A chat with Blogging the Boys

by Ed Valentine on Sep 18, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in News Comment 19 comments

With the Dallas Cowboys on tap this weekend I had a chance to chat with Dave Halprin from Blogging the Boys. Here is our conversation.

Me: So, first question. Tampa Bay chewed up Dallas' defense with the run last week. How are the Cowboys going to deal with the Giants highly-regarded running game?

David Halprin: We'll have to see, but the middle of the defense was extremely soft against the Bucs. From our analysis, it was the linebackers more than NT Jay Ratliff. In the first half, they weren't diagnosing the plays quickly enough and were getting blocked on their side of the ball instead of penetrating, but they improved on it in the second half of the game.

Me: Cowboys-Giants is always big. But, with this being the first game in 'JerryWorld' and all that how much of an impact do you think the atmosphere will play?

David Halprin: I think it's going to be electric in the building, they are supposedly expecting close to 100,000 people (from what I've read) and with it being the new stadium and with the Giants as the opponent, playoff atmosphere might be expected,

Me: Related question. What do you think of 'JerryWorld' and the 'Jerrytron?' A beautiful place the Cowboys deserve, or just a monument to Jerry Jones' greed?

David Halprin: That stadium is the future of sports venues, I know people give Jerry a lot of crap, but he did it right for the stadium and for the Cowboys fans. We couldn't be happier with the stadium and can't wait to play a real game there. Now, the Jerrytron placement is something I think they should modify eventually, but having that HD screen there for the fans int he stadium is great, I've heard from people attending that you can see every replay in detail on the screen during games, the refs are going to hate it!

Me: Is this a 'different' Cowboy team this season w/out T.O. and 'Pacman,' and all that nonsense? Or, is it too soon to tell?

David Halprin: Well, it's too soon to tell in terms of the regular season, but it was a different offseason. Much more business like without all the circus that accompanied those players and a few others. It seems to have created some good chemistry on the Cowboys but that stuff is never really tested until the team struggles a bit, then you find out.

David Halprin: OK, so everybody wants to talk about Plax being gone and what it means. What does it mean?

Me: In some ways, the same thing T.O. being gone from Dallas means. One huge distraction gone from a team that still has plenty of talent. It means we will find out if Eli Manning can succeed without a superstar wide receiver (I think he can). We'll find out how good Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, etc. really are. Sunday against Washington there were no problems in the passing game.

David Halprin: Is Steve Smith now the go-to guy in that group?

Me: Hard to say. Smith was the 'go-to guy' last season on third downs, and he still is. He is one of the best slot/possession guys in the business, and he is usually Eli's first target on third down. The jury is still out on whether he can be a vertical threat.

David Halprin: What do you think about the uptick in trash-talking between the two teams this week?

Me: I'm enjoying it, actually. We know the fans feel it, even though I think your folks and mine have gotten along pretty well this week. It's refreshing to actually hear players give real feelings, instead of just tired cliches that don't tell you anything. How about you?

David Halprin: I'm enjoying it, too. It gives a little more spice to the game. I think it also reflects a re-building of the rivalry between the two teams, not that that ever went away, but it seems to be growing again, thanks to Brandon Jacobs and Patrick Crayton, who both like to talk.

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Blogging The Boys

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Still quite nervous on this game

I think Cowboys will take it. As I said over on BTB, if the Sowboys establish the run early, they open up the passing game for themselves, which will be deadly for the Giants.

by brisulph on Sep 18, 2009 8:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Other way around

I think they try to est. passing game using Whitten and then run. lets face it the weakness in our defense is the LBs. if i were an OC thats where i would be targeting first. which makes getting pressure on romo so important.

by JG131 on Sep 18, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More pretty pictures..

Has your Son Ryan..moved on to taking camera shots for the Cowboys, Ed?..lol

by Bobbiblue on Sep 18, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It funny to hear the Cowboys

improved their run defense in the second half of the Tampa game. From what I’ve read, they were still giving up over 5 per carry. It may have only “looked” better because Tampa had to pass more to try and get back into the game. Dallas also stopped blitzing. If they’re unable to blitz and cannot get pressure on Eli, that Dallas secondary will have its hands full all night.

Regarding the lack of blog heat between BtB and BBV, that may be due to the lack of Terry posts here.

by rzor on Sep 18, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They shut down Cadillac

I think he had 77 in the first half but only 20 in the second. I could be wrong with the numbers, but that’s the main so-called “improvement” being mentioned.

P.S. – this is my favorite NFC East rivalry! Good luck to you guys! Go ’Boys!

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6
2009 New York Jets: 11-5

by Grady90 on Sep 18, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cadillac

Williams had a grand total of 5 carries in the second half for 20 yards total, which is still 4 ypc. He only touched the ball twice in the entire fourth quarter. Tony Romo and their 20 point lead had as much to do with shutting down the Tampa running game as the Dallas defense.

by rzor on Sep 18, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cadillac..what a name!

