Looking at Wade's four playoff losses

[twentytwo]

Jimmy?

 

[cowboyjoe]

Now that I totally agree with, I want a head coach that will stand up to Jerry Jones and lets him know it, that hates losing like Jimmy did and makes the players hate losing too. That will spend extra hours on film, heck even the week before the super bowl with buffalo, jimmy was watching tv and he saw the bills using a play with throwing to the back quickly. Cant remember, exact play, but jimmy called his coaches, had them do research on jim kelly with flipping ball on a shuttle pass, kelly had never done that before. Jimmy then got the players ready for that play and was a key turnover that leon lett forced.

Just like jimmy had the coaches and trainers working way up into 5 am that morning on all the spots on the soggy field that would be good areas to run and pass. That helped the cowboys get some key plays in the championship game in candlestick. Just like vermeil stayed on a couch at night when he was with the eagles, jimmy stayed too and didnt take no darn bye week off.

Jimmy had his players ready and raring to go.

I dont want a whimpy crying coach that thinks he isnt treated fairly, i want a coach that hates losing, instills that in the players too, and gives it his all.

 

[CF74]

Cowboyjoe for Head Coach!!!

 

[Brooksey]

I've been a Wade critic prior to this year and I've just had to flat stop myself this year. For one reason when I read stuff like what the little ball of hate wrote about Wade this week---I have to just cringe. Is that how callous and classless I sound sometimes? Am I such a pathetic person like that?!? Have I become so selfish, impatient, and all-demanding?

Geesh. Let me step back towards being human again.

But it's more than just that. It's about being rational and actually looking at things objectively. So here goes: Is Wade a good regular season coach but then a playoff choker?

Wade has lost four times in the playoffs, without a victory. Does that end the story? Maybe looking at the games can help illuminate things.

1. His 1993 Denver team lost in L.A. to the Raiders. The Raiders had home field and were favored. Certainly no crime in a loss like that.

2. His 1999 Buffalo team lost on the road to the favored Dolphins. The Bills had Flutie. The Dolphins had Marino at home. Is that a choke or a very predictable and likely outcome?

3. This is the most ridiculous one of all...the so-called year 2000 "Music City Miracle." Wade's team made a heroic and amazing comeback...taking a 1 pt lead with only 15 seconds left. Then a freaky across-the-field/pass lateral leads to an insane touchdown. Sure critics, pin that on Wade---and prove what a zero you are. By the way--here again Wade's team was on the road as an underdog.

To sum up to this point: Wade lost three road playoff games...all in which his team was expected to lose. In one tiny Doug Flutie gets hit and fumbles while inside the Dolphins 10 with time expiring. In another his team makes a heroic comeback and then is robbed on a fluke.

4. Which brings us to game 4...Cowboys-Giants. This is the one game where perhaps you could say that Wade's team should have won, but the Cowboys continued the ineptitude which had plagued them for a decade. Was it Wade's fault? Did he somehow choke for the team, making Crayton drop that pass...causing those holding penalties. Was he responsible for Romo having to run for his life?

Let's not forget: The Cowboys lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion that day.

To prove that Wade is a choker you'd have to see a pattern where his teams significantly underperform in the playoffs. I don't see that in these four games. Three were very close. If a playmaker had stepped up in any of those 3 games, Wade could have won and moved on, deeper into the playoffs.

The way I see it: the coach's job is to put the players into a situation where they can succeed. It's the players job to seize victory.

I wish Wade wasn't a chubster. I wish he didn't squirm awkwardly on the sidelines. I wish he sounded more authoritative when he spoke. But as for the job he's paid to do: get his team into the playoffs and prepare them for success----------I think he's been outstanding.

I agree that those playoff losses are not Wade's lack of coaching skills. There is not enough track record yet to call him a playoff choker. For Wade and Romo their time is now. What they do this Dec and in the playoffs will give us more facts. Let's see what happens.

 

[Chief]

In essence, last year's regular-season finale was like a playoff game.

You win, you advance.

You lose, and it's over.

