News: PFT: Will Allen says Cowboys atmosphere keeps Dallas from reaching potential

[cowboys2233]

I believe that there are certain aspects of the Cowboys atmosphere that keeps them from reaching their potential. I do not believe, for one solitary second, that it's because guys are afraid one mistake will get them cut or benched. The Cowboys are one of the last teams in the NFL where I'd believe that fear exists, because it just doesn't happen there.

I agree on all points. Yes, there is something but it certainly isn't that.

 

[cowboys2233]

yeah but those jimmy teams still looked like they were having fun. when will allen brings up "cohesion" he's basically talking about chemistry. the team lacks it btw the players and cohesion. chemsitry was never an issue for jimmy's teams.

They were having fun, they were winning.

 

[Zordon]

This description is the very opposite of a country club atmosphere. Never has "micro-managed" been equivalent to "country-club". The former implies imposed pressure due to an overhanging accountability.

"micro managed" he's referring to jerry like alex mentioned above. imagine having the ceo of your company over your shoulders every day? that's not conducive to good work productivity. there needs to be seperation there between the employees and the owner. i don't know any company that prospers with the owner/ceo constantly being in the grill of the employees. jerry being in the locker room every freaking day has to be annoying to the players b/c no matter how benevolent or forgiving jerry is, he's still the one signing checks so you're naturally going to walk on egg shells around him.

They were having fun, they were winning.

true but moose said the team was having fun and had great chemistry in the lean years too before the super bowls.

 

[Bleu Star]

The Dallas Cowboys always have lofty expectations placed on their shoulders every September when the NFL season begins. The Cowboys franchise is one of the most prominent in the league and Jerry Jones is the league’s most visible and vocal owner. Championships are the expectation. Anything else is usually met with disappointment. As such, the…http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2225837&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

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[Alexander]

This description is the very opposite of a country club atmosphere. Never has "micro-managed" been equivalent to "country-club". The former implies imposed pressure due to an overhanging accountability.

When the "country club" analogy is applied it speaks directly towards the fiscal impact of contracts and accountability.

There is without question a system where there is a caste system, with haves and have nots. The bigger the contract, the more of an investment (draft choice) on a player, the more they are given leeway. Would a bottom of the roster type get the type of infinite patience afforded to Ratliff? Austin? Then you have a coach, who I think wants to exercise more control, being hamstrung when the owner interjects himself intermittently into the mix. It is like the coach has control over the fringe, but when it comes to making tough choices about the top half of the roster, including starting status, there is an approval process.

To use a Caddyshack analogy, the coach, whomever that is, equates to Lou. Jerry Jones is Judge Smails.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Many of us so called haters having been saying this for years. There has been enough talent in Dallas for 4-5 years now to have playoff success. Probably not super bowl talent but certainly enough to be a playoff team every year and have 3 or 4 wins in the past few years. The lack of that success points to there being something wrong with the culture and atmosphere surrounding the team. The fact that it spans 3 completely different coaching staffs is just further proof. All the evidence points directly to Jerry and the circus with no accountability he has created.

But at the same time they accuse the organization of having a lack of accountability for players.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.






YR

 

[Alexander]

But at the same time they accuse the organization of having a lack of accountability for players.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

When it comes to the top of the roster, you had better believe there is a lack of accountability.

 

[cowboys2233]

"Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team"

Funny, that philosophy seemed to do well under Jimmy Johnson.

And Bill Parcells. And pretty much every other successful coach. Again, there may be something holding this team back, probably the self entitlement that other players have brought up in the past after disappointing seasons (which those same players said was better this year, color me skeptical), but to suggest that accountability is holding this team back is idiotic. Not only because that has never been the case with successful teams in the past but because if there is one thing this team is missing, it's accountability.

 

[cowboys2233]

When it comes to the top of the roster, you had better believe there is a lack of accountability.

Yup. It's not accountability holding this team back, it's that the roster is full of players who mistake accountability for "a constant weight on all the players and coaches that making a mistake would get you benched or cut." Good players appreciate being held responsible, bad players say stuff like Will Allen said.

