2009 Will Be About Getting It Right

[Thomas82]

Great post Hos.

Cosign!!

 

[Hostile]

We need to lose that division between offense and defense. Its obvious that they were divided and they play like it, its hard playing for 3 head coaches. Especially when you can undermine both of them by goin straight to the top if you don't like your fine, penalty, etc.

The defense coming to the defense of Owens last year showed that there are problems on our team bigger than we can all understand. We can speculate all we want - but we're better off without Owens in terms of chemistry. I hope we match his production with a young burner opposite Roy, that can return punts and provide this offense with some wiggle.

The one thing you didn't mention Hos, Felix Jones. Great move by Jerry, being patient, and ultimately getting one of the more special backs I've seen in my 21 years of watching football. 6 TDs in 7 games, didn't get a single touch in that Skins game. So heres to Garrett getting a little more creative and using perhaps our best big-play option.

Our draft this year can't really hurt us, unless we totally bomb 11 picks - but it also can put us over the hump and load our depth chart with quality young guys that are hungry to perform. Which we saw with Felix, TC, Bennett, Jenkins, and Scandrick last year - guys wanting a chance to make plays, pushing our more lethargic elder-statesmen. Which is why I hope we draft OL/DL heavy in this draft, once we solve our SS and WR issues. That group needs more pushing than any other unit on our squad.

This is an outstanding post.

 

[casmith07]

I wouldhave liked to restructure Roy Williams as well, and I'm not all that crazy about Gerald Sensabaugh. I don't doubt he can play and he is younger, but I wanted to move completely away from the guys who run afoul of the laws and common sense.

I'm hoping that Roy Williams pulls a Keith Davis and comes back to resign and restructure. Everyone loved to hate on him but he was always one of my favorite players because not only did he try hard, but he was an all-around good guy - the kind of guy you send to do NFL weekends with kids and stuff like that.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that he comes back!!

 

[pancakeman]

Great post!

 

[Sarge]

You realize Houck was the OL coach on the 93 and 95 Super Bowl teams too right?

Yes he was and he did an outstanding job.

 

[EPL0c0]

I have to admit I'm heartened by the direction of the team this off season. It started for me after the last game, that horrible loss to the Eagles. It started with Tank Johnson wanting out of here so he can go get paid. It continued with Zach Thomas wanting out of here because of the drama. I was glad Tank wanted out of here, and glad Zach's reason for wanting out came out in the wash. There simply was a need to remove the locker room malcontents.

My enthusiasm really caught fire with the announcement the team would release Pacman rather than bring him back in 2009. Hallelujah, makes me want to sing. I understand the risk Jerry took and I can't fault him for it, but moving on is absolutely right.

Then came the rumors that Owens might be released. Did I dare hope it was going to be sweeping changes? The fallout and drama has been interesting. To tell the truth, I have enjoyed the hell out of the whining.

You can gripe about a lot of things this off season, but the direction of the team is not one of them in my not so humble opinion. The direction is that we get younger and we come together. Both solid plans from where I sit.

I like young teams. I sense more hunger usually. This is one reason why I have not advocated bringing in a Tory Holt, but I am starting to gain interest in a WR with our 2nd round pick if the right kind of guy is there. Someone opposite Roy Williams. I'd be thrilled with a Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, or Brian Robiskie. Right now I find myself focused on Nicks.

Unlike many, I do not have trepidations and heart murmurs over giving the #1 slot to Roy Williams. The guy is a proven commodity in the NFL, is young, and with the off season to get to work with Garrett and Romo on timing I have no doubts he will prove his worth. I also don't have any misgivings about using Austin or Hurd and keeping Crayton in the slot. I have a feeling we will run more anyway and use Bennett more and I feel these are good things.

Running the ball means controlling the clock. Throwing to TEs means moving the chains. I want Defenses to be worn down in the 4th quarter when we give the ball again and again to Marion Barber and he twists the dagger.

My biggest concerns on Offense were backup QB and OL. Though I am not all that horny about Jon Kitna I cannot deny he is a tough QB who will not lollipop throws like Brad "Shriveled Up" Johnson. I am consoled in the fact we will finally Draft a QB to groom. I've only been pissing and moaning about that since the last Century. It means that while I am not a Kitna disciple I can live with him while we groom a young arm.

I sincerely hope the Draft focus is on the O-line. Last year's debacle in front of Tony Romo was beyond painful. I had hopes when we brought Houck back, and then the OL sucked like a vacuum cleaner. I look forward to depth that can fight and fill in if we have injuries like last year.

