 |
01-06-2001, 03:05 PM
|
#1 | ||
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
Texas Two Step 2010 - 2014
This challenge is played under a simple concept. All players must have attended college in the state of Texas or at one of the Service Academies (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard).
The team has been a good approximation of the Saints in the 70's and 80's so far with just one .500 season. Talent levels have climbed and we have actually had the ability to field a winning team for the past few years but we suffered too many injuries to see it through. Here is a summary.
The details may be found in this post. Texas Two Step 2002-2009 We head into 2010 with hope of finally reaching the playoffs. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 02-03-2001).] |
||
|
|
|
01-06-2001, 03:06 PM
|
#2 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2010 Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Retirements LB Zach Thomas hangs up his cleats. He was very solid for us right up to retirement. Though no longer a Cowboy, Atlanta QB Rich Ruegamer's retirement after another injury plagued season is worth noting. He was good skill wise but couldn't take the punishment. Glad I didn't pony up the bucks in free agency for him. Staff We bid on San Diego's coach but the Chargers threw him an offer so big that all others were pushed aside. We'll let Daniel Block finish his contract. Free Agency We have a few key players going to free agency this year. Linkous will be the best RB available. Peters is an anchor on the offensive line. Ruffin and Trotter are our #2 and #3 LB's. Keith Shepherd is one of a perfect pair at corner. In a tough call I'm going to go with Shepherd as our franchise this year. We'll sign as many of the rest as we can.
At the start of free agency we send DE Toby Digler to Buffalo for their Round 6(28). CB Quentin Gayle and our Round 7(9) go to Augusta for their Round 4(1). CB Ted Causey goes to Miami for their Round 4(2). We start the signing period with offers to Linkous ($14.9M/2Y), Ruffin ($12M/2Y), and Peters ($18.5M/3Y). The hated Eagles are among the bidders for Linkous and we up our offer to $16M/2Y right away. Peters signs in Week 4. Linkous is fielding phone calls 24 hours a day so we up his offer to $25.5M/3Y. In Week 6 P Blaine Baldridge gets several offers including $6.85M/4Y from Seattle. He's a punter for crying out loud! QB Geoff Hopkins also signed with Buffalo for $41.06M/3Y. Baldridge signs with Raleigh in Week 7 for $7.3M/4Y. Insane. We land Linkous, whew! In Week 10, after receiving no other offers, Ethan Ruffin returns to us. We decide to send TE Kurt Stevenson (a busted early pick who has recovered somewhat) and our Round 7 in 2011 to Washington to make some cap room available for one last signing. This nets us over $3 million! We use this money to buy a good backup for Linkous Brady Clarkson, RB (52/52), 6, Texas A&M With our cap money quickly running out we end free agency right here. Draft It's a deep draft, but not from Texas. There are perhaps a dozen players worthy of a pick. Ouch. We'll do our best. With so few available Texan's we'll have little trouble deciding who to take where. The depth of this draft at defensive line is staggering. Though we've filled our holes there we will partake and try to load up for the next 4 or 5 years. 1(9). Wayne Carlton, DT (42/52), Southern Methodist Nicely balanced and the best of this year's DT's. 2(43). Jessie Carlson, DE (18/70), Texas A&M By his third year no one will run at this guy. 3(77). Raymond Winters, QB (18/70), Rice This guy lives to throw the ball down field...way down field. 4(103). Glenn Ellis, P (30/45), Texas We'll try him out to replace Baldridge. 4(104). James Aucoin, TE (34/34), Texas A&M A good all around TE. Hands like glue. 4(111). Harry Wallace, CB (18/44), Texas - El Paso Struggles with zone coverage but good for a #3 or #4 CB. 5(145). Jerome Council, LB (18/20), Baylor A possible breakout player. Needs to show up in camp to make the team. 6(175). Rufus Donaldson, DT, (10/46) Texas Too good to pass up in Round 6. Another run stopper. 6(179). Mark Dennis, LB (12/36), Baylor A project with good future potential. 6(198). Jared Kellenberger, P (22/49), North Texas Will fight Ellis for the job. Salary cap limits make us hustle to sign folks. We send DT Ron Barlow to Cleveland for their Round 6 in 2011. DT Herman O'Donnell goes to the Giants for their Round 5 in 2011. RB Graham Johnstone and our Round 7 in 2012 go to Cleveland for their Round 5 in 2011. We are still too expensive a team to take to camp. To make cost we send DT Edwin Hancock to Charlotte for their Round 2 in 2011. We finish signing our draftees and head into camp a bit short of a full load still. Training Camp We come out with no surprises. G Larry Dorsey is released as Jumbo Landers is his clone at 1/5th the price. We use the extra cash to resign LB Jeremiah Trotter who slipped through free agency unnoticed. Donnie Bridges has developed nicely and looks the part of a starting QB! He's not a world beater, but he's better than we've had since Rich Ruegamer's last healthy season. Brady Clarkson is almost as good as Dave Linkous coming out of camp. Rookie Jeff Grantham can't catch but would have been our #2 back in previous years. We'll run a bit more this season with this kind of depth. We're thin at TE but we'll try running a few more multiple WR sets to draw the bodies farther outside. Rex Aldrige and Sam Cherney look to be the best 1-2 combination in the league at WR. At offensive line we're strong but have no depth at all. Keeping the hogs healthy will be key. Special teams are a question mark with a weak kicker and a rookie punter. We're strong at defensive line. Rookies at DE and DT will need to grow up quick this year but we will have a fearsome front seven in 2-3 years. We have been historically deep at LB but we've let some of that talent go to flesh out other positions. We're still blessed with impressive starters, but our backup depth is gone. Our corners are also the best 1-2 combination in the game. Our safeties aren't superstars but seem to get the job done year after year. In all, I'm more optimistic about this bunch than I've been about any previous team here in Dallas. Hopefully I'm not mistaken...again. Roster
Exhibition Games We go 2-2 and head into the season. LB Ethan Ruffin will miss the first four games or so with a broken foot. Jeremiah Trotter is also dinged up leaving us very thin at LB. I'm anxious to see how this team performs. We haven't won our opener since 2005 and that needs to change now. We definitely need a fast start to shake off the demons of years past. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-09-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-07-2001, 10:27 PM
|
#3 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2010 Regular Season
Week 1 Dallas (0-0) at St. Louis (0-0) Cowboys win 27-13. A tough run defense carried us to a win giving up only 31 rushing yards. QB Donnie Bridges (22-32-259-1-0) did just what we asked of him. Surprising WR Roy Clancy (5-74-1) led the receiving corps. Brady Clarkson (19-79-0) played well in relief of a dinged Dave Linkous (6-48-1). Brady Hoover notched 9 tackles and Adam Sutton added an interception. Week 2 Oakland (1-0) at Dallas (1-0) Cowboys win 30-13. Defense compensated for shaky offense as we took our home opener from the Raiders. DT Carlton Wayne scooped up a fumble and rumbled 16 yards for a TD on the Raiders first possession. Dave Linkous (18-84-1) looked good and Donnie Bridges (18-33-265-1-2) shook off two first half interceptions in a good performance. Rex Aldrige (7-81-1) was the feature receiver. After watching Adam Sutton pick off two passes earlier in the game, CB Charles Merrick brought the crowd to its feet by intercepting the Oakland QB on each of their final three series. Week 3 Dallas (2-0) at Philadelphia (1-1) Cowboys win 27-17. We stuck with a conservative game plan and got by the Eagles at home. Dave Linkous (21-71-1) was productive but Donnie Bridges (16-20-154-1-0) accuracy was the key. Sam Cherney (4-72-0) led receivers. Donald Sawyer had the play of the game gathering in a fumbled punt return and churning 75 yards for a TD. We'll be without CB Charles Merrick while he recovers from a bruised sternum. This shifts the focus a bit in our defensive backfield. Week 4 Arizona (2-1) at Dallas (3-0) Cardinals win 17-14. Our hopes for the year took a severe blow as QB Donnie Bridges went down with a severe hamstring pull in the 3rd quarter. CB Keith Shepherd also went down early leaving us very thin in the secondary. Arizona was able to score 10 in the 4th quarter to get the victory. A check of the free agent pile offers some hope. QB Geoff Hopkins has been cut by Buffalo. He started three games for us last year and is by far the best QB from our feeder schools. We cut T Riddick Sutton, DE Luke Sanders, LB David Sanderson, and S Bart Speed to make the cap room we need to sign him and leave enough for one or two rookie replacement players. Week 5 Dallas (3-1) at Washington (3-1) Redskins win 40-7. We played scared and the Redskins smelled blood. QB Geoff Hopkins (18-29-218-1-2) fumbled the ball at our 1 yard line with 29 seconds left in the first half and the Redskins ran it in on the next play. Any motivation the coach generated in the locker room was snuffed when they returned the second half kick 98 yards for the score and the rout was on. Two Hopkins interceptions led to 10 more points. The best start in franchise history is now in serious jeopardy. Week 6 Denver (3-2) at Dallas (3-2) Cowboys win 38-9. We took advantage of four Broncos turnovers to grab a heartening win at home. Hopkins (19-32-252-2-1) played fairly well. Cherney (5-81-1) and Aldrige (6-77-0) were clutch on the field and the Cowboys rallied. CB Everett McConkey, playing for an injured Charles Merrick, led the team with 8 tackles and returned an interception 63 yards for a score. The Mash unit now includes C C. J. Reeves who is questionable with a bruised shoulder. He'll play unless he falls to doubtful. Week 7 Dallas (4-2) at Kansas City (2-4) Chiefs win 24-20. Dave Linkous (15-109-1) had a few explosive runs and Geoff Hopkins (17-30-185-1-0) didn't turn the ball over but we missed out on an opportunity for a win. Antoine Hazelwood burned us for 160 yards on 30 carries and the Chiefs scored a TD after S Alonzo Shannon muffed a punt at our 5 yard line. Brady Hoover had 10 tackles and an interception to lead the defense. Week 8 Dallas (4-3) at NY Giants (3-4) Cowboys win 34-17. Defense and special teams scored 3 TD's as we stole one from the Giants at the Meadowlands. CB Charles Merrick returned an interception 69 yards on the Giants opening possession. Brady Hoover recovered a blocked punt for a TD in the third and WR George Conarroe returned a punt 65 yards for a TD on the next possession. Dave Linkous (17-85-0) and Brady Clarkson (10-55-1) ran well but Geoff Hopkins (12-19-73-0-0) never really got the passing game going. David Strickland had 3 sacks and Charles Merrick finished with 2 interceptions to lead the defense. Week 9 Tampa Bay (5-3) at Dallas (5-3) Cowboys win 21-17. The highlight of the game was a 5 yard TD run by backup TE Tito Neely in the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys played plodding but mistake free ball to hold on and win a tough home game. S Alonzo Shannon led the defense with 11 tackles and DE Phil Carpenter had 2 sacks. We're still riddled with injuries and playing at least 6 starters injured but somehow we're finding ways to win. This game and a loss by Washington put us in a tie for the division lead. Philadelphia is just behind at 5-3. Week 10 Bye We rest the horses and hope we can hold it together for the stretch run. We take the division lead following a Washington loss at Green Bay. Week 11 Seattle (5-4) at Dallas (6-3) Cowboys win 17-12. Dave Linkous delivered a crushing hit on a 1st quarter punt and big boy G Preston Peters scooped up the ball and stumbled 19 yards into the end zone to give us our margin. Rex Aldrige (5-72-1) was on the receiving end of Geoff Hopkins (15-31-150-1-1) only TD pass. We did manage to miss 3 FG's but held on for the win. We're not winning pretty, but somehow we are winning. Week 12 Philadelphia (6-4) at Dallas (7-3) Eagles win 10-6. Philadelphia stages a six minute drive to score with just over a minute remaining and we suffer a tough defeat. An interception, a missed FG, and a fumble stall our best drives and we never hit paydirt. Hopkins (22-37-211-0-1) is hanging on and Aldrige (8-73-0) and Cherney (7-81-0) continue to support him. We're now in a three way tie with the Redskins and the Eagles for the division. Week 13 Dallas (7-4) at Chicago (5-6) Cowboys win 20-3. Nolan Jude and Everett McConkey return interceptions for TD's and we survive a 5 turnover performance. Hopkins (16-28-172-0-2) coughed up the ball twice and threw two picks but was bailed out by a tough defense. Jude added a second interception and the defense netted 9 sacks in an inspired effort. We kept pace with the Eagles as Washington dropped one back in the division race. Week 14 Dallas (8-4) at Green Bay (6-6) Cowboys win 14-10. QB Geoff Hopkins (7-9-65-0-1) went down but rookie backup Raymond Winters (15-22-138-2-0) got hot with two 4th quarter TD passes to Rex Aldrige (6-99-2) as the Cowboys stole one in Green Bay. DT Carlton Wayne and LB Donald Sawyer met at the QB and Sawyer knocked the ball loose for David Strickland to recover setting up the final TD. Brady Hoover led the team with 12 tackles. A Philly loss at Arizona gave us a one game lead in the NFC East. We also secured our first winning season under current management! Week 15 Washington (7-6) at Dallas (9-4) Cowboys win 24-10. We showed nothing on offense but CB Charles Merrick intercepted three passes returning two for TD's to hand us a victory. We led 3-0 when Merrick grabed his first pick and raced 60 yards down the Washington sideline early in the third quarter. Two series later Merrick ripped a long pass away from the Washington receiver at the Dallas 3 and put on a tremendous open field running display which culminated with a celebratory dive into the end zone 97 yards later. Washington's final play of the game almost resulted in a hat trick as Merrick snared another long ball and made it 58 yards to the Redskins 16 before being run down. This game was a one man show. Week 16 NY Giants (7-7) at Dallas (10-4) Cowboys win 19-14. Dave Linkous (19-110-2) had a very good day, but P Glenn Ellis stole the show with an extra point and making two of four field goals as a surprise substitute for a slightly injured Cary Lindsay. After missing a 24 yarder in the 1st quarter, Ellis nailed one from 27 yards as the gun sounded ending the first half. His third attempt from 27 yards was badly shanked but he kept his composure and drilled a 36 yard FG at 5:39 in the 3rd to stake the Cowboys to a 13-0 lead. The fans, sensing their first playoff appearance since the 1990's, gave Ellis a standing ovation as he left the field. The Cowboys still hold a single game edge on the Eagles going into the final week and are assured of a playoff spot. A Dallas win or a loss by Philadelphia and New Orleans would give the Cowboys home field advantage until the Super Bowl. A loss and a win by the Saints or Eagles puts Dallas in the Wild Card round. Week 17 Dallas (11-4) at Arizona (8-7) Cardinals win 34-28. The Cowboys lose on Saturday. Both Dallas and Arizona have to wait through Sunday to determine their fates. The Cardinals need a St. Louis loss against New Orleans to sneak past the Rams into the final Wild Card slot. The Cowboys need St. Louis and Tampa Bay to win to secure home field. The Cowboys played without Aldrige and Cherney went down in the 2nd quarter but the Cowboys used three Cardinal turnovers including a 17 yard Keith Shepherd interception return TD to post a 28-7 halftime lead. Arizona came out hot in the second half and got back to 28-21. The Cowboys forced a fumble with just over four minutes remaining and handed the ball over to the offense for safekeeping. Geoff Hopkins (18-33-216-0-2) threw a high pass on first down and Arizona LB Johnny Rutledge gathered it in for the tying score. In overtime the Cardinals rushing game, held to just 83 yards in regulation, came alive and provided 64 of the 80 yards needed to seal the win and keep their thin playoff hopes alive. On Sunday the Rams and the Bucs both win at home to put Dallas in the #1 spot in the NFC. The Cowboys have a winning season! The Cowboys make the playoffs! The Cowboys win the Division! The Cowboys have home field! How we did this with so many injuries I'll never know. That we did this with basically a third stringer at QB is amazing. Smoke and mirrors baby...and a very opportunistic defense. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-07-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-08-2001, 10:49 AM
