Day After Thoughts

[Kilyin]

I'm still trying to figure out what the hell they were doing on the kickoff after the punt return for a TD. If that was an attempt at an onside kick, it was the worst one I've ever seen.

The way our defense played on that drive though, they coulda started on their own 1 and scored.

 

[Seven]

As I posted in another thread last night, anybody could have walked up to me and offered me a bet of any kind that this team would 0-2, and I'd have taken it. And today, I'd have nothing to my name.

Is the season over? No it isnt. Is the team the laughingstock of the league and in deep crap? Yep. 0-2 is not unrecoverable from, but we'll be a signficant underdog at Houston, a team that is FAR better than either of the two we just lost to. 0-3 certainly looks like a strong possibility, not sure what the stats are on 0-3 teams making the playoffs, but the odds are certainly long.

.

Sorry dbair. You put alot of effort into this post but I had to stop right there. This team is not 'far' better than any other team. This team is still limping along on the same tired old path they have been on for the last three years. Dallas is horrible and refuses to improve. No turnovers for the defense and offensive drive killing penalties. A "GM" that continually places his foot on the throat of the team at every turn. I've watched this re-run waayy too many times for my taste.


IMO......While the fanbase is running coaches out of town.....Start with Campo and Houck. Campo doesn't coach tackling, takeways and couldn't make a defensive adjustment if his life depended on it. I'm not sure what it is Houck 'doesn't' do but it seems to be alot.

It's early and I'm still ahnging on but I've lost optimism at this point and that's not my fault.

 

[TNCowboy]

Finally, if Jerry wants to be in charge, fine. I think it's a lousy idea BUT if he wants to be in charge, THEN be in charge. Ya can't run a stadium, promo the stadium, be the marketing genius, be the events coordinator, etc AND be a GM. GM's in this league work 14 hour days, 7 days a week. Jerry simply doesn't have the time to do the job correctly.

This is the entire crux of the organization's problem in one paragraph. There is no rational rebuttal to it.

Excellent post, and excellent post by the OP, though I would disagree with one thing: Roy Williams can be blamed. He simply cannot fumble in that situation, regardless of how long the refs let the play go on. If he doesn't fumble, it was still a game. Once he fumbled, the Cowboys' chances were reduced to an onside kick and a prayer. He played a good game otherwise, but, that fumble was the final nail in the coffin.

 

[TNCowboy]

Sorry dbair. You put alot of effort into this post but I had to stop right there. This team is not 'far' better than any other team. This team is still limping along on the same tired old path they have been on for the last three years. Dallas is horrible and refuses to improve. No turnovers for the defense and offensive drive killing penalties. A "GM" that continually places his foot on the throat of the team at every turn. I've watched this re-run waayy too many times for my taste.


IMO......While the fanbase is running coaches out of town.....Start with Campo and Houck. Campo doesn't coach tackling, takeways and couldn't make a defensive adjustment if his life depended on it. I'm not sure what it is Houck 'doesn't' do but it seems to be alot.

It's early and I'm still ahnging on but I've lost optimism at this point and that's not my fault.

:laugh2: I think he's saying that Houston is far better than either Washington or Chicago.

 

[TNCowboy]

Great post, Steinbrenner being suspended saved the Yankees and let the stick do his stuff.

Juke, you are 100% with this analogy.

That post should be stickied at the top of the forum.

 

[dbair1967]

Very good post and review.

My only issue is, we've been doing these kinds of reviews for years and often regarding many of the same issues.

My analogy is that it's a bit like pointing out a dozen things that are wrong with a home that is built on a lousy foundation. In fact, those dozen things might be in need of repair but until the foundation is fixed, the home will always be in need of repair.

The foundation of this business and it IS a business like any other, is the organizational structure and framework isn't working...and the responbibility for that rests at the feet of one person; Jerry Jones.

Because I lived it before, with the Yankees, all of this has a horrible dejavu feeling about it. Steinbrenner came in. Had some early success. And then meddled to the point that he destroyed the team and they became a laughing stock. When he was suspended from baseball, Gene Michael and the rest rebuilt the team into the powerhouse it became in the late 90's.

We come here, every season and point out the same issues...over and over...Coaches change, assistants change, players change, even the stadium has changed...the only constant in ALL of those years is the owner.

I've been saying it for a long time. The problem is Jerry Jones.

Wade is a buffoon. Indeed. But Wade is Wade. He wasn't going to be offered the position by Jerry and say "Nah, Jerry. I'm a buffoon" Garrett is too slick for his own good. It's amazing how his game plans seem to be nothing more than random plays with no cohesive overall strategy. But who put him in that position?

