Questions for fans prior to 1978

[JakeCamp12]

After watching the Cowboys slog through the end of last year and the beginning of this year, my question is this, for the fans that saw the Cowboys from 1960 through 1978. My earliest rememberence of football is the 1978 season. Have you ever seen a Cowboys team look this lost, this unmotivated and lacking such heart? I know that we have had bad teams in the past, where the talent level was just awful (1985 through 1991) and we would get bet like this every week, but I can never remember such a talented team really putting little to no effort into games. I can take losing like we did in the Campo years because I knew our talent level was terrible, but to get beat so badly by such a bad team week in and week out with all of the supposed talent on this team is almost criminal. How can a player look Jerry in the eye this week and take his check? This team hasn't had any heart for many years, but this year it seems the heart, brains and motivation are not there at all. Just wanted an opinion from fans that saw the team under Landry in the early years before my time rooting for the team...

 

[cowboyjoe]

only bad years for cowboys before 1978 were the early years from 1960 to 1963 mainly, 64 was the turning point so to speak, you could see signs, of development, but 65 was when the cowboys really turned the corner

 

[jobberone]

Yes. Read my thread about the 1970 team.

 

[lane]

i 've been watching since 1975

we have had some great teams ...1975-85 91-98

bad teams 86-90 99-2002

i've never seen such a lack of try and stupid penalties in the bad teams as i am witnessing now.

unreal with the talent we have.

 

[Sarge]

I've never seen a team with this much talent play this emotionless. The 1970 team at least responded. This team won't/can't. This team has no chemistry whatsoever. No leadership and that goes for the players and the ****ty coaches.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I remember the 1975 team being very young, especially on defense. It was very inconsistent, for example I remember watching the Cowboys lose to KC, at home on Monday Football, 34-31, during the 8th week and thinking, "Gosh isn't this defense going to every get it in gear?" It was the teams second loss in a row and I had doubts...

But, that defense was aggressive. It may look like it was "lost" from time to time but it never looked lackluster like this group does.

I really don't know what the answer is for this group of palyers.

 

[dbair1967]

I started watching in 1975, this is by far the biggest embarrassment we've ever fielded. Its the most uninspired, lackadaisical, unmotivated team I've ever seen. Its the most poorly coached team I've ever seen too, and thats saying something consider what we saw from Switzer in 96 and 97 and the Campo years.

This team is an utter failure.

 

[bbgun]

I started watching in 1975, this is by far the biggest embarrassment we've ever fielded. Its the most uninspired, lackadaisical, unmotivated team I've ever seen. Its the most poorly coached team I've ever seen too, and thats saying something consider what we saw from Switzer in 96 and 97 and the Campo years.

This team is an utter failure.

This is what happens when you have a db coach who cares more about the color of his hair than the team's play.

 

[Chuck 54]

I still lament the inability to run the football. Barber got 100 today, but he got stuffed too many times. Our OL is really below average...these guys don't get downfield...they don't stay with their blocks...they are always standing around watching the back when he gets stuffed for no gain.

Other teams that run the ball better, wedge it out...the Skins are still playing with backups, but they wedge it out and the back gets into them, and everyone keeps pushing their way to 2-3 yard gains most of the time instead of getting stuffed.

When a game starts to get out of hand on the road, you have to be able to run the ball or complete short passes and hold onto the ball to give the defense some time with the coaches on the sideline, time with the ball away from the other offense. Garrett calls the same game on the road that he calls at home...it's feast or famine.

We're a team that still wants to hit big plays...we need to start being a team that tries to eat clock, sustain drives, change field position, and keep games close...especially on the road.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Like the others I can recall the trials some of those teams in the 60's and 80's struggled thru. But those teams didn't have the talent this team does. Even the great teams in the 90's had their clunker games. But not like the football we have seen the last month. With the exception of a couple of players this entire team needs headslapped. JMO, but it all starts with the HC.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Like others have posted, I've never seen a Dallas team (or any for that matter) with this much talent look so absolutely uninspired and lost. Why? I can't answer that, but the coaching staff should be able to. I've been a fan all my life and I'm 46, so that should tell you something. This team's performance is enough to make you puke.

 

[RCowboyFan]

On Leadership issue, when you have a guy like Brady James a leader on Defense, that pretty much sums up the Heart of the Defense.

What made me come to that conclusion was after Bengals game, when he echoed Wade Phillips Sentiment. That pretty much nailed it to me, whats wrong with this defense. And then Greg Ellis is the one who speaks out about being not acceptable peformance and lays an egg again, that again speaks on team's heart and ability.

Now, Ken Hamlin and Anthony Henry talk about no excuses, and Henry being the Worst Cowboys CB right now. Even worse than Mike Jenkins.

 

[lewpac]

Interesting you brought up '78.....

As of week #10 (Nov. 5th), Dallas was 6-4 that year and looking average. They "won out" the regular season, beat Atlanta and the Rams in the playoffs (that's 8 games for those of you who are counting), and then lost a perfectly winnable SB game to the Steelers.
In '79 (Dallas won the SB), they were 8-5 after Thanksgiving.
Don't forget that 0-2 start when Emmitt sat out the first two games after the first SB win under J. Johnson.
Let's just all sit back, have a brew and relax. You asked Cowboy fans before '78 a question. I'm 48 yrs. old and have been "on board" since 1965, when I was all of 5 yrs. old. I can remember when Dallas was the "team that couldn't win the "big one"!! I had Dallas Cowboys jammies for Gods sake!! IN THE 60's!!!!
This whole thing is a product of parity measures, salary cap measures, free agency, etc..............You're asking a question of folks who could name you the starting line-up, year after year, for over 20 years. Same HC (Landry), same offense, same defense, etc................
Those days are gone. Back then, if you had a Lee Roy Jordan jersey, you were set for a decade. No more.......................
We'll be alright. This year is a "year in reverse" for modern Cowboy fans. Usually, we look great until December, then flub the season away. Perhaps, just maybe, this year is the year we "get it together" later on and "win out"................

We'll see.......................