Recap: Troy Aikman Show 11/16 - This Team vs Romo Teams, Mike McCarthy analysis, Take on Rams status

[VaqueroTD]

Didn't get a chance to transcribe this one live this morning. Recap below if you value Troy's takes. (Which you should.)

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This Week's Recaps

Stephen Jones Show - Tyron Smith, Connor Williams Updates
Recap: - Stephen Jones Show 105.3 FM | Dallas Cowboys Forum - CowboysZone.com

Nate Newton & Jesse Holley Monday Podcast - Take on Falcons game, Nate called it!
Recap: - Hanging With Boys, Big Nate & Jesse Holley Podcast 11/15 | Dallas Cowboys Forum - CowboysZone.com

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Troy Aikman on Ticket 96.7FM
Audio: Podcasts | KTCK-AM (theticket.com)

• Sometimes you need a game like Denver to get your edge back. Sometimes you lose your edge after big wins. Falcons had come off the big win in NO. Perfect storm.
• Is Dallas as good as they showed? I don't know. They can show it though with KC.
• I'm not ready to say KC is back to previous years performance. I will withhold judgment until I see the tape of the Oakland game. I feel KC is still finding themselves but more confident.
• This Dallas team does feel different than last 15 years teams. Biggest reason is Dak Prescott. The way he goes about it, the leader he is, this team is more grounded in what they are and don't take anything for granted. It becomes difficult for the players. There's this idea they've accomplished something just by playing for the Cowboys. They get caught up in it because the Cowboys are so popular. If you play decent for Dallas, you're automatically a star because of how popular they are. If you're not put in your place properly by the people in charge, you get an inflated opinion. I sense that is what has happened to some of these previous Dallas teams. I don't feel this way about this group. At least that's what I gather when I talk to them and I watch them. Until you go do it, you haven't done anything. I like this Coach's approach.
• Hard Knocks is unfortunate because you get a peak behind the curtain, but it's unfair on how people judge McCarthy's message instead of his results. I think he brings a lunch pail attitude to the team, Pittsburgh roots, and a big reason why this team is as grounded as they are. Most successful teams take on the personality of their head coach. He provides the daily message. Not that they say it that way, but it influences. And then to have a QB like Dak who is such a great leader on both sides of the ball, I think it all becomes a very positive thing.
• I see a lot of red flags with Rams. Robert Woods is a huge blow. I've been criticized for saying it but I've always said he's a top 5 receiver in football. A lot of times I watch him, I would take him first for all that he does. Rams haven't had a first draft pick since Goff. They don't have another one until 2024. They bring in Ramsey, arguable the best corner in football for a first. Known commodity instead of a question. I get that. If you can make it work under the cap, great. I don't think the Stafford move was a bad thing either, I think the world of Stafford. I like a lot of what they've done but the last few moves, I don't want to say desperation, but I got the feeling watching them last night that it has totally shaken the chemistry of that football team. And that happens. Just one player in a locker room can change the dynamics. If you bring in a player, someone is not going to play and they won't be happy. If that player is popular or has 4-5 very close friends, it starts trickling around and it creates cliques in the locker room. That's what I sensed last night. Stafford throws an INT because he's trying to get the ball to OBJ. There were 2 defenders back there, but Matthew now feels the same pressure that Baker Mayfield did -- I have to get the ball in his hands. It's not good playing QB when you feel pressure to get the ball to one particular player.
• It's human nature to look at the schedule and think you will win one game. As much as the players know, and especially the coaches are less inclined to get ahead of themselves. It's human nature though to look at the schedule and say "that's a Win" or "that's a Win." Any Given Sunday is a cliche, but it really is true. The margins are not that great, and they are slimmer every year.
• I would bet on the Patriots making the Playoffs. They have made great strides through the season. I'm a big fan of Belichick and Brady. Love what Tom did last year but hate that it was at the expense of saying, "Oh... he's the one who made it happen in New England." Cause I don't think that's true, this is the greatest coach of all-time. He showed it against Tampa and Dallas this year. He comes up with things to give his team a chance to win. And it's helped with Mac Jones playing the way he has. Every time I watch Mac Jones you would never know he's a rookie QB. Big throws, hangs in there... there's always this argument on sitting or playing. Aaron Rodgers would have been pretty good playing as a rookie. Mahomes could have played as a rookie but he sat on the bench and everyone points to it as that's why he's great. No, there's a lot of QBs that have had great careers playing their first season. If you're ready, you're ready. You can't compare today's game against my days, these QBs have far greater opportunity to have success. Much more ready. Has Jones reached his ceiling already? I don't find that to be true. He was well coached in college so more prepared with Saban and Sarkisian. I still think he will improve every year and look forward to visiting with him tomorrow.
• (asked about Ticket's Jub Jam that Joe Avezanno helped start in Dallas, a lot of musicians got their start because of Coach Joe) Joe Avezanno had a lot of great sayings. He used to say the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. Me and Stepnoski would jot them down and remind him. He would always deny it. I miss him every day. Hoping that the music festival I'm doing in Oklahoma can have that same impact on young artists and a little bit of a breeding ground, the same impact that Joe made in his day.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Aikman speaks volumes...

