SB Nation User Blog: Brandon W

Let's Talk Numbers Part I: Wade Phillips' defense

Brandon W — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:32:16 -0000

Leading up to the heavyweight fight against Pittsburgh, Let's Talk Numbers will be presented in two parts this week. Part II will be up Friday morning.

In this week's first installment of Let's Talk Numbers, we determine if the Dallas Cowboys' defense has improved after the debacle in St. Louis. Since Wade Phillips took a more "active" role in the defensive playcalling against Tampa Bay, the Cowboys are 4-1 and the defense has started to show signs of just how good they could be.

Are things as good as they seem, or is the defense performing at the same level as they were to start the season? Follow the jump to find out.

The Dallas Cowboys' defense is an enigma.

Since having the league's number one defense in 2003, the Cowboys have ranked 16th, 10th, 13th and 9th in the years since. When Bill Parcells was hired as head coach he immediately started to mold the defense into his version of the 3-4 defense, and the transition has not gone as smoothly as hoped. Teams that run successful 3-4 defenses (such as Pittsburgh) have had years to build around the scheme and determine personnel decisions to best fit their goals. The Cowboys are on just their fifth season as a 3-4 defense and despite having some of the top defensive players in the league, have consistently underperformed.

When Wade Phillips was hired prior to the 2007 season, a big part of his allure was his track record with the 3-4 defense. His defenses in San Diego were some the most aggressive in the league, helping propel the Chargers to a 14-2 record in 2006. As coach of the Cowboys, it was hoped that he would be able to fix an ailing 3-4 defense that had been a disappointment the past few seasons. He promised a more aggressive, "one-gap" style of defense that would better utilize the playmakers on the team. More importantly, his defenses would cut down on the big plays that plagued the Cowboys' defenses of the past.

For the most part, the changes in 2007 worked. After a transitional period to start the season, the Cowboys defense allowed less big plays and half as many 40+ yard pass plays as they did in 2006. The Cowboys also raised their sack total from 34 to 46. Yet things still weren't as good as hoped, with the Cowboys finishing with the 9th ranked defense in the league. Most concerning was how the Cowboys were susceptible to quick scoring drives with big chunks of yards allowed in the passing game at a time.

In 2008 came more promises of an improved pass defense, with the Cowboys drafting two ranked cornerbacks in Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick and trading for Adam Jones. The Cowboys also added All-Pro linebacker Zach Thomas and nose tackle Jay Ratliff was poised to anchor a dominant defense.

Unfortunately things didn't go as planned. Injuries to key players were a major factor, but at times the defense seemed to play without emotion or intensity. A Cowboys defense built on aggressiveness had lost it's punch. The whole thing threatened to fall completely apart following a 34-14 loss to St. Louis. Players were frustrated with the schemes and playcalling of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, and something needed to be done to avoid complete disaster.

Following the loss to the Rams Wade Phillips announced he would be taking a more personal involvement in the defense, in particular the playcalling throughout the game. That week the Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-9 on the back of the Cowboys best defensive effort in years. Since Wade Phillips stepped in, the team is 4-1 and playing with a newfound level of intensity and emotion. But how much have things changed? Let's take a look at the defensive numbers before and after Wade's intervention:

	T.O.P.	Pass Att/G	Net Pass Yds/G	Avg	Rush Att/G	Rush Yds/G	Avg	Sacks/G	TO/G	R.Z. %
First 7 games	29:39	34.14	204.5	5.9	25.2	102.1	4.03	3.0	1.0	54%
Last 5 games	29:54	39.0	197.6	5.07	22.0	89.4	4.06	4.0	1.8	42%

At first glance the numbers seem fairly similar, but with a closer look there are several small differences that really stand out and show just how different the Cowboys defense has been playing lately.

Pass defense: I decided to use net yards passing and average yards allowed per dropback to truly gauge the newly aggressive defense and how it has improved the pass defense. Despite teams throwing five more times per game, the Cowboys are allowing less yards passing and nearly a full yard less per pass play. They are also averaging four sacks per game and while the number itself is not much higher than it was, the difference is in who is getting the sacks. Bradie James has four sacks in the past five games, while having just 5.5 sacks in his career prior to 2008.

James hasn't been blitzing more since Wade stepped in, but the type of blitzes he's been involved in has changed as well as when he blitzes. This has allowed him to come free to the quarterback more often than in the past, and with the offense already accounting for DeMarcus Ware and company, James has made the most of his opportunity.

The chief complaint earlier in the season was how far off receivers the Cowboys' cornerbacks were playing, as well as the amount of zone coverage the defense was running. This was allowing teams to consistently find holes in the zone,and while the Cowboys weren't giving up big plays, offenses were gashing the Cowboys with intermediate and short routes.

