SB Nation User Blog: accidental innuendo

Romo on the cover of SI's NFL preview

accidental innuendo — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:37:47 -0000

Romo on the cover of SI's NFL preview

Cowboys-49ers: What did we learn?

accidental innuendo — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:19:33 -0000

Cowboys-49ers: What did we learn?

Matt Mosely with a generally positive review of the 'Boys. I like this part:

"How dynamic is Felix Jones? I think he's on the verge of becoming one of the most elusive running backs in the league. He almost broke a 94-yard touchdown in the first half. He eluded a defender at the line of scrimmage and then he froze another player before darting into a clearing. (Shades of Tony D. in Minneapolis). The safety made a shoestring tackle on Jones, but it was still an exciting run. He's one of those rare players who can make a run of any distance seem entertaining."

[Comment From JD] Scandrick vs Jenkins? Pros and Cons? Tim MacMahon: Scandrick is a competitor...

accidental innuendo — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:28:18 -0000

[Comment From JD]
Scandrick vs Jenkins? Pros and Cons?

Tim MacMahon: Scandrick is a competitor with sub-4.4 speed who played well in significant experience as a slot corner last season. He's extremely savvy for his age, too.

Jenkins has the speed and skills to be an elite man-press corner. He could become the kind of guy coaches tell to cover the opponent's best WR, like Terence Newman did with Santana Moss in the win over Washington last season.

Cons with Scandrick: He's a bit undersized and doesn't have Jenkins' long arms to make up for it.

Cons with Jenkins: Questions about his toughness and work ethic.

Both guys are working on improving their technique and getting better in zone coverage.

DMN Cowboys Blog. Link to the full chat with Tim MacMahon.

Are we counting on too many players to step up this year?

accidental innuendo — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:54:49 -0000

I still haven't settled on what I think the Cowboys record might be in 2009. Of course, I realize it's a futile exercise, but it passes the time in the offseason. Going through the various possibilities, it occurred to me that to actually meet our expectations, the Cowboys will have a number of players with a question mark overcome whatever's been holding them back uptil this point and reach their potential.

And I'm not even talking about the rookies. I'm looking at those that have been on the team since last year and are being counted on to make the leap. I think this factors in immensely when we think about how good we can actually be this season. But it also worries me because it's hard to imagine that every player will make the jump.

So let's go ahead and take a look at them.

Miles Austin -- So much has been made of his injury history AND his ability to stretch the field. Austin always had the physical gift and showed flashes of putting it all together last year, which is the reason why we're really hoping he's for real.

Isaiah Stanback -- Another WR that's had a severely injury-plagued career. The athletic ability is unquestionable, so is the fact that he hasn't been able to harness it due to injury or the handicap of transitioning from QB. Nonetheless, it's been two years, roster spots are valuable, and the Cowboys just drafted 12 rookies.

Roy Williams -- You'd think he was a proven commodity. But the perfect storm accompanied Williams' arrival in Dallas resulting in an atrocious second half of the season. Now, with the loss of T.O., Williams is being asked to step up in the offense.

Felix Jones -- We know what he can do. But can he do it for a full season? He's only on this list because his ceiling is ridiculous.

Anthony Spencer --In light of Ellis' release, Spencer now becomes the bookend to Ware. With two years under his belt and an almost guaranteed starting job come Game 1, the pressure is on for the former first-round pick.

Junior Siavii -- As backup NT, Siavii is going to have to do enough to make sure Ratliff does not tire by season's end. Consider that the Cowboys completely ignored the NT question in the draft; they must have great faith in Siavii's ability to man the position.

Gerald Sensabaugh -- To be fair, I don't know much about his play to judge him. But this has been a sore issue so long that Sensabaugh is going to have to make a difference. In comparison to his predecessor, he already looks to be an improvement.

Bobby Carpenter -- Obligatory name on every "Is This His Year?" list.

The Cowboys are counting all these players to be significant contributors next season. Most of them don't have the track record to predict whether they will take positive steps forward. A lot of how our season unfolds depends on how and when these Cowboys become more confident in their play.

Will they all make it? Or is it even that important of a factor in our success?

Tough choices

accidental innuendo — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:35:43 -0000

Gentlemen, it's becoming more and more difficult to understand the crap that the Cowboys are flinging my way. I'm not blaming the media here because I found less and less reason to disbelieve their articles as the season wound down.