|
#4 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2010 Post Season
Wild Card Round Baltimore (10-6) at Boston (10-6) Patriots win 44-10. Oakland (9-7) at Montgomery (9-7) Maulers win 23-0. Augusta (10-6) at Philadelphia (10-6) Thrashers win 23-10. St. Louis (9-7) at Tampa Bay (10-6) Buccaneers win 27-24. Divisional Playoffs Boston (11-6) at NY Jets (12-3-1) Jets win 30-23. Tampa Bay (11-6) at New Orleans (10-6) Saints win 21-7. Montgomery (10-7) at Pittsburgh (12-4) Steelers win 41-3. Augusta (11-6) at Dallas (11-5) After opening with a 2-14 season in 2009, the Thrashers gave up only 203 points during the regular season and roll into Dallas on the strength of the league's best defense. The Thrashers feature several of our old players. WR Jeff Vance, DT Quinn Saucier, CB's Ben Levens and Quentin Gayle all start for the Thrashers. Augusta backup WR Isaac Aucoin is also the twin brother of Cowboy rookie TE James Aucoin. It's 67 degrees and beautiful in Cowboy stadium as Dallas hosts it's first playoff game in the 21st Century. Dallas wins the toss and elects to receive. On the first play from scrimmage, Dave Linkous follows a Conrad Franz block off right tackle for 24 yards to the Augusta 30. The crowd goes nuts. We drive down to the Augusta 13 before stalling and bring on the field goal unit. Cary Lindsay, wide left, welcome to the playoffs. After swapping punts we lose DE Phil Carpenter and LB Jeremiah Trotter on successive plays and the crowd goes quiet. We swap punts again and then it happens. With 1:55 left in the 1st quarter Keith Shepherd times the quarterback, grabs a short pass and races 25 yards into the end zone. Bedlam. This is Cowboys football. The 1st quarter end with Dallas leading 7-0. We trade possession a few times in the 2nd quarter before losing C C. J. Reeves on a punting play. Two plays later Augusta QB Todd McElroy gets hit as he releases the ball and falls hard, breaking his arm. Marshall Green, the first choice in the 2009 draft, replaces McElroy. Green will eventually be one of the best QB's in the league but he hasn't taken a snap outside of preseason. The Thrashers punt and we take over at our 44 yard line. Hopkins hits Cherney for 18 yards. Linkous follows backup C Van Poole for 18 yards and we're at the Augusta 20 yard line. Off sides Augusta. On second down Brady Clarkson goes 5 yards to the Thrasher 9 after G Preston Peters pancakes his opposite. The Augusta DT gets up and pushes Peters and the ensuing penalty puts us at their 5 yard line. Linkous almost breaks in on the next play but is wrapped up by Thrasher LB Matthew Johns who seems to be in on every play. Hopkins lays the ball up on the next play and Rex Aldrige hauls in his first playoff touchdown. Dallas leads 14-0. After the ensuing kickoff we introduce Marshall Green to NFL football. On Green's first snap in a real game he drops back and throws over the middle. LB Jeremiah Trotter, back after a 1st quarter injury, steps in front of the pass at the 33 yard line and doesn't stop until he's standing on silver and blue in the end zone. Dallas 21, Augusta 0. The next possession continues the young QB's education. He's forced to scramble twice. Then he connects on a 44 yard pass to the Dallas 26. DE's David Strickland and Phil Carpenter (also back from injury) make him pay for the big strike in a vicious sandwich type sack. Green gets happy feet and scrambles again on the next play. On third down he gets a "Remember me?" visit from Phil Carpenter and the Thrashers settle for a 54 yard field goal with 0:14 seconds left in the half. On the kickoff George Conarroe breaks 58 yards to the Augusta 30 and we get one shot. Cary Lindsay puts through a 47 yard FG to give us a 24-3 lead at the half. To start the second half Green throws three incompletions with Cowboy defenders in his face. We take the ball and march to the Augusta 2 yard line on some good running by Linkous before Hopkins takes a sack and we have to settle for 3. Dallas 27, Augusta 3. On the next series, Strickland and DT Carlton Wayne sack Green, forcing a fumble which Strickland covers. We drive the short field from the Augusta 40 and Hopkins seals it with a 12 yard strike to Sam Cherney. We swap punts with the Thrashers adding a sack by DT Duane Horn and the quarter ends with the Cowboys up 34-3. The 4th quarter starts slowly, but we get another chance as Johnnie Davidson meets the Augusta punt returner at their 13 and Van Poole falls on the fumble. We take a field goal and lead 37-3 with 7:37 remaining. The next series sees Green sacked again and a fumble by Thrasher RB Heath Spencer which S Nolan Jude recovers. This sets up another Cary Lindsay field goal. Dallas 40, Augusta 3. Trying to make something happen, Green wobbles a screen pass towards FB Jon Ritchie. Ritchie gets the tackle, but S Alonzo Shannon is the one who winds up with the ball. After a short run and a false start, backup RB Brady Clarkson takes a handoff from backup QB Raymond Winters and breaks around right end for a 40 yard TD. The fans are going out of their minds as the Cowboys lead 47-3 with 2:34 remaining. The Thrashers fail to mount anything on their next drive and don't even bother trying on fourth down. Dallas fields the punt and Winters takes a knee three times and the game is over. Cowboys win 47-3. Dave Linkous (18-116-0) and Brady Clarkson (10-75-1) were huge, Geoff Hopkins (19-27-180-2-0) was stable, and Sam Cherney (8-87-1) had a good day, but the real story was the Cowboy defense. We held Augusta to 156 total yards, recovered 3 of 5 fumbles, intercepted 3 passes returning 2 for TD's, and sacked the quarterback 7 times! CB Keith Shepherd took MVP honors as his interception return TD opened the flood gates on a dominating performance. The Thrashers had only given up 213 points in 17 previous games and we dumped 47 on them. Wow! Conference Championships Pittsburgh (13-4) at NY Jets (13-3-1) Jets win 34-17. New Orleans (11-6) at Dallas (12-5) The Saints come calling for the NFC Championship. We're not very familiar with this team but we do have a few common opponents. They split with St. Louis who we beat in Week 1. They beat the Eagles who we split with. We both topped the Bears on the road. They also beat Augusta 16-6 and 21-13. With the exception of the big numbers we hung on the Thrashers it looks pretty even. Personnel wise they are deep but without a lot of standout talent. Their offensive line is tough and they feature a good corner and a nice young safety on defense. They also own Albert Connell, the man we can't cover, who dogged us for many years in Washington. Ol' Al only caught 89 passes for 1463 yards this year. The biggest concern on our side is an ankle injury that has Rex Aldrige fairly hobbled. He'll go, but he won't be 100%. The day is cool and rainy but the fans in Dallas are pumped. New Orleans takes the opening kickoff and marches right down the field on five plays topped by a 20 yard TD pass to you know who. I hate Albert Connell. Saints 7, Cowboys 0. We take the kickoff at our 17 but Linkous breaks off two nice runs to get us to the 46 yard line. On third and five Hopkins is rushed and underthrows Aldrige and we're forced to punt. The Saints advance the ball to our 40 on a 22 yard strike to Connell but a few good tackles keep them from getting into field goal range and we get the ball back on our 18. Hopkins is sacked on first down but a run by Urbanchek and a screen to Clarkson get us out to the 28. Linkous takes three more carries and we make it out to our 47 but are again forced to kick it away and the 1st quarter ends with the Saints leading by a touchdown. The 2nd quarter starts the same with the Saints mustering a first down but not more and we get the ball back. We alternate passes and Linkous runs with completions to six different receivers and drive to the Saints 22 yard line but can get no further. Thankfully Cary Lindsay manages to wobble the ball through the uprights and we're on the board. New Orleans 7, Dallas 3. On the ensuing kickoff a reserve linebacker catches Lindsay gawking at the cheerleaders and he's taken off the field between two trainers. Uh oh. The Saints go three and out and we get another shot. Linkous and a defensive holding call take us from the 35 to midfield but the drive stalls and we punt. Ellis' kick and a holding call pin the Saints at their 10. With two minutes in the half Saints QB Kevin "Sandra" Bullock goes upstairs to Connell for 20 and WR Charles Becker for 45 and all of a sudden their near the red zone. Keith Shepherd makes a nice play near the end zone on second down but Connell keeps him from getting the pick. On third they run trying to center the ball and then their kicker puts the advantage back to seven with a 40 yard shot. New Orleans 10, Dallas 3. We take two shots after the kickoff but the half ends and we head for the locker room. We start the 3rd quarter with a nice return by George Conarroe to our own 40 yard line. Roy Clancy is forced inside on a first down reverse but gains two. Hopkins then hits Aldrige at midfield. Clarkson rips off 13 on first down and it looks like we're in business. The Saints add an offsides penalty and we're at their 32 with 1st and 5. On three straight runs Linkous is met by DT Rich Cochrane in the backfield and we punt. Sam Cherney makes what looks like a great play at the goal line but the zebras rule that his foot was on the goal line and it's called a touchback. No home cookin' today. The Saints go three and out and we take over at our 24 after a superb punt. Aldrige gets two on another reverse but Hopkins gets smashed in the backfield on second down. A draw to Linkous on third nets 10 but we needed 14. On the punt Rex Aldrige rolls his ankle and leaves the game. Not what we needed. The Saints return the ball to our 45 and start with scary field position. Bullock nails two passes to give New Orleans a first down at our 27. RB Anthony Porter then sneaks outside for nine before being hauled down by Nolan Jude and Phil Carpenter. Nice TD saving tackle guys. 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1 see Bullock miss open receivers and we breathe a sigh of relief. From our 10 they drill another field goal and push the lead to 10. Saints 13, Dallas 3. Conarroe again makes a nice return to our 42 on the kickoff. Hopkins hits Cherney on second down to get us to the Saints 43. After a bad throw to rookie TE Aucoin he goes to Cherney on three straight passes and we're at the New Orleans 14. We misfire on first but Linkous gets four on second down and then takes a screen pass to the Saints 4 to give us first and goal. Two runs and a pass fail and we're forced to settle for a FG by P Ellis as the 3rd quarter ends. New Orleans 13, Dallas 6. We're still waiting for the big defensive play that has been our spark all year long. The Saints start the 4th quarter with a three and out and we get the ball at our 38. On four straight runs Dave Linkous carries us to the New Orleans 17 and we're back in business. We go backwards on 1st and 2nd down but Hopkins hits Cherney for 18 on third and we have 1st and goal at the Saints 2. No dice on a run and a pass but then Hopkins tosses one up on third down and Roy Clancy out leaps the defender for a TD. We make the PAT and it's a brand new ball game with 9:21 remaining. Dallas 13, New Orleans 13. After the kickoff the Saints don't lay down. They mix up the play calling nicely and roar 67 yards down the field to score in seven plays. With 4:42 remaining we're on the wrong end of a 20-13 score. We get nervous and parlay a holding call into a third and twenty. An eleven yard Sam Cherney reception doesn't cut it and we're forced to punt. The Saints take it from their 37 to our 39 on two plays but we get a break. After dropping a nice pass rookie WR Irv Pride's pride gets the better of him and he puts a shoulder into Keith Shepherd. The veteran shrugs it off and the refs flag Pride for unnecessary roughness. The Saints are backed up to their 43 and have to punt. With 2:11 we get the ball back at our 20. Linkous is a marked man by this point and gets nowhere on two runs. Darrin D'Eramo drops a pass on third down and we've got one shot at the season with 4th and 8 and 1:35 left. Hopkins drops back and fires, but the Saints talented young safety Deron Sutton steps in front of D'Eramo and our hopes crumble. We prevent the TD but New Orleans advances the clock with three straight runs and kicks the FG to seal it. New Orleans 23, Dallas 13. We get two tries but Hopkins overthrows Roy Clancy and then is fed the ball with a season ending sack as the gun fires. Saints win 23-13. We played well but didn't get a break from a disciplined New Orleans squad. Linkous (29-109-0) was a horse and Cherney (8-88-0) played well but the loss of Aldrige made us a two weapon team and Geoff Hopkins (19-33-164-1-1) couldn't get us over the hump. The defense was solid behind Brady Hoover's 10 tackles but we didn't pressure the QB and our ball hawking ability disappeared. We wish the Saints luck against a powerful Jets team and start thinking about next year. Super Bowl New Orleans (12-6) at NY Jets (14-3-1) Jets win 44-17 for the first Super Bowl repeat since the Broncos in '97 and '98. This is a good team! Awards LB Brady Hoover is named All-Pro 1st Team for 117 tackles, 38 assists, 4 sacks, 1 interception, and a special teams TD. CB Charles Merrick hauls in 9 interceptions returning 3 for TD's, defends 6 passes, and allows only 21 catches over 14 games while posting a 59.4 PDQ! This obviously nets him All-Pro 1st Team mention. Highlights We broke the string and posted a great year despite not having an effective QB. The keys were defense and special teams. We returned seven interceptions for TD's and we picked up four more on special teams during the regular season. That just about covers our 346 to 260 point spread. I'd like to say we're out of the woods but we'll have to show a lot more on offense before we become a perennial contender. Here are some individual numbers. QB Geoff Hopkins (200-346-2047-8-13) posted a 66.9 rating and was just good enough to get the job done over 12 games. RB Dave Linkous (227-918-10) saw his touches drop with the addition of Brady Clarkson (120-460-2) but the two formed a very good pair. We were more effective running inside this year when we've tended to run better outside the tackles in the past. WR Rex Aldrige (74-775-7) played hurt for most of the year and gave up the longer routes to Sam Cherney (68-862-4). WR Roy Clancy (43-499-2) was decent off the bench. DE's Phil Carpenter and David Strickland contained the run well and had 10.5 and 9 sacks respectively. Strickland also had a 4.9 pass rush percentage with 7 blocks and 11 hurries. S Nolan Jude posted 6 INT's and a 39.8 PDQ. CB Keith Shepherd added 4 more to post a 33.5 PDQ. Both returned one pick for a TD. We head into next year hoping to field much the same team and make our second playoff appearance. Salary cap problems may be a factor and we'll see what we can do with an unusual late draft pick, but it should be fun. The Cowboys will be back. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-09-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-09-2001, 10:45 PM
|
#5 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
Do we have any fans out there?
