Mindset, mentality, attitude

[WV Cowboy]

I see a lot of these threads since the season ended talking about who our DC will be, what other coaches will be gone, who will we bring in?

Then I see a lot of other threads discussing what new players we will bring in, who we might get in the draft, who needs replaced, who should stay?

All of that is well and good, .. gotta have good players and you gotta have good coaches.

But until we change the mindset, the mentality, the attitude in Dallas, we won't change.

Until we change the mindset of our approach to the game and our goals, .. until we change our mentality as a team to a group that HAS to win, believes they will win and strives to win, .. and until we change the attitude with which we do everything from the way we start practice to the way we play each down, .. we will be up one year and down the next, win one week and lose the next, ... just like the past 15 years.

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

But until we adjust our mindset to "fully focused", reset our mentality to "nasty", and change our attitude to "get mean and bring it", we haven't changed a thing with all of the new players and coaches.

 

[Doomsday101]

I see a lot of these threads since the season ended talking about who our DC will be, what other coaches will be gone, who will we bring in?

Then I see a lot of other threads discussing what new players we will bring in, who we might get in the draft, who needs replaced, who should stay?

All of that is well and good, .. gotta have good players and you gotta have good coaches.

But until we change the mindset, the mentality, the attitude in Dallas, we won't change.

Until we change the mindset of our approach to the game and our goals, .. until we change our mentality as a team to a group that HAS to win, believes they will win and strives to win, .. and until we change the attitude with which we do everything from the way we start practice to the way we play each down, .. we will be up one year and down the next, win one week and lose the next, ... just like the past 15 years.

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

But until we adjust our mindset to "fully focused", reset our mentality to "nasty", and change our attitude to "get mean and bring it", we haven't changed a thing with all of the new players and coaches.

I agree. 1st off I do think we have some good talent if you didn't this team would have won the NFC East 2 out of the last 3 season but we do seem to lack the toughness and a bit of nastiness that I do see with many of the top contenders. This is not to say we do not need to have some upgrades in certain areas I think clearly we do but like you I think there has to be a change in attitude a little of that put it in 3 inch letters we are going to win mindset.

 

[perrykemp]

I get this perspective -- ie, "we need to get nasty and mean" viewpoint -- it's certainly a persona that works for the Steelers, however, the Packers aren't like that at all and it work for them.

The Packers have a Bill-Walsh style "Business-like" attitude. Woodson seems businesslike, Clay Matthews actually seems like a nice guy, and Raji seems fun loving.

Not saying one is better than the other, however I what I am saying is this aspect of "demeanor" is maybe over-emphasized by fans.

 

[Doomsday101]

I get this perspective -- ie, "we need to get nasty and mean" viewpoint -- it's certainly a persona that works for the Steelers, however, the Packers aren't like that at all and it work for them.

The Packers have a Bill-Walsh style "Business-like" attitude. Woodson seems businesslike, Clay Matthews actually seems like a nice guy, and Raji seems fun loving.

Not saying one is better than the other, however I what I am saying is this aspect of "demeanor" is maybe over-emphasized by fans.

Matthews is a good guy but he still plays with intensity and comes in ready to knock your head off attitude. I don’t think many of the steelers are bad guys, Troy Polamalu seems like a very nice guy off the field but game time he is there to attack you and lay the wood on anyone coming his way

 

[dfense]

I see a lot of these threads since the season ended talking about who our DC will be, what other coaches will be gone, who will we bring in?

Then I see a lot of other threads discussing what new players we will bring in, who we might get in the draft, who needs replaced, who should stay?

All of that is well and good, .. gotta have good players and you gotta have good coaches.

But until we change the mindset, the mentality, the attitude in Dallas, we won't change.

Until we change the mindset of our approach to the game and our goals, .. until we change our mentality as a team to a group that HAS to win, believes they will win and strives to win, .. and until we change the attitude with which we do everything from the way we start practice to the way we play each down, .. we will be up one year and down the next, win one week and lose the next, ... just like the past 15 years.

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

But until we adjust our mindset to "fully focused", reset our mentality to "nasty", and change our attitude to "get mean and bring it", we haven't changed a thing with all of the new players and coaches.

Could you imagine if that 3rd string QB in Chicago pulled off the upset? Nasty would just seem average again.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

During the last 8 games we did see.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I get this perspective -- ie, "we need to get nasty and mean" viewpoint -- it's certainly a persona that works for the Steelers,

I'm not saying it is the be-all, end-all in building a team.

I am saying that the Dallas Cowboys that I have been watching the past 10-15 years need a lot more of it.

