On The Other Hand

[Shake_Tiller]

The apparent consensus here:

The coaching is irredeemably bad.

The QB is at best league average.

The OL underperformed.

The TE is too old and slow.

The WR group is subpar.

The RB can't be trusted and his backups are inadequate.

The DT group needs help and lacks a legitimate run-stopper.

The DE group is still unsettled and needs a speed rusher.

The only really good LB misses too many games because he is injury prone.

The CB group is developing but still lacks sure things. Inexperience cost dearly early in the year.

None of the safeties are very good. Jones is a bust. Heath is a backup.

The kicker can no longer be trusted.

The punter and deep snapper are the closest things to blue chip. The PR is explosive but allowed too many balls to hit the ground, harming field position.

Question - can all of these things be true for a 9-win team (frankly even for an 8-win team)?

The consensus here seems to be the team is poorly coached and has subpar talent. The perceived stars are in two cases (Prescott, Bryant) overrated and in other cases (Elliott, T. Smith, Lawrence and Lee) not trustworthy.

The team had at least one major distraction (uncertainty for much of the season regarding Elliott's availability). The league suspended him for 6 games of a 16-game season.

Another difference maker (Irving) was suspended 4 games and missed 4 others.

T. Smith and Lee missed substantial time and/or were hampered by injuries at times.

Arguably the team was disadvantaged in at least a couple of games by questionable officiating decisions.

If all of these things have merit, why wasn't this a 4-win team? And why is there little or no hope for improvement absent a true house cleaning?

I'm not taking a position as much as trying to set the table for balanced discussion.

 

[Ranching]

Good points. We all want to win it all every year. I saw some good things to build on. Saw some bad things too. I'm concerned with Dez and Daks play. We'll see what our FO does. I can't control that so I'll wait and see and offer an opinion now and again like we all do. We have some talent and some holes, the one we can address first is the coaching staff.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Good points. We all want to win it all every year. I saw some good things to build on. Saw some bad things too. I'm concerned with Dez and Daks play. We'll see what our FO does. I can't control that so I'll wait and see and offer an opinion now and again like we all do. We have some talent and some holes, the one we can address first is the coaching staff.

The first football game I watched and recall in some detail is the Ice Bowl so I am not a young man. One thing the years taught me - the past can't be changed. All of our opinions are colored to some extent by many years of disappointment. That is surely understandable.

Still the Cowboys have won 22 of the past 32 regular season games and were presented with tangible adversity this season. I am asking the question - why the wins given the poor roster and dismal coaching staff? And why am I reading so much about a complete lack of hope?

Is that a product of the past or of the present? I don't recommend living in the past. And to do so is awfully tempting for a man my age.

 

[Verdict]

This team isn't that far away (assuming we have a legit QB). But the team will have a hard time winning the SB as constructed for a couple of reasons:

1. Dez and Witten are a bad addition to this average receiving corps. Dez can't get separation and Witten can't run after catch, at all. I would get rid of both of them. But alternatively they can get some team speed at TE and receiver and cut Witten's reps. (I think they will get some speed and continue to allow Dez and Witten bring nothing to the table, which is distressing).

2. Morris is a feel good story but he needs to go. We need to bring in a back with home run speed somewhere in the depth chart.

3. OT. We can get by there if everyone stays healthy all year but how likely is that? We at least need a really good swing tackle.

4. I would put linebacker in the must have category. We need one starting level player and one backup. Would prefer the starter be elite. Jaylon could be that guy, but if the team plans on putting all their eggs in that basket they had better draft a Hitchens or two in this draft.

5. 1 Tech. How much better would this defense be if we had a dominant 1Tech. That means either getting one in free agency or taking a swing in the first couple of rounds in the draft. Probably no lower than the 2nd round.

 

[pansophy]

Dak almost never throws to the sideline beyond 7 yards unless he is scrambling or rolling out by design. Until he can make those throws defenses are going to continue to clog the middle, double Beasley and/or Witten, and make it tough for the WR to catch anything inside.

That basically sums up our offensive problems this year.

 

[CWR]

Lol thats awesome, Ive thought the same myself. If everything is as awful as we paint it how in the hell did we win at all?

