Overcoming the “Excuse Culture”

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
62,474
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
If you've read any of my posts over the last month, you'll know that I've never been one to "pretend all is good at the Star these days and there’s nothing to be concerned about?. Hec, when the team was 6-1, I was the skeptical one, as I didn't really like how they were winning (mostly living on a young DB's interceptions on defense, having to come back to beat mediocre teams, coaching mistakes, etc.). Of course I got blasted for not being a "true fan", I was the "debbie downer". Now at 7-4, I'm the optimist. :eek:

Sure, they've lost some games, but the Cowboys still hold a 2-game lead in a weak division where the nearest team has basically a no-name QB still trying to convince his owner to keep him beyond this season. So yeah, I think they can "right this ship", make the playoffs, and if healthy and some good game plans, I do believe this team can beat every team in the NFC (including the Bucs and Cards).

I've blasted JJ like most Cowboys fans over the years, for the obvious reasons that we've all stated over the years.

And I'm still not sold on the current coaching staff (HC, OC and DC), as I don't know if this a Superbowl-caliber, deep-playoff-run staff.

Having said that, I can NOT hate on Jerry for the team we're fielding right now. The Cowboys, when healthy, has as much talent as they've had in years. But they can't stay healthy or out of COVID protocols. Is this JJ's fault? Sure, we can blame him for the culture and/or not having the best Strength & Conditioning staff. Yes, he could fire people. But some of this has to spread to McCarthy as well.

No, this isn't a dominant offensive line, and no, the defensive line isn't filled with studs, but when healthy, there's enough talent in key positions for this to team to be effective on both sides of the ball. I do believe a better coaching staff would get more production out of this team.

They have a leader for a QB who I believe still has some upside, two good RBs, 3 excellent WRs (and a decent #4 and #5 too), a solid TE (though I do miss Jarwin) - and a young stud LB/DE, two pass rushing DEs, some solid safeties and a star, young corner. There's more than enough here to have an 11-win season, and make a deep playoff run.

So, for this reason, I will not blame JJ for this. He did a decent job putting a good product on the field, so now it's up to the players and coaches to get it done. JJ's not calling plays, setting up game plans, or making in-game decisions or executing plays effectively. He's paying other people to do it.

As much as he can, after revamping the roster, he's gotten out of the way. Is he a silent owner? Nope, never has been, never will be. And he's old and tired....so he's running out of patience when seeing obvious mishaps in judgement and coaching that we all see. Good. I want him to rattle some cages.

So, even though I've had my fair share of complaints about JJ over the years, this year it's primarily about the players and coaches. No excuses. They're going to have to maximize the talent that they do have, and win some more games. If they don't, it's on the players and coaches, well...mostly on them, IMO. ;)
Well said.
The only thing I would add is that Jerry and the FO have done a decent job of talent acquisition overall. My problem with JJ is his foolish insistence to sit at every table and speak to every microphone. The historic excuses come from him.
 

Reid1boys

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,453
Reaction score
9,733
Gotta disagree with you about Montana. The 49ers basically let Joe go because of Steve Young.
How many super bowls did Montana already have? Joe had been injured badly And Steve Young was just sitting there. Who pushed Montana to win those super bowls? Not young.
 

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
62,474
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
How many super bowls did Montana already have? Joe had been injured badly And Steve Young was just sitting there. Who pushed Montana to win those super bowls? Not young.
Well I understand that…I think we’re talking about two different things. I was just responding to your comment, “Montana never had pressure from a backup”. Young’s development did drive Montana out of SF. I agree with you no backup “pressured him” into winning SBs.
 

SteveTheCowboy

Well-Known Member
Messages
18,022
Reaction score
12,621
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
You start warming up Rush. You pick another QB in the 4th round. You make it uncomfortable for any struggling starting player. That's when the player will wake up and study/work harder or sht the bed. If he shts the bed, he's not a SB QB. Look and Aikman, Montana, Brady, Rodgers all had that replacement pressure and they stepped it up a notch.
But.....this is our year. :cool:
 

SteveTheCowboy

Well-Known Member
Messages
18,022
Reaction score
12,621
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
It’s still too early to declare this team finished. Everything is still in front of them. They are just going to have to find a way to break through their own history and habits. The thing this team has lacked for decades is just plain old mental toughness. The key ingredient for a deep playoff run. Six games to go. Is it in them? We will know in the next 6 weeks.
Maybe a bit early. But you need some meat to give you something to go on. What do you see in our organization or players.....that indicates we have the adeptness to "find a way"?
 

Reid1boys

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,453
Reaction score
9,733
Well I understand that…I think we’re talking about two different things. I was just responding to your comment, “Montana never had pressure from a backup”. Young’s development did drive Montana out of SF. I agree with you no backup “pressured him” into winning SBs.