I will miss Canty, but not at the price he cost. I like Igor just fine. I am glad Ratliff is going to stay at NT. I can't wait to have ware's contract done. I wish we'd waive Greg Ellis and move Anthony Spencer to start. I like the youth movement. Ellis is costly, annoying, and fading.

I wasn't crazy about bringing in Keith Brooking, but on the positive side he is younger than Zach and has time in Wade's 3-4. I hope that makes a difference. I read that he is a quality locker room and huddle guy too. I would have liked to restructure Roy Williams as well, and I'm not all that crazy about Gerald Sensabaugh. I don't doubt he can play and he is younger, but I wanted to move completely away from the guys who run afoul of the laws and common sense.

I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am that Bruce Read is gone and our new ST Coach has skins on the wall. It will be nice to see deep kickoffs this year. It will be nice to have a dangerous punter back as well. Here's hoping Decamilis can teach tackling. If he does we're going to be okay.

I've seen an awful lot of griping about the talent we have lost so far. I agree, there were some guys who were very talented. Not a doubt in my mind we will be a better team in 2009 and that is vital. Talent alone cannot help any team. As proof I offer you the last 2 Super Bowl Champions. Anyone think the Giants were more talented than the Patriots in 2007? I don't. They play 10 times the Giants win 1. I don't think the Steelers were more talented than the Cowboys in 2008, but they were a clearly better team.

I am looking for a better team in 2009. I believe the steps to remove locker room politics are the best step towards that goal.

2009 = No Excuses. The talent's there. No more Owens to blame for everything. If they don't succeed I hope those responsible step up and accept the blame.

 

[Angus]

Hostile, I agree with your original post except I am not so sanguine about the Roy Williams trade or his worth. On Phillips and Garrett, I think the defense is likely to be much better this season because of Phillip's increased involvement but I have serious doubts about Garrett's real ability. I was elated when he was first elevated because I remember him from the time he was a Cowboys player, but he was exposed last year when he didn't have the current Miami coach to mentor him. I hope he comes through, but I worry about it.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Hostile, I agree with your original post except I am not so sanguine about the Roy Williams trade or his worth. On Phillips and Garrett, I think the defense is likely to be much better this season because of Phillip's increased involvement but I have serious doubts about Garrett's real ability. I was elated when he was first elevated because I remember him from the time he was a Cowboys player, but he was exposed last year when he didn't have the current Miami coach to mentor him. I hope he comes through, but I worry about it.

Sparano had no problem being the bad guy.

Neither of our head coaches currently have that quality, and our offensive line's performance last year was one part injuries and one part Sparano no longer pushing them.

That group has to be pushed, Flo, Gurode, and even Bigg. Colombo doesn't need much motivation. But Sparano got the abslute best out of all our guys, particularly the uglies.

 

[Vintage]

2009 = No Excuses. The talent's there. No more Owens to blame for everything. If they don't succeed I hope those responsible step up and accept the blame.

2009 = no excuses.

2008 was no excuses

2007 was "change" and no excuses for not performing better with a player's coach.


I look forward to 2010! No excuses!

 

[CF74]

- Tony Romo become more of a game manager. And I mean that in the sense that we can still get the big plays occasionally, but without so many of the boneheaded mistakes that set the team back. I realize that a lot of his ability to make the big play comes with the risk for turnovers, but there has to be a medium somewhere. I don't think we can afford to see him throw 18 interceptions or something to that effect (not to mention his "Fumblelina" tendency) because 35 TDs are probably not going to be there for him this year.

The problem with that is both Tony and Garrett love to go for the big play, neither of them seem to possess the patience required for a run game. I hope and pray this year we lean on the 3 headed monster running back trio (Which is obviously our strength) but I just don't know. My guess is that we start off the season blasting and putting up 20+ points per game and then fizzle out in December because teams have figured us out once again. Hope I'm wrong...

Can we be happy with a 10-6 or 11-5 record with no post season? It definitely sells seats though...

 

[CF74]

We need to lose that division between offense and defense. Its obvious that they were divided and they play like it, its hard playing for 3 head coaches. Especially when you can undermine both of them by goin straight to the top if you don't like your fine, penalty, etc.

That's the main reason why this team is out of sync, TO was just the blender.

 

[Hostile]

The problem with that is both Tony and Garrett love to go for the big play, neither of them seem to possess the patience required for a run game. I hope and pray this year we lean on the 3 headed monster running back trio (Which is obviously our strength) but I just don't know. My guess is that we start off the season blasting and putting up 20+ points per game and then fizzle out in December because teams have figured us out once again. Hope I'm wrong...

