We need to stop overrating the offensive talent here

[Bobhaze]

BH, I agreed with everything you said, except for Dak. I keep hearing so many say that Dak does not have the potential to carry this team. Well, what do you call a QB who has passed for the most 400+ yard games (9) since 2016 throughout the whole NFL?

https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-games-of-400-yards-passing-by-a-qb-since-2016

Here’s the problem- stats are hollow when they don’t translate to playoff wins. I like Dak and I’m not among those who say he’s terrible. But Dak’s stats don’t make me feel any better. I tend judge teams based on post season success. The Cowboys were a good team this year that was clearly not one of the best. Dak, the whole team, the coaches…they all need to play at a higher level….period.

 

[doomsday9084]

A few things:
- When I see breakdown videos or wide angle replays, there are WR's open constantly. Even with that, the route combinations that Dallas runs are pretty poor but still, the WR's find a way regularly to get NFL open. The receiver group is good to excellent.
- When Pollard runs, holes magically appear. Dak has plenty of time to throw, has become rather non mobile and the team doesn't give up many sacks. The line is no longer the best in the NFL but its still above average.

Schultz isn't a good blocker and Jarwin outright sucks. That said, the problem with the offense is:
1. KM - Simple plays, predictable calls and just continues to run Zeke slowly up the middle despite the fact that its a giveaway play that sets up nothing.
2. Zeke - Is either injured or washed
3. Dak - Won't throw unless the guy is wide open, misses open guys too often

I think that the general problem with the offense could simply be fixed by better run play design and a better runner. Dak is a bus driver and if you give him a good run game, he is more than capable of putting up good numbers.

 

[silvernblu]

It has been said for far too long that the Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. It’s especially been said by Jerry and Stephen. I’m not here to say that this team is not talented. We certainly have some talent.

But I’m of the opinion that talent should be measured by what it accomplishes for your team. Whatever level of talent we have had the last 5 years has translated into 1 wild card playoff win under two different coaching staffs. TALENT SHOULD BE MEASURED BY THE RESULTS IT GIVES. If all we get is an occasional divisional “title” is that great?

We fans love our team and our players. But sometimes we have to take off the fan glasses and see things as they really are.

To avoid having a super long post, here are just some examples on offense of overrated talent here:

• WR’S and TE’s one of the best groups in the NFL? Let’s tap the brakes.
  • Amari Cooper- he’s certainly a talented receiver. And he’s paid like it. But the last 9 games of the season he avg about 45 yds per game. Why do we think paying Cooper all that money “is worth it”? What did it translate to? He’s good but he’s not consistent to pay him top dollar IMO.
  • Cedee Lamb had a statistically good year last year, but his drops are nearly league leading. He gets lazy at times and had several lapses in focus in the playoff game against the niners that cost us dearly. He needs to improve a lot to be called “great”.
  • Michael Gallup missed most of the season with an injury and was re-injured at the end of the season. I love Gallup, but he wasn’t there for most of the season. Probably gone anyway.
  • Dalton Schultz- a good but not great TE who will probably command more in FA than we can pay. Blake Jarwin? Unless we’re playing the giants, he’s a spare.
• OL- too many TV people and PFF people act like this is a top 5 OL. It isn’t.
  • Tyron Smith- the once greatest player on this team has turned into a constant injury waiting to happen. He’s missed a whopping 32 games the last 5 seasons, and hasn’t played a full season since 2015. We need to stop pretending this is working.
  • Tyler Biadz- gets manhandled on a regular basis. Thankfully, Connor “Holding” Williams will be gone next year. But Biadz either needs more help if he’s going stay at C.
  • La’El Collins- like Smith has missed a ton of games- some to injury some to his own stupidity. But he’s not been that great at RT. Maybe he could play LG again as he did back in 2016. But he either needs to get better or we say adios.
  • Zack Martin is still great. But he alone doesn’t make this a great OL.
• RB and QB-
  • Zeke Elliott- the highest paid RB in the league is killing the cap, barely producing any kind of reliable yardage and just looks old and slow. Tony Pollard should have had more snaps last year but the Jones family sees him as a family member not a football player on their team. He needs to be released.
    
  • Dak- I’m not a Dak “hater”. I still think he’s capable of leading this team to a SB. Lots of QBs with less talent have already done it. But he’s never going to be a “carry the team on his back” kind of QB.

Bottom line Cowboys fans: This offense’s talent is seriously overrated. We need to seriously upgrade the OL, shave some cap space off the WR and RB positions and draft some guys that can help immediately. Dak’s contract will be restructured.

