More optimistic than ever

[Beast_from_East]

Those 8-8 seasons were the result of having historic injury problems on defense.

So you are telling me that we have missed the playoffs 4 out of the 5 years Garrett has been the head coach because of massive injuries every single year, including this year, with last year the lone exception? Massive injuries, 4 out of 5 seasons?

And even if we were to believe that Garrett is so dam unlucky that 4 out of his first 5 seasons as head coach were ruined by injury, any competent head coach would have either fired the training staff, hired new strength and conditioning coaches, started new offseason nutrition and exercise programs, or totally avoided any players in the draft with a hint of being injury prone.

Its called being proactive to address a serious problem that is derailing every season...........I have seen no evidence of any of this occurring, so I have to assume that either massive injuries year after year is not what is derailing every season or that Garrett is simply incompetent.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So you are telling me that we have missed the playoffs 4 out of the 5 years Garrett has been the head coach because of massive injuries every single year, including this year, with last year the lone exception? Massive injuries, 4 out of 5 seasons?

We know how bad the defense was in 2012 and 2013 because of injuries. We literally were signing guys off the street and playing them the next game. Frankly I'm shocked we managed to win 8 games those years. We all know what has happened this year. Before the season started if I told you Romo would play in 3 games and Dez would be a non factor how many games do you think we would win? Clearly this hasn't been a good year for the coaching staff either. But my response was specifically addressing the issues we had before last year.

 

[Beast_from_East]

We know how bad the defense was in 2012 and 2013 because of injuries. We literally were signing guys off the street and playing them the next game. Frankly I'm shocked we managed to win 8 games those years. We all know what has happened this year. Before the season started if I told you Romo would play in 3 games and Dez would be a non factor how many games do you think we would win? Clearly this hasn't been a good year for the coaching staff either. But my response was specifically addressing the issues we had before last year.

I agree that Garrett will get a pass for the injuries this year, but don't you think he has to make the playoffs next year regardless of anything?

I mean, missing the playoffs in 5 of your first 6 years as a head coach is almost an automatic termination..........I cant think of a single coach that didn't make the playoffs in 5 of his first 6 years and was kept by the same team. That would be a hard sell to the fan base, but you never know what Jerry might do.

Anyways, its going to be an interesting offseason for sure.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Seems like a great thought process for the scouts and Front Office, but this current season is still at the ending stages of wrecking in spectacular fashion and the coaching staff has proven that they cannot gameplan their way to victory when playing similarly talented teams. JG gets this team to play hard, but they are a team that other teams know they will beat if #9 is not on the field.

Come the offseason, they will need to use their picks and cap space to upgrade so that Dallas can have better players across the board than the opposition. DBs, LBs, WRs, Back-up QB, RB. This current coaching staff needs the players to be better than the ones that line up across from them in order to win games.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Frankly I'm shocked we managed to win 8 games those years.

Ive always loved this one the best. After all the excuses, the injuries, the bad luck, the misfortune, the ole "Garrett actually did a remarkable job" line rears its head.

The Garret love is blind. So blind that failure is even lauded as remarkable success. You simply cannot make this stuff up.

Im not singling you out Big Dog. Its just comical to watch the same old "Garrett support" rolled out like clockwork because its been going on for years.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I agree that Garrett will get a pass for the injuries this year, but don't you think he has to make the playoffs next year regardless of anything?

Good question but hard to answer. Honestly if we get Romo and Dez back, have another decent draft, sign a couple of good FA's we will make the playoffs in our rotten division. Does that make me a glass half full guy?

 

[JohnsKey19]

The team is good enough to be just good enough, and the good is primarily due to the presence of Romo. 2015 exposed a lot of issues that will prevent them from progressing beyond that point. I don't think the team breaks through until those issues are addressed, which they probably won't unfortunately. Adding a few shiny new toys(players) doesn't solve the problem.

 

[CyberB0b]

We're in contention for the number 1 overall pick, and you don't understand the negativity? There are teams this year who have rolled out multiple QBs, including the Texans, who have won games without their starting QB, and a lot of them are actually in a position to make the playoffs.

If the team can't survive without Romo, then the team is doomed. An NFL player doesn't age like wine, he ages like vinegar, and I am a huge Romo fan.

 

[cowboyblue22]

this org is bad needs a total house cleaning. It wont get it though so it will be arrange a few chairs differently jerry and Stephen in the press telling everyone how they are building a superbowl contender and the incompetence of the staff and players will still be on display next season. The talent level on this team is not very good and yes we are the Cleveland browns of the nfc

 

[DogFace]

This constant battle, on this site, between optimistic and pessimistic fans really comes down to sore losers.

When we win both sides are optimistic.

 

[ufcrules1]

Romo is another tackle away from yet another separate shoulder. I'm done blindly rallying around that great hope. Lots has to fall into place in order for any of this to work. High draft pick or no high draft pick. Romo or no Romo.

The things that we have continued to witness year in and year out define insanity. Textbook.

20 years straight.