He’s pretty much worn out..Let’s see what the Cowpokes can do with 270 lbs running down the gut on them…They are about to face a Humvee.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 18, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's no question the Giants have a great running game...every Cowboy fan realizes this...

and there is concern about Dallas stopping the run after the week 1 performance, but based on recent history, isn’t it reasonable to think it was just a single bad game? The Cowboys play the Giants 2-3 times a year, how often have the Giants run roughshod over the Cowboys?

Conversely, The Giants had only 1 offensive touchdown against the Redskins and short yardage pickup looks to still be a problem. The Giants just aren’t scoring as much on offense and that goes back to last year. Isn’t that a pretty big concern, too?

by CaliFanInTx on Sep 18, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your right..

Our guys haven’t run rough-shod over your guys for years..and short yardage is a big problem..It is going to be a great game as usual..If my wife was here she would have forced me to say this!!..lol..You have no idea what it is like being married to a Cowboy fan!..lol..The only good thing is that if the Cowboy’s win I’m screwed..If the Giants win I am screwed..We will be there Sunday night..either way, I am screwed..not a bad thing at all!!..lol

by Bobbiblue on Sep 18, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's looking at things glass half empty...you're wife being happy will probably mean you're getting screwed, literally.

I’m thinking it’s a no lose for you….

Besides, it’s only one game…does it mean the season is over for whoever loses? The Giants have proven that it’s not how you start,it’s how you finish. I would trade a loss in this game if it meant we were gonna finish strong this year…

by CaliFanInTx on Sep 18, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll be a good game..Best of luck to you guys also..this is fun.

Teasing each other..I mentioned earlier that my wife (from Jersey) is a Cowboy fan..We have a blast with this rivalry..I cook her a “special” batch of hot wings..(She’s starting to catch on to my prank)..so I mix in a few normal ones with the super hot ones for her…I need another recipe to fake her little 115 lb body to turn red!!..Any ideas?

by Bobbiblue on Sep 18, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff, Ed

Although I detest the Cowboys with the searing white heat of ten thousand suns, I have to give major props to Dave and his work over at BTB.

He runs a classy blog there (no mean feat that, keeping all those demented Cowboy fans in line) For a few years now, it’s been my go-to source for keeping tabs on our hated rival (keeping up with the Joneses, as it were)

Always an interesting read whenever you sit down with Dave (or any or the other NFC East bloggers for that matter) to see how they’re reading the team leaves heading into each of these brutally intense matchups. As a diehard Giant fan, sometimes my perspective gets skewed from following the situation so minutely on our end. Every bit of Giant news gets so magnified in importance that it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. Seeing how things look from the other side of the fence helps to bring things back into better focus.

Keep up the good work, guys.

by knickfan on Sep 18, 2009 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you..

Ed does a great job..This website is alot of fun, having moved to South Florida..It keeps me in tune with the regular “Giant Joes” out there..Everything Ed posts is very fair and knowledgeable..The only situation I have experienced on this site that I felt was negative was with “NewjerseySportsJerk”..Once I learned that he was as old as my eldest Son, I laughed it off..and he is a good kid…I also like Jim’s and Andio’s comments..This website makes me feel I am still in the Stands with you all!!..Terry bought two tickets for the Dallas game..We’ll be watching Jerry’s new TV set..Hopefully highlightsof the Giants scoring. She just informed me today..Now I have to figure out how to get her something really hot to eat to keep her quiet!!

by Bobbiblue on Sep 18, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ed, today you outdid yourself

You snuck in not one, not two, but three hotties in your stories in just one day. This alone is worth frequently dropping by here for.

by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 18, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL!!

Hey, I have to try and keep everybody happy.

by Ed Valentine on Sep 18, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cowboys fan here , I come in peace!

I think if Dallas controls the Gmens running game, they have a great chance to win, also they have to slow the NY pass rush, which is easier said than done!

I think Dallas will win, but that NY D always makes me nervous!

Should be a good one!

by fiverings37 on Sep 19, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cant Wait to Shut the boys up.

i cant wiat to go into new texas stadium and beat the boys. i am more pumped for this game then any regular season game, including the panther game last year. i hate the cowboys and i just want to shutup all of their annyoing fans tommorow night.
the G-MEN are gonna take to the boys tommorow night. GO GIANTS!!!!!!

Schumer said: "Now the Giants aren’t just New York’s team, they’re America’s team."

"You forget about it whether it was 15-2 or 3-2. It's still a loss. It doesn't matter what the score was if we win tomorrow."... Derek Jeter.

by donnybaseball23 on Sep 19, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

cowboys

Romo is another danny white, The very same problem danny had was he couldn’t take care of the ball. Until he learn to take care of the football he’ll never win the superbowl. when Dallas went up 31/30 he got the ball, That is the time to handle your business but what happen he force one down the field getting it pick off. A good team will beat you everytime tony. TONY PLEASE CHERISH THE FOOTBALL KEPT IT IF YOU HAVE TOO. But please cherish it if you want to be a winner not just a qb.

by putnisinyou on Sep 21, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs