Source: NFL Internet Network
IRVING, Texas - It should come as no surprise wide receiver Terrell Owens said he didn't get the ball enough in the Cowboys 26-24 loss to Washington Sunday. In fact, T.O. told everyone it was coming.
The week before the game, when asked whether he minded only having two catches in the Week Three contest at Green Bay, Owens said he didn't mind so long as the team was winning. But if they were losing it would be a different story.
It's no matter Owens was targeted 18 times through the air, and handed the ball twice. Like any successful athlete, he's bound to want it more. His comments didn't surprise coach Wade Phillips in the least.
"I think all good players want the football," Phillips said. The coach downplayed any notion the Cowboys forced the ball to him in the second half to the detriment of the team. "We still had 24 points, 300 yards passing. It wasn't a great game for us because we've had better games. I would like for it to have been different, but it wasn't."
While Owens' history dictates his media attention will be greater than any of the Cowboys other players, the offense's weaponry means he isn't the only guy who wants the ball. Last week, Tony Romo said Jason Witten lobbied for the ball as well.
"We try to get the ball to our best players as much as we can," Phillips said. "We have quite a few good players, though. We didn't get the ball enough to Marion Barber, the week before we didn't get it enough to Terrell. It's a good problem to have, but we need to be able to rectify it by controlling the ball more."
If anyone on the offense has a legitimate gripe from Sunday, it's either Barber or rookie Felix Jones. Barber had just eight carries, and Jones had none after breaking a team record by scoring his first three games as a rookie.
Turnovers Suddenly A Problem
Of the first 47 games played in the NFL this season, the team with a negative turnover differential won only eight times. Of those eight, the Cowboys did it three times.
With Tony Romo on an interception-per-game pace, and a Cowboys defense that has not recorded an interception yet, the Cowboys were good enough to defy the odds for three weeks. Sunday, the negative turnover margin finally caught up to them.
Romo threw his fourth interception of the season in the third quarter Sunday on a lazy pass toward Miles Austin on the right sideline, with Redskins safety Chris Horton stepping up to snatch it. The Redskins would go on to kick a 33-yard field goal on their ensuing drive. Those final three Washington points were the eventual difference in the game.
"Of course, it wasn't a problem the first three games, but it was this game," coach Wade Phillips said. "You need turnovers. We've only turned it over six times offensively, which isn't bad, but when you have a minus-four, it isn't good."
The Cowboys have recovered two fumbles so far, but forced just one themselves, on Green Bay's first possession a week ago. Philadelphia handed the Cowboys the ball once on a botched handoff in Week Two. As a coach who prides himself on creating takeaways, Phillips would like to see the defense be more active. Does it bother him personally? Phillips said yes.
Of course, with some of the pressure the Cowboys have put on quarterbacks, it would seem an interception would be the natural result, at some point in time.
"Some of them are tips," Phillips said. "Some of them are the quarterback getting hit, getting interceptions, some of them are individual plays. We've hit the quarterback quite a bit and rushed him quite a few times. If they're in the right spot, they can make plays. We've got guys who've done it before."
When asked whether more man coverage could result in more interceptions, the coach said no. Typically, he said, man coverage can result in fewer passing yards, while interceptions are often the result of defensive backs reading the quarterback while in zone coverage.
The Cowboys will run some of both, depending on the situation.
Tough Game For Watkins
Sunday was just not Pat Watkins' day. As a fill-in starter for the injured Roy Williams (arm), Watkins had little impact in Week Three against Green Bay. When Washington came to town it was a different story.
The Cowboys played more base defense Sunday, with the Redskins using more two back, or two tight end packages than the Packers did. Since moving into the starting job, Watkins comes off the field in extra-receiver sets.
While some people wondered whether Williams' injury would be a good thing for the Cowboys, Watkins had them second-guessing that theory Sunday.
First, when the Redskins scored their first touchdown on a three-yard flare pass to James Thrash on the right side, cornerback Terence Newman said Watkins was supposed to make an adjustment to pick up Thrash. Newman had slipped while trying to stick with the Redskins receiver in motion.
Of course, Watkins was also involved in a crucial mistake later in the game, as the 12th man on the field, drawing a flag and extending what would eventually be the drive when Washington put the game out of reach. The Cowboys initially called their base defense, but changed to a single safety high look, where cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones replaces Watkins. For one reason or the other, Watkins never subbed out.
