Inconvenient Truths

[Jimz31]

No way one can say that this team is "well-coached". We are regressing...we have the same mistakes happening. Coaching will get rid of those mistakes.

Or, we just have dumb skill players.

The bottom line and I have been saying this for years....it's the O-line baby!

Win the battle at the line and you are more likely to win the game.

Crappy lines give you crappy teams. Look at history. O-lines are the unsung hero's in football. You have a crappy o-line, you will NOT have "elite", for lack of a better term, players.

Can't run the ball if you can't get a lane.

Can't throw the ball if you don't have time....how many times have we seen Romo having to roll out and extend the play? Which is why I say that Romo is why we have been winning since he took over. He continually has to save his o-linemen.

 

[SultanOfSix]

How can you honestly keep telling people Dez is a tremendous player? Based on what? Come on, this guy is NOT THAT GOOD.. He does not and never will have the mental make up to be anygood.. Why cant Cowboy fans see that.. Whats it going to take for people to realize that.. The guy IS NOT smart enough to be a star in this league.. It takes a hell of alot more than potential and talent to even be an average WR in this league... Thats what Dez is an average WR in this league at BEST.. SUperstar? Dude come on...

He's in his third year. He is a tremendous player. He makes plays and he's had several over 100 yard receiving games. Average receivers don't do that. He's just not mentally experienced enough with the game. The three year Landry rule still applies to him. I said he could be a superstar, not that he is one.

You have about as much input on what he is as I do, except I'm optimistic for him. The way some of you people talk, I have to question the legitimacy of your fan ship. No team in the league who has Dez as a player right now would get rid of him. Not a single one.

 

[BourbonBalz]

As I say, I don't have a corner on football wisdom. What I do see (from the coaching staff) is an emphasis on hard work, attention to detail, preparing to be mentally tough - be prepared to overcome adversity, and play hard to the finish. I also see that no less a coach than Bill Parcells didn't have great success here and eventually moved on. Other than Jimmy Johnson, and Barry Switzer's three years of living off the Jimmy years, what head coach has prospered here?

Why not?

I don't know what you've been watching the last three years, but I see just the exact opposite. Very little attention to detail such as running the right routes, focusing enough to catch balls thrown right into your gut, picking up blitzes, blocking the right defender, etc. We are just the exact opposite to what you said. Little to no attention to detail and mentally very weak. Garrett preaches all of this and talks about it repeatedly in press conferences, but he's all talk and no walk.

 

[Future]

He's in his third year. He is a tremendous player. He makes plays and he's had several over 100 yard receiving games. Average receivers don't do that. He's just not mentally experienced enough with the game. The three year Landry rule still applies to him. I said he could be a superstar, not that he is one.

I agree with you that Dez can be a super star, and that he's already a very good WR...but last night I think was his first 100 yard game. It was his career best.

Although Dez didn't play well, I think it showed what he's capable of. He catches the deep ball, and Romo doesn't miss him on the seam, he's at almost 200 and 2 TDs. We'll see a lot more opportunities for Dez the rest of the way.

 

[Thomas82]

I agree with you that Dez can be a super star, and that he's already a very good WR...but last night I think was his first 100 yard game. It was his career best.

Although Dez didn't play well, I think it showed what he's capable of. He catches the deep ball, and Romo doesn't miss him on the seam, he's at almost 200 and 2 TDs. We'll see a lot more opportunities for Dez the rest of the way.

It was actually his 2nd 100-yard game. The other one was against the Giants in 2010.

 

[craig71]

I think Dez needs to play with a QB that has a strong personality to be successful. IIRC, or maybe it's wishful thinking, but Dez seemed to have a better relationship with Kitna than he has ever had with Romo.

Romo. Well I think Romo can win a super bowl if you put him in the right situation. There is a catch however, for Romo to win a championship you are going to have to put him in Trent Dilfer situation. He simply has too many uh-oh moments to be "the man" and needs to be put on a leash. Unfortunately, this team is a long ways away from being able to take the ball out of his hands and simply relying on a suffocating defense and a power running game.

