Let's talk about culture, Schotty's version vs reality

[Hawkeye0202]

As you can see, team culture can have different meanings for different teams, but the common denominator is unity focused on winning. I think Schotty is trying to build it within the locker room, which frankly had no leaders last season. For example
Cowboys leaders from the 90s...... Haley, Woodson. Aikman, Emmit, Irvin, Allen, Newton

Cowboy leaders from last season
Dak......highest paid player in the league, missed most of the season on IR. This is after playing the worst few games of his career.
Martin......worst season of his career before retiring
Lamb.......????
Tyler........
Parsons....... has maturity issues. Ugly jawing with DLaw on social media. Interestingly, he was the only defensive player.

Keep in mind, Schotty was on this team last season, so he witnessed firsthand the lack of leadership and unity. He saw a team of players more worried about covering their own a_____, not helping teammates or sacrificing for the good of winning. I hate to say this about Dak but with his contract ( highest paid ) and how last season went down, I'm not sure how respect he has in the locker room. 4-5 years ago, many players and FO's people didn't hide their confidence he would get them to the promised land. How many times have we heard his name this offseason from players and coaches?








Here's Mike Vrabel's version of team culture



Belichick's version




AI on NFL team culture

NFL team culture encompasses the shared beliefs, values, and behaviors that define a team's identity and how it operates. It's a crucial element for building a winning and cohesive environment, impacting everything from player performance to fan engagemen

 

[fivetwos]

The problem with the “culture” in Dallas is Jerry.

Last I checked he is still around.

There will be no changes. He has been relatively quiet lately but will be front and center again before long and fully undermining his coach.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

the problem with the culture is Jerry as @fivetwos said above. its been the same culture for 30 years. coaches have no authority. Jerry has made it very clear by what he says and more importantly what he does. He said, Moore will report directly to him, not Garrett....I wasn't his biggest fan, but that blurs lines of authority and players hear, see and react to it. Jerry favored Garrett as he forced him on Wade. that tore the locker room. jerry made business deals with Smith, who was on legged at the time and forced him on the team, before it became painfully obvious he can't even walk.

and with every coach, every 4 or 5 years we hear the exact same stories. coaches come in and talk about new culture. changes, etc. and by year two it starts to fall apart. Some want to blame Dak, but that's Jerry's fault. he didn't have to give the contract and furthermore he didn't have to drag it past training camp to an hour before the game. that's giving all the power of negotiation to the player.

Parson is focused on his podcast, even during the season. he defends it vehemently, because Jerry does the same thing. never admit you are wrong. players speak in sound bites. just like jerry and stephen do. there is no focus on football. that will wear out real fast, because its done in pencil. its not the essence of this team. first sign of controversy and this team starts to fall apart and controversy is inevitable in the NFL season.

Even the lowly sam williams is focused on just getting his sack total up, so that he can get a next big contract. not about winning. not about sacrificing. not about doing what it takes for the team. its about "my stats". some will argue, well if he gets sacks, then defense has done good. they forget about all the other stuff he has to do on the team, which may cost games, plays and detriment to the team.

here, its not winning at all cost. its staying relevant at all cost. the culture of cowboys is not about winning. its about marketing and sales and how you look. its one year at a time and then respond to what happened the year before to bring fans back and get attention. I predicted middle of last season, in the middle of debacle that Jerry was going to make some off season moves, generate and create hope, make at least one big move (see Pickens trade) and bring fans and attention back. its not that he cares for the long term success, but success for 2025. 2026 will be dealt with after we see what happens in 2025.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The problem with the “culture” in Dallas is Jerry.

Last I checked he is still around.

There will be no changes. He has been relatively quiet lately but will be front and center again before long and fully undermining his coach.

It appears you are talking about discipline culture, similar to what Vrabel mentions above. I'm not sure that's the culture Schotty is building. I think he is trying to build a core of players to strengthen the leadership in the locker room. Similar to the '90s players mentioned above.

BTW........Jerry was also around during the 90s version of culture and that worked out pretty good. IMO, it's more about a small group of well-respected players who will hold other players accountable.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

the problem with the culture is Jerry as @fivetwos said above. its been the same culture for 30 years. coaches have no authority. Jerry has made it very clear by what he says and more importantly what he does

Jerry was the owner in the 90s when we won 3 Super Bowls ..........culture was fine.

 

[Jimbo123]

The only thing that will change the culture is winning in the playoffs.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Jerry was the owner in the 90s when we won 3 Super Bowls ..........culture was fine.

Jerry was in the background, while Johnson established the culture and managed it.

since Jerry took over, its been crap. since Johnson left, we have had no culture. yeah yeah yeah, we won with switzer people will argue, but it was players and mostly coaches from Johnson era just carrying the torch. then it fell apart really quickly.

