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I like how we announce what we are doing.
Lions stuff...
- Thread starter Cotton
- Start date
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Just giving you shit. I normally skim through his Q&A tweets, but thought this was funny.
Everything is fine.
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No one from the team in that article said the plan was the same...
D
Deuce
Guest
Just read that despite not being on the injury report yesterday, Reggie Bush is not practicing today due to a right upper leg issue. Who knows what that means?
NoDak
Hotlinking' sonofabitch
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Just heard that on NFL radio, too. They said something about his quad acting up and he's been downgraded to doubtful. One of the guys said it's the first he's heard of it, and figures he'll still play.
D
Deuce
Guest
Doesn't really matter to me if he plays or not. I think Joqui Bell is pretty damn good and poses as much of a threat.
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No! I wants them at teH full strength!
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Cowboys would accomplish quite a feat with back-to-back road wins on consecutive weekends
For the only time this season, the Cowboys play back-to-back road games on consecutive weekends. (They have a bye between trips to New Orleans and the Giants.) Having won last week in Philadelphia, the Cowboys try to make it a sweep this weekend in Detroit.
That is harder than it sounds.
The Cowboys have not won back-to-back road games on consecutive weekends since 2009. From 1996-2012, the Cowboys faced 34 back-to-back road trips -- 68 total games -- and they managed to sweep only three times. In 2009, Dallas had back-to-back victories at New Orleans and at Washington, and it accomplished the feat twice in 2007 with victories at Miami and Chicago early in the season followed by victories at Philadelphia and at the Giants midway through the season.
"One of the things we’ve preached to our team is you really can’t worry about where you’re playing, who you’re playing, when you’re playing, all that kind of stuff," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "We all smile when I say that stuff, but I just believe it. A lot of people get caught up in statistics, rivalries, you haven’t beaten this team since 1968. Well, our guys weren’t alive in 1968, right? So I mean, you’ve just got to be really careful about going down that road. What matters is how we prepare and then how we go play. Regardless of who the opponent is and where we’re playing them, that’s really our mindset."
-- Charean Williams
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We haven't won consecutive road games under Garrett.
For the only time this season, the Cowboys play back-to-back road games on consecutive weekends. (They have a bye between trips to New Orleans and the Giants.) Having won last week in Philadelphia, the Cowboys try to make it a sweep this weekend in Detroit.
That is harder than it sounds.
The Cowboys have not won back-to-back road games on consecutive weekends since 2009. From 1996-2012, the Cowboys faced 34 back-to-back road trips -- 68 total games -- and they managed to sweep only three times. In 2009, Dallas had back-to-back victories at New Orleans and at Washington, and it accomplished the feat twice in 2007 with victories at Miami and Chicago early in the season followed by victories at Philadelphia and at the Giants midway through the season.
"One of the things we’ve preached to our team is you really can’t worry about where you’re playing, who you’re playing, when you’re playing, all that kind of stuff," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "We all smile when I say that stuff, but I just believe it. A lot of people get caught up in statistics, rivalries, you haven’t beaten this team since 1968. Well, our guys weren’t alive in 1968, right? So I mean, you’ve just got to be really careful about going down that road. What matters is how we prepare and then how we go play. Regardless of who the opponent is and where we’re playing them, that’s really our mindset."
-- Charean Williams
-------------------
We haven't won consecutive road games under Garrett.
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Playing the role of Calvin Johnson is…Cowboys TE Gavin Escobar
By David Moore/ Reporter
dmoore@dallasnews.com
5:04 pm on October 25, 2013 |
In preparation for this weekend’s game in Detroit, the Cowboys had to put someone in the role of Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.
They chose Gavin Escobar, the 6-foot-6 rookie tight end out of San Diego State.
“I got the size maybe, but not the speed,’’ Escobar said. “I’m just trying to get out there and run my hardest. They’ll throw it up to him, so basically I’m trying to give them that big-target look, that strong, physical receiver.’’
Escobar laughs when asked how well he imitates one of the NFL’s top receivers.
“Yeah, you can’t imitate guys like Dez (Bryant) or guys like Calvin,’’ Escobar said. “They’re just freaks. They’re going to make plays at the end of the day but we just have to do our best to stop them.’’
--------------
Not the speed. The hands. The toughness. The brains. The ability to keep his mouth closed and not look retarded.
By David Moore/ Reporter
dmoore@dallasnews.com
5:04 pm on October 25, 2013 |
In preparation for this weekend’s game in Detroit, the Cowboys had to put someone in the role of Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.
They chose Gavin Escobar, the 6-foot-6 rookie tight end out of San Diego State.
“I got the size maybe, but not the speed,’’ Escobar said. “I’m just trying to get out there and run my hardest. They’ll throw it up to him, so basically I’m trying to give them that big-target look, that strong, physical receiver.’’
Escobar laughs when asked how well he imitates one of the NFL’s top receivers.
“Yeah, you can’t imitate guys like Dez (Bryant) or guys like Calvin,’’ Escobar said. “They’re just freaks. They’re going to make plays at the end of the day but we just have to do our best to stop them.’’
--------------
Not the speed. The hands. The toughness. The brains. The ability to keep his mouth closed and not look retarded.
