Fredd
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I am truly stumped. All season, I have had pretty high hopes for making a playoff run. At 5-4 and going into New Orleans, I felt that the game was winnable, albeit everything had to go right. The team hadn't been trounced in any game (they were in it in each game). Then, they gave up and got smashed in the mouth by New Orleans. My rose-colored glasses are now tainted. Here is what I think going into the final 6 games of the regular season (sorry, this is long-winded):
* The New Orleans Debacle - I will say it again, the team gave up. They were in it early in the game and then NO put their foot on the gas. The defense was only out done in their ineptness by an offensive unit that was lackluster and had no plan
- This game showed me what type of players that we have - ones that are collecting a pay check and already were on their break - there was no pride, no enthusiasm, no desire to win a game and go into the bye on an extremely HIGH note
- Next 6 games - someone, anyone must find a way to rally the troops; if this lazy, not wanting to win type of team is coming to NY next week, they are going to get spat upon and lose by double digits; Garrett has lost the team in my opinion - we will see if he can get them back after the break
* The Injury Situation - I have to account for the injuries to show why this team is playing so poorly; on the DL, before the NYG game in Sept, we were hopeful for Ware, Ratliff, Hatcher, Spencer as our front 4; in theory, that is a very good front 4; two never played for us and the other two are injured. Only a dinged Ware went up against NO and he went of the game; Lee, Durant, Mo, Wilcox also are out; that's 7 starters out of 11 that were not in the game; we also have Waters out on the OL which is a much bigger deal than people think
- while I am reticent to make any excuses since these guys are getting paid to make tackles (cough/cough *Heath* cough/cough) and be competitive, they just aren't; there are virtually zero teams that can lose that many starters and still put a good unit on the field and this team is no different, but the shear number of yards that they are giving up is astounding and not just in the NO game
- Next 6 games - obvious, must get healthy to even try to compete, the serious lack of depth has exposed the defense; the FO will not take accountability for the depth, they will just throw their hands in the air and say "what? we didn't expect injuries?" although, that has been the team's recent history
* Defense - the coaching, other than Marinelli is atrocious; but, that ship has sailed; so what do you do at this point? Get new players? can't; get new coaches? too late in the season
- the best thing that this defense can do is to get healthy; with health, they can keep the score for the opponents in the 20's and hope for a miracle by the offense to out score the other team
- Next 6 games - it is very obvious to me that Kiffin's defense can work IF he can keep all 11 starters on the field; I will give him a pass in the beginning of the season as people were learning the scheme; they actually played well in some games until the injuries started flying in; lack of depth, lack of a pass rush is killing the team; they must find a way to merely slow the other team down - perhaps tell the team to simply wrap up instead of letting defenders get carried an extra 5 yards while they try to strip the ball? Just a suggestion
* Offense - the play-calling is ridiculous; Tony Romo must lose a lot of sleep wondering where his chance at success has gone; he has been saddled with putrid play-calling for years and there is no light at the end of the tunnel; this team is failing because the offense cannot sustain drives; this keeps our BAD defense on the field longer and no one wants that
- Any offense with a talent like Dez Bryant that only looks his way twice in a game is going to lose; any team that has shown success on 3rd down in past games by throwing to Beasley to extend drives and yet, in the NO game, takes him out on 3rd down repeatedly is going to lose; any team that has ZERO clue how to employ some type of run game to keep the opponent off balance is going to lose; our play-calling is the down-fall of this team; 3&outs by the offense are killers and we likely lead the league in that category (although I am just ranting on that one)
- Next 6 games - just give the Tony the ball; turn off the head set in his helmet; let him play school-yard ball "Dez, go deep, I'll throw it to you, everyone else, make yourself look busy"; I would rather lose with Tony taking charge than letting this team remain mired in average-ville with Callahan's/Mauve's (can't call him Red as that is a strong color) plan failing miserably
* Coaching - this one is short - our coaches that make decisions suck. period
- Our head coach and two coordinators really should be updating their resume but with our joke of a GM, they are probably going to get extensions
- Next 6 Games - I have zero hope that the play-calling and scheme on either side of the ball will be any different; the only good game plan to me is to let Tony take control; if he is successful, he keeps the ball longer and keeps the defense on the sidelines longer
* Front Office - I saved this for last because this is the most obvious reason for us being mired in mediocrity ONCE AGAIN; Jerry Jones and his refusal to step down as GM of this team has already put us into the dark ages; Tony Romo is trying to keep the team relevant but this team is as bad as the Al Davis Raiders were at the end of his reign.