Can we be happy with a 10-6 or 11-5 record with no post season? It definitely sells seats though...

I can't.

 

[CF74]

I can't.

Well then get on the blower mate and tell Garrett to pass less and run more, now I'm off to put another shrimp on the Bar Beee....

Good day.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Well then get on the blower mate and tell Garrett to pass less and run more, now I'm off to put another shrimp on the Bar Beee....

Good day.

Not necessarily pass less. Just more 3 step drops and manageable throws. Red's passing tree required our big fellas to block extra, and made our offense very predictable.

When we protect, and Romo has time - he is surgical. Its when Red gets cute and keeps dialing up 15-20 yard passes, when we need to be keeping the defense off balance with screens and quick routes. Felix will help that.

Red's play-calling also is the reason why Romo was so beat up last year. He's a 67 million dollar investment, he doesn't need to drop back 50 times a game.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I agree with what most of you said all except 3 things Hostile.

First! It continued with Zach Thomas wanting out of here because of the drama. This is a big key to me that your missing right and left. We all know how zach gives his all, but he saw stuff in that last game, with all of the other stuff in the locker room, etc. When, Zach wants out because of that, there is a problem. I point to this, and this is the 2nd thing.

Your forgetting all of the sloppy football stuff last year. That lays at wade phillips door and jerry jones dooor. I also think that is why Jerry Jones put in a time clock issue in dan reeves contract. Jerry Jones saw some of the times Wade let the team off, like arizona game, next day. Do you honestly think that Jimmy Johnson or Tom Landry would have let the players off the next day after they played a horrible game in Arizona Hostile?

No! I think not! Do you think Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Nate Newton, Bob Lily, Michael Irvin, Terry Bradshaw, etc all said this is a sloppy football team, and I mean sloppy strongly would have let players off during the week, whereas wades response was im saving the players legs, for what? Did the cowboys make the playoffs? No! Till the sloppy attitude on this team is addressed, and that starts with Wade Phillips, nothing will change. Remember the defense how bad is was the 4th game to about the tampa bay game. Jerry Jones made wade take over the defense, and then what happened, defense played better, alot better.

3rd thing, when an all pro wide receiver, 2 of them like Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson each said, that Roy Williams needs to earn that number one spot, which that basically means, that player must work hard, in OTAs and training camp, etc. Earn it! Then that player becomes a leader in the locker room showing characeter, determination to want to win and be the best. Dont get me wrong, I like roy williams, but he must earn that position. How many times did you hear that roy williams ran wrong routes or sloppy routes, just like T O, Austin or Crayton.

That all goes back to wanting to win, determination to be the best, its not handed to you on a silver platter, you have to earn it, work for it. Just like Michael Irvin, he came in OTAs, worked hard, practiced hard, then the players respected him and listened to him. You have to earn that right. Just like now Jason Witten has earned the right with his playing.

When former players like Nate Newton, Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Zach Thomas-whom now wants out why, chris canty, jacquee reeves, Howie Long, talk about attitude on this team, sloppy football team, then that must give you an inkling of some light, there is a attitude problem on this team and it starts with the head coach, with his lack luster desire and attitude.

An old saying is, the players take on the personality of the head coach, and thats from john madden, well, to me, this team takes on the lack luster attitude of wade, now when wades back is up to the wall, like after arizona game, the tampa bay game, after the ram game slaughter, then wade steps up.

Now think about that a minute, the players would step up when they had to, only when they had too, but when game was on the line, it mattered the most, what happened? What was wades answer to the seaon in 2007, well we won 13-3, what was wade answer to the game in texas stadium against the Commanders? Everything is ok! But what did wade say after the year, everything isnt ok and change has to be made, and it starts with phillips. The players act just like that Hostile, thats what needs corrected too.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I agree with what most of you said all except 3 things Hostile.

First! It continued with Zach Thomas wanting out of here because of the drama. This is a big key to me that your missing right and left. We all know how zach gives his all, but he saw stuff in that last game, with all of the other stuff in the locker room, etc. When, Zach wants out because of that, there is a problem. I point to this, and this is the 2nd thing.

Your forgetting all of the sloppy football stuff last year. That lays at wade phillips door and jerry jones dooor. I also think that is why Jerry Jones put in a time clock issue in dan reeves contract. Jerry Jones saw some of the times Wade let the team off, like arizona game, next day. Do you honestly think that Jimmy Johnson or Tom Landry would have let the players off the next day after they played a horrible game in Arizona Hostile?