Garrett. I think he has a long term plan. I just am not sure what it is or if he will get the time to implement his coarse of action. He has made his share of mistakes but I would rather let him play his hand than change coaches every few years.

With all that being said, I think it is time to let some players move on. Which is going to be hard because I believe Jerry either overvalues his players or is more interested in selling the jerseys of those perceived stars. But maybe a step or two back is what is needed before we can move forward.


Craig

 

[baj1dallas]

What QB throws every single pass perfectly every time? Being 2 feet long when under pressure doesn't make you a coach killer.

 

[rcaldw]

LOL. A performance like that mess three years ago was 100% the fault of coaching.

Now, this team was properly prepared and put in position to win and it's all on the players.

Inconvenient truths indeed.

Well, lets look at the differences. Was Wade Phillips someone who preached attention to detail? Did he make them work hard? Is that his reputation? Have you heard from players, since he left, that the atmosphere was lax under his watch?

I'll answer....

Good defensive coordinator. Poor material for a head coach.

I'm not just looking at results. I'm looking for reasons for those results.

Now, I will grant you this. I placed more emphasis on the coaching than I should have when Phillips was here. But I can truthfully say that I have been saying for years, and will continue to, that the biggest problem this team has (on the football side of things) is the owner.

 

[rcaldw]

I don't know what you've been watching the last three years, but I see just the exact opposite. Very little attention to detail such as running the right routes, focusing enough to catch balls thrown right into your gut, picking up blitzes, blocking the right defender, etc. We are just the exact opposite to what you said. Little to no attention to detail and mentally very weak. Garrett preaches all of this and talks about it repeatedly in press conferences, but he's all talk and no walk.

I live in Houston. I listened to Kubiak be fired after every season (in the press and by the fan base). How is that looking now? He kept saying the same things, he kept working for the same things, and LOOK, as soon as he got the players he needed, MAGICALLY he is a great head coach.

Garrett can preach it, and hold people accountable for it (to the degree that Jones doesn't weigh in), but he can't go out on the field and play.

 

[CyberB0b]

You are right. It starts at the top down.

 

[CyberB0b]

Although Dez didn't play well, I think it showed what he's capable of.

Sloppy routes, drops in crucial situations, and not being able to read coverages. He is an athlete, not a receiver.

 

[kdog]

This team for the past 2 decades have been weak mentally and physically and the record reflects that... We have been an average football team for way too long

Ware (8) yr vet. only threat rushing QB. Cutler untouched for the most part of the game and he actually laughed at us. Brent ,lissemore,Butler and hatcher allowed cutler to simply step up into pocket and pick us apart.

When does it end? Where is this vaunted defense of Ryan's, he got his corners and our trenches are still laughable. Besides LEE, CARTER and WARE what else? (3) players does not a front seven make.

Jerry get over yourself hire a GM who can evaluate real talent and a true coach who instills fear and who can make in games adjustments to win a game. Most teams don't have our talent and seem to excell.

Please don't put syrup on a ***sandwhich and tell me it's delicious, IT IS STILL A ***SANDWHICH. Sorry for the frustration....I just want us to win and not continue to be a joke across the NFL.

I've loved the cowboys for 37 years and always will, GOD knows it's rough to be a fan in New York State! GO COWBOYS.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I live in Houston. I listened to Kubiak be fired after every season (in the press and by the fan base). How is that looking now? He kept saying the same things, he kept working for the same things, and LOOK, as soon as he got the players he needed, MAGICALLY he is a great head coach.

Garrett can preach it, and hold people accountable for it (to the degree that Jones doesn't weigh in), but he can't go out on the field and play.

Kubiak always had very good offenses, though, at least since Schaub settled in. Their problem was that the defense was absolutely atrocious until last year. That's not the situation here.

 

[Kangaroo]

I live in Houston. I listened to Kubiak be fired after every season (in the press and by the fan base). How is that looking now? He kept saying the same things, he kept working for the same things, and LOOK, as soon as he got the players he needed, MAGICALLY he is a great head coach.

