The team is poised to be a contender next year

[CyberB0b]

We have a lot of young talent on the team and we have an NFL caliber quarterback. He isn't Tom Brady, but he has all the tools to be an above average NFL QB. It is clear that we need a change in coaching. The greatest coaches in the world adjust their schemes to fit their players. Wade Phillips and Bill Belichick are good examples.

Step 1: Replace the entire coaching staff.

This is pretty obvious. I would like to do something similar to what the Rams did. Hire a successful offensive minded coach and bring in an experienced defensive coordinator who has been successful recently in the NFL.

HC: Not sure. Lots of candidates. Maybe someone like Pete Carmichael from New Orleans.
DC: I like James Bettcher from the Cards. He might be available after Arians leaves.

Step 2: Offensive changes.

• Cut Dez Bryant. He simple isn't worth his price tag.
• Develop Beasley and Switzer.
• Draft/Acquire a possession receiver who is a master route runner. I like Jarvis Landry.
• Keep T. Will.
• Cut/Retire Jason Witten. I love the guy to death, but he doesn't do a whole lot for us anymore.
• Draft/Acquire a receiving tight end. Troy Fumagalli? He's got great hands and is a good route runner, and is a serviceable blocker.
• Draft/Acquire some better depth players on the offensive line. They should be able to find a better backup swing tackle on the open market.

I think the offense will be fine in the hands of someone who is more creative and caters to the strength of the team, which should be crisp route running and short to intermediate routes. I know people really want a burner, but I don't think that is necessary if the scheme is executed properly. Williams and Landry have big play potential.

Step 3: Defensive changes.

• Franchise DLaw. I want to see him prove it before we commit long term, but I don't want to let him get away.
• Draft/Acquire a legit NT/1 tech. This depends on the scheme we are running, but nearly every scheme requires a space eater on the defensive line. This will help keep our LBs clean.
• Draft/Acquire 2-3 linebackers. This is a big problem on the team. Smith is improving, but is still a wild card. Hitchens is a good player, and Sean Lee can't be relied upon. Easier said than done, I guess.
• Draft/Acquire 2 safeties. It is clear that Heath isn't a starting NFL safety. Byron Jones is OK and I think a scheme change would help cater to his strengths. There isn't a lot of depth behind these guys, which is also concerning. I wouldn't mind paying a guy like Morgan Burnett.

I think we are extremely weak up the middle and are fine on the outside. If we can get a solid 1 tech/NT, and get at least 1 starting caliber linebacker and safety in free agency or the draft, we can field an OK defensive. This team needs a lot of work on fundamentals, like angles, form tackling, and ball awareness.

There are multiple teams that have proven you can turn it around fairly quickly. I think this is a reasonable plan.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Maybe we are just poised to be mediocre forever.

 

[JDSmith]

Of course we're poised to be a contender next year. We suck this year. That's how it goes in Cowboys land. Just like it would have been a solid bet that we'd suck this year because we were 13 - 3 last year.

 

[Skillit]

Most teams say this in some form every year about this time.

I agree....pieces are there— but we shouldn’t see what we are seeing right now either. Not to this extent.

And not to be a Garrett apologist, but losing Zeke, Smith and Sean Lee are huge holes to fill.

If I was an opponent and you let me take 3 cowboys off the field.....I think those would be the three. (Besides the QB)

 

[Jake]

 

[CyberB0b]

Most teams say this in some form every year about this time.

I agree....pieces are there— but we shouldn’t see what we are seeing right now either. Not to this extent.

And not to be a Garrett apologist, but losing Zeke, Smith and Sean Lee are huge holes to fill.

If I was an opponent and you let me take 3 cowboys off the field.....I think those would be the three. (Besides the QB)

There's plenty of teams in the NFL with mounting injuries that are still competitive. This is more damning of Garrett than anything, IMO.

 

[John813]

Jarvis Landry is an excellent route runner, but he has had issues this year at times with either miscommunication with QB, where to be.
May be that he is frustrated with the season/contract talks?
Jarvis does a lot of his damage in the slot IIRC.
And he does play with his heart on his sleeve, very competitive and at times a tad dirty in the blocking department.

And he'll get a 6 game suspension if he signs here lol.

 

[shabazz]

Maybe we are just poised to be mediocre forever.

Well then we have the perfect Qb for that

 

[ShiningStar]

oh good, time to defend the land of mediocrity.

No, we are not next years champs. We have even fallen under that. We need a whole revamp and to believe in the next coach like the Rams did. Believe and fully support it and hopefully get rid of some pieces that the new coach has no loyalty to.

no attack on the OP. im just tired of the defense, or thinking a few moves is going to overcome the major problems, 2 of which we cant get rid of.

 

[RS12]

We have a lot of young talent on the team

Dont agree, the very top of the roster maybe. Not so much the rest.

 

[jwooten15]

Might as well adopt the slogan from the Cleveland sports teams... "There's always next year."

But in all honesty, if the tools "are there" to be successful next year, there isn't any reason we shouldn't have been successful THIS year.

The Cowboys are a flawed franchise with no real leadership to keep the ship veered in the right direction.

I'm glad some people are optimistic, but I'm not necessarily one of them. I'm starting to think "successful years", such as 2014 and 2016, are flukes. The rest of Garrett's regime is the set standard and expectation. Mediocrity is what we do best.

 

[mattjames2010]

I don't see this at all. I think we are far closer to going into rebuild mode than we are competing.

 

[Alexander]

It is not even Christmas and we got the "here is my plan to fix this" posts. Awful.

 

[ufcrules1]

I was enjoying your post until you said "Keep Twill". Why on earth should we do that? He can't catch with his hands. He shouldn't even be out there, this is something our coaches aren't smart enough to address.

 

[perrykemp]

We have a lot of young talent on the team.

A common refrain by nearly all NFL fans of NFL teams and one that has been accepted as fact pretty much every year for the last 20 years by Cowboys fans.

For arguements sake, let say "young" means a player that will still be on his first contract next year.

On Defense, I'm only aware of a single play that could be considered an above talent in that category -- David Irving. There are some other <nice players>, but nobody that has flashed (yet) pro-bowl talent yet.

On Offense, Dak Prescott, Martin, Zeke, and maybe (borderline) Collins fit into that category.

On the whole, I'd say the Cowboys have an average number of ascending young players -- although Zeke and Dak are exceptional.

 

[Aven8]

I was enjoying your post until you said "Keep Twill". Why on earth should we do that? He can't catch with his hands. He shouldn't even be out there, this is something our coaches aren't smart enough to address.

And we wonder why Twill gave us the "hometown" discount...........

 

[DallasDomination]

Realistic changes:

1. Replace linehan and Marinelli

2. Retire release Witten

3. Have a good draft

That is all we can wish for.

 

[JoeKing]

Too soon. I'm still not over this losing streak.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Not sure how much you can develop Beasley, love what he brings to the table but he is best in the slot. At his size he will never be a outside the numbers WR, he just doesn't have the size/strength.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Yep, according to the rollercoaster Garrett Almanac, the last two even numbered years we did well, so we're poised.....then expect another extention for Garrett.