Does this front office have a plan?

[Bobhaze]

There are some old sayings about planning and leadership that apply to the Cowboys these days- “When things don’t go as planned, you find out the quality of your leaders”, and “The best leaders are the ones prepared for both good times and bad.”

It’s always easier when the plans you’ve made work. But what do your leaders do when the plan doesn’t work? Or even worse- What if your leaders never had a plan to begin with?

After watching 4 games with this 2020 Cowboys team, it’s obvious things haven’t gone as planned. But I have some questions:

• What is this team built to be?
• What is the plan now?

Thoughts/questions about what this team is built to be NOW:

• The 2016-2019 teams were seemingly built around the offensive line and the running game’s ability to control the tempo of the game with Zeke and the defense’s ability to bend but not break.
• In those days, Dak’s role was to be an efficient passer who doesn’t turn the ball over. But we don’t have a dominant offensive line anymore. Zeke is a very good RB, but he doesn’t look as explosive as his early days.
  
• Travis Frederick’s retirement has had a big impact on the OL.
• Is this year’s team supposed to be a pass dominant team now?
  
• Did the FO drop the ball in the offseason planning for this defense? Haha Clinton-Dix was signed in the offseason and couldn’t even make the roster. Dontari Poe seems like a shadow of what he used to be. Gerald McCoy was injured before pads were put on.
• Now what?

So what is this FO’s plan to right this sinking ship? Here’s another old saying that applies- “Hope is not a strategy”, although with Jerry and Stephen Jones, that always seems to be the plan- hope things work out. And if they don’t, find someone else to blame for their own failings.

What do you think is the plan this year? Is there a plan?

 

[Jake]

No. Jerry's plan is year to year. At his age the future is now and he's convinced himself that the Cowboys are closer to a title than they are in reality.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Bob.......... you know the answer to that question. This team hasn't had an identity since Jimmy left town with the only plan available to Jerry,

 

[Bobhaze]

Bob.......... you know the answer to that question. This team hasn't had an identity since Jimmy left town with the only plan available to Jerry,

Yep. Their identity is just Jerry. Erratic with more sizzle than steak. Fantasy football.

 

[GMO415]

This team was built to win the SB now, or within two years.

Once this period has passed, it's rebuilding.

 

[Bobhaze]

This team was built to win the SB now, or within two years.

Once this period has passed, it's rebuilding.

Ok. But what is this team’s philosophy? What is it built around? I don’t see a design here.

 

[atlantacowboy]

This team was built to win the SB now, or within two years.

Once this period has passed, it's rebuilding.

Defense wins championships. This team is built to entertain and that's it.

 

[Reality]

1) hype hope
2) when hope declines too far, change something
3) see #1

 

[MikeB80]

This organization has not had a plan since the big guy took his baseball bat and retired to Saratoga.

the only unified plan they have is promote the team and have their employees promote the team.

 

[John813]

1. We like our guys
2. Stay the course
3. It's a process
4. Oh ****, free agency started two weeks ago
5. The draft will solve everything.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I'm starting to think maybe the smartest thing to at this point is shut down Nolan scheme ( for now ) and use the same scheme/system players played the last 3-4 years under Marinelli. You have a better chance of getting ALL 11 guys on the same page. Remember Woods saying if one player screws up, they all screw up and he's right coz another player or players are going have to cover the mistake(s).

Just me but we all know the offense is fine and if we get the D to start playing top 15 ball, this team becomes who we thought it would be.

I guess I'm a little confused what OP is asking/looking for from Jerry and/or Stephen since the season has started. We have a new coach and a pretty good draft. You get the impression ( I do at least) they've given MM everything he's asked for. They added McCoy, Smith, and even Griffen to the DLine. So I'm not sure there's a lot more they could have done. If anything, you can argue MM underestimated the challenge of installing a new defensive scheme with CV19, a new coach, new players, no practice. Frankly, that's on him, not Jerry and Stephen.

 

[Teague31]

Sure they do. It’s called counting their money. As long as the dollars keep flowing the Jones’ care little about the product on the field

 

[jsb357]

 

[McKDaddy]

Bob, fair question but I think you answered your own question more or less.

They did reasonable things in the offseason. They spent draft capital and FA $'s to bring in the players you mentioned to shore up the defense. Sure some will argue they should have brought in more but that delves into the grey area between realistic & fan fantasies.

No amount of planning will save you when the players you brought in get injured and\or don't play up to expectations. Add in veteran players on this team getting injured and\or not playing well and it all adds up to a porous defense.

It should be fairly apparent that we can score points (even though we haven't played a top notch defense). So, if this defense were middle of the road the FO would be getting accolades for their stellar work in putting together so much offensive talent and plugging defensive holes that led to their 4-0 start.

 

[pitt33]

Sure they do. It’s called counting their money. As long as the dollars keep flowing the Jones’ care little about the product on the field

I don't believe this is the case at all. They have more money than some countries.

The fact is they don't know what the hell they're doing in regards to fielding a championship caliber football team. All's they do is try to plug holes year after year. It really amounts to band-aid fixes...or attempt to. Aikman has often referred to this front office as not having a long range plan. I can see next year's draft being all defense. and then the offensive line not being nearly what it was. It just becomes a never ending cycle with the FO.

 

[Bullflop]

I hereby would like to submit my theory that our FO's plan is to get richer and yet, even richer, thereby enjoying the fruits of their wealth, while we grovel in disappointment and disgust over their football failings. Such is our humble fate, in the here and now, as sad fans of the poorly run Dallas Cowboys.

I'm just happy to see that life is going along swimmingly for the rich and famous, while the downcast football fans of their team are hoping for something good to happen for their team. One can't help but to wonder how Mike McCarthy and Mike Nolan feel about what they've gotten themselves into.

 

[Darkhound]

They are stupid when it comes to football

 

[Blackspider214]

One thing I don't get is we drafted Zeke with the 4th pick. Invested heavily (too heavily for my tastes) in the OL and extended Zeke to a big contract when he held out. But seemingly right after that, we became a heavy pass team. Even with Dak dealing with a hurt shoulder in basically the NFC East championship game, our pass to run ratio was something to the tune of 40/16. Zeke hardly carried the ball in the 2nd half and this game was never out of hand.

What was the point in extending Zeke to use him like this? You could have signed a much cheaper RB to do what he is doing now

 

[75boyz]

No. Jerry's plan is year to year. At his age the future is now and he's convinced himself that the Cowboys are closer to a title than they are in reality.

After his original JG project plan failed he grabbed the only name coach that would save face and on the surface appear to appease the masses temporarily.

Now that his coaching plan or poor coaching selection failures continue, the mega marketing and false hope salesman giant is status quo promoting his brand.

There's no viable long term 'football' plan. That would suggest he's a true Football Man.

As Jake states here, it's a new year every year in Jerry's mind and his team is oh, so close. Enjoy that just keep them in the news enough to stay relevant appearance and Jerry's salesmanship will handle all the rest.

It's the same plan.

That's the plan.

 

[LucaBrasi]

1) make money
2) continue to market/sell the brand
3) place the brand in the news/ sports cycle no matter what that news is - remember any mention of the brand is good whether it be positive or negative.
4) repeat 1-3

the football plan falls way down the list, if at all