JPostSam
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i know it's hard to focus on positives after an ugly loss like this one -- really, after an atrocious month of football. i don't think we'll go far in the playoffs, either; i don't think we even deserve to be there, given the way this team has laid an egg three times at home to close out the year...
but in looking over the season, i think there are some positives to build on for next year.
romo, although far from perfect, breathes some life into this offense. he seems like a gutsy performer who gives us a chance to make some plays for several years -- and that's not something that we could have said at any point in the past 4-5 seasons.
demarcus ware has proved that he can be what dallas has asked him to be. you can say that he wasn't the same without greg ellis, but i think he did very well down the stretch, ESPECIALLY considering that he was the totality of the cowboys' pass rush. he just makes loads of plays, in all facets of the game. you can't complain about that.
...and if we pick up a guy like adalius thomas in free agency (i don't think ellis will come back from his injury, at least not next year), that should free up demarcus for even more sacks.
pat watkins and bobby carpenter started catching on in the second half of the season, so you have to figure they'll be ready to make an impact by the beginning of next season.
we have two good young running backs. forget all our arguing about which one is better -- julius jones and marion barber combine for a pretty potent rushing attack. the problem we have is that they rarely both play well in the same game, and they tend to get streaky.
on the down side, it has been painfully obvious that we don't have the kind of offensive line that can allow dallas to control the tempo with the running game. they just don't get much of a push, and you can't trust them to help the backs pick up those crucial extra yards that prolong drives and wear down defenses. if you look at the games we won, we got solid rushing early and often. in the games we lost, the running game just never got going, or couldn't close out opponents in the fourth quarter. this team can't win championships without that ability.
if anyone in valley ranch is willing to accept it, we all saw the proof down the stretch that the real gems of the passing game are terry glenn and jason witten, not number 81. they're flat-out clutch -- and they keep their mouths shut and just play.
by contrast, i hope we can put to rest the false idea that we need to rely on terrell owens. yes, he had some big catches, but he had way too many drops in crucial moments, too. there are receivers who can produce almost as much as he does, and for a lot less money. and they're much younger, too. i won't whine about having him on the team this season -- let's call it a push -- but i think we can afford to replace him for next year.
finally, i think we can say now that we have the bill parcells infatuation out of our systems at last. he brought discipline to the club and improved the quality of the roster, but it's time for him to go. this team has lacked a real fire and pride over the past few years, blowing big games that they should have won. that comes from the coach. parcells just gives the impression that playing mind games with the media is more important and interesting to him than whipping his team into a frenzy and letting them loose on opponents.
...i think that's what most of us miss about jimmy johnson -- the swagger. next to "how bout them cowboys?!" parcells' lame exclamation "you can't call them losers now, can you?" just doesn't compare. someone needs to come in and make these guys p-d off and focused, not afraid of making a mistake.
there's a lot of talent here, with good things to come. i'm frustrated that we're still not ready for the super bowl, but i think the team has a good foundation and COULD -- with the right adjustments -- get there very soon.
but in looking over the season, i think there are some positives to build on for next year.
romo, although far from perfect, breathes some life into this offense. he seems like a gutsy performer who gives us a chance to make some plays for several years -- and that's not something that we could have said at any point in the past 4-5 seasons.
demarcus ware has proved that he can be what dallas has asked him to be. you can say that he wasn't the same without greg ellis, but i think he did very well down the stretch, ESPECIALLY considering that he was the totality of the cowboys' pass rush. he just makes loads of plays, in all facets of the game. you can't complain about that.
...and if we pick up a guy like adalius thomas in free agency (i don't think ellis will come back from his injury, at least not next year), that should free up demarcus for even more sacks.
pat watkins and bobby carpenter started catching on in the second half of the season, so you have to figure they'll be ready to make an impact by the beginning of next season.
we have two good young running backs. forget all our arguing about which one is better -- julius jones and marion barber combine for a pretty potent rushing attack. the problem we have is that they rarely both play well in the same game, and they tend to get streaky.
on the down side, it has been painfully obvious that we don't have the kind of offensive line that can allow dallas to control the tempo with the running game. they just don't get much of a push, and you can't trust them to help the backs pick up those crucial extra yards that prolong drives and wear down defenses. if you look at the games we won, we got solid rushing early and often. in the games we lost, the running game just never got going, or couldn't close out opponents in the fourth quarter. this team can't win championships without that ability.
if anyone in valley ranch is willing to accept it, we all saw the proof down the stretch that the real gems of the passing game are terry glenn and jason witten, not number 81. they're flat-out clutch -- and they keep their mouths shut and just play.
by contrast, i hope we can put to rest the false idea that we need to rely on terrell owens. yes, he had some big catches, but he had way too many drops in crucial moments, too. there are receivers who can produce almost as much as he does, and for a lot less money. and they're much younger, too. i won't whine about having him on the team this season -- let's call it a push -- but i think we can afford to replace him for next year.
finally, i think we can say now that we have the bill parcells infatuation out of our systems at last. he brought discipline to the club and improved the quality of the roster, but it's time for him to go. this team has lacked a real fire and pride over the past few years, blowing big games that they should have won. that comes from the coach. parcells just gives the impression that playing mind games with the media is more important and interesting to him than whipping his team into a frenzy and letting them loose on opponents.
...i think that's what most of us miss about jimmy johnson -- the swagger. next to "how bout them cowboys?!" parcells' lame exclamation "you can't call them losers now, can you?" just doesn't compare. someone needs to come in and make these guys p-d off and focused, not afraid of making a mistake.
there's a lot of talent here, with good things to come. i'm frustrated that we're still not ready for the super bowl, but i think the team has a good foundation and COULD -- with the right adjustments -- get there very soon.