Anyway you slice it,the season has been a success

[mally]

There is a difference between moving in the right direction and having a successful season. Sorry not buyin that the season is a success, at least not right now, lets see how it plays out. But if they miss the playoffs you cannot possible call this season a success. Again I ask, Do you think Bill or Jerry would think that if we miss the playoffs ? I highly doubt it. I also doubt the players will think its a success if we miss the playoffs. But I guess some of you Fans might think that. Whatever.

Who thought that?

Just about everybody with an ounce of reason pegged us at about 9-7, maybe 10-6 if they were particularly optimistic. Anybody talking Superbowl with a team coming off a horrible 6-10 year, a bunch of rookies on defense and starting a rookie RT and UFA LT needs to share what they were smoking.

Yes, the 7-3 record got hopes up, but then the schedule got a whole lot harder. 3 games in 11 days ending with Denver, one of the best teams in the league, then KC and then Washington and Carolina on the road is no picnic, and we played well in 3 out of those 4 games.

Yes, not making the playoffs will be a disappointment, especially with a 10-6 record if we beat the Rams. But if you told me this would happen in August after the debacle of the season we had last year I would happily take it.

The teams moving in the right direction.

 

[wileedog]

This team is only on the right track on defense. The offense is a mess. Here are the players that will need to be replaced very very soon.

Keyshawn
Terry Glenn
Larry Allen
Marco Rivera
Torrin Tucker
Drew Bledsoe

So I dont know how on track this "TEAM" is. I know the defense is on track. But I dont think the offense is on track at all. In fact I think its in big trouble for the future. Im not holding on to the super bowl or bust. I just want the team to make the playoffs without needing help. And now they need help. I dont know how you can figure the season is a success. There is a difference between a success and making progress only on the defensive side of the ball.

That's what have this little thing they do in the offseason called "The Draft".

And we are set at RB and TE. Crayton will eventually take Keyshawns spot. The line needs a makeover, I agree with you there, but lets see what we do this offseason.

 

[Hiero]

another offseason to address offense and kicker and we should be ready for the playoff run.

 

[mally]

English please ?

That's what have this little thing they do in the offseason called "The Draft".
.

 

[mally]

Your also assuming that rookies will automatically contribute. Which doesnt always happen. It did this year but you cant count on that every year.

That's what have this little thing they do in the offseason called "The Draft".

And we are set at RB and TE. Crayton will eventually take Keyshawns spot. The line needs a makeover, I agree with you there, but lets see what we do this offseason.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

You either think 10 wins is a success or not. None of this "if we don't make the Playoffs it's not". Ok, you're disappointed, but to expect 11 wins is unrealistic, Drew only did that once in his career. To say "if Washington wins this weekend Dallas season was a failure" is missing the point. If all 16 games are meaningful the season was a good one.

What?

10 wins use to gurantee you a Playoff spot...things have changed...

This is Big Bill's third year with the Dallas Cowboys. I gurantee you EVERY fan on this board, when they were sitting back listening to the good news in early 2003 that Big Bill was our new coach expected us to be in the playoffs at least by our 3rd Year.

We had an nice season winning 9 Games, we havent won 10 games yet so dont cash your check before the money is in the bank.

A successful season is in the eyes of the beholder really. In 2003, that was a success, crappy team that squeaked into the playoffs...wait a minute, we actually got in on our own because the Saints game was meaningless...even though we got destroyed in the playoffs, succesful season.

This team is loaded to the DANG ON BRIM with talent on every side of the ball, heck even at Offensive Line and alot of teams had injuries on the offensive line.

-Jerry spent the most bonus money ever in the Offseason to bring in top notch FAs

-Big Bill is in his 3rd year, and he says all the time....you find out if a player is a player in his 3rd year...so IMO, I am going to use that same slogan on him.

-The 2005 Squad is head and shoulder better than the 2003 squad.

-We lost some games because of poor coaching...really nobody can come in here and say some of these losses didnt remind of you some of the losses under Mr. Campo.

