A Calm Observation

TwoDeep3

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,748
Reaction score
17,778
CowboysZone DIEHARD Fan
There are specific areas where this team is lacking. While we may all lament about the quality of the product being put on the field, there are areas where it is evident that Dallas has issues.

DEFENSE

Two specifics here.

Safety - We are using a corner back to play safety and possibly Sensabaugh still has lingering effects from his injury.

The prevalent thought after FA and the draft is the DBs will make the line better. But there is a fallacy in this idea.

First, it takes the right players in the right positions. We are subbing out corners to cover our deficiencies at safety.

Second, it takes a front that stops the run and creates pressure.

Defensive front Ware is a major player. But what Dallas has between Ware and Spencer cannot stop the run. Everything we saw in the Chicago game started with them being able to run between the tackles. It starts off well enough but then they gash Dallas. And this is not the only game where the front seven gave up runs inside the tackles. This translated into play action, and once they figured how to slow Ware and stop any linebacker attack, they threw at will.

OFFENSE The dropped passes, interceptions and miscommunication comes down to one thing. Protecting Romo.

While he is a tough S.O.B. he is still human. And when a defense can get him out of sync then what we saw of the team is the results.

A running game would give Romo the ability to play action and that makes him dangerous. But that will not happen as long as we have what we are fielding as a line.

Dez will never be what his talent projects. He isn't smart enough to think like Romo. So when you force Romo out of his comfort zone, it effects Dez because he cannot make the same mental transition.

Ogletree is mentally lazy. His miscues are self created because he cannot give 100% between his ears at all times.

You cannot make a cat an elephant, and so with Ogletree you will have him whiffing on balls that turn into interceptions. It starts in his brain to ease up and then he stops catching with his hands but tries to catch with his chest.

The defense needs a nose tackle and a defensive end that can put pressure up the middle and stop the run. It also needs another safety.

The offense needs interior linemen to protect Romo and keep the offense in sync.

What they bought was magic beans.

Norm was quoted as saying after the game that when they went for Livings and Mac, he heard from an executive from another team that they were astonished at them paying these guys so much.
They over valued the product.

We may argue about who is at fault.

But this thread is about what is wrong. All this is fixable, but not this season.

One last piece is needed.

A WR that is in the top 7 in the league. We need someone who can consistently get separation and can make the catch to free up Austin and move the chains. Our WR are too inconsistent, and not of the level of talent to demand the ball when the team needs someone to stand up.

I despise this type of season where I had some hope.

But the writing is on the wall here. And it will get to be more painful as December gets closer.
 
My calm observation:

This team just sucks and is no different than the garbage that has been fielded the last 2 years. Yeah Romo was hurt in 2010 but so what. That team was 1-3 with him and going nowhere. We have a few new bells and whistles but the same stuff rears its ugly head every season.

Also, Garrett is not fit at all to be the head coach. The honeymoon from his interim position is over.
 
Two Deep, you are absolutely right regarding the OL and DL. Those areas have to be the focus next offseason.

The first 4 draft picks should all be dedicated to upgrading the offensive and defensive lines.

I'd look to sign a talented free agent as well.

Until those areas are addressed this team will remain a middle of the pack team.
 
Cowboy_Shawn;4764456 said:
Two Deep, you are absolutely right regarding the OL and DL. Those areas have to be the focus next offseason.

The first 4 draft picks should all be dedicated to upgrading the offensive and defensive lines.

I'd look to sign a talented free agent as well.

Until those areas are addressed this team will remain a middle of the pack team.

Romo has never been this harassed. And we are scoring at a 10 points per game clip.

They are not unrelated.
 
The Bears didn't really gash the Cowboys on the ground. They averaged 3.3 yards tonight. I think the problem is more of a lack of pass rush with the defensive ends. They're slow and they're unathletic. The 3-4 used to be about big 305+ lb, strong defensive ends but in this day, you're seeing a shift to the rangy, athletic types (JJ Watt, Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Justin Smith)
 
TwoDeep3;4764461 said:
Romo has never been this harassed. And we are scoring at a 10 points per game clip.

They are not unrelated.

What gets me is the offensive line has been a major problem for a couple of years now. One would think that applying adequate resources to upgrade the OL would have been one of the top prioritie this past offseason.

Instead Jerry and Stephen treated us to dollar bin items from Family Dollar.

As you mentioned, Romo's play has been severely impacted and we're scoring fewer ppg than we scored during the Quincy Carter era.

And the Cowboys running game is only a myth at this point. Demarco Murray would have better luck finding Bigfoot than finding an open running lane.
 
TwoDeep3;4764421 said:
There are specific areas where this team is lacking. While we may all lament about the quality of the product being put on the field, there are areas where it is evident that Dallas has issues.

DEFENSE

Two specifics here.

Safety - We are using a corner back to play safety and possibly Sensabaugh still has lingering effects from his injury.

The prevalent thought after FA and the draft is the DBs will make the line better. But there is a fallacy in this idea.

First, it takes the right players in the right positions. We are subbing out corners to cover our deficiencies at safety.

Second, it takes a front that stops the run and creates pressure.

Defensive front Ware is a major player. But what Dallas has between Ware and Spencer cannot stop the run. Everything we saw in the Chicago game started with them being able to run between the tackles. It starts off well enough but then they gash Dallas. And this is not the only game where the front seven gave up runs inside the tackles. This translated into play action, and once they figured how to slow Ware and stop any linebacker attack, they threw at will.

