Midseason Report Card

[quickccc]

DEFENSE LINE
- Injuries, suspect coaching and underachieving performances mounted this unit. No pass rush/one of the worst vs run unit performance we’ve ever had. Club worse record numbers with this unit.

- Griffin signing didn’t materialized but I vastly questioned how we were trying to use him. Griffin was never comfortable vs pass or run: Having both Dlaw and Griffin standing up in as OLB rush men
Instead of their comfort mode of 3 point stance hand in the ground ? to add to jumping them from end to end on virtually every given play ?.... not every other series but every other play ?
And I tend to believe he was among leading mutiny vs coaches. We should have set him at RE and let him grind there. instead of flipping him all over the place.

- Dlaw ? maybe it has been a knee issue, surely a scheme issue contributed to his downslide play too.
He’s great vs run, but he’s not a war daddy. and I don’t buy into the double team and win rate excuses either. And he’s lingering with an injury every year.

- Aldon Smith was a pleasant surprise early on such as vs Seattle,.. but he’s been a non factor since. Is it an down played injury slowing him ? Or has he hit a wall post his 4 year absence ?
If it's not injury related, I questioning not doing the Seattle trade, given how badly and how much they'd give up for him.

- Gregory ? Only been 2 games but Gregory is proving he can roll out of the bed and come into a game disrupting. He’s already been in the opposing backfield.
- Armstrong is what he is, JAG.
- Bradlee Anae’s shutdown such a pity. Productive sacks # in college, standout at Senior Bowl, impressive camp. But he’s virtually gonna be red shirted rookie year. ..Coaches !!

- 2 of biggest mistakes is letting Crawford and Poe even take the field. And waiting so damn long to finally adjust accordingly. Tyrone is still here so the waste both performance role wise and financial will continue.
- Poe played like he wasn’t even motivated. Getting turned sideways vs run every single game. Could not get off blocks at all. So much for fat body in middle effect.
- Hill was really coming on from camp to games in his 2nd year pre-knee injury. Flashed block shed and penetration ability. Still in development mode but now encouraging.
- Gilmore breakout game vs Steelers, impressive vs studs DeCastro/Pouncey. Should’ve already been long been on field more…Coaches!
- - Woods. Clearly displaying he is far suited as rotation spot than full time starter. Cannot handle double teams & wears down more pounding he takes
- I’ve not caught on DT Hamilton and Akou (name sounds like Samurai Jack villain.!! ..LOL) to grade their work yet.
- BTW, that Gerald McCoy signing was doomed to fail- he was already damaged goods when he signed on, per his "quad" muscle escape clause.

Grade F

 

[Bobhaze]

DEFENSE LINE
- Injuries, suspect coaching and underachieving performances mounted this unit. No pass rush/one of the worst vs run unit performance we’ve ever had. Club worse record numbers with this unit.

- Griffin signing didn’t materialized but I vastly questioned how we were trying to use him. Griffin was never comfortable vs pass or run: Having both Dlaw and Griffin standing up in as OLB rush men
Instead of their comfort mode of 3 point stance hand in the ground ? to add to jumping them from end to end on virtually every given play ?.... not every other series but every other play ?
And I tend to believe he was among leading mutiny vs coaches. We should have set him at RE and let him grind there. instead of flipping him all over the place.

- Dlaw ? maybe it has been a knee issue, surely a scheme issue contributed to his downslide play too.
He’s great vs run, but he’s not a war daddy. and I don’t buy into the double team and win rate excuses either. And he’s lingering with an injury every year.

- Aldon Smith was a pleasant surprise early on such as vs Seattle,.. but he’s been a non factor since. Is it an down played injury slowing him ? Or has he hit a wall post his 4 year absence ?
If it's not injury related, I questioning not doing the Seattle trade, given how badly and how much they'd give up for him.

- Gregory ? Only been 2 games but Gregory is proving he can roll out of the bed and come into a game disrupting. He’s already been in the opposing backfield.
- Armstrong is what he is, JAG.
- Bradlee Anae’s shutdown such a pity. Productive sacks # in college, standout at Senior Bowl, impressive camp. But he’s virtually gonna be red shirted rookie year. ..Coaches !!

