A Touch of Reality: Blind Homers and Rose Colored Glasses need not enter

[Chocolate Lab]

Epic Joe Realist meltdown.

 

[Rampage]

Speaking of this, did anyone else see Jerry with a playsheet in his booth on Sunday? Or was I just seeing things?

I wouldn't be surprised if he has a direct link to the radio feed between Romo and Garrett.

I saw it too. Don't know for sure if it was but it looked like it. the Dave Campo days are back

Attitude reflects leadership, sir.

I would love to see BP, Haley, and Sparano coach this group of players.

tell them to block for Rev better!

 

[baj1dallas]

Keith Brooking doesn't have any intestinal fortitude? Jay Ratliff? Mike Jenkins? Those guys played pretty hard. Romo didn't give up either and gave them a chance to win at the last minute.

All this mumbo jumbo tough man talk about not wanting to win is a bunch of bs imo. This team lost because of a couple really untimely, stupid penalties, a bunch of bad throws and questionable reads from Romo, and crappy tackling by Ken Hamlin.

 

[craig71]

I don't think Phillips is a top quality head coach, and it's a shame. I do think he's a good man who knows a lot of football. But there are people, for whatever reason, after whom ill luck or fortune or whatever seems to follow. How many people lose on something called the Music City Miracle? Stuff just happens. Can the Cowboys turn the thing around, to coin a Jimmy Johnson phrase? Maybe. But Phillips probably won't be the inspiration.

I don't have much issue with Garrett's play-calling. He was somewhat hampered in the Denver game by Barber's injury, which seemed pretty clearly to slow him in the second half. Combined with the loss of Felix, and the weapons were light. But that's the NFL. I don't think Garrett has proven to be a master play-caller, but I don't think game plans or play calls have been the problem. No, I wouldn't like to see Garrett succeed Phillips. I expect the team will need a new voice and a new direction if the season goes poorly.

Romo doesn't look right and really hasn't looked right all season. He's had some good moments, but he's lacked consistency in his accuracy. His decision-making maybe has improved, but he appears hesitant in his play. A good game might help to turn that around. I didn't think he was as good in the Tampa game as the statistics suggested. Good. Not as good as the numbers. He has the ability to get it turned around.

Felix is either unlucky, early in his career, or not quite physically able to carry a heavy NFL load. I have no idea which, but the Cowboys need his big plays, obviously. It's a much difference offense without him -- almost plodding. I don't think Owens would have been the answer. His results at Buffalo seem to confirm what appeared last year -- he's almost toast. It would be interesting to plot his last 25-30 games and see how many were above average in terms of productivity. Not many. Roy Williams has been good, especially as a blocker, and he's a dependable guy, an effort guy, but he can't stretch the field as Owens once could.

The offensive line has been, to me, a pleasant surprise. But it can be a bit inconsistent, which prevents it from being dominant. Also, rules have changed the last 10-15 years. Old-fashioned power football has some limitations.

The defensive line has been decent and has created some opportunities for the linebackers to make plays. I hope Ware has been dinged because he lacks his former explosion. He's still awfully good, gets pressure on the quarterback, but something has been missing. The LBs have been decent, as a group, though Carpenter is proving he isn't a 3-4 ILB or a 4-3 OLB. He is a guy who used to play pro football.

The corners have been okay, and Newman was snake-bitten more than inadequate in the big play against Denver. The safeties haven't shown up. Hamlin appears to have taken the money and yawned. Sensabaugh is okay, but he hasn't been a playmaker.

The special teams have been a pleasant surprise.

The schedule looks brutal, but things change in the NFL. One doesn't know what a team will look like in December -- not only the Cowboys, but other teams as well.

I have an eerie feeling the team will recover to be a pleasant surprise -- maybe 10-6, strong in the playoffs -- or it will fade badly and finish with seven or less victories. For some reason, this doesn't feel like an 8-8 season. It feels like a turnaround year, good or bad. If the thing gets to say, 4-4, the handwriting will be on the wall for Phillips, and the team might swoon.

