TK Posted November 3, 2003 Share Posted November 3, 2003 http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/03/sports/football/03COWB.html?ex=1068440400&en=c6fd3ae943312c65&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE Cowboys Show Who's for Real By RAY GLIER RVING, Tex., Nov. 2 — While Washington Redskins Coach Steve Spurrier was bent over toward the ground, hands on knees and obviously exasperated, his second-year quarterback was having his left hand examined by trainers after another pummeling. The National Football League is not cooperating with the Redskins' $5 million-a-year coach and his quarterback-propelled offense, and it is beginning to look ugly. The Redskins lost their fourth straight game Sunday, 21-14, as the Dallas Cowboys made Spurrier, considered an offensive genius in college football, grimace over and over on the sideline. Washington, after a 3-1 start, is 3-5 and plays host next week to Seattle, which is 6-2. "We're certainly behind the 8-ball," Spurrier said. "We have to concentrate on playing a lot better. We're struggling." Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey was sacked four times and knocked down on many other occasions as the Cowboys overwhelmed the Washington offense by blitzing. Ramsey completed 16 of 30 passes, but for only 147 yards. Running back Troy Hambrick led the Cowboys with 100 yards on 21 carries. The Cowboys did all they could to help Washington come out of its slump by committing four turnovers, dropping passes and committing early penalties. The Redskins' only first-half score came after a Dallas turnover deep in its territory in the first quarter. The Dallas defense had a lot to do with the Redskins' inefficiency. Fast linebackers and the hard-hitting safety Roy Williams dominated the Washington offense, especially on third-down conversions, when the Redskins went 1 for 11. The Cowboys rank first in the N.F.L. in total defense, which is not what the Redskins needed to play against in the midst of Spurrier's self-doubt the last 10 days. Spurrier has waffled between opening up his attack with downfield passes as he did at the University of Florida, or bowing to critics who say he does not do enough to protect Ramsey. During its bye week, the Redskins brought in Joe Bugel, the offensive-line specialist who helped the Redskins win two Super Bowls, and asked him to analyze game film and suggest ways to fix their frequent breakdowns in pass protection. Early in the game, it was the Cowboys, not the Redskins, who looked to be in disarray. The Cowboys blundered through the game's first 15 minutes with three turnovers on their first three possessions and a penalty that wiped out an apparent touchdown pass from quarterback Quincy Carter to Terry Glenn. The Redskins led by only 6-0 after the first quarter because of their familiar inability to protect Ramsey, who was strafed by the Dallas blitz early as Spurrier continued to use three wide receivers instead of providing his quarterback with more protection. Ramsey was sacked three times in the first period before Spurrier reeled things in for a conventional two-wideout set. The Redskins scored their first-quarter touchdown after Glenn bobbled a pass that was intercepted by Washington's Ifeanyi Ohalete, who returned the ball to the Cowboys' 6-yard line. After a running play lost a yard, Ramsey passed 7 yards to Laveranues Coles, the former Jet, for the touchdown. The extra-point attempt was blocked. Once the Cowboys started holding on to the ball, they produced some points. Dallas went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive in the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead. Hambrick ran 2 yards for the touchdown. The Cowboys took a 14-6 lead in the third quarter when Hambrick scored from the 1 and Billy Cundiff added the extra point. The score was 21-6 when the Cowboys went to a prevent defense, and the Redskins went 81 yards to score with 2 minutes 30 seconds remaining on Ramsey's 19-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Jacobs. A 2-point conversion pass made the score 21-14, but Dallas was able to run out the clock. "After that nightmare first half, though, we didn't play too badly," Dallas Coach Bill Parcells said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuckinIA Posted November 3, 2003 Share Posted November 3, 2003 I missed the NFL football clinic that the Cowboys apparently put on. Could someone please fill me in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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