Serious, non-agenda driven question about our young players...

[Juke99]

I agree, Juke... I really thought this last year when we saw so many listless, underachieving performaces, but it seems to be creeping in this year, too.

Football is a game of emotion and energy, and our team lacks that all too often. You see other teams fired up, high-fiving, flying around... And yes, maybe getting the occasional penalty from overaggresiveness. But maybe those are okay every once in a while if it means you play with more passion.

On the whole, I like the demeanor Parcells strives for in his teams, but maybe he's overdone it a little?

Well said...and with more balance than the way I said it...but yeah, it's all too much...the constant sour puss...complaining about "stupid" players...etc.

When was the last time you recall seeing our team come out as fired up as the Skins did today...or how about the Giants a few weeks ago...or how about the Eagles on Monday night...

Three division rivals...the three most important games of the year...and we showed zero emotion...we should have lost all three games...the Giant game was close in score but we got manhandled....we LUCKED out vs Philly..and today, well, whatever.

 

[cowboyeric8]

5-11
5-11
5-11

Yeah and? I'm not saying I liked Campo going 5-11, but at least he was trying to fix things with young talent instead of aged veterans.

Man!!! I didn't want this to go into a Campo thread, we sucked those years yes I know. All I'm saying is I enjoyed it more because I knew that coming in and I could look forward to the future with the young players getting experience. With Parcells I have high hopes and get let down year after year.

I'm not saying Campo is a good coach, and I'm not saying Parcells is a bad, (even though he is as of late, I don't give a crap what he did in the past).

I think I'm getting misinterpreted.

 

[Zman5]

Speaking of Ware, in the ongoing Ware-versus-Merriman debates...

Is it me, or does San Diego scheme up plays to get Merriman open lanes to rush the quarterback? It seems like we're very bland in how we blitz Ware.

Or am I underestimating Merriman's play in making those open looks at the quarterback so...open?

Merriman looks stronger but Ware looks faster. I think they will both be good players.

One thing I do see and like about Merriman is that he seems to have a mean streak about him. I don't see that in Ware. One of the things that made Haley so great was he had that "I'm going to kick your azz and there is nothing you can do about it" attitude.

 

[Juke99]

Juke,

My question regarding Parcells is this:

Has he become afraid of "the big game?"

Is it me, or is it always the other team touting our matchups as a "must win?" Maybe my head has been in the sand, but I don't recall hearing this game touted as such, and make no mistake, this was an absolute must win to make the playoffs.

Parcells repeatedly said we could lose the Giants game, but we had to finish strong. "First team to 11 wins," he said. OK. Understood. Didn't like it then, but if we finished 4-0, it made sense.

After today's performance, though, when the heck is he going to call a game a must-winner? And why isn't he doing that? Because he feels his players already know? He's afraid to tout a game as such?

Just random jiberrish, on my part. I can tolerate hard-fought, close losses. I have yet to get irate after any of the losses this year, save the first loss to Washington (which was just assanine). But today's loss, given the importance of this game, was totally inexcusable.

We looked like a squad that had either already clinched a playoff berth (a la our performance in the season ender against New Orleans in '03), or a team that already knew our playoff dreams had ended.

It just doesn't make sense.

Truth is...the last three division games...the opponents, Philly, NY, Wash played with a ton more emotion and manhandled us...we fooled ourselves by focusing on the scores of those games...but those were BAD signs.

I think part of it is Parcells fault for exactly what you say. He seems to understate the importance and It seems he must focus the guys on playing the perfect game.

I mentioned earlier that I had a boss who once asked me if I had made any recent mistakes. I replied "NO"...he responded "Too bad, that means you're not doing you job..."

This team plays without joy...just like it's coach...

 

[Eskimo]

Not to defend the Campo years but he had no QB, an aged Emmitt, no draft picks (due to Galloway trade) and no cap space due to cap hell.

Parcells inherited a much better situation and was actually allowed to make some football decisions.

Campo will be best remembered by me as an outstanding DB coach, a good defensive coordinator and a lousy head coach.

