This was first season in 3 years I felt hope starting to come back

[CTcowboy203]

McCarthy as flawed as he was was the best coach we had here in a long time. Far far far from perfect but was able to put consistent playoff seasons together in this circus.

Not easy to do

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

New DC, D additions in Caleb Downs Malachi Jalen Williams D Winters, full offseason with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Now the addition of J Porter. You SHOULD have had hope that would have made us better. It's actually shocking they are still so bad.

Honestly, that's the thing about tonight that's aggravating for me. The defence actually wasn't putrid, especially in the first half. They gave the offense multiple stops. Including a three and out inside the 10 getting our offense in Aubrey's range quickly....and the offense did nothing with it. Our high powered offense should be scoring more than 7 in a half. The fact they wasted as many possessions and wide open WRs is disgusting, and it's not the first time that Dak has not seen wide open receivers this season.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

McCarthy as flawed as he was was the best coach we had here in a long time. Far far far from perfect but was able to put consistent playoff seasons together in this circus.

Not easy to do

Agreed, and I loved McCarthy here. I would love for us to get him back if the Steelers let him go.

 

[CTcowboy203]

And that's the thing, my bar could not have been much lower considering how the division was shaping up. And honestly, the defence wasn't even the problem today. They only gave up 7 in the first half, and it should have been 0 if Bland wasn't idiotic. I expect more than 7 from our $100+ mil offense.

I love ya buddy but what games are you watching? The defense gave up 241 yards rushing and get big play after big play whenever they needed it, including a 3rd &21.

You are right the offense sucked too but the defense is abysmal and was again tonight

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

They made a fool out of us again but it’s good at least they did it now and not week 17.

Yes, but I will say this. The defence actually is looking better.....which makes this loss even more frustrating. The offense completely went missing. The defence did a great job in the first half and should have conceded 0 if not for Bland being idiotic.

 

[Kingofholland]

Honestly, this was the first season in 3 years where I felt actual hope starting to come back. And that's been bashed into the ground. I hated the feeling of not looking forward to a season. I hated the feeling that we had no shot. And this offseason actually gave me hope. We actually seemed to be doing things a better way. But no. Nothing changes. Just spirals down the toilet.

I genuinely don't know what to do. I'm a diehard fan. I genuinely love the Cowboys. But, at the same time, it's hard knowing that this team just doesn't have what it takes.

I feel you Rusty, incredibly disappointing start. We knew a lot was riding on the defense improvement, but with the turnover and new scheme no where to go but up, right? I wasn't expecting an instant turn around but if they could improve a couple spots each week and get to average by the end of the season the team would have a chance. This was the perfect game to start righting that ship against an 0-4 team starting a 7th round rookie. Instead they reminded us all this team has a long way to go.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

Honestly, this was the first season in 3 years where I felt actual hope starting to come back. And that's been bashed into the ground. I hated the feeling of not looking forward to a season. I hated the feeling that we had no shot. And this offseason actually gave me hope. We actually seemed to be doing things a better way. But no. Nothing changes. Just spirals down the toilet.

I genuinely don't know what to do. I'm a diehard fan. I genuinely love the Cowboys. But, at the same time, it's hard knowing that this team just doesn't have what it takes.

I am in the same boat as you. I had real hope for this season and thought the winds of change were blowing with the CP hire, Downs pick, and general willingness to actually trade and sign some nice pieces.

To see the absolutely atrocious product on the field now? That hurts. I really, really wanted to believe this team could make a run but they are just bad. This is a bad team, with bad coaching, and they don’t have a chance.

Maybe next year.

 

[Dorsett99Yards]

Dak is not a home run hitter at QB.
In stride on the go routes is not his thing.
He needs crossers and elbows to stretch the defense.
The coaches aren't smart enough to figure that out.
So the offense lives in the box that Garrett built.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I love ya buddy but what games are you watching? The defense gave up 241 yards rushing and get big play after big play whenever they needed it, including a 3rd &21.

You are right the offense sucked too but the defense is abysmal and was again tonight

That's the thing, I'm not saying they were great. But they held the Bucs to 7 in the first half. They gave our offense the ball at the 40 with a great stop inside the 10. The offense should be getting at least 3 with that. The part that's so frustrating is that our offense, as high powered as it is, should be getting it at least to the 45 every drive to get in Aubrey range. We have a kicker that can make a kick from 64+ easily (when not blocked). There's no reason a drive shouldn't be finishing without at least 3. And the defence gave them multiple chances.

 

[diamonddelts]

Maybe next year.

Maybe next lifetime.

