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Sound test for offense: vocal Philadelphia fans make it tougher to avoid pre-snap penalties

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  • Originally published November 7, 2009 at 2:57 p.m., updated November 7, 2009 at 2:59 p.m.

By Gerry Fraley

The Dallas Morning News

(MCT)

IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' attempt to avoid pre-snap penalties by the offense during road games will receive a loud test Sunday at Philadelphia.

Each of the Eagles' last six opponents at wall-of-sound Lincoln Financial Field have been called for at least one pre-snap penalty on offense. The totals are nine false starts and three delays.

Coach Wade Phillips said the Cowboys have changed their snap-count procedures to help the offense but did not elaborate. The offense did not have a pre-snap penalty in the first two road games but had three penalties at Kansas City.

"We have done some things I think will help us as far as being on the road," Phillips said. "It's more difficult for any team, basically."

Phillips said the change was not made solely to help left tackle Flozell Adams, who has limited hearing capacity in the right ear. Adams' pre-snap penalties have come at a somewhat higher rate on the road than at home. Since 2004, Adams has had 22 false starts in 39 road games and 17 false starts in 39 home games.

Bennett's asked to hold back as blocker:

The Cowboys believe tight end Martellus Bennett is a victim of his own strength.

Bennett leads the NFL in holding penalties with four. At least two of the penalties, the Cowboys maintain, came when Bennett used his upper-body strength to toss an opponent to the ground. That almost always causes a holding call.

The solution for Bennett is to stay with his block but avoid finishing with a flourish.

"He's overpowering the guy, but he needs to just block him," Phillips said. "He's got to get a feel that once he's got him blocked, stay with that."

Injury report:

The Cowboys listed only one player as out: kick returner Allen Rossum.

For Philadelphia, two starters missed the final significant practice of the week: running back Brian Westbrook and strongside linebacker Chris Gocong.

Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters that Westbrook was held out because he had gone through full practices Wednesday and Thursday. Westbrook missed last week's game against the New York Giants because of a concussion, but the Eagles expect him to return against the Cowboys.

Gocong's status is more doubtful because of hamstring and quadriceps problems, Reid said. If Gocong cannot play, he will be replaced by rookie Mosie Fokou, the 230th selection in this year's draft.

Briefly: Linebacker Bobby Carpenter experienced a flare-up of a slight separation in the left shoulder during the special teams portion of practice but was able to go through the full-team practice. . . . After committing seven penalties in the first five games, Adams has been penalty free in the last two games. Adams last went three consecutive games without a penalty in games 3-5 last season. . . . In this century, Philadelphia has the NFC East's best record for divisional games in November and December at 24-11. The Cowboys are 15-19 in the same span.

___

(c) 2009, The Dallas Morning News.

Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.


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