My point was none of the qbs mentioned performed at a high level or won A SB because of some pressure ofv getting benched if they didn't perform. People make it like they can just say. Oh damn, I better be better or I won't play. That's like dak saying, we are pissed off. Really? So you are saying you will now pay better because you are pissed we lost a few? That's ridiculous.
 

buybuydandavis

Well-Known Member
Messages
23,699
Reaction score
20,778
Why should fans care about anything besides winning actual games? I could not care any less how financially successful the Jones empire has been. I don’t need to psycho-analyze them to read the score at the end of a game. The only thing the Jones have been winning the last quarter of a century is for themselves.

You don't have to care about their money, they don't have to care about wins.

Yeah. They've been winning the last quarter of a century. I expect them to continue winning in the same fashion for another quarter of a century. You seem frustrated that they don't define winning like you do. I accept it and base my expectations accordingly.
 

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
62,474
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
You don't have to care about their money, they don't have to care about wins.

Yeah. They've been winning the last quarter of a century. I expect them to continue winning in the same fashion for another quarter of a century. You seem frustrated that they don't define winning like you do. I accept it and base my expectations accordingly.
I respect your right to be pleased with what Jerry has given the fans the last 25 years. If that’s enough for you, kudos. Conversely, I’m sure you can respect my desire to measure success by winning on the field.
 

Loso86

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,549
Reaction score
3,777
But it becomes an excuse if the people at the top don’t learn anything or make changes. Every single team in this league has injuries. Our owner talks about injuries after a loss which is a very bad habit for an organization known for being soft. Yet JJ never learns. He’s addicted to microphones and notepads like a junkie to crack.
Man I agree, but what are they not suppose to say anything about injuries. Not too many teams have been hit as hard injury wise like us. Top 2 WRs, both starting DEs starting NT etc..
 

Dak_Attack_09

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,222
Reaction score
3,603
The success of this year’s Cowboys team once again hangs in the balance. Will they be mentally tough enough to overcome their soft culture?

This is the ultimate challenge every year for this franchise- can the team overcome the built in softness and excuses that the Jones Family have made for their own ineptness?

What do I mean by that? When the owner and GM allows himself and his kids to remain in total control of football operations with the exact same level of power and involvement after a quarter century of mediocrity, it’s one big soft excuse that’s just baked into the culture here. They never hold themselves accountable for failure to win like 30 other NFL franchises do.

So….The only way out of it is for our players and coaches to rise above the owner and his family to excel. It’s a tough thing to do when those at the top are themselves living one big excuse after another without even an ounce of personal accountability for their own mistakes. Jerry’s a great businessman and entrepreneur. Hall of fame great. But his football management skills speak for themselves the last 25 years.

This team must find a way to overcome this soft “Jones culture” or history will repeat itself again. I believe this team can do it. But only time will tell.



@reddyuta

 

Cmac

Well-Known Member
Messages
12,104
Reaction score
8,122
If it wasn't for the board... no telling where this franchise would be. Honestly think someone within the organization that has some pull reads here daily...to get the pulse of the organization and fan base...
Floaty......it ain't worked in over 20 years, as far as the organization making football progress. Love the board personally to chime in, laugh at, and be baffled as a fan, though.
 

kskboys

Well-Known Member
Messages
44,059
Reaction score
46,962
It's funny, we act like the team is 4-7 and needs to run the table. LOL

Come on, ya'll, they're 7-4, with a 2 game lead in the division. And they've been banged up, as usual. If this team can simply stay relatively healthy, and have just slightly better in-game coaching, and can start games off strong and get a lead (so need better 1st quarter game plans from both Moore and Quinn), this team can end the season strong, and make a run into the playoffs.

These adjustments are all "doable". This team just needs to keep improving, and keep getting healthy.

I just can't see anyone in the NFC East running the table, so the Cowboys just have to beat the NFC East teams in front of them. This is not some impossible task, because the division is pretty weak. If the WFT is their biggest threat, consider that a luxury. They can beat them, with a solid game plan, and a sense of urgency from the first snap.

Everything is in front of this team. Just get healthy, improve a bit, and we need all around better coaching...getting the most out of the talent on this team.
Playoff run is the only thing I question in your post. That takes a different sort of play.
 

kskboys

Well-Known Member
Messages
44,059
Reaction score
46,962
If you've read any of my posts over the last month, you'll know that I've never been one to "pretend all is good at the Star these days and there’s nothing to be concerned about?. Hec, when the team was 6-1, I was the skeptical one, as I didn't really like how they were winning (mostly living on a young DB's interceptions on defense, having to come back to beat mediocre teams, coaching mistakes, etc.). Of course I got blasted for not being a "true fan", I was the "debbie downer". Now at 7-4, I'm the optimist. :eek:

Sure, they've lost some games, but the Cowboys still hold a 2-game lead in a weak division where the nearest team has basically a no-name QB still trying to convince his owner to keep him beyond this season. So yeah, I think they can "right this ship", make the playoffs, and if healthy and some good game plans, I do believe this team can beat every team in the NFC (including the Bucs and Cards).