If you don’t think Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes,Allen, or Burrows wouldn’t cruise to the SB with this offense, you are seriously delusional.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Here’s the problem- stats are hollow when they don’t translate to playoff wins. I like Dak and I’m not among those who say he’s terrible. But Dak’s stats don’t make me feel any better. I tend judge teams based on post season success. The Cowboys were a good team this year that was clearly not one of the best. Dak, the whole team, the coaches…they all need to play at a higher level….period.

Agree on everyone needs to produce better.

 

[McKDaddy]

Zack Martin is still great.

I agree with your post except for this. He isn't "great". Still quite good but he doesn't dominate like he once did. This has been the case for a while now. It's time folks realize he isn't the player he was early in his career.
I would test his trade value before his skills decline any further.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

It has been said for far too long that the Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. It’s especially been said by Jerry and Stephen. I’m not here to say that this team is not talented. We certainly have some talent.

But I’m of the opinion that talent should be measured by what it accomplishes for your team. Whatever level of talent we have had the last 5 years has translated into 1 wild card playoff win under two different coaching staffs. TALENT SHOULD BE MEASURED BY THE RESULTS IT GIVES. If all we get is an occasional divisional “title” is that great?

We fans love our team and our players. But sometimes we have to take off the fan glasses and see things as they really are.

To avoid having a super long post, here are just some examples on offense of overrated talent here:

• WR’S and TE’s one of the best groups in the NFL? Let’s tap the brakes.
  • Amari Cooper- he’s certainly a talented receiver. And he’s paid like it. But the last 9 games of the season he avg about 45 yds per game. Why do we think paying Cooper all that money “is worth it”? What did it translate to? He’s good but he’s not consistent to pay him top dollar IMO.
  • Cedee Lamb had a statistically good year last year, but his drops are nearly league leading. He gets lazy at times and had several lapses in focus in the playoff game against the niners that cost us dearly. He needs to improve a lot to be called “great”.
  • Michael Gallup missed most of the season with an injury and was re-injured at the end of the season. I love Gallup, but he wasn’t there for most of the season. Probably gone anyway.
  • Dalton Schultz- a good but not great TE who will probably command more in FA than we can pay. Blake Jarwin? Unless we’re playing the giants, he’s a spare.
• OL- too many TV people and PFF people act like this is a top 5 OL. It isn’t.
  • Tyron Smith- the once greatest player on this team has turned into a constant injury waiting to happen. He’s missed a whopping 32 games the last 5 seasons, and hasn’t played a full season since 2015. We need to stop pretending this is working.
  • Tyler Biadz- gets manhandled on a regular basis. Thankfully, Connor “Holding” Williams will be gone next year. But Biadz either needs more help if he’s going stay at C.
  • La’El Collins- like Smith has missed a ton of games- some to injury some to his own stupidity. But he’s not been that great at RT. Maybe he could play LG again as he did back in 2016. But he either needs to get better or we say adios.
  • Zack Martin is still great. But he alone doesn’t make this a great OL.
• RB and QB-
  • Zeke Elliott- the highest paid RB in the league is killing the cap, barely producing any kind of reliable yardage and just looks old and slow. Tony Pollard should have had more snaps last year but the Jones family sees him as a family member not a football player on their team. He needs to be released.
    
  • Dak- I’m not a Dak “hater”. I still think he’s capable of leading this team to a SB. Lots of QBs with less talent have already done it. But he’s never going to be a “carry the team on his back” kind of QB.

Bottom line Cowboys fans: This offense’s talent is seriously overrated. We need to seriously upgrade the OL, shave some cap space off the WR and RB positions and draft some guys that can help immediately. Dak’s contract will be restructured.

basically they are all a bunch of jags, over rated players...yet......

 

[McKDaddy]

I think if Devante Adams and Cooper switched teams, their stats would be reversed. The person throwing the ball has the biggest impact on a receivers performance. Put Cooper Kupp with Dak and his numbers would be pedestrian.

Exactly. Lots of things go into why an individual receiver has a bad, average, above average, great season. None of which are more important than QB.
Beasley supposedly couldn't get down field but doesn't have that problem in Buffalo. Just saying.

 

[CouchCoach]

So, after Cooper made his cloaked comment about targets, I began looking at him, just him when he was on the field.

Here's one thing to know about Bama WR's, they have so many good ones on the team that they have to do the extra special things that the coaches teach and that was the biggest difference in Joe Burrow in his senior season at LSU, reading the defense and Joe Brady. Bama WR's come into the league a leg up on most others because they are taught to read the defense like the QB and give him a target.