- 2 of biggest mistakes is letting Crawford and Poe even take the field. And waiting so damn long to finally adjust accordingly. Tyrone is still here so the waste both performance role wise and financial will continue.
- Poe played like he wasn’t even motivated. Getting turned sideways vs run every single game. Could not get off blocks at all. So much for fat body in middle effect.
- Hill was really coming on from camp to games in his 2nd year pre-knee injury. Flashed block shed and penetration ability. Still in development mode but now encouraging.
- Gilmore breakout game vs Steelers, impressive vs studs DeCastro/Pouncey. Should’ve already been long been on field more…Coaches!
- - Woods. Clearly displaying he is far suited as rotation spot than full time starter. Cannot handle double teams & wears down more pounding he takes
- I’ve not caught on DT Hamilton and Akou (name sounds like Samurai Jack villain.!! ..LOL) to grade their work yet.
- BTW, that Gerald McCoy signing was doomed to fail- he was already damaged goods when he signed on, per his "quad" muscle escape clause.

Grade F

Nice work CC. I agree with your assessments regarding DLaw and Griffin. Never understood trying to use them in ways they were neither comfortable nor skilled. I think DLaw’s knee has been a bigger factor than the team lets on. Law is not a loafer. And while I have been disappointed with his sack numbers, I’ve never been disappointed with his effort.

 

[DuncanIso]

If you were the parents of the Dallas Cowboys, getting a report card right now would be ugly. Nonetheless, here is a Cowboys report card on the team’s performance so far.

OFFENSE- (overall a C-) Started the year hot, then Dak got hurt along with other injuries in OL.

• OL- D. Injuries have been devastating. Losing La’el Collins and Ty Smith was devastating.
• TE- B-. Losing Blake Jarwin was tough, but Dalton Schultz has developed into a very decent TE.
• WRs- B-. Cedee Lamb has been great for a rookie. Cooper still does his occasional disappearing act. Gallup had a great start until Dak went down. Wilson and Brown have shown nice flashes.
• RBs- D. Zeke has led the league in fumbles and holds a 3.7 yards per carry. The OL injuries have obviously hurt, but Zeke hasn’t played well- period. Tony Pollard has shown more burst in his carries, avg 4.4 ypc.
• QB- C. Dak was an “A” right out of the gates as the only thing keeping this team in games early until the horrible injury. Dalton was pretty bad- 3 picks in 6 qtrs until his concussion. The Nooch was a fun, yet unprepared mess for a start, while Garrett Gilbert played very well in his start against the Steelers.

DEFENSE (Overall grade: F. Could have been an F- but they have slightly improved, lol)

• DL- D-. Dontari Poe was gawd awful. We couldn’t stop a middle school running game until midseason. Some life has been seen with DLaw, Randy Gregory and occasionally Aldon Smith.
• LBs- F. Jaylon Smith has been just awful. LVE missed 4 games with the collarbone injury, although he has looked better of late. Sean Lee was injured (of course) to start the year and hasn’t been a factor.
• S- F. Xavier Woods and Donovan Wilson have been terrible. The lack of investment here by the FO shows.
• CBS- D-. The rookie Diggs has shown some moxie and has 2 picks, but has been sporadic at best. Anthony Brown has been a disappointment and Awuzie has been hurt.

SPECIAL TEAMS (B-. This unit has really improved. Even won a game for us vs Atl)

• K- A-. Greg Zuerline has been solid. And his crazy onside kick won the game for us vs. Atl.
• P- C-. Chris Jones is hurt but his punts were poor before that.
• Kick Return Coverage- B+. Much improved from a year ago.
• Kick Return Yardage- C. Lamb has shown flash as a punt returner. Pollard has been mostly bad in kickoff returns.

COACHING (Overall a D. Nolan’s Defense has been horrific, Kellen Moore’s offense after a hot start, has been anemic without Dak. John Fossil’s STs have been exciting. Seen very little motivational effect from Big Mac)

FRONT OFFICE: F-. Their FA pickups were horrific. Badly misjudged the talent on defense. 25 years and counting of inability to build a championship roster.