I've blasted JJ like most Cowboys fans over the years, for the obvious reasons that we've all stated over the years.

And I'm still not sold on the current coaching staff (HC, OC and DC), as I don't know if this a Superbowl-caliber, deep-playoff-run staff.

Having said that, I can NOT hate on Jerry for the team we're fielding right now. The Cowboys, when healthy, has as much talent as they've had in years. But they can't stay healthy or out of COVID protocols. Is this JJ's fault? Sure, we can blame him for the culture and/or not having the best Strength & Conditioning staff. Yes, he could fire people. But some of this has to spread to McCarthy as well.

No, this isn't a dominant offensive line, and no, the defensive line isn't filled with studs, but when healthy, there's enough talent in key positions for this to team to be effective on both sides of the ball. I do believe a better coaching staff would get more production out of this team.

They have a leader for a QB who I believe still has some upside, two good RBs, 3 excellent WRs (and a decent #4 and #5 too), a solid TE (though I do miss Jarwin) - and a young stud LB/DE, two pass rushing DEs, some solid safeties and a star, young corner. There's more than enough here to have an 11-win season, and make a deep playoff run.

So, for this reason, I will not blame JJ for this. He did a decent job putting a good product on the field, so now it's up to the players and coaches to get it done. JJ's not calling plays, setting up game plans, or making in-game decisions or executing plays effectively. He's paying other people to do it.

As much as he can, after revamping the roster, he's gotten out of the way. Is he a silent owner? Nope, never has been, never will be. And he's old and tired....so he's running out of patience when seeing obvious mishaps in judgement and coaching that we all see. Good. I want him to rattle some cages.

So, even though I've had my fair share of complaints about JJ over the years, this year it's primarily about the players and coaches. No excuses. They're going to have to maximize the talent that they do have, and win some more games. If they don't, it's on the players and coaches, well...mostly on them, IMO. ;)
Yup, I go through the same thing, finding myself defending something one day then blasting it the next. Just calling it the way I see it, and things do not remain static.
 

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
62,474
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Man I agree, but what are they not suppose to say anything about injuries. Not too many teams have been hit as hard injury wise like us. Top 2 WRs, both starting DEs starting NT etc..
The head coach should be the only person in the organization making public statements about injuries. Not the owner! It’s completely dysfunctional for the owner/GM to go on a radio show once a week and make big declarations about who’s playing and what the injury status of certain players are.

Many times Jerry’s statements undermine his HC and occasionally are a complete surprise to the HC as well. He did this publicly to Garrett many times. If Jerry must have his own radio show and be the “face of the franchise” then at the very least he needs to shut up about certain topics that an owner or GM shouldn’t be talking about in public. When asked questions about injuries, JJ should say “Talk to Coach McCarthy”. But he won’t do that.

The great Tex Schramm, hall of fame GM for the Cowboys for 29 years, had his own radio show weekly for years. He made it crystal clear that he would not answer certain questions because that was “Coach Landry’s department.”
 

kskboys

Well-Known Member
Messages
44,059
Reaction score
46,962
The head coach should be the only person in the organization making public statements about injuries. Not the owner! It’s completely dysfunctional for the owner/GM to go on a radio show once a week and make big declarations about who’s playing and what the injury status of certain players are.

Many times Jerry’s statements undermine his HC and occasionally are a complete surprise to the HC as well. He did this publicly to Garrett many times. If Jerry must have his own radio show and be the “face of the franchise” then at the very least he needs to shut up about certain topics that an owner or GM shouldn’t be talking about in public. When asked questions about injuries, JJ should say “Talk to Coach McCarthy”. But he won’t do that.

The great Tex Schramm, hall of fame GM for the Cowboys for 29 years, had his own radio show weekly for years. He made it crystal clear that he would not answer certain questions because that was “Coach Landry’s department.”
It's the little things such as these that make Jerry the worst owner and GM in all of sports. He insists, absolutely insists on undermining his team, all in the guise of being involved.
 

KMY_Amber

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,537
Reaction score
1,498
Playoff run is the only thing I question in your post. That takes a different sort of play.

Agreed. A different level of play, game planning and coaching. Do we have this next level? Yet to be seen, but many of us have our doubts, for good reason, given what we've seen so far. We haven't really shown to have a "next level" yet in the regular season. :confused:
 
Top