Biggest Concern for me

[Hawkeye19]

My biggest concern right now is not talent. It’s not who walks away in free agency, or who we need to sign. It’s not the salary cap. It’s not even Jerry and his clown show. It’s not Dak, McCarthy, or undisciplined play.

ALL of those are concerns— BUT they are merely symptoms of the root of the problem. My biggest concern regarding this franchise is simple:

Pride and arrogance.

Every leader of this franchise is defensive, blame-shifting, deflecting criticism, stubborn, proud, and defiantly claiming a “successful” season— despite reality staring them in the face. Again.

No one can learn the necessary lessons until they are willing to accept the truth. This franchise does NOT operate in the truth. They operate in good intentions, well meaning hope, and blind optimism.

Right now— the blind are leading the blind. And we will continue to stumble and fall into the same pit until leaders wake up, admit their mistakes and errors, take responsibility, and accept accountability.

That will never happen as long as the very top leaders refuse to walk in the truth themselves.

Find joy, hope, pleasure, and success elsewhere— because it won’t be found in Dallas until massive change happens. Rant over.

 

[CATCH17]

Until the Dak deal is up and we have moved on I’m not sure any of this matters.

A lot of teams are going to be better than us for awhile. Those who paid actual elite QBs have an advantage and those with young QBs on rookie deals will have an advantage.

Stephen Jones is already telling you how difficult it’s going to be to put quality on the field after paying his “core guys”.

Things may not change around here for several years. So just more of the same.


The Jones’s look like they have a status quo off-season in mind as well. No changes. Line up and do it again.

 

[davey999]

Just playing for the revered Cowboys seems to be enough for a lot of these guys.

 

[AKATheRake]

Look the true colors came out first game in the playoffs like many thought would.

We have talent on this team but it isn’t as daunting talent at this time in the year when the competition gets most fierce.

You need highly competitive and passionate players this time of year to go along with top talent/pedigree, cohesion and coaching.

This team clearly isn’t ready and it’s on the players mostly. Not mostly the coaching. Then you get Kellen Moore the sweetheart. You saw it early in the play calling. Right into the 4th quarter.

He’s not experienced or cerebral enough to mind a $40 million player leading your team. Not in the playoffs. I don’t care what you think he’s got X’s and O’s wise, he’s not the mentality guy. Believe me, he’s learned from McCarthy, not the other way around and Moore is what he is. Kingsbury is what he is and he’s a HC and you see it in that game against the Rams.

60 to 70 percent of the starters on this team are Garrett draft picks/players. 21 of the 53 man roster are UFA’s. About 6 of that are guys we got on 1 year deals this season so 15 are Garrett guys out of that 21.

Garrett’s guys never got past the divisional round in the playoffs. I don’t care what coach you bring in here, nobody is going to an NFCCG with his guys and an OC that used to be 1 of his guys coaching his guys. Nobody.

4 of Garretts guys are earning just about $100 million against our cap next season If DLaw and Amari are still here. That’s Jerry’s doing. What’s McCarthy going to do? After a 6-10 season go find a rookie QB? Yeah Jerry, not going to find someone better and now you have no leverage so I guess you got no choice but to keep me with Dak for $40 million and we better hope Zeke can get back to 80 percent of himself on that contract. Yeah Ok Jerry, I know you gave up that 1st the other year for Amari and Dak has sucked without him on the field. So yeah guess you got to sign him but at least do it where we have some leverage to cut him or trade him without eating too much dead cap.

So there it is. Competing, not rebuilding after 10 years of Garrett and Jerry hand tying a new experienced coach with 4 or 5 of those contracts/players. Furthermore, the 1st draft he enters the Covid years riddled with injuries and country club players. Second year you see a 2nd draft with rookies and low level FAs filling in the defense and showing a turn around. Now you get the 3rd year and watch the difference in those players brought in and the competitiveness. But watch the 4 $100 million club guys if all 4 are still here.

