Gosselin chat
11:30
Rick Gosselin: OK, folks, just rolled in from Washington. Let's talk some football...
11:31
Comment From TomE
Somone remarked Romo seemed a little shaky and hurried at times, despite generally good protection. That was very evident and I wondered if it was visiting team fear. Prior to the Philly blowout when he was interviewed, I felt I saw a general look of fear and trepidation in his eyes and he really seemed to be concerned with his protection by what he said. I worried he would not play well...and he did not. Are there folks on staff that help with mental preparations or problems detected thereof that might need to be addressed? Or is it assumed that pros do that themselves.
11:33
Rick Gosselin: Don't worry about Romo. Now that DeMarco Murray is in the backfield with him, he has some offensive protection. He doesn't carry the weight of the Cowboys nation entirely on his shoulders any more. He hasn't committed a turnover in three games and didn't take any sacks in two of them. He's thrown eight TD passes in those games. He's the least of anyone's worries right now. He's playing like the quarterback Jerry Jones always hoped he would be.
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11:33
Comment From bird
Why does it seem that Garrett tends to get away from running the ball in so many games? Even though we have the greatest success when we have more of a balanced offense and don't rely on Romo to much.
11:37
Rick Gosselin: Frankly, I was impressed with Garrett's play-calling Sunday. The Cowboys weren't successful running the ball but Garrett never quit on the run. Romo still handed the ball off 30 times. In past seasons if the running game wasn't going, you'd see 7-10 handoffs before Garrett bailed on it. It's not always the yards that make a running game a success on Sundays. It's the attempts. Those 30 rushes alowed the Cowboys to control the clock for 36 minutes -- three more than the Redskins. Ball control has long been a key to success in the NFL. If you have the ball, the other team doesn't, which greatly reduces its chance of scoring. If the Cowboys run the ball between 25-30 times every Sunday, this is going to be a very successful football team.
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11:38
Comment From Guest
What the hell are we to make of this team? They don't usually get breaks like they got yesterday? One week it looks like thr D plays solid and the next they let Redskins backups gash them.
11:44
Rick Gosselin: This is what has long puzzled me about this team. When the Cowboys take the field against a team they perceive as inferior, they tend to play down to the level of competition. Washington Sunday was a classic example. When the Cowboys play a team that they perceive as superior, they tend to play up to the level of that competition. Witness road games at New Orleans in 2009, Indianapolis in 2010 and New England this season. The Cowboys play their very best football when they are an underdog on the road. But there's a sense of entitlement with these Cowboys. I think this group believes it won three Super Bowls, when in fact it hasn't won anything. Maybe the 1992 Cowboys could flip a switch and win a game on an off-day. This club can't. And as soon as these Cowboys realize you must wheel out your A-game every week to succeed in this league, the better the chances they have of playing ever again in February. That Washington game should have been a 28-10 romp for the Cowboys. Instead, they needed a blown field goal by the Redskins in overtime to survive. Days like that have to stop happening if the Cowboys hope to maximize their potential.
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11:45
Comment From Jake
Before we get too excited. Lets remember that the Cowboys have to play in December too. Not happy with defense at all. cant make stops in the 4th quarter against a terrible Redskins offense. After the game Newman and other players comment that a win is a win. i would rather they say we need to improve. Am I being too negative?
11:50
Rick Gosselin: When I write something like that, I'm perceived as too negative. You, however, are a realist. You aren't going to win too many games with an effort like that on Sunday. This team needs improvement, especially on defense and special teams if it hopes to win the division and advance deep into the playoffs. The Cowboys were lucky they were playing Washington yesterday and not the Giants or Eagles. The Redskins gave that game to them. From here on out, the Cowboys are going to have to earn their victories and their place in the post-season pecking order. But Sunday's effort wasn't good enough. You saw it. I saw it. And I'm sure Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones saw it. I would expect the Cowboys to play with a bit more fire against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving. If not, January will not become a reality.
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11:50
Comment From john
rob ryan needs to stop with these 3 man pass rushers thats why the secondary gets beat so much if he is the dc he thinks he is rush 4 that will help the secondary. miami has very good receivers need 4 rushers put pressure on moore or he will pick us apart if we only rush 3. pressure is the key to winning
11:53
Rick Gosselin: Rex Grossman baffled the Cowboys and forced them to abandon man coverage for zone in the second half. The blitz can be a risky ploy. If you don't get there, someone is generally running free through the secondary. I think the Cowboys took the approach that Rex Grossman would give them the ball in the end like he did in that first game. They were waiting on Grossman to make a mistake -- but he didn't. And the Cowboys found themselves in an overtime game as a result. I thought the defense became passive, which is completely out of character for a Ryan D.
