Recap: Bill Belichick on Cowboys and NFL Week 1

[thunderpimp91]

Exactly........my only problem with Jerry and Stephen is passing on low-cost quality free agents. A good example is Kendrick.......he didn't cost us much but his impact is obvious and although we didn't sign Derrick Henry, he too could have helped. These types of players fill the gap between your core and bottom feeders during post-season play. JMO

Bingo. Its not major, but they also could have simply signed Jordan Phillips in free agency instead of flipping a draft pick for him in a trade. Bringing in a higher quality of RB would have been an inexpensive move. I even think adding another veteran WR just to compete in camp for a spot would have been nice to see. This front office does a nice job overall at picking players, but some of the small things they refuse to do is frustrating.

 

[gtb1943]

So Bill the guru had good things to say about the FO. So how many will take that and ... not agree .... incoming soon ...

Week 1, we will see what transpires in week 2. As teams make adjustments, if needed, and they start to gel. Week 1 and even up to the first 4 weeks can be deceiving.
But yet encouraging as well.

22.9 for the opening weekend is about average for the NFL over the last twenty years. Total points has been very consistent. Right around 22 points; so the fact that four years now the yards passing have gone down and yet points scored has remained pretty much the same indicates this is not a blip.

 

[gtb1943]

Bingo. Its not major, but they also could have simply signed Jordan Phillips in free agency instead of flipping a draft pick for him in a trade. Bringing in a higher quality of RB would have been an inexpensive move. I even think adding another veteran WR just to compete in camp for a spot would have been nice to see. This front office does a nice job overall at picking players, but some of the small things they refuse to do is frustrating.

Exactly. They could do better but are just not willing to spend the money. Being cheap there is preventing us from taking the next step; well one of the things anyway.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Sort of strange to see passing yards go down but points scored is not. So is rushing yards going up?
and once again with supposedly bad QB play how are points not going down.
Something does not track here.

Rushing is up but very slightly (121 vs 118 yards per team a year ago, both the same at 4.4 YPC). I havent looked super deep at the why but you're right it is an interesting question. My guess is that it likely is some combo of fewer turnovers and more FGs.

 

[Risen Star]

Sounds like a man who wants to coach here next year.

 

[Verdict]

Good watch if you like learning from the masters. There are a lot of coaching tips I didn’t cover. He’s is like his old boss Parcells and teaches a coaching clinic while talking to the press.

On Week 1:

• A lot of flags. Too many. Some of it is sloppy play, but also the officials purposefully being too tight to show teams how they will call it this year. Tough for players cause they’re not sure how game is going to be called and it removed some big plays.
• A lot of overreaction to both wins and losses. Many games to go and a lot of work to be done by all teams.
• A lot of injuries. Will be much roster shuffling and transitions as teams figure out how to deal with them for the season.
• Shocked how bad the QB production was in week one. QBs like Jayden Daniels, Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams only averaged 2-3 yards throw before YAC. Lack execution in passing game in almost half league. Fewest TD passes in week 1 in a while. 5 years ago it was double that amount passing TDs in week one. This means a lot of FG kicking. You can’t just run in the NFL, have to be able to pass if want to be competitive.

On Cowboys:

• (Asked how to GM Cowboys salaries for big three) Having good players is not a problem. 2 years from now those salaries will look pretty good and much lower than what others will be making. Prescott is making not much more than many other QBs who are not performing.
• Stephen and Jerry do a good job running the roster. The only way you can retain guys like Parsons, Lamb and Prescott and still afford others is you have to find bargains with talent. Cowboys have done a fantastic job at that with special teams. Aubrey and Turpin are elite players and best at their position, kicker and return man. And barely cost anything. I wouldn’t kick to Turpin. He almost broke other runs for TDs too, he’s too dangerous to get the ball. Bonus points from these guys that you didn’t count on. That‘s how you afford Parsons, Lamb and others.

I’m really torn on Parsons. He’s one of the most dynamic defenders in the entire league. But is he worth QB money? If he costs you $5m more per year than another LB yeah you pay him. Thats a bargain. But do you pay 20 percent of your cap to keep him?

If a team would give you two firsts for him, you could take one of those firsts and replace him with a really good first round linebacker cheaply. Then you have another first round pick to fill a hole at another position.

Let’s say you draft a linebacker in the first round, you can pretty much bet that he’s going to be a good one. You could also draft a stud corner and eventually move on from Diggs or Bland and keep your cap healthy and add more players there. Depth is such in under rated aspect of a team.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

some of the small things they refuse to do is frustrating.

Small things that don't cost a lot...........

 

[jazzcat22]

Sounds like a man who wants to coach here next year.

So he is manipulating Jerry and Son.

 

[conner01]

Exactly........my only problem with Jerry and Stephen is passing on low-cost quality free agents. A good example is Kendrick.......he didn't cost us much but his impact is obvious and although we didn't sign Derrick Henry, he too could have helped. These types of players fill the gap between your core and bottom feeders during post-season play. JMO

We usually get one or two cheap, quality FA every year. Henry could have been a game changer. Being able to run the ball when your opponent knows you are running is huge. Putting games away with the run game is huge. Kendrick is a good vet who knows the system and although he’s 32 he can still make an impact

 

[gtb1943]

Rushing is up but very slightly (121 vs 118 yards per team a year ago, both the same at 4.4 YPC). I havent looked super deep at the why but you're right it is an interesting question. My guess is that it likely is some combo of fewer turnovers and more FGs.

