Rack, I think you have hit a very good point in your post. I tried to suggest the same thing in another post, from a different angle. Under Jimmy Johnson the team played more aggressively, but it had more of an aggressive coach and had more STAR players, guys that were just better, so they could afford to do it.
This team for the last 7-8 years has lacked that talent base, and had more conservative, play not to lose type coaching, which possibly fits more with average players. Coaching makes more of a difference now with the parity, and less super star unbalanced teams. Parcells is similar to Landry. They are old school. Teach fundamentals and then when a player proves that part let them free range on instinct a bit more.
I remember the one story about Landry cussing out a guy when watching tape that had made a sack or tackle behind LOS but had totally ignored his true assignment. Guy thought he was gonna get praised, and Landry spent 15 minutes on telling him what he did wrong and how the play could have cost the team big. Parcells would say the same thing.
Then this offseason Parcells tells the story of LT's first game and how he got 2 sacks totally not following what his assignment was, because he couldn't remember and didn't read the play. When Parcells asked him why he did what he did, LT told him that he went on instinct, and when Parcells told him that's not how the playbook designed the defense, LT told him " BETTER ADD THAT TO THE PLAYBOOK THEN". Gotta love it, but not every player is the natural impact guy from beginning.
I agree that this team is not having as much fun or blowing out teams because they aren't in rhythm or playing very emotionally. At the same time they are in most every game and are learning sound fundamentals because they are playing calculated, disciplined football for the most part and are learning what things can make or break a game. It's a catch 22.
The best teams do BOTH. They play on emotion and instinct and have that killer, rip out the throat, force them to beat us, force them to react to OUR TEAM and OUR STYLE. At the same time they are fundamentally sound, and disciplined and even their very average player sknow how to get the job done and more importantly shouldn't blow you a game. This team ain't there yet. I think Bill is trying to get it there, and I think we have to agree that the discipline is coming, but the mistake free part remains an issue. At the same time that does restrict Roy and even Julius and others with high talent and playmaking ability to some degree.
As an example, I think Julius is listening to Parcells and is doing fantastic at limiting the negative runs and allowing plays to develop and following his blockers (remember that run where he cut back inside Larry Allen who mauled 2 or 3 guys in the same play). I think that restricts the potential for ripping the longer more "all him" plays off, but eventually it will be instinctual for Julius to do both.
Parcells is coaching them. Yes I agree they are robotic and were robotic before Parcells got here. It will get better eventually when the fundamentals are sound and the coach is confident enough that the basics are covered and the playmaking ability is starting to emerge.
Larry