|
|
|
|
|
01-09-2001, 11:19 PM
|
#6 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Nov 2000
|
If you mean am I reading your posts and enjoying them, yes. . . they are very interesting and I hope you get over the Chris Palmer-like injury problems.
good luck as for the texas thing, there is always a cure. just kidding, but . . . ------------------ You can't really do anything about the problem of spontaneous combustion. It is, by it's nature, a surprise. [This message has been edited by Ctown-Fan (edited 01-09-2001).]
__________________
I used to be a grizzled veteran! |
|
|
|
|
01-09-2001, 11:30 PM
|
#7 |
|
High School JV
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Texas
|
You have a fan with me.
Keep it up. I look for updates on your team every day. |
|
|
|
|
01-10-2001, 08:31 AM
|
#8 |
|
High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nova Scotia
|
I read the dynasty posts daily, but don't usually post comments.
__________________
It seems more like today than it did all day yesterday. |
|
|
|
|
01-10-2001, 12:01 PM
|
#9 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2011 Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Retirements Surprisingly no one retires. I had expected LB Jeremiah Trotter to call it a career but he sticks around to test free agency. Staff Coach Daniel Block and scout Ike Reavis are both expired. Reavis is clearly the best scout available and we quickly lock him up. We try an offer to Boston's J. B. Everett at coach. His game day skills are not as sharp as Block, but his training and preparation certainly is. He decides to stay in Boston and we go back to Block for our coaching again this year. Free Agency We are hurting for cap room. With an expected draft cost of $8.2 million, $6.2 million in cap room heading into free agency doesn't cut it. After some serious though I decide to let Brady Clarkson try his luck elsewhere. Green Bay offers up their Round 4(15) for him if we'll throw in our Round 6(16). To make $3.9 million in cap room available we take the deal. Linkous has been a workhorse for us and that will have to continue. Among our free agents we see none that merit the franchise tag. I'd like to retain Trotter and perhaps Wheeler but it would have to be late in the signing period or after camp. Our former TE Kurt Stevenson is available and would also be a nice addition. Here are the Cowboys who will try there luck.
In Week 4 Wheeler takes a deal from the Jets for $6.63M/2Y. Good money from the defending champs. No way I can compete with that. By Week 5 Stevenson's phone is ringing so much that he won't even take our calls. He signs with the Steelers in Week 7 for $7.38M/2Y. In Week 10 Trotter gets a $17.37M/4Y offer from Pittsburgh. We decide to try and find a way to keep him so we send DE Phil Carpenter to Seattle for their Round 3(9). We cut a few splinter butts and offer Trotter $12.6/3Y to stay and he accepts. We'll see how many seasons are left in him, but for now we're pleased. In Week 11 Detroit ponies up an offer above minsal for K Cary Lindsay and we have to chuckle. He'll probably be back available after training camp. And that's where free agency ends. Draft The draft has a few big players from our region and then nothing. Two DT's look to go in the first five picks and a CB and QB are drawing some interest. We're hoping to snap up a tremendous safety late in Round 1, but him falling that far is questionable. Could be an interesting draft. The Texas DT's go at #1 and #6 with a total of nine defensive tackles going before our pick. 1(31). Dean Woolsey, S (47/47), Baylor Ready to go immediately. May contend for the top spot. Let's get deep at safety. With no other huge talent available we brab the best player. 2(38). Sherman Taylor, S (29/69), Texas A&M Needs work but will eventually be a monster run stopper. Our next pick is a tough one. We opt for need over talent and a great name. The guy we pass up is a guard named Hardy Rockwell. 2(65). Mark King, LB (15/44), Texas Tech Looks a great deal like Ruffin. Rockwell is still available at our next pick but we find an even better guy with another cool name at a need position. 3(77). Jumbo "Jet" Atkins, WR (25/38), Navy Good overall talent to fill our #3 spot. Our next pick is another need selection. 3(99). Tyrell Doyle, CB (28/38), Baylor Balanced and prepped for nickel back duties. We fill our #3 RB spot with the next pick. 4(117). Andre Barnes, RB (14/40), Air Force Not fast and won't play a lot of downs but knows North-South running. We reach deep on another WR to close out Round 4. 4(133). Edgar Halton, WR (38/38), Houston Probable return man and #4 WR. We go best available in Round 5 and come up with these bodies. 5(150). Josh Wright, RB (20/37), Texas Tech A good receiving back. 5(152). Trent Lochner, RB (25/25), Tx A&M - Kingsville Ditto plus great third down running. 5(167). Al "Pitter" Patter, QB (9/31), Houston Horrible name for a QB. Footsteps. With our last pick we hedge on Cary Lindsay actually making a team. 6(201). Deron Sheets, K (11/40), Air Force Overall we're pleased with the draft. We'll be very deep at safety and solid again at linebacker. We're still short backups at defensive end, fullback, and tight end. Training Camp QB Donnie Bridges appears to have some lingering effects from last season's injury and that has us worried. We start the budget shuffle to field a complete roster. WR Darin D'Eramo goes to Augusta for their Round 7 in 2012. We look at safety and send the least loyal of our five players to Seattle. Alonzo Shannon and our Round 7(Augusta) in 2012 get us Seattle's Round 4 in 2012. Two of our rookie RB's get cut. We bring Kurt Stevenson back aboard after he was cut by Pittsburgh. We also get decent veterans at kicker and punter. We'll head into the season with a short roster, but I'd like to wait and see where injuries cause us to add bodies. Roster
Exhibition Games Uh oh. We go 0-4 in preseason and don't look very good doing it. This is all the more troubling because the starters were playing. In general I feel that we have about a two year window for this team before there will be a major talent shuffle. We're hoping for a 10-6 record this year and a playoff berth. We'll get a very good read on our potential as we open with the two time defending champs. Here goes nothing. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-12-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-21-2001, 04:25 PM
|
#10 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2011 Regular Season
Week 1 Dallas (0-0) at NY Jets Jets win 23-17. We held our own against the two time defending champs. The game itself was rather unremarkable with neither team looking stellar. WR Sam Cherney (4-97-1) did some nice running in the open field and QB Donnie Bridges (17-35-187-2-1) fed rookie WR Jumbo ‘Jet’ Atkins (3-15-1) his first NFL touchdown in the early going. LB Brady Hoover had 8 tackles and 3 assists while rookie S Dean Woolsey added his first interception to 7 tackles in a nice performance. Week 2 Dallas (0-1) at Washington (0-1) Cowboys win 15-3. The Cowboys went dink, dunk, and Dave to beat the Redskins. We’ve had the Redskins number winning 11 of 13 since 2005. RB Dave Linkous (26-128-0) keyed an offense that was productive everywhere but the Red Zone. Six sacks and interceptions by Adam Sutton, Nolan Jude, and Dean Woolsey helped limit the Skins to just 151 yards of total offense. Week 3 Dallas (1-1) at Arizona (1-1) Cardinals win 45-20. The Cardinals proved to be our futility team again and beat us with balance and ball control. Donnie Bridges (19-34-289-2-0) was good hitting Cherney (5-120-1) and Aldrige (6-95-0) often. Rookie LB Johnnie Cunningham had a surprising 9 tackles and 3 assists. We’re going to have to play much better than this if we expect to return to the playoffs. Week 4 Boston (2-1) at Dallas (1-2) Cowboys win 16-13. We statistically dominated the Patriots, but it took a pass from Bridges (20-30-198-1-1) to George Conarroe (4-40-1) with 1:53 left to seal the win. Dave Linkous (38-132-0) methodically piled up the yards but couldn’t find the end zone. DE David Strickland had 2.5 sacks to lead the defense. Week 5 Dallas (2-2) at Philadelphia (3-1) Eagles win 34-23. Donovan McNabb bombed the Eagles to a big win with three long TD passes. Donnie Bridges (21-31-233-2-2) continued to play consistent though unspectacular ball. Sam Cherney (7-117-2) appears to have eclipsed Rex Aldrige (6-54-0) as the favored target. David Strickland continued his sack binge with 3 today. At 2-3 we need to get into gear very soon. Week 6 NY Giants (3-2) at Dallas (2-3) Cowboys win 20-17. In a rather ugly game the Cowboys found a way to win. Dave Linkous (27-91-1) missed the century mark but found the end zone. Donnie Bridges (18-31-149-0-2) seemed afraid to throw downfield but found Rex Aldrige (9-65-0) open on lots of short routes. Nolan Jude provided the highlight of the day returning an interception 36 yards for the score just before halftime. In the end, a missed 36 yard FG by the Giants with 0:13 left in the 4th quarter saved us. Week 7 Bye Week 8 Washington (0-7) at Dallas (3-3) Cowboys win 24-21. Dave Linkous (24-116-2) used his legs to offset Donnie Bridges (14-28-130-0-3) inaccuracy and the Cowboys avoided the upset. The defense kept us in this game by not allowing the Skins to capitalize on our mistakes as we won another close game. Week 9 Dallas (4-3) at Indianapolis (4-3) Cowboys win 17-6. Linkous (24-103-1) again carried the load, but TE Kurt Stevenson (5-104-1) provided the highlight with an 80 yard TD catch in the 1st quarter as the Cowboys outclassed the Colts. S Adam Sutton had two interceptions and CB Charles Merrick added another in a good road win for the Boys. Week 10 Dallas (5-3) at Tampa Bay (3-5) Bucs win 45-16. Four turnovers spelled trouble as the Bucs dominated the Cowboys. The offense never got started against a surprisingly solid Tampa defensive unit. George Conarroe’s 87 yard kickoff return in the 1st quarter was the only highlight as the Cowboys struggled from the start. Donnie Bridges (18-38-156-0-2) struggled and Rex Aldrige (7-74-0) could only do so much with Sam Cherney wearing street clothes and an ankle brace. We continue to muddle along and will need to really pick it up down the stretch to grab a playoff spot. Philadelphia is just ahead of us at 6-3, but they have more talent and an easier schedule remaining. We currently stand 8th in the NFC. Week 11 New Orleans (4-5) at Dallas (5-4) Cowboys win 13-6. After a lackluster first half, we scored 13 unanswered points to pull out a home win. Dave Linkous (24-96-1) continued his consistent play and got good support from backup RB Jeff Grantham (9-59-0). The offense was otherwise flat. The defense played good team ball and gave up just 57 yards in the second half until the Saints QB hit a desperation pass that came up short as time expired. At 6-4 we do still appear to have a shot at the post season. Week 12 Arizona (4-6) at Dallas (6-4) Cowboys win 17-3. The defense played shutdown ball and the Cowboys had two big plays in this crucial win. Dave Linkous (34-111-0) continued his solid play but a breakaway 80 yard TD by Jeff Grantham (3-82-1) and a FB Michael Urbanchek scoop and run of a Donnie Bridges fumble made the difference. CB Keith Shepherd and S Nolan Jude keyed the defense with an interception each. Week 13 Dallas (7-4) at NY Giants (4-7) Cowboys win 14-13. Despite being shut down all day, Donnie Bridges (10-19-113-2-1) hit Edgar Halton (3-81-1) and Kurt Stevenson (2-6-1) on TD passes in the final three minutes and the Cowboys snuck off with a victory. DE Jessie Carlson was the hero blocking a Giants punt which Charles Merrick recovered at their 2 yard line to set up the final score. DE David Strickland had two sacks and S Adam Sutton and reserve CB Everett McConkey each notched an interception as the Cowboys improved to 8-4. We’ll meet the 9-3 Eagles next with a chance to square things up for the division lead. Week 14 Philadelphia (9-3) at Dallas (8-4) Cowboys win 24-22. We were completely outplayed for 45 minutes, but used a 17 point 4th quarter to grab a share of the division lead. George Conarroe fumbled the second half