A Touch OF Juke-ility... ;)

[Juke99]

During the first three months of the season, when the Cowboys win a game in somewhat less than perfection fashion and we hear the coach say "It's tough to win in the NFL, we'll take it"...when some fans here get blasted for complaining about the way the team won...maybe you can take a look at yesterday and see things from a different perspective regarding those early season wins.

When a team has superior talent, like this one does, those games that are less important than the all important December games are dress rehearsals for practicing perfect execution...developing a killer instinct...keeping pressure on an opponent for a full 60 minutes. A team cannot practice that stuff during they week on their own practive field. It must be done against an opponent.

THAT is why December happens to this team. They don't practice playing a FULL focused game during the earlier part of the season.

As an example, if, early in the season, they're winning 31-10 and give up a sloppy late TD that makes the final score 31-17 some of us will complain and hear "What more do you want? Now a win isn't good enough for you?" What I want is a focused effort for a full 60 minutes so we don't have to see the breakdowns we do, time after time, in games like yesterday. If you don't practice playing a full 60 minutes during EVERY game, you'll never be able to do it down the stretch run...and that is why this team loses every big game by giving up big plays or not stepping up to make big plays 4-5 times a game. They get away with it against lesser opponents...but not against the elite or when the games are more important.

The fact that the head coach embraces the "A win is a win. It's tough to win in the NFL" philosophy, has this team doomed.

Ya can't just throw a switch in the big games if you haven't practiced your focus in all the games leading up to the more important games.

If you can beat Oakland by a score of 44 to 7 rather than 24-7, THAT is what you do. You don't win the game by a 17 point margin, when it should have been far greater and say "A win is a win"

Many people pick apart a loss like yesterday...it's the special teams...it was this play...it was that play...But if you notice, it's always a TEAM effort...yep, the special teams blew it yesterday...so did the defense when we needed them to step up...so did the offense, Barber's fumble...and as good as he was yesterday, Romo can't miss that pass to a wide open Roy Williams and Romo has to get the ball snapped before the final two minute warning.

The team is not mentally prepared to play an intense full 60 minutes because they don't do so against lesser opponents....and within that approach, the seeds for every December failing are planted.

 

[Duane]

Perfect statement of what has plagued this team for years.

 

[CATCH17]

No I still am not going to complain about how a team wins.

You watch any team in this league and you aren't going to get a perfect performance.

And im not going to complain about who we beat either. Because the Raiders just beat the Superbowl champs yesterday and beat the Bengals the week before.

There is always things improve on but Cowboy fans go waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy overboard when it comes to nitpicking about our style points.



Yesterday is the kind of loss that bugs me the most. I got over the Packers loss easy because everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It just wasn't meant for us to win.

But both losses to the Giants upset me because we dominated them but found a way to lose. This is a typical thing for us and we did it last December.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I would venture to say that a good 70% of teams that hold 31-10 leads (or various big leads) late in a game, give up a late score.

 

[xWraithx]

I agree completely

I just ignore the "a win is a win, I'll take it! You're not a fan if you're angry with the team's play today, they won! You're not a true fan!! Even though we barely beat the Commanders 7-6 AT HOME, a win is a win! YOU'RE NOT A TRUE FAN!!! YOUR OPINION SUCKS AND MINE IS BETTER AND I WON'T EVEN CONSIDER YOURS!!" crowd.

 

[Juke99]

No I still am not going to complain about how a team wins.

You watch any team in this league and you aren't going to get a perfect performance.

And im not going to complain about who we beat either. Because the Raiders just beat the Superbowl champs yesterday and beat the Bengals the week before.

There is always things improve on but Cowboy fans go waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy overboard when it comes to nitpicking about our style points.



Yesterday is the kind of loss that bugs me the most. I got over the Packers loss easy because everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It just wasn't meant for us to win.

But both losses to the Giants upset me because we dominated them but found a way to lose. This is a typical thing for us and we did it last December.

Never said you're ever going to get a perfect performance but that is what you strive for. I couldn't stand the Dallas version of Bill Parcells but he had a history of being hardest on his teams after they won a game. There was a reason for that.

Sorry, we'll agree to disagree. Ya can't take the "hey a win is a win" approach. You have to PRACTICE focus and intensity. It's not something that can be turned on like a light switch.

