plasticman
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I never considered facts to be excuses. In fact, I believe that if the following facts were not true and the Cowboys roster were fully available and healthy, then the Cowboys would have still be the underdogs.
It's bad enough that the roster was never built to increase their chances of winning. One dimensional offenses cannot win in the NFL unless that running game or passing game, along with the participating players, were historic. The same is true if you have an iconic defense such as the Ravens in 2000 or Bucs in 2002.
The Cowboys had none of the above, we know this. Never addressing the RB squad with any measurable talent and not making an effort to address gaps in the O-line through veteran free agency eliminated the Cowboys from contention from the very beginning of the season.
Jerry Jones entertained the fantasy that a couple of RB's that nobody else in the league wanted would produce behind a line composed of two rookies, including one that was labeled a project even before the draft. Add in a RT that took a step backwards the previous season and a 34 year old former great that will, most likely, retire after the season.
Consider that their backups are two 5th round picks, a 7th round pick, and three undrafted players. Most teams will take a couple of undrafted rookies and hope they can develop something. The Cowboys actually depend on it. Any injury to an O-lineman results in a serious drop in talent.
The Cowboys found no new heroes against the Lions. They found no purpose to rally around, no inspiration to embrace. They entered a game gutted inside and out against a team starved of success for three generations, a team that had planned to take their frustration out on the Cowboys since the final whistle blew from their last contest.
Injuries can be particularly cruel. The Cowboys two most dominant squads on the team are now their greatest liability.
The Cowboys DE's were completely wiped out. They lost their starters, one a perennial All Pro, the other a valuable veteran. They lost both backups, one before the season even started, the other a rookie after 5 games. The Cowboys have been reduced to poaching practice squad players from other teams as well as marginal backups that were previously sitting at home.
How do you attack a veteran QB, drafted #1 overall, with a great O-line, multiple productive receivers and a devastating tandem of young RB's, particularly with no DE's? How do you stop outside runs?
The secondary has been rendered practically inconsequential despite the presence of two former All-Pro CB's. Little has been said about the productivity of DB's less than a year removed from surgeries on some very important parts of their legs. It is not possible to simply return back to the previous form. The true healing process for such injuries to professional athletes are realistically about a year and a half. Part of the healing process is regaining confidence in the repaired areas.
It is obvious that the Diggs and Bland of previous seasons have not materialized and probably won't until next season. As is the case with DE's backups the secondary's best 2nd team players are 5th round picks, one a rookie.
An NFL team cannot consistently compete when the GM's team-building strategy is hope. That is especially true when this hope has no basis to even exist.
This hope was predicated on the belief that some of these young players would reveal themselves to be more than what was on the surface. It happened in the past, but never to the degree that it should be expected. Of course it was expected by the person deemed to be the best choice to assume the responsibilities of a GM.....by said individual.
Jerry has always felt that attributes like experience, talent, relentless dedication, and vision were contagious. All he had to do was hang around skilled professional NFL coaches and scouts and he was sure to absorb their abilities. He also had supreme confidence that the position of GM could be handled part time, giving him plenty of opportunity to manage non-football related functions such as media interviews and scheduling stadium events.
Unfortunately, Cowboys fans are in a unique situation. There will never be change to the franchise in the area that is most critically needed. Even when the king has departed, the prince will continue the legacy of entitlement, the fantasy that they deserve recognition for any past and future glory. A major element of that fantasy is any notion of future glory under the "stewardship" of the Jones's.
What seems the most unfair is the amount of blame assigned to coaches and players. They want to win more than anything but are not given the means to do so. The salary cap has been so badly mismanaged that retired players who contributed nothing in the way of playoff success, will be given hefty paychecks years after they are already retired.
Tom Landry goes down in history as one of the greatest coaches. However, the Hall of Fame gave equal space to his support, a GM that knew how to build teams and an assistant director of personal that developed player acquisition into a cutting edge science.
There is nothing innovative about the Dallas Cowboys franchise related to football today, only in the way the team is marketed. It won't be long until that also becomes hollow. The former glory of the team becomes more antiquated each season, so distant that it achieves the status of myth and fables.
