State of the Cowboys Address

[CCBoy]

I'm sorry, but from my point of view, none of that qualifies you for the task of watching players through a television screen and assessing where their head is at when they do or don't make a play. I honestly wouldn't trust your word on this if you actually specialized in body language psychology...but that's just me. The main thing that plagues this team currently is quite simply inexperience, a lack of overall team health (specifically Sean Lee, but the injuries that have plagued the rookies since preseason certainly hasn't helped matters and contributes to the aforementioned lack of experience), and the wrench Free's retirement threw in the Cowboys offseason plans. As far as the mental, winning cures all. If the Cowboys can bounce back and play like we all know they can play following the bi-week, I'm sure you will start seeing the body language you were hoping for at the outset.

Oh, you go...why ask a veteran pilot about aircraft performance or battle theory. You might really be onto something here...start an air industry, or better yet, do a published analysis upon just that. First thing though, is find out what the Air Force Mafia was about...

It's now time to just refrain from this path chosen by yourself...you have been informed.

 

[haleyrules]

Nice. Great work as always. Thanks.

 

[jday]

Sorry, buddy...I was a NCO, and taught not to walk away from a wrong. If one sees it, he then owns it. If you don't like being objected to on principal, stay out of the discussion...or quit offering a non inclusive response. That, instead of a discussion, is bias.

I offer actual reasons for questioning status of the current team...but that is objective, not merely opinionated.

You walk away then, you are the one doing the crying for disagreement Plus you stereotyped responses instead of reflecting what was presented. Don't then hide behind an excuse of bias on another's behalf. Address some of the points that I provided, and leave out the insult, and we have a discussion. Not before...

No one assaulted your right to be positive, but a discussion with you, has proven another animal.

If YOU want ignore, use it, buddy.

I have no use for the ignore feature; the letters that comprise peoples responses and statements on the internet are little more than bugs on the screen to me. They hold no sway over my day.

I thought I did reasonably question your methods. You put an abbreviated version of your resume in a response and then attempted to convince me that you are now a qualified expert witness to tell me what players are feeling and thinking on the field. I called bs. Pretty simple. Nothing tricky or convert about it. I simply doubt your ability to watch players through a TV screen and assess that. As far as I'm concerned, that's an impasse. You want me to trust your ability to do so and I refuse to. Your move...if there is one...

 

[jday]

Oh, you go...why ask a veteran pilot about aircraft performance or battle theory. You might really be onto something here...start an air industry, or better yet, do a published analysis upon just that. First thing though, is find out what the Air Force Mafia was about...

It's now time to just refrain from this path chosen by yourself...you have been informed.

You speak in riddles, sir. I really have no idea what it is your attempting to communicate. But based on the tone, I suspect your feelings are far more wrapped up in this conversation than mine are. If you are indeed upset by what has transpired here, I do apologize for my part in that.

 

[jday]

Nice. Great work as always. Thanks.

Thanks for the kudos and taking the time to read, sir!

 

[erod]

If they win more than 7, you are wrong.

This was a 13-3 team that had huge expectations. Missing the playoffs would be a colossal failure, especially in this crappy division.

 

[haleyrules]

Thanks for the kudos and taking the time to read, sir!

Its easy to read your thoughts. You are the only long poster I read or enjoy.

 

[haleyrules]

You speak in riddles, sir. I really have no idea what it is your attempting to communicate. But based on the tone, I suspect your feelings are far more wrapped up in this conversation than mine are. If you are indeed upset by what has transpired here, I do apologize for my part in that.

Ha!! Join the club.

 

[dallasdave]

Ha!! Join the club.

Club Cowboy

 

[jday]

This was a 13-3 team that had huge expectations. Missing the playoffs would be a colossal failure, especially in this crappy division.

Erod, your a smart guy. I know it. I've followed you long enough to notice. But what you suggested above is illogical. Each season is unique, made all the more unique by the Cowboys having a first place schedule. Knowing this, many suggested before the Cowboys took their first snap that expecting 13 & 3 again might be a bit ambitious considering the difference; but so long as they make it to the playoffs, that's all that really matters.

