Is trying to run back 2016 our only hope?

[noshame]

2016 was a great year because Dak was kept mobile, allowing time for his receivers to create major separation,

He is no longer capable of that, since the injury.

There is no putting lipstick on this years pig, we are a 5 win team at best. This year is a rebuilding year start figuring out who you want for your coach in 2026 and who's your number one quarterback. Trade Parsons and build a 10 year winner.

No bandaids

 

[plymkr]

The 2016 team didn't get outclassed. They should have won it. They were better. They were closer. They were Championship Game caliber.

I completely agree with this. That 2016 was the best in the NFC and I would argue the NFL. We didn’t lose cuz of talent we lost cuz of inexperience and coaching.

Dak was a rookie so obviously he was inexperienced and Garrett was inexperienced as a playoff coach.

Since the post Aikman era the 3 losses that hurt the most were
2007
2016
2014

In that order. I think 2007 and 2016 we were one of the top 3 teams in the league. 2007 especially. 2014 hurt cuz of the Dez no catch BS. Man those losses hurt. But yeah in 2016 we were a championship caliber team that lost due to inexperience. We had the best offensive line in the league. I wish Jerry would pull out tape of the offensive and defensive lines and copy that when he “builds the roster”. 2016 d-line had Ratliff, Ware, Spencer; offensive line had Fred, Martin, Smith, and the offensive guard I can’t remember his name, Ron something. Just stacked up in the trenches and then we hit away from that model or couldn’t draft good in the trenches.

 

[dsouth234]

Why? It didn’t work in 2016

 

[Flamma]

How did they get there? Dominant run game and a top 5 defense.

That defense was a mirage. Their ranking very misleading. They were hidden by a ball control offense that rarely turned the ball over. Otherwise that D was not very good.

 

[quickccc]

Looking for any reason for hope this year? Maybe this is it.

Let me ask you a question. When were we the closest during the Prescott years of breaking this near 30 year drought since a Championship game appearance?

I would argue it was his rookie season. Which makes no sense but we're talking about Prescott here. You could say the McCarthy teams were better but they got outclassed in every playoff defeat. They shouldn't have won those games. The 2016 team didn't get outclassed. They should have won it. They were better. They were closer. They were Championship Game caliber.

How did they get there? Dominant run game and a top 5 defense.

Now I know now is when you say no crap, we all want to do that with Prescott. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out ...and you can get away with talking to me that way safely outside of the range of my fists.

But don't forget one of the biggest keys to that 2016 "success" (as much as you can get with Jerry). A truly transcendent talent at running back. What he's become is sickening but that dude was special when he entered the league. He should have won 3 straight rushing titles his first three years in the league if not for a bogus suspension.

So I'm not talking about merely beefing up the lines and drafting an Omarion Hampton or TreVeyon Henderson in the draft. Really good players who should improve the offense and be productive pros. I'm talking about getting the guy who is advertised as special. The unique one. The guy who can make everyone around them instantly better by his presence. That's what Ezekiel Elliott did. He was the alpha that carried his QB beta.

Now the two teams won't be exactly the same. We almost certainly won't have as good of an offensive line even with improvement and we won't have Prescott's mobility but this team will have some advantages over that one too. Namely at pass rusher and the return and kicking game. (Turpin comes back in this scenario)

I don't believe it's usually a good long term decision to draft a RB high in the first round of the draft but I'm wondering with this team and this group of coaches and players if focusing on the run game and defense as well as drafting Ashton Jeanty is not only the best shot but the only shot we have in 2025.

I think it is.

We got oust in the playoffs in 2016 before it was even a NFC title game.

and 2016 wasn't dak strongest year statisically - he's had a stronger, 2nd in MVP voting like season a couple years ago.

- It's gonna come to the coaches (scheme) ..RBs and Defense ... we have to ADD difference making elements to better help Dak.. to better give him an extra edge.
That's why the Derrick Henry brush off by this team in offseason 2024, was such a critical mistake.
And no, i'm not buying the " we could not afford him" excuse.

- And I don't wanna depend and load up on one lone single RB,.. i'd much love to have a Detroit Lions (Montgomery/Gibbs) or Ravens ( Henry/Hill )
duo RB type setting, a complete one- two punch. and have two RBs interchangeable.

 

[Risen Star]

That defense was a mirage. Their ranking very misleading. They were hidden by a ball control offense that rarely turned the ball over. Otherwise that D was not very good.

It doesn't matter how. The formula of the team produced the results and it was the closest we've ever been with Prescott.

 

[Flamma]

It doesn't matter how. The formula of the team produced the results and it was the closest we've ever been with Prescott.

I get your point, and I really don't want to nitpick, but I will anyway. What makes 2016 the closest we came? We had 1 extra win. We didn't advance any further than we did between 2021-2023. I think a big reason they won 13 games is due to a lack of turnovers. Dallas had 13 turnovers all year not counting the last game with Sanchez. Dallas still ended up with only a +5 turnover differential in 2016.

 

[fansince68]

In 2016 our running game made our defense better because we utilized ball control with a grinding o line. The defense was well rested in the 4th to close out games. Now Dak plays hero ball throwing deep on 3rd and 2.