plasticman
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Jerry Jones and his contributions:
1. Cut Zeke before the 2023 season but made no effort to replace him with another RB capable of effective productivity in a two-back rotation. This was despite the fact that Pollard was coming back from an injury.
This was also despite the fact that there were several options in that year's draft.
2. Procrastinated on both Dak and CeeDee's contract negotiations to the point where it was an obvious team distraction. This resulted in a holdout by CeeDee which prevented CeeDee and Dak to be in sync at the start of the season.
This also created incremental increases in Dak's salary demands to the point where the Cowboys will be paying around 15 million dollars more per year than if they had signed him the previous season. This money could have been wisely spent on a veteran free agent DT or RB or OL.
3. Did not resign Pollard after the 2023 season but did not replace him until the only choice left was the guy they cut the previous season. Once again, they failed to address the issue in the draft.
4. Never adequately addressed depth at the QB position. The Cowboys drafted only 5 QB's in the past 23 drafts, none higher than the 4th round. Bill Belichick drafted 11 QB's in the same time frame despite having Tom Brady, arguably the best in NFL history. That is an average of one QB every two drafts.
This lack of foresight resulted in almost unprecedented leverage by a QB. Without any obvious alternative, they were at the mercy of Dak's agent.
5. Despite the fact that they spent a quarter of their salary cap on Dak, they decided to protect this investment with an O-line featuring two rookies, both of whom did not play their position in college. One of the positions was LT, the guy that protects the QB's blind side.
This position was manned by someone considered to be "raw" and in need of development. The other position was center, the guy that gets the ball to the QB. Keep in mind, there were no feasible RB's and the team was destined to be a one-dimensional nightmare in which defenses had no fear of the running game. This allowed them to attack the QB with little restraint. Eventually, Dak's body could no longer take the constant duress.
6. Refused to participate in veteran free agency, despite desperate needs that would be difficult to fill in the draft. If the Cowboys had signed one veteran free agent O-Lineman capable of starting then it would have taken a great deal of pressure off the rookies. They could have signed a good RB.
Last season, the Cowboys had the #1 scoring offense for the 2nd time in three seasons. They were ranked 5th in offensive yardage. They were ranked #2 in turnovers and #1 in 1st downs.
This season they are ranked 23rd in scoring, 21st in total yards, 21st in 1st downs and 31st in turnovers.
Jerry Jones's neglect, poor team building strategy, ill advised risks, and terrible draft decisions created a burden that was impossible for this offense to overcome. Jerry Jones is the most prominent reason for the state of this offense.
This is the typical cycle. People like Tex Schram, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells are builders of champions. Jerry Jones has always been the destroyer of opportunity.
......From first to worse in half a season...........
1. Cut Zeke before the 2023 season but made no effort to replace him with another RB capable of effective productivity in a two-back rotation. This was despite the fact that Pollard was coming back from an injury.
This was also despite the fact that there were several options in that year's draft.
2. Procrastinated on both Dak and CeeDee's contract negotiations to the point where it was an obvious team distraction. This resulted in a holdout by CeeDee which prevented CeeDee and Dak to be in sync at the start of the season.
This also created incremental increases in Dak's salary demands to the point where the Cowboys will be paying around 15 million dollars more per year than if they had signed him the previous season. This money could have been wisely spent on a veteran free agent DT or RB or OL.
3. Did not resign Pollard after the 2023 season but did not replace him until the only choice left was the guy they cut the previous season. Once again, they failed to address the issue in the draft.
4. Never adequately addressed depth at the QB position. The Cowboys drafted only 5 QB's in the past 23 drafts, none higher than the 4th round. Bill Belichick drafted 11 QB's in the same time frame despite having Tom Brady, arguably the best in NFL history. That is an average of one QB every two drafts.
This lack of foresight resulted in almost unprecedented leverage by a QB. Without any obvious alternative, they were at the mercy of Dak's agent.
5. Despite the fact that they spent a quarter of their salary cap on Dak, they decided to protect this investment with an O-line featuring two rookies, both of whom did not play their position in college. One of the positions was LT, the guy that protects the QB's blind side.
This position was manned by someone considered to be "raw" and in need of development. The other position was center, the guy that gets the ball to the QB. Keep in mind, there were no feasible RB's and the team was destined to be a one-dimensional nightmare in which defenses had no fear of the running game. This allowed them to attack the QB with little restraint. Eventually, Dak's body could no longer take the constant duress.
6. Refused to participate in veteran free agency, despite desperate needs that would be difficult to fill in the draft. If the Cowboys had signed one veteran free agent O-Lineman capable of starting then it would have taken a great deal of pressure off the rookies. They could have signed a good RB.
Last season, the Cowboys had the #1 scoring offense for the 2nd time in three seasons. They were ranked 5th in offensive yardage. They were ranked #2 in turnovers and #1 in 1st downs.
This season they are ranked 23rd in scoring, 21st in total yards, 21st in 1st downs and 31st in turnovers.
Jerry Jones's neglect, poor team building strategy, ill advised risks, and terrible draft decisions created a burden that was impossible for this offense to overcome. Jerry Jones is the most prominent reason for the state of this offense.
This is the typical cycle. People like Tex Schram, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells are builders of champions. Jerry Jones has always been the destroyer of opportunity.
......From first to worse in half a season...........
