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Rough Day In Big D

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

Player Of The Game

He doesn't usually get the notoriety that DeMarcus Ware and Zach Thomas get, but the Cowboys probably don't win this game without LB Bradie James. James was a big part of a Dallas pass rush that continually collapsed the pocket around Jeff Garcia, especially in the fourth quarter. He finished the day with six tackles, second only to Thomas, and had one sack, one tackle for a loss, two quarterback hits and a pass defended. Dallas needed to step up in a big way to break out of its slump Sunday, and James led a defensive unit that did that from start to finish.

Unsung Hero

It might go largely unnoticed, but second-year DE Gaines Adams had one of the best games of his career Sunday. He finished with just three tackles, but two of them were for a loss. He also had two sacks and two quarterback hits. He was the force the Bucs have always envisioned him being Sunday, and he was one of the big reasons Cowboys QB Brad Johnson didn't complete a pass longer than 14 yards. Honorable mention goes to Bucs S Sabby Piscitelli, who replaced an injured Jermaine Phillips and had five tackles, including one for a loss.

Quirky Play

The Cowboys' pass rush was really starting to hum early in the fourth quarter, and Jeff Garcia nearly paid for it on a second-and-6 play from his 46. His throw across the line was tipped into the air by DE Jason Hatcher, but Michael Clayton saved the Bucs from disaster by grabbing the ball and making a 3-yard gain before being tackled by CB Orlando Scandrick. The Bucs wound up punting the ball two plays later, but Clayton's catch kept the Cowboys from closing out the game early.

Key Decision

The Cowboys were reeling, having lost two in a row, and it wasn't just because QB Tony Romo was hurt. The Dallas defense had allowed six touchdowns in the two games before Sunday, so Coach Wade Phillips decided to take a larger role in the defensive play calling. He didn't wipe defensive coordinator Brian Stewart out of the picture entirely, but Phillips' calls created a situation that allowed the Cowboys to get pressure on the quarterback while prohibiting the Bucs from taking shots downfield or into the end zone when short passes weren't going to get them the yards they needed.

Crunching The Numbers

The Bucs under Coach Jon Gruden are 3-2 against the Cowboys. ... The Bucs were penalized seven times for 58 yards, including four times for 27 yards on the Cowboys' touchdown drive at the end of the first half. ... The Cowboys' Ware did not have a sack Sunday, ending his streak of consecutive games with a sack at 10. ... The 48 rushing yards for the Bucs was their second-lowest total of the season. The Bucs were held to 47 yards against the Bears. ... Barrett Ruud led the Bucs defense with 12 tackles. ... The 48 rushing yards for the Bucs were the fewest allowed by the Cowboys under Phillips.

Injury Update

Jermaine Phillips never returned after suffering a right arm injury in the first half. His arm was in a sling after the game, but the Bucs will wait until today to reveal the nature of the injury.

Our Take

The Bucs lost a lot of games like this when Tony Dungy was their coach. The difference is that Dungy's teams weren't anywhere near as talented on offense as this one. These Bucs have the offensive weapons to be a force, even in the red zone, but they can't seem to put the ball in the end zone when scoring chances are presented. A lack of aggression may be part of the problem. The Bucs seem content to dump the ball off to their backs and use a short passing game, but they might have won this one had they taken a few shots at the end zone and allowed some of their supposed playmakers to make some plays against a battered and desperate Cowboys secondary.

Quotable

•"We're playing good football; we're still a dangerous team. We just let this one slip through our hands." - Bucs WR Michael Clayton

•"We had unfortunate penalties and not enough execution when the game was on the line." - Bucs QB Jeff Garcia

•"We came out and moved the chains, but when the field gets short we have to do a better job of making plays." - Bucs RB Earnest Graham

•"This wasn't a season-saver, but it was a must-win for us right now." - Cowboys LB Bradie James

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