kickoff, but reserve CB Harry Wallace scooped it up and danced 69 yards into the end zone to put us on the board. Conarroe redeemed himself with a short TD catch early in the 4th quarter. Adam Sutton intercepted Donovan McNabb and took the ball to the Eagles 12 to set up a TD on the next series. In the end it came down to a good drive with Rex Aldirge (6-56-0) and ’Jet’ Atkins (4-31-0) making clutch catches to set up a 39 yard Duane Mattingly field goal with 0:10 on the clock. Week 15 Buffalo (6-7) at Dallas (9-4) Cowboys win 12-0. The Cowboys rode the legs of Dave Linkous (25-134-1) to a good home win. Rex Aldrige (9-92-0) hauled in a good number of Donnie Bridges (22-33-191-0-1) passes and Nolan Jude provided 6 tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack, and an interception as the Cowboys kept pace with the Eagles for the NFC East title. Week 16 Dallas (10-4) at Augusta (5-9) Thrashers win 13-10. A good performance by Linkous (27-123-1) wasn’t enough to get the Cowboys past a tough Augusta bunch. The Thrashers won’t be going to the postseason, but they did avenge a humiliating loss to Dallas in last year’s divisional round. The Cowboys continue to suffer from Donnie Bridges (13-25-107-0-1) erratic quarterbacking and the injury to Sam Cherney. The Eagles did us a favor with a loss to Indianapolis and we can still take the division if we win and the Eagles lose to the Cardinals lose to Arizona next week. A Wild Card spot is a certainty so the Cowboys will go to the post season again, but unless we get help it’ll be on the road. Week 17 Chicago (10-5) at Dallas (10-5) Bears win 27-9. We out gained the Bears 421-327 but couldn’t put the ball in the end zone in a humbling loss. TE Kurt Stevenson (2-95-1) had our lone TD on a 79 yard play in the 3rd quarter. Donnie Bridges (17-33-329-1-1) made Sam Cherney (5-101-0) look good in his return to action. ’Jet’ Atkins (7-120-0) also had a nice day after Rex Aldrige left with an injury. The defense was victimized for three TD’s and a FG in the first half before stepping up in the second stanza. We’ll travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field for a Wild Card match up with the Packers as the Cowboys open their second postseason campaign of the 21st century. |
|
|
|
|
01-22-2001, 11:45 AM
|
#11 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2011 Post Season
Wild Card Round Denver (9-7) at Pittsburgh (10-6) Steelers win 19-3. Montgomery (10-6) at Seattle (10-6) Seahawks win 22-16. San Francisco (9-7) at St. Louis (9-7) Rams win 52-6. Dallas (10-6) at Green Bay (10-6) We head in to Green Bay for our first road playoff game under current management. They are a balanced but unspectacular team aside from their pass coverage which is stifling. Brady Clarkson starts for them at RB after backing up Dave Linkous last year. Julio McNeil, a Cowboy in 2007, also starts at center. The Packers defense is led by LB’s Bruce Blake and Kendrick McDade. McDade is a third year man out of Texas Christian who we’ll definitely go after when he becomes a free agent. The secondary is spearheaded by Arnie White, perhaps the best cover corner in the game. It’s 13 degrees and fair at Lambeau at kickoff. The Packers win the toss and elect to receive. After a 10 yard run on first down, we bottle them up. DT Duane Horn plants QB Wendell Caldwell with a solid sack on 2nd & 10 and the Packers end up punting. We get the ball at our 28 and quickly move to their 32 with nice catches by Sam Cherney and Rex Aldrige but K Duane Mattingly misses a 48 yard FG wide right. The Packers again get a quick first down but go three and out and we takeover at our 20 yard line. Donnie Bridges hits Cherney twice to take us to our 42 but we stall their and have to punt. Looks like Bridges wants to throw to Cherney on every down. The Packers take over on their 22 and manage to move to the 36 before the 1st quarter ends at 0-0. The 2nd quarter starts with a bang as LB Jeremiah Trotter breaks through and blocks a punt. DE David Strickland jumps on the ball and we have a great opportunity at the Packer 33 yard line. On first down Donnie Bridges goes for it all and finds a man in the end zone. Unfortunately it’s Packers S Darren Sharper. Opportunity lost. The Packers go three and out and we take over at our 40. We use Linkous heavily to get to the Green Bay 39 but stall there. TE Kurt Stevenson is hurt during the series and won’t return. That’s a real blow to both our short passing and running games. After our punt the Packers start from their 20 yard line. Caldwell spreads around a few passes and then finds Ken Walton all alone on the right side for a 48 yard gain. CB Keith Shepherd just managed to catch him at our 7 yard line to save the TD. Brady Clarkson almost breaks in on the next play but is corralled by Duane Horn and Nolan Jude. Unfortunately Caldwell hits Austin Davis for the TD two plays later. Packers 7, Cowboys 0. We go three and out after the kickoff and the Packers get another chance from their 20. We manage to stop them and get the ball back with just under two minutes left in the half. Dave Linkous gets 18 yards from our 20 on first down. After a misfire on 1st & 10, Bridges finds Aldrige for 45 yards to the Packer 17. Dave Linkous makes two nice runs to get us to the Packer 2 with 26 seconds left. The Dallas fans are appalled as the field goal unit trots on with 1st & goal at the Green Bay 2. There are 26 seconds left! Note to self, fire the coach. Mattingly converts and it’s Packers 7, Cowboys 3. On the kickoff Green Bay’s return man brings it out from 6 yards deep trying to make something happen. He succeeds as Edgar Halton levels him and George Conarroe picks up the loose ball and waltzes into the end zone. Note to self, keep the special teams coach. Cowboys 10, Packers 7. After another less eventful kick we head into the locker room with a fortuitous 3 point lead. We take the kickoff in the second half push into Green Bay territory before a sack ends our drive. The Packers start from their 15 after the punt. A 39 yard run by Brady Clarkson (key block from Julio McNeil) gets the Packers in our territory. Caldwell then hits Austin Davis for a 27 yard TD and our lead is gone. Packers 14, Cowboys 10. We go three and out and the Packers get it back at their 19. Caldwell again finds Davis for a big gain, but this time the defense holds. We lose DT Carlton Wayne in the process. We get the ball back at our 20 and go to work. Linkous, Aldrige, Cherney, and backup RB Jeff Grantham all contribute as we push into Green Bay territory as the 3rd quarter ends with the score Green Bay 14, Dallas 10. Jeff Grantham adds two more carries and we get to the Packer 24 but another sack of Donnie Bridges forces us to try for the field goal. Mattingly converts and we’re down by one. Packers 14, Cowboys 13. The Pack manage to get the ball out to their 41 to start the series. Brady Clarkson make two nice runs to get it into our territory, but his backup Jimmy Hilliard is the one who breaks the big play with a 27 yard TD run. Packers 21, Cowboys 13. We go three and out on the next series and then disaster strikes. Arnie White does his best Deion impersonation and returns our punt to the 11 yard line. Five plays later Caldwell hits TE Grant Fassero for the TD. With the Packers suddenly up 28-13 it seems the wheels have fallen off our game. We get the ball at our 35 and Donnie Bridges starts to look nervous. He manages to find Cherney for a crucial 4th down conversion but then throw three straight knuckle balls. On 4th & 10 ’Jet’ Atkins gets open but can’t quite stretch to the marker and it goes over on downs at the Packer 46. The Packers give the ball to Brady Clarkson who runs for 4, 15, 6, and 29 on successive plays to end our season. The man dumped for Dave Linkous has his revenge. Green Bay 35, Dallas 13. We give it back on downs and the Packers run out the clock. Packers win 35-13. Green Bay beat us with the run amassing 174 yards with Clarkson (16-125-1) leading the way. Linkous (22-66-0) spends a long time kicking his locker for losing the duel. Donnie Bridges (18-31-208-0-1) wasn’t bad and Aldrige (7-117-0) and Cherney (7-70-0) had productive performances against a good secondary but it wasn’t enough. Brady Hoover (8 tackles, 5 assists) and Jeremiah Trotter (8 tackles 1 assist, 1 blocked punt) led the defense. In the end we couldn’t sustain a drive and seemed to get tired in the 4th quarter of what until then was a close game. Divisional Playoffs St. Louis (10-7) at Chicago (11-5) Bears win 14-10. Green Bay (11-6) at Philadelphia (11-5) Eagles win 34-26. Seattle (11-6) AT NY Jets (12-4) Jets win 34-14. Pittsburgh (11-6) at Oakland (10-6) Raiders win 35-16. Conference Championships Chicago (12-5) at Philadelphia (12-5) Eagles win 13-10. Oakland (11-6) at NY Jets (13-4) Jets win 34-9. Super Bowl Philadelphia (13-5) at NY Jets (14-4) Jets win 24-13 for a three-peat! Awards T Johnnie Davidson gets All-Pro 2nd Team mention for his 25 KRB, 5 sacks allowed performance. Highlights We had a weak year offensively with the worst Red Zone scoring in the league. Our defense bailed us out by absolutely stuffing the run (88.4 YPG) all year. In the end we managed to win most of the close games and sneak back into the playoffs. We still lack consistency at quarterback. Donnie Bridges (267-463-2787-14-21) suffered permanent damage after last seasons injury and only posted a 66.3 rating. Here are some of the individual key performers. RB Dave Linkous (336-1213-7) finished third in the NFL rushing race. WR Rex Aldrige (80-753-0) led receivers but couldn’t find the end zone. WR Sam Cherney (39-605-4) was good over nine games. TE Kurt Stevenson (40-472-4) had a nice season in his return to the Cowboys. DE David Strickland had 15 sacks, 3 blocked passes, and 8 hurries for a 5.4 pass rush percentage. LB Brady Hoover led the defense with 87 tackles, 34 assists, and 4.5 sacks. LB Ethan Ruffin had 83 tackles, 29 assists, and 4.5 sacks. CB Keith Shepherd had 2 interceptions, 10 defensed passes, and allowed 34 catches for a 31.0 PDQ. CB Charles Merrick had 1 interception, 8 defensed passes, and allowed 32 catches for a 26.4 PDQ. S Nolan Jude had 5 interceptions and 62 tackles in another good campaign. S Adam Sutton also had 5 interceptions for a 52.2 PDQ despite only starting 4 games! We’ll have a fight ahead through free agency and it certainly looks like 2012 will be the last year all of these players are together. Next year is our biggest window so far. All we really need is a quarterback. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-26-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-23-2001, 12:59 PM
|
#12 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2012 Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Retirements LB Jeremiah Trotter hangs ‘em up after a very good 14 year career (9 in Dallas). He totaled 830 tackles (13th in NFL history), 343 assists, and may be the first inductee to the Cowboys hall of fame. Staff Daniel Block has struggled with offensive development so we decide to go in a new direction. Former Arizona coach Richard Benton sparks a bidding war which we win. He’s a definite step up in terms of player development for the offense. Things will get interesting when the Cardinals come to town as they wound up with Daniel Block. Head Coach Richard Benton, 57 QB: Very Good RB: Excellent WR: Excellent OL: Very Good DL: Very Good LB: Good DB: Good K: Very Good YT: Good MO: Very Good DI: Good OF: Fair DF: Very Good IN: Very Good Stadium Proposal With the worst facility in pro football we feel obligated to try for renovations. We offer up $100 million to turn Texas Stadium into a decent facility. I doubt if we have enough support for this, but our current digs are a shambles. Free Agency We’ve got a few key pieces up for grabs this year and not a lot of money. Brady Hoover gets the Franchise tag with no hesitation. C. J. Reeves and Jumbo Landers must be retained. Kurt Stevenson would be nice to keep around along with Bruce and Mattingly, but they all may prove too expensive. Donnie Bridges will command far too much money for his talent level and Adam Sutton is good but we’re deep at safety already. Here’s the list.
