Are things as bad as they seem? Domino theory..

[TheSkaven]

I just finished watching the NFL Replay of Week 2, when the Cowboys defeated the Eagles to go 2-0 on the season and win the final MNF game at Texas Stadium.

Though the defense struggled in that game, there were plenty of reasons for optimism. Things were different then.

Tony Romo threw 3 TD passes, two of them to Terrell Owens. Romo would go on to be hurt later in the season, missing several games (during which Brad Johnson couldn't hold his jockstrap). Winning any one of those games while Romo was hurt would have put this team into the playoffs. I think we can also all agree that the Romo we saw post-injury was not the same one we saw prior.

Speaking of Owens, he caught two touchdown passes and as generally dominant in the game. You'd never have convinced me that Eagles team would go to the Championship game. There was no bickering, only kind words for Romo and his teammates in the post game press conference.

Marion Barber was also dominant, running for one touchdown and catching another. He'd later get injured, people would question his toughness, and he'd lose carries to Choice. Back then, it was still Marion the Barbarian carrying the load.

Felix Jones returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Boy, did we miss him. As we all know, he went on injured reserve a few weeks later and his explosiveness was sorely missed.

Jason Garrett looked like the boy genius we all thought he was, burning the Eagles' blitz left and right. And why not? The Cowboys were 2-0, and he was just continuing from where we left off after the 13-3 season before.

Back then, in September, every time I sat down to watch a Cowboys game, I had the confidence that they would win.

Yes, injuries are part of the game. But these things really fell like dominos. Felix's injury caused Barber to take on more carries. Barber's injury thrust third-string Choice to carry the load. Romo's injury above all probably cost us the playoff spot. The losing streak cost us our chemistry and started the in-fighting.

Can't we just set the dominos up and play again? This team can be dominant. We'll get everyone back healthy next year, plus Roy Williams. This team has all the ingredients.

Pains me to say it, but maybe Jerry has a point when he mentions "continuity"? Is the damage done this season so irreversible?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

You'd never have convinced me that Eagles team would go to the Championship game.

Did you forget 44-6?

And it was the Commanders that claimed to have “Exposed” the Redhead. Pre-Skin game, everything was hunky-dory. Also, how do you know Felix will be healthy next season? How do you know Romo won’t get some more bumps and bruises next season?...We do have the SAME O-line. I think going back and watching 1 game, early in the season is a poor way to judge this team for next season. You have to look at the entire season.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

No, things aren't nearly so dire as they seem. As long as we have a good QB in Romo, we're going to be a pretty good team.

You're right that all the injuries hurt us a lot. I'd say Barber and Felix are two of the better players on the entire team, and we lost both of them. We also were down to our 3rd SS at the end of the year.

Everyone will say "Injuries are no excuse!" but that's stupid. Those are players out there playing, not just anyone with a jersey on. Get enough good players hurt, especially at one position, and it's going to make a difference. That's just reality.

But your post is why so many of us say that if you clean up the locker room bickering that takes our focus off what's really important, we're going to be fine.

 

[5Countem5]

But your post is why so many of us say that if you clean up the locker room bickering that takes our focus off what's really important, we're going to be fine.

No one cares about your focus, I doubt it effects the team.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

No one cares about your focus, I doubt it effects the team.

I mean "our" as in the team, not me.

I also say "we" and "us". Are you one of those people offended by that?

 

[5Countem5]

I mean "our" as in the team, not me.

I also say "we" and "us". Are you one of those people offended by that?

Depends on how it's used , I took that to mean YOU.

Then your post is confusing because you say injuries played a huge part and then went out on the "cut TO" route again. Wouldn't cutting down injuries be more important?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Groan. I didn't say anything about TO.

But way to try to hijack a good thread.

 

[Doomsay]

I just finished watching the NFL Replay of Week 2, when the Cowboys defeated the Eagles to go 2-0 on the season and win the final MNF game at Texas Stadium.

Though the defense struggled in that game, there were plenty of reasons for optimism. Things were different then.