OVERALL MIDSEASON GRADE: D-

Your grades?

Jaylon Smith is 2nd in the NFL in Tackles. 89

 

[Dalmations202]

Maybe I am the only one, but I don't understand the "because of injuries" when it comes to grading. Don't they still play the games with professional athletes? Do we get to grade on the curve because none of our QB playing is as talented as Mahomes? I mean the game still counts no matter who the teams puts out there to play. So if this player (starter, backup, off the street last week) doesn't play well or plays great, it still counts. So you grade based upon what the Cowboys do, and not what they might have done if "other" players were there, correct? Elliot might have been great behind the Dallas line of the 90's, but not so behind a bunch of backups........doesn't matter in the end, because he was either good or not that game. Bullet, I think your evaluations are pretty spot on. Evaluation of why this happened or didn't happen comes at the end of the year after the season is over, IMO. (Injuries, Covid, Strength and Conditioning, Dumb Luck can all be reasons, but they still shouldn't effect the grade, IMO).

 

[DaveRowe]

Thank you. Here’s my Update to OP: Jerry sucks.

I second that, big time!

 

[quickccc]

Jaylon Smith is 2nd in the NFL in Tackles. 89

how many of those 89 tackles are very much on his side of the ball?.
..how much of those were down field or after the usual 7-8 yard run gain ? ...on a game in, game out basis? .

how many were impact tackles at the line ? ..behind the line for losses ?
how many ,, (if any) of those tackles were fumble-forced ?

We saw an ATL linebacker fumble-punched three ball out of carriers/receivers' arms for turnovers....where are Jaylon's fumble punches for turnovers ?

If you truly study and know the game, you'd know that his tackles were from making him a playmaker. You have to give yourself your own eyeball test vs looking
at a misleading stat sheet.

 

[quickccc]

DEFENSE LINE
- Injuries, suspect coaching and underachieving performances mounted this unit. No pass rush/one of the worst vs run unit performance we’ve ever had. Club worse record numbers with this unit.
Instead of their comfort mode of 3 point stance hand in the ground ? to add to jumping them from end to end on virtually every given play ?.... not every other series but every other play ?

- Griffin signing didn’t materialized but I vastly questioned how we were trying to use him. Griffin was never comfortable vs pass or run
Having both Dlaw and Griffin standing up in as OLB rush men

And I tend to believe he was among leading mutiny vs coaches. We should have set him at RE and let him grind there. instead of flipping him all over the place.

- Dlaw ? maybe it has been a knee issue, surely a scheme issue contributed to his downslide play too.
He’s great vs run, but he’s not a war daddy. and I don’t buy into the double team and win rate excuses either. And he’s lingering with an injury every year.

- Aldon Smith was a pleasant surprise early on such as vs Seattle,.. but he’s been a non factor since. Is it an down played injury slowing him ? or has he hit a wall post his 4 year absence ?
I wonder if we should’ve did the Seattle trade, given how badly and how much they wanted him.

- Gregory ? Only been 2 games but Gregory is proving he can roll out of the bed and come into a game disrupting. He’s already been in the opposing backfield.
- Armstrong is what he is, JAG.
- Bradlee Anae’s shutdown a pity. Productive sacks # in college, standout at Senior Bowl, impressive camp. But he’s virtually gonna be red shirted rookie year. ..Coaches !!

- 2 of biggest mistakes is letting Crawford and Poe even take the field. And waiting so damn long to finally adjust accordingly. Tyrone is still here so the waste both performance role wise
and financial will continue.

- Poe played like he wasn’t even motivated. Getting turned sideways vs run every single game. Could not get off blocks at all. So much for fat body in middle effect.
- Hill was really coming on from camp to games in his 2nd year pre-knee injury. Flashed block shed and penetration ability. Still in development mode but now encouraging.
- Gilmore breakout game vs Steelers, impressive vs studs DeCastro/Pouncey. Should’ve already been long been on field more…Coaches!
- Woods. Clearly displaying he is far suited as rotation spot than full time starter. Cannot handle double teams & wears down more pounding he takes
- I’ve not caught on DT Hamilton and Akou (name sounds like Samurai Jack villain.!! ..LOL) to grade their work yet.

