2009 Will Be About Getting It Right

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nobody has made their feelings known about Owens, except some anonymous player. We have Roy WIlliams making his feelings known about Garrett and RW is going to be the number 1 receiver. He called TO his best friend. What does that say about Jerry, especially now, expressing all his love about RW? Tony Romo questioned Garrett in the final press conference, essentially confirming what TO had said. They also tried bringing in Dan Reeves, who was going to spend time on the offense, but he left abruptly. Jerry has created a cluster-**** of a situation with Garrett.

No but we do know who TO's feeling were against. It is clear he had issues with Romo, Witten, Garrett and Carpenter and was bringing him to the attention of his 'friends.'

And exactly what did Romo say that confirmed what TO specifically said. Just because Romo had concerns about Garrett does not mean they were the same concerns.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Didn't know Colombo made his feelings known, but I did feel that towards the end of the year the D was coming to his defense.

Particularly when the defense started to put together a few games, and for the first time in a long time - they felt they were carrying the team. So our very undeservedly outspoken defense, starting popping their mouth off supporting Owens because they felt that RJ, Romo, and Witten were the problem.

I think the Romo and Witten rumors were started by members of our defense, not Owens. Owens, as usual, just ran with it and made the entire situation worse.

What defensive player said what during the season? Did even James say anything? I admit I may be wrong on Columbo.

Its a well documented fact that TO tripped off the mutiny. He was the first to approach Garrett about the alleged Romo to Witten favoritism and TO went on national television to bash Garrett.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I am surprised that Zach Thomas would claim he was getting out because of the drama.

All this time I thought he was getting out and the Cowboys and the rest of the NFL were not begging him to stay was because he was way past his prime and sucked.

 

[Angus]

Our oline was top5 in 2007, easily. Our pass protection was immaculate. Jason Garrett has not ever given the running game enough of a chance to get on track. When you are averaging 20ish runs a game then you do not wear down a defense to the point where those 3 yard runs turn into 6 and 7 yard runs. Then again if youre averaging 20ish passes a game TO would have gone into complete meltdown.

I really do not get out how people can make any sort of definitive claim as to the status of our oline. Kosier and then Holland went out leaving Proctor to start 10+ games which was a horrible situation and Flo dealt with 3 severe injuries all year. Sure that gives concerns about Free but realistically how can you make any sort of claim on a 2nd year LT when we really have only seen him play 40 odd snaps in the preseason. Saying that Flo is done when all he was doing was gutting it out is both unfair and asinine.

Really what it comes down to is the development of Free and who of Kosier and Holland starts. In an ideal world, our armchair scouts are wrong and the progress of Free is coming along well and Holland starts. That means Kosier can the top backup; he has experience at both guard spots and RT and Free can backup LT. That really only leaves center.

Lets not delude ourselves. Outside of a few elite prospects like Thomas, no rookie is going to come in and protect the left side. No LT that we might have picked at 21 much less 15 would be able to pull that off. We had better hope that Free is progressing because if Flo goes down we are screwed at LT no matter what we do at 51 if he is not.

We are not hamstrung here. If value at OL drops to us then of course you take him if its BPA but quite a DT or SS is pretty much guaranteed to see playing time whereas an OT or OG/C will be a developmental guy. Both have value but I really wish the projected DT in the second round were a bit more inspiring. I just hope Ciskowski and crew keep up the good work.

Good, sensible post. Sometimes people are so taken with 'new is better; throw out the old' that they lose perspective or memory. It takes awhile for offensive linemen to adjust and no rookie coming in is likely to immediately take over a key spot. There is a need to acquire new help but also a need to be patient with the previously injured or prospective talent you already have.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

2008 ≠ 2009

Everyone else got it.

I wholeheartedly agree that 2008 ≠ 2009.

And I hope Zoners will remember that as things stand now, we've lost our top WR. And we have not -- up to this point -- improved the WR corps. I am optimistic about Austin, but our WR team is now NFL mediocre.

On defense I have not seen any significant additions, though Senseb. . . senso whatever will contribute. Kitna is a good improvement over Brad.

I just do not see us taking a step forward, overall.

