Interesting Comment on NFL Network today, why Cowboys lose in playoffs and late Dec

[cowboyjoe]

Not sure how many of you guys have NFL Network, and we all see things differently, but I saw some good comments made by Brian Baldinger, ex offensive guard that played for the Cowboys, here is kinda what was said and mentioined, I added a few of my thoughts too;

now like brian baldinger said on NFL Network, its up to the players now, how far Tony Romo steps up to the next level-how he matures. Then what Baldinger said I think hit the nail on the head, that maybe to a point, there isnt enough of the dirty work players to get the players to play to next level.

Baldiinger said that its now up to guys like Flozell Adams and I point to Greg ellis, along with the addition of Zach Thomas being added this year, these players have to get other players to step up. These guys in late December need to see that stuff is being done, the extra hard work, the study time, and hold players accountable to do so.

Its like Charley Waters said about the 1978 Super Bowl team that lost to the Steelers in the super bowl. Charley said that the cowboys were 5-5 I think and all pro TE Jackie Smith said you guys arent playing and praticing like a good team, let me show you what it takes, and lets practice like we should, The Cowboys then got off of their big ego and went to work, praticing hard too, and boom they took off. i think after the Green Bay game last year, some of the Cowboys players were saying to themselves, were good, we dont have to work as hard, and spend the extra little time on little stuff.

So, i see the guys like newman, barber, T O, Witten, Romo, Flozell Adams and Tank Johnson must step up, hold players accountable and kick their rear end when need be.

Jerry Jones has done all he can now, its up to the players to step up. No more excuses, its time the players are to be held accountable by the fans and media and Jerry Jones.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I sure hope they figure out the post-Thanksgiving portion of the season. There was magic in the air in the Green Bay game, but it was downhill from there. I was at the Detroit game a week later and although we came from behind to win, making our record 12-1 (wow 12-1), it just didn't feel right. I couldn't pinpoint it, but they simply tanked from that point forward. It's a miracle that they won in Carolina.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

makes a lot of sense.....

 

[cowboyjoe]

right guys, i dont think it is just one thing, but a combination of things;

like Romo has to learn this is his team now, he has to concentrate on football, especially in november, december and january, no time for dating, fun

Yet, Romo has shown like in a video dc put out today i think or theebs, forgot who did, but its one www.dcfanatic.com site, romo talks about watching brady, how he stands tall in pocket and throw all the throws, not moving around, getting the offensive linemen in trouble when it is suppose to be a 7 drop step but romo would step up to 5 steps, just learning those things and learing from the master QB Brady;

that players that have been on this team like Flozell Adams, have to step up, take charge of that offensive line in late november and december and january, i remember the day after the playoff loss to the giants, Nate Newton said, it looked like to him in 3rd and 4th quarter the offensive linemen were out of gas, that they didnt do their cardovascular work on staircase thing an hour a day

thats on the offensive linemen to do that, granted with miami head coach now being in Miami for an interview and possibly looking at contract parameters which he wasnt suppose to do, didnt help when he wasnt in Dallas to check on the offensive linemen, see they were doing their jobs during the week

so to me, its like that, we need some leaders on this team, that will take roll call, hold the players accountable, like when jackie smith told the cowboys they werent practicing like they were champions but living off of their ego nad previous winnings, so jackie smith held a only players meeting and changed the thinking among the players

to me that is what is needed, like one media guy said before the san antonio spurs started winning they got 2 key hardnosed players, that took prisoners, showed what it took to win, and make players accountable

kinda like when troy aikman said, until the cowboys got charles haley, and jimmy johnson developed the swagger in the cowboys, making them know they were going to win, and would win, while Haley, Kevin Gogan, Michael Irvin, and like darren woodson said, a few days ago,

that woodson caught roy williams sneaking out of practice to go home, but darren woodson made roy williams sit his butt down and watch film, do the little stuff that helped you see plays, put in extra work to keep yourself up to par,

just like Jimmy Johnson said, fatigue makes cowards out of you, so his team was in tip top shape all the time, but they had fun too and relaxed when need be,

i think its all of those things, especially players that can show other players what it takes to become a champion, why you have lost before, and work to be better,

all of that combined, like flozell adams getting his rear end kiicked by Hudson Houck our new offensive line coach, whom wil i hear make Flozell work, thats what is needed,