That’s the difference. Churn them all out and give McCarthy some time and fully his coaches. Yes, Nolan was a disaster, he got it right out. We need Moore out of there too and we need to churn out the majority of those heavy contracts and underperforming players or get them going. we know those 4. We need to churn out these Garret guys on this UFA list. I see us do that and win a playoff game next season and I still give McCarthy another year. Because then Dlaw is surely gone and probably Zeke, Amari replaced with a developed WR. Only Dak and Jerry left over after that. But McCarthy having his guys and his way.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

My biggest concern right now is not talent. It’s not who walks away in free agency, or who we need to sign. It’s not the salary cap. It’s not even Jerry and his clown show. It’s not Dak, McCarthy, or undisciplined play.

ALL of those are concerns— BUT they are merely symptoms of the root of the problem. My biggest concern regarding this franchise is simple:

Pride and arrogance.

Every leader of this franchise is defensive, blame-shifting, deflecting criticism, stubborn, proud, and defiantly claiming a “successful” season— despite reality staring them in the face. Again.

No one can learn the necessary lessons until they are willing to accept the truth. This franchise does NOT operate in the truth. They operate in good intentions, well meaning hope, and blind optimism.

Right now— the blind are leading the blind. And we will continue to stumble and fall into the same pit until leaders wake up, admit their mistakes and errors, take responsibility, and accept accountability.

That will never happen as long as the very top leaders refuse to walk in the truth themselves.

Find joy, hope, pleasure, and success elsewhere— because it won’t be found in Dallas until massive change happens. Rant over.

pretty spot on....I want them to come out and say, it hurts. it hurts really bad, we fell apart and didn't get the job done and we have to figure out how to fix it else we won't be able to get to the next level....and that's what we are going to do, figure it out and fix it.

 

[805BoysInBlue]

Stephen already said they won't be players in free agency and will focus on signing our own people. So pretty much expect more of the same.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Until the Dak deal is up and we have moved on I’m not sure any of this matters.

A lot of teams are going to be better than us for awhile. Those who paid actual elite QBs have an advantage and those with young QBs on rookie deals will have an advantage.

Stephen Jones is already telling you how difficult it’s going to be to put quality on the field after paying his “core guys”.

Things may not change around here for several years. So just more of the same.


The Jones’s look like they have a status quo off-season in mind as well. No changes. Line up and do it again.

Yep.

And that’s the pride/arrogance at the root of the franchise for sure. The inability to admit a mistake, change course, and make the next right decision.

Instead of acknowledging Dak and this core group of players aren’t championship caliber, and doing the next right thing (trimming salaries as soon as fiscally possible, hiring a new HC, signing a new OC etc…) — they will continue to blindly believe a few minor tweaks, and a few more “bounces” that go their way will get them into a title game of the SB.

In essence— they perpetually kick the can down the road and delay the hard decisions required to operate a championship caliber franchise.

I would prefer some hard choices now, and working to prepare a roster for a realistic run in 3 years— as opposed to continue to prop up a bunch of core players who have NEVER demonstrated the ability to consistently compete with quality NFL teams.

 

[CasualObserver]

Stephen already said they won't be players in free agency and will focus on signing our own people. So pretty much expect more of the same.

I heard that comment...did not hear the entire interview. I am certainly not plugged in and can best be described as a casual observer. But this is the sense I get;

McCarthy is a “walk around” head coach who allows his coordinators to “do their job”. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it works better if your OC and DC are seasoned/experienced coaches. However, it would also be the responsibility of this type of coach to make them better coaches in the same way an executive works to make his direct reports better at their job

Kellen is not the “offensive Wonder Boy” everyone thought he was after last season or after the first half of this season. The league adjusted to the Cowboys attack and Kellen had no counter. Watching (both on TV and at the playoff game), it was obvious they could not run up the middle. Yet the number of runs attacking the edges seemed to be minimal. If McCarthy is not going to be of more assistance to Kellen, one needs to go.

The offensive line needs a major overhaul. They no longer seem to be able to open holes and have trouble with even a 4-man rush.

Dak is a good QB but is not an elite QB…even though he is paid like one. He seemed to have trouble seeing the field during the second half of the season and holds the ball too long. His accuracy has dropped off and, if he isn’t injured, almost seemed scared to run.

The defense is much better than anyone thought, but desperately needs a run stopper. I just wonder if that will continue without Quinn.