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Scout’s Notebook: Evaluating Heath & Marvin Austin
Posted 1 hour ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
Irving, Texas -- Some thoughts as the Cowboys make their final preparations for the Lions:
Safety Concerns?
When J.J. Wilcox suffered a sprained knee at practice on Thursday, the fear of every coach and trainer was realized when he was helped off the field. Injuries during the games you can live with, but the ones during practice kill you inside.
Wilcox was coming off one of his best games of the season last week, but this injury will most likely sideline him a couple of games. In his place, Jeff Heath will be making his first start against the Lions in his home state of Michigan.
If anyone in this secondary can handle that assignment, it’s Heath. This has not been an easy road for him, but he has shown a knack for finding a way to get the job done no matter what. As a matter of fact, the hardest part about his journey will not be the start this weekend, but how he has arrived here.
There is a great deal of confidence in his ability from this coaching staff. He has shown the ability to play with smarts, toughness and skill. He has been a core special teamer for Rich Bisaccia this season, and last week against the Eagles Monte Kiffin and the staff put him in several situations where he was called on to play in the game, and he was spot on.
Heath will be prepared for this opportunity. His father is a football coach. You love to be around players who take the game seriously, and Heath is this way. He will work well with Barry Church in the back end. His range is good, and when he sees it, he can get to the ball. There is length to his game and when he has to be physical in coverage, he can match up.
What I like about Heath is his ability to burst and cover some ground to get to the ball.
I do not expect Monte Kiffin to alter his game plan one bit because Jeff Heath is in the game. All season long, Heath has been getting work with the first defense in practice and has been very productive. This experience should not be too big for him at all.
Mature Receiver
There would have been a time where I would have worried about Dez Bryant trying to do too much in this game with all that has been said leading up to it. There is no question that Calvin Johnson is an outstanding receiver, even rare in some of his physical traits and abilities, but so is Bryant.
As much as this Cowboys defense will have their hands full with Johnson, the Lions are in the same boat with Bryant. Neither of these teams can afford to allow the opposing receiver to take over the game, and both players have that kind of ability.
This will be an outstanding matchup of two of the most dynamic receivers in the game, with two quarterbacks that can feed them the ball down-after-down.
What is different about Bryant now in his third game against the Lions is that he is a more mature player. Bryant has always been an emotional guy who plays with a great deal of passion, but he does a much better job of controlling himself in these games, especially when it comes to fighting through periods of frustration. Bryant wants the ball, and against the Lions, you may worry about him complaining if it doesn’t go in his direction.
But I don’t believe you will see that.
Bryant will play with a boulder on his shoulder -- to steal a Jason Garrett line -- but that’s what you love about him. What we all learned from the Kansas City game earlier in the year is that if you keep feeding him the ball, good things are going to happen.
As much as Tony Romo likes to spread the ball around, he understands what this game means to his team but also to Dez Bryant, who was taken to task by the Detroit media this week when trying to draw him offsides in his comments about Calvin Johnson.
Dez Bryant will once again play with that fire in his gut but more importantly, he will play with a level head. Earlier in his career, we would have not seen that.
Back In Mix
After dressing two running backs last week against the Eagles, the Cowboys will have their full group available to them on Sunday. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar will be dressed and ready to go, which will be a nice boast to Bill Callahan’s game plan.
Murray took the majority of the reps at practice this week, with Joseph Randle in the backup role. Where this offense missed Murray the most, I felt, was in the passing game when it came to the blitz up and working with these offensive linemen. Murray has been rock solid in this area and having him back against the Lions should provide the stability they need.
Lance Dunbar will be in some packages as well on third downs, and this would be a great week for him to get untracked. But more importantly, he will resume his responsibilities on the Cowboys special teams as a core player. Dunbar has been outstanding as a cover man on kickoffs, but also as a gunner on the punt team along with Dwayne Harris.
Help Inside
You have to give Will McClay and the Cowboys Pro Scouts a lot of credit for what they are trying to do to patch all these injuries up along the defensive line.
Rod Marinelli and Leon Lett have also done a great job coaching these guys up to play at the level they have.
This week McClay and his staff brought in Marvin Austin, who was a second round selection by the Giants and was just recently released by the Miami Dolphins. Austin has always had the talent to play the position, but the question was always his desire to play hard every down.
What Jerry and Stephen Jones are hoping is that Marinelli and Lett can reach Austin and bring the best out of him.
In practice this week, Austin did get some work with the first unit next to Jason Hatcher and with Drake Nevis, as well. I was told from a couple of different folks that as the week went along, he improved each day to the point that there is confidence that if he had to play, he would be able to function and provide some quality snaps.
There are some questions about the health of Nick Hayden, who finally practice on Friday but word was he should be ready for the game. If the Cowboys can get the same work ethic and desire that they have had from Drake Nevis in Marvin Austin, this front office might have just stolen one.
Posted 1 hour ago
Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout
Irving, Texas -- Some thoughts as the Cowboys make their final preparations for the Lions:
Safety Concerns?
When J.J. Wilcox suffered a sprained knee at practice on Thursday, the fear of every coach and trainer was realized when he was helped off the field. Injuries during the games you can live with, but the ones during practice kill you inside.
