FWST Blog: Assistant Interviews and Ireland Updates

[Randy White]

Do we know that Tom Ciskowski couldn't do about as well as Ireland?

If he's given the same authority that Ireland was given, I think he'd do great. Ciskowski is a long time Cowboys' scout and he's very good.

 

[Randy White]

Jimmy recruited troy out of high school, and tried to get him to transfer to miami, troy transferred to UCLA instead and Jimmy has said many times he wanted him.
I don't remember what was said at the time, but I have heard more than once in the last two years how much Jimmy gushed over troy aikman, going all the way back to high school.

It's not a secret that Jimmah wasn't Troy Aikman's fan at the begining of their careers. Steve Walsh was his boy because " he's always been a winner " which was a little dig at Troy for not being able to beat Rodney Peete and USC. Thank goodness Jerrah was always Troy's fan and made it clear that Troy wasn't going anywhere, so Jimmah learned to accept him and eventually like him. I believe Mike Fisher commented that the relationship started thawing over both's interest in salt water acquariums.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

we could use a low rd draft pk.........remember Ratliff (7th rd)?

 

[Bach]

Yeah, the same Jimmy Johnson that didn't want Troy Aikman. Guess Jerry should be glad he didn't listen to him. Otherwise he might not have all those Super Bowls.

Jerry's the GM. Jerry makes the decisions. He hired Wade. He hired Ireland. He hired Bill. He said who's name went on each and every draft card. You can keep denying him credit, but it's purely irrational.

Troy was the unanimous #1 pick in '89. Only a delusional apologist would try to say Jimmy didn't want to draft Troy.

And yeah, Jerry does have the title of GM. As owner, he can call himself whatever he wants.

But it's no coincidence that we built a dynasty under Jimmy, then proceeded to fall into the dregs of the NFL once Jerry and Lacewell's draftees become the core of the team. Then once Jerry finally relinquished some authority again when he brought in Bill we finally become a playoff and SB contender again.

See a trend here?

 

[khiladi]

See a trend here?

Actually, the trend is that of an aging dynasty like every other aging dynasty that preceded the Dallas cowboys prior to free agency. The Steelers sucked after the 70s, the 49ers sucked longer than the Cowboys in the 90s, and they still suck, the Packers folded after the 60s, and so-on.

Credit Jerry for re-establishing the Cowboys on firm foundations quicker than these other teams.

 

[Bach]

Actually, the trend is that of an aging dynasty like every other aging dynasty that preceded the Dallas cowboys prior to free agency. The Steelers sucked after the 70s, the 49ers sucked longer than the Cowboys in the 90s, and they still suck, the Packers folded after the 60s, and so-on.

Credit Jerry for re-establishing the Cowboys on firm foundations quicker than these other teams.

It was an aging dynasty and the main reason we regressed to several 5-11 seasons is because we had no one in charge in the mid 90's til '03 when BP came on board who had a clue how to draft or manage personnel.

Of course guys were going to get old and leave via FA etc. But it never would've gotten as bad as it did if we had someone overseeing personnel during those days like Jimmy or BP or anyone with a clue instead of Jerry and Lacewell.

There's no coincidence that the ship turned around and we became playoff contenders once Jerry brought in someone like Parcells.

Now, we'll just have to see what direction he goes in. Does he do what he did in the early 90's and the last few years and have someone here who knows personnel? Or will he go the route of having himself surrounded by incompetents the like of Lacewell? If it's the latter then we all better get on knees and ray: real hard.

 

[khiladi]

It was an aging dynasty and the main reason we regressed to several 5-11 seasons is because we had no one in charge in the mid 90's til '03 when BP came on board who had a clue how to draft or manage personnel.

We regressed, because that was the standard pattern for every aging dynasty. We regressed because we had salary cap issues because of the back-loaded contracts that won as all the previous Super Bowls. By the time BP came into town, everything was set for the DC organization to make the moves needed to become a major player in the league again.

Everybody seems to avoid this basic question. What happened to the other dynasties before Dallas' reign or even during Dallas reign after their run? This question also needs to be seen in the context of the statements of Bill Walsh, who pretty much states the modern day version of free agency was implemented because the league saw Dallas running off a major string of Super Bowls. This essentially means that free agency pretty much targetted the Dallas Cowboys, so what do you expect?

There's no coincidence that the ship turned around and we became playoff contenders once Jerry brought in someone like Parcells.

Playoff contenders how? Two of the 4 seasons, we didn't even sniff the playoffs. If you have high draft picks, no salary cap issues, and a big hand in the organization, coupled with an absolutely horrid NFC East, you better turn the organization around, because there really is only one way to go.

 

[Bach]

Playoff contenders how? Two of the 4 seasons, we didn't even sniff the playoffs.

Playoff contenders how?

Oh like maybe taking over a team that went 5-11 three times in a row and having 3 winning seasons in 4 years with 2 playoff appearances. Not to mention leaving the pieces in place for this years run.

That's how.

 

[stealth]

Recruiting him out of high school and wanting to draft him #1 overall are two different situations.

do you remember who jimmy wanted to draft Number one?
I know they got steve walsh in the supplemental, but who did jimmy want in the real draft?

 

[khiladi]

Playoff contenders how?

Oh like maybe taking over a team that went 5-11 three times in a row and having 3 winning seasons in 4 years with 2 playoff appearances. Not to mention leaving the pieces in place for this years run.

That's how.