A great example of how LAME the organizational structure is: We all know, there is no head coach. It's a flat organizational structure and that rarely works in any business.

Finally, if Jerry wants to be in charge, fine. I think it's a lousy idea BUT if he wants to be in charge, THEN be in charge. Ya can't run a stadium, promo the stadium, be the marketing genius, be the events coordinator, etc AND be a GM. GM's in this league work 14 hour days, 7 days a week. Jerry simply doesn't have the time to do the job correctly.

SO, either let go of the other stuff, or let someone else run the day to day of the football team.

This is going to go on forever.

Final note: A great business consultant I work with reminds me "Your business is perfectly structured to give you the results you are experiencing today"

That's it in a nutshell.

Jerry deserves some blame, but unlike some I dont think its as bad as its made out to be anymore. There was a time where he CLEARLY was the problem (Switzer, Gailey, Campo, a 3 Stooges of NFL coaching) but since then things have changed. I dont think he's a meddler anymore. He hired Parcells to run the organization and coach the team, a move universally praised. While Parcells didnt win as much as we wanted, it was a solid decision. I also understand why he hired Wade. He felt like the pieces were in place to have a dominant, championship calibar defense and wanted the best 3-4 coach he could get, and Wade fit that bill. Ultimately it may not work out, but I dont see where it was a horrible decision.

Jerry's the owner and GM. Ultimately his job is to assemble a talented roster, pay the guys he needs to to stay here and hire a quality coaching staff. I'd say he's done those things. Sure some can argue we dont have a great RT or the FS isnt what we want or whatever, but you cant have an all-pro at every single position. For the most part this is an extremely talented football team.

I guess I'd ask if a Jimmy Johnson type person in his prime were coaching THIS team, exactly as it is otherwise, would we be 0-2 and look like a keystone cops team out there? I think the answer is obvious.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

This team has stunk it up top to bottom so far this season. The good news is that it was a total team loss yesterday, so at least finger-pointing should be at a minimum.

 

[odog422]

Very good post and review.

My only issue is, we've been doing these kinds of reviews for years and often regarding many of the same issues.

My analogy is that it's a bit like pointing out a dozen things that are wrong with a home that is built on a lousy foundation. In fact, those dozen things might be in need of repair but until the foundation is fixed, the home will always be in need of repair.

The foundation of this business and it IS a business like any other, is the organizational structure and framework isn't working...and the responbibility for that rests at the feet of one person; Jerry Jones.

Because I lived it before, with the Yankees, all of this has a horrible dejavu feeling about it. Steinbrenner came in. Had some early success. And then meddled to the point that he destroyed the team and they became a laughing stock. When he was suspended from baseball, Gene Michael and the rest rebuilt the team into the powerhouse it became in the late 90's.

We come here, every season and point out the same issues...over and over...Coaches change, assistants change, players change, even the stadium has changed...the only constant in ALL of those years is the owner.

I've been saying it for a long time. The problem is Jerry Jones.

Wade is a buffoon. Indeed. But Wade is Wade. He wasn't going to be offered the position by Jerry and say "Nah, Jerry. I'm a buffoon" Garrett is too slick for his own good. It's amazing how his game plans seem to be nothing more than random plays with no cohesive overall strategy. But who put him in that position?

A great example of how LAME the organizational structure is: We all know, there is no head coach. It's a flat organizational structure and that rarely works in any business.

Finally, if Jerry wants to be in charge, fine. I think it's a lousy idea BUT if he wants to be in charge, THEN be in charge. Ya can't run a stadium, promo the stadium, be the marketing genius, be the events coordinator, etc AND be a GM. GM's in this league work 14 hour days, 7 days a week. Jerry simply doesn't have the time to do the job correctly.

SO, either let go of the other stuff, or let someone else run the day to day of the football team.

This is going to go on forever.

Final note: A great business consultant I work with reminds me "Your business is perfectly structured to give you the results you are experiencing today"

That's it in a nutshell.

Cosign.

It is not a coincidence that the two times under Jerry we had a "traditional" hierarchy, i.e., HC with authority choosing his players and staff, we were extremely successful and/or organizationally headed in the right direction.

Signatures of "Jerry's rule" are underachievement, no accountability, no consistency, because there is no direction, plan or identity. Just players and coaches thrown together whimsically at the behest of what suits Mr. Jones. And what suits Mr. Jones first and foremost is that he alone stands at the fore.

 

[Phoenix]

As I posted in another thread last night, anybody could have walked up to me and offered me a bet of any kind that this team would 0-2, and I'd have taken it. And today, I'd have nothing to my name.

