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

[cowboyeric8]

Originally Posted by Rack Bauer

Whoa! Slow down there!

8.1 - 7.9.


It's a process.

Offer something more than a lame drive by pot shot or leave the thread.

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by Vanilla2

I'm curious what people thought Dallas was gonna do before the season.

From some of the posts is read it seems like folks thought they were gonna be really good.

There are some posters here who are able to see the forest through the trees.

Others have an odd sense of entitlement even though I'm sure they went into the season not expecting much.

It's hard being a Cowboy fan these days.

Not so much because of the team but because of this element in the fanbase.

The element that is the joke they claim the team has become.

You honestly think its hard being a fan, not because of the team, but be because of other fans?

Would you think any differently if you weren't on the forum?

[Vanilla2]

Actually count.

Many of the fans I deal with are just like the posters of this board.

I thought it was just the local fans since I never really thought to join a Cowboy message.

I've got a guy at work who goes out of his way to tell me who much the team sucks when they lose but if they win there's nothing coming from him.

And he's not the first case of that type of fan I've come across.

I personally know the team needs to improve in alot of places to be competitive.

I just don't think it's as bad as some do.

I think if you look objectively at this team they are headed in the right direction despite its shortcomings.

IMO that's a credit to Garrett and his process taking hold within the locker room.

At the same time if Garrett is let go demolish the roster minus a few players.

I just think the culture won't fully change with these players if a coach isn't allowed to fully put his imprint on the organization.

And that's where Philips failed us all. There are far too many players that took advantage of his laid back style.

I'm not blaming wade for the failings of the last two seasons but his tenure really put a hurtin on the roster.

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by cowboyeric8

Thank you for answering civilly. I can't dispute any of your stats. There is just a different aura around this team as lame as that sounds. I truly enjoy watching Cowboys' football again because I like how the team carries themselves and has a never quit attitude. I didn't have high expectations for the year but I did expect playoffs, we were close and would have achieved it if it weren't for the countless injuries. I think we are a few years from being a legitimate contender but believe we are in the right direction. Only time will tell who is right, I wouldn't bet against the Cowboys.

To me, expecting playoffs was having high expectations. Hoping for the playoffs is one thing, but expecting them? Nah.

Nothing about this team prior to the season should've had people expecting anything but what was achieved. 8-8 and no playoffs. And then to start the season off the way they did, pretty much solidified that opinion for me, tho I was happy for every W they got.

I think expectations were raised as the Cowboys made their last minute run, which is why so many folks are upset at yet another missed opportunity.

[Coy]

Originally Posted by cowboyeric8

Thank you for answering civilly. I can't dispute any of your stats. There is just a different aura around this team as lame as that sounds. I truly enjoy watching Cowboys' football again because I like how the team carries themselves and has a never quit attitude. I didn't have high expectations for the year but I did expect playoffs, we were close and would have achieved it if it weren't for the countless injuries. I think we are a few years from being a legitimate contender but believe we are in the right direction. Only time will tell who is right, I wouldn't bet against the Cowboys.

Believe me, as a Cowboy fan for the past 25 years I really hope you are right, I love this team and there's nothing that can change that but it get's hard having the same result year after year.
Anyway I'll be here year after year hoping and cheering our beloved Cowboys until we get our 6th Lombardi Trophy.

[ScipioCowboy]

Originally Posted by TheCount

Nah. Next year we'll have a playoff caliber 8-8 team. Then a Super Bowl caliber 8-8 team. We might have the first ever dynasty that doesnt even need to make it to the playoffs.

Now that there's funny. I don't care who you are.

[birdwells1]

The problem with us playing in the last game of the season to win the division, 8-8, over shadows the fact that in any other division we would've been out the race weeks before that.

[stasheroo]

Originally Posted by birdwells1

The problem with us playing in the last game of the season to win the division, 8-8, over shadows the fact that in any other division we would've been out the race weeks before that.

Very true.

We were competing for a playoff spot because ours was the easiest to win due to the NFC East's down year.

The Bears were 10-6 and didn't make the playoffs, heck the Giants were eliminated having a better record than we did.

Most teams with an 8-7 record would have no shot at the playoffs. Our shot was the result of division parity, not accomplishment.

I'll post it again so maybe it sinks in this time.

This team has beaten two playoff-caliber teams in the past two years - San Francisco in early 2011 and Cincinnati in 2012.

If you want to point to anything at all, point to that.

[CyberB0b]

Originally Posted by JPM

Focus on the OL and DL this off-season and I do see improvement next year.

How? They can't really afford to sign anyone and they haven't done well at drafting offensive and defensive linemen.

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by Vanilla2

Actually count.

Many of the fans I deal with are just like the posters of this board.

I thought it was just the local fans since I never really thought to join a Cowboy message.

I've got a guy at work who goes out of his way to tell me who much the team sucks when they lose but if they win there's nothing coming from him.

And he's not the first case of that type of fan I've come across.

I personally know the team needs to improve in alot of places to be competitive.

I just don't think it's as bad as some do.

I think if you look objectively at this team they are headed in the right direction despite its shortcomings.

IMO that's a credit to Garrett and his process taking hold within the locker room.

At the same time if Garrett is let go demolish the roster minus a few players.

[View Full Quote]I just think the culture won't fully change with these players if a coach isn't allowed to fully put his imprint on the organization.

And that's where Philips failed us all. There are far too many players that took advantage of his laid back style.

I'm not blaming wade for the failings of the last two seasons but his tenure really put a hurtin on the roster.

I think you make a lot of sense, but even so, I find it interesting that you don't find any frustration with the team but more so with the fans that are frustrated.

No one likes the guy that only has something to say when things are bad, I'll be damned if being frustrated with this team isn't justified.

[pjtoadie]

Originally Posted by stasheroo

This team has beaten two playoff-caliber teams in the past two years - San Francisco in early 2011 and Cincinnati in 2012.
If you want to point to anything at all, point to that.

Yeah we're 2-9 since last year against playoff teams....ouch!

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by CyberB0b

How? They can't really afford to sign anyone and they haven't done well at drafting offensive and defensive linemen.

Looking at the guys that could have their contracts restructured will create some cap room. Not for a couple "Grade A" linemen but enough space for serviceble players.

Give this team another guard like Livings and you'll see some good things along the offensive line.

As far as drafting, yeah there was some misses... no doubt about it.

But Crawford played well this season as a rook.

Before his accident, Brent was putting together a nice season as a young guy, so I wouldn't say choosing d-linemen has been a big a problem as drafting o-linemen.

I would expect the team to draft a couple new linemen and pickup a couple freeagent linemen so come next training camp you'll see a couple new names along each line.

[stasheroo]

Originally Posted by pjtoadie

Yeah we're 2-9 since last year against playoff teams....ouch!

It's the inconvenient truth that staunch supporters try to ignore.

And it usually ends up killing threads like this when it comes out.

[MichaelWinicki]

At this point we're arguing schemtics.

When it comes right down to it, it probably doesn't matter if the team was better, the same or worse than the team that ended 2011.

The most important thing is where they'll be at the end of July.

[pjtoadie]

Originally Posted by stasheroo

It's the inconvenient truth that staunch supporters try to ignore.

And it usually ends up killing threads like this when it comes out.

Yep and to expand on things:

This is how we stack up since last year:

2-9 against playoff teams
2-6 against non-playoff teams that finished at 8-8 or above
12-1 against teams below .500 (our only lose to a team below .500 came against the Saints this year)


So teams that finished at 8-8 or better since 2011 we're 4-15 and 12-1 against teams below .500....ouch!

But hey it's a process