Serious question about Hard Knocks

[jazzcat22]

Agree. They're having too much fun. I can't stand the atmosphere of the place. The culture of the 90s is completely gone.

Moose talked about how Aikman would literally throw fits in practice if it wasn't perfect. You don't have that anymore. You don't see anybody that has that type of leadership quality.

Aikman wasn't the best player on the offense. Smith, Irvin, and Allen were all better. But everyone knew who the leader was and he didn't care to hurt feelings. That's something we've not had since he left. Romo wasn't that and Dak isn't that either.

Different set of rules back then. You had a set of hard nosed coaches that were allowed to be. With the new wave CBA leaders and the new rules. Coaches are not allowed to be like Jimmy, that carried over into players like Troy.

Jimmy practiced like they were playing on Sunday. Now there are limited padded practices and hitting.
It applies to ALL teams, not just the one here that fans was to be over critical of but deservingly so at times also.

I understand what you are saying. But nothing can be done about it. It still should not prevent a player being that way though. They could be, but we don't see it, as the reporting has been really crappy. Worse than ever.

 

[MikeB80]

I understand your point, and you may be right. The Jones empire always coddles its players.

But… To be fair, what we’re seeing in Hard Knocks is a one hour edited slice of what’s happening. The producers want to put together an hour of entertainment, not a realistic view of what’s happening. Like you WJ, I suspect this team is always too comfortable. But I’m not sure what we’re seeing in HK is a realistic picture.

I think what @Chocolate Lab said yesterday is true, it appears mccarthy or someone has told them they can not use most of what is going on in meetings and practice.

 

[Jake]

I didn’t think I would watch it but I did. HBO does a great job with these documentary type shows. As I watch it I am struck by one thing in particular. This camp is way too relaxed for a team coming off 6-10. Way, way too relaxed. I truly think this is the not serious about winning football culture coming through.

Anyone else see this or think I am wrong?

In his effort to create the best atmosphere for his team (and fans), Jerry has created a pampered environment. It's the Ritz-Carlton with a football field. Players are treated like rock stars, and paid like them, despite having accomplished nothing in terms of team success.

For guys who are good self-motivators it's not a problem. Players who need a kick in the behind are not going to thrive when coddled that way.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Different set of rules back then. You had a set of hard nosed coaches that were allowed to be. With the new wave CBA leaders and the new rules. Coaches are not allowed to be like Jimmy, that carried over into players like Troy.

Jimmy practiced like they were playing on Sunday. Now there are limited padded practices and hitting.
It applies to ALL teams, not just the one here that fans was to be over critical of but deservingly so at times also.

I understand what you are saying. But nothing can be done about it. It still should not prevent a player being that way though. They could be, but we don't see it, as the reporting has been really crappy. Worse than ever.

Maybe the coaches can't coach the same way, but I 100% agree that players can be the same way.

You just get the vibe from Romo and Dak that they want to be everyone's buddy and always want to say the rights things. Aikman was in the business of winning, not making friends. I love those videos of Aikman on the sidelines fuming mad at Barry Switzer and his happy go lucky attitude about the players not performing well.

I wish Dak could just be half of the leader that Aikman was. Dak has the talent, but he needs to get that meanness to take things to the next level.

 

[lkelly]

 

[CouchCoach]

I am not a Cowerd fan but he nailed this team after watching the drone of the facilities, intended to show exactly what it is for all the wrong reasons. He called the players "Trust Fund Kids" and that is a perfect name for them.

DeBartolo was a different kind of owner but even he waited until his team delivered something before giving them a new facility and presenting their first ring in Hawaii with all the wives or girlfriends invited.

Booger is the different kind of "Pay It Forward" owner and believes in reward before the fact as an incentive.

I knew this team would really never become anything special after one interview with him because I realized he actually believed what he said. He had just given Romo a new contract and he was being interviewed and was asked what he expected now that Tony Romo had a new contract. He looked at the reporter and said "I expect him to play better because he's getting paid better". Initially, I thought he was just trying to deflect the question but I think he actually believes that.

The problem with the Cowboys isn't the coaching or talent or even the GM. The problem is the owner allows the GM to set the culture. It is a doomed to fail culture and it is just like his family run business. Think anyone would hire his son to do anything on a NFL franchise?

Booger would watch Rocky III and be just like Paulie, "why are we here"? There is no "Eye of the Tiger" with the Dallas Cowboys, only "Coin of the Realm".

 

[cityochamps]

Is it too relaxed? I can't tell from watching the show. They don't focus too much on the details of practice and what kind of grind the players are going through. It's more about the human interest stories....someone's mom or kid, playing cards with the mailroom clerk,. and Jerry's breakfast sandwich, Jerry's helicopter, Jerry's palace.

Oh, and this team has no winning culture to come through, so there's that

Agree here, plus you know the NFl has some serious rules about what can be filmed and when which likely leaves out some of the best components of the camp. The OP is right though in that what we see on HBO seems to look like a practice from the movie Little Giants but with profanity.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Agree. They're having too much fun. I can't stand the atmosphere of the place. The culture of the 90s is completely gone.

Moose talked about how Aikman would literally throw fits in practice if it wasn't perfect. You don't have that anymore. You don't see anybody that has that type of leadership quality.

