30 plus years of futility. What is it?

[Wildcat711]

Jerry.. and the fact he hasn't used a first round draft pick on a QB since 1989.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I have been giving this subject quite a bit of thoughtful consideration. We haven’t sniffed a SB since 1995. What are the causes of that?

Many will immediately point at Jerry and say a fish rots from the head down, etc. But let’s look at this a bit deeper than that.

The Chan Gailey years sucked mainly because the team was in salary cap hell and the roster was void of talent. We had also given away 2FRPs just prior to that time period (which I guess you could put on Jerry) but he was trying to extend the SB window so it’s a bit hard to fault Jerry for that one.

The not enough talent/we need to replace Jerry with football people argument. This argument gets thrown out there repeatedly but the Cowboys have put together some pretty solid teams over the years. I would argue that Jerry has assembled some really good teams that didn’t make the SB. Some of those teams HAD the talent. I think some of those teams were derailed by officiating. Dez caught it (twice).

The Garret years. You can blame Jerry for hiring Carrot Top. But Garrett held this team back for many years. Some of Garrett’s teams had the talent, they just didn’t have the coaching to get over the hump.

The Non Romo/Non Dak years. Absent the Romo and Dak years this team did not have a QB capable of winning a SB.

The Romo Years. The Romo led teams often had a sub par defense, or a sub par OL, or lack of Coaching (Garrett years). Romo was tasked with doing too much and his health suffered for it and Romo became a gunslinger as a result. Gunslinging results in INTs. Romo had some season ending games due to INTS.

The Dak years. The Dak years have the same deficiencies as the Romo years with two notable exceptions. 1. Dak has had consistently better OL play and 2. Romo could read the field in a way that Dak never could. Dak also wilts in the biggest games. I think we could have won a SB with risk averse Dak. I am very doubtful that we can win a SB with Dak at this point, absent Dak getting really dialed in for a short period of time in the playoffs which is a real long shot.

The Culture. This may be the single largest cancer that needs to be exorcised from this franchise. Sure, keep the first class way that this team does things, but every team seems to have entitlement issues. And it often extends to the biggest stars.

Jersey sales: Jerry seems to play players (Jason Witten—cough cough) far past his prime for the mere purpose of selling jerseys. No one will ever be able to convince me any differently. Some guys have just been Jerry’s pets and he has a blind spot when it comes to them.

Where do we go from here:

1. Coaching has to be elevated over what we have had for the past 30 years. (Parcells was past his prime).

I’m not out on Shotty yet, but Eberflus should get sent packing. He may not be able to create miracles with the guys we have but they should be playing better than THIS.

2. Stop reaching for need in the draft. We seem to piss off every reach pick. Picks need to be very solid FOOTBALL players.

3. Actually utilize free agency and make trades for players with late round picks.

4. Stop overvaluing and over paying our own or paying players for past production. (This might we the worst thing we do)

5. Build a defense. Ravens compete year in and year out because of that defense. Build it. It will always keep you around the rim. Pay defensive free agents. They tend to be cheaper.

6. Start looking for a QB. Now.

7. Stop trying to maximize wins when you are out of the playoffs. Maximize draft position and draft capital.

8. Coach Jerry needs to stop “coaching”. Being part of the draft acquisition process is one thing but making coaching type decisions is not a part of the solution.

9. Ruthless/dispassionate contract negotiations and player evaluations. The team fails miserably in this category.

I am sure that I am missing some. What say you on this topic?

Damn.
I will ask The Library Lady to read this to me while she rubs me muscular feet.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

The easy response is Jerry, me esteemed lad.
But, in fact, it is the sycophants around him who applauded him as if he is the leader of North Korea.
They won't tell him he is stoopid as a bucket of dried eels.

 

[kramskoi]

I have been giving this subject quite a bit of thoughtful consideration. We haven’t sniffed a SB since 1995. What are the causes of that?

Many will immediately point at Jerry and say a fish rots from the head down, etc. But let’s look at this a bit deeper than that.

