Cowboys two years away from Super Bowl contention

[kskboys]

To be fair, every team in the league is probably 2-3 years away from competing in the Super Bowl. That doesn't mean they will compete. It just means they could. Nobody knew the Bucs or Bills would be competing. Even the Chiefs didn't become a sure thing until recently. Heck, the Rams were bad and then became competitors, and then became bad again, and are now getting back to being competitors - all in about 3 years. Even if you look at Dallas, we're 13-3 every 5 or so years, and we're 10-6 every 2 or so years. And you can compete for Super Bowls at 10-6. The Bucs are playing in the Super Bowl at 11-5 this year. There's a difference between being a competitor and actually being a winner. I'm not surprised the 11-5 Brady-led Bucs are in the Super Bowl. I would've been shocked if our recent 13-3 teams made it.

Not w/o a Defense you can't.

 

[atlantacowboy]

LOL..........EXACTLY.....................you just nailed it.............the reason we are mediocre has nothing to do with Dak's salary. Its Jerry's inability to draft the other side of the ball.

And what is 20 million going to buy you anyway? Thats all we would realistically save by moving on from Dak. Any first high first round QB will cost around 10 million. Any FA QB will cost you more than 10 million.

20 million is about what was paid to Jones the CB we let go. Is Jones going to make us a contender? Nope, he was here for 5 years and he didnt do that.

Any way you slice it, your dumbed down theories about NOT paying Dak fall short.

Getting rid of your top 5 QB in his prime is the dumbest suggestion anyone could make and it will never happen. Crying about it wont help.

Its unfortunate that Jerry needs a wide margin of error to have any chance of succeeding as a GM. But if you pay Dak 40M a year, his margin of error goes to near zero. If he couldn't build a title contender with Dak making nothing, its going to be that much harder building a winner with him 25% of the salary cap. Signing Dak to the contract he wants is a road to nowhere. .

 

[Jake]

Its unfortunate that Jerry needs a wide margin of error to have any chance of succeeding as a GM. But if you pay Dak 40M a year, his margin of error goes to near zero. If he couldn't build a title contender with Dak making nothing, its going to be that much harder building a winner with him 25% of the salary cap. Signing Dak to the contract he wants is a road to nowhere. .

Jerry isn't building a title contender with, or without, Dak. His son with the fancy titles Jerry gave him isn't going to do it, either.

How many decades do they need to prove otherwise?

 

[CowboyRoy]

and he got a lucky onside kick to get one of his wins. lmao, Dalton came in and won the other one. How'd those stats work out.

There's no he in a win. LOL

Until you understand that basic concept you will continue to look stupid.

Dalton came in with a lead and threw a pick to lose the lead. Any other dumb comments?

Dak and the offense broke the NFL record for offense. Unfortunately for the TEAM, the defense broke the all time NFL record for bad defense.

Duh, it was Dak's fault.

 

[CowboyRoy]

What beloved players?
Im not protecting or making excuses for anyone

just saying that
1) if later season defense (still terrible, but better) was there all year
And
2) if Prescott had not been hurt

the team was probably going to the playoffs
Probably one and done anyway

Definitely going to the playoffs. You mean if the defense was healthy in the first half like they werent in the 2nd half?

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think it was a combination of all of it....not having the talent and having injuries, then nolan should have really simplified his defense and adjust it to his personnel. His system is complex as it is, now using back ups and lower skilled players to implement is futile and that's what we saw. they all bore a hand in it. Nolan's system required all the players to make decisions, on the fly and success depended on those decisions being right, and if one or two made the wrong decision, then it would fall part.....I am not dismissing the fact, our DTs sucked. LBs were out of place and couldn't execute, and Jaylon was down right awful (he is not right physically). Our DBs got injured and thus we had 4th, 5th stringers running trying to execute the same scheme and they just weren't equipped.