Tony Romo threw 3 TD passes, two of them to Terrell Owens. Romo would go on to be hurt later in the season, missing several games (during which Brad Johnson couldn't hold his jockstrap). Winning any one of those games while Romo was hurt would have put this team into the playoffs. I think we can also all agree that the Romo we saw post-injury was not the same one we saw prior.

Speaking of Owens, he caught two touchdown passes and as generally dominant in the game. You'd never have convinced me that Eagles team would go to the Championship game. There was no bickering, only kind words for Romo and his teammates in the post game press conference.

Marion Barber was also dominant, running for one touchdown and catching another. He'd later get injured, people would question his toughness, and he'd lose carries to Choice. Back then, it was still Marion the Barbarian carrying the load.

Felix Jones returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Boy, did we miss him. As we all know, he went on injured reserve a few weeks later and his explosiveness was sorely missed.

Jason Garrett looked like the boy genius we all thought he was, burning the Eagles' blitz left and right. And why not? The Cowboys were 2-0, and he was just continuing from where we left off after the 13-3 season before.

Back then, in September, every time I sat down to watch a Cowboys game, I had the confidence that they would win.

Yes, injuries are part of the game. But these things really fell like dominos. Felix's injury caused Barber to take on more carries. Barber's injury thrust third-string Choice to carry the load. Romo's injury above all probably cost us the playoff spot. The losing streak cost us our chemistry and started the in-fighting.

Can't we just set the dominos up and play again? This team can be dominant. We'll get everyone back healthy next year, plus Roy Williams. This team has all the ingredients.

Pains me to say it, but maybe Jerry has a point when he mentions "continuity"? Is the damage done this season so irreversible?

We had fewer injuries than the average team in the NFL and were tied for first in terms of continuity of starters. We should expect the same level of injuries in 2009. We should have a real back-up QB for instance.

If you are doing a realistic assessment of the team, why not use both Eagles games in your analysis? Doesn't look so promising anymore does it?

Damage is not irreversible, but there certainly should be some elements of change in the air, given the catastrophic failure of this team last season. But I suppose that we really won't have any changes due to an emphasis on consistency, save an all-to-late sacking of a special teams coach who should have been fired in August.

I guess we did try to bring in a real coach and place him into an unreal position to maintain that "continuity" but that didn't seem to work out very well either.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Did you forget 44-6?

And it was the Commanders that claimed to have “Exposed” the Redhead. Pre-Skin game, everything was hunky-dory. Also, how do you know Felix will be healthy next season? How do you know Romo won’t get some more bumps and bruises next season?...We do have the SAME O-line. I think going back and watching 1 game, early in the season is a poor way to judge this team for next season. You have to look at the entire season.

The Reskins claimed to expose TO. Have Springs jam him and keep Landry over the top.

I remember 44-6. The Cards remember 40-28 against the Eagles, the Ravens remember 47-14 against the Pats, the Pats remember 33-10 against the Steelers, and the Panthers remember 27-3 against the Bucs. Blowouts happen to good teams. Who cares.

 

[Rampage]

Tony Romo threw 3 TD passes, two of them to Terrell Owens. Romo would go on to be hurt later in the season, missing several games (during which Brad Johnson couldn't hold his jockstrap). Winning any one of those games while Romo was hurt would have put this team into the playoffs. I think we can also all agree that the Romo we saw post-injury was not the same one we saw prior.

we did win one of those games. we beat the bucs.

 

[TheSkaven]

We had fewer injuries than the average team in the NFL and were tied for first in terms of continuity of starters. We should expect the same level of injuries in 2009. We should have a real back-up QB for instance.

If you are doing a realistic assessment of the team, why not use both Eagles games in your analysis? Doesn't look so promising anymore does it?

This team was a shell of itself by the end of the season. Even if they make the playoffs, there really wasn't much hope.

I chose the second game of the season for a reason. The team had just come off a 13-3 season, first round bye and a disappointing exit from the playoffs. They lept into 2008 with high expectations, and started off 2-0 with all guns blazing.