Wilcox was coming off one of his best games of the season last week, but this injury will most likely sideline him a couple of games. In his place, Jeff Heath will be making his first start against the Lions in his home state of Michigan.
If anyone in this secondary can handle that assignment, it’s Heath. This has not been an easy road for him, but he has shown a knack for finding a way to get the job done no matter what. As a matter of fact, the hardest part about his journey will not be the start this weekend, but how he has arrived here.
There is a great deal of confidence in his ability from this coaching staff. He has shown the ability to play with smarts, toughness and skill. He has been a core special teamer for Rich Bisaccia this season, and last week against the Eagles Monte Kiffin and the staff put him in several situations where he was called on to play in the game, and he was spot on.
Heath will be prepared for this opportunity. His father is a football coach. You love to be around players who take the game seriously, and Heath is this way. He will work well with Barry Church in the back end. His range is good, and when he sees it, he can get to the ball. There is length to his game and when he has to be physical in coverage, he can match up.
What I like about Heath is his ability to burst and cover some ground to get to the ball.
I do not expect Monte Kiffin to alter his game plan one bit because Jeff Heath is in the game. All season long, Heath has been getting work with the first defense in practice and has been very productive. This experience should not be too big for him at all.
Mature Receiver
There would have been a time where I would have worried about Dez Bryant trying to do too much in this game with all that has been said leading up to it. There is no question that Calvin Johnson is an outstanding receiver, even rare in some of his physical traits and abilities, but so is Bryant.
As much as this Cowboys defense will have their hands full with Johnson, the Lions are in the same boat with Bryant. Neither of these teams can afford to allow the opposing receiver to take over the game, and both players have that kind of ability.
This will be an outstanding matchup of two of the most dynamic receivers in the game, with two quarterbacks that can feed them the ball down-after-down.
What is different about Bryant now in his third game against the Lions is that he is a more mature player. Bryant has always been an emotional guy who plays with a great deal of passion, but he does a much better job of controlling himself in these games, especially when it comes to fighting through periods of frustration. Bryant wants the ball, and against the Lions, you may worry about him complaining if it doesn’t go in his direction.
But I don’t believe you will see that.
Bryant will play with a boulder on his shoulder -- to steal a Jason Garrett line -- but that’s what you love about him. What we all learned from the Kansas City game earlier in the year is that if you keep feeding him the ball, good things are going to happen.
As much as Tony Romo likes to spread the ball around, he understands what this game means to his team but also to Dez Bryant, who was taken to task by the Detroit media this week when trying to draw him offsides in his comments about Calvin Johnson.
Dez Bryant will once again play with that fire in his gut but more importantly, he will play with a level head. Earlier in his career, we would have not seen that.
Back In Mix
After dressing two running backs last week against the Eagles, the Cowboys will have their full group available to them on Sunday. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar will be dressed and ready to go, which will be a nice boast to Bill Callahan’s game plan.
Murray took the majority of the reps at practice this week, with Joseph Randle in the backup role. Where this offense missed Murray the most, I felt, was in the passing game when it came to the blitz up and working with these offensive linemen. Murray has been rock solid in this area and having him back against the Lions should provide the stability they need.
Lance Dunbar will be in some packages as well on third downs, and this would be a great week for him to get untracked. But more importantly, he will resume his responsibilities on the Cowboys special teams as a core player. Dunbar has been outstanding as a cover man on kickoffs, but also as a gunner on the punt team along with Dwayne Harris.
Help Inside
You have to give Will McClay and the Cowboys Pro Scouts a lot of credit for what they are trying to do to patch all these injuries up along the defensive line.
Rod Marinelli and Leon Lett have also done a great job coaching these guys up to play at the level they have.
This week McClay and his staff brought in Marvin Austin, who was a second round selection by the Giants and was just recently released by the Miami Dolphins. Austin has always had the talent to play the position, but the question was always his desire to play hard every down.
What Jerry and Stephen Jones are hoping is that Marinelli and Lett can reach Austin and bring the best out of him.
In practice this week, Austin did get some work with the first unit next to Jason Hatcher and with Drake Nevis, as well. I was told from a couple of different folks that as the week went along, he improved each day to the point that there is confidence that if he had to play, he would be able to function and provide some quality snaps.
There are some questions about the health of Nick Hayden, who finally practice on Friday but word was he should be ready for the game. If the Cowboys can get the same work ethic and desire that they have had from Drake Nevis in Marvin Austin, this front office might have just stolen one.
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Sims reminisces about his personal zoo
October, 25, 2013
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims wants to set the record straight: He did not give Louis Delmas an alligator egg.
It was a baby alligator, a little guy about six inches long, back when they were teammates with the Detroit Lions.
That gator, which has grown to about six feet long, is in the news this week because Delmas gave it up at the request of his new roommate, former Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree, who signed with the Lions a few weeks ago. Allen Park Critter Shop owner Rick Simms, a friend of Sims who made a lot of money off the linebacker, picked up the gator named Mojo.
During his four seasons with the Lions, Sims turned the basement of his suburban Detroit condo into a zoo. A partial list of his exotic animals: •Black-tip sharks and exotic fish that swam around in an 1,800-gallon saltwater aquarium.