We are already entering a new season with the Cupcake leading the charge. He's the one who doesn't care when players are laffing on the flight back after a loss. The one who would never call a player on his play and who seems destined to just shrug off collapses in December.

Certainly, last year will not be this year. That is why the more optimists here are thinking 9-7 but many more think it 8-8.

Yes, 2008 ≠ 2009.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Hos makes excellent posts. That said, I think you're definitely raising an important issue. Our Oline isn't getting any younger and we still have a LT that false starts at least once a game. Things like that can really kill drives. I'm fully subscribed to the "get younger" theory. Guys like Choice, Bennett, Felix, and Scandrick all make me excited about the future. However, the one constant remains.

The one thing that stands in the way of true progress right now is Wade and Jason. I have no choice so I will have to give them one more year to right the ship so to speak.. But my opinion of their leadership tactics hasn't changed one bit. Jason is in over his head at OC and Wade's laissez faire approach to coaching has proven underwhelming to me since he was hired here.

I know this thread is meant to be positive and, despite 13 years and counting, I am still hopeful we can somehow put this talent together into something that will forge deep into the playoffs this year. Hopeful.. not confident..

I agree with what Hostile says, alot of what Hostile says I agree with. Just a few things I disagree with. LIke the person that posted above, thats my main point, I still have my doubts about wade and garrett. I think Jerry Jones does finally get it, but I still have my doubts about wade and garrett. And if you look i did post positives too later in the posts.

I may be stubborn or hard headed sometimes, but thats because the cowboys have let me down for these past 12 years. So, you have to show me now. I do think we are headed in the right direction in some things, but as the old saying goes. The coaches have to coach, and the players have to play. Jerry Jones to me, has done all he can do to win, now its up to the coaches to coach and the players to do what their told. And for a good hard hitting training camp. Nothing else to me will do.

Like I said, I am suppose to get to go to OTAs at valley ranch and the locker room. And training camp too. I will find out what I can and report back to you all, if that does happen.

Right now, all of my focus is on the draft, thats where you build the team or at least a huge part of the team, through the draft. Jimmy Johnson proved that. So, NFL Draft here comes the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I wholeheartedly agree that 2008 ≠ 2009.

And I hope Zoners will remember that as things stand now, we've lost our top WR. And we have not -- up to this point -- improved the WR corps. I am optimistic about Austin, but our WR team is now NFL mediocre.

On defense I have not seen any significant additions, though Senseb. . . senso whatever will contribute. Kitna is a good improvement over Brad.

I just do not see us taking a step forward, overall.

We are already entering a new season with the Cupcake leading the charge. He's the one who doesn't care when players are laffing on the flight back after a loss. The one who would never call a player on his play and who seems destined to just shrug off collapses in December.

Certainly, last year will not be this year. That is why the more optimists here are thinking 9-7 but many more think it 8-8.

Yes, 2008 ≠ 2009.

Giveme TheBall, I agree with most of what you said! But we do have positives to look at too,

1. wade as defensive coordinator, strong positive
2. Releasing roy williams safety, Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, T O, Tony Curtis
3. Replacing Canty with Igor O........., Brooking for Zach bigger linebacker, and Kitna for his strong leadership as above players and Kitna that can help win some games than Brad Johnson too old could do. With Sensabaugh helping out at safety, I heard good remarks on him during the draft in 2005.
4. Gag order of coaches, and possibly players. (I am not sure about the players but at function where Jerry Jones was, Felix Jones, Witten & Romo didnt talk to the media).
5. The draft with the 9 picks & possibly 2 more in compensation.
6. Saying that the Cowboys plan to run more and take ball out of Romo's hands more, thats a positive, means more running & using the Cowboys big offensive line.
7. Possibly a player from Michael Irvins show that can help the Cowboys, as you all know jerry jones is one of the judges.
8. Roy Williams WR, I have high hopes for him, he is a good wr to me, but he must stay in shape, work hard, practice and prove he wants to be one of the best. We need a dominant WR now that T O is gone, I think Roy is that WR but must work and work hard, show that he is the best. And yes, I have taken heat from my views on Roy Williams from a friend of mine that lives in Lufkin, I have said Roy is a good WR and can help the Cowboys while my friend in Lufkin says roy isnt. I still say roy is a good wr, he just has to prove it.
9. McBrair back and special teams new coach.

