Most important thing we need to take it to the next level

Bobhaze said:

I assume you mean top 5 D happens when this team gets tougher. Agreed.

Click to expand...

I think everyone agrees but there are limits to what you can do physically
It all come down to mental
Brining in new, physical and motivated guys
Set the tone early that every rep, every day is important
Consequences to showing up at camp not ready
Consequences for bad reps
I think so far jerry is doing the right things
Hopefully he has learned from what he did to Garrett who was his pet project and he was a big part of his failure

They need leadership, and hopefully McCarthy can and will provide that.
But it won't be easy. The entire mindset of the team will have to be changed from one of celebrating themselves to one of desire, drive, discipline and determination to ACHIEVE excellence.
This is something Garrett knew nothing about.
Hopefully, McCarthy can re-introduce these values to the squad.
Other than that, they need personnel changes that will strengthen the defense and add depth to the offensive potential.
I think they need a fullback incorporated into the offense, strength on the defensive line, and a burner at wideout that can go deep at any time.

Flexibility in scheming against opponents both offensively and defensively. Especially defensively. Kris had was given too much authority on game planning. Why? Im not sure. Maybe we thought we would lose him to head coaching opportunities if he was not the play caller defensively. It hurt us in big games once he got figured out and his stubbornness not to change and rather put it on the players to just execute the scheme was IMO an outdated approach in the NFL which is why I think he got the boot in Seattle.

A legit defensive line.

Amen Mr Haze!

I was telling my buddy all last year, I was getting sick-and-tired of seeing EzE tap his helmet. He agreed.

The Cowboys, in the past, have been coddled, spoiled and left to remain that way by leadership that says the right things, yet refuses to act upon it. The players have responded by doing much the same with their words, without following it up with any persistent signs of conviction. Not a good thing at all.

We appear to be entering into another era now with Mike McCarthy leading the charge and Jerry evidently stepping back noticeably and allowing son Stephen to have a far greater say than he's ever had in past years. Hope appears to be taking hold with many of us, as fans of a team that has seen far too many failures for the past two decades and more. Perhaps we might be more supportive than we have been in decades now.

Of course, verification of this newfound trust will be required for most of us to return to a mindset that is supportive of the new regime. This likely holds true for the players of this team as well as the fans, in all likelihood. A return to a workmanlike attitude and accountability will be required of those who have lost faith in this organization's ability to lead them into being a more workably functioning entity.

Here's hoping for better things to come and trusting that the verification of that trust will be forthcoming in the days, weeks, months and years to come. It's, hopefully, a new and better era. Let's make the most of it with our support.

Tangle_Foot said:

A tough disciplined SOB is hard to beat.

Click to expand...

How about a tough SOB who has been disciplined a lot?

For the simple game of football getting all your ducks in a row doesn't appear to be so simple. Whether it's mental or physical toughness, discipline, accountability or leadership, that lead duck needs to possess all of those attributes to successfully get the group crosses the street. Without it you lack direction and wind up NFL roadkill.

okay Tangle_Foot enough of the bourbon induced philosophy, I'm cutting you off and calling you a cab

Pantone282C said:

How about a tough SOB who has been disciplined a lot?

Click to expand...

That's marriage.

GMO415 said:

That's marriage.

Click to expand...

The husband or the wife?

Such a big chunk of the roster will turn over so know is the perfect time

I agree, Bob. And the best way to do that is set an example early. With an entirely new coaching regime, players will be wondering what that means to them. Don't let them wonder about it. The first time somebody dogs it, sit their sorry ***. Let a hungry guy play. Even send them to the practice squad and bring one of those guys up for a game depending on who it is.

Send a message. That dogging it or taking plays off or making business decisions will not be tolerated. You do that, and YOU sit. And if you sit enough, you'll be gone in the off-season. No matter who you are.

That will take care of most of it.

Discipline, accountability, attitude, responsibility, teamwork. -- these characteristics taught by coaches who will accept nothing less. All these guys should be taught like special forces used to be taught -- adapt and overcome with failure not being an option.

Bobhaze said:

If I could select one quality I believe this team needs to take it to the next level it is this: TOUGHNESS. Physical and mental.

Sure talent, speed, scheme, coaching and some others are all good answers. We need those too. But it takes a long time to think of a Cowboys team in recent memory that was tough both physically AND mentally on a consistent basis. I have followed this team since I was a little kid in the 60s. Those teams in the 70s and 90s were tough as boot leather. Which is why our 5 SB wins happened with them. Haven’t seen much of that lately.

So why is this an ongoing problem? Why the lack of mental and physical toughness? Here’s some theories:

• As the clear “face of the franchise”, Jerry Jones is more like a combo doting daddy and used car salesman. Most men in charge of a football organization don’t wear rose colored glasses. This leadership style at the top is too easy on the troops.

• The stars on this team are almost all high paid now and yet they have collectively won one playoff game. Many teams don’t pay guys that kind of money if they haven’t proven anything beyond stats.
  
  
• The previous HC was soft on discipline. Garrett talked a good game, but if you see some of the quotes that came out after his firing, it was obvious few if any players feared Garrett’s authority.

