TEXANS VS. COWBOYS PREVIEW
Written by: Richard Walker
Date posted: 8/27/2013
As we get closer to the NFL regular season, we cannot help
but ignore the huge “white elephant in the room” in Thursday night’s match-up
of Texans vs. Cowboys in the pre-season
finale. There’s no denying that in the Lone Star State, without question…
warmer temperatures, more barbeques, and the heated Interstate 45 rivalry
between the franchises and fans of the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys
will be on deck during this game, despite the fact that both teams are expected
to see limited action from the starters. With that in mind, I want to take a
moment to objectively compare and contrast both franchises:
Team Owner – Advantage Cowboys
Cowboys
talking points: Without question, there is no comparison to the
marketing/operations machine that is the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has managed to
consistently weather the storm of the team not meeting expectations on the
field, and the simple fact is that whether it is love or hate, EVERYONE
has an opinion about the Dallas Cowboys and will tune in whenever they are
on the field or making moves off the field. Last season, the Cowboys were once
again, as they are EVERY year, one of the most-watched teams in the NFL,
including the top two rated games of the season – both against the Redskins.
Their last game of the season shattered the NFL regular-season ratings record
with 30.3 million viewers. Obviously, it was the No. 1 watched game of the
entire season but the second spot went to the Cowboys-Redskins game on
Thanksgiving with 28.7 million viewers. The Cowboys played in four of the top
six viewed games last year and 6 of the top 25 rated games of the season. The
Cowboys still own the most attractive and advanced stadium in the league, and
with a franchise valuation of $2.1 billion (according to Forbes Magazine) the operations
side of the business is second to none in the league.
Texans
talking points: Bob McNair is the fastest emerging owner in the NFL.
The Texans have acquired the rights to host the Super Bowl in 2017; are
featuring new upgrades to Reliant Stadium, which includes the largest display
board in sports; and will see more media coverage and prime time games this
season. McNair is emerging from the shadow of big brother Jerry in Dallas
General Manager – Advantage Texans
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| Charlie Casserly |
Texans talking
points: General Manager Rick Smith has done a phenomenal job of first and
foremost cleaning up the remnants of the Charlie Casserly era. He focused on stockpiling
picks and then getting value from those picks, as their post-draft attrition was
a key reason for the futility under the Casserly/Dom Capers era. Smith also
acquired free agent gems, the most notable is undrafted running back, Arian
Foster, who emerged into a premier back in the league. Smith also acquired the
polarizing but effective quarterback Matt Schaub, and in my opinion for a
minimal cost (two 2nd round draft picks and a 1st round
swap with Atlanta
 |
| Jerry Jones
Cowboys talking
points: General Manager Jerry Jones….(as a Cowboys fan, please excuse me
for a second while I pause for a drink of vodka before I proceed in discussing
his role as GM.) Jerry Jones has a “home run hitter's’” mentality to the draft,
and to his credit, he has hit the jackpot several times in the past, but the
fact is that the Cowboys are near the bottom of the league in draft picks that are
still on the roster for the past 5 years.
|
The bright spot in recent history: The Cowboys 2011
draft/undrafted free agent signings – T Tyron Smith, LB Bruce Carter, RB
DeMarco Murray, and K Dan Bailey are potential Pro Bowl players at their
respective position and are all performing at a very high level when healthy. RB
Phillip Tanner, C/G Kevin Kowalski, and WR Dwayne Harris are solid contributors
who will add depth for years to come. Their past 3 first round picks (Dez
Bryant, Tyron Smith and Maurice Claiborne) are all solid, and in all likelihood
will be pro bowlers soon. The jury is already out on this year’s pick C Travis
Frederick, who has performed well so far as the starting center in pre-season
action. Rookie draft picks Terrance Williams, Gavin Escobar, JJ Wilcox, and B.W.
Webb are all players who have huge risk/reward potential and only time will
tell if Jerry’s aggressive approach to drafting offensive talent will pay
dividends.
Coaching Staff – Slight edge to Dallas
Both head coaches, ironically both career backups behind
legendary quarterbacks as players, are under very close scrutiny by their
respective fan bases. Both have literally made very poor decisions in critical
moments that has cost their teams opportunities to secure wins. Both head
coaches seem to be repetitive by nature and lack the “fire” and testicular fortitude to
make the tough decisions and have made conservative decisions during the
moments when risks need to be taken.
