Redskins Stuff...

[Cotton]

DeMarco Murray could see more carries this week against the league's 31st rushing defense

The Redskins rank 31st against the run, but DeMarco Murray knows every week is a new week.

"You can never go on stats when you play a team like this, and a game like this where it’s a division game," Murray said. "They're a great defense. [London] Fletcher is still there. [Ryan] Kerrigan and [Brian] Orakpo both on the edges still. We respect those guys, and we know it’s going to be a hard-fought game, and we’re excited for the challenge."

The Redskins are allowing 106 yards a game, but a big chunk came in a Week 1 game against the Eagles.

Philadelphia rushed for 263 yards against the Redskins, including 184 on 31 carries by LeSean McCoy. Green Bay rushed for 139 in Week 2, including 132 yards on 20 carries by James Starks. Since then, the Redskins have tightened their run defense. They allowed 63 against Detroit and 104 against the Raiders.

Murray ranks fourth in the NFL with 399 yards, even though he has had only one 100-yard game.

"You've just got to stay ready," Murray said. "You get antsy a little bit when you’re not getting the ball as much, and you try to make a big play, you may miss a thing or two there. You've got to trust your technique, trust the game plan and stay focused, and let it come to you at the end of the day."

-- Charean Williams

 

[Cotton]

Will third time be charm vs. read-option?

October, 11, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys had no answer for the read-option last year when they played the Washington Redskins.

DeMarcus Ware was left guessing and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III always seemed to have the right answer in keeping the ball or giving it toAlfred Morris, who had 313 yards and four touchdowns in Washington’s series sweep of the Cowboys in 2012.

“Just having the opportunity to see it two times last year, this is our third time, you get used to what they’re doing,” Ware said. “That’s not to say that you’re going to stop them cold turkey, but you’re going to slow it down to a point where you’re effective, where you try to pull them out of that situation and put them into a more conventional offense.”

It’s not like defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had monumental success against the read-option at Southern Cal, but Ware said the Cowboys will have a different approach against it this year.

“I couldn't tell you the answer, then you’ll know what we’re doing,” Ware joked.

Griffin has not run as much through the first four games as he continues to recover from his offseason knee surgery, but the Cowboys still see a threat to run. And Morris has 296 yards on 56 carries this season.

"Like most teams in the NFL we worked on it because teams are using this and it was an effective tool for a few of the offenses, and you’ve just got to make sure you have good answers for it," coach Jason Garrett said. "Teams do it a lot of different ways and you have to make sure you address that with your team and you’re gap sound and you have a plan for what they’re doing. One of the real challenges that teams like the Redskins and some of the others that are using it is they were doing it all the time, if they were only a read-option team, you could really hunker down and play it. One of the real strengths of what they do is they do that, but they also do a lot of other things you have to get yourself ready for. So that’s a challenge to your defense and that’s one of the reasons they’ve been pretty effective on offense."

 

[Texas Ace]

I was just offered a free ticket to the game on Sunday night. I'd have to drive up to Dallas and use my gas, but the ticket would be free.

I don't really have the desire to go, but I am undefeated in my 30 games or whatever it is when watching the Cowboys live in Dallas. They probably need me to go to ensure victory.

 

[1bigfan13]

I was just offered a free ticket to the game on Sunday night. I'd have to drive up to Dallas and use my gas, but the ticket would be free.

I don't really have the desire to go, but I am undefeated in my 30 games or whatever it is when watching the Cowboys live in Dallas. They probably need me to go to ensure victory.

Send that shit my way if you're not going. I'm off Monday too.

I too have a perfect record when attending Cowboy games.

3-0 at Texas Stadium, 1-0 in Jerry World.

 

[L.T. Fan]

I was just offered a free ticket to the game on Sunday night. I'd have to drive up to Dallas and use my gas, but the ticket would be free.

I don't really have the desire to go, but I am undefeated in my 30 games or whatever it is when watching the Cowboys live in Dallas. They probably need me to go to ensure victory.

Get your ass up here pronto.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Send that shit my way if you're not going. I'm off Monday too.

I too have a perfect record when attending Cowboy games.

3-0 at Texas Stadium, 1-0 in Jerry World.

If you need someone to get the ticket from ace let us know. With booze's mob connections and my charm we can probably swing the deal with minimum bloodshed.

 

[boozeman]

Scout’s Notebook: Final Thoughts For Dallas-Washington

Posted 49 minutes ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout





Some final thoughts as the Cowboys prepare for the Redskins:

Pass Happy

Despite what we all saw the Cowboys offense do last week against the Broncos, I do not believe that we will see Tony Romo drop back and throw it 40 or 50 times this game. It is clear that with all the weapons this offense has, along with an offensive line that is doing a better job of holding up protection wise, Jason Garrett still believes that offensive balance is the way to go with his squad.





Miles Austin is once again back in the lineup after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, and, along with Dez Bryant, will be starting on the outside. My sources that watch practice told me that there were several times this week when Romo and Austin connected on some productive plays down the field and Austin was moving around well. The combinations that we will see along with Bryant and Austin will be dictated by down and distance. What we have learned about Derek Dooley’s group is that no matter who is in the game, there is the flexibility to line up in different spots.