We start the signing period with a $12M/3Y offer to Reeves and a $2.88m/3Y offer to former Cowboy (2003-2004) FB Marc Adams. We add an offer to G Arnie Seinfeld of Oakland in Week 3. Seinfeld resigns with the Raiders and we’re still sitting on our first two offers. In Week 6 we’re still pending but P Bruce Quinn gets a $7.93M/4Y offer from the Broncos. See ya' Bruce. In Week 7 Reeves signs a one year deal with Miami for $4.88 million and we’re stunned. Our offensive line now needs major attention. In Week 8 Adams goes back to Charlotte for a deal that’s less than minsal. I have no idea how that’s possible! Week 9 sees Sutton go to San Diego for $8.2M/2Y. We decide that TE Kurt Stevenson is now a must and submit a $11.4M/3Y deal. Stevenson jumps right away. We wait around until Week 20 and put out a couple offers. K Cary Lindsay gets a $2.88M/3Y offer. LB Irv Gilmore Gets a $5M/2Y sheet. Both sign. Cary Lindsay, K (20/20), 10, Army The Dallas duffer returns. Irv Gilmore, LB (40/40), 11, Rice A good overall talent who may draw the #3 spot. Not a lot of selection. Adams would have been a nice addition, but the loss of Reeves really hurts. Draft Horrors! There is next to no draftable talent from Texas. Trading away to next year doesn’t seem to interest anyone despite lots of teams having significant cap room. There is a CB who projects to go in the top twenty picks so I’m almost forced to go Ditka to get any value out of these picks. We end up making a scary deal with the Saints to get our CB. New Orleans gets our 1(25), 2(25), 4(2013), 2(2014), 3(2014) for the rights to Bryan Laxdal. 13. Bryan Laxdal, CB (33/84), Texas A&M A fantastic talent in zone defense and run stopping. Will play the nickel position for now. We pick up another running back in Round 3. 93. Mike Duncan, RB (45/45), Texas Christian A solid overall talent to back up Dave Linkous. With no remaining talent in the darft we send RB Josh Wright and our 4(25), 4(28), 5(25), and 6(25) to Kansas City for their 3(2013) and 6(2013). This draft clearly showed one of the limits of this challenge. I was completely stuffed by the lack of Texas talent. Steerability, as QuikSand so aptly calls it, does not exist at times. Oh well. Perhaps I should expand the challenge to a few more states. If I’m unable to make this work I’ll consider making it the Red River Cowboys in 2015. Our stadium measure failed after the poor draft BTW. Training Camp We’ll take advantage of our three good corners by playing a lot of nickel coverage this year. Otherwise there will be nothing new. We have no breakout performers this year. Roster
Exhibition Games We go 1-3. Thank goodness exhibition games don’t count for anything. We’ll look for another 10-6 season and a playoff spot this year. I feel good about everything except our quarterback situation. Third year QB Raymond ‘Old Man’ Winters becomes the latest in our long line of signal calling experiments. He’s more of a down field thrower and we’ll try to give him that chance. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-23-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-23-2001, 04:32 PM
|
#13 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2012 Regular Season
Week 1 Washington (0-0) at Dallas (0-0) Cowboys win 35-7. We run our record against the ‘Skins to 13-2 since 2005 with a good overall performance. QB Raymond Winters (11-18-186-2-0) plays well hitting Edgar Halton (2-75-2) with two big passes. Dave Linkous (30-116-0) is complemented nicely by Jeff Grantham (11-86-1). S Nolan Jude returns an interception 42 yards for a TD. DE Jesse Carlson had two sacks and caused a fumble which DE George Bryant returned for a TD. DT Duane Horn added 1.5 sacks as the defense totaled six on the day. Week 2 Chicago (1-0) at Dallas (1-0) Bears win 31-21. Ball control passing? Tim Couch (32-50-336-2-2) and the Bears demonstrated a new concept by holding the ball for over 37 minutes with 24 rushing plays and 51 passing plays. The game was knotted at 21 until 2:14 of the 4th quarter when the Bears hit a FG. The final margin was set when a Raymond Winters (12-25-156-2-1) desperation pass was intercepted and returned for a TD with seconds remaining. Sam Cherney (4-94-1) was our big threat player. CB Charles Merrick returned an interception 35 yards for a TD in the 2nd quarter and Ethan Ruffin led defenders with 11 tackles. Week 3 Dallas (1-1) at Detroit (1-1) Lions win 27-17. The Lions won a field position game. Kent Dunn, the leagues best running back, got only 87 yards on 20 carries but found the end zone for 3 TD’s. Dave Linkous (17-86-1) played well. Raymond Winters (14-29-177-1-2) threw two critical second half interceptions. ’Jet’ Atkins (4-76-0) and Rex Aldrige (4-66-1) were the primary targets. Ruffin and S Sherman Taylor each had 9 tackles and Bryan Laxdal notched his first pro interception. Week 4 Dallas (1-2) at Arizona (2-1) Cowboys win 24-10. Richard Benton got the best of Daniel Block in the coach swap battle. Dave Linkous (28-88-1) did it running and receiving with a 54 TD catch. Winters (17-32-333-2-2) played well hitting Atkins (4-117-1) and Cherney (5-81-0) for some nice gains. DT Duane Horn highlighted the defensive effort with two key sacks. Week 5 Dallas (2-2) at Philadelphia (2-2) Eagles win 31-28. We put up 28 in the 4th quarter but couldn’t get the win. Winters (23-42-348-4-2) went nutty to Rex Aldrige (9-144-1) and Sam Cherney (7-116-1) but the defense couldn’t stop Allen Haines (19-178-3) as the Eagles held on. Bryan Laxdal added another interception and Duane Horn had two more sacks on defense. Week 6 NY Giants (2-3) at Dallas (2-3) Giants win 27-21. Winters (1-4-14-0-0) went down early and Al Patter (22-38-220-2-0) played surprisingly well in relief. Early in the 1st we drove to their 6 but coughed up the ball and watched in horror as CB Alex Mathes streaked 94 yards the other way in what proved the difference. Dave Linkous (19-106-1) played well and Ethan Ruffin had 9 tackles. David Strickland had his first good outing with 2 sacks. At 2-4 we’ve dug ourselves a hole. Fortunately the Giants and the Eagles are leading the division with weak 3-3 marks. Week 7 Green Bay (2-3) at Dallas (2-4) Packers win 20-0. Brady Clarkson (25-119-0) led the Packers to a big win in Dallas. The stats showed a much closer game than the scoreboard with Green Bay holding a slim 262-254 yardage edge. Dave Linkous (15-95-0) was fair but Raymond Winters (11-30-155-0-1) couldn’t hit his targets. S Shannon Taylor (12 tackles) and LB Ethan Ruffin (10 tackles, 1 sack) led the defense with Nolan Jude grabbing two interceptions. Cary Lindsay, the Dallas Duffer, missed three FG’s to run his season total to 2 of 11! Week 8 Bye Week 9 Dallas (2-5) at NY Giants (5-3) Giants win 34-6. We out gained the Giants 293-207 but gave the Giants 24 points on turnovers and special teams. David Stirkland’s 2.5 sacks were the only highlight in what looks to be a disastrous season. We’ll take a long look at the possibilities before our next game. Week 10 Cincinnati (4-4) at Dallas (2-6) Cowboys win 35-27. Raymond Winters (20-28-341-5-0) out dueled former Cowboy QB Geoff Gaines (16-38-377-3-1) as the Cowboys got a needed win. Winters garnered his first OPOTW honor. Dave Linkous (18-100-0) added another 80 yards receiving with a 68 yard TD catch. Sam Cherney (7-116-1) was also big. Bryan Laxdal added an interception and David Strickland had a sack, a block, and three hurries. Week 11 Dallas (3-6) at San Francisco (5-4) Cowboys win 24-14. The Cowboys played steady ball and got a good road win. Raymond Winters (13-26-209-1-0) was decent and Rex Aldrige (3-81-1) smoked the defense for a 68 yard touchdown. Brady Hoover led the defense with 8 tackles, Ethan Ruffin had two sacks, and Bryan Laxdal had his first NFL sack as the defensive coordinator mixed it up well. Week 12 Cleveland (7-2-1) at Dallas (4-6) Cowboys win 59-7! Raymond Winters (18-22-291-5-1) went nuts over three quarters as the Cowboys posted their biggest score ever against a very good Browns team. Rex Aldrige (6-156-0) and Sam Cherney (5-94-3) looked like the dynamic duo of years past and Dave Linkous (17-118-0) provided great support. Bryan Laxdal returned an interception 45 yards for a TD and George Conarroe returned a punt 48 yards for a score as the Cowboys played the complete game. With the Giants leading the division at 6-5 we still have a chance if we can run the table. Week 13 Dallas (5-6) at Pittsburgh (6-5) Steelers win 24-10. We outplayed the Steelers but lost the field position battle and the game. Mike Duncan (10-101-0) played well in relief of an injured Dave Linkous. Winters (18-35-224-1-1) hit Aldrige (4-97-0) and Cherney (9-80-1) often. Jesse Carlson (3 sacks) and Duane Horn (2 sacks) terrorized the quarterback while Charles Merrick added an interception. Week 14 Philadelphia (6-6) at Dallas (5-7) Cowboys win 17-15. We ended up with a win in a game we might have lost this time. Linkous (17-75-1), Winters (16-26-180-1-1), and Cherney (7-65-0) were average but interceptions by Jude and Woolsey and a late missed FG by the Eagles let us sneak out with the win. At 6-7 we’re still alive but need some help to make the playoffs. Week 15 Dallas (6-7) at Washington (5-8) Cowboys win 16-10. We gave up only 70 yards of total offense with the ‘Skins only TD coming on an interception return to keep our thin playoff hopes alive. Mike Duncan (35-144-0) again played well for Dave Linkous and Raymond Winters (22-45-207-1-1) hit Cherney (8-66-1) often enough to get it done. Surprisingly we had no defensive standouts. We’ll be without Rex Aldrige, David Strickland, and Ethan Ruffin for the last game or two so our reserves will really have to step it up. Week 16 Dallas (7-7) at Baltimore (7-7) Ravens win 30-24. A late Cary Lindsay field goal isn’t enough and another 4th quarter miss allows the Ravens to take us in overtime. We’ll need to win and possibly get help to sneak into the last Wild Card spot. Here goes nothing. Week 17 Arizona (7-7-1) at Dallas (7-8) Cowboys win 32-3. We do our part but don’t get the help and our season ends. Linkous (20-73-0) and Duncan (11-58-1) ran well as a team. Winters (16-24-163-2-0) and Cherney (6-78-0) were in sync. CB Keith Shepherd had an interception on defense. Beating Daniel Block again was the highlight of the day. We look forward to the challenge of keeping this team together next season and hope that a return to the playoffs is in the works. |
|
|
|
|
01-24-2001, 09:33 AM
|
#14 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2012 Post Season
Wild Card Round St. Louis (8-7-1) at Atlanta (9-6-1) Falcons win 23-21. Philadelphia (9-7) at Green Bay (10-6) Eagles win 30-13. Miami (9-7) at Cleveland (10-5-1) Dolphins win 21-14. Montgomery (9-7) at Pittsburgh (10-6) Steelers win 44-17. Divisional Playoffs Atlanta (10-6-1) at NY Giants (11-5) Giants win 30-21. Philadelphia (10-7) at Chicago (13-3) Bears win 37-8. Miami (10-7) at Oakland (12-4) Raiders win 28-17. Pittsburgh (11-6) at Boston (11-5) Patriots win 20-17. Conference Championships NY Giants (12-5) at Chicago (14-3) Bears win 42-10. Boston (12-5) at Oakland (13-4) Raiders win 17-10. Super Bowl Oakland (14-4) at Chicago (15-3) Bears win 38-9. Awards DT Duane Horn gets All-Pro 1st Team honors for a season that included 45 tackles, 29 assists, 10.5 sacks, 3 blocks, 3 hurries, and 2 fumble recoveries. Highlights After a dismal 2-6 start we rallied and were just a half game out of the playoffs at 8-8. We got a bit more production from the quarterback position. Perhaps this was thanks to having a coach with much better abilities in QB development. This off season will be very difficult with several key players going into free agency including our QB. Here are some individual numbers. QB Raymond Winters (255-458-3458-29-14) was a surprising success for someone who had only thrown 41 passes prior to the season. His 88.3 rating was fourth in the league. RB Dave Linkous (269-1109-6) had another productive season and stands at fifth in career rushing yards with 8578. WR Sam Cherney (81-1093-9) posted his first 1000 yard season and continues to improve. WR Rex Aldrige (54-932-5) had good production over 14 games. After 11 great seasons with the Cowboys his abilities are starting to fade. K Cary Lindsay (18-34 FG) cost us two or three games and probably kept us out of the playoffs. Oh for a real kicker. DE David Strickland had 8 sacks, 5 blocks, and 6 hurries for a 5.4 pass rush percentage. He now stands at second all time in sacks (124) behind a retired Jevon Kearse (137). DE Jessie Carlson shared the team lead with 10.5 sacks and also posted 37 tackles and 12 assists. LB Brady Hoover led the team with 84 tackles and 34 assists. LB Ethan Ruffin had 69 tackles, 15 assists, and 6 sacks. CB’s Charles Merrick and Keith Shepherd continued to provide excellent lockdown coverage as the Cowboys allowed only 201.9 YPG through the air. CB Bryan Laxdal 4 interceptions and posted a 44.8 PDQ over 217 pass plays while subbing at corner and safety. Think about the future! S Nolan Jude had 5 interceptions and a 39.0 PDQ to anchor the secondary again. It’s on to the most challenging off season I’ve faced yet! Stay tuned sports fans. |
|
|
|
|
01-24-2001, 04:43 PM
|
#15 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2013 Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Retirements None! Staff We’re pleased with our front office and there are no great talents available so we stand pat. Free Agency We have quite a few RFA’s including QB Raymond Winters and DE Jessie Carlson and two key URFA’s in WR Sam Cherney and RB Dave Linkous. With just $14,650,000 in cap room we’re in trouble. This team will look quite a bit different by the start of the season. I’d like to keep as many folks as possible, but with no great recent success, marginal fan support, and a horrible stadium we have trouble negotiating folks down. This is what it’s all about! After some deliberation we decide to give Cherney the Franchise tag. Here are the money grubbers.