Grade - F

 

[quickccc]

LINEBACKERS

- A unit that struggled badly vs the run, always in a trail position, doesn’t forces turnovers, rarely sacks, continued to have issues vs screens and mis-directions
And like most of the units- massive confusion and disarray.

- LVE continues to be have bouts with injuries and durability. It did seem like he play better and with more confidence, oddly considering that he missed so much time
in a complex scheme which others are struggling to adapt. i also believe Wolf Hunter takes back the signal calling which Jaylon seem to struggle with.
Best period was when Lee and LVE were on field at same time. LVE hasn’t hit his best yet once he grasps the scheme and can better get his vast length in passing lanes.
Waiting for more big play loss yard stops and turnovers.

- Jaylon? Its’ been repeated by my words often; He’s not a true playmaker and out of position too many times, he’s not a leader who calmly organizes; he doesn’t shed blocks,
has trouble issues vs coverage, easily fooled on misdirection and he’s just so-so as a blitzer. Whether MLB or OLB, he just doesn’t stand out in any area.
Average guy - Just forward-moving and run guy.
2nd in NFL in tackles ? how many were on his side of the ball after 7-8 yd gains but teams gutting out the run defense ?

- Lee ? Continues to injury prone after surprisingly durable in 2019. Sparingly playing in spots as he returns, but an egg awaiting another break. Dunno if his range and mobility
- Thomas is battling injuries again. Smallish, suspect durability and play vs run always will limit him. But he has a better knack for game than Jaylon.
- Gifford is another that has durability issues. I’d ready to move on from him.
- Francis seems more an emergency on call type this year. Very thin and shaky unit.
- Same story with March Lillard - just SP guy.

Grade F

 

[quickccc]

SECONDARY

Like much of the D’ ..secondary unit has been just a mass mess of confusion, blown coverages, mismatches, lack of turnovers (as yearly is the case) vast low confidence and no physicality.
Struggled with every foe and with each and every passing game.

- Diggs as a rookie who has had his struggles in coverage and his long speed is a major concern at this NFL level, also became the unit’s lead CB and assigned to foe’s best WR.
While he struggled, he also showed a knack for turnovers. Forced punch out vs Seattle and 2 INTs vs Philly. We’ve no one else anywhere close to that.
2nd foot bone break in 3 years for Diggs ?, Will this be chronic ? Diggs and Hill really needed the experience.

- Awuzie missed most 1st half with hammy. But what we’ve seen in limited time is what he’ll always be. Decent until we can get better. Does much better when facing WR, otherwise he can be
turned and trouble playing the ball in bump n run downfield. .

- Brown is more suited to slot and nickel, the more ground he has to cover vertically to turn for the ball, the more vulnerable he becomes. Solid run support/blitzes, like Awuzie, has idea straight-speed
but he’s limited, overpaid and lacks ball skills.

- Lewis. Another one the more he has to play, more expose and exploited he becomes. Small CB with ball skills, but he can be turned in man coverage often and gets flag-grabby in recovering.
Feisty slot only type whose just average and ordinary and beaten too often.

- Worley was hideous and exposed and burnt he was ,the more he had to fill in and play outside. Cut immediately as a result.
- Savion Smith not looking like a return investment either. Embarrassing the moment he entered the game.

- Xavier Woods has been a disappointment. Rookie wise I thought he’d developed and he’s even worse under this coaching regime. Blown assignments, disappearing act, tackling issues, lack of leadership, no impact plays, adds far more minuses vs any pluses (decent man coverage) …JAG who won’t be back.

- Donovan Wilson; replaced mediocre Darian Thompson, has much better safety feel than Darian. Much more capable turnover ability. Time will tell if he can match up in man coverage, or suited
for zone or man, tackles and covers consistently well, and has potential leadership skills.

- Thompson seems a CB trying to be a safety, has no instincts for the S role, has suspect coverage skills, man or in space; and blows assignments or gets turned the deeper he has to cover.
Very limited role player

- Reggie Robinson –all likely to be red shirted, did McClay realized he was this raw and behind as a 4th rd. prospect ? Still quite an unknown.

