OFFICIAL GDT - Cowboys @ Buccaneers!!! - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Underdog · 09-13-2009, 10:14 AM

Cowboys at Buccaneers
Both Teams Will Debut New Looks In Season Opener

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GAME SET
WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
WHEN: Sunday, 12 noon (CT)
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay
TELEVISION: FOX (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa)

BIG ISSUE: The 2009 Cowboys are going to look quite different than the 2008 version. First of all, lightning rod wide receiver Terrell Owens is gone, and Roy Williams will now take his place as the team's No. 1 receiver. On defense, the Cowboys waved goodbye to Pacman Jones, Anthony Henry, Roy Williams, Zach Thomas and Greg Ellis, and said hello to Keith Brooking and Gerald Sensabaugh, along with eight of their 12 draft picks that made the roster. On top of all that, head coach Wade Phillips has promised a change in how he operates, starting with taking over the defensive calls completely. When the first game of the season kicks off in Tampa on Sunday, whether all those changes made a difference will be determined.

So much is different about the Buccaneers from last season to this season. Jon Gruden is out as the head coach, and Raheem Morris was promoted from within. Monte Kiffin is gone, and Jim Bates now takes over the defense. Future Hall-of-Famer Derrick Brooks was released, as was Joey Galloway. And instead of Jeff Garcia behind center, now it's Byron Leftwich, who will be handing the ball off to former Giant Derrick Ward. The most recent change came at offensive coordinator, where the Bucs fired Jeff Jagodzinski a week before the season. All that boils down to the fact that the Cowboys have very little idea of what to expect on Sunday.

NUMBERS, PLEASE: The Cowboys led the league in sacks last year with 59, and at first glance, seeing the stationary Leftwich at quarterback must make Dallas' pass rushers giddy. But hold on, because Leftwich doesn't get sacked as much as people think. During the only three years in which he started 10 or more games, Leftwich has never finished higher than 21st on sacks taken. In his 2003 rookie season, Leftwich was sacked 19 times, he took 25 sacks in 2004, and 23 sacks in 2005.

The Buccaneers have a stable of three running backs they could deploy, and shocked much of the sports world by announcing they'd start Cadillac Williams against the Cowboys when most assumed either Earnest Graham or Ward would get the nod. But all three will be used, so here's a look at how each fared last season. Ward rushed for more than 1,000 yards and two touchdowns in a complementary role with the Giants last season. Graham ran for 563 yards and four touchdowns, but was limited by injury. Williams only played in six games in 2008, but rushed for 233 yards and four scores.

ONE-ON-ONE: When the Cowboys faced tight end Kellen Winslow in last year's season opener against the Browns, they stopped him by pulling Greg Ellis out to jam him. They did that because they knew then-starting safety Roy Williams could not cover Winslow. But Williams is gone, and Gerald Sensabaugh is in via free agency. Sensabaugh is a good cover safety and the Cowboys could rely on him to stay step-for-step with Winslow in the passing game. Winslow is the best receiving threat the Bucs have other than wide receiver Antonio Bryant, so if Sensabaugh can contain him, the Cowboys will have the advantage.

This year, the Cowboys aren't going to wait to see what they have in running back Felix Jones. They know, and so does Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. Ruud will be all over the field on Sunday, and a lot of the time it will be in response to what Jones is doing. Jones is a threat to turn the corner on any run or cut back inside at any time, and also to catch balls out of the backfield. The Bucs will know where he is at all times, especially Ruud.

SUPPORTING ROLE: With Owens gone, the Cowboys' passing game will become more of a catch-by-committee. Williams is the outright No. 1 and Patrick Crayton is the No. 2, but fourth-year receivers Miles Austin and Sam Hurd will play a big role as well. Both Hurd and Austin returned to practice this week after missing time with lingering injuries - a quad for Hurd and a hamstring for Austin. It's been a while since either got any meaningful game time, so they'll have to catch up quick in order to make the Cowboys offense as potent as it can be.

Both of the Bucs' top receivers, Bryant and Michael Clayton, will play Sunday but have been dealing with injuries. If either needs a break, or if the Bucs choose to use either sparingly, fourth-year receiver Maurice Stovall will fill the void. Stovall hasn't caught more than 10 balls in a season prior to this point, but has shown good production in the 2009 preseason, pulling in 13 catches for 127 yards in four preseason starts.

HEADSET GAMES: The Cowboys know that their first priority is to stop the run, but the one thing they cannot afford is to get beat deep, which just happens to be Antonio Bryant's specialty. The Bucs still run their West Coast system, but Leftwich's strong arm allows them to throw more deep routes, Phillips said. The Cowboys cannot afford to be lulled to sleep by the dink and dunk passes of Tampa's West Coast offense, or else they'll be hit for a big score.

The Buccaneers want to make sure one thing does not hurt them - Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, or more specifically, Romo's ability to make something out of nothing. The Bucs defensive linemen have said they can't afford to lose one-on-one matchups, because that allows Romo time to scramble and find an open receiver. Getting to Romo and rattling him will be the Tampa Bay goal on Sunday.