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11:53
Comment From john
the running of murray suffered without a fb tight ends are to slow to move with the running backs try shaun chapus
11:56
Rick Gosselin: Murray clearly missed Fiammetta, but Sunday was also a sign of things to come. Defenses are going to stack to stop him. In his previous four games, Murray averaged 10.1, 9.3, 6.3 and 6.8 yards per carry. Washington committed to stopping the run and did a nice job of it. The task was a bit easier with Miles Austin out of the lineup, obviously. But Murray is going to face stiffer defensive challenges the rest of the way -- with or without Fiammetta, with or without Austin.
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11:56
Comment From J.
Curious about the Cowboys kickoff return man. He appeared hesitant to return the kicks straight up the field, and spend most of the return time running to the sidelines or just stopping short of being hit. He he truly the best we got?
12:00
Comment From Doug H
Phil Costa gets blown up on too many plays. Is this something that can be corrected with a full offseason conditioning program, or do the Cowboys need to address the center position through the draft or free agency?
12:00
Rick Gosselin: I've got to believe we're going to see Felix Jones on kickoffs on Thanksgiving. He's one of the best in the league at it. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is not Felix Jones. This team needs to tilt the field position in its favor and you do that with elite return men. I'd have Jones return kickoffs and Dez Bryant return punts. The Cowboys are passing up too many free yards in the return game right now. Look at what Devin Hester does for the Bears. They aren't 7-3 without him. Jones and Bryant have the ability to score a touchdown anytime they touch the ball on a return. I'm not sure what Jason Garrett is waiting for in the return game.
12:05
Rick Gosselin: Skip back to the Costa question. First off, he's undersized at 6-2, 315. But that's OK. The Cowboys committed to a younger, more athletic line. Secondly, he's only started 11 career games. The Cowboys never expected him to go to the Pro Bowl in 2011. Mark Stepnoski was undersized and got outmatched at times when he broke in -- yet he wound up as an NFL all-decade pick in the 1990s. Give Costa some time. Give the entire line some time. You don't snap your fingers and suddenly have a cohesive blocking front. It generally takes 2-3 years for a line to develop as a unit. I like the future of this line with the two tackles, Costa, Nagy and Arkin. The Cowboys needed to rebuild an aging, overpaid blocking front and has done that this season. This team will benefit two, three and fours year down the road.
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12:05
Comment From Joe Bob
Marty B will be a free agent when the season ends. I think because of his exceptional athletic ability someone will try to sign him. Does Jerry sign him or let him go?
12:06
Rick Gosselin: Let him go. A second-round pick can't be this quiet for four years. Time to move on.
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12:06
Comment From Luther
The Packers are playing so good. Their receivers seem to have an extraordinary amount of separation from the DBs, almost every time. Is this coaching, receiver talent or exceptional QB play?
12:09
Rick Gosselin: The Packers right now have the best quarterback in football. That's ninety percent of it. A talented wide receiving corps is the other 10 percent of it. If you don't have a trigger in the NFL, you don't have a chance. I wouldn't trade Aaron Rodgers for Tom Brady or Peyton Manning right now. Do you think Packer fans are still mad about the decision to let Brett Favre go and give the job to Rodgers? I remember visiting Green Bay's training camp that summer and hearing the local fans boo Rodgers. In training camp. You don't hear any boos now.
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12:09
Comment From Chazz
Thanks once again for hosting the chat, Rick!! Is the upcoming date with the Fish on Thursday a trap game? What is the primary reason for the resurgance of the Fish recently?
12:10
Rick Gosselin: As I mentioned above, any time the Cowboys are favored it's a trap game. Miami has better offensive personnel than Washington. If the Cowboys play the same caliber of defense against the Dolphins that they didn't against the Redskins, it's going to be an unhappy Thanksgiving at Jerry Land.
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12:10
Comment From jeremy
Is the Dallas secondary truly as bad as it looked yesterday?
12:14
Rick Gosselin: Mike Jenkins didn't play and both Orlando Scandrick and Terence Newman had off games. That's a bad combination against any quarterback, including Rex Grossman. Let me say this -- the Dallas secondary looks a whole lot better when there's a pass rush. I didn't sense that Rex Grossman spent the afternoon running for his life Sunday. If you give any NFL quarterback time, he's going to complete passes. I do think the Cowboiys will be looking for upgrades at both corner and safetty next season. They need toi get younger in some areas, better in others.
