Happy with 9 wins

[bayeslife]

I predicted 4-12 so this is pretty great, especially when you consider how butts their defense is.

Not over yet though, they're 9-4 now and in the wild card as of now, they have to keep winning.

 

[visionary]

We are starting to see the tangible results of what this organization has been working towards, and it is very satisfying. I am absolutely stoked to see how these last several weeks play out.

It's funny now to look back at the "experts" preseason analysis vs what we've proven ourselves to be. I remember power rankings before week 1 having us somewhere between 28-32.

What a surprising and satisfying season so far.

Lol, the team is "building toward" nothing
The only thing that had changed is the OL
The player that makes everything go (romo) is one hit away from retiring

It better be about this year

 

[big dog cowboy]

Hey, I was a 5-11 prognosticator and am happy to have been so wrong. And I will now gladly give credit where credit is due. This team still has needs, but they've managed a winning season despite losing their top 3 defensive players.

Tried telling everyone losing those 3 players was overrated.

 

[Stash]

Tried telling everyone losing those 3 players was overrated.

They have made it work, for the most part.

But, this defense still shouldn't be considered a good one.

Like many others, I'm hoping for a defensive-centric draft to hopefully restock the cupboard on that side.

But I'm also hoping they continue to look to bolster the offensive line as well, should the opportunity present itself.

 

[Gameover]

Props to Jerry for finally seeing some results for the great work he's put in this decade! They should've won 10 last year!

 

[Hostile]

No. I'm not giving Coughlin a pass because of injuries. But I don't think he's suddenly become a bad coach either.

I attribute the Giants issues to some poor personnel moves (specifically failing to replace key players on both the offensive and defensive lines), and the inexplicable decision to radically change up the offense.

Then may I assume that you can look back on our injuries the previous two years with a little more clarity as to what I was saying to you about how 8 wins might have been over achieving? I don't think the Giants injuries are near equal with ours last year, yet they are far worse.

 

[Joe Realist]

I had 7-8-1, now seeing 10-6. I feel they need 11 wins to make playoffs and that may not be enough.

 

[Hostile]

Played their due part for sure.

The decision to completely change up the offense on Eli, which he clearly isn't nearly as comfortable in, is also a huge factor in why their team isn't as good.

I do agree with the last part.

 

[KJJ]

The clearest indicator of progress is the record and the Cowboys have progressed over the past 4 seasons with their first winning season since 2009. The OL has greatly improved over the past few seasons and the running game could end up being the best in franchise history. With 3 games left Murray is only 167 yards shy of Emmitt's franchise rushing record and has a good shot at reaching the magical 2000 yard mark. I'm certainly not satisfied with where the team is but the 2014 season has been a step in the right direction.

 

[daveferr33]

I am as happy as the next guy about 9 wins with three games to go, but I have no idea why preseason predictions from some fans on a forum, the media and a clueless owner should have any bearing on how I feel about those 9 wins. Bottom line is in today's NFL you never know who will be good and who will not be good from year to year.

I mean, if this is the game to be played, Jerry should just come out every year and say it will be "uphill"; that way if they exceed expectations everyone is happy.

So while I'm happy, I'm not satisfied. We don't know if Murray gets resigned. We have been relatively healthy. The window of opportunity has to be now. I don't care about perceived progress or if a certain coach gets to keep his job. It would be a waste of a healthy and dominant O-line not to do some damage in the playoffs.

 

[Stash]

Then may I assume that you can look back on our injuries the previous two years with a little more clarity as to what I was saying to you about how 8 wins might have been over achieving?

I'm not going to deny that it's helped this year to have avoided the injury bug to a great degree, but I still don't give them a pass for the past two years. Despite those injuries, they still had several of those talented players for a large portion of those seasons and it didn't make a difference then either.

The best thing that this team did was to finally - after years of fans imploring them! - rely on the running game. That, in my opinion, has made all the difference.

And if we're nitpicking, I still take issue with their clear, telegraphed offensive tendencies on display for all the world to see.

But in this thread, I prefer to focus more on the positives achieved than the negatives.

I don't think the Giants injuries are near equal with ours last year, yet they are far worse.

But, as I indicated, I don't give the Giants a free pass due to injury at all. I think their issues are much more closely related to failures in talent acquisition and an ill-advised scheme change.

 

[Gaede]

I'll admit, 9 wins is better than I thought we could do.

That being said, I won't be happy until we make the playoffs. My standards are higher than just having a winning record for once

 

[Hostile]

I'm not going to deny that it's helped this year to have avoided the injury bug to a great degree, but I still don't give them a pass for the past two years. Despite those injuries, they still had several of those talented players for a large portion of those seasons and it didn't make a difference then either.

