Cowboys vs Redskins Preview

When the Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Redskins this game is not like it use to be. Yes these two teams still have a rivalry, but not like it use to be. The Washington Redskins have struggled the last few years and even the Dallas Cowboys are not the same team they have been in recent years. Lets take a closer look at this game and what I would like to see the Cowboys do.

The Cowboys need to start to run the ball on a more consistent basis. They key is getting Marion Barber and Felix Jones more touches. Unless the Cowboys start to run the ball better then more pressure will be put on Tony Romo. By running the ball you will be able to open up the offense a lot more. Roy Williams also needs to be a big part of the offense and one way to do that is to get him early touches and that will keep his head in the game.

Defensively the Cowboys need to pressure Jason Campbell as much as possible. Campbell in recent years has had good games against the Cowboys defense so he will have a lot of confidence going into the game. He does not seem to make good decisions when you put pressure on him. Shutting the running game down is also something the Cowboys will need to do.

My prediction is the Cowboys should have no problem winning this game. I like the Cowboys by a 24-14 score. The Redskins have struggled all year long and I look for that to continue in this game as well. Unless the Cowboys turn the ball over a lot they should have no problem with the redskins.

Barber Or Jones Time To Decide

In the greater scheme of things if you want to have a balance offense you need to be able to run the ball on a consistent basis. The Dallas Cowboys actually have three good running backs in Marion barber, Tashard Choice, and Felix Jones. The biggest problem is at fullback. No matter what team you go to that runs the ball well or has in the past you will notice one thing and that is a good blocking fullback. Lorenzo Neal was one of the great ones and the Cowboys have had some Scott Laidlaw, Robert Newhouse just to name a few as there were many.

Right now if you look at Felix Jones and Marion barber they are close in rushing yardage which is great, but in reality a good blocking fullback would give them even more yardage. There are other reasons why you need a good blocking fullback besides running the ball. They help pick up blitzes and are great receivers usually out of the backfield when called upon. If you look at some of the teams that over the years have run the ball extremely well they usually have a great fullback leading the way.

This leads me to the choice between Felix Jones and Marion Barber. I think it is time the Dallas Cowboys stand up and make a decision about one of these guys. Who is going to be the back of the future for you. I feel both are talented, but rarely does a two back set ever work in the NFL. Trading one away to get help in other areas on the team would be my choice. The Dallas Cowboys have to make a choice soon between the two. personally I am leaning to Marion Barber and his style of running. No matter which back the Cowboys choose they still need to get a proved blocking back to lead the way for them.

Time For The Cowboys To Go Back To It's Roots

Today we are going to start a series of what the Dallas Cowboys need to do to get back on top. First let's start with one of the most important aspect of the Dallas Cowboys that I think is very overlooked and that is coaching. In the last few years the Dallas Cowboys have not had a guy that in my mind you could really call a good coach. Jimmy Johnson and Tom Landry is really the last guys that come to mind. Both knew exactly what needed to be done and they were not afraid to do it. The coaches that the Cowboys recently have hired really had no grasp of what it means to be a Dallas Cowboys coach or how to go about it and that is sad.

Many people really think Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson were total opposites, but the truth is they were similar in many aspects. Both wanted to win they just went about it different ways with success. Most people will tell you both did it their own way and both had a track record of success. Now until the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones hire someone in that type of mode they will struggle to get back to the top. Many people wonder who the Cowboys could hire. That is a question I have been pondering when I started writing this series. Mike Shanahan is a coach many people have mentioned, but not my choice.

Now many people will not like my choice, but he is a former Dallas Cowboy and a former Arena League coach that Cowboy fans would be receptive towards. My choice would be for Jerry Jones to bring in Danny White to coach the Dallas Cowboys. He coached in the Arena League take his team to three straight Arena Bowl Championships even though he lost all of them. He played under Tom Landry and still understands how today's players are. I do not know if Danny White would consider the job, but he would be my choice. I know many people want Jason Garrett, but I just do not think he is the guy to run the Cowboys.

In our next post we are going to look at the running backs and why we need to make changes here as well. The changes may just surprise some Cowboy fans.

Tom Landry Class Act

Here is a video someone posted on Youtube that you will see Tom Landry in a little different light then we are use to. Tom Landry was one coach who does not get the credit that he deserves. It seems when people talk about great coaches people seem to overlook Tom Landry and that is a shame. In my opinion without a doubt he deserves to be in the Top 10. Enjoy the video.

Dallas Cowboys Got Frozen In Green Bay

Well the one thing that you can say about the Dallas Cowboys is they are a work in progress, but the question is what kind of work. After playing well for a couple of weeks they came out and layed an egg in Green Bay. Green Bay dominated the Cowboys especially on defense. In fact the Cowboys struggled against a Green Bay Packers defense that could not stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week ago. The Buccaneers are not good, but they beat the Packers. I guess the Dallas Cowboys need to make some changes and that means in the off-season.

One of the first things the Dallas Cowboys must do is get rid of Wade Phillips. Phillips is a good guy and everything, but he is not the coach for this team. They are not improving and I will be surprised if he is retained. Jerry Jones likes Phillips, but a change is needed. Roy Williams is another guy the Cowboys must decide what to do with. Will him and Romo ever get on the same page. Right now the Dallas Cowboys have so many problems and in future posts we will address each one.