erod
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My unlikely postseason optimism is suddenly feeling a bit shaky.
We Cowboys fans are caught in the middle of a bad marriage these days; all the happy talk doesn't hide the fact that mommy and daddy still fight at night. Something's rotten.
Fundamentally, I like this roster a lot. Like the coach and staff just fine, like the quarterback, recognize the talent strewn across the depth chart, trust the intent behind the operations in general football terms, appreciate a seemingly different organizational approach from Garrett on the how-to side of things.
And yes, I can get behind this draft. Not only is there some logic behind the picks, the past two draft classes give me hope that there is a feint clue wasping through the halls at Valley Ranch. Thank God for Jerry's short attention span on player personnel. That will all hinge on the ability to get another lineman in free agency, the development of Leary, Costa, Frederick, and maybe Parnell, etc.
A measurably better offensive line? This would be a much better football team in general. And the weaponry and defensive backs make sense to the needs of an 8-8 team trying to win two more games.
But my qualms and clammy palms tell me there's still something wrong that won't fix easily. We all know it's there, and we're all guilty of trying to ignore it. It's not uncommon actually....you see it in the Longhorn football program these days and other bigtime college programs from time to time. It's crept into other NFL locker rooms, too, like San Diego.
It's the country club atmosphere. You can't win in it.
I swear, we should have Mr. Roarke and Tattoo meet our draft picks at the airport. Getting picked by the Cowboys is akin to a trip to Fantasy Island.
Nary a negative word is said. Fifty-three potential all-pros lavishing in the glow of instant celebrity and an owner's effusive praise. Apparently, we got the best seven players in the entire draft, and the rest o the league was completely bamboozled. Jerry tells us Frederick will start, and our fifth-rounder is a starting caliber tailback. They're all just magnificent, aren't they P.T. Jones?
Accountability is impossible if Jerry doesn't either demand it, or allow his coaches to demand it. Sure, he'll put the screws to his coaches from time to time, but never his players. He made it real uncomfortable for the coaches this offseason, but I haven't seen the players sweat an ounce.
Jimmy Johnson has talked about it at length. So did Parcells. But Garrett obviously doesn't have the cred or history to demand what they did, even though he seems strongly in favor of doing so. He's doing the best he can to bring culture and discipline to a team direly in need of it. Jerry sure as shinola ain't demanding it.
Now, before you think I'm tossing my four months of optimism aside, I still have hope. If Kiffin and Marinelli support Garrett in this regard, perhaps Jerry's odor will fade away in the breeze at Oxnard. It's clear that coaches and players - even his kids - don't hold him in much regard.
That is the real problem remaining with this team. It's got to rid itself of the cushy atmosphere and find a purpose. Otherwise, 8-8 might as well be spraypainted on the star at midfield.
We Cowboys fans are caught in the middle of a bad marriage these days; all the happy talk doesn't hide the fact that mommy and daddy still fight at night. Something's rotten.
Fundamentally, I like this roster a lot. Like the coach and staff just fine, like the quarterback, recognize the talent strewn across the depth chart, trust the intent behind the operations in general football terms, appreciate a seemingly different organizational approach from Garrett on the how-to side of things.
And yes, I can get behind this draft. Not only is there some logic behind the picks, the past two draft classes give me hope that there is a feint clue wasping through the halls at Valley Ranch. Thank God for Jerry's short attention span on player personnel. That will all hinge on the ability to get another lineman in free agency, the development of Leary, Costa, Frederick, and maybe Parnell, etc.
A measurably better offensive line? This would be a much better football team in general. And the weaponry and defensive backs make sense to the needs of an 8-8 team trying to win two more games.
But my qualms and clammy palms tell me there's still something wrong that won't fix easily. We all know it's there, and we're all guilty of trying to ignore it. It's not uncommon actually....you see it in the Longhorn football program these days and other bigtime college programs from time to time. It's crept into other NFL locker rooms, too, like San Diego.
It's the country club atmosphere. You can't win in it.
I swear, we should have Mr. Roarke and Tattoo meet our draft picks at the airport. Getting picked by the Cowboys is akin to a trip to Fantasy Island.
Nary a negative word is said. Fifty-three potential all-pros lavishing in the glow of instant celebrity and an owner's effusive praise. Apparently, we got the best seven players in the entire draft, and the rest o the league was completely bamboozled. Jerry tells us Frederick will start, and our fifth-rounder is a starting caliber tailback. They're all just magnificent, aren't they P.T. Jones?
Accountability is impossible if Jerry doesn't either demand it, or allow his coaches to demand it. Sure, he'll put the screws to his coaches from time to time, but never his players. He made it real uncomfortable for the coaches this offseason, but I haven't seen the players sweat an ounce.
Jimmy Johnson has talked about it at length. So did Parcells. But Garrett obviously doesn't have the cred or history to demand what they did, even though he seems strongly in favor of doing so. He's doing the best he can to bring culture and discipline to a team direly in need of it. Jerry sure as shinola ain't demanding it.
Now, before you think I'm tossing my four months of optimism aside, I still have hope. If Kiffin and Marinelli support Garrett in this regard, perhaps Jerry's odor will fade away in the breeze at Oxnard. It's clear that coaches and players - even his kids - don't hold him in much regard.
That is the real problem remaining with this team. It's got to rid itself of the cushy atmosphere and find a purpose. Otherwise, 8-8 might as well be spraypainted on the star at midfield.
