I question the maturity, focus and mental toughness of this operation

[ScipioCowboy]

this makes no sense to me. If the Cowboys are having relentess pressure on a QB, then the response to that IS for the QB to throw quick passes.

Why does it make no sense?

The QB can only throw quick passes if the underneath route is open. Although short passes can beat blitzes, they aren't completely effective all the time; otherwise, teams would never blitz. There are simply times when defensive backs have exceptionally good coverage.

Offenses can also handle blitzes by using extra protection and throwing deep.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Of course it is... Salisbury has been a moron for a long time now, but our resident Chicken Little accepts all gloom and doom comments without criticism... he WANTS to believe the Boys are in deep doo-doo...

Oh come on, Silver Bear!

It was sheer luck that the Cowboys defeated the Packers, and you know it. The Cowboys defense had nothing to do with all those huge, game changing plays they made. The Packers were simply trying to lull the Cowboys into a sense of false confidence for the sake of their next meeting.

:laugh2:

 

[silverbear]

Oh come on, Silver Bear!

It was sheer luck that the Cowboys defeated the Packers, and you know it.

The entire season has been nothing but pure, dumb luck... we probably ought to be around 2-12, rather than the other way around...

And to think, I might have gone along thinking the Cowboys were pretty good, if we didn't have the Chicken Littles in here to set me straight!!!

 

[smarta5150]

Oh come on, Silver Bear!

It was sheer luck that the Cowboys defeated the Packers, and you know it. The Cowboys defense has nothing to do with all those huge, game changing plays they made. The Packers were simply trying to lull the Cowboys into a sense of false confidence for the sake of their next meeting.

:laugh2:

The entire season has been nothing but pure, dumb luck... we probably ought to be around 2-12, rather than the other way around...

And to think, I might have gone along thinking the Cowboys were pretty good, if we didn't have the Chicken Littles in here to set me straight!!!

I got in an argument with a Seattle Seahawk fan today about the "luck" factor.

He was trying to tell me Dallas has been getting all the bounces and this and that. Seems like a popular argument for all the non-Cowboy fans.

Unfortunately for them its a pretty weak argument.

 

[mmohican29]

You never know what is going to happen when you start a season..and I doubt anybody would have predicted that we would be where we are right now. Mainly because we had a 1st year full time starter at QB, new head coach....new first time defensive coordinator...new first time offensive coordinator. But we are in the moment now, and I don't think we are as prepared for this becaue while players all say their goal is the Super Bowl..the facts are we have not even won a playoff game in over a decade..so achieving that would be a first step.

And this as not just a shot at the players...I question the coaches as well. I was distrubed to hear Wade suggest in hindsight we should have run the ball more...I mean, most knoweldgable fans were sitting in their living room screaming that....but was Wade afraid to question Garrett? I mean who is the Head Coach here? And it was also very disturbing to hear the Eagles players suggest the Cowboys did not restpect them. Is it just talk from a team going nowhere after they beat you..probably to a degree, but I think their is some truth to it. And it is being validated this week when all everyone wants to talk about is Jessica Simpson, Roy's suspension, rash of injuries and whether or not we agree with the horsecollar rule. The media can ask all the stupid questions they want, but a mature focused team would deflect and say they are here to talk about the Carolina Panthers...the Eagles game is gone...the suspension has been handed out....the injured guys are going to sit and the next guy needs to come in and play.

The Panthers are licking their chops to have another division leader come to town...with 12 Pro Bowlers in tow. They need to be the focus. In case you missed it...the basically owned the Seahawks last week.

The Pats and maybe even the Pack are sitting back laughing at all the dumb stuff we are talking about that has nothing to do with the game Saturday.

I am greatful for the season we are having....but in all honesty...we have the talent to be in the position we are in..especially in the NFC, but I am not sure we have a grasp on how desperatley everyone wants to knock that grin off Romos face..or how desperatley people want to see our 12 Pro Bowlers put in their place..or how desperatley people want to see Wade fail because this is Parcells team

We better get our mind right and understand that we get everyone best shot and if we do not match thier intesinty on the practice field, in constructing the game plan, in the film room, and finally on the field...we can and will have our entire season come crashing down and NO ONE will care that we were 12-2 at one point...no one will allow us to use the first year head coach, qb and coordinators as an excuse....it is time to focus on playing for the prize

Bingo. We need to grind harder than ever. Noone's going to hand us anything, and I'm not sure we're ready to take it just yet. If we end up losing home field and losing in Green Bay (or even at home prior) in the playoffs, Tony will have a second choke on his resume, regardless of his stellar play this year.

It will be a horrific ending to what to this point has been a fantastic season for a 2nd year QB. He needs to get his mind right, and I think T.O. while joking had some message in his blurbs for Tony without calling him out, which is more respect for Tony than T.O. has shown for any of his prior QB's.

 

[silverbear]

I got in an argument with a Seattle Seahawk fan today about the "luck" factor.

He was trying to tell me Dallas has been getting all the bounces and this and that. Seems like a popular argument for all the non-Cowboy fans.

