Dallas Cowboys Discussion

[LonghornsLegend]

Does anyone know(and not assumptions) what type of permanent damage you could do by playing with a fractured finger? I honestly don't know. I do know that it's ridiculous hard to catch the ball with your hands especially on a bullet pass right at his chest, which comes at a terrible time since he finally kicked the bad habit of body catching in the first place. Ugh. Just makes me wonder what he could possibly do if he lands on it wrong or the ball bangs off of it.

[D-Unit]

This is where basket catching could actually help him. lol.

Heck, we need him out there even if he's just a decoy.

[E-Man]

I want him to play because he's really stepping up big time this year, but if there's a chance of long term damage I don't want them to ruin him. Maybe sit him for a week to see how it goes. Dress him up in case they need him, but try not to rely too much on him since there's Witten and Miles playing. Not to mention that Harris and Beasley have played well when given the chance they can afford to miss Dez for one game...maybe. He's been making big plays that are crucial right now so having him on the field is a big deal. Maybe they can use him as a decoy. Just have him run routes to get the Steelers focused on him while other guys get open. It's not a complete lost cause, but Dez is really shining right now.

[leroyisgod]

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

You didn't underrate him, he's just playing better this year... this isn't the Anthony Spencer we've been accustomed to watching.

He's always had consistent pressure on the QB, just for some reason his sack numbers weren't up there.

[leroyisgod]

Dez basically said you'd have to break his leg for him not to play.

I would like to hear some of the long term issues that could arise. I mean it's only 3 games, more if we make it to the play-offs. I cannot imagine it would be that bad.

[Trogdor]

Originally Posted by leroyisgod

He's always had consistent pressure on the QB, just for some reason his sack numbers weren't up there.

I don't get how people say things like Spencer didn't get pressures. We called him "Almost" Anthony for a reason. He was consistently high among the league's SOLBs (secondary pass rushers) in pressure he just didn't convert them. Lots of contributing factors including himself but keep in mind we had a pass defense that couldn't jam and played 10 yards off their respective mark (T-New).

As far as Dez if he's playing it means doctors weren't overly concerned with permanent damage. Playing through pain isn't an issue for him considering he finished the game and caught a TD pass with it.

[TheFinisher]

Originally Posted by LonghornsLegend

Does anyone know(and not assumptions) what type of permanent damage you could do by playing with a fractured finger? I honestly don't know. I do know that it's ridiculous hard to catch the ball with your hands especially on a bullet pass right at his chest, which comes at a terrible time since he finally kicked the bad habit of body catching in the first place. Ugh. Just makes me wonder what he could possibly do if he lands on it wrong or the ball bangs off of it.

I tore ligaments and had a hairline fracture in my left index finger my freshman year of college. It happened during a inter-squad scrimmage before the season, I thought I had just jammed it when it happened because that's kind of what it felt like... so I didn't report it to the trainers or anything after practice. Long story short, I wound up reporting it to them 2 days later after still having problems closing it... and they brought me right away to a hand specialist, who was mad I didn't say something sooner because the longer it's left untreated the greater the risk for permanent damage is. The way it was explained to me, was they want to set the finger in a splint ASAP because if it starts healing while it's in a damaged state it will heal crooked, and by nature of it being a joint, you could lose movement in it... the severity of it varies, but it can be as extreme as little to no movement and could lead to some pretty bad arthritis.

Short version: There are tons of little ligaments and small bones in your hands and fingers, when there's an injury there it's imperative it heals properly for the hand/finger to work like it should afterwards.

Now, Dez's injury may be different than the one I had, I'm no doctor, but I was okay'd to play and it didn't really hinder me. Just had to wear the splint throughout the season. I'm sure Dez will find it a little annoying at first but he'll get used to catching footballs with it.

[D-Unit]

Dez is really stepping up if he plays through this there should be a spot for him in the ring of honor. :)

[Trogdor]

Originally Posted by D-Unit

Dez is really stepping up if he plays through this there should be a spot for him in the ring of honor. :)

I sincerely hope that's sarcasm :P He'll need to play this well for another 10 years to be hoping for a spot in the Ring of Honor.

Bill Parcells:
Put away the anointing oils. Don't put him in Canton yet.

Dez is special though. I really have super high hopes for him in Garrett's vertical offense once we get an offensive line suited to the scheme.

[Witten4HOF]

Mendenhall is suspended by the team for 1 game and won't be available to play against us.

[crisco0710]

Originally Posted by Witten4HOF

Mendenhall is suspended by the team for 1 game and won't be available to play against us.

Pretty sure Mendenhall has been healthy the past couple of weeks and has been held inactive due to coaches decision. He probably got suspended because he hasn't agreed with being held out of the lineup.

[shane_man]

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

You didn't underrate him, he's just playing better this year... this isn't the Anthony Spencer we've been accustomed to watching.

it is though. The difference is that he's actually bringing the qb down. Just a shame for us that it's in a contract year.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by Trogdor

I sincerely hope that's sarcasm :P He'll need to play this well for another 10 years to be hoping for a spot in the Ring of Honor.



Dez is special though. I really have super high hopes for him in Garrett's vertical offense once we get an offensive line suited to the scheme.

Barring career ending injury, he'll get there. He's got too much passion, desire, drive and talent NOT to get there.

If he plays successfully through this injury that is like another notch on his belt. It's like Jason Witten running without his helmet type stuff.

[leroyisgod]

On to the Stillers boys!!!

What do you guys think of the game and the match-ups? Besides the Mendenhall news, Woodley was back practicing today. I worry about him up against Free. Hell, I worry about most pass rushers up against Free.

