First Impressions are Sometimes Right

[Jipper]

the Atlanta game was a qb's worst nightmare. but he was getting a strong rush in his face all year long. in such an instance, it is incumbent upon the coaching staff to come up with game plans to make it easier for him to get rid of the ball quicker. but being forced to throw to dez who can't get separation, having Beasley double covered, and with defenders knowing the routes t.will and brice were running before the snap made life miserable for our qb.

Can't disagree there

 

[America's Cowboy]

the Atlanta game was a qb's worst nightmare. but he was getting a strong rush in his face all year long. in such an instance, it is incumbent upon the coaching staff to come up with game plans to make it easier for him to get rid of the ball quicker. but being forced to throw to dez who can't get separation, having Beasley double covered, and with defenders knowing the routes t.will and brice were running before the snap made life miserable for our qb.

This ^^^^

 

[CouchCoach]

My first impression was that they don't know if they've got the QB of the future and they're going to find out quickly because with what the DC's saw last season when the game was on Dak, he was not the guy. They will sell out to stop the run and put the game on him and that's a good thing, find out if he's the guy going forward.

The other impression was Dak didn't get a lot of help from his WR corps so I thought they might address that but not to the point of cutting Dez. He is the closest thing they have to a #1 on the team and there is not immediate help in the draft. Hurns was a pleasant surprise as I was thinking more like Moncrief.

So, how do they help Dak? Get an OT and move Collins back to LG? Get a #2 RB that's a pass receiver as well as backup? Get a TE if Gathers isn't ready to go? Spend the 1st on a WR?

My only real first impression came during the 2017 season, not after it, and the best way they can help the young QB is by upgrading the D, especially in the run. They are vulnerable when Lee is out and the middle is soft. They need LB and DT in the first two picks and I would throw another of each, at the minimum, in the first 6 picks. With the unknown condition of Smith and known condition of Lee, he will not play all 16, the team is exceptionally vulnerable at the LB position, all three. And there is not a DT on the team that forces the OC to commit 2 OL and keep one off the LB's.

The DC's are going to put the game on Dak. If he has a soft D, his own team will put it on him and force him to score 28+ and that means forcing the ball. I do believe Dak can execute the offense but I do not think he can create it and if this D isn't improved, that is exactly what he's going to have to do.

 

[cern]

My first impression was that they don't know if they've got the QB of the future and they're going to find out quickly because with what the DC's saw last season when the game was on Dak, he was not the guy. They will sell out to stop the run and out the game on him and that's a good thing, find out if he's the guy going forward.

The other impression was Dak didn't get a lot of help from his WR corps so I thought they might address that but not to the point of cutting Dez. He is the closest thing they have to a #1 on the team and there is not immediate help in the draft. Hurns was a pleasant surprise as I was thinking more like Moncrief.

So, how do they help Dak? Get an OT and move Collins back to LG? Get a #2 RB that's a pass receiver as well as backup? Get a TE if Gathers isn't ready to go? Spend the 1st on a WR?

My only real first impression came during the 2017 season, not after it, and the best way they can help the young QB is by upgrading the D, especially in the run. They are vulnerable when Lee is out and the middle is soft. They need LB and DT in the first two picks and I would throw another of each, at the minimum, in the first 6 picks. With the unknown condition of Smith and known condition of Lee, he will not play all 16, the team is exceptionally vulnerable at the LB position, all three. And there is not a DT on the team that forces the OC to commit 2 OL and keep one off the LB's.

The DC's are going to put the game on Dak. If he has a soft D, his own team will put it on him and force him to score 28+ and that means forcing the ball. I do believe Dak can execute the offense but I do not think he can create it and if this D isn't improved, that is exactly what he's going to have to do.

good thoughts, coach. dak has to step it up. the coaches have to step it up on both sides of the ball. I would put lb and wr as among our greatest needs. can't see dez playing for less money. so imo, he's probably gone.

 

[CouchCoach]

the Atlanta game was a qb's worst nightmare. but he was getting a strong rush in his face all year long. in such an instance, it is incumbent upon the coaching staff to come up with game plans to make it easier for him to get rid of the ball quicker. but being forced to throw to dez who can't get separation, having Beasley double covered, and with defenders knowing the routes t.will and brice were running before the snap made life miserable for our qb.

And that game and the pressure on him all season came as a surprise to who? Our coaching staff.

