Analysis of a Super Bowl Roster

[xwalker]

Review of the 1992 Cowboys Roster.

• Conclusion:
  • The starting lineup had some great talent, but overall it was not overwhelming physical talent.
  • They won with attitude, an overwhelming will to win, developed skill and preparation.
  • Coaching matters.

• Age: Haley & Novacek were the only star players with over 4 years in the league.

• Physical Talent:
  • In terms of pure physical ability, not many were at the very top tier of NFL players.
  • Emmitt didn't have freak physical ability like Barry Sanders.
    • However, Emmitt had the best developed skill of any RB.
  • Irvin was a 4.6 forty guy but is the best WR in Cowboys history.
    • His intensity, physicality and developed skillset were as good as any WR.
  • Erik Williams was very big and powerful but didn't have elite foot quickness.
    • He was never in the Tyron Smith category of freak athlete.
    • EW dominated with attitude and intimidation.
  • OL: The modern era years with Tyron, Martin & Frederick had more overall physical talent.
  • Haley was never in the Reggie White or DWare category of freak athlete.
    • He won with developed skill and intensity as much as with physical ability.
  • CB Larry Brown started 3 Super Bowls.
    • If 23 year old Brown was on the 2021 team he's probably 4th on the depth chart.
  • Uber Elite Physical Ability: Aikman & backups Darren Woodson & Leon Lett.
    • Aikman was as accurate as any QB ever.

• Competitive Attitude & Work Ethic:
  • With Jimmy as HC, players had no option other than to have a great work ethic.
    • Take care of business.
    • What you do on your own time is your own business.
      • Just don't get caught breaking the law.
  • Mike Irvin was once running late for the team flight.
    • They could see him running to the plane.
    • Jimmy told the Pilot to take off without him.
    • Irvin had to buy a ticket and get himself to the game.
  • Darren Woodson was wowed by the work ethic of the star players when he arrived as rookie.
  • The 'do anything it takes' to win attitude was prevalent.
    • Mike Irvin hated losing more than any player that I've seen.
    • Jimmy was his college coach.
    • Irvin was a huge part of instilling Jimmy's attitude into teammates.
  • Erik Williams & Tuinei set the tone with intimidating physical presence.
  • Haley would do any and everything to 'get into the head' of offensive players.
  • There were many other 'in your face' players on that roster.
    • James Washington, Casillas, Ken Norton and even Vinson Smith and Holt.
    • Those guys were always ready for a fight.
  • Stepnoski was not big, but always made the 'All Weight Room' list.
    • Too bad they don't publish that anymore.

• Depth:
  • Darren Woodson was a backup with only 2 starts that season.
  • Kevin Smith only started 6 games.
    • In the 1993/1994 seasons he was as good if not better than 2021 Diggs.
    • Diggs had more INTs (although Smith had 6 in 1993).
    • However, Smith had less Safety help and didn't get beat often.
    • An Achilles injury in 1995 reduced Smith to an average player.
  • WR Jimmy Smith (active 7 games that season).
    • Later a multi-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro NFL player.
  • Leon Lett
  • Jim Jeffcoat
  • Chad Hennings
  • Kevin Gogan
  • Kelvin Martin
  • Dixon Edwards
  • Ray Horton
  • Steve Beuerlein
  • Jimmie Jones
  • Godfrey Myles

• There were other backups that had at least 1 NFL season as a full time starter.
  • Frank Cornish
  • Alan Veingrad
  • Bill Bates

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

The game has changed a lot since 1992.....

 

[Ranched]

The game has changed a lot since 1992.....

 

[john van brocklin]

Review of the 1992 Cowboys Roster.

• Conclusion:
  • The starting lineup had some great talent, but overall it was not overwhelming physical talent.
  • They won with attitude, an overwhelming will to win, developed skill and preparation.
  • Coaching matters.

• Age: Haley & Novacek were the only star players with over 4 years in the league.