•Two alligators
•Several lizards, highlighted by an iguana named Godzilla that Sims says he “used to take everywhere.”
•Several specially-bred snakes, including a 14-foot albino Burmese python who he occasionally let roam around the front yard.
•Exotic birds
•Dart frogs
The food bill for all those critters: “About a grand per week.”
Sims gave all the animals back to the shop owner after leaving Detroit. He’s renting out his condo, but he said the woman living there still refuses to step foot in the basement.
Sims has more traditional pets now at his offseason home in rural Georgia, such as dogs, goats, cows and a donkey that his 2-year-old son occasionally rides.
“My little man,” Sims said, “that joker is exotic.”
October, 25, 2013
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims wants to set the record straight: He did not give Louis Delmas an alligator egg.
It was a baby alligator, a little guy about six inches long, back when they were teammates with the Detroit Lions.
That gator, which has grown to about six feet long, is in the news this week because Delmas gave it up at the request of his new roommate, former Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree, who signed with the Lions a few weeks ago. Allen Park Critter Shop owner Rick Simms, a friend of Sims who made a lot of money off the linebacker, picked up the gator named Mojo.
During his four seasons with the Lions, Sims turned the basement of his suburban Detroit condo into a zoo. A partial list of his exotic animals: •Black-tip sharks and exotic fish that swam around in an 1,800-gallon saltwater aquarium.
•Two alligators
•Several lizards, highlighted by an iguana named Godzilla that Sims says he “used to take everywhere.”
•Several specially-bred snakes, including a 14-foot albino Burmese python who he occasionally let roam around the front yard.
•Exotic birds
•Dart frogs
The food bill for all those critters: “About a grand per week.”
Sims gave all the animals back to the shop owner after leaving Detroit. He’s renting out his condo, but he said the woman living there still refuses to step foot in the basement.
Sims has more traditional pets now at his offseason home in rural Georgia, such as dogs, goats, cows and a donkey that his 2-year-old son occasionally rides.
“My little man,” Sims said, “that joker is exotic.”
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- 123,122
Reggie Bush says he missed practice out of precaution
Posted by Josh Alper on October 25, 2013, 2:28 PM EDT
Lions running back Reggie Bush was an unexpected observer at Lions practice on Friday, showing up for the session with his right leg wrapped up after practicing without issue on both Wednesday and Thursday.
According to Bush, though, there’s no reason for the Lions to make alternate arrangements in the backfield this weekend. Bush didn’t delve into specifics about any injury, but did say that Friday’s decision was a precautionary one and that he’ll be in the backfield against the Cowboys on Sunday.
“I’m fine,” Bush said, via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “I’m playing Sunday. That’s all you guys need to know. That’s it.”
The Lions will release their injury report later on Friday, so we’ll see where they wind up listing the running back but Detroit veterans often get rest days and this doesn’t appear to be any different. Bush has missed one game this season with a left knee injury, which would not seem to be related to his absence from practice on Friday.
Posted by Josh Alper on October 25, 2013, 2:28 PM EDT
Lions running back Reggie Bush was an unexpected observer at Lions practice on Friday, showing up for the session with his right leg wrapped up after practicing without issue on both Wednesday and Thursday.
According to Bush, though, there’s no reason for the Lions to make alternate arrangements in the backfield this weekend. Bush didn’t delve into specifics about any injury, but did say that Friday’s decision was a precautionary one and that he’ll be in the backfield against the Cowboys on Sunday.
“I’m fine,” Bush said, via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “I’m playing Sunday. That’s all you guys need to know. That’s it.”
The Lions will release their injury report later on Friday, so we’ll see where they wind up listing the running back but Detroit veterans often get rest days and this doesn’t appear to be any different. Bush has missed one game this season with a left knee injury, which would not seem to be related to his absence from practice on Friday.
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Lions quotes: Friday's comments from Jim Schwartz, Gunther Cunningham
By Sean Yuille @SeanYuille on Oct 26 2013, 9:00a
Below is a look at what Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had to say after Friday's practice. (Quotes provided by the Lions.)
LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ QUOTE SHEET
On Cowboys WR Dwayne Harris: "Probably the best right now, at least statistically the best dual returner in the NFL. He's made big plays. He's scored. It's not just his return ability. The guy is probably their best cover guy also. Gunner, kick off cover, it reminds me a lot of Josh Cribs a few years ago as a dual purpose returner, but then also as a cover guy. That's rare to find. He's playing well for them."
On the difficultly of a tackle playing while injured and how it affects the offense: "That would all be hypothetical and subjective. I've never played tackle so I'm probably the wrong person to ask on that. Players deal with it. Coaches deal with it all the time. Everybody has varying degrees of health, particularly in the middle of the NFL season. That's where we are and that's probably where the Dallas Cowboys are also. There are ways to be able to handle some guys being limited in some roles."
On restoring CB Chris Houston's and P Sam Martin's confidence after last week: "Both of those guys are strong guys. I think there is some similarity in that when you're a corner and you're on the field, you're in the spot light. You're one-on-one. You have to be able to embrace that. Field goal kickers and punters, everybody knows when they don't execute their job as well as they can. If you miss a kick, everybody knows that you missed or you didn't have a good punt. You're used to living in that kind of pressure. Sam bounced back real well from the first game when he dropped that one snap. We expect him to bounce back from things like this also. It's not the first adversity we have seen as a team or he's had. He's has an outstanding year. There is a lot to do with consistency and young players are usually working on that."