That game was a disgrace.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I never said Wade was a great coach. But he's a darn good one...better than the previous four in Dallas....yes better than Parcells.

Parcells got stuck in a previous era and lost a sense of the modern game.

I would agree with that, as well as applaud the OP as well.

:clap2:

 

[jobberone]

In essence, last year's regular-season finale was like a playoff game.

You win, you advance.

You lose, and it's over.

That game was a disgrace.

I don't think there is a word in the English language to adequately describe that debacle.

 

[DFWJC]

I don't see any 4 of those losses being on the coach. People look on the surface and few dig deaper like you just did. Some could even say that in 2 in those losses, the team should not have even been in the playoffs in the 1st place.

Nevertheless, the jury is still out on Wade as a HC...IMO. He's for sure not a bad one, but does he have what it takes for this organization to get where it should go eventually? Hard to say right now.

 

[DFWJC]

I have you on this one too, do you realize that the 2007 Dallas Cowboys team that had one a bye, was the first team that lost in the 1st round after they had won the bye week off?Not only was Wade the head coach when the Cowboys suffered their most one-sided loss in of the Jerry era last year in Philly, but his 13-3 team became the first top-seeded NFC team to be eliminated in the first round. .

What's worse: 1) not making the playoffs at all or 2) playing so well you win the division, get a bye (which is about the same as a playoff win by the way) and then barely losing to the Super Bowl Champion. I'll take option #2 all day long.

 

[casmith07]

This thread went south in a hurry after the OP.

 

[DFWJC]

"Again, this is a choke, why, the game is for 60 minutes, not 58 minutes or 59 minutes. Need i remind you of wade's thinking on special teams, they dont count"

That is a totally fabricated comment. Come on CBJ, you are better than that.

And I would say special teams are pretty good this year anyway.

 

[bbgun]

This thread went south in a hurry after the OP.

That's because most people are allergic to bull****.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

That's because most people are allergic to bull****.

 

[cowboyjoe]

In essence, last year's regular-season finale was like a playoff game.

You win, you advance.

You lose, and it's over.

That game was a disgrace.

Exactly, wade didnt have the players ready for the finale game at phily

In fact, an announcer said that players were laughing, cutting up on the plane, what was wade doing. He was too chicken to face the players after the game was over. Wade even admitted that changes needed to take place.

That all was on the head coach.
1. The letting players off on a monday after a loss to arizona
2. Not getting the team ready for the rams game because you let players have that monday off. Even after the rams game, wade said we got outcoached.
3. Keeping an inept coach like bruce read on special teams, we all have seen what a good special teams coach has done for us this year. Again, wade was the person that hired bruce read.
4. The total letdown on defense, in the ravens game, the defensive coordinator that was wade(after he had to let brian stewart go because jerry jones forced the issue), the ravens offense ran the same play on running play for 2 huge runs. You as a defensive coordinator allowed this to happen, you werent doing your job.
5. Total let down in the last game of the season in phily.
6. Keeping brad johnson, that was the head coaches decision.
7. Not playing rookies like felix jones on special teams till wade was forced to due to injury and not playing choice enough last year too.

And most of you want to whine and moan because good ole wade isnt getting the respect he thinks he deserves. I am sure not willing to give him respect for those items i mentioned above, thats not being a good head coach.

Earn that respect first!

 

[craig71]

I think Wade the head coach is lacking in a couple of areas,he doesn't seem to push attention to detail and lacks the organizational skills to be a good head coach.The lack of those skills impair Wade to when it comes to running a team in my opinion.

Even if Wade has some success this year I don't believe he's a viable long term solution in Dallas.

Craig

 

[Brooksey]

Exactly, wade didnt have the players ready for the finale game at phily

In fact, an announcer said that players were laughing, cutting up on the plane, what was wade doing. He was too chicken to face the players after the game was over. Wade even admitted that changes needed to take place.