Cowboys talking
points:
 |
| Jason Garrett |
Jason Garrett has no more
time or excuses. He absolutely has to deliver, at minimum a playoff berth and
at least one playoff victory to retain his employment as coach…either a wild card
berth and a win, or a bye and a victory in the NFC Division playoffs. If he
fails to deliver, then Jerry Jones will have no choice than to move in another
direction. The pressure could actually help Jason because in previous years
he’s had the security of knowing that he did not have to worry about his
future. New additions to the coaching staff include legendary/future Hall of
Fame defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and former Raiders Super Bowl Head
Coach Bill Callahan as offensive coordinator, who has relieved Garrett of play-calling duties. These two tenured coaches bring experience that Garrett can
draw upon and at the same time pressure to perform, as either of them could be
promoted to replace him if he fails to meet expectations. Callahan is a
specialist in offensive lines and quarterbacks and was the driver of the Rich
Gannon emergence late in his career, and he hopes to do the same with Tony
Romo. I expect Callahan to help with the offensive penalty problem that has plagued
the Cowboys for years under Garrett, and the pass and run blocking should be
significantly improved. Kiffin will bring an aggressive style to an already
talented Cowboys defense. His mantra is simple – speed over size, prevent
scores instead of preventing yardage, create turnovers, and give the offense
multiple defensive approaches with just about the same look pre-snap. Defensive
end, Anthony Spencer, will probably benefit the most of any player in Kiffin’s
system.
Texans talking
points: Wade Phillips is a defensive design specialist who gets the
most out of his players (did anyone notice that I mentioned him before Gary Kubiak? LOL)
Special teams coach, Joe Marciano, should have been fired 6 years ago. Gary
Kubiak has shown consistently that he struggles to adjust, especially when his
schemes are not working, and when the team has to improvise . When the game
does not go according to his plan he is dually vulnerable:
A) he seems to have
a pattern of making decisions that are too conservative that actually lead to
even bigger problems. Passing the ball consistently on 3rd and short
when you have one of the best backs and offensive lines in the league just
baffles me.
B) Kubiak also does not seem to get the most out of his personnel,
including coaches and players. Offensive coordinator, Rick Dennison (some fans
didn’t even know that they had an offensive coordinator) is a key example of
that. Dennison was the Broncos offensive coordinator from 2006-2008…he was
courted by at least a handful of teams this past off-season as a possible head
coaching candidate…so why is it that this guy seemingly does not have much say
in the offense, and specifically, why isn’t he the one calling plays in the red
zone and short yardage situations, which is an area that Kubiak has clearly
struggled?
Quarterback: Huge advantage – Cowboys
Cowboys talking points: Tony Romo is one of the most
talented quarterbacks in the league, and he has additional weapons around him. He
has an offensive coach (Callahan) who greatly understands the quarterback
position and even more importantly knows the value of an effective offensive
line to protect him and open lanes for the running game. There “should” be less
pressure on Romo to be in positions where he is relied upon to make critical plays,
and a relaxed Romo with an effective running game has performed on par with
some of the best quarterbacks in the league. If Tony Romo gets injured, Kyle
Orton is a solid veteran who can win games and has post season experience.
Texans talking points: Matt Schaub does not possess the
physical tools of an elite player; however, he is not nearly as bad as many make
him out to be. Schaub has shown that he can in fact, make plays on the run (when
that is scripted and executed), and although he does not nearly have a cannon
for an arm, he can get the ball downfield far enough to stretch the defense a
bit and make some big plays (again, this has to be scripted and executed). What
Schaub is lacking is the ability to execute when things do not go his way. If
the Texans are going to continue to be successful with Schaub at the helm, the
need to make absolutely certain that he is not relied upon to be “the hero”.
Arian Foster is the barometer of Schaub’s performance. If Foster isn’t running
the ball well, then in all likelihood, Schaub will have a sub-par passing game
because that means that he will see more plays where he is required to attempt
to stretch the defense, and that just is not one of his strong skill sets. If
Schaub is injured this team is completely different. Regardless of the fanfare
in the backup position battle, to be frank, there is little NFL-ready depth
behind Schaub. If Matt goes down for an extended period of time, the Texans are
NO LONGER a playoff team. Case Keenum may be popular with the fans, but
realistically speaking you cannot expect him to fill Schaub’s void consistently
if called upon. While he has performed well in his limited sample in the
preseason and training camp, let’s remember that he did not face many
complicated schemes at UH and still has to learn how to read complex defensive
packages. TJ Yates is a very limited quarterback….he kind of reminds me of a
Brad Johnson/Trent Dilfer type of guy…nothing spectacular but serviceable. I
expect at some point this season for Case to overtake him as the backup, which
means they’ll make a decision on his future with the organization at the end of
the season.