"This Dallas team does feel different than last 15 years teams. Biggest reason is Dak Prescott. The way he goes about it, the leader he is, this team is more grounded in what they are and don't take anything for granted. It becomes difficult for the players. There's this idea they've accomplished something just by playing for the Cowboys. They get caught up in it because the Cowboys are so popular. If you play decent for Dallas, you're automatically a star because of how popular they are. If you're not put in your place properly by the people in charge, you get an inflated opinion. I sense that is what has happened to some of these previous Dallas teams. I don't feel this way about this group. At least that's what I gather when I talk to them and I watch them."

"Until you go do it, you haven't done anything. I like this Coach's approach."

 

[VaqueroTD]

Aikman speaks volumes...

"This Dallas team does feel different than last 15 years teams. Biggest reason is Dak Prescott. The way he goes about it, the leader he is, this team is more grounded in what they are and don't take anything for granted. It becomes difficult for the players. There's this idea they've accomplished something just by playing for the Cowboys. They get caught up in it because the Cowboys are so popular. If you play decent for Dallas, you're automatically a star because of how popular they are. If you're not put in your place properly by the people in charge, you get an inflated opinion. I sense that is what has happened to some of these previous Dallas teams. I don't feel this way about this group. At least that's what I gather when I talk to them and I watch them."

"Until you go do it, you haven't done anything. I like this Coach's approach."

I'm glad Aikman is speaking about this. It's always been my theory on what happened to the Garrett-Romo teams. We HAD some good teams. They just never centered themselves. And yes, Romo never came across as the total team leader like Dak. You really have to go back to someone like Joe Montana for a both sides charismatic chief QB like Prescott.

Parcells was the one who made me realize how much of a problem the Dallas hype was. "Don't eat the cheese" was not because Parcells is good at Press Conferences (which he was the best LOL), it was because he ALWAYS had to shut down the media hype questions. Garrett NEVER did that. McCarthy by his nature has a good way of doing it. He's not as tactical as Parcells who likes to play head games, it's just who he is - lunch pail and blue collar like Aikman said.

Aikman will not pull punches. He's also the first one to diss Jerry about his GM skills the years after Jimmy Johnson. He called out Barry Switzer for not replacing the leadership void left by Jimmy. And I agree with his take on the Rams. There's getting too cute now with all these signings.

 

[MarcusRock]

When you talk about the Rams, you can't look at them right now with the new talent. They probably need time to gel. I saw people calling out Von Miller not doing this or doing that when the guy's just coming back from injury. Fans love playing down other teams to help them feel confident but there's a whole lot of football left between now and Game 17. I wouldn't take my eyes off the Rams.

 

[crashintonickdm]

Aikmans “this coach is not like that” is a direct shot at Garrett.