That all was on the head coach.
1. The letting players off on a monday after a loss to arizona
2. Not getting the team ready for the rams game because you let players have that monday off. Even after the rams game, wade said we got outcoached.
3. Keeping an inept coach like bruce read on special teams, we all have seen what a good special teams coach has done for us this year. Again, wade was the person that hired bruce read.
4. The total letdown on defense, in the ravens game, the defensive coordinator that was wade(after he had to let brian stewart go because jerry jones forced the issue), the ravens offense ran the same play on running play for 2 huge runs. You as a defensive coordinator allowed this to happen, you werent doing your job.
5. Total let down in the last game of the season in phily.
6. Keeping brad johnson, that was the head coaches decision.
7. Not playing rookies like felix jones on special teams till wade was forced to due to injury and not playing choice enough last year too.

And most of you want to whine and moan because good ole wade isnt getting the respect he thinks he deserves. I am sure not willing to give him respect for those items i mentioned above, thats not being a good head coach.

Earn that respect first!

Good ole wade has NOT earned the respect of a playoff winning coach yet. The key word is yet. Can he do it? Not sure, I have not been a big believer of Wade but I'm hoping he can achieve some post season success this year. He has won some big games. I'm also hoping Romo can deliver. Keep in mind there are countless players and coaches who have failed only to find success later, sometime lots of it. Let's hope Wade has learned from his failures. If not he is out of Dallas, period.

 

[DFWJC]

I think Wade the head coach is lacking in a couple of areas,he doesn't seem to push attention to detail and lacks the organizational skills to be a good head coach.The lack of those skills impair Wade to when it comes to running a team in my opinion.

Even if Wade has some success this year I don't believe he's a viable long term solution in Dallas.

Craig

That's a level-headed take on things. You may be right.

I do like the adjustments Wade has made since last season. This group seems more close-knit and not the type at all that would quit on their coaches like that team that fell apart last season. Good coaches continue to learn their entire careers (see Mack Brown and others)...but even with Wade's willingness to adjust, he may not be the guy. Again, the jury is still out, imo.

Just for some perspective:
Tom Landry lost 4 of his first 5 playoff games and he did NOT suck.
Bill Cowher lost 3 of first 4 playoff games and was HC 14 years before winniing a title.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but that one where Flutie was the QB....If I remember correctly, Flutie was the one that got them there after Johnson was injured and then when he got healthy he went ahead and put Johnson back in.....I'm remembering this because I remember they kept showing Flutie sitting on the bench with a look of disgust. I remember thinking that they were making a mistake then as well. I think they would have been better off with Flutie in there.

EDIT: I just looked it up and Flutie was in there....but I do know that the above scenario did happen...just maybe a different year.

I think Johnson started that playoff game but I understood Wade was told by upper management that Johnson was to be the starter.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Good ole wade has NOT earned the respect of a playoff winning coach yet. The key word is yet. Can he do it? Not sure, I have not been a big believer of Wade but I'm hoping he can achieve some post season success this year. He has won some big games. I'm also hoping Romo can deliver. Keep in mind there are countless players and coaches who have failed only to find success later, sometime lots of it. Let's hope Wade has learned from his failures. If not he is out of Dallas, period.

Now that I agree with, either wade wins this year, no more excuses, or he is out. Its time to put up or shut up, show some excellent game planning and schemes against teams.

To which, media writers, announcers will say, especially on ESPN, where did that great coaching come from.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I think Johnson started that playoff game but I understood Wade was told by upper management that Johnson was to be the starter.

Exactly, flutie got the team there, then wade had him sitting on the bench.

I dont care why flutie was on the bench, your the head coach, you be man enough if you have to stand up to the owner, you do that and say flutie is our QB.

Reports were that the owner wanted the other QB in the game, but wade didnt have the you know what to demand that flutie should play.

Thats my point, just like the disaster in the phily game, wade should have had a meeting with the players, got it all out of his system, crying, shouting or whatever and told them personally changes were coming, not say it through the media and press.

That to me isnt being a man and a head coach.
So, till wade steps up being a man and a head coach, he has to earn my respect first and he sure hasnt yet. Now, he is getting close with the players, but this is a big big game. So, we will see where the game planning, coaching to get the players ready or not works.