A short list of what will have to happen in ‘22 to have success

[Bobhaze]

It’s still way too early to declare this off-season successful or not. Not finished with FA and the draft hasn’t happened yet. But it is safe to say it’s been a fairly typical off-season for the Jones front office as we watch teams with a good front office run circles around the Cowboys with both vision and financial creativity.

Remember when people were saying the rams had “mortgaged their future” to win now? Rams GM Les Snead just smiles at people like Stephen Jones and says “hold my beer”.

But here’s my OP question- What must be different about this team next year in order for it take have success? Here’s my list:

• A mental and physical toughness this team hasn’t shown in a very long time. Last January the niners told us in advance they were going to get physical with us and run the ball down our throats. Then they did just that. If this team is ever going to truly playoff relevant again, this must change.

• Being able to run the ball consistently again. When this team has a running game, it opens everything else up. Either a better OL or better play calling must be part of this.

• Better football IQ. Stop the stupid penalties, missed extra points, missed assignments, poor execution, etc. This team got dumber as the season progressed. One of these days maybe- just maybe we’ll have a HC who realizes small details matter. Practices matter. Attention to things like penalties and clock management matter.

• Being willing to not play Zeke as much even though his contract is huge. Look, we get that he’s paid like a star. He’s not performing that way. Anyone who is honest will say that Tony Pollard was a consistently better RB last year and needs more touches. Pollard will never be a “bell cow”. But he needs more than 5-8 touches in a game.
  
  
• Better creativity with the offense. At times it seems like as soon as Kellen Moore shows some creativity he gets a call from Jason Garrett to tap the creative brakes. I just don’t understand. Is it DCs have figured out what his style is and he has no answers? Kellen Moore has to be better or he should be gone.

• For the first time in 15 years, make the playoffs two years in a row. For a franchise that once made the playoffs in 16 of 17 seasons back in the day, surely they could make it two years in a row for a change.

• Finally- the bottom line for any Cowboys team right now- at least make a conference championship game. It’s embarrassing that this team can’t get past the divisional round of the playoffs. Until they do this is a giant gorilla on their backs.

This is obviously and incomplete list. What else? What else must change?

 

[Jake]

It’s still way too early to declare this off-season successful or not. Not finished with FA and the draft hasn’t happened yet. But it is safe to say it’s been a fairly typical off-season for the Jones front office as we watch teams with a good front office run circles around the Cowboys with both vision and financial creativity.

What else must change?

This must change. Sadly, we both know that's not going to happen.

I see folks here already penciling in the division title in 2022. I'll believe it if I see it because, like everything else with the Jones boys, history is against them.

 

[Bobhaze]

This must change. Sadly, we both know that's not going to happen.

Agreed. But I do think we as fans have to keep calling these guys out. It’s possible to be a fan and not buy the kool aid and swamp real estate these guys sell. SJ worries a lot more about “cap space” than the NFL execs winning playoff games.

 

[KJJ]

The trenches will continue to be an issue and the OL is a mess. We have yet to do anything that tells me we’re going to be more mentally and physically tough. We’re just lucky we’re playing in a bad division. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[Hawkeye19]

This team is poised to take 2-3 steps backwards in 2022. They will still compete for the NFCE title which will unfortunately allow JJ and Stephen to pretend this is a “successful” campaign— but it’s all posturing.

They are (once again) in a soft rebuild due to having to dig themselves out of bad contracts that Stephen made with under-producing players.

9-8, 10-7 might be the ceiling for this team. One and done in Jan if they make the playoffs. Then— new HC, new “excitement” about the “fresh” vision the new staff is bringing to the table…

In other words… SSDD

 

[Coogiguy03]

Get Zeke out and our offense runs smoother!!

 

[Bobhaze]

Get Zeke out and our offense runs smoother!!

If Zeke didn’t have that really bad contract, they could have cut him this off-season and drafted a RB in rounds 3-5 and pair that guy with Pollard and revamped OL.

 

[shabazz]

Bullet points 1, 2 and 4 can be obtained by getting strong in the offensive trench. The defensive line needs to get fortified and nasty as hell before any “toughness” can be discussed here.

 

[baltcowboy]

This team is poised to take 2-3 steps backwards in 2022. They will still compete for the NFCE title which will unfortunately allow JJ and Stephen to pretend this is a “successful” campaign— but it’s all posturing.

They are (once again) in a soft rebuild due to having to dig themselves out of bad contracts that Stephen made with under-producing players.

