Can Bledsoe Remain Standing On His Feet

[monk81]

I thought this was an interesting article, and gives us optimism as we go against the Cowboys this season....if anyone knows and can figure out how to beat Bledsoe, Coach Williams, not just Parcells, can do the necessary things too to BEAT BLEDSOE and I'm confident our Redskin defense can get the job done...........

FROM THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
BLEDSOE MUST STAND HIS GROUND BY RICHARD OLIVER

When it comes to quarterbacks, there are some rules that if ignored can prove costly. Always wear a helmet. Establish a rapport with the center. Grip the football by the threads. And, for goodness sake stay away from the cheerleaders. For newly crowned Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe, there is one piece of advise that ranks higher than suggestion. It's about survival. Simply, Bledsoe must be kept on his feet. When he isn't, trouble always seems to follow.

Off the field, the mesaage was pounded home in 1997, when Bledsoe and teammate Max Lane dove off a Boston stage and into a mosh pit during a rock concert. The leap cost the quarterback $500,000 when a fan claimed the falling players injured her neck.

On the field, the message was pounded home in the second game of the 2001 season when Jets LB Mo Lewis drove Bledsoe off the turf and into the emergency room with a crushing hit. The impact fractured a rib and shredded an artery that pumped four liters of blood into his chest cavity.
Family members though he was going to die. Doctors compared the injury to that found at a major auto accident. Beledsoe is still standing and Parcells the veteran coach knows better than anyone else how important that will be in coming months. Literally.

Since coming into the league as Parcell's top draft pick in New England in 1993, Bledsoe established a reputation as a supreme gunner in the pocket, strong-armed and accurate, with solid instincts and a knack for late game excellence. Yet, he has occassionally withered under pressure, whether from Parcell's hot verbal blasts, or the swarming defensed educated by his glacial inability to escape the pocket. Bledsoe became the target of the World War Tuna showdowns between the Jets and Patriots over the next 3 years. Parcells, after defecting to New York, brought with him a keen perspective as to how to defeat his former quarterback, and it worked handsomely. Jets safety Victor Green and teammates coached by Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, pricked at Bledsoe in print leading up to the game, and barked at him during the game.

"He would hold unto the ball too long", Jets CB Ray Mickens said. "He would be to slow in his checkdowns, not getting the ball away to his dump-off receiver. He was there too long." "Just hit him, Greens said of the coaches instructions regarding Bledsoe. "Put some hard hits on him. Get him frustrated with his offensive line." Two seasons ago Parcells employed a similar game plan in Dallas' 10-6 victory over the Bills. Bledsoe under immense blitz pressure throughout, completed only half his 34 passes, was sacked 3 times and lost two fumbles. He fell to 2-4 against his former coach.

Today, Parcells and Bledsoe are back together, each knows how to beat the player, and how to protect him. As a result, Bledsoe operated at minicamp last week under a revamped line, complimented by a nimble runningback, mended receiving corps, and argubably the league's finest tight ends. He'll
enter the coming season with a weaponry, a pocket of protection, even a corps of checkdown options. In other words, right where Parcells and the Cowboys need him to be. And to remain. Safely on his feet.

[monk81]

And where in the heck is the writer getting "agrubably the league's finest TE's"........

Campbell was hurt, most are did not play throughout last year, the only one with promise was Jason Witten................????????????/

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Campbell is a good TE and Witten is among the league's best. The only team with a better set of TEs are the New England Patriots - who have Ben Watson, Christian Fauria, and Daniel Graham (and none of them are as good as Witten).

[monk81]

You mentioned the Pats, and is Witten better than Tony Gonzalez....................????????????????

