Chemistry Observations from All or Nothing

[Hawkeye19]

Locker room chemistry/culture is one of the subjective, elusive, intangible factors that can promote or hinder success...

In watching AoN— a few things stick out as the 2017 season autopsy continues:

1. Adversity... this team had tons of it in 2017. Key injuries to irreplaceable players, and the biggest off field story/drama in years to deal with really took a heavy toll

2. Youth... this team is in a youth movement/rebuild. Lots of inexperience/immaturity/rawness to deal with

3. High expectations... everyone expected success after 2016– so the pressure was on, Every game was a “must win” basically. Their tank was on empty after the Oakland game IMO. Even though they won that one— the Seattle game revealed just how frayed and exhausted the team was from a season of struggle

4. Leadership void... Apart from Lee, Witten, and Dak— IMO there were not a lot of other positive leaders consistently brining unity and focus to the team. On the contrary, Dez was a loud, consistent distraction and annoyance and Scandrick was a negative voice (as a captain!) that did not calm things down

5. Tuned out... I think a large portion of the locker room was disengaged with the message coming from the coaches. They were saying the right things— but there seemed to be little “buy in” from the majority of the team

In conclusion— I think the high turnover on the coaching staff, the release of Dez and Scandrick, and the continued addition of young talented players is setting us up for a rebound year.

Expectations are down but the coaches are playing for their jobs and they know it. This team is now 100% Dak’s to lead as Zeke is simply a non factor in terms of being a leader.

Will be interesting to see how they do— but I think a lot of the changes that have been made will result in a stronger locker room chemistry and culture in 2018

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Nice write up!

While there has been oodles of talk about why Bryant was jettisoned the Scandrick situation wasn't talked about nearly as much... But you highlighted a potentially important point about him being a negative influence.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I hope you are correct but I believe every locker room has leaders and distractions, the faces just change year on year. Also there is a part of me that knows that this being the Dallas Cowboys, the next drama over an arrest/drug issue/public embarrassment is just around the corner.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Although I'm not in the "fire Garrett" group NOW, I do think lack of playoff success keeps players from selling out on the "message". A winning program with PO success breeds a total "in" with the program. Garrett better produce with this young team and sell them on his "process" now!!!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Seems like many of the guys that cry about their contract or contract negotiations like Ratliff, Bryant and Scandrick... Talented or not, they end up acting like turds.

 

[samilpa4life]

Locker room chemistry/culture is one of the subjective, elusive, intangible factors that can promote or hinder success...

In watching AoN— a few things stick out as the 2017 season autopsy continues:

1. Adversity... this team had tons of it in 2017. Key injuries to irreplaceable players, and the biggest off field story/drama in years to deal with really took a heavy toll

2. Youth... this team is in a youth movement/rebuild. Lots of inexperience/immaturity/rawness to deal with

3. High expectations... everyone expected success after 2016– so the pressure was on, Every game was a “must win” basically. Their tank was on empty after the Oakland game IMO. Even though they won that one— the Seattle game revealed just how frayed and exhausted the team was from a season of struggle

4. Leadership void... Apart from Lee, Witten, and Dak— IMO there were not a lot of other positive leaders consistently brining unity and focus to the team. On the contrary, Dez was a loud, consistent distraction and annoyance and Scandrick was a negative voice (as a captain!) that did not calm things down

5. Tuned out... I think a large portion of the locker room was disengaged with the message coming from the coaches. They were saying the right things— but there seemed to be little “buy in” from the majority of the team

In conclusion— I think the high turnover on the coaching staff, the release of Dez and Scandrick, and the continued addition of young talented players is setting us up for a rebound year.

Expectations are down but the coaches are playing for their jobs and they know it. This team is now 100% Dak’s to lead as Zeke is simply a non factor in terms of being a leader.

Will be interesting to see how they do— but I think a lot of the changes that have been made will result in a stronger locker room chemistry and culture in 2018

i found it kind of weird when Garrett would get the team together and says give me a loud Dallas Cowboys on 3 and you could barely hear the team say it, hell i was yelling in my man-cave DALLAS COWBOYS!!! LOL.
i was also trying to find out what Dez & Jourdan Lewis were freaking fighting about, it seemed the young players had no respect for him, another reason for the team cutting him?

 

[Teague31]

Never understood how Scandrick merited being a team captain.

 

[Proximo]

These shows are prettt heavily edited. Think of the enormous amount of total content that was filmed vs what was actually shared with fans/viewers.

I get it- it’s fun/interesting stuff to watch and makes for good conversation pieces, especially during this time of year when folks are football starved. But, I think there’s been a bit of over-analysis and over scrutinizing done to the AoN stuff. It’s easy to read too deeply into this stuff and go overboard.

 

[Titleist]

Never understood how Scandrick merited being a team captain.