OFFENSE The dropped passes, interceptions and miscommunication comes down to one thing. Protecting Romo.

While he is a tough S.O.B. he is still human. And when a defense can get him out of sync then what we saw of the team is the results.

A running game would give Romo the ability to play action and that makes him dangerous. But that will not happen as long as we have what we are fielding as a line.

Dez will never be what his talent projects. He isn't smart enough to think like Romo. So when you force Romo out of his comfort zone, it effects Dez because he cannot make the same mental transition.

Ogletree is mentally lazy. His miscues are self created because he cannot give 100% between his ears at all times.

You cannot make a cat an elephant, and so with Ogletree you will have him whiffing on balls that turn into interceptions. It starts in his brain to ease up and then he stops catching with his hands but tries to catch with his chest.

The defense needs a nose tackle and a defensive end that can put pressure up the middle and stop the run. It also needs another safety.

The offense needs interior linemen to protect Romo and keep the offense in sync.

What they bought was magic beans.

Norm was quoted as saying after the game that when they went for Livings and Mac, he heard from an executive from another team that they were astonished at them paying these guys so much.
They over valued the product.

We may argue about who is at fault.

But this thread is about what is wrong. All this is fixable, but not this season.

One last piece is needed.

A WR that is in the top 7 in the league. We need someone who can consistently get separation and can make the catch to free up Austin and move the chains. Our WR are too inconsistent, and not of the level of talent to demand the ball when the team needs someone to stand up.

I despise this type of season where I had some hope.

But the writing is on the wall here. And it will get to be more painful as December gets closer.

I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said here, but I would like to add one thing.

Our defense’s inability to generate turnovers.

We’ve now managed four in four games and this is just not good enough.

It seems ever since Bill Parcells days we’ve been poor at generating turnovers.

Only Paul Pasqualoni seemed to be able to get the defense to do it (20 in eight games) and we won 5 with John Kitna at the helm.

Now at this rate we won’t get to 20 in sixteen games never mind eight.

It just won’t do!
 
Jerry will never realize that football is won in the trenches.

Formula for success in the nfl:

Have a strong defensive and offensive front and a good quarterback. You can't win in this league with just flashy players at the star positions.

But, lineman dont sell tickets and apparel, so jerry will never go for this.
 
Agreed. Upgrade the line play.

Now how do you do that? Add more cornerbacks.
 
Cowboy_Shawn;4764481 said:
What gets me is the offensive line has been a major problem for a couple of years now. One would think that applying adequate resources to upgrade the OL would have been one of the top prioritie this past offseason.

Instead Jerry and Stephen treated us to dollar bin items from Family Dollar.

As you mentioned, Romo's play has been severely impacted and we're scoring fewer ppg than we scored during the Quincy Carter era.

And the Cowboys running game is only a myth at this point. Demarco Murray would have better luck finding Bigfoot than finding an open running lane.

You can't judge our young/new offensive linemen yet.

What? Do you think you know more than the team?
 
TheCoolFan;4764472 said:
The Bears didn't really gash the Cowboys on the ground. They averaged 3.3 yards tonight. I think the problem is more of a lack of pass rush with the defensive ends. They're slow and they're unathletic. The 3-4 used to be about big 305+ lb, strong defensive ends but in this day, you're seeing a shift to the rangy, athletic types (JJ Watt, Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Justin Smith)

In fairness, we may have one of those in Tyrone Crawford. He's just not ready yet.
 
You know, watching that game last night I wasn't nearly as upset as I used to be, I guess I am getting used to it after 16 seasons of futility. Now I know how fans of other teams feel, watching their teams go decades without any real success.

The Landry years conditioned me (and many others) to expect excellence and a team that can compete EVERY YEAR. The early 90s continued that trend but then the bottom fell out after 1995 and this team is no different than the Bengals or Lions.

I guess I'll just have to endure it until Jerry dies since he isn't going to relinquish control of the team until then. :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:
 
THUMPER;4764626 said:
You know, watching that game last night I wasn't nearly as upset as I used to be, I guess I am getting used to it after 16 seasons of futility. Now I know how fans of other teams feel, watching their teams go decades without any real success.

The Landry years conditioned me (and many others) to expect excellence and a team that can compete EVERY YEAR. The early 90s continued that trend but then the bottom fell out after 1995 and this team is no different than the Bengals or Lions.

I guess I'll just have to endure it until Jerry dies since he isn't going to relinquish control of the team until then. :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

I feel your pain, I'm the same way.
 
TwoDeep3;4764461 said:
Romo has never been this harassed. And we are scoring at a 10 points per game clip.

They are not unrelated.

He was not harassed more than any QB should expect on a normal play or blitz on most of his INTs last night.
 
Zordon;4764625 said:
RS, you're going to have fun today. :laugh1:

I get no joy out of the current state of this franchise. Its enough to drive a man to drink.
 
Risen Star;4764669 said:
I get no joy out of the current state of this franchise. Its enough to drive a man to drink.
yeah i'm just kidding. it's funny some think you actually revel in this. fact is you were right the entire offseason.
 
Zordon;4764674 said:
yeah i'm just kidding. it's funny some think you actually revel in this. fact is you were right the entire offseason.

Even though I expected it I still can't avoid the depression when it happens.

I sat there numb watching that game. I want my Cowboys back.
 

Staff online

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
474,003
Messages
14,505,671
Members
24,207
Latest member
TomGiantsfan
Back
Top