I'm not knocking less than perfect performance, I'm knocking the willingness to simply accept them as being ok.

 

[chinch]

sticky that.

During the first three months of the season, when the Cowboys win a game in somewhat less than perfection fashion and we hear the coach say "It's tough to win in the NFL, we'll take it"...when some fans here get blasted for complaining about the way the team won...maybe you can take a look at yesterday and see things from a different perspective regarding those early season wins.

When a team has superior talent, like this one does, those games that are less important than the all important December games are dress rehearsals for practicing perfect execution...developing a killer instinct...keeping pressure on an opponent for a full 60 minutes. A team cannot practice that stuff during they week on their own practive field. It must be done against an opponent.

THAT is why December happens to this team. They don't practice playing a FULL focused game during the earlier part of the season.

As an example, if, early in the season, they're winning 31-10 and give up a sloppy late TD that makes the final score 31-17 some of us will complain and hear "What more do you want? Now a win isn't good enough for you?" What I want is a focused effort for a full 60 minutes so we don't have to see the breakdowns we do, time after time, in games like yesterday. If you don't practice playing a full 60 minutes during EVERY game, you'll never be able to do it down the stretch run...and that is why this team loses every big game by giving up big plays or not stepping up to make big plays 4-5 times a game. They get away with it against lesser opponents...but not against the elite or when the games are more important.

The fact that the head coach embraces the "A win is a win. It's tough to win in the NFL" philosophy, has this team doomed.

Ya can't just throw a switch in the big games if you haven't practiced your focus in all the games leading up to the more important games.

If you can beat Oakland by a score of 44 to 7 rather than 24-7, THAT is what you do. You don't win the game by a 17 point margin, when it should have been far greater and say "A win is a win"

Many people pick apart a loss like yesterday...it's the special teams...it was this play...it was that play...But if you notice, it's always a TEAM effort...yep, the special teams blew it yesterday...so did the defense when we needed them to step up...so did the offense, Barber's fumble...and as good as he was yesterday, Romo can't miss that pass to a wide open Roy Williams and Romo has to get the ball snapped before the final two minute warning.

The team is not mentally prepared to play an intense full 60 minutes because they don't do so against lesser opponents....and within that approach, the seeds for every December failing are planted.

 

[Juke99]

I would venture to say that a good 70% of teams that hold 31-10 leads (or various big leads) late in a game, give up a late score.

That was an example...geezlouise. My point is, you have to at least TRY to beat teams by the margin that you should beat them...and not accept a crappy performance just because it turned out to be a win.

And ya know, maybe there are teams that can throw the switch in big games....this isn't one of those teams...they NEED to practice playing a full 60 minutes.

 

[miamicowboy21]

Preach it Brother Juke. At 10-0 the giants were ready to surrender. Instead of burying them we allow a quick drive and lose the momentum. Zero killer instinct has plagued this team for a long time, that's why I wasn't suprised at the outcome yesterday. There comes a point in everygame when you have to seize it. We had 2 chances yesterday. 10-0, and 17-14 were chances to take the game, we failed miserably both times.

 

[odog422]

Good post.

I would add to that the people who say after yesterday, "Where are all those people who wanted to run the ball?", my response to them applies your same logic.

When during the season you show no committment to the run game, at the end when you need to run it, you can't. When you need to run it straight-up the gut, play smash mouth, drive sustaining, penalty-free football, you can't. The wildcat, the misdirection tosses, all that works against lesser opponents. But in December, no deal.

So yes, the seeds are planted. Players will do what you ask and train them to do. The HC, the coaching staff, their job is to never allow complacency, satisfaction. Miserable fail, here in Dallas.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

No I still am not going to complain about how a team wins.

You watch any team in this league and you aren't going to get a perfect performance.

And im not going to complain about who we beat either. Because the Raiders just beat the Superbowl champs yesterday and beat the Bengals the week before.

There is always things improve on but Cowboy fans go waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy overboard when it comes to nitpicking about our style points.



Yesterday is the kind of loss that bugs me the most. I got over the Packers loss easy because everything that could go wrong did go wrong. It just wasn't meant for us to win.

But both losses to the Giants upset me because we dominated them but found a way to lose. This is a typical thing for us and we did it last December.