No! I think not! Do you think Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Nate Newton, Bob Lily, Michael Irvin, Terry Bradshaw, etc all said this is a sloppy football team, and I mean sloppy strongly would have let players off during the week, whereas wades response was im saving the players legs, for what? Did the cowboys make the playoffs? No! Till the sloppy attitude on this team is addressed, and that starts with Wade Phillips, nothing will change. Remember the defense how bad is was the 4th game to about the tampa bay game. Jerry Jones made wade take over the defense, and then what happened, defense played better, alot better.

3rd thing, when an all pro wide receiver, 2 of them like Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson each said, that Roy Williams needs to earn that number one spot, which that basically means, that player must work hard, in OTAs and training camp, etc. Earn it! Then that player becomes a leader in the locker room showing characeter, determination to want to win and be the best. Dont get me wrong, I like roy williams, but he must earn that position. How many times did you hear that roy williams ran wrong routes or sloppy routes, just like T O, Austin or Crayton.

That all goes back to wanting to win, determination to be the best, its not handed to you on a silver platter, you have to earn it, work for it. Just like Michael Irvin, he came in OTAs, worked hard, practiced hard, then the players respected him and listened to him. You have to earn that right. Just like now Jason Witten has earned the right with his playing.

When former players like Nate Newton, Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Zach Thomas-whom now wants out why, chris canty, jacquee reeves, Howie Long, talk about attitude on this team, sloppy football team, then that must give you an inkling of some light, there is a attitude problem on this team and it starts with the head coach, with his lack luster desire and attitude.

An old saying is, the players take on the personality of the head coach, and thats from john madden, well, to me, this team takes on the lack luster attitude of wade, now when wades back is up to the wall, like after arizona game, the tampa bay game, after the ram game slaughter, then wade steps up.

Now think about that a minute, the players would step up when they had to, only when they had too, but when game was on the line, it mattered the most, what happened? What was wades answer to the seaon in 2007, well we won 13-3, what was wade answer to the game in texas stadium against the Commanders? Everything is ok! But what did wade say after the year, change has to be made, and it starts with phillips. The players act just like that Hostile, thats what needs corrected too.

Zach wanted out because he didn't fit the scheme.

Wade gave them the day off after Zona because we were one of the most beat up teams in football - especially after that game.

Sloppy football needs to be corrected though. Mental errors are inexcusable, so I totally agree that this team needs more repetition. Thats the only way to learn something. And its pretty damn hard when the HC keeps giving undeserving players days off, as if they've earned it.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

The only thing that matters is winning a championship and if we don't then OBV we aint get it right.

 

[cowboyjoe]

what did newman say about the defense a week or so ago, our defense was very predicatable. Thats on wade. What did ray lewis say about the cowboys offense, their offense is very predictable, thats on jason garrett and wade too since he is the head coach. That means in other words, the head coach cant rely on everything is ok but work hard too, not give players extra days off, so wade can get off too. How many times last year did wade say, we got outcoached in all aspects of the game, offense, defense, special teams and coaching. That goes back to the head coach and the players reacting like wade does too.

 

[cowboyjoe]

i agree apollo, but why were the most beat up team after that game,

would it have to do with the no hitting in training camp the first 25 days of training camp and not having the players ready to play?

 

[BourbonBalz]

I think the defense and special teams (FINALLY) will be just fine. The biggest questions I have for this team in 2009 center around the offense.

I need to see the following things

- A commitment to the run. I don't care if we see 8 straight 2 yard gains to start the game, keep running. You don't have to gain massive yardage to have an effective running game.

- Proof that Roy E. Williams is not JAG. Everything positive said about this guy is based on production we're quite a bit removed from at this point. It's either he was great at Texas or "THAT ONE YEAR IN DETROIT"!.

- Tony Romo become more of a game manager. And I mean that in the sense that we can still get the big plays occasionally, but without so many of the boneheaded mistakes that set the team back. I realize that a lot of his ability to make the big play comes with the risk for turnovers, but there has to be a medium somewhere. I don't think we can afford to see him throw 18 interceptions or something to that effect (not to mention his "Fumblelina" tendency) because 35 TDs are probably not going to be there for him this year.

The bolded part of this quote is exactly what we need. The key word is committment. We have to develop a nasty attitude about running the ball and we have to be patient. Everyone will be amazed at how much better our O line will look if we run the ball. It won't allow opposing defenses to just tee off with a pass rush.