Cooper was indeed open, NFL open, a lot and Prescott did not see him or wasn't able to get the ball to him and that had to do with taking too long to process the information.

How did they improve Eli Manning? Coached him on getting rid of the ball ala Brady and he ended up with the second fastest release that season.

If the present QBC isn't the guy, get another guy. The best guy money can buy and have him live in Prescott's head. 40M for a QB, what's another 2M for a QBC?

And this is not a rag on the QB, he has room for improvement and has already proven he is capable of improving.

One thing that Brady said this year that was a look inside his magic. When it is a pass play, he knows where he is going with the ball before it is ever snapped based on what he sees. And when he was in that rapid fire mode rhythm, he was unstoppable even with mid level receivers.

Indecisiveness for a QB is the pass rush's best friend.

 

[Diehardblues]

It has been said for far too long that the Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. It’s especially been said by Jerry and Stephen. I’m not here to say that this team is not talented. We certainly have some talent.

But I’m of the opinion that talent should be measured by what it accomplishes for your team. Whatever level of talent we have had the last 5 years has translated into 1 wild card playoff win under two different coaching staffs. TALENT SHOULD BE MEASURED BY THE RESULTS IT GIVES. If all we get is an occasional divisional “title” is that great?

We fans love our team and our players. But sometimes we have to take off the fan glasses and see things as they really are.

To avoid having a super long post, here are just some examples on offense of overrated talent here:

• WR’S and TE’s one of the best groups in the NFL? Let’s tap the brakes.
  • Amari Cooper- he’s certainly a talented receiver. And he’s paid like it. But the last 9 games of the season he avg about 45 yds per game. Why do we think paying Cooper all that money “is worth it”? What did it translate to? He’s good but he’s not consistent to pay him top dollar IMO.
  • Cedee Lamb had a statistically good year last year, but his drops are nearly league leading. He gets lazy at times and had several lapses in focus in the playoff game against the niners that cost us dearly. He needs to improve a lot to be called “great”.
  • Michael Gallup missed most of the season with an injury and was re-injured at the end of the season. I love Gallup, but he wasn’t there for most of the season. Probably gone anyway.
  • Dalton Schultz- a good but not great TE who will probably command more in FA than we can pay. Blake Jarwin? Unless we’re playing the giants, he’s a spare.
• OL- too many TV people and PFF people act like this is a top 5 OL. It isn’t.
  • Tyron Smith- the once greatest player on this team has turned into a constant injury waiting to happen. He’s missed a whopping 32 games the last 5 seasons, and hasn’t played a full season since 2015. We need to stop pretending this is working.
  • Tyler Biadz- gets manhandled on a regular basis. Thankfully, Connor “Holding” Williams will be gone next year. But Biadz either needs more help if he’s going stay at C.
  • La’El Collins- like Smith has missed a ton of games- some to injury some to his own stupidity. But he’s not been that great at RT. Maybe he could play LG again as he did back in 2016. But he either needs to get better or we say adios.
  • Zack Martin is still great. But he alone doesn’t make this a great OL.
• RB and QB-
  • Zeke Elliott- the highest paid RB in the league is killing the cap, barely producing any kind of reliable yardage and just looks old and slow. Tony Pollard should have had more snaps last year but the Jones family sees him as a family member not a football player on their team. He needs to be released.
    
  • Dak- I’m not a Dak “hater”. I still think he’s capable of leading this team to a SB. Lots of QBs with less talent have already done it. But he’s never going to be a “carry the team on his back” kind of QB.

Bottom line Cowboys fans: This offense’s talent is seriously overrated. We need to seriously upgrade the OL, shave some cap space off the WR and RB positions and draft some guys that can help immediately. Dak’s contract will be restructured.

It’s not only over rated offensively but in particular the OL is aging and injury riddled with potential weaknesses at C and LG. RB is past his prime, average TE’s, and really good receivers .

And a QB which is over hyped by some. Good enough to build around but not enough to carry a supporting cast with these weaknesses.

The biggest stats to me were 11-0 when rushing for 100 yards or more. And of course OL leading league in penalties.

 

[Diehardblues]

So, after Cooper made his cloaked comment about targets, I began looking at him, just him when he was on the field.

Here's one thing to know about Bama WR's, they have so many good ones on the team that they have to do the extra special things that the coaches teach and that was the biggest difference in Joe Burrow in his senior season at LSU, reading the defense and Joe Brady. Bama WR's come into the league a leg up on most others because they are taught to read the defense like the QB and give him a target.

Cooper was indeed open, NFL open, a lot and Prescott did not see him or wasn't able to get the ball to him and that had to do with taking too long to process the information.

