I sort of apologize to you, Jerra

[Chocolate Lab]

The issue is that we do not breed competition these days. Jones' approach breeds complacency. There are very few open competitions in camp and when we do have an open spot, we fill it and that new acquisition is ordained and uncontested. I cannot recall a time recently where we threw several players at an open spot and let them fight it out. There has always been a pecking order and that was usually predetermined by the business reasons for the player being on the payroll, not the football ones. We even drafted that way last April. We got some good good players but they were all slotted for backup roles and not a one even got the opportunity to compete, even after injuries came into play.

It is a strange approach for a team that has not won a playoff game in over a decade.

But in fairness, when you go 13-3 and win your division, and don't lose players to free agency, there usually isn't much turnover the next year. And there shouldn't be.

Reports have said that Wade was going to replace Ayodele with Burnett in '07, but of course the wind blew and Burnett got hurt. Scandrick replaced Newman as the slot corner. Beyond that, what starter would you have benched?

And to rcaldw's post, I agree with you on the plan aspect, but that plan is dependent on what the head coach wants. You wouldn't give Parcells a bunch of small, fast guys, and you wouldn't give Tony Dungy a bunch of slow behemoths. Now does Jerry need to *listen* to his HCs and do what they want? Sure.

I just think that of all of Jerry's sins, acquiring players has been the least egregious one lately. It's the discounting of distractions and the undermining of the head coach where he really shoots himself in the foot.

 

[notherbob]

Haynesworth was a lazy underachiever in Knoxville, and he's been that much of his time with the Titans.

He has twice Big John Henderson's talent, but overall, has only been half the player Henderson has been.

Sign him quick, he'll fit right in with this team.

 

[Alexander]

Reports have said that Wade was going to replace Ayodele with Burnett in '07, but of course the wind blew and Burnett got hurt. Scandrick replaced Newman as the slot corner. Beyond that, what starter would you have benched?

It is not about benching. It is about creating an environment that encourages and promotes competition. Jerry Jones allows his business decisions to drive the process.

Henry should have had to fight off Jenkins and Scandrick for example. But since he was a "starter" and carried a substancial cap value, he entered camp unchallenged and even remained that way for the season for the most part. Patrick Crayton only lost his job when Williams was acquired, but it was plain as day we were bound and determined to start Williams even though he was at times clueless out on the field.

Most of the starters are fat, well paid and complacent. There is no fear of anything. No fear that you won't get paid, no fear for your career. Even Pacman Jones was allowed to step right back in like nothing ever happened after his suspension. It is almost like we fear offending someone by actually making them earn their roles. Remember how we spent a year coddling Julius Jones? We have a first round draft choice that is allowed to produce nothing in three seasons but play average special teams.

Coach Johnson at least gave the illusion of accountability. Even Coach Parcells would do the same to an extent. Phillips does not and I firmly believe that is because he is undermined and powerless.

So we wonder why there is this care less attitude that permeates the organization? What is left for the players to worry about? The owner has their backs partially because he has to due to the business aspect.

Case in point, and I hate to use Miami again but I will. Miami paid large amounts of money to acquire WR Ernest Wilford. He was a horrible signing and the man simply couldn't play. He rode the bench the entire year. Players like Camarillo and Bess took over because they wanted it more and Sparano was adamant that the players would earn their time.

It doesn't even have to be a case of starters. Even our depth was "in place". Did we even seriously consider a young backup to challenge Brad Johnson? No, we had complete confidence in him until late in camp where we made a feeble stab with Brooks Bollinger. Even after the horrific play versus the Rams and Giants, there was a very long rope with a player that really did not deserve it. Even Richard Bartel carried over without worry.

Continuity counts sometimes but not to the point where it stifles competition in a sport like this.

Everyone makes personnel mistakes. Our best teams in the 1990s had busts and so on. The idea is not to allow underperformers and average players to continue to plod along uncontested. That is soft management and usually gets poor results.

 

[AKATheRake]

The fact is, Jerry has blown it up, down, and sideways over the years. (In other words, he has tried it and missed in all directions at one time or another). If anything, I think Jerry just doesn't have a plan. A guy like Parcells has a clear picture in his mind of what he is trying to do with a roster. You may agree or disagree, he may be right or wrong, but you always have the sense that Parcells has a finished product he is striving for. With Jerry you always get that feeling that there is "a missing piece" and he doesn't know what that piece is. So he keeps picking, and signing, and releasing and signing.

Fact is, one of the things that Jerry AND this fan base may suffer from more than anything is overvaluing the talent on the Cowboys.