I don't think we have enough talent to be top 10 defense, 2 years ago it was smoke and mirrors. this defense does need some infusion of talent, but they also need a coach that can put the right scheme in place. hopefully Quinn is that.

Personally, I put Nolan's scheme difficulty as low on the list. Injuries, lack of talent, scheme change, Covid, No preseason or practice time were all much higher on the list for me.

Quinn wont do diddly without more talent. The defense wasnt good with the previous coach either.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And the defense quadruple sucked even more once Nolan took over; .out of the fryin' pan and into the fire.

And most of the big injuries was on the other side of the ball on offense per QB, OL, TE.. we got hit biggest with Trysten Hill, Diggs was able to return
and eventually Sean Lee but he clearly wasn't same as a year prior, and we well know how fragile he's been over an entire career.

And frankly I dunno what the deal is with Dlaw and his yearly lingering injuries - hasn't been the same since re-signing that big contract.

Yes we have issues with talent personnel,.. yes we have issues with the way management doesn't invest enough financially or strategically in the defense and team continues
to have low regards for certain positions on defense.

But if your team has gone from just decent to the very worst defenses in team history, with what you yourself are observing on the playing field and preparation, then you know it
has to point towards your coaching staff, first and foremost. ,.imo.

There are big reasons the defense was worse, nothing to do with Nolan.

 

[CowboyRoy]

offence will have problems soon with TSmith

Already had problems with Smith. Martin will move to LT when Smith is gone.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I don't consider Dak a top 5 QB. I think he's a stat compiler not a winner.

Obviously bad draft choices effect the team......effect every team not just Dallas.

Andy Dalton was actually impressive once he got comfortable. We don't an 8-8 Qb being paid like he's a super bowl contender. Dak's 9-11 in his last 20 starts with a full compliment of talent. But lets pay more money for that b/c it was so close to working right?

LOL......full compliment of Talent? Dalton is better? Delete your account.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Its unfortunate that Jerry needs a wide margin of error to have any chance of succeeding as a GM. But if you pay Dak 40M a year, his margin of error goes to near zero. If he couldn't build a title contender with Dak making nothing, its going to be that much harder building a winner with him 25% of the salary cap. Signing Dak to the contract he wants is a road to nowhere. .

Delete your account.

 

[Captain-Crash]

There's no he in a win. LOL

Until you understand that basic concept you will continue to look stupid.

Dalton came in with a lead and threw a pick to lose the lead. Any other dumb comments?

Dak and the offense broke the NFL record for offense. Unfortunately for the TEAM, the defense broke the all time NFL record for bad defense.

Duh, it was Dak's fault.

only body looking dumb is you for having a crush on another man. lmao.

 

[Shane612]

They'll ALWAYS be two years away from contending.

 

[Cmac]

does this mean our HC Kellen Moore will lead them?

 

[TwoDeep3]

Director of Software Dev:
Hey Shane.
How long would it take to add this feature to our accounting system?
Me: oh...about two months
Director of Software Dev: You always say that.
Me: You always ask the same question.

Director of Software Dev: Let's see if we can get it into Beta in three and a half weeks. We'll work on the bugs after the general release.
Me: But there's the next thing scheduled during the same time you want to work out the errors.
Director of Software Dev: We'll fit it in.
Me: You always say that.

 

[JoeKing]

The defense is in shambles, the O-line is falling apart, the FO can't get Dak to sign. In two years this team will be closer to being a winless team than a Super Bowl contender.

 

[quickccc]

I think you have to draft well and if you don't, then you are going to be medicore...seemingly we draft well offensively and struggle defensively...15 years, 44 picks. we had perhaps only 2 impact players, in Lawrence and Jones. the rest were ho hum. that included high first round picks, mid first round, bottom first round and any other round.....compare that to the offensive picks

I think you have to draft well and if you don't, then you are going to be medicore...seemingly we draft well offensively and struggle defensively...15 years, 44 picks. we had perhaps only 2 impact players, in Lawrence and Jones. the rest were ho hum. that included high first round picks, mid first round, bottom first round and any other round.....compare that to the offensive picks in the same period that include Tyron, Martin, Dak, Zeke, CD, Fredrick, Biadasz (all rookie team), Schultz, Pollard, Gallup, Collins, Jarwin....some how we find the offensive players, but not the defensive players....and like you said, you build through draft or key trades (like we did with cooper) and you throw in a FA here or there and the evaluation process matters. on the defensive side we suck in evaluation even on FAs who have NFL history. this past year we got 4, none made it past mid season.

