Cowboys are Lifting the Floor not Raising Their Ceiling

[FuzzyLumpkins]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

 

[BHendri5]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

The Cowboys are raising the ceiling not lifting the floor. This team does not have what the media has everyone believing that we have all these holes to be filled, that is far from the truth

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The Cowboys are raising the ceiling not lifting the floor. This team does not have what the media has everyone believing that we have all these holes to be filled, that is far from the truth

I am not sure what media or what it would have to do with anything. My talk about the roster was from watching the games. I guess that and watching guys breaking down film on the youtubes and such.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

This season is predestined to be a shiteshow. It's been telegraphed for literally years now that they were going to take some roster payroll medicine this off-season, and so far, there's nothing to discourage that conclusion. From where I sit, they are content with letting this season be a floor, a baseline, with a longer range purpose in mind to build on whatever positives can possibly be found at season's end. And there will be. Some anyways.

I actually think we got that medicine the last two seasons where they did half this player acquisition after waiting for weeks so they could get comp picks.

I think the larger problem is the extreme hit and miss of draft picks in the McCarthy era. There were some tremendous hits like Micah, Lamb, Diggs, and Bland, but success rate went down. More top 100 busts and fewer guys down the order working out.

They added all those comp picks and have gotten very little to show for it. They know they are not worth as much when they use them so they trade them away for low risk high reward shots like Mingo and Lance. They have been poorly managed. Reactionary and reacting poorly.

 

[Chasing6]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

Great analogy.

Instead waiting until week 4 and picking from the bottom of the floor, we were aggressive picking from the floor in week 1, before anyone else even considered doing so.

That is reading the tea leaves, GM Jethro kind of innovation right there, that only 35 years experience and wisdom could even fathom.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Great analogy.

Instead waiting until week 4 and picking from the bottom of the floor, we were aggressive picking from the floor in week 1, before anyone else even considered doing so.

That is reading the tea leaves, GM Jethro kind of innovation right there, that only 35 years experience and wisdom could even fathom.

Do you think the field of free agents is better in week 1 or in week 7?

Of course you are making it all about that likely due to our argument being along those lines.

What this is if you are insistent to define it was gap analysis. If the goal is the Lombardi then what do we need to close that gap. I said we have a long way to go if you need a simple thesis to go by.

 

[ATXSRT]

You new around here? This has been going on for decades. Do just enough to appease the delusional fans in offseason. Beat up on bad teams in regular season and stat pad. Get fans hopes up. Choke when it matters most. Rinse and repeat.

 

[kiheikiwi]

I do think the change in coaching staff will be beneficial to the team.
I'm really interested to see if they have a Steller draft - letting McClay do his job, or if it is same same.
I think we will be a better team this year.
I do not believe we have done enough to compete with any of the top teams, that's at least another year away.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

You new around here? This has been going on for decades. Do just enough to appease the delusional fans in offseason. Beat up on bad teams in regular season and stat pad. Get fans hopes up. Choke when it matters most. Rinse and repeat.

I am definitely not new around here.

Do you think I concluded that we were going to win in the playoffs or something? I am confused.

 

[_sturt_]

I actually think we got that medicine the last two seasons

2023? That was going to be a good season except... if you ask me and you didn't... the team inexplicably crapped the bed like never before in a home playoff game. How did that happen? Entire encyclopedias have been written at this point, so I have no real motivation to add much to it. But the theory that has been most persuasive to me is that one of the coordinators was interviewing for jobs, and the defense just wasn't prepared to punch back. Offensively? I agree with those who leave that, also, at the other coordinator's feet, but there's not even a plausible excuse for his unit's under performance, and that... I agree... is ultimately why he couldn't make a compelling argument for a longer extension this off-season, and thus, isn't here now.

Point being... there was no premeditated failure there.

