Analysis of a Super Bowl Roster

[KJJ]

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

Most blame the departure of Jimmy and the addition of Barry Switzer as the demise of the team but it was free agency and the salary cap. Everyone started raiding our roster once free agency began. We immediately started losing quality depth. In the first couple of years we lost players like Ken Norton, Alvin Harper and Jimmie Jones just to name a few.

 

[john van brocklin]

Most blame the departure of Jimmy and the addition of Barry Switzer as the demise of the team but it was free agency and the salary cap. Everyone started raiding our roster once free agency began. We immediately started losing quality depth. In the first couple of years we lost players like Ken Norton, Alvin Harper and Jimmie Jones just to name a few.

I think both were large factors.

 

[KJJ]

I think both were large factors.

The loss of talent was the biggest factor. Jimmy couldn’t win in Dallas when he first arrived without the talent and he didn’t have a whole lot of success in Miami due to the salary cap issues the Dolphins had. He talked about all the cap issues in Miami and not being able to go out and get the players he needed. Many teams struggled to handle the salary cap when it first came in.

 

[Typhus]

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

Indeed, but I believe the sentiment from X meaning player evaluation and drafting profile.
These recent drafts are reflecting more than some want to admit just yet with those championship era teams that were coming together , but this might be 91 more than 92.
Thats ok as long as a directive is being followed now, better late than never.
If we had other coaches on Quinns level, this team with this talent could be contenders this season, but I dont see Moore waking up, hope Im wrong.

 

[kevm3]

Today's game is pretty much load up with as much talent as possible, have a great HC and go all in for a year or two and then go into rebuild mode. When Philly won, they had a stacked roster. Same with Tampa Bay. Same with the Rams. The exception was the Patriots, but they were like the Spurs with Duncan and Popovich. You need a combo of arguably the greatest qb and greatest hc standing side by side to try to win with the bargain budget friendly Patriot's or even Spurs formula. We don't have that and yet we are trying to cheap out and it's result in early playoff exist after playoff exist.

 

[john van brocklin]

The loss of talent was the biggest factor. Jimmy couldn’t win in Dallas when he first arrived without the talent and he didn’t have a whole lot of success in Miami due to the salary cap issues the Dolphins had. He talked about all the cap issues in Miami and not being able to go out and get the players he needed. Many teams struggled to handle the salary cap when it first came in.

Fair enough.
I still think we would have won 4 straight SB's if Jimmy would have stayed, but we will never know.

 

[KJJ]

Fair enough.
I still think we would have won 4 straight SB's if Jimmy would have stayed, but we will never know.

I hear a lot of fans say that but I don’t think Jimmy being here would’ve prevented those early turnovers against San Francisco in the NFC title game. That’s what cost us the game. That 94 team was just as good as the year before but the turnovers put us in a hole we couldn’t dig our way out of.

 

[john van brocklin]

I hear a lot of fans say that but I don’t think Jimmy being here would’ve prevented those early turnovers against San Francisco in the NFC title game. That’s what cost us the game. That 94 team was just as good as the year before but the turnovers put us in a hole we couldn’t dig our way out of.

Oh I think the turnovers were a lack of focus, that's partially on the coaching.
Also Barry getting that 15 yard personal foul flag on our final drive was a killer.

 

[john van brocklin]

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.

Just wish they would make more of an effort in free agency.
Is that an unreasonable expectation?
Is the attitude we are already good enough?
I frankly just don't understand this front office action plan for the off season.

 

[CCBoy]

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.

I just can't manage my own comparisons of today's statistical top levels, and team wins. The tops of the money positions make careers and personal gains above pure team pride and throwing every thing into a team pot and cook that down.

Give me this year's draft class and let's see where we travel towards. It'll give us a cash flow no where out of bounds. I hope it now shows a team that arrives at any and all scraps and is ready from the opening whistle, to dominate in a manly manner. I'm not watching to be entertained by the fastest or highest paid on the carpet.

 

[G2]

Did they even have face masks then?

 

[RS12]

Man for man there have been more individually talented offensive lines than the 1992 O Line. However no O Line that I remember imposed their will and controlled games like that one did. Couple that with a "win or die trying" RB like Emmitt Smith, I hardly remember them not moving the chains or getting in the end zone when they had too. That core of O Line and Emmitt were the heart and sole team, and IMO and the biggest reason that team won multiple SBs.

 

[CowboyRoy]

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.

Football is actually much more complicated then that. But your opinion is typical of most fans. They see a guy like Mahomes play well and think its just him. Mahomes scored zero TD's and 9 points total last time he tried to win a SB. He lost two lineman the week before and he was no longer the great Mahomes. Neither the great QB or the great coach could overcome.

