Starting to Feel Some Hopelessness...

[CoCo]

Is it talent level, team chemistry, or coaching that is holding this team back?

In recent years it seemed pretty easy to finger one or more of those as primary to our shortcomings. It also seemed pretty easy to take some offseason moves to reasonably address them.

This year is different for me. Yes, there are 3 full games to go and we currently are holding a playoff spot. I'm certainly not giving up, but I honestly am not hopeful about our ability to reach a "playoff win" goal in 2009.

If the problem is talent, what are the priorities? Sure, Safety and OL depth are obvious but does that approach stir confidence for 2010? It seems are shortcomings are greater than that.

Team chemistry? We made all the obvious moves last offseason. I regret none of them, and actually think we strengthened our chemistry in the process. But I don't see more wins as a result. Certainly not enough wins to achieve our goals.

Coaching? I have no strong allegiance to Wade & Garrett other than the fact that Wade's track record as DC, Garrett's promise for the future, and the continuity plus with both of them. Many will dismiss that but I do long for the benefits of having a consistent coaching staff (a la Landry, Noll, Cowher etc) from year to year. I am not attracted to the latest and greatest glitz as I think its often a flash in the pan.

You always look to upgrade talent & depth in the offseason but what potential spark is out there for 2010 to lift this team out of its overall mediocre results to make it a promising contender? We have competence and in many cases, enviable talent in most spots. Yet totally unsatisfactory results.

I can't think of a single coach that I believe strongly enough in to get excited about what THEY would do with this bunch.

When you are 5-11 you find hope in talent acquisition, and rebuilding. When you finish 2006 like we did you get excited to think about what Romo can do with a full season, a non-slippery ball, and what a less frustrated and burnt out coach could do to bring this team together. When you are 13-3 but take a Round 1 exit to the eventual champion you think lightning can't strike twice. When you have the kind of ridiculous drama we had in 2008, and 3 games lost to injurt at QB, you get excited about the possibilities if everyone gets on the same page.

I can't find that source of hope for 2010. I truly can't at this point. Very unfamiliar, and disturbing.

 

[Coast2Coast27]

The two biggest problems with the 2009 cowboy's is can't ge off the field on third down on defense, too many penalities at the worse possiable times.

 

[windward]

Fix the Oline, upgrade at safety and take your best shot again with a new coachin place.

 

[InmanRoshi]

This is why I was so upset when we lost against the Giants two years ago in the playoffs. That was our best team with it's best shot. It felt like losing a Superbowl. People just assume because you were great one year you're going to be great the next 3-4 years. The truth is the window of opportunity doesn't always leave itself open for long. We'll try to patch holes in the offseason, but new ones will open up in their place.

 

[Rampage]

Is it talent level, team chemistry, or coaching that is holding this team back?

all of the above and than some.

 

[xWraithx]

This is why I was so upset when we lost against the Giants two years ago. That was our best chance at a Superbowl. That window doesn't stay open long.

"was"?

I'm still reeling from that loss and this team has done absolutely nothing to aid in the recovery process.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Nah, as long as Romo is young enough to not be sliding physically, we should be fine. And we still have D-Ware and Ratliff and Witten locked up.

Really, I think you do what would do whether you were 1-15 or just won the Superbowl. You just draft as well as you can and sign good fits in free agency, and keep going. I always say this, but you just try to put yourself in good position late in the year and eventually you will break through. In our case it might take some favorable late-season scheduling to get everyone's heads off this December Collapse talk, but it will eventually happen.

And besides, if we fail the rest of the year, it's likely that we're going to get a Holmgren or Shanahan in here. That will provide a lot of hope.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Is it talent level, team chemistry, or coaching that is holding this team back?

This team is not devoid of talent but neither are most NFL teams.

Some might argue that it's coaching that is holding this team back but I would also take a serious look at the leadership in the locker room. Everyone talks a good game during the week but no one comes out on gameday and takes their game to another level and/or inspires their teammates.

 

[xWraithx]

This team is not devoid of talent but neither are most NFL teams.

Some might argue that it's coaching that is holding this team back but I would also take a serious look at the leadership in the locker room. Everyone talks a good game during the week but no one comes out on gameday and takes their game to another level and/or inspires their teammates.

*opens a can of worms*

Terrell Owens, of all people, was the only one visibly holding people accountable or motivating on the sidelines (yelling at Gurode for fumbling a crucial snap comes to mind, pumping up the defense on the sidelines before a much needed stop, etc)

not saying he didn't have his baggage, of course... but who the hell else does that type of stuff on this team?

 

[superpunk]

As long as number 9 is under center, there's hope. There's always work to do, but we've got a great core.

 

[Direwolf63]

Is it talent level, team chemistry, or coaching that is holding this team back?

In recent years it seemed pretty easy to finger one or more of those as primary to our shortcomings. It also seemed pretty easy to take some offseason moves to reasonably address them.

