I'd treat Thursday as my dress rehearsal

[Doomsday101]

Guys who have not been in the pre season games like Claiborne, Carr and T. McClain as well some others who have seen limited action I would have the get some snaps in, outside of that I would go with backup who are trying to make a final push in making the team. I would not play Romo I would have Weeden play the 1st half and Vaughn playing the 2nd half.

For majority of the starters I want them working and focusing on the 9ers game to open the season. Coaching staff is already putting in game plan for that game as opposed to any game plan for the Broncos game

 

[Denim Chicken]

I get where you are coming from here but ultimately if Garrett won't make drastic changes in approach then he will probably not be here next year and the next guy will make changes.
I can promise you the next guy's speech will include a line about starting fresh and needing to see who wants to be a Cowboy.

BP stated he needed to see it fresh every year and that if a vet and a rookie were even he was keeping the rookie.
The burden was on the vet to prove he was the better player in TC and pre-season.

OK, but Floatyworm is not talking about VET vs Rookie. He is saying that he would play Melton & Carr in the 4th preseason game ans if they didn't have a good showing cut them for guys off of waivers that you really don't have time to evaluate.

 

[jterrell]

There isn't a team in the league that will have the starters play a half of this last preseason game. It's just too much of a risk. They will be playing against scrubs that will do anything to get noticed....even if it's for the wrong reason.

perhaps... but I am only worried about my team and my guys.
we are sitting 0-3 and have had every opposing team play more starters minutes than us.
i've got 5 or 6 projected starters with less than a quarter of live action. not a single one of those 5 to 6 are Hall of Fame bound.
they need to play and play well.
this team isn't ready and doesn't look anywhere near it.
i have total faith in three cowboys: dan bailey, tyron and dez.
i need about 30 other guys to step up thursday and demonstrate what i will see if i start them versus SF.

 

[Tabascocat]

I would play the starting defense for the first half and keep some of them in for part of the 3rd qtr. Then the back-ups can finish it out.

As for the offense, the O-Line for a half too along with lots of TWill, Dunbar and Escobar/Hanna. I would only give Romo, Dez and Witten the day off.

But, most will not play just like the other 31 teams starters

 

[jterrell]

OK, but Floatyworm is not talking about VET vs Rookie. He is saying that he would play Melton & Carr in the 4th preseason game ans if they didn't have a good showing cut them for guys off of waivers that you really don't have time to evaluate.

While what he said seems extreme truth is both of those guys are going to have to really stand and deliver this year or they won't be around next pre-season.
There is no time like the present to demonstrate that they can play.
Go in and beat vanilla offense led largely by back ups ad show you are ready to roll.

I do not wanna figure out week 3-10 that Melton can't play anymore. Or that Carr is mentally done.(a la Wilcox last year)

show me show me show me would the only mantra i needed.

and at the end of the day i'd rather be playing complete and total 2 win scrubs then limping through 8 wins with no youth developing, no high draft picks incoming and no salary cap relief.

this 8-8 train is basically purgatory.

 

[Dhragon]

With the long week before the regular season begins, Thursday would not be a throw away for me.

I understand coaches are loathe to risk injury and I understand they prefer to use the 2 week period as game prep for week 1.

I'd ignore all that because of where this team is currently and what all it needs to accomplish.

I'd go into that game with a nothing to lose and everything to gain mentality.
This team needs to believe it can beat someone and I would be dead finished with being a floor mat for another team to gain confidence off of.

My starters would play one half of football and if we were not ahead they may take the first series of the 3rd quarter as well. I'd rotate my top 8 available DL much like the regular season. I'd play as much like game 1 as possible. I'd get my returning guys snaps so they can get in football shape.

At some point you gotta set a tone. I don't think you can waltz in week 1 and expect to out-tough San Fran if you've spent all training camp and pre-season playing spares and resting or protecting starters. I'd gout and punch Denver in the mouth Thursday because they have everything to lose and nothing to gain from this meaningless game. Whereas Dallas has everything to prove starting with to themselves.

Not sure the payoff is worth the risk. If a team needs to pick on a bunch of scrubs to feel good about itself and set the tone, then that there is a pretty pitiful, weak-minded team.

And even if they did get out of it pretty unscathed, what's going to happen to that precious tone when they have to play a real team in SF in week one? I'll tell you what - they will fold. Confidence built on weak foundations will not hold.

I'd rather the team go into the SF game wary and determined to overcome the no hope / loser label that's been placed on them this season then go into it with false bravado after beating up on 2nd/3rd stringers the prior week.

