The Philosophy change in Dallas that is paying off

[Bobhaze]

This past off season, there were many loud screams for this team to go get some free agents to bring in immediate help at WR, TE, OL, S, etc. Not to mention the ET trade talk. The WR bunch to start the year was poor, but at least it’s been partially fixed.

But I want to give some rare credit to this team’s FO- they started getting their act together a few years ago by changing a few key things to improve their philosophy:

1. Hired a really good talent evaluator in Will McClay.
2. Listened to Will McClay and stayed committed to a quality draft strategy.
3. Started valuing young talent over old, more expensive talent.
4. Stopped doing stupid 2nd contracts with guys whose best days were behind them.

The 2018 Cowboys are the 3rd youngest team in the NFL with the avg age of 25.1. And this team’s best players are YOUNG. Even the Amari Cooper trade, which I didn’t like at first, actually aligns with their changed philosophy because he’s only 24.

The last 4-5 drafts are full of players that can play, and not just in the first round impact guys.

I don’t know how this year ends up- we have certainly had a nice 4 game streak. Hopefully it carries this team to a deep playoff run. Whatever happens, I am encouraged somewhat to see this FO get away from the stupid “Jerry-centered” years of 2000-2012, which included “special teams drafts” and stupid trades and contracts.

Maybe this team’s FO as a whole finally has Jerry under wraps.

 

[Ken]

This past off season, there were many loud screams for this team to go get some free agents to bring in immediate help at WR, TE, OL, S, etc. Not to mention the ET trade talk. The WR bunch to start the year was poor, but at least it’s been partially fixed.

But I want to give some rare credit to this team’s FO- they started getting their act together a few years ago by changing a few key things to improve their philosophy:

1. Hired a really good talent evaluator in Will McClay.
2. Listened to Will McClay and stayed committed to a quality draft strategy.
3. Started valuing young talent over old, more expensive talent.
4. Stopped doing stupid 2nd contracts with guys whose best days were behind them.

The 2018 Cowboys are the 3rd youngest team in the NFL with the avg age of 25.1. And this team’s best players are YOUNG. Even the Amari Cooper trade, which I didn’t like at first, actually aligns with their changed philosophy because he’s only 24.

The last 4-5 drafts are full of players that can play, and not just in the first round impact guys.

I don’t know how this year ends up- we have certainly had a nice 4 game streak. Hopefully it carries this team to a deep playoff run. Whatever happens, I am encouraged somewhat to see this FO get away from the stupid “Jerry-centered” years of 2000-2012, which included “special teams drafts” and stupid trades and contracts.

Maybe this team’s FO as a whole finally has Jerry under wraps.

The Cowboys are building this the smart way. It may or may not pay off with a Championship but this will certainly allow for sustained success and will allow us to compete for a title for years.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Agree but they've still made their share of goofy mistakes......Alexander hiring and WR by committed are two that stands out.

However, give them credit for cleaning it up......

 

[Pantone282C]

This past off season, there were many loud screams for this team to go get some free agents to bring in immediate help at WR, TE, OL, S, etc. Not to mention the ET trade talk. The WR bunch to start the year was poor, but at least it’s been partially fixed.

But I want to give some rare credit to this team’s FO- they started getting their act together a few years ago by changing a few key things to improve their philosophy:

1. Hired a really good talent evaluator in Will McClay.
2. Listened to Will McClay and stayed committed to a quality draft strategy.
3. Started valuing young talent over old, more expensive talent.
4. Stopped doing stupid 2nd contracts with guys whose best days were behind them.

The 2018 Cowboys are the 3rd youngest team in the NFL with the avg age of 25.1. And this team’s best players are YOUNG. Even the Amari Cooper trade, which I didn’t like at first, actually aligns with their changed philosophy because he’s only 24.

The last 4-5 drafts are full of players that can play, and not just in the first round impact guys.

I don’t know how this year ends up- we have certainly had a nice 4 game streak. Hopefully it carries this team to a deep playoff run. Whatever happens, I am encouraged somewhat to see this FO get away from the stupid “Jerry-centered” years of 2000-2012, which included “special teams drafts” and stupid trades and contracts.