After Wade Phillips' intervention the Cowboys started playing more press coverage, especially after Terence Newman returned from injury. This was a direct result of the Cowboys' pass rush stepping up, allowing the coaches to have more faith in the secondary. This combined to give the team a newfound self-confidence, and it showed on the field.

Turnovers and red zone efficiency. The most alarming part of the Cowboys' defensive play to start the season was the lack of turnovers, most notably interceptions. Since Wade Phillips aggressive defense stepped up, the Cowboys have nearly doubled the amount of turnovers forced per game. The team still only has one defensive touchdown this season, but if the cowboys continue to force two turnovers a game then the path to the playoffs will be just a bit easier.

The biggest change has been in the Cowboys play in the red zone. Despite a 5/5 debacle against the Giants, the Cowboys have improved their red zone efficiency by 12%. Goal line stands have come at the most important times as well, not allowing the team to get behind early when things could have gotten out of hand in a hurry.

Bottom line: The final numbers aren't perfect and are affected by factors outside the defense. When Romo was out the offense consistently put the defense in a bad position. With the return of the star quarterback the entire team was infused with a newfound energy and emotion, not just the offense. It's tough to tell just how much Wade Phillips' influence has changed the play of the defense or if the return of Romo sparked the play.

Here are the numbers that matter most. Before the Tampa Bay game the Cowboys defense was allowing 22 points per game. Since then the defense has given up 17 a game, a five point swing. That is what is most significant and the only numbers that count. Whatever Wade Phillips has done, no matter how much or how little, he needs to continue doing it.

Vote for Tony Romo as Player of the Week

Brandon W — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:31:03 -0000

Vote for Tony Romo as Player of the Week

Tony Romo is once again nominated for the FedEx Air Player of the Week, losing last week to Drew Brees.

This week he is up against Jay Cutler and Donovan McNabb, so that should be motivation enough to vote.

DMN: Patrick Watkins to Injured Reserve

Brandon W — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:26:24 -0000

The Dallas Cowboys took another hit at the safety position today when Patrick Watkins was placed on injured reserve.

Safety Patrick Watkins has now down for the rest of the season with a neck stinger that's bothered him off and on all season long. The roster move clears the way for Adam "Pacman" Jones to join the 53-man roster this Sunday against the Steelers.

While Watkins' play hasn't been the best this season, he provided much needed depth at safety and was a staple on special teams.

Dallas Cowboys still on the outside looking in

Brandon W — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:16:53 -0000

The Cowboys didn't get any help today in their quest to slide into one of the two NFC wildcard spots. Currently the NFC South is foiling the Cowboys' hopes as Carolina (9-3), Tampa Bay (9-3) and Atlanta(8-4) are all ahead of Dallas in the conference. Dallas and Atlanta have the same record, but Atlanta holds the tie-breaker due to a better conference winning percentage.

Green Bay, New Orleans and San Diego all had a chance to win their games in the last minute but fell on their faces in the end. Most frustrating was watching Drew Brees, the darling quarterback of all media, force a bad throw on second down with plenty of time left to drive for the game tying field goal. Aaron Rodgers also forced a throw into coverage while attempting to lead his team from behind. So much for the NFC quarterbacks poised to overtake Romo as a Pro Bowl quarterback. Tony Romo now has the best quarterback rating in the NFC and trails Philip Rivers for the NFL lead by just a tenth of a point. [Note by Brandon W, 12/01/08 6:55 AM EST ] I guess the stats guys at NFL.com took a while to update Rivers' numbers....Romo now is the highest rated QB in the league.

But I digress.

The good news is that the NFC South contenders still have a couple of games against each other. Here is a breakdown of their final four games:

Carolina - vs. Tampa Bay, vs. Denver, at NY Giants, at New Orleans
Atlanta - at New Orleans, vs. Tampa Bay, at Minnesota, vs. St. Louis
Tampa Bay - at Carolina, at Atlanta, vs. San Diego, vs. Oakland

So mathematics tell us these teams will have to lose at least one more game this season. The best to hope for is for Carolina to win out and for Atlanta to lose to Tampa Bay, dropping Atlanta behind Dallas and putting the Cowboys ahead of Tampa Bay due to head to head tie-breakers. New Orleans winning out would help out a lot as well.

All this hinges on Dallas winning the rest of their games this season. The Cowboys hold the keys to their own destiny and at this point it is looking like 10-6 would mean missing the playoffs. 11-5 does not necessarily assure Dallas a wildcard berth either but it sure helps things. If the Cowboys lose only five games and miss the tournament, that loss to the Rams will hurt, hurt, hurt.

All they have to do is go 4-0 in December during the toughest four game stretch the team has faced in a very long time.