Nope...uh uh...Big Bill isnt going to get a pass.

And once again Big Neil, everything is NOT about Drew Bledsoe...so let's stick to the original topic, is this a successful season or not.

 

[Sarge]

This team is only on the right track on defense. The offense is a mess. Here are the players that will need to be replaced very very soon.

Keyshawn
Terry Glenn
Larry Allen
Marco Rivera
Torrin Tucker
Drew Bledsoe

Agreed. I think BP really has this team headed in the right direction from a defensive standpoint.

Flip the coin, BP has done (other than JJ) a TERRIBLE job on the offensive side of the ball.

In fact, he's done such a bad job that I think it's going to take at LEAST 2 years to get the ball rolling to where we will truly be contenders. Maybe 3.

I wouldn't be surprised if in 2 years we have an entirely different OL from top to bottom (save, perhaps.....Flo)

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I wouldn't say the season was a success, but it was definitely a fun one to watch. I enjoyed this season more than any other the past 5 years. Every game was an adventure w/so many highs and lows that it leaves you wanting more...

Now some of you SB or bust folks need to stop. Let's be real here. The boys haven't sniffed the Superbowl in 10 years. While we have a great history of contending for them and even winning them, we haven't been serious contenders for a long time.

In the current NFL, we were contenders this year, albeit on tissue paper. But a few tweaks here or there next year and I think we'll be real ones. JMO, of course.

WG, you bring up two totally different things here:

1. The original topic, was this a successful season, I say no

2. Your point, which is is this team on the right check, I say yes, even Ray Charles could see that .

 

[wileedog]

There is a difference between moving in the right direction and having a successful season. Sorry not buyin that the season is a success, at least not right now, lets see how it plays out. But if they miss the playoffs you cannot possible call this season a success. Again I ask, Do you think Bill or Jerry would think that if we miss the playoffs ? I highly doubt it. I also doubt the players will think its a success if we miss the playoffs. But I guess some of you Fans might think that. Whatever.

To me its a success in terms of the relative expectations I had for it. In other words we accomplished what I thought was reasonable given the situation we were in this time last year.

We went 10-6 and made the playoffs in 2003 and I didn't feel half as good about that team as I feel about this one.

Will I be happier with the season if we make the playoffs? You bet.

Will I be ecstatic if we make a run at the SB? Delirious.

But looking at the big picture, I think we made good strides for now and the future this year.

Next year my expectations get racheted up a whole lot though.

 

[wileedog]

English please ?

Damn, time to fire my editor.

 

[WoodysGirl]

WG, you bring up two totally different things here:

1. The original topic, was this a successful season, I say no

2. Your point, which is is this team on the right check, I say yes, even Ray Charles could see that .

I know I did. I guess I just look at things a lil different. Woman's prerogative...

Wileedog said it best. Success is in the eye of the beholder. All depends on your expectations. I mentioned that I wouldn't say the season was a complete success, but my expectations weren't that high to begin with, even w/a 10-6 prediction. That's why I enjoyed it so much, wins and losses...

Looking at the big picture, I think most would agree that we're on the right track, even w/a few mis-steps.

 

[Nors]

Parcells is building a nucleuus of young talent

Witten
Jones
Crayton
Ware
James
Canty
Spears
Tnew
Roy

We need to fix Oline BIG

 

[Sabu1]

This team is only on the right track on defense. The offense is a mess. Here are the players that will need to be replaced very very soon.

Keyshawn
Terry Glenn
Larry Allen
Marco Rivera
Torrin Tucker
Drew Bledsoe

So I dont know how on track this "TEAM" is. I know the defense is on track. But I dont think the offense is on track at all. In fact I think its in big trouble for the future. Im not holding on to the super bowl or bust. I just want the team to make the playoffs without needing help. And now they need help. I dont know how you can figure the season is a success. There is a difference between a success and making progress only on the defensive side of the ball.