TONY GONZALEZ:
CURRENT POST SEASON AND CAREER POST SEASON STATS
Stats REC YDS AVG TD LONG FUM RUSH YDS AVG TD
2003 4 55 13.8 0 22 0 0 0 - 0
Projected 4 55 13.8 0 N/A 0 0 0 - 0
Career 7 81 11.6 1 22 0 0 0 - 0
Full Stats

CURRENT SEASON AND CAREER STATS
Stats REC YDS AVG TD LONG FUM RUSH YDS AVG TD
2004 102 1258 12.3 7 32 0 1 5 5.0 0
Projected 102 1258 12.3 7 N/A 0 1 5 5.0 0
Career 570 6905 12.1 54 73 5 2 14 7.0 0
Full Stats


WITTEN Team: Cowboys
Height: 6'5"
REC
87 YDS
980 AVG
11.3 TD
6
CURRENT POST SEASON AND CAREER POST SEASON STATS
Stats REC YDS AVG TD LONG FUM RUSH YDS AVG TD
2003 4 30 7.5 0 12 0 0 0 - 0
Projected 4 30 7.5 0 N/A 0 0 0 - 0
Career 4 30 7.5 0 12 0 0 0 - 0
Full Stats



CURRENT SEASON AND CAREER STATS
Stats REC YDS AVG TD LONG FUM RUSH YDS AVG TD
2004 87 980 11.3 6 42 2 0 0 - 0
Projected 87 980 11.3 6 N/A 2 0 0 - 0
Career 122 1327 10.9 7 42 2 0 0 - 0
Full Stats

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I never said Witten was better than Gonzalez.

I said Witten is amont the league's best and Campbell is pretty good.

Also, the Pats have the best SET of TEs, not the best TE. I don't even know the Chiefs' #2 and #3 tight ends. Do you (without looking at their depth chart)?

[monk81]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

I never said Witten was better than Gonzalez.

I said Witten is amont the league's best and Campbell is pretty good.

Also, the Pats have the best SET of TEs, not the best TE. I don't even know the Chiefs' #2 and #3 tight ends. Do you (without looking at their depth chart)?

I think you judge all TE's by Gonzalez, who I think is one of the best in the league

No I've never heard of the Chef's #2 and #3.....but neither have I heard the praises of the Cowboys other TE's either.........Campbell was always hurt and missed the most of last season....so how can they say the Cowboys TE's are the finest when only one has proved himself so far............

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by monk81

I think you judge all TE's by Gonzalez, who I think is one of the best in the league

No I've never heard of the Chef's #2 and #3.....but neither have I heard the praises of the Cowboys other TE's either.........Campbell was always hurt and missed the most of last season....so how can they say the Cowboys TE's are the finest when only one has proved himself so far............

Gonzalez is undoubtedly one of the best TEs in the league and he's certainly better than Witten (who is damn good). But Campbell was a very good TE in New York and I remember hearing Shockey say how much Campbell meant to him, how Campbell was such a good blocker and fierce competitor (he sort of reminds me of Pat Tillman and not just because of his hair), and decent pass-catcher. Campbell has and will never go to the Pro Bowl, but he's a very solid starting tight end.

[monk81]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

Gonzalez is undoubtedly one of the best TEs in the league and he's certainly better than Witten (who is damn good). But Campbell was a very good TE in New York and I remember hearing Shockey say how much Campbell meant to him, how Campbell was such a good blocker and fierce competitor (he sort of reminds me of Pat Tillman and not just because of his hair), and decent pass-catcher. Campbell has and will never go to the Pro Bowl, but he's a very solid starting tight end.

He does look a little bit like Tillman doesn't he. I guess I never paid much attention to Campbell when he was in NY, and since the news I get where I live is all Cowboys.....I was basing it on his Cowboy career.......most of which was spent on the bench last season...........But let's hope the Redskin defense won't let any of the Cowboy tight ends look very good

[GoSkins!]

Lets hope Williams keeps Bledsoe on his butt.

[calia]

I think Gonzales is better than any two TEs in the league. There aren't many formations with two TEs being used at the same time anyway.

[BossHog]

Who's Bledsoe's backup? I see him going out a la Aikman.

[wolfeskins]

Originally Posted by BossHog

Who's Bledsoe's backup? I see him going out a la Aikman.

i guess its hansen or henson ( what ever his name is )

[monk81]

Originally Posted by wolfeskins

i guess its hansen or henson ( what ever his name is )

Yep, its Drew Henson........and his backup is Tony Romo.............

[monk81]

Originally Posted by BossHog

Who's Bledsoe's backup? I see him going out a la Aikman.

Let's hope our defense can give their QB a big headache

[mooby]

i wish they would make drew henson their starter. he'd be so inexperienced that gregg william's defense would make him throw the ball behind him instead of forward.