Garrett speaks of "emotion, passion and enthusiasm."

I hope he brings all of that, maybe Ryan can bring the nasty that I'm looking for.

But I only used the word nasty once in my OP, .. if you reread it, I said a lot more than that.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I'm not saying it is the be-all, end-all in building a team.

I am saying that the Dallas Cowboys that I have been watching the past 10-15 years need a lot more of it.

Garrett speaks of "emotion, passion and enthusiasm."

I hope he brings all of that, maybe Ryan can bring the nasty that I'm looking for.

But I only used the word nasty once in my OP, .. if you reread it, I said a lot more than that.

Without coming out and saying it, Garrett is telling us that this teams needs to stop being soft. That's what we've been seeing these lat 15 years. When Garrett talks about this team being more physical, he's saying "stop being soft". When he says they need to prepare better he's saying "stop feeling entitled and lazy" and when he says "then need to learn to overcome adversity, because adversity will happen" he's saying "quit your whining and go take the victory that is within reach". These are the things Garrett is trying to teach this team to have emotion, passion and enthusiasm for. Dallas has not had a coach do that since Jimmy Johnson.

 

[Stash]

Without coming out and saying it, Garrett is telling us that this teams needs to stop being soft. That's what we've been seeing these lat 15 years. When Garrett talks about this team being more physical, he's saying "stop being soft". When he says they need to prepare better he's saying "stop feeling entitled and lazy" and when he says "then need to learn to overcome adversity, because adversity will happen" he's saying "quit your whining and go take the victory that is within reach". These are the things Garrett is trying to teach this team to have emotion, passion and enthusiasm for. Dallas has not had a coach do that since Jimmy Johnson.

I think that's an excellent point and I hope to see him 'practice what he preaches'.

And so far I like what I'm seeing.

I could definitely see the change from Wade to Garrett with players being put on notice.

It was sad to watch my favorite team and a bunch of 'entitled' players quit.

 

[WV Cowboy]

What I'm looking for is for the Cowboys to establish a reputation.

Teams know that when they play the Ravens or the Steelers for example, it is going to be a black and blue slugfest.

I want our reputation to be such that teams know we will kick you in the mouth for 60 minutes.

It is just the opposite now.

Physical is a great word, but even it does not complete what I would like for Dallas to be, I want .. "very physical, every play, for 60 minutes".

Yea, that sounds good, I can live with Dallas being thought of in that way.

:starspin

 

[Chocolate Lab]

What I'm looking for is for the Cowboys to establish a reputation.

Teams know that when they play the Ravens or the Steelers for example, it is going to be a black and blue slugfest.

I want our reputation to be such that teams know we will kick you in the mouth for 60 minutes.

I'd love that, too, but I don't know if we're ever going to be seen as that. We play in a glitzy, white collar city in a dome -- and not just any dome, but the most luxurious and high-tech Taj Mahal of stadiums in the world.

Not that we can't win, because teams like the Colts and the old Niners are and were seen as finesse teams. But I don't think we're ever going to be seen as a slug-it-out team like the Steelers or Patriots or even Jets.

 

[dfense]

I see a lot of these threads since the season ended talking about who our DC will be, what other coaches will be gone, who will we bring in?

Then I see a lot of other threads discussing what new players we will bring in, who we might get in the draft, who needs replaced, who should stay?

All of that is well and good, .. gotta have good players and you gotta have good coaches.

But until we change the mindset, the mentality, the attitude in Dallas, we won't change.

Until we change the mindset of our approach to the game and our goals, .. until we change our mentality as a team to a group that HAS to win, believes they will win and strives to win, .. and until we change the attitude with which we do everything from the way we start practice to the way we play each down, .. we will be up one year and down the next, win one week and lose the next, ... just like the past 15 years.

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

But until we adjust our mindset to "fully focused", reset our mentality to "nasty", and change our attitude to "get mean and bring it", we haven't changed a thing with all of the new players and coaches.

From what I saw yesterday, the Capers defense came close to losing to a third string QB who was so wet behind the ears they were probably frost bit by the end of the game.

The Bears defense, at home, was allowing 10 yards a carry for most of the game.

The Jets defense got steamrolled in the first half. "Couldn't stop a nose bleed."

The Steelers were the only defense to show up for 4 qtrs.

The Cowboys aren't that far away. They beat good teams on the road with a back up QB and a vanilla zone defense the seconf half of the season.

 

[perrykemp]

The Steelers were the only defense to show up for 4 qtrs.