 

[BLEU3ASY]

Nice Read. Every time this team gets embarrassed, i think there's now way they let these types of things hurt them again...I hope you are right, i hope the moves that were made brings them together.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I wholeheartedly agree that 2008 ≠ 2009.

And I hope Zoners will remember that as things stand now, we've lost our top WR. And we have not -- up to this point -- improved the WR corps. I am optimistic about Austin, but our WR team is now NFL mediocre.

On defense I have not seen any significant additions, though Senseb. . . senso whatever will contribute. Kitna is a good improvement over Brad.

I just do not see us taking a step forward, overall.

We are already entering a new season with the Cupcake leading the charge. He's the one who doesn't care when players are laffing on the flight back after a loss. The one who would never call a player on his play and who seems destined to just shrug off collapses in December.

Certainly, last year will not be this year. That is why the more optimists here are thinking 9-7 but many more think it 8-8.

Yes, 2008 ≠ 2009.

Brooking is better than Zach, and I believe he has a couple more brain cells left. Zach just didn't fit in our defense, and we need to get bigger in our interior defensively.

I loved Owens production, and don't feel there is a harder more consistent worker than Owens in this league - but we have an offense built around non-polarizing lunch-pail guys (Romo, Witten, Barber).

Owens made it common-place that you can criticize others and publicize your opinions. Don't believe me, Patrick Crayton went from humble 7th rounder to 'we'll take a piss on your field'.

Our defense suddenly got more vocal immediately after the Tuna left and Wade entered the building. Owens didn't intentionally destroy our football team. He just created a culture that no longer allowed the necessary 'locker-room heirachy' to take place. Jerry wasn't helping by holding their hands either.

This year is different because of the following.

-Jerry hired a ST coach. We didn't have one last year.

-Replaced Kevin Burnett and Zach Thomas with an experienced Keith Brooking(played in Wade's scheme) and a first day draft pick to be named later.

-Let an extremely overpriced Chris Canty hit the market, and replaced him with a fairly inexpensive Igor. Another player that has played in Wade's scheme before.

-Signed a reliable safety and special teamer with great athleticism. That has also played in our ST coach's scheme before.

-Released a polarizing locker room figure, and endorsed our future and creating the perception that this team is done with the circus. Saying bye bye to Pacman and Tank helped this as well.

So to say we haven't made positive steps, suggests you're either just really naive or in the mood to play the rhetorical contrarian today.

 

[cowboy4life]

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.

One of the biggest problems this team has had is an over-reliance on the reputations of players. I remember back in 2002 when everyone outside of this forum thought that Larry Allen was still an all-Pro OL. Larry was clearly a guy that just couldn't move laterally anymore, but was still making Pro Bowls on reputation. Bill Parcells basically showed Jerry that Allen was a decending player. I see our offensive line in the same disarray. When was the last time we actually drafted a lineman that could play? As much as I hate the Eagles, they build their team around the offensive line. They find guys in the middle of the draft, bring them in, and when someone is hurt they just plug in a Max Jean-Guilles and keep on protecting.

We need to adopt the same strategy that we did last year and draft best player available, but with an emphasis on OL and DL that can push starters from day 1

 

[Hostile]

I wholeheartedly agree that 2008 ≠ 2009.

And I hope Zoners will remember that as things stand now, we've lost our top WR. And we have not -- up to this point -- improved the WR corps. I am optimistic about Austin, but our WR team is now NFL mediocre.

On defense I have not seen any significant additions, though Senseb. . . senso whatever will contribute. Kitna is a good improvement over Brad.

I just do not see us taking a step forward, overall.

We are already entering a new season with the Cupcake leading the charge. He's the one who doesn't care when players are laffing on the flight back after a loss. The one who would never call a player on his play and who seems destined to just shrug off collapses in December.

Certainly, last year will not be this year. That is why the more optimists here are thinking 9-7 but many more think it 8-8.

Yes, 2008 ≠ 2009.

The biggest step forward we could make was coming together as a team.