Terrance Williams has impressively caught 84 percent of the passes thrown his way through five games this season. Williams will play on the outside when Austin goes to the slot, or Cole Beasley will line up in the slot with either Austin or Williams on the outside. Beasley has also received some work on the outside. Dwayne Harris can play either in the slot or outside, so he is an option there as well. One of the most successful formations the Cowboys used last week was “Empty” but I don’t expect to see it that much this week, because the Redskins pass rush is better than what the Broncos had last week. Look for the Cowboys to get back to their “12” personnel groups with Witten, Hanna and Escobar in the mix and attack the Redskins that way until Garrett and Bill Callahan get a read on what Jim Haslett is trying to do to them.



Take Their Best

Last week against Denver, Monte Kiffin decided to match his defensive backs with the receivers of the Broncos in an effort to best handle their skill players. This week against the Redskins, there are some talented players on the outside and I would expect Kiffin to once again shuffle his defenders around. The one matchup that I believe we will see is Brandon Carr on Pierre Garcon, who has been Washington’s biggest threat this season. Where Garcon has been so dangerous is in the middle of the field, but also catching quick screens and getting up the field. Carr has been comfortable when he has had to play bigger receivers throughout his career, and Garcon is just that. There have been some snaps this season where Carr has not been as physical as he has needed to be, but Kiffin and this staff have confidence that he can get the job done and not allow Robert Griffin III to feed his favorite target. It’s going to take all that Carr has to cover Garcon and deny him those balls.

Block It Out

I am always interested in a good matchup when it involves offensive and defensive lines. One of my keys of the week was about pass protection and how it would factor into this game. I liked the matchup of Doug Free and Ryan Kerrigan, but also keep an eye on Tyron Smith and Brian Orakpo. There have been some games this season where Smith has struggled at times with his technique, but there have been others where he pitched a shutout. This week against Orakpo, he is going to have to be ready for a variety of pass rush moves.

Orakpo is smart in the way he rushes and really does a nice job of getting the tackle off balance. Where Smith has to be careful in this game is to not allow Orakpo to set him up on the outside then come underneath. Smith has to be quick to adjust and play with patience in his set. If Smith lunges or overextends against Orakpo, he will be by him in a hurry. Teams have had success running the ball more at Orakpo than Kerrigan, and he will struggle when Smith locks up on him. Smith has too much power and he should make Orakpo fight that all day.

Roster Shuffle

The front office made a roster move by releasing Will Allen on Tuesday and replacing him on the roster with rookie linebacker Cameron Lawrence. There were some thoughts potentially that the spot would go to Jakar Hamilton, but with Jeff Heath and Danny McCray in the mix, Lawrence got the nod. Lawrence will help on special teams at a couple of different spots for Edgar Jones, who will miss his second game with a groin injury. If something were to happen to either Barry Church or J.J. Wilcox, look for Heath to get the call before McCray.

The coaches really like Heath’s smarts, toughness and coverage skills. If there is going to be a group that needs to play great, it needs to be these safeties. To a man they are going to have to play a significant role in this game against the Redskins, not only in coverage in the middle of the field, but when they go down into the box as the extra man to play the run. If they play poorly, you will notice very quickly.

 

[boozeman]

Cowboys need to handle Redskins blitz

October, 12, 2013


By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Last December, Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett had the Dallas Cowboys' number.

He dialed up several blitzes involving the strong-side and middle linebackers that threw the Cowboys offense for a loop.

As a result, Tony Romo had a season-low in completion percentage (54.1), a season low in yards (218) and was intercepted three times. The Redskins had only two sacks but the pressure was bothersome all night.

“I know how good this defense is,” Romo said. “It’s a great challenge for us. Tough to score points on. We’ve got to be able to do some things that they’re not prepared for. I know they’re going to have new pressure packages. They’re going to be ready to bring it after us. We’re going to hopefully have some things up that will give them some trouble.”

The Cowboys spent a good chunk of the offseason trying to protect Romo better against blitz looks. The biggest change came on the interior of the line with three new players in Ronald Leary, Travis Frederick and Brian Waters.

The return of Brian Orakpo changes some of the Redskins defense, but they still expect a lot of pressure from Haslett to slow down a passing game that went off for 506 yards last week.

“You go back a couple of years ago, when the game was on the line, I think it was a third-and-23 and he still brought the house,” tight end Jason Witten said. “That’s the mentality of the way that defense plays. They bring pressure, they have success bringing pressure and they bring pressure with a lot of different guys. It’s not just all (Brian) Orakpo and (Ryan) Kerrigan. They bring it with secondary players and corners. Just stay on top of it and be alert so that you can have answers when they do bring it.”

 

[boozeman]

[h=3]Pondering the 46: All 5 WRs active[/h]October, 12, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- For only the second time this season the Dallas Cowboys will activate five wide receivers with Miles Austin's return from a two-game absence due to a hamstring strain.

The decision was made somewhat easier by the hamstring injury that will keep running back Lance Dunbar out of Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins, but with the evolution of the offense the Cowboys could figure to go in this direction even if all of the backs are healthy.

As we Ponder the 46 for the Redskins game, the decisions come down to health and reliability. The defensive line needs help if not numbers, but with Justin Durant questionable and Edgar Jones out, Cameron Lawrence, newly added from the practice squad, will be active.

Would the Cowboys rather carry nine defensive linemen (David Carter or Caesar Rayford) or eight offensive linemen (Phil Costa)? They got little from either of the defensive linemen against the Denver Broncos, but with Jason Hatcher battling a stinger and Jones out it might make more sense to keep a defender up over Costa.

So the inactives should be: Jones, Dunbar, Andre Smith, David Arkin, Costa, Darrion Weems and Chris Greenwood.