Understanding the Game Lesson #1

Hello Dallas Cowboy Fans.  Since the season is over there is not any playing game stat news to report.  However, it is very interesting to see what players and coaches will leave as a result of the last year’s season.  Recent Dallas Cowboys information includes:

·         Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware was scheduled to undergo surgery last Thursday to shave down a bone spur on his left foot.

·         According to Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones, he said Miles Austin will be going nowhere in 2010. (Yahoo!!)

·         Yes, I realize it is early however, the Dallas Cowboys are predicted to be Super bowl contenders for the next season.  This was based on the Dallas Cowboys progress they’ve made during this past season and the excellent showmanship on the field.

I’ve had quite a few friends that have ask me to help them understand the game of football.  I will incorporate in my weekly blogs information that will enlighten your understanding of the game.  So, when you are watching the Dallas Cowboys you will be able to understand how awesome they are.  I will begin at the beginning of the game then go to the end.

Understand the Game:  Lesson #1

The game starts with a kickoff. There is a coin toss before the game and that decides who kicks and receives. The receiving team lines up at the opposite end of the field from the kicker and waits for the ball to be kicked.  When the ball is kicked the receiving team has three options:

 1. Catch the ball and run down the field toward the goal

 2. Give the signal that it is a fair catch and the play is stopped at that location

3. Give the signal for a touchback. (Touchback means the ball landed in the end zone and the ball is placed on the receiving teams’ 20-yard line.)

The team that has the ball and is trying to get a touchdown is referred to as the offense and their ultimate goal is to move the ball into the opposing team's end zone to score points. This is accomplished by making a series of plays to move the ball down the field.

Next blog will include the additional game playing information, positions played by the team and their roles and of course updates on our favorite team “The Dallas Cowboys”.

Super bowl #44 champions "The New Orleans Saints"

While it would have given me great pleasure to blog about the Dallas Cowboys winning the 44th Super bowl and being six time Super bowl winners it didn't happen this year. Yes, I was disappointed however, I am still excited about my NFL Dallas Cowboys because they are Americas Team, winners and a fantastic football team!

This year the Super bowl champions are the New Orleans Saints (Who Dat!)   I knew the New Orleans Saints had the ability to win Super Bowl 44. It didn't surprise me in the least when they pulled it off.  However, the only scenario I couldn't see was the fact that New Orleans won in a blowout!   This was a game that came down to New Orleans's players executing better and their coaches coaching with their heads in the game.

 I disagreed with the conservative, going nowhere run plays that Indy (Indianapolis Colts) called after stuffing New Orleans at the goal line. However, I do recall one particular series of plays that completely changed the completion of the game and eventually gave the win to the Saints. The score is 10-3 Indy, second quarter. The Saints went on an 11-play 59 yard drive that took 6:02 seconds which ended in a 46-yard field goal. Indy gets the ball Manning passes to Joe Addai for 9 yards. Second and 1: Joe Addai loses three yards on a run play. Third and 4: Manning hits Pierre Garcon in the hands, AND HE DROPS THE PASS.   Fourth down: Punt!!!! Time elapsed: 1:20.   On New Orleans's next possession they hold the ball for another 12 plays for 68 yards and 6:25 seconds. Indy held them on a goal-line stand. Indy gets the ball back, goes nowhere while holding the ball for 1:03. The Saints get it back, and go 26 yards in 5 plays and gets back the three points that they left on the table, when they went for it on fourth down and go into halftime trailing Indy 10-6. The Saints defense held strong and true and it paid off later. Even though New Orleans didn't get the lead until just over five minutes left in the game, that series of plays paid huge dividends. The onside kick was a thing of absolute perfection, by recovering the ball the Saints nullified the coin toss. They controlled the ball first in each half, monumental in a game of this magnitude. As for Manning's interception… it was icing on the cake!! Reggie Wayne didn't sell the run route to the Saints. Tracy Porter jumps the route and took it to the HOUSE for a pic 6.

The Saints are champions because they stayed the course and fought all adversity. Their fans used to wear bags on their heads, they were even sometimes referred to as the "AINT'S" because they were so bad! Nothing left to say but....WHO DAT, WHO DAT, WHO DAT GONNA BEAT THEM SAINTS!!!! Congratulations' to the WORLD CHAMPION NEW ORLEANS SAINTS!!!!

IRONIES OF THE GAME!! It took 44 years for the Saints to win. The 44th President predicted they would win. This was the 44th Super Bowl????????? HOW BOUT THAT!!!