MySa Blog: Aikman: Players to blame for December slumps...questions toughness

[UVAwahoos]

I like Troy, but the Giants weren't "battle tested" and were considered a soft team until they manned up against the Pats in late 2007 and went on that playoff run. The same things were being said about that team and the qb until they turned the corner.

Part of me feels like this team just needs to get over the hump, maybe its tomorrow or maybe its the Saints game. A hard fought w in december could propel this team.

If you're honest with yourself, I think you'd concede that our 2007 team was ill-equipped to beat the undefeated Pats team anyway. The Giants had the D line that was required to disrupt Brady. I think that a playoff run ending in a Super Bowl defeat would've been a much harder pill to swallow, particularly given that I was personally willing to shell out thousands to watch it live.

This year is similar. If we can't beat NO on the road in December, does it really matter if we make the playoffs? Why would we all of a sudden be able to roll there in the playoffs and beat them? We have to take care of business in December to have any chance in the playoffs.

That's just my opinion, but if we're losing to quality teams now, than why would anything change in January?

 

[not_a_homer]

If you're honest with yourself, I think you'd concede that our 2007 team was ill-equipped to beat the undefeated Pats team anyway. The Giants had the D line that was required to disrupt Brady. I think that a playoff run ending in a Super Bowl defeat would've been a much harder pill to swallow, particularly given that I was personally willing to shell out thousands to watch it live.

This year is similar. If we can't beat NO on the road in December, does it really matter if we make the playoffs?

In '07 the Cowboys beat the Giants twice in the regular season and lost to them in the playoffs. And the Giants lost to the Patriots in the regular season and beat them in the playoffs. Playing a team in the regular season can provide you good intel if you meet again.

Why would we all of a sudden be able to roll there in the playoffs and beat them? We have to take care of business in December to have any chance in the playoffs.

That's just my opinion, but if we're losing to quality teams now, than why would anything change in January?

 

[Garland powerplay]

If they win against SD ,the game against NO isn't as paramount. They could still win last 2 weeks and end up in a good place.
The three coaches mentioned in the original post would be awesome and next season would definitely up a notch.

Ranking the replacements:

1. Cowher
2 Shanahan
3 holmgren

 

[bbgun]

I think they were partially one in the same. I agree with most of what Troy is saying but I think maybe he is not making the connection that some of the past core is now gone.

The real issue may be that these Cowboys are just not good enough---they are better than most teams but not as good as the very best.

Again, we'll see and hopefully they will pull a 10-6 out of the hat.

It'll be interesting to see if the same people who excoriated Ed Werder for not outing his sources will implore Aikman to start naming names. After all, he must have some high-profile players in mind. Don't leave us in suspense, Troy.

 

[Apollo Creed]

It'll be interesting to see if the same people who excoriated Ed Werder for not outing his sources will implore Aikman to start naming names. After all, he must have some high-profile players in mind. Don't leave us in suspense, Troy.

If there is anyone that has the drop on Dallas its Troy. He covers like 10 of their games every year, he's got more access than any other media member at valley ranch, Jerry confides in him, Tony confides in him - he's most definitely in the know.

I'm just starting to think that BP's, "can't win with them" attitude revolves around the core group of guys. Flo, Gurode, Crayton, Bradie, Newman, Spears, etc.

Romo, Witten, Ware, Ratliff, and Barber being the exceptions because they simply get it done - but as a whole the core group just may not be mentally tough enough to make a serious playoff run. They eat the cheese too quickly, and lose faith in themselves just as fast. All indicative traits of a mentally weak team.

A win this Sunday can change that all around, and don't think for one second the Saints aren't beatable. They've stolen 3 or 4 of those wins this year - against really bad teams.

 

[CF74]

I wish Aikman would tell us who the "core group" is that needs to change.

Newman, Barber, Brady James, Spears, & Flo come to my immediate mind. Those guys need to step it up and one of them needs to move to the side...

 

[DFWJC]

It'll be interesting to see if the same people who excoriated Ed Werder for not outing his sources will implore Aikman to start naming names. After all, he must have some high-profile players in mind. Don't leave us in suspense, Troy.

My guess is that Crayton, Flozell, and maybe Newton and Spears are some of the remaining ones. Several are now gone. I don't think Romo or Ware fall into that category...certainly not Ware.

 

[Hoofbite]

Wow. Sobering words right there. If Parcells was so great, he should've stayed around and righted the ship. He abandoned the Cowboys and IMO Wade Phillips has done more/better overall than Parcells did. I hope we beat San Diego tomorrow, but even if we do, all we'll hear is how New Orleans is going to kill us anyway and there is no hope.