 

[Aven8]

In all fairness to Mike the stupid Owner landed a helicopter on the practice field last season for crying out loud!

 

[DallasEast]

Jerry was the owner in the 90s when we won 3 Super Bowls ..........culture was fine.

The Dallas Super Bowl winning teams of the 90's were a reflection of Jimmy Johnson. The winning culture was a product of his creation, not Jerry Jones.

Team culture is almost always a by-product of the head coach's influence, not owners. That is true of all team sports. Johnson was a hedge against Jones' influence. Bill Parcells' was partially corrective.

 

[DallasEast]

In all fairness to Mike the stupid Owner landed a helicopter on the practice field last season for crying out loud!

^ This.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I feel like all this culture talk is Jerry's Barnum and Bailey spin on being lazy with the coaching hire. I am not buying it yet.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Jerry was in the background, while Johnson established the culture and managed it.

since Jerry took over, its been crap. since Johnson left, we have had no culture. yeah yeah yeah, we won with switzer people will argue, but it was players and mostly coaches from Johnson era just carrying the torch. then it fell apart really quickly.

So, what culture do you think Schotty is talking about .......

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Team culture is almost always a by-product of the head coach's influence, not owners

Bingo DallasEast.......Is this NOT what Schotty is trying to do?

 

[phildadon86]

Jerry was the owner in the 90s when we won 3 Super Bowls ..........culture was fine.

LOL.

You cant be serious with this take.

Jerry wasnt sitting in on team meetings in the 90s, he also wasnt landing his helicopter on the practice field, the players also werent working out in an aquarium while tourists look at them.

Come on man, this is a terrible take. The culture in the 90s was JIMMY, and his beliefs and culture of winning was carried thru to the players by leaders like Aikman, Smith, and Irvin.

There is no comparison to Jerry from then to Jerry from now. Jerry then was focused on the business side, he had nothing to do with the football side, that is literally the reason for the split between Jerry and Jimmy. Jerry wanted to be in on football decisions, Jimmy said no.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Jerry was the owner in the 90s when we won 3 Super Bowls ..........culture was fine.

Jimmy was the HC and running the team in the early 90's when we won super bowls and the culture was great.

Jerry hasn't built or won anything in 30 years of trying and every off season we talk about "building a culture" in Dallas.

 

[AstroPilota]

Everything coming out right now sounds great, but ......... there's a part of me that is still thinking - Schott was here last year, did he not have ANY infuence? It's hard for me to believe that he was this diabolically opposed to the way the culture was and not try to do something about it then. How could someone this different suddenly rise to the top of the HC search (and get the gig)? You can't remove the stripes from a tiger, and JJ is THE tiger. I want to give this version of the Cowboys the benefit of the doubt, until proven differently, but that's hard to do after years and years of the hype train we fans have endured.

IMO - there's one incredibly big ego in the room that will have a profound impact on this team - Micah Parsons. How his situation pans out and how he performs this season will either gel the team or be the beginning of the circus bust.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Everything coming out right now sounds great, but ......... there's a part of me that is still thinking - Schott was here last year, did he not have ANY infuence? It's hard for me to believe that he was this diabolically opposed to the way the culture was and not try to do something about it then. How could someone this different suddenly rise to the top of the HC search (and get the gig)? You can't remove the stripes from a tiger, and JJ is THE tiger. I want to give this version of the Cowboys the benefit of the doubt, until proven differently, but that's hard to do after years and years of the hype train we fans have endured.

IMO - there's one incredibly big ego in the room that will have a profound impact on this team - Micah Parsons. How his situation pans out and how he performs this season will either gel the team or be the beginning of the circus bust.

This is true but this was MM's team last season.

 

[RS12]

Reality please begin work on the delusion zone.

 

[tromofan]

Isn’t it this way with most teams whenever a new coach takes over? Everyone has a “first day of school” type energy trying to make the best impression.

 

[Vtwin]

I believe 100% that a good culture is essential to the success of any organization. I applaud BS for focusing on improving it.

I think he is making a mistake by so vocally promoting it, though. He shouldn't be uttering the word culture. Culture is determined at the top. That culture then works to create the identity of the organization. You simply can't change the culture by talking about it. (not saying he is just talking with no action). Talking about it and promoting it does no good and is really just grandstanding and can backfire on you. You change a culture through actions and example. Period. Set the tone. Hold yourself and others accountable. Ignore everything outside the bubble and quietly get to work.

You can talk about the culture on the podium with Terry Bradshaw holding the mic for you.