This year is different for me. Yes, there are 3 full games to go and we currently are holding a playoff spot. I'm certainly not giving up, but I honestly am not hopeful about our ability to reach a "playoff win" goal in 2009.

If the problem is talent, what are the priorities? Sure, Safety and OL depth are obvious but does that approach stir confidence for 2010? It seems are shortcomings are greater than that.

Team chemistry? We made all the obvious moves last offseason. I regret none of them, and actually think we strengthened our chemistry in the process. But I don't see more wins as a result. Certainly not enough wins to achieve our goals.

Coaching? I have no strong allegiance to Wade & Garrett other than the fact that Wade's track record as DC, Garrett's promise for the future, and the continuity plus with both of them. Many will dismiss that but I do long for the benefits of having a consistent coaching staff (a la Landry, Noll, Cowher etc) from year to year. I am not attracted to the latest and greatest glitz as I think its often a flash in the pan.

You always look to upgrade talent & depth in the offseason but what potential spark is out there for 2010 to lift this team out of its overall mediocre results to make it a promising contender? We have competence and in many cases, enviable talent in most spots. Yet totally unsatisfactory results.

I can't think of a single coach that I believe strongly enough in to get excited about what THEY would do with this bunch.

When you are 5-11 you find hope in talent acquisition, and rebuilding. When you finish 2006 like we did you get excited to think about what Romo can do with a full season, a non-slippery ball, and what a less frustrated and burnt out coach could do to bring this team together. When you are 13-3 but take a Round 1 exit to the eventual champion you think lightning can't strike twice. When you have the kind of ridiculous drama we had in 2008, and 3 games lost to injurt at QB, you get excited about the possibilities if everyone gets on the same page.

I can't find that source of hope for 2010. I truly can't at this point. Very unfamiliar, and disturbing.

CoCo,

Remember VACowboy back in the Austin360 days? He always maintained that as long as Jerry Jones was the GM, the Cowboys would never win. He would say Jerry got lucky with Jimmy Johnson, but that's it. We would hammer him left and right for thinking that way.

I'm starting to think he was right all along. In fact I've been thinking this for the past year or so.

 

[Rampage]

As long as number 9 is under center, there's hope. There's always work to do, but we've got a great core.

that's debatable depending on who you consider to be the core of the team.

If guys like Spears,James,Newman,Gurode and Barber are in the core it's not great.

If you just consider Romo,Witten,Ware,Ratliff,Jenkins and Bigg are the core than I understand.

 

[Dodger12]

CoCo,

Remember VACowboy back in the Austin360 days? He always maintained that as long as Jerry Jones was the GM, the Cowboys would never win. He would say Jerry got lucky with Jimmy Johnson, but that's it. We would hammer him left and right for thinking that way.

I'm starting to think he was right all along. In fact I've been thinking this for the past year or so.

I remember the days of Austin360 RXP and a lot of those posters can be found here. VA posted here under the same name but he was banned some time ago for some reason. I'm not sure why.

 

[Silverstar]

3rd down efficiency....39%

By comparison,

Colts - 52%
Saints - 48%
Vikings - 48%
Packers - 45%
Chargers - 42%

 

[Direwolf63]

I remember the days of Austin360 RXP and a lot of those posters can be found here. VA posted here under the same name but he was banned some time ago for some reason. I'm not sure why.

What name did you go by back then? I remember Doomsday101 was just Doomsday back then. It really was a fun place to talk Cowboys football. I wonder where Diego and JEM are these days?

As for VACowboy, he was probably arguing about how useless Jerry is as a GM.

 

[xWraithx]

3rd down efficiency....39%

By comparison,

Colts - 52%
Saints - 48%
Vikings - 48%
Packers - 45%
Chargers - 42%

sorry, is that offense or defense?

I'm assuming offense

it'd be interesting also to see the D's percentage of stops on 3rd down comparatively

 

[Silverstar]

Takeaway ratio...-1

By comparison,

Colts...+7
Saints...+16
Vikings...+7
Packers...+8
Chargers...+8

 

[Silverstar]

sorry, is that offense or defense?

I'm assuming offense

it'd be interesting also to see the D's percentage of stops on 3rd down comparatively

Offense

 

[Zimmy Lives]

that's debatable depending on who you consider to be the core of the team.

If guys like Spears,James,Newman,Gurode and Barber are in the core it's not great.

If you just consider Romo,Witten,Ware,Ratliff,Jenkins and Bigg are the core than I understand.

Witten and Ware are as close to leaders as anyone is going to find on this team. They are not, however, emotional leaders nor do they inspire a higher level of play from their teammates.

 

[sonnyboy]

Is it talent level, team chemistry, or coaching that is holding this team back?

In recent years it seemed pretty easy to finger one or more of those as primary to our shortcomings. It also seemed pretty easy to take some offseason moves to reasonably address them.

I can't find that source of hope for 2010. I truly can't at this point. Very unfamiliar, and disturbing.

Do you know what it means when you feel this way?
It's time for a coaching change. And if we fail to make a post-season run that's exactly what we'll get.