It's not about a perfect performance...it's about a FOCUSED performance. We just GAVE the Falcons a TD at the end of the game because NO one decided to check the WR...because I guess we were TOO BUSY celebrating a win. We give up drives at the ends of halves because of a lack of FOCUS. The GIANTS have NO SPEED...much like the Cowboys...but somehow they come away with all of the explosive plays. Agaisnt Oakland we shoudl have easily scored 35 points...but we are way to satisfied with just winning. So here we were up 10-0 with 3 mins to go in the half...and we were so SURE that we had won the FIRST half...that we decided to mail in the last 3 mins...and that is all it took to be down 14-10. We can keep making excuses for this team, but they lack atteniton to detail and focus.

 

[chinch]

you're talking to a brick wall... many don't grasp these things and prefer exuses and cheap, hallow october victories over bad teams

It's not about a perfect performance...it's about a FOCUSED performance. We just GAVE the Falcons a TD at the end of the game because NO one decided to check the WR...because I guess we were TOO BUSY celebrating a win. We give up drives at the ends of halves because of a lack of FOCUS. The GIANTS have NO SPEED...much like the Cowboys...but somehow they come away with all of the explosive plays. Agaisnt Oakland we shoudl have easily scored 35 points...but we are way to satisfied with just winning. So here we were up 10-0 with 3 mins to go in the half...and we were so SURE that we had won the FIRST half...that we decided to mail in the last 3 mins...and that is all it took to be down 14-10. We can keep making excuses for this team, but the lack atteniton to detail and focus.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

That was an example...geezlouise. My point is, you have to at least TRY to beat teams by the margin that you should beat them...and not accept a crappy performance just because it turned out to be a win.

And ya know, maybe there are teams that can throw the switch in big games....this isn't one of those teams...they NEED to practice playing a full 60 minutes.

In todays parity-driven NFL, there are very few great teams and very few bad teams. It's hard as hell to beat teams by huge margins, no matter how bad they are.

San Diego is a hot team, but they gave up 2 touchdowns after taking a 27-7 lead.

Pittsburgh is Super Bowl Champs, with a great motivational head coach, and they've lost 4 straight including yesterdays loss at home to the.... Raidahs!

The Colts are 12-0, but have been relatively struggling against far inferior teams the past 6 or so weeks.

I could go on and on, but I don't think its neccessary.

Bottom line is, if you think ours is a team that is or should be capable of steamrolling other teams, then you're overrating our talent significantly. Don't worry, I do it all the time.

The reality is, we're just not that good. We're better than average. But like 90% of the teams in the league, we make a roller coaster, topsy-turvy, inconsistant journey through 16 weeks, where it will ultimately come down to whichever team gets the lucky bounces and or "gets hot" to make a serious run at it.

Honestly, going back through the free agency era, how many times has the "best team" won the Super Bowl?

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

In todays parity-driven NFL, there are very few great teams and very few bad teams. It's hard as hell to beat teams by huge margins, no matter how bad they are.

San Diego is a hot team, but they gave up 2 touchdowns after taking a 27-7 lead.

Pittsburgh is Super Bowl Champs, with a great motivational head coach, and they've lost 4 straight including yesterdays loss at home to the.... Raidahs!

The Colts are 12-0, but have been relatively struggling against far inferior teams the past 6 or so weeks.

I could go on and on, but I don't think its neccessary.

Bottom line is, if you think ours is a team that is or should be capable of steamrolling other teams, then you're overrating our talent significantly. Don't worry, I do it all the time.

The reality is, we're just not that good. We're better than average. But like 90% of the teams in the league, we make a roller coaster, topsy-turvy, inconsistant journey through 16 weeks, where it will ultimately come down to whichever team gets the lucky bounces and or "gets hot" to make a serious run at it.

Honestly, going back through the free agency era, how many times has the "best team" won the Super Bowl?

I get your point...but I did not see those games...I see our games. And when the Falcons score at the end of the game because NO ONE COVERS the guy...that has NOTHING to do with talent...it has to do with FOCUS.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I get your point...but I did not see those games...I see our games. And when the Falcons score at the end of the game because NO ONE COVERS the guy...that has NOTHING to do with talent...it has to do with FOCUS.

