Sitting, waiting, with an ace up our sleeves

[Doomsday101]

Personally I think the Cowboys are going to have a good year. Yes we have some area like Guard that is an issue but I still think the fire power this offense has and the play of the defense can and will produce a winning season. I'll let the critics and the nay sayers run around claiming whatever they choose to believe but I do not share their pessimism.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

Im not sure i agree with your definition of "smug".

Smug implies that you feel some sort of self satisfaction with where you are currently.

That's the last thing i want from our players or coaches right now, to go out there against the Giants, thinking they've proved anything at all.

and I disagree.

I want individual players to be extremely smug. I want them to think they proved in practices that they know their assignments, and can do their job.

 

[jobberone]

athletes play better when they are confident. call it smug. call it arrogant. whatever. if players think they are nothing, they will play like it.

I think Roy meant they need to be on edge but I agree they should be confident. When you step up to the plate you want to be thinking where am I going to hit the ball not please don't strike out.

 

[Frozen700]

I do not think anyone questions the turn overs from the Tampa-2 scheme. I think people question the same thing has been done on Offense for how many years now, and all of a sudden people think we are going to win 10-11 games. If Jason is no longer going to call games, maybe things will change, but until I see that in real games, there is nothing to brag about. I really see this team as 8-8, maybe 9-7.

Cool, then you are lucky, no need to waste your time around here or watching the games Mr. Prophet

No need to jump and cheer and act like you been there, if this team goes 11-5 and deep playoff run

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Roy meant they need to be on edge but I agree they should be confident. When you step up to the plate you want to be thinking where am I going to hit the ball not please don't strike out.

I agree. I don't want players after a bad play to walk around thinking here we go again, I want them putting it behind them and moving forward ready to succeed on the next play and the play after. Bad plays happen to every single team good teams and good player do not get down on themselfs they step up to the next challenge.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

and I disagree.

I want individual players to be extremely smug. I want them to think they proved in practices that they know their assignments, and can do their job.

So we disagree..

Fair enough. lol

Like i said before though.. Rob Ryan brought all that smugness and arrogance last year.. where did that get us?

Looking stupid half the time when he kept running his mouth off and we couldn't back it up on the field when it mattered.

Does Sean Lee strike you as a smug guy?

 

[jobberone]

Great OP!

 

[erod]

The Tampa-2 takes a solid 2-3 years to fully implement. I watched Lovie implement it here in Chicago. Dallas might game a few good games at the beginning of the season, but once they are on tape, and teams see what they do not do well, like not having any good safeties, they will exploit it. I think the defense will be a learning curve this year.

No good safeties? Nice try. They absolutely love Barry Church, Will Allen has played well for Kiffin before, and Wilcox is the player they are most excited about down the road.

Ware, Lee, Spencer, Carter, Hatcher, Claiborne, Carr, Church, Ratliff......this defense is loaded with talent. Just a matter of staying healthy.

 

[Doomsday101]

So we disagree..

Fair enough. lol

Like i said before though.. Rob Ryan brought all that smugness and arrogance last year.. where did that get us?

Looking stupid half the time when he kept running his mouth off and we couldn't back it up on the field when it mattered.

Does Sean Lee strike you as a smug guy?

Coach being arrogant and then playing conservative like rushing 3 on 3rd and 10 that was Ryan that is not Kiffin. Players showing confidence in themselfs going out and playing tough and not backing down from anything or anyone is important.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I think Roy meant they need to be on edge but I agree they should be confident. When you step up to the plate you want to be thinking where am I going to hit the ball not please don't strike out.

I just don't think im on the same page with some of you on what ya'll think "smug" means.

A smug player, to me, would imply someone who makes a good play and then thinks they can coast the rest of the game. Someone who thinks their level of play is good enough and they don't need to work hard every day, every second to get better. Someone who doesn't think there's always something they can improve on in their game, etc..

Players like Sean Lee are guys that we all want because they are NEVER smug, they are NEVER satisfied, and they know they can always get better at something and improve themselves as a player day after day, no matter how many Pro Bowls or All Pro awards they win.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Coach being arrogant and then playing conservative like rushing 3 on 3rd and 10 that was Ryan that is not Kiffin. Players showing confidence in themselfs going out and playing tough and not backing down from anything or anyone is important.

This is the disconnect some of ya'll seem to be having.

I don't think confidence and smugness are the same at all.

There's a difference between being confident and being conceited.

 

[erod]

So we disagree..

Fair enough. lol

Like i said before though.. Rob Ryan brought all that smugness and arrogance last year.. where did that get us?

