People are talking about everything but what actually happened on the field

[DuaneThomas71]

I just find it really funny that fans and media alike are focusing so heavily on the extracurricular stuff and not on what went wrong during the actual games.

Every day it's something about T.O.'s mouth, or Romo's lack of work ethic and leadership, or Jerry's meddlesome ways, or Wade's lack of leadership, or locker room chemistry, or team leadership, or some other intangible element.

What about what actually happened on the field? Isn't that whats wins and loses games?

I couldn't care less about all this other junk. I watch that first Commanders game and I notice that the team was manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Maybe better chemistry is the answer to that?

When I watch the Rams game, I see Brad Johnson throwing 2 yard passes into heavy traffic on 3rd and 12. Is the solution to that better leadership?

I don't know, maybe if T.O. stops talking to the press we'll be able to stop a team like the Ravens from breaking long runs for touchdowns when we're only down by 2. If only Jerry Jones wasn't all over the place, maybe players could hold and shed blocks, and wrap up on their tackles.

I'll tell you why I think we had such a bad year: We just weren't as good as we thought we were.

13 Pro Bowlers from 2007, but who were those "Pro Bowlers," exactly? Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams were two of them. Neither of those guys is anywhere near what you'd call "Pro Bowl caliber," and didn't really deserve to go in 2007.

Now we're down to 11. But wait, Nick Folk is a kicker. Not to say they're not important, but it's a little different than having a skill position player as a Pro Bowler, isn't it?

Now we're down to 10. But wait, remember that Greg Ellis, who had never made a Pro Bowl before, was in last year as a replacement player because he came on as a 3rd down rush player. He's not exactly what you'd call a true Pro Bowler either.

That leaves the following 9 guys:

Tony Romo...missed 3 games, collapsed by the end of the year
Marion Barber...dislocated pinky toe...ineffective down the stretch
Terrell Owens...rendered useless when Brad Johnson was QB
Jason Witten...broken rib, sprained ankle down the stretch
Flozell Adams...usual inconsistent self
Leonard Davis...Solid
Andre Gurode...Underwhelming
DeMarcus Ware...DPOY-caliber season
Terrence Newman...significant injury at beginning of year, up and down when healthy

This team's "talent" is largely smoke and mirrors. Half of these Pro Bowlers you can't even rely on to play well, much less exceptionally well. Of the guys you can count on, only three (Witten, Owens, Ware) were healthy enough to play at a consistently high level.

But I don't know, maybe I'm a fool for thinking we're looking for answers in all the wrong places. Maybe extracurricular junk is what actually wins and loses games.

 

[Macnalty]

I just find it really funny that fans and media alike are focusing so heavily on the extracurricular stuff and not on what went wrong during the actual games.

Every day it's something about T.O.'s mouth, or Romo's lack of work ethic and leadership, or Jerry's meddlesome ways, or Wade's lack of leadership, or locker room chemistry, or team leadership, or some other intangible element.

What about what actually happened on the field? Isn't that whats wins and loses games?

I couldn't care less about all this other junk. I watch that first Commanders game and I notice that the team was manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Maybe better chemistry is the answer to that?

When I watch the Rams game, I see Brad Johnson throwing 2 yard passes into heavy traffic on 3rd and 12. Is the solution to that better leadership?

I don't know, maybe if T.O. stops talking to the press we'll be able to stop a team like the Ravens from breaking long runs for touchdowns when we're only down by 2. If only Jerry Jones wasn't all over the place, maybe players could hold and shed blocks, and wrap up on their tackles.

I'll tell you why I think we had such a bad year: We just weren't as good as we thought we were.

13 Pro Bowlers from 2007, but who were those "Pro Bowlers," exactly? Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams were two of them. Neither of those guys is anywhere near what you'd call "Pro Bowl caliber," and didn't really deserve to go in 2007.

Now we're down to 11. But wait, Nick Folk is a kicker. Not to say they're not important, but it's a little different than having a skill position player as a Pro Bowler, isn't it?

