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Archer: Cowboy 'D' cashing in on goal to create more turnovers
01:35 AM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2010
Column by TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News | tarcher@dallasnews.com
Todd Archer
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OXNARD, Calif. – You want everything to be perfect in the preseason. Sometimes, you have to settle for baby steps.
[Click image for a larger version] GREGORY BULL/The Associated Press
GREGORY BULL/The Associated Press
Bradie James applies a hit to Chargers running back Darren Sproles that knocks the ball loose. It was one of three turnovers the Cowboys forced.
As the Cowboys' buses pulled out of Qualcomm Stadium after Saturday's 16-14 win against San Diego, there was plenty to be concerned about:
• The first-team offense put up 49 yards in the first half.
• Tony Romo made an ill-advised throw over the middle while being pressured and was intercepted.
• The first-team defense allowed 205 yards on 44 first-half plays and gave up its first touchdown of the preseason.
• The Chargers were 5-of-9 on third-down tries in the first half.
But it wasn't all bad, at least for the No. 1 defense – especially considering it was without strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh and Keith Brooking after the second series of the game. Both players suffered shoulder injuries.
All off-season, the Cowboys talked about creating more turnovers and on Saturday, the first team came up with two: a Terence Newman interception and Bradie James' forced fumble that Sensabaugh's replacement, Barry Church, returned 80 yards to the San Diego 8.
In the fourth quarter, cornerback Cletis Gordon added an interception, and the defense came up with the game-winning points on a Victor Butler sack/forced fumble that resulted in a safety with 3:46 to play.
"Hopefully that's a precursor to what we do in the regular season," Newman said.
Quibble with the yards allowed, but James wondered if the Chargers were a little more in regular-season mode in part because Wade Phillips got the Cowboys' head coaching job in 2007 over Norv Turner.
"Norv Turner schemed us, hands down," James said of the San Diego coach. "I saw more formations in one game than I saw in all of training camp. He was ready for us. I don't know if it was something with the job but there was nothing generic. When we start game-planning and scheming, we'll be better too."
It wasn't just getting the turnovers, it was where they happened.
Newman's interception came at the Dallas 7 on an out route to Legedu Naanee. Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews put the Chargers in scoring position on the game's first nine plays.
James later punched the ball free from Darren Sproles at the Dallas 13 to end a 12-play drive.
At the least, the Chargers were staring at short field goal attempts.
Gordon's one-handed interception came on a deep throw at the Dallas 18.
"Turnovers, they help you win the majority of the time," James said.
In three preseason games, the Cowboys have seven takeaways. They had only three in the preseason last year, and the lack of turnover creation carried over into the regular season when they had only 21, which was tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL.
And San Diego is not a team known for giving up the ball. In the last four seasons, the Chargers had a league-low 76 giveaways.
"I think it has to happen in the preseason" linebacker DeMarcus Ware said, "so then you get used to it. You get the feeling of what it's like to get that interception and run with the ball, make those blocks. When everybody contributes like that, you see it now and you might be able to see it later too."
• • •
01:35 AM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2010
Column by TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News | tarcher@dallasnews.com
Todd Archer
Archive | E-mail
OXNARD, Calif. – You want everything to be perfect in the preseason. Sometimes, you have to settle for baby steps.
[Click image for a larger version] GREGORY BULL/The Associated Press
GREGORY BULL/The Associated Press
Bradie James applies a hit to Chargers running back Darren Sproles that knocks the ball loose. It was one of three turnovers the Cowboys forced.
As the Cowboys' buses pulled out of Qualcomm Stadium after Saturday's 16-14 win against San Diego, there was plenty to be concerned about:
• The first-team offense put up 49 yards in the first half.
• Tony Romo made an ill-advised throw over the middle while being pressured and was intercepted.
• The first-team defense allowed 205 yards on 44 first-half plays and gave up its first touchdown of the preseason.
• The Chargers were 5-of-9 on third-down tries in the first half.
But it wasn't all bad, at least for the No. 1 defense – especially considering it was without strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh and Keith Brooking after the second series of the game. Both players suffered shoulder injuries.
All off-season, the Cowboys talked about creating more turnovers and on Saturday, the first team came up with two: a Terence Newman interception and Bradie James' forced fumble that Sensabaugh's replacement, Barry Church, returned 80 yards to the San Diego 8.
In the fourth quarter, cornerback Cletis Gordon added an interception, and the defense came up with the game-winning points on a Victor Butler sack/forced fumble that resulted in a safety with 3:46 to play.
"Hopefully that's a precursor to what we do in the regular season," Newman said.
Quibble with the yards allowed, but James wondered if the Chargers were a little more in regular-season mode in part because Wade Phillips got the Cowboys' head coaching job in 2007 over Norv Turner.
"Norv Turner schemed us, hands down," James said of the San Diego coach. "I saw more formations in one game than I saw in all of training camp. He was ready for us. I don't know if it was something with the job but there was nothing generic. When we start game-planning and scheming, we'll be better too."
It wasn't just getting the turnovers, it was where they happened.
Newman's interception came at the Dallas 7 on an out route to Legedu Naanee. Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews put the Chargers in scoring position on the game's first nine plays.
James later punched the ball free from Darren Sproles at the Dallas 13 to end a 12-play drive.
At the least, the Chargers were staring at short field goal attempts.
Gordon's one-handed interception came on a deep throw at the Dallas 18.
"Turnovers, they help you win the majority of the time," James said.
In three preseason games, the Cowboys have seven takeaways. They had only three in the preseason last year, and the lack of turnover creation carried over into the regular season when they had only 21, which was tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL.
And San Diego is not a team known for giving up the ball. In the last four seasons, the Chargers had a league-low 76 giveaways.
"I think it has to happen in the preseason" linebacker DeMarcus Ware said, "so then you get used to it. You get the feeling of what it's like to get that interception and run with the ball, make those blocks. When everybody contributes like that, you see it now and you might be able to see it later too."
• • •