If a team has enough talent to get a 20 point lead, but then give up a late score with the same talent on the field.... wouldn't you agree that it was probably a lack of focus that led to the score?

 

[silver]

great post and I tottally agree with you. A loss like yersterday's would've had Jimmy Johnson bullying people on the flight back home. Wade was probably too busy blaming himself to notice anything is wrong.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

If a team has enough talent to get a 20 point lead, but then give up a late score with the same talent on the field.... wouldn't you agree that it was probably a lack of focus that led to the score?

here is my point in a nutshell...you have to be OBSESSED with DESTROYING the opponent. And maybe because of free agency that is a pipe dream. But I tell you what is NOT a pipe dream...ALL 31 teams wish nothing more than for the Cowboys and their fans to EAT DIRT. No one garnished more discussion. Our game is circled on everyones calendar. The same cannot be said for all 31 other teams. We are not going to get another teams B-game. We are OFTEN EVERYBODY'S super bowl...so we HAVE to play focused football for 60 mins. We gave up a score at the end of the half in the 2007 playoff game against the Giants. They drove 80 yards in like a minute. That is just ********. I think the Cowboys are 1 of 4 teams that does not have an opening drive for a TD this year. That in a nutshell is how AMPED teams are to play us.

 

[Bach]

The team is not mentally prepared to play an intense full 60 minutes because they don't do so against lesser opponents....and within that approach, the seeds for every December failing are planted.

I agree the problems with them are definitely mental. When it's time to up the ante and intensity down the stretch they just can't seem to do it. The fact they consistently have winning November's should prove it isn't just a talent issue.

It all apparently boils down to the mental and emotional aspects of the game. This team continues to fail in those areas.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

During the first three months of the season, when the Cowboys win a game in somewhat less than perfection fashion and we hear the coach say "It's tough to win in the NFL, we'll take it"...when some fans here get blasted for complaining about the way the team won...maybe you can take a look at yesterday and see things from a different perspective regarding those early season wins.

When a team has superior talent, like this one does, those games that are less important than the all important December games are dress rehearsals for practicing perfect execution...developing a killer instinct...keeping pressure on an opponent for a full 60 minutes. A team cannot practice that stuff during they week on their own practive field. It must be done against an opponent.

THAT is why December happens to this team. They don't practice playing a FULL focused game during the earlier part of the season.

As an example, if, early in the season, they're winning 31-10 and give up a sloppy late TD that makes the final score 31-17 some of us will complain and hear "What more do you want? Now a win isn't good enough for you?" What I want is a focused effort for a full 60 minutes so we don't have to see the breakdowns we do, time after time, in games like yesterday. If you don't practice playing a full 60 minutes during EVERY game, you'll never be able to do it down the stretch run...and that is why this team loses every big game by giving up big plays or not stepping up to make big plays 4-5 times a game. They get away with it against lesser opponents...but not against the elite or when the games are more important.

The fact that the head coach embraces the "A win is a win. It's tough to win in the NFL" philosophy, has this team doomed.

Ya can't just throw a switch in the big games if you haven't practiced your focus in all the games leading up to the more important games.

If you can beat Oakland by a score of 44 to 7 rather than 24-7, THAT is what you do. You don't win the game by a 17 point margin, when it should have been far greater and say "A win is a win"

Many people pick apart a loss like yesterday...it's the special teams...it was this play...it was that play...But if you notice, it's always a TEAM effort...yep, the special teams blew it yesterday...so did the defense when we needed them to step up...so did the offense, Barber's fumble...and as good as he was yesterday, Romo can't miss that pass to a wide open Roy Williams and Romo has to get the ball snapped before the final two minute warning.

The team is not mentally prepared to play an intense full 60 minutes because they don't do so against lesser opponents....and within that approach, the seeds for every December failing are planted.

 

[Juke99]

I'm not saying every game has to be a 44-0 blow out. I am saying that sloppy play that is tolerated because the team wins, sows the seeds for disaster in bigger games.

Focus must be practiced like anything else in life. The brain must be trained, just like the body. If you don't practice playing a focused 60 minutes in the lesser games, you're not going to be able to play a focused game when it counts because you're brain hasn't been trained.

No team plays a perfectly focused game for 60 minutes...but clearly some do a better job of that than others...because they PRACTICE it....those are the teams that don't have continual breakdowns in big games.