 

[cowboyec]

#8

 

[VaqueroTD]

When you talk about the Rams, you can't look at them right now with the new talent. They probably need time to gel. I saw people calling out Von Miller not doing this or doing that when the guy's just coming back from injury. Fans love playing down other teams to help them feel confident but there's a whole lot of football left between now and Game 17. I wouldn't take my eyes off the Rams.

Miller isn't a cancer. He'll be fine. OBJ is.

Aikmans “this coach is not like that” is a direct shot at Garrett.

Listen to interview. Didn't really take it as a shot to anyone, just the way he said it. I would have emphasized "IS" if he said it that way.

Understand that Aikman has seen and worked with all the Cowboys coaches and plenty in the NFL.

But yes, I'm sure when Garrett looks back on what he did wrong, not stopping the 'big head' syndrome is up there. It started with Wade, but he had a shot to change the culture.

 

[Blake]

Romo and crew enjoyed being famous more than winning. Hated his lackadaisical “
golly gee wiz” persona he carried into the huddle. Romo wasn’t serious about trying to win big games until he realized his career is nearly over.

 

[CATCH17]

Romo and crew enjoyed being famous more than winning. Hated his lackadaisical “
golly gee wiz” persona he carried into the huddle. Romo wasn’t serious about trying to win big games until he realized his career is nearly over.

Ridiculous.

Sadly, Romo was the team while Jerry’s ego got in the way for his boy Garrett.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

Thank you a million times over @VaqueroTD

I really appreciate the recap. Good stuff!

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Romo and crew enjoyed being famous more than winning. Hated his lackadaisical “
golly gee wiz” persona he carried into the huddle. Romo wasn’t serious about trying to win big games until he realized his career is nearly over.

I totally disagree. I guarantee Romo wanted to win just as bad as anyone. Your description of his persona is just a cheap shot.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Ridiculous.

Sadly, Romo was the team while Jerry’s ego got in the way for his boy Garrett.

Blake's been an unabashed Romo hater for years. Romo wasn't even on the list of problems with the team and the last person anyone should complain about when thinking about the lack of success of the team in the past twenty years.

Romo was hamstrung and handicapped by both Jerry and Garrett post Parcells for almost a decade. It was only in the later years when Jerry finally hired McClay did things start turn around in the personnel department. By that time it was over for Romo. I'd say even the 2016 year where Dak had his great success as a rookie was likely due to Romo helping him and not Garrett. Those horrid offensive lines over the years took an injury toll on Romo that he simply couldn't overcome.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I totally disagree. I guarantee Romo wanted to win just as bad as anyone. Your description of his persona is just a cheap shot.

Agree with that. Don't extrapolate "less leader than Dak" as meaning a player doesn't want to win. I don't think there is a single player in that locker room who doesn't want to win. You don't get to the pros without it.

Fair or not, the perception is Romo fell harder for the Hollywood stuff, and that he couldn't command a locker room the same way Dak does.

I mean it when I say Dak being able to lead both sides is a rare gift. I remember Charles Haley talking about how loyal he and the defense were to Joe Montana on those 80's 49ers teams. There was not that same loyalty to Steve Young.

It's one of the things that caused the rift and for Haley to be traded, he thought Young back-stabbed Montana to get the starting job. Does Young not being able to command the defense make him less of a QB? No. He was a great QB. But just saying... not everyone has that "gift."

 

[Blake]

I totally disagree. I guarantee Romo wanted to win just as bad as anyone. Your description of his persona is just a cheap shot.

I’ve been going back and watching Cowboys games from his era. Hate the way Romo carried himself on the field and in the huddle. The difference between winning QBs of that era and Romo is night and day. Without the rose colored glasses this time, I can see better why the NFL media at that time didn’t really respect his game.

 

[McKDaddy]

Ridiculous.

