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Cowboys had Texans where they wanted on goal line
Posted at 12:35 PM on Tue., Sep. 28, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
The biggest sequence of plays for the Cowboys happened on the goal line with a 17-3 lead Sunday at Houston.
After Gerald Sensabaugh was able to tackle Texans tight end Owen Daniels at the 1, the Cowboys defense came up huge (and some luck) by holding Houston to a field goal. At his post-game interview Sunday, Wade Phillips said that's when the game ended.
The easy play to remember is Keith Brooking's third-down sack. But on first and second down Anthony Spencer, Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff and Barry Church dominated and gave Arian Foster no room to run. On first down, Spencer blew up fullback Vonta Leach and Church and Brooking cleaned up with the tackle. On second down, Spencer pushed tight end Joel Dreessen three yards back into the backfield, Spears took on a triple team and was able to get right tackle Eric Winston of balance and Church stonewalled Leach.
Then they got some luck on the first third-down call. Brooking was called for pass interference on Daniels in the end zone, but Winston was called for a holding penalty on Spencer. Maybe it was a hold, but if the officials called that on Marc Colombo, Cowboys fans would be going crazy over the call.
Instead of first down, it's still third down and Brooking comes untouched for the sack. Matt Schaub's eyes never left Andre Johnson, who was blanketed by inside out coverage by Alan Ball and Orlando Scandrick. If Schaub had a tick more time, he would have seen Jacoby Jones open in the back of the end zone but Brooking got to him. I do wonder if Foster was supposed to free release like that and leave Brooking unblocked.
Phillips said the confidence from a goal-line stand can carry over when the team faces similar situations.
"It's the old coach's speech or whatever, 'We got 'em where we want 'em,'" Phillips said. "You've got them on the 1-yard line, first down on the 1, but if your mindset is, 'We've got em' where we want 'em ... "
The first half stand was not as dramatic but just as effective and they caught a break there, too.
Gerald Sensabaugh's stop of Foster on first down from the 6 was textbook, sound defense. The Texans had a hole but Sensabaugh filled and made the play. On second down, left tackle Rashard Butler flinched for a false start. Instead of second and goal from the 5, it's from the 10. Phillips brought a 6-man pressure but it was Jay Ratliff that forced Schaub to throw the fade to Kevin Walter earlier than he wanted. He beat the center, guard and back to get to Schaub.
On third down Schaub felt pressure that wasn't really there yet and checked it down to Foster for a small gain. On came Neil Rackers for a field goal try.
When the game mattered most, the defense had two red-zone stops. That's a good sign.
Posted at 12:35 PM on Tue., Sep. 28, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
The biggest sequence of plays for the Cowboys happened on the goal line with a 17-3 lead Sunday at Houston.
After Gerald Sensabaugh was able to tackle Texans tight end Owen Daniels at the 1, the Cowboys defense came up huge (and some luck) by holding Houston to a field goal. At his post-game interview Sunday, Wade Phillips said that's when the game ended.
The easy play to remember is Keith Brooking's third-down sack. But on first and second down Anthony Spencer, Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff and Barry Church dominated and gave Arian Foster no room to run. On first down, Spencer blew up fullback Vonta Leach and Church and Brooking cleaned up with the tackle. On second down, Spencer pushed tight end Joel Dreessen three yards back into the backfield, Spears took on a triple team and was able to get right tackle Eric Winston of balance and Church stonewalled Leach.
Then they got some luck on the first third-down call. Brooking was called for pass interference on Daniels in the end zone, but Winston was called for a holding penalty on Spencer. Maybe it was a hold, but if the officials called that on Marc Colombo, Cowboys fans would be going crazy over the call.
Instead of first down, it's still third down and Brooking comes untouched for the sack. Matt Schaub's eyes never left Andre Johnson, who was blanketed by inside out coverage by Alan Ball and Orlando Scandrick. If Schaub had a tick more time, he would have seen Jacoby Jones open in the back of the end zone but Brooking got to him. I do wonder if Foster was supposed to free release like that and leave Brooking unblocked.
Phillips said the confidence from a goal-line stand can carry over when the team faces similar situations.
"It's the old coach's speech or whatever, 'We got 'em where we want 'em,'" Phillips said. "You've got them on the 1-yard line, first down on the 1, but if your mindset is, 'We've got em' where we want 'em ... "
The first half stand was not as dramatic but just as effective and they caught a break there, too.
Gerald Sensabaugh's stop of Foster on first down from the 6 was textbook, sound defense. The Texans had a hole but Sensabaugh filled and made the play. On second down, left tackle Rashard Butler flinched for a false start. Instead of second and goal from the 5, it's from the 10. Phillips brought a 6-man pressure but it was Jay Ratliff that forced Schaub to throw the fade to Kevin Walter earlier than he wanted. He beat the center, guard and back to get to Schaub.
On third down Schaub felt pressure that wasn't really there yet and checked it down to Foster for a small gain. On came Neil Rackers for a field goal try.
When the game mattered most, the defense had two red-zone stops. That's a good sign.