The Chan Gailey years sucked mainly because the team was in salary cap hell and the roster was void of talent. We had also given away 2FRPs just prior to that time period (which I guess you could put on Jerry) but he was trying to extend the SB window so it’s a bit hard to fault Jerry for that one.

The not enough talent/we need to replace Jerry with football people argument. This argument gets thrown out there repeatedly but the Cowboys have put together some pretty solid teams over the years. I would argue that Jerry has assembled some really good teams that didn’t make the SB. Some of those teams HAD the talent. I think some of those teams were derailed by officiating. Dez caught it (twice).

The Garret years. You can blame Jerry for hiring Carrot Top. But Garrett held this team back for many years. Some of Garrett’s teams had the talent, they just didn’t have the coaching to get over the hump.

The Non Romo/Non Dak years. Absent the Romo and Dak years this team did not have a QB capable of winning a SB.

The Romo Years. The Romo led teams often had a sub par defense, or a sub par OL, or lack of Coaching (Garrett years). Romo was tasked with doing too much and his health suffered for it and Romo became a gunslinger as a result. Gunslinging results in INTs. Romo had some season ending games due to INTS.

The Dak years. The Dak years have the same deficiencies as the Romo years with two notable exceptions. 1. Dak has had consistently better OL play and 2. Romo could read the field in a way that Dak never could. Dak also wilts in the biggest games. I think we could have won a SB with risk averse Dak. I am very doubtful that we can win a SB with Dak at this point, absent Dak getting really dialed in for a short period of time in the playoffs which is a real long shot.

The Culture. This may be the single largest cancer that needs to be exorcised from this franchise. Sure, keep the first class way that this team does things, but every team seems to have entitlement issues. And it often extends to the biggest stars.

Jersey sales: Jerry seems to play players (Jason Witten—cough cough) far past his prime for the mere purpose of selling jerseys. No one will ever be able to convince me any differently. Some guys have just been Jerry’s pets and he has a blind spot when it comes to them.

Where do we go from here:

1. Coaching has to be elevated over what we have had for the past 30 years. (Parcells was past his prime).

I’m not out on Shotty yet, but Eberflus should get sent packing. He may not be able to create miracles with the guys we have but they should be playing better than THIS.

2. Stop reaching for need in the draft. We seem to piss off every reach pick. Picks need to be very solid FOOTBALL players.

3. Actually utilize free agency and make trades for players with late round picks.

4. Stop overvaluing and over paying our own or paying players for past production. (This might we the worst thing we do)

5. Build a defense. Ravens compete year in and year out because of that defense. Build it. It will always keep you around the rim. Pay defensive free agents. They tend to be cheaper.

6. Start looking for a QB. Now.

7. Stop trying to maximize wins when you are out of the playoffs. Maximize draft position and draft capital.

8. Coach Jerry needs to stop “coaching”. Being part of the draft acquisition process is one thing but making coaching type decisions is not a part of the solution.

9. Ruthless/dispassionate contract negotiations and player evaluations. The team fails miserably in this category.

I am sure that I am missing some. What say you on this topic?

So Dak suxs right???

I think we could have won a SB with risk averse Dak.

The problem with "risk-averse Dak" is that you don't have the type of running game the Eagles had in 2022...let alone what they had in 2024, when they amassed nearly 3,900 rushing yards on the season (including the playoffs) They ran for 818 yards in the playoffs alone (2024). 204 yds/game rushing. THAT is the type rushing output you need for "risk-averse Dak" to do big things. And he has to be part of it, which at this point in his career ain't gonna happen. He's not going to be running the ball 15 - 18 times per game.

The best running game he has ever had was in his rookie season. The line isn't as good now. The RB room isn't of the type that the Lions field. Not dynamic enough...even though I love how good Williams has been this year. Or...maybe Schottenheimer isn't doing it the right way. Prescott has avg. 35 - 37 atts/gm this year. He should be in the 25 - 30 range. Josh Allen was at 29 per game a few weeks ago...allowing James Cook to do his thing.

The common theme in the playoffs is a team that simply can't (or won't) run the ball the way they need to run it. A problem the 90s teams didn't have. With E. Smith in there you knew it was only a matter of time before the running game took over the thing. And Smith was excellent as a receiving option.