That's not too tough a thing to ask is it?

Let's Talk Numbers: It's all about stopping the run

Brandon W — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:00:51 -0000

The Dallas Cowboys look to extend their winning streak tomorrow against the 2-9 Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks, thought to be a lock for the NFC West division title, are struggling to find their way in a season mired by injury. At one point they were having open tryouts for wide receiver and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has struggled this season while dealing with an ailing back. Yet the team is getting healthier and have become much more competitive in the past few weeks.

How do the numbers stack up? What do the Cowboys do differently on defense that is key to winning games? Follow the jump to find out.

Seattle offense vs Dallas defense

Since the season began the Seattle offense has been besieged by injury to its skill positions. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has missed significant time with a nagging back injury that left the team struggling with Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye playing in his place. The team also had to deal with their top four receivers all missing significant time at some point of the season.

	Pct.	Yds/G	Avg	TD/G	Int/G	Sacks/G	Rating
Seattle pass offense	51.7	140.4	5.3	1.09	1.09	2.18	64.3
Dallas pass defense	62.4	196.2	6.7	1.36	0.45	3.00	90.0

To sat the Seattle passing attack has been anemic is an understatement. The quarterbacks aren't turning the ball over at a high rate, yet they aren't getting the ball downfield either. Averaging just over 5 yards per pass will allow opposing defenses to focus on stopping Seattles lone bright spot, the running game. Seattle boast a respectable 111 yards per game with 4.4 yards per carry, good for about average in the NFL. Yet without an overwhelming passing attack that forces defenses to back off the running game, the offense has failed to produce the explosiveness that was there in the first month. After putting up impressive numbers in the first few weeks of the season, Seattle has just three rushing touchdowns in the past eight games, all coming from third string back T.J. Duckett on goalline plays.

Out of 315 pass attempts this year, the Seattle Seahawks have just 19 "explosive" plays, ones that go for longer than 20 yards. That's good for 6.0%, next to last in the league in ratio of big plays per pass attempt. Compare that to Dallas' offense, that has 45 explosive plays in 360 attempts, or 12.0%.

Yet the Seattle offensive skill plays have slowly started to return to the lineup the past few weeks and the games have come down to the final minutes. Yet the offense has still not put up good numbers, with Hasselbeck averaging just 136 yards passing in the past two games, throwing three touchdowns to five interceptions good for a QB rating of 51.0.

Bottom line: The Dallas Cowboys defense is primed to dominate a struggling Seattle offense. The Cowboys Achilles heel all season long has been giving up big numbers in the passing game, allowing opposing quarterbacks to post an average rating of 90.0. Yet they now face an offense that has problems with timing and accuracy and the Cowboys can do themselves a favor and not allow them any room to gain momentum. Look for the Cowboys to have a big day putting pressure on the quarterback because Dallas will want to take advantage of an immobile Hasselbeck who can be forced into bad decisions.

Dallas offense vs Seattle defense.

Just a quick little tidbit before I get to the numbers: the Miami Dolphins passing attack is ranked ahead of Dallas, in both yards per game and QB rating. Thanks a lot Brad Johnson.

	Pct	Yds/G	Avg	TD/G	Int/G	Sacks/G	Rating
Dallas pass offense	60.9	236.1	7.5	2.33	1.18	1.63	88.6
Seattle pass defense	66.3	259.2	7.8	1.45	0.45	2.35	98.1

If you thought Dallas' pass defense was bad, you haven't seen anything. The Seattle rush defense isn't horrible, giving up just 4.0 yards per carry and 111 yards a game. Yet why rush the ball when you can throw it at will?

The Seattle defense has allowed 49 "explosive" passing plays this season, by far the most in the league. Opposing offense are picking up large chunks of yards at a time against the Seattle defense and while they have been playing teams tougher as of late, the defense still has yet to completely figure things out. In two of the last three games the defense focused on shutting down the pass and allowed just 5.5 yards per pass attempt. However while trying to stop the pass they forgot about the running backs, giving up 171 yards per game on the ground. Against the Cardinals Seattle was able to stop the run, but gave up nearly 400 yards through the air.

Bottom line: The Seahawks have yet to figure out how to make a team one dimensional and still win the game. While they have been competitive lately, an ailing Matt Hasselbeck has thrown game ending interceptions in each of the last two games.

If the Cowboys can force Seattle to abandon the run and do their best to win through the air, the defense's day will be become much, much easier. The Seahawks have also had trouble against teams with multiple offensive weapons; without enough players on defense to matchup against decent receivers the Seattle defense has been one of the worst in the league this season against the pass. Look for the Cowboys offense to have another big day through the air in what on paper should be an easy win.