How do you define play-off contender? We were play-off contenders, with Quincy Carter? We lost to Seattle in the first round because of Bill's conservative approach. Seattle had an ailing secondary that we refused to attack.

The other 2 years, we were clearly not contenders.

 

[Avery]

1 Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman Quarterback UCLA
2 Green Bay Packers Tony Mandarich Offensive Tackle Michigan State
3 Detroit Lions Barry Sanders Running Back Oklahoma State
4 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Thomas Defensive End Alabama
5 Atlanta Falcons Deion Sanders Cornerback Florida State

Which of these players doesn't belong?

 

[khiladi]

1 Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman Quarterback UCLA
2 Green Bay Packers Tony Mandarich Offensive Tackle Michigan State
3 Detroit Lions Barry Sanders Running Back Oklahoma State
4 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick Thomas Defensive End Alabama
5 Atlanta Falcons Deion Sanders Cornerback Florida State

Which of these players doesn't belong?

Damn, that was a monster draft class. 4 out 5 are clear HoF players....

 

[SuspectCorner]

Damn, that was a monster draft class. 4 out 5 are clear HoF players....

and Mandrich was a complete flippin' bust.

 

[SMCowboy]

do you remember who jimmy wanted to draft Number one?
I know they got steve walsh in the supplemental, but who did jimmy want in the real draft?

If I am not mistaken, the guy he wanted was the one guy in the TOP 5 that would have been a bad pick. Tony Mandrich

 

[Bach]

How do you define play-off contender? We were play-off contenders, with Quincy Carter? We lost to Seattle in the first round because of Bill's conservative approach. Seattle had an ailing secondary that we refused to attack.

The other 2 years, we were clearly not contenders.

I think you're getting playoff contender and Super Bowl contender confused.

Fact: We made the playoffs twice in 4 years. We also went 9-7 another year and CONTENDED for a playoff spot down to the last day.

That is a far cry from the three straight 5-11 seasons prior to BP arriving.

And now this year we are a legit Super Bowl CONTENDER. It remains to be seen whether we make it there or not. But we definitely are in a position to contend for it.

 

[Dodger12]

We regressed, because that was the standard pattern for every aging dynasty. We regressed because we had salary cap issues because of the back-loaded contracts that won as all the previous Super Bowls. By the time BP came into town, everything was set for the DC organization to make the moves needed to become a major player in the league again.

Everybody seems to avoid this basic question. What happened to the other dynasties before Dallas' reign or even during Dallas reign after their run? This question also needs to be seen in the context of the statements of Bill Walsh, who pretty much states the modern day version of free agency was implemented because the league saw Dallas running off a major string of Super Bowls. This essentially means that free agency pretty much targetted the Dallas Cowboys, so what do you expect?

Playoff contenders how? Two of the 4 seasons, we didn't even sniff the playoffs. If you have high draft picks, no salary cap issues, and a big hand in the organization, coupled with an absolutely horrid NFC East, you better turn the organization around, because there really is only one way to go.

We regressed because of absolutely horrific drafts. You give a ton of excuses but completely gloss over the primary one; poor drafts were the bottom line reason for our demise. And if you're in salary cap hell, then you fill in the blanks with less expensive draft picks.

Now I'm not naive enought to believe that we could have replaced all of our Pro-Bowl'ers with draft picks. But a majority of our draft picks never even sniffed another NFL team/roster after they left the Cowboys.

 

[Dodger12]

do you remember who jimmy wanted to draft Number one?
I know they got steve walsh in the supplemental, but who did jimmy want in the real draft?

He'll never be able to answer that question because there was no one else. Aikman was the consensus #1 pick and to say that Jimmy didn't want him and was in any way, shape or form over ruled by Jerry is just pure lunacy. And that's not a slight on Jerry or that Jimmy had the authority on draft day. Just that both probably agreed on where the #1 pick (QB) should be spent to rebuild the franchise. People need to put the liquor down, the New Years holiday is over.

 

[Bach]

If I am not mistaken, the guy he wanted was the one guy in the TOP 5 that would have been a bad pick. Tony Mandrich

More revisionist history.

There were several analysts back then that thought the #1 pick should be either Aikman or Mandarich, but there was no way we were choosing anyone other than Troy.

 

[Doomsday101]

More revisionist history.

There were several analysts back then that thought the #1 pick should be either Aikman or Mandarich, but there was no way we were choosing anyone other than Troy.

I think most people in Dallas expected Troy Aikman before the college bowl games were over. I still recall seeing Landry at mid-field with Troy Aikman after the UCLA Vs Ark Cotton Bowl game was over something Landry did not do often and I think that was a pretty clear cut sign who the Cowboys would take. Granted Landry would soon get fired but I don't think that ever changed the sense of who the cowboys would take. I think Jerry and Jimmy would have felt the heat big time had they passed on Troy with so much public sentiment towards Aikman.

 

[Bach]

I think most people in Dallas expected Troy Aikman before the college bowl games were over. I still recall seeing Landry at mid-field with Troy Aikman after the UCLA Vs Ark Cotton Bowl game was over something Landry did not do often and I think that was a pretty clear cut sign who the Cowboys would take. Granted Landry would soon get fired but I don't think that ever changed the sense of who the cowboys would take. I think Jerry and Jimmy would have felt the heat big time had they passed on Troy with so much public sentiment towards Aikman.

I agree.

Troy was the pick if Landry had stayed. And he was the pick of Jerry and Jimmy.