On DE Devin Taylor's role: "He's played well in the role that he's had and that's always the first indication. When Jason Jones got hurt, he was expected to do that. Part of that load went to him. We've been happy with him. He's done a nice job. As he continues to make plays, he'll gain more confidence."
On DE Jason Jones' status: "He's a long-term rehab. You don't want to evaluate his rehab in weeks or even months. It's going to be quarters probably. His spirits are up. He's doing a great job. He's a tough guy and he'll be back."
On the addition of S Glover Quin helping the performance of S Louis Delmas: "I think having consistency next to him was something we weren't really able to do in probably the first four years of his career. He had a revolving door at the safety next to him and was never able to really get comfortable playing beside another player. We haven't always been on the practice field together, even going back to OTA's and training camp. We have managed to keep that group together on the field on Sundays and I think that has gone a long way to helping us defensively."
On LB Cory Greenwood's rehab: "He's the same. He's not a guy that you're measuring week-to-week. He's on a long term rehab. Part of the whole process of him getting that done was so he could rehab and be ready to go in the future. We expect him to also."
On how dangerous Cowboys QB Tony Romo is with his feet and the passing game: "You made a good point with his feet. It's not just his ability to throw and throw on time. He can buy time and make plays down the field and is a very good scrambler. He hasn't scrambled for a lot of yards as far as rushing yards, but he has scrambled and bought time and made some plays down the field. He's dangerous because those guys can still get open. We're going to have to rush very well. We're going to have to keep him in the pocket. Also, be able to disrupt their timing a little bit, but not at the expense of letting him scramble around."
On if DE Ezekiel Ansah is performing as well now in comparison to the start of the season: "We have been happy with what he's doing. Like all young players, there are going to be some inconsistencies. I'd be careful of reading someone else's evaluation of our players. If there is going to be an evaluation, I would focus on team evaluations, which we don't share. Again, I'd be careful because they don't know what schemes we're running or what he's asked to do within the defense. I think that all rookies are going to have ups and downs. There are very few that are going to come in and be consistent week-in and week-out. We're happy with him. He's going to be a very good player and he has been a very productive player for us this year."
On the d-line having pressured enough in recent weeks: "I don't think anybody would think we had enough pressure d-line-wise unless they're getting probably a dozen sacks a game, they don't feel like they've done their job. That's not just us. I think any front four in the NFL probably has that kind of philosophy. You look at us, part of their thing with getting pressure is creating turnovers and that's something that in our three losses we have only had one takeaway. That's something they can help us with. Whether they're getting sacks or not, we saw a lot of examples early in the season where they didn't necessarily get the sack, but they were able to get enough pressure or affect the passing game enough that they forced some mistakes. If we're doing that, you don't have to look at sacks and things like that to know that they're being effective."
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GUNTHER CUNNINGHAM QUOTE SHEET
On how close the defense is to being the defense he thinks it can be: "Every week it seems like something happens, whether it's good or bad. I thought we played the run well and we fell short on the passing game last week. We just have to put it together. I think the guys have a great attitude. They have had a great attitude all year and some of them are still getting to know each other, but the leadership is coming around on the defense. (Stephen) Tulloch's doing a great job, Glover Quin's doing a great job. Other guys are jumping in the fray. There's a lot of discussion and it's all about football and that makes me feel good."
On what has contributed to DE Ezekiel Ansah's struggles the past few weeks: "He faced a couple pretty good tackles. Like I said a couple weeks ago, the quarterbacks get paid a lot. I'd like to have some of the money the left tackles make on offense. Joe Thomas is a good player. Ziggy's doing ok and Devin Taylor's coming on too, and that's what I really like."
On why the defensive line has not been able to bat down passes like they did in preseason: "Those things come in bunches like sacks and anything else. We talked about the red zone a few weeks ago and the first half last week I was fit to be tied, because we weren't doing it. In the second half I think we gave up one conversion and came back. All those things kind of fall into place as the season goes. The biggest thing that I look for is the development of the players, are they getting better? Like I mentioned, Devin Taylor the last two weeks, (Jim) Washburn hasn't let me down working him and I'm excited about that. I hope we play him a little bit more."
On DE Devin Taylor: "If you watch the tape, he's making some chase plays. He's had a couple sacks, he's knocked the ball out of the guy's hands a few times. He's a young kid and he's a very talented young kid, so he needs to play."
On if Taylor is using his size or speed to make those plays: "I think it's a combination of the coaching and getting used to the NFL. I think a lot of times we expect and I except, but it takes time to learn it. I reflect back on DeAndre Levy. I hope he keeps this pace up, because he's playing well. It was a struggle for him the last couple years. Maybe two years ago and he's starting to round into shape into the kind of player we had expected."
On how much of creating turnovers is a mentality on the defense's part or if it is more of the other team's mistakes: "You didn't mess around. That's a great question. That's the key to the game and we didn't get any. And that's what you have to do. If you're going to give up an 80-yard touchdown pass, you better come back and take the ball away. And for whatever reason, we've lost that edge and we need to retain it quickly, both in interceptions and fumbles."