Don't forget the intangibles, though. Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasslebeck are always capable of coming up big in games, and Julius Jones will be extra motivated to have a great day against his former team. But if the Cowboys come to play and execute like they have lately, the Seattle emotions will run thin and talent will win out in the end.

Bonus coverage: The Dallas Cowboys run defense

The Dallas Cowboys have four losses this season, two in close games and two in blowouts. Yet all four games have the same common denominator: the Cowboys' rushing defense was horrible.

We all know what the Cowboys are going to do against the pass. They'll sit back, keep everything in front of them and do their best not to allow big plays through the air. This type of defense gives up big numbers overall yet the Cowboys have done well stiffening up in the red zone. It's a perfect example of bend but don't break defense. Yet the key for this type of defense to work if that the front seven has to play well against the run.

	Attempts	Tot. Yds	Yds/G	Avg
In wins	138	481	68.0	3.4
In losses	120	604	151	5.0

The Cowboys are remarkably consistent against the pass, but stopping the run has to be the focus for the defense to have any success. The stark difference in numbers shows that when teams have success running the ball the Cowboys have yet to win. In the Giants game the Cowboys showed a small sliver of life after Brooks Bollinger led the team for a touchdown drive but the New York went on a demoralizing march down the field, running it down the Cowboys' throats and running out the clock as well.

My trip to Texas Stadium: A day I will never forget

Brandon W — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:41:54 -0000

Today was a fine day, and one that will live with me for the rest of my life as one of the best I've ever had. My entire life I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan and until I turned 18 and moved to Connecticut I lived within 30 minutes of Texas Stadium. For one reason or another I never made it to a game there and I always have regretted not being able to see the Triplets in person. Today I made up for it and for the the first and hopefully not the last time in my life I had the privilege of attending a Dallas Cowboys game in Texas Stadium.

It was an amazing experience and it all feels kinda surreal, like it happened in a dream and pretty soon I'm going to turn on the T.V. and watch the game on Fox. I still can't believe I was actually there, surrounded by the World Championship banners and the Ring of Honor. Best of all I was surrounded by fellow Cowboys fans. I got there early and had one heck of a day where it seemed anything that could happen, did. I met one awesome Hall of Famer, and got Roy Williams to shoot the 'Horns at me.

The tale of my experience is a long one but I feel the need to share my day with the Cowboys faithful. I also took a ton of pictures (until my battery died) and narrowing it down to reasonable number to share was far from easy.

Follow the jump for a detailed description of one hardcore fan's day at Texas Stadium.

Arrival. I talked my dad into getting to the stadium around 8am, mainly because I was nervous about getting caught in the infamous Texas Stadium traffic. We parked in the green lot, which is about a mile and half walk from the stadium, and cost $30 to park. Let's just say that the parking attendants weren't in the mood for some friendly ribbing about that outrageous price. So we paid thirty bucks to park in a field across the highway from the stadium and moved on with our day.

Tailgating. A lot more tailgating than I thought there would be for a noon kickoff. We arrived around 8 and I would say about half the parking lots were filled with tailgaters with others arriving and setting up at the same time. As we were walking through the crowds I spotted about 45 different items I'm going to have to talk my wife into letting my buy, starting with a Dallas Cowboys grill that attaches to the hitch on your truck. We saw a ton of great setups and some hardcore fans breaking open the beer coolers early but overall it was fairly tame.

You can also tell that the tailgating scene has really been affected by the new rules about the parking around the stadium. It's sad that the best tailgating has to happen about a mile away from the gates. Last season I was at the Cowboys and Giants game in New York and that was one chaotic and fired up parking lot that was a little dangerous to walk through as a Cowboys fan. The Dallas scene is a bit more easygoing, which is actually kinda refreshing.

Texas Stadium, from the outside. Perhaps the awe of seeing the stadium up close was diminished a bit because I used to drive past it everyday, but it was still cool as hell. Just the history and magnificence of the stadium and knowing what has taken place inside makes the experience a bit more gratifying than I thought it would. I will say this though: it is painfully obvious that a new stadium was needed. The place just feels plain, nondescript and honestly a bit boring. Like I said, it's mainly the history of the team inside that gives it the most feeling and not the stadium itself. There is also a noticeable lack of flashiness and self-promotion about the stadium that seems a bit odd. Nowhere are there giant murals or pictures of past players or teams around the stadium like you see in other pro venues. It's actually a bit refreshing to see and one thing I'm sure that the new stadium won't have going for it.

Waiting for the gates to open.

My dad and I arrived to the stadium about an hour before the gates actually opened and decided to take a walk around. Our trip took us to the pro shop which had a fairly long line outside the doors just to get in. As we stand there waiting to enter we head a voice shouting above the crowd that Mel Renfro is available for autographs. We glance across the narrow street and there he is, just standing all alone inside this little tent with the majority of folk just strolling by clueless. I glance at my dad and both of our eyes and wide with amazement and we immediately leave the line and head straight for the tent.

