Eleven best or Best Eleven?

[Bobhaze]

“As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven." —former Notre Dame Head Coach Knute Rockne

The simple truth of the great quote above from legendary coach Knute Rockne has escaped the Cowboys top brass for far too long. Play your best eleven, not just your eleven best. Team matters. Most great coaches and certainly great general managers who build winning rosters understand that the goal is to build a team that wins. Not just gather a bunch of talent.

If the Cowboys are ever going to return to the glory of winning a bunch of playoff games (hey we used to do that!) we are going to have to build a roster that works collectively to win, not just rack up a bunch of stats. Here are a few examples of what this means:

• Winning is more important than stats. Who cares how many yards someone has when you lose?
• Don’t just draft a guy because “he’s really good”. Draft guys that will be good for us as a team. Guys that will make the team better- help us win- not just sell jerseys.
• What makes a great team isn’t just talent. It’s talent that fits together. It’s talent that collectively is bigger than the sum of its parts.

I realize injuries and other factors come into play with building a great team. But these principles apply to backup players as well. Do they compliment our team strengths or did we sign them because they were cheap and available?

Teams can get better faster than they used to in the NFL. We could be a lot better next year. But sadly, until these clowns running this FO learn some things about team building, we’re stuck just hoping we get lucky once in a while.

 

[fivetwos]

“As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven." —former Notre Dame Head Coach Knute Rockne

The simple truth of the great quote above from legendary coach Knute Rockne has escaped the Cowboys top brass for far too long. Play your best eleven, not just your eleven best. Team matters. Most great coaches and certainly great general managers who build winning rosters understand that the goal is to build a team that wins. Not just gather a bunch of talent.

If the Cowboys are ever going to return to the glory of winning a bunch of playoff games (hey we used to do that!) we are going to have to build a roster that works collectively to win, not just rack up a bunch of stats. Here are a few examples of what this means:

• Winning is more important than stats. Who cares how many yards someone has when you lose?
• Don’t just draft a guy because “he’s really good”. Draft guys that will be good for us as a team. Guys that will make the team better- help us win- not just sell jerseys.
• What makes a great team isn’t just talent. It’s talent that fits together. It’s talent that collectively is bigger than the sum of its parts.

I realize injuries and other factors come into play with building a great team. But these principles apply to backup players as well. Do they compliment our team strengths or did we sign them because they were cheap and available?

Teams can get better faster than they used to in the NFL. We could be a lot better next year. But sadly, until these clowns running this FO learn some things about team building, we’re stuck just hoping we get lucky once in a while.

I'm not even worried about actually winning championships.

I want to be in a spot where around this time of year you have a very good shot of making the playoffs, and IF you do, you have a real chance at winning if you're playing well.

Feels like many people are worried about championships when we havent come close in forever.

 

[Bobhaze]

I'm not even worried about actually winning championships.

I want to be in a spot where around this time of year you have a very good shot of making the playoffs, and IF you do, you have a real chance at winning if you're playing well.

Feels like many people are worried about championships when we havent come close in forever.

True. But what’s doubly frustrating is this: It’s easier to win a SB than it used to be. Back in the 70s, only 8 teams made the playoffs. Now, it’s what, 14? Even with greater odds of qualifying for the playoffs, this organization has only made the playoffs 7 times in 21 seasons.

 

[JoeKing]

The "eleven best" are the eleven that work best together. The "best eleven" are the individual best eleven. They may not work the best together.

 

[CouchCoach]

I'm not even worried about actually winning championships.

I want to be in a spot where around this time of year you have a very good shot of making the playoffs, and IF you do, you have a real chance at winning if you're playing well.

Feels like many people are worried about championships when we havent come close in forever.

Yep, contention isn't a bad thing.

 

[nightrain]

“As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven." —former Notre Dame Head Coach Knute Rockne

The simple truth of the great quote above from legendary coach Knute Rockne has escaped the Cowboys top brass for far too long. Play your best eleven, not just your eleven best. Team matters. Most great coaches and certainly great general managers who build winning rosters understand that the goal is to build a team that wins. Not just gather a bunch of talent.

If the Cowboys are ever going to return to the glory of winning a bunch of playoff games (hey we used to do that!) we are going to have to build a roster that works collectively to win, not just rack up a bunch of stats. Here are a few examples of what this means:

• Winning is more important than stats. Who cares how many yards someone has when you lose?
• Don’t just draft a guy because “he’s really good”. Draft guys that will be good for us as a team. Guys that will make the team better- help us win- not just sell jerseys.
• What makes a great team isn’t just talent. It’s talent that fits together. It’s talent that collectively is bigger than the sum of its parts.

I realize injuries and other factors come into play with building a great team. But these principles apply to backup players as well. Do they compliment our team strengths or did we sign them because they were cheap and available?

Teams can get better faster than they used to in the NFL. We could be a lot better next year. But sadly, until these clowns running this FO learn some things about team building, we’re stuck just hoping we get lucky once in a while.

Complimentary football......it served the Pats pretty well for a couple of decades. The Salary cap kills teams for unbalanced rosters when placing too much capital within a given unit of the roster. Jerry excels at undisciplined cap management and probably dismisses analytics as too time consuming.