I think defensively we're gonna have a hard time stopping the Steelers running attack. It's a strong and physical running attack, which we normally struggle against. Health Miller against our LB'er's and safeties worries me too. We need to roll coverage over to Wallace.

I think we can easily throw the ball on this team. Running, that's gonna be like it was last week. Take it in spots.

[pocketaces]

Originally Posted by leroyisgod

On to the Stillers boys!!!

What do you guys think of the game and the match-ups? Besides the Mendenhall news, Woodley was back practicing today. I worry about him up against Free. Hell, I worry about most pass rushers up against Free.

I think defensively we're gonna have a hard time stopping the Steelers running attack. It's a strong and physical running attack, which we normally struggle against. Health Miller against our LB'er's and safeties worries me too. We need to roll coverage over to Wallace.

I think we can easily throw the ball on this team. Running, that's gonna be like it was last week. Take it in spots.

I hope your right but the Steelers are #1 in the entire NFL against the pass. We won a game last week I didnt think we would win but Im even less confident about winning this game. They wont stop running the ball like Cinn did. If we were healthy, I would love our chances but with the guys we are throwing out there...Im not feeling it :(

[leroyisgod]

Originally Posted by pocketaces

I hope your right but the Steelers are #1 in the entire NFL against the pass. We won a game last week I didnt think we would win but Im even less confident about winning this game. They wont stop running the ball like Cinn did. If we were healthy, I would love our chances but with the guys we are throwing out there...Im not feeling it :(

If Dez plays, I feel that Dez and Miles are physical enough to match up well against the Steelers corners. I'd say though that I feel they will shut down Witten though. Timmons is good in coverage and the Steelers safeties are solid.

BTW, why did Beasley not see the field against Cincy?

[E-Man]

Originally Posted by leroyisgod

On to the Stillers boys!!!

What do you guys think of the game and the match-ups? Besides the Mendenhall news, Woodley was back practicing today. I worry about him up against Free. Hell, I worry about most pass rushers up against Free.

I think defensively we're gonna have a hard time stopping the Steelers running attack. It's a strong and physical running attack, which we normally struggle against. Health Miller against our LB'er's and safeties worries me too. We need to roll coverage over to Wallace.

I think we can easily throw the ball on this team. Running, that's gonna be like it was last week. Take it in spots.

If the Cowboys could make it a shootout they have a great chance to win. The Steelers have weapons that could really hurt the Cowboys' ailing defense, but the Cowboys offense even without Dez is better than the Steelers because they have more weapons. Now the Steelers' D is as amazing as it has always been, but the Murray factor makes the passing game much better than it already is. I do worry about Free getting murdered again and getting Tony and Murray killed back there. You just know LeBeau knows that Free is a glaring hole along with many of Garrett's faults. That's what scares me more than anything is LeBeau against Garrett while Free is being worthless again.

I also worry about how bad the defense has gotten against the run because they're running out of bodies over there. Here's to hoping that they make enough big plays to give the offense enough chances to score enough to go out on top. This is a very winnable game, but it does worry me a ton because the Steelers are always prepared well.

[D-Unit]

I like to think that we always play the Steelers tough only to come up short in the end. If we can play without turning the ball over, I think we can beat them. We have Murray back and he has been a difference maker despite the suckness of our OL. I told you, you can't judge the OL's run blocking by watching Felix. Felix is a suckbag.

We're at home instead of the cold dreary Hines Field, so that further betters our odds, imo.

[leroyisgod]

Originally Posted by D-Unit

I like to think that we always play the Steelers tough only to come up short in the end. If we can play without turning the ball over, I think we can beat them. We have Murray back and he has been a difference maker despite the suckness of our OL. I told you, you can't judge the OL's run blocking by watching Felix. Felix is a suckbag.

We're at home instead of the cold dreary Hines Field, so that further betters our odds, imo.

We suck at home though! I'd almost be on the road this year.

[D-Unit]

Originally Posted by leroyisgod

We suck at home though! I'd almost be on the road this year.

Yeah, but not in Pittsburgh. It's tough as hell to win there.

I'm hopeful of winning this game, but with so many injuries and a playcaller who makes it frustrating to watch sometimes, it's hard to have a ton of confidence.

...but let's go!!!!

[Witten4HOF]

Pittsburgh's backs are only averaging 3.8 yards per game and have shown the can play loose with the ball. I think there is an opportunity to create turnovers and get them into 3 and long situations. The game is going to hinge on the ability to get them into passing situations and getting hits on Ben behind his best up offensive line.

[LonghornsLegend]

I don't know how to feel about the injury with Dez yet because he scored a TD last week with the injury, and we didn't even know. He caught the ball with his hands too. So it makes me wonder if maybe he will be fine, but at the same token what are the odds he finishes out the season without seriously re-injuring that thing? Keep in mind how physical Dez is after every catch so it's not like we are talking about Desean Jackson here.


Just a funny feeling about this whole thing. I just see him playing, getting a whole new level of respect from people, still scoring a TD, and in the process hurting himself much worse then he is now. I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen like that but I guess you could say it's a hunch.

[D-Unit]

We have guys who can step up. Austin is very capable when Romo actually throws to him. This injury could also open up a nice chance for Harris or Beasley to actually cement their status with us long term.

[Witten4HOF]

It is official, as per ED Werder and ESPN, after confirming with the hand specialist that his left index finger is broken Dez Bryant opts to delay surgery until after the season.

[leroyisgod]

Dez is going to test his hand out today in practice catching some balls. My feeling is that he'll play through the pain and be fine. I think once he's in the game and the adrenaline is going, he won't be bothered by the pain and discomfort?