Now we're down to 10. But wait, remember that Greg Ellis, who had never made a Pro Bowl before, was in last year as a replacement player because he came on as a 3rd down rush player. He's not exactly what you'd call a true Pro Bowler either.

That leaves the following 9 guys:

Tony Romo...missed 3 games, collapsed by the end of the year
Marion Barber...dislocated pinky toe...ineffective down the stretch
Terrell Owens...rendered useless when Brad Johnson was QB
Jason Witten...broken rib, sprained ankle down the stretch
Flozell Adams...usual inconsistent self
Leonard Davis...Solid
Andre Gurode...Underwhelming
DeMarcus Ware...DPOY-caliber season
Terrence Newman...significant injury at beginning of year, up and down when healthy

This team's "talent" is largely smoke and mirrors. Half of these Pro Bowlers you can't even rely on to play well, much less exceptionally well. Of the guys you can count on, only three (Witten, Owens, Ware) were healthy enough to play at a consistently high level.

But I don't know, maybe I'm a fool for thinking we're looking for answers in all the wrong places. Maybe extracurricular junk is what actually wins and loses games.

Nobody whistles in the dark more than the cowboys. I agree on most points but most on this forum like to only dwell on the positives. They have little patience for those of us who are frustrated and see another lost season that could of been fruitful laid waste by our inability to evaluate our talent. Thanks goodness for last years draft. Go Cowboys

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Great post man.

Only thing I would add is that Flo was hurt as well. he had the hand and shoulder injury early which made him essentially one armed and then the leg issues at the end. You could see it on tape he just couldn't move his left leg.

 

[dcfanatic]

I just find it really funny that fans and media alike are focusing so heavily on the extracurricular stuff and not on what went wrong during the actual games.

Every day it's something about T.O.'s mouth, or Romo's lack of work ethic and leadership, or Jerry's meddlesome ways, or Wade's lack of leadership, or locker room chemistry, or team leadership, or some other intangible element.

What about what actually happened on the field? Isn't that whats wins and loses games?

I couldn't care less about all this other junk. I watch that first Commanders game and I notice that the team was manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Maybe better chemistry is the answer to that?

When I watch the Rams game, I see Brad Johnson throwing 2 yard passes into heavy traffic on 3rd and 12. Is the solution to that better leadership?

I don't know, maybe if T.O. stops talking to the press we'll be able to stop a team like the Ravens from breaking long runs for touchdowns when we're only down by 2. If only Jerry Jones wasn't all over the place, maybe players could hold and shed blocks, and wrap up on their tackles.

I'll tell you why I think we had such a bad year: We just weren't as good as we thought we were.

13 Pro Bowlers from 2007, but who were those "Pro Bowlers," exactly? Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams were two of them. Neither of those guys is anywhere near what you'd call "Pro Bowl caliber," and didn't really deserve to go in 2007.

Now we're down to 11. But wait, Nick Folk is a kicker. Not to say they're not important, but it's a little different than having a skill position player as a Pro Bowler, isn't it?

Now we're down to 10. But wait, remember that Greg Ellis, who had never made a Pro Bowl before, was in last year as a replacement player because he came on as a 3rd down rush player. He's not exactly what you'd call a true Pro Bowler either.

That leaves the following 9 guys:

Tony Romo...missed 3 games, collapsed by the end of the year
Marion Barber...dislocated pinky toe...ineffective down the stretch
Terrell Owens...rendered useless when Brad Johnson was QB
Jason Witten...broken rib, sprained ankle down the stretch
Flozell Adams...usual inconsistent self
Leonard Davis...Solid
Andre Gurode...Underwhelming
DeMarcus Ware...DPOY-caliber season
Terrence Newman...significant injury at beginning of year, up and down when healthy

This team's "talent" is largely smoke and mirrors. Half of these Pro Bowlers you can't even rely on to play well, much less exceptionally well. Of the guys you can count on, only three (Witten, Owens, Ware) were healthy enough to play at a consistently high level.