Then, the injuries started to happen. Then the chemistry started to breakdown. The rest is history.

I maintain that the nucleus of this team is solid. I'd take our opening day roster in 2008 back + Roy Williams #11 in a heartbeat.

I'm absolutely not happy with the coaching this season, or the bickering, or some of the other nonsense that went on. But we can tweak this thing and get back on track. If we start making wholesale changes, this team could shift back into rebuilding mode. I don't think anyone wants to go back to 1999-2002 again.

 

[Doomsay]

This team was a shell of itself by the end of the season. Even if they make the playoffs, there really wasn't much hope.

I chose the second game of the season for a reason. The team had just come off a 13-3 season, first round bye and a disappointing exit from the playoffs. They lept into 2008 with high expectations, and started off 2-0 with all guns blazing.

Then, the injuries started to happen. Then the chemistry started to breakdown. The rest is history.

I maintain that the nucleus of this team is solid. I'd take our opening day roster in 2008 back + Roy Williams #11 in a heartbeat.

I'm absolutely not happy with the coaching this season, or the bickering, or some of the other nonsense that went on. But we can tweak this thing and get back on track. If we start making wholesale changes, this team could shift back into rebuilding mode. I don't think anyone wants to go back to 1999-2002 again.

Why did you consider this team to have been a shell of itself by the end of the season?

 

[Doomsay]

I remember 44-6. The Cards remember 40-28 against the Eagles, the Ravens remember 47-14 against the Pats, the Pats remember 33-10 against the Steelers, and the Panthers remember 27-3 against the Bucs. Blowouts happen to good teams. Who cares.

Well, someone should care. Those good teams had just under a 75% wining record in December-February, nearly three times our 1-3 percentage. Good teams win during the months that count, not fold like the uncaring group of domino-playing individuals that Jerry and Wade have assembled over the last two seasons.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

No one cares about your focus, I doubt it effects the team.

I agree yet somehow I keep getting told on here that thinking we will win is somehow disrespecting an opponent and not taking one game at a time.

 

[TheDude]

Why did you consider this team to have been a shell of itself by the end of the season?

Injuries do happen but the replacememts should be capable and/or prepared. If not, they shouldn't be in the league.

Keeping players that cannot just "hold fort" shows a coaching evaluation problem.

All it would have taken is 1 win and we were in the playoffs and the last Philly game would have been meaningless.

Kosier did not play after the GB game until Wash #2.

• Commanders - 2 pt loss, Barber(8) and Felix(0) run 8 times for 26 yards. The Commanders employed the "GB scheme". The difference is that they stopped the run and we didn't find the other receiver (Austin v GB).
• AZ - 2 ST TDs from Az in a OT loss. The Oline really had a bad day. 45 rushing yds, 3 sacks, Romo 3 fumbles. Lose Felix, McBriar and Romo
• Rams - B Johnson 3 Ints, 3 sacks, Witten 6 catches -44yds, Owens 2 catches 31yds. Jackson, 600yds. Jesus
• NYG - Johnson. I think this is a loss without Romo 10/10 times
• Pitt - 13-3 7 minutes left. Romo bad pick 6 for Pitt win. Holland lost midway through game in comes Proctor
• Balt - (I really think this is Romos worst game of the year). Dall leading 7-6 with :30 before the half. Romo chucks a "punt" to Ed Reed. Balt gets a FG to lead 9-7 before half. Romo misses Austin for a sure TD>Punt>Balt scores on next drive after fumble recovery somehow missed by Hamlin>Fake FG>One-armed Mason kscores TD. Balt up by 9.
• Philly - After the Balt loss and Philly playing a "win and in" at home, I think Dall had little change at 100%. Not an excuse, but the Philly game was meaningless if you win wither Pitt or Balt. Could have been a "bye" week

So from the 7 losses, 5 games had key turning points/issues and were VERY winnable. The irony is that only the StL game was a blowout of those 5, but Dall>StL 99/100 times

I see it as 2 principle issues

Coaching: B Johnson and Proctor were large reasons for the Ram loss and Proctor assisted in Wash #1 along with 8 rushes to RBs for entire game. garrett did get exposed via looking for big plays rather than game planning. Its hard to say Proctor is 1 loss in a vacuum, but I think he was soooo bad that he threw off the line completely - not like R Donaldson goes down and Dereck Kennard steps in, like Kosier goes down and McLovin steps in.

