Blame Game

[BARRYRAY]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

 

[firehawk350]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

Geez, don't you know that Julius Jones would be Barry Sanders if Parcells didn't tell him to keep his hands on the ball? And Roy Williams could beat the AFC offense single-handedly in WP's defense? And you could plug my mom into OLB and she'd be in the running for DMVP?

 

[InmanRoshi]

You're never going to hear them say "Well, we're just mediocre, and I don't really see us being a better team." Unless you win the Superbowl or were right on the cusp of winning one, every offseason there is a reason why this year is going to be different than the last. A new free agent was added. You brought in a new scheme. Or you're another year into your current scheme and more familiar with it. In this case, Bill Parcells is a good reason as any to lay all problems on. However, as someone else said, for players like Julius who are working on 3-4 years of excuses, they went out the door with Parcells.

I guess, in Julius case, Bill Parcells was secretly coaching him in Notre Dame too, since he had the exact same pattern or running for a 200 yard game and following it up with three games where he can't crack 50 yards.

 

[joseephuss]

Lots of guys deserve blame. There are some duds and Parcells picked some of those guys. He also hasn't developed a few of them. He has set the team in the right direction. That is a big and good step. The team was run into the ground by Jerry's hiring of Gailey and then Campo. Parcells got them turned around, but was not able to do more than that. I think even if he stuck around a couple of more years he still may not get more out of them. I don't like the Phillips hire, but Dallas did need a different approach to get to the next level that Parcells set them on.

Players deserve lots of blame. The good players did not consistently play up to their highest levels. There are a few players that could not meet the expectation levels placed on them by the fans and the coaches as well. Just was never going to happen with them on last years team due to their own youth and inexperience or just to a lack of talent. Next season can be different.

 

[SupermanXx]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

disagree. if you ask one of the best pass rushers in the league (Ware) to chase WR's downfield on 3rd down just because you want him to be a "complete" LB, and you ask your slow-as-hell strong safety (Roy) to cover half the field as if he was Deion Sanders when he's got another slow-as-hell linebacker (Bradie) chasing WR's downfield in front of him.... well... then yeah. oh yeah, all this while telling the lineman to "read and react" and to "hold their gap"....

if you don't put your players in a position to succeed, don't expect success.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

Don't you have to ask yourself, if JJ is not Jackson because of Talent or because JJ's head coach was a 3 yards in a cloud of dust coach. I liked parcells, I like his approach to the game. But I don't think he tried to used players to their strengths, but rather made them play his style.

While I think that we do have some talent issues at a few spots, over all, I think this team is a lot more talented than they have played. As much as I liked BP, he didn't get the best out of them, being it style or his scheme, I don't know. i hope Wade is better in that regard.

 

[Mavs Man]

I don't think WP comes in here and turns this into a juggernaut on both sides of the ball, but it's no secret that Bill Parcells plays a conservative style. Most of the flaws on this team last season stem from the weakness on the offensive line and the pass rush of the defensive line. Leonard Davis replacing Rivera is an upgrade, and hopefully more blitzes and 3-4 coaching by WP/BS along with an upgrade at FS will help Roy Williams and the secondary.

Julius Jones is what he is - but with an improved OLine he and MB3 will be more than serviceable. Bradie James' jury is still out - we could use some insurance at LB.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Don't you have to ask yourself, if JJ is not Jackson because of Talent or because JJ's head coach was a 3 yards in a cloud of dust coach

Most running backs like a 3 yards and a cloud of dust philosophy. It means they get a lot of touches.

I guess Bill Parcells and Julius were just a bad match. We had a 3 yards and a cloud of dust coach with a 1 yard up the offensive lineman's back runner.

 

[ZeroClub]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

Yeah, it does seem like many are now blaming the scheme and staff.

Actually though, we also heard a lot of that during last season's late season lethargy.

In truth, the team isn't far away from being very good.

 

[firehawk350]

disagree. if you ask one of the best pass rushers in the league (Ware) to chase WR's downfield on 3rd down just because you want him to be a "complete" LB, and you ask your slow-as-hell strong safety (Roy) to cover half the field as if he was Deion Sanders when he's got another slow-as-hell linebacker (Bradie) chasing WR's downfield in front of him.... well... then yeah. oh yeah, all this while telling the lineman to "read and react" and to "hold their gap"....

if you don't put your players in a position to succeed, don't expect success.