But I don't know, maybe I'm a fool for thinking we're looking for answers in all the wrong places. Maybe extracurricular junk is what actually wins and loses games.

This team stopped doing anything on the football field about a month ago.

That's the problem.

And I am sure we went over everything in your list a month ago with a fine tooth comb.

Whatever makes news these days is what's discussed and that's not just in sports. It's in the everyday life of everyone living on this planet.

We are supposed to talk about Flozell's injured hand when Marty B is about to become a national celebrity once his video hits the main stream today when ESPN decides to edit it up nice and air it?

It's 2009. This is a now a million mile an hour world where yesterday's news isn't just stale, it's moldy.

And of those Pro Bowlers none of them are going anywhere soon.

Except for one maybe.

LOL.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I just find it really funny that fans and media alike are focusing so heavily on the extracurricular stuff and not on what went wrong during the actual games.

Every day it's something about T.O.'s mouth, or Romo's lack of work ethic and leadership, or Jerry's meddlesome ways, or Wade's lack of leadership, or locker room chemistry, or team leadership, or some other intangible element.

What about what actually happened on the field? Isn't that whats wins and loses games?

I couldn't care less about all this other junk. I watch that first Commanders game and I notice that the team was manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Maybe better chemistry is the answer to that?

When I watch the Rams game, I see Brad Johnson throwing 2 yard passes into heavy traffic on 3rd and 12. Is the solution to that better leadership?

I don't know, maybe if T.O. stops talking to the press we'll be able to stop a team like the Ravens from breaking long runs for touchdowns when we're only down by 2. If only Jerry Jones wasn't all over the place, maybe players could hold and shed blocks, and wrap up on their tackles.

I'll tell you why I think we had such a bad year: We just weren't as good as we thought we were.

13 Pro Bowlers from 2007, but who were those "Pro Bowlers," exactly? Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams were two of them. Neither of those guys is anywhere near what you'd call "Pro Bowl caliber," and didn't really deserve to go in 2007.

Now we're down to 11. But wait, Nick Folk is a kicker. Not to say they're not important, but it's a little different than having a skill position player as a Pro Bowler, isn't it?

Now we're down to 10. But wait, remember that Greg Ellis, who had never made a Pro Bowl before, was in last year as a replacement player because he came on as a 3rd down rush player. He's not exactly what you'd call a true Pro Bowler either.

That leaves the following 9 guys:

Tony Romo...missed 3 games, collapsed by the end of the year
Marion Barber...dislocated pinky toe...ineffective down the stretch
Terrell Owens...rendered useless when Brad Johnson was QB
Jason Witten...broken rib, sprained ankle down the stretch
Flozell Adams...usual inconsistent self
Leonard Davis...Solid
Andre Gurode...Underwhelming
DeMarcus Ware...DPOY-caliber season
Terrence Newman...significant injury at beginning of year, up and down when healthy

This team's "talent" is largely smoke and mirrors. Half of these Pro Bowlers you can't even rely on to play well, much less exceptionally well. Of the guys you can count on, only three (Witten, Owens, Ware) were healthy enough to play at a consistently high level.

But I don't know, maybe I'm a fool for thinking we're looking for answers in all the wrong places. Maybe extracurricular junk is what actually wins and loses games.

I agree with some of what you're saying. Regardless of whether it's acknowledged, some of us want to keep an open mind, though our current conclusions might differ from those of others.

The Cowboys did have a significant run of injuries, and many of those were to key players. Three quarters of the way into the season, I thought the injuries were the critical factor in how the Cowboys played.

But the manner in which the team faded can't be ignored. By late in any season, all NFL teams are dealing with injuries. We are most familiar with our team's injuries, but fans of any other team could amass a list not dissimilar to yours. Further, all teams have players who underperform, relative to their reputations.