It's difficult to imagine any other NFL team with less accountability. The most malignant area of this franchise cannot be repaired. There is no change if the greatest issue happens to be the individuals that determine the nature of this change.
It's bad enough that the roster was never built to increase their chances of winning. One dimensional offenses cannot win in the NFL unless that running game or passing game, along with the participating players, were historic. The same is true if you have an iconic defense such as the Ravens in 2000 or Bucs in 2002.
The Cowboys had none of the above, we know this. Never addressing the RB squad with any measurable talent and not making an effort to address gaps in the O-line through veteran free agency eliminated the Cowboys from contention from the very beginning of the season.
Jerry Jones entertained the fantasy that a couple of RB's that nobody else in the league wanted would produce behind a line composed of two rookies, including one that was labeled a project even before the draft. Add in a RT that took a step backwards the previous season and a 34 year old former great that will, most likely, retire after the season.
Consider that their backups are two 5th round picks, a 7th round pick, and three undrafted players. Most teams will take a couple of undrafted rookies and hope they can develop something. The Cowboys actually depend on it. Any injury to an O-lineman results in a serious drop in talent.
The Cowboys found no new heroes against the Lions. They found no purpose to rally around, no inspiration to embrace. They entered a game gutted inside and out against a team starved of success for three generations, a team that had planned to take their frustration out on the Cowboys since the final whistle blew from their last contest.
Injuries can be particularly cruel. The Cowboys two most dominant squads on the team are now their greatest liability.
The Cowboys DE's were completely wiped out. They lost their starters, one a perennial All Pro, the other a valuable veteran. They lost both backups, one before the season even started, the other a rookie after 5 games. The Cowboys have been reduced to poaching practice squad players from other teams as well as marginal backups that were previously sitting at home.
How do you attack a veteran QB, drafted #1 overall, with a great O-line, multiple productive receivers and a devastating tandem of young RB's, particularly with no DE's? How do you stop outside runs?
The secondary has been rendered practically inconsequential despite the presence of two former All-Pro CB's. Little has been said about the productivity of DB's less than a year removed from surgeries on some very important parts of their legs. It is not possible to simply return back to the previous form. The true healing process for such injuries to professional athletes are realistically about a year and a half. Part of the healing process is regaining confidence in the repaired areas.
It is obvious that the Diggs and Bland of previous seasons have not materialized and probably won't until next season. As is the case with DE's backups the secondary's best 2nd team players are 5th round picks, one a rookie.
An NFL team cannot consistently compete when the GM's team-building strategy is hope. That is especially true when this hope has no basis to even exist.
This hope was predicated on the belief that some of these young players would reveal themselves to be more than what was on the surface. It happened in the past, but never to the degree that it should be expected. Of course it was expected by the person deemed to be the best choice to assume the responsibilities of a GM.....by said individual.
Jerry has always felt that attributes like experience, talent, relentless dedication, and vision were contagious. All he had to do was hang around skilled professional NFL coaches and scouts and he was sure to absorb their abilities. He also had supreme confidence that the position of GM could be handled part time, giving him plenty of opportunity to manage non-football related functions such as media interviews and scheduling stadium events.
Unfortunately, Cowboys fans are in a unique situation. There will never be change to the franchise in the area that is most critically needed. Even when the king has departed, the prince will continue the legacy of entitlement, the fantasy that they deserve recognition for any past and future glory. A major element of that fantasy is any notion of future glory under the "stewardship" of the Jones's.
What seems the most unfair is the amount of blame assigned to coaches and players. They want to win more than anything but are not given the means to do so. The salary cap has been so badly mismanaged that retired players who contributed nothing in the way of playoff success, will be given hefty paychecks years after they are already retired.
Tom Landry goes down in history as one of the greatest coaches. However, the Hall of Fame gave equal space to his support, a GM that knew how to build teams and an assistant director of personal that developed player acquisition into a cutting edge science.
There is nothing innovative about the Dallas Cowboys franchise related to football today, only in the way the team is marketed. It won't be long until that also becomes hollow. The former glory of the team becomes more antiquated each season, so distant that it achieves the status of myth and fables.
It's difficult to imagine any other NFL team with less accountability. The most malignant area of this franchise cannot be repaired. There is no change if the greatest issue happens to be the individuals that determine the nature of this change.