The third-year safety also suffered a stinger during the game, the fourth time he has suffered the same injury in as many games. Watkins said the pain is in a nerve between his neck and right shoulder. Monday, Wade Phillips said he was concerned about his safety and special teams ace's durability.
"We're going to keep checking on him," Phillips said. "I am concerned. We're going to look at that this week and see how he is."
Short Shots
Receiver Santana Moss has built some fame as a "Cowboys killer," but it's running back Clinton Portis who has really whipped the Cowboys lately. Only one running back has run for over 100 yards against the Cowboys in the last 20 games: Clinton Portis. He's now done it twice, Sunday and Dec. 30, 2007 . . . With some talk that a loss can be good for a team, Wade Phillips had the line of the day when he said, "It's not good for your record, I know that." . . . With an interception in each of this season's games, Tony Romo has now thrown a pick in eight straight games, going back to the Dec. 9, 2007 at Detroit. Before that, he threw an interception in five consecutive games.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Alexei Ramirez Keeps White Sox In Playoff Hunt
Source: CBC Sport
Ramirez keeps White Sox in playoff hunt
The Tampa Bay Rays will sit around another day before learning their first-round playoff opponent, thanks to Alexei Ramirez.
His sixth-inning grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning for the Chicago White Sox en route to an 8-2 rout of the visiting Detroit Tigers in Monday's makeup game.
The win moved the White Sox into a first-place tie with Minnesota, which visits Chicago on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. CT) for a one-game playoff for the American League Central Division title.
Tuesday's winner will travel to Florida to open a best-of-five AL Division Series against the East champion Rays, who are making their first playoff appearance in the team's 11-year history.
Chicago suffered a three-game sweep at Minnesota last week and has dropped 10 of 18 meetings against the Twins this season, but holds a 7-2 edge at home.
Ramirez keeps White Sox in playoff hunt
The Tampa Bay Rays will sit around another day before learning their first-round playoff opponent, thanks to Alexei Ramirez.
His sixth-inning grand slam highlighted a five-run sixth inning for the Chicago White Sox en route to an 8-2 rout of the visiting Detroit Tigers in Monday's makeup game.
The win moved the White Sox into a first-place tie with Minnesota, which visits Chicago on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. CT) for a one-game playoff for the American League Central Division title.
Tuesday's winner will travel to Florida to open a best-of-five AL Division Series against the East champion Rays, who are making their first playoff appearance in the team's 11-year history.
Chicago suffered a three-game sweep at Minnesota last week and has dropped 10 of 18 meetings against the Twins this season, but holds a 7-2 edge at home.
Detroit Tigers
Source: Associated Press
DETROIT — Boosted by the big deal for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, the Detroit Tigers started the season as a popular pick to contend for a championship.
They'll finish it competing only for the dubious distinction of being baseball's biggest bust.
Team owner Mike Ilitch approved a payroll of about $139 million, getting outspent by only the New York Yankees, trying to get back to the postseason after missing it in 2007.
Instead of repeating their run to the World Series from two years ago, the Tigers limped home in the AL Central.
"We're embarrassed. I'm embarrassed," manager Jim Leyland said. "Mr. Ilitch stepped to the plate. When you get paid big, you're supposed to play big and manage big. That's just the way it is. When it doesn't happen, people have the right to call you on the carpet."
Leyland will be back for at least another season, but two of his pitching and bullpen coaches - Chuck Hernandez and Jeff Jones - were fired. The team has decided not to exercise its option to bring back shortstop Edgar Renteria, choosing to give him $3 million instead of $11 million to return.
That move adds shortstop to the list of needs that includes finding a catcher or two and pitching help, particularly in the bullpen.
Leyland said Brandon Inge will be the regular third baseman next season after starting this year as a utility player and Carlos Guillen will be shifted from third to left field.
"We've got a big job in front of us," Ilitch said. "I know in a year, year and a half, I'll be OK. But I'm just concerned about this next year, making sure that we make the right decisions to go forward with who we have, and then we'll go from there."
Ilitch recently said he's not afraid to spend money, but this might not be the offseason to throw millions around like he did last winter.
"I don't know if this year is the year to go after people," Ilitch said.
The Tigers know they have some position players to build around.
They gave Cabrera a $152-plus million contract after acquiring him last winter and the 25-year-old first baseman responded by leading the AL in homers, driving in well over 100 runs and hitting nearly .300 while playing almost every game.
"We have one of the most dynamic young players I've ever seen," Leyland said.