Romo Ints: Love Romo, but after everything that happened in the year either the Pitt or Balt game gets you in the playoffs. Then who knows. Those turnovers killed those games. His TD/Int ratios are similar 2007 v 2008, but those two games changed the game more than any in 2007 except Buffalo.

That said, the Def played better after Wade took over. That should have been noticed after the first few weeks, everyone saw deficiencies after Philly #1. The Rams game was abominable The ST under Reed were not good - Coaching.

Hidsight, the team/coaches bought into alot of the hype and didn't work as hard as it should - evidenced by replacement players not being ready

The ending Int vs Pitt and the before half int vs Balt would have likely led to a victory if one didn't happen

this isn't saying they would have beat minn, but the Philly game would have been a rest game and We could have conceivably be playing the Cards in the NFC championship.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Injuries do happen but the replacememts should be capable and/or prepared. If not, they shouldn't be in the league.

Keeping players that cannot just "hold fort" shows a coaching evaluation problem.

All it would have taken is 1 win and we were in the playoffs and the last Philly game would have been meaningless.

Kosier did not play after the GB game until Wash #2.

• Commanders - 2 pt loss, Barber(8) and Felix(0) run 8 times for 26 yards. The Commanders employed the "GB scheme". The difference is that they stopped the run and we didn't find the other receiver (Austin v GB).
• AZ - 2 ST TDs from Az in a OT loss. The Oline really had a bad day. 45 rushing yds, 3 sacks, Romo 3 fumbles. Lose Felix, McBriar and Romo
• Rams - B Johnson 3 Ints, 3 sacks, Witten 6 catches -44yds, Owens 2 catches 31yds. Jackson, 600yds. Jesus
• NYG - Johnson. I think this is a loss without Romo 10/10 times
• Pitt - 13-3 7 minutes left. Romo bad pick 6 for Pitt win. Holland lost midway through game in comes Proctor
• Balt - (I really think this is Romos worst game of the year). Dall leading 7-6 with :30 before the half. Romo chucks a "punt" to Ed Reed. Balt gets a FG to lead 9-7 before half. Romo misses Austin for a sure TD>Punt>Balt scores on next drive after fumble recovery somehow missed by Hamlin>Fake FG>One-armed Mason kscores TD. Balt up by 9.
• Philly - After the Balt loss and Philly playing a "win and in" at home, I think Dall had little change at 100%. Not an excuse, but the Philly game was meaningless if you win wither Pitt or Balt. Could have been a "bye" week

So from the 7 losses, 5 games had key turning points/issues and were VERY winnable. The irony is that only the StL game was a blowout of those 5, but Dall>StL 99/100 times

I see it as 2 principle issues

Coaching: B Johnson and Proctor were large reasons for the Ram loss and Proctor assisted in Wash #1 along with 8 rushes to RBs for entire game. garrett did get exposed via looking for big plays rather than game planning. Its hard to say Proctor is 1 loss in a vacuum, but I think he was soooo bad that he threw off the line completely - not like R Donaldson goes down and Dereck Kennard steps in, like Kosier goes down and McLovin steps in.

Romo Ints: Love Romo, but after everything that happened in the year either the Pitt or Balt game gets you in the playoffs. Then who knows. Those turnovers killed those games. His TD/Int ratios are similar 2007 v 2008, but those two games changed the game more than any in 2007 except Buffalo.

That said, the Def played better after Wade took over. That should have been noticed after the first few weeks, everyone saw deficiencies after Philly #1. The Rams game was abominable The ST under Reed were not good - Coaching.

