Not as far as some think.

[Cowboys2008]

I think our greatest loss this season, and which made us entirely differentiate from last season, was the loss of Felix- aka, that change up pace of back.

If you look at it, with Felix, a pretty damn good record. With Julius last season, 13-3, until we took him out of the gameplan that very last game in the playoffs against the Giants.

My growing belief is, Barber can't carry the load by himself and give us what we need. He needs that change up back to spell him. We need that change up back to keep defenses guessing and be able to play to our strengths. The two-back system is crucial in our game-plan, it's the base of it all.

We MUST get someone time to share with Barber. And as time passes, I think I would rather have Barber used like he used to be used, as a closer, not a starter. Though hey, put his name on the line up as starter and give him those first couple of series during a game if that's what it takes to keep him happy, but then just basically sit on him until after halftime and let Felix or Choice take the defenses in another direction until that point in a game.

Original poster; You're right, we're not as off-track as most would like to think we are. And time away from it all probably would have done most of us good to keep it in perspective.

 

[WV Cowboy]

We play our worse football in December and have for several years. Until we get this straightened out, the Super Bowl is a pipe dream regardless of talent. Number one is to RUN THE DAMN BALL AND STICK WITH IT.

I agree with running the football.

But my whole point is that I don't think we played our worst football this past December.

I think we played good football against the Steelers, the Giants and the Ravens.

And that is what is encouraging.

5 turnovers in a quarter and a half restricted us from doing anything positive or even looking like an NFL football team against the Iggles.

But turnovers and penalties will kill any team, just ask the Steelers who lost by double digits late in the season to Tenn after Big Bung had 4 fumbles, losing 2, and throwing 2 INT's, .. one for a pic-6.

4 turnovers against a good team makes it almost impossible to do anything. You lose.

 

[Doomsay]

I agree with running the football.

But my whole point is that I don't think we played our worst football this past December.

I think we played good football against the Steelers, the Giants and the Ravens.

And that is what is encouraging.

5 turnovers in a quarter and a half restricted us from doing anything positive or even looking like an NFL football team against the Iggles.

But turnovers and penalties will kill any team, just ask the Steelers who lost by double digits late in the season to Tenn after Big Bung had 4 fumbles, losing 2, and throwing 2 INT's, .. one for a pic-6.

4 turnovers against a good team makes it almost impossible to do anything. You lose.

Good teams don't consistently turn it over in the clutch or commit stupid penalties. We had 12 turnovers and 250 yds of penalties in the clutch month of December. Definition of a poorly coached team. Nothing positive there, especially with the same coaching clowns returning for another year of "aw shucks, other teams are having problems too, heh heh."

The Ravens beat us by double digits in the last game in Texas stadium when our defense folded like lawn chairs in the worst run stopping quarter in team history.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Noting positive there

I watched the games too, I understand your frustrations.

If you go back and reread my posts, I am not suggesting that everything is "peachy-keen" in Dallas.

We have areas to improve on.

But we have many others areas that are doing well.

After the season, each team builds on their strengths and tries to address and improve their weaknesses through the draft, FA, schemes, etc.

From what I have seen, no team in todays NFL is dominant, ... if we fix the problem areas before next season, stay free of serious injuries, and get a good bounce now and then we can compete with any team I saw play this year.

That is better than going 5-11 and realizing that you are no where near being a good team.

If you disagree or don't see it that way, that is fine.

 

[irvin4evs]

Good teams don't consistently turn it over in the clutch or commit stupid penalties. We had 12 turnovers and 250 yds of penalties in the clutch month of December. Definition of a poorly coached team. Nothing positive there, especially with the same coaching clowns returning for another year of "aw shucks, other teams are having problems too, heh heh."

The Ravens beat us by double digits in the last game in Texas stadium when our defense folded like lawn chairs in the worst run stopping quarter in team history.

Time to get a new team, bucko. All hope is lost. Why intentionally live in despair?

 

[Doomsay]

Time to get a new team, bucko. All hope is lost. Why intentionally live in despair?

More like a new coach...bucko, truth hurts.

 

[irvin4evs]

Even if we get a new coach, Jerry will undermine their authority and we will undoubtedly miss the playoffs.

Don't do anything irrational, man.

