2009 Will Be About Getting It Right

[Apollo Creed]

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?

You aren't telling any lies CJ.

For the amount of rest Wade gives them, they sure do fold in December when other teams should be wearing down.

 

[CF74]

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.

I've said all that ad nauseum here, yes more short stuff. Less home run stuff..

 

[THUMPER]

Great post Hos and I totally agree with you on the direction the team is going this offseason. But it is still early and Jerry could still find a way to screw it up.

After the way the last season ended and Jerry TALKING about big changes but not making any, I was not very excited about the prospects for 2009 but I am now.

Cutting the baggage loose will make this much more of a team IMO and all those Terrell Owens fans still whining about him being cut can go root for the Bills as far as I am concerned.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

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.

That all depends on Jason Garrett. He has shown in the past that he is not patient with the run at all. People forget this coming up season will be his 3rd year. So hopefully he is learning from some of his mistakes. Jason Garrett needs to use all of his weapons. I think with the fear of hearing T.O. whine and cry i think he will starts using everybody. If not then we are in trouble with him controlling the offense.

 

[CF74]

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.

Why weren't we leaning on the run when Tony was getting killed?

 

[THUMPER]

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.

I agree.

Also, you buy time for the deep pass by running play action but that is only effective when you have a consistent running game. Use the run to set up the pass, that's how it works in non-WCO offenses.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Why weren't we leaning on the run when Tony was getting killed?

Because we absolutely had to force the football to Owens. Thought you knew.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

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

To be fair, Tony Wise should get most of the credit for building the o-line that Houck coached.

Wise took a defensive tackle (Tui), a reject fatty (Nate), a pothead (Step), a troublemaker (Gogan), and a no-name from a small college (Big E) and turned them into something special.

Edit: Almost forgot the FA, John Gesek!

 

[CF74]

Because we absolutely had to force the football to Owens. Thought you knew.

Weak coaches:laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

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.

Let's talk about this. If you look closely you'd see that I was glad Zach Thomas wanted out because of the drama. I think it sends a message to Wade and Jerry. So I am not missing anything. They are purging the locker room politicians.

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?

I'm not forgetting anything either. I specifically said these are men who have their pride hurt. There will be a change in philosophy in 2009.

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.

Are you awake? The following players were the biggest contributors to the sloppy attitude. Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Brad Johnson, and Tank Johnson. None will be back with this team next year. Not a one of them.

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.[/qoute]Yes, and now Wade in charge for the entire season. You paying attention yet?

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.

Let's try a little honesty. Michael Irvin is butt sore because his buddy was released. So he's whining a little bit. If you for one minute believe Michael Irvin doesn't think Roy Williams can be a #1 WR then you're drinking straight vinegar for no good reason.

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.

I missed which player has not worked hard nad has not earned his spot on the team.

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.

If you would bother to take the time to read, this is exactly what I said. Unfortunately for you Joe, 2008 is not 2009. You want to dwell on the past and piss and moan. Been there, done that. Heard all about the billboard. This thread is about 2009 and how I think the team will move forward.

Pay attention and you might decipher a difference.

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.

So you're telling me this team took on Parcells personality? That old Cowboys teams took on Tom's personality. That the 90's team took on Jimmy's?

You really believe that hogwash? If so, that's just sad.

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.

What can I tell you, re-read the thread and try and make sense of it instead of this same piss and moan I've heard from you for a dozen posts over the last few months.

I talked about the team moving forward. You want to piss and moan about the past. Locker room politicians are exiting stage left. You will see a more together team. There may be less talent but there will be a better team. That is the point. It has been the point from post #1 and it remains the point. Please try and keep up.

 

[Hostile]

Great post Hos and I totally agree with you on the direction the team is going this offseason. But it is still early and Jerry could still find a way to screw it up.

After the way the last season ended and Jerry TALKING about big changes but not making any, I was not very excited about the prospects for 2009 but I am now.

Cutting the baggage loose will make this much more of a team IMO and all those Terrell Owens fans still whining about him being cut can go root for the Bills as far as I am concerned.

Pretty much my sentiments exactly.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Greg Ellis should be the next malcontent to hit the pavement but I don't see that happening until after the draft when Dallas finds his replacement.

I'm pretty pleased, overall, with what's going on at VR. I'll be happier, though, when Dallas drafts a starting guard, NT, safety, LB, WR, and QB with some of their 200 draft picks.