Fortunately (?) there are no great talents from elsewhere that demand our attention in free agency. We start with a $21.8M/3Y offer to Linkous with hope that we don’t have to up it. Philadelphia and Boston both tender offers in the neighborhood of $32M/4Y. We up to $22.8M/3Y but can afford no more. Hopefully loyalty will be enough to keep our RB in house. We sit nervously through Week 8 before he signs. Dave Linkous will remain a Cowboy! In Week 11 longtime Cowboy FB Michael Urbanchek signs a three year deal with the Saints. Though he wasn’t the greatest talent we’re sorry to see him go. To make some cap room we send S Dean Woolsey and our 6(16) and 6(21) to Cleveland for their 3(30). Our perennially unhappy Van Poole goes to Detroit for a Round 7 pick in 2014. Draft There are a few talented Texas players this year. QB Billy Joe Gallant from SMU should go very high. Great name for a quarterback if it didn’t start with Billy Joe. A DT and two WR’s (from Army and Navy no less) also figure to go pretty high. I’m hoping to land a FB from Texas and may be able to trade down to get him. Our needs our FB, TE, WR, and CB and I hope to get a solid backup at QB if possible. Our FB is available at pick 21 and nobody is willing to trade down so I’m forced to take him. 1(21). Rick Grider, FB (37/50), Texas Stud who can run and catch. In Round 2 I have a choice between a very good DT and a WR with amazing return abilities on top of good receiving skills. Since WR is a need position I go there. 2(55). Phil Ernst, WR (40/46), Texas A&M Don’t punt or kick to this guy! Round 3 is a minor Bonanza for us as an excellent center seems under rated by the combines. 3(84). Duane Gibson, C (17/73), Texas We also grab an under rated QB to back up Raymond Winters. 3(89). Damon Bernstein, QB (20/75), Texas Christian With our last Round 3 pick we take a project at LB. 3(98). Jeffrey Lowe, LB (12/45), Texas Tech In Round 5 we add a RB. Basically a best available pick. 5(157). David Vila, RB (16/44), Texas Tech Round 7 leaves us nothing but a guy who’ll contend for the all name squad. 7(225). Jack 'Led' Zeppelin, LB (8/32), Texas A&M In all it was a successful draft with a few need positions addressed. We still have to find room to sign QB Raymond Winters prior to camp and that will be tough. Our stadium improvements were approved this year. Training Camp We send RB Mike Duncan to Atlanta for their Round 2 in 2014. We also send DT Carlton Wayne {gulp} with a Round 6(2014) and a Round 4(2016) to Raleigh for their Round 1(2014). This allows us to sign QB Raymond Winters to a $19.8M/2Y deal. Camp itself is a non event. We have no busts or breakouts. Billy Joe Gallant, the Texas QB chosen at #5, came out of camp looking like, well, a Billy Joe. He was cut. We’ll head into the season with just 46 on our roster and add folks as necessary. Roster
Exhibition Games We go 3-1 and come through the preseason without an injury. We should be a solid team with the ability to win games. An 11-5 record and a shot at the division title is not out of the question. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 02-04-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-26-2001, 05:03 PM
|
#16 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2013 Regular Season
Week 1 San Francisco (0-0) at Dallas (0-0) Cowboys win 27-10. We ride the legs of Dave Linkous (22-179-2) to victory. QB Raymond Winters (9-19-68-0-1) isn’t asked to do much as the running game is clicking. Old man LB Brady Hoover leads the defense with 9 tackles and an interception. Linkous starts the year with OPOTW honors. Week 2 Dallas (1-0) at Oakland (0-1) Raiders win 17-13. The Raiders engineer a nice drive to score the winning touchdown with 0:24 on the clock. This defensive struggle could have gone wither way. Linkous (19-78-0) didn’t get the 25 touches we like to see and Raymond Winter (17-31-166-1-2) couldn’t put it together for consistent drives. Rex Aldrige (7-74-0) played well and Brady Hoover added another interception. DE David Strickland had 3 sacks. Week 3 NY Giants (2-0) at Dallas (1-1) Cowboys win 41-6. My oh my! Another big game from Dave Linkous (26-144-3). Raymond Winters (12-19-192-1-0) played well with Rex Aldrige (7-114-0) as the primary beneficiary. Brady Hoover had the highlight reel shot with a 96 yard interception return touchdown. Week 4 Dallas (2-1) at Philadelphia (2-1) Cowboys win 39-13. And I thought last week was something. Dave Linkous (28-328-2) had the second best rushing game in league history (Kent Dunn of Detroit posted a 350 yard game in 2011). Raymond Winters (21-33-216-1-2) was OK with Aldrige (7-111-0) posting good number again. CB Keith Shepherd added a 22 yard interception return TD late in a surprising blowout. Linkous stands at 729 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns through four games! Week 5 Arizona (1-3) at Dallas (3-1) Cowboys win 31-10. Linkous (30-135-0) was big again but Raymond Winters (18-24-216-4-1) accuracy was the key in this one. Rex Aldrige (5-80-2) was the lead receiver. Charles Merrick had 2 interceptions with Nolan Jude adding another while David Strickland tacked on 1.5 sacks. We’ll be without CB Keith Shepherd for a few weeks (shoulder tendonitis). Week 6 Dallas (4-1) at Seattle (1-4) Cowboys win 27-13. Linkous went down in the 1st quarter, but rookie backup David Vila (37-142-2) was equally huge. Raymond Winters (20-35-242-1-1) continued to play well and favored Sam Cherney (5-122-0) with his passes today. Brady Hoover led the defense with 8 tackles and 6 assists while Nolan Jude added an interception. The secondary is a bit banged up but continues to play well enough for us to win. There are still 4 undefeated teams and 2 besides us with only one loss. Week 7 Denver (5-1) at Dallas (5-1) Broncos win 20-13. The Broncos shut down Linkous (21-27-0) and used a late drive to take the win in a defensive struggle. We never got going and gave them great field position with three turnovers. David Strickland had 1.5 sacks to push his season total to a respectable 6.5. Week 8 Washington (3-4) at Dallas (5-2) Cowboys win 14-11. Linkous (25-137-1) was big again and went over 1000 yards for the season. TE Kurt Stevenson (5-105-1) was our top receiver as Winter (14-30-231-1-2) struggled but came through in the clutch. Nolan Jude had an interception and David Strickland had 1.5 of our teams 5 sacks. With Philadelphia at 4-3 we hold a good edge in the division race at the halfway point. We'll be without DT Duane Horn for a few weeks due to a stretched knee ligament leaving us perilously thin on the defensive line. Week 9 Dallas (6-2) at Detroit (5-3) Cowboys win 27-10. Linkous (32-170-1) rides again! We intercept the Lions five time with CB Bryan Laxdal grabbing three. Winters (15-20-184-2-0) dumps a few into the flats to change things up and we cruise. Kent Dunn, the leagues most talented runningback , gets just eight carries. We’ll rest our horses next week and get ready for the final stretch. Week 10 Bye St. Louis and Pittsburgh are still undefeated at 9-0. There are a lot of teams near the top this year. Week 11 Dallas (7-2) at San Diego (4-5) Cowboys win 21-7. Another solid performance by Dave Linkous (24-112-1) locks up his best season ever. Raymond Winters (17-29-180-2-0) continues to do what he needs to as the Rex Aldrige (9-97-1) resurgence tour presses on. Bryan Laxdal gets his fourth interception of the year. DE David Strickland and TE Kurt Stevenson will both miss a few games with injuries. St. Louis and Pittsburgh both make it to 10-0. Week 12 Dallas (8-2) at NY Giants (5-5) Cowboys tie 17-17. We get a FG with 0:14 left but neither team produces in OT for the Cowboys first ever tie game. We did miss a 46 yard FG at 4:49 in OT but that was the only chance either team had. Dave Linkous (29-183-0) continues his super performance. Winters (20-33-221-2-1) played well hitting Rex Aldrige (8-100-2) for both of our touchdowns. DT Alan Mathews led the defense with 8 tackles and Bryan Laxdal had another interception. Pittsburgh is the lone undefeated team as the Rams fell to the Falcons 45-25. We hold a three game edge in the division ahead of the Giants and the Redskins both at 5-5-1. Week 13 Chicago (9-2) at Dallas (8-2-1) Cowboys win 31-3. We embarrass last seasons Super Bowl champs in a game decided by field position. We played short field ball with Linkous (23-69-1) splitting time with Jeff Grantham (12-62-1). Winters (10-17-126-2-0) posted small numbers but was effective. Rex Aldrige (4-69-2) continued his good production. Bryan Laxdal and Charles Merrick both grabbed an interception as the defense continued to play good team ball. With the Rams at 11-1 and the Bears at 9-3 we still have a lot of work to do if we want a bye week. Our three game edge in the division should hold up. The Steelers are now 12-0 and the ’72 Dolphins are flying to every game trying to work some voodoo. Week 14 Minnesota (6-6) AT Dallas (9-2-1) Vikings win 23-21. The Vikings go 88 yards in the final 0:42 and get the win on a 1 yard TD pass at the gun. Linkous (24-101-0) continues his march towards the single season rushing record of 1786 yards (Kent Dunn, Detroit, 2011) and needs just 117 more. Winters (12-21-164-1-0) was steady and Aldrige (4-73-1) matched him. A 2nd quarter missed field goal and a fumble on the Vikings 25 at 6:07 of the 4th quarter give us a few spots to think about what might have been. The 5-8 Week 15 Dallas (9-3-1) at Arizona (6-7) Cowboys win 31-23. Dave Linkous (24-114-1) ends up 2 yards shy of tying the single season mark while backup Jeff Grantham (9-70-1) posts good numbers. Raymond Winters (18-34-272-2-1) plays well and WR Sam Cherney (7-123-2) emerges from a season long slump. S Sherman Taylor has an interception, LB Ethan Ruffin notches two sacks, and Brady Hoover leads the defense with 8 tackles. We have a lock on the division but still need some help to get a bye week. DT Duane Horn looks to be out for the duration with a dislocated knee. Week 16 Dallas (10-3-1) at Washington (6-7-1) Cowboys win 13-7. We sputter to a win in a defensive battle. Nolan Jude provided our only TD on a 37 yard interception return in the 1st quarter. The Redskins TD came on a blocked punt. Dave Linkous (22-80-0) got the rushing record. We got a scare when Raymond Winters (5-10-33-0-1) went down but rookie QB Damon Bernstein (6-9-85-0-0) played well in relief. Brady Hoover had 9 tackles, David Strickland had 1.5 sacks playing with a broken hand, and Keith Shepherd added an interception. We need a win and a Chicago loss to lock up the #2 seed so the horses will all go next week. Week 17 Philadelphia (6-9) at Dallas (11-3-1) Cowboys win 35-10. With the Bears falling to the Steelers in an early game we knew that a win meant a week of rest and the team responded. Dave Linkous (24-249-2) ran like a man possessed to finish the year at 2113 yards! Rookie FB Rick Grider (2-85-1) and RB Jeff Grantham (11-64-1) contributed to the team record 412 rushing yards. S Sherman Taylor had a 64 yard interception return TD and led the team with 7 tackles. We’ll tend to our wounded and await our opponent following the bye week. With the Steelers at 15-1 and the Rams at 14-1-1 the playoffs will be very interesting this year. |
|
|
|
|
01-28-2001, 02:27 PM
|
#17 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2013 Post Season
Wild Card Round Atlanta (9-7) at Charlotte (10-6) Panthers win 20-3. Minnesota (9-7) at Chicago (12-4) Bears win 41-7. NY Jets (10-6) at Denver (11-5) Broncos win 38-10. Kansas City (8-8) at Indianapolis (10-6) Chiefs win 17-10. Divisional Playoffs Charlotte (11-6) at St. Louis (14-1-1) Rams win 34-3. Denver (12-5) at Oakland (11-5) Broncos win 20-13. Kansas City (9-8) at Pittsburgh (15-1) Steelers win 30-9. Chicago (13-4) at Dallas (12-3-1) The Chicago Bears come to visit looking to avenge a 31-3 thrashing in Week 13. They have a very potent offense with QB Tim Couch (2012 NFL MVP) and WR Max “Buster” Crabb (112 catches, 1789 yards this year) leading the way. DE Buddy Alloy who has amassed 128.5 sacks in just 10 years leads the defense. Two former Cowboys also figure in the equation. S Alonzo Shannon (2012 Super Bowl MVP) and return man WR Edgar Halton both are strong contributors. The weather is fair and 51 degrees for this monster of a game. We win the toss and elect to receive. It’s three and out for the Cowboys on the first possession as Jeff Grantham gets nailed in the backfield on 3rd & 1. Chicago takes over on their 28 after Alonzo Shannon calls for a fair catch. Chicago generates a first down on a Tim Couch third down scramble. That first down is all they get but we lose S Nolan Jude in the series. We field the punt at our 15 and get to work. Unfortunately Dave Linkous fumbles the ball and the Bears get it at our 17 yard line. On first down Couch drops back and hits Kenyon Malone in the end zone on a busted coverage play. Not a good start. Chicago 7, Dallas 0. We answer on the next series with a 77 yard drive capped by a Raymond Winters TD pass to TE Bart Gaines. Linkous provided 45 of the yards with some very determined running. Dallas 7, Chicago 7. The quarter ends their as Chicago goes nowhere in two plays following the kickoff. The 2nd quarter opens with the completion of Chicago’s three and out. We take over on our 38 after a short punt. We get a quick first down but suffer a Buddy Alloy sack to give us 3rd & 16. Rex Aldrige drops the third down pass but gets the better of a verbal exchange with CB Jorge Farmer. Farmer takes a swing and gets tossed. Unfortunately it’s still 4th & 1 and we punt. Taking over on their 29 Chicago goes Couch to Crabb all the way down the field for a TD with a scary 10 play drive. Bears 14, Cowboys 7. We answer with Linkous, Grantham, and Grider to set up a 12 yard touchdown pass from Winters to Sam Cherney. Dallas 14, Chicago 14. With 1:40 left in the half the Bears get nothing done. We take one pop before the half but feel good about going in with a 14-14 tie. The Bears take the second half kickoff and drive slowly down to our 15 in an excellent ball control demonstration. Couch misses Crabb in the end zone on first down. Whew! On second down DT Alan Mathews buries Glenn Springer 8 yards into the backfield on a toss sweep. On third down David Strickland gets through and wraps up Tim Couch with a critical sack. The Bears decide to go for it on 4th & 23 from our 28. Don’t trust your kicker? It’s second verse, same as the first as Couch gets