 

[jobberone]

This team did not tackle well and at times did not block well. The STs played poorly. There was no effort from players at times esp on STs. They made too many mistakes, created too few turnovers, and turned the ball over way too often. The QB doesn't protect the ball well enough, the play calling was suspect at times, the offense unbalanced appearing to fear the run, and we had a bundle of injuries. They don't make a lot of big plays when they have to; in any of the three areas of play.

We have the talent. That's a lot of things to overcome though. Not being negative but just to put some balance into the critique.

 

[dallasfaniac]

This team did not tackle well and at times did not block well. The STs played poorly. There was no effort from players at times esp on STs. They made too many mistakes, created too few turnovers, and turned the ball over way too often. The QB doesn't protect the ball well enough, the play calling was suspect at times, the offense unbalanced appearing to fear the run, and we had a bundle of injuries. They don't make a lot of big plays when they have to; in any of the three areas of play.

We have the talent. That's a lot of things to overcome though. Not being negative but just to put some balance into the critique.

I don't consider this a negative analysis, because it was laid out in a thoughtfull manner and lays close to the truth. Each one of these issues can be corrected, it just remains to be seen if they will be. Heck, correct just one of these issues and we instantly become a better team.

 

[Doomsay]

Even if we get a new coach, Jerry will undermine their authority and we will undoubtedly miss the playoffs.

Don't do anything irrational, man.

Depends on how far we fall next year and how desperate Jerry becomes. Hyperbole-free analysis.

 

[Bach]

Depends on how far we fall next year and how desperate Jerry becomes. Hyperbole-free analysis.

It's just not a good sign that Jerry deemed Parcells time here a failure and immediately went back to taking full control. I'm not sure he'll give up that much control again.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

It's just not a good sign that Jerry deemed Parcells time here a failure and immediately went back to taking full control. I'm not sure he'll give up that much control again.

Why do you think that?

By all accounts, Jerry Jones wanted Bill Parcells to remain the Head Coach.

However, after Bill Parcells left, I believe Jerry Jones felt the team has an abundance of talent that he could take charge, add a few pieces here and there and the Cowboys would back in the Super Bowl.

 

[bsheeern]

Earlier this morning I posted my first post since our loss in Philly.

I have been here on and off reading, but nothing mattered enough or seemed important enough to post about.

I guess I just had to step back away from the ledge for a while. :laugh2:

Anyway, since I have had time to rethink everything and try to put everything into perspective, I am not so sure we are as far away from doing something big as some seem to think.

I know, I know, we have issues, things we need to correct, areas we need to improve on.

But when I look at our final four games, I actually am encouraged.

We played the Steelers on the road, at Heinz field, on that crummy field and in their frigid element and had them beat for 3 1/2 quarters. Yes I know we let that slip away but we were every bit as good as they were, and look at where they are now. AFC Champs.

Then after an ESPN provoked rough week, we beat the champs of the NFC East, and defending Super Bowl champs.

Then we played a tough Raven team, that just lost the AFC Championship game, and if it weren't for two back to back 150 yd runs we could have won that game.

As far as the Eagles game goes, when you are playing a team that is as good as you, and you turn it over 5 times in something like a quarter and a half, ... you lose.

Just ask the AFC Champs about their game with the Titans, Big Ben turned it over 4 times with 4 fumbles, (two lost) and two pics, one a pic 6.

My point is, yes, we have issues to address, so does every team.

But we don't have to start over completely from scratch.

Its not like we weren't good enough to compete with any of them.

We played 4 of the top 6 teams in the NFL the last 4 games of the season, went toe to toe with 3 of them, and were as good as any of them.

That is some good football.

This is much better than Get rid of TO because his stats were down or Get rid of Romo because his stats were down.

Changes obviously need to be made but over-reacting for the sake of reacting is just juvenile at its best. Special Teams needed some major work for sure. Stewart needed to go for obvious reasons. Other than that, we need another good solid Draft, work on mental mistakes, take full advantage of training camp to build chemistry with Romo and RW11 and we will be contenders once again.

I very rarely post because peoples passion often turns into ignorance and I find it really hard to make sense out of ignorance, but lately its like people wanna nit pick at every little thing. We finished 9-7 because other teams made plays and we didn't. That's what needs to be fixed and worked on more than anything. That includes the coaches as well......

In other words, WELCOME BACK and thanks for the INTELLIGENCE!!!!!!

 

[Gaede]

I agree the team is not in grave danger or anything, but they definitely don't have any heart, and that is legitimate cause for concern...and you can't just all of a sudden possess it. gotta earn it.