 

[MissionCoach]

New Ownership, who beings a legitimate full time, NFL GM, and hire the best Head Coach available (HC picks his own staff, Coordinators etc). The only formula to becoming a competitive franchise again. Hit on a franchise QB, and we are golden!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Design.

Follow me for more truths, but definetely not dating advice.

Rent a high-end vehicle for a day. Then tell the birds "Hey baby, I'm rich."

 

[kramskoi]

You're getting the Campo years and the Gailey years mixed up. We didn't have a chance under Campo but there were still a few pieces left whenever Gailey took over for Switzer and we were somewhat competitive. We went from being 6 and 10 to 10 and 6 his first year.

His second year we lost every road game except for opening day in Washington where we came back from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter. He simply could not make second half adjustments. We would win in the first half and then lose in the second. Had we drafted Moss, I think we would have won another Super Bowl in 1998. We ended up going 9 and 7 his second year, losing in the first round of the playoffs and he was fired.

This. Gailey still had Aikman, Irvin and Smith. But the Campo years were rock-bottom, which ushered in Parcells. Had Parcells succeeded Gailey they might have been able to stop the fall sooner...and rebound quicker, although Romo hadn't arrived yet. Maybe Aikman plays a year or two longer. He would've welcomed Parcells, who would've gotten all the knuckleheads in line.

Not so sure about 1998. Haley was no longer there. Novacek gone. But Moss was such a freak...I wouldn't say it wasn't possible to reach the Superbowl...but the Broncos, with Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe would've been tough to slay. That beat-down in week 2 of 1998 was hard to watch. 209 yds surrendered on the ground. That's when I knew that the Cowboys were over as legitimate post-season contenders. It was over by half-time (35 - 17).

 

[Diehardblues]

There’s one common thread thru last 3 decades.

 

[Ironicalicon]

Design.

Follow me for more truths, but definetely not dating advice.

Or lack thereof (design).

 

[Ironicalicon]

But the Campo years were rock-bottom, which ushered in Parcells.

This is why we have fans like MountaineerCowboy. The hope is if it gets bad enough it might force Jerry to make an uncharacteristic change that leads to something good. As it stands we have Schotty for at least the duration of his contract, barring back to back dismal seasons or something.

 

[acr731]

There’s one common thread thru last 3 decades.

2 threads, actually, Jerry and Stephen. Although I don't know if Stephen played much of a role in operations in 1996 like he does now. I just don't remember him being mentioned as much in the news as he is now.

 

[acr731]

This is why we have fans like MountaineerCowboy. The hope is if it gets bad enough it might force Jerry to make an uncharacteristic change that leads to something good. As it stands we have Schotty for at least the duration of his contract, barring back to back dismal seasons or something.

We all know there's only one thing that would force Jerry to make uncharacteristic changes - the cash flow has to come a halt.

 

[Ironicalicon]

We all know there's only one thing that would force Jerry to make uncharacteristic changes - the cash flow has to come a halt.

As long as the Cowboys are always in the news he's always gonna have the TV money. As for butts in the seats, if it's not Cowboys fans it's opposing teams' fans.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Jerry’s faith in Garrett and Dak have caused the past 15 years of futility. Looking further back is practically a waste of time.

I honestly think Parcells had us on the right track and had Jerry been more accommodating to Parcells he would have had us at least in a NFC championship sometime between 2007-2010. Parcells soured on Jerry and that was all she wrote.

The simple fact is the only time this franchise has been championship caliber under Jerry is when a dominant coach could work around Jerry’s ineptitude. The only exception is the SB under Switzer but it was still Jimmy’s roster and Aikman was basically a player/coach.

 

[ICP]

One word - Ownership

Everyone should be able to recognize this by now

 

[Diehardblues]

2 threads, actually, Jerry and Stephen. Although I don't know if Stephen played much of a role in operations in 1996 like he does now. I just don't remember him being mentioned as much in the news as he is now.

Stephen wouldnt be here if not for Jethro.