2024? People just won't be able to persuade me the revisionist history as-if the 2024 season wasn't sideswiped by the total devastation for a substantial part of the season to the DE corps. Almost no team is going to survive having at best the 5th guy on the depth chart playing significant minutes there. Arguably, the most important position on the defensive side of the ball... arguably. There's no overestimating the significance of that. Then, you add to that the oil baron attitude toward the offensive line... oh by the way.... which, if we bother to go back and look in the Fan Zone archives, was an attitude shared by a significant majority of those posting here... thinking the Cowboys history of O-line draft success just automatically had to be expected... that's your double-whammy that, truly, made Dak's mid-season injury only the third most impactful body blow... it's true, the season was largely over already by the time that effectively sealed the deal, and no matter how quickly players got back from injury or the two rooks matured, it wasn't going to matter at that point.

Point being... there was no premeditated failure there, though there was a callous oil baron attitude that represented an unforced error nonetheless.

No. This is different. I can't quote him because I failed to copy the link to the interviews, plural, where it got mentioned, but I'm not the only one here who remembers ahead of the 2023 season, Stephen explicitly let it be known that 2025 had already been agreed upon as the season that they would consider a year of famine in order to clear the books to a large degree and re-set for 2026 and beyond. And. Again. There is nothing this off-season to suggest they changed their minds.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

2023? That was going to be a good season except... if you ask me and you didn't... the team inexplicably crapped the bed like never before in a home playoff game. How did that happen? Entire encyclopedias have been written at this point, so I have no real motivation to add much to it. But the theory that has been most persuasive to me is that one of the coordinators was interviewing for jobs, and the defense just wasn't prepared to punch back. Offensively? I agree with those who leave that, also, at the other coordinator's feet, but there's not even a plausible excuse for his unit's under performance, and that... I agree... is ultimately why he couldn't make a compelling argument for a longer extension this off-season, and thus, isn't here now.

Point being... there was no premeditated failure there.

2024? People just won't be able to persuade me the revisionist history as-if the 2024 season wasn't sideswiped by the total devastation for a substantial part of the season to the DE corps. Almost no team is going to survive having at best the 5th guy on the depth chart playing significant minutes there. Arguably, the most important position on the defensive side of the ball... arguably. There's no overestimating the significance of that. Then, you add to that the oil baron attitude toward the offensive line... oh by the way.... which, if we bother to go back and look in the Fan Zone archives, was an attitude shared by a significant majority of those posting here... thinking the Cowboys history of O-line draft success just automatically had to be expected... that's your double-whammy that, truly, made Dak's mid-season injury only the third most impactful body blow... it's true, the season was largely over already by the time that effectively sealed the deal, and no matter how quickly players got back from injury or the two rooks matured, it wasn't going to matter at that point.

Point being... there was no premeditated failure there, though there was a callous oil baron attitude that represented an unforced error nonetheless.

No. This is different. I can't quote him because I failed to copy the link to the interviews, plural, where it got mentioned, but I'm not the only one here who remembers ahead of the 2023 season, Stephen explicitly let it be known that 2025 had already been agreed upon as the season that they would consider a year of famine in order to clear the books to a large degree and re-set for 2026 and beyond. And. Again. There is nothing this off-season to suggest they changed their minds.

I don't recall that.

We waited and spent less the last two years. They spent more and didn't wait this year. Maybe he said that and maybe he didn't but real is real. People change their minds. I am not saying you have to be wrong either.

I actually think what you are talking about and what I am talking about are in accord. The lack of depth led to injuries to DE, LB, CB, QB, etc derailing the 2024 season. they are taking active steps to prevent that by adding all these depth pieces.

I think the piss poor result last year made them reevaluate. What and to what extent I do not know but it allows a wide range of possibilities.

 

[offlimits]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

That's a lot of hopium, my friend.

 

[noshame]

It's all about attitude and discipline
Under new coaching the OL as a group should be improved significantly.
Hopefully the whole squad will adopt a excitement that Quinn brought to the defense.
Unfortunately there's one wart that you cannot cover up, it has to be addressed or we'll keep running in circles.

 

[Coogiguy03]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

When is that date for signings not to mess up comp picks!?? After that date will we be more active??

 

[BoyzBlaster]

No offense but this is Rambo level magical thinking. There's zero chance we compete with those teams.

 

[Jipper]

I think they are just cutting a hole in the floor and are about to jump into the basement

 

[DandyDon52]

I would like to point out a few things, and they are just IMO.