Dallas played as badly in that Eagles game as I have seen them in more than 40 years as a fan, given what was at stake and the talent on the field. A Martian dropped in to see his first football game might have concluded that the team with the star on its helmet mailed the thing in. It was ugly. Injuries are no explanation.

Leading to the Eagles game, the Cowboys were at least competitive, but it was apparent some things were broken. Again, it was the manner in which the team lost that I found more disturbing than anything. The difficult stretch at the end had left me aware for some time that Dallas could play pretty well and still miss the playoffs, provided it left itself with insufficient cushion. I didn't expect the team to play with so little apparent purpose.

Finally, the rosier conclusions reached by some ignore the fact that many within the Cowboys organization, including players, have acknowledged locker room problems and a need for more leadership. I don't know how fans can deny a need the team itself has acknowledged.

How much does the extracurricular stuff matter? I don't know. None of us do. I know that a long, long list of great NFL coaches and executives have placed upon it great importance. I know that great lengths have been traveled through the years by many winning organizations to assure the best possible atmosphere.

I do not mean to be a "negative" fan, if I have fallen into that pool. But I see nothing to be gained from participating in a forum in which I don't express my accurate opinions with regard to the needs of the organization. Some time around the "high" of the Thanksgiving game, it became apparent to me that the brew was bad. There are those of you who will dismiss this as my having been rotted by the effect of "BSPN" or "the media" in general. Fine. Believe that. Obviously, you can and will think what you wish.

But I have been around this stuff my entire life. And there have been few seasons, if any, in which I have sensed such a negative vibe. I can't ignore the fact I saw it coming, was certain of it before the Eagles game.

Given that, I'm going to continue to maintain the need for major changes, not least the presence of Owens in that locker room. It doesn't mean I can't respect the ideas and opinions of others. It also doesn't mean I won't celebrate if, in the event Owens is still a Cowboy in 2009, he and the team have a great season.

 

[Macnalty]

I do not mean to be a "negative" fan, if I have fallen into that pool. But I see nothing to be gained from participating in a forum in which I don't express my accurate opinions with regard to the needs of the organization. Some time around the "high" of the Thanksgiving game, it became apparent to me that the brew was bad. There are those of you who will dismiss this as my having been rotted by the effect of "BSPN" or "the media" in general. Fine. Believe that. Obviously, you can and will think what you wish.

But I have been around this stuff my entire life. And there have been few seasons, if any, in which I have sensed such a negative vibe. I can't ignore the fact I saw it coming, was certain of it before the Eagles game.

Given that, I'm going to continue to maintain the need for major changes, not least the presence of Owens in that locker room. It doesn't mean I can't respect the ideas and opinions of others. It also doesn't mean I won't celebrate if, in the event Owens is still a Cowboy in 2009, he and the team have a great season.[/quote]



You have lots of company with that opinion, but I still like the TO factor for this team. I will not clap and shout if he stays but will mourn his loss as talent unfulfilled then quickly move on to support Miles Austin as the new messiah.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I do not mean to be a "negative" fan, if I have fallen into that pool. But I see nothing to be gained from participating in a forum in which I don't express my accurate opinions with regard to the needs of the organization. Some time around the "high" of the Thanksgiving game, it became apparent to me that the brew was bad. There are those of you who will dismiss this as my having been rotted by the effect of "BSPN" or "the media" in general. Fine. Believe that. Obviously, you can and will think what you wish.

But I have been around this stuff my entire life. And there have been few seasons, if any, in which I have sensed such a negative vibe. I can't ignore the fact I saw it coming, was certain of it before the Eagles game.

Given that, I'm going to continue to maintain the need for major changes, not least the presence of Owens in that locker room. It doesn't mean I can't respect the ideas and opinions of others. It also doesn't mean I won't celebrate if, in the event Owens is still a Cowboy in 2009, he and the team have a great season.