 

[chinch]

11 year drought is no surprise... in the late 90s we had a terrible, fading team.

then we had a clueless grump who's act wore on the team assisting in the nov/dec swoons.

now we have a coach proclaiming 13-3 is something meaningful and our best player (romo) in mexico, injured thumb and worn from his first NFL season of games. we have no leaders with skins on the wall or a proven record.

worst of all is super enabler Jerruh who hands out large christmas bonuses in April.

 

[jrumann59]

11 year drought is no surprise... in the late 90s we had a terrible, fading team.

then we had a clueless grump who's act wore on the team assisting in the nov/dec swoons.

now we have a coach proclaiming 13-3 is something meaningful and our best player (romo) in mexico, injured thumb and worn from his first NFL season of games. we have no leaders with skins on the wall or a proven record.

worst of all is super enabler Jerruh who hands out large christmas bonuses in April.

Following this logic how the hell did the NYG win the SB, the Pats should have been up by six TDs in the 1st 60 seconds.

 

[chinch]

Following this logic how the hell did the NYG win the SB, the Pats should have been up by six TDs in the 1st 60 seconds.

you really have no understanding of playoff football if you thought the Pats would be up by several TDs within minutes.

plus Coughlin is a much better coach. The few imbeciles who had a mutuny against him were gone (shockey in the stands, tiki retired)

 

[jrumann59]

you really have no understanding of playoff football if you thought the Pats would be up by several TDs within minutes.

plus Coughlin is a much better coach. The few imbeciles who had a mutuny against him were gone (shockey in the stands, tiki retired)

I understand playoff football very well but your blanket statements hold true for about every team in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys are the football equivalent to the Yankees in baseball. People will watch them no matter if they love them or hate them, the ones that love them want them to win, the haters want them to lose. The media is the same way. Prime example Matt Lienart is guilty of similar things that you perceive Romo to be guilty of but his "transgressions" get lost within 12 hours where as Romo's last months after the fact. When you play for the Cowboys everything a player does will be dissected, examined, blown out of proportion and when thats done they start over until something more vogue comes along. This is a young team that has few players that even were around when Parcells took them to the playoffs with quincy. Look at Indy they couldn't win in the playoffs for a few years and Peyton was probably one of the most focused QBs in the game at that time. The team if anything needs maturity but that is something that can't be taught, only 20% sinks in from talking about and the rest is from action and actual maturing. Every owner is an enabler that is what owners do, it is the ones that can hold all the egos in check that are the rare owners and front offices that accomplish great things. Do you realize how bad this team was when BP stepped in, I will go out on a limb and say this, "I think the team BP took over was worse than the team that Jerry and Jimmy toke over in 89." This team is a little ahead of the bubble but they still are a very young team besides TO, TG, Flozell, and Ellis most of the players are under 30. Your venture in hyperbole is wreckless at best.

 

[dcfanatic]

What Baldy is saying is that it's time to 'Walk the Walk'.

No more talking about how good the team is on paper. Show up and play like a championship caliber team, especially late in the season.

If this team goes limping into the playoffs once again I am going to be very sad.

 

[tunahelper]

It just takes consistent hard work, talent and experience. I think experience of the last two playoff loses will increase are ability to perform when it counts.

 

[sago1]

I've said all along that our problem was lack of veteran leadership. We've all heard that the Packers were the youngest team in the NFL yet they won a SB. They also had a 38 year old playoff experienced QB in Favre & a coach who encourages leadership from within his team. On the opposite side we have first year starter Romo, experienced vets like Ellis (ha), TO (who is showing leadership signs/skills now) & the very quiet/doesn't talk muchFlozel. So younger guys like Romo, Witten, Newman, James, Ware & others must step up and that's not easy cause most players look to their vets on occasions like this. So Baldinger (sp?) is right on. This is way I was thrilled with Zack Thomas signing cause he brings much needed vet experience which includes the intensity to really bear down & help lead this team. Parcells did a really good job bringing in a lot of players & we should be willing to admit it; even tho he also made some mistakes. But one thing he didn't do or even hindered with his demeanor was the development of a leadership core on this team. So 07 was first year the team took a step towards that goal. As our leadership core continues to develop, Thomas' acquisition should really cause it to step up particularly when most needed--in December & the playoffs.