That might be it; more FGs. Still, the mantra that passing is everything does not fit with this.

 

[gtb1943]

We usually get one or two cheap, quality FA every year. Henry could have been a game changer. Being able to run the ball when your opponent knows you are running is huge. Putting games away with the run game is huge. Kendrick is a good vet who knows the system and although he’s 32 he can still make an impact

In the 90's EVERYONE knew Emmitt was coming but they still could not stop us. But that kind of talent is so hard to accumulate anymore. And all too often people forget just how GOOD our D was back then.

 

[DFWJC]

Why does it always have to be the Cowboys leading the way when officials want to show how they will make calls?

Hmm....

He was referring to league-wide week 1 trend, I think

 

[Roadtrip635]

Yeah but in later years how will they look, do we continue to restructure deals??

The ink is still wet on their contracts, how about they wait to make those decisions, at least longer than a week after they signed.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Yeah but in later years how will they look, do we continue to restructure deals??

Cap keeps going up.

 

[conner01]

In the 90's EVERYONE knew Emmitt was coming but they still could not stop us. But that kind of talent is so hard to accumulate anymore. And all too often people forget just how GOOD our D was back then.

No doubt. But Henry is fairly close to that. He ran the ball on a team with no Qb for years. But we have what we have so hopefully by the end of the season our young oline takes another step and we can run when teams know we are running. I’m really excited about the kids and overal our oline is really young

 

[Nav22]

So Bill Belichick also thinks the Anti-Dak Cult is a bunch of know-nothing fans with zero clue?

Just like Tom Brady does!

Ouch!

 

[Typhus]

Good watch if you like learning from the masters. There are a lot of coaching tips I didn’t cover. He’s is like his old boss Parcells and teaches a coaching clinic while talking to the press.

On Week 1:

• A lot of flags. Too many. Some of it is sloppy play, but also the officials purposefully being too tight to show teams how they will call it this year. Tough for players cause they’re not sure how game is going to be called and it removed some big plays.
• A lot of overreaction to both wins and losses. Many games to go and a lot of work to be done by all teams.
• A lot of injuries. Will be much roster shuffling and transitions as teams figure out how to deal with them for the season.
• Shocked how bad the QB production was in week one. QBs like Jayden Daniels, Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams only averaged 2-3 yards throw before YAC. Lack execution in passing game in almost half league. Fewest TD passes in week 1 in a while. 5 years ago it was double that amount passing TDs in week one. This means a lot of FG kicking. You can’t just run in the NFL, have to be able to pass if want to be competitive.

On Cowboys:

• (Asked how to GM Cowboys salaries for big three) Having good players is not a problem. 2 years from now those salaries will look pretty good and much lower than what others will be making. Prescott is making not much more than many other QBs who are not performing.
• Stephen and Jerry do a good job running the roster. The only way you can retain guys like Parsons, Lamb and Prescott and still afford others is you have to find bargains with talent. Cowboys have done a fantastic job at that with special teams. Aubrey and Turpin are elite players and best at their position, kicker and return man. And barely cost anything. I wouldn’t kick to Turpin. He almost broke other runs for TDs too, he’s too dangerous to get the ball. Bonus points from these guys that you didn’t count on. That‘s how you afford Parsons, Lamb and others.

Everything, and will reemphasize what you finished with and that is teams.

STs will have a very big impact this season when you have elites in this current game with modified return rules with guys like Aubrey and Turpin, let's just find a way to in cooperate Deuce into some roles and teams will improve even more, this will be a very feared ST unit 2024.

Players like Overshown showing why he belongs.
Carson fitting right in while Bland is out.

This is just skimming the surface, MP knowing Zimm has 50 different alignments will take MP to an elite level that all of us paying attention will remember for a while, I guarantee all of you that.

I focused primarily on D and just barely skimmed the surface, I will discuss all the positives on offense in another thread.

 

[bewp7]

cant wait to see what belichick the goat will do with this defense next year when he is head coach

 

[DCwarrior]

Sort of strange to see passing yards go down but points scored is not. So is rushing yards going up?
and once again with supposedly bad QB play how are points not going down.
Something does not track here.

The difference is 50 yd field goals. I think I heard that kickers were 21 of 24 on field goals over 50 yds week 1.

 

[DallasInDC]

Exactly........my only problem with Jerry and Stephen is passing on low-cost quality free agents. A good example is Kendrick.......he didn't cost us much but his impact is obvious and although we didn't sign Derrick Henry, he too could have helped. These types of players fill the gap between your core and bottom feeders during post-season play. JMO

I have to admit Will McClay does a good job funding those lower middle tier players. I was never a proponent of high priced FA...they were let go for a reason (especially the older ones). Every now and then you can find one that doesn't bust compared to the contract...but those are usually done through trades of prime players who are holding out/asking to be traded.

What does make me frustrated is JJs monolithic view that all problems stem from one position group, i.e.if our running game sucks, let's fixed the OL OR the RB...but never both)...same thing with defense...run defense sucks let's focus on interior DL and neglect the LBs or vice versa. I understand not everything can be fixed at once, but sometimes you can make incremental improvements in more than one spot...especially if you have the money/cap to do so.