 

[rynochop]

IS the current draft status accurate? I don't see us winning Sunday but it wouldn't shock me

 

[Cowboy_Shawn]

I'm not going to poo-poo on anyone's positive parade but I've been through this same song and dance for about 20 years now. Going into each off-season thinking, 'we're not that far away, a tweak here, a tweak there....the Cowboys should be able to win 11 or 12 games next season.' The following season finally rolls around and the Cowboys finish with 8 or fewer wins. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Aside from 4 seasons that's pretty much how every season has played out. I'm done pretending. We're basically a more popular version of the Miami Dolphins.

 

[Cowboy_Shawn]

Dez is nowhere near Odell despite being around much longer.

So it only takes one bad, injury-plagued year for Cowboys fans to start turning on Dez? Not to mention the hot garbage QBs he had throwing him the ball. If you don't think that matters go back and look at Antonio Brown's numbers when Roethlisberger was injured earlier in the year. His average game with Vick/Landry Jones at QB was something like 3 catches for 40 yards.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but coming into this season Dez Bryant led all NFL WRs in TDs since 2012.

The 2015 season does not define Dez Bryant. This season was an aberration.

 

[noshame]

I think we have a shot at 4th

 

[John813]

I'm not going to poo-poo on anyone's positive parade but I've been through this same song and dance for about 20 years now. Going into each off-season thinking, 'we're not that far away, a tweak here, a tweak there....the Cowboys should be able to win 11 or 12 games next season.' The following season finally rolls around and the Cowboys finish with 8 or fewer wins. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Aside from 4 seasons that's pretty much how every season has played out. I'm done pretending. We're basically a more popular version of the Miami Dolphins.

It's wonderful being a fan of both teams.
Although I expected the Dolphins to blow it this year, due to all the holes on the squad.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Have 0 optimism for next year right now
Don't see anything happening in the offseason to change it.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Good thread, I eager to see what the team does this off-season.

 

[perrykemp]

There are reasons for optimism and there are reasons for pessimism. My top 5 for each are:

Reasons for 2016 optimism

1. Improvement of the defense in 2015, specifically the front 7. While the pass rush ultimately was generally dissapointing vs my expectations coming into the season, the Cowboys now have a Top 5-10 front 7 and that's something they can definitely build on in 2016.
2. Collins. Played well in 2015 and should really blossom in 2016. I'd be shocked if the Cowboys didn't have the Top run blocking OL in the NFL in 2016. I'm hopeful they can get better pass blocking, however, they are pretty good at it now
3. Jones. I like what I saw in 2015. I hope they put him in one position next year and allow him to excel at it. I don't think that position is outside CB. He is an asset for sure.
4. Romo and Dez back in 2016 -- presumably healthy.
5. Emergence of D-Law. The light bulb has come on and he looks like he has 10-15 sack potential next season. A lot of be excited about this kid.

Reasons for 2016 Pessimism

1. It's quite possible Romo has begun his decline. He was never better than he was in 2014, however, 2014 will be 2 year in the rear-view mirror by the the time next season rolls along. Romo will be 36 years old and going back to the end of the 2013 seasons he has missed or been knocked out of roughly 50% of the Cowboys games -- dealing with all sorts of different kinds of injuries. Players get more susceptible to injury as they age and that quite possibly is what we are seeing with Romo
2. Massive questions in the secondary. All 4 starting DBs from 2015 are mediocre at best and should be replaced. The Cowboys haven't had a good secondary for 6-7 years now and I'm not sure how they get there next year without a massive investment in draft picks and FAs.
3. Coaching. I've seen enough of JG since 2010 to realize that every game the Cowboys play they gain zero advantage from coaching. I have real problems getting excited about the Cowboy's Superbowl opportunity with JG at the helm. In fact, I am discouraged.
4. Lack of play makers on offense other than Dez. There is almost no speed and very little play-making ability on offense other than Dez. Witten is nearing the end of the line, T-Will feels like a WR3 to me, and Beasley is pretty limited. They need another playmaker or two on offense

 

[Redball Express]

We have been dealing with and embracing possibilities and probabilities for years. This team is 20 years removed from the last deep playoff run and nothing that transpired this year's gives me confidence the construct (as is) can do anything remotely close to what we did 20 years ago anytime soon.

I agree in part..

I think 20 years ago..at the time of the cap..

that changed us and we never have mastered it.

Jerrah was allowed to make too many personnel decisions and redo too many contracts which ended up killing our cap.

That has been curbed more or less as others have more influence on decisions.

While I doubt we can get back to the dominence we once had..

that was a different era.

I look at the teams who have continued to succeed like the Packers and the Broncos and Pats..

its about QBs and good talent evaluation and coaching stability.

We still lack in several areas there..take your pick which ones.

But I think we have the best set of coaches since Jimma, Garrett not withstanding..

and becuz of Jerrah..

I'm not sure if ANY HC with any sort of resume would come here.

Sooo..

saying that..

Garett gets the nod.

And we hope he gets better and this year has taught him something.