DC.COM: Spagnola: This Program Heading In The Right Direction

[sonnyboy]

Can't qoute for obvious reasons, but someone just stepped up from semi-moronic to full retard.....

[ddh33]

Count me as another one who agrees with the premise that this better is improved and getting better.

They came up short this season, and I know that hurts. But I feel like they are close. Maybe that is why I don't understand all of the animosity towards Jason Garrett. If you can't see how he has helped improve this team, you're blind or intentionally ignoring things. That isn't to say he is perfect. In fact, I would love to see him give play-calling duties to someone else. Still, I think it's a bad idea to change head coaches over and over again...

I think there are some holes on this team that need to be filled. There are some veterans who should probably be sent packing. But this program is heading in the right direction.

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Two things...

A team won the Super Bowl last year at 9-7... From where I'm sitting 8-8 isn't far off from that. Granted I aspire more for the Cowboys that 9-7, but the bar isn't that high to just qualify.

This team went 8-8 after losing 70 "starter-games" to inury.

Last year's 8-8 team was relatively injury free. To me that is a monumental difference between the two squads and says a lot about the overall quality of the 2012 club.

8-8 ain't far from 5-11 either.

A lot of people were saying early on that the injuries would be used as an excuse if the team fizzled at the end of the year again, and it looks like they were right.

I'm sure the excuses being made in here are the same excuses the personell are currently feeding Jerry as they try to cover their own butts as well.

You can rationalize away anything if you try hard enough. We'll just ignore how terribly the team was playing even when most of those guys were healthy, that's the ticket.

[DFWJC]

I'm more positive about next year than I was going into this year.
FWIW

[LatinMind]

Originally Posted by TheCount

8-8 ain't far from 5-11 either.

A lot of people were saying early on that the injuries would be used as an excuse if the team fizzled at the end of the year again, and it looks like they were right.

I'm sure the excuses being made in here are the same excuses the personell are currently feeding Jerry as they try to cover their own butts as well.

You can rationalize away anything if you try hard enough. We'll just ignore how terribly the team was playing even when most of those guys were healthy, that's the ticket.

So you think these players being on IR didnt hurt? Really?
Lee
Carter
Church
Scandrick
Ratliff
Coleman
Brent

And then having Ware playing with half a body.

Its not an excuse its common sense.

[CATCH17]

Originally Posted by Redball Express

I am Soooooo tired of the media spins and explanation that losing equates to winning.

It doesn't. Not in football, not in marbles, not in the Battle between the Sexes nor with your local newspaper/media

What a bunch of bilge water, Mic.

Really.

RedBaLL ExpreSS

Mickey is the biggest Cowboy homer out there. He's defended every Cowboy coach.

There is nothing to see here.

[newlander]

Originally Posted by Idgit

I wonder what it is that people find so threatening about some of us liking the direction of this 8-8 team?

......it is NOT in any way, shape or form ''threatening"....it's simply not true that's all.

[newlander]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

Mickey is the biggest Cowboy homer out there. He's defended every Cowboy coach.

There is nothing to see here.

...just as I said earlier in the thread: hes simply a company man...one of Jerrah's underlings.

[Zordon]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Two things...

A team won the Super Bowl last year at 9-7... From where I'm sitting 8-8 isn't far off from that. Granted I aspire more for the Cowboys that 9-7, but the bar isn't that high to just qualify.

big difference btw winning the super bowl and just getting into the tournament. this team can't even get close to a nfc championship let alone the super bowl.

if this team was like mcnabb's eagles in that they were constantly making the playoffs and winning games in the playoffs then yes I'd agree with you that we were close.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by stasheroo

Where's 'better'?

It's not.

Mickey himself said it's not 'tangible'.

With this team, it never is.

After that, it's all just talk.

Hopes, dreams, wishes, and talk.

Is Ware getting younger? Sure didn't look it down the stretch, did he?

Is Witten after another season of wear and tear?

How about Romo and his ribs? Better or worse?

Jerry talked about windows closing before this season.

How does that window look now?

It's not just talk. You're seeing it in the results and in the play on the field, and in the way the team has changed under Garrett. It just hasn't translated into additional victories yet.

And, I'll agree, if the sole measurement of the success of the rebuilding project is victories, then by that measure JG has not succeeded. Are you willing to admit that successful rebuilding projects exist where teams really do have to work for a couple seasons before breaking through? Because we both know I can find countless examples where this is the case.

The measure of a successful team should be how well the team performs relative to it's ability, not the team's end-of-the-season record. It's not reasonable to expect our coaches to do more, with less, than other teams' coaches can do. Last year, we had less because we had significant holes in the roster. This season, we ended up with less because of a host of key injuries. But the effort was there, and it showed up--clearly--in the way the team played the 4th quarter of games and how they got better as the season wore on.

As to the talent, the QB and the start pass rusher and all pro TE are getting older. At the same time, you're seeing young players like Dez and Murray and Harris and Lee and Carter step up to play at blue chip or near blue chip levels. So it goes in the NFL. The important thing is whether or not you think this current group is capable of adding talent faster then they lose it. Signs look hopeful in that regard in my book. What makes you think they can't?

I think most of you are just disappointed and are still venting. Our window's wide open as long as we continue to draft well and do good work in veteran FA.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Two things...

A team won the Super Bowl last year at 9-7... From where I'm sitting 8-8 isn't far off from that. Granted I aspire more for the Cowboys that 9-7, but the bar isn't that high to just qualify.

This team went 8-8 after losing 70 "starter-games" to inury.

Last year's 8-8 team was relatively injury free. To me that is a monumental difference between the two squads and says a lot about the overall quality of the 2012 club.

not surprised that you cannot see the difference between a team that while 9-7 has the ability to win it all and this years team. Not surprised at all

[Aven8]

Originally Posted by ddh33

Count me as another one who agrees with the premise that this better is improved and getting better.

They came up short this season, and I know that hurts. But I feel like they are close. Maybe that is why I don't understand all of the animosity towards Jason Garrett. If you can't see how he has helped improve this team, you're blind or intentionally ignoring things. That isn't to say he is perfect. In fact, I would love to see him give play-calling duties to someone else. Still, I think it's a bad idea to change head coaches over and over again...

I think there are some holes on this team that need to be filled. There are some veterans who should probably be sent packing. But this program is heading in the right direction.

Cleveland went on a run as well. What did they win 4-5 in a row? Big deal.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Aven8

Cleveland went on a run as well. What did they win 4-5 in a row? Big deal.

It actually is a big deal. That's not easy to do for a perennially rebuilding club. I think CLE should have stayed the course with Shrumur another year, too.

[ohiocowboysfan25]

So who should we blame for the offense not being able to move the ball at the beginning of the year when most everyone was healthy? Everyone seems to be quick to use injuries as an excuse but we weren't exactly undefeated when we didn't have all the injuries in the beginning of the year.

[Aven8]

Originally Posted by Idgit

It actually is a big deal. That's not easy to do for a perennially rebuilding club. I think CLE should have stayed the course with Shrumur another year, too.

That's not who the new Owner wanted though.

IMO our season was just a microcosm of one season, and that's all. Every season is different in the NFL. You know that. Otherwise the Gents would be planning for there trip to NO this year. They were healthy all year and found a great running back and returner.

I'm not sure we even got hot, we played from behind in every game and fought, but I put that on Romo more then coaching.

Then as we always do, we lost our last two games. We can never make it easy. This team needs new voices, now! Before its too late.