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12:14
Comment From Simbad7
I think Dez Bryant is way under-utilized based on his strengths and who's defending him week to week. I think he ought to be targeted 8-10 times per game form here on out. The throw to Stallworth in the endzone yesterday was way too easy and I know Romo could connect with Dez in those type situations. Why don't they do that with him more often? What do you think?
12:18
Rick Gosselin: I think when Romo gets to a point where he can trust Bryant to run the route that's called, Bryant will see an increase in his workload. Laurent Robinson runs much better routes, which is the reason Romo threw more balls to him (11) than Bryant (8) Sunday. Robinson, Austin and Witten run quality routes and have Romo's trust. When the offense calls for the quarterback to throw the ball to spots, he needs the receiver to get to that spot. Romo is throwing passes to receivers he trusts will get to those spots
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12:18
Comment From Plato
The question is, Will Jerry be in the free agent market this coming year or will he try to improve through the draft?
12:19
Rick Gosselin: I think Jerry now realizes the draft is the way to go. You can find gems later, like Murray in the third round and Scandrick in the fifth. But Jerry also is a showman who loves to make that splash -- and the biggest splashes come in free agency. His heart will tell him to think draft, but his wallet will tell him to get out there in free agency.
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12:20
Comment From dredgeboat
Why have we not heard any of Jerry's usual post-game wisdom? The silence is deafening.
12:20
Rick Gosselin: When they Cowboys win, there are better stories elsewhere. When they lose, the pulpit is his.
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12:20
Comment From Roger in DC
How is the post game locker room different this year than in the past few years? I guess am I asking is there a lot less primadonnas?
12:23
Rick Gosselin: Siome players only talk after games. Others talk on select days. So there is no shortage of prima donnas in this 6-4 team. We used to get Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin on a regular basis in the lockerroom during their Super Bowl run. The Triplets earned the right to be prima donnas and in most cases they weren't. The current team could use a few lessons from the Hall of Famers.
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12:23
Comment From dallas redskin
Will the Redskins EVER be good again?
12:24
Rick Gosselin: If you don't have a quarterback, you don't have a chance. When the Redskins find the next Theismann, Williams or Rypien, they will again become a contending team. But not until then.
11:30
Rick Gosselin: OK, folks, just rolled in from Washington. Let's talk some football...
11:31
Comment From TomE
Somone remarked Romo seemed a little shaky and hurried at times, despite generally good protection. That was very evident and I wondered if it was visiting team fear. Prior to the Philly blowout when he was interviewed, I felt I saw a general look of fear and trepidation in his eyes and he really seemed to be concerned with his protection by what he said. I worried he would not play well...and he did not. Are there folks on staff that help with mental preparations or problems detected thereof that might need to be addressed? Or is it assumed that pros do that themselves.
11:33
Rick Gosselin: Don't worry about Romo. Now that DeMarco Murray is in the backfield with him, he has some offensive protection. He doesn't carry the weight of the Cowboys nation entirely on his shoulders any more. He hasn't committed a turnover in three games and didn't take any sacks in two of them. He's thrown eight TD passes in those games. He's the least of anyone's worries right now. He's playing like the quarterback Jerry Jones always hoped he would be.
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11:33
Comment From bird
Why does it seem that Garrett tends to get away from running the ball in so many games? Even though we have the greatest success when we have more of a balanced offense and don't rely on Romo to much.
11:37
Rick Gosselin: Frankly, I was impressed with Garrett's play-calling Sunday. The Cowboys weren't successful running the ball but Garrett never quit on the run. Romo still handed the ball off 30 times. In past seasons if the running game wasn't going, you'd see 7-10 handoffs before Garrett bailed on it. It's not always the yards that make a running game a success on Sundays. It's the attempts. Those 30 rushes alowed the Cowboys to control the clock for 36 minutes -- three more than the Redskins. Ball control has long been a key to success in the NFL. If you have the ball, the other team doesn't, which greatly reduces its chance of scoring. If the Cowboys run the ball between 25-30 times every Sunday, this is going to be a very successful football team.
=======
11:38
Comment From Guest
What the hell are we to make of this team? They don't usually get breaks like they got yesterday? One week it looks like thr D plays solid and the next they let Redskins backups gash them.