 

[Stsinaz12]

I have been giving this subject quite a bit of thoughtful consideration. We haven’t sniffed a SB since 1995. What are the causes of that?

Many will immediately point at Jerry and say a fish rots from the head down, etc. But let’s look at this a bit deeper than that.

The Chan Gailey years sucked mainly because the team was in salary cap hell and the roster was void of talent. We had also given away 2FRPs just prior to that time period (which I guess you could put on Jerry) but he was trying to extend the SB window so it’s a bit hard to fault Jerry for that one.

The not enough talent/we need to replace Jerry with football people argument. This argument gets thrown out there repeatedly but the Cowboys have put together some pretty solid teams over the years. I would argue that Jerry has assembled some really good teams that didn’t make the SB. Some of those teams HAD the talent. I think some of those teams were derailed by officiating. Dez caught it (twice).

The Garret years. You can blame Jerry for hiring Carrot Top. But Garrett held this team back for many years. Some of Garrett’s teams had the talent, they just didn’t have the coaching to get over the hump.

The Non Romo/Non Dak years. Absent the Romo and Dak years this team did not have a QB capable of winning a SB.

The Romo Years. The Romo led teams often had a sub par defense, or a sub par OL, or lack of Coaching (Garrett years). Romo was tasked with doing too much and his health suffered for it and Romo became a gunslinger as a result. Gunslinging results in INTs. Romo had some season ending games due to INTS.

The Dak years. The Dak years have the same deficiencies as the Romo years with two notable exceptions. 1. Dak has had consistently better OL play and 2. Romo could read the field in a way that Dak never could. Dak also wilts in the biggest games. I think we could have won a SB with risk averse Dak. I am very doubtful that we can win a SB with Dak at this point, absent Dak getting really dialed in for a short period of time in the playoffs which is a real long shot.

The Culture. This may be the single largest cancer that needs to be exorcised from this franchise. Sure, keep the first class way that this team does things, but every team seems to have entitlement issues. And it often extends to the biggest stars.

Jersey sales: Jerry seems to play players (Jason Witten—cough cough) far past his prime for the mere purpose of selling jerseys. No one will ever be able to convince me any differently. Some guys have just been Jerry’s pets and he has a blind spot when it comes to them.

Where do we go from here:

1. Coaching has to be elevated over what we have had for the past 30 years. (Parcells was past his prime).

I’m not out on Shotty yet, but Eberflus should get sent packing. He may not be able to create miracles with the guys we have but they should be playing better than THIS.

2. Stop reaching for need in the draft. We seem to piss off every reach pick. Picks need to be very solid FOOTBALL players.

3. Actually utilize free agency and make trades for players with late round picks.

4. Stop overvaluing and over paying our own or paying players for past production. (This might we the worst thing we do)

5. Build a defense. Ravens compete year in and year out because of that defense. Build it. It will always keep you around the rim. Pay defensive free agents. They tend to be cheaper.

6. Start looking for a QB. Now.

7. Stop trying to maximize wins when you are out of the playoffs. Maximize draft position and draft capital.

8. Coach Jerry needs to stop “coaching”. Being part of the draft acquisition process is one thing but making coaching type decisions is not a part of the solution.

9. Ruthless/dispassionate contract negotiations and player evaluations. The team fails miserably in this category.

I am sure that I am missing some. What say you on this topic?

Its dysfunction its Jerry listening to everyone else because he runs 10 diff companies and interjects himself in w stupid decisions at times. We don’t have a GM that knows what to do when a coach like Marinelli has you draft bad players. We have GM owner who allows anyone to go over the coach he spoils the players like Clowney said. He takes the edge off of players. He knows very little about football and thinks he knows everything. Now Stephen has a problem because you have an 83 year old guy losing it more and more everyday but still wants to be in charge. It’s everything that Jerry is why we have the 30 yr drought. Romo 2-4 in playoffs Dak 2-5. Only one constant JERRY JONES!

 

[kskboys]

I have been giving this subject quite a bit of thoughtful consideration. We haven’t sniffed a SB since 1995. What are the causes of that?

Many will immediately point at Jerry and say a fish rots from the head down, etc. But let’s look at this a bit deeper than that.

