Stars not shining for Cowboys - by Mark Kriegel (FoxSports.com)

odog422

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,658
Reaction score
311
Biggest disappointment of the season?

The choice shouldn't be this easy, not with the perennially underachieving San Diego Chargers already at 3-5. But the Dallas Cowboys get my vote, a clear-cut winner in the loser category.

They've had their injuries, of course. And they're still a game over .500. What's more, with Tony Romo due to return after a fortuitously timed bye week, you can expect them to make a run in the second half.

But so what? With a record 13 Pro Bowlers returning from last year's squad, there was talk — most of it entirely reasonable — that this was Dallas' most talented team ever. The Cowboys were the consensus pick, not just to represent the NFC, but to win the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, midway though the season, America's team has begun to resemble America's economy, which is to say it smells of a scam.

At the helm of this caper is — what else? — an erstwhile oilman. Jerry Jones has succeeded George Steinbrenner as the star owner of American sports: an aggressive huckster, a post-modern Barnum, a procurer of talents that reflect well on his own. Truth be told, he's not a bad general manager. Unlike Steinbrenner, he played the game he professes to know, and knows it intimately. But he's also addicted to the high-profile play at the expense of more sensible solutions.

He re-signs Tony Romo and Terrell Owens to lucrative contracts. He signs Pacman Jones (a foregone conclusion, right?) He gets himself a new $1.3 billion stadium. And he invites HBO to training camp.

You think he might've had time to get a backup quarterback?

Gus Frerotte maybe? Or Mark Brunell? How about Byron Leftwich? Whatever. The Cowboys are lucky to be 1-2 since Romo busted his pinkie. At this point you have to wonder whether the offensive coordinator is a better backup quarterback than the backup quarterback. Brad Johnson was 5-for-11 with 71 yards and two interceptions before he was benched against the Giants on Sunday. In their last two games, the Cowboys managed to generate only 232 yards of offense with eight turnovers.

"If you've got Brad Johnson's experience, you give up some things," Jones said after the game. "On a guy with a lot of years, you don't know what you might give up in the skill level until it jumps out at you."

Wait up. Jumps out at whom? It's not for me to know that Brad Johnson had nothing left. But it was for Jerry Jones. Unlike Steinbrenner, he doesn't have a general manager at his disposal, ready to fire. If Jones gets the glory, he's also due for the blame.

Besides, this team is missing more than Tony Romo. You think it's the coach? Well, that's Jones' coach. He picked Wade Phillips, who's supposed to be first and foremost a defensive guy. Still, for all their talent, the Cowboys are ranked ninth in defense, allowing 309 yards per game. They've intercepted a single pass in the last three weeks. In fact, according to STATS Inc., the Cowboys are tied for 29th in interceptions.

To be sure, the secondary is depleted, with cornerback Terence Newman out on account of groin surgery and Pacman Jones out on account of being Pacman Jones. But the injuries obscure a larger truth.

You don't need to be a general manager or even an owner to know what you saw on Sunday. As Jones might say, it jumped out at you. The Cowboys, now in sole possession of last place in the NFC East, were demolished and demystified. The stars have lost their swagger. And more.

By 8:20 of the fourth quarter, when Derrick Ward ran 17 yards unmolested for a touchdown, they had stopped competing. No one wanted to tackle Derrick Ward.

Maybe the Cowboys' defense had been softened by Brandon Jacobs. Or maybe the Giants' offensive line, conspicuously lacking of Pro Bowlers, did the softening. Whatever the case, it's now clear that Jerry Jones' collection of stars was already softer than anybody knew.
 

AdamJT13

Salary Cap Analyst
Messages
16,583
Reaction score
4,529
If we were such huge favorites to win the Super Bowl, why did so many media "experts" pick us to lose in Week 1 at Cleveland, Week 2 at home against Philadelphia and Week 3 against Green Bay?

We have a winning record. The same can't be said of a lot of other teams expected to contend for the Super Bowl title.
 

Chocolate Lab

Run-loving Dino
Messages
37,104
Reaction score
11,428
Also, who seriously said this was our most talented team ever?

