Although Terrell Owens is a proven game breaker, the key for the Birds in stopping the Cowboys will be controlling tight end Jason Witten. Romo likes throwing to Owens but tight end Jason Witten is his favorite target.
Witten has caught 42 passes for 540 yards with 4 TD's in seven games. He's a big, fast and physical target, who has a great pair of hands. Over the season and a half that Romo has played, Witten has been able to gain his confidence so much that he will throw to him in all sittuations. Witten dominates the middle of the field and has a knack for finding the dead area in the zone. These dead areas are seams between defenders in zone coverages.
In addtition to developing a feel for running routes against zones, Jason has learned to push off and use his combination of speed and size versus man to man. Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither will have his hands full trying to cover Witten. I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Johnson utilizes some combination coverages to fool Tony Romo into thinking Witten is open when he's not.
The Birds have to lay some licks on Witten when they get the chance. They must pound him and show him that catching balls over the middle comes with a price. Romo gets himself going by going to Witten on safe throws across the middle, The Birds must put a stop to it by beating up Witten as much as possible when he's trying to release from the line of scrimmage. I would even utilize the defensive ends to pound him when they get the chance as he's trying to release.