As it stands, their odds are not kind. But, as I've stated before, this may prove to be their advantage in the end. At this point, unless they miraculously win out, they will have to keep their foot on the pedal all the way to the playoffs if they are to have any hope of making it in. I like the sense of urgency this situation creates....but that's just me.

Colossal failure might be a bit strong...especially considering the rebuild they undertook in the offseason of the secondary. Disappointing? Absolutely. For me, how the Cowboys finish, come what may, will ultimately decide how we are to view the season as a whole. If they are playing their best football in December, but just miss as a result of their early offensive woes, I think we have to stand pat as far as coaching and see what 2018 brings. But that is just my opinion.

If they completely fall off from here, though, a change very well might be necessary, but I am reluctant to pull the trigger on that opinion at this point in the season...and, admittedly, will still be reluctant in December because not every Head Coach can work for Jerry...and the ones who can or typically the ones you really don't want. Jason & company have certainly had mixed results, but for the most part I really like the direction of the team. If there is a coaching change, it could be years before they find their competitive edge again.

 

[jday]

Its easy to read your thoughts. You are the only long poster I read or enjoy.

Thank you. I really appreciate that. That, in my opinion, is very high praise because that is essentially what I have had to learn over time to do on this site and others I post on. I've always been long-winded in my opinion, but only over the last few years have I improved on how I dress my opinion to keep a good flow and make it enjoyable balanced against informative and content rich. Thanks again!

 

[erod]

Erod, your a smart guy. I know it. I've followed you long enough to notice. But what you suggested above is illogical. Each season is unique, made all the more unique by the Cowboys having a first place schedule. Knowing this, many suggested before the Cowboys took their first snap that expecting 13 & 3 again might be a bit ambitious considering the difference; but so long as they make it to the playoffs, that's all that really matters.

As it stands, their odds are not kind. But, as I've stated before, this may prove to be their advantage in the end. At this point, unless they miraculously win out, they will have to keep their foot on the pedal all the way to the playoffs if they are to have any hope of making it in. I like the sense of urgency this situation creates....but that's just me.

Colossal failure might be a bit strong...especially considering the rebuild they undertook in the offseason of the secondary. Disappointing? Absolutely. For me, how the Cowboys finish, come what may, will ultimately decide how we are to view the season as a whole. If they are playing their best football in December, but just miss as a result of their early offensive woes, I think we have to stand pat as far as coaching and see what 2018 brings. But that is just my opinion.

If they completely fall off from here, though, a change very well might be necessary, but I am reluctant to pull the trigger on that opinion at this point in the season...and, admittedly, will still be reluctant in December because not every Head Coach can work for Jerry...and the ones who can or typically the ones you really don't want. Jason & company have certainly had mixed results, but for the most part I really like the direction of the team. If there is a coaching change, it could be years before they find their competitive edge again.

Imagine if....

Ron Leary was still here.
Brandon Carr was still here.
Either Barry Church was still here, or TJ Ward was signed.
Terrell McClain was still here.
TJ Watt or Budda Baker was drafted instead of Taco Charlton.
Tony Romo was given a chance to compete for the starting QB job.
Zeke wasn't going through court battles.
Dallas traded for Brandin Cooks or signed Desean Jackson.

This season looks bleak, but that's by the Cowboys' own arrogance and decisions.

Not making the playoffs would be a colossal failure and their own fault.

 

[jday]

Imagine if....

Ron Leary was still here.
Brandon Carr was still here.
Either Barry Church was still here, or TJ Ward was signed.
Terrell McClain was still here.
TJ Watt or Budda Baker was drafted instead of Taco Charlton.
Tony Romo was given a chance to compete for the starting QB job.
Zeke wasn't going through court battles.
Dallas traded for Brandin Cooks or signed Desean Jackson.

This season looks bleak, but that's by the Cowboys' own arrogance and decisions.

Not making the playoffs would be a colossal failure and their own fault.