 

[cowboyjoe]

The biggest step forward we could make was coming together as a team.

thats true, Hostile.

just have to wait and see, but im not going to get set up again for a fall and having my cowboys heart broken,

show me first,

 

[Apollo Creed]

The biggest step forward we could make was coming together as a team.

thats true, Hostile.

just have to wait and see, but im not going to get set up again for a fall and having my cowboys heart broken,

show me first,

Gotta take the good with the bad. 3 in 4 years makes you extremely spoiled. Be thankful you were able to enjoy those, I just reached football sentience right around the same time Campo has been hired. I remember watching Joey Galloway go down with a torn ACL at a horrible sports bar in Myrtle Beach because we couldn't afford Sunday ticket. Thats when I lost my football v-card. So be thankful you were able to enjoy the dynasty, all I can do is watch highlight tapes.

So setting yourself up is what being a fan is all about. C'mon cowboyjoe you're tougher than that aren't you?

 

[Bleu Star]

A wait & see approach appears to be smart medicine for preparation for this upcoming season. There are plenty of questions to be answered. To name a few...

Will Romo step up his game and become the leader this offense desperately needs? (no more obstacles in the way)

Will our offense morph into a run first offense and find success doing so?

Will we be able to stop the run consistently?

Will there be enough competence at the Safety position to keep games from getting out of hand?

Will Coach Tecmo diversify and stimulate a few more brain cells?

Will Wade really "change" or will we be faced with yet another season of patty cake practices?

Will our WR corps scare anyone if we don't pickup a vet? COUGH*Torry Holt*COUGH

Will RW11 live up to the potential we traded for?

Does Coach Tecmo have the ability to adjust his philosophy to a run oriented style of coordination and can he mix things up enough to keep defenses guessing?

These are just a few of many questions that make a wait & see approach something rather prudent.

 

[Clove]

Seems to me that Garrett and Romo fed off the carcass killings of the HOFer, including the almighty and crystal clean Witten, although I'm a believer in Witten.

Still, everyone benefited off of him and are now taking credit for being great. Outstanding!

Just like the Cards benefited from Fitzgereld's ability to soar over humans and snatch the ball out of the sky. What a lucky man Warner is to have a career in which he's had 2 HOF type receivers in 2 places.

How great does Tom Brady look now? This guy's been working with average receivers all of these years, still able to make it to the SB, then he gets a dynamic HOF receiver, the guy puts up world class and record breaking numbers, and I expect mr Tom Greaty to be in the SB and win it all because he's a disciplined QB and not a wild Favre-esq player.

It's funny how that word Chemistry comes up to use as an excuse to why they wanted to unload superior production, instead of just saying " I hate loud mouth brass players who don't kiss my butt or do things the way I was raised to do them".

How many people were crying about chemistry when TO exploded for 15 or 16 record breaking TDs etc, and throwing up monster numbers and we were winning, to my recollection, we had basically the same players with A SORRY Julius Jones on the team?
Seems like Chemistry did not come up with the same player when they were winning, but when teams figured out Garrett's coloring book scribble on note book paper, mr Genius had no answer, so now we must blame it on Chemistry.

We had Chemistry in 07, but none in 08 with the same players? Makes sense, try again folks.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Seems to me that Garrett and Romo fed off the carcass killings of the HOFer, including the almighty and crystal clean Witten, although I'm a believer in Witten.

Still, everyone benefited off of him and are now taking credit for being great. Outstanding!

Just like the Cards benefited from Fitzgereld's ability to soar over humans and snatch the ball out of the sky. What a lucky man Warner is to have a career in which he's had 2 HOF type receivers in 2 places.

How great does Tom Brady look now? This guy's been working with average receivers all of these years, still able to make it to the SB, then he gets a dynamic HOF receiver, the guy puts up world class and record breaking numbers, and I expect mr Tom Greaty to be in the SB and win it all because he's a disciplined QB and not a wild Favre-esq player.

It's funny how that word Chemistry comes up to use as an excuse to why they wanted to unload superior production, instead of just saying " I hate loud mouth brass players who don't kiss my butt or do things the way I was raised to do them".

