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Cowboys' makeshift offensive line will be tested by Chargers
10:01 PM CDT on Friday, August 20, 2010
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
SAN DIEGO – Can a patchwork offensive line muster the resolve to keep Tony Romo upright?
Can an offense that continually staggers inside the opponent's 20-yard line somehow sneak into the end zone for the first time?
Is this ominous tone even appropriate for a team only two games deep into the preseason?
It's not. A Cowboys team that faces the San Diego Chargers at 8 p.m. today at Qualcomm Stadium does have some offensive issues to work through. Most teams do at this time of year. What complicates matters is the health of a line that lost two starters in four days.
Right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier will miss the rest of the preseason. Montrae Holland will start for Kosier, and Robert Brewster will step in for Colombo.
Holland is an eight-year veteran but was inactive in every game the Cowboys played last season. Brewster spent his rookie season on the injured list with a torn pectoral muscle. Tonight, they will be asked to keep the Chargers off Romo, who is scheduled to play the first half.
"It gives other guys an opportunity to step up and show what they can do," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "One of the things we preach to our players all of the time is there is going to be adversity, a lot of different kinds of adversity. Injuries are one of them.
"The backup players have to be ready to step up and do their jobs. It happens to everyone around the league. We've got to respond to it."
The club has confidence that Holland can do the job. Look for the Cowboys to keep an extra player in protection to help Brewster at least at first.
Another way to protect Romo is to run the ball. The Cowboys need some work on that phase of the game, anyway.
Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee led the team in rushing against Oakland with 15 yards. In the first two games, Felix Jones has carried the ball three times for 11 yards while Marion Barber has five carries for 12 yards.
The passing game is further along. Romo engineered a 14-play, 63-yard drive in the opener and followed that with a 12-play, 45-yard drive against the Raiders. Both resulted in field goals. The first team offense has yet to score a touchdown but has avoided those pesky three-and-out possessions.
"We've been fortunate enough not to have that yet," Romo said. "We're doing some good things.
"But scoring touchdowns obviously helps a lot, and it matters. From a confidence standpoint, there's no question we need to get into the end zone.
"And we will. Practice isn't just luck. You're going to be the team that you are out here over time. I see good things."
The Cowboys play their offense close to the vest in the preseason. The emphasis is on player evaluation, not devising a scheme to attack the defense. The call list is vanilla.
While that helps explain why the offense hasn't scored a touchdown, it should not dismiss their failures in this area.
"You want to execute," tight end Jason Witten said. "Regardless of not showing your game plan, as players you want to execute and get it in there.
"No question you get that confidence from having success. It carries over."
That would put scoring a touchdown tonight somewhere between helpful and imperative.
"Anytime you do anything, you want to do it well," Garrett said. "That develops confidence.
"There were some good things in the first couple of pre-season games that we've done, there are some things we obviously need to clean up and get better at. We've got three more to go. Hopefully we'll be able to do that and feel good about ourselves going up to Washington."
A crisp preseason offense doesn't ensure regular season success. It doesn't portend an explosive night against the Redskins to open the regular season in three weeks.
But it's a good place to start.
"They don't always go hand-in-hand," Romo said. "But you do need to show yourself.
"Confidence matters in the NFL."
• • •
10:01 PM CDT on Friday, August 20, 2010
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
SAN DIEGO – Can a patchwork offensive line muster the resolve to keep Tony Romo upright?
Can an offense that continually staggers inside the opponent's 20-yard line somehow sneak into the end zone for the first time?
Is this ominous tone even appropriate for a team only two games deep into the preseason?
It's not. A Cowboys team that faces the San Diego Chargers at 8 p.m. today at Qualcomm Stadium does have some offensive issues to work through. Most teams do at this time of year. What complicates matters is the health of a line that lost two starters in four days.
Right tackle Marc Colombo and left guard Kyle Kosier will miss the rest of the preseason. Montrae Holland will start for Kosier, and Robert Brewster will step in for Colombo.
Holland is an eight-year veteran but was inactive in every game the Cowboys played last season. Brewster spent his rookie season on the injured list with a torn pectoral muscle. Tonight, they will be asked to keep the Chargers off Romo, who is scheduled to play the first half.
"It gives other guys an opportunity to step up and show what they can do," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "One of the things we preach to our players all of the time is there is going to be adversity, a lot of different kinds of adversity. Injuries are one of them.
"The backup players have to be ready to step up and do their jobs. It happens to everyone around the league. We've got to respond to it."
The club has confidence that Holland can do the job. Look for the Cowboys to keep an extra player in protection to help Brewster at least at first.
Another way to protect Romo is to run the ball. The Cowboys need some work on that phase of the game, anyway.
Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee led the team in rushing against Oakland with 15 yards. In the first two games, Felix Jones has carried the ball three times for 11 yards while Marion Barber has five carries for 12 yards.
The passing game is further along. Romo engineered a 14-play, 63-yard drive in the opener and followed that with a 12-play, 45-yard drive against the Raiders. Both resulted in field goals. The first team offense has yet to score a touchdown but has avoided those pesky three-and-out possessions.
"We've been fortunate enough not to have that yet," Romo said. "We're doing some good things.
"But scoring touchdowns obviously helps a lot, and it matters. From a confidence standpoint, there's no question we need to get into the end zone.
"And we will. Practice isn't just luck. You're going to be the team that you are out here over time. I see good things."
The Cowboys play their offense close to the vest in the preseason. The emphasis is on player evaluation, not devising a scheme to attack the defense. The call list is vanilla.
While that helps explain why the offense hasn't scored a touchdown, it should not dismiss their failures in this area.
"You want to execute," tight end Jason Witten said. "Regardless of not showing your game plan, as players you want to execute and get it in there.
"No question you get that confidence from having success. It carries over."
That would put scoring a touchdown tonight somewhere between helpful and imperative.
"Anytime you do anything, you want to do it well," Garrett said. "That develops confidence.
"There were some good things in the first couple of pre-season games that we've done, there are some things we obviously need to clean up and get better at. We've got three more to go. Hopefully we'll be able to do that and feel good about ourselves going up to Washington."
A crisp preseason offense doesn't ensure regular season success. It doesn't portend an explosive night against the Redskins to open the regular season in three weeks.
But it's a good place to start.
"They don't always go hand-in-hand," Romo said. "But you do need to show yourself.
"Confidence matters in the NFL."
• • •