It's time to make a few tough choices. The players have run amok, and within the space of a single season, it seems like the organization has lost direction. Perhaps it's been this way for a while, and 13-3 was the aberration, but what I've seen and heard from, and about, this team has just brought home the message that they're not winners and don't want to be.

Imagine, if you will, the team as it is now going into training camp. Oh, I assure you that players and coaches will have made up superficially and through gritted teeth will supply endless quotes about how they've put last season behind them and how they're coming together as a team. Then picture some early season losses, and suddenly all the drama is at the forefront again while football takes a backseat.

Not another season of this nonsense, please. Oh accidental, you ask, please flaunt the glory of your banana hammock and point us in the right direction. Of course, I'd be happy to oblige.

Tough choices, I said. Tough choices that need to be made. If anyone's read the Dune novels, you know how Paul Atreides felt. (By the way, if you haven't picked up Dune, it makes for great offseason reading.) Paul knew he had to embrace the Golden Path under a veil of bloodshed or watch the empire slowly decay to nothing and take humanity with it.

Bloodshed got your attention, eh?

Wade's gotta go. I have nothing against the guy, and uptil this weekend, I had no negative feelings about his return. However, it's dawned on me that his marshmallowy softness has come to symbolize a lot of what's wrong with this team. So, gone, fired, canned -- not invited back as Def. Coordinator, nada. It's a symbolic move, and it sucks for the guy, but it needs doing. Yeah, he's a great defensive mind, but he's not HC material, and it's too late for anything else.

Promote Carrot-top. All year long, I've done nothing but whine about how much his playcalling sucks, but I'm willing to admit that he's young, he's learning, and he's does have the IT-factor that's needed as a HC. It's the best option we've got, and he's going to be the one to turn this ship around.

Lose T.O. You knew this was coming. I've loved the guy before he was on the Cowboys, and I've loved how he's always spoken his mind, but the bad finally outweighs the good. He's still a star WR, no doubt about it, but he's in decline, he's constantly, and unfairly, always under the spotlight, and his demand for the ball undermines our mentally fragile QB who works best by spreading the ball around. He's losing it, and if Garret's going to stay with the Cowboys, T.O.'s going to go. I hate even typing this, but I'm thinking long-term.

Ask Jerry to clean house. The whiners, the losers, the slackers, the talkers...all have to go. This is going to be a slow process, and some of the players that exhibit these qualities are going to stay simply because of their contracts (lookin' at you RW11), but Jerry's going to have to act like a proper GM. This is probably the hardest thing, but some contracts have to be cut short or let expire and the players need not return. Carrot-top can make a list, and maybe this will force the rest of the team to shape up.

Here's the point: It needs to be big, and it needs to be ugly, or we can keep fooling ourselves for the next few years until we're back at 5-11 and reality hits. Tough choices, I said, and I mean it.

Time to shackle Tony Romo

accidental innuendo — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:34:15 -0000

I'll get two things out of the way first:

First, there was an absolute clusterf*** of mistakes against the Eagles by a number of parties. But the tone of the game on the field has to be set by the QB, and Romo just doesn't have that personality. Giggling while the game is falling apart and then sitting on the bench with his head in his hands is just not going to do it. Turnover after turnover, mistake after mistake, leading momentous changes in the flow of the game also will not do.

Second, it's not all his fault. Really. Our vaunted O Line is a sham, an absolute disgrace -- no doubt about it. But they're not at fault for every single moronic play that Romo makes. Sure, he has some inconsistent receivers and some shoddy coaching, but again, sometimes it's difficult to tell what the hell our savior is doing out there.

I'm convinced he can't help being the goofball who makes you avert your eyes, just like Wade can't help being Mr. Aw Shucks. This image is further reinforced by his post-game quotes that basically tell me that Romo is more interested in going home and banging hot celebrities or being an all-around nice guy. Hey, this is fine, except he's getting paid to quarterback the Dallas Cowboys, and that's kind of a big deal to me.

All right, so what do we do? There's no better option than Romo, and Romo seems incorrigible. Quite a dilemma, but a solution is in sight.

In a nutshell, this team needs to adopt the playcalling of the Tennessee Titans, and Tony Romo needs to be treated like Kyle Orton.