 

[godofwar]

Jimz

I'm sure Parcells has evolved as a coach over the years. But historically, past players have come back to play for him (and coach with him on some occasions). Based on that, I think he was, and continues to be a motivator of people.

None of us likes to see games that we've seen the past few weeks. Inevitably, we'll question and second guess decisions because that's the only outlet we, as fans, have. I know that's how I reacted today. But after a few hours of cool down time, I can still see the positve direction in which the Boys are heading. We had a fantastic off-season, and overachieved while playing rookies extended minutes at several positions. And to think, our run isn't over yet. When this season ends, I think Coach will re-evaluate the team, and we'll again have a productive off season. I'm choosing to see the forrest here despite the gnarled branches of these latest trees in our way.

 

[Eskimo]

Merriman looks stronger but Ware looks faster. I think they will both be good players.

One thing I do see and like about Merriman is that he seems to have a mean streak about him. I don't see that in Ware. One of the things that made Haley so great was he had that "I'm going to kick your azz and there is nothing you can do about it" attitude.

Ware was this year's winner of the "underwear olympics". He was supposed to be a mid-second rounder but blew everyone's socks off at the combine with his 4.51 time and rokceted up the boards.

He was always going to be a project as a tweener - the size of an OLB but trained as a DE at a small school. We'll have to see how he develops over the next couple of years.

In all honesty, he is better than I expected as a LB. I can't believe how bad he is as a pass rusher considering all the hype he got - no moves and no real concept about how to rush the passer. He has got a long way to go.

 

[Joe a Cowboys fan]

I think our kids from the last draft are runing out of gas.

Merriman is a case of both scheming and he is a darn good LB. I wanted us to get him, of course I also wanted a WR in this draft and oh well.

I do begin to wonder about the staff, mostly position coaches who are the first shelter for rookies from the HC's wrath.

I think Bill is brow beating the kids into fearing mistakes more than making plays.

It's is late in Bill's tenure but I want him to blow off the retreads and build his team with players no older than 25 or 26 and continue to grow the rest.

I would like to see Bill actually congratulate his players when something goes right. He used to do that with Roy. I swear I remember seeing it. Witten got the rare frosty smile.

Our O is the pits. Too much money for too many players with too many years.

The kids have to worry that Bill doesn't play rookies and lately doesn't draft QBs or WRs.

I miss Tom and Jimmy. Both were Dallas rookies. I bet Bill wouldn't let either coach as rookies. LOL

 

[cowboyeric8]

Another thing I hate about Parcells is that he never takes any blame. Its always the players fault and mental mistakes and not prepared and all of that BS.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Merriman looks stronger but Ware looks faster. I think they will both be good players.

One thing I do see and like about Merriman is that he seems to have a mean streak about him. I don't see that in Ware.

I think that is a part of what Juke is talking about -- or at least it is a part of what I'm talking about. Part of that "mean streak" is playing with reckless abandon, and how can you do that when you're thinking about not making mistakes instead of just whipping your man and getting to the QB?

It's funny, Parcells always seems most concerned with telling the rookies and almost all his players how much they don't know, and making sure they don't make mistakes. Remember how Jimmy not only exuded confidence but also emphasized the positive? Meaning that, for example, rather than telling his RBs "don't fumble", he was sure to tell his backs "secure the ball". It's a little psychological trick he used because he knew that it's far more effective to tell players what *to* do rather than what *not* to do.

As one more example, remember the Jimmy example of a person walking across a 2x4 on two bricks as opposed to walking across a 2x4 suspended across two buildings? Anyone can walk the board when it's on the ground, while almost no one can when it's 10 stories in the air, even though the act and the width of the board are the same. Jimmy said you have to tell yourself you're a hell of a walker. Seems to me Parcells would say, "Don't fall off that ^@&#^ board or you're gonna plunge to your death, you idiot..."

 

[big dog cowboy]

501 yards given up to KC last week 35 points given up this week and all kindsa big plays. The Commanders coulda easily run up the score instead of run out the clock.

We spent big money in FA on DL and defense. We drafted 2 very talented defensive players in the 1st round of this draft and yet none of them are getting better. They are either just average or getting worse.