Unfortunately for them its a pretty weak argument.

As the old cliche goes, it's better to be lucky than good... what the cliche doesn't tell you is it's better still to be BOTH...

Or as Ben Hogan once memorably responded to a fan who said he'd been lucky:

"The more I practice, the luckier I get"...

Whenever some hater tells you that the Cowboys are lucky, tell him that's the absolute truth, 'cause they're God's favorite team...

 

[silverbear]

Bingo. We need to grind harder than ever. Noone's going to hand us anything, and I'm not sure we're ready to take it just yet. If we end up losing home field and losing in Green Bay (or even at home prior) in the playoffs, Tony will have a second choke on his resume, regardless of his stellar play this year.

Look at you, a so-called "fan", already anticipating a "choke"...

What if Tony throws for 350 yards and 5TDs, and the Boys still lose; will he have "choked" then??

I haven't the words to tell you how much I loathe the kind of fan that's ALWAYS looking for disaster...

 

[mmohican29]

hey SB, if I'm not a fan I don't know what one is. As a fan, I have a right to express an opinon, and yes, worry about our team's poor play prior to the playoffs. We should be focused and peaking now, and clearly we are not.

Loathe me? I "embrace the loathe". Take your superiority act to someone who gives a crap.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

hey SB, if I'm not a fan I don't know what one is. As a fan, I have a right to express an opinon, and yes, worry about our team's poor play prior to the playoffs. We should be focused and peaking now, and clearly we are not.

Loathe me? I "embrace the loathe". Take your superiority act to someone who gives a crap.

right now the response of most of these cats is unbelieveable....I mean have we been watching the same team here lately?...because if you listen to the majority, we are 12-2, therefore everything will be fine...who gives a ish about 12 - 2? Seriouslsy....that type of reasoning is why we have not won a playoff game in over 10 years....it's almost like we are just happy to be relevant again...well I got news for everyone dumping on my opinion...the Pack are also 12 - 2...and I do not see them on every sports show and many non-sport shows this week discussing everything BUT the upcoming game. And I do believe Brett Favre has expressed the same thing about the young players on his team not grasping the enormity of what is taking place...so I know I am not crazy.

I watch a ton of ball and have witnessed many NFL dynasties and I feel very comfortable questioning the focus of a team that had not even won a division title since 1998 and has a lot of unproven players/coaches in these type of situations

For some of you that do not get out much...go to other teams sites and listen to some of their players and coaches complain about there lack of Pro Bowl representation...the backlash is real and we better be ready is all I am saying.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

hey SB, if I'm not a fan I don't know what one is. As a fan, I have a right to express an opinon, and yes, worry about our team's poor play prior to the playoffs. We should be focused and peaking now, and clearly we are not.

So who in the NFC is peaking right now?

The team that was defeated by the Cowboys a mere two weeks ago?

The team that barely escaped Chicago?

The team that just lost to the Collins-lead Commanders at home?

The team that just lost to Matt Moore and the Carolina Panthers?

Help me out here.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

right now the response of most of these cats is unbelieveable....I mean have we been watching the same team here lately?...because if you listen to the majority, we are 12-2, therefore everything will be fine...who gives a ish about 12 - 2? Seriouslsy....that type of reasoning is why we have not won a playoff game in over 10 years....

The reasoning and perpetual consternation of fans has absolutely no influence over the Cowboys' playoff performance. Talent, however, does have substantial influence.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

The reasoning and perpetual consternation of fans has absolutely no influence over the Cowboys' playoff performance. Talent, however, does have substantial influence.

and last year we were 8-4....you remember how that ended? In Parcells first year we were 8-3...you remember how that ended? In his third year we were 7-3...you remember how that ended? So I guess teams lacking talent race to those records and fall flat because that same talent is lacking...nothing more nothing less...right?

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Look at you, a so-called "fan", already anticipating a "choke"...

What if Tony throws for 350 yards and 5TDs, and the Boys still lose; will he have "choked" then??

I haven't the words to tell you how much I loathe the kind of fan that's ALWAYS looking for disaster...

Loathing is a bit strong, in my opinion.

However, I am aggravated by fans whose sole pursuit is protecting themselves against disappointment if their team fails. I'm especially annoyed by fans who pontificate on about nothing except their team's flaws and impending doom, and proclaim "I told you so" when the team finally loses.

These fans spend far too much time creating defense mechanisms. They should be supporting their team and subjecting themselves to the slings and arrows of true fandom like the rest of us.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

and last year we were 8-4....you remember how that ended? In Parcells first year we were 8-3...you remember how that ended? In his third year we were 7-3...you remember how that ended? So I guess teams lacking talent race to those records and fall flat because that same talent is lacking...nothing more nothing less...right?

Talent and coaching are always the central issues. Not the ramblings and mindsets of fans on a message board.

Mediocre teams will always be exposed as such in the playoffs and during late season stretches.

Do we really need to wonder why teams featuring Quincy Carter at quaterback, Troy Hambrick at running back, and Rob Pettiti and Torrin Tucker at tackle would fade so badly down the stretch?

