Hostile
The Duke
- Messages
- 119,565
- Reaction score
- 4,544
It's a question that gnaws at my guts and mind. It probably does yours too. I am sure if does the coaching staff and team. Point blank, we left a great season short when this team pulled up lame at the finish line. It caused high expectations in 2008 which led not to glory, but to gory. For me personally, I can't speak for anyone else, 2008 was the most disappointing season in Cowboys History.
So it begs the question, what went wrong? It also begs, what do we need to do to get back to being a 13-3 kind of team? One answer seems to stick out to me more than any other solution. We need to beat teams up. Some call it smashmouth football. I'm going to call it what it really is. Our best solution to overcoming a lazy season with a talent laden team.
What went wrong in 2008? On Offense there were some obvious failings. Health at QB is top of my list. I don't think Tony Romo was right when he came back from the injury. I think Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger were so inept that he was brought back before he was ready because a hobbled Tony Romo was better than the 2 of them put together. They're gone, replaced by Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee. It seems obvious to me that a healthy Tony Romo is a vital key to a winning team. yeah, the guy makes some mistakes and puts the ball on the ground. He also inpsires and moves this Offense and makes them dangerous. Priority #1 in 2009 for this team to get better is Tony Romo taking snaps.
So what does that mean if he goes down? QBs do in this game. It means Jon Kitna had better deliver. I'm not crazy about another post 35 retread backup QB, but I will say this; Jon Kitna is tough enough to actually fill in and not lollipop throws. I guess what I am saying is no one is happier than I am that Brad "I'm Not the Snith" Johnson is gone. For the record, yes he was. A season won't derail if we turn to Kitna.
Some are arguing that the WR makes the QB and we lost the WR who made Tony Romo. I simply do not agree with that at all. I believe the QB makes a WR. If it's the other way around why couldn't Owens make Johnson adequate? That logic began faulty and could never rise above that level. Am I sayign Tony Romo made Terrell Owens? Oh hell no. I am saying Owens did not make Tony Romo what he is. Despite the doom and gloom of the post Owens era being upon us, we are not suddenly in trouble at QB.
Gotta keep Romo upright and mobile. That falls firectly at the feet of the Offensive Line. IMO they were the worst excuse for a choesive unit on the field in 2008. I wish I knew what happened to the smashmouth style of Hudson Houck. I expected a return to power football. What I got was an intense longing to see Kyle Kosier miraculously healed. I have not completely gauged the depth of my longing for Kyle Kosier to return to the roster, but I think it probably nears the elvel where I'd have donated my legs to him if it meant he was on the field instead of Cory Proctor.
Here's one for you gee whiz collection of useless knowledge. This team has not started the same primary 5 guys at O-line in back to back seasons since 1995 and 1996. We had that chance in 2008 and the injury to Kyle Kosier prevented it from happening. The results were disastrous and I think that is being generous. To me the capsule image of the 2008 is the image of Cory Proctor not even flinching as a Cardinals defender ran right by him while he waited for a flag from the refs.
I became so frsutrated with the O-line in 2008 that I felt like Sam I Am trying to anything to get Hudson Houck to try the green eggs and ham. Plug in Montrae Holland. Give Doug Free a shot at Flozell's job if he can't raise his arm. What happened to Pat McQuistan? Is Joe Berger this bad? I even considered them moving BIGG to LT and I promised myself that he should never be moved from OG ever again. I don't know about you, but I was desperate for the O-line to block in 2008.
Will they in 2009? That's a key to this season. One thing that I think will help them more than anything else is a focus on getting the ball to all 3 RBs. More importantly, getting the ball to Barber in ways that he can wear Defenses down and beat them up. Barber needs to be the closer again. What that means to me is that Choice earned his saddle in the big rodeo and needs to be used earlier in games, not just mop up duty. I don't think I need to tell the team how to use Felix Jones. They had that figured out from the word go.