 

[dbair1967]

To be fair, Tony Wise should get most of the credit for building the o-line that Houck coached.

Wise took a defensive tackle (Tui), a reject fatty (Nate), a pothead (Step), a troublemaker (Gogan), and a no-name from a small college (Big E) and turned them into something special.

Edit: Almost forgot the FA, John Gesek!

He deserves a ton of credit for that, Wise was a great OL coach.

But Houck was no slouch, and he developed Larry Allen into the most dominant OL ever. Gogan wasnt a starter under Wise as fyi.

Houck also moved Gesek to C in the playoffs of 1993 to cover uop for the loss of Mark Stepnoski and the suckiness of Frank Cornish, I think Gesek said he hadnt played C since high school and he did a great job.

And Stepnoski and Big E were extremely talented as fyi, just as Larry Allen was.

 

[BigDFan5]

So you're telling me this team took on Parcells personality? That old Cowboys teams took on Tom's personality. That the 90's team took on Jimmy's?

You really believe that hogwash? If so, that's just sad.

What can I tell you, re-read the thread and try and make sense of it instead of this same piss and moan I've heard from you for a dozen posts over the last few months.

I talked about the team moving forward. You want to piss and moan about the past. Locker room politicians are exiting stage left. You will see a more together team. There may be less talent but there will be a better team. That is the point. It has been the point from post #1 and it remains the point. Please try and keep up.

 

[cowboyjoe]

im not pissing and moaning, im trying to tell you what i see, what i hear, and what i read;

now i will know if a person that told me he would do what he said, this person told me he would take me to OTAs personally and traiing camp. I will talk to nate newton, other players and see what this media writer thinks

my main point is this; and this is the key;

its how practices in OTAs and training camp is run;

if that hasnt changed, then you have the same ole team;

thats the big key

 

[BourbonBalz]

Why weren't we leaning on the run when Tony was getting killed?

You'd have to ask Red and Wade that question. I think the coaching staff has finally realized that we will have to run the ball in order to compete for a championship. Even what I've heard from JJ this off-season indicates we will concentrate on runing the ball more, and that's a very good thing.

 

[hutch1254]

Nice post Hos, I agree with a lot of it, similar feelings in most areas. Good read.

 

[Undisputed]

Can't say I share any of the enthusiasm. I'm not enthusiastic about an offensive coordinator who still has to "learn the ropes" in this league. Nor am I enthusiastic about a head coach who basically came out and told us "I have to change". Our whole season rests on their ability to finally "get it", and THEN we still have to worry about our players ability to execute. Heck, I don't care how much their pride was hurt. If you can't get your job done then you need to lose it.

Just too many intangibles for me to get excited. Included (by others) is the "Romo will smile again now that TO is gone, therefore now we will win more games" theory.

I just don't buy it. Call it a fundamental difference in philosophy.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Quote:


Let's talk about this. If you look closely you'd see that I was glad Zach Thomas wanted out because of the drama. I think it sends a message to Wade and Jerry. So I am not missing anything. They are purging the locker room politicians.

No to me, what zach was saying, he had enough of the players not stepping up and wanting to win, but having a lack luster attitude and only play when they have too.

Quote:


I'm not forgetting anything either. I specifically said these are men who have their pride hurt. There will be a change in philosophy in 2009. I saw that Jerry Jones had his pride hurt, im not sold on what wade says, wade is like someone said the other, day, wade is too set in his ways and wont change. The only change you will see from wade is the hiring of some of his former players like Igor, Brooking and Stewart, that’s all wade will do. Now, I do think that Jerry Jones will step up the heat on the players and on Wade too, as well as Garrett.

Quote:


Are you awake? The following players were the biggest contributors to the sloppy attitude. Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, Brad Johnson, and Tank Johnson. None will be back with this team next year. Not a one of them.

Totally disagree Hostile, now were adam jones, tank and T O some of the problems yes, but it all starts with the head coach. Need I remind you of wade’s past history with teams, has he ever won a playoff game when he was head coach. Didn’t by the 3rd year most of the teams he coached as head coach regress? To me, wade hasn’t changed, till he is forced too, then by then it is too late. I just don’t see him changing.

[Yes, and now Wade in charge for the entire season. You paying attention yet?

