San Antonio Express-News: Parcells defends game plan

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Parcells defends game plan

By Tom Orsborn

San Antonio Express-News

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=203&xlc=1097332&xld=203

Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells on Wednesday defended the conservative game plan he employed in Sunday's 36-10 loss to Philadelphia.

Bill Parcells' conservative game plan against the Eagles on Sunday drew criticism, but he blamed the Cowboys' mistakes for their loss.

The Cowboys began the game by attacking the Eagles' weak run defense. Going primarily between the tackles, Dallas ran on 19 of its first 23 plays, including seven straight on its first possession.

Such a safe approach has been used in several games this season, a development that has prompted some fans to complain that Parcells isn't taking enough risks with an offense that includes three solid downfield threats in wide receivers Antonio Bryant, Joey Galloway and Terry Glenn.

Against the Eagles, that trio failed to record a single reception, a big reason why quarterback Quincy Carter didn't have a completion of at least 20 yards for the first time this season.

Still, the halftime score was 10-10 after the Cowboys produced 105 yards rushing on 20 attempts in the first half.

Parcells said it ultimately was his team's mistakes and penalties — not the game plan — that cost Dallas (8-5) a shot at beating the Eagles (10-3) for the second time this season and moving into first place in the NFC East.

"They couldn't allow what happened in the first half to keep happening," Parcells said of the Eagles. "It was right at the borderline of both of us making some changes, and then we made the first real mistake and that hurt us."

That mistake was an interception thrown by Carter, who made an ill-advised pass on third-and-five from the Dallas 33. Five plays later, Philadelphia scored on a touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to Duce Staley. A 30-yard pass interference penalty against Dallas cornerback Mario Edwards aided the drive.

"They weren't even going to get a field goal if we don't make that penalty," Parcells said. "We were going to get out of there and it was still going to be 10-10.

"That's the way these games go. Sometimes it is a little bit of sparring match, which that was, and then all of a sudden you make a key mistake, and it puts you at a big disadvantage."

Parcells pointed out that some of his game plans have been fairly wide open this season.

"We've gone into certain games where we tried to play very aggressively offensively," Parcells said. "One was against Washington, and the result of that was we had two touchdowns called back and four turnovers, all in the first half."

The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 21-14 on Nov. 2. The teams play again at 3:15 p.m. Sunday in Landover, Md.

"On the other side of the coin," Parcells said, "the Giants game in New York we were very aggressive, and it turned out to be OK. In other games, like the Jets and the start Sunday against Philadelphia, we have been very conservative in our approach."

The Cowboys beat both New York teams on the road.

Parcells said the development of his team's game plans depends on a variety of factors.

"You take into consideration," Parcells said, "your own personnel, what they can do and what they can't do, the opponent you are playing, what their strengths seem to be, and, if they have weakness, where they are. Then you try to formulate your plan based on those differences."

Given his team's weaknesses, Parcells relies on the running game to limit Carter's mistakes and keep his undersized defense off the field.

"I don't think we're ever going to be able to indiscriminately throw the ball right now," Parcells said. "I just don't think we can do it. I don't think our team is built that way."