On if it is no coincidence that in the team's three losses that they have generated just one turnover: "That's it. And that's what happened to us last year. We started out getting them right away and we need to get back to that mentality. The defensive backs are practicing much better this week. They're much more focused and the ball's coming out. When we play man they're stripped it in the end zone. Bill Bentley had about four of them this morning I think, so those are good signs."
On how he expected Houston to bounce back after his struggles in the last game: "He used to call me his grandpa, so I expect him to bounce back. He's practiced well. You have to have tough skin to play cornerback. To me, you watch baseball. I watched Holliday bat last night and I always thought he was a great player and I guess he hasn't been so great this last year, although he got a triple last night. To me, good players bounce back fast and cornerbacks have to be the fastest bouncing back."
On if Houston has adjusted his strategy on double moves from wide receivers: "Well he should have adjusted last week. We worked on it hard a week ago and he got a lot of them in practice this week, it seems like every snap we ran was a double move. I remember when I was coaching with Jim in Tennessee, Andre Dyson was playing left corner and Pittsburgh came into town, all we told him all week long was double move, early. First play of the game his guy went 65 yards but we won the game. You wonder what happens sometimes but I don't go out there and play. The only thing I can look for is the bounce back and I know he will."
On how much Cowboys WR Dez Bryant uses double moves: "Like every other play. He is a good player, my god. He is strong, big and uses his body well. You have to go fight him, you are going to have to have your best game to cover this guy. They go to him and after that, No. 82 (Cowboys TE Jason Witten), I know most the time when Romo gets in trouble, he goes to No. 82. Those two guys are really tough. We are going to have to play hard and do our job."
On if he is confident Houston can cover Bryant one-on-one or if they plan to give him help with a safety: "I think we like to give all our players help when the opportunity is there but the opportunity isn't always there depending on formation and where he goes. Chris isn't going to be on him all the time but whoever is on him is going to have to do their job."
On his impressions of Cowboys QB Tony Romo: "It's like (Jay) Cutler, how can you bad rap this guy. I think he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and I have always thought that. He didn't play a few years ago against us and I went ‘oh my god, thank you'. He can really throw the ball, he has command of the offense, their players respect him, he shows leadership when I've watched him play and he can really throw it and he has good receivers. "
On the chemistry of Lions S Louis Delmas and S Glover Quin: "They have gotten along really well. I'm sure at first with the "new guy" coming in, it's always the case, although I haven't seen it, and I would have, I'm the top dog around here (laughs). They communicate a lot off the field, on the field and you can see it. Lou has probably played some of his better games this year. He's not gambling as much, he is playing the system better and he knows he has a guy on the other side. It's funny, we practice sometimes where there is a blitz designed for Lou and he tells Q to take it, just to get a rep at it, just in case something happens. Those are the things you look for as a coach and the communication between them is outstanding."
By Sean Yuille @SeanYuille on Oct 26 2013, 9:00a
Below is a look at what Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had to say after Friday's practice. (Quotes provided by the Lions.)
LIONS HEAD COACH JIM SCHWARTZ QUOTE SHEET
On Cowboys WR Dwayne Harris: "Probably the best right now, at least statistically the best dual returner in the NFL. He's made big plays. He's scored. It's not just his return ability. The guy is probably their best cover guy also. Gunner, kick off cover, it reminds me a lot of Josh Cribs a few years ago as a dual purpose returner, but then also as a cover guy. That's rare to find. He's playing well for them."
On the difficultly of a tackle playing while injured and how it affects the offense: "That would all be hypothetical and subjective. I've never played tackle so I'm probably the wrong person to ask on that. Players deal with it. Coaches deal with it all the time. Everybody has varying degrees of health, particularly in the middle of the NFL season. That's where we are and that's probably where the Dallas Cowboys are also. There are ways to be able to handle some guys being limited in some roles."
On restoring CB Chris Houston's and P Sam Martin's confidence after last week: "Both of those guys are strong guys. I think there is some similarity in that when you're a corner and you're on the field, you're in the spot light. You're one-on-one. You have to be able to embrace that. Field goal kickers and punters, everybody knows when they don't execute their job as well as they can. If you miss a kick, everybody knows that you missed or you didn't have a good punt. You're used to living in that kind of pressure. Sam bounced back real well from the first game when he dropped that one snap. We expect him to bounce back from things like this also. It's not the first adversity we have seen as a team or he's had. He's has an outstanding year. There is a lot to do with consistency and young players are usually working on that."
On DE Devin Taylor's role: "He's played well in the role that he's had and that's always the first indication. When Jason Jones got hurt, he was expected to do that. Part of that load went to him. We've been happy with him. He's done a nice job. As he continues to make plays, he'll gain more confidence."
On DE Jason Jones' status: "He's a long-term rehab. You don't want to evaluate his rehab in weeks or even months. It's going to be quarters probably. His spirits are up. He's doing a great job. He's a tough guy and he'll be back."