How did they improve Eli Manning? Coached him on getting rid of the ball ala Brady and he ended up with the second fastest release that season.

If the present QBC isn't the guy, get another guy. The best guy money can buy and have him live in Prescott's head. 40M for a QB, what's another 2M for a QBC?

And this is not a rag on the QB, he has room for improvement and has already proven he is capable of improving.

One thing that Brady said this year that was a look inside his magic. When it is a pass play, he knows where he is going with the ball before it is ever snapped based on what he sees. And when he was in that rapid fire mode rhythm, he was unstoppable even with mid level receivers.

Indecisiveness for a QB is the pass rush's best friend.

Yea, he at least has to dump the ball off or throw it away. But he can’t be afraid to throw the ball in tight openings. That’s the nature of the NFL. Surely after 6 years he’s seeing the entire field.

 

[kskboys]

Here’s the problem- stats are hollow when they don’t translate to playoff wins. I like Dak and I’m not among those who say he’s terrible. But Dak’s stats don’t make me feel any better. I tend judge teams based on post season success. The Cowboys were a good team this year that was clearly not one of the best. Dak, the whole team, the coaches…they all need to play at a higher level….period.

Carrying a team is not only amassing stats. Making key plays, especially in the 4th qtr and playoff games, is a huge factor if someone is truly carrying the team.

 

[Diehardblues]

Carrying a team is not only amassing stats. Making key plays, especially in the 4th qtr and playoff games, is a huge factor if someone is truly carrying the team.

Yep

Which is exactly what we saw on the teams that played well and advanced in the playoffs. Their QB’s made clutch plays when the game was on the line.

 

[Bobhaze]

So, after Cooper made his cloaked comment about targets, I began looking at him, just him when he was on the field.

Here's one thing to know about Bama WR's, they have so many good ones on the team that they have to do the extra special things that the coaches teach and that was the biggest difference in Joe Burrow in his senior season at LSU, reading the defense and Joe Brady. Bama WR's come into the league a leg up on most others because they are taught to read the defense like the QB and give him a target.

Cooper was indeed open, NFL open, a lot and Prescott did not see him or wasn't able to get the ball to him and that had to do with taking too long to process the information.

How did they improve Eli Manning? Coached him on getting rid of the ball ala Brady and he ended up with the second fastest release that season.

If the present QBC isn't the guy, get another guy. The best guy money can buy and have him live in Prescott's head. 40M for a QB, what's another 2M for a QBC?

And this is not a rag on the QB, he has room for improvement and has already proven he is capable of improving.

One thing that Brady said this year that was a look inside his magic. When it is a pass play, he knows where he is going with the ball before it is ever snapped based on what he sees. And when he was in that rapid fire mode rhythm, he was unstoppable even with mid level receivers.

Indecisiveness for a QB is the pass rush's best friend.

This is very insightful.

 

[Bobhaze]

If you don’t think Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes,Allen, or Burrows wouldn’t cruise to the SB with this offense, you are seriously delusional.

I may be.

 

[kskboys]

I may be.

Brady would get killed. Rodgers would freak out and implode at the drops. Mahomes would wait for someone to break open deep and they wouldn't. Allen would wonder where his D went. Burrows would wonder why we have no pass rush in the 4th.

 

[Bobhaze]

If you don’t think Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes,Allen, or Burrows wouldn’t cruise to the SB with this offense, you are seriously delusional.

Rodgers talent hasn’t been enough in GB. Last year Brady was terrible in the NFC championship game, throwing 3 pics. His defense bailed him out. Mahomes couldn’t get it done against the Cincy D in the second half last Sun.

My point is, even GREAT QBs can’t do it alone.

 

[Bobhaze]

Brady would get killed. Rodgers would freak out and implode at the drops. Mahomes would wait for someone to break open deep and they wouldn't. Allen would wonder where his D went. Burrows would wonder why we have no pass rush in the 4th.

They would all be running for their lives here.

 

[Einstein]

While I do think our O is flawed AND results matter, they were top 2 in most offensive stats, so they do have a good bit of talent.

 

[kskboys]

They would all be running for their lives here.

Those QB's are w/ smarter orgs who built the team around them to fit their skillsets. Put them on a team where that isn't the case, and they would not do nearly as well. For instance, look at Stafford.

Brady didn't pick a crapp team to go to. TB was already stacked, and they then stacked the OL w/ Wirfs in the 1st. And acquired Gronk.

 

[CCBoy]

Most under Rate them....that's why they are always crying that the get paid to much.

I have to disagree on the initial premise that the talent levels have been too low. It falls into too poorly lead to reach top shelf achievements...