11:44
Rick Gosselin: This is what has long puzzled me about this team. When the Cowboys take the field against a team they perceive as inferior, they tend to play down to the level of competition. Washington Sunday was a classic example. When the Cowboys play a team that they perceive as superior, they tend to play up to the level of that competition. Witness road games at New Orleans in 2009, Indianapolis in 2010 and New England this season. The Cowboys play their very best football when they are an underdog on the road. But there's a sense of entitlement with these Cowboys. I think this group believes it won three Super Bowls, when in fact it hasn't won anything. Maybe the 1992 Cowboys could flip a switch and win a game on an off-day. This club can't. And as soon as these Cowboys realize you must wheel out your A-game every week to succeed in this league, the better the chances they have of playing ever again in February. That Washington game should have been a 28-10 romp for the Cowboys. Instead, they needed a blown field goal by the Redskins in overtime to survive. Days like that have to stop happening if the Cowboys hope to maximize their potential.
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11:45
Comment From Jake
Before we get too excited. Lets remember that the Cowboys have to play in December too. Not happy with defense at all. cant make stops in the 4th quarter against a terrible Redskins offense. After the game Newman and other players comment that a win is a win. i would rather they say we need to improve. Am I being too negative?
11:50
Rick Gosselin: When I write something like that, I'm perceived as too negative. You, however, are a realist. You aren't going to win too many games with an effort like that on Sunday. This team needs improvement, especially on defense and special teams if it hopes to win the division and advance deep into the playoffs. The Cowboys were lucky they were playing Washington yesterday and not the Giants or Eagles. The Redskins gave that game to them. From here on out, the Cowboys are going to have to earn their victories and their place in the post-season pecking order. But Sunday's effort wasn't good enough. You saw it. I saw it. And I'm sure Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones saw it. I would expect the Cowboys to play with a bit more fire against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving. If not, January will not become a reality.
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11:50
Comment From john
rob ryan needs to stop with these 3 man pass rushers thats why the secondary gets beat so much if he is the dc he thinks he is rush 4 that will help the secondary. miami has very good receivers need 4 rushers put pressure on moore or he will pick us apart if we only rush 3. pressure is the key to winning
11:53
Rick Gosselin: Rex Grossman baffled the Cowboys and forced them to abandon man coverage for zone in the second half. The blitz can be a risky ploy. If you don't get there, someone is generally running free through the secondary. I think the Cowboys took the approach that Rex Grossman would give them the ball in the end like he did in that first game. They were waiting on Grossman to make a mistake -- but he didn't. And the Cowboys found themselves in an overtime game as a result. I thought the defense became passive, which is completely out of character for a Ryan D.
=======
11:53
Comment From john
the running of murray suffered without a fb tight ends are to slow to move with the running backs try shaun chapus
11:56
Rick Gosselin: Murray clearly missed Fiammetta, but Sunday was also a sign of things to come. Defenses are going to stack to stop him. In his previous four games, Murray averaged 10.1, 9.3, 6.3 and 6.8 yards per carry. Washington committed to stopping the run and did a nice job of it. The task was a bit easier with Miles Austin out of the lineup, obviously. But Murray is going to face stiffer defensive challenges the rest of the way -- with or without Fiammetta, with or without Austin.
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11:56
Comment From J.
Curious about the Cowboys kickoff return man. He appeared hesitant to return the kicks straight up the field, and spend most of the return time running to the sidelines or just stopping short of being hit. He he truly the best we got?
12:00
Comment From Doug H
Phil Costa gets blown up on too many plays. Is this something that can be corrected with a full offseason conditioning program, or do the Cowboys need to address the center position through the draft or free agency?
12:00
Rick Gosselin: I've got to believe we're going to see Felix Jones on kickoffs on Thanksgiving. He's one of the best in the league at it. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is not Felix Jones. This team needs to tilt the field position in its favor and you do that with elite return men. I'd have Jones return kickoffs and Dez Bryant return punts. The Cowboys are passing up too many free yards in the return game right now. Look at what Devin Hester does for the Bears. They aren't 7-3 without him. Jones and Bryant have the ability to score a touchdown anytime they touch the ball on a return. I'm not sure what Jason Garrett is waiting for in the return game.
12:05
Rick Gosselin: Skip back to the Costa question. First off, he's undersized at 6-2, 315. But that's OK. The Cowboys committed to a younger, more athletic line. Secondly, he's only started 11 career games. The Cowboys never expected him to go to the Pro Bowl in 2011. Mark Stepnoski was undersized and got outmatched at times when he broke in -- yet he wound up as an NFL all-decade pick in the 1990s. Give Costa some time. Give the entire line some time. You don't snap your fingers and suddenly have a cohesive blocking front. It generally takes 2-3 years for a line to develop as a unit. I like the future of this line with the two tackles, Costa, Nagy and Arkin. The Cowboys needed to rebuild an aging, overpaid blocking front and has done that this season. This team will benefit two, three and fours year down the road.
