TheDude
McLovin
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I have thought for a long time that Dallas players are too coddled and get caught up in the glamour of the franchise. I am not so sure that is the case.
I am convinced that the coaches are not solely to blame for this, but it takes a certain coach to be successful here due to the spotlight, microscope scrutiny.
Many here are hitting around the point that there is no killer attitude. I think it is a lttle deeper. There are no "thugs" here who want to send a message. There are some really talented players (yes, many are not that talented) that can win games when things go their way. But there is no fear inducing player on this team.
When you watch the Steelers, Ravens, SF, Denver, etc. defense, they have an incredible mean streak to the way they play and the way they hold themseleves. Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Ed Reid, Harrison, Polamalu, Woodly, Kiesel, H Ward, Willis, J Smith, V Miller, Dawkins, Bailey. Some are elite players, but they all have a nasty attitude and don't mind telling you that they are gonna pop you.
To Dallas' credit, they have drafted some really high character and good players after the Irvin, etc era. The have a likable team that you can root for player by player(i.e. they aren't on police blotters). This lack of bully instinct is exacerbated by being in Dallas in that everyone guns for this team. Sometimes they win on athelticism by the stars and sometimes they lose on lack of a attitude alone.
This defense has not had an enforcer, leader, fear player since D Woodson. R Williams was close, but he wasn't a leader especially after the S Moss game.
I do think there are some systemic talent evaluation issues (Jones, Garrett, etc), but the biggest issue is nastiness. Sometimes you get that from character guys, (Polamalu), sometimes you need a little thug (Harrison). But you have to have it in some form
I think the negative pub from the Irvin days have carried over far too long and cost us a run at some players this team needs to be successful. "Thuggish" w/ no heart is not what I am saying. "Thuggish" with a "its gonna be you are me" everygame is.
As for coaching, I always felt Wade was not the guy for the job, too soft spoken and nice. The 2007 team had an attitude that it was going to beat you down and attribute some of that to TO. While I don't condone spitting in D Halls face, there was an attitude. (This is not a TO rue take either).
Garrett is a smart guy, but I think he is of a mold that will never work here as, to him, each game, each error, each idiosynchratic issue is always explainable and correctable "the next time", yet each new game has a new learning point, and it is a moving target. Sometimes, you just have to want it at all costs more than your opoonent. And I don't think we have too many of those, and all opponents want Dallas.
I was very excited when RR was hired because I think this team needs to learn how to "want" other teams. I loved the Calvin Johnson comment and for 3 quarters, teh team played up to his boasts. I loved the Philly comments, but the team laid an egg there as well. So now he has acepted that and gone to calling Eli elite and toning down the rhetoric as the players are embarrassing him
After 3 DCs. it is obviously the players. There is a long list self-doubt that looks to have sunken in. They get called and are now laying down at an alarming rate.
They are a nice group of men, but none make an opponent think that I am gonna get hurt or embarrassed this game. Jacobs is a horrible back, but he knows this about this team. It only takes a little doubt in any job and you fail.
Even the offense has the same issues. NO puts a 60 spot on Indy because they can, GB puts a 4 spot on Oak and keep starters in because they can.
we come out flat and wait for one player (Romo) to make or break the game.
Sorry for the long post, but
I am convinced that the coaches are not solely to blame for this, but it takes a certain coach to be successful here due to the spotlight, microscope scrutiny.
Many here are hitting around the point that there is no killer attitude. I think it is a lttle deeper. There are no "thugs" here who want to send a message. There are some really talented players (yes, many are not that talented) that can win games when things go their way. But there is no fear inducing player on this team.
When you watch the Steelers, Ravens, SF, Denver, etc. defense, they have an incredible mean streak to the way they play and the way they hold themseleves. Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Ed Reid, Harrison, Polamalu, Woodly, Kiesel, H Ward, Willis, J Smith, V Miller, Dawkins, Bailey. Some are elite players, but they all have a nasty attitude and don't mind telling you that they are gonna pop you.
To Dallas' credit, they have drafted some really high character and good players after the Irvin, etc era. The have a likable team that you can root for player by player(i.e. they aren't on police blotters). This lack of bully instinct is exacerbated by being in Dallas in that everyone guns for this team. Sometimes they win on athelticism by the stars and sometimes they lose on lack of a attitude alone.
This defense has not had an enforcer, leader, fear player since D Woodson. R Williams was close, but he wasn't a leader especially after the S Moss game.
I do think there are some systemic talent evaluation issues (Jones, Garrett, etc), but the biggest issue is nastiness. Sometimes you get that from character guys, (Polamalu), sometimes you need a little thug (Harrison). But you have to have it in some form
I think the negative pub from the Irvin days have carried over far too long and cost us a run at some players this team needs to be successful. "Thuggish" w/ no heart is not what I am saying. "Thuggish" with a "its gonna be you are me" everygame is.
As for coaching, I always felt Wade was not the guy for the job, too soft spoken and nice. The 2007 team had an attitude that it was going to beat you down and attribute some of that to TO. While I don't condone spitting in D Halls face, there was an attitude. (This is not a TO rue take either).
Garrett is a smart guy, but I think he is of a mold that will never work here as, to him, each game, each error, each idiosynchratic issue is always explainable and correctable "the next time", yet each new game has a new learning point, and it is a moving target. Sometimes, you just have to want it at all costs more than your opoonent. And I don't think we have too many of those, and all opponents want Dallas.
I was very excited when RR was hired because I think this team needs to learn how to "want" other teams. I loved the Calvin Johnson comment and for 3 quarters, teh team played up to his boasts. I loved the Philly comments, but the team laid an egg there as well. So now he has acepted that and gone to calling Eli elite and toning down the rhetoric as the players are embarrassing him
After 3 DCs. it is obviously the players. There is a long list self-doubt that looks to have sunken in. They get called and are now laying down at an alarming rate.
They are a nice group of men, but none make an opponent think that I am gonna get hurt or embarrassed this game. Jacobs is a horrible back, but he knows this about this team. It only takes a little doubt in any job and you fail.
Even the offense has the same issues. NO puts a 60 spot on Indy because they can, GB puts a 4 spot on Oak and keep starters in because they can.
we come out flat and wait for one player (Romo) to make or break the game.
Sorry for the long post, but
of course you would go to the extreme to make your sorry point. there is a difference between cancers and tough players with edge.