a “Remember me?” from Strickland and the ball goes over on downs. We feel good that the Bears got nothing out of a 8:02 drive. Of course we go three and out and punt it back. We trade three and outs and give it back to Chicago at their 28 with 3:18 in the 3rd quarter. They manage a couple of first downs and the quarter ends with them facing a 4th & 1 at our 40 yard line. The Bears go for it on 4th & 1 to open the 4th quarter. DE Jessie Carlson and DT Alan Mathews blow by the line and sack Couch on our 46 to give us good field position. We use a couple of Linkous runs and a nice 20 yard catch and run by Rex Aldrige to get to the Chicago 27. Unfortunately our bag of trick plays backfires as we're called for an illegal forward pass on a double throw. Duane Mattingly’s 49 yard attempt drifts wide right and the scores stays 14-14. The Bears go three and out with another sack by Strickland. Their punter hits the perfect coffin corner punt to give the ball to us at our 1 yard line. Dave Linkous digs us out of the hole with two runs out to the 10. FB Rick Grider gets us the first down out to our 22 on a nice swing pass. On first down Winters lets fly and hits Sam Cherney in stride for a 50 yard gain to the Bears 28. We get no more on the drive and Mattingly over compensates sending his 46 yard FG attempt wide left. Drat, two chances lost. The Bears take over on their 36 and push the ball to our 41 before they’re forced to punt. With 2:58 to play we get the ball on our 14 yard line. We get nine yards, but can’t convert on 3rd & inches and punt back. With 1:22 left and Chicago on their 43 our defense will have to hold. They do thanks to three bad throws by Couch and we’ll get one last chance. On 1st & 10 from our 3 Winters hits Cherney who weaves out to the 32 but fails to get out of bounds. We get one last shot but Winters is dropped by a blitzing LB Marco Goldman and this one’s going to overtime! We win the toss and get the first chance. A holding penalty on the kickoff puts us back at our 9 yard line. We misfire on 1st and 2nd down but Winters finds Linkous for 14 on 3rd down as the fans breathe a sigh of relief. A QB draw and a bad throw give us 3rd & 8 again but Winters hits Atkins on an out pattern just past the marker and it’s 1st & 10 at the Dallas 34. We get eight on a Winters to Gaines toss on first down. Winters scrambles on second down and moves the chains again. Linkous advances the ball to the Chicago 47 with two short runs and we face 3rd & 2. Winters hands the ball to Jeff Grantham off right guard and he bursts into the open field. No one lays a finger on him and 47 yards later the game is over. The little heralded backup is met in the end zone by the entire team and the Cowboys advance to the Conference Finals. Cowboys win 20-14. Linkous (32-119-0) is awarded the Game MVP but turns it over to Grantham (6-62-1). Winters (14-25-211-2-0) again played well enough to get the job done. Cherney (5-73-1) and Atkins (3-66-0) were the top receivers. Strickland is officially awarded 2.5 sacks and Brady Hoover led the defense with 7 tackles and 6 assists. We’ll face the 15-1-1 Rams at the RCA Dome in the Conference Finals. We’re going to be without TE Kurt Stevenson. S Nolan Jude and DT Duane Horn are listed as doubtful but may play. Conference Championships Denver (13-5) at Pittsburgh (16-1) Steelers win 34-12. Dallas (13-3-1) at St. Louis (15-1-1) Welcome to the big time. We travel to St. Louis to face a mighty Rams team. QB Paul Mosby, a 13 year veteran out of UCLA, leads them. Mosby has been unhappy with the Rams organization but they keep franchising him as he continues to perform well. His favorite target is WR Dwayne Derosa who has been stellar since coming over from the Falcons three years ago. Their passing game will go up against our unit which rated 3rd in the NFL in pass defense. The defense looks unspectacular with the exception of LB Mitchell Johnstone, a perennial All-Pro. Though apparently not talented, the Rams have yielded a stingy 99 yards a game rushing. We’ll see how they fare against our 192 YPG attack. It’s strength against strength in the battle for the NFC championship. We get the opening kickoff but do nothing with it. A short punt and a good return starts the Rams at our 49 yard line. After a simple running play on first down Mosby drops back and hits WR Kenyon Burton streaking down the sideline for the games first score. Uh oh! That looked easy. Rams 7, Cowboys 0. We get a nice pass to Sam Cherney and a couple of good runs by Dave Linkous but get smashed on a toss sweep on 1st & 10 from our 48. We can’t convert and punt back to the Rams. Rex Aldrige is playing the gunner role for the playoffs and nails the return man at the Rams 14 yard line but comes off the field with a broken nose and his return is doubtful. We allow the Rams one first down but then stiffen and force them to punt. Once again we’re not able to generate any offense and we send the ball right back. The Rams start from their 20 and quickly move to our 40 yard line with Dwayne Derosa figuring in almost every play. On 2nd & 10 from our 40 DE’s Strickland and Carlson meet at the QB for a nice sack. On the next play Mosby drops back, still looking woozy, and is dropped by LB Ethan Ruffin. The Rams punt and the quarter ends with the score St. Louis 7, Dallas 0. We start the 2nd quarter meekly with a three and out followed by a 27 yard punt which is returned to our 31 yard line. The Rams get it to our 14 but are forced to settle for a FG. Rams 10, Cowboys 0. George Connaroe fields the kickoff and gets back to our 34 but the ball pops loose and the Rams recover. Great field position again. The shell shocked Cowboy defense yields a touchdown on four straight running plays and it looks like we’re in real trouble. Rams 17, Cowboys 0. Starting from our 23 we get two good runs out of Linkous and a 17 completion from Winters to Atkins to put us in Rams territory. We falter on 1st and 2nd down. On 3rd and 12 Winters tries to go downfield but doesn’t see S Chad Szabo who picks off the pass and returns it to midfield. Our defense holds the Rams but we get the ball back on our three after a very nice coffin corner kick. Linkous gets one on 1st & 10 and then makes a beautiful move on a screen pass to get by a defender. The 15 yard completion gives us some breathing room. Student body left from the 19 nets another 1st down as Linkous drags a defender just past the marker. Cherney breaks open on 1st & 10 from our 30 and is not dragged down until he hits the Rams 42. We get 4 on a completion to TE Bart Gaines on 1st down. Cherney drops a long ball attempt on 2nd down. On 3rd & 6 WR Phil Ernst gets close to the marker and the measurement goes our way. Linkous goes student body right down to the Rams 24 and we’ve got 2nd & 2. ’Jet’ Atkins has the ball ripped away from him on a post pattern but it’s ruled as an incompletion as the Rams fans protest loudly. After an illegal formation penalty Winters 3rd down pass for Cherney sails long and we’re forced to settle for a Duane Mattingly 46 yard FG. Rams 17, Cowboys 3. The Rams start from their 32 with 2:07 left in the half. Mosby spreads passes around nicely and they quickly move to our 23. They get 9 on 1st down. David Strickland and Duane Horn are both on the sideline being tended by trainers and the Rams try the run against our depleted lien on 2nd & 1. FB Drew Emerson gets to our 8 but coughs up the ball and the crowd goes silent. TE Cornell Cash comes out of the pile with the pigskin and the Rams continue. With 0:18 seconds left they decide to take the chip shot and a 17 point lead into the locker room. Apparently the kicker isn’t informed of the plan and sails the 25 yard attempt wide left. We play safe and take a knee to end the half. Rams 17, Cowboys, 3. The Rams get the ball on their 20 to start the 3rd quarter and drive down to our 30 on catches by Derosa and Stan Farrar and some nice running by Emerson. Their kicker Allen Davis misses a 46 yard attempt wide right this time and we’re still in the game. We start from our 37 but go backwards and have to punt. The Rams waste no time coming right back down the field on five straight passes before Emerson takes it in from ten yards out. Rams 24, Cowboys 3. We again go backwards on our possession and the Rams start from our 49 after the punt. Four plays later Mosby hits TE Cornell Cash for a 39 yard touchdown and the game looks to be over. Rams 31, Cowboys 3. On the next series we get a nice 24 yard toss to Cherney but the 3rd quarter ends with us facing 3rd & 20 from our 47 after a sack and a penalty. We start the 4th quarter with an incomplete pass and a punt. The Rams don’t go anywhere and we get the ball back at our 35. Conarroe loses one on a WR screen on 1st & 10. On 2nd & 11 Winters hits Atkins for 17 yards to the Rams 49. RB David Vila loses one on 1st & 10. On 2nd down Jeff Grantham scoots around right end and is hauled down on the Rams 13 after a nice 37 yard burst. On the next play Winter hits Atkins on a fade and we’re in business again with 10:21 left. Rams 31, Cowboys 10. We force the Rams to punt and take over on our 47 at 9:12 remaining. After two bad throws Winters hits Cherney, Atkins, and Conarroe in succession before going back to Cherney for a 4 yard touchdown. St. Louis 31, Dallas 17. We kick away and then hold the Rams to get the ball back at our 45 with 4:40 on the clock. Winters gets 5 to Conarroe on 1st down. His 2nd down attempt is knocked away from Cherney but he goes right back to him on 3rd & 5 and gets 14 to the Rams 36. Winters overthrows Atkins on 1st down but goes again to Cherney for 16 on the next play. Winters hangs in the pocket too long on 1st & 10 from the Rams 20 and is dropped for a 6 yard loss by a blitzing CB Rod Houston. On 2nd & 16 he hits Cherney who puts a nice move on Houston and wins a foot race to paydirt. Rams 31, Cowboys 24. With three minutes left the home crowd is quiet as Dallas lines up for an obvious onside kick. Mattingly strikes the ball well and RB David Vila hauls it in. The RCA a dome sounds like a morgue. From our 42 we get nothing on a reverse on 1st & 10. A 2nd & 10 toss sweep to Grantham backs us up a yard. Winters looks long on 3rd & 11 but is forced to come back underneath to Cherney who only gets 2 yards. On 4th & 9 from our 43 Winters lets fly for George Conarroe but S Floyd Connolly puts his hand in at the last minute and the ball goes over on downs. With 1:50 left we burn our timeouts but the Rams manage a 1st down and it’s all over but the cryin’. They tack on a FG at the gun to advance to the Super Bowl. Rams win 34-24. We looked ragged for the first three quarters before Winters (21-40-265-3-1) and Cherney (9-148-2) decided to carry the team and almost engineered a game winning comeback. Our running game only netted us 72 yards on the day in a major disappointment. The key to the game was field position with the Rams starting at midfield or better on seven drives. The league gets its dream matchup with the 16-1-1 Rams against the 17-1 Steelers in the Super Bowl. Super Bowl St. Louis (16-1-1) at Pittsburgh (17-1) Steelers win 41-16. The big match up fizzled as the Steelers scored on seven straight drives to win going away. Neither team had a turnover in a game which Steelers QB Trent Gaines (26-38-378-2-0) used as a personal highlight reel. Awards Our running game predictably landed us a lot of slots in the end of season awards. RB Dave Linkous (376-2113-15) got Offensive Player of the Year and All-Pro 1st Team honors for his record setting. Steelers QB Trent Gaines (291-449-3610-26-8) beat him for NFL MVP after his Super Bowl MVP performance. FB Rick Grider (50-260-1) got All-Pro 1st Team honors in his rookie season primarily based on his 16 of 36 KRB performance. G Jumbo Landers was named to the All-Pro 1st Team with 45 KRB’s and only 2 sacks allowed. T Johnnie Davidson also made All-Pro 1st Team with 37 KRB’s and 5 sacks allowed. G Preston Peters was named All-Pro 2nd Team with 34 KRB’s and 6 sacks allowed. LB Brady Hoover made All-Pro 2nd Team with 88 tackles, 46 assists, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions. Highlights At 12-3-1 with the third best record in the league we have to be pretty pleased. Our suddenly massive running game was surprising (192.1 YPG with Arizona second at 154.7) but welcome. We still haven’t got to the big game, but that doesn’t seem out of the question anymore. We head into next season with lots of optimism. QB Raymond Winters (229-392-2785-21-14) posted a solid 83.2 rating. WR Sam Cherney (58-769-4) had an off year. WR Rex Aldrige (78-1081-8) was sharp in his 12th season. T Conrad Franz deserves mention for his 35 of 86 KRB performance to complement his three All-Pro buds. DE David Strickland had 11.5 sacks, 2 blocks, and 6 hurries for a 6.0 pass rush percentage. At 135.5 lifetime sacks he’s just 1.5 behind Jevon Kearse. LB Ethan Ruffin had 73 tackles, 22 assists, and 4 sacks. CB Charles Merrick had 3 interceptions and 8 defensed passes against just 18 completions to earn a 41.4 PDQ CB Bryan Laxdal had 6 interceptions, 2 defensed passes, and allowed just 9 completions for a 46.8 PDQ in the nickel back role. S Nolan Jude had 4 interceptions and 66 tackles. S Sherman Taylor had 3 interceptions and 77 tackles. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-28-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-30-2001, 03:32 PM
|
#18 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2014 Dallas Cowboys
Preseason Retirements None again! Staff Scout Ike Reavis contract is up this year. There are no terrific talents available so we move to lock him up. His new contract makes him the fifth highest paid scout in the league and he signs quickly. Free Agency With about $11 million in cap room and no earth shattering talents available we decide to deal away our Round 1(4) this year. It’s packaged with our Round 1(2015) for San Diego’s Round 1(2015), Round 2(2015), and Round 1(2016). A good deal for us and a relative bargain for the hapless Chargers. There are just a few good Talents available to us in free agency. RB Broderick Lanier is a standout but with Dave Linkous in house we’ll pass. Former Cowboy P Blaine Baldridge is also available and we’ll try to get him. As for our own guys, S Sherman Taylor and K Duane Mattingly must be retained. We’ll have to struggle to get them under cap and also lock up franchise LB Brady Hoover but it should be doable. Here’s our list of FA’s.