Let me tell you folks something. Meeting Mel Renfro will go down as one of the all out coolest things I have or ever will do in my life, but at the same time I felt a bit sorry for him. He seemed a bit shaky on his feet and just not all that great, but his handshake was firm as hell. It was just sad to see this great hall of fame player relegated to selling autographs in a little tent while 95% of the Cowboys fans that walked by were absolutely clueless about who they were passing.

He was a very, very nice guy and I literally had chills going up my spine standing next to him. That was just so very, very cool.

After that we kept making our way around the stadium until we came across a huge crowd surrounding a fence. Right away I realized that this was where the players came through on their way to the stadium. Fighting for some space I was able to secure a spot right on the fence and get some unbelievable pictures of the players as they made their way from the car to the locker room. Many of them were friendly to the crowd, raising their hand in acknowledgment when everyone cheered. Keith Davis was by far the most open, walking along the fence and talking to the fans briefly. Terrell Owens drove his car all the way into the tunnel, which kinda sucked. Mike Jenkins has a Tahoe with rims so sick his truck almost looks like a stagecoach from the Old West. Dave Campo talked to the crowd a bit and tried to get everyone amped up.

The coolest part of the whole thing was seeing Romo roll up in his old Expedition, the same one he bought when he was first signed by the Cowboys. For some reason its refreshing to see a man who has it all stay humble and not need a flashy ride to get around. I don't even think it had much of a tint.

Heading inside. Apparently you aren't allowed to take a telephoto lens into the stadium because it's deemed too "professional". Once again, the extremely friend event staff let us know just how they felt about us trying to take one in. So on our way back to our car to drop off the offending lens, we just happened to find ourselves back in line at another gate, where this time the bored looking gate attendant completely ignored the camera. Oh well.

The inside of the stadium matched the outside. Boring, sterile and narrow but still nowhere near as bad as Giants Stadium. Once again it was obvious that it everyone knows there's a new stadium opening next year so there's no need to make anything flashy at the last second. And I'm not complaining either, just observing. I was there to watch a football game, not get happy pants about the interior decorating. And this place is setup perfect just for that. No frills, nothing to distract you; just get in and buy a beer then make your way to your seat.

I was also perplexed by the complete lack of stadium security and ushers. There was not one usher checking tickets as you head to your seat, neither upper level or lower level. That was a bit odd considering that every other pro game I had been to elsewhere had people checking your ticket each time you left and came back to your seat. The lack of ushers also complicated some issues that arose later in the game.

The food and drinks were about normal. Expensive and bad for you, like everywhere else.

Our seats were 2nd row of the upper level, directly between the goal posts. I love end zone seats because you can really see plays develop and this game a lot of the action was at our end, which was great. Just incredible seats.

The Fans. I just want to say that the fans at the game were great. It was just absolutely incredible to finally be able to be able to watch a Cowboys game in person and be able to cheer with fellow fans. Everyone was friendly, accommodating and really into the game. Too many times I've seen people pay hundreds of bucks for tickets and then sit there like they were watching a cricket match, then get annoyed when folks stood and cheered.

I was also impressed by how loud it got in that place. For a noon kickoff against a non-division foe that place was rocking in the first half. Both first quarter goal line stands were at our end and the crowd was going nuts. When T.O. made that 75 yard catch early in the 2nd I thought the roof was going to come down because the place was literally shaking.

All my life I've heard about how bad the crowds at Texas Stadium were, how they cheered too loud when Dallas had the ball and didn't cheer enough when the Cowboys are on defense. Well, maybe things are changing because this place was electric, and at all the right times. I can't imagine what the atmosphere was like for the Eagles game in week 2. Another kinda cool thing was that the crowd got the wave going when things were boring in the second half. Dated, but cool nonetheless.

The fans in our section were great, everyone standing and really getting into it. Every time the Cowboys made a first down some folks in row 1 lead the section in a first down chant. Everyone just got along great, which is another thing you don't see at a game up North.

The only bad mark on this whole thing was the guy who sat next to me. The game was already down to the end of the first quarter and these two guy come strolling down the row to their seats like they didn't miss anything at all and sit down in the seats to my left. Both of them had these plastic cups with what smelled like straight Tequila in them. The guy next to me seemed like he had already had way too much to drink and he was downing that tequila like it was water. After jumping up following the T.O. touchdown, this guy sat down, put his head between his knees and buried his face in his hand. He didn't move from that position for about an hour until all of a sudden he starts yakking up all his liquor without moving one muscle. Just let it go all over the place and everyone one below us. You never seen people move that fast before. So now we need to find a staff member and there isn't an usher to be found. Eventually someone came and the paramedics escorted him out.