1. Jerry and Stephen are not picking the FA's. I think maybe it is Shot and his staff
Doing the shopping, but on a budget.
They pick then McClay goes and gets them, or tries to.

2.They picked early to get the guys they wanted, with little or no competition.
3. I think they think they can get the 1st round busts to play better than they have previously.

4.As for WR a good #2, I think they want to get that in the draft. Also a RB, and more
Defensive guys.
I say that because most of the combine visits were with Defensive guys.

5. Shot wants a good run game,so thats why I think he will draft a RB, how high I dont know.
And It seems like he wants to beef up the defense, hence getting fowler back.
They had 10 draft picks, So likely they draft a corner since lewis leaving was a surprise.

6. I dont see anything wrong with the guys they have signed so far, not much $ spent,
and some will definitely help, and some are just going to have to show something by end of TC.
This so far is better than spending it all on some beat up or old big name FA who cant play a whole season.

7. To judge all this, there is still about 6 weeks of FA left, then see who and what they draft.
Then look at FA and draft combined.
If they get a good #2 qb, good RB, good #2 wr , and good corner in draft, that will change this team a lot.


8. the main thing is they changed their FA a lot, last year they did nothing, and this time
they were active, just no big names signed but fowler. I think after draft is over we will
be able to see if this team got better and how much better.
They cant catch up to certain top teams, as they are too far behind those teams.
They just need to improve a significant amount , just so they can be competitive.

 

[CowboysFever1973]

5-12 or 6-11 at best. Book it!

Dak doesn’t have Cooper Rush anymore either to bail him out when the going gets tough!!

 

[SMASHMOUTH9473]

I would like to point out a few things, and they are just IMO.

1. Jerry and Stephen are not picking the FA's. I think maybe it is Shot and his staff
Doing the shopping, but on a budget.
They pick then McClay goes and gets them, or tries to.

2.They picked early to get the guys they wanted, with little or no competition.
3. I think they think they can get the 1st round busts to play better than they have previously.

4.As for WR a good #2, I think they want to get that in the draft. Also a RB, and more
Defensive guys.
I say that because most of the combine visits were with Defensive guys.

5. Shot wants a good run game,so thats why I think he will draft a RB, how high I dont know.
And It seems like he wants to beef up the defense, hence getting fowler back.
They had 10 draft picks, So likely they draft a corner since lewis leaving was a surprise.

6. I dont see anything wrong with the guys they have signed so far, not much $ spent,
and some will definitely help, and some are just going to have to show something by end of TC.
This so far is better than spending it all on some beat up or old big name FA who cant play a whole season.

7. To judge all this, there is still about 6 weeks of FA left, then see who and what they draft.
Then look at FA and draft combined.
If they get a good #2 qb, good RB, good #2 wr , and good corner in draft, that will change this team a lot.


8. the main thing is they changed their FA a lot, last year they did nothing, and this time
they were active, just no big names signed but fowler. I think after draft is over we will
be able to see if this team got better and how much better.
They cant catch up to certain top teams, as they are too far behind those teams.
They just need to improve a significant amount , just so they can be competitive.

100 percent in agreement !!

 

[john van brocklin]

They had their best seasons when they would wait until week 4 or when comp picks are no longer a consideration to doing what they have done in week 1.

This is lifting the floor as opposed to raising the ceiling but in an attrition league that is hugely important. LB and RB injuries and roster neglect at those positions were particularly bad for us last year. We are unlikely to have it that bad again.

They still have plenty of issues all over the offense's starting group. OG takes a step back. OT is a trainwreck. Skill position outside of Lamb is devoid of playmakers.

We have 1 starting DT and questionable backups. We have issues at range at S. Hooker is one of my favorite players but he is losing his step. Cover 3 is going to be that much more demanding.

We have a ways to go. Way I see it we need guys like Mazi, Schoon, and Guyton to play up to their draft status and players come back strong from injury and 2+ draft picks hit at positions of need and these FA be able to improve special teams and injury replacements and the team take to the new coach strong in year 1.

Then we might compete with the Chiefs, Eagles and Lions in the playoffs.

We need too many things to go perfectly to compete.
Don't see it honestly.