• Physical Talent:
  • In terms of pure physical ability, not many were at the very top tier of NFL players.
  • Emmitt didn't have freak physical ability like Barry Sanders.
    • However, Emmitt had the best developed skill of any RB.
  • Irvin was a 4.6 forty guy but is the best WR in Cowboys history.
    • His intensity, physicality and developed skillset were as good as any WR.
  • Erik Williams was very big and powerful but didn't have elite foot quickness.
    • He was never in the Tyron Smith category of freak athlete.
    • EW dominated with attitude and intimidation.
  • OL: The modern era years with Tyron, Martin & Frederick had more overall physical talent.
  • Haley was never in the Reggie White or DWare category of freak athlete.
    • He won with developed skill and intensity as much as with physical ability.
  • CB Larry Brown started 3 Super Bowls.
    • If 23 year old Brown was on the 2021 team he's probably 4th on the depth chart.
  • Uber Elite Physical Ability: Aikman & backups Darren Woodson & Leon Lett.
    • Aikman was as accurate as any QB ever.

• Competitive Attitude & Work Ethic:
  • With Jimmy as HC, players had no option other than to have a great work ethic.
    • Take care of business.
    • What you do on your own time is your own business.
      • Just don't get caught breaking the law.
  • Mike Irvin was once running late for the team flight.
    • They could see him running to the plane.
    • Jimmy told the Pilot to take off without him.
    • Irvin had to buy a ticket and get himself to the game.
  • Darren Woodson was wowed by the work ethic of the star players when he arrived as rookie.
  • The 'do anything it takes' to win attitude was prevalent.
    • Mike Irvin hated losing more than any player that I've seen.
    • Jimmy was his college coach.
    • Irvin was a huge part of instilling Jimmy's attitude into teammates.
  • Erik Williams & Tuinei set the tone with intimidating physical presence.
  • Haley would do any and everything to 'get into the head' of offensive players.
  • There were many other 'in your face' players on that roster.
    • James Washington, Casillas, Ken Norton and even Vinson Smith and Holt.
    • Those guys were always ready for a fight.
  • Stepnoski was not big, but always made the 'All Weight Room' list.
    • Too bad they don't publish that anymore.

• Depth:
  • Darren Woodson was a backup with only 2 starts that season.
  • Kevin Smith only started 6 games.
    • In the 1993/1994 seasons he was as good if not better than 2021 Diggs.
    • Diggs had more INTs (although Smith had 6 in 1993).
    • However, Smith had less Safety help and didn't get beat often.
    • An Achilles injury in 1995 reduced Smith to an average player.
  • WR Jimmy Smith (active 7 games that season).
    • Later a multi-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro NFL player.
  • Leon Lett
  • Jim Jeffcoat
  • Chad Hennings
  • Kevin Gogan
  • Kelvin Martin
  • Dixon Edwards
  • Ray Horton
  • Steve Beuerlein
  • Jimmie Jones
  • Godfrey Myles

• There were other backups that had at least 1 NFL season as a full time starter.
  • Frank Cornish
  • Alan Veingrad
  • Bill Bates

Really nice Synopsis of those early 90's SB teams.
I remember depth and the teams attitude that feed of Jimmy/Irvin attitude as what made those teams special.
Losing Jimmy and the addition of the Salary Cap really killed both.

 

[john van brocklin]

The game has changed a lot since 1992.....

Yep the Salary Cap just killed the quality depth of those early 90's SB teams.
Also, I think a lot of players have its just a job mentality of the Game now.

 

[Risen Star]

Lolololololololol

 

[Risen Star]

The game has changed a lot since 1992.....

It wasn't the talent. It was the attitude.

If they just would have maintained their attitudes after Jimmy left it wouldn't have fallen apart like it did.

 

[KJJ]

What I remember about the 92 roster was how great the depth was. This was before free agency arrived. That roster was loaded! Our backups could start for other teams. We had a defensive rotation they kept our players fresh and we didn’t lose anything when our backups were in. Leon Lett was one of our backups in 92. He and Jimmy Jones who was also a backup made a significant impact in the Super Bowl against Buffalo. The 92 Cowboys were a dream team.

 

[Risen Star]

What I remember about the 92 roster was how great the depth was. This was before free agency arrived. That roster was loaded! Our backups could start for other teams. We had a defensive rotation they kept our players fresh and we didn’t lose anything when our backups were in. Leon Lett was one of our backups in 92. He and Jimmy Jones who was also a backup made a significant impact in the Super Bowl against Buffalo.

It was all time great talent. This thread is merely a pathetic attempt to spin this current offseason into a positive. Where we lost talent but supposedly gained attitude. They're all rallying around that idea.

