A question about the QB

[Aviano90]

This perception that he’s a top paid QB correlates to some sort of pecking order is over stated.

During his Rookie contract we didn’t give him a pass while he was one of the lowest paid QB’s. And in the coming years as others surpass his market contract the expectations won’t decrease proportionately.

We’ve seen other QB’s in recent years receive their market near the top of the league contracts like with Detroit and Atlanta but didn’t have this level of expectations.

Franchise QB’s are often provided these market driven contracts that places them above their pecking order in the league. But it’s short lived as coming years other QB’s receive their second contracts .

My expectations of him are not overstated, as they are just mine not anyone else's. I will cut a player slack when they take up considerably less of the team's resources than other players. I expect more out of players who take up a large portion of the salary cap or are drafted higher than players who are paid peanuts or are drafted lower. Dak has requested the largest piece of the team's pie and I would now expect him to carry the largest burden of the team's success or failure. You can certainly set your own expectations.

 

[Diehardblues]

I agree that at times Dak, Zeke, and the rest of the offense gets a free pass with the defense, coaching, front office, water boy, referees, etc. being the blame. At the end of the day though no matter how many statistics are put up there will be those in both 'camps' so to speak but ultimately this is just an amusing game for none of us control the game on the field and the games really have no impact on our lives.

I think the bottomline is if we step back separating our emotions the weaknesses on this team are more defensively.

That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been some issues on offense. Like with slow starts, turnovers, etc.

But when your evaluating or broadstroking an overall assessment we need to beef up our defense. And why it was our focus in the draft. But it can’t totally refute or excuse any offensive weaknesses.

QB, RB and WR aren’t weaknesses on this team. OL if healthy isn’t either. The fact some fans would hold our QB or offense solely responsible for the lack of success is obviously agenda generated. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t make some mistakes and has some poor performances.

But this team and really our franchise has been carried by our offense going back thru the Romo era. Neither which Id describe as Elite but good enough to build around . If without we would have been reduced more to a 4-6 win team which we witnessed when they were out.

It’s really time for the more critical thinking minds of Cowboy fans to stop over reacting to these Slobberers. They don’t represent the base of Cowboys Nation who see it more for what it is.

 

[Vtwin]

^^^ @McKDaddy
Exactly.

I would also say that anyone can improve, but still never reach the level of one who possess that innate ability.

Dak has improved his accuracy, but he still needs a larger window than many. This shows itself in certain, often critical game situations.

He'll never be that guy who can choose which shoulder to put the ball on, or whether to put it waist high vs numbers high.

For that reason, my take on him has not changed. Great guy. Decent but not great QB who does hold the offense back in certain situations.

 

[Diehardblues]

My expectations of him are not overstated, as they are just mine not anyone else's. I will cut a player slack when they take up considerably less of the team's resources than other players. I expect more out of players who take up a large portion of the salary cap or are drafted higher than players who are paid peanuts or are drafted lower. Dak has requested the largest piece of the team's pie and I would now expect him to carry the largest burden of the team's success or failure. You can certainly set your own expectations.

I understand. Set them where you wish. I’d be curious where they were set the first 4 years and where they might be set once he isn’t near the top in salary. That seems like an agenda driven barometer to me.

We can’t let fans set these type of barometers and then make them a standard for all.

 

[Doomsday101]

My expectations of him are not overstated, as they are just mine not anyone else's. I will cut a player slack when they take up considerably less of the team's resources than other players. I expect more out of players who take up a large portion of the salary cap or are drafted higher than players who are paid peanuts or are drafted lower. Dak has requested the largest piece of the team's pie and I would now expect him to carry the largest burden of the team's success or failure. You can certainly set your own expectations.

I agree. With the hefty pay check comes a bigger responsibility. I will say Dak was already being held very much responsible for the play of the team, may as well get the pay that comes with it.

 

[Aviano90]

I understand. Set them where you wish. I’d be curious where they were set the first 4 years and where they might be set once he isn’t near the top in salary. That seems like an agenda driven barometer to me.

We can’t let fans set these type of barometers and then make them a standard for all.

If you've paid attention to my posting history then you should know where I set the barometer for him his first 4 years. If you need a recap I felt he was the best value player in the league during that time. But I'm not trying to make my expectation a standard for all. Once again, they are my expectation alone and I am simply sharing my opinion. Not even trying to convince anyone to agree with me. Set your own barometer.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

My expectations of him are not overstated, as they are just mine not anyone else's. I will cut a player slack when they take up considerably less of the team's resources than other players. I expect more out of players who take up a large portion of the salary cap or are drafted higher than players who are paid peanuts or are drafted lower. Dak has requested the largest piece of the team's pie and I would now expect him to carry the largest burden of the team's success or failure. You can certainly set your own expectations.