 

[Alexander]

Yup. It's not accountability holding this team back, it's that the roster is full of players who mistake accountability for "a constant weight on all the players and coaches that making a mistake would get you benched or cut." Good players appreciate being held responsible, bad players say stuff like Will Allen said.

Allen was likely speaking for the have nots.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team.

Uh, is he referring to the Cowboys? The Dallas Cowboys? The Dallas Cowboys of the NFL?

That sounds like the exact opposite of how this ship is currently run. I see no accountability from anyone at all, starting from the top down. I think the organization would be a lot better off if people's feet were held over the fire for their lack of performance.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

bad players say stuff like Will Allen said.

Yeah, I am not exactly going to take the word of a player who went from starter to "clean up your locker, turn in your playbook and get out" in the period of about a week and a half.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

At the very least, it is a different insight from the usual "there's no leaders" or "they can't win with Jerry" stuff. I don't know how anyone could listen to Garrett for even just a few minutes and be surprised that he is a micromanager. Now whether that's good or bad, I'm not qualified to say.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

At the very least, it is a different insight from the usual "there's no leaders" or "they can't win with Jerry" stuff. I don't know how anyone could listen to Garrett for even just a few minutes and be surprised that he is a micromanager. Now whether that's good or bad, I'm not qualified to say.

I agree.

I just think it's contradictory for those that claim they were right all along and use Allen as proof when they have said there is no accountability. It's either one or the other.

I'm sure within a week somebody will complain that we never bench anybody when they perform poorly.

We know that the team was pretty critical of Allen dropping an INT (I think against the Broncos) and then he was cut shortly after. So I can understand Allen's sentiment. But by the same token, if you're playing poorly and you're a veteran who is a known commodity, I don't see how they are supposed to keep playing you.

I don't think Dallas' issues have anything to do with micromanaging. Nor do I feel that there is a lack of accountability with the players now that Garrett is the HC. Lack of accountability with Jerry as GM and Garrett as the HC? I could agree with that.






YR

 

[visionary]

I agree.

I just think it's contradictory for those that claim they were right all along and use Allen as proof when they have said there is no accountability. It's either one or the other.

YR

so jerry is a good GM and we have talent
jason is a good coach and we have discipline and accountability

why then are we not winning?

oh wait.... i forgot.... it is injuries, bad luck, the conspiracy of NFL referees union along with a double secret coocoo conspiracy by NFL itself

gotcha

 

[visionary]

Yup. It's not accountability holding this team back, it's that the roster is full of players who mistake accountability for "a constant weight on all the players and coaches that making a mistake would get you benched or cut." Good players appreciate being held responsible, bad players say stuff like Will Allen said.

great point

 

[ufcrules1]

Many of us so called haters having been saying this for years. There has been enough talent in Dallas for 4-5 years now to have playoff success. Probably not super bowl talent but certainly enough to be a playoff team every year and have 3 or 4 wins in the past few years. The lack of that success points to there being something wrong with the culture and atmosphere surrounding the team. The fact that it spans 3 completely different coaching staffs is just further proof. All the evidence points directly to Jerry and the circus with no accountability he has created.

I couldn't have put this any better than you just did. That was beautiful. I hope everyone reads this and lets it sink in real good.

 

[Ender]

Constant pressure that you always feel like if you make a mistake youre going to get cut?

That obviously only applies to the bottom 5% of the roster here so I seriously doubt that contributes to us not winning.

yea, i think this.

 

[ufcrules1]

"Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team"

Funny, that philosophy seemed to do well under Jimmy Johnson.

For years that wasn't the case here but I have noticed Jason bench Carter and Murray before(which to an extent I like) Other than that, I have seen him leave in a busted up Ware when we have a backup sitting there at 100%. Will Allen was in a position to have HIS job taken over by a more talented Wilcox. So I'm sure his comment had something to do with his particular position on the team.

 

[CooterBrown]

I don't think Allen is saying much that hasn't been said on this forum. Great players, great coaches, but the micromanagement from the owner keeps everything off keel and interferes with the player-coach relationship.

I also think it is interesting to note that I have seen some rueage on here because Allen was cut and then Heath had to play. Heath has made more tackles in 3 games than Allen has in 6 games in Pittsburgh.