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Bob Sturm / Contributor
SportsDayDFW phoned The Ticket's Bob Sturm to comment on the Cowboys' 33-30 win over the Redskins. The following is a transcription of the interview:
How alarming was the Redskins' comeback from down 27-7?
It's extremely alarming. It's a lot of the same things we've seen, beginning with busted coverages in the secondary, the inability to stop the opposition in the fourth quarter (that's a trend we've seen for a bit). This defense is playing with almost entire full complement and is a real sore thumb right now. Its inability to close the deal even against the feeblest of offenses, it's the type of win that reminds you of the amount of work you need to do instead of one you want to celebrate the rest of evening.
This would now be seven out of nine games in which the Cowboys defense has surrendered 30 points. Another mediocre quarterback that the cowboys defense has made look like a one-afternoon legend. The Cowboys were plus-3 in turnovers but still required a field goal in the 60th minute to achieve victory. Give them some credit, but it's a lot of work for this Cowboys team without some of their weapons.
Would the outcome have been different with Donovan McNabb at QB instead of Rex Grossman?
Looking at his numbers this season, McNabb does not have any three-touchdown performances. So for Grossman to throw for four (TDs) just shows us the Redskins could not have done better production wise. The Cowboys seemingly thought they had the game won. The next three Redskins drives all ended up in the end zone. As the game goes on, the Cowboys' defense is rather easily figured out. We should recognize (Terrance) Newman's (end-of-game) interception as a stop but there wasn't much resistance in the second half.
On the job new defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni has done in place of Wade Phillips?
Your wonder what scheme could work now that you've seen Wade Phillips and Paul Pasqualoni -- two completely different ideas -- and both of them have looked rather ineffective. There is a point when you ask yourself: How often you can blame the scheme? Under Pasqualoni, they are going with more zone, but we see with the zone coverages a ton of coverage confusion. Perhaps with a full off-season and training camp under this scheme, maybe there would be less confusion. Let's not kid ourselves, this defense was horrendously overrated, and it appears that should be a large part of the focus in the off-season, bringing in some new components.
On the confidence in David Buehler, who missed another field goal and almost missed the game-winner.
Just when you think he might be turning the corner, he shanks one and kind of restores everyone's lack of belief that he is a kicker that should be invested in. I did not understand how the job was given to him in the off-season almost completely without an off-season. He's anything but money.
On the Cowboys going to Jason Witten more (10 catches, 140 yards) with Roy Williams out?
A lot of that was out of necessity. The opposition is doubling (Austin) Miles and also making Kitna make difficult throws outside the numbers and obviously Kitna's counter to that is throwing high-percentage passes to his tight end in the middle of the field. Kitna is merely doing what a backup quarterback would do. I was surprised they got that much production given how Kitna was staring him down quite a bit this past month. It's a bit difficult to be too critical of this offense given the number of weapons they might be missing. The Redskins' generosity obviously pitched in.
On any other surprises:
I continued to be considered with Terrence Newman. It does seem he could very well be not healthy based on the ease in which teams are picking on him these days. It's important that this defense has corners who can keep the end of the bargain. He does not look the part these days.
I think from a positive standpoint, the offensive line had another reasonable game, but the frustrating thing about them, they can't string games together it appears every time they have a good Sunday, they follow it with a lousy one.
SportsDayDFW phoned The Ticket's Bob Sturm to comment on the Cowboys' 33-30 win over the Redskins. The following is a transcription of the interview:
How alarming was the Redskins' comeback from down 27-7?
It's extremely alarming. It's a lot of the same things we've seen, beginning with busted coverages in the secondary, the inability to stop the opposition in the fourth quarter (that's a trend we've seen for a bit). This defense is playing with almost entire full complement and is a real sore thumb right now. Its inability to close the deal even against the feeblest of offenses, it's the type of win that reminds you of the amount of work you need to do instead of one you want to celebrate the rest of evening.
This would now be seven out of nine games in which the Cowboys defense has surrendered 30 points. Another mediocre quarterback that the cowboys defense has made look like a one-afternoon legend. The Cowboys were plus-3 in turnovers but still required a field goal in the 60th minute to achieve victory. Give them some credit, but it's a lot of work for this Cowboys team without some of their weapons.
Would the outcome have been different with Donovan McNabb at QB instead of Rex Grossman?
Looking at his numbers this season, McNabb does not have any three-touchdown performances. So for Grossman to throw for four (TDs) just shows us the Redskins could not have done better production wise. The Cowboys seemingly thought they had the game won. The next three Redskins drives all ended up in the end zone. As the game goes on, the Cowboys' defense is rather easily figured out. We should recognize (Terrance) Newman's (end-of-game) interception as a stop but there wasn't much resistance in the second half.
On the job new defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni has done in place of Wade Phillips?
Your wonder what scheme could work now that you've seen Wade Phillips and Paul Pasqualoni -- two completely different ideas -- and both of them have looked rather ineffective. There is a point when you ask yourself: How often you can blame the scheme? Under Pasqualoni, they are going with more zone, but we see with the zone coverages a ton of coverage confusion. Perhaps with a full off-season and training camp under this scheme, maybe there would be less confusion. Let's not kid ourselves, this defense was horrendously overrated, and it appears that should be a large part of the focus in the off-season, bringing in some new components.
On the confidence in David Buehler, who missed another field goal and almost missed the game-winner.
Just when you think he might be turning the corner, he shanks one and kind of restores everyone's lack of belief that he is a kicker that should be invested in. I did not understand how the job was given to him in the off-season almost completely without an off-season. He's anything but money.
On the Cowboys going to Jason Witten more (10 catches, 140 yards) with Roy Williams out?
A lot of that was out of necessity. The opposition is doubling (Austin) Miles and also making Kitna make difficult throws outside the numbers and obviously Kitna's counter to that is throwing high-percentage passes to his tight end in the middle of the field. Kitna is merely doing what a backup quarterback would do. I was surprised they got that much production given how Kitna was staring him down quite a bit this past month. It's a bit difficult to be too critical of this offense given the number of weapons they might be missing. The Redskins' generosity obviously pitched in.
On any other surprises:
I continued to be considered with Terrence Newman. It does seem he could very well be not healthy based on the ease in which teams are picking on him these days. It's important that this defense has corners who can keep the end of the bargain. He does not look the part these days.
I think from a positive standpoint, the offensive line had another reasonable game, but the frustrating thing about them, they can't string games together it appears every time they have a good Sunday, they follow it with a lousy one.