No one gave them a pass. What I am saying is injuries impacted the outcome of the season. No way you can tell me this year's Ware is the same as last year's. No way.

The best thing that this team did was to finally - after years of fans imploring them! - rely on the running game. That, in my opinion, has made all the difference.

Yeah, if we hadn't drafted Zack Martin I'd be telling you we'd be more effective passing than running. We have played to strengths.

And if we're nitpicking, I still take issue with their clear, telegraphed offensive tendencies on display for all the world to see.

And i don't because I knew what almost every play ws going to be in the Super Bowl years and so did everyone else and we still stomped mudholes in people and then walked them dry. Lombardi's vaunted Packers dynasty was predictable. Stopping it was another story.

But in this thread, I prefer to focus more on the positives achieved than the negatives.

You learn more from negatives. I mean as far as developing a team. The 2007 Patriots for example. Great team. But once someone played even with them, they couldn't do what it took to win it all. I believe in tempering to make stronger steel.

But, as I indicated, I don't give the Giants a free pass due to injury at all. I think their issues are much more closely related to failures in talent acquisition and an ill-advised scheme change.

I'm still not giving anyone a free pass, but I have no doubt that the Giants could be a much better football team if they were healthy.

 

[Crown Royal]

Tried telling everyone losing those 3 players was overrated.

Ware and Hatcher was the right decision.

Losing Lee definitely hurt us though.

 

[LandryFan]

Sadly though, the 5-11 and 6-10 prognosticators will complain the loudest if Dallas finishes 10-6 and doesn't make the playoffs.

That's because some of them simply cannot be satisfied.

 

[Stash]

No one gave them a pass. What I am saying is injuries impacted the outcome of the season. No way you can tell me this year's Ware is the same as last year's. No way.

There's also 'no way' anyone can say he's being asked to play the same role.

[Yeah, if we hadn't drafted Zack Martin I'd be telling you we'd be more effective passing than running. We have played to strengths.

Martin's a fine player, but I'm not buying that he's the end-all, be-all for this running game. He didn't suddenly step in and turn a bad line into a good one.

And i don't because I knew what almost every play ws going to be in the Super Bowl years and so did everyone else and we still stomped mudholes in people and then walked them dry. Lombardi's vaunted Packers dynasty was predictable. Stopping it was another story.

But they were able to do that because they were just so much better than everyone else. I believe that talent is much more evenly distributed in the era of free agency. And my comment wasn't directed as much at the predictability of expecting run on first down, but more the failed thought process that you can't possibly run the football on anything more than 3rd and 1.

You learn more from negatives. I mean as far as developing a team. The 2007 Patriots for example. Great team. But once someone played even with them, they couldn't do what it took to win it all. I believe in tempering to make stronger steel.

I'm referring to this particular thread. I created it more to praise and compliment and to appreciate what we have done rather than to be critical. We have plenty of other threads to do that.

I'm still not giving anyone a free pass, but I have no doubt that the Giants could be a much better football team if they were healthy.

And I would argue that they would be considerably better than that if the didn't try to force a round peg in a square hole with a poor decision on scheme and coordinator.

More than anything else, I feel that choice could be what costs Coughlin his job.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

nope

If they play poor enough not to win again, I am not happy...
progress is game to game.

 

[DoomsDayD]

I am pretty happy with the season...still smarting over the eagles loss but hopefully we can make that up next week. I would love to see this team win the division and get a playoff win...

 

[jrumann59]

We are starting to see the tangible results of what this organization has been working towards, and it is very satisfying. I am absolutely stoked to see how these last several weeks play out.

It's funny now to look back at the "experts" preseason analysis vs what we've proven ourselves to be. I remember power rankings before week 1 having us somewhere between 28-32.

What a surprising and satisfying season so far.

They need to keep up with their personnel philosophy and draft strategy. They cannot use the success this year to justify spending like drunk sailors in FA next year thinking they will be in the SB.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I'm curious about something stash. You and I have clashed about the injuries of the last 2 years and the affect it had on those teams. Friendly, but still clashed.

Look at the injuries on the Giants this year. Coughlin is what I think we'd both call a great coach. Do you think their poor season is a reflection of their injuries, the same way I think our last 2 years were a reflection on ours? Or do you think that they should be playing better and it reflects on a bad job by Coughlin and company?

Totally agree. Garrett gets zero credit for taking a team with almost nothing left resembling NFL talent in his front seven and without his QB in the final game to the brink of the playoffs a season ago. To be honest 8-8 was a major accomplishment last year given what happend on defense.