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Second quarter review: at Cowboys
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
11/22/09 2:37 PM EST
Halftime: Redskins 3, Cowboys 0
1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr
» Jason Campbell has controlled this game for Washington’s offense, with his toughness in the pocket and making his plays in duress and when on the run. That’s led to a couple big plays which has changed the momentum of the offense.
» Casey Rabach is having some problems in the middle and not just with Jay Ratliff. Junior Siavi is giving him problems, too, as he has in the past.
» Rock Cartwright is making Dallas defenders miss on seemingly every run. It’s bought him extra yards with each run.
» Dallas is doing a nice job with some delay blitzes, which is how Keith Brooking got to Jason Campbell deep in Dallas territory.
» The secondary is doing a nice job in coverage. Dallas is not scaring them at all with its passing game. H.B. Blades is playing more and that’s helping, but that hurts against the run as he and London Fletcher are small easy targets for the Cowboys’ line in run blocking.
» Dallas will not win this game just running the ball. But they’re getting nothing from their receivers. Everything Romo is hitting is underneath to tight ends or backs.
» Nice to see Cartwright run so well; he was in Houston Friday visiting his father in the hospital. His dad had a mini-stroke this past week. Cartwright said before leaving that his dad was OK, but it still shook him.
» Tony Romo is missing open receivers, especially Roy Williams. He was open down the middle late in the half, but Romo missed him high – again. Why? Because he was not set as he threw. He drifted to his left as he threw, which was not necessary given the lack of pressure he faced. Had he stood in and stepped into his throw, it would have been an easy completion inside the 15-yard line.
» The Redskins are doing a better job of getting more cutback runs. But, again, the difference so far in the game is that Campbell has outplayed Romo. Of course, Washington only scored three points in the first half so it’s really not about either quarterback. Dallas has not done much of anything since the Barber fumble.
» The officials eventually got the calls right at the end of the first half. But I wonder how many people they put to sleep with how long it took them to get it right.
» Dallas’ offense has been terrible the past two games. The Cowboys have given the Redskins confidence and it’s clear Romo is not feeling comfortable in the pocket, leading to some inaccuracy.
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