BTB: One big thing we learned in the Cowboys win over the Giants

[JoeKing]

I'm less convinced we learned anything we can count on.

 

[rockj7]

It's clear the Cowboys have now started to invest on the defensive side of the ball. I suspect we will see another big defensive draft next spring. Also help that the Cowboys seem to have figured out how to be a smart drafting team.

Got the same feeling big dog next year's draft with what is rumored to be 10 picks minus the conditional picks we traded to Bengals and Packers

 

[BAT]

It's about your head coach and creating an environment conducive to developing talent. That environment includes having quality assistant coaches and holding them responsible if the unit they are coaching doesn't improve. It consists of top of the line training facilities, paying more as an additional incentive for players to work out in the offseason with the coaches and teammates and being on the cutting edge in terms of training, strength and conditioning and learning the game.

From there, it's about adding picks to the draft without giving up too much in trade so you not only get your high draft picks, but you allow yourself that luxury of making a mistake while possibly creating more competition. If you're relying on free agents to fill holes up every year...somebody isn't doing their job.

All of this leads to better development of players and suddenly you are a 'talented' team and suddenly your GM/Owner who people think is a fool now looks like a genius selector of talent and players like Jeff Heath, Cole Beasley, Chaz Green, Doug Free, Orlando Scandrick, etc. turn out to be significant contributors to a good team.

I think the Giants haven't learned that while it may sound nice on paper to build a team meant to stop the best rival in your division, it's better to develop the best and deepest team you can find and adjust according to the talent that comes in from the draft rather than spend big money on FA's to stop your best rival and be very thin in different areas.

This is what the Dolphins, Bills and Jets have failed to understand over the years against the Patriots. So while the Patriots continue to stockpile talent and create the best possible team they can create....their rivals are overloading on defensive talent while trotting out slugs like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and JP Losman at Quarterback and can't give them enough offensive players to help them out.

It's taken a long time for Jerry to be convinced that this is the best way to build a team, but he has and it's finally working. And for the most part the coaches and players really seem to love it.





YR

Your use of Patriots is interesting. Because there is no better team at maximizing all avenues of improving their team, whether it is via the draft, trade, waiver wire or FA. Pats are notorious for looking under every rock and utilizing every opportunity to improve. They are not interested in doing it one way or the way everyone else has done it. Pats weigh risk and reward better than any other team, even if the project fails. They believe in their system and do not act out of fear but real confidence that they are the best at what they do.

Building anything without looking at/leveraging all resources is poor management - regardless of industry.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Your use of Patriots is interesting. Because there is no better team at maximizing all avenues of improving their team, whether it is via the draft, waiver wire or FA. Pats are notorious for looking under every rock and utilizing every opportunity to improve. They are not interested in doing it one way or the way everyone else has done it. Pats weigh risk and reward better than any other team, even if the project fails. They believe in their system and do not act out of fear but real confidence that they are the best at what they do.

Building anything without looking at/leveraging all resources is poor management - regardless of industry.

Yes, they do a great job.

Conversely, their opposing rivals are diametrically opposed in terms of of how they maximize their team.

I've come to the conclusion that you need two things in order to have a team that has a legitimately good, franchise QB.

1. You need a QB that has the skillset and is ready to be a starter.

2. You need a team that can handle the deficiencies of a young starting QB.

Fortunately, we had #1 and #2 with Dak and when he came along. I think that was part of Parcells' reservations on starting Romo early...we didn't have a team that could handle a young starting QB and that could ruin him forever.

The Bills, Dolphins and Jets keep finding young QB's that are not ready or their team isn't ready or both. And the team isn't ready because they put too many of their resources in trying to stop Tom Brady.




YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

This is exactly right. All that, and the stability that comes with having the same system and mostly the same players in place year after year. It lets you spend time on technique that otherwise has to go into learning the system. And the coaching stability means the same guy is working on the same things with every player for years at a time. It's not the case that you have one DL coach coming in to say one thing and another a year later telling you something different or opposite.

It requires you to get the staff right, which sometimes takes a bit of time. But once you have it down you get the benefits. It trickles down to player selection in the draft, as well, because your scouts get on the same page with the coaching staff re: what they're looking for and why.

Which, of course, is why I've always said that if you have a smart guy who can put up with Jerry and who the players and staff all like like we've had in Garrett the last 7 years, you keep that guy around unless there's a significant upgrade on the market. Even then, that upgrade has to be somebody able to work with Jerry Jones, which isn't for everybody. We're seeing the benefits of that consistency finally. A lot of fans don't want to admit it, as evidenced by their reluctance to recognize the quality of the team we've got after 2014's 12-4 and last year's 13-3, but it's obvious if you look at it without any agenda. Stability is good as long as you use the stable environment to improve rather than getting complacent. Just look at teams like NE and GB and PIT to see what it looks like.

I also think coaches get too worried about 'the system' and having to make any changes.

Sure, in 2014 we could really have used defensive players if you're looking at the weaknesses of the Cowboys at that time. But, we went after the best player and that was Zack Martin. We made that a strength to help protect the weakness and we made other small tweaks to help out defensively. But, if you're patient and keep stockpiling BPA's and develop the talent, soon enough you'll find the answers to your problems.

I take a guy like Jeff Heath as a good example. I think most teams (as well as the Cowboys in prior years) would have either cut him or let him go via free agency. We kept our draft picks and didn't overpay on defense and with a little patience we may have a solid starter that came pretty cheap. He just needed time to develop. And that's part of the development process...knowing when and what players to stay patient with and let them develop and what players you need to cut bait.





YR

 

[waving monkey]

This is exactly right. All that, and the stability that comes with having the same system and mostly the same players in place year after year. It lets you spend time on technique that otherwise has to go into learning the system. And the coaching stability means the same guy is working on the same things with every player for years at a time. It's not the case that you have one DL coach coming in to say one thing and another a year later telling you something different or opposite.

It requires you to get the staff right, which sometimes takes a bit of time. But once you have it down you get the benefits. It trickles down to player selection in the draft, as well, because your scouts get on the same page with the coaching staff re: what they're looking for and why.

Which, of course, is why I've always said that if you have a smart guy who can put up with Jerry and who the players and staff all like like we've had in Garrett the last 7 years, you keep that guy around unless there's a significant upgrade on the market. Even then, that upgrade has to be somebody able to work with Jerry Jones, which isn't for everybody. We're seeing the benefits of that consistency finally. A lot of fans don't want to admit it, as evidenced by their reluctance to recognize the quality of the team we've got after 2014's 12-4 and last year's 13-3, but it's obvious if you look at it without any agenda. Stability is good as long as you use the stable environment to improve rather than getting complacent. Just look at teams like NE and GB and PIT to see what it looks like.