So how can Mike McCarthy address this ongoing problem?

1. OTAs and TC should have a “boot camp” feel. I believe the message needs to be sent that this team has been soft and needs to get tougher. Maybe a couple of “asthma field” moments would help. When was the last time this team wasn’t coddled?
2. Coach Mac should publicly and privately say to this team, coaches and staff, “We never make excuses- period.”
3. Return to the Parcells days of “no tap outs”. Instill a message that toughness and resiliency is expected, especially of the team’s leaders.
4. Be willing to bench a guy- even a star- for loafing or showboating.
5. Make drafting players with mental and physical toughness a priority.

I don’t know if MM will do any of these things or not. And I know this team needs to upgrade its talent at several positions. But adding toughness to this team gives it a much better chance to compete for a championship!

Click to expand...

I like the post but respectfully disagree with this. I've never observed a lack of effort or toughness from this team under Garrett. What I have seen though is players becoming discouraged as the season wore on and the reason for that is because Garrett didn't carry his end of the bargain. These guys were begging for the schemes and the plays that would give them a competitive advantage over their opponent. In the end they never got it because that's not what Garrett does. It is not mentally sustainable for these guys to beat their opponent week after week on the players backs. They wear down mentally and physically the further into the season they go.

This defense needs a new identity completely. New leaders and a new system with a different style of player. No more speed hustle guys. We need physical athletes with an aggression for the ball.

willia451 said:

I agree, Bob. And the best way to do that is set an example early. With an entirely new coaching regime, players will be wondering what that means to them. Don't let them wonder about it. The first time somebody dogs it, sit their sorry ***. Let a hungry guy play. Even send them to the practice squad and bring one of those guys up for a game depending on who it is.

Send a message. That dogging it or taking plays off or making business decisions will not be tolerated. You do that, and YOU sit. And if you sit enough, you'll be gone in the off-season. No matter who you are.

That will take care of most of it.

Click to expand...

Ya know, the first thing that came to mind while reading this is, "In this day and age, it wouldn't surprise me if that player sued the team...and won." @Wussified America

Bobhaze said:

If I could select one quality I believe this team needs to take it to the next level it is this: TOUGHNESS. Physical and mental.

Sure talent, speed, scheme, coaching and some others are all good answers. We need those too. But it takes a long time to think of a Cowboys team in recent memory that was tough both physically AND mentally on a consistent basis. I have followed this team since I was a little kid in the 60s. Those teams in the 70s and 90s were tough as boot leather. Which is why our 5 SB wins happened with them. Haven’t seen much of that lately.

So why is this an ongoing problem? Why the lack of mental and physical toughness? Here’s some theories:

• As the clear “face of the franchise”, Jerry Jones is more like a combo doting daddy and used car salesman. Most men in charge of a football organization don’t wear rose colored glasses. This leadership style at the top is too easy on the troops.

• The stars on this team are almost all high paid now and yet they have collectively won one playoff game. Many teams don’t pay guys that kind of money if they haven’t proven anything beyond stats.
  
  
• The previous HC was soft on discipline. Garrett talked a good game, but if you see some of the quotes that came out after his firing, it was obvious few if any players feared Garrett’s authority.

So how can Mike McCarthy address this ongoing problem?

1. OTAs and TC should have a “boot camp” feel. I believe the message needs to be sent that this team has been soft and needs to get tougher. Maybe a couple of “asthma field” moments would help. When was the last time this team wasn’t coddled?
2. Coach Mac should publicly and privately say to this team, coaches and staff, “We never make excuses- period.”
3. Return to the Parcells days of “no tap outs”. Instill a message that toughness and resiliency is expected, especially of the team’s leaders.
4. Be willing to bench a guy- even a star- for loafing or showboating.
5. Make drafting players with mental and physical toughness a priority.

I don’t know if MM will do any of these things or not. And I know this team needs to upgrade its talent at several positions. But adding toughness to this team gives it a much better chance to compete for a championship!

Click to expand...

I agree on toughness and believe it comes from the culture change. During training camp and practice the tone must be set that every players job can be taken by the guy right behind him. Everyone must earn their position to start on this team. The first round draft picks shouldnt be looked at as an immediate starting upgrade. This team should also be running sprints at the end of practice like Belichick does.

Bobhaze said:

If I could select one quality I believe this team needs to take it to the next level it is this: TOUGHNESS. Physical and mental.

Click to expand...

This is a very good point. Something the offense did not have when playing a decent defense. They folded like an east coast slice of pizza.

Flamma said:

This is a very good point. Something the offense did not have when playing a decent defense. They folded like an east coast slice of pizza.

Click to expand...

Oh come on...East Coast pizza is AWESOME!!!

Ranching said:

Not really. Wanting something and having the disciple to achieve it are two different things in my book.

Click to expand...

Semantics, really. I'd bet we are on the same page.

Runwildboys said:

Oh come on...East Coast pizza is AWESOME!!!

Click to expand...

I'm not insulting the pizza.