You also can't blitz Ware every single 3rd down. And what is Roy supposed to do on passing plays? Blitz??? You give him a zone because you sure as hell don't want him to man up on a receiver. Bradie is usually supposed to man the middle, if he lets his target get in front of him, that's a talent, not scheme issue.
The read and react system isn't a horrible one, you are freeing up your LBs to shoot the gaps.

 

[bbgun]

Blaming Bill is a comfortable alternative to conceding that some of these guys just .. can't .. play.

"It's all schemes! They weren't put in a position to succeed! You'll see!"

Wishful Thinking 101.

 

[firehawk350]

In truth, the team isn't far away from being very good.

there are very few who are. I mean, look at the Saints in 05, we thought they'd never be any good... Just goes to show you what a couple of strategic pick-ups, a good (and frankly lucky) draft and a change of coaches, can do for you.

 

[firehawk350]

You know I don't have a problem with saying that BP did not win enough but suddenly it seems like the Cowboy braintrust is blaming it all on scheme and last years staff. Somebloy agree with me that we had some players who weren't so great, I mean the pass rush disappeared, Roy went for nachos on alot of deep balls, and Romo well BP didn't botch that call. I mean we weren't at close as people are acting like now, Phillips may change the scheme but some of these guys are still duds on defense, anybody else agree or disagee, I mean today JJ is blaming BP, excuse me but he has not been Stephen Jackson..

The beauty of it is when players do well (like Romo) in a scheme, it isn't mentioned that the change of coaches may adversely affect him.

 

[superpunk]

There's plenty to go around.

It's not all one or all the other. Parcells made some really boneheaded decisions while here. He tried to build his defense with his players (sizewise) and then wanted Zimmer to coach them to basically paly Zimmer's defense out of a 3-4 base. He wouldn't switch out our base when teams went 3 wide, so teams could take our best pass rusher out of the play alot of times. He passed on Steven Jackson.

None of that excuses the players not performing. There's a prevailing theory that Wade is going to usher in some renaissance for underachievers like Spears and James, and that suddenly we're gonna be this otherworldly defense just because we're gonna blitz more.

We'll be more exciting, regardless on defense. But until some players step it up, we'll probably just be exciting and terrible still.

There was a great quote Parcells had on a poster or someting when he first came. Something about losers sitting in corners and *****ing about scheme and the coaches and their teammates. That's the attitude he tried to instill in the team. Some didn't, and still don't get that.

 

[sago1]

Re Julius Jones, all I know is that once he was healthy in the last half of his rookie season he shined. He didn't play well one game and then great the next game. He played well every game he started in last half. Since then he rarely has had 2 good games back to back. What happened to that player? Many of his all this board wondered if he was so afraid of upsetting Parcells and fumbling the football that he lost his instinctiveness. When a great RB like Tony Dorsett is interviewed and mentions Julius was carrying the ball with 2 hands instead of 1 hand like he should (except when tackled) then I'm sure willing to listen.

For what it's worth, I also listened when Troy Aikman is discussing QBs, etc, maybe because I accept the fact that both have shown they know what they talking about.

As for our defense, all I know is how poorly San Diego played before Phillips took over as DC and how they switched to his 34 and improved greatly each year and that last season they ended up 14-2 and it wasn't always because of Tomlinson's great play. Some of the players on the San Diego team when Phillips arrived had little/no history of sacks/pressuring the QB. All of a sudden a few of them out of no where started racking up sacks/pressuring the QB. Also I don't believe at all that Merriman is better then Ware. I just think he had a great coach who put him in the position which allowed him to do his best which helped the team greatly. Ware is now a complete OLB and a pro bowler; I think his sack numbers/pressure on the QB along with some other players on this team, will improve dramatically.

As for our offense, realize Garrett is untried in playcalling but does have Sparano to help out; also Wade Wilson will be a big help. Between Garrett & Wilson I think Romo will have a break out year. Both know what Romo's faces and apparently both have shown ability to improve QBs they responsible for--but you can't make a sow out of a bull. Finally, one comment stands out in evaluating Romo's play. Great the first 5 games but not to good the last which partly attributable to defenses changing schemes against him. Don't think he know how to take advantage of what they were doing. Will look forward to seeing if they can change 2 of Romo's problems: continued slow starts early in game and not protecting the ball enough/decision making. Should be real interesting year.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Most running backs like a 3 yards and a cloud of dust philosophy. It means they get a lot of touches.