As a whole, you want your team to be better than the sum of their parts. The Cowboys are just the opposite. Their talent is better than they are playing. Also, while the regular season record was 12-5 the team is not as close to being the Super Bowl contender they are made out to be. They feasted on a weak division and were average against everyone else.

Am I reading things wrong? Please…those of you plugged in…feel free to correct the above.

 

[shabazz]

My concern is that we get another cupcake schedule early in the season and the overhype cycle starts again without having made any meaningful changes……

 

[jazzcat22]

In short.....

This team eats its own hype cheese. Poops it out, and eats it again.

Recycling it over and over, and therefore no new cheese to help.

 

[Hawkeye19]

I heard that comment...did not hear the entire interview. I am certainly not plugged in and can best be described as a casual observer. But this is the sense I get;

McCarthy is a “walk around” head coach who allows his coordinators to “do their job”. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it works better if your OC and DC are seasoned/experienced coaches. However, it would also be the responsibility of this type of coach to make them better coaches in the same way an executive works to make his direct reports better at their job

Kellen is not the “offensive Wonder Boy” everyone thought he was after last season or after the first half of this season. The league adjusted to the Cowboys attack and Kellen had no counter. Watching (both on TV and at the playoff game), it was obvious they could not run up the middle. Yet the number of runs attacking the edges seemed to be minimal. If McCarthy is not going to be of more assistance to Kellen, one needs to go.

The offensive line needs a major overhaul. They no longer seem to be able to open holes and have trouble with even a 4-man rush.

Dak is a good QB but is not an elite QB…even though he is paid like one. He seemed to have trouble seeing the field during the second half of the season and holds the ball too long. His accuracy has dropped off and, if he isn’t injured, almost seemed scared to run.

The defense is much better than anyone thought, but desperately needs a run stopper. I just wonder if that will continue without Quinn.

As a whole, you want your team to be better than the sum of their parts. The Cowboys are just the opposite. Their talent is better than they are playing. Also, while the regular season record was 12-5 the team is not as close to being the Super Bowl contender they are made out to be. They feasted on a weak division and were average against everyone else.

Am I reading things wrong? Please…those of you plugged in…feel free to correct the above.

Good post. Agree with this analysis.

The “talent” is technically there on the roster. But the failure is in how that talent is being utilized (or not utilized).

Kellen definitely failed to counter how defenses decided to play us, and Dak grew more and more hesitant, inaccurate, and panicky when he played any team not in the NFCE.

 

[Hawkeye19]

My concern is that we get another cupcake schedule early in the season and the overhype cycle starts again without having made any meaningful changes……

The pattern has been that when we play a first place schedule we scuffle to a mediocre record.

I think Dallas loses talent, some coaches, and STILL believes they are a good team based on this year’s record and NFCE crown.

I think we get hammered next year because no one is willing to deal with hard truth. Thankfully— McCarthy won’t last another underwhelming season— but we will just waste another year treading water, then another one bringing in a new HC and staff, and then possibly multiple years trying to acquire a franchise QB after 2 more years of Dak not getting it done,

That would put Dak at going into his 9th season and I seriously doubt he will be given a new contract.

The Prescott signing might very well be the WORST signing in the history of this franchise, but due to arrogance and pride— Jerry and Stephen will ride and die with him.

Gonna be a long 3 year winter. Pass the whiskey

 

[kskboys]

Stephen already said they won't be players in free agency and will focus on signing our own people. So pretty much expect more of the same.

We couldn't be if we wanted. Way too many nut crunching contracts.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Just playing for the revered Cowboys seems to be enough for a lot of these guys.

I think it’s worse than that. I think they actually believe what they say. I think they actually truly believe everything is fine on the Good Ship Lollipop.

Dak thinks he’s elite. The Defense thinks they’re awesome. The OL thinks their one of the best in the league. The coaches think they’re the best in the business— after all McCarthy just told us he “knows how to win a championship.”

They are one and all deluded. They trot out the tried and true “We got to get better” mantra whenever they get criticized— with no proof or evidence that they actually are improving.

How many slow, flat, sloppy starts for the offense? How many times are we NOT going to be able to effectively run the ball?

This team is a joke.