 

[Shake_Tiller]

This team isn't that far away (assuming we have a legit QB). But the team will have a hard time winning the SB as constructed for a couple of reasons:

1. Dez and Witten are a bad addition to this average receiving corps. Dez can't get separation and Witten can't run after catch, at all. I would get rid of both of them. But alternatively they can get some team speed at TE and receiver and cut Witten's reps. (I think they will get some speed and continue to allow Dez and Witten bring nothing to the table, which is distressing).

2. Morris is a feel good story but he needs to go. We need to bring in a back with home run speed somewhere in the depth chart.

3. OT. We can get by there if everyone stays healthy all year but how likely is that? We at least need a really good swing tackle.

4. I would put linebacker in the must have category. We need one starting level player and one backup. Would prefer the starter be elite. Jaylon could be that guy, but if the team plans on putting all their eggs in that basket they had better draft a Hitchens or two in this draft.

5. 1 Tech. How much better would this defense be if we had a dominant 1Tech. That means either getting one in free agency or taking a swing in the first couple of rounds in the draft. Probably no lower than the 2nd round.

Agree the offense lacks home run speed and big plays. Elliott masked that weakness a year ago. For reasons we all know, he wasn't able to in 2017.

I am not quite as down on Bryant and Witten. But football is a game for young men, and both need to settle into supporting roles. It is on the team to find better players.

 

[landroverking]

The apparent consensus here:

The coaching is irredeemably bad.

The QB is at best league average.

The OL underperformed.

The TE is too old and slow.

The WR group is subpar.

The RB can't be trusted and his backups are inadequate.

The DT group needs help and lacks a legitimate run-stopper.

The DE group is still unsettled and needs a speed rusher.

The only really good LB misses too many games because he is injury prone.

The CB group is developing but still lacks sure things. Inexperience cost dearly early in the year.

None of the safeties are very good. Jones is a bust. Heath is a backup.

The kicker can no longer be trusted.

The punter and deep snapper are the closest things to blue chip. The PR is explosive but allowed too many balls to hit the ground, harming field position.

Question - can all of these things be true for a 9-win team (frankly even for an 8-win team)?

The consensus here seems to be the team is poorly coached and has subpar talent. The perceived stars are in two cases (Prescott, Bryant) overrated and in other cases (Elliott, T. Smith, Lawrence and Lee) not trustworthy.

The team had at least one major distraction (uncertainty for much of the season regarding Elliott's availability). The league suspended him for 6 games of a 16-game season.

Another difference maker (Irving) was suspended 4 games and missed 4 others.

T. Smith and Lee missed substantial time and/or were hampered by injuries at times.

Arguably the team was disadvantaged in at least a couple of games by questionable officiating decisions.

If all of these things have merit, why wasn't this a 4-win team? And why is there little or no hope for improvement absent a true house cleaning?

I'm not taking a position as much as trying to set the table for balanced discussion.

My take is if all those things are true about the players, then the coaching staff must be pretty darn good.
Folks you can't have it both ways.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Lol thats awesome, Ive thought the same myself. If everything is as awful as we paint it how in the hell did we win at all?

I think you answered our question, my friend.

 

[gmoney112]

As usual on this forum, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

 

[SDCowboy]

I can't really argue against any of those, except for the part about Zeke's backups. Morris played extremely well in his role.

 

[camelboy]

You forgot the consensus about the GM and the owner

 

[Pants]

The apparent consensus here:

The coaching is irredeemably bad.

The QB is at best league average.

The OL underperformed.

The TE is too old and slow.

The WR group is subpar.

The RB can't be trusted and his backups are inadequate.

The DT group needs help and lacks a legitimate run-stopper.

The DE group is still unsettled and needs a speed rusher.

The only really good LB misses too many games because he is injury prone.

The CB group is developing but still lacks sure things. Inexperience cost dearly early in the year.

None of the safeties are very good. Jones is a bust. Heath is a backup.

The kicker can no longer be trusted.

The punter and deep snapper are the closest things to blue chip. The PR is explosive but allowed too many balls to hit the ground, harming field position.

Question - can all of these things be true for a 9-win team (frankly even for an 8-win team)?

The consensus here seems to be the team is poorly coached and has subpar talent. The perceived stars are in two cases (Prescott, Bryant) overrated and in other cases (Elliott, T. Smith, Lawrence and Lee) not trustworthy.

The team had at least one major distraction (uncertainty for much of the season regarding Elliott's availability). The league suspended him for 6 games of a 16-game season.

Another difference maker (Irving) was suspended 4 games and missed 4 others.