Running back: Huge Advantage - Texans
Cowboys talking points: A healthy DeMarco Murray is now partnered with Phillip Tanner, who has shown that he can be a consistent between the tackles runner and an excellent pass blocker, the explosive and the rookie, RB Joseph Randle. As I mentioned earlier, having an offensive line specialist like Bill Callahan will help this group tremendously. Expect to see better run blocking this year, which should equate to improved performance by this group. Lance Dunbar will see limited action, as he will make the roster to handle special teams duties, but if injuries pile up or
Texans talking
points: Arian Foster is still one of the top running backs in the
league; however, the gap between the two teams at this particular position is
much closer than it appears on paper. Ben Tate is still a huge question mark in my opinion. He’s in a contract year and injuries and his performance this season will determine
whether or not he remains as a Texan. Behind Tate there is a “hodge-podge” of
undrafted free agent backs, all with different skill sets, but none that have
shown the ability to emerge from the shadows and become a regular rotation
player. Foster has to stay healthy this year for the Texans to have a shot,
simply put. Fullback Greg Jones is a solid veteran addition that will help with
second level blocking. While of course he is not “Vonta Leach”, he will
help with blocking on the edge, especially in short yardage and the "red zone",
which was an area of opportunity last year, and he is an excellent pass blocker
as well.
Receivers/Tight Ends – Even
Cowboys talking
points: Dez Bryant is emerging into one of the best receivers in the
game. Last year he was a Pro Bowl snub, but expect no less of a performance
this year. He proved that he can take over games and come up huge in the clutch
(even if it’s just a fingernail over the line…lol). Miles Austin is back and
when healthy he is still a great option. I expect him to play looser now that
he is no longer expected to be the #1 guy, and he may move to slot if Terrance
Williams can emerge as the deep threat that the Cowboys were hoping for when he
was drafted. Jason Witten is almost as
certain as death and taxes, I don’t think that I even have to comment on what
he brings to the team. TE Gavin Escobar is a very interesting draft pick, as he had
some of the best hands in college football, and Romo now has another reliable
short range target besides Jason Witten. I expect to see some two TE formations
similar to what New England ran with Aaron Hernandez
and Rob Gronkowski. Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley are not guys who will just sit
on the depth chart. Both of these guys displayed “grit” and can make plays.
Texans talking
points: Andre Johnson is still one of the best receivers in the league,
and perhaps has set the stage for a future with the WWE or UFC after the
legendary beatdown of Cortland Finnegan that still has fans across the league laughing.
Owen Daniels is still a reliable check-down option for Schaub (who isn’t shy
about checking down…lol), and rookie DeAndre Hopkins is in all likelihood the
#2 receiver that the Texans have been needing for years. After you pass up
those three guys on the depth chart, the drop off is significant. Keyshawn
Martin has potential and has shown flashes, but that alone does not win football
games. His consistency is the question. Expect a season-long position battle
between Martin and DeVier Posey for the
#3 WR position. The X factor could also be a free agent acquisition that pushes
both guys down the depth chart (whispering “Brandon Lloyd” under my breath).
Offensive Line – Huge Advantage Texans
Cowboys talking
points: Tyron Smith is a solid tackle and could be a pro bowler this
season…(takes another sip of Vodka) besides him, the rest of the line is a HUGE
question mark. Doug Free is the weakest link of the unit. It’s going to be
interesting to see how that plays out this season. He played almost as if he
was on the opposing team’s payroll last season. His “matador” blocking style
just isn’t going to work this season. Travis Frederick will start the season at
center, but don’t be surprised if he is moved to guard if that side of the line
does not improve its performance. This year’s draft was a huge opportunity to
address that need, and it remains to see if Jerry’s risk is going to pay off. I
expect the Cowboys to rely more on physicality instead of athleticism, as this
line has huge guys on it, but the question of whether or not they can find a
way to make this unit work in unison is still in the air.
 |
| DUANE BROWN |
Texans talking
points: Duane Brown is arguably the best tackle in football and is
getting better. The only question in this group is right guard, and depth in
case of injury. Rookie David Quesenberry appears to be getting comfortable in
this system. Derek Newton is a question mark, as he had health concerns which seem
to be better, but he just doesn’t seem to get off the ball quickly and
consistently, which in this zone blocking scheme is critical, since the blockers
are focused on filling space instead of attacking man assignments.
