the Chargers this week, I like what this “12” personnel package could bring to the game, especially with James Hanna. Jason Garrett and Bill Callahan will look to create matchup problems with this Chargers defense, and Hanna should be able to do just that. Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano might be forced to bring pressure with his linebackers in order to provide a consistent pass rush, which means Jason Witten, Hanna and Escobar will be required to run shorter routes to help Romo get the ball off. Hanna has yet to have one of those games that, before the season, we all felt he was capable of. It’s just a hunch, but it could happen Sunday afternoon.

Stout Murray
When you scout running backs in the NFL, you want them not only to run and catch but you want them to be able to help in pass protection. With this Chargers 3-4 defensive alignment, Tony Romo is going to need not only his five offensive linemen doing their jobs, but DeMarco Murray as well. As important as it is for Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick to know who to block, Murray has to be just as good. The Chargers will bring several different looks out of their nickel package and the majority of the reading will fall on the shoulders of Murray. If he misses an assignment or slides the wrong way on the protection, there is a pretty good chance that Romo will be sacked. All week long while the team has worked on blitz pickup, Murray has been right there sorting out blitzes while the offensive line makes its adjustments. In watching Murray play in this area, he is usually technique-sound and assignment sure. He did have a bust in the preseason game against Cincinnati that resulted in a sack, but since then there have been no issues. People tend to judge backs just on how they carry the football in a game, but if you look closely, the big plays are usually a result of a back making a blitz pickup. DeMarco Murray will have that chance against the Chargers on Sunday.

 

[Cotton]

Just the Facts: Cowboys-Chargers
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BY MARK LANE - SEP 26TH, 2013 AT 7:00 PM

SERIES FACTS

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-1 for the 25th time in franchise history. Since 1990, when the playoff format was restructured to its present form, 47% of the NFL’s qualifying teams were 2-1.

Out of the 24 previous times that the Dallas Cowboys started off 2-1, 12 of those times resulted in the team not making the postseason: ‘61, ’65, ’84, ’86, ’87, ’97, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’11, and ’12.

The Dallas Cowboys are wearing their “cursed blues” this week in San Diego. Since 2002, the Dallas Cowboys are 10-10 in their blue road jerseys.

The 1992 San Diego Chargers are the only team to start the season 0-4 and make the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys are 6-3 all-time against the San Diego Chargers.


The San Diego Chargers are one of 10 AFC teams against whom the Dallas Cowboys hold a winning record. It is the second-highest at .667.

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-1 against the Chargers in September.

The Dallas Cowboys are 4-1 in San Diego and have faced the Chargers in two different home venues:

San Diego Stadium: 1-0

Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium: 3-1

Qualcomm Stadium has hosted only one AFC Championship game: the 1980 AFC Championship game, where the visiting Oakland Raiders defeated the home team 34-27.

The San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys nearly met in the Super Bowl on three separate occasions. In 1980, 1981, and 1994, both teams were conference champion runner-ups. The Chargers lost to the Raiders, Bengals, and defeated the Steelers to be in Super Bowl XXIX, while the Cowboys lost to the Eagles and 49ers twice.



BROADCAST FACTS

Week 4 features Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa calling the game on FOX this Sunday. The Cowboys are 10-4 with this announcing team, their most recent loss coming in Seattle in Week 2 2012:

2003 – @TB, 0-13 – L

2004 – DET, 31-21 – W

2007 — @MIA, 37-20 – W

2008 – @Rams, 14-34 – L

2008 – TB, 13-9 – W

2009 – @TB, 34-21 – W

2010 – DET, 35-19 – W

2010 – WAS, 33-30 – W

2010 – @PHI, 14-13 – W

2011 – @WAS, 27-24 – W-OT

2012 – @SEA, 7-27 – L

2012 – @CAR, 19-14 – W

2012 – NO, 31-34 – L-OT

2013 – Rams, 31-7 – W

Though Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa called games together for a couple of weeks in late October through early November while Dick Stockton was away covering FOX’s Major League Baseball postseason games, they did not become an official team until the 2007 season.

This is the first time since the inception of Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa as a broadcast team that the Cowboys have had them in consecutive weeks.

The last time the Dallas Cowboys had the same commentators for consecutive weeks was Week 17 2011 and Week 1 2012 when NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth called the Cowboys’ season finale against the Giants and also their season opener against the Giants.

The last time the Dallas Cowboys have had the same FOX Sports commentators for consecutive weeks was Week 4 and Week 6 of 2011 when Joe Buck and Troy Aikman called the Cowboys home contest with the Lions and their road game against the Patriots. Week 5 was the Cowboys’ bye week.

In AFC games on FOX, since the package’s inception, the Dallas Cowboys are 15-19.

When facing the NFC on FOX, the San Diego Chargers are 19-21.

Including 2003-2006 results when they weren’t yet an official team, the NFC is 8-23-1 in inte-conference games called by Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa.

The only San Diego Chargers game Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa called was a 38-24 victory over the visiting St. Louis Rams on 10/29/06 to improve to 5-2 on the season.

Since 2000, when Ed Hochuli referees a game broadcasted by FOX, the home team is 51-38.

Since 2000, in inter-conference contests broadcasted by FOX, where Ed Hochuli is officiating, the AFC is 8-5.

The last time Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa called on FOX that Ed Hochuli refereed was the 10/28/12 contest between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. The Bears beat the visiting Panthers 23-22.

 

[boozeman]

Wow. What a bunch of useless trivia.