kmanharris
Seven
Good article on the penalty problems the Cowboys are having and how it seems that the flags are always thrown heavily against the Cowboys.
I know that Dallas always does seem to have penalty problems and that is on the coach. Just an interesting article that points out just how big of a disparity there is in the Dallas games.
This is not the only reason Dallas loses games but its obviously a pretty big reason. All I ask is for the calls to go both ways. Its hard enough playing against another NFL team, lets not make it harder by having to play against the zebras too.
in before some sort of.. lolcowboysfan/gtfo/excusesexcuses/tl;dr/nobodycares (I think that about covers them all)
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/e...A52FC70892D6&page=1&endPoints=4352,8697,10138
I know that Dallas always does seem to have penalty problems and that is on the coach. Just an interesting article that points out just how big of a disparity there is in the Dallas games.
This is not the only reason Dallas loses games but its obviously a pretty big reason. All I ask is for the calls to go both ways. Its hard enough playing against another NFL team, lets not make it harder by having to play against the zebras too.
in before some sort of.. lolcowboysfan/gtfo/excusesexcuses/tl;dr/nobodycares (I think that about covers them all)
IRVING, Texas - Maybe the Cowboys have developed a Raider-like reputation.
Maybe they suffer from impulse control deficit.
Maybe they need to enroll in some sort of remedial learning class.
Or maybe ... just maybe ...
OK, look, let's just get to the facts of this penalty plague strangling the Dallas Cowboys five games into the 2010 season, having seen so much yellow laying around the field of late you'd think jaundice is about to set in.
So my job here is not to make excuses for the Cowboys, or excuse them. Nor is my job to sway your opinion one way or another, no matter what side of the penalty fence you might be on. These are going to be some solid facts, a lot of numbers mind you, so be prepared.
Then you decide what's what.
Here we go. There is a lot to digest.
Yes, the Cowboys have been flagged for 49 penalties, tying them for third most in the NFL, behind the 59 of Detroit, the 55 of Oakland, as many as Tennessee and just one more than Philadelphia. That means the Cowboys are averaging 9.8 penalties a game and have been flagged for more penalties than their opponents in all five games.
If you factor out these 49 penalties in five games over the course of a 16-game season, the Cowboys are on pace to set the single-season record for most penalties in franchise history at 156. To understand the significance of that, understand the current 16-game season record is the 141 suffered in 1988, Tom Landry's final season as head coach, when they went 3-13. The next most penalties suffered in a single season occurred in 1999, when the Cowboys were flagged 136 times. And by the way, to demonstrate just how rare those seasons were, the 136 in 1999 is the last time the Cowboys have even been charged with more than 120 penalties in a 16-game season.
Now then, this, I promise, is going to raise an eyebrow. Let's consider the flags thrown on the opponents during the Cowboys first five games, and remember, while the Cowboys are 1-4, they own the No. 3-ranked total offense and the No. 4-ranked total defense, so Washington, Chicago, Houston, Tennessee and Minnesota haven't exactly been playing against a bunch of bums.
That would be 21, the fewest opponent penalties in the entire league after six weeks. Now you might attribute that to the Cowboys having only played five games, when the majority of the teams have played six. Fine, so we will go on average, and since I did all this work myself, you're going to have to bear with me. Penalties called on the opposition when playing the Cowboys comes to 4.2 a game, and that's the fewest in the league.
Oh, by the way, that average factors out to 67 for the entire season, which, yes, would set a single-season record for fewest opponent penalties in franchise history, breaking the record of 69 set in 2001 - just in case you're wondering. And for more perspective on the projected 67, only one other time have opponents checked in with fewer than the 85 penalties flagged in 1985 in a 16-game season, and that would be the 70 in 1979. That's it. But now the Cowboys are looking at just 67?
Hey, I'm just sayin' ... but again, these are just the facts.
Buffalo would be next in this category, its opponents suffering just 22 penalties, or 4.4 a game when playing the Bills, but then the Bills have the 30th-ranked offense and 29th-ranked defense. Next fewest is Philadelphia, at 5.3 a game called on its opponents. But after that, 27 teams in the league are averaging 5.5 penalties a game called against their opponents, with Baltimore leading at 10.1, St. Louis next at 9 and Tennessee next with 8.5.
So yahoo-ey, the Cowboys had officials out at practice on Thursday and Friday, head coach Wade Phillips saying, "We realize penalties hurt us and we're trying to do everything we can," going on to say he gives these officials - mostly college types, plus retired NFL official Phil Luckett - "specific things to look at."
Great, but what are they going to do about the disparity in penalties beleaguering the Cowboys?
See, it's one thing to have penalties called against you. Like Tennessee. The Titans have been called for 49 penalties, too. But get this: Their six opponents have drawn 51 flags when playing Tennessee. So the Titans are a minus-2 to the good.