Perfectly said. I agree 100%.

You want to take up the biggest portion of the pie? Then you need to overcome the problems with the smaller portions of the pie. No excuses. Get it done.

 

[Aviano90]

I agree. With the hefty pay check comes a bigger responsibility. I will say Dak was already being held very much responsible for the play of the team, may as well get the pay that comes with it.

That is true. Many have held him to really an impossible standard and he definitely deserves to get paid for it.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

I understand. Set them where you wish. I’d be curious where they were set the first 4 years and where they might be set once he isn’t near the top in salary. That seems like an agenda driven barometer to me.

We can’t let fans set these type of barometers and then make them a standard for all.

Fans can set the barometer anywhere they want too. That is their choice as a fan.

Nobody cares what your barometer is for Dak, and you shouldn't care what anybody else's is.

 

[USArmyVet]

He hasn’t had a great defense. We obviously had a defense closer to average and above both years he made the playoffs.

We really shouldn’t let the Slobberers set the bar.

If we have a top offense and average to above average defense especially if it can create some turnovers and hold scoring down could be enough.

It’s really difficult and almost unheard of in Cap era to have a top rated offense and defense.

Dallas defense rankings 2016-2020 (Dak's career years)


2016: 5th (points against) 14th (yards allowed)

2017: 13th (points against) 8th (yards allowed)

2018: 6th (points allowed) 7th (yards allowed)

2019: 11th (points allowed) 9th (yards allowed)

2020: 28th (points allowed) 23rd (yards allowed)


Setting the disaster of 2020 aside, Dallas has not exceeded 13th in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed. While some may say that is a big disparity in terms of points allowed in Dak's playoff years (5th and 6th respectively), when you look at the lowest amount of points given up in 2016 (306) and compare it to the most points given up in 2017 (332), there is only a 26 point difference which over 16 games is only 1.625 points/game.

So, while I am not placing all the blame on Dak I am not going to excuse his play and blame the defense when the defense was in fact playing well enough to not be used as the scapegoat.

 

[CowboyFrog]

Froggy, PAPPY is legendary in his opinion about Prescott as the DC QB. He was the first on record, I believe, and has never wavered an inch in his opinion. Dak is the iceberg and the Cowboys the Titanic.

Very true, he does not like the Cowboys QB1 for sure.

 

[CowboyFrog]

That all you got to say?
Pretty pathetic for a 160 million QB that you don't have a positive and immediate response to my question.

Its a true statement though, there are plenty of players getting paid top 5 or better at their position on this team that have won nothing. If your going to call out one need to call them all out.

 

[Diehardblues]

Dallas defense rankings 2016-2020 (Dak's career years)


2016: 5th (points against) 14th (yards allowed)

2017: 13th (points against) 8th (yards allowed)

2018: 6th (points allowed) 7th (yards allowed)

2019: 11th (points allowed) 9th (yards allowed)

2020: 28th (points allowed) 23rd (yards allowed)


Setting the disaster of 2020 aside, Dallas has not exceeded 13th in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed. While some may say that is a big disparity in terms of points allowed in Dak's playoff years (5th and 6th respectively), when you look at the lowest amount of points given up in 2016 (306) and compare it to the most points given up in 2017 (332), there is only a 26 point difference which over 16 games is only 1.625 points/game.

So, while I am not placing all the blame on Dak I am not going to excuse his play and blame the defense when the defense was in fact playing well enough to not be used as the scapegoat.

Dak certainly carries some responsibility. There’s always contributing factors.

In both of our divisional playoff losses with Dak did you feel our defense was more of a liability or our offense?

 

[CowboyRoy]

In 2020 Dak threw 39 times against the Rams, a game which Dallas lost 20-17 and a game that saw Dallas winning 14-13 at the half so that was not considered a 'losing' game in terms of needing to throw near 40 times.

In 2019 Dak threw 44 times against Philly, a game Dallas lost 17-9 so again not a game they were 'losing' per say. In fact, 7 times in 2019 Dak threw 40+ times in a game where only 2 of the 7 were Dallas seen as being far behind.....and in those 7 games Dallas had a record of 1-6.

So, in no way have I ever claimed to be a savant of football knowledge but in looking at thise statistics I would think even a basic knowledge guy like myself can plainly see that when Dak passes a lot Dallas does not do so well.

Cherry picking again? Anyone that remotely understands football can clearly see that we are throwing a lot because the defense sucks and we have to play catchup. If the defense could actually stop anyone on a regular basis there would be no need to throw as much. Football 101.

