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The loss of TO will hurt the Cowboys more than everyone thinks

Bio1590 said 12/23, 01:32 AM
First, a few numbers to throw at you:

Before TO went out of the game, Dallas had gained 237 yards, and scored 17 points (including that drive), in the 18:35 they had had the ball. After he left, in the 20:25 after that, they gained 168 yards and scored 3 points.

You could already see the effects. After gaining 80 yards on his first 10 carries, Marion "the Barbarian" proceeded to gain 30 yards on his next 12, with most of his 110 rushing yards coming from a 37 yard gain (when TO was on the field).

Without TO, teams can now focus more on stopping Barber and Jones (and stopping Jones isn't that hard to do).

And as for Witten and Glenn (who is supposed to come back)?

1. Who cares about Witten now that teams can afford to shift more coverage over to him since they don't have to worry about TO burning them.

2. Terry Glenn will no nothing worth anything after missing almost the entire season with a serious knee injury. He's old as the NFL itself (lulz >_>), and hasn't practiced all year.

Oh, and since a high ankle sprain is rather severe, TO might no even be back for the divisional playoff game.

Considering the outcome of the last WAS game, watch out.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 12/23, 01:52 AM
All high ankle sprains are not created equal. He'll have an MRI tomorrow to determine severity and nobody is ruling him out for any games at this point so this discussion is definitely premature.

We are talking about Terrell Owens here, he of the hyperbolic chamber. The guy who came back from a broken leg to play in the Super Bowl four weeks before anyone believed he'd be in playing condition. The same guy who played with a metal plate in his hand for the last 14 weeks of the season a year ago. In short, he's a tough guy who plays through injury and heals faster than average mortals. He might miss a practice or he might be done for the year, but given his history, I'm not too worried that T.O. is going to miss much time.

While there is no question Dallas or any other team would suffer from losing their #1 receiver, let's not pretend the leagues #2 offense doesn't have any other weapons. Witten is the #1 receiving tight end in the NFL, Crayton is having a fantastic year, Marion Barber III made the probowl despite not starting even a single game and Romo has throw for over 4000 yards, only about 25% of which have been to Owens.

Bio1590 said 12/23, 02:13 AM
It isn't 25% - it's 32.8%.

Now. . .the TO who played in the SB is not the TO we know now. He's 33 and he heals slower. Plus last year with the metal plate is different because you don't need a hand to run, just to catch.

To use a more recent example of someone with a high ankle sprain, look no further than Marques Colston last year. Before he suffered the injury, he was averaging 96.6 yards/game and had 7 TDs. After he came back he averaged 42.3 yards/game and scored 1 TD, and in the 2 playoff games he averaged 59 yards and scored 1 TD.

I already pointed out the Witten/Glenn/Crayton/Barber/Jones problem. As I said, without TO Barber had 30 yards on 12 carries, with one run going for 11 yards.

With TO on the field Romo was 15/22 for 137 yards and 1 TD. Without him he was 13/20 for 120 yards and 1 INT.

Glenn will do nothing.

TO opened that entire offense. He demanded double coverage. Now that extra player can either be devoted to the run or cover another person.

Most of that offense's success was because TO was on that field.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 12/23, 02:26 AM
For starters he hasn't been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain as yet, that is just the speculation. Nothing will be known about the actual injury or severity of it until tomorrow at the earliest.

Secondly, using what happened today before/after Owens is a complete waste of time. The game plan for today didn't include Owens being on the bench for more than half the game, they had to adjust on the fly. IF T.O. is going to miss any time at all (again, that hasn't been determined) Jason Garrett will game plan accordingly to create the matchups he wants against whoever their opponent is.

Stating matter of factly that Glenn will do nothing is even more presumptuous than assuming T.O. won't play. You have no clue where Glenn is, how close to ready he is, or how much of his speed he's recovered.

T.O. demands double coverage in some circumstances and against some teams. Guess what? Terry Glenn was doubled more often than T.O. was last year. Witten has been doubled more than Owens has this year.

Two weeks ago the Lions decided to take Owens out of the game. What did Dallas do to counter? Witten caught 15 passes and Barber caught 10 out of the backfield. This offense can adapt.

Bio1590 said 12/23, 02:36 AM
"For starters he hasn't been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain as yet, that is just the speculation. Nothing will be known about the actual injury or severity of it until tomorrow at the earliest."

Which is why there's pretty much an official story posted on NFL.com, right?

"You have no clue where Glenn is, how close to ready he is, or how much of his speed he's recovered."

What I CAN tell you is that he's doubtful (as of now), he's nowhere near playing shape as he hasn't practiced all year (which is a fact), and he's coming off a severe knee injury which will severly limit his speed.

And yes, so Detroit decided to take TO out of the game. The difference though is that required a player or two to do it. TO won't be in the game against the Skins so those players can help somewhere else.

And I doubt anyone would double Witten more often than TO. No one would prefer to stop a 10-15 yard gain than giving up a huge TD because TO would burn you. Remember last year against ATL? Hall is one of the fastest DBs in the league but TO ran right past him for a TD.

TO outside spread out the D. Without him they won't be as spread out or worried.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox said 12/23, 02:49 AM
There is no official diagnosis on NFL.com or anywhere else and there won't be until at least after tomorrows MRI. Until then, it's pure speculation. This time last week people were sure Romos hand was hurt too severely for him to be able to play effectively in todays game, too...

Glenn is doubtful for what? According to Wade Phillips presser the ONLY reason Glenn wasn't active for tonights game was the need to use the roster spot elsewhere because of two safeties missing the game. Glenn was slated to make his debut on a few series tonight. He'll almost certainly play next week.

And yes TG HAS practiced the last two weeks, and has been running for a month. And it's not like he was sitting around eating bon bons before that. Again, with the knee injury "severely limiting his speed". You simply don't know that. The surgery took place 3 and a half months ago and typically heals in full in 6 weeks since then it's been about working

You can doubt whatever you like, try watching the games. Witten regularly gets a LB AND a Safety on him.

As for the Skins game...hmm...Dallas MIGHT be without a starting receiver, Washington DEFINITELY will be without their starting QB. Which hurts worse?

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I KNEW a Cowboy fan was going to accept this.

Bio1590 | 12/23/07, 01:42 AM

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The loss of TO will hurt the Cowboys more than everyone thinks

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