 

[dckid]

My biggest concern right now is not talent. It’s not who walks away in free agency, or who we need to sign. It’s not the salary cap. It’s not even Jerry and his clown show. It’s not Dak, McCarthy, or undisciplined play.

ALL of those are concerns— BUT they are merely symptoms of the root of the problem. My biggest concern regarding this franchise is simple:

Pride and arrogance.

Every leader of this franchise is defensive, blame-shifting, deflecting criticism, stubborn, proud, and defiantly claiming a “successful” season— despite reality staring them in the face. Again.

No one can learn the necessary lessons until they are willing to accept the truth. This franchise does NOT operate in the truth. They operate in good intentions, well meaning hope, and blind optimism.

Right now— the blind are leading the blind. And we will continue to stumble and fall into the same pit until leaders wake up, admit their mistakes and errors, take responsibility, and accept accountability.

That will never happen as long as the very top leaders refuse to walk in the truth themselves.

Find joy, hope, pleasure, and success elsewhere— because it won’t be found in Dallas until massive change happens. Rant over.

With all do respect, the problem is Jerry and the culture. We have had the same problem since the owners meetings in 1994. Jerry, Jerry , Jerry.
He got the 95 SB with Jimmy's team, and ever since then we have been stuck in football purgatory. He does not care. This is not about championships, its about the hoopla and cash flow.
As long as we dont go 3-13 he is happy. 7-9 wins is what he tells the coaches. If Mahomes type player falls in our lap, he will run with it but otherwise don't rock the boat.
Jerry does not care about winning, plain and simple. His ego is soo massive he is impervious to anything around him. Do you remember his yacht? There is nothing normal about his life.

 

[Jake]

We couldn't be if we wanted. Way too many nut crunching contracts.

"We like our guys" isn't just a slogan, it's an operations model for this team.

Seems to be really paying off for them.

 

[Hawkeye19]

With all do respect, the problem is Jerry and the culture. We have had the same problem since the owners meetings in 1994. Jerry, Jerry , Jerry.
He got the 95 SB with Jimmy's team, and ever since then we have been stuck in football purgatory. He does not care. This is not about championships, its about the hoopla and cash flow.
As long as we dont go 3-13 he is happy. 7-9 wins is what he tells the coaches. If Mahomes type player falls in our lap, he will run with it but otherwise don't rock the boat.
Jerry does not care about winning, plain and simple. His ego is soo massive he is impervious to anything around him. Do you remember his yacht? There is nothing normal about his life.

Jerry’s fatal flaw is pride and arrogance. Organizations take on the character and nature of their leaders.

So yes— JJ is at the head of pride and arrogance parade— leading the rest of the organization down the road like the pied piper

 

[shabazz]

The pattern has been that when we play a first place schedule we scuffle to a mediocre record.

I think Dallas loses talent, some coaches, and STILL believes they are a good team based on this year’s record and NFCE crown.

I think we get hammered next year because no one is willing to deal with hard truth. Thankfully— McCarthy won’t last another underwhelming season— but we will just waste another year treading water, then another one bringing in a new HC and staff, and then possibly multiple years trying to acquire a franchise QB after 2 more years of Dak not getting it done,

That would put Dak at going into his 9th season and I seriously doubt he will be given a new contract.

The Prescott signing might very well be the WORST signing in the history of this franchise, but due to arrogance and pride— Jerry and Stephen will ride and die with him.

Gonna be a long 3 year winter. Pass the whiskey

the only hope that I’m holding is that Quinn stays, draft defense heavy, and see if a 2nd year defense under Quinn can drive this team….of course losing some Players on defense to free agency is going to hamper this as well…..you’re right , pass the whiskey

 

[Gaede]

So true. Rather than being honest and self critical, and admit Dak wasn't playing well even when it was plainly obvious, the coach, the players, etc all pretended everything was fine. Rather than fix critical mistakes, they assumed things would improve on their own. Of course they didn't, and caused us to underperform and embarras ourselves once again.

 

[kskboys]

"We like our guys" isn't just a slogan, it's an operations model for this team.

Seems to be really paying off for them.

And the fans who claim that we can sign anyone we want no matter what we pay people are fixing to be proven wrong yet again!!!