When you think you have a collection of GREAT talent then you keep looking for ONE piece, and being disappointed when it doesn't work out.

You explained it the best way possible IMHO. Regarding the finished product philosophy and I believe that is where Jerry is lacking. But if he has the right coach to provide him with that vision and he's willing to listen, which Jerry does do, then this is where this "finished" product can come to fruition. Jerry does a good enough job with the personnel people he has around him to draft talented players and we all know what he can do when he sees an opportunity to get talent through other avenues.

Jerry without Parcy is drafting well, picking up solid FA's within cap respectability and looks for those low risk high reward opportunities. The Pacman thing was a little too much because we just got that much more attention for stupidity but Jerry did it for obvious reasons and I was 1 of the people who thought it was a no lose situation especially for the compensation to get him and Jerry covering his bases drafting 2 corners just in case things went sour.

I think if it wasn't such a circus here last year and this new strip club scenario from almost 2 years ago didn't spring up Pacman would still be o this team. Jerry did the right thing letting him go as we all know there will always be something with Pacman sooner or later. But he would still be here if his recent news happened later than sooner.

Bottom line is, Jerry needs a partner in the coaching ranks that he won't overstep but think critically together and finish the product towards the coaches philosophy.

 

[Alexander]

Bottom line is, Jerry needs a partner in the coaching ranks that he won't overstep but think critically together and finish the product towards the coaches philosophy.

That would require walking on eggshells again. He's not quite ready. He has not hit bottom yet.

 

[AKATheRake]

It is not about benching. It is about creating an environment that encourages and promotes competition. Jerry Jones allows his business decisions to drive the process.

Henry should have had to fight off Jenkins and Scandrick for example. But since he was a "starter" and carried a substancial cap value, he entered camp unchallenged and even remained that way for the season for the most part. Patrick Crayton only lost his job when Williams was acquired, but it was plain as day we were bound and determined to start Williams even though he was at times clueless out on the field.

Most of the starters are fat, well paid and complacent. There is no fear of anything. No fear that you won't get paid, no fear for your career. Even Pacman Jones was allowed to step right back in like nothing ever happened after his suspension. It is almost like we fear offending someone by actually making them earn their roles. Remember how we spent a year coddling Julius Jones? We have a first round draft choice that is allowed to produce nothing in three seasons but play average special teams.

Coach Johnson at least gave the illusion of accountability. Even Coach Parcells would do the same to an extent. Phillips does not and I firmly believe that is because he is undermined and powerless.

So we wonder why there is this care less attitude that permeates the organization? What is left for the players to worry about? The owner has their backs partially because he has to due to the business aspect.

Case in point, and I hate to use Miami again but I will. Miami paid large amounts of money to acquire WR Ernest Wilford. He was a horrible signing and the man simply couldn't play. He rode the bench the entire year. Players like Camarillo and Bess took over because they wanted it more and Sparano was adamant that the players would earn their time.

It doesn't even have to be a case of starters. Even our depth was "in place". Did we even seriously consider a young backup to challenge Brad Johnson? No, we had complete confidence in him until late in camp where we made a feeble stab with Brooks Bollinger. Even after the horrific play versus the Rams and Giants, there was a very long rope with a player that really did not deserve it. Even Richard Bartel carried over without worry.

Continuity counts sometimes but not to the point where it stifles competition in a sport like this.

Everyone makes personnel mistakes. Our best teams in the 1990s had busts and so on. The idea is not to allow underperformers and average players to continue to plod along uncontested. That is soft management and usually gets poor results.

Very impressive post. I obviously agree with this sentiment.

 

[AKATheRake]

That would require walking on eggshells again. He's not quite ready. He has not hit bottom yet.

History has indicated that is what it will take for Jerry to go the "real coach that I will allow to run this team" path doesn't it?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think that's more attributed to both Parcells' and Wade's reluctance to trust younger players

This, then, has got to change, at least for Jerra.
With FA and the cap, you have to trust the younger players. The time when a player is with a team for 10 years is long gone. You gotta trust the young players, develop them and play them.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

You went off in a totally different direction with that post, Alex. So you couldn't come up with a starter who should've been benched coming out of camp last year, right?

And yes, it is about benching if you're talking about positions being open to competition. That's what happens to the starter when he loses, right?

Of course there's no argument from me about, for instance, Pacman being put right back in the lineup. That was pure Jerry, and is of course ridiculous.

I still say that you're projecting last year coming off a 13-3 year onto this one, when we don't know what will happen. Free agency hasn't even started yet, so how can we know what will happen this time around?

