SB Nation User Blog: AirforceBat

The X-Factor: Martellus Bennett

AirforceBat — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:27:55 -0000

I think that in in the 2008 draft, there was a few of us scratching our heads of the pick of Martellus Bennett in the second round. Now after seeing his physical skillset and his freakish stature, Marty B is becoming one of the guys I'm most intrigued with in the 2009 season. If he matures and becomes more of an effective weapon in the passing game, these are a few things I expect to see in 2009.

1) An improvement in the running game- Anyone who plays Madden can tell you that double tightend set provides you with a more unpredictable package. Generally you this is caused because you have one effective tightend who can catch and the other is generally a blocking end, but with Dallas having an effective pair who can block and catch, this should open up the lanes for the running backs.

I see alot of opportunity in going out with JW and MB and then making a formation shift to a 4 wide set. If the defense is in a 4-3 or 3-4 package, this will make them decide what they are going to do with the LB's or S's in this situation. In theory this should take guy's out of their assigned running lanes and create more space for the runningbacks. If they decide to just stay in their base, one of the two TE's should be able to get into some space. I'm thinking the TE screen will be seen quite a bit more this year.

2) No Huddle Packages- This might be more of a hope for me than anything. I just see such potential to go out on the field with the two tightend set and then run a few plays in a row. I've always thought that Romo runs such a smooth no huddle offense in the last two minutes of a half, that it has been ridiculous this hasn't happened earlier.

3)Redzone Mismatch-If Romo and Roy Williams are on the same page, then you have alot of height going up against defenses near the goalline. I expect there to be some jump balls thrown Marty B's way this season. Again this could again cause running lanes to open up near the goalline, and hopefully we won't see them in the shotgun formation down on the two.

I'm sure there are more things out there, and maybe I'm just being optimistic. Is there anything else anyone can think of?

The Three Headed Monster

AirforceBat — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:04:02 -0000

Okay. So it's pretty obvious that Dallas has three talented runningbacks and with that a pretty good problem to have.

How do you get these guys on the field to best utilize the unique qualities that they bring to the game?

I personally agree with Nick Eatman from DC.com. His idea was to use Marion Barber and Choice as split backfield, like any duo in the NFL ala Julius and Barber 07. Then I would sprinkle Felix in and get him all over the field.

Adding to that, I think that it's imperative that Jason Garrett finds some packages to get 2 and maybe even all three of them on the field at the same time(although rarely.).

What does Cowboy Nation think?

Miles Austin: 4th Year Wonder or Stealing a Second Rounder?

AirforceBat — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:56:23 -0000

Want to give credit to WMillion to pointing out the closest comparison that I can think of, Miles Austin to Lance Moore.

Now before I put the numbers and the comparison out there, I’d like to state that I really see both sides of the coin here. A second round pick is very valuable and in a year that Dallas lacks a first rounder, it becomes very, very tempting.

Miles Austin has really accomplished nothing in the NFL yet. There is every reason to be skeptical in him. 18 catches, 354 yards, and 3 TDS… not exactly mesmerizing. So why would any of us think that he can take the next step?

My first thought when I heard that the NY Jets were going to take a look at the young wide receiver really had nothing to do with the fact that they might get him. Instead I think that it’s an indication that Dallas isn’t the only team that is intrigued with him. I don’t know if he’ll get an offer, but the fact that another team would even consider giving up a second round pick for a player has to make you feel a little bit good about his future. In a time when there are a lot of resources being invested into scouting for the draft and looking over your own roster, the fact that they are taking their time to look over the fourth year receiver indicates that maybe Dallas’s brass aren’t fools.

Secondly, while it isn’t uncommon, it’s not like fourth year undrafted receivers don’t have a chance to breakout.

Wes Welker went into the fourth season with 29 career catches, 0 TDs, and 434 yards.

Lance Moore had 33 catches, 402 yards and 2 TDS, well 3 because he had one rushing TD.