Your implication that we are losing because Dak throws for 400 yards and 3 TD's is laughably ridiculous. You should be embarrassed posting that, but for whatever reason you arent. And on top of it, all you do is go around to every thread saying the same laughable thing.

If you ever wondered why you get hammered for being a troll, this is why.

 

[Diehardblues]

Fans can set the barometer anywhere they want too. That is their choice as a fan.

Nobody cares what your barometer is for Dak, and you shouldn't care what anybody else's is.

While you’re entitled to your own opinion we can’t let someone who expects a magical SB run every year and then mostly blames our QB when it comes up short. Totally ridiculous. Lol

 

[CowboyRoy]

Dak certainly carries some responsibility. There’s always contributing factors.

In both of our divisional playoff losses with Dak did you feel our defense was more of a liability or our offense?

Its really pathetic you have to actually ask a Cowboys fan that question.

 

[CowboyRoy]

While you’re entitled to your own opinion we can’t let someone who expects a magical SB run every year and then mostly blames our QB when it comes up short. Totally ridiculous. Lol

Anyone that thinks we should have been playing for SB's the last 4 years with the coaching, defense, and at times special teams, they dont belong in a football conversation.

 

[Diehardblues]

If you've paid attention to my posting history then you should know where I set the barometer for him his first 4 years. If you need a recap I felt he was the best value player in the league during that time. But I'm not trying to make my expectation a standard for all. Once again, they are my expectation alone and I am simply sharing my opinion. Not even trying to convince anyone to agree with me. Set your own barometer.

Then you’re basically admitting your barometer is flawed if don’t expect anyone else to have similar one. That’s the best rebuttal you have.

 

[USArmyVet]

I think the bottomline is if we step back separating our emotions the weaknesses on this team are more defensively.

That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been some issues on offense. Like with slow starts, turnovers, etc.

But when your evaluating or broadstroking an overall assessment we need to beef up our defense. And why it was our focus in the draft. But it can’t totally refute or excuse any offensive weaknesses.

QB, RB and WR aren’t weaknesses on this team. OL if healthy isn’t either. The fact some fans would hold our QB or offense solely responsible for the lack of success is obviously agenda generated. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t make some mistakes and has some poor performances.

But this team and really our franchise has been carried by our offense going back thru the Romo era. Neither which Id describe as Elite but good enough to build around . If without we would have been reduced more to a 4-6 win team which we witnessed when they were out.

It’s really time for the more critical thinking minds of Cowboy fans to stop over reacting to these Slobberers. They don’t represent the base of Cowboys Nation who see it more for what it is.

Agreed that the defense has either been ignored or some really piss poor front office decisions via the draft or free agents have hurt the defensive efforts. While I agree that Dallas' offense is superior to that of the defense, that formula clearly isn't working and by the time the defense starts to improve the age/health of the offensive line will be at a point where the focus will need to be on rubuilding that unti which will, like dominoes, impact the QB, RB, and WR play.

That said, Dallas enjoyed more success (even going back to the Aikman days) when they had a potent rushing attack combined with a quality passing attack. Sadly Dallas has gotten away from that approach by investing heavily (Cooper trade, Lamb 1st round pick) in the passing game. Whether people wish to admit it or not Zeke is not the player he was his rookie season and the offensive line is not as dominant as they once were. While Dak has caught the attention of commentators and certain fans with his passing prowess recently, the fact is that Dallas does not win when it's the aerial Dak show.

That is not a shot at Dak but rather the offensive game planning and organizational philosophy. JJ looks at Dak and the WR's like a shiny sports car and he wants to press the gas down all the way for his own personal ego but the fact remains that all going fast does is cost you speeding tickets (aka leaving a poor defense on the field longer), raises your insurance (aka lessens a winning team), and runs the risk of crashing the damn car (aka exposing Dak to injury).

The whole Dallas philosophy is for crap as they would be much better off with an offensive approach that resembles that of a dominant running team with quick passing to game breaking WR's. Not only does this approach protect Dak better in the pocket (his scrambling ability will now be minimized after the injury) but also allow the Dallas defense to remain fresh by keeping them off the field and lessen their exposure.

(In 2016 when Dallas went 13-3 they were ranked 3rd in the NFL in time of possession due to a strong running game. In 2020 Dallas ranked 27th in time of possession. While TOP doesn't always corelate into a winning season, you can't argue the fact that with a questionable defense the less time they are on the field the better the team's chances of winning)

 

[Diehardblues]

Anyone that thinks we should have been playing for SB's the last 4 years with the coaching, defense, and at times special teams, they dont belong in a football conversation.

But that’s what they believe. And it’s all Daks fault. Totally ridiculous. Lol

Obvious trolling.