Most here knew exactly how the DC's would game plan against a soph QB with 2 new OL and a TE that scares no DC. How many rookie QB's get the leading rusher in his backfield? Did people just think these DC's were going to allow that to continue?

The coaching staff of the Cowboys failed Dak. It wasn't just Green in ATL. They failed in the two most important aspects of the game, the two P's, Prepare and Protect. They didn't prepare him or the team for what might happen with a new LT and it took the morons 3 Q's to adjust. They left him on an island and if any of those coaches had watched film of Dak against teams like Auburn, Bama and LSU they would have seen how he doesn't respond well to that.

I had one major first impression of this HC and his asst's, they are incapable of adjusting when the game goes sideways. It was incumbent on the previous QB to do that and this one is not experienced enough to do it. What did you see in 2015 with two fairly decent backups? Disaster, the QB's were getting blamed when the coaching staff was doing very little to help. They were proven incompetent and not fired, that is the problem.

As long as Dak has these tools as his coaches, he better sit down with the former QB and do some of his own planning about what to do when it's going sideways out there and the best solution is the same one Romo used, his feet to better use his arm. How in the hell can anyone expect a 4th round QB at this stage of his career to use his mind when it took Romo at least 3 years of starting to read D's well enough to overcome his own coaching. I don't know if Dak is as capable of a night at the improv like Romo was but he better get better at that right away because he's not going to get enough help from Garrett and Linehan.

 

[Kevinicus]

Disagree with your disagree and raise you a your wrong

Disagree with your disagree of my disagree and disagree with your your wrong.

I think he would start on less than 10 of the teams in the league, and that there are not 32 starting caliber QBs in the league.

It's unlikely he is starting here after the 2019 season IMO.

 

[Kevinicus]

the Atlanta game was a qb's worst nightmare. but he was getting a strong rush in his face all year long. in such an instance, it is incumbent upon the coaching staff to come up with game plans to make it easier for him to get rid of the ball quicker. but being forced to throw to dez who can't get separation, having Beasley double covered, and with defenders knowing the routes t.will and brice were running before the snap made life miserable for our qb.

If only that wasn't completely false.

 

[Verdict]

How can you not say the WR's are also responsible for the drop off, who do we have that's a game changing elite WR? Dez is mental, Witten is getting older, Williams has a flash here and there.... We DO need WR help. Last season wasn't ALL on Dak either. The entire offense underachieved.

It is arguable that Beasley is the only current reliable receiver we have on the team. I would personally try to extend Beasley by two years after his poor year last year. I think he will have a rebound year this year.

 

[Verdict]

The sun was in his eyes, and the wind was in his hair. It's plain as day.

 

[Verdict]

the Atlanta game was a qb's worst nightmare. but he was getting a strong rush in his face all year long. in such an instance, it is incumbent upon the coaching staff to come up with game plans to make it easier for him to get rid of the ball quicker. but being forced to throw to dez who can't get separation, having Beasley double covered, and with defenders knowing the routes t.will and brice were running before the snap made life miserable for our qb.

It's hard to help the QB when Witten can't block anymore. Oh. Yes. I. Did.

 

[Verdict]

I think green did as much to hurt dak as anybody else did....he was shaky after those 8 sacks against Atlanta

I think the problem in that game was Green watched the movie "Airplane!!" right before the game. Green decided that blocking the defender was exactly what the other team would expect him to do--------- so he changed up his game plan.

 

[xwalker]

Going back to January, in the immediate aftermath of the season, these were my thoughts then

• Offensively, the Cowboys need
  • Backup QB
  • Backup RB
  • Starting Oline - preferably OT, and move Collins back to OG
  • Resign FB - (Replacing with Jamize Olawale is acceptable)
  • Stand pat at WR and TE, because the issue with the drop off in pass production had more to do with bad play by Dak (who is still developing) than the receiving Corps
  • Hopeful that Rico Gathers bounces back, and becomes the heir apparent to Witten
• Defensively, the Cowboys need
  • Three new Linebackers
  • Resign Irving and Lawrence
  • No way Hitchens was staying
  • Draft a 1-tech
  • Need a true free safety
  • Stand pat at DE and CB, allowing the young players to further develop
  • Admittedly, I still believe that Gregory will come back, and take over the starting RDE position, although I'm sure he'll have to work his way into the rotation
• Special Team, the Cowboys need
  • Better return game
  • resign Ladouceur
  • Stand pat with Bailey and Jones as kickers

Those were my thoughts in January. Then I started hearing all the ruckus about Wide Receiver upgrades, and I was very disappointed to find out the Cowboys were so intent on that. I still don't believe the Cowboys problems in the passing game are the fault of the receivers. Dak doesn't throw with anticipation. You can brag all day about his tight window throwing percentage, but one of the reasons he has so many tight window throws is he doesn't throw receivers open. He waits for them to get open, and then reacts. By the time he makes the throws, those windows tighten back up.