At this point, I think 6-10 is marginally more likely than 10-6. It's a ridiculous window, I know, but it feels like that kind of year -- either a pleasant surprise as the team finally learns to toss aside adversity or a big disappointment as the thing falls apart around the head coach.

Which is reality? Who knows? Maybe 8-8 is reality. I'm just a fan.

I agree with alot of what you said.

Regardless of what this year brings,I hope at the end of this season we have some answers.Is this a talented team handcuffed by inept coaching or is this team handcuffed by overrated talent that can't be coached.

Craig

 

[ShiningStar]

well see what happens when the team wins and some posters are glad for the win, and others are screaming "dont enjoy this win we still suck"

A win is a win is a win and the record remains that way for eternity.

 

[burmafrd]

Anyone who says the talent is over rated is unable to separate talent from results. We have underperformed for years. We have above average to very good to great talent at the positions that matter. Now our depth is poor. Which usually shows up late in the season. BUT really we have been pretty healthy at the end of the season for a long time.Depth has not really been a serious problem with the exception of the proctologist last year. Outside of when we lost the Hotel we have not lost a key starter for the season in years. What it all comes down to is discipline, focus, coaching. If we had that this team would be undefeated right now.

 

[Doomsday101]

Keith Brooking doesn't have any intestinal fortitude? Jay Ratliff? Mike Jenkins? Those guys played pretty hard. Romo didn't give up either and gave them a chance to win at the last minute.

All this mumbo jumbo tough man talk about not wanting to win is a bunch of bs imo. This team lost because of a couple really untimely, stupid penalties, a bunch of bad throws and questionable reads from Romo, and crappy tackling by Ken Hamlin.

I agree. I think people toss around these ideals of they have no heart they have no fire. That is not what I'm seeing. This team is making mistakes and they need to correct these mistake but playing with no passion or heart BS these guys want to win I have no doubts about that at all.

 

[zrinkill]

well see what happens when the team wins and some posters are glad for the win, and others are screaming "dont enjoy this win we still suck".

Happens every time

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Keith Brooking doesn't have any intestinal fortitude? Jay Ratliff? Mike Jenkins? Those guys played pretty hard. Romo didn't give up either and gave them a chance to win at the last minute.

All this mumbo jumbo tough man talk about not wanting to win is a bunch of bs imo. This team lost because of a couple really untimely, stupid penalties, a bunch of bad throws and questionable reads from Romo, and crappy tackling by Ken Hamlin.

Formula for losing:

LOSING = [("untimely, stupid penalties" + "a bunch of bad throws" + "questionable reads from Romo" + "crappy tackling by Ken Hamlin") X "the Jason Garret multiplier")] raised ot hte "Wade Phillips" power.

 

[DocFord]

it is real simple, there are 3 owners in the NFL who meddle in personnel decisions and want to be GMs because they think they are real football men. they want their teams to win but they want to be the reason for the team winning.

JJ
Al Davis
Lil Danny

How are all these teams doing?

I rest my case.
Mediocrity will not end until JJ hires a real HC (at least) and GM (I can wish and of course will never happen)

I get what you are saying, and in general I agree, but in Al Davis' case I dont know that there is a person alive that is more of a "football guy" than him. He practically built the current NFL. He's just senile now because he's too damn old.

But he's the epitome of "football guy".

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Is this a talented team handcuffed by inept coaching or is this team handcuffed by overrated talent that can't be coached.

I think the answer is "yes".

 

[Air Force One]

I think the answer is "yes".

i hope it's not that bad or we're in a lot of trouble....i'm going yes on one and no on two.

 

[Bach]

well see what happens when the team wins and some posters are glad for the win, and others are screaming "dont enjoy this win we still suck"

A win is a win is a win and the record remains that way for eternity.

Can't speak for everyone but I was grateful for the win over Carolina. It's one we should've won, wasn't pretty at times, but I was glad to get it.

 

[ShiningStar]

Can't speak for everyone but I was grateful for the win over Carolina. It's one we should've won, wasn't pretty at times, but I was glad to get it.

