Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts on the Cowboys

Galian Beast

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,735
Reaction score
7,457
I'm extremely glad to have Romo back whether me make the playoffs or not, it's interesting to watch football again. We'll miss him when he's gone, as we missed him this year. I'm sure the entire NFL is wary of Romo erasing this regular season and by some miracle making it into the playoffs.

Without Romo in all but three games, the rushing game is still ranked 8th in the nfl in yards and 9th in yards per attempt. We've been better with McFadden and I'm surprised that he didn't become the starter from the get go; maybe we could have won a game or two had he started.

I'm still concerned with the secondary, but I'm hoping that the defensive line generates more push, especially as the offense improves. If we can get by the Panthers, that should buy this team the time it needs to get back on the right track. That being said 2 of our most difficult games come within the next three weeks. It'll be important to go at least 2-1 in this stretch, if not undefeated. Packers have lost 3 of the last 4 games and are looking pretty ordinary right now. With their schedule and how they're playing, the Packers might miss the playoffs and despite everything we shouldn't ignore the even remote possibility of a wildcard berth.

We've got a top 10 running game and our defense is ranked 11th in yards allowed per game and 15th in points allowed per game (I don't think ESPN adjusts for points resulting from special teams or the offense). Given the slow start due to injuries and suspensions on the defense, I think we haven't seen their best yet. I think these linebackers are still gelling together, and I think the defensive line when put in position to do their best, will perform better, and as a result so will the secondary.

The Cowboys and Panthers are mirror opposites when it comes to takeaways, but I don't think that will be the game that we see on Thursday. Sunday was a warm up, and I expect to see shades of the rest of the season in this game.

The idea that people actually think this is a bad team is pretty ridiculous. Are we 3-7? Absolutely, but are we the same as any 3-7 team? Obviously not. We'd probably be at least 9-1 or 8-2 if Romo had played the whole season. I'd still fire Garrett for playing conservatively through a 7 game losing streak though. Romo hasn't lost a regular season game when healthy since December 15th 2013... I know a lot of people think that is creating our own stat, but it's true. He won his last game in 2013 and went out injured. Lost his first game back and was clearly not himself. Got hurt against Washington and lost that game as well, and played on the shortest week ever and was not himself either.

When Romo is healthy he wins. He has the best defense he has had in years and we can still run the ball.

Establish the run, move the chains, control the clock, and don't turn the ball over. We can beat Carolina.
 

Gaede

Well-Known Member
Messages
17,165
Reaction score
14,127
OK, I love the optimism but we are a bad team. We lost 7 in a row against some pretty lousy teams and just beat another lousy team who were so bad they fired their head coach.

Seriously, I love the optimism but until this team strings some wins together we are definitely a bad team with one of the NFL worst records
 

mattjames2010

Well-Known Member
Messages
21,837
Reaction score
20,694
OK, I love the optimism but we are a bad team. We lost 7 in a row against some pretty lousy teams and just beat another lousy team who were so bad they fired their head coach.

Seriously, I love the optimism but until this team strings some wins together we are definitely a bad team with one of the NFL worst records

0-7 without Romo. 3-0 with Romo.

I'm not seeing where we are a "bad team". I'm not entirely sure why some of you have yet to get it, the missing piece was our franchise QB.
 

Seven

Messenger to the football Gods
Messages
19,301
Reaction score
9,892
0-7 without Romo. 3-0 with Romo.

I'm not seeing where we are a "bad team". I'm not entirely sure why some of you have yet to get it, the missing piece was our franchise QB.

....................and decimated with injuries.

Two completely inept QB's.

You don't lose 9 starters and compete.

There's only 11 athletes on the field.

I don't get that some don't get it either.

This 'bad' team just beat a pretty damn good defense.
 

jazzcat22

Staff member
Messages
81,309
Reaction score
102,233
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
OK, I love the optimism but we are a bad team. We lost 7 in a row against some pretty lousy teams and just beat another lousy team who were so bad they fired their head coach.

Seriously, I love the optimism but until this team strings some wins together we are definitely a bad team with one of the NFL worst records

Correction...we are "not nearly as good" of a team without Romo.
 

samilpa4life

Active Member
Messages
171
Reaction score
230
OK, I love the optimism but we are a bad team. We lost 7 in a row against some pretty lousy teams and just beat another lousy team who were so bad they fired their head coach.

Seriously, I love the optimism but until this team strings some wins together we are definitely a bad team with one of the NFL worst records

is there a dislike button??
 

Galian Beast

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,735
Reaction score
7,457
....................and decimated with injuries.

Two completely inept QB's.

You don't lose 9 starters and compete.

There's only 11 athletes on the field.

I don't get that some don't get it either.

This 'bad' team just beat a pretty damn good defense.

I think our defense is underrated. Sturm made a great point the other day. This defense was set up to play with a lead, but without a lead or without the opposing team feeling like they need to pass to keep up with our offense, they get road graded, and they aren't built to stop the run. Our team is built to put teams in a position where they can't run the ball because of time of possession and score, without that the blueprint doesn't work. Not being able to produce on offense derailed the defense despite some really good performances. And of course there were the injuries like you mentioned.