I never thought I'd see them stoop so low as this though. Quite possibly the most talented roster ever assembled.

 

[Jake]

The game today is a great QB and a coach who knows how to get the most out of him. That's not all you need, but you're only going so far if you don't have that in place.

Teams don't have the roster depth of '92, and the rules are so passing-oriented now.

 

[Majic]

What a team!
Big miss on Jimmy Smith

 

[KJJ]

It was all time great talent. This thread is merely a pathetic attempt to spin this current offseason into a positive. Where we lost talent but supposedly gained attitude. They're all rallying around that idea.

I never thought I'd see them stoop so low as this though. Quite possibly the most talented roster ever assembled.

I’ve seen more than one thread with fans spinning we’ve lost talent but gained a chip on our shoulder. I’ve never seen the Cowboys the past 2 decades follow up a disappointing season with an attitude that carried them deep into the playoffs the following year. Some fans will rally around anything that might provide some hope for this season.

 

[jterrell]

The 1992 Cowboys are a top 10 NFL team of ALL-TIME.
It was led by triplets on offense and a fast, deep defense.

They had plenty of top end physical freaks on the roster in reality just not necessarily in the most obvious ways.
Emmitt for instance is very much a physical marvel. He just wasn't the size/speed type freak but instead a workhorse with unheard of durability and consistency.
But Dallas has so many guys hitting their prime together and maturing into elite players.
Haley had a bad run for scouts and clocked in at 4.8 but in a private workout in SF he ran a 4.55; he was a freak athletically who just didn't have Emmitt's back and thus he suffered much of his later career.

Jimmy had brought Wanny/Butch Davis and the Miami 4-3 to Dallas.
They were the fastest front 7 in football.
And the DL was DEEEEPPPPP!!!
That was the start of rotating DL to give max effort every play.
Dallas finished ranked 1st in defense and then allowed only 16PPG in the playoffs
Kevin Smith was outstanding that year and pre-injury was on target to be an all-time great corner. --still a local guy byw.

This might be the deepest DL in NFL history. Those were all starter caliber guys.

• 75 Tony Casillas DT
• 94 Charles Haley DE
• 95 Chad Hennings DE
• 77 Jim Jeffcoat DE
• 97 Jimmie Jones DT
• 78 Leon Lett DT
• 67 Russell Maryland DT
• 92 Tony Tolbert DE

If you were to compare that to ANY team today the difference would be depth and lack of weaknesses.
That team just marched forward behind that OL and wore you down while the defense shut people down.

 

[Ranching]

Is that Putty

 

[jterrell]

I’ve seen more than one thread with fans spinning we’ve lost talent but gained a chip on our shoulder. I’ve never seen the Cowboys the past 2 decades follow up a disappointing season with an attitude that carried them deep into the playoffs the following year. Some fans will rally around anything that might provide some hope for this season.

The Cowboys have finished with 12 or more wins 3 times in the last 8 years.
They've won 4 division titles with double digit wins over that span for 50% of the time.
Most of the optimism I've seen has been for them to essentially repeat that.
Win the division, get to double digit wins.
If folks are expecting a deep playoff run I haven't seen it.
What I do see are Ricky Bobby takes that want Dallas ranked 20th because they clearly aren't top 4.

Dallas 100% has proven zero about playoff survivability or success.
But they have definitely proven they can get there and that is a better start than many teams.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

It was all time great talent. This thread is merely a pathetic attempt to spin this current offseason into a positive. Where we lost talent but supposedly gained attitude. They're all rallying around that idea.

I never thought I'd see them stoop so low as this though. Quite possibly the most talented roster ever assembled.

Or he could be saying this team has the talent but not the attitude. That's what I took away from the OP. They're missing those tone setting players and Big Mike is a softy.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys have finished with 12 or more wins 3 times in the last 8 years.
They've won 4 division titles with double digit wins over that span for 50% of the time.
Most of the optimism I've seen has been for them to essentially repeat that.
Win the division, get to double digit wins.
If folks are expecting a deep playoff run I haven't seen it.
What I do see are Ricky Bobby takes that want Dallas ranked 20th because they clearly aren't top 4.

Dallas 100% has proven zero about playoff survivability or success.
But they have definitely proven they can get there and that is a better start than many teams.