I think just because he was one of the longest tenured players on a very young team. Scandrick is not a leader though

 

[G2]

It illustrated how nutty Dez was and how much they were putting up with.
Scandy was a d-bag, as it was said I don't see him as a captain.
Holy crap there were obstacles!

I also think the show itself caused a distraction to the team. IMO.

 

[phildadon86]

It illustrated how nutty Dez was and how much they were putting up with.
Scandy was a d-bag, as it was said I don't see him as a captain.
Holy crap there were obstacles!

I also think the show itself caused a distraction to the team. IMO.

Yeah im still trying to figure out why this was allowed. Especially after how negative Hard Knocks was on our team.

 

[jterrell]

Nice write up!

While there has been oodles of talk about why Bryant was jettisoned the Scandrick situation wasn't talked about nearly as much... But you highlighted a potentially important point about him being a negative influence.

Scandrick was shopped in trade during training camp.
His move was imminent because of the the way the draft last year fell.
Had nothing to do with attitude though I've never liked the players that go off to California all off-season.
Be they Miles Austin or T.O. or Scandrick it just seemed a poor way to build chemistry.

 

[Corso]

Yeah im still trying to figure out why this was allowed. Especially after how negative Hard Knocks was on our team.

 

[Seven]

Watched the first episode.

Some things that stood out to me.......Jerry's daughter feeling up Timberlake was embarrassing. Elliot looked Hung-over or still buzzed in the RB meeting. Dez is a straight up brat.
Witten and the coaches "talk" fell on deaf ears. And........."WIN ON THREE!"............"win"

They're trying to change all of this external crap and the piss-poor attitudes. That I give them credit for.

A good plowing under was needed.

 

[dogunwo]

Yeah im still trying to figure out why this was allowed. Especially after how negative Hard Knocks was on our team.

Well, if we don't make the playoffs and Garrett is retained, then we are on the list of teams eligible to be selected on Hard Knocks, and why wouldn't they select the Cowboys? Here are the guidelines that exempt a team from mandatory participation:

(1) they have appeared in the past ten years
(2) they have a first-year head coach
(3) they reached the playoffs in either of the two preceding seasons.

Dallas last appeared in 2008.

 

[northerncowboynation]

Locker room chemistry/culture is one of the subjective, elusive, intangible factors that can promote or hinder success...

In watching AoN— a few things stick out as the 2017 season autopsy continues:

1. Adversity... this team had tons of it in 2017. Key injuries to irreplaceable players, and the biggest off field story/drama in years to deal with really took a heavy toll

2. Youth... this team is in a youth movement/rebuild. Lots of inexperience/immaturity/rawness to deal with

3. High expectations... everyone expected success after 2016– so the pressure was on, Every game was a “must win” basically. Their tank was on empty after the Oakland game IMO. Even though they won that one— the Seattle game revealed just how frayed and exhausted the team was from a season of struggle

4. Leadership void... Apart from Lee, Witten, and Dak— IMO there were not a lot of other positive leaders consistently brining unity and focus to the team. On the contrary, Dez was a loud, consistent distraction and annoyance and Scandrick was a negative voice (as a captain!) that did not calm things down

5. Tuned out... I think a large portion of the locker room was disengaged with the message coming from the coaches. They were saying the right things— but there seemed to be little “buy in” from the majority of the team

In conclusion— I think the high turnover on the coaching staff, the release of Dez and Scandrick, and the continued addition of young talented players is setting us up for a rebound year.

Expectations are down but the coaches are playing for their jobs and they know it. This team is now 100% Dak’s to lead as Zeke is simply a non factor in terms of being a leader.

Will be interesting to see how they do— but I think a lot of the changes that have been made will result in a stronger locker room chemistry and culture in 2018

Good summary if that's the take away from All or Nothing. Haven't seen any of it. Good with your thought "process"

 

[rynochop]

Never understood how Scandrick merited being a team captain.

I've never heard him not come across as a major league a-hole anytime he was interviewed

 

[coult44]

Never understood how Scandrick merited being a team captain.

He had one good year, and then anointed great by fans and coaches. There hasn't been a DC starter consistently give less effort than him EVER.

 

[G2]

Yeah im still trying to figure out why this was allowed. Especially after how negative Hard Knocks was on our team.

Good point

 

[Whyjerry]

Although I'm not in the "fire Garrett" group NOW, I do think lack of playoff success keeps players from selling out on the "message". A winning program with PO success breeds a total "in" with the program. Garrett better produce with this young team and sell them on his "process" now!!!

You are 100 pct correct. I found Garrett to be extremely annoying. A talker. The guy that wants to be everyone’s friend. The guy at work that talks a big game but doesn’t accomplish anything. Layer on that he hasn’t done much as a coach and all that talk rings hollow.