Romo can't help trying to make the highlight play, and he's not going to help it. So, the offense needs to take the option away from him. The gunslinger mentality needs to be discouraged -- honestly, it's not working -- and Romo needs to be forced into busdriver mode. If he's not already hit his ceiling, which is not unthinkable anymore, maybe he can develop a healthy balance in a few years. For now, think about the following:

The downfield passing game has got to go. Garrett is just enabling Romo's worst tendencies. Short- to mid-range passes, quick slants and outs, and relying on the receivers to gain the necessary YAC.
Receivers: We really ought to consider moving T.O. to the slot at least 50% of the time. Yes, this makes Crayton expendable, but we already have superb outside receivers in Austin and RW2. T.O. is not the prototypical slot receiver, but he has all the requisite qualities needed for the position. Think of a bigger, stronger, meaner and tanner Wes Welker. Let Romo just dump passes off to these guys. Hopefully, this will also take some pressure off the line.
Run, run, run, run, run the ball. Mix MB3 and Felix in the first and fourth quarters. Choice and Felix in the second and third. The ball needs to be run at least 35 times a game. This is going to take some tweaking of the O Line, but the return of Kosier should be a big step forwards.

Romo should not need to throw the ball more than 20 times a game, and his game needs to handled like he's a rookie. For a kid who can't keep his hands out of the cookie jar, the best solution is to keep the jar out of reach until the child starts to behave.

Drafting Sun. morning - 2 QB Fantasy league - Need 2 or 4 more players

accidental innuendo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:54:35 -0000

Hi guys, this is my last pitch for this league -- pinky swear.

I'm at work, so I can't post all the details right now, but we're drafting Sunday around 10 (I think), and we're looking for 2 or 4 more players.

Highlights

- 2 QBs

- 2 WR, 2 RB, WR/RB flex, WR/TE flex, DEF, K

- DB and DL

If you want to play or have questions, please comment below.

Thanks!

Need 5 more players -- 2 QB Yahoo league

accidental innuendo — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:43:40 -0000

Hi guys. I got a 2 QB league going on Yahoo for BTB fans. Right now, we've got 7 players, and we're looking for 5 more.

Looking for serious competitors please. It's definitely challenging, especially if you haven't played 2 QBs or defensive players before, but it's also a lot of fun. So I hope some of you are up to it.

Here are the details:

League ID#:	35031
League Name:	Them 'Boys
Password:	btbreaders
Custom League URL:	http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/them_boys
Draft Type:	Live Draft
Draft Time:	Sun Aug 24 10:45am EDT [ Add to My Calendar ]
Max Teams:	12
Scoring Type:	Head-to-Head
Start Scoring on:	Week 1
Can't Cut List Provider:	Yahoo! Sports
Max Moves:	No maximum
Max Acquisitions per Week:	No maximum
Max Trades:	17
Trade Reject Time:	2
Trade End Date:	November 14, 2008
Trade Review:	League Votes
Waiver Time:	1 day
Post Draft Players:	Free Agents
Playoffs:	Week 14, 15 and 16 (6 teams)
Roster Positions:	QB, QB, WR, WR, RB, RB, W/T, W/R, K, DEF, DB, DL, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN
Stat Categories:	Passing Yards (30 yards per point; 2 points at 300 yards; 3 points at 400 yards) Passing Touchdowns (6) Interceptions (-2) Sacks (-0.5) Rushing Yards (10 yards per point; 2 points at 150 yards) Rushing Touchdowns (6) Receptions (0.5) Reception Yards (10 yards per point; 2 points at 175 yards) Reception Touchdowns (6) Return Yards (30 yards per point) Return Touchdowns (6) 2-Point Conversions (2) Fumbles (-0.5) Fumbles Lost (-2) Offensive Fumble Return TD (6) Field Goals 0-19 Yards (2) Field Goals 20-29 Yards (2) Field Goals 30-39 Yards (3) Field Goals 40-49 Yards (4) Field Goals 50+ Yards (5) Field Goals Missed 0-19 Yards (-5) Field Goals Missed 20-29 Yards (-4) Field Goals Missed 30-39 Yards (-3) Field Goals Missed 40-49 Yards (-2) Point After Attempt Made (1) Point After Attempt Missed (-3) Sack (1) Interception (2) Fumble Recovery (2) Touchdown (6) Safety (3) Block Kick (2) Return Yards (30 yards per point) Kickoff and Punt Return Touchdowns (6) Points Allowed 0 points (15) Points Allowed 1-6 points (10) Points Allowed 7-13 points (5) Points Allowed 14-20 points (1) Points Allowed 21-27 points (-1) Points Allowed 28-34 points (-5) Points Allowed 35+ points (-10) Tackle Solo (1) Tackle Assist (0.5) Sack (2) Interception (3) Fumble Force (2) Fumble Recovery (2) Touchdown (6) Safety (3) Pass Defended (1) Block Kick (3)
Fractional Points:	Yes
Negative Points:	Yes

Looking forward to an awesome season. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. Good luck in all your fantasy leagues.