 

[CTcowboy203]

That's the thing, I'm not saying they were great. But they held the Bucs to 7 in the first half. They gave our offense the ball at the 40 with a great stop inside the 10. The offense should be getting at least 3 with that. The part that's so frustrating is that our offense, as high powered as it is, should be getting it at least to the 45 every drive to get in Aubrey range. We have a kicker that can make a kick from 64+ easily (when not blocked). There's no reason a drive shouldn't be finishing without at least 3. And the defence gave them multiple chances.

The Bucs completely controlled the game with a 13 minute drive. I agree with the rest of your points tho

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Dak is not a home run hitter at QB.
In stride on the go routes is not his thing.
He needs crossers and elbows to stretch the defense.
The coaches aren't smart enough to figure that out.
So the offense lives in the box that Garrett built.

That's part of the reason that I think it's time to look for his successor. As much as I like Dak, I think we've hit the wall for as much as we are going to get. He's 33. He's at his prime as an NFL QB. We probably have about 2-3 seasons left where he will be at his best. The draft class this year has some great options. I think the FO should take one and sit him a season or two behind Dak.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

They made a fool out of us again but it’s good at least they did it now and not week 17.

Don't be so sure. This division is so weak that the Cowboys will probably Fool some again. That's what they love to do. They're a Jeckle and Hyde team.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The Bucs completely controlled the game with a 13 minute drive. I agree with the rest of your points tho

At the same time, that drive should have ended in a punt if Bland didn't hold unnecessarily. That's why I'm saying it should have been 0 points conceded in the first half (also, Bland should have had the game tying pick 6).

 

[Redsfan_83]

Sorry to bring down the house of hope here guys, but the reasons many pinned their hopes for succes were based upon what? A successful preseason group of games against scrubs? A new DC who is clearly out of his element? I said from the onset, as well as did others, that you can sign and draft all the damn players in the world to contracts, but if you don't have the right coaches coaching them? Well, it is the 2026 Dallas Cowboys. We have Dak in his prime with a whirlwind of talent, but talent alone can't/isn't winning games. The HC is sans clue, and we have wasted the aresenal. This wasn't difficult to see, and many judge me and others as haters, when in reality....we were in the know and not fooled by the round of drinks being offered to drag in the fans for the last 30 years. Oddly, this division is sitll up for grabs, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing that seems fixable with the group of clowns operating this team, so accept a few wins here or there and expect more diisappointment like this game

 

[CTcowboy203]

At the same time, that drive should have ended in a punt if Bland didn't hold unnecessarily. That's why I'm saying it should have been 0 points conceded in the first half (also, Bland should have had the game tying pick 6).

But rusty, dumb players make dumb mistakes. Bad defenses are out of position and over compensate with dumb plays. That’s who they are. Just a bad defense. There is should have been with this group- they don’t get benefits of the doubt.

This is who they are. Root and stem.

 

[Captain-Crash]

Don't worry, little fellow, you will see a couple of new "I hate Jerry" threads any minute now. "Bullet, that's the best thread yet"

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I feel you Rusty, incredibly disappointing start. We knew a lot was riding on the defense improvement, but with the turnover and new scheme no where to go but up, right? I wasn't expecting an instant turn around but if they could improve a couple spots each week and get to average by the end of the season the team would have a chance. This was the perfect game to start righting that ship against an 0-4 team starting a 7th round rookie. Instead they reminded us all this team has a long way to go.

But again, to me, the D, as beleaguered as it is, it did hold them in the first half. I'm more pissed at Dak and Schotty.

 

[dagreat1_87]

It was two fold. For once, we actually had a quiet drama free offseason. For the other, it was the fact that the Eagles looked terrible. So, I figured, at the very least, if this team plays to potential, it could win the division and maybe make the division round. That was literally all I asked of this team. Heck, as long as we are competitive in the game, I don't even care if we get eliminated in the playoffs. At least making the playoffs would be a good step forward. That was literally my bar for this season.

fair enough!

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

But rusty, dumb players make dumb mistakes. Bad defenses are out of position and over compensate with dumb plays. That’s who they are. Just a bad defense. There is should have been with this group- they don’t get benefits of the doubt.

This is who they are. Root and stem.

But that's the thing, I don't know that I can blame Parker for Bland when Bland has been a liability for years. And ultimately, even with that play, that's still only 7. The offense should have finished that half with at least 13 points with how many stops the D got us. The offense has to reward the D when they get stops. It doesn't have to be a TD. But it should at least be a FG with how automatic Aubrey is at home.