Linehan is the real MVP

[BigStar]

Well Dallas was one of the most penalized teams last season, this year we are up their with the fewest in the league. Lot easier to continue to run when you are not having to back up 5 and 10 yards putting the offense in longer down and distant situations.

Better offensive preparation leads to better execution. No mass confusion before the snap, everyone is on the same page (well, Free is still Free).

 

[Dodger12]

And/or are unable to recognize actions for what they obviously are. Good point.

I recognized the hissy fit in the war room with JG and TC when we passed on Floyd in 2013. I also recognize that Shazier, Donald and probably Richardson (in 2013) would have been our picks if they were there. Of course, they traded up for a CB in 2012 when everyone was pimping DeCastro. Or when we had two 1st round picks in 2008 and when asked for his input, JG wanted Felix. Not a lineman to be taken in that draft. Actions are louder than words.

 

[khiladi]

Teams are manning up on the wideouts to stack the line against the play action, then turning to cover when they read the pass, leaving the underneath open. And our interior OL is able to create lanes blocking 5 on 5. When this happens and the coverage is there, the right move is for the QB to run, so that's why Tony is doing it, despite the sore back. It's not because Linehan is magically helping him to see the field. And it's not because we're 'running boot-legs.'

Please provide me anywhere that I stated the reason this is happening is because we are running boot-legs.

And after you fail to do that, because I never said it, you can now finally admit to yourself that all this time you were trying to argue about me with respect to the play-calling, you were wrong. I'm in bizarro world considering Idgit is telling me play-action opens things up. She must sub-consciously be remembering all our conversations, but mixing it up as to who actually was saying play-action would do wonders for this offense.

 

[khiladi]

Better offensive preparation leads to better execution. No mass confusion before the snap, everyone is on the same page (well, Free is still Free).

It's the Jason Garrett culture.. wait a minute...

 

[Bleu Star]

Teams are manning up on the wideouts to stack the line against the play action, then turning to cover when they read the pass, leaving the underneath open. And our interior OL is able to create lanes blocking 5 on 5. When this happens and the coverage is there, the right move is for the QB to run, so that's why Tony is doing it, despite the sore back. It's not because Linehan is magically helping him to see the field. And it's not because we're 'running boot-legs.'

Cmon man. Do you honestly believe that Linehan has no substantial part of the positives that we are seeing early on this year? I always suspected it but it appears that Chocolate Lab confirmed with a quote directly from Jerry.

Matt Mosley was talking to Jerry in the "walk off" after the game the other night, and he said Jerry told them that basically, Linehan was the first coach in years who when he told Tony "Stop doing that", Tony listened.
.

Thanks CL. That is exactly what I had been harping on recently. It was very noticeable that Tony's demeanor had changed from what we became used to seeing over the last few years. Gone is the Tony that would find the edge of the nearest bench after an INT and sulk. Now we have a studious Tony that is absorbing everything Linehan is teaching. It is clearly evident on the sideline and I believe it will help Tony prolong his career in a positive way. Tony's decision making has been sharper than I have ever seen it. He didn't just wake up that way folks.

In that first game, Linehan was in teach mode after every negative series and Tony was clearly engaged. He wasn't smarting or sulking while listening to something go in one ear and out the other. He was fully engaged.

Never saw it with Callahan or Red. Not once...

 

[Idgit]

Cmon man. Do you honestly believe that Linehan has no substantial part of the positives that we are seeing early on this year? I always suspected it but it appears that Chocolate Lab confirmed with a quote directly from Jerry....

No. Of course I don't believe that. I've never said that, or hinted at that. I believe we're doing a good job on offense and everybody involved deserves credit for the good work. Linehan is obviously a huge part of that.

But I also think we did a good job on offense last season, too. And I think we did a bad job on defense last season and, so far, are going a better-than-average job defensively this season. And that's where any improvement in our record overall is likely to come from if the year plays out in our favor. But, as I keep saying, we started out playing better-than-expected defense last season, too. Giving up a lot of yards but taking the ball away and stringing together big plays. After blowing out the Rams, people were pretty high on the team around here last year, too. That didn't pan out, and we need to have similar guarded optimism right now. It's a long season. Injuries pile up and turnovers lose winnable games. We just have to wait and see and not flail at the whim of our emotions for once.

 

[Bleu Star]

Better offensive preparation leads to better execution. No mass confusion before the snap, everyone is on the same page (well, Free is still Free).