Maybe this team’s FO as a whole finally has Jerry under wraps.

Gotta say, something has changed in the core structure, or we would have Johnny Football as the QB and a gerontology specialist on the staff.

 

[Verdict]

The Cowboys are building this the smart way. It may or may not pay off with a Championship but this will certainly allow for sustained success and will allow us to compete for a title for years.

We are setting up to do just that. On the other hand we are going to have to make some tough decisions on "nice" players and decide whether to pay them or not and how much.

For example, Sean Lee is a player who we would have never cut or let walk 5 years ago. The smart financial play is to get him to take a salary reduction this year or move on from him in this off season. That's going to ruffle some of your feathers but that's the correct fianancial move.

Beasley is another guy who we all love, but if you look at his stats he is disappearing for games at a time. I would still like to see him be a Cowboy next year because of the attention he draws, but you can't pay him big bucks to catch 20 to 25 passes per year when most of them are in one or two games.

Moreover if we are going to pay Lawrence it will be big bucks but at some cost you have to move on from the player or you wreck your cap. Amari is probably going to get paid, as well as Dak and probably zeke.

It's going to be interesting to see if the Cowboys can stick with the current plan that they have been following with these guys and not over pay to keep them.

 

[Zman5]

They got enough talent to be competitive. They need to get better coaching to take it to the next level.

 

[phildadon86]

We are setting up to do just that. On the other hand we are going to have to make some tough decisions on "nice" players and decide whether to pay them or not and how much.

For example, Sean Lee is a player who we would have never cut or let walk 5 years ago. The smart financial play is to get him to take a salary reduction this year or move on from him in this off season. That's going to ruffle some of your feathers but that's the correct fianancial move.

Beasley is another guy who we all love, but if you look at his stats he is disappearing for games at a time. I would still like to see him be a Cowboy next year because of the attention he draws, but you can't pay him big bucks to catch 20 to 25 passes per year when most of them are in one or two games.

Moreover if we are going to pay Lawrence it will be big bucks but at some cost you have to move on from the player or you wreck your cap. Amari is probably going to get paid, as well as Dak and probably zeke.

It's going to be interesting to see if the Cowboys can stick with the current plan that they have been following with these guys and not over pay to keep them.

 

[Nightman]

This past off season, there were many loud screams for this team to go get some free agents to bring in immediate help at WR, TE, OL, S, etc. Not to mention the ET trade talk. The WR bunch to start the year was poor, but at least it’s been partially fixed.

But I want to give some rare credit to this team’s FO- they started getting their act together a few years ago by changing a few key things to improve their philosophy:

1. Hired a really good talent evaluator in Will McClay.
2. Listened to Will McClay and stayed committed to a quality draft strategy.
3. Started valuing young talent over old, more expensive talent.
4. Stopped doing stupid 2nd contracts with guys whose best days were behind them.

The 2018 Cowboys are the 3rd youngest team in the NFL with the avg age of 25.1. And this team’s best players are YOUNG. Even the Amari Cooper trade, which I didn’t like at first, actually aligns with their changed philosophy because he’s only 24.

The last 4-5 drafts are full of players that can play, and not just in the first round impact guys.

I don’t know how this year ends up- we have certainly had a nice 4 game streak. Hopefully it carries this team to a deep playoff run. Whatever happens, I am encouraged somewhat to see this FO get away from the stupid “Jerry-centered” years of 2000-2012, which included “special teams drafts” and stupid trades and contracts.

Maybe this team’s FO as a whole finally has Jerry under wraps.

KRichards new energy and philosophy
Got rid of Callahan
Traded for Amari
Opened the Playbook some for Dak
The young LBs and DBs have found their groove

All these lead to a huge positive change

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I give credit where it is due to the FO (mostly Will McClay) for their drafting (Zeke, Jaylon, Dak, LVE) and street free agent acquisition (Irving, Woods, Ross). However, going into this season with a WR by committee, TE by committee, and crossing our fingers that an ET trade would improve S, was not a plan.

 

[Bobhaze]

They got enough talent to be competitive. They need to get better coaching to take it to the next level.