I like that Dak is so careful to try to take care of the football. But sometimes, he tries to be too safe. He doesn't trust the receiver to uncover BEFORE he makes the throw. He waits. That led to more sacks last year, and also lower production by the recieving corps. He MUST get better.

The good news is that Dak is the type of player who will commit himself to getting better. The bad news is we, as fans, still don't really know if he'll take that next step in his development. Like many others, I think he greatly benefitted from Romo being on the sideline in 2016. I'm rooting for Dak. Regardless of my fond memories of Romo, it was time for him to retire. I would like to have fond memories of Dak 10 years from now. But Dak is a work in progress.

I've come to grips with the idea (even if I don't like it) that the Cowboys are serious about upgrading the WR corps. I hope it doesn't come at the expense of improving the middle of the Cowboys defense, which is easily the weakest part of the team. And the LB corps needs a serious infusion of talent.

I still think my first impressions were correct.

The WRs must consistently do what Dak expects them to do before he will start making more anticipation throws.

I remember several anticipation throws to Witten and Beasley.

Stephen Jones and the new WR coach have both said that their top focus will be on the WRs consistently being where Dak expects them to be when he releases the ball.

That is said to be one of Hurns' top skills.

Romo was not known for being an anticipation passer per se; whereas, Aikman was one of the all time great anticipation passers.

 

[cern]

And that game and the pressure on him all season came as a surprise to who? Our coaching staff.

Most here knew exactly how the DC's would game plan against a soph QB with 2 new OL and a TE that scares no DC. How many rookie QB's get the leading rusher in his backfield? Did people just think these DC's were going to allow that to continue?

The coaching staff of the Cowboys failed Dak. It wasn't just Green in ATL. They failed in the two most important aspects of the game, the two P's, Prepare and Protect. They didn't prepare him or the team for what might happen with a new LT and it took the morons 3 Q's to adjust. They left him on an island and if any of those coaches had watched film of Dak against teams like Auburn, Bama and LSU they would have seen how he doesn't respond well to that.

I had one major first impression of this HC and his asst's, they are incapable of adjusting when the game goes sideways. It was incumbent on the previous QB to do that and this one is not experienced enough to do it. What did you see in 2015 with two fairly decent backups? Disaster, the QB's were getting blamed when the coaching staff was doing very little to help. They were proven incompetent and not fired, that is the problem.

As long as Dak has these tools as his coaches, he better sit down with the former QB and do some of his own planning about what to do when it's going sideways out there and the best solution is the same one Romo used, his feet to better use his arm. How in the hell can anyone expect a 4th round QB at this stage of his career to use his mind when it took Romo at least 3 years of starting to read D's well enough to overcome his own coaching. I don't know if Dak is as capable of a night at the improv like Romo was but he better get better at that right away because he's not going to get enough help from Garrett and Linehan.

Mega likes if I could. I think the biggest hurdle he faced was the insistence he throw to dez because jg and lineman didn't know how to deal with his tantrums.

 

[cern]

If only that wasn't completely false.

The largest common denominator in the passing game between dak's rookie season and last year was dez. He missed a lot more time dak's rookie season leaving dak the option of throwing to the open man. Dez became a legend in his own mind.

 

[ShiningStar]

oh geez the dak haters.

to the op, idk if we need a back up QB, Cooper Rush might be enough.

I dont think we need a back up RB desparetly but if they get one, i wont mind.

Now our LB corp might be a mess, so our new coach is going to have his hands full, but i fully believe a ball hawking FS is needed way more in my opinion.

