History Repeats Itself, The 1980's All Over Again

[Streifenkarl]

The 80's team transitioned into a Jimmy Johnson led team.

Who is coming to save this mess?

My first thought exactly after I read his thread opener.

I wonder what the fans thought in '87 oder '88.

 

[blueblood70]

Danny White was better and more successful than Dak & Romo. But then again, Danny White never had to throw to receivers blinded by the sun, or grapple with a chump head coach with zero authority, or try to win with all the obstacles to winning that our beloved fuhrer creates.

you mean he was on a more successful team he was not better than Romo or dak..man had an upside td-INT ratio in the playoffs and not much better in the RS. Seriously was carried by a HOF coaching staff and surrounding players all facts QBS like him exist today like carson wentz..sorry Daks better but we will never know..

Mark sanchez, bortles all went to and many other average qbs went to Championship games and SBS but weren't better than Dak or Romo simply on better teams..

 

[Cowboyz88]

2024 Jerry needs a 1989 Jerry to come in and let him go to reset this mess.

1989 Jerry would look at the 30-year career of the current GM and laugh his butt off while showing him the door.

Sadly, we're stuck with 2024 Jerry.

 

[chuck520]

My first thought exactly after I read his thread opener.

I wonder what the fans thought in '87 oder '88.

I was a fan then so I'll tell you
in 1987 it felt as though the team was slipping and by 1988 it was felt as if they had fallen apart

And that Tom Landry needed to go so all the people that whine and cry about when he was fired those same fans wanted him gone that season
He needed to go and the they needed to start over

Offensive and defensive schemes were outdated the team was slow, old and not very good. it was a terrible time to be a fan and I remember alot of the so called fans jumped off the bandwagon

 

[DuncanIso]

The 80's team transitioned into a Jimmy Johnson led team.

Who is coming to save this mess?

When they sold the team in 84, it doomed us.

I remember those teams.

 

[McKDaddy]

If you think Jerry spends another top 10 draft pick on a RB, you’re misguided.

Nor should he. This team is a long ways from being fundamentally sound in the trenches. Once you have the foundation, then you consider playmakers.

I've never been on the RB's are useless bandwagon but you don't need to spend a top 10 pick on one unless they are generational 3 down player. You can get plenty of RB's that can do well if you have the right foundation.

 

[Big_D]

Nor should he. This team is a long ways from being fundamentally sound in the trenches. Once you have the foundation, then you consider playmakers.

I've never been on the RB's are useless bandwagon but you don't need to spend a top 10 pick on one unless they are generational 3 down player. You can get plenty of RB's that can do well if you have the right foundation.

If they're sitting top 5 and go RB that would really be hilarious how much this team loves to repeat stupid decisions. We will see? It's actually time to get a QB, but they won't do that either since we're now stuck with Prescott.

 

[Saluki]

"There isn’t much left to say that isn’t redundant and obvious.

The #Jets are terribly coached, their talent is overrated, and they play with absolutely no fire.

Nothing about them is enjoyable to watch or root for.

This disaster of a season cannot possibly end fast enough." - Mike Greenberg on the Jets. This applies to our team in spades. Change my mind.

 

[MyFairLady]

Save the day with an RB and a slot WR? Is that you Jerry?

 

[McKDaddy]

If they're sitting top 5 and go RB that would really be hilarious how much this team loves to repeat stupid decisions. We will see? It's actually time to get a QB, but they won't do that either since we're now stuck with Prescott.

A top 5 pick, without the Dak contract, would be the absolute time to go after a QB. With that contract, they need to focus on core defenders & WR in this draft and\or trade down & stockpile picks for 2026.

Most likely going to be a several year project to rebuild this team so I would shop CD & Parsons. No need wasting them here. Might as well get younger, cheaper players & get them some experience.

 

[MyFairLady]

Make all the excuses you want for the 60 million dollar bum. Danny White played in more NFC championship games then Dak has playoff wins. Dak is nothing but a broke down clown show albatross at this point. We are screwed.

 

[Rayman70]

For all you younger fans, you may not know about the 1980's Cowboys' teams. Talent level dropped like crazy. There are some eerie similarities to the current team.
1. A QB who could only take the team so far, who did not have "It." Danny White and Dak.
2. A first round LB with lots of talent whose neck injuries ruined a potential great career, Billy Cannon #1 in 1984, Vander Esch #1 2018.
3. A stinker #1 draft pick DL from Michigan, 1985 Kevin Brooks, 2023 Mazie Smith, 2017 Taco Charlton
4. Old in the tooth management losing touch.
5. Countless bust picks in rounds 2-4,
DL Fehoko TE Schoonmaker WR Jalen Tolbert DT Neville Gallimore DT Tristen Hill CB Reggie Robinson WR R. Switzer CB Kelvin Joseph CB Nashon Wright LB Jabril Cox
6. Donovan Wilson only one left from 2019 draft class; LB Eugene Lockhart only decent player from 1984 draft
7. This current team alone: decent high draft picks leaving current team, not keeping them and not having in-house replacements, such as Connor Williams, Connor McGovern, DE Dorance Armstrong, Tony Pollard; We hit on Terrance Williams and Michael Gallup, who produced in rookie seasons as viable "getting open" wide receivers, while J Tolbert looks like a practice squad player, never getting open and no one else NFL good to pair with Lamb.
8. The current talent evaluations are reminding me of the 1980's. Who is responsible for the worst stable of RB's in Cowboys history? A set of receivers as low on talent other than Lamb not seen since 1984-1987?