9-8, 10-7 might be the ceiling for this team. One and done in Jan if they make the playoffs. Then— new HC, new “excitement” about the “fresh” vision the new staff is bringing to the table…

In other words… SSDD

Not to say I disagree with you but what would you do to change the Cowboys? I think we would not be much better if we kept Cooper, La’el and Gregory. Cooper was in the way of CeeDee, La’el and Gregory are walking off the field suspensions. They all needed to go.

 

[shabazz]

Get Zeke out and our offense runs smoother!!

sure, but Dakota would have gotten creamed on a lot of plays. It’s crazy to pay this much to a RB that’s best attribute may be picking up blitzes, but that’s where we’re at.

 

[Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius]

Being willing to not play Zeke as much even though his contract is huge. Look, we get that he’s paid like a star. He’s not performing that way. Anyone who is honest will say that Tony Pollard was a consistently better RB last year and needs more touches. Pollard will never be a “bell cow”. But he needs more than 5-8 touches in a game.

He's not performing lie a star???? Really??? I'll be the first to say HE'S NOT THE SAME OLE ZEKE according to last years numbers

21 Dallas Cowboys 17 17 237 1002 4.23 10 47 287 6.11 21 2 1 1

1287 yards from scrimmage? That 's not chopped liver my guy! I'm not calling you out my dude. I think you are one of the more balanced posters on here. I just wanted to know what you think.

BTW I think a stronger Defense especially stopping the run will Be key to our success. I still want the passing defense to make strides, but we gotta get that run D fixed

 

[Coogiguy03]

If Zeke didn’t have that really bad contract, they could have cut him this off-season and drafted a RB in rounds 3-5 and pair that guy with Pollard and revamped OL.

PERFECT!¡!!

 

[Jake]

Agreed. But I do think we as fans have to keep calling these guys out. It’s possible to be a fan and not buy the kool aid and swamp real estate these guys sell. SJ worries a lot more about “cap space” than the NFL execs winning playoff games.

Well, when winning playoff games isn't essential to one's job security...this organizational structure is so dumb. The arrogance it takes to continue thinking you're the right men for the job when you've spent a quarter century proving otherwise is breathtaking.

 

[Coogiguy03]

sure, but Dakota would have gotten creamed on a lot of plays. It’s crazy to pay this much to a RB that’s best attribute may be picking up blitzes, but that’s where we’re at.

I don't get it, the hype he still gets as if he's the Zeke from 2016

 

[shabazz]

I don't get it, the hype he still gets as if he's the Zeke from 2016

He’s clearly not the same player. He came into this league an immature baller and going to leave an immature “has been”. Character counts….if he had just 20% percent of Christian McCafferys maturity and work ethic, he’d still be balling

 

[GoldenR]

Keeping some of the same players is not very smart as we got zero production out of Gregory and Tank when we needed. FACT! Now, not to replace or get better when their WAS quality out there is ridiculous as we were close to being top tier. But.... it is and will be from now on a PASSING league and Zeke and Pollard are the least of our worries. Offensive line protected Dak just fine, throw the ***** football instead of checking down when we had Cooper, Lamb, Wilson, Schultz,etc... That may get you a QBR of 20 in a playoff game!! Oh wait........

 

[Jake]

Keeping some of the same players is not very smart as we got zero production out of Gregory and Tank when we needed. FACT! Now, not to replace or get better when their WAS quality out there is ridiculous as we were close to being top tier. But.... it is and will be from now on a PASSING league and Zeke and Pollard are the least of our worries. Offensive line protected Dak just fine, throw the ***** football instead of checking down when we had Cooper, Lamb, Wilson, Schultz,etc... That may get you a QBR of 20 in a playoff game!! Oh wait........

The offensive line did not protect "just fine" and thinking the run game is "the least of our worries" makes me wonder what team you were watching last season.

That the front office has done little to address either makes me wonder what team they were watching, too. Then again, ol' Jerry made his Super Bowl proclamation the same week more people were picking the Cowboys to lose at home than any other team. Those people were right and Jerry just looked like a self-deluded old fool.

Air Dak is not a winning strategy against good teams. If that's the route people want to go, especially the Jones boys, then prepare for disappointment.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

It’s still way too early to declare this off-season successful or not. Not finished with FA and the draft hasn’t happened yet. But it is safe to say it’s been a fairly typical off-season for the Jones front office as we watch teams with a good front office run circles around the Cowboys with both vision and financial creativity.