What a day.

The game. Here's some random thoughts from the game:

It's painfully obvious Romo is bothered by that splint. He's struggling on the quick throws where he doesn't have a lot of time to adjust his grip on the ball. When Romo is able to start making all of his throws again he is going to light teams up. He has his confidence and swagger back, along with that uncanny ability to avoid pressure.
Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware are inhuman. I made it a point to really watch them play and Ware was destroying the offensive line in the 2nd quarter. He was pulling every move in the book but my favorite was when he flat out pushed the LT so far back he tripped over his quarterback. Ratliff is amazingly quick and was all over the running game. Later in the game Ware was getting triple teamed, a couple times I saw him get picked up by two guys and tackled to the ground.
What horrible officiating in this game, for both sides. Anthony Henry got away with PI in the end zone and T.O. had a blatant pushoff on one of his long catches. Then there was the phantom play whistled dead shenanigans when Zach Thomas should have been able to score a touchdown. I don't understand these refs, just let the plays develop and then change it after it's over when you confer with each other. But calling a play dead while it is still a live ball is inexcusable.
Marion Barber is going to desperately miss Felix Jones.
Marion Barber needs to hit the holes and stop trying to bounce it outside.
Marion Barber is still a beast.
Tashard Choice is a firecracker, and seems like he always on the verge of doing something hug. A couple of times he stumbled after a catch when he had nothing but daylight in front of him.
I heard the hit on Witten. And I sat on the opposite side of the field.

The game was great, slow to start but being able to watch one of T.O.'s greatest games ever was awesome. Here are the best pics from the trip.

"Hon, I know what I want for Christmas this year..."

Me.

The traveling pro shop.

My dad, me and Mel Renfro

"When's the next trip to Cabo....I need to 'rest' my ribs....yeh that's it!"

"Head, shoulders knees and toes....knees and toes.....

The Great Dat

"Man, I can't believe they ran out of glazed...."

"Hopefully, you get to see daddy actually play well today......"

"Man...now I got to change the scheme and everything!!!"

"Punt Returner??????"

"I can't wait to show T.O. my new dance!"

"Do you have any clue how long it takes to do my hair?"

Before the game.

Warmups....

Defense introductions.....

Late 2nd quarter.....

Hold off on that blitz.......

Fake!!!!!!!!!!1

One last interesting tidbit about this pic.....After the TD pass to Bennett, Romo sprints to the sideline and attempts a chest bump with Henry. Didn't go so well and they missed, and Romo came down a bit awkwardly. That caught my breath for a second.

Let's Talk Numbers: How much better are the Niners with Shaun Hill?

Brandon W — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:49:42 -0000

This week the San Francisco 49ers head to Texas Stadium in a game that a few weeks ago looked like a sure win on the schedule. Now, the Niners have a new head coach in Mike Singletary that has the team playing with confidence following a big win over the St. Louis Rams. The biggest difference in this team is how the offense has played behind Shaun Hill after J.T. O'Sullivan was benched late in the first half in Singletary's first game as coach. A team that turning over the ball at an incredible rate has learned to protect the ball and scored 35 first half points last week.

But just how much better are they? Just how much better has the offense performed with Shaun Hill and is their defense good enough to subdue the Dallas Cowboys offense? What are the big difference makers in the game? All of these questions we will attempt to answer in this week's edition of Let's Talk Numbers.

Follow the jump for a stats analysis that that will make KC Joyner grin. Maybe.

San Francisco pass offense vs. Dallas pass defense

The 49ers don't put up big numbers in the passing game, but things have subtly changed for the better now that Shaun Hill has stepped under center.

	Rank	Pct.	Yds/g	Avg.	TD/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	Rating	TOP
S.F. w/ O'Sullivan	19th	58.4	205.9	7.5	1.0	1.38	4.0	73.6	29:00
S.F. w/ Hill	17th	59.0	201.0	7.3	1.66	0.66	1.33	91.6	30:14
Dallas pass defense	7th	62.2	188.0	6.4	1.3	0.4	2.90	88.9

There is an obvious difference with Shaun Hill in two areas: sacks and turnovers. From what I have seen in my limited footage Hill he almost like a Tony Romo lite; he feels the pressure and moves in the pocket effectively and he is somewhat accurate throwing on the run. He also doesn't take a whole lot of chances downfield and just isn't that explosive. He will give you a conservative, no risk game that relies on ball control and the running game to open things up.

So how did the Niners explode for 35 first half points last game? I'm not totally content with the answer being that they played the Rams, after all the Cowboys didn't do very well against them. So I decided to take a look at each of the 49ers drives last game, between the first half and the second half.