I doubt anyone said that... But if they did, they're an idiot.
 

cowboyjoe

Well-Known Member
Messages
28,433
Reaction score
752
yeah, but the cowboys are now the laughing stock in the nfl, and its like nothing to the players, thats what burns me up

these players have no heart, fire and desire

sure they love to showboat, when they make a big sack or stop a running back 5 yards downfield, but gutting it out, stepping up and being accountable, these players have no clue

and with good ole wade telliing them it is going to be allright, thats a bunch of marleky too
 

tomson75

Brain Dead Shill
Messages
16,720
Reaction score
1
Chocolate Lab;2400598 said:
Also, who seriously said this was our most talented team ever?

I doubt anyone said that... But if they did, they're an idiot.

Many people were flirting with that idea 2 months ago. The idea, i would guess, stemmed from the '13 Pro Bowler' factor, and that we were comparable (or better) 'talent-wise' at each position to the 18-1 New England team.

Either way, the 'stupidity factor' with our players and coaches should have shot that idea down a while back.
 

cowboyjoe

Well-Known Member
Messages
28,433
Reaction score
752
just look at these facts, and wade philips is suppose to be a defensive genius

# 29 in interceptions
hardly any sacks
allowing more sacks by opposing teams
hardly a running game, but you have one of the biggest offensive lines in pro football
your linebackers are tackling when running backs are past the line of scrimmage
the front 7 isnt getting off of blocks
sloppy football, cowboys are ranking high in penalities, etc

that all goes back to gameplaning and coaching,

the players take on the personality of the head coach, now they are too laid back and believe everything is going to be allright

you dont fix these issues, by plugging in some starters that were hurt,

when in the last 4 games teams have been scoring on each possession of the football either by field goal or touchdown and your defense cant stop it, something is wrong

this all goes back to camp cupcake and camp marshmellow, you have a soft team now, and they play like it,
 

Chocolate Lab

Run-loving Dino
Messages
37,104
Reaction score
11,428
tomson75;2400608 said:
Many people were flirting with that idea 2 months ago. The idea, i would guess, stemmed from the '13 Pro Bowler' factor, and that we were comparable (or better) 'talent-wise' at each position to the 18-1 New England team.
Wow... This team has won how many Super Bowls and had how many Hall of Famers (even though less than we should have) in its history?

And someone really thought a team that hasn't won a playoff game was the most talented team in franchise history?

That's just stunning. :eek:
 

Kilyin

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,041
Reaction score
244
cowboyjoe;2400609 said:
hardly any sacks

Hey Corky, we're #5 in the NFL in sacks with 26.

Don't come in here blowing your fact trumpet and post garbage like that.

We were on track to be the best offense in the league until Romo got hurt. This is all on the front office for having two clowns as backup QBs.
 

tomson75

Brain Dead Shill
Messages
16,720
Reaction score
1
cowboyjoe;2400609 said:
just look at these facts, and wade philips is suppose to be a defensive genius

# 29 in interceptions
hardly any sacks
allowing more sacks by opposing teams

hardly a running game, but you have one of the biggest offensive lines in pro football
your linebackers are tackling when running backs are past the line of scrimmage
the front 7 isnt getting off of blocks
sloppy football, cowboys are ranking high in penalities, etc

that all goes back to gameplaning and coaching,

the players take on the personality of the head coach, now they are too laid back and believe everything is going to be allright

you dont fix these issues, by plugging in some starters that were hurt,

when in the last 4 games teams have been scoring on each possession of the football either by field goal or touchdown and your defense cant stop it, something is wrong

this all goes back to camp cupcake and camp marshmellow, you have a soft team now, and they play like it,

If we're going to look at your 'facts', it usually helps to actually use....facts.

The Cowboys are 5th in the league in sacks with 26. That' 52 projected. Not bad.

We're 17th in sacks given up with 17. That's 34 projected. We should do better, but it by no means backs up your above statement.

Oh, and we're 9th in rushing yards and 4th in yards per carry.

Soo.....yeah.

Let's concentrate on the real problems, not the made up ones.
 
Top