Do you care to include the cap ramifications in all those players kept, signed or traded for?

I personally think Dak Prescott will eventually be better than Tony Romo and is already by far more durable and a better leader.

Did you just include Zeke's legal battles as a reason to support your assertion that the Cowboys are arrogant and make poor decisions?

As far the secondary players you are suggesting we should have kept, I already gave you my opinion on that in the op, so I won't go there again.

If you simply are trying to prove that the front office has made mistakes, I'm with you there. But so has the front offices of 31 other teams. I do not, however, think this offseason as a whole was the catalog of mistakes that many on this site seem to think it was.

Admittedly, though, I wasn't crazy about the Taco pick; but to simply say look at what all these others rookies are doing now and judge the front office for not knowing what a player would do is a bit silly, to be honest. You never know what a player is going to do once they hit the field; there's a bust or two in every first round and for the most part it is a crap shoot. I said after we drafted him he's the type of player that will require a year or two to groom, but with the right mindset, he could be great eventually.

The tone I'm picking up on from the good portion of people upset about the offseason and the results thus far is that people are thinking the Cowboys should have went all in on 2017, in consideration of the 2016 results, come what may following this season. It was that type of thinking that created the mess that this team was for the first decade plus of this century. You simply cannot manage a team that way. The decisions the front office is making now is about long term success, not flash in the pan success. That type of long-term thinking typically means alot of unpopular decisions in the eyes of the laymen, but, nevertheless, that sometimes means saying good-bye to fan favorite expensive free agents and veterans...that sometimes means saying "no" to a great but too expensive free agents/trade bait....that sometimes means rebuilding an entire position group, such as the secondary, to yield the desired results they have been after for the last several years, which is more turnovers. It requires a great deal of patience for both the front office and the fans but for completely different reasons:

For the front office, because they know more about who is available and what it would take to get him than any of us do. They have every front office on speed dial. So the temptation is great and likely an every day occurrence to pull the trigger like they did with Roy Williams saying good bye to two first round picks and hello to NFL obscurity for the next 3 to 5 years he wasted a roster spot.

For the fan, because you will drive yourself nuts if you don't understand what it is the front office is trying to accomplish. From the outside looking in it looks like they are trying to lose, but from the perspective of someone who has watched alot of football, while at times frustrating, it is also a beautiful thing to watch a front office finally get out of its own way...which is exactly what the Cowboys front office has done. If you don't see it, all I can tell you to do, is keep watching; the fruits of their patience is coming. Admittedly, that fruit may not blossom this year, but it will, very soon. And you need not worry, I don't care enough about this conversation to hunt you down and say I told you so....



...so I'll get it out of the way now:

I told you so!

 

[erod]

Do you care to include the cap ramifications in all those players kept, signed or traded for?

I personally think Dak Prescott will eventually be better than Tony Romo and is already by far more durable and a better leader.

Did you just include Zeke's legal battles as a reason to support your assertion that the Cowboys are arrogant and make poor decisions?

As far the secondary players you are suggesting we should have kept, I already gave you my opinion on that in the op, so I won't go there again.

If you simply are trying to prove that the front office has made mistakes, I'm with you there. But so has the front offices of 31 other teams. I do not, however, think this offseason as a whole was the catalog of mistakes that many on this site seem to think it was.

Admittedly, though, I wasn't crazy about the Taco pick; but to simply say look at what all these others rookies are doing now and judge the front office for not knowing what a player would do is a bit silly, to be honest. You never know what a player is going to do once they hit the field; there's a bust or two in every first round and for the most part it is a crap shoot. I said after we drafted him he's the type of player that will require a year or two to groom, but with the right mindset, he could be great eventually.

The tone I'm picking up on from the good portion of people upset about the offseason and the results thus far is that people are thinking the Cowboys should have went all in on 2017, in consideration of the 2016 results, come what may following this season. It was that type of thinking that created the mess that this team was for the first decade plus of this century. You simply cannot manage a team that way. The decisions the front office