News: Cowboys' Super Bowl chances seem more about hope than planning

[Mr Cowboy]

Here's a look at the Super Bowl prospects of the Dallas Cowboys, who finished the season 9-7. The tiers consist of: Realistic Super Bowl expectations; Should contend, but there are question marks; Middle of the pack; Lots of work to do; and Nowhere close.

Westgate odds to win Super Bowl LIII: 20-1

Should contend, but there are question marks: Coming off a 13-3 record in 2016 with Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott entering their second seasons, the Cowboys had realistic Super Bowl expectations. At least it seemed. Elliott was suspended six games. Prescott's game faltered without Elliott and the Cowboys finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs in 2017.

So why don't the Super Bowl expectations remain with Elliott expected to be around for a full season, Prescott entering his third year, a still strong offensive line and a defense that played fairly well down the stretch?

Things just seem stale even if there has been changeover among the assistant coaches. Jason Garrett is entering his eighth full season as head coach and has one playoff win and two playoff appearances. While he has done a solid job in terms of keeping his team engaged and ready to play, what schematic advantage does he bring? Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was a genius of sorts in 2016 for making it work exceptionally well with a rookie quarterback in Prescott, but the Cowboys did not throw for at least 200 yards in eight games last year. Rod Marinelli's defense needs more answers in personnel and scheme, which maybe new passing game coordinator Kris Richard can help solve.

The Cowboys won't be big players in free agency, but they need to add better pieces than they have in recent years even if they don't break the bank. They have drafted better in recent years and could have 10 picks when the compensatory selections are announced, which will give them currency to add to both sides of the ball.

The Cowboys seem to be banking on the biggest improvements coming from within from the players, like Prescott, Elliott, Jaylon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie and Taco Charlton, and the coaches, like Linehan and Marinelli.

Will that be enough for the Cowboys to get to their first Super Bowl since 1995?
http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cow...wl-chances-seem-more-about-hope-than-planning

 

[Stash]

Great article and a great summation here:

"Things just seem stale even if there has been changeover among the assistant coaches. Jason Garrett is entering his eighth full season as head coach and has one playoff win and two playoff appearances. While he has done a solid job in terms of keeping his team engaged and ready to play, what schematic advantage does he bring?"

 

[acr731]

Garrett keeps them engaged and ready to play? Since when? We have countless examples to show that simply isn't true.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Everyone is "comfortable", that is paramount.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Finally an intelligent article.

 

[diefree666]

Finally an intelligent article.

yeah I almost fell off my chair. Probably by accident and the guy will be let go soon.

 

[northerncowboynation]

Here's a look at the Super Bowl prospects of the Dallas Cowboys, who finished the season 9-7. The tiers consist of: Realistic Super Bowl expectations; Should contend, but there are question marks; Middle of the pack; Lots of work to do; and Nowhere close.

Westgate odds to win Super Bowl LIII: 20-1

Should contend, but there are question marks: Coming off a 13-3 record in 2016 with Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott entering their second seasons, the Cowboys had realistic Super Bowl expectations. At least it seemed. Elliott was suspended six games. Prescott's game faltered without Elliott and the Cowboys finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs in 2017.

So why don't the Super Bowl expectations remain with Elliott expected to be around for a full season, Prescott entering his third year, a still strong offensive line and a defense that played fairly well down the stretch?

Things just seem stale even if there has been changeover among the assistant coaches. Jason Garrett is entering his eighth full season as head coach and has one playoff win and two playoff appearances. While he has done a solid job in terms of keeping his team engaged and ready to play, what schematic advantage does he bring? Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan was a genius of sorts in 2016 for making it work exceptionally well with a rookie quarterback in Prescott, but the Cowboys did not throw for at least 200 yards in eight games last year. Rod Marinelli's defense needs more answers in personnel and scheme, which maybe new passing game coordinator Kris Richard can help solve.

The Cowboys won't be big players in free agency, but they need to add better pieces than they have in recent years even if they don't break the bank. They have drafted better in recent years and could have 10 picks when the compensatory selections are announced, which will give them currency to add to both sides of the ball.

The Cowboys seem to be banking on the biggest improvements coming from within from the players, like Prescott, Elliott, Jaylon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie and Taco Charlton, and the coaches, like Linehan and Marinelli.

Will that be enough for the Cowboys to get to their first Super Bowl since 1995?
http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cow...wl-chances-seem-more-about-hope-than-planning

Sounds about right

 

[Aven8]

Great article and a great summation here:

"Things just seem stale even if there has been changeover among the assistant coaches. Jason Garrett is entering his eighth full season as head coach and has one playoff win and two playoff appearances. While he has done a solid job in terms of keeping his team engaged and ready to play, what schematic advantage does he bring?"