Quinn!!! a huge liability on run defense, for a team that had trouble stopping the run, you just weakened a position more, which was already weak...we added the likes of Hardy, Irvin, etc....perhaps talented but all head cases. and other teams seemingly add the right mid level players. we couldnt' even recognize/evaluate the talent we had on our team. we let Hitchen walk. we let Damien Wilson walk, we let Ward walk and look at KC and how they are using those players...
fix the defensive evaluation problem and lots of things will get fixed.

Frankly I cannot knock the Quinn trade signing itself because he got 11 sacks and was by far our most effective and only pass rusher; that’s a great bargain for late round pick, that also ended up being a 4th round compensatory pick.
And credit management for being smart enough to Not re-sign Quinn to the ridiculous huge contract the Bears gave Quinn long term wise

The DC, Rod Marinelli let it weaken one through how he chose to use Quinn, instead of using Quinn as an edge rush specialist instead of an every down starter.
He’s more suited to be a Fred Dean, Greg Townsend, pure situational edge rusher type,.. he’s not a Dlaw.

And after clearly struggling in 3-4 schemes such as Miami and Chicago, he’s just suited as 3-4 OLB either.
Unless Bears move back to a 4-3 scheme, I think he’s gonna end up being a flop signing in Chi-town. .

That’s why it plays a huge part in who the DC is and how he positions and schemes players. Some dinosaur DC’s are just too set in their ways and either won’t adapt otherwise ..or dunno how to adapt otherwise.

 

[quickccc]

I think you have to draft well and if you don't, then you are going to be medicore...seemingly we draft well offensively and struggle defensively...15 years, 44 picks. we had perhaps only 2 impact players, in Lawrence and Jones. the rest were ho hum. that included high first round picks, mid first round, bottom first round and any other round.....compare that to the offensive picks in the same period that include Tyron, Martin, Dak, Zeke, CD, Fredrick, Biadasz (all rookie team), Schultz, Pollard, Gallup, Collins, Jarwin....some how we find the offensive players, but not the defensive players....

and like you said, you build through draft or key trades (like we did with cooper) and you throw in a FA here or there and the evaluation process matters. on the defensive side we suck in evaluation even on FAs who have NFL history. this past year we got 4, none made it past mid season. Quinn!!! a huge liability on run defense, for a team that had trouble stopping the run, you just weakened a position more, which was already weak...we added the likes of Hardy, Irvin, etc....perhaps talented but all head cases. and other teams seemingly add the right mid level players. we couldnt' even recognize/evaluate the talent we had on our team. we let Hitchen walk. we let Damien Wilson walk, we let Ward walk and look at KC and how they are using those players...
fix the defensive evaluation problem and lots of things will get fixed.

With Hardy and Irving, that's another example of low risk/high reward chances. They don't cost us anything to move on from them if they don't pan out.
Teams do gamble on headcase players, look at Bucs welcoming WR Antonio Brown with open arms.

Damien Wilson is an average LB who was a liability in coverage.
Hitchens was serviceable (and durable) but he wasn't a pro bowler. It helps to have very capable muscle work upfront to interfere with run traffic, and it helps to have competent coaches
that know how to scheme and best position players. We haven't found stability in the coaching staff. We're still spinning with this revolving door in coaching changes.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

With Hardy and Irving, that's another example of low risk/high reward chances. They don't cost us anything to move on from them if they don't pan out.
Teams do gamble on headcase players, look at Bucs welcoming WR Antonio Brown with open arms.