On the addition of S Glover Quin helping the performance of S Louis Delmas: "I think having consistency next to him was something we weren't really able to do in probably the first four years of his career. He had a revolving door at the safety next to him and was never able to really get comfortable playing beside another player. We haven't always been on the practice field together, even going back to OTA's and training camp. We have managed to keep that group together on the field on Sundays and I think that has gone a long way to helping us defensively."
On LB Cory Greenwood's rehab: "He's the same. He's not a guy that you're measuring week-to-week. He's on a long term rehab. Part of the whole process of him getting that done was so he could rehab and be ready to go in the future. We expect him to also."
On how dangerous Cowboys QB Tony Romo is with his feet and the passing game: "You made a good point with his feet. It's not just his ability to throw and throw on time. He can buy time and make plays down the field and is a very good scrambler. He hasn't scrambled for a lot of yards as far as rushing yards, but he has scrambled and bought time and made some plays down the field. He's dangerous because those guys can still get open. We're going to have to rush very well. We're going to have to keep him in the pocket. Also, be able to disrupt their timing a little bit, but not at the expense of letting him scramble around."
On if DE Ezekiel Ansah is performing as well now in comparison to the start of the season: "We have been happy with what he's doing. Like all young players, there are going to be some inconsistencies. I'd be careful of reading someone else's evaluation of our players. If there is going to be an evaluation, I would focus on team evaluations, which we don't share. Again, I'd be careful because they don't know what schemes we're running or what he's asked to do within the defense. I think that all rookies are going to have ups and downs. There are very few that are going to come in and be consistent week-in and week-out. We're happy with him. He's going to be a very good player and he has been a very productive player for us this year."
On the d-line having pressured enough in recent weeks: "I don't think anybody would think we had enough pressure d-line-wise unless they're getting probably a dozen sacks a game, they don't feel like they've done their job. That's not just us. I think any front four in the NFL probably has that kind of philosophy. You look at us, part of their thing with getting pressure is creating turnovers and that's something that in our three losses we have only had one takeaway. That's something they can help us with. Whether they're getting sacks or not, we saw a lot of examples early in the season where they didn't necessarily get the sack, but they were able to get enough pressure or affect the passing game enough that they forced some mistakes. If we're doing that, you don't have to look at sacks and things like that to know that they're being effective."
LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GUNTHER CUNNINGHAM QUOTE SHEET
On how close the defense is to being the defense he thinks it can be: "Every week it seems like something happens, whether it's good or bad. I thought we played the run well and we fell short on the passing game last week. We just have to put it together. I think the guys have a great attitude. They have had a great attitude all year and some of them are still getting to know each other, but the leadership is coming around on the defense. (Stephen) Tulloch's doing a great job, Glover Quin's doing a great job. Other guys are jumping in the fray. There's a lot of discussion and it's all about football and that makes me feel good."
On what has contributed to DE Ezekiel Ansah's struggles the past few weeks: "He faced a couple pretty good tackles. Like I said a couple weeks ago, the quarterbacks get paid a lot. I'd like to have some of the money the left tackles make on offense. Joe Thomas is a good player. Ziggy's doing ok and Devin Taylor's coming on too, and that's what I really like."
On why the defensive line has not been able to bat down passes like they did in preseason: "Those things come in bunches like sacks and anything else. We talked about the red zone a few weeks ago and the first half last week I was fit to be tied, because we weren't doing it. In the second half I think we gave up one conversion and came back. All those things kind of fall into place as the season goes. The biggest thing that I look for is the development of the players, are they getting better? Like I mentioned, Devin Taylor the last two weeks, (Jim) Washburn hasn't let me down working him and I'm excited about that. I hope we play him a little bit more."
On DE Devin Taylor: "If you watch the tape, he's making some chase plays. He's had a couple sacks, he's knocked the ball out of the guy's hands a few times. He's a young kid and he's a very talented young kid, so he needs to play."
On if Taylor is using his size or speed to make those plays: "I think it's a combination of the coaching and getting used to the NFL. I think a lot of times we expect and I except, but it takes time to learn it. I reflect back on DeAndre Levy. I hope he keeps this pace up, because he's playing well. It was a struggle for him the last couple years. Maybe two years ago and he's starting to round into shape into the kind of player we had expected."
On how much of creating turnovers is a mentality on the defense's part or if it is more of the other team's mistakes: "You didn't mess around. That's a great question. That's the key to the game and we didn't get any. And that's what you have to do. If you're going to give up an 80-yard touchdown pass, you better come back and take the ball away. And for whatever reason, we've lost that edge and we need to retain it quickly, both in interceptions and fumbles."
On if it is no coincidence that in the team's three losses that they have generated just one turnover: "That's it. And that's what happened to us last year. We started out getting them right away and we need to get back to that mentality. The defensive backs are practicing much better this week. They're much more focused and the ball's coming out. When we play man they're stripped it in the end zone. Bill Bentley had about four of them this morning I think, so those are good signs."
On how he expected Houston to bounce back after his struggles in the last game: "He used to call me his grandpa, so I expect him to bounce back. He's practiced well. You have to have tough skin to play cornerback. To me, you watch baseball. I watched Holliday bat last night and I always thought he was a great player and I guess he hasn't been so great this last year, although he got a triple last night. To me, good players bounce back fast and cornerbacks have to be the fastest bouncing back."