Aikman wasn't the best player on the offense. Smith, Irvin, and Allen were all better. But everyone knew who the leader was and he didn't care to hurt feelings. That's something we've not had since he left. Romo wasn't that and Dak isn't that either.

I can't honestly think of many guys in the league like that right now. Brady, maybe?

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

I can't honestly think of many guys in the league like that right now. Brady, maybe?

Brady is 100% like that. You see him going in on players AND coaches on the sidelines all the time.

You'd think more QBs would model the way they handle the people around them after the guy that has 7 rings, but not everybody is built like that.

He expects excellence around him. If you don't bring that naturally then he's going to bring it out of you.

 

[Jinxx13x]

In particular i enjoy scenes like when Tank got on i forget his name i think he is number 43 the DE, and seems like tank has him under his wing telling him how to improve. Lawrence clearly likes him but also pulls no punches in his critique love it

 

[jazzcat22]

I can't honestly think of many guys in the league like that right now. Brady, maybe?

Brady is 100% like that. You see him going in on players AND coaches on the sidelines all the time.

You'd think more QBs would model the way they handle the people around them after the guy that has 7 rings, but not everybody is built like that.

He expects excellence around him. If you don't bring that naturally then he's going to bring it out of you.

Brady is old school. well, because he is old.

 

[Praxit]

...I guess someone like Joe Judge would be more appropriate...lol Kracking skulls, fist fights, dog piles, personal assaults....etc... ..

 

[TexasBacon]

I don't think the Cowboys' practices on Hard Knocks are any different from the practices or practice atmosphere I've seen depicted from multiple teams from every single season of Hard Knocks for the past decade. If anything Hard Knocks has given me more insight to what a hard *** Dak is and how much he likes to compete. I know we are all sick of the championship draught but this thread is full of people making mountains out of molehills over absolutely nothing.

 

[freemanjc19]

I'm not sure why anyone would expect any less from this team culture and drive. Its' not a winning culture because the TOP dog get to close to his players and doesn't hire HC's to lead the team to a winning culture.

 

[Reid1boys]

I didn’t think I would watch it but I did. HBO does a great job with these documentary type shows. As I watch it I am struck by one thing in particular. This camp is way too relaxed for a team coming off 6-10. Way, way too relaxed. I truly think this is the not serious about winning football culture coming through.

Anyone else see this or think I am wrong?

I am curious as to what experience you have being on the inside, day to day operations of training camp? What experiences do you have with other team's training camps? On players off time should we have an asst coach yelling at them when they arent studying their playbook?

 

[CowboysRule]

In his effort to create the best atmosphere for his team (and fans), Jerry has created a pampered environment. It's the Ritz-Carlton with a football field. Players are treated like rock stars, and paid like them, despite having accomplished nothing in terms of team success.

For guys who are good self-motivators it's not a problem. Players who need a kick in the behind are not going to thrive when coddled that way.

Do you do anything besides whine and complain on here? Find another team that has old-school hard nosed two a day practices. You can't. They don't exist. It's not just the Cowboys. The CBA has imposed strict limits on how many practices you can have and what you can and can't do in those practices. It has nothing to do with McCarthy or Jones or anyone else on the Cowboys. You're old. What you remember camp being like back in the day no longer exists.

 

[Typhus]

Is it too relaxed? I can't tell from watching the show. They don't focus too much on the details of practice and what kind of grind the players are going through. It's more about the human interest stories....someone's mom or kid, playing cards with the mailroom clerk,. and Jerry's breakfast sandwich, Jerry's helicopter, Jerry's palace.

Oh, and this team has no winning culture to come through, so there's that

I was going to start watching the episcopes, but when I read on this forum in a thread that said the players were chowing down on some junk food I decided to watch an episode of the Goldbergs instead.
Food cost doesnt count against the cap, and Jerry should be paying for a nutritionist and world class cooks to provide the very best healthy choices available to top elite athletes on this team.
I dont want Zeke being tempted by several Big Macs and double beef and cheddars sitting on the table.

 

[Creeper]

I thought the same thing after the first episode. I thought the coaches were too casual in almost every way. I expected something very different. But this is the first Hard Knocks I have watched in years so I have no idea how other teams run their camps.

In this last episode we did see a little hard core coaching when the OL coach was getting on Isaac Alarcon for missing an assignment in practice. I felt bad for the kid but this is what it takes to be a pro.

 

[Typhus]

I don't disagree, but keep in mind the CBA these days restricts the amount of contact, padded practices, etc.

Between being liable for concussions and the importance of offense for fantasy interest, the league would play touch ball if they could get away with it.

Dont forget the direction and sensitivity that society is trending, the direction.
The Commanders having to change their team name,,,
"Cowboys" could become rather offensive to rednecks everywhere in a very short time.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I didn’t think I would watch it but I did. HBO does a great job with these documentary type shows. As I watch it I am struck by one thing in particular. This camp is way too relaxed for a team coming off 6-10. Way, way too relaxed. I truly think this is the not serious about winning football culture coming through.

Anyone else see this or think I am wrong?

Well hell some people think it's a country club over at the Star and others think otherwise. Mods could we get a poll on this very question?