Before the fist game, I took an offered bet of $100 that the Cowboys won't even make the playoffs, thinking money in the bank, of COURSE we'll make the playoffs!

I feel like a sucker now.

 

[Juke99]

Jerry deserves some blame, but unlike some I dont think its as bad as its made out to be anymore. There was a time where he CLEARLY was the problem (Switzer, Gailey, Campo, a 3 Stooges of NFL coaching) but since then things have changed. I dont think he's a meddler anymore. He hired Parcells to run the organization and coach the team, a move universally praised. While Parcells didnt win as much as we wanted, it was a solid decision. I also understand why he hired Wade. He felt like the pieces were in place to have a dominant, championship calibar defense and wanted the best 3-4 coach he could get, and Wade fit that bill. Ultimately it may not work out, but I dont see where it was a horrible decision.

Jerry's the owner and GM. Ultimately his job is to assemble a talented roster, pay the guys he needs to to stay here and hire a quality coaching staff. I'd say he's done those things. Sure some can argue we dont have a great RT or the FS isnt what we want or whatever, but you cant have an all-pro at every single position. For the most part this is an extremely talented football team.

I guess I'd ask if a Jimmy Johnson type person in his prime were coaching THIS team, exactly as it is otherwise, would we be 0-2 and look like a keystone cops team out there? I think the answer is obvious.

Sorry, I just don't agree.

First off, a "Jimmy Johnson" type coach in his prime WOULDN'T be hired by Jerry. That is exactly my point. And a Jimmy Johnson in his prime wouldn't come to Dallas to coach this team.

Forget football.

It's a business.

The organizational structure isn't working.

We need look no further than the product on the field.

And taking it one step further, ya can't be an owner who shouts to the mountain tops that he's THE man as far as decisions and then not shoulder the blame when the team fails.

Everything you see on that field and in that stadium is a Jerry decision.

 

[odog422]

Jerry deserves some blame, but unlike some I dont think its as bad as its made out to be anymore. There was a time where he CLEARLY was the problem (Switzer, Gailey, Campo, a 3 Stooges of NFL coaching) but since then things have changed. I dont think he's a meddler anymore. He hired Parcells to run the organization and coach the team, a move universally praised. While Parcells didnt win as much as we wanted, it was a solid decision. I also understand why he hired Wade. He felt like the pieces were in place to have a dominant, championship calibar defense and wanted the best 3-4 coach he could get, and Wade fit that bill. Ultimately it may not work out, but I dont see where it was a horrible decision.

Agreed. But if you hire Wade as your HC, treat him as such and let him hire his own staff. That's the point I think Juke is making, which I agree with. Once he hired him, he nullified the good by bringing in who HE thought should be OC. And OL coach. And...

I guess I'd ask if a Jimmy Johnson type person in his prime were coaching THIS team, exactly as it is otherwise, would we be 0-2 and look like a keystone cops team out there? I think the answer is obvious.

We know a Jimmy Johnson type person in his prime, like in your hypothetical situation, would have his own hand-picked staff to ensure his methods and ideology were being communicated and that there was no question who had to answer to who.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Sorry, I just don't agree.

First off, a "Jimmy Johnson" type coach in his prime WOULDN'T be hired by Jerry. That is exactly my point. And a Jimmy Johnson in his prime wouldn't come to Dallas to coach this team.

Forget football.

It's a business.

The organizational structure isn't working.

We need look no further than the product on the field.

And taking it one step further, ya can't be an owner who shouts to the mountain tops that he's THE man as far as decisions and then not shoulder the blame when the team fails.

Everything you see on that field and in that stadium is a Jerry decision.

I don't need to add fuel to your fire (you are doing fine on your own), but it griped me this training camp when they not only had the extra game, but picked up and moved training camp to Oxnard. The product doesn't need additional pimping, he should have kept them in San Antonio and focused on getting ready for the season.

 

[Seven]

:laugh2: I think he's saying that Houston is far better than either Washington or Chicago.

And we know this how? We can't guage any team who plays against Dallas at this point.

 

[Juke99]

I don't need to add fuel to your fire (you are doing fine on your own), but it griped me this training camp when they not only had the extra game, but picked up and moved training camp to Oxnard. The product doesn't need additional pimping, he should have kept them in San Antonio and focused on getting ready for the season.

And from a business perspective, this is EXACTLY why you don't put the marketing guy in charge of operations.

Damn, really...this is simple stuff.

It's business 101.

 

[rangers71]

This team is never ready for the game. There is an old saying that everyone has a plan until the first shot is fired. That is the problem with this team... They are coming in with their plan, they get punched in the mouth, then Wade is standing on the sidelines looking confused because he never planned to be punched in the mouth. The team needs an attitude adjustment. No, a leadership adjustment.