Most fans are tired of seeing the Cowboys have a good regular season only to come up short in the playoffs. No one is expecting a deep playoff run but they hope for it every season.

 

[john van brocklin]

What I remember about the 92 roster was how great the depth was. This was before free agency arrived. That roster was loaded! Our backups could start for other teams. We had a defensive rotation they kept our players fresh and we didn’t lose anything when our backups were in. Leon Lett was one of our backups in 92. He and Jimmy Jones who was also a backup made a significant impact in the Super Bowl against Buffalo. The 92 Cowboys were a dream team.

Very deep,
Salary cap was the death knell of that team.

 

[john van brocklin]

What a team!
Big miss on Jimmy Smith

FOR SURE !!!!!
His health issue was not handled well by this team, from what I have read.

 

[Cowboys4lifeGR]

Review of the 1992 Cowboys Roster.

• Conclusion:
  • The starting lineup had some great talent, but overall it was not overwhelming physical talent.
  • They won with attitude, an overwhelming will to win, developed skill and preparation.
  • Coaching matters.

• Age: Haley & Novacek were the only star players with over 4 years in the league.

• Physical Talent:
  • In terms of pure physical ability, not many were at the very top tier of NFL players.
  • Emmitt didn't have freak physical ability like Barry Sanders.
    • However, Emmitt had the best developed skill of any RB.
  • Irvin was a 4.6 forty guy but is the best WR in Cowboys history.
    • His intensity, physicality and developed skillset were as good as any WR.
  • Erik Williams was very big and powerful but didn't have elite foot quickness.
    • He was never in the Tyron Smith category of freak athlete.
    • EW dominated with attitude and intimidation.
  • OL: The modern era years with Tyron, Martin & Frederick had more overall physical talent.
  • Haley was never in the Reggie White or DWare category of freak athlete.
    • He won with developed skill and intensity as much as with physical ability.
  • CB Larry Brown started 3 Super Bowls.
    • If 23 year old Brown was on the 2021 team he's probably 4th on the depth chart.
  • Uber Elite Physical Ability: Aikman & backups Darren Woodson & Leon Lett.
    • Aikman was as accurate as any QB ever.

• Competitive Attitude & Work Ethic:
  • With Jimmy as HC, players had no option other than to have a great work ethic.
    • Take care of business.
    • What you do on your own time is your own business.
      • Just don't get caught breaking the law.
  • Mike Irvin was once running late for the team flight.
    • They could see him running to the plane.
    • Jimmy told the Pilot to take off without him.
    • Irvin had to buy a ticket and get himself to the game.
  • Darren Woodson was wowed by the work ethic of the star players when he arrived as rookie.
  • The 'do anything it takes' to win attitude was prevalent.
    • Mike Irvin hated losing more than any player that I've seen.
    • Jimmy was his college coach.
    • Irvin was a huge part of instilling Jimmy's attitude into teammates.
  • Erik Williams & Tuinei set the tone with intimidating physical presence.
  • Haley would do any and everything to 'get into the head' of offensive players.
  • There were many other 'in your face' players on that roster.
    • James Washington, Casillas, Ken Norton and even Vinson Smith and Holt.
    • Those guys were always ready for a fight.
  • Stepnoski was not big, but always made the 'All Weight Room' list.
    • Too bad they don't publish that anymore.

• Depth:
  • Darren Woodson was a backup with only 2 starts that season.
  • Kevin Smith only started 6 games.
    • In the 1993/1994 seasons he was as good if not better than 2021 Diggs.
    • Diggs had more INTs (although Smith had 6 in 1993).
    • However, Smith had less Safety help and didn't get beat often.
    • An Achilles injury in 1995 reduced Smith to an average player.
  • WR Jimmy Smith (active 7 games that season).
    • Later a multi-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro NFL player.
  • Leon Lett
  • Jim Jeffcoat
  • Chad Hennings
  • Kevin Gogan
  • Kelvin Martin
  • Dixon Edwards
  • Ray Horton
  • Steve Beuerlein
  • Jimmie Jones
  • Godfrey Myles

• There were other backups that had at least 1 NFL season as a full time starter.
  • Frank Cornish
  • Alan Veingrad
  • Bill Bates

Thank you for the breakdown and the memories. Cheers