Remember when people were saying the rams had “mortgaged their future” to win now? Rams GM Les Snead just smiles at people like Stephen Jones and says “hold my beer”.

But here’s my OP question- What must be different about this team next year in order for it take have success? Here’s my list:

• A mental and physical toughness this team hasn’t shown in a very long time. Last January the niners told us in advance they were going to get physical with us and run the ball down our throats. Then they did just that. If this team is ever going to truly playoff relevant again, this must change.

• Being able to run the ball consistently again. When this team has a running game, it opens everything else up. Either a better OL or better play calling must be part of this.

• Better football IQ. Stop the stupid penalties, missed extra points, missed assignments, poor execution, etc. This team got dumber as the season progressed. One of these days maybe- just maybe we’ll have a HC who realizes small details matter. Practices matter. Attention to things like penalties and clock management matter.

• Being willing to not play Zeke as much even though his contract is huge. Look, we get that he’s paid like a star. He’s not performing that way. Anyone who is honest will say that Tony Pollard was a consistently better RB last year and needs more touches. Pollard will never be a “bell cow”. But he needs more than 5-8 touches in a game.
  
  
• Better creativity with the offense. At times it seems like as soon as Kellen Moore shows some creativity he gets a call from Jason Garrett to tap the creative brakes. I just don’t understand. Is it DCs have figured out what his style is and he has no answers? Kellen Moore has to be better or he should be gone.

• For the first time in 15 years, make the playoffs two years in a row. For a franchise that once made the playoffs in 16 of 17 seasons back in the day, surely they could make it two years in a row for a change.

• Finally- the bottom line for any Cowboys team right now- at least make a conference championship game. It’s embarrassing that this team can’t get past the divisional round of the playoffs. Until they do this is a giant gorilla on their backs.

This is obviously and incomplete list. What else? What else must change?

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

This team is poised to take 2-3 steps backwards in 2022. They will still compete for the NFCE title which will unfortunately allow JJ and Stephen to pretend this is a “successful” campaign— but it’s all posturing.

They are (once again) in a soft rebuild due to having to dig themselves out of bad contracts that Stephen made with under-producing players.

9-8, 10-7 might be the ceiling for this team. One and done in Jan if they make the playoffs. Then— new HC, new “excitement” about the “fresh” vision the new staff is bringing to the table…

In other words… SSDD

Yep...nail on the head. Problem is they won't bite the bullet, unload all the ****** contracts and players that aren't all in. Teams have shown you can do a complete rebuild in two years...the Bengals are proof. The problem is we already have a franchise QB with a top end deal, instead of building around a new QB like the Bengals were able to do.

The thing is, when you invest in the QB, you have to be able to go cheap at other spots and the QB has to make up for it. Brady for years has played behind very average OL's and has had mediocre receivers that he makes look much better. And NE always had a defense that was among the best when it came to crunch time.

Dallas tried to do this with Romo, giving him a crap OL for so long and counting on him to make up for it. Burrow actually was able to make up for the crap OL with great receivers.

Other teams have turned it around in 2-3 years and are poised to compete. Pittsburgh competes year in and year out. The Pats. Seattle had for a long time. The 49ers. The Ravens.

 

[Bobhaze]

Being willing to not play Zeke as much even though his contract is huge. Look, we get that he’s paid like a star. He’s not performing that way. Anyone who is honest will say that Tony Pollard was a consistently better RB last year and needs more touches. Pollard will never be a “bell cow”. But he needs more than 5-8 touches in a game.

He's not performing lie a star???? Really??? I'll be the first to say HE'S NOT THE SAME OLE ZEKE according to last years numbers

21 Dallas Cowboys 17 17 237 1002 4.23 10 47 287 6.11 21 2 1 1

1287 yards from scrimmage? That 's not chopped liver my guy! I'm not calling you out my dude. I think you are one of the more balanced posters on here. I just wanted to know what you think.

BTW I think a stronger Defense especially stopping the run will Be key to our success. I still want the passing defense to make strides, but we gotta get that run D fixed

Good point on the defense stopping the run. Good one indeed.

Gotta disagree with you though on Zeke. He IS chopped liver. Sure he had 1,200 combined yards last year. But he was horrible the last half of the season. Yes, I know he was hurt but he has zero burst now even when he’s healthy. He averaged 58 yards per game last year even though he was force fed on many games. The last two seasons combined he averages 990 yards rushing a season. Not that great. Zeke is a middle of the road RB with a ton of miles on the tires. Honestly IMO, he’s an OK RB by committee guy worth 10 touches a game. That’s it.