 

[Sarge]

I've been saying this same thing for LOOONG time. This team has no leaders on it and no 'attitude.' The attitude Michael Irvin brought. The attitude that Erik Williams brought. The attitude that Charles Haley brought. This list goes long and back.... decades. We have Barber who is the closest thing but IMO, this team lacks leadership and a nastiness that some of our past championship teams had.

I mean, who would you rather have representing your defense........Roy Williams or Charles Haley???

 

[big dog cowboy]

When the Cowboys lost to the Giants they were disappointed not angry. .

That was my biggest issue.

 

[TheSkaven]

I mean, who would you rather have representing your defense........Roy Williams or Charles Haley???

Haley, but I'll take DeMarcus Ware for this version of the squad.

I would agree that attitude and leadership are part of the problem.

I can't really put my finger on the problem, but the team doesn't seem to play well in cold weather and wet-weather style of games. Perhaps it does not suit their style of offense.

Terrell Owens' injury late last season was also a big blow - but good teams overcome injuries.

All of the memorable late season losses of the past two years were against NFC East division rivals. That's the time of year, and the type of foe,that you should punch in the mouth right at the outset. Instead, in the Philly and Washington games last year, they pushed us around from the get-go.

 

[Sarge]

When the Cowboys lost to the Giants they were disappointed not angry. .

That was my biggest issue.

Haley would have been throwing helmets, punching walls etc. Irvin and Erik Williams would have reacted as leaders as well, as you state, with anger, not disappointment.

Swagger.................does not exist at this juncture, with these players.

 

[Sarge]

Haley, but I'll take DeMarcus Ware for this version of the squad.

I would agree that attitude and leadership are part of the problem.

I can't really put my finger on the problem, but the team doesn't seem to play well in cold weather and wet-weather style of games. Perhaps it does not suit their style of offense.

Terrell Owens' injury late last season was also a big blow - but good teams overcome injuries.

All of the memorable late season losses of the past two years were against NFC East division rivals. That's the time of year, and the type of foe,that you should punch in the mouth right at the outset. Instead, in the Philly and Washington games last year, they pushed us around from the get-go.

Ware has yet to step it up as a team leader. His game is not to be questioned, but a great player doesn't necessarily equate to a great or even good, team leader...I don't view him as a voice for the team, not at this point anyways......

 

[dbair1967]

Haley would have been throwing helmets, punching walls etc. Irvin and Erik Williams would have reacted as leaders as well, as you state, with anger, not disappointment.

Swagger.................does not exist at this juncture, with these players.

and that team's all pro QB would have never took off for Mexico for a few days before the playoffs either...nor would that team's coach have allowed such non sense

David

 

[chinch]

Prime example Matt Lienart is guilty of similar things that you perceive Romo to be guilty of but his "transgressions".

What a terrible example.... Leinart has done NOTHING in the nfl and might not start. won't sniff playoffs for years (if ever).

Championship teams have strong leaders and will themselves to victories, not mexico and bye-weeks. The boys show nothing (except maybe Zach's leadership and a healthy TO in Dec) that comes remotely close.

 

[Disturbed]

Tank seems to be fairly vocal and he seems to get respect....maybe he will become more of a leader this year.

And Roy Williams and Greg Ellis are not leaders...in fact they work in the opposite direction....I would like these two off the team and someone else to step up and lead. Thomas, Hamlin, Tank (defense) Romo, Witten, TO (offense)

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

The attitude and the swagger and the kill instinct all begin and end with the HC.

I really don't see many here holding Wade accountable. And they should.

Wade has perhaps the best-stocked team in the NFL right now.

Anything short of a Super Bowl appearance will be cause to elevate Garrett.