 

[buybuydandavis]

• • Stand pat at WR and TE, because the issue with the drop off in pass production had more to do with bad play by Dak (who is still developing) than the receiving Corps
  • Hopeful that Rico Gathers bounces back, and becomes the heir apparent to Witten
• Defensively, the Cowboys need
  • Three new Linebackers
  • Admittedly, I still believe that Gregory will come back, and take over the starting RDE position, although I'm sure he'll have to work his way into the rotation

I've come to grips with the idea (even if I don't like it) that the Cowboys are serious about upgrading the WR corps.

If we draft a starting WR, we move on from Dez and clear enough cap to sign a significant player. That drafted player should bring in some speed and route running which neither Dez nor Williams have.

TE is interesting, Not just Rico, but Blake Jarwin too. We forced Jarwin onto the roster so we wouldn't lose him last year, even though we were already stacked with TEs. We must have seen something we liked.

3 LBs
- Experienced pro as a backup coverage OLB to Smith and Lee
- Draft run thumping MLB as 50% player
- Draft developmental OLB

 

[buybuydandavis]

I think green did as much to hurt dak as anybody else did....he was shaky after those 8 sacks against Atlanta

The coaching staff tried to turn Green into a LG. Their call. Their responsibility. Green was a perfectly fine backup LT the previous year.

 

[dfense]

The offense was an issue last year. Weather it be penalties at bad times, suspensions, average QBing, predictable play calling or an Oline that regressed from the previous year.

Interior run game was bad. LG was a problem. They missed Collins ability to pull and lead. He gets beat by speed at RT. Zeke didn't look the same when he was there. Hard to put a finger on it, but he just didn't look the same.

Offense had way way too many 3 and outs. I thought the defense played ok the second half of the season and wasn't getting much help from the offense. If they draft right and fill some defensive holes, they will surprise this year. That young secondary is going to be good.

 

[big dog cowboy]

i might get shot for this but bring in Kapernick

In other words, that's a bad idea.

 

[ESisback]

Going back to January, in the immediate aftermath of the season, these were my thoughts then

• Offensively, the Cowboys need
  • Backup QB
  • Backup RB
  • Starting Oline - preferably OT, and move Collins back to OG
  • Resign FB - (Replacing with Jamize Olawale is acceptable)
  • Stand pat at WR and TE, because the issue with the drop off in pass production had more to do with bad play by Dak (who is still developing) than the receiving Corps
  • Hopeful that Rico Gathers bounces back, and becomes the heir apparent to Witten
• Defensively, the Cowboys need
  • Three new Linebackers
  • Resign Irving and Lawrence
  • No way Hitchens was staying
  • Draft a 1-tech
  • Need a true free safety
  • Stand pat at DE and CB, allowing the young players to further develop
  • Admittedly, I still believe that Gregory will come back, and take over the starting RDE position, although I'm sure he'll have to work his way into the rotation
• Special Team, the Cowboys need
  • Better return game
  • resign Ladouceur
  • Stand pat with Bailey and Jones as kickers

Those were my thoughts in January. Then I started hearing all the ruckus about Wide Receiver upgrades, and I was very disappointed to find out the Cowboys were so intent on that. I still don't believe the Cowboys problems in the passing game are the fault of the receivers. Dak doesn't throw with anticipation. You can brag all day about his tight window throwing percentage, but one of the reasons he has so many tight window throws is he doesn't throw receivers open. He waits for them to get open, and then reacts. By the time he makes the throws, those windows tighten back up.

I like that Dak is so careful to try to take care of the football. But sometimes, he tries to be too safe. He doesn't trust the receiver to uncover BEFORE he makes the throw. He waits. That led to more sacks last year, and also lower production by the recieving corps. He MUST get better.

The good news is that Dak is the type of player who will commit himself to getting better. The bad news is we, as fans, still don't really know if he'll take that next step in his development. Like many others, I think he greatly benefitted from Romo being on the sideline in 2016. I'm rooting for Dak. Regardless of my fond memories of Romo, it was time for him to retire. I would like to have fond memories of Dak 10 years from now. But Dak is a work in progress.

I've come to grips with the idea (even if I don't like it) that the Cowboys are serious about upgrading the WR corps. I hope it doesn't come at the expense of improving the middle of the Cowboys defense, which is easily the weakest part of the team. And the LB corps needs a serious infusion of talent.

I still think my first impressions were correct.

This is pretty close, IMHO. If they draft decently (DT, LB, backup RB, FS), and they get something out of Gathers, I think they'll be OK. I see them getting a LB early, then maybe pick up a cheap vet after cuts (ala Durant).