SB Nation User Blog: sprprsnmn

Game watching experiment

sprprsnmn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:19:17 -0000

I am going to be conducting an experiment this Sunday with the Cowboys game.

Usually, I watch the games at home, but this Sunday I'm travelling to visit with my brother in Texas. Unfortunately, I have to be back home for a meeting at 6, so I'm going to have to either listen to the game on the radio (I love Brad Sham, but I love WATCHING the Boys more) or do something crazy.

This is where the crazy comes in. I'm going to attempt to watch the game on the television while on the road. I am riding in a 1974 Winnebago motor home, so I'm going to try to watch the game, rotating the antenna as I ride. I've got the "itinerary" planned out, watching on the Waco FOX affiliate until I can tune in the Lufkin station, etc.

It's going to be interesting. Before the digital switch, I think it would be manageable, but fuzzy at times. With Digital TV, it'll be a better picture when I can get it, and then it's back to Brad Sham when I can't.

GO COWBOYS!!!

Phillips Achilles Heel?

sprprsnmn — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:08:55 -0000

Last night we saw some more examples of the defense breaking down in the 2 minute drill. Just before the half, we always give up a TD. Whether it's the Giants in 2007, or the Panthers in 2009, our defense just seems to collapse during the 2 minute offense.

This worries me, as later in the season we play some teams that run the hurry-up offense really well. I have no data to back this up, but I wonder if Phillips D in San Diego was this bad against the hurry-up?

When we were able to rotate personnel in and out, and scheme against the offense, we shut the Panthers out, esp in the 2nd half. When they began to go no-huddle, it was like our D couldn't adjust, and we just fell back into a "bend but don't break" mode. Now, the outcome of the Panthers game was a success for the D, and they played well overall, so I give them props for that. If I'm Wade Phillips this week, I do nothing but have the D practice the 2 minute drill.

For my father's Birthday I got him Cowboys Tickets

sprprsnmn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:23:14 -0000

Today is my old man's birthday. He raised me right, that is, to be a Cowboys fan. I grew up watching games wearing my number 33 jersey and my helmet. I didn't really understand what I was watching at age 3, but it was easy for me to understand Tony D and TouchDown have the same initials.

So for his birthday today I presented him with tickets to the preseason game vs. the 49ers. The game against the Titans was almost sold out at the price range I want to pay, and we had talked about "someday" going to "a" game in the new stadium. I figured, it'll still be August when we play the Niners, so it counts.

Any experiences gained from those going to the game vs the Titans will be appreciated.

The Wade Factor

sprprsnmn — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:03:17 -0000

Wade Phillips has really turned this defense around since taking over playcalling duties after the Debacle in St. Louis.

In the Brian Stewart era, the Coboys put up the following sacks:

Cle - 1
Phi - 4
GB - 5
Was - 2
Cin - 2
Ari - 1
Stl - 5
-------
Avg per game pre WP - 2.85

After Wade took over playcalling duties, and I assume much else of the defensive coaching duties of the team, they put up numbers like this:

TB - 2
NYG - 4
WAS - 3
SF - 4
SEA - 7
PIT - 5
NYG - 8
----------
Avg per game post WP - 4.71

2 more sacks per game, and that doesn't include hurries, knockdowns, etc, all of which lead to turnovers.

It's my fault

sprprsnmn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:33:46 -0000

Guys, I'm going to have to take the blame for the Cowboys loss.

I didn't do my part as a fan to insure the win. Every time the Cowboys play, I wear my lucky shirt. This time, I was too busy after church to go and put my shirt on. Instead of watching the game at my house, sitting on my couch, I chose to watch the game at my parents house with my dad.

There have been two times this season that I didn't watch the game at my house: The Skins (my dad was in the hospital, and we watched it together there) and yesterday afternoon. Both of those times we lost. We lost the AZ game too, but we had a fighting chance, until the stupid special teams cost us the game.

So if there is anyone to blame for yesterday's loss, it's me. I take full responsibility.

Unfortunately, I can't be in town next weekend, so I'm going to have to figure out some kind of mojo-projection system that works from a location other than the right seat of my living room couch.

The Nightlife Problem

sprprsnmn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:51:55 -0000

An edit to a previous Diary called "The Jessica Problem"

I've noticed a problem with my beloved Cowboys, and I wondered if any of you guys on this most excellent of blogs had noticed it too.

Now, I'm not putting the blame on Jessica Simpson, as if she was some totem that causes the Cowboys to play poorly, but I think the root of the problem with the Cowboys recently has been their lack of enthusiasm while playing at home.

On the road, the Cowboys are a dominant team. Something about getting away from Dallas, focusing on nothing but the game while cloistered in a hotel room in the opposing city, makes the Cowboys better players. When they are at home, it's as if they all go out and get hammered out of their minds the night before a game, and just do not show up on Game Day, b/c they are all hung over.

Now, some of you will say that the mark of a Great team is that they can win when they have to, that they can win when they suck. But these Cowboys should have come out and destroyed the Bungles, but instead, they tried to sit on a 17 point lead Parcells-esqe. Garrett's gameplan was better this week, but the box score shows that the leading passer was Carson Palmer, and the leading receiver was TJ Whoseyermama.

Next week, we are @ Arizona, so if my theory is correct, we should blow them out of the water.

Need some help

sprprsnmn — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:23:32 -0000

I have gotten myself into a situation where I am forced to watch the game DVR-delayed.

It's a long story, but I have a rehearsal this evening that I cannot miss.

Typically if I was watching a Cowboys game on ESPN, I'd mute the TV and listen to Brad Sham on the radio. However, since I have to watch it delayed, am I going to have to listen to Jaworski and Kornheiser?

Can someone in the BTB Nation please come through with a solution?

Getting ready for Sunday

sprprsnmn — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:02:43 -0000

I've been spending the day getting ready for the game. Since Dish Network doesn't have my locals in HD yet, I either have the option of watching the games in SD, or hooking an antenna up. I had a small indoor antenna, but the gain was awful and the picture always dropped in and out... usually right when Romo was connecting with Owens for a long TD.

So this weekend, I installed an outdoor, high gain UHF antenna. The reception is now perfect. I'm ready to watch the game in beautiful, flicker free HD!!!

Changing gears a little...

This summer, my wife took a trip to Russia. While she was there, she picked up souveneirs for everyone, including an awesome one for me. I'm not sure where she found this, but it rocks.

Here's Tony Romo, a beautifully hand painted matryoshka.

Open him up, and you find TO.

Open up TO, and you find Adam Jones!

Inside of Pacman is The Barbarian!

And inside of MB3 is the Folk Hero!

And here's a shot from the back of all five:

How can the Cowboys possible lose with powerful totems like these? Right now, Romo sits by my desk with the rest of the guys bottled up. Hopefully they'll bring the juju on gameday.

How Bout Them Cowboys!!

Pacman or El Gato on Kickoffs?

sprprsnmn — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:55:47 -0000

Pacman or El Gato on Kickoffs?

I'd like to see Felix Jones on kickoffs myself...

Hey Terry! Got your daily Romo gossip yet?

sprprsnmn — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:02:28 -0000

Hey Terry! Got your daily Romo gossip yet?

So apparently Romo and Simpson broke up? I thought they were getting married?