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Bob Sturm / Contributor
SportsDayDFW phoned Bob Sturm to comment on the Cowboys' win at the Indianapolis Colts. The following are highlights of a transcription of the interview:
First reaction to the win:
How this team is playing right now is very encouraging from the standpoint that I love how committed they appear right now to what most of consider a lost cause. It seems a rather odd level of expectation, but to see so many of them out there who are obviously hurt on some level still trying to suck it up and get a win -- I think that's very impressive. It speaks highly of their coach, who appears to be a real leader of men. To me they look to be the more desperate of the two teams, or, at the very worst, matched the Colts' desperation.
Should Cowboys take interim tag off Jason Garrett?
I would certainly say he is the favorite right now for the job. I am not sure I understand the need to rush to judgment and to take the interim tag off just yet. I don't think there is a rush to do that personally, but I am very impressed the way the team plays for him and even with a backup quarterback they are doing impressive things. This team will follow him where he leads them.
I think you owe it to yourself to make sure you make the proper decision and even without looking at the field. A month ago we said let's look at the final eight games and see where it was at. After four games I like what I see. I don't see the need to rush myself if I'm the decision-maker at this point, unless there is something unforeseen like Garrett getting interest from other franchises.
On the Cowboys' running game, which rushed for a season-high 217 yards:
I think the team had the scoreboard working in its favor, but once again, there was a real commitment, though I hate that cliché, a real commitment to running the football. As big of a fan as I am of personnel groups and formations, the Cowboys resisted all day long to go three-wide and shotgun. Jason Garrett the head coach is far more beholden to Parcells-type football than Jason Garrett the coordinator. They stay under center and keep pounding the rock and got nice edge rushes from Tashard Choice.
What else surprised you about the game?
The job Jon Kitna is doing. A month ago the comparisons with Brad Johnson circa 2008 were being made regularly, and he has really separated himself from 80-90% of backup quarterbacks by his fine play in the Jason Garrett era. I think his leadership is particularly intriguing -- his fire on the sideline, his visible frustration. A lot of people would love that demeanor inside Tony Romo's body sometimes instead of Romo's PGA pro stoic demeanor. I think Kitna has certainly done his part to appear worthy of consideration for a job in 2011.
What job is that?
I personally think a very capable backup quarterback. Some people are getting carried away being compared with Romo. But most personnel people would say Romo is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the world. The idea that you would want Jon Kitna to take over for Tony Romo at the start of 2011 that's ridiculous. I also think Kitna, even at this advanced age, is going to make it difficult for Stephen McGee to push him aside for the No. 2 job. This is a very useful backup quarterback, and it's something the Cowboys will need again. Most teams don't get 16 starts out of their starting quarterback.
On Dez Bryant's injury and should he have been playing special teams
That's certainly an unfortunate piece of collateral damage when you ask one of your most talented guys to return kicks and punts. That's your worst nightmare. The good news is that you are not competing for a Super Bowl. And while you hate to lose him at all, you are certainly confident you know what you have moving forward and he can heal up for 2011. Do you want to risk them in the return game? I always think you do, but obviously here is one argument against it. The problem is you never get those explosive returns for touchdowns if you are afraid to risk him back there. It's a very complicated decision for these football departments to sort through.
Any other surprises?
To win the turnover battle, a plus-4, like the Cowboys did was a surprise and equally surprising was to be a plus-4 and have to go to overtime to win. The biggest surprise is that the people around the league will see the Cowboys had the ball for nearly the entire fourth quarter and the Colts still scored 21 points. That has to be a record. The craziest people in the world are those who bet on the NFL, you simply can't predict these things week for week.
SportsDayDFW phoned Bob Sturm to comment on the Cowboys' win at the Indianapolis Colts. The following are highlights of a transcription of the interview:
First reaction to the win:
How this team is playing right now is very encouraging from the standpoint that I love how committed they appear right now to what most of consider a lost cause. It seems a rather odd level of expectation, but to see so many of them out there who are obviously hurt on some level still trying to suck it up and get a win -- I think that's very impressive. It speaks highly of their coach, who appears to be a real leader of men. To me they look to be the more desperate of the two teams, or, at the very worst, matched the Colts' desperation.
Should Cowboys take interim tag off Jason Garrett?
I would certainly say he is the favorite right now for the job. I am not sure I understand the need to rush to judgment and to take the interim tag off just yet. I don't think there is a rush to do that personally, but I am very impressed the way the team plays for him and even with a backup quarterback they are doing impressive things. This team will follow him where he leads them.
I think you owe it to yourself to make sure you make the proper decision and even without looking at the field. A month ago we said let's look at the final eight games and see where it was at. After four games I like what I see. I don't see the need to rush myself if I'm the decision-maker at this point, unless there is something unforeseen like Garrett getting interest from other franchises.
On the Cowboys' running game, which rushed for a season-high 217 yards:
I think the team had the scoreboard working in its favor, but once again, there was a real commitment, though I hate that cliché, a real commitment to running the football. As big of a fan as I am of personnel groups and formations, the Cowboys resisted all day long to go three-wide and shotgun. Jason Garrett the head coach is far more beholden to Parcells-type football than Jason Garrett the coordinator. They stay under center and keep pounding the rock and got nice edge rushes from Tashard Choice.
What else surprised you about the game?
The job Jon Kitna is doing. A month ago the comparisons with Brad Johnson circa 2008 were being made regularly, and he has really separated himself from 80-90% of backup quarterbacks by his fine play in the Jason Garrett era. I think his leadership is particularly intriguing -- his fire on the sideline, his visible frustration. A lot of people would love that demeanor inside Tony Romo's body sometimes instead of Romo's PGA pro stoic demeanor. I think Kitna has certainly done his part to appear worthy of consideration for a job in 2011.
What job is that?
I personally think a very capable backup quarterback. Some people are getting carried away being compared with Romo. But most personnel people would say Romo is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the world. The idea that you would want Jon Kitna to take over for Tony Romo at the start of 2011 that's ridiculous. I also think Kitna, even at this advanced age, is going to make it difficult for Stephen McGee to push him aside for the No. 2 job. This is a very useful backup quarterback, and it's something the Cowboys will need again. Most teams don't get 16 starts out of their starting quarterback.
On Dez Bryant's injury and should he have been playing special teams
That's certainly an unfortunate piece of collateral damage when you ask one of your most talented guys to return kicks and punts. That's your worst nightmare. The good news is that you are not competing for a Super Bowl. And while you hate to lose him at all, you are certainly confident you know what you have moving forward and he can heal up for 2011. Do you want to risk them in the return game? I always think you do, but obviously here is one argument against it. The problem is you never get those explosive returns for touchdowns if you are afraid to risk him back there. It's a very complicated decision for these football departments to sort through.
Any other surprises?
To win the turnover battle, a plus-4, like the Cowboys did was a surprise and equally surprising was to be a plus-4 and have to go to overtime to win. The biggest surprise is that the people around the league will see the Cowboys had the ball for nearly the entire fourth quarter and the Colts still scored 21 points. That has to be a record. The craziest people in the world are those who bet on the NFL, you simply can't predict these things week for week.