"We have met the enemy ..."

[BulletBob]

"We have met the enemy ... and he is us!"
- Pogo (Walt Kelly)

That quote sums up the Boys' entire season (and pre-season) to date. While I am ecstatic about last night's win, I still feel like we are driving with the parking break on. The major contributor to slowing down an onslaught of the competition is the team's own self-destructive tendencies (penalties, turnovers, mental mistakes).

If (and that is a very big "if") there is some way that the coaching staff can work with the players to elimiate these mistakes, I am certain that the Cowboys' talent will carry the day, and our team will truly realize its full potential, dominating each opponent they face.

Right now, we are our own worst enemies. If the team improves in reducing the mistakes, they will become unstoppable.

I also see the 4th quarter of last night's game as a potential watershed moment for the defense. I hope that we look back on this quarter of football as the time when the defense actually pivoted from being a tentative, inconsistent unit to a truly dominating, suffocating force.

If the defense builds on the confidence they gained in that last quarter of football, this season will become an unbridled thrill to watch unfold.

 

[Longboysfan]

Agreeded. Aside from tackling a bit better.
What adjustments did we make from the first half to the second half.
The McNabb mistakes were helpful also.
Two Fumbles a few low passes and the one high one late.

Westbrook killed us on just about every time he touched the ball.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I am curious if they can fine the players for these penalties, if they are not doing that already.

Seems like that might do something for them to finally get it in their heads.

Of course they could also review the tape before handing out the fines, like for the case of the henry PI/Hold.

Something has to be done to get this straightened out.

It is not just a once in a while situation, if we don't get a number of penalties that seems to be the once in a while situation now.

I tell on that last eagles drive I kept waiting for a PI or facemask penalty to be called on that fourth down play. When Felix was running that kick off I was not only yelling go go go but I found myself yelling no flags no flags no flags.

It is just too many penalties and it needs addressed beyond just telling them to stop it because what ever is being done now is clearly not working.

I am usually not one for complaining about stuff after a big win. My normal mantra is just celebrate and be happy for a great win.

But this penalty situation is just getting way out of hand.

 

[BulletBob]

I am curious if they can fine the players for these penalties, if they are not doing that already.

Seems like that might do something for them to finally get it in their heads.

Of course they could also review the tape before handing out the fines, like for the case of the henry PI/Hold.

Something has to be done to get this straightened out.

It is not just a once in a while situation, if we don't get a number of penalties that seems to be the once in a while situation now.

I tell on that last eagles drive I kept waiting for a PI or facemask penalty to be called on that fourth down play. When Felix was running that kick off I was not only yelling go go go but I found myself yelling no flags no flags no flags.

It is just too many penalties and it needs addressed beyond just telling them to stop it because what ever is being done now is clearly not working.

I am usually not one for complaining about stuff after a big win. My normal mantra is just celebrate and be happy for a great win.

But this penalty situation is just getting way out of hand.

I used to think that the problem with Purcells was that he dwelled on it so much that it got into their heads, and they tried so hard not to screw up that they actually wound up committing more penalties.

With Wade, I think we have the other extreme. Think about it. At the post-game press conference, Wade sounded like one of us fans - he was a giddy as a school girl about the win (picture a Tuna pc after a win like this to provide the proper contrast). Yes, he said that they committed too many penalties, but he really didn't sound too upset about it.

I dunno what works under the circumstances. We've had the disciplinarian despot approach and the "player's coach" approach, and neither end of the pendulum seems to be working.

The only thing I can think of is that we do not have the vocal leaders ON THE TEAM who are holding EACH OTHER accountable for the mistakes. I think the team needs more of a soldier mentality that they are in a war, and that when one of them makes a mistake, it could potentially kill the entire platoon.

You're a military guy, right BP?

Don't they need some more accountability coming from their team (troop) mates?