I do think they will take him off Kickoff Return duty and put in more screen passes to get him the ball in open space. I think he will be used similar to Marshall Faulk was with the Rams. You may see him line up in the backfield, then go in motion out to the slot to take a LB out of position and create a matchup problem.
Which brings me to the passing game. I think people will underestimate this aspect of the team early on due to the absence of Owens. Not a doubt in my mind the passing game of this team is not crippled. Putting it mildly, Owens was slipping. He had one great game in 2008 against a team that abandoned what had been working to stop him, and pretty much the rest of the time he was barely effective. He took that out on the team and it wore them down.
Am I laying the failures of 2008 directly at the feet of Terrell Owens? Only if you can read my above comments about misusing the RBs, no blocking by the O-line, and the health of the QB and not grasp that it wasn't good enough. I am sure some will focus on the blame I do lay at Owens feet. That's fine. I have big shoulders, I can carry that burden. Stupid interpretations have always amused me. So lets get down to brass tacks. Does Owens share in the blame for the debacle of 2008? Oh hell yeah. Is he the sole reason? I've already said he wasn't.
Let me put it to you this way. Stephen Jones is regarded as a football man. Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells themselves have called him this. Number one on Stephen's agenda for 2009. Take the cap hit and let Owens go. A respected football guy. Another respected football guy, Dan Reeves, piped up a similar theme. It was reported that Jerry Jones talked to football guys around the NFL about his dilemma. Based on the results, guess what they told him? Based on only one team showing interest in him and that for only one year, what do you think the football guys in the NFL that Jerry consulted said about Owens? Do the math.
Enter Roy Williams and a cast of unknowns at WR. Call me crazy, but I think Roy Williams can equal Owens production and we've already been 13-3 with Owens and a cast of unknowns. I am not worried about WR. Nor am I worried about TE with one exception. I want to see Bennett used in the Red Zone more. His leaping ability and height make him a weapon we need to use on corner fades. Jason Witten is a key in 2009. We already know Tony and Jason have a chemistry. We already know Jason ceates matchup problems. Now we have to capitalize on them. Move the chains, milk the clock, and wear teams down.
That's the 2009 Offensive goal.
What's the Defensive goal? More of the same from how they performed once Wade took over as the defacto Defensive Coordinator. If you look at the off season they did three things to improve this Defense. First thing that is obvious is they solidified the secondary by adding coverage strengths. Tighter coverage will mean more hesitation by QBs and that will mean more sacks. We led the NFL in 2008 with 59. That number will go up in 2009. The key will be that pressure needs to lead to takeaways. Look for that to be a focus in Camp.
Second thing they did to solidify the Defense was to bring in some Wade guys who are high character. Igor Olshansky and Keith Brooking replace Canty and Zach Thomas. As much as I love Zach Thomas he did not fit here. I wish he had. I still hope he will go into coaching once he retires and that we take a look at him. Brooking is a temporary patch, but he will help in the huddle and locker room. That is a key. I'm not going to say Canty was a distraction, but I will say Igor will not be. No joke folks, we got someone special to replace Canty. This kid will be better than Canty was. Call that a prediction on my part if you wish.
Finally to solidify the Defense they are focused on shortening the field. Bringing in Joe DeCamillis and looking for ways to improve on Special Teams had one primary focus. Pin teams deeper so we win the field position battles and the Defense can wear teams down more. It's real simple, the further teams have to go to score the more they have to stop Ware and Company form gettign to the QB. If you see one stark improvement in 2009 over 2008 I think it will be Special Teams.
I can't tell you how happy I will be to see kickoff coverage designed to pin teams deeper than the 25 to 30 yard line. Our coverage guys did not meet the return man until the 25 yard line most of last season. I hate that. It won't happen in 2009. Rookies with hungry attitudes will take over Special Teams attitude and guys are going to get hit.
Will we get back to the kind of team we were in 2007? I don't know. I will tell you this. I expect some pride from this team. I think their pride is hurt and that is a good thing. Across the spectrum I think you will see a more focused and angry team. I'm more than ready for that. The fans being angry accomplishes only so much. The team being angry can accomplish a lot.