Lol.. Yeah. I have always been a HUGE Free supporter but even I can see nowadays that Free will always be Free. There because he has proven to be serviceable... But also replaceable yet not a priority due to his serviceability.

 

[Bleu Star]

No. Of course I don't believe that. I've never said that, or hinted at that. I believe we're doing a good job on offense and everybody involved deserves credit for the good work. Linehan is obviously a huge part of that.

But I also think we did a good job on offense last season, too. And I think we did a bad job on defense last season and, so far, are going a better-than-average job defensively this season. And that's where any improvement in our record overall is likely to come from if the year plays out in our favor. But, as I keep saying, we started out playing better-than-expected defense last season, too. Giving up a lot of yards but taking the ball away and stringing together big plays. After blowing out the Rams, people were pretty high on the team around here last year, too. That didn't pan out, and we need to have similar guarded optimism right now. It's a long season. Injuries pile up and turnovers lose winnable games. We just have to wait and see and not flail at the whim of our emotions for once.

I completely agree with the guarded optimism theme. I hope my starting this thread didn't lead anyone to believe I thought we were Super Bowl bound. The premise was to recognize the difference Linehan has made. That's it.

We still have a lot of work to do but there is a focus and level of preparation that I find incredibly refreshing. I can't see past Houston.

 

[Idgit]

I recognized the hissy fit in the war room with JG and TC when we passed on Floyd in 2013. I also recognize that Shazier, Donald and probably Richardson (in 2013) would have been our picks if they were there. Of course, they traded up for a CB in 2012 when everyone was pimping DeCastro. Or when we had two 1st round picks in 2008 and when asked for his input, JG wanted Felix. Not a lineman to be taken in that draft. Actions are louder than words.

Unless, apparently, the actions are the actual drafting of three first round OLs by a team that hadn't taken a single OL in the first round since 1981. Because in that case, we ignore the actions and instead try to make an argument about what we might have done, instead.

 

[Dodger12]

Unless, apparently, the actions are the actual drafting of three first round OLs by a team that hadn't taken a single OL in the first round since 1981. Because in that case, we ignore the actions and instead try to make an argument about what we might have done, instead.

There is nothing to ignore when Stephen tells us who we would have picked had they not been off the board. Of the 3 picks you mentioned, it was obvious that JG wanted Floyd and the hissy fit by TC most likely led to his demotion. Not sure how you can pin Fred on Garrett who was stunned in the war room when we traded down and didn't take Floyd. Steven then told us our pick was Shazier but he went off the board. This doesn't sound like some master plan by Garrett to rebuild the line. Sometimes good fortune happens and we benefited by guys like Shazier or Donald being gone. Nothing wrong with that and I'll take it. Now go ahead and tell me we also wanted Emmitt Smith and weren't targeting another player because that's what you want me to believe in this case as well.

 

[Idgit]

Well yeah, it's closed....unless you believe that actions are louder than words.

There is nothing to ignore when Stephen tells us who we would have picked had they not been off the board. Of the 3 picks you mentioned, it was obvious that JG wanted Floyd and the hissy fit by TC most likely led to his demotion. Not sure how you can pin Fred on Garrett who was stunned in the war room when we traded down and didn't take Floyd. Steven then told us our pick was Shazier but he went off the board. This doesn't sound like some master plan by Garrett to rebuild the line. Sometimes good fortune happens and we benefited by guys like Shazier or Donald being gone. Nothing wrong with that and I'll take it. Now go ahead and tell me we also wanted Emmitt Smith and weren't targeting another player because that's what you want me to believe in this case as well.

You can't keep on telling me actions speak louder than words and then ignoring the actual actions and trying to prop up your argument with words. We drafted Smith, Frederick, and Martin in the first round, when web hadn't done so previously in 30 years. Those are actions. The rest of your argument? Words.

 

[Dodger12]

You can't keep on telling me actions speak louder than words and then ignoring the actual actions and trying to prop up your argument with words. We drafted Smith, Frederick, and Martin in the first round, when web hadn't done so previously in 30 years. Those are actions. The rest of your argument? Words.

Yes, the actions by Jerry/Steven which JG didn't agree with. I know better. The team had a plan and fortunately for us, OL was plan B when plan A failed.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, the actions by Jerry/Steven which JG didn't agree with. I know better. The team had a plan and fortunately for us, OL was plan B when plan A failed.