You're making my point for me.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Talent and coaching are always the central issues. Not the ramblings and mindsets of fans on a message board.

Mediocre teams will always be exposed as such in the playoffs and during late season stretches.

Do we really need to wonder why teams featuring Quincy Carter at quaterback, Troy Hambrick at running back, and Rob Pettiti and Torrin Tucker at tackle would fade so badly down the stretch?

You're making my point for me.

those guys were on the 8-4 team? I think you are making MY point..the talent and QB was different but the results were the same

 

[mmohican29]

those guys were on the 8-4 team? I think you are making MY point..the talent and QB was different but the results were the same

I agree with you BB. We are not playing our best football. Had the Pack not had an odd gameplan to go long every down that Brett was in, the results might have been different... not saying it would, but maybe. Our best football MUST be played to WIN the Super Bowl. The Cowboys MUST take their game to an even higher level than our current 12-2 record indicates to defeat the Patriots, Colts, and Packers (especially in Lambeau).

Now come the distractions, and a consecutive loss to Carolina will in all likelihood ruin home field advantage. Can we still win on the road? Yes. We have the talent (Scipio) to do so. But we must play better than we have, or we will be gone from the postseason in a heartbeat. IF that happens then this team has UNDERACHIEVED as I believe we are the best squad in the NFC and should earn the right to play at home as such. Would you rather the Cowboys play a championship game in a hostile, frozen stadium? It might make for better TV, but I want to go to the Super Bowl- for sure.

Perhaps anyone that thinks I'm overreacting should suggest to the Cowboys that they tank their last two games and ensure a trip to Green Bay for the NFC title, if you're so confident in the 2007 Cowboys to "turn it on when they need to." Maybe they can. I have no idea.

Look: media created or not, our team has shown great resistance to distractions to this point. But clearly, we lost to a far inferior team last weekend... and #9 was NOT on or even close to it. Is it because of Jessica? No I don't think so, but it CAN BECOME a factor in the locker room with the media maelstrom that follows the circus that now surrounds our "celebrity QB" and his celebrity new gf, 5 mos. on the heels of a past celebrity GF, and 1 mo. past a fling with a different celebrity gf.

Tony deserves the right to live his life however he wants to and to this point noone should question his play whatsoever. I certainly am not. BUT: Another result like that could lead to our TEAM's downfall, and it must be avoided if possible. And this gets back to bbailey's concern about the level of maturity on this team.

As all superstars evolve, Tony is past the point of being the beloved prodigy and is now a target that people despise, and that's fine... it indicates that we have a francise QB that people dread to play, and want desperately to fall on his face. Folks, we might be watching a future Hall of Fame QB- no question. I have no issue with his private life whatsoever. But Tony has to do the right thing and make sure that his personal life is not an excuse for his team to underachieve, which to this point it hasn't.

I just want Tony and this team to live up to the hype it has earned to this point and take ALL necessary steps to put itself in position to win it's 6th world championship. I believe our best football has not been played. I believe we CAN win it all, but it must be with a totally peaked football team with razor sharp focus.

 

[Hostile]

So who in the NFC is peaking right now?

The team that was defeated by the Cowboys a mere two weeks ago?

The team that barely escaped Chicago?

The team that just lost to the Collins-lead Commanders at home?

The team that just lost to Matt Moore and the Carolina Panthers?

Help me out here.

Beat down.

 

[zrinkill]

So who in the NFC is peaking right now?

The team that was defeated by the Cowboys a mere two weeks ago?

The team that barely escaped Chicago?

The team that just lost to the Collins-lead Commanders at home?

The team that just lost to Matt Moore and the Carolina Panthers?

Help me out here.

The clowns avoided this post.

I would like to here a rebuttal about this excellent post.

 

[JPM]

I'm especially annoyed by fans who pontificate on about nothing except their team's flaws and impending doom, and proclaim "I told you so" when the team finally loses.

It really boils down to that one point. We have fans here (and all over) that seem to enjoy the I told you so speech they can give when the teams loses. In fact some have been proclaiming our down fall after every win. The phrase "we won but" comes across post after post after a W.

 

[Next_years_Champs]

It really boils down to that one point. We have fans here (and all over) that seem to enjoy the I told you so speech they can give when the teams loses. In fact some have been proclaiming our down fall after every win. The phrase "we won but" comes across post after post after a W.

Yeah some fans just can't imagine that there is another team on the field, here's a few more buts.

The Cowboys would score on every play but there is another team on the field. A team comprised of 53 players out of the 1696 players in the entire freaking world who play in the NFL.

The Cowboys coaching brain trust should be able to implement schemes which lead to dominating victories but the opposition has a coaching staff paid just as much money with just as much intelligence who's job depends on stopping those schemes.

I will never understand some people I suppose because in my mind winning in the NFL has to be one of the most difficult things imaginable. I also think that any coaching staff that finds itself in the Cowboys shoes at this point of the season would be smart to game plan to win conservatively and keep their powder dry for the playoffs that is where you need to take risks.