Hidsight, the team/coaches bought into alot of the hype and didn't work as hard as it should - evidenced by replacement players not being ready

The ending Int vs Pitt and the before half int vs Balt would have likely led to a victory if one didn't happen

this isn't saying they would have beat minn, but the Philly game would have been a rest game and We could have conceivably be playing the Cards in the NFC championship.

Great post! I agree that injuries had a lot to do with it, namely Romo's which affeted him even after he returned.

I also saw this team as being deep at all positions except two areas - QB and OL - and ironically, that's where injuries hurt us most with Brad Johnson and Cory Proctor having to play. But we also trippled our bad luck and also lost our pro-bowl calliber punter; I mean, when it rained, it poured as far as injuries went.

Yes, coaching was also a problem, but you missed a third critical point, and that it the team's inability to handle distractions in a professional manor. When players go under the radar to whine to the media, that's unprofessional; when players use their interview time to antagonize and call out the media, that's unprofessional.

Basically when the chips were low, the locker room took on the media as an opponent rahter than whichever opposing football team was coming up on the schedule. In esence, they stopped playing football and entered December fighting for their own personal agendas. That is just mind-boggling for a team coming into the season needing to prove they can win in December. Talk about a lack of focus, and that implicates both the players and coaches.

Bottom line, our roster is NOT mentally tough; in fact, many are meatheads - dead from the neck up.

 

[TheDude]

Great post! I agree that injuries had a lot to do with it, namely Romo's which affeted him even after he returned.

I also saw this team as being deep at all positions except two areas - QB and OL - and ironically, that's where injuries hurt us most with Brad Johnson and Cory Proctor having to play. But we also trippled our bad luck and also lost our pro-bowl calliber punter; I mean, when it rained, it poured as far as injuries went.

Yes, coaching was also a problem, but you missed a third critical point, and that it the team's inability to handle distractions in a professional manor. When players go under the radar to whine to the media, that's unprofessional; when players use their interview time to antagonize and call out the media, that's unprofessional.

Basically when the chips were low, the locker room took on the media as an opponent rahter than whichever opposing football team was coming up on the schedule. In esence, they stopped playing football and entered December fighting for their own personal agendas. That is just mind-boggling for a team coming into the season needing to prove they can win in December. Talk about a lack of focus, and that implicates both the players and coaches.

Bottom line, our roster is NOT mentally tough; in fact, many are meatheads - dead from the neck up.

While I won't disagree with that part, I really don't think the "media distractions" are near as big a deal as people make it out to be. Example, the absolute biggest circus week was after Pitt loss and prior to NYG#2, which resulted in a win. The 2 weeks before the Pitt game, everyone in the media and lockerroom were back on the bandwagon after demolishing Sea and SF and Romo was back healthy (and Holland was playing). The problem with football reporting is that you have 7 days until the next game and dissecting the play of Proctor, the route of WR, the missed fumble recovery. The fluke punt muffed in the first half of the Pitt game. Most people want to hear soundbites and drama as opposed to analysis as most people are football spectators and don't understand the complexities of every position, but they do understand, "TO is hurting someones feelings" like Paris Hilton calling out "Lindsay Lohan". It grows legs with fans, because somehow (99% of us) perceive that we take the losses harder than the players and anything that isn't about "we love each other and only want to win" is up for good v evil debates.


The Balt game is the game that bugs me more than any game. Choice is running well, the Defense played pretty well to start, Romo's 2 Ints led to 3 points that would have made the score 14-13 Dall after Owens scores w/ 3 min left in 4th quarter. The Def doesn't hal to sell out to get a 3 and out and MaGahee doesn't break it.

Hamlin didn't help, the Fake FG didn't help, Henry getting abused by one armed Mason didn't help, but going into the HT down 2 was big. Of all the teams you don't chuck it deep againsst if Balt w/ Ed Reed.

A Rookie "out managed" Romo. Flacco never had to be put in a position to "win it" with a drive.