You have lots of company with that opinion, but I still like the TO factor for this team. I will not clap and shout if he stays but will mourn his loss as talent unfulfilled then quickly move on to support Miles Austin as the new messiah.[/QUOTE]


Regardless of what happens with Owens, yours is a stance we all would do well to take, regardless of our opinions on the subject. We're Cowboys fans.

 

[CATCH17]

I agree.


You hear all this crap that goes on behind the scenes but yet when the ball is kicked off none of that matters.

 

[theebs]

Well, All of the on the field stuff has been discussed and is still being discussed. Theogt and I were debating a couple of field plays yesterday.

Its just that, all the crap that people keep saying is no big deal has a direct relationship with what happens on the field and this is the time of year where off the field stuff can change.

So far this offseason instead of getting real change and improvement we have the circus balloon being more inflated and the head coach and owner acting like cowards running from the problems they created.

When the perpheral stuff is cleaned up, the play of the football team will improve. This is the time of year for it to get cleaned up. So far not only is it not being cleared up but it is being mucked up even more.

Listen to the bradie james and demarcus ware interviews from sunday and monday. They seem to be confused as to what is going on, they havent been talked to by the gm or the coach. They want to know what is happening also, but no one is telling them.

So until it is cleared up its going to be this way.

We would all love to be talking about the on field play and the improvment of positions but its not realistic right now because of how much nonsense is surrounding this organization, to me at least.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Well, All of the on the field stuff has been discussed and is still being discussed. Theogt and I were debating a couple of field plays yesterday.

Its just that, all the crap that people keep saying is no big deal has a direct relationship with what happens on the field and this is the time of year where off the field stuff can change.

So far this offseason instead of getting real change and improvement we have the circus balloon being more inflated and the head coach and owner acting like cowards running from the problems they created.

When the perpheral stuff is cleaned up, the play of the football team will improve. This is the time of year for it to get cleaned up. So far not only is it not being cleared up but it is being mucked up even more.

Listen to the bradie james and demarcus ware interviews from sunday and monday. They seem to be confused as to what is going on, they havent been talked to by the gm or the coach. They want to know what is happening also, but no one is telling them.

So until it is cleared up its going to be this way.

We would all love to be talking about the on field play and the improvment of positions but its not realistic right now because of how much nonsense is surrounding this organization, to me at least.

You are correct. And you hit upon the real problem, at least as far as I'm concerned. Indirectly, I might add, this is why I so much resent being framed a "hater" because of my opinion of Owens' presence on the Cowboys roster.

I place the blame squarely on Jones' shoulders. Owens is what he is. He is a grown man, and anyone who expects him to change much is going to ber disappointed. I'm not sure you can blame Owens for being who he is.

Jones brought Owens to the locker room. It's Jones' responsibility. The same is true of many of the problems the team faces. I'm not one to bash Jones. He's done some good and bad things, where the Cowboys are concerned. But he has created a toxic mess, this time, and it's on his shoulders to clean it up. In some ways, his Cowboys legacy might well rest on the result.

 

[DallasEast]

You are correct. And you hit upon the real problem, at least as far as I'm concerned. Indirectly, I might add, this is why I so much resent being framed a "hater" because of my opinion of Owens' presence on the Cowboys roster.

I place the blame squarely on Jones' shoulders. Owens is what he is. He is a grown man, and anyone who expects him to change much is going to ber disappointed. I'm not sure you can blame Owens for being who he is.

Jones brought Owens to the locker room. It's Jones' responsibility. The same is true of many of the problems the team faces. I'm not one to bash Jones. He's done some good and bad things, where the Cowboys are concerned. But he has created a toxic mess, this time, and it's on his shoulders to clean it up. In some ways, his Cowboys legacy might well rest on the result.