 

[Alexander]

You went off in a totally different direction with that post, Alex. So you couldn't come up with a starter who should've been benched coming out of camp last year, right?

There was no competition to speak of to merit it and that is the point. You want a specific case? Fine, Henry should have been challenged by Scandrick and Jenkins. That did not happen. The rest of our draft was geared specifically towards filling depth and role positions. We lost Fasano (depth) and immediately replaced with Bennett. Julius Jones with Felix Jones. Tyson Thompson with Choice. Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones with Scandrick and Jenkins. Our entire offensive line, including the depth, went completely unchanged and we did not even take a stab at a high profile undrafted free agent to challenge the likes of Proctor, Free or McQuistin.

It was cookie cutter. All with nice, neat little roles. It was like we took a depth chart and went "need 'em, got 'em, need 'em, got 'em". All after an embarassing collapse in the playoffs.

Team building is created through attrition. Once you actually start winning things that matter (like playoff games) then you can start getting complacent with the roster and start preaching the virtues of continuity.

And yes, it is about benching if you're talking about positions being open to competition. That's what happens to the starter when he loses, right?

Positions being open to competition doesn't mean the starter loses their job. If they are worthy, they will respond. But chances are good they will perform at a higher level. And it certainly beats the candy for everyone environment that exists.

I still say that you're projecting last year coming off a 13-3 year onto this one, when we don't know what will happen. Free agency hasn't even started yet, so how can we know what will happen this time around?

Unless Jerry is lying (I know, real stretch there) we will not be that active in free agency. Think of the 2004 offseason. You know, the last time we thought roster continuity was important.

I realize we will have eleven or more choices in April. We all know a large amount of them will be moved. So we are talking roughly six additions via the draft. Add one or two moderate free agents and that is eight additions at most. I don't see a "Dirty Dozen" draft where the starters at any position should be worried nor will the reserves have to fret.

We will likely draft to need again, which means premium choices will go to end and inside linebacker, and maybe a safety or two.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

There was no competition to speak of to merit it and that is the point. You want a specific case? Fine, Henry should have been challenged by Scandrick and Jenkins. That did not happen.

How do you know that if the rooks had dramatically outplayed Henry they wouldn't have started? Jenkins has all kind of ability, but I remember him getting completely turned around a bunch of times. I bet no coach would have started these guys over a vet like Henry coming out of camp. Why? Because Henry was better. Maybe this year he won't be.

The rest of our draft was geared specifically towards filling depth and role positions. We lost Fasano (depth) and immediately replaced with Bennett. Julius Jones with Felix Jones. Tyson Thompson with Choice. Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones with Scandrick and Jenkins. Our entire offensive line, including the depth, went completely unchanged and we did not even take a stab at a high profile undrafted free agent to challenge the likes of Proctor, Free or McQuistin.

It was cookie cutter. All with nice, neat little roles. It was like we took a depth chart and went "need 'em, got 'em, need 'em, got 'em". All after an embarassing collapse in the playoffs.

Um, we used the draft to fill holes. How is that different from every other NFL team?

Team building is created through attrition. Once you actually start winning things that matter (like playoff games) then you can start getting complacent with the roster and start preaching the virtues of continuity.

Positions being open to competition doesn't mean the starter loses their job. If they are worthy, they will respond. But chances are good they will perform at a higher level. And it certainly beats the candy for everyone environment that exists.

Unless Jerry is lying (I know, real stretch there) we will not be that active in free agency. Think of the 2004 offseason. You know, the last time we thought roster continuity was important.

I realize we will have eleven or more choices in April. We all know a large amount of them will be moved. So we are talking roughly six additions via the draft. Add one or two moderate free agents and that is eight additions at most. I don't see a "Dirty Dozen" draft where the starters at any position should be worried nor will the reserves have to fret.

We will likely draft to need again, which means premium choices will go to end and inside linebacker, and maybe a safety or two.

Not understanding where this part is going at all. Six draft picks aren't enough... When you're the one assuming we won't have more that? That we shouldn't draft for need? That we should spend a ton in FA?

And I do remember 2004. You can't blame Jerry for Parcells thinking that Pete Hunter could play.

 

[theebs]

That's funny I don't remember any of those three names being brought in since BP left. Which, I believe, was the point of his post. Those guys haven't been brought here in the last two years.

He got guys like Thomas, Jones, and Tank for peanuts. For the cheap prices everyone seems to think he should be able to just pull off of trees cause everyone and their sister, with an ounce of talent, is obviously lining up to play for peanuts.

Thats funny because the owner brought them in and not the coach.

WIley and george both have said as much while they have been working on tv, so feel free to take it up with them.