But the Cowboys, with their 49 penalties, their disparity between their own and the opposition is plus 28, and yes, that is a league high. How high? Well, in second place would be Oakland, at plus 17. Philadelphia, with its 48 penalties, is next but still with a plus 16. Tops is Baltimore, checking in at a minus-23 to the good.
Again, I'm just sayin' ...
You know how everyone harps on the Cowboys' inability to create takeaways, wondering if they work in practice on forcing, then recovering fumbles and intercepting passes. Well, wonder if there is any way a team can work on getting more penalties called on the other team? Trash talk more? That seems to be a definite problem, too.
Also, this penalty problem is nothing new. Same thing paralyzed the Cowboys last year. Well, sorta. The Cowboys committed 115 penalties in 2009. Their opponents were called for 93, so a much more manageable differential of plus 22 - for the season. That comes to 1.4 more penalties a game over the course of the season. Right now, the Cowboys are on a pace of 5.6 more a game.
One last item, and will let this go. Counted up the opponent penalties called when playing the Cowboys and then their penalties called in all other games. As stated, those five teams have averaged 4.2 penalties against the Cowboys. Against their other opponents so far this season, totaling 24 games, they are averaging seven penalties a game, just less than double. Or would that be almost double?
Take Tennessee. The Titans have been flagged for at least eight penalties in their other five games they've played this season, with a high of 11 against Pittsburgh and 10 against Denver. But against the Cowboys, the Titans turned into choir boys, called for just four, and to think they gave up 511 total yards. Maybe that's why they gave up so many yards - just kept their hands to themselves. Who knows?
And you know the five called this past Sunday on the Vikings? That was the fewest they suffered all season, checking in with a high of 12 against Detroit, of all teams. And I'll guarantee you Jesse Holley was held twice by the same guy on Percy Harvin's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, once going down on coverage, wrapped in a bear hug, and then once again when he turned to chase. Also, what was Adrian Peterson doing going to his knees in the end zone to celebrate his touchdown, raising his arms high in the air? Funny way to say a prayer.
Again, I'm just sayin'.
Growing reputation you think?
Or just coincidence?
Again, this is not me, this is coming from other guys, but you remember that PI on Miles Austin against the Vikings that wiped out the 68-yard touchdown pass? Here is what Jim Mora Jr., a defensive-oriented coach, told sidekick Brian Billick on NFL Network following the game while looking at the play: "It was just a little push off Brian, and you would have been upset as an offensive coordinator if it was called on you."
Then there was Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the closest anyone within the organization has mentioned anything about penalties, saying this on the team's postgame TV show following the 24-21 loss at Minnesota: "When one of the officials on Miles' call actually said as we were leaving the field at halftime, 'I've got to get my head in the game,' then that is a part of it. That sounds like an excuse, but they're not unnecessarily above mistakes, either."
You get what he's sayin', right?
And speaking of mistakes, how about the backpedaling on the excessive celebration call in the Minnesota game, initially made on Austin, presumably for leapfrogging Roy Williams following his touchdown? Says right here in my official play-by-play after announced on the field by referee Gene Steratore: Penalty on Dal-M.Austin, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
OK, you know I wouldn't have argued too hard on that. But by Monday, when the Cowboys call the league office for clarification, they are told by Carl Johnson, NFL vice president of officiating, oh no, the call really was on Sam Hurd for joining in on Roy's traditional touchdown-scoring Hook 'Em Horns salute, that UT forefinger and little finger raised to the sky, er Teflon on this occasion.
I mean, are you kidding me? Seriously? That was detrimental to the integrity of the game?
So thinking out loud, but now wondering if that change of heart came after former NFL vice president of officiating Mike Periera (2004-09), now working for Fox, ripped the NFL in his Sunday review of the games for this call: "Can we please stop this nonsense? There is no reason for this to be a foul. Austin jumped over Williams and a couple of players held up fingers, but nothing was prolonged or choreographed and neither player went to the ground. The league has done a good job of cleaning up most of the egregious demonstrations, but now it is going too far.
"As long as it's spontaneous, let the players celebrate. This is two weeks in a row, in my mind, when calls were made against the Cowboys that should not have been called. If the NFL doesn't want to be called the 'No Fun League,' then it needs to use some logic and not make these calls unless it is something that clearly demonstrates a lack of good sportsmanship."
And this guy has no agenda. Periera didn't get fired, he retired and then was hired by Fox to be its officiating expert. Sounds as if he was seeing red when writing that synopsis.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, all they're doing is seeing yellow.
I'm just sayin'.
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/e...A52FC70892D6&page=1&endPoints=4352,8697,10138