Ok. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him be rational when he gets there. I guess I'll just be happy to see Jerry and Stephen getting some love from a 'realist.'

 

[Oh_Canada]

Yes, the actions by Jerry/Steven which JG didn't agree with. I know better. The team had a plan and fortunately for us, OL was plan B when plan A failed.

He didn't agree with trading out of the 16th spot because a player the team had rated TOP FIVE at a position of need was sitting there for them not because he didn't like Frederick.

 

[Dodger12]

Ok. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him be rational when he gets there. I guess I'll just be happy to see Jerry and Stephen getting some love from a 'realist.'

Funny you mentioned Jerry because I was actually going to give him some love on the Fred pick and over ruling TC and Garrett.

 

[Idgit]

Funny you mentioned Jerry because I was actually going to give him some love on the Fred pick and over ruling TC and Garrett.

Fair enough. We don't have to agree exactly on who gets the credit, as long as we can agree that somebody in the organization gets some.

 

[Dodger12]

He didn't agree with trading out of the 16th spot because a player the team had rated TOP FIVE at a position of need was sitting there for them not because he didn't like Frederick.

You're right and I agree. But when you're using the "3 O-linemen in 4 years" mantra, you can't pin that as evidence of Garrett's extraordinary efforts to rebuild the OL, especially when he wanted a defensive player.

 

[Dodger12]

Fair enough. We don't have to agree exactly on who gets the credit, as long as we can agree that somebody in the organization gets some.

Without a doubt. And as I said earlier, they hit gold with all 3 first round OL. We may disagree with how they got there but not the results.

 

[ConstantReboot]

If that's how you see it. IMO, I see this team executing better than it did last year. And when you execute and run the ball effectively and don't get stupid penalties? It helps your whole team including your offense.

Its like when we got Linehan to begin with people hated it because they ASSUMED we would be like the Lions last year which was a pass first team. But when you run the ball effectively at the clip Demarco has? You can afford not to be pass 1st. Its all about execution.

But Linehan is a miracle worker apparently lol. Which is fine. I'm glad he's getting his due. My stance is its a collective effort. INCLUDING Garrett and Maranelli.

What? So Garrett is why these teams were 8-8 lol. Had nothing to do with the lack of depth, the personnel, the injuries...nothing. It was Garrett coaching us to 8-8 lol.

If you want to give Linehan the sole credit for that then its fine. But last season...its hard to run the ball when you have a grip of 2nd and 15's and 3rd and 15's or you're always trailing. If Linehan is the reason we're playing more disciplined and sound football than fine. But I think its bigger than just Linehan.

I'm giving Linehan the majority of the credit. He has brought something to this offense which has been missing for many years. That missing piece of the puzzle is a true playcaller. Someone who actually knows how to run an offense and create plays which utilizes the the skills and talents of the players. Garrett's style of offense was a one size fits all, cookie-cutter approach which forces our players to fit HIS system. Therefore, our offense of the past never reached its potential of being what it is now.

People are saying its because we have an oline compared to last year. However, we still had an effective running game last year but it was Garrett that never utilized it to the best of our capacity. In fact, his obsession with the pass was why we lost games - see Green Bay and Detroit game 2013. Why do you think Jerry pulled the plug from his questionable playcalling?

Thus I give credit to Linehan for coming here and making this offense tick. I highly doubt we would see this kind of performance if Garrett was calling the shots on offense.

 

[ConstantReboot]

You are deflecting since you haven't made one reference to my original point. Where is this JG's plan if it ever existed? Surely if it was this great plan, everyone would have at least heard about it. They would have made a concerted effort to draft Olinemen every year with a high pick by targeting them. So show me some evidence if you have any.

Garrett did not have a plan to draft olinesmen. A lot of people here are trying to revise history to make it so that Garrett was behind the revitalization of our oline. Maybe he gave some input. But I believe that it was mostly done by the scouts and Jerry finally listening to people on what was needed that really brought about the changes to the oline.

Tyron Smith was mostly Jerry. Even Frederick was Jerry's decision. I remember he traded down our pick which he used to take Frederick. As I recall, someone mentioned that Garrett looked pissed for us doing this. Jerry was criticized heavily by many people. But right now his looking more like a genius for taking Smith and Frederick. Martin fell into our laps and it was Jerry fighting his urges in selecting Johnny football. So in hindsight, Jerry should be credited more than anyone else for building this oline, not Garrett.