I agree we should have won the Carolina game and it was great we won. But the Denver game was against the best defense in the league and i feel we had it but its okay as long as we fix the problems and find them out now instead of in December.

I am glad if we can fix our problems and that we make half time adjustments better than under Parcells. If Wade and Jason can see our problems now and fix them, im all for it. If they find them now and let them continue, than yes fire both. But we must all be aware of "becareful what you wish for".

Is Dallas going to win every game, no, is it unreasonable to ask them to win every game, yes. Find your problems and fix them. Get all your injuries out of the way now. This team has to do what other teams do, prepare for December, not September or October.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This team has to do what other teams do, prepare for December, not September or October.

That's all well and good but you don't do that by playing .500 ball in September and October.

This team needed to be 3-1 at this point. 3-2 headed into the bye week isn't all peaches & cream... Not with this team's schedule. Let's be real, it's not going 4-0 in December. It probably isn't going 3-1 either. You accept that 2 losses will happen in December and that gives this team 4 for the year. 9-7 won't cut it.

This team can lose 2 more games before Dec.1 and that's it... Any more and the party is over.

I don't see a 6-2 recorder over the next 8 games being realistic.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's all well and good but you don't do that by playing .500 ball in September and October.

This team needed to be 3-1 at this point. 3-2 headed into the bye week isn't all peaches & cream... Not with this team's schedule. Let's be real, it's not going 4-0 in December. It probably isn't going 3-1 either. You accept that 2 losses will happen in December and that gives this team 4 for the year. 9-7 won't cut it.

This team can lose 2 more games before Dec.1 and that's it... Any more and the party is over.

I don't see a 6-2 recorder over the next 8 games being realistic.

Playing as they are right now you would be correct.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Playing as they are right now you would be correct.

Boy Dooms, I dislike .500. When you're mediocre you're stuck on a tread-mill, not really sure if you're getting better or getting worse. You're afraid to make the tough decisions because you're holding out hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When you're 5-11, the decisions are much easier. It's easier to cut bait. But the decision making when you're mediocre is much more difficult.

 

[Doomsday101]

Boy Dooms, I dislike .500. When you're mediocre you're stuck on a tread-mill, not really sure if you're getting better or getting worse. You're afraid to make the tough decisions because you're holding out hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When you're 5-11, the decisions are much easier. It's easier to cut bait. But the decision making when you're mediocre is much more difficult.

I agree and would be even more concerned if the season was only 8 games but they still play 16. I have no crystal ball telling me what they will do, I do however think they have the personel to turn this around. We are 2-2 and I don't think we have played our best football. I'm just a fan I have no control over any of this but I'll stick by my team through thick or thin and will not give up on them.

 

[Kangaroo]

I agree and would be even more concerned if the season was only 8 games but they still play 16. I have no crystal ball telling me what they will do, I do however think they have the personnel to turn this around. We are 2-2 and I don't think we have played our best football. I'm just a fan I have no control over any of this but I'll stick by my team through thick or thin and will not give up on them.

The first four games generally set the tone of a season.

Teams that start 0-2 have a high % of not making the playoffs very few do. 0-3 the Odds get worse. So people that say it is a long season does not always hold water. We are not in that boat yet but 2-2 and the way this team is playing looks liek last year does not help

 

[Doomsday101]

The first four games generally set the tone of a season.

Teams that start 0-2 have a high % of not making the playoffs very few do. 0-3 the Odds get worse. So people that say it is a long season does not always hold water. We are not in that boat yet but 2-2 and the way this team is playing looks liek last year does not help

and yet the 9-7 team went to the SB last year the Giants in their SB run started the season off poorly. Eagles went 9-6-1 and was in the NFC Championship and looked nothing like the did early in the season.

I agree that 2-2 is not that great of a position to be in the fact Dallas had very good oppertunities to win each game despite not playing great football makes me feel they can turn this around.

There are way too many example in Pro Football of teams getting off to less that great starts and getting things turned around.

There are also some great example of teams who got off to quick starts and then feel apart, we were one of them. So while I would like to be in better position than we are right now it is still a ways to go before anything is a done deal