Wednesday, September 22, 2010

What can the Cowboys do to right the ship?

The Cow Nation is at a impasse of concern, wondering if the Super Bowl XXV dreams were just a fabrication of grandiose false anticipation.

Well, Cow fans, I wouldn't give up quite yet.

Dallas is known to get into jams such as these. Remember last year, when the Cowboys lost a flurry of games before getting back on track in New Orleans?  Cow fans went from depressed to hopeful in one game!

Lots of teams start 0-2, even good teams start 0-2, just as awful teams start out 2-0 (The Bucs, really?).

Hell, even the New York Giants started out 0-2 in 2006. What did they do after that? Win a Super Bowl, that's what.

The Cowboys face a tough task going into Reliant Stadium Sunday to face the 2-0 Houston Texans. The Texans have an improving offense and an already great defense. So what can the Cowboys do to win, besides taking their heads out their asses?

D-Mc's Keys to the Game (first ever):

1) ROMO MUST BE NEAR PERFECT - And I say this in a most literal way. Romo absolutely cannot miss passes behind the receiver, he cannot throw it over the receiver, and he surely doesn't need to throw it into Texan hands. One positive last week is that Romo seemed to be completing passes to all the receivers and tight ends. That kind of momentum must continue if the Cowboys hope to have a chance.

2) RUNNING BACKS MUST BE EXPLOSIVE - This is a staple of most people who think they know football. "You gotta run the ball!" Well true, you do, and I am sure the Cowboys will (or pathetically try, then Red Judas will decide to run awful pass plays that get the Cows nowhere). However, I am looking for something more. Marion Barber is a decent receiver, and if anyone remembers last year, he made some big runs through the air. Felix Jones needs to get out in space. And Red Judas, a pee wee team would know what is coming when Tashard Choice lines up in the Razorback formation, so change it up!

3) NO BIG PLAYS - Matt Schaub can absolutely kill you through the air if you let him. We've already seen what Arian Foster can do. But the big play prevention falls mainly to the secondary. The Cowboys let too many receivers get behind them last Sunday, and that is a no-no. It's a bigger no-no when you will be facing Andre Johnson and company. The secondary must press at the line and not allow any receiver to get behind them. If they do, expect an 0-3 start.

Can the Cowboys win? Maybe. But it is obviously up to the players and coaches, and the right plays called. Oh yeah, and something called execution.

All opinions are solely those of Dustin McWilliams. McWilliams is a sports writer at the Durant Daily Democrat. If you have any questions or feedback, please message McWilliams at dmcwilliams82@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A week of college football in the books

 Ahh, it's good to finally delve into the college football season. All my teams won (Michigan, Oklahoma, and TCU), and my prediction of Oklahoma-Boise State stands strong...sort of. Oklahoma did not win by a convincing score, which raises a little concern when Florida State comes to town. Should be a great game to watch. I really don't have much to say today, except I am probably more pumped for the Michigan-Notre Dame game.

All opinions are solely those of Dustin McWilliams. McWilliams is a sports writer at the Durant Daily Democrat. If you have any questions or feedback, please message McWilliams at dmcwilliams82@gmail.com

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Can the Cowboys compete this year?

I'm sure I was not alone in my reaction to the Cowboy's performance against the Houston Texans in preseason football.

"What the hell is going on?"

"God we're going to suck."

Those are just two of the many variations of thoughts going through my head. All I could think about was a future of my beloved Cowboys going 8-8, missing the playoffs, and the Cowboy faithful wanting Wade Phillips' head on a stick.

All of that is understandable. It is quite simply a Cowboy's fan's worst fear. So when the coaches decided to have their starters rest against the Miami Dolphins in the final preseason game, I pondered their decision.
Now, keep in mind, the coaches are doing this for the safety of the starters, but seriously, guys...there's something more important you are missing.

The starters have absolutely no chemistry with each other!

I'm not the only one who watched Tony Romo flub the ball, Felix Jones become confused which audible was called, Roy Williams not running a route correctly, and the defense bouncing off Texans' ballcarriers.

And you want this team who obviously isn't ready, go into the hostile FedExField in Landover, MD and expect to compete?

And don't even get me started on Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' receiver of the future. It's understandable that the coaches don't want to risk further injury to him, but think about it! You're really going to squander the chance to have Bryant play, for the first time at a pro level, just because there is a risk of injury?

There's always a risk of injury! That's how football is played!

If the Cowboys coaches don't get it together, and light a fire under the team's behind, then this could be a long season, folks.


 All opinions are solely those of Dustin McWilliams. McWilliams is a sports writer at the Durant Daily Democrat. If you have any questions or feedback, please message McWilliams at dmcwilliams82@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

So what's wrong with Cliff Lee?

Ask any Rangers fan. They will give you their opinion (or lack thereof) as to why Cliff Lee has been struggling so mightily over the past few starts. The opinions will be mixed, with some stating believable facts and some stating "big-city" idiocy. The variety of the opinions can leave one puzzled. Why is Cliff Lee struggling? Why did he give up seven runs to a horrible offense like the Royals?

To figure out such a problem, one must become a master sleuth and break down every motive and reason why Lee has been struggling. There are indeed a plethora of possibilities for his struggles, but can it be figured out so easily?

We shall see, so let's break it down.

1.) CLIFF LEE IS "MAILING IT IN."

This is the wunderkind Colin Cowherd's theory. Cowherd believes that Lee is showing his material and abilities for the "big market teams" like the New York Yankees. But a problem with that theory, Colin: HE HAS TO BE DOING WELL TO SHOW OFF HIS SKILLS!

If he was actually doing good, this theory may be plausible, but there's just no way.

Verdict: Doubtful

2.) CLIFF LEE IS TIRED

When Cliff Lee joined the organization back in July, Ron Washington clearly stated that Lee will be starting every fifth day. Lee has been doing just that, starting games at a constant pace. Now, it's common knowledge that pitchers do get tired throughout the year. All players get tired, that's just baseball. When I look at Cliff Lee, I look at a pitcher full of pride and inner strength. No pitcher like him is going to answer to reporters that he is "tired." He's a Cy Young winner for pete's sake! Lee will never say he is tired. But as you look at the past few games, he is throwing more pitches in a shorter amount of innings. He's getting into more stressful situations as a pitcher. Could it be mental stress that's causing Lee to falter over the past few starts? Unfortunately, I can't enter his mind to find out.

Verdict on physically tired: Plausible

Verdict on mentally tired: Possible

3.) CLIFF LEE IS GETTING NO RUN SUPPORT

Early on, this was an actual fact. However, over the past few games, Lee has been getting more than enough to win. He is just not executing as a pitcher to get the quality outs. This leads me to my fourth and final point...

4.) CLIFF LEE IS JUST NOT PITCHING WELL

I think this may be the most clear and concise point made. Lee is throwing his fastballs right down the middle, and hitters are taking advantage. All pitchers have days where they just can't locate their pitches. Anyone who watches Lee will notice he does locate a quality amount of his pitches. There just seems to be one fastball that stays in the middle of the plate, and hitters take advantage. Simple as that.

So what do Rangers fans do? A person can't abscond from the Lee bandwagon just because he's had a bad few games. So what do we do?

Ride it out Ranger faithful, Lee has gone through this before. He can right the ship, just in time for the playoffs.


All opinions are solely those of Dustin McWilliams. McWilliams is a sports writer at the Durant Daily Democrat. If you have any questions or feedback, please message McWilliams at dmcwilliams82@gmail.com