Damien Wilson is an average LB who was a liability in coverage.
Hitchens was serviceable (and durable) but he wasn't a pro bowler. It helps to have very capable muscle work upfront to interfere with run traffic, and it helps to have competent coaches
that know how to scheme and best position players. We haven't found stability in the coaching staff. We're still spinning with this revolving door in coaching changes.

the challenge with headcases is that you have to have the organization, locker room leadership and culture...Haley was somewhat of a head case, but Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt, woodson were leaders of the team and locker room and strong strong coaching staff. Hardy cost us 11M for one year I believe, that's a lot and he was very disruptive in the locker room. high reward, but also we should have done our homework, as his history said he is deteriorating mentally.....Irvin the same, the problem is jerry over rides his coaches, because he wants to "win", so lines of authority and leadership get mixed up. Jerry often over steps his boundries, thus we havent' really had true leadership in the locker room and a coach that can do what's right in disciplining his players....when Jones comes out and says moore reports to him directly, that's screwing up lines of authority.

Brown, as you said is a head case, but with Brady and coaching staff and culture there, bringing him middle of the season, as an ultimatum of we owe you nothing, and behave yourself.......

regarding wilson, hitchens, I consider both mid level average players, but you don't need 8 highly paid players on defense to be good. draft well. sign a couple of key FAs and sprinkle mid level players. its working for KC.

and to your last point, stability of coaching staff and ORGANIZATION.....which brings us back to jerry again. there is defintley an organizational cultural issue that we need to overcome.

 

[ICP]

More like a Jones Family away from contention

 

[quickccc]

the challenge with headcases is that you have to have the organization, locker room leadership and culture...Haley was somewhat of a head case, but Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt, woodson were leaders of the team and locker room and strong strong coaching staff. Hardy cost us 11M for one year I believe, that's a lot and he was very disruptive in the locker room. high reward, but also we should have done our homework, as his history said he is deteriorating mentally.....Irvin the same, the problem is jerry over rides his coaches, because he wants to "win", so lines of authority and leadership get mixed up. Jerry often over steps his boundries, thus we havent' really had true leadership in the locker room and a coach that can do what's right in disciplining his players....when Jones comes out and says moore reports to him directly, that's screwing up lines of authority.

Brown, as you said is a head case, but with Brady and coaching staff and culture there, bringing him middle of the season, as an ultimatum of we owe you nothing, and behave yourself.......

regarding wilson, hitchens, I consider both mid level average players, but you don't need 8 highly paid players on defense to be good. draft well. sign a couple of key FAs and sprinkle mid level players. its working for KC.

and to your last point, stability of coaching staff and ORGANIZATION.....which brings us back to jerry again. there is defintley an organizational cultural issue that we need to overcome.

- look at what happened with Antonio Brown in NE Pats, ..maybe one or two games played, but once all the off field distractions came up, they cut him loose immediately.
One year deal so he causes that team very little.
Hardy was a former pro bowler, so I could see it being 11 million with added laden incentives despite the domestic issues.

- and look at Aldon Smith.,(who we'll have to make a FA decision soon) a hardy type signing, which we really got for peanuts contract for him, and yet despite that according to reports,
other NFL teams were placing interest trade calls for Aldon, despite his shaky history that was filtered with arrests, suspensions and other conduct allegations.

- Terrell Owens - and we know how utter knuckle headed he was. but he was also a dominant baller basically every and every team he's went to. But yes Jerry thought a big time player
was what we really needed.

- Exactly my point with the likes of Hitchens and Damien. as average to decent players, but they are more durable than LVE, and more tackling producers than what we're seeing from
Jaylon Smith. And that coaching atmosphere, scheme structure and surrounding talent allows to masks their flaws and emphasis what they do best.

- I have never heard reports that Kellen directly goes to Jerry. i'd have to hear an audio or see a link about that.