The Chan Gailey years sucked mainly because the team was in salary cap hell and the roster was void of talent. We had also given away 2FRPs just prior to that time period (which I guess you could put on Jerry) but he was trying to extend the SB window so it’s a bit hard to fault Jerry for that one.

The not enough talent/we need to replace Jerry with football people argument. This argument gets thrown out there repeatedly but the Cowboys have put together some pretty solid teams over the years. I would argue that Jerry has assembled some really good teams that didn’t make the SB. Some of those teams HAD the talent. I think some of those teams were derailed by officiating. Dez caught it (twice).

The Garret years. You can blame Jerry for hiring Carrot Top. But Garrett held this team back for many years. Some of Garrett’s teams had the talent, they just didn’t have the coaching to get over the hump.

The Non Romo/Non Dak years. Absent the Romo and Dak years this team did not have a QB capable of winning a SB.

The Romo Years. The Romo led teams often had a sub par defense, or a sub par OL, or lack of Coaching (Garrett years). Romo was tasked with doing too much and his health suffered for it and Romo became a gunslinger as a result. Gunslinging results in INTs. Romo had some season ending games due to INTS.

The Dak years. The Dak years have the same deficiencies as the Romo years with two notable exceptions. 1. Dak has had consistently better OL play and 2. Romo could read the field in a way that Dak never could. Dak also wilts in the biggest games. I think we could have won a SB with risk averse Dak. I am very doubtful that we can win a SB with Dak at this point, absent Dak getting really dialed in for a short period of time in the playoffs which is a real long shot.

The Culture. This may be the single largest cancer that needs to be exorcised from this franchise. Sure, keep the first class way that this team does things, but every team seems to have entitlement issues. And it often extends to the biggest stars.

Jersey sales: Jerry seems to play players (Jason Witten—cough cough) far past his prime for the mere purpose of selling jerseys. No one will ever be able to convince me any differently. Some guys have just been Jerry’s pets and he has a blind spot when it comes to them.

Where do we go from here:

1. Coaching has to be elevated over what we have had for the past 30 years. (Parcells was past his prime).

I’m not out on Shotty yet, but Eberflus should get sent packing. He may not be able to create miracles with the guys we have but they should be playing better than THIS.

2. Stop reaching for need in the draft. We seem to piss off every reach pick. Picks need to be very solid FOOTBALL players.

3. Actually utilize free agency and make trades for players with late round picks.

4. Stop overvaluing and over paying our own or paying players for past production. (This might we the worst thing we do)

5. Build a defense. Ravens compete year in and year out because of that defense. Build it. It will always keep you around the rim. Pay defensive free agents. They tend to be cheaper.

6. Start looking for a QB. Now.

7. Stop trying to maximize wins when you are out of the playoffs. Maximize draft position and draft capital.

8. Coach Jerry needs to stop “coaching”. Being part of the draft acquisition process is one thing but making coaching type decisions is not a part of the solution.

9. Ruthless/dispassionate contract negotiations and player evaluations. The team fails miserably in this category.

I am sure that I am missing some. What say you on this topic?

None of that. We are on 30 years of futility simply because we refuse to break it down and start over. And then add in Jerry's ridiculously bad evaluations of personnel and a focus on the skill positions, and this is what you get.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We haven’t sniffed a SB since 1995. What are the causes of that?

 

[Cowboysfandarin]

Let’s look at this from the outside in. Out of those 30 seasons, I would say 12 of those seasons we had a roster capable of beating any team in the league at that time but also we would lose to any team legitimately. There was at least 8 to 10 seasons during this 30 year drought that we were capable of making it to the big dance we just didn’t for various reasons some of them rather trivial a few times missing that one to three players that we needed. And I feel we’re still in that zone right now. Obviously it needs to happen on the defensive side of the ball. We need about five key acquisitions this off-season and a coaching staff that gels and works together And will be a contender again. This year‘s Cowboys could beat anybody in the league we proved it. But we just couldn’t find that consistency.

We improve next season and once again will be in the hunt. But after 30 years of being disappointed, I’m not holding my breath.