My Bottom Lines after 16 games

[Chuck 54]

1. We have a 9-7 team that made the playoffs, not 11-5 or even 10-6...I think 9-7 pretty much sums up our team from coaches on down to players...we all ate the cheese and talked ourselves into thinking our team was better than it was.

2. We found a pass rush today from the 4 man line...where the heck was Bowen (72) all year...that kid was in the backfield all game long...he had a sack, several pressures and at least two very hard knockdowns. Even Canty looked better in the 4 man line...we got fairly consistant pressure all game and pushed the pocket back in Kitna's face all game.

3. Sadly, our secondary couldn't cover anyone...so I guess all the suggestions of how good we'd be if we could get pressure were bogus...Safeties still can't get there in time, though Watkins looked the best in coverage to me today...aaron glenn was toast for once, henry couldn't keep up with his man, and TNewman (though I love him) showed why he's no probowler today...he allowed separation all game...plenty of balls thrown his way...no respect from Detroit...call it one game if you will, but the secondary was awful.

4. Romo is what he is...still a great find for the Cowboys...still better than I ever expected...makes great throws when given time, but any comparisons to Favre or Montana were greatly exaggerated...just because a first year starter can't take an offense on his shoulders doesn't mean he's not a good one. Aikman was seldom able to carry the team either...Romo needs an improved OL and something that at least looks like a running game. He made some rookie-like mistakes today, looked panicky at times...the 3 fumbles were all inexcusable, his int. was a sorry, panic throw, and he ran four plays inside the ten on that final series and never gave anyone on his team even 1 chance to make a play...sad...can't believe he took off running instead of giving someone a chance to make a play with a pass...I still don't understand why we don't look for Witten or a RB down there from time to time.

5. I hope Parcells is ready to quit...just my personal opinion.

6. Zimmer must go...even if it's the players and not him, the bottom line is that he has proven that he can't get the job done with the players we have...Parcells turns and looks at him with pleading and frustration, but Zimmer has no answers for what's going on on the field...maybe he'd do great somewhere else, but he's proven he can't get it done with what we have.

*** Offensive line issues from time to time...no running game at all...no screens to get JJ involved...Romo plays pretty well except for fumbles, but the bottom line is we scored enough points to beat any team in the NFL, much less the 2-12 Detroit Lions. The problem continues to be the defense.

The Dallas defensive front did a decent job against the run. The Dallas defense got, not only sacks, but also consistant pressure, knockdowns, and pushed the pocket back all game long, and what was the result? And most of it was without blitzing...yet every single player in the secondary that we count on (Newman, Henry, Glenn, Roy)...all were beaten consistently all game...the coverage was absolutely horrible again and again and again.

Don't blame it on Romo, the OL, or the referees....we had the lead again and again and again, and the defense gave up 39 points. Some of those points were off turnovers and decent punt returns, but the defense still allowed the drives and the points. It seemed like Detroit could score any time they wanted to score from anywhere on the field...we're lucky Canty drilled Kitna to force an overthrow on another play when Roy Williams was running far behind Terrence Newman.

7. We can still win next week in the playoffs...We can beat anyone in the NFC on any given Sunday. Our defense could, after giving up 132 points in their last 4 games (an average of 33 per game), could finally figure out how to stop a playoff caliber offense, and our offense could show up on the same day....but fans who pretend none of our problems matter and that we're better off having lost to Detroit know nothing and are full of crap...even if we go to Seattle and win next week, it won't be because today's game didn't matter and we're better off having lost it...some ideas just totally amaze me.

First half of the season: Cowboys overachieved and were a pleasant surprise, causing fans to think coaches and players were headed in the right direction and possibly towards a championship caliber team.

Second half of the season: Cowboys underachieved, fell apart, were a disappointment, causing many fans to call for a new coaching staff and to realize that the players aren't nearly as good as advertised.

I wish those two halves were flip-flopped...I'd like our playoff chances much better.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think the following:

1. Zimmer blows. He can't coach a defense that can rush the passer consistently and a defense that doesn't fizzle in the second half of the season. Those have been 2 qualities of his defense, regardless if we go to a 4-3 or a 3-4, regardless of the head coach or the improvements on personnel. But the biggest indictment against Zimmer is that he was badly exposed by Sean Payton and for the next 3 weeks he could not make the proper adjustments.

2. Marion Barber is far better than Julius and Julius either needs to be traded or we had better have expectations that Marion will have to get most of the carries next year since he's better on 1st, 2nd and 3rd downs.

3. DeMarcus Ware is easily our best player.

4. The O-Line was up and down all season long. We got some surprises in Kosier, Gurode, and Colombo, but Rivera needs to go and Flozell is still too inconsistent.

5. Romo is still a good QB but needs to curb his impulses. But if the O-Line and running game is good, we may see a lot less impulse throws. At the very least, we know he can be a starting QB in this league.

6. The extension to Bradie James was a mistake and he's the biggest weakspot on the entire team. Sad to think about that with the issues we've had at LOLB, FS, QB, OT, and kicker in the past 2 seasons.

7. Nothing the defense did today proved that we are better in the 4-3 than the 3-4. However (as a 3-4 supporter), it is a small sample size.

8. The things that have killed us all year long are the pass rush, Bradie James, and the slow starts we get off to.

9. Pat Watkins is better than Keith Davis or Willie Pile.

10. We still shoot ourselves in the foot too often.



YAKUZA

 

[Chuck 54]

I think the following:

1. Zimmer blows. He can't coach a defense that can rush the passer consistently and a defense that doesn't fizzle in the second half of the season. Those have been 2 qualities of his defense, regardless if we go to a 4-3 or a 3-4, regardless of the head coach or the improvements on personnel. But the biggest indictment against Zimmer is that he was badly exposed by Sean Payton and for the next 3 weeks he could not make the proper adjustments.

2. Marion Barber is far better than Julius and Julius either needs to be traded or we had better have expectations that Marion will have to get most of the carries next year since he's better on 1st, 2nd and 3rd downs.

3. DeMarcus Ware is easily our best player.

4. The O-Line was up and down all season long. We got some surprises in Kosier, Gurode, and Colombo, but Rivera needs to go and Flozell is still too inconsistent.

5. Romo is still a good QB but needs to curb his impulses. But if the O-Line and running game is good, we may see a lot less impulse throws. At the very least, we know he can be a starting QB in this league.

6. The extension to Bradie James was a mistake and he's the biggest weakspot on the entire team. Sad to think about that with the issues we've had at LOLB, FS, QB, OT, and kicker in the past 2 seasons.

7. Nothing the defense did today proved that we are better in the 4-3 than the 3-4. However (as a 3-4 supporter), it is a small sample size.

8. The things that have killed us all year long are the pass rush, Bradie James, and the slow starts we get off to.

9. Pat Watkins is better than Keith Davis or Willie Pile.

10. We still shoot ourselves in the foot too often.



YAKUZA

I liked the pass rush today, but it could have more to do with the players like Bowen than with the scheme...I do think Canty looked better on the outside.

I forgot in the original post to mention that I watched pretty closely today and was very happy with Carpenter...he goes hard all day...I feel good about him.