I don't think Garrett is the problem, thought I do think he is trying to be too smart sometimes. On every play the Offense is not getting set until about 5 seconds left on the clock. Sometimes you just need to line up and play. Only then can you make the count & clock work to your advantage. Only then will you be able to keep the opposing defense on edge & make substitution packages difficult for them.

How is Campo still a coach here? The pass Defense has not been good since the days of Sanders and Woodson. He is not getting his players ready. And how do you leave the other team's receiving TE completely uncovered through the middle of the field on a blitz? I know Campo is a likeable guy, but this team is too undisciplined to have a likeable guy coaching them.

Special teams? They are possibly worse than they were 3-4 years ago - and I though that was impossible at the time.

Bottom line is, this team needs less finesse and more butt-kicking. This team needs a coach that is going to get in his player's grill & chew him out for screwing up... but will also head-butt and butt slap a guy for doing well... a coach that will be passionate about the game & the results. I think this team needs a Cowher or a Gruden to get over the hump. The "aww shucks" attitude has permeated this team & it stinks.

While I am not taking up for any of these coaches because I think it is probably time they all be fired your logic is flawed a bit. You ask for a butt chewer and point out that Campo is a likeable guy and too nice to be a coach. I think this is totally opposite. I believe he is the only one on the team that is an *** chewer and will get in a guys grill. He was yelling at both safeties on the sideline yesterday, and last year he almost fought Newman on the sideline. Now is he a head coach material?Most certainly not ( even though his time here was a failure mostly of salary cap issues) but I do think he is a fine secondary coach. Also this team doesn't have a Sanders and Woodson to work with so it is what it is. Secondly we had everything you ask for in Parcells and this team still made dumb mistakes and stupid penalties all the time. He held them accountable even called them out to the media but it didn't stop the dumb false starts, holding penalties, and moron plays. At some point maybe we should just say these guys are dumb. Now once again I am not taking up for Wade or anyone because I think he has lost the team and needs to go. I guess the best thing to do would be let Garrett take over and tell him he has 14 games to show me or he is out aslo. If that doesn't work out then go get someone else.

 

[baj1dallas]

I don't agree that the o line is as bad as you say. I'll cut Columbo a little bit of slack after missing time and coming back against Peppers, he blocked well other than the penalties. Free was pretty solid and imo Gurode looked pretty good. Davis has been better than he was in the preseason but I think he's just an average or slightly above average guard at this point in his career. I've never been impressed by Kosier, I think he's vastly overrated because of his "grade" which is a meaningless number assigned by a coaching staff that nobody trusts anyway. We may be stuck with Davis as a starter again next season but Kosier we can move to backup if we can find a better starter and Columbo will have to finish the season healthy to win his job back next season. I don't blame this loss on the offensive line.

 

[TNCowboy]

And we know this how? We can't guage any team who plays against Dallas at this point.

I think it's a pretty good bet, but it's his opinion.

Regardless, he wasn't referring to Dallas at that point.

 

[TNCowboy]

I don't need to add fuel to your fire (you are doing fine on your own), but it griped me this training camp when they not only had the extra game, but picked up and moved training camp to Oxnard. The product doesn't need additional pimping, he should have kept them in San Antonio and focused on getting ready for the season.

Not to mention, Hard Knocks (twice) and the WR reality show that I don't recall the name of.

Yesterday, someone in the game thread called it a circus when Fox showed the shot of the team running through the middle of a restaurant on their way to the lockerroom. I can't think of a more apt analogy.

 

[Everson24]

2) Tony Romo doesnt look right to me. I think some of it might be mental, because he fears being lit up at almost anytime by a mediocre OL. But some of it might be physical. He threw alot of balls the past couple of games that just dont have the same accuracy or zip on them as we're used to seeing. I thought the same thing early last yr too, and after 5-6 games he got back to normal. Perhaps its a shoulder or elbow issue, we seem to see stories annually in camp about how he has a "dead" or "sore" arm, and perhaps it drags into the regular season. Some people will point to his yardage total yesterday and maybe even his comp% and claim otherwise, but he didnt play well. He threw alot of poor balls yesterday, some when he didnt have any rush.

I've been saying this about Romo in the game chat room and getting shot down for suggesting it. But I too think Tony has something wrong with his arm. He just doesn't seem to have the same zip,accuracy and super quick release I am used to seeing.He is also throwing very few tight spirals that are quite often behind his receivers. I've been wondering if it is a dead arm as well from training camp because the last time I thought he looked good throwing was in the Hall of Fame game in early August.