That’s the whole problem, wade is in charge, wade was in charge of a pretty good team in 2007, what happened in December? What was wades response, well we did win a playoff game, the bye week. GIVE ME A BREAK! AGAIN WHAT WAS WADES RESPONSE 4TH GAME OF THE SEASON, EVERYTHING IS OK, DON’T WORRY, BUT WHAT DID WADE SAY AT END OF THE YEAR, EVERYTHING ISNT OK AND CHANGE MUST BE MADE, IT STARTS WITH ME-WADE.

Quote:


Let's try a little honesty. Michael Irvin is butt sore because his buddy was released. So he's whining a little bit. If you for one minute believe Michael Irvin doesn't think Roy Williams can be a #1 WR then you're drinking straight vinegar for no good reason.

This is where to me your wrong Hostile, lets really be honest, has Roy Williams had a great year while at Detroit? Only one year, one, now saying that, does that sink in Hostile, don’t get upset at the truth. A player must earn that right first, not be given that right on a silver platter. Are you saying Hostile that players are going to look up to Roy Williams as the star wide receiver as number one? Honestly Hostile? You have to earn that right first, so the players respect you, seeing you work hard, practice hard, then players will listen. Again, im not putting down Roy Williams, I like him, but he has to earn that right first, he must make those big catches first, he must get some big touchdowns first, not just one or 2, but makes big catches when they matter,. Then he has earned that right, but not till then.

Quote:


I missed which player has not worked hard nad has not earned his spot on the team. I am talking about Roy Williams, Brooking, Kitna, they must earn that right first, work hard in practices. In an ESPN interview (before Owens' release), Williams was asked about his relationship with Terrell Owens, and whether or not the two were workout partners. Williams had this to say: "That's my boy, but we don't work out (together). We probably never will work out (together). He may work out a little too hard for me." If roy Williams wants to be the number one wr, he has to set the tempo to be the number one and work hard, pratice hard, show the team that he wants it.



Quote:


If you would bother to take the time to read, this is exactly what I said. Unfortunately for you Joe, 2008 is not 2009. You want to dwell on the past and piss and moan. Been there, done that. Heard all about the billboard. This thread is about 2009 and how I think the team will move forward.

I hope your right Hostile, but I havent heard anything from Wade to say the otherwise. Now, again I will know the truth in OTAs and training camp if my friend takes me to them like he promised. And I will get to also go into the locker room too, at least that’s what he said. And I will make a point to ask Nate what he thinks and sees.

Pay attention and you might decipher a difference.

That’s what im saying Hostile, pay attention, you might learn something. To me, if there was going to be a big difference like Wade had said there will be, Wade would have talked to the players at the end of the year, and told them, in no uncertain terms, playing time was over with, get ready to work hard and practice hard, come OTAs and training camp, the gloves are off now and be ready, your partying time is over players, something to that effect, but Wade didn’t even talk to the players.

Quote:


So you're telling me this team took on Parcells personality? That old Cowboys teams took on Tom's personality. That the 90's team took on Jimmy's?

You really believe that hogwash? If so, that's just sad.

Its not hogwash Hostile, yes teams do take on the personality of the head coach, what did most of the players tell you during the year? Everything is ok, don’t worry. Where did I hear that before, oh yeah, from wade. I have learned now, the players, the head coach and coaches have to show me now, they want it, a championship. Talk is cheap. Its time to put up or shut up now.

Quote:


What can I tell you, re-read the thread and try and make sense of it instead of this same piss and moan I've heard from you for a dozen posts over the last few months.

To me, to move forward, you have to recognize your mistakes as players and head coach and coaches. What you did wrong and didn’t do. Till you do that, you will repeat the same ole same old thing. That has been wade history. Now, I am all for him showing me, but think about this a moment, what did wade say one time? I got into trouble one time, when I let someone run my defense. Wade said something along the lines, I will never let that happen again. But what did wade do, he let Stewart run the defense, till Jerry Jones came down on his rear end, and made him run the defense. And what did Jerry Jones tell wade and us all fans, wade will be the defensive coordinator, no one else. I see changes from Jerry Jones, but I havent seen them from Wade yet, till I do Hostile, show me, and prove it on the field. Big talk is cheap.

 

[RoadRunner]

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 key to all of that is the offensive line. It absolutely stunk last year. The Cowboys have done nothing to improve it.