On if Houston has adjusted his strategy on double moves from wide receivers: "Well he should have adjusted last week. We worked on it hard a week ago and he got a lot of them in practice this week, it seems like every snap we ran was a double move. I remember when I was coaching with Jim in Tennessee, Andre Dyson was playing left corner and Pittsburgh came into town, all we told him all week long was double move, early. First play of the game his guy went 65 yards but we won the game. You wonder what happens sometimes but I don't go out there and play. The only thing I can look for is the bounce back and I know he will."
On how much Cowboys WR Dez Bryant uses double moves: "Like every other play. He is a good player, my god. He is strong, big and uses his body well. You have to go fight him, you are going to have to have your best game to cover this guy. They go to him and after that, No. 82 (Cowboys TE Jason Witten), I know most the time when Romo gets in trouble, he goes to No. 82. Those two guys are really tough. We are going to have to play hard and do our job."
On if he is confident Houston can cover Bryant one-on-one or if they plan to give him help with a safety: "I think we like to give all our players help when the opportunity is there but the opportunity isn't always there depending on formation and where he goes. Chris isn't going to be on him all the time but whoever is on him is going to have to do their job."
On his impressions of Cowboys QB Tony Romo: "It's like (Jay) Cutler, how can you bad rap this guy. I think he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and I have always thought that. He didn't play a few years ago against us and I went ‘oh my god, thank you'. He can really throw the ball, he has command of the offense, their players respect him, he shows leadership when I've watched him play and he can really throw it and he has good receivers. "
On the chemistry of Lions S Louis Delmas and S Glover Quin: "They have gotten along really well. I'm sure at first with the "new guy" coming in, it's always the case, although I haven't seen it, and I would have, I'm the top dog around here (laughs). They communicate a lot off the field, on the field and you can see it. Lou has probably played some of his better games this year. He's not gambling as much, he is playing the system better and he knows he has a guy on the other side. It's funny, we practice sometimes where there is a blitz designed for Lou and he tells Q to take it, just to get a rep at it, just in case something happens. Those are the things you look for as a coach and the communication between them is outstanding."
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Jerry Jones: I’m more worried about Reggie Bush than Megatron
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 26, 2013, 10:14 AM EDT
As Dallas prepares to head to Detroit, Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones says Calvin Johnson is not the Lion who worries him most.
Asked on KRLD-FM whether he’s more concerned about his defense facing Johnson or Lions running back Reggie Bush, Jones answered that the Cowboys’ greatest problem on defense will be keeping Bush in check.
“Well, I think Bush,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. “When I look at where we seem to have some vulnerability using the passes out of the backfield, I look at what San Diego did, I look at times what Philadelphia did, if they were able to do anything at all, coming out of that backfield. That seems defensively to be a rough area for us. We’ve worked on it a lot this week.”
The last time the Lions faced the Cowboys, Johnson scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead Detroit to a comeback win. So Jones knows Johnson is a threat. He just thinks Bush is a greater threat.
“Now, Johnson, he wins most every match when they compete for the ball, if the ball is up there and he’s got a chance to get it, he wins it,” Jones said. “He’s got the size and got the skill to make it, and again, that’s my point. They got a guy who can really, really deliver the ball, so having said that, I think Bush would be the one to leave home if we could get him left home.”
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, both Bush and Megatron will be on the field on Sunday.
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 26, 2013, 10:14 AM EDT
As Dallas prepares to head to Detroit, Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones says Calvin Johnson is not the Lion who worries him most.
Asked on KRLD-FM whether he’s more concerned about his defense facing Johnson or Lions running back Reggie Bush, Jones answered that the Cowboys’ greatest problem on defense will be keeping Bush in check.
“Well, I think Bush,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. “When I look at where we seem to have some vulnerability using the passes out of the backfield, I look at what San Diego did, I look at times what Philadelphia did, if they were able to do anything at all, coming out of that backfield. That seems defensively to be a rough area for us. We’ve worked on it a lot this week.”
The last time the Lions faced the Cowboys, Johnson scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead Detroit to a comeback win. So Jones knows Johnson is a threat. He just thinks Bush is a greater threat.
“Now, Johnson, he wins most every match when they compete for the ball, if the ball is up there and he’s got a chance to get it, he wins it,” Jones said. “He’s got the size and got the skill to make it, and again, that’s my point. They got a guy who can really, really deliver the ball, so having said that, I think Bush would be the one to leave home if we could get him left home.”
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, both Bush and Megatron will be on the field on Sunday.
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I am just amazed at the stories from this week. Why on earth there was this compulsion to compare Bryant to Cal all week is incredible to me. Everyone, including Bryant was doing it.
It is like we learned nothing from Rob Ryan's idiocy a couple of years ago.
NoDak
Hotlinking' sonofabitch
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I could see it if we were facing Patrick Crayton. Who cares if he gets mad.
Not really looking forward to a pissed off, motivated Cal going against our stellar pass defense. There might be some records broken.
But on the bright side, I have Stafford in FF.
Not really looking forward to a pissed off, motivated Cal going against our stellar pass defense. There might be some records broken.
But on the bright side, I have Stafford in FF.