Archer is finally coming around. Stale is the right word as it sums it up perfectly.

 

[Alexander]

The entire organizational belief system is based on hope.

The article title is nothing new.

 

[Risen Star]

Do the same thing over and over again and hope the result eventually changes.

 

[Stash]

Archer is finally coming around. Stale is the right word as it sums it up perfectly.

I think he did a great job here of stating both positives and negatives. And he worked to keep emotion out of it, something I think that many of us struggle to do. Our conversations are often derailed when opinions get personal. I thought Archer did a good job of keeping those things separate.

I think all of his points here were valid ones, both pro and con.

 

[Alexander]

Do the same thing over and over again and hope the result eventually changes.

They do different things sometimes. Sometimes they are cheap, other times they are aggressive. That is why they are left at the end of each season scratching their heads wondering what happened.

The issue is they don't know what they are doing. They bounce from copying this to copying that, but at the bottom of it all is that there rarely is an insightful personnel move that is not hinged on hope. Hope the injured player comes back, hope the old QB does not get hope, hope this mediocre player becomes something he is not in one offseason, hope, hope and more hope with some extra finger crossing.

Hope is useless if you do not prepare for the worst. A sick diseased sense of optimism infests everything they do. That is what is spawned over and over again, every year. No disappointment, no frustration, just chanting that the sun will come out tomorrow.

 

[Risen Star]

I think he did a great job here of stating both positives and negatives. And he worked to keep emotion out of it, something I think that many of us struggle to do. Our conversations are often derailed when opinions get personal. I thought Archer did a good job of keeping those things separate.

I think all of his points here were valid ones, both pro and con.

No offense, bro...but it's been over 20 years with the same problem. Emotion should come into it. Jerry and Stephen should fear for their safety by this point.

 

[cowboyblue22]

hope has been the theme now for over twenty years and the press is just now catching on

 

[Stash]

No offense, bro...but it's been over 20 years with the same problem. Emotion should come into it. Jerry and Stephen should fear for their safety by this point.

None taken. I feel your pain, believe me.

 

[Risen Star]

hope has been the theme now for over twenty years and the press is just now catching on

They don't have the stones to challenge them. Just once I'd love to see one of these guys tell frick or frack "you've been doing this for over two decades with no success, why should anyone believe anything you say?"

But all that would accomplish is a strained relationship and less access to the team. They know better. So they must play the game.

 

[Aven8]

They do different things sometimes. Sometimes they are cheap, other times they are aggressive. That is why they are left at the end of each season scratching their heads wondering what happened.

The issue is they don't know what they are doing. They bounce from copying this to copying that, but at the bottom of it all is that there rarely is an insightful personnel move that is not hinged on hope. Hope the injured player comes back, hope the old QB does not get hope, hope this mediocre player becomes something he is not in one offseason, hope, hope and more hope with some extra finger crossing.

Hope is useless if you do not prepare for the worst. A sick diseased sense of optimism infests everything they do. That is what is spawned over and over again, every year. No disappointment, no frustration, just chanting that the sun will come out tomorrow.

Hope worked for Andy Dufrain.

 

[Idgit]

Archer’s always pretty reasonable.

 

[JustChip]

Archer’s always pretty reasonable.

He is. However, the actual story doesn't line up with the title IMO. Notwithstanding, hope is an element of every team at this time. Last year, the Eagles were hoping that Wentz would make the next step. The same with the Rams and Goff. Me thinks way too many fans are what everyone accuses Jerry of, being driven by headlines. We want the big, splashy FA signing whether it makes sense or not. And let's face it, the are FA failures just as often as success - all over the league, not just here. Remember the Philly "Dream Team"? We want creative plays run like what the Eagles and the Patriots ran in the SB. And, if we do and they don't work, we'll scream that was the stupidest play ever called; if it successful, it's genius.

 

[northerncowboynation]

They do different things sometimes. Sometimes they are cheap, other times they are aggressive. That is why they are left at the end of each season scratching their heads wondering what happened.

The issue is they don't know what they are doing. They bounce from copying this to copying that, but at the bottom of it all is that there rarely is an insightful personnel move that is not hinged on hope. Hope the injured player comes back, hope the old QB does not get hope, hope this mediocre player becomes something he is not in one offseason, hope, hope and more hope with some extra finger crossing.

Hope is useless if you do not prepare for the worst. A sick diseased sense of optimism infests everything they do. That is what is spawned over and over again, every year. No disappointment, no frustration, just chanting that the sun will come out tomorrow.

Hey it's a copy cat league. Don't we want to copy the Eagles? I'd love to copy the Pats. No problem with copying, it got me through school a few times