HEALTH WATCH:

Cowboys

The Cowboys head into Sunday's game more or less healthy. The only players scheduled to miss are backups, and three of them are rookies: safety Mike Hamlin (broken arm), quarterback Stephen McGee (MCL sprain) and inside linebacker Jason Williams (high ankle sprain). Outside linebacker Curtis Johnson, whom the Cowboys claimed off waivers before the final preseason game, remains out with a hamstring issue.

Buccaneers

The Bucs' top two receivers appear on the injury report, but both are listed as probable. Bryant and Clayton both had two full practices in the last three days and are expected to play after recovering from knee surgery and a hamstring injury, respectfully. Defensive tackle Ryan Sims is also listed as probable after missing Friday's practice for non-injury reasons. Defensive end Kyle Moore has not practiced since Wednesday with a groin injury, and is questionable for the game. Cornerback E.J. Biggers (shoulder), tight end John Gilmore (ankle) and linebacker Adam Hayward (ankle) did not practice at all this week. Biggers has been ruled out for Sunday, but Gilmore and Hayward are listed as doubtful.

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 11:41 AM

Ah football season, you are here. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning again.

alexamenos · 09-13-2009, 12:08 PM

I was so happy until that play.

Kirobaito · 09-13-2009, 12:08 PM

We're taking way too long to snap the ball. We took so long that time that Tony had no choice but to run.

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:14 PM

what a leg

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 12:15 PM

I like some of the things I saw on the first drive. Hate how it ended on a couple of mistakes.

Kirobaito · 09-13-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360

what a leg

Folk is the best field goal kicker in the league, I think. If Buehler can do that time and time again, awesome. I hate holding two kickers, but if they can do that together, it's worth it.

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

Folk is the best field goal kicker in the league, I think. If Buehler can do that time and time again, awesome. I hate holding two kickers, but if they can do that together, it's worth it.

i was talkin bout buehler lol

Kirobaito · 09-13-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windmill360

i was talkin bout buehler lol

I know. I commented on both Folk and Buehler!

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:22 PM

defense is gonna be HORRIBLE this year.

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:26 PM

BLOCK! wow havent seen one of those in a while!

alexamenos · 09-13-2009, 12:28 PM

A good kick return, kickoff for a
touch back, blocked field goal. Special teams haven't sucked thus far.

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 12:29 PM

Gosh Felix can get my Cowboys pants moving on an ordinary running play.

He's good.

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:34 PM

yep. his fakes and cutbacks are nice.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 12:36 PM

Folk is a machine.

Windmill360 · 09-13-2009, 12:46 PM

we're gonna lose this game and TB will have 300+ yards rushing.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 12:48 PM

The run defense is pretty putrid today.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 12:51 PM

Windmill, isn't it a bit premature to say the Boys will lose? (Ironic that I'm asking the question to you.)

alexamenos · 09-13-2009, 12:52 PM

Geez the d stinks.

^^^this brilliant football observation was brought to you by Fox Sports.

alexamenos · 09-13-2009, 01:00 PM

0-16

when is the mavs first game?

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:02 PM

Yay! They got a stop. It was more of Tampa Bay's undoing than the defense. But I'll take it anyway the Cowboys can get it.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:08 PM

Romo is exciting. But I wish he wasn't so much of a wildcard.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:09 PM

Nice reverse.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:10 PM

Flozell. The only suprise was it wasn't holding or a false start.

DevinHarriswillstart · 09-13-2009, 01:11 PM

Wow, Flozell.....

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 01:11 PM

Love ya Tony, but you gotta get your head in the game.

chumdawg · 09-13-2009, 01:12 PM

Romo looks like ASS WARMED UP.

ocelot_ark · 09-13-2009, 01:14 PM

Defense concerns me more than the offense's early struggles.

Dim499 · 09-13-2009, 01:17 PM

Now this penaltge on Flozell was a huge play in this game. Nullified a trickplay 1st down on 2nd and 10and ended the drive....

Obviously FOX has to have a shot of it with their 2000 cameras. Do they just think the viewer is too stupid to think back three plays? Or why exactly do they choose not to show a replay of it?

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 01:20 PM

The strange thing is we have always been a pretty good running D. So it's a little concerning that Cadillac Williams, who has barely played the last two years, is shredding it. I wonder what on earth is going on.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:21 PM

What a move by Austin.

Bayliss · 09-13-2009, 01:21 PM

And as bad as the Boys have played. They've got the lead....

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 01:22 PM

That was a heck of a play by Austin!

alexamenos · 09-13-2009, 01:22 PM

Sweet

FINtastic · 09-13-2009, 01:31 PM

Well things that look good:

1. Running game
2. Special Teams
3. Miles Austin

Things that don't look good:

Everything else

I hope our defense figures some things out over halftime.