Cowboys twitter practice report - 11/11/15

[wileedog]

Oh, I can definitely see frustration setting in. And it's crossed my mind that we're looking at an emotional let-down game this week, sandwiched between the Eagles loss and Romo's return game.

I just don't think today's injury report was a reflection of any of that. I think the RBs are legitimately ill, and Lee and Hitchens are hurt. We're at that point in the season where the injuries start to add up and team depth gets tested. Between now and weeks 13-17 it starts piling up. People are hurt and guys like Church are playing through ankles and abdominals and what have you.

I'd say, if we want to point to signs players are checking out this week, Hardy's twitter stunt is a bigger indication of letting an outside issue distract him and the team from football than Christian Michael getting the flu or whatever he's got.

Agreed, but if we are even 2-4 over the last 6 we are not having this conversation. It's inevitable when a team falls off a cliff like this. And if we can't beat TB the scrutiny is rightfully going to get even worse.

Be funny though to see Parcells looking at some of these peripheral guys with the flu and just going "really?"

 

[Sasquatch]

Oh, I can definitely see frustration setting in. And it's crossed my mind that we're looking at an emotional let-down game this week, sandwiched between the Eagles loss and Romo's return game.

I just don't think today's injury report was a reflection of any of that. I think the RBs are legitimately ill, and Lee and Hitchens are hurt. We're at that point in the season where the injuries start to add up and team depth gets tested. Between now and weeks 13-17 it starts piling up. People are hurt and guys like Church are playing through ankles and abdominals and what have you.

I'd say, if we want to point to signs players are checking out this week, Hardy's twitter stunt is a bigger indication of letting an outside issue distract him and the team from football than Christian Michael getting the flu or whatever he's got.

I think the team's depth has already been tested, and the results aren't good.

 

[Idgit]

Agreed, but if we are even 2-4 over the last 6 we are not having this conversation. It's inevitable when a team falls off a cliff like this. And if we can't beat TB the scrutiny is rightfully going to get even worse.

Be funny though to see Parcells looking at some of these peripheral guys with the flu and just going "really?"

It depends how sick they really are. Flu can be pretty dangerous. Whatever Michael's limitations, he doesn't seem like a guy who lacks heart. Brains, sure, but not heart. Not playing Dez with a hyperextension makes sense. No way Lee's coming back this week with his second concussion, and he shouldn't. Hitchens is going to be too injured to play.

Church is the one I'm most interested in seeing what they do with him, as he's been hobbled for weeks now with that ankle.

 

[Idgit]

I think the team's depth has already been tested, and the results aren't good.

Yep. QB is the obvious area where we've struggled. RB, too.

I think on defense, the issue has actually been more one of players not playing up to expectation more than anything. Suspensions aside, there's 3-4 starters I was personally expecting more from this season than what we've gotten so far. Off the top of my head, McClain, Wilcox, Lawrence, Hitchens (not a starter, but he's at that starter level), Mincey/Gregory (just because of the injury). They haven't been awful, but they've all disappointed to one extent or another.

 

[yimyammer]

For the last 4 weeks all I've read is how he needs more carries and needs to start. Now this.

lol, I think it would be hilarious if a team let its fans completely run things by internet poll, the team would have 53 new guys by the end of the season, all the draft picks would have been traded away and the cap would be in shambles

 

[LocimusPrime]

Interesting that one of the Cowboys most durable players thus far this season is Darren McFadden.

Its that texas sweet tea. Keeps him strong

 

[LocimusPrime]

Jon Machota ‏@jonmachota 6m6 minutes ago
A lot going on here:

Physical fitness s underrated by valley ranch

 

[RunDMC]

Interesting that one of the Cowboys most durable players thus far this season is Darren McFadden.

That's what happens when you don't get hit in the back field every snap like in Oakland.

 

[ccb04]

The only one's that were reported to be out sick was Michael & Smith.

The rest are injured...which is par for the course this season.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

This team is whack

 

[noshame]

Anybody who's ever played this game has heard over and over, if you're out of shape, you'll get hurt. Guy's were gassed the entire second half. Hayden was doing the classic "dancing with his man" all game long.

Coaching...if you want to call it that, should be held up as the cause. You'd think a guy as fiery as Rod would be fuming watching this on tape. I just don't know what's happened to the sport I love.

 

[TheDallasDon]

It's always the same ones........"they're not sick, they're quitters!!"

 

[Toruk_Makto]

It amuses me that people think players are going to stop coming to practice for an NFL team if the team is losing. As if job security at this level means nothing. As if Brice Butler doesn't want more than anything to take snaps or a game day position away from Devin Street. As if Rod Smith gets to Dallas and is like "yeah, we're losing, I'm really not going to try to solidify my spot on this roster because it seems boring."

Seriously, guys. At least try to make the gloom reasonable. Or, failing that, entertaining.

Beat me to it.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

There are some warning signs.

You have to watch the back half of the roster in these situations.

And the starters that have attitude issues or are disgruntled for some reason.

I don't think they completely collapse this week. I sure hope not.

Even though I am extremely disappointed in this season and I don't give style points for clawing, scratching or fighting, I would be a little shocked still, if that makes sense. I think this is an organization that definitely does not operate in reality and tends to spin for the positive.

But there are definitely signals that things are not right.

You think it's the back half of the roster....the guys without guaranteed positions on an NFL roster next year are going to be the guys to quit and go into the tank?

I have also seen no signs of this team quitting. They fight hard each week and every indication is that this team loves JG.

It isn't the players who are quitting on this team and the season. It's the fans. Well some fans.

 

[cowboys2233]

Beat me to it.

Losing affects all players. You two are suggesting that money/job security are the only factors that impact a player's motivation, and that's just not true. In fact, many studies have shown that money can be a good incentive in the short term, but rapidly loses it's punch over the longer term.

Nope, losing is infectious. They might say it doesn't affect them, they might say they play just as inspired during a long losing streak, but they don't. It's human nature.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yep. QB is the obvious area where we've struggled. RB, too.

I think on defense, the issue has actually been more one of players not playing up to expectation more than anything. Suspensions aside, there's 3-4 starters I was personally expecting more from this season than what we've gotten so far. Off the top of my head, McClain, Wilcox, Lawrence, Hitchens (not a starter, but he's at that starter level), Mincey/Gregory (just because of the injury). They haven't been awful, but they've all disappointed to one extent or another.

That's a good list. It hasn't been an issue yet but I shudder to think what will happen if one of the Olinemen goes down.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Losing affects all players. You two are suggesting that money/job security are the only factors that impact a player's motivation, and that's just not true. In fact, many studies have shown that money can be a good incentive in the short term, but rapidly loses it's punch over the longer term.

Nope, losing is infectious. They might say it doesn't affect them, they might say they play just as inspired during a long losing streak, but they don't. It's human nature.

Six weeks is the longer term?