ESPND: Full offseason a big difference for Cowboys

[WoodysGirl]

Jul 13
8:54
PM CT
By Clint Foster | ESPNDallas.com

DALLAS, Texas -- Critics can point the finger at any number of reasons why things didn't go as planned for the Dallas Cowboys (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-cowboys) last season. But one of the most common issues brought up is that the Cowboys didn't get a full offseason, particularly to learn a new scheme from defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

This year, the Cowboys are getting that full offseason, and it's making all the difference.

"Last year was sort of chaotic," DeMarcus Ware (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/8426/demarcus-ware) said. "But now, everybody's back. There's a regimen now. Coach Jason Garrett always says you’ve got to stick to the logistics. I think this offseason is really going to help out this year.”

Ware was at the Red Bull Gamebreakers 7-on-7 finals at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas along with teammates Jason Witten (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4527/jason-witten), John Phillips (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/12550/john-phillips) and Dez Bryant (http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13215/dez-bryant). The Cowboys spoke to the kids competing in the tournament and encouraged them to make good choices and pursue their dreams.

In the meantime, Ware told reporters how a full offseason under Ryan is helping the defense move closer to achieving its dream of helping the Cowboys win a sixth Super Bowl championship.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4693859/full-offseason-a-big-difference-for-cowboys

[Fla Cowpoke]

I am sure just about every other team in the league feels the same way....

Not trying to be negative but last year screwed up a lot of teams, not just Dallas.

[burmafrd]

I am sure just about every other team in the league feels the same way....

Not trying to be negative but last year screwed up a lot of teams, not just Dallas.


it was an even playing field. And we failed. So blaming it on a shortened offseason is just an excuse.

[big dog cowboy]

it was an even playing field. And we failed. So blaming it on a shortened offseason is just an excuse.

Apples and oranges. We have never been thru an off season with our HC and our DC was installing a brand new defense.

[starfrombirth]

it was an even playing field. And we failed. So blaming it on a shortened offseason is just an excuse.

If you read the entire article, you would notice that Jason Witten said that very same thing... Just sayin

[Hostile]

The reason for last year's failure is not on not having an off season, because no team had one. The failure of last year lies on the secondary and the interior OL. We could not stop anyone from throwing the ball deep on us late in games and we could not run the ball effectively enough to chew up clock and wear teams down. We changed 3/5ths of our OL and had JAGs in there for the interior. It is amazing we scored as many points as we did, credit to Tony Romo for an otherwise masterful year.

Yes, a full off season is going to help some things. Yes, a full training schedule is going to help some things. But the keys to this season are...

1. Did we improve the OL or not? If we did, it will show. If we did not, it will also show.

2. Did we improve the secondary? I think we did, but they have to prove it too, and right now they are banged up and recovering from off season surgeries. More takeaways, tighter coverage allowing hopefully more sacks, and especially fewer deep passes completed is the key.

[stasheroo]

The reason for last year's failure is not on not having an off season, because no team had one. The failure of last year lies on the secondary and the interior OL. We could not stop anyone from throwing the ball deep on us late in games and we could not run the ball effectively enough to chew up clock and wear teams down. We changed 3/5ths of our OL and had JAGs in there for the interior. It is amazing we scored as many points as we did, credit to Tony Romo for an otherwise masterful year.

Yes, a full off season is going to help some things. Yes, a full training schedule is going to help some things. But the keys to this season are...

1. Did we improve the OL or not? If we did, it will show. If we did not, it will also show.

2. Did we improve the secondary? I think we did, but they have to prove it too, and right now they are banged up and recovering from off season surgeries. More takeaways, tighter coverage allowing hopefully more sacks, and especially fewer deep passes completed is the key.

Excellent post!

Very much agree.

[burmafrd]

Apples and oranges. We have never been thru an off season with our HC and our DC was installing a brand new defense.

excuses. Other teams replaced their whole staff and did decently.
How about San Francisco?

[Hostile]

excuses. Other teams replaced their whole staff and did decently.
How about San Francisco?Weak division. Want to see them sustain it before I crown them. I think they will. I had been saying the previous 2 years they were the best team in that division. They sure didn't play like it under Samarai though.

[Fla Cowpoke]

Apples and oranges. We have never been thru an off season with our HC and our DC was installing a brand new defense.

As pointed out, several other teams faced similar circumstances and did ok. I think the idea that somehow just because we get a regular offseason it is going to cure our ills is very misguided.

There are plenty of changes from a year ago that we should be excited about and that hopefully will make a big difference. Garrett has a full year as a head coach, the defense has a year's experience in Ryan's defense, we have added some great new pieces to the puzzle from players to our strength coach.

[Fla Cowpoke]

The reason for last year's failure is not on not having an off season, because no team had one. The failure of last year lies on the secondary and the interior OL. We could not stop anyone from throwing the ball deep on us late in games and we could not run the ball effectively enough to chew up clock and wear teams down. We changed 3/5ths of our OL and had JAGs in there for the interior. It is amazing we scored as many points as we did, credit to Tony Romo for an otherwise masterful year.

Yes, a full off season is going to help some things. Yes, a full training schedule is going to help some things. But the keys to this season are...

1. Did we improve the OL or not? If we did, it will show. If we did not, it will also show.

2. Did we improve the secondary? I think we did, but they have to prove it too, and right now they are banged up and recovering from off season surgeries. More takeaways, tighter coverage allowing hopefully more sacks, and especially fewer deep passes completed is the key.

Great answer by the way.

[sureletsrace]

excuses. Other teams replaced their whole staff and did decently.
How about San Francisco?

When you have top15 picks in the first round for as long as they did, it's about time they were good.

[burmafrd]

Weak division. Want to see them sustain it before I crown them. I think they will. I had been saying the previous 2 years they were the best team in that division. They sure didn't play like it under Samarai though.

our division was not particularly strong last year was it?

[wittenacious]

When you have top15 picks in the first round for as long as they did, it's about time they were good.
Heck, in every round — unless picks are traded — but your point is well made, IMO.

The Detroit Lions are another prime example of how playing so poorly, for so long, eventually lets you rise back up w/ a solid team. Accumulation of top rookie talent over the course of several years, picking at or near the top of the Draft, WILL kick in and do wonders, at some point.

Not intending to take anything away from Jim Harbaugh's success with the Niners. I think he really did a bang up job in SF last year... especially given the fact he had no offseason to work with, either... quality roster or not.

[Risen Star]

Heck, in every round — unless picks are traded — but your point is well made, IMO.

Only the first round applies. Because a late 1st is higher than an early 2nd. A late 2nd is higher than an early 3rd. And so on.

Picking late in the rounds is a weak excuse for teams who can't draft. Our 2009 draft class wasn't so awful because we picked late but because of the decision makers in our front office. Give Pittsburgh or Baltimore or Green Bay a dozen picks from rounds 3-7 and I bet ya you see a much different draft class.

[Hostile]

our division was not particularly strong last year was it?I guess not.

http://www.playcloths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/226688-new-york-giants-win-super-bowl-2012.jpg

[Ultimategamer5567]

I guess not.

http://www.playcloths.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/226688-new-york-giants-win-super-bowl-2012.jpg
Ugh. Seeing a New York Giant hoisting the Lombardi trophy makes me sick.