Dallas Cowboys Season in Review

Considering how the season started it ended about same. In between were a lot of highs and lows. Both NY Giants games seemed to be the lowest points in the season. The Eagles would like to know what the Giants have that they haven't . The three Eagles victories along with the Saints road win are classified as the highs of the year.

We watched Tony Romo wake up after a horrible first Giants and Denver games to set Cowboys season records. Most attempts, completion, QB rating fewest interceptions are now records owned by Tony. We saw a team get better by subtracting T O from the team. We watched Miles Austin become a true number one and Roy Williams fail on the biggest stage.

We watched the Cowboys defense finish number two in the league in scoring defense. We started with a platoon between Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick and ended with Jenkins in the Pro Bowl. All totaled the Cowboys put nine in and that tied the Eagles for most.

We watched "Wade's Guys" perform at a high level..Keith Brookings and Igor Oshanski both performed over what was predicted as did Gerald Sensabaugh. We also saw MartyB with so much potential live down to his. We watched the good and the bad of the Oline. Running wild against NO and Philadelphia,yet being eaten alive by GB and Minnesota.

We stayed healthy until the final game and suffered the consequences when Flozell went down early against the Vikings. If not for a horrible field goal kicker and the inability to make fourth and one, we might still be playing. We saw the offense get yards at will and yet struggle to score.
All in all twelve wins came as a surprise to nearly everyone. If you include the real predictions and not "Homer Calls" this team exceeded every one's expectations. Avenging a 44-6 drubbing by the Eagles was sweet satisfaction only to be eclipsed by a blow out loss to the Vikings a week later.

In conclusion this off season is going to be interesting. The Cowboys have nearly everyone under contract with only Miles Austin as a significant free agent and he is restricted. This team actually has a number one pick and a pick in all seven rounds. Wade got a two year extension and except for Dat Nguyen, all coaches are coming back. This season was a victory in the sense the team won the NFC East and won a playoff game. It could have been better but judging by what happened the year before all is good.

Go Cowboys..

Why The Longhorns Will Defeat The Tide

Nearly everyone is picking Alabama to defeat Texas in the BCS Championship. I hear about the Tide's awesome defense and how Texas was just lucky to be in the Game. Well let us take a look at the team from an unbiased point of view. The Stats.

Nebraska/Tennessee..UT escaped with a field goal on the last play of the game. Few people seem to acknowledge the Tide escaped with a blocked 44 yard field goal attempt by Tennessee on the last play of the game. Texas had more yards than Nebraska..more first downs..Alabama was out gained by over a 100 yards..had fewer first downs and had to block two field goals.

Texas A&M/Auburn..These are both rivalry games. They are hard to play and harder to win. You nearly throw out the records. Texas ran into a QB playing out of his mind. He had done nothing close before this and nothing afterward. Colt McCoy had a career day. In a game where he had to step up he did big time. He threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 175 and another touchdown. Texas out gained A&M..had more first downs and won by 10...Auburn out gained Alabama ..had more first downs and held Alabama to 5/14 on third down. They also held Ingram to 30 yards on 16 carries.

Defense......You hear a lot about Alabama defense and with good reason. They are really good and stand as number one in the NCAA..but...Texas is number eight..Plus on offense Alabama wants to run the ball and UT is the number one rushing defense..On offense Texas wants to pass..Alabama is number thirteen in pass defense..A word about Texas' defense coordinator Will Muschamp. He was the coordinator at Auburn and Texas runs the same defense that held Ingram to 30 yards..Texas is also tied for # 1 in the nation in interceptions..Ala. is # 20..Texas is # 3 in tackles for loss..Ala. is # 20..Sacks Texas # 5..Ala..# 20..

Offense...Not ever close..UT is # 4 in scoring offense..averaging over 40 points a game..Alabama is number 27 and scores more than 10 point a game less..Texas QB Colt McCoy is a fifth year senior and is undefeated in bowl games..Including two previous BCS games..,Alabama QB Greg MeElroy is a junior who wasn't a starter until this season.

My Conclusions:  Special Teams are a wash as both teams are really good. Texas does have a big advantage in KO returner D J Monroe who is number two with nearly 40 yards a return..The big difference is what the teams want to do on offense and what the defenses are good at..Texas wants to pass and will go against the # 13 pass defense..Alabama wants to run and Texas is the # 1 rushing defense..Add this to the historical fact that Alabama has never defeated Texas..(0-9)..

I rest my case..Except for...U T.....28.....Alabama 17