Smashmouth football in 2009. I've waited a long time. Here's hoping it will be worth the wait.
So it begs the question, what went wrong? It also begs, what do we need to do to get back to being a 13-3 kind of team? One answer seems to stick out to me more than any other solution. We need to beat teams up. Some call it smashmouth football. I'm going to call it what it really is. Our best solution to overcoming a lazy season with a talent laden team.
What went wrong in 2008? On Offense there were some obvious failings. Health at QB is top of my list. I don't think Tony Romo was right when he came back from the injury. I think Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger were so inept that he was brought back before he was ready because a hobbled Tony Romo was better than the 2 of them put together. They're gone, replaced by Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee. It seems obvious to me that a healthy Tony Romo is a vital key to a winning team. yeah, the guy makes some mistakes and puts the ball on the ground. He also inpsires and moves this Offense and makes them dangerous. Priority #1 in 2009 for this team to get better is Tony Romo taking snaps.
So what does that mean if he goes down? QBs do in this game. It means Jon Kitna had better deliver. I'm not crazy about another post 35 retread backup QB, but I will say this; Jon Kitna is tough enough to actually fill in and not lollipop throws. I guess what I am saying is no one is happier than I am that Brad "I'm Not the Snith" Johnson is gone. For the record, yes he was. A season won't derail if we turn to Kitna.
Some are arguing that the WR makes the QB and we lost the WR who made Tony Romo. I simply do not agree with that at all. I believe the QB makes a WR. If it's the other way around why couldn't Owens make Johnson adequate? That logic began faulty and could never rise above that level. Am I sayign Tony Romo made Terrell Owens? Oh hell no. I am saying Owens did not make Tony Romo what he is. Despite the doom and gloom of the post Owens era being upon us, we are not suddenly in trouble at QB.
Gotta keep Romo upright and mobile. That falls firectly at the feet of the Offensive Line. IMO they were the worst excuse for a choesive unit on the field in 2008. I wish I knew what happened to the smashmouth style of Hudson Houck. I expected a return to power football. What I got was an intense longing to see Kyle Kosier miraculously healed. I have not completely gauged the depth of my longing for Kyle Kosier to return to the roster, but I think it probably nears the elvel where I'd have donated my legs to him if it meant he was on the field instead of Cory Proctor.
Here's one for you gee whiz collection of useless knowledge. This team has not started the same primary 5 guys at O-line in back to back seasons since 1995 and 1996. We had that chance in 2008 and the injury to Kyle Kosier prevented it from happening. The results were disastrous and I think that is being generous. To me the capsule image of the 2008 is the image of Cory Proctor not even flinching as a Cardinals defender ran right by him while he waited for a flag from the refs.
I became so frsutrated with the O-line in 2008 that I felt like Sam I Am trying to anything to get Hudson Houck to try the green eggs and ham. Plug in Montrae Holland. Give Doug Free a shot at Flozell's job if he can't raise his arm. What happened to Pat McQuistan? Is Joe Berger this bad? I even considered them moving BIGG to LT and I promised myself that he should never be moved from OG ever again. I don't know about you, but I was desperate for the O-line to block in 2008.
Will they in 2009? That's a key to this season. One thing that I think will help them more than anything else is a focus on getting the ball to all 3 RBs. More importantly, getting the ball to Barber in ways that he can wear Defenses down and beat them up. Barber needs to be the closer again. What that means to me is that Choice earned his saddle in the big rodeo and needs to be used earlier in games, not just mop up duty. I don't think I need to tell the team how to use Felix Jones. They had that figured out from the word go.
I do think they will take him off Kickoff Return duty and put in more screen passes to get him the ball in open space. I think he will be used similar to Marshall Faulk was with the Rams. You may see him line up in the backfield, then go in motion out to the slot to take a LB out of position and create a matchup problem.
