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Cowlishaw: Cowboys-Texans matchup means much more to Dallas this time
06:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 22, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Tim Cowlishaw, columnist for The Dallas Morning News and SportsDayDFW.com, answered questions from a chat on Wednesday.
On why the Cowboys GM didn’t upgrade his team in the off-season:
Well, the Cowboys were in the same boat as the rest of the NFL on that one. There was almost no movement in free-agency as the expiration of the CBA turned would-be free agents (like Miles Austin) into restricted ones around the league. So if you look at the starting lineups for teams this season, they closely resemble last year’s in almost every case. Julius Peppers going to Chicago from Carolina, safety Antrel Rolle (if you can call that a big deal) going from Arizona to the Giants were at the top of a very short list of player movement. Given that, I thought the Bryant addition gave the Cowboys a leg up in terms of adding offensive weapons, something their rivals didn’t do.
On whether this is a bigger game for the Cowboys or the Texans:
Much, much bigger for the Cowboys. For the Texans, it’s more an emotional thing for their fans who hate Dallas. That’s big, I understand, but a loss would leave Houston at 2-1. They would go on and compete with Indy for the division or for a wild-card spot. A loss to 0-3 for the Cowboys ends their season before the bye week gets here. Devastating and humiliating.
On whether Jason Garrett and the offensive line coach are on the same page or not:
I can’t imagine that Jason Garrett and Hudson Houck can’t get on the same page. They have known each other for nearly 20 years. Now is there a question of whether or not Garrett thinks this line as constructed can block for the running game? Yeah, I think that’s a real question.
On why Wade doesn’t take over the play calling on offense, like he did on defense:
I assume you are kidding. Wade has been a defensive coordinator his entire career. Jason Garrett is paid about $3 million to be the offensive play-caller. If someone other than Garrett was going to be assigned to offensive play-calling duties, it wouldn’t be Wade. Bill Belichick is a great coach, but he’s not the offensive play-caller in New England.
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06:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 22, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Tim Cowlishaw, columnist for The Dallas Morning News and SportsDayDFW.com, answered questions from a chat on Wednesday.
On why the Cowboys GM didn’t upgrade his team in the off-season:
Well, the Cowboys were in the same boat as the rest of the NFL on that one. There was almost no movement in free-agency as the expiration of the CBA turned would-be free agents (like Miles Austin) into restricted ones around the league. So if you look at the starting lineups for teams this season, they closely resemble last year’s in almost every case. Julius Peppers going to Chicago from Carolina, safety Antrel Rolle (if you can call that a big deal) going from Arizona to the Giants were at the top of a very short list of player movement. Given that, I thought the Bryant addition gave the Cowboys a leg up in terms of adding offensive weapons, something their rivals didn’t do.
On whether this is a bigger game for the Cowboys or the Texans:
Much, much bigger for the Cowboys. For the Texans, it’s more an emotional thing for their fans who hate Dallas. That’s big, I understand, but a loss would leave Houston at 2-1. They would go on and compete with Indy for the division or for a wild-card spot. A loss to 0-3 for the Cowboys ends their season before the bye week gets here. Devastating and humiliating.
On whether Jason Garrett and the offensive line coach are on the same page or not:
I can’t imagine that Jason Garrett and Hudson Houck can’t get on the same page. They have known each other for nearly 20 years. Now is there a question of whether or not Garrett thinks this line as constructed can block for the running game? Yeah, I think that’s a real question.
On why Wade doesn’t take over the play calling on offense, like he did on defense:
I assume you are kidding. Wade has been a defensive coordinator his entire career. Jason Garrett is paid about $3 million to be the offensive play-caller. If someone other than Garrett was going to be assigned to offensive play-calling duties, it wouldn’t be Wade. Bill Belichick is a great coach, but he’s not the offensive play-caller in New England.
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