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Expect opponents to gamble and blitz Cowboys; injury report update
12:09 AM CDT on Thursday, August 5, 2010
Gerry Fraley
The Cowboys devoted a substantial portion of Wednesday's practice to pressuring the passer with blitzes. It was for the good of the offense as much as the defense.
Coach Wade Phillips expects the Cowboys to face pressure- happy defenses this season. The thinking is many opponents would rather gamble on stopping the Cowboys that way than with a passive bend-but-don't-break approach.
"There are going to be a lot of teams that say, 'We've got to come after them,' " Phillips said. "There are certain teams we'll see a lot of blitz stuff from, a lot of pressure stuff."
That will be the case for all six games in the NFC East.
The New York Giants and Philadelphia have tried to blitz the Cowboys into submission in recent years. The Giants had five takeaways in two wins against the Cowboys last season. Philadelphia slipped and managed only three takeaways in three losses, including a playoff game.
Washington will join the trend this season. When the Cowboys open the season at Washington on Sept. 12, it will mark Jim Haslett's debut as the Redskins' defensive coordinator. Haslett has installed a 3-4 defense, and he has a history of taking chances with blitzes. Using a 4-3 defense last season, Washington had a league-low 17 takeaways.
Gerry Fraley
A visitor now,a member later?
On Saturday the Cowboys will fly to Akron and make the short bus ride to Canton, Ohio, for a private tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Some members of the traveling party will have the opportunity to stay for the induction ceremony, which will include Emmitt Smith.
DeMarcus Ware is looking forward to his first trip.
"It's the game you play and you see where it started and how it became the sport it is today," Ware said. "Just to see the tradition and the room with all of the busts, and think about hopefully someday coming back and being in there."
With four straight Pro Bowl appearances since 2006 and three All-Pro selections, Ware could be in the early stages of a Hall of Fame career. He said that does not drive him. Yet.
"Only when I'm there [on Saturday]," Ware said. "But after that it'll be on the back burner."
Todd Archer
Injury report
Pos. Player Injury Status
DL Sean Lissemore Groin Expected to miss about one more week
LB Stephen Hodge Knee PUP list, return unknown
LB Sean Lee Quadriceps Returned to practice
OL Montrae Holland Hamstring Expected to miss several days
S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Shoulder Activated from non-football injury, practiced
S Patrick Watkins Knee Expected to miss several days
WR Dez Bryant High ankle sprain Expected to miss four to six weeks
OLB Anthony Spencer Bruised Achilles' tendon Could miss Sunday's preseason opener
PUP – Physically unable to perform
12:09 AM CDT on Thursday, August 5, 2010
Gerry Fraley
The Cowboys devoted a substantial portion of Wednesday's practice to pressuring the passer with blitzes. It was for the good of the offense as much as the defense.
Coach Wade Phillips expects the Cowboys to face pressure- happy defenses this season. The thinking is many opponents would rather gamble on stopping the Cowboys that way than with a passive bend-but-don't-break approach.
"There are going to be a lot of teams that say, 'We've got to come after them,' " Phillips said. "There are certain teams we'll see a lot of blitz stuff from, a lot of pressure stuff."
That will be the case for all six games in the NFC East.
The New York Giants and Philadelphia have tried to blitz the Cowboys into submission in recent years. The Giants had five takeaways in two wins against the Cowboys last season. Philadelphia slipped and managed only three takeaways in three losses, including a playoff game.
Washington will join the trend this season. When the Cowboys open the season at Washington on Sept. 12, it will mark Jim Haslett's debut as the Redskins' defensive coordinator. Haslett has installed a 3-4 defense, and he has a history of taking chances with blitzes. Using a 4-3 defense last season, Washington had a league-low 17 takeaways.
Gerry Fraley
A visitor now,a member later?
On Saturday the Cowboys will fly to Akron and make the short bus ride to Canton, Ohio, for a private tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Some members of the traveling party will have the opportunity to stay for the induction ceremony, which will include Emmitt Smith.
DeMarcus Ware is looking forward to his first trip.
"It's the game you play and you see where it started and how it became the sport it is today," Ware said. "Just to see the tradition and the room with all of the busts, and think about hopefully someday coming back and being in there."
With four straight Pro Bowl appearances since 2006 and three All-Pro selections, Ware could be in the early stages of a Hall of Fame career. He said that does not drive him. Yet.
"Only when I'm there [on Saturday]," Ware said. "But after that it'll be on the back burner."
Todd Archer
Injury report
Pos. Player Injury Status
DL Sean Lissemore Groin Expected to miss about one more week
LB Stephen Hodge Knee PUP list, return unknown
LB Sean Lee Quadriceps Returned to practice
OL Montrae Holland Hamstring Expected to miss several days
S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Shoulder Activated from non-football injury, practiced
S Patrick Watkins Knee Expected to miss several days
WR Dez Bryant High ankle sprain Expected to miss four to six weeks
OLB Anthony Spencer Bruised Achilles' tendon Could miss Sunday's preseason opener
PUP – Physically unable to perform