T. Smith and Lee missed substantial time and/or were hampered by injuries at times.

Arguably the team was disadvantaged in at least a couple of games by questionable officiating decisions.

If all of these things have merit, why wasn't this a 4-win team? And why is there little or no hope for improvement absent a true house cleaning?

I'm not taking a position as much as trying to set the table for balanced discussion.

soooo, what's your point, truth-teller?

 

[Shake_Tiller]

soooo, what's your point, truth-teller?

Just trying to be a sage since I am too old for other spices.

 

[DogFace]

Very very good points @Shake_Tiller.

I’d still like to see some major changes on offense and a more attacking D style.

We can have everything we want though and I’ll be right behind whoever is out there next year.

 

[erod]

The apparent consensus here:

The coaching is irredeemably bad.

The QB is at best league average.

The OL underperformed.

The TE is too old and slow.

The WR group is subpar.

The RB can't be trusted and his backups are inadequate.

The DT group needs help and lacks a legitimate run-stopper.

The DE group is still unsettled and needs a speed rusher.

The only really good LB misses too many games because he is injury prone.

The CB group is developing but still lacks sure things. Inexperience cost dearly early in the year.

None of the safeties are very good. Jones is a bust. Heath is a backup.

The kicker can no longer be trusted.

The punter and deep snapper are the closest things to blue chip. The PR is explosive but allowed too many balls to hit the ground, harming field position.

Question - can all of these things be true for a 9-win team (frankly even for an 8-win team)?

The consensus here seems to be the team is poorly coached and has subpar talent. The perceived stars are in two cases (Prescott, Bryant) overrated and in other cases (Elliott, T. Smith, Lawrence and Lee) not trustworthy.

The team had at least one major distraction (uncertainty for much of the season regarding Elliott's availability). The league suspended him for 6 games of a 16-game season.

Another difference maker (Irving) was suspended 4 games and missed 4 others.

T. Smith and Lee missed substantial time and/or were hampered by injuries at times.

Arguably the team was disadvantaged in at least a couple of games by questionable officiating decisions.

If all of these things have merit, why wasn't this a 4-win team? And why is there little or no hope for improvement absent a true house cleaning?

I'm not taking a position as much as trying to set the table for balanced discussion.

That's not it at all.

The Cowboys are a talented team with the oldest problem in the NFL.

Until you solve quarterback, you can't begin.

Until then, the Cowboys are just a more talented Cleveland Browns right now.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

You forgot the consensus about the GM and the owner

True. Should have included. I think the owner/GM has improved the past few years and is now taking better care of the long view (the true job of a GM). But that thought will need to be validated the next couple of years.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

That's not it at all.

The Cowboys are a talented team with the oldest problem in the NFL.

Until you solve quarterback, you can't begin.

Until then, the Cowboys are just a more talented Cleveland Browns right now.

Though I take your point, you lose me here. The Browns have won 1 game in two years. Comparing them to the Cowboys is like comparing dog food to ground chuck.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Dak almost never throws to the sideline beyond 7 yards unless he is scrambling or rolling out by design. Until he can make those throws defenses are going to continue to clog the middle, double Beasley and/or Witten, and make it tough for the WR to catch anything inside.

That basically sums up our offensive problems this year.

That is exactly why it is on the coaches. If Dak can't or won't make those throws, why continue running those patterns/plays? That's the problem with Garrett and his offense. No matter who the QB is, they have to run those plays, even if it's contrary to strengths. There is no room for adjustment in his scheme.

I heard on the post game show, whoever was commenting, that Garrett always believes that he is the smartest one in the room, and his game plan is not to be questioned because he came up with it so it must be better than any game plan any one can come up with. He is never wrong.

 

[erod]

Though I take your point, you lose me here. The Browns have won 1 game in two years. Comparing them to the Cowboys is like comparing dog food to ground chuck.

They're like Dallas in that the Browns can't begin until they solve quarterback, which they've been trying to do forever. They've had talent at times, but in the Steelers/Ravens/Bengals division, there's just no chance without a quarterback.

Dallas has significant talent, best they've had in a very long time, but it doesn't matter until they get a quarterback.

They had Romo with no team until 2014, when they finally had it! But he was beaten to a pulp by then.

Now they have a good team with no quarterback. Doesn't work.

It's a revolving door of mediocrity as a result.