Which brings me to the passing game. I think people will underestimate this aspect of the team early on due to the absence of Owens. Not a doubt in my mind the passing game of this team is not crippled. Putting it mildly, Owens was slipping. He had one great game in 2008 against a team that abandoned what had been working to stop him, and pretty much the rest of the time he was barely effective. He took that out on the team and it wore them down.
Am I laying the failures of 2008 directly at the feet of Terrell Owens? Only if you can read my above comments about misusing the RBs, no blocking by the O-line, and the health of the QB and not grasp that it wasn't good enough. I am sure some will focus on the blame I do lay at Owens feet. That's fine. I have big shoulders, I can carry that burden. Stupid interpretations have always amused me. So lets get down to brass tacks. Does Owens share in the blame for the debacle of 2008? Oh hell yeah. Is he the sole reason? I've already said he wasn't.
Let me put it to you this way. Stephen Jones is regarded as a football man. Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells themselves have called him this. Number one on Stephen's agenda for 2009. Take the cap hit and let Owens go. A respected football guy. Another respected football guy, Dan Reeves, piped up a similar theme. It was reported that Jerry Jones talked to football guys around the NFL about his dilemma. Based on the results, guess what they told him? Based on only one team showing interest in him and that for only one year, what do you think the football guys in the NFL that Jerry consulted said about Owens? Do the math.
Enter Roy Williams and a cast of unknowns at WR. Call me crazy, but I think Roy Williams can equal Owens production and we've already been 13-3 with Owens and a cast of unknowns. I am not worried about WR. Nor am I worried about TE with one exception. I want to see Bennett used in the Red Zone more. His leaping ability and height make him a weapon we need to use on corner fades. Jason Witten is a key in 2009. We already know Tony and Jason have a chemistry. We already know Jason ceates matchup problems. Now we have to capitalize on them. Move the chains, milk the clock, and wear teams down.
That's the 2009 Offensive goal.
What's the Defensive goal? More of the same from how they performed once Wade took over as the defacto Defensive Coordinator. If you look at the off season they did three things to improve this Defense. First thing that is obvious is they solidified the secondary by adding coverage strengths. Tighter coverage will mean more hesitation by QBs and that will mean more sacks. We led the NFL in 2008 with 59. That number will go up in 2009. The key will be that pressure needs to lead to takeaways. Look for that to be a focus in Camp.
Second thing they did to solidify the Defense was to bring in some Wade guys who are high character. Igor Olshansky and Keith Brooking replace Canty and Zach Thomas. As much as I love Zach Thomas he did not fit here. I wish he had. I still hope he will go into coaching once he retires and that we take a look at him. Brooking is a temporary patch, but he will help in the huddle and locker room. That is a key. I'm not going to say Canty was a distraction, but I will say Igor will not be. No joke folks, we got someone special to replace Canty. This kid will be better than Canty was. Call that a prediction on my part if you wish.
Finally to solidify the Defense they are focused on shortening the field. Bringing in Joe DeCamillis and looking for ways to improve on Special Teams had one primary focus. Pin teams deeper so we win the field position battles and the Defense can wear teams down more. It's real simple, the further teams have to go to score the more they have to stop Ware and Company form gettign to the QB. If you see one stark improvement in 2009 over 2008 I think it will be Special Teams.
I can't tell you how happy I will be to see kickoff coverage designed to pin teams deeper than the 25 to 30 yard line. Our coverage guys did not meet the return man until the 25 yard line most of last season. I hate that. It won't happen in 2009. Rookies with hungry attitudes will take over Special Teams attitude and guys are going to get hit.
Will we get back to the kind of team we were in 2007? I don't know. I will tell you this. I expect some pride from this team. I think their pride is hurt and that is a good thing. Across the spectrum I think you will see a more focused and angry team. I'm more than ready for that. The fans being angry accomplishes only so much. The team being angry can accomplish a lot.
Smashmouth football in 2009. I've waited a long time. Here's hoping it will be worth the wait.