Curtis Granderson, a 27-year-old outfielder, became the first Tiger to lead the league in triples since Ty Cobb did it nine decades ago.
Outfielder Magglio Ordonez followed up his AL batting title with another strong season offensively and second baseman Placido Polanco was solid again in the field and at the plate.
Rookie right-hander Armando Galarraga came out of nowhere to be the team's best starter, going 13-6 with a 3.68 ERA.
"There have been some good things," Leyland said. "But not enough."
The bad outweighed the good, no doubt, for the Tigers.
Ace Justin Verlander was 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA after becoming the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter, start a World Series game, be a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.
Willis, acquired along with Cabrera, was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA and spent much of the season away from the team trying to figure out how to throw strikes.
Pitchers Jeremy Bonderman, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney had their seasons stunted by injuries. Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones simply didn't pitch as well as they had previously for the Tigers.
The Tigers ranked among baseball's best offensively, but among the worst on the mound and in the field.
"If you summed everything up, pitching and defense is the name of the game and we haven't been good at either one," Leyland said.
Tampa Bay pitcher Troy Percival, a former Tiger, said what happened in the Motor City proved baseball games can't be won with dollars and cents.
"You can buy a talented team, but you can't guarantee anything beyond that," Percival said.
The Associated Press
DETROIT — Boosted by the big deal for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, the Detroit Tigers started the season as a popular pick to contend for a championship.
They'll finish it competing only for the dubious distinction of being baseball's biggest bust.
Team owner Mike Ilitch approved a payroll of about $139 million, getting outspent by only the New York Yankees, trying to get back to the postseason after missing it in 2007.
Instead of repeating their run to the World Series from two years ago, the Tigers limped home in the AL Central.
"We're embarrassed. I'm embarrassed," manager Jim Leyland said. "Mr. Ilitch stepped to the plate. When you get paid big, you're supposed to play big and manage big. That's just the way it is. When it doesn't happen, people have the right to call you on the carpet."
Leyland will be back for at least another season, but two of his pitching and bullpen coaches - Chuck Hernandez and Jeff Jones - were fired. The team has decided not to exercise its option to bring back shortstop Edgar Renteria, choosing to give him $3 million instead of $11 million to return.
That move adds shortstop to the list of needs that includes finding a catcher or two and pitching help, particularly in the bullpen.
Leyland said Brandon Inge will be the regular third baseman next season after starting this year as a utility player and Carlos Guillen will be shifted from third to left field.
"We've got a big job in front of us," Ilitch said. "I know in a year, year and a half, I'll be OK. But I'm just concerned about this next year, making sure that we make the right decisions to go forward with who we have, and then we'll go from there."
Ilitch recently said he's not afraid to spend money, but this might not be the offseason to throw millions around like he did last winter.
"I don't know if this year is the year to go after people," Ilitch said.
The Tigers know they have some position players to build around.
They gave Cabrera a $152-plus million contract after acquiring him last winter and the 25-year-old first baseman responded by leading the AL in homers, driving in well over 100 runs and hitting nearly .300 while playing almost every game.
"We have one of the most dynamic young players I've ever seen," Leyland said.
Curtis Granderson, a 27-year-old outfielder, became the first Tiger to lead the league in triples since Ty Cobb did it nine decades ago.
Outfielder Magglio Ordonez followed up his AL batting title with another strong season offensively and second baseman Placido Polanco was solid again in the field and at the plate.
Rookie right-hander Armando Galarraga came out of nowhere to be the team's best starter, going 13-6 with a 3.68 ERA.
"There have been some good things," Leyland said. "But not enough."
The bad outweighed the good, no doubt, for the Tigers.
Ace Justin Verlander was 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA after becoming the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter, start a World Series game, be a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.
Willis, acquired along with Cabrera, was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA and spent much of the season away from the team trying to figure out how to throw strikes.
Pitchers Jeremy Bonderman, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney had their seasons stunted by injuries. Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones simply didn't pitch as well as they had previously for the Tigers.
The Tigers ranked among baseball's best offensively, but among the worst on the mound and in the field.
"If you summed everything up, pitching and defense is the name of the game and we haven't been good at either one," Leyland said.
Tampa Bay pitcher Troy Percival, a former Tiger, said what happened in the Motor City proved baseball games can't be won with dollars and cents.
"You can buy a talented team, but you can't guarantee anything beyond that," Percival said.
The Associated Press
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