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Fraley: DeSean Jackson becomes latest WR in long list to join the 'I burned the Cowboys' club
12:34 AM CST on Monday, December 13, 2010
COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
ARLINGTON – In the first 665 regular-season games of franchise history, the Cowboys allowed only two receivers to have 200-yard performances.
That same lightning bolt has hit the Cowboys' defense twice in the last eight days.
For the first time in franchise history, the Cowboys have allowed 200-plus yard receiving performances in consecutive games. Philadelphia game-breaker DeSean Jackson on Sunday followed the lead of Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne.
Jackson flattened the Cowboys with 210 yards on only four home-run catches. His output included a game-breaking play in the fourth quarter in which he turned a simple five-yard out pattern into a 91-yard touchdown.
A week ago, Wayne joined the club the hard way. He had 14 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown.
"As a defense, you don't want guys to have 100 [yards], not even 200," embattled cornerback Mike Jenkins said. "We're going to have to correct that."
This also marked the third consecutive game in which a receiver reached 100-plus yards against the Cowboys. They have given up seven individual games of 100-plus receiving yards.
"It's the way football is," cornerback Terence Newman said. "There are times when you are going to have great execution. There are times when things aren't going to go well. If everything was going to be perfect, you guys could put the pencils and pens down and play."
Jackson's performance epitomized what has happened to the Cowboys' pass defense this season.
All four of his catches went for more than 20 yards. With three games remaining, the Cowboys have allowed 47 receptions of 20-plus yards.
That puts the Cowboys among the league leaders in the ignominious category. Seattle leads with 53 receptions of 20-plus yards allowed. A year ago, the Cowboys allowed 45 catches of 20-plus yards.
"Giving up big plays is not good football," cornerback Orlando Scandrick said. "You can't win doing that."
The Eagles recognized the Cowboys' shortcoming from the start. Philadelphia's first play from scrimmage was a deep ball from quarterback Michael Vick to Jackson. He got behind Newman on a fly pattern and hauled in a 60-yard reception before free safety Alan Ball could arrive.
That set a tone.
The Eagles' offense was ineffective for the overwhelming majority of the game. Philadelphia gained only 219 yards on the 51 snaps in which Jackson did not handle the football. That breaks down to 4.3 yards per play.
The Eagles never panicked. When they needed a play, Jackson made it. He either scored or set up 17 of their 30 points.
His game-winning play was an example of equal opportunity. Jackson tormented four members of the secondary.
With the Eagles starting from their 9-yard line in a game tied at 20, Vick went to him on a short route for the first time in the game. Jenkins saw it coming and tried for an interception. He missed because Vick put the ball on the outside, allowing Jackson room to run.
"If you're a corner, you have to be aggressive and gamble, or you'll be meat out there," Jenkins said of his play.
Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh was caught at a bad angle and could not get a hand on Jackson. Neither could Ball, who lost his footing as he tried to close in on Jackson.
Scandrick tried to run down Jackson but came up short on a diving try. Jackson stopped his trot at the 1, turned to show the ball to Newman and fell backward into the end zone.
Newman said he never saw Jackson's taunt.
For the Cowboys' secondary, the big plays are all running together.
• • •
12:34 AM CST on Monday, December 13, 2010
COLUMN By GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
ARLINGTON – In the first 665 regular-season games of franchise history, the Cowboys allowed only two receivers to have 200-yard performances.
That same lightning bolt has hit the Cowboys' defense twice in the last eight days.
For the first time in franchise history, the Cowboys have allowed 200-plus yard receiving performances in consecutive games. Philadelphia game-breaker DeSean Jackson on Sunday followed the lead of Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne.
Jackson flattened the Cowboys with 210 yards on only four home-run catches. His output included a game-breaking play in the fourth quarter in which he turned a simple five-yard out pattern into a 91-yard touchdown.
A week ago, Wayne joined the club the hard way. He had 14 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown.
"As a defense, you don't want guys to have 100 [yards], not even 200," embattled cornerback Mike Jenkins said. "We're going to have to correct that."
This also marked the third consecutive game in which a receiver reached 100-plus yards against the Cowboys. They have given up seven individual games of 100-plus receiving yards.
"It's the way football is," cornerback Terence Newman said. "There are times when you are going to have great execution. There are times when things aren't going to go well. If everything was going to be perfect, you guys could put the pencils and pens down and play."
Jackson's performance epitomized what has happened to the Cowboys' pass defense this season.
All four of his catches went for more than 20 yards. With three games remaining, the Cowboys have allowed 47 receptions of 20-plus yards.
That puts the Cowboys among the league leaders in the ignominious category. Seattle leads with 53 receptions of 20-plus yards allowed. A year ago, the Cowboys allowed 45 catches of 20-plus yards.
"Giving up big plays is not good football," cornerback Orlando Scandrick said. "You can't win doing that."
The Eagles recognized the Cowboys' shortcoming from the start. Philadelphia's first play from scrimmage was a deep ball from quarterback Michael Vick to Jackson. He got behind Newman on a fly pattern and hauled in a 60-yard reception before free safety Alan Ball could arrive.
That set a tone.
The Eagles' offense was ineffective for the overwhelming majority of the game. Philadelphia gained only 219 yards on the 51 snaps in which Jackson did not handle the football. That breaks down to 4.3 yards per play.
The Eagles never panicked. When they needed a play, Jackson made it. He either scored or set up 17 of their 30 points.
His game-winning play was an example of equal opportunity. Jackson tormented four members of the secondary.
With the Eagles starting from their 9-yard line in a game tied at 20, Vick went to him on a short route for the first time in the game. Jenkins saw it coming and tried for an interception. He missed because Vick put the ball on the outside, allowing Jackson room to run.
"If you're a corner, you have to be aggressive and gamble, or you'll be meat out there," Jenkins said of his play.
Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh was caught at a bad angle and could not get a hand on Jackson. Neither could Ball, who lost his footing as he tried to close in on Jackson.
Scandrick tried to run down Jackson but came up short on a diving try. Jackson stopped his trot at the 1, turned to show the ball to Newman and fell backward into the end zone.
Newman said he never saw Jackson's taunt.
For the Cowboys' secondary, the big plays are all running together.
• • •