Fantasy Football is here! 2 QB money league - NOW WITH INFO!

accidental innuendo — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:40:48 -0000

I know it's only June 12th, but I want my fix. So I've set up a league on Yahoo! open to my fellow BTBers. This is going to be a money league to ensure full participation (no quitsies!) and the entry fee will $10 by Paypal.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with 2 QB leagues, but they are definitely a different animal. This is NOT your older brother's league. It's fairly involving, so please only play if you meet the following criteria:

You love the Cowboys
You check BTB every dang day
You know Matt Jones is a bust, Julius Jones is a semi-bust and Felix Jones is going to the HOF
You follow other players/teams in the NFL
You want to make other BTBers cry for mercy when they see your team

Here's the quick breakdown (and full details are further down):

2 QBs and also DB and DL
Head to Head
6 team playoffs (Weeks 14, 15 and 16)
16 teams
Live Draft on August 24th (9:45 a.m.)

Prize money will be broken down as follows:

First place - 45%
Second place - 20%
Third place - 10%
Best regular season record - 25%

Okay, if you're salivating by now as you should be, please register in the comments and I will give more details how to register your team and how to pay.

Now for the full league details. Please read carefully

Draft Type:	Live Draft
Draft Time:	Sun Aug 24 9:45am CDT
Max Teams:	16
Scoring Type:	Head-to-Head
Start Scoring on:	Week 1
Can't Cut List Provider:	Yahoo! Sports
Max Moves:	No maximum
Max Trades:	17
Trade Reject Time:	2
Trade End Date:	November 14, 2008
Trade Review:	League Votes
Waiver Time:	1 day
Post Draft Players:	Free Agents
Playoffs:	Week 14, 15 and 16 (6 teams)
Roster Positions:	QB, QB, WR, WR, RB, RB, W/T, W/R, K, DEF, DB, DL, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN
Stat Categories:	Passing Yards (30 yards per point; 2 points at 300 yards; 3 points at 400 yards) Passing Touchdowns (6) Interceptions (-2) Sacks (-0.5) Rushing Yards (10 yards per point; 2 points at 150 yards) Rushing Touchdowns (6) Receptions (0.5) Reception Yards (10 yards per point; 2 points at 150 yards) Reception Touchdowns (6) Return Yards (30 yards per point) Return Touchdowns (6) 2-Point Conversions (2) Fumbles (-0.5) Fumbles Lost (-2) Offensive Fumble Return TD (6) Field Goals 0-19 Yards (2) Field Goals 20-29 Yards (2) Field Goals 30-39 Yards (3) Field Goals 40-49 Yards (4) Field Goals 50+ Yards (5) Field Goals Missed 0-19 Yards (-5) Field Goals Missed 20-29 Yards (-4) Field Goals Missed 30-39 Yards (-3) Field Goals Missed 40-49 Yards (-2) Point After Attempt Made (1) Point After Attempt Missed (-3) Sack (1) Interception (2) Fumble Recovery (2) Touchdown (6) Safety (3) Block Kick (2) Return Yards (30 yards per point) Kickoff and Punt Return Touchdowns (6) Points Allowed 0 points (15) Points Allowed 1-6 points (10) Points Allowed 7-13 points (5) Points Allowed 14-20 points (1) Points Allowed 21-27 points (-1) Points Allowed 28-34 points (-5) Points Allowed 35+ points (-10) Tackle Solo (1) Tackle Assist (0.5) Sack (2) Interception (3) Fumble Force (2) Fumble Recovery (2) Touchdown (6) Safety (3) Pass Defended (1) Block Kick (3)
Fractional Points:	Yes
Negative Points:	Yes

• Here's an amazing draft-related statistic: If Dallas does indeed get Pacman Jones in uniform this ...

accidental innuendo — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:53:52 -0000

• Here's an amazing draft-related statistic: If Dallas does indeed get Pacman Jones in uniform this season, they'll have nine, count 'em, nine first-round picks on defense. They are:

South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins (2008), Jones (Tennessee 2005), Roy Williams (2002), Terence Newman (2003), Bobby Carpenter (2006), Anthony Spencer (2007), DeMarcus Ware (2005), Marcus Spears (2005), and Greg Ellis (1998).

Yeah, the pressure is definitely on Wade Phillips this year.

Don Banks, Snap Judgements