Its more about what FO can surround that top 10 QB with the best team.

The coaching part I definitely agree with. Coaching matters big time in football.

 

[BourbonBalz]

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.

Those early to mid 90’s teams did not have a single first round draft pick on the Oline. In fact it had only 1 second round pick if I recall correctly. Yes, they formed one hell of a unit, but many were UDFAs or low round picks. How many defensive players from those teams are in the HOF? Haley and Sanders and Sanders was only here for 1 Super Bowl. Again, it was one hell of a defense but it didn’t really have any all timers other than Haley and Sanders. They were deep and fast and yes, they played with attitude as did the entire team. Our skill players (Aikman, Irvin, and Emmitt) were all timers for sure. But Irvin was the only special WR on those teams. Novachek was a really good TE, but not an all timer.

We did have a lot of talent, but I also believe attitude and coaching put those teams over the top. Those teams just went all out and refused to lose. There was also the fear element at play. They knew Johnson would not settle for less than maximum effort at all times. I think the team as a whole was better than the individual parts, especially on defense. Just my opinion.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

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

Bravo, matey, bravo.
Throughout the years youhave so disappointed me with your crazy logic but, boy howdy, you put together a worthy post tonight as I sip tea with biscuits.
Hale fellow you are.

If i deen to expand on your good post, the words coach and coaching are true words of greatness.
But we've had good coaches, believe it or not since Jimmie.
But none had the quick anger or impatience tha Jimmy had. Players feared Jimmy. The smart and talented ones such as Irvin, Emmitt, Troy and Novy respected him as well as feared him.
Jimmy did not pretend to be fair. He didn't equate a scrub as say, Emmitt, the same if discipline was at issue.
Your talent should be commensurate to a pro paycheck he would say, his eagle eyes sunk deep in his chubby, chucky-like face.
https://encrypted-tbn0.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSqdEvuE9ZOFGwNO7ZAoGPCACRVzBLyRWa1YA&usqp=CAU
Years later, players would fear but did not respect Tuna the only other smart coach we had.
Garrett?
His discipline was "We are working with him...love his work ethic...love his smile ...we back him 100%" blah. blah.
Jimmy would say "He better start producing... practice is not optional, thje effort better get there."
That, me lowlands lord, is the difference.
Players are players throiugh the ages.
Coaching and discipline are eternal game changers.

 

[gimmesix]

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.

That makes such a huge difference. We could rotate players in without a major drop-off in talent, so our defenders were able to stay fresh. And we could cover a lot of injuries, but obviously, there were some players that were irreplaceable. Thankfully, most of them stayed healthy or even played through injury.

I know replacing Jimmy with Barry contributed to the demise of those teams, but attrition was the biggest factor. Salary cap/free agency picked away at the depth, and we didn't draft well enough to replace it. Jerry tried spending big in free agency, but even then he didn't understand that you have to use and be successful in all aspects of talent acquisition.

 

[Flamma]

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.

Yeah, and we don't even get that many good regular seasons.

 

[basel90]

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

It all starts with a great coach who knows how to scheme and motivate , and a great QB who is also a coach on the field .
Don’t see these two on the current cowboys team . We have a coach who has been fired and trying to stay relevant while being the yes man to jeer ray , and I see a mediocre QB who is likeable but lacks a lot of the abilities needed to take the team to a super bowl ; poise , consistency and arm strength , and the ability to read defenses .

 

[Cowboyny]

What we need is our stars to show up in big games, think this is one of the reasons why Amari Cooper is no longer on the roster.

 

[xwalker]

It all starts with a great coach who knows how to scheme and motivate , and a great QB who is also a coach on the field .
Don’t see these two on the current cowboys team . We have a coach who has been fired and trying to stay relevant while being the yes man to jeer ray , and I see a mediocre QB who is likeable but lacks a lot of the abilities needed to take the team to a super bowl ; poise , consistency and arm strength , and the ability to read defenses .

They have it on defense.
- Dan Quinn knows how to coach and motivate players.
- Parsons is the QB of the defense and was already the leader as a rookie.

I think McCarthy is underrated by Cowboys fans.
- His Green Bay teams always appeared well coached.
- His best skill is enabling the assistant coaches.
- Part of the HC's job in Dallas is to deal with Jerry and with the media and let the coaching staff do their jobs.
- Garrett didn't know how to work with his coaching staff. He felt threatened by good assistants.
- Garrett's best assistant was OL coach Bill Callahan. Garrett hated him and Callahan departed for the same job in Washington.