101 points allowed in the first 4 games (no McClain and Hardy)
97 points allowed in the next 4 games (Players returned bust rusty, injuries to Sean Lee and other members of the defense).
24 points allowed in the last 2 games, 70 points allowed in the last 4 games. That is an average of 12 and 17.5 points allowed. Either would be good enough for best in the league.

For a larger sample lets look at points allowed since McClain and Hardy returned -- 21.2 points per game.

Before McClain and Hardy - 32 points per game.

Before McClain and Hardy, but after Romo - 32.5 points per game.

Before McClain and Hardy but with Romo - 18 points per game.
 

Junglist

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,326
Reaction score
1,294
0-7 without Romo. 3-0 with Romo.

I'm not seeing where we are a "bad team". I'm not entirely sure why some of you have yet to get it, the missing piece was our franchise QB.

Romo isn't the ONLY reason we've lost, and he isn't the ONLY reason we've won. I do think he makes the rest of the team play better, so hopefully we can de-throne the Carolina Cancers.
 

Junglist

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,326
Reaction score
1,294
If we can get production out of Randy Gregory, this defense will be tough to score on. It already is.

Wish we could get special teams to step up as well.

I've said before and I'll say it again; Dez needs to be returning punts instead of Beasley.
 

mattjames2010

Well-Known Member
Messages
21,837
Reaction score
20,694
Romo isn't the ONLY reason we've lost, and he isn't the ONLY reason we've won. I do think he makes the rest of the team play better, so hopefully we can de-throne the Carolina Cancers.

I think we had issues with turnovers in the seven games without Romo, that certainly played a part in our losses. But our biggest issue was relying on two QBs, one being the definition of a scrub, the other needing to pick up the playbook in a few weeks before starting (I thought Cassle did about as good as you could expect).

But this being a "bad team" is an exaggeration. People continue to say that we are giving this team "moral victories" - that is not the point anyone was making, the point people are making is that with a decimated defense, without our franchise QB, we still managed to be in games despite the adversity. We're not a "bad team", we're a good team that got hit with the injury bug.
 

Sasquatch

Lost in the Woods
Messages
7,162
Reaction score
2,410
I think our defense is underrated. Sturm made a great point the other day. This defense was set up to play with a lead, but without a lead or without the opposing team feeling like they need to pass to keep up with our offense, they get road graded, and they aren't built to stop the run. Our team is built to put teams in a position where they can't run the ball because of time of possession and score, without that the blueprint doesn't work. Not being able to produce on offense derailed the defense despite some really good performances. And of course there were the injuries like you mentioned.

Why does it seem that we are particularly vulnerable in crunch time when teams abandon the run and go into their 2-minute drill?
 

Galian Beast

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,735
Reaction score
7,457
I've said before and I'll say it again; Dez needs to be returning punts instead of Beasley.

I'm more concerned with the punts and punt coverage. I don't really want to see Dez back there at this point. Maybe if it was in a playoff game or something or a super bowl.
 

Galian Beast

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,735
Reaction score
7,457
Why does it seem that we are particularly vulnerable in crunch time when teams abandon the run and go into their 2-minute drill?

Well the team certainly needs to be better against the two minute drill. It's like they seriously lack awareness. This comes down to the secondary and issues with the pass rush, especially when you're in 4 down territory. That's why we need Gregory to show up.
 

jazzcat22

Staff member
Messages
81,309
Reaction score
102,233
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
If we can get production out of Randy Gregory, this defense will be tough to score on. It already is.

Wish we could get special teams to step up as well.

Containing Newton will be a big test. we have always had trouble with mobile QB's, plus he has some size too. Need to keep him in the pocket, and pressure, sacks, early. but we don't seem to get those either.
Hardy, hopefully will be motivated to play at a higher level. Or if they respect him from a former team mate point of view. They may double team him and hopefully opens up Lawrence and Gregory. As they must finally step up and get the pressure and sacks.
 

mahoneybill

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,912
Reaction score
4,528
Even though its been awhile I would hope Hardy has some insights into how to beat the Carolina O Line....
 

Gaede

Well-Known Member
Messages
17,165
Reaction score
14,127
....................and decimated with injuries.

Two completely inept QB's.

You don't lose 9 starters and compete.

There's only 11 athletes on the field.

I don't get that some don't get it either.

This 'bad' team just beat a pretty damn good defense.

Sorry, injuries happen in the NFL. At the end of the year, our record doesn't get an asterisk.
 

mattjames2010

Well-Known Member
Messages
21,837
Reaction score
20,694
Sorry, injuries happen in the NFL. At the end of the year, our record doesn't get an asterisk.

Name me another team who lost their franchise QB, top 3 WR, and nearly every quality defensive lineman on the roster and went on to win games.

Oh I know who, the Baltimore Ravens. How are they doing this year?
 

Gaede

Well-Known Member
Messages
17,165
Reaction score
14,127
Name me another team who lost their franchise QB, top 3 WR, and nearly every quality defensive lineman on the roster and went on to win games.

Oh I know who, the Baltimore Ravens. How are they doing this year?

Why does that matter? Our record is 3-7. We had every opportunity to win all of our games save the Pats game and fell apart in each of them when it mattered most.

3-7 is a bad record and this team that everyone suddenly thinks is unstoppable has that record. Injuries or no
 
Top