History Repeats Itself, The 1980's All Over Again

[Momanpr100]

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.

Well said.

 

[SFloridaCowboy]

I never was comparing Danny White to Dak Prescott in a manner to invite talk as to who was better, jus that both lack the "it" that Roger and Troy had.
Let me give you the correct history of Danny White. A great athlete, he started on Arizona State team as the baseball 2nd baseman, while QBing the football team to a top ten finish, while also punting. He ran a 4.55 40.
Danny was drafted with the first pick in the 3rd round. The reason so far down? His size, 6'2" 175 lbs, that is right 175 lbs. He signed with the WFL and played there two years. He reported to the Cowboys in 1976 at 180 lbs. Throughout his career, he had a reputation that he could not take the big hit and would throw the ball earlier than he needed to because his body could not take the hits. He lacked the high velocity zip of most NFL QB's. He had the luxury of backing up Roger for 4 years and learning the playbook from Tom Landry. Danny was super smart, a tremendous athlete, but lacked the change of direction speed Roger had.

Danny had arm speed that would be considered too weak to play in this league in 2024, like a Steve Walsh, gaudy stats in college. Danny White inherited Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson and Tony Hill when he became the starter and a great OL. This 2024 team lacks the firepower, has no top tier RB and only one WR. The Cowboys tried to trade to get Elway. They thought strong-armed Gary Hogeboom would take over; he did for a couple of games; they tried Steve Pelleur at QB, but he was afraid to throw the ball. When his OL began declined, Danny's effectiveness declined, despite adding Herschel Walker, as he no longer had any decent receivers. Danny last played at a bulked up 192 in 1988. Jimmy came in and cleaned house.

At the end, the Boys needed a WR playmaker and drafted proven winner Michael Irvin in 1988. They tried to coax Aikman in coming out early to be their QB. In 1990, they got their franchise RB in Emmitt.

This team is going south faster than the record setting Chicago White Sox. They have no NFL talent at WR, other than Lamb. The others cannot get open. Rico Dowdle is a quality backup RB. The team needs a Demarco Murray, a Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Herschel Walker ( who led the NFC in rushing in 1988), or a young Zeke. The Cowboys have never won without a great RB.

So for instant offense next season, a 2nd improved year for Beebe and Guyton, adding the genie out of a bottle in Boise State's Jeanty and a solid ready to play WR WHO GETS OPEN ALL THE TIME in Restrepo, this offense will score lots of points. Restrepo at 198 lbs has broken some of the All-Time great receiving records at WR for U Miami. This year he has 10 TD's so far and 17.0 per catch. He is a money player from the rich Hurricane tradition.

I am tired of the Charltons, Tristen Hills, Randy Gregory and Mazie Smiths drafted high. Get some instant offense in the draft. Sign 2-3 free agent young defensive linemen players who are evolving. Use 3rd round on for your defensive players. We will get Sam Williams and M Kneeland back and a full year of Derond Bland next year.

This team's offense is so impotent, the last one so bad was 1989 when we had a rookie QB, Herschel was traded, TE Doug Cosbie got injured and was finished. There was no firepower.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

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.​

It starts at QB.
With the 6th pick in the 1st Round, The Dallaas Cowboys select Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon.

 

[coult44]

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

Who is coming to save this mess?

Probably BB or Nick Saben

 

[DuncanIso]

It starts at QB.
With the 6th pick in the 1st Round, The Dallaas Cowboys select Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon.

Already have a QB from the 1st round.

 

[coult44]

It starts at QB.
With the 6th pick in the 1st Round, The Dallaas Cowboys select Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon.

Cam Ward is 10X better

 

[cald0d30s0]

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

Who is coming to save this mess?

Only God.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Cam Ward is 10X better

There are no illusions we shall pick top 5. I believe, based on standings today, there will be eight teams picking in front of us.
I think, if we are lucky, Gabriel will fall to us as No. 8 or No. 9.

 

[csirl]

Dak is closer to Steve Pelleur than Danny White.

Lance is the new Reggie Collier.

 

[Jipper]

All I want to see from the 80s is the owner selling to a young up coming business man that will take the reigns....

 

[JayNovacek84]

It will take another franchise sale, just like when Jerry bought it, to save us.

 

[SFloridaCowboy]

Dak's contract militates against getting rid of him. There would be a huge cap hit. Drafting a QB in the 1st round will do nothing for the team next year. I have watched film and Dak has no WR's getting open and both OT's are now below average, although Guyton should not have started his 1st year at LT. Even raw Tyron Smith spent a year at RT before moving to LT. We are stuck with Dak. He must have offensive firepower to succeed. That is why I highly suggest getting Boise State's Jeanty, who should be available, as most teams high seek a QB and a franchise LOT. Look what Emmitt did in his rookie year. He transformed the Cowboys' offense. Jeanty is Emmitt Smith with greater speed. Watch his highlights, breakaway speed combined with enormous tackle-breaking prowess.