First Half:

Start	Plays	Yards	TOP	Result
Own 38	2	41	0:44	Fumble
STL 34	5	34	1:54	TD
Own 31	5	69	2:48	TD
STL 16	4	16	2:01	TD
Own 40	7	60	3:14	TD
Own 44	7	56	1:15	TD

Second Half:

Start	Plays	Yards	TOP	Result
Own 32	5	13	3:23	Punt
Own 18	5	4	2:41	Punt
Own 25	3	1	1:18	Punt
Own 9	3	2	1:31	Punt
Own 4	6	45	4:05	Fumble
Own 7	3	4	1:25	Punt

A quick note: the 49ers fourth drive in the second half started with three straight false start penalties on first down. Yikes.

In breaking down what happened that allowed for such a burst in scoring the first thing that stands out is that San Francisco took every advantage of excellent field position in the first half. Every time their defense forced a turnover or they got a good return in the kicking game the offense made the Rams pay, and they did it fast. Their longest possession in the entire game was just over three minutes long.

The lack of offense in the second half is puzzling. It may be due to the fact that they had a big lead and stopped pressing as hard but you never want to let up against any NFL team, especially one with Marc Bulger. The Niners didn't enjoy the field position they did in the first half and were constantly backed up against their own end zone, and even with Frank Gore weren't able to dig themselves out. The rams brought more pressure in the second half and when Hill did drop back to pass wasn't able to replicate his first half magic.

Bottom line: The Cowboys defense has minimized the big play this season and despite what it may seem on a game to game basis they do have a top ten pass defense. The biggest difference that Shaun Hill brings is an ability to protect the ball and not turn it over at inopportune times, which doesn't bode well for a Cowboys defense that has not forced many turnovers this year. However, the defense has started to become more disruptive as of late and if the 49ers find themselves behind and forced to throw, Shaun Hill's lack of explosiveness can be exploited if he pressed. The Niners' offensive line isn't the greatest but are playing better in front of Shaun Hill; the Cowboys should still be able to apply some decent pressure and force Hill out of his comfort level.

Dallas pass offense vs. San Francisco pass defense

This will be Tony Romo's second game back from injury and it was evident that he became much more comfortable last week as the game progressed. Wade Phillips has reported that Romo is throwing much better than last week with the splint on his hand and Romo should be pretty close to his old self this weekend against the 49ers. This will also be his second game throwing to Roy Williams and this could be a breakout game for the offense.

	Rank	Pct	Yds/G	Avg	Td/G	INT/G	Sacks/G	Rating
Dallas pass offense	10th	61.2	226.3	7.4	1.8	1.3	1.7	85.6
San Fran pass defense	25th	61.8	234.9	7.0	1.5	1.0	1.8	84.9

The San Francisco pass defense is the biggest weakness of the team. They do not generate much of a pass rush and are allowing an alarming seven yards per pass attempt, compared to 6.4 yards per attempt the Cowboys defense allows. The Niners have a tough time keeping recievers in front of them and are prone to the big play, giving up eight passing plays over forty yards this season. They have a very good cornerback in Nate Clements but as Cowboys fans we have seen what happens to pass coverage when their is no pressure on the cornerback.

Bottom line: If the Dallas Cowboys offensive continues to play at the level they did against the Redskins, Tony Romo is poised to have a HUGE day against the defense. We have seen what happens when Romo has time in the pocket and if given time the Cowboys receivers will get open and Romo will find them. We should also see some actual downfield passing attacks this game because the Cowboys are deadly when facing soft zone coverage, which is the primary scheme the 49ers run.

Team scoring:

Once again we look at the only numbers that really count, how a team scores against an opponent compared to how that those team fare against the rest of their schedule. To do this, we look at the 49ers points for and points against for the season and calculate what their opponents have allowed and scored when not facing the 49ers. These numbers will tell us just where the team lies when it comes to what counts the most, points.

	S.F. points scored	Opponents points allowed when not facing S.F.	S.F. points allowed	Opponents points scored when not facing S.F.
Average	23.0	24.11	27.5	22.19

The team is near average when it comes to scoring based on the opponents season average but it's obvious the problems are on the defensive side of the ball. When teams face San Francisco, they score more than five more points on average than they do against the rest of their schedule. That is tough for any offense to overcome, much less one that has changed quarterbacks and is learning a new system under Mike Martz.

Difference maker: Special Teams

It's amazing that the Dallas special teams have become so bad that we would rather our coach go for it on fourth and two rather than kick the field goal and risk another big kickoff return. But just how bad is the Cowboys' kickoff coverage and how does it stack up against the 49ers, whose special teams is without a doubt it's biggest strength?