We got ZERO QB sacks.....ZERO QB pressures....ZERO Knockdowns today. Our pass rush is just as big a joke as last year.

Just the same weak bend dont break defense and wasting away talent on our defenes.

Zimmer sucks.

Wolverine preaching the truth again.

 

[wileedog]

Another thing I hate about Parcells is that he never takes any blame. Its always the players fault and mental mistakes and not prepared and all of that BS.

Parcells has taken the blame on more than one occasion. He flat out said he sucked all of last year.

He deserves a ton of blame for today, but lets keep the criticism focused in reality.

 

[DMX690]

Parcells has taken the blame on more than one occasion. He flat out said he sucked all of last year.

He deserves a ton of blame for today, but lets keep the criticism focused in reality.

Why let fact get in the way of there agenda.

 

[Juke99]

Parcells has taken the blame on more than one occasion. He flat out said he sucked all of last year.

He deserves a ton of blame for today, but lets keep the criticism focused in reality.

Did you say that we should focus our criticism on Reality? Geez, he's not going to be happy when he reads this.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

I'm still numb from this loss...I can't even articulate my feelings right now. I'm stumped! How could we be so un prepared??? Yes...there are some reason's why we struggle in some area's, but we got out BUTTS kicked in every single aspect of the game...every single one. Oline in disarray....but 7 sacks??? A college oline could do better....more fumbles....when will it stop?

I'm speechless! Had to write something, but sitting here with my finger in my chin trying to figure this out and can't......an absolute arse whooping! Amazing..............

Is it the oline?
Is it the statue? Has everyone moved onto a moble QB we we did not get the memo?
Is it that BP is sucking the creativity and athletic ability of the players for mistake free football? Hey we lost, but had zero mental errors....good enough for me.........
Is it because we are young and they played much better for 13 games then we really are and I was blind?
Is it we are too conservative...but wait we got sacked 7 times, so therefore we can't?
Is it because we are to predictable and everyone has BP figured out and he'll never change?

Sitting here with NO CLUE right now!!!

For those of you that think we can pull off a playoff spot...keep up the good attitude! Seriously. To me this was an absolute MUST WIN! And we did not.........what position will we get in the draft?

 

[calico]

I think Parcells should take a page out of Joe Pa's book this year. He needs to change his game strategy...change who he is. The two times we have looked to be aggressive turned out to be very successful.

The way this team is banged up and hanging onto playoff hopes, I would air it out and look to go down swinging. He is too damn stubborn to adjust this way without making it look like some brilliant idea of his when the fans and players are begging him for it.

Zimmer, in my mind, has to go. He cannot scheme well at all. His blitzes are predictable and only work against crappy teams with horrible o-lines. He is working with a D that is supposed to confuse offenses, but they never seem to have a problem seeing where the blitz is coming from. He also lets the D get pushed back on their heels and refuses to take a blitz chance to stop the bleeding.

If we ever get a good offensive line, a good D coordinator, and an aggressive offensive mind, then I believe this team can go very far.

 

[TunaFan33]

Good point, Juke.

Remember how psyched everyone was about our 2002 draft before BP came here. The one that produced standouts such as RoyW, Derek Ross, Antonio Bryant, A Gurode, P Hunter and T Walter. Say what you want about how they have turned out now but all of them played well as rookies. I would say the level of play of that entire group really dropped as soon as BP took over the helm. It was something that alarmed me then a great deal.

Now a few players do seem to have developed and gotten better over time - Witten, Crayton, B James but this should really be happening with every young player on the roster.

I think the crux of the matter is that BP has failed to develop a good coaching staff and that is why player development has not been where it should be.

FWIW-this was also Mike Ditka's undoing in New Orleans-his UBER old-schoolish coaching. This just doesn't seem to work on players nowdays in the NFL.

I love Parcells too. However-other coaches of his same class have made adjustments to their philosophies, why can't he? Coughlin did a 360 in NYG this year-the results have flip-flopped from last year.

 

[Cbz40]

If a coach can't adjust he will be a bust...........Sorry just an old Cowboy fans still letting off steam