For those of you who say, “Well if Miles Austin was so good, why couldn’t he get past Patrick Crayton?”

It’s not like Moore and Welker had monsters in front of them for the #2 spots.

I’m not saying that Miles Austin is going to be successful as either one of those guys, but it isn’t like it’s inconceivable. If I were to be a huge we have to keep Austin guy, I’d say that at least he’s made some big plays, just like Welker and Moore had before they broke out.

A KO return against Seattle, a long TD grab against GB to put the game away, he’s shown sparks a lot like Welker and Moore did for their respective teams.

I guess what tears me the most about this entire situation, is the fact that Dallas had had fast, athletic receivers before(see Randall Williams), that they haven’t put that much stock into, so what makes Miles Austin that much different?

What do you guys think?

Five Major Factors For Our Dallas Cowboys

AirforceBat — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:15:50 -0000

Hey I don't really do fanposts too much, but I decided to do something on the five things that will have an impact on the 2009 Dallas Cowboys season. I didn't want to venture into WR's or Lockerroom issues, because alot of that will be affected by these five things.

Jason Garrett

Will we see the one who utilized an offense that lit the scoreboard in 2007, or the one that became predictable and stale by year’s end? My guess… somewhere in the middle.

While there seems to be a growing sense that Garrett had somehow devolved into a high school coach overnight and are eager to cast away the 2007 golden child, I’m not so sure. First of all, maybe I’m too optimistic and think that this might just have been a huge sophomore slump. If he was so bad, why is it that he was still being interviewed for head coaching jobs? Was his entire 2007 just a product of Tony Sparano, and if that is the case then what was holding the offense back in 2006? Bill Parcells?

Tony Romo

Leader?

Celebrity?

Just an average QB?

Statistically, besides some of the boneheaded turnovers, I think Romo is probably one of the better QB’s in the league. He has won more games than he has lost and there isn’t ever a time in a close game that I feel like he can’t pull off a win.

Some people will be critical and say, “Well he hasn’t won a big game.” True? Eh. Not Really. No playoff game, but it seems like every game at one point is the “this is a game Tony Romo has to win” and then he wins it and everybody just seems to forget about it. I think this might be a career defining season for Tony Romo. This will be the third complete season that Romo will be starting and I think fair or not, he needs to take over the reins and take control of this team.

Special Teams

Caught up in all the craziness that is TO and the billion dollar stadium, is the fact that as fans we once again saw some of the most God awful special teams in the history of football. The good thing is… can’t get that much worse. Kickoff coverage has cost or attributed to some of the untimely losses for Dallas the past couple of years which include the game against New York in the playoffs.

My hope for kick off coverage? I hope we aren’t talking about kickoff coverage at all next year.

Consistency of Defense

Now some of the posters on here would act like Dallas’s defense was swiss cheese, but that isn’t exactly true. The defense had stretches where they were very good and even times when they were great. Unfortunately those stretches would be forgotten because of 70 yard TD runs and a bomb to Santonio Holmes.

I don’t pay a lot of attention to the scoring defense, because a lot of those points came off of the defense being put in a bad position because of the offense OR special teams.

I don’t expect a shutout every game, but would like to see Dallas’s defense play like they did against the Giants, Tampa Bay, and 3 and a ½ quarters at Pittsburg.

Penalties

Being penalized is bad, but what Dallas had in 2008 was horrible.

119 penalties: Worst in the NFL on offense

952 Yards: Second worst in NFL on offense

Those false starts and holding calls add up quickly. I’m not really sure what has to be done to fix these issues. It seems like this has been something talked about since Bill Parcells took over.

My hope is that Kyle Kosier or some offensive lineman that doesn’t have the last name Proctor will help cut back on the false starts and holding calls. I think a few of the penalties were to overcompensate for his perk of being blown off the line, but I don’t think that will fix everything.

The good news is that the likeliness for a horsecollar has reduced quite a bit in the last couple of months.

I’m eager to hear the opinions of the masses.