Defensive Line – Slight Advantage
Texans
Texans talking
points: You may have heard of some guy named J.J. Watt….he’s pretty
good…who am I kidding this guy is an absolute HELL RAISER….20.5 sacks last
season. A historical season, and an offensive coordinator’s nightmare. Expect
extra attention to be paid to him this season, which will mean lower numbers,
but Watt is perhaps just as effective when he doesn’t get the passer. Antonio
Smith is a solid 7 or 8 sacks to compliment Watt. DT Earl Mitchell could help
these guys by getting some pressure up the middle.
Cowboys talking
points: Jay Ratliff is a big body that requires double team blocks, but
it’s going to be interesting to see how he fits in a 4-3 scheme under
Kiffin. DeMarcus Ware will return to the
line as a “hand on the ground” defensive end along with Anthony Spencer, and a
combination of Jason Hatcher and Ratliff at defensive tackle. If these two
(Ware and Spencer) are given the ability to primarily focus on attacking the
quarterback then this unit can become one of the best D lines in football. I
expect to see some movement externally to build depth at the DT position, and
the names Casey Hampton, a Texas
 |
| CUSH |
Texans talking
points: Brian Cushing is coming off of injury, and of course this guy
is an absolute workhorse and a fierce competitor, but realistically don’t
expect him to come out right away and be the guy he was before the injury.
Whitney Mercilus is solid and his production should increase with Cushing back
to help. Brooks Reed had a disappointing season last year. Something big has to
happen with this group. Does anyone remember which group was targeted the most
by Green Bay and New
England ’s offense, as the games were huge blowouts?
Cowboys talking
points: I refer to Sean Lee and Bruce Carter as “Team Rush Hour”, and
that’s a very good thing in Kiffin’s system. These two guys pursue the football
from sideline to sideline, just as well as anyone in the business. The Cowboys
defense literally lost a touchdown in production without the pair on the field
(22.2ppg allowed vs. 29.3ppg allowed with both injured). Ernie Sims and Justin
Durant add veteran depth to this group and young talented LB Alex Albright
will compete for an outside job in this system.
Secondary – Advantage Texans
Cowboys talking
points: Brandon Carr is a Pro Bowl CB, and makes big plays (he single
handedly beat Pittsburgh
Texans talking
points: Ed Reed is still a beast folks. He is a calculated player who
changes the tempo of a game by making key plays and turnovers in critical
moments. He still has the talent to compete at a high level, and of course, the
leadership that he brings to the locker room to an emerging team is huge. I
think the Texans are going to be very happy with this acquisition. Jonathan
Joseph is a solid corner who can shut down most receivers, but he can be beat
by bigger, fast receivers. Expect him to earn his money this season, as he will
be matched up with key opposing players such as Anquan Boldin (again), Dwayne
Bowe, Reggie Wayne, and Larry Fitzgerald this season. Kareem Jackson is solid,
but will miss Glover Quinn’s ability to help over the top, since Reed and D.
Manning don’t have that kind of range. D. J. Swearinger is a scrappy “bell-ringer” and the fans are going to love to see him punish opposing
receivers. He will continue to learn and grow and I expect to see him in
specialty packages this season and this kid is not afraid to help out in the
box as well. Shiloh Keo has been improving as well, so expect him and Swearinger
to compete and possibly run the position by committee until Reed returns.
Special Teams – Advantage Cowboys
Cowboys talking
points: Dan Bailey is very close to being a pro bowl kicker. Very
accurate and he has improved his range. New special teams coach Rich Bisaccia is a critical acquisition, first of all
he worked with Kiffin for years, and together they will make sure that they
acquire players that are interchangeable on the defense and special teams.
Every player on this roster will be used. Felix Jones was an unreliable
returner, and literally turned the tide of the Seattle game on the opening
kickoff by fumbling that led to a quick score. He then fumbled a critical
kickoff against the Ravens that although did not result in a turnover, cost the
Cowboys valuable field position in the final drive which resulted in a miss on
a 51 yard field goal attempt by Bailey against the World Champion Ravens. Dwayne
Harris and Lance Dunbar will be a dynamic duo of returners. Harris will handle
the punts (thank goodness Dez Bryant’s health is no longer being risked by returning
punts) and Dunbar will be the primary kick
returner (GOODBYE FELIX). Both are above average returners, and I think that
Harris has Pro Bowl returner potential. He’s EXPLOSIVE in the open field and if
you give the kid a few blocks he will find the end zone on returns. Alex
Albright is the top cover man and always seems to find the ball.