This team cannot be rebuilt in one year. But I have two college players who can definitely be instant impact players on this team, which lacks explosive players and WR's other than Lamb, who can get open at will.

ASHTON JEANTY RB BOISE STATE, 1st round, Emmitt Smith with greater speed; he can be the genie out of the bottle, the 2025 repeat of 1977 when the Boys were desperate for impact RB;​

WR XAVIER RESTREPO WR UNIV MIAMI, 2nd round; can get open all the time, turns on a dime, NFL tough and ready; ignore his 40 yard time, his acceleration is top 10%; he will provide instant offense; Dak will always find him open; a larger, better and stronger version of Cole Beasley, who can also run deep patterns.​

Great post topic. I'm 54, I been closely following the team since 1973. I recall from about 1985 to 88 what the team turned into. Like you touched on, it's like deja vu. We witnessed the game pass by Landry, and his scouts, and Tex schram. It was obvious. This is what we are seeing now too. It happens. The template needs changed. The other one is obsolete.

 

[Bing]

Some of yall crack me up....yes Danny White was better then Dak. Remember Danny came into the league as a punter and was one of the best in the league during the Roger Staubach years. When Danny took over as QB he never really got the recognition he deserved following in the footsteps of Roger but Danny was a serviceable QB. He won us 20 play off games over his career. Dak sure hasn't did that.

 

[Jarv]

Hope history repeats itself, 1989 we got a new owner.

 

[cowboyec]

danny white took us to 3 straight nfc championship games.
dak hasn't led to us to a single win in the division round.
this is nothing like that.
even tho landry's last team went 3-13,they had more heart and fight than this group.
i'll take the 80s over this slop.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

For all you younger fans, you may not know about the 1980's Cowboys' teams. Talent level dropped like crazy. There are some eerie similarities to the current team.
1. A QB who could only take the team so far, who did not have "It." Danny White and Dak.
2. A first round LB with lots of talent whose neck injuries ruined a potential great career, Billy Cannon #1 in 1984, Vander Esch #1 2018.
3. A stinker #1 draft pick DL from Michigan, 1985 Kevin Brooks, 2023 Mazie Smith, 2017 Taco Charlton
4. Old in the tooth management losing touch.
5. Countless bust picks in rounds 2-4,
DL Fehoko TE Schoonmaker WR Jalen Tolbert DT Neville Gallimore DT Tristen Hill CB Reggie Robinson WR R. Switzer CB Kelvin Joseph CB Nashon Wright LB Jabril Cox
6. Donovan Wilson only one left from 2019 draft class; LB Eugene Lockhart only decent player from 1984 draft
7. This current team alone: decent high draft picks leaving current team, not keeping them and not having in-house replacements, such as Connor Williams, Connor McGovern, DE Dorance Armstrong, Tony Pollard; We hit on Terrance Williams and Michael Gallup, who produced in rookie seasons as viable "getting open" wide receivers, while J Tolbert looks like a practice squad player, never getting open and no one else NFL good to pair with Lamb.
8. The current talent evaluations are reminding me of the 1980's. Who is responsible for the worst stable of RB's in Cowboys history? A set of receivers as low on talent other than Lamb not seen since 1984-1987?

This team cannot be rebuilt in one year. But I have two college players who can definitely be instant impact players on this team, which lacks explosive players and WR's other than Lamb, who can get open at will.

ASHTON JEANTY RB BOISE STATE, 1st round, Emmitt Smith with greater speed; he can be the genie out of the bottle, the 2025 repeat of 1977 when the Boys were desperate for impact RB;​

WR XAVIER RESTREPO WR UNIV MIAMI, 2nd round; can get open all the time, turns on a dime, NFL tough and ready; ignore his 40 yard time, his acceleration is top 10%; he will provide instant offense; Dak will always find him open; a larger, better and stronger version of Cole Beasley, who can also run deep patterns.​

and don't forget we only had Michael Irvin a top notch WR and we have CD now. no other talent on the offensive side.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Yeah, let draft a rb and wr. That will fix it.

 

[MarkP88]

He didn’t have a cool bone in his body. just saying if Prescott had that team, after the catch, we matched down the field and score.

Hahaha...no.

 

[john van brocklin]

Yes, history will repeat itself. From 1980 to 1992, prosperity and sucess abounded.

We good now.....it all starts in 2025 with high picks and high hopes.

Go Cowboys!

 

[KJJ]

Danny White was better and more successful than Dak & Romo. But then again, Danny White never had to throw to receivers blinded by the sun, or grapple with a chump head coach with zero authority, or try to win with all the obstacles to winning that our beloved fuhrer creates.

Danny White wasn’t better than either QB despite his 5 playoff wins. He was had some great teams with most of the core players under 30 when he was handed the team in 1980. Romo and Dak never had the loaded teams White had. White was the main reason those teams couldn’t get over the hump, which is why Landry attempted to trade him and several other players for the rights to draft John Elway.