We start with a $3.3M/2Y offer to P Blaine Baldridge. Lanier is getting offers approaching $10M/Y…way out of our price range. We also throw out a lowball $8.5M/2Y offer to S Ethan Anderson of Augusta. In Week 3 Anderson goes to Cincinnati for $15.52M/3Y. In Week 6 we up our Baldridge offer sheet to $3.6M/2Y. With lots of other bidders in the race I’d be willing to go about as high as $2M/Y for the Ray Guy of the 21st Century. He signs in Week 9. We leave free agency right there. We’ll conserve our assets for the draft. Draft We have a few targets in the draft. We’ll look at LB’s and WR’s in Round 1 and CB, DT, and DE with our Round 4, 5, and 7 picks. 1(32). Quinn ‘Squid’ Camilleri, LB (23/60), Army A very good run stopping and pass coverage LB. Chosen over a pass rush specialist. 4(134). Byron Vasquez, CB (14/45), Texas A&M A good balanced CB for the #3 or #4 spot. 5(168). Ricardo Wolfe, DT (23/23), Baylor Ready to go for the #2 or #3 spot. 7(224). Anthony Hildebrandt, CB (26/26), Texas A&M Backfield mate to our Round 4 pick. Great ball hawker. The biggest task is signing enough folks to make the season work. As it is we end up with 45 players on the roster and just $80,000 of cap room. I have to give up a starter! The victim ends up being T Conrad Franz. His departure clears about $4.5 million in cap room, just enough to get the job done. It will leave the right side of my line very weak, but we’ll have to make it work somehow. Training Camp We stay the course with a 4-3 defense and big use of the nickel package to maximize CB Bryan Laxdal. Our offense is still I, Pro, and Single Back with big emphasis on 3rd Down and Red Zone. We get no breakouts in camp. Still haven’t had a big one in this career. Roster
Exhibition Games We send the rookies out to war and they come back 0-4. We experimented with some shifted positions and learned that the unconventional just doesn’t work. So much for recreating the 46 Defense. We head into the season feeling that 11 wins and a Division title isn’t out of the question. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 01-30-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
01-30-2001, 03:45 PM
|
#19 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
It’s been a while since I posted the talent trackers so here goes.
Here’s the Alma Mater list by position.
And here is the money chart.
|
|
|
|
|
02-02-2001, 09:08 AM
|
#20 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2014 Regular Season
Week 1 Indianapolis (0-0) at Dallas (0-0) Colts win 16-13. A rematch of Super Bowl V and it ends in the same score! Neither team managed much in the way of offense. We missed a FG in the 2nd quarter and then gave the ball over on downs the next series. The Colts turned the good field position from both into FG’s. No standouts good or bad in this game. Week 2 Washington (0-1) at Dallas (0-1) Cowboys win 21-9. RB Dave Linkous (22-131-0) got on track and had a receiving TD. Rex Aldrige (6-98-0) led receivers. S Nolan Jude had our first interception of the year on the Redskins opening drive. Our 21 points actually came from 3 FG’s and 2 TD’s with both conversions failing. Week 3 Arizona (2-0) at Dallas (1-1) Cardinals win 20-17. We never got the offense going and the Cardinals used a consistent rushing attack to take us to overtime and then win it. Rex Aldrige (5-104-1) was our only offensive standout while LB Brady Hoover led the defense with 10 tackles and 2 assists. We need to find the ability to win the close games if we’re going to match last years success. Week 4 Dallas (1-2) at NY Jets (2-1) Jets win 34-13. We committed 6 turnovers with QB Raymond Winters (13-28-135-2-4) accounting for 5. No hope of winning the game when you do that. We’re now in a bad position and face a season long fight to dig out. Week 5 NY Giants (3-1) at Dallas (1-3) Cowboys win 28-10. The rushing tandem of Dave Linkous (24-94-0) and Jeff Grantham (6-118-2) did us well. We got 3 sacks from DT Duane Horn and 2.5 from DE David Strickland in a 7 sack team effort for the defense. K Duane Mattingly was 5 for 5 on FG’s. Week 6 Dallas (2-3) at Philadelphia (3-2) Cowboys win 23-20. We used a Brady Hoover 75 yard INT return TD and a FG by Duane Mattingly at the gun to grab an important road win. Dave Linkous (31-155-1) was back on track and Nolan Jude added another interception. Week 7 Bye Week 8 Dallas (3-3) at Washington (2-5) Redskins win 27-6. The Skins shut down our running game and passed the ball at will in a disappointing loss. We didn’t have a standout player though Bryan Laxdal did manage an interception. With Arizona at 7-1 the division title is almost out of reach. We’ll hope to run the table and sneak into the playoffs by the Wild Card route. Week 9 Miami (4-3) at Dallas (3-4) Cowboys win 24-21. Dave Linkous (25-142-1) ran well and got another receiving TD. Rex Aldrige (7-85-0) and Sam Cherney (5-72-1) both looked good as well. QB Raymond Winters (18-33-218-2-2) still hasn’t found the groove this year. Nolan Jude led the defense with 7 tackles and an interception. Sam Cherney has struggled since taking the flanker position last year and we’ll try moving him back to split end. Hopefully that will wake up our passing game. Both Brady Hoover and David Strickland are playing on sprained ankles. We hope they hold up. Week 10 Chicago (6-2) at Dallas (4-4) Bears win 30-27. A good day from Dave Linkous (22-225-2) wasn’t enough as Tim Couch rallied the Bears for 24 points in the 4th quarter. After a Duane Mattingly miss in OT (his second miss of the day) the Bears drove the short field for the winning kick. Bryan Laxdal provided the defensive highlights with 2 interceptions. Week 11 Dallas (4-5) at St. Louis (8-1) Cowboys win 19-13. We waged a defensive battle with the Rams and got a surprising win. Raymond Winters (16-24-223-1-0) played well finding Sam Cherney (6-111-0) on several long passes. Too bad we didn’t manage this in last year’s NFC championship game. Week 12 Dallas (5-5) at Arizona (8-2) Cardinals win 9-6. We threw three interceptions and missed a FG to lose a defensive battle. No one looked good in this game. We need a lot of help now if we’re going to make the playoffs. Running the table may not be good enough. We’ll be without Dave Linkous and David Strickland for at least two weeks. Week 13 Philadelphia (7-4) at Dallas (5-6) Cowboys win 33-3. David Vila (22-93-1) ran well with both Linkous and Grantham hurt. The story was the defense which played great team ball and held the Eagles to 134 yards total offense. Week 14 Dallas (6-6) at NY Giants (8-4) Giants win 31-21. The Giants beat up our defense in a game that wasn’t as close as the score. Jeff Grantham (17-89-1) ran well and Keith Shepherd had 10 tackles and an interception. We need to win the lottery twice while getting struck by lightning to make the playoffs. We’re not mathematically eliminated though. Week 15 Dallas (6-7) at Buffalo (5-8) Cowboys win 17-3. Dave Linkous (28-95-0) churns out some tough yards and backup QB Damon Bernstein (11-14-126-1-1) plays well in relief of Raymond Winters (13-22-138-1-1). Sam Cherney (8-119-1) is the feature receiver. The defense provides interceptions by Nolan Jude, Charles Merrick, and Bryan Laxdal. With Augusta and Philadelphia both losing we close the gap in the race for the last Wild Card slot. Week 16 Charlotte (5-9) at Dallas (7-7) Cowboys win 32-3. We get another great defensive effort capped by a Brady Hoover 69 yard interception return TD. Dave Linkous (14-131-0) is explosive. Sam Cherney (4-87-1) and Rex Aldirge (4-75-1) both find the end zone. Nolan Jude adds an interception. Here’s the breakdown on the race for the final Wild Card slot. Philadelphia controls their destiny at 9-6. Augusta needs a win and an Eagles loss. The Cowboys need a win and a loss by both Philly and Augusta. Minnesota needs a win and a loss by the Eagles, Cowboys, and Thrashers. Week 17 Dallas (8-7) at Detroit (10-5) Cowboys win 20-17. We get out played but turnovers kill the Lions and we manage to win on a FG with 0:07 on the clock. We get losses by the Eagles and the Thrashers and back into the playoffs. Coach Richard Benton’s lottery winnings cover the hospital bill after a near electrocution as the Gatorade celebration didn’t mesh well with a faulty headset (hey lightning in the Silverdome wouldn’t be believable). We’ll face the Bears in the Wild Card round. A win there would put us against the Rams. Sounds like the 2013 playoffs all over again. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 02-03-2001).] |
|
|
|
|
02-02-2001, 09:54 AM
|
#21 |
|
n00b
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anthem, Arizona
|
2014 Post Season
Wild Card Round Arizona (10-6) at Detroit (10-6) Lions win 30-24. Baltimore (9-7) at Seattle (8-8) Ravens win 23-16. Cincinnati (9-7) at NY Jets (9-7) Bengals win 22-13. Dallas (9-7) at Chicago (11-5) Bears win 27-9. We manage three early drives but get only a FG for the effort. The Bears run off 20 straight points before our offense wakes up again for another two FG’s in the 4th quarter. Our running game was totally shut down. The Bears avenge their playoff loss last year and advance. Divisional Playoffs Baltimore (10-7) at Pittsburgh (12-4) Steelers win 41-17. Chicago (12-5) at NY Giants (12-4) Giants win 21-0. Cincinnati (10-7) at Indianapolis (10-6) Colts win 20-17. Detroit (11-6) at St. Louis (13-3) Rams win 35-7. Conference Championships Indianapolis (11-6) at Pittsburgh (13-4) Steelers win 34-3. NY Giants (13-4) at St. Louis (14-3) Rams win 40-0. Super Bowl Pittsburgh (14-4) at St. Louis (15-3) Steelers win 35-21 in a Super Bowl rematch. Pittsburgh QB Trent Gaines (29-35-307-4-1) had another phenomenal game and grabbed his second consecutive Super Bowl MVP. The season line for the two Super Bowl QB’s are worth comparing. Remarkably similar.
Awards K Duane Mattingly gets All-Pro 1st Team mention after kicking 36 of 45 field goals and 26 of 27 extra points. G Jumbo Landers is named All-Pro 2nd Team for his 30 of 76 KRB performance with just 4 sacks allowed. Highlights We couldn’t maintain our running game at the 2013 level and our performance showed it. Our playoff appearance was bittersweet as we didn’t feel like the spot was earned. This seasons schedule was much tougher than any year so far. In our division the Giants (12-4), Cardinals (10-6), and Eagles (9-7) all joined us with winning records. We’ll have the majority of our key players returning next season and we hope to continue our overall success for another year or two before the flood of retirements start. QB Raymond Winters (215-421-2741-18-20) didn’t fare well after throwing 50 TD’s to 28 interceptions the previous two years. We did try a much more vertical passing game though our offense continues to be primarily run oriented. RB Dave Linkous (254-1338-4) finished just 82 yards behind Detroit’s Kent Dunn for the rushing title despite playing only 14 games. His career yardage is now 12029, 2nd only to Olandis Gary’s 12778. Backup Jeff Grantham (108-510-4) also played well in limited duty. WR Sam Cherney (66-970-6) was solid and consistent this year. WR Rex Aldrige (51-749-4) continued his solid play over 13 games. His 12440 yards receiving is 3rd all time behind Randy Moss (12862) and Kevin Johnson (12567). DE Jessie Carlson had 53 tackles, 16 assists, 11.5 sacks, 3 blocks and 9 hurries to anchor the defensive line. CB Bryan Laxdal started 10 games at S or CB and notched 5 interceptions while posting a team leading 44.6 PDQ. S Nolan Jude led the team in tackles (70) and interceptions (6) despite playing only 14 games. It’s on to 2015 with hopes of our first Super Bowl appearance. [This message has been edited by Blackwind (edited 02-03-2001).] |
|
|
|
 |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
