The Cowboys’ running defense was a disaster in the first half. The Bucs used the running attack in the first half as their main weapon. Cadillac Williams ran the ball eight times for 77 yards for a 9.6 yard per run average. Only three of his carries went for less than 6 yards. Not to mention that three of his carries went for double digit yards, including a 35 yard run with 12:18 left in the second quarter. Derrick Ward also contributed to their running attack with six carries for 17 yards. That is an average of 2.8 yards per carry. Both running backs combined for 94 yards in 14 carries for a disastrous 6.7 yards per carry average in the first half.

Do you realize that 20 teams on opening weekend didn’t give up that many yards during their entire game? The Cowboys’ coaching staff made the appropriate adjustments at halftime and came back in the second half to shut down the Bucs running game… wait. Did they really shut them down? I’ve heard nothing but praise about the halftime adjustments made by Coach Wade Phillips and the coaching staff, but I don’t see any results.

I don't know if I watched the same game as everybody else, but the Cowboys run defense did not improve that much from the first half. You see Cadillac Williams had only five carries for 20 yards and a decent 4.0 yards per carry. That is not so bad, considering that three of the five runs went for five or more yards. The problem is that Derrick Ward ran the ball six times for 45 yards and 9.0 yards per carry average. I understand that most of the yardage came from two carries of 12 and 22 yards in the third quarter, but it is still unacceptable to give a running back an average of nine yards per carry. Williams and Ward combined for 65 yards in 11 carries. Though not as good as the 6.7 yards per carry in the first half, a 5.9 yards per carry average in the second half to Williams and Ward are very good and respectable.

Don’t forget that Tampa Bay completely abandoned the run in the fourth quarter with 9:19 left in the game because they were trailing by two scores.

I completely understand that one game is by no means a trend. However, it can become a trend this season pretty soon. The next two weeks, the Dallas Cowboys face great running teams from last year in the Giants and the Panthers. Wade Phillips needs to demonstrate with his defense why he is a so called defensive guru. 

The defense was truly the reason the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs last year. The Cowboys allowed more than 30 points in 6 games last year, going 1-5 in those. The Cowboys cannot continue to try to outscore their opponents in shootouts this year like they did last year.

Don’t tell me how the rushing defense was good in the second half because of the so called coaching adjustments. The defense got better but still allowed 5.9 yards per carry to the Buccaneers’ top two running backs. If Tampa Bay would have ran the ball more in the second half, they would still be running on the Cowboys.

The beginning of the season is the time to right the ship, so right it.

P.S. A little pass rush and causing turnovers could also help the total defense. 

The question since the acquisition of Roy Williams has been whether or not he can be a number one receiver. The truth is that he had been a number one receiver in Detroit since his arrival until the arrival of Calvin Johnson. Therefore, he can be a number one receiver in Dallas as well.

Why is that answer so hard to accept? Why do writers and fans try to define a number one receiver? Is it somebody who demands double teams? Is it somebody who achieves the 1,000 receiving yard season? Or is it somebody who scores more than a specific number of touchdowns in a season?

How about defining a number one receiver as the best receiver in the team who can be counted on at any time to make a play as well as making his teammates better? Is that too hard to do?

Let me tell you that 1,000 receiving yards and a specific number of touchdowns in a season does not translate into team success in the playoffs. As a matter of fact, it doesn't even translate into a team making the playoffs.

The top ten receivers in yards last season each had over 1,145 receiving yards. Only half of those top ten WRs made the playoffs. There were 21 WRs in the NFL who totaled over 1,000 receiving yards last season. Only eleven of them made the playoffs. One of those five didn't even get a victory last year (Calvin Johnson).

As far as a specific number of touchdowns by a WR, it doesn't make a difference either. Of the top 9 WRs in TD receptions (only counted 9 because there are 8 WRs tied for the tenth spot) last season, only 3 of them made the playoffs. Of those eight tied for tenth spot, only four of them made the playoffs.

Didn't T.O. get over 1,000 yards and over 10 touchdowns each of his three seasons in Dallas? He sure did. Do you think he was a solid number one receiver during those three years? You bet. Did the Cowboys have any success in the playoffs? Nope!

The bottom line is that football is a team sport, and the last time I checked no one player by himself can deliver success. I believe last season the Cowboys had one of the most talented teams in the NFL, but they didn't maximize their talent at all. Who am I kidding? They didn't even play nearly as good as they could have played.

So back to the question, can Roy Williams get 1,000 receiving yards and a specific number of touchdowns in a season and be a number one receiver? I think he can do it, but only time will tell.  What I don't understand is why everybody thinks the production will translate into team success. I rather Roy be the best he can be as well as everybody else in the organization (coaching staff included), and it translating into team success.

I think that last year’s missing piece wasn’t a specific position on the roster as it was team chemistry, leadership, the passion and desire to win. In my opinion, those do translate into team success. I rather have those four qualities than any number one receiver stats that don’t win championships, playoff games or even make the playoffs.