Texans talking points: The Texans hired Bob Ligashesky as their
assistant special teams coach. I am intrigued by the fact that he is arguably
more qualified to run the special teams and has a more successful track record
than the man that he will work under, Joe Marciano, who has been the Texans’
special teams coordinator since 2002. I don’t
see any logical reason why Marciano is still on the Texans’ payroll. The unit had
an embarrassing season last year. Besides the acquisition of pro bowl punter
Shane Lechler, this unit is still the Achilles’ heel of the team. The Texans
lost not one, but two Pro Bowl kick returners over the past two years (Jacoby Jones
and Trindon Holliday) and arguably the best returner on their roster is
starting safety D. Manning. The huge question with this unit is who is going to
fill that role? Keyshawn Martin has looked well in the return game, but no one
has “taken” the position by the horns. The Texans’
special teams ranked 25th in kickoff return average, 10th in punt return
average, 27th in kickoff return average allowed, and 20th in punt return average
allowed in 2012. I do not see any personnel moves that were made to address the
returner positions. Keyshawn Martin will
get the job. Randy Bullock is the kicker who spent all year on IR last season. He
looks good so far, but it remains to see what he has once the lights come on,
although I think that Texans fans won’t have memories of Kris Brown, either.
External forces –
Advantage Texans
Texans talking points: This is not a knock on the Texans
franchise at all, but the division that they play in does not have nearly the
level of competition or intensity as the NFC East. The only legitimate threat
for the Texans in their division is the Indianapolis Colts, and on paper, their
roster from top to bottom is not nearly as talented as Houston Jacksonville
is absolutely horrendous. Tennessee Seattle and San
Francisco ) and of course there’s the re-match against New England. As long as Tom Brady is on the field, the
Patriots will be a formidable opponent. Long time Texans nemesis Peyton Manning
and the Broncos are on the schedule, as well as the World Champion Ravens, who
for some reason seem to have lost respect – they are still a very good
football team folks…don’t sleep on the Ravens. Cortland Finnegan and the Rams
come to town on October 13th, and if you’re like me, then you’ll
watch and wish for Round 2 of the Finnegan/Johnson showdown…lol.
Cowboys talking points: The AFC is a more balanced field, while
the NFC appears to be extremely top-heavy with dominant teams like San Francisco , Seattle , Atlanta, and Green
Bay Oakland ,
SD
I call this even because
both fan bases are absolutely nuts!!
Texans talking points: Your fan base is obsessed with using the
Cowboys as a measuring stick for your franchise instead of focusing on the
teams that are actually on your regular season schedule. Many fans have circled
August 27th on their calendars (pre-season game – Cowboys vs. Texans)
instead of focusing on the Colts, who clearly are your closest rival. The
franchise is improved and is emerging, but it is still far too early for there
to be so many fans that are predicting Super Bowls. Elite status comes from
accomplishments and I’m sorry to say folks that beating the Bengals twice in
consecutive years in a Wild Card game does NOT make you an elite team. Until the Texans
can show that they can consistently compete with and beat the elite teams, there
is no reason for the fan base to “poke their chest out”. The future looks
bright ,but don’t let the light blind you, it may be an oncoming train…(can you
say 1993 “Houston Oilers”?)
Cowboys talking points: Stop being so damn sensitive! You are fans
of “America Mount
Rushmore and while he has been brilliant statistically and
situationally, the fact is that he simply has not delivered. The impact of his
mistakes has heavily outshined his brilliance on the field. Until he does
deliver then expect for the hate to continue. The same goes for Jerry Jones
because you all know that in the bottom of your heart that we all cannot wait
for the announcement of his resignation as General Manager of the Cowboys. We
are in better shape than it appears on the surface – just be patient. We are
currently in a “re-tooling mode” right now. If that doesn’t work then we will
have to rebuild in three years or so. Also, when approached with an argument about
the teams’ recent struggles, DO NOT refer back to the previous five rings. It’s a
trap that I have personally fallen for. Most Cowboy haters have not done their
research and honestly don’t care about the current direction of the team. Typically
the hate comes from individuals who are fans of franchises that have not
experienced as much success. (The 49ers actually have a longer Super Bowl
drought, but this is rarely mentioned). Just let them talk – it makes it that
much sweeter when the tables are turned and you can force them to eat their own
words!
Although it is a
pre-season game, expect to see regular season type intensity in this match-up. Besides winning a title, the ownership of state bragging rights is at stake
and I expect both franchises to put their efforts into claiming Texas
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