TheDude
McLovin
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Overall this year was a little more enjoyable to watch. I really thought that we may have turned a corner, but the way we lost really makes me not as convinced that 2010 status quo will improve anything - in fact likely will be worse.
Overall, we were 11-5 in 2009 and 9-7 in 2008. That said, I still firmly believe that 2007 was "the" year. 2008 was mostly injury related. Romo missed 3 games (RAMS, NYG, TB), Felix missed 10+, Kosier most of the year, etc. I think those losses were worth 2 games (throw in the 1st Commander game when F Jones got 0 touches). ST improvements also added at least one more win (see AZ game 2008 - KR for TD, blocked punt -TD)
In 2009, we were healthy across the board most of the year. Romo limited his turnovers (began tucking the ball when he was flushed out, etc) and the defense was better against the run.
Short of that, I think that you really have to look at the coaching and player preparation. You can point to a myriad of examples, but against better teams, Dallas fails to make adjustments as the game goes on. The team won in December, but it got up early in those games - which is a good thing. What the team lacks (and has lacked for a long time) is the ability when it gets down big (if it is 10-0 or 14-0, its is over) and consistently fight back to make it a game. Indy and NO, Minn, SD, etc always fight to make it a game and most of the time pull it out. I think this has to fall nostly on coaching - maybe some on the QB, but Romo is more than capable of winning a SB.
Whether it is talk or not, other teams brag about how predictable the offense is. The 1990s team was predictable, but they had the talent to out execute other teams. NFL teams are better now and talent doesn't win by default. I think Garret is stuck on running the same plays over and over and daring the other team to stop it. When they do, he doesn't make quick adjustments.
The RW move has been, will always be a bad move. TO was pushed out of town for/since we had RW11. However, Miles Austin is the one that made up that production (thank god). This was fools luck and nothing more. The issue I have is that Miles has been on the team. The 1st and 3rd could have been used for Harvin, OL, etc. MA could have been promoted to starter in 2008 instead of Crayton based on talent. I would wager that he could have produced more in 2008 than 10 for 198 and 1TD.
You just don't see the top teams fail so miserably in this department. You can blame it on JErry sure, but the issues have mostly been on the offensive side of the ball (Brad Johnson, not playing Choice in 08, Kosier relacement, needing another weapon, etc) when the current talent later proves to be more than sufficient.
The Razorback was a joke, and the tendency to begin running it the redzone is preposterous when the defense already is working on a short field. Barber on a sweep to the same side of the guy who has 3 sacks and using Colombo like a pissboy is unthinkable.
I understand that not every play works, but if you really evaluate most of our plays they succeed from the playmaker speed (Austin, F Jones) rather than scheme.
That said, I think Minn may have won anyway...but it wouldn't be by >7 points.
Maybe Garrett can begin to use that ivy league education to do more than come up with great plays in week 1 and 2 and save some wrinkles for later in the year. At very least, learn what to do based on personell.
Sure we were 2nd in yards, but 14th in points. That shows a lack of effectiveness or overreliance on the big play. Continued theme.
Romo improved this year as did the Defense, so I will be cautiously optimistic that things can improve, however, the OC is lagging behind in his development compared to the DefCoor and ST improvements
Overall, we were 11-5 in 2009 and 9-7 in 2008. That said, I still firmly believe that 2007 was "the" year. 2008 was mostly injury related. Romo missed 3 games (RAMS, NYG, TB), Felix missed 10+, Kosier most of the year, etc. I think those losses were worth 2 games (throw in the 1st Commander game when F Jones got 0 touches). ST improvements also added at least one more win (see AZ game 2008 - KR for TD, blocked punt -TD)
In 2009, we were healthy across the board most of the year. Romo limited his turnovers (began tucking the ball when he was flushed out, etc) and the defense was better against the run.
Short of that, I think that you really have to look at the coaching and player preparation. You can point to a myriad of examples, but against better teams, Dallas fails to make adjustments as the game goes on. The team won in December, but it got up early in those games - which is a good thing. What the team lacks (and has lacked for a long time) is the ability when it gets down big (if it is 10-0 or 14-0, its is over) and consistently fight back to make it a game. Indy and NO, Minn, SD, etc always fight to make it a game and most of the time pull it out. I think this has to fall nostly on coaching - maybe some on the QB, but Romo is more than capable of winning a SB.
Whether it is talk or not, other teams brag about how predictable the offense is. The 1990s team was predictable, but they had the talent to out execute other teams. NFL teams are better now and talent doesn't win by default. I think Garret is stuck on running the same plays over and over and daring the other team to stop it. When they do, he doesn't make quick adjustments.
The RW move has been, will always be a bad move. TO was pushed out of town for/since we had RW11. However, Miles Austin is the one that made up that production (thank god). This was fools luck and nothing more. The issue I have is that Miles has been on the team. The 1st and 3rd could have been used for Harvin, OL, etc. MA could have been promoted to starter in 2008 instead of Crayton based on talent. I would wager that he could have produced more in 2008 than 10 for 198 and 1TD.
You just don't see the top teams fail so miserably in this department. You can blame it on JErry sure, but the issues have mostly been on the offensive side of the ball (Brad Johnson, not playing Choice in 08, Kosier relacement, needing another weapon, etc) when the current talent later proves to be more than sufficient.
The Razorback was a joke, and the tendency to begin running it the redzone is preposterous when the defense already is working on a short field. Barber on a sweep to the same side of the guy who has 3 sacks and using Colombo like a pissboy is unthinkable.
I understand that not every play works, but if you really evaluate most of our plays they succeed from the playmaker speed (Austin, F Jones) rather than scheme.
That said, I think Minn may have won anyway...but it wouldn't be by >7 points.
Maybe Garrett can begin to use that ivy league education to do more than come up with great plays in week 1 and 2 and save some wrinkles for later in the year. At very least, learn what to do based on personell.
Sure we were 2nd in yards, but 14th in points. That shows a lack of effectiveness or overreliance on the big play. Continued theme.
Romo improved this year as did the Defense, so I will be cautiously optimistic that things can improve, however, the OC is lagging behind in his development compared to the DefCoor and ST improvements