 

[Bobhaze]

Complimentary football......it served the Pats pretty well for a couple of decades. The Salary cap kills teams for unbalanced rosters when placing too much capital within a given unit of the roster. Jerry excels at undisciplined cap management and probably dismisses analytics as too time consuming.

Yes! Complimentary Football. This FO looks at cap management mostly in dollars instead of also looking at whether the FA player they sign or draft choice compliments the roster to help us win.

 

[nightrain]

Yes! Complimentary Football. This FO looks at cap management mostly in dollars instead of also looking at whether the FA player they sign or draft choice compliments the roster to help us win.

Jersey doesn't realize jersey sales won't correlate to post season appearances.

 

[GMO415]

"Those that cost the most, plays the most"
Jerry Jones

 

[Jake]

I'm not even worried about actually winning championships.

I want to be in a spot where around this time of year you have a very good shot of making the playoffs, and IF you do, you have a real chance at winning if you're playing well.

Feels like many people are worried about championships when we havent come close in forever.

I'd like to feel as if this organization could win a championship. As it is currently structured, and has been for some time, I have zero confidence that is going to happen.

 

[fivetwos]

I'd like to feel as if this organization could win a championship. As it is currently structured, and has been for some time, I have zero confidence that is going to happen.

Well that kind of what I mean.

People talk about winning championships plenty.

I just want to be in the mix for the possiblity.

As an example of what I mean....theres plenty of good teams in the league this year, and a few that can win it all, yet only one will actually win.

I just want to be one of the teams in the discussion and I havent truly felt they could win it all (even in 07 and 16) going into the playoffs since 95.

 

[Bobhaze]

I'd like to feel as if this organization could win a championship. As it is currently structured, and has been for some time, I have zero confidence that is going to happen.

This organization’s leadership makes it harder than it has to be.

 

[Bobhaze]

Well that kind of what I mean.

People talk about winning championships plenty.

I just want to be in the mix for the possiblity.

As an example of what I mean....theres plenty of good teams in the league this year, and a few that can win it all, yet only one will actually win.

I just want to be one of the teams in the discussion and I havent truly felt they could win it all (even in 07 and 16) going into the playoffs since 95.

In the era of “parity”, being in the mix shouldn’t be this hard. To only make the playoffs 7 times in the last 21 seasons is astounding for an organization that has the slogan “Winning is the name of the game” pasted on the entrance to the facility.

 

[Future]

In the era of “parity”, being in the mix shouldn’t be this hard. To only make the playoffs 7 times in the last 21 seasons is astounding for an organization that has the slogan “Winning is the name of the game” pasted on the entrance to the facility.

You can do this nonsense for every team in the league if you're going to pick and choose arbitrary cutoffs.

Now tell me how many teams have 3 Super Bowl wins and 15 playoff appearances in the last 30 seasons.

 

[Bobhaze]

You can do this nonsense for every team in the league if you're going to pick and choose arbitrary cutoffs.

Now tell me how many teams have 3 Super Bowl wins and 15 playoff appearances in the last 30 seasons.

Please expound.

 

[DallasEast]

Did Knute Rockne ever say the best eleven should tank in order to entice the best high school talent to Notre Dame? Just curious if the legendary coach thought hypothetical future winning was a byproduct of contemporary intentional losing.

 

[Bobhaze]

Did Knute Rockne ever say the best eleven should tank in order to entice the best high school talent to Notre Dame? Just curious if the legendary coach thought hypothetical future winning was a byproduct of contemporary intentional losing.

I’m thinking no.

 

[cowboyec]

considering our injuries...all we could hope for were our 11 best.
once they heal.
plus a real off-season...i hope its our best 11.
love that quote from Rockne.
total bad-assery right there.

 

[cowboyec]

if i'm wrong about this...i'll own it.
but down the line...Terrence Steele and Brandon Knight will be counted among our best.
hats off to those 2.
never quit.
they will be better for the game experience.
and we will as a team for having them.
STEELE.
KNIGHT.
THANK YOU

 

[cowboyec]

“As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven." —former Notre Dame Head Coach Knute Rockne

The simple truth of the great quote above from legendary coach Knute Rockne has escaped the Cowboys top brass for far too long. Play your best eleven, not just your eleven best. Team matters. Most great coaches and certainly great general managers who build winning rosters understand that the goal is to build a team that wins. Not just gather a bunch of talent.

If the Cowboys are ever going to return to the glory of winning a bunch of playoff games (hey we used to do that!) we are going to have to build a roster that works collectively to win, not just rack up a bunch of stats. Here are a few examples of what this means:

• Winning is more important than stats. Who cares how many yards someone has when you lose?
• Don’t just draft a guy because “he’s really good”. Draft guys that will be good for us as a team. Guys that will make the team better- help us win- not just sell jerseys.
• What makes a great team isn’t just talent. It’s talent that fits together. It’s talent that collectively is bigger than the sum of its parts.

I realize injuries and other factors come into play with building a great team. But these principles apply to backup players as well. Do they compliment our team strengths or did we sign them because they were cheap and available?

Teams can get better faster than they used to in the NFL. We could be a lot better next year. But sadly, until these clowns running this FO learn some things about team building, we’re stuck just hoping we get lucky once in a while.

the world's better with guys like you in it.
always learn something from you Bullett...thanks.