 

[conner01]

we have lots of question marks. but i would'nt play most of my offensive starters. there is really nothing gained by doing so. we need to see parnell alot, we need to see the bottom of the depth chart at wr, we need to see if randle can play special teams regularly. now on the defense i think it's different because most have'nt played much anyway. the dline you only have so many who are goig to be on the roster and god help us if we lose another one. but at cb we need mo out there some
melton will get some snaps maybe and he needs them but nothing gained by putting guys who are dinged up out there like carwford. just get them healthy for the season

 

[CCBoy]

They will gain confidence. They will know the switch has flipped on and it is time to go play football.
They will know you are saying injuries are part of the game but we are playing it full out anyway.

If a player can't make it through one half of football versus back ups the odds aren't great they are gonna last when it counts.

This team needs confidence and to set a tone quite badly. As Romo is fond of saying "football players play football".
It is time to do just that.

I agree, and would even digress...if they didn't look sharp, then they would be accumulating a pretty strong sour/angry attitude to the group. That way, both translate to an aggressive team come week one.

 

[jterrell]

Not sure the payoff is worth the risk. If a team needs to pick on a bunch of scrubs to feel good about itself and set the tone, then that there is a pretty pitiful, weak-minded team.

And even if they did get out of it pretty unscathed, what's going to happen to that precious tone when they have to play a real team in SF in week one? I'll tell you what - they will fold. Confidence built on weak foundations will not hold.

I'd rather the team go into the SF game wary and determined to overcome the no hope / loser label that's been placed on them this season then go into it with false bravado after beating up on 2nd/3rd stringers the prior week.

I'll grant the first sentence. Lots of coaches would judge it not worth the risk. But I would disagree in our current situation.

As to the confidence that's a non-starter for me. Teams build confidence playing versus air and beating up practice squad guys so yea, they use scrubs to build confidence on.
That's how sports work.
MJ absolutely abused scrub players or great players all the same.
What matters is that you perform your best regardless the opponent.

SF has had a fairly terrible pre-season but they did have a much better week 3. They have so much to lose that they likely won't risk week 4 but us?
What are we risking exactly? Our projected 7 wins is so vital and precious??

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Agree on the need for a true dress rehearsal, but why didn't we just do it last week like everyone else? It won't mean much doing it against a crew of future Denver area dock workers.

 

[Floatyworm]

LOL, you are going to cut a former pro bowler for some cast off in waivers? Carr was codded because his Mom died as we gave him some time? Mincey has played the whole time.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Don't be shocked when Mincey becomes the punchline of forum jokes.......And just remember where you heard this

 

[Doomsday101]

I'll grant the first sentence. Lots of coaches would judge it not worth the risk. But I would disagree in our current situation.

As to the confidence that's a non-starter for me. Teams build confidence playing versus air and beating up practice squad guys so yea, they use scrubs to build confidence on.
That's how sports work.
MJ absolutely abused scrub players or great players all the same.
What matters is that you perform your best regardless the opponent.

SF has had a fairly terrible pre-season but they did have a much better week 3. They have so much to lose that they likely won't risk week 4 but us?
What are we risking exactly? Our projected 7 wins is so vital and precious??

I doubt the staff is projecting 7 wins. I think they want some guys to get some snaps in the game but for the most part I don't expect to see many starters and those who will play will see few snaps. Staff as I mentioned are focused on the 9ers game and already putting in game plan for that game. I understand fans want to feel better about what they are seeing, I think getting as many players healthy and on the practice field this week and next as they get ready for the 9ers is a bit more important than the pre season vs Denver.

 

[jterrell]

Agree on the need for a true dress rehearsal, but why didn't we just do it last week like everyone else? It won't mean much doing it against a crew of future Denver area dock workers.

I think week 3 was the intention but we had too many not cleared by Docs to return.
And guys who did return were obviously rusty so we looked just bleh at best.

I guess you can deal with that in one of two ways.
Either expect to sharpen up in practices; most not in pads.

Or you can say to heck with it, let's go play in week 4 and prove to ourselves we can execute in pads versus alive opponent.

This is somehat desperate to be sure. But I am not above that given where we are and how this team has looked.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

perhaps... but I am only worried about my team and my guys.
we are sitting 0-3 and have had every opposing team play more starters minutes than us.
i've got 5 or 6 projected starters with less than a quarter of live action. not a single one of those 5 to 6 are Hall of Fame bound.
they need to play and play well.
this team isn't ready and doesn't look anywhere near it.
i have total faith in three cowboys: dan bailey, tyron and dez.
i need about 30 other guys to step up thursday and demonstrate what i will see if i start them versus SF.