Sadly, Romo was the team while Jerry’s ego got in the way for his boy Garrett.

yeah, playing with punctured lung is really lackadaisical “golly gee wiz” commitment to winning.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I’ve been going back and watching Cowboys games from his era. Hate the way Romo carried himself on the field and in the huddle. The difference between winning QBs of that era and Romo is night and day. Without the rose colored glasses this time, I can see better why the NFL media at that time didn’t really respect his game.

I think what I liked most about Romo was also what I hated most.

He was great at making something out of nothing. So many games watching him make plays when the pocket broke down, and it's fair to say some of it was because he never had the same offensive line that Dak started with, but he definitely finished his career with a damn good line.

But that's also what I hated the most. Romo would make some dumb decision when trying to make it work. He just didn't value the ball security as much as he should. Led league one year in interceptions. Was Mr. Fumble in the beginning of his career, including that botched FG snap in the Playoffs. Comparing Dak's stats to other young QBs he came in with, that's what stands out the most to me, he doesn't turn the ball over.

 

[McKDaddy]

Agree with that. Don't extrapolate "less leader than Dak" as meaning a player doesn't want to win. I don't think there is a single player in that locker room who doesn't want to win. You don't get to the pros without it.

Fair or not, the perception is Romo fell harder for the Hollywood stuff, and that he couldn't command a locker room the same way Dak does.

I mean it when I say Dak being able to lead both sides is a rare gift. I remember Charles Haley talking about how loyal he and the defense were to Joe Montana on those 80's 49ers teams. There was not that same loyalty to Steve Young.

It's one of the things that caused the rift and for Haley to be traded, he thought Young back-stabbed Montana to get the starting job. Does Young not being able to command the defense make him less of a QB? No. He was a great QB. But just saying... not everyone has that "gift."

well said. what is a leader for one person is not necessarily a leader to another. may have nothing to do with the "leader" and everything to do with the other person.

leadership is important but I think we generally make too much out of it as fans. we aren't there. jumping to conclusions one way or the other based on perception, etc..

 

[America's Cowboy]

Romo and crew enjoyed being famous more than winning. Hated his lackadaisical “
golly gee wiz” persona he carried into the huddle. Romo wasn’t serious about trying to win big games until he realized his career is nearly over.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Blake's been an unabashed Romo hater for years. Romo wasn't even on the list of problems with the team and the last person anyone should complain about when thinking about the lack of success of the team in the past twenty years.

Romo was hamstrung and handicapped by both Jerry and Garrett post Parcells for almost a decade. It was only in the later years when Jerry finally hired McClay did things start turn around in the personnel department. By that time it was over for Romo. I'd say even the 2016 year where Dak had his great success as a rookie was likely due to Romo helping him and not Garrett. Those horrid offensive lines over the years took an injury toll on Romo that he simply couldn't overcome.

BS.

Romo started his starting career surrounded by very good talent in 2006. His 2nd year as a starter, he had 13 Pro Bowlers (a Cowboys franchise record) playing alongside him, so let's stop with the BS talk that Romo never had a good team around him, especially during his early years. That's just a flat out lie.

The guy simply went Hollywood as soon as he became the starter in 2006, and he went to Cabo during the 2007 playoffs (who in the heck does that???). Even Troy was upset about that and mentioned how that type of thinking will only hurt the team, which it did. By the time Romo truly took the game seriously years later, his body was breaking down due to injury after injury.

 

[goshan]

Biggest issue with Romo days wasn't his personal leadership compared to Dak (no doubt though Dak is a much better leader than Romo), it was the cliques propagated by the ownership, coaches and participation by players like Romo. Romo and Witten going on vacation with the owners, basketball games with Garret, etc. It is impossible to build a 'one team' culture with accountability and trust with that approach, and it creates resentment, as well as the 'haves' and 'have nots'. Dak and McCarthy are smart enough to know that. The prior regime thought that stuff was really cool. Really totally stupid when you think all that happened for years and years.

People arguing in here that Garret was a good leader of men completely miss this point. In fact, he was a bad leader because he did not know how to manage team dynamics, and the role he plays in that.