Grade – F

 

[quickccc]

COACHING

Head Coach: McCarthy

If McCarthy has his stamp on this team, his impact or presence on this team, I’ve not seen or been impressed ..yet. What steps has he made on helping Kellen with improving the RBs impact ?
What steps has forced with his defensive coaches to suggest vast, immediate improvement ? what steps has MM made to increase this team’s to win ?
Not daring 4th and inches vs a FG in Steelers game ?
Was he instrumental in DC Nolan stepping on the field vs being in the booth ? Was he instrumental in having SP coach Fassel pick his trick plays more decisively ?

OC -Moore: Brilliant pass game designer, pre-snap/huddle-tempo setter, solid Dak-red zone guy and no-nonsense with zeke goal line but design/involve RBs well, imo.
DC - Nolan: recorded one of the worse D units in NFL/Cowboys history. Nothing to be proud or encouraged about his bizarre scheme and lack of fundamentals;
but past 2 games may have saved 2nd half firing?

QB- Mussehheimer (kitna) help do wonders for Dak's vast passer improvement. Gilbert competed despite limitations; Nooch just proved too raw/not ready for NFL light.
Dalton saved NYG game, but jury still out

WR –(Henry) unit was vastly distributed when Dak was in, Wilson/Noah developing well, a team strength

TE – (Lundrey) got contribution from Schultz (receiving) & Bell (blocking)

OL –(Philibin) mash unit that Phillibin has admirably managed to stay glue together; McGovern, Steele plans still a mystery.

RB –Peete) Moore failed the RB designs and impact. Pollard poorly used, imo.

DL –(Tomsula) on paper looked wowed but on field vastly poor play vs run and lack of rush; odd scheme and rotation crippled unit, and very rare use of Gilmore and no Bradlee disappoints.

LB –(Edwards) LVE/Lee can’t stay healthy and Jaylon remains a huge liability

DB –(Harris) lack of coverage skills, turnovers and blown plays,

Special Teams: (Fassell) - Greg Z has been so-so, very average P Jones fate is near end, Fassell trick plays is hit and miss- key is how he better picks his spots for trick plays
but he’ll challenge foes’ SP unit,, and kick coverage has been solid.
Lamb has been so-so as PR, and Pollard may be finally showing as KR after horrible start.

- More minuses than pluses - injuries were sure crushing and tough to overcome (per Dak)
but how much else points to poor coaching ? how much did they adjust or did not adjust ?

Grade - D

 

[Bobhaze]

Maybe I am the only one, but I don't understand the "because of injuries" when it comes to grading. Don't they still play the games with professional athletes? Do we get to grade on the curve because none of our QB playing is as talented as Mahomes? I mean the game still counts no matter who the teams puts out there to play. So if this player (starter, backup, off the street last week) doesn't play well or plays great, it still counts. So you grade based upon what the Cowboys do, and not what they might have done if "other" players were there, correct? Elliot might have been great behind the Dallas line of the 90's, but not so behind a bunch of backups........doesn't matter in the end, because he was either good or not that game. Bullet, I think your evaluations are pretty spot on. Evaluation of why this happened or didn't happen comes at the end of the year after the season is over, IMO. (Injuries, Covid, Strength and Conditioning, Dumb Luck can all be reasons, but they still shouldn't effect the grade, IMO).

Our front office is one of the biggest excuse machines ever. How do we know? For one, besides the Bungles, no other owner in the entire NFL would allow the performance of our GM to continue with the lack of playoff results he’s had fir this long. This owner accepts the excuses of his GM. We haven’t won because_______.

In healthy NFL organizations, if you don’t put together playoff wins within a given time frame, you’re gone. Excuses for why it happened don’t matter. All that matters is you didn’t get it done. New people are brought in with a mandate to win or else. In essence, Owner Jerry Jones makes the excuse “We didn’t win because of injuries, or bad luck, or....” and allows GM Jerry Jones and his family to stay in place with those excuses intact.

IMO, excuses are a cancer to an organization who sets the goal of winning a championship. If you accept excuses, you will accept losing. The Jones family embraces excuses for losing in order to justify their inept results.