BP had far less talent at more than a few positions including QB and RB

 

[theebs]

INteresting.

Aikman always talks differently about The cowboys team outside of Dallas.

he never says stuff like this on thursday morning with the musers. very strange.

 

[goliadmike]

How so? When it goes against the more popular thought that it's all the coache's thought.

I've said for a while that sometimes you have to put the onus on the players for executing. Coaches can emphasize things all week in practice, but these guys have to execute.

They have to tackle the guy in front of them. They have to break up passes or guess right when going for the INT. They have to catch the balls when they hit them in their hands. They have to break a tackle when defenders go for their shoe strings.

Sometimes it really is as simple as that.

OMG!!! You mean its not all Garrett's fault.

 

[WoodysGirl]

OMG!!! You mean its not all Garrett's fault.

No, not all his fault. But Garrett isn't absolved from questionable play calling either.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

The truth can be a difficult pill to swallow, and Aikman didn't exactly give us a spoonful of sugar with it.

 

[reddyuta]

i agree with troy,there is a lack of toughness in this team.we could have dealt knockout blows to the packers and the giants but failed to do so,now we are at the mercy of one of these teams.

 

[silver]

Or maybe we're not that good. We don't have impact players on offense or special teams. Our only impact player is Ware and he's struggled so far this year. Teams that win it all have impact players, i.e. game changers. We don't. On offense our best player is Romo and even though I believe he’s a very good QB he needs better players around him. He has a very good TE, good running backs and average receivers. Not even McNabb could advance to the superbowl with a team like that. We need impact-game changers type players. For every Santonio Holmes on the board on draft day there’s always a Bobby Carpenter there to fill a never ending need. For every Desean Jackson on the board there’s a Felix Jones selection to fill another never ending need.

 

[UVAwahoos]

In '07 the Cowboys beat the Giants twice in the regular season and lost to them in the playoffs. And the Giants lost to the Patriots in the regular season and beat them in the playoffs. Playing a team in the regular season can provide you good intel if you meet again.

Thanks for the history lesson, but I vividly recall that season, and you're missing my point.

First off, our coaches have not really been known as strategists who make those great adjustments with information they have. That's part of the reason that most are on the verge of getting fired. Second, there's a huge difference between the Giants team that won the Super Bowl and a Dallas team that limps its way into the playoffs.

If we limp in after losing to teams like SD and NO...there's no reason to think we'll get it together for a January run. It'll just be blind faith at that point.

 

[gimmesix]

If you look at our one December game this year, the main group (which has virtually been intact since Parcells was here) that was out-toughed by the Giants was the offensive line.

I thought the defense held its own in the toughness department, but was hurt by a few breakdowns, and the special teams had one major flashback to last season but has been otherwise tough on coverage.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Or maybe we're not that good. We don't have impact players on offense or special teams. Our only impact player is Ware and he's struggled so far this year. Teams that win it all have impact players, i.e. game changers. We don't. On offense our best player is Romo and even though I believe he’s a very good QB he needs better players around him. He has a very good TE, good running backs and average receivers. Not even McNabb could advance to the superbowl with a team like that. We need impact-game changers type players. For every Santonio Holmes on the board on draft day there’s always a Bobby Carpenter there to fill a never ending need. For every Desean Jackson on the board there’s a Felix Jones selection to fill another never ending need.

 

[jobberone]

How so? When it goes against the more popular thought that it's all the coache's thought.

I've said for a while that sometimes you have to put the onus on the players for executing. Coaches can emphasize things all week in practice, but these guys have to execute.

They have to tackle the guy in front of them. They have to break up passes or guess right when going for the INT. They have to catch the balls when they hit them in their hands. They have to break a tackle when defenders go for their shoe strings.

Sometimes it really is as simple as that.

It's some of both IMO WG. While the bell has not tolled yet I still can find some blame for the coaches and the players. I'd put most of it on the players though.

Not putting a lot of badmouth on any of them either. Clearly this is a pretty good football team. I think it has the talent to go deep into a playoff. But there are obviously some issues as well that they need to address.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Brookings said it.

The players run the team.

The failure lies with the players. Which is scary since the salary cap means you cannot just ditch the guys not achieving and go get ones that do.

So does this go back to the man who has the last word on all decisions?

Some might argue that point, But Jerry sure ponys up to tell all that he is the gold standard when it comes to decision making on this team.

 

[Quarterback Coach]

Aikman: In other words fans, this group of underachievers are a bunch of losers!!! Now prove the world wrong...:fight:

In other other words...Aikman agrees with Steve Dennis.