I don't know of another team in this league that is "young" on both sides of the ball really. The fact of the matter is that this team had so many holes and so little ammunition to address them when Parcells took over. There were no #1 picks in the draft for Dallas sitting there when he took over. You do the best you can with what you have. Everyone talks about the offense and how old it is. How about Julius Jones, Jason Witten, Al Johnson, Patrick Crayton, Marion Barber to name a few. They are young players too. This league is very fluid and not everything revolves around having a young QB. Building teams is a year to year process these days because of free agency. Teams just don't grow together anymore unfortunately.

 

[Fan2005]

Swept by the Skins... successful yr????

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I know I did. I guess I just look at things a lil different. Woman's prerogative...

Wileedog said it best. Success is in the eye of the beholder. All depends on your expectations. I mentioned that I wouldn't say the season was a complete success, but my expectations weren't that high to begin with, even w/a 10-6 prediction. That's why I enjoyed it so much, wins and losses...

Looking at the big picture, I think most would agree that we're on the right track, even w/a few mis-steps.

I know most had us as a border line playoff team.

Seriously, like Hostile said, a team gets evaluated and re-evaluated week after week.

You know you had already cashed in that "first round bye" when we were 7-3 check .

All the money we spent and the "win now" approach by Big Bill equates to we need to get into the playoffs.

Im not talking about you but the mood of this thread in general as far as I am quite surprised at how we are going to let Big Bill get off the hook with regards to possibly not getting this team into the playoffs.

Again, I like the guy and my comments are about the topic, which is was this a successful season or not. He has us on our way, but I expected not a Super Bowl but heck maybe a Wild Card Game...

- Mike G.

 

[wileedog]

Your also assuming that rookies will automatically contribute. Which doesnt always happen. It did this year but you cant count on that every year.

And you are assuming we won't sign more free agents. We are still in very good shape capwise.

Also, we don't need all the rookies to contribute immediately. Glenn and Key are on the wrong side of 30, but both have at least one more good year in them, particularly Glenn. Crayton should be ready to step into Key's role next year if necessary.

Bledsoe certainly has at least another year or two in him, more time for Henson to develop, who I think is being counted out prematurely.

The offensive line will return Flo, so Tucker is out. Larry probably only has more season in him, but Petermen is behind him. Rivera will be a year removed from the back injury. Johnson will have another season under his belt. Pettitti desperately needs an offseason in the conditioning program, so I think he can improve a lot. Gurode probably just played his best game ever this past Saturday, so who knows what happens with him. I also have some hopes for this Columbo kid.

I think there is enough there to hold the fort one more year until a couple guys we draft this year are ready, especially if JJ continues to run like he did against Carolina.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Swept by the Skins... successful yr????

Dang it, I forgot about that too...

Head should have rolled after the 1st Skins game. Not Big Bill's but some others.

See again. I gurantee you if you would have told all the fans on this board that the Eagles would not EVEN make the playoffs, they would have at least expected us to make the Playoffs.

Are the Giants and Commanders better then us? I dont think so and one has a ticket punched and the other still has it's destiny in his hand.

We gotta get into what Bill calls the "tournament"

- Mike G.

 

[Sabu1]

Dallas has swept the Commanders several times since '97, mosty during 5-11 seasons. Were those seasons successful? Hardly.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Parcells is building a nucleuus of young talent

Witten
Jones
Crayton
Ware
James
Canty
Spears
Tnew
Roy

We need to fix Oline BIG

Your getting off the subject.

The discussion is about is this a successful year....

 

[Cbz40]

I think the best thing about this season is that it was a good learning experience for the young players. The tough schedule, the experience of winning and losing tight ball games, losing and winning games in the final two min., and the amount of preparation, mentally and physically, it takes to be successful in this league.

Now if the players take these valuable lessons learned and build on them we will see a much better Cowboy team in 2006.

The coaching staff should by now know the talent level of the kids and I would hope they do some self evaluation as well. Quit holding back, exploit those talents to the fullest, and don't be afraid to challenge them.