Certainly, Jerry Jones is responsible for what's right or wrong with his franchise, but that doesn't absolve Terrell Owens for what he has done or will do also. Jones has been rightfully or wrongfully accused of being a puppeteer, but let's be real here. Terrell Owens is the ultimate free thinker. No one is pulling his strings.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Certainly, Jerry Jones is responsible for what's right or wrong with his franchise, but that doesn't absolve Terrell Owens for what he has done or will do also. Jones has been rightfully or wrongfully accused of being a puppeteer, but let's be real here. Terrell Owens is the ultimate free thinker. No one is pulling his strings.

Oh absolutely. Absolutely. I'm only saying that what Owens is doing should come as no surprise. I'm not implying that it isn't wrong.

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

But I don't know, maybe I'm a fool for thinking we're looking for answers in all the wrong places. Maybe extracurricular junk is what actually wins and loses games.

No, but it fuels message boards and online forums to no end!!!

 

[Hostile]

I don't find it funny at all. I find it incredibly disheartening.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree.


You hear all this crap that goes on behind the scenes but yet when the ball is kicked off none of that matters.

It does matter when the ball is kicked and players are not prepared.

 

[Idgit]

Great post, great thread. The drama gets attention, because it's more fun to discuss and everyone can have a strong opinion when it comes to he-said, she-said. But it's the play on the field that needs to improve.

We saw first-hand last year what happened to a good defense when a few players were out for a stretch. We went from flat an very mediocre to almost suffocating when healthy. The line between good and not-good in the NFL is thin.

We've got the same issues on offense. If the team can keep things together emotionally, a few changes--pick up stunts and delayed blitzes, a healthy Felix Jones, Romo returning to form on converting on intermediate routes--and we could be right back where we left off. The team we watched in December really should have beat the AFC champion Steelers, in Pitsburgh.

I agree with the OP that we're not as talented as we thought we were, but we're still talented enough to beat anybody on any given Sunday if we make the right adjustments.

 

[Pukindog]

I don't find it funny at all. I find it incredibly disheartening.

Multiplied many times over.

 

[CF74]

Well Duane you covered everything except the OC and the LG hole we had take place. Garrett's inability to adjust to that gaping void in our o-line did us in. He kept trying to run the same plays as if all his pieces were in place and we failed miserably. The defense sputtered often down the stretch because the offense couldn't maintain possession of the ball, they got tired and eventually gave up plays, or the offense left them with a short field many times. Defense is for holding a position, a position on the score board we seldom ever saw down the stretch.

 

[jazzcat22]

Great post man.

Only thing I would add is that Flo was hurt as well. he had the hand and shoulder injury early which made him essentially one armed and then the leg issues at the end. You could see it on tape he just couldn't move his left leg.

Also the loss of Felix Jones and the non-use of him in the 1st Commanders game, and then not using / trusting Tashard Choice until they were forced to use him.

And quite a bit of inconsistency of all the depth players on both sides of the ball. Austin & Stanback & Hurd, Kosier, not putting in Holland soon enough to replace Proctor. Injury to McBriar.

All the nagging injuries on Defense, Spencer, Newman, Watkins, and a few others in and out of the lineup.

 

[jday]

Good thread, compelling argument. Like you said, measuring the effect of the off-the-field drama on the on-the-field play is impossible. Injuries, obviously, played a significant role in the decline of the Cowboys this season.

However, we can't ignore the fact that there is blame to be assigned outside of poor execution and the lack of ability thereof due to physical impairments. Football is played as much as on the field as it is in the head. And when the head is filled with doubts about team members, coaches, and the plays being called, execution will suffer.

It is my hope in 2009 that the players of this team make an internal pact: Let there play do all the talking! I say this with T.O., Romo, Crayton, Roy Williams, etc. in mind. I don't want to hear about hopes to do better. I don't want to hear national verbalized committments to be a better leader, player, person, etc. I want them to show me. Period.

That, IMHO, would solve alot of the Cowboys problems. "Shut up and play!" That should replace the ******** "Finish" motto. That should be posted on the halls leading to the field, on every locker, on every bulletin board, on the inside of every face mask!