This....The NFL is a league where the margin between a win and a loss is razor thin. Often comes down to how the last two minutes are managed, and we all know that is Garrett’s kryptonite.

 

[CF74]

I’d rather win 10-18 games a year consistently than win the Super Bowl once and disappear from contention every 20 years...

 

[Pantone282C]

I’d rather win 10-18 games a year consistently than win the Super Bowl once and disappear from contention every 20 years...

Hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar... Oh, yeah. Now I remember...

 

[Bobhaze]

I’d rather win 10-18 games a year consistently than win the Super Bowl once and disappear from contention every 20 years...

I would take another SB trophy regardless.

 

[bark]

KRichards new energy and philosophy
Got rid of Callahan
Traded for Amari
Opened the Playbook some for Dak
The young LBs and DBs have found their groove

All these lead to a huge positive change

I think you meant Alexander.
Callahan has been in Washington for a few years now

 

[Nightman]

I think you meant Alexander.
Callahan has been in Washington for a few years now

You da man......correctumundo

 

[slomoxn]

I’d rather win 10-18 games a year consistently than win the Super Bowl once and disappear from contention every 20 years...

Welcome to now...

 

[CouchCoach]

This past off season, there were many loud screams for this team to go get some free agents to bring in immediate help at WR, TE, OL, S, etc. Not to mention the ET trade talk. The WR bunch to start the year was poor, but at least it’s been partially fixed.

But I want to give some rare credit to this team’s FO- they started getting their act together a few years ago by changing a few key things to improve their philosophy:

1. Hired a really good talent evaluator in Will McClay.
2. Listened to Will McClay and stayed committed to a quality draft strategy.
3. Started valuing young talent over old, more expensive talent.
4. Stopped doing stupid 2nd contracts with guys whose best days were behind them.

The 2018 Cowboys are the 3rd youngest team in the NFL with the avg age of 25.1. And this team’s best players are YOUNG. Even the Amari Cooper trade, which I didn’t like at first, actually aligns with their changed philosophy because he’s only 24.

The last 4-5 drafts are full of players that can play, and not just in the first round impact guys.

I don’t know how this year ends up- we have certainly had a nice 4 game streak. Hopefully it carries this team to a deep playoff run. Whatever happens, I am encouraged somewhat to see this FO get away from the stupid “Jerry-centered” years of 2000-2012, which included “special teams drafts” and stupid trades and contracts.

Maybe this team’s FO as a whole finally has Jerry under wraps.

Is it possible that Booger is finally learning to be a GM? He's been learning on the job and just maybe the mistakes have taught him not to give into his gut feel and listen to some that know more about it. He's always listened to others but he finally changed the "others".

I don't like Booger at all but it is not his managing of the team because he has that right and everyone that has done that makes mistakes. He catches a lot of heat giving up a 2nd and 3rd for a DE, using a 2nd on a very injured LB, using the 4th pick on a RB, using a 1st on a Center and there were quite a few detractors on this last 1st rounder, not to mention the Cooper trade. His mistakes get magnified and the good decisions get minimized. I give all of the credit for this team's talent increase to Booger, he is the final decision maker, nothing happens without his approval.

My problem with him is the grandstanding and spotlight seeking and him thinking he's some kind of latter day Mark Twain. He's annoying to me to look at or listen to so I avoid that but as the GM of the team, he's gotten better and I have accepted those things that will not change.

The most unfair thing to Booger on this forum is that if it's bad, it's him and if it's good, that's somebody else. If I am giving him the blame; I am giving him the credit.

 

[Pantone282C]

I would take another SB trophy regardless.

Dying of thirst, we are.

 

[Willfreedom909]

Getting rid of Tony Romo was the best cowboys decision ever.

 

[jchap2k]

And we should also note, almost our entire Defensive starters are all drafted by the Cowboys right now, as far as I can tell. I could be wrong, but the only starter that wasn't drafted was David Irving, but he isn't yet a "starter" this year.
Still I think that 10 out of 11 once he gets back in the starting rotation. That is some mad drafting skill there! That is one area I just can't hate on Garret or the front office about. They make a great team in getting good value from the draft.