20 points the Steelers allowed in the 2nd half.... I'd say the Steelers and Packers defenses looks pretty equal to me yesterday.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I'd love that, too, but I don't know if we're ever going to be seen as that. We play in a glitzy, white collar city in a dome -- and not just any dome, but the most luxurious and high-tech Taj Mahal of stadiums in the world.

Not that we can't win, because teams like the Colts and the old Niners are and were seen as finesse teams. But I don't think we're ever going to be seen as a slug-it-out team like the Steelers or Patriots or even Jets.

Not with that attitude!

Bring it Rob !!

 

[Stash]

What I'm looking for is for the Cowboys to establish a reputation.

Teams know that when they play the Ravens or the Steelers for example, it is going to be a black and blue slugfest.

I want our reputation to be such that teams know we will kick you in the mouth for 60 minutes.

It is just the opposite now.

Physical is a great word, but even it does not complete what I would like for Dallas to be, I want .. "very physical, every play, for 60 minutes".

Yea, that sounds good, I can live with Dallas being thought of in that way.

:starspin

I think the word you're looking for is Relentless.

That's how I describe the Steelers' defense anyway.

They're not the most talent-laden team in the league but their defense is so relentless that you get their best effort on every snap.

The players are so well-coached and well-schooled that you have to earn every yard, every first down, and every score you get.

You rarely see a letdown at any point during an entire game from the Steelers and I would like to see more of that from our team.

Hopefully this change in coaching staff will lead to that.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I'd love that, too, but I don't know if we're ever going to be seen as that. We play in a glitzy, white collar city in a dome -- and not just any dome, but the most luxurious and high-tech Taj Mahal of stadiums in the world.

Not that we can't win, because teams like the Colts and the old Niners are and were seen as finesse teams. But I don't think we're ever going to be seen as a slug-it-out team like the Steelers or Patriots or even Jets.

Leaders bring character to teams. That comes from coaching and players. Ryan brings that slugfest persona, and so I can see him building a defense that has a similar face. But he'll need to draft a player to be that face. Perhaps a punishing safety or NT?

Garrett can do the same on offense. Nastiness there comes from the OL. Our OL currently lacks character, unless you count old and slow. We need to draft a Larry Allen or an Eric Williams type - a young face that will bring leadership and nastiness to the OL.

 

[802dave]

I see a lot of these threads since the season ended talking about who our DC will be, what other coaches will be gone, who will we bring in?

Then I see a lot of other threads discussing what new players we will bring in, who we might get in the draft, who needs replaced, who should stay?

All of that is well and good, .. gotta have good players and you gotta have good coaches.

But until we change the mindset, the mentality, the attitude in Dallas, we won't change.

Until we change the mindset of our approach to the game and our goals, .. until we change our mentality as a team to a group that HAS to win, believes they will win and strives to win, .. and until we change the attitude with which we do everything from the way we start practice to the way we play each down, .. we will be up one year and down the next, win one week and lose the next, ... just like the past 15 years.

Someone has to change the culture in Dallas, and it has to be drastic. Will JG do that? We'll see.

But until we adjust our mindset to "fully focused", reset our mentality to "nasty", and change our attitude to "get mean and bring it", we haven't changed a thing with all of the new players and coaches.

 

[WV Cowboy]

The Cowboys aren't that far away. They beat good teams on the road with a back up QB and a vanilla zone defense the seconf half of the season.

Right, if we can sustain that over a full season, and then put seasons like that back to back, .. yes, we can turn this culture around.

Success breeds success.

I love what I have seen from Garrett so far, .. as a fan, and from the perspective of what I like to see from a coach.

 

[twentytwo]

I get this perspective -- ie, "we need to get nasty and mean" viewpoint -- it's certainly a persona that works for the Steelers, however, the Packers aren't like that at all and it work for them.

The Packers have a Bill-Walsh style "Business-like" attitude. Woodson seems businesslike, Clay Matthews actually seems like a nice guy, and Raji seems fun loving.

Not saying one is better than the other, however I what I am saying is this aspect of "demeanor" is maybe over-emphasized by fans.

I think this is what JG is going to bring to the team...and I love it. I think he is going to really change the attitude on this team. We saw that in the last 8 weeks of the season.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I think this is what JG is going to bring to the team...and I love it. I think he is going to really change the attitude on this team. We saw that in the last 8 weeks of the season.

IMO, he has a huge job ahead of him to change the culture on this team. I'm hoping with him and Rob Ryan together they can change who they can and get rid of the baggage over time.

I'm afraid it won't happen all at once. I would love to be wrong though, .. I know things like that can happen but I know it will be tough for them to do.