Looking stupid half the time when he kept running his mouth off and we couldn't back it up on the field when it mattered.

Does Sean Lee strike you as a smug guy?

Ryan wasn't smug. He was unjustifiably cocky. A circus clown.

This team is smug, in a knowing, confident kind of way. And they don't care about the past. Sean Lee never gave a crap about the Cowboys until he got here, just like the rest of them. It's us fans that are mired in the failings of 2005, not these guys.

 

[ShiningStar]

So we disagree..

Fair enough. lol

Like i said before though.. Rob Ryan brought all that smugness and arrogance last year.. where did that get us?

Looking stupid half the time when he kept running his mouth off and we couldn't back it up on the field when it mattered.

Does Sean Lee strike you as a smug guy?

To be fair, a lot of injuries and he still did pretty good with what he had.

I agree, confident doesnt mean smug and Sean Lee is the hard working, mentally getting it type of player i want to see on the field. Some bring a great motor, some bring talk, those are ok, but we want complete players that know their jobs and bring confidence, not arrogance.

 

[CashMan]

No good safeties? Nice try. They absolutely love Barry Church, Will Allen has played well for Kiffin before, and Wilcox is the player they are most excited about down the road.

Ware, Lee, Spencer, Carter, Hatcher, Claiborne, Carr, Church, Ratliff......this defense is loaded with talent. Just a matter of staying healthy.

Let me see if I am correct, you are saying a guy coming off of an achilles injury, a journeyman, and a rookie, are good safeties?

 

[StarBoyz83]

Things are looking up for the most part. But some things are looking the same. Only time will tell when the real games start.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Ryan wasn't smug. He was unjustifiably cocky. A circus clown.

This team is smug, in a knowing, confident kind of way. And they don't care about the past. Sean Lee never gave a crap about the Cowboys until he got here, just like the rest of them. It's us fans that are mired in the failings of 2005, not these guys.

Rob Ryan is the DEFINITION of smug. lol

"Self satisfied; conceited"

He went in to every game talking like his players were going to demolish the opposing offense and would dominate every game. He thought he was a genius with his schemes that would fool everyone.. yet we failed to get consistent pressure all year.. and everywhere he goes, his act wears thin.

Also, i think you should look up the definition of smug, because what you are describing, isn't that.

Again, being smug and being confident are two completely different things.

..and i don't want them thinking about the past either. All they need to think is "ok, its a new season, we haven't proven anything. We have to go out, play hard every down, scratch, claw, fight, and earn everything we want."

We need to be "anti-smug".. never satisfied with ourselves until the season is over and we're hoisting that trophy.

 

[Doomsday101]

This is the disconnect some of ya'll seem to be having.

I don't think confidence and smugness are the same at all.

There's a difference between being confident and being conceited.

Not really, not in sport. I think having a healthy respect for your opponet is smart because it makes you work hard leading up to the game. But come game day you have to walk in thinking you are ready and that guy or team you are playing aginst is very beatable. I would rather guys lean on the side of cockiness to tell you the truth.

 

[Doomsday101]

Rob Ryan is the DEFINITION of smug. lol

"Self satisfied; conceited"

He went in to every game talking like his players were going to demolish the opposing offense and would dominate every game. He thought he was a genius with his schemes that would fool everyone.. yet we failed to get consistent pressure all year.. and everywhere he goes, his act wears thin.

Ryan did not play the game and yes he talked big and played small. As I mentioned above rushing 3 on 3 and 10 as often as he did? That was not putting your money where your mouth is.

 

[erod]

Let me see if I am correct, you are saying a guy coming off of an achilles injury, a journeyman, and a rookie, are good safeties?

You'll see. Kiffin loves Church, as the Cowboys already did. Thinks he can do what John Lynch did. He hand-picked Allen, who Steelers fans were really upset to lose. And Wilcox is the star in waiting. He's the only player the coaches were high-fiving over during the draft.

Enjoy Cutler. The modern version of Jeff George.

 

[Doomsday101]

You'll see. Kiffin loves Church, as the Cowboys already did. Thinks he can do what John Lynch did. He hand-picked Allen, who Steelers fans were really upset to lose. And Wilcox is the star in waiting. He's the only player the coaches were high-fiving over during the draft.

Enjoy Cutler. The modern version of Jeff George.

I have to say I'm pretty happy with the current situation at Safety and I think the Cowboys have added young players who will help make the position stronger as they gain more experience. I think Allen experience will help cut down on the confusion since he does understand the system and is a good player.