You fail badly at realizing what or who made those players great. Players who were not drafted in the 1st round like many of today's players are but fail to help the team get past the division round in the playoffs. That is what is missing in today's teams. You guys just concentrate or believe that drafting key players at key positions in the 1st round is going to lift this team in the playoffs, yet they keep falling short while you fail to realize what truly made those 70s and 90s players great.
I would appreciate your explanation as to what made those players great.
To me, it was obvious talent that made the 90's team great in addition to a disciplined and focused environment with clearly defined center of authority.
As to the 70's team, I never felt as though they were any more talented than many other teams. They just excelled in working as a team with superior coaching, preparation and team leadership.
The defense and offense was structured in a way that superior talent wasn't the key, it was knowing what you had to do in certain situations depending on what you saw from the opponents offense.
I'm going to tell everyone a little story just to get my point across (and because i just love typing so much). it also reveals a little of Tom Landry's dark side.
When Tex Schram traded for a few Packer veterans, Tom Landry resented it. It was as if Tex was saying that Landry couldn't win without some of Lombardi's guys.
One of the guys was HOFer CB Herb Adderley.
Adderley was a very athletic, talented player that relied on his athleticism to make extraordinary plays.
One practice, he read the quarterback's eyes and ran to the side where he threw the ball. Adderley intercepted the ball. Landry immediately chewed him out. Landry told him that he doesn't run to an area covered by another defender, it was his task to cover the guy he was on.
Adderley reminded him that he made an interception but Landry said he didn't care, stay with his guy.
You see, Landry knew Adderley was extremely talented but he also knew that the younger backups didn't have the same talent level. However, once they saw Adderley make his play, they might attempt to do the same and they would fail. They would be okay so long as they followed Landry's system.
However, Adderley continued to make athletic plays outside of his zone so Landry benched him.
This was the 1972 season and the Cowboys were playing Washington in the NFC championship game. Towards the end of the first half with Washington leading 10-3, starting CB Charlie Waters went down with an injury. Herb Adderley put on his helmet and was about to go out there when Landry informed him what he was to stay on the bench.
Landry sent out Mark Washington, a 2nd year, 13th round draft pick. The Cowboys lost 26-3 and almost every Washington scoring drive involved a reception thrown in Mark Washington's direction. Herb Adderley retired after the season.
There are a lot of talented players throughout NFL history. However, it is success that history remembers the most. For Landry's Cowboys, success was measured by the players ability to work as a team. I believe that is still true today.
Not true ^^^^