Garrett can preach it, and hold people accountable for it (to the degree that Jones doesn't weigh in), but he can't go out on the field and play.

I remember when he was kept for his 6th year Texan fans where on suicide watch . Now all those guys call in talking about how great the HC is and before that the offense was predictable and we the other teams knows what is going to happen etc.

 

[rcaldw]

Kubiak always had very good offenses, though, at least since Schaub settled in. Their problem was that the defense was absolutely atrocious until last year. That's not the situation here.

One of the criticisms of Kubiak was that his offense was way too vanilla. It got better with Schaub, but didn't really take off (if my memory serves me) until 2 seasons ago.

Garrett also had good offensive performances. No one argues that from a statistical point of view.

I get the fact that you don't like Garrett (and to each his own), but I continue to say that I think its Jerry at the end of the day.

This team has major personnel gaps and every season we are told that we have a Super Bowl caliber roster.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I admit that the title is provocative. I don't claim to have the corner on analyzing where this team is, however I do claim to have a viewpoint, and here it is: All that I ask is that you don't knee jerk respond to it. Read it all (please) and then respond, and when you respond do it with some substance.

Nice post rc. I did read all of it...well, "skimmed it" might be more accurate, but I got the gist.

My main issue is...Garrett may be a good coach in theory, but his in-game management is beyond piss-poor!

Latest case-in-point. Him having to be practically forced to throw the challenge flag on the PI call on the tipped ball in the endzone in the 4th qtr. Which IMO, WAS clearly PI on Dallas. The foul came WAY before the ball was tipped. But either way, Dallas had nothing to lose by challenging that at that point.

He's clearly over his head, with his dogged determination to be HC, OC and unwillingness to relinquish play calling duties.

31st ranked offense in the league as of this a.m. 'Nuff said!

 

[Future]

Sloppy routes, drops in crucial situations, and not being able to read coverages. He is an athlete, not a receiver.

And, to me, it's JG and Jimmy Robinson's responsibility to turn him into a receiver. Athletes are far harder to find, but they have way more upside.

 

[rcaldw]

Nice post rc. I did read all of it...well, "skimmed it" might be more accurate, but I got the gist.

My main issue is...Garrett may be a good coach in theory, but his in-game management is beyond piss-poor!

Latest case-in-point. Him having to be practically forced to throw the challenge flag on the PI call on the tipped ball in the endzone in the 4th qtr. Which IMO, WAS clearly PI on Dallas. The foul came WAY before the ball was tipped. But either way, Dallas had nothing to lose by challenging that at that point.

He's clearly over his head, with his dogged determination to be HC, OC and unwillingness to relinquish play calling duties.

31st ranked offense in the league as of this a.m. 'Nuff said!

I'm not defending every aspect of his head coaching performance. I see the gaffes too. But I also think they get exaggerated in Dallas. For example.... Andy Reid calls time out to ice the kicker, just as the kicker misses the game winning FG.... fortunately for him, kicker comes back and misses again.

If that had been Garrett (and it was last season) he gets skewered. Joe Philbin of the Dolphins did the same thing two weeks ago, but his team lost.

Head coaches make mistakes. It happens. And in the case of last night, who cares who remembered the rule, the flag got thrown and the call was reversed.

If your pitching coach tells the manager, "I think he's done", and the manager removes him, the manager did his job.

 

[rcaldw]

I remember when he was kept for his 6th year Texan fans where on suicide watch . Now all those guys call in talking about how great the HC is and before that the offense was predictable and we the other teams knows what is going to happen etc.

This is EXACTLY right. I heard those call in shows, and now I have to endure all the bragging. My son-in-law is a Texans fan, and the girl my son wants to marry is a Texans fan. They actually watch those stupid games at my house when Dallas isn't playing. Uugh.

 

[rcaldw]

What QB throws every single pass perfectly every time? Being 2 feet long when under pressure doesn't make you a coach killer.

I didn't say he is a coach killer. I said he is playing like one. He is pressing is what he is doing. And I'm not referring to an occasional errant throw. I'm talking about back to back games where we have turnovers on attempted shovel passes.