- Jones grooming his moron son infuriates me; when I think that JJ cannot go on forever, I see him putting little Stevie in there to take over once JJ has tubes coming out of his body and he preps his head for cryo-freezing for the year 2113 when technology will bring him back;
- Next 6 games - I will never want the team to lose, ever; but perhaps the only thing that wakes up JJ from his drunken stupor is for them to go 0-6; then, perhaps the media crucifies him into finally deciding to get a real GM who would then immediately fire Callahan and Garrett and give serious consideration to canning Kiffin (he only had one year with an injury-plagued defense - the jury is still out for me)
BOTTOM LINE: I still believe that this team can win the division and possibly win a home playoff game. I have high hopes. But, my expectation is that they finish 8-8 or 9-7 and get beaten in round #1 @ home in Jerry-land. What will it take to make the proper changes for this organization? Will we EVER get a real GM to lead this team back into relevance? Will we get a REAL HC that has some experience being a HC before they are handed the keys to one of the most prestigious head coaching jobs in the NFL? I know we have 6 games yet to play, but I am tired of 8 and 8 and out
* The New Orleans Debacle - I will say it again, the team gave up. They were in it early in the game and then NO put their foot on the gas. The defense was only out done in their ineptness by an offensive unit that was lackluster and had no plan
- This game showed me what type of players that we have - ones that are collecting a pay check and already were on their break - there was no pride, no enthusiasm, no desire to win a game and go into the bye on an extremely HIGH note
- Next 6 games - someone, anyone must find a way to rally the troops; if this lazy, not wanting to win type of team is coming to NY next week, they are going to get spat upon and lose by double digits; Garrett has lost the team in my opinion - we will see if he can get them back after the break
* The Injury Situation - I have to account for the injuries to show why this team is playing so poorly; on the DL, before the NYG game in Sept, we were hopeful for Ware, Ratliff, Hatcher, Spencer as our front 4; in theory, that is a very good front 4; two never played for us and the other two are injured. Only a dinged Ware went up against NO and he went of the game; Lee, Durant, Mo, Wilcox also are out; that's 7 starters out of 11 that were not in the game; we also have Waters out on the OL which is a much bigger deal than people think
- while I am reticent to make any excuses since these guys are getting paid to make tackles (cough/cough *Heath* cough/cough) and be competitive, they just aren't; there are virtually zero teams that can lose that many starters and still put a good unit on the field and this team is no different, but the shear number of yards that they are giving up is astounding and not just in the NO game
- Next 6 games - obvious, must get healthy to even try to compete, the serious lack of depth has exposed the defense; the FO will not take accountability for the depth, they will just throw their hands in the air and say "what? we didn't expect injuries?" although, that has been the team's recent history
* Defense - the coaching, other than Marinelli is atrocious; but, that ship has sailed; so what do you do at this point? Get new players? can't; get new coaches? too late in the season
- the best thing that this defense can do is to get healthy; with health, they can keep the score for the opponents in the 20's and hope for a miracle by the offense to out score the other team
- Next 6 games - it is very obvious to me that Kiffin's defense can work IF he can keep all 11 starters on the field; I will give him a pass in the beginning of the season as people were learning the scheme; they actually played well in some games until the injuries started flying in; lack of depth, lack of a pass rush is killing the team; they must find a way to merely slow the other team down - perhaps tell the team to simply wrap up instead of letting defenders get carried an extra 5 yards while they try to strip the ball? Just a suggestion
* Offense - the play-calling is ridiculous; Tony Romo must lose a lot of sleep wondering where his chance at success has gone; he has been saddled with putrid play-calling for years and there is no light at the end of the tunnel; this team is failing because the offense cannot sustain drives; this keeps our BAD defense on the field longer and no one wants that
- Any offense with a talent like Dez Bryant that only looks his way twice in a game is going to lose; any team that has shown success on 3rd down in past games by throwing to Beasley to extend drives and yet, in the NO game, takes him out on 3rd down repeatedly is going to lose; any team that has ZERO clue how to employ some type of run game to keep the opponent off balance is going to lose; our play-calling is the down-fall of this team; 3&outs by the offense are killers and we likely lead the league in that category (although I am just ranting on that one)
- Next 6 games - just give the Tony the ball; turn off the head set in his helmet; let him play school-yard ball "Dez, go deep, I'll throw it to you, everyone else, make yourself look busy"; I would rather lose with Tony taking charge than letting this team remain mired in average-ville with Callahan's/Mauve's (can't call him Red as that is a strong color) plan failing miserably
* Coaching - this one is short - our coaches that make decisions suck. period
- Our head coach and two coordinators really should be updating their resume but with our joke of a GM, they are probably going to get extensions
- Next 6 Games - I have zero hope that the play-calling and scheme on either side of the ball will be any different; the only good game plan to me is to let Tony take control; if he is successful, he keeps the ball longer and keeps the defense on the sidelines longer
* Front Office - I saved this for last because this is the most obvious reason for us being mired in mediocrity ONCE AGAIN; Jerry Jones and his refusal to step down as GM of this team has already put us into the dark ages; Tony Romo is trying to keep the team relevant but this team is as bad as the Al Davis Raiders were at the end of his reign.
- Jones grooming his moron son infuriates me; when I think that JJ cannot go on forever, I see him putting little Stevie in there to take over once JJ has tubes coming out of his body and he preps his head for cryo-freezing for the year 2113 when technology will bring him back;
- Next 6 games - I will never want the team to lose, ever; but perhaps the only thing that wakes up JJ from his drunken stupor is for them to go 0-6; then, perhaps the media crucifies him into finally deciding to get a real GM who would then immediately fire Callahan and Garrett and give serious consideration to canning Kiffin (he only had one year with an injury-plagued defense - the jury is still out for me)
BOTTOM LINE: I still believe that this team can win the division and possibly win a home playoff game. I have high hopes. But, my expectation is that they finish 8-8 or 9-7 and get beaten in round #1 @ home in Jerry-land. What will it take to make the proper changes for this organization? Will we EVER get a real GM to lead this team back into relevance? Will we get a REAL HC that has some experience being a HC before they are handed the keys to one of the most prestigious head coaching jobs in the NFL? I know we have 6 games yet to play, but I am tired of 8 and 8 and out