Dallas and the Chargers were tied with the starters in(minus Romo of course)
Second game the Ravens kept their starters in abnormally long...difference in first half was ST touchdown and a botched handoff.
Third game Romo played the entire first half and we were ahead when he went out.

As another poster said, if you need game action against someone else's scrubs to build your confidence, it says a lot about you. They can get everything they need in practice in live situations.

 

[waving monkey]

jterrell i agree with you. unfortunately i doubt it happens. i hate the nonchalant vibe i get from the franchise about the performance of this team so far the last month. they also carry that non-chalant attitude in their approach towards practice. romo can miss numerous practices, carr can miss numerous practices, claiborne can miss weeks and weeks, oline can start doing interviews about being the next great wall, acting like all of these position groups have been a well oiled machine the last month. not the case. every phase of this team still needs a lot of work but the vibe i get from the franchise is that they're deathly scared of injuries, so let's just wait it out and hope the switch flips in the regular season.

I get it, play those son of a guns even when their injured that prove somethen

 

[jterrell]

I doubt the staff is projecting 7 wins. I think they want some guys to get some snaps in the game but for the most part I don't expect to see many starters and those who will play will see few snaps. Staff as I mentioned are focused on the 9ers game and already putting in game plan for that game. I understand fans want to feel better about what they are seeing, I think getting as many players healthy and on the practice field this week and next as they get ready for the 9ers is a bit more important than the pre season vs Denver.

How many wins do you "think" the staff is projecting?
Do you think the staff is projecting that they return next year to Coach?

Getting players healthy and on the practice field only matters if they can actually play once they get there.
Guys have been rested or sidelined much of pre-season.
At some point you gotta play.

You think it is safe to go into week 1 with 5 or 6 guys that are totally unknown?

I could care less about fan feels.
I'd be concerned about my team.
And this team has no reason to believe it can beat SF today.
A good showing Thursday and that changes at least to a small extent.
You are asking guys to rely upon players they've never lined up next to in a game.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

There is no time like the present to demonstrate that they can play.
It will mean nothing in the grand scheme of things

Go in and beat vanilla offense led largely by back ups ad show you are ready to roll.
Really? That is the way Landry or Bellichick would do it?

I do not wanna figure out week 3-10 that Melton can't play anymore. Or that Carr is mentally done.(a la Wilcox last year)
So a quarter against scrubs is gonna tell us that?

show me show me show me would the only mantra i needed.

and at the end of the day i'd rather be playing complete and total 2 win scrubs then limping through 8 wins with no youth developing, no high draft picks incoming and no salary cap relief.
You are contradicting yourself. Two win scrubs aren't going to be the future for this team. The salary cap relief isn't coming at this point, at least not for this year.

this 8-8 train is basically purgatory.
Yep, but you have already decided that we are no better than that. If the players mentioned are bad...there is no one we are going to get now that is going to change it. Teams are going to release overpaid vets, not young guys with potential. The only immediate improvement this team could get is to sign older guys...and that makes no sense from a future standpoint. It costs money that we don't have.

 

[DogFace]

Some decent points.
No way this happens.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

For me, there is absolutely nothing to be gained from this last preseason game. The best we can hope for is no injuries. The soon-to-be-cut players will try to showcase their skills against other soon-to-be-cut players. I would guess only a few positions haven't been finalized by now. I think the team even has a pretty good idea who they would like on the PS. And the PS pretty much gets churned continuously through the season based on need and player availabilty.

 

[jterrell]

Dallas and the Chargers were tied with the starters in(minus Romo of course)
Second game the Ravens kept their starters in abnormally long...difference in first half was ST touchdown and a botched handoff.
Third game Romo played the entire first half and we were ahead when he went out.

As another poster said, if you need game action against someone else's scrubs to build your confidence, it says a lot about you. They can get everything they need in practice in live situations.

No offense but you gotta get the facts right for me to take what you say seriously.

Dallas Vs Chargers play by play is readily available....
The FIRST drive was Weeden to Randle and TWill.
So we started with our 2s at the skill positions.

The Chargers played their top QB, RB, WR....

Dallas started Terrence Mitchell and Ahmad Dixon on defense and about 5 guys we ALREADY cut played defense in that game many in the first half.
SD held out like 3 starters while we held out 13.