Jerry speaks

[Stash]

That's not true. The case for the state of the cap and the state of the roster has been made at every step of the way. The new CBA constricted the cap league wide during that period. That's been well documented. The penalty for the Austin deal made it worse.

And it's not an excuse for mediocrity. It's an explanation for it.

I don't see it as an explanation either. Anyone trying to claim that Garrett and the Cowboys had to 'make due' or 'do without' is mistaken. They juggled contracts in 2011 and kicked the can down the road. They spent huge in 2012. And the kept the band together for 2013. It wasn't until 2014 that the big names were lost, and the team managed to go 12-4 that year. The cap 'excuse' just doesn't hold water.

That 2010 team was bad, and the 2011 team was not much better. We can admit that, and still not be happy that the 2015 team spit the bit.

The records were bad. On that we can agree.

 

[Stash]

I don't respond to Roy, but you know better than this, stash. Yes, I don't think the problem is with the staff. I never have, so that ought to come as no surprise. I believe we had a bad team in 2010 and 2011. That's hardly a homer opinion if you remember anything about those seasons.

I remember plenty, and from what I showed you, I think better than you do. Anyone claiming cap issues as an excuse is misguided.

Last year, I believe the problem was injuries to offensive skill positions and a defense that still lacked significant talent. If you disagree and want to have that discussion, we can have it.

But can we please do it without the fantasy that I'm only making excuses when I'm actually talking about legitimate limitations for this team?

You know I love a good discussion, whether we agree or disagree. I'm all for that. But I think your "legitimate limitations" are hit and miss at best, and anything that gives the staff a free pass doesn't work for me.

The offensive skill position losses were huge, no denying that. But there's also no denying that this staff clearly showed that they brought nothing to the table to make up for them in any way. 1-11 with a lucky win against Washington makes that point clear.

 

[Stash]

Then let me be more specific. The neck injury to Zack Martin, Leary's back, and the preseason knicks that had Free hobbling around meant that the OL was not up to form when the season started. The churn at RB with Randle losing it and getting cut and Dunbar going down in week 3 or 4 left that position group in a shambles as we were bringing in vets and trying to get them up to speed for most of the first half of the year. On defense, the front 7 was getting shuffled early due to the suspensions for Hardy and R. McClain and the injury to T. McClain and Crawford. And the secondary played the whole season down it's best cover CB.

None of which are excuses. It's the organization's job to not have flux and to have the depth to overcome injuries. I'm just saying we looked really unsettled even early in the year with Tony and Dez actually in the lineup. Now, that might well have improved with some reps, but we never got to find out. As it was, they just looked off, hence, the 'chemistry' comment.

I'd say 'execution' would be a more apt term because it doesn't try to put it all on the players and absolve the coaches.

I agree that save for one drive, they never looked right. But the coaches bear blame for that too.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Then let me be more specific. The neck injury to Zack Martin, Leary's back, and the preseason knicks that had Free hobbling around meant that the OL was not up to form when the season started. The churn at RB with Randle losing it and getting cut and Dunbar going down in week 3 or 4 left that position group in a shambles as we were bringing in vets and trying to get them up to speed for most of the first half of the year. On defense, the front 7 was getting shuffled early due to the suspensions for Hardy and R. McClain and the injury to T. McClain and Crawford. And the secondary played the whole season down it's best cover CB.

None of which are excuses. It's the organization's job to not have flux and to have the depth to overcome injuries. I'm just saying we looked really unsettled even early in the year with Tony and Dez actually in the lineup. Now, that might well have improved with some reps, but we never got to find out. As it was, they just looked off, hence, the 'chemistry' comment.

Yep, and the coaching staff didn't handle any of it properly or prepare for it. And decisions made in the off season to have Randle, Dunbar, and McFadden handle the running duties was ridiculous. Poor chemistry is another way of saying poor coaching. Its the coaches job to keep the chemistry going.

 

[garyv]

I would rather sign Rg3 and a high impact defensive player at 4. I am not convinced that any of these qbs in the draft are elite can't miss qb prospects.

I wasn't with you 2 weeks ago but have been lately. I would rather sign RG3 have a healthy Romo and take a QB from the Draft
after Round 3....my opinion only. I want to feel holes in the first 3 rounds.