I guess Bill Parcells and Julius were just a bad match. We had a 3 yards and a cloud of dust coach with a 1 yard up the offensive lineman's back runner.

i just think it is a mistake to discount the type of scheme and use of a player will have on the Stats of that player. JJ has been productive, as much as some of you people want to call for him to be replaced. I do not think that BP's approach is one that highlighted JJ abilities but rather concentrated on ball control and positive plays. In a much more conservative scheme in Dallas, JJ numbers are not that far away from Jackson's numbers.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Re Julius Jones, all I know is that once he was healthy in the last half of his rookie season he shined. He didn't play well one game and then great the next game. He played well every game he started in last half.

He certainly didn't play well in ALL the games. He played excellent in 3. He played mediocre to poorly in 4 others.

30 carries - 81 yards - 2.7 ypc against Baltimore
22 carries - 57 yards - 2.6 ypc against Washington
25 carries - 80 yards - 3.2 ypc again Philly.

I guess after you've grown accustomed to watching a semi-retired Eddie George run the ball for half a season that 25 carries for 80 yards suddenly looks like a great game, but its really not.

 

[CF74]

I blame the man in charge, General Tuna Custer

 

[firehawk350]

Re Julius Jones, all I know is that once he was healthy in the last half of his rookie season he shined. He didn't play well one game and then great the next game. He played well every game he started in last half. Since then he rarely has had 2 good games back to back. What happened to that player? Many of his all this board wondered if he was so afraid of upsetting Parcells and fumbling the football that he lost his instinctiveness. When a great RB like Tony Dorsett is interviewed and mentions Julius was carrying the ball with 2 hands instead of 1 hand like he should (except when tackled) then I'm sure willing to listen.

He posted 5 games under 100 yards and 3 games over 100. He wasn't AS inconsistent, but he was hardly considered the second coming of Barry Sanders. He had 3 games (none of which was over 200 yards) where he did well and it's two years of hot and cold and your STILL convinced he can be an elite back?

As for our defense, all I know is how poorly San Diego played before Phillips took over as DC and how they switched to his 34 and improved greatly each year and that last season they ended up 14-2 and it wasn't always because of Tomlinson's great play. Some of the players on the San Diego team when Phillips arrived had little/no history of sacks/pressuring the QB. All of a sudden a few of them out of no where started racking up sacks/pressuring the QB. Also I don't believe at all that Merriman is better then Ware. I just think he had a great coach who put him in the position which allowed him to do his best which helped the team greatly. Ware is now a complete OLB and a pro bowler; I think his sack numbers/pressure on the QB along with some other players on this team, will improve dramatically.

Yeah, no way does having the decade's best back help very much... LT was almost a guaranteed 3 TDs and when you score 21 points from one player alone, that goes further towards you being 14-2 then anything else.

As for our offense, realize Garrett is untried in playcalling but does have Sparano to help out; also Wade Wilson will be a big help. Between Garrett & Wilson I think Romo will have a break out year. Both know what Romo's faces and apparently both have shown ability to improve QBs they responsible for--but you can't make a sow out of a bull. Finally, one comment stands out in evaluating Romo's play. Great the first 5 games but not to good the last which partly attributable to defenses changing schemes against him. Don't think he know how to take advantage of what they were doing. Will look forward to seeing if they can change 2 of Romo's problems: continued slow starts early in game and not protecting the ball enough/decision making. Should be real interesting year.

Who has Garrett improved?

 

[joseephuss]

He certainly didn't play well in ALL the games. He played excellent in 3. He played mediocre to poorly in 4 others.

30 carries - 81 yards - 2.7 ypc against Baltimore
22 carries - 57 yards - 2.6 ypc against Washington
25 carries - 80 yards - 3.2 ypc again Philly.

I guess after you've grown accustomed to watching a semi-retired Eddie George run the ball for half a season that 25 carries for 80 yards suddenly looks like a great game, but its really not.

In the cold weather at Philly with Vinny at QB, yes 25 carries for 80 yards was a good game. George would have had 40 yards if he was the running back that game. There are good reasons to be critical of Julius Jones, but you picked a couple of poor examples because he played well against Baltimore and Philly in 2004.