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12:05
Comment From Joe Bob
Marty B will be a free agent when the season ends. I think because of his exceptional athletic ability someone will try to sign him. Does Jerry sign him or let him go?
12:06
Rick Gosselin: Let him go. A second-round pick can't be this quiet for four years. Time to move on.
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12:06
Comment From Luther
The Packers are playing so good. Their receivers seem to have an extraordinary amount of separation from the DBs, almost every time. Is this coaching, receiver talent or exceptional QB play?
12:09
Rick Gosselin: The Packers right now have the best quarterback in football. That's ninety percent of it. A talented wide receiving corps is the other 10 percent of it. If you don't have a trigger in the NFL, you don't have a chance. I wouldn't trade Aaron Rodgers for Tom Brady or Peyton Manning right now. Do you think Packer fans are still mad about the decision to let Brett Favre go and give the job to Rodgers? I remember visiting Green Bay's training camp that summer and hearing the local fans boo Rodgers. In training camp. You don't hear any boos now.
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12:09
Comment From Chazz
Thanks once again for hosting the chat, Rick!! Is the upcoming date with the Fish on Thursday a trap game? What is the primary reason for the resurgance of the Fish recently?
12:10
Rick Gosselin: As I mentioned above, any time the Cowboys are favored it's a trap game. Miami has better offensive personnel than Washington. If the Cowboys play the same caliber of defense against the Dolphins that they didn't against the Redskins, it's going to be an unhappy Thanksgiving at Jerry Land.
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12:10
Comment From jeremy
Is the Dallas secondary truly as bad as it looked yesterday?
12:14
Rick Gosselin: Mike Jenkins didn't play and both Orlando Scandrick and Terence Newman had off games. That's a bad combination against any quarterback, including Rex Grossman. Let me say this -- the Dallas secondary looks a whole lot better when there's a pass rush. I didn't sense that Rex Grossman spent the afternoon running for his life Sunday. If you give any NFL quarterback time, he's going to complete passes. I do think the Cowboiys will be looking for upgrades at both corner and safetty next season. They need toi get younger in some areas, better in others.
=======
12:14
Comment From Simbad7
I think Dez Bryant is way under-utilized based on his strengths and who's defending him week to week. I think he ought to be targeted 8-10 times per game form here on out. The throw to Stallworth in the endzone yesterday was way too easy and I know Romo could connect with Dez in those type situations. Why don't they do that with him more often? What do you think?
12:18
Rick Gosselin: I think when Romo gets to a point where he can trust Bryant to run the route that's called, Bryant will see an increase in his workload. Laurent Robinson runs much better routes, which is the reason Romo threw more balls to him (11) than Bryant (8) Sunday. Robinson, Austin and Witten run quality routes and have Romo's trust. When the offense calls for the quarterback to throw the ball to spots, he needs the receiver to get to that spot. Romo is throwing passes to receivers he trusts will get to those spots
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12:18
Comment From Plato
The question is, Will Jerry be in the free agent market this coming year or will he try to improve through the draft?
12:19
Rick Gosselin: I think Jerry now realizes the draft is the way to go. You can find gems later, like Murray in the third round and Scandrick in the fifth. But Jerry also is a showman who loves to make that splash -- and the biggest splashes come in free agency. His heart will tell him to think draft, but his wallet will tell him to get out there in free agency.
=======
12:20
Comment From dredgeboat
Why have we not heard any of Jerry's usual post-game wisdom? The silence is deafening.
12:20
Rick Gosselin: When they Cowboys win, there are better stories elsewhere. When they lose, the pulpit is his.
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12:20
Comment From Roger in DC
How is the post game locker room different this year than in the past few years? I guess am I asking is there a lot less primadonnas?
12:23
Rick Gosselin: Siome players only talk after games. Others talk on select days. So there is no shortage of prima donnas in this 6-4 team. We used to get Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin on a regular basis in the lockerroom during their Super Bowl run. The Triplets earned the right to be prima donnas and in most cases they weren't. The current team could use a few lessons from the Hall of Famers.
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12:23
Comment From dallas redskin
Will the Redskins EVER be good again?
12:24
Rick Gosselin: If you don't have a quarterback, you don't have a chance. When the Redskins find the next Theismann, Williams or Rypien, they will again become a contending team. But not until then.