Kickoff Coverage:

	Yds/Ret	Net	T.B.
Dallas	22.4	59.3	0
San Fran	23.5	65.5	7

The Cowboys are actually allowing fewer yards per return this year than they did in 2007, which is amazing considering how porous the coverage has been. It's obvious the biggest issue has actually been with the kicking itself. The Cowboys have 0 touchbacks this season but even more concerning is the net average per kick, which is dead last in the league. That means that while the kickoff coverage itself is not the worst, Nick Folk's distance has hampered the coverage unit's ability to pin opponents inside the 20. Folk is a great field goal kicker who is money when it counts, but for some reason he is just not able to kick it well off the tee.

Kick Returns:

	Yds/Ret	TD	20+	Ret/G
Dallas	22.2	1	25	4.2
San Fran	24.3	1	36	5.4

Allen Rossum has become a legitimate threat in the return game and is ranked sixth in the league with 27.2 yards per return.

Punt Coverage:

	Avg	Net	Yds/Ret	Inside 20	Punts/G
Dallas	44.4	36.6	9.7	9	4.6
San Fran	47.0	39.2	9.0	7	4.0

Punt Returns:

	Avg	TD	Ret/G	20+
Dallas	6.9	0	2.3	1
San Fran	12.7	0	1.5	2

This is where is can turn dangerous for the Cowboys. Rossum is averaging a staggering 16.9 yards per punt return and the Cowboys are 22nd in the league in net punt average.

Bottom line: Special teams can be the difference in a bad team beating a good team and can turn the tide of a game in a heartbeat. The Cowboys know first hand what it is like to have poor kick coverage ruin a ballgame and there is more than a good possibility that could happen this weekend. Other than the first half of the Rams game, the 49ers offense does not generate much yardage or points and relies on their special teams to turn tilt field position in their favor. If the Cowboy allow Rossum any sort of room to get a big return the Cowboys could find themselves in dire straits against an offense that is confident when they get near the goalline.

For the Cowboys to secure a convicing win against a sub-par team, they must find a way to fix their special teams issues. There is no excuse to allow a down and out team back into the game due to poor coverage and too many times in the past two season have the Cowboys paid dearly because of special teams. The 49ers will feed off a good return and the Cowboys will find that momentum has shifted in a heartbeat if Rossum is allowed to run free.

Blogging The Boys Q & A

Brandon W — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:53:42 -0000

EDITOR'S NOTE 2:45PM: Welcome to Brandon from Blogging the Boys. And as always, if you want to answer questions from the Cowboys fans, my FanPost is up at Blogging the Boys.

Hey, this is Brandon W from Blogging The Boys, the SB Nation Dallas Cowboys blog. I'm here to answer any questions you might have about the Cowboys and the upcoming matchup on Sunday.

The Cowboys are looking to continue pulling the season out of the brink with their next two games, both against NFC West opponents. They need to know that these are games they have to win to make a brutal December schedule easier to navigate, although all games from this point out are crucial.

On the bad news for us front, rookie running back Felix Jones has been placed on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his foot. Felix was a huge boost for this team and really added a speed element that had not been there in a long time.

Tony Romo seemed to be back to his old, jovial self and that could be dangerous against future opponents. Romo with confidence is a scary, scary thing for any defense.

Feel free to ask anything about the Cowboys or the game and I will answer to the best of my ability.

Felix Jones to be placed on injured reserve

Brandon W — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:45:58 -0000

Per the DMN blog:

Rookie RB Felix Jones will be placed on the injured reserve and will have surgery to repair a torn ligament underneath his left big toe.

Ugh.

The Cowboys will really be relying on Marion Barber now, and Wade Phillips will have to overcome whatever bugs him about Tashard Choice. In today's NFL you cannot make it very far without some sort tandem backfield that helps to relieve your main guy. Marion Barber is one hell of a running back but we need him to stay as fresh as possible. Right now Barber is one pace for nearly 400 touches this season.

Any BTB'ers going to the 49ers game??

Brandon W — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:17:26 -0000

Santa Clause came early this year and I now have two tickets to this weekend's game against the San Francisco 49ers. This will be my one and only game at Texas Stadium in my lifetime and I cannot even begin to say how excited I am to finally be able to watch a Cowboys game in the historic venue. I have been to three Cowboys games so far yet all of them have been a fan in enemy territory. Thus what I am most looking forward to is actually seeing a Cowboys game surrounded by tons of fellow fans.

So, I was wondering if there are any regular readers who plan on going to the game. It would be great to meet up and tailgate with some fellow BTB'ers.

Also, if anyone has some tips about attending the game let me know (Parking, tailgating, food and drinks, etc).