How many people were crying about chemistry when TO exploded for 15 or 16 record breaking TDs etc, and throwing up monster numbers and we were winning, to my recollection, we had basically the same players with A SORRY Julius Jones on the team?
Seems like Chemistry did not come up with the same player when they were winning, but when teams figured out Garrett's coloring book scribble on note book paper, mr Genius had no answer, so now we must blame it on Chemistry.

We had Chemistry in 07, but none in 08 with the same players? Makes sense, try again folks.

Its not guaranteed that he will make the HoF. I realize that his stats are quite good but you can make a case for McCardell and Isaac Bruce using thos metrics. Do not get me wrong but is stats are the sole criterion then there would be no question. Ask Art Monk how much the writers care about stats. At the end of the day there is quite a contingent of writers that will not vote for him because quite frankly they do not like him.

 

[Clove]

Its not guaranteed that he will make the HoF. I realize that his stats are quite good but you can make a case for McCardell and Isaac Bruce using thos metrics. Do not get me wrong but is stats are the sole criterion then there would be no question. Ask Art Monk how much the writers care about stats. At the end of the day there is quite a contingent of writers that will not vote for him because quite frankly they do not like him.

See it however you want, that offense was spoiled by the "player".

 

[Rampage]

Seems to me that Garrett and Romo fed off the carcass killings of the HOFer, including the almighty and crystal clean Witten, although I'm a believer in Witten.

Still, everyone benefited off of him and are now taking credit for being great. Outstanding!

Just like the Cards benefited from Fitzgereld's ability to soar over humans and snatch the ball out of the sky. What a lucky man Warner is to have a career in which he's had 2 HOF type receivers in 2 places.

How great does Tom Brady look now? This guy's been working with average receivers all of these years, still able to make it to the SB, then he gets a dynamic HOF receiver, the guy puts up world class and record breaking numbers, and I expect mr Tom Greaty to be in the SB and win it all because he's a disciplined QB and not a wild Favre-esq player.

It's funny how that word Chemistry comes up to use as an excuse to why they wanted to unload superior production, instead of just saying " I hate loud mouth brass players who don't kiss my butt or do things the way I was raised to do them".

How many people were crying about chemistry when TO exploded for 15 or 16 record breaking TDs etc, and throwing up monster numbers and we were winning, to my recollection, we had basically the same players with A SORRY Julius Jones on the team?
Seems like Chemistry did not come up with the same player when they were winning, but when teams figured out Garrett's coloring book scribble on note book paper, mr Genius had no answer, so now we must blame it on Chemistry.

We had Chemistry in 07, but none in 08 with the same players? Makes sense, try again folks.

Owens isn't even in the same class as Fitz or Moss right now. Warner and Brady trust Fitz and Moss cause they will go up and fight for the ball. Owens rarely made an attempt at a pass from Romo unless it hit him in the numbers.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Oh I see.

What abou that didn't you understand? We didn't have a dedication to running the ball last year. I would think it's pretty simple for everyone to see that the coaching staff preferred throwing the ball all over the field when the first 6 or 7 rushes didn't yield much. Why didn't Felix Jones touch the ball EVEN ONCE when we played Washington the first time? You tell me. Obviously the coaching staff didnt' call the plays or they were changed. No one can tell me our O line can't run block. The team and staff just has to make up their minds that they're going to run the ball. As I've stated on here numerous times, we weren't always successful running the ball in the first and second quarter in the early and mid 90's, but we didn't abandon the run. We stuck with it and it paid off in the second half. So far, this team and staff hasn't shown the patience to do this. I'm pretty sure that's going to change this coming season.

 

[Clove]

Owens isn't even in the same class as Fitz or Moss right now. Warner and Brady trust Fitz and Moss cause they will go up and fight for the ball. Owens rarely made an attempt at a pass from Romo unless it hit him in the numbers.

I'd like to see Fitz try to catch a pass 15 yards over his head, or sailing 20 yards OOBs, throwing 10 yards wide of him, 7 yards in front of him.

Warner has this ability to put the ball within catching distance, btw, until Fitz does it for several more years, I won't crown him either. And Moss has a great QB throwing him the ball, so I see your point.