That said, I will agree that way too many people on the team are concerned about getting their voice heard (B James, RW, Crayton, Carpenter, TO, Moles, Jerry etc). It's dallas so the media comes with it, I understand it. I just don't see how WR have a meeting w/ Garrett turns into the 24/7 media circus that Steve Smith breaking a teammates face, and actually probably more coverage than buress shooting himself.

 

[Doomsay]

Injuries do happen but the replacememts should be capable and/or prepared. If not, they shouldn't be in the league.

Keeping players that cannot just "hold fort" shows a coaching evaluation problem.

All it would have taken is 1 win and we were in the playoffs and the last Philly game would have been meaningless.

Kosier did not play after the GB game until Wash #2.

• Commanders - 2 pt loss, Barber(8) and Felix(0) run 8 times for 26 yards. The Commanders employed the "GB scheme". The difference is that they stopped the run and we didn't find the other receiver (Austin v GB).
• AZ - 2 ST TDs from Az in a OT loss. The Oline really had a bad day. 45 rushing yds, 3 sacks, Romo 3 fumbles. Lose Felix, McBriar and Romo
• Rams - B Johnson 3 Ints, 3 sacks, Witten 6 catches -44yds, Owens 2 catches 31yds. Jackson, 600yds. Jesus
• NYG - Johnson. I think this is a loss without Romo 10/10 times
• Pitt - 13-3 7 minutes left. Romo bad pick 6 for Pitt win. Holland lost midway through game in comes Proctor
• Balt - (I really think this is Romos worst game of the year). Dall leading 7-6 with :30 before the half. Romo chucks a "punt" to Ed Reed. Balt gets a FG to lead 9-7 before half. Romo misses Austin for a sure TD>Punt>Balt scores on next drive after fumble recovery somehow missed by Hamlin>Fake FG>One-armed Mason kscores TD. Balt up by 9.
• Philly - After the Balt loss and Philly playing a "win and in" at home, I think Dall had little change at 100%. Not an excuse, but the Philly game was meaningless if you win wither Pitt or Balt. Could have been a "bye" week

So from the 7 losses, 5 games had key turning points/issues and were VERY winnable. The irony is that only the StL game was a blowout of those 5, but Dall>StL 99/100 times

I see it as 2 principle issues

Coaching: B Johnson and Proctor were large reasons for the Ram loss and Proctor assisted in Wash #1 along with 8 rushes to RBs for entire game. garrett did get exposed via looking for big plays rather than game planning. Its hard to say Proctor is 1 loss in a vacuum, but I think he was soooo bad that he threw off the line completely - not like R Donaldson goes down and Dereck Kennard steps in, like Kosier goes down and McLovin steps in.

Romo Ints: Love Romo, but after everything that happened in the year either the Pitt or Balt game gets you in the playoffs. Then who knows. Those turnovers killed those games. His TD/Int ratios are similar 2007 v 2008, but those two games changed the game more than any in 2007 except Buffalo.

That said, the Def played better after Wade took over. That should have been noticed after the first few weeks, everyone saw deficiencies after Philly #1. The Rams game was abominable The ST under Reed were not good - Coaching.

Hidsight, the team/coaches bought into alot of the hype and didn't work as hard as it should - evidenced by replacement players not being ready

The ending Int vs Pitt and the before half int vs Balt would have likely led to a victory if one didn't happen

this isn't saying they would have beat minn, but the Philly game would have been a rest game and We could have conceivably be playing the Cards in the NFC championship.

You are what your record is. Again, we had a below average # of starter injuries, so that shouldn't be an excuse. Teams that can't compensate for the loss of a single guard or don't have a back-up QB that can actually throw the ball more than 10 yards in the air are not well coached/managed - as you pointed out. We only get better and win those close games in the 4th quarter if our coaching staff adapts and learns. But at least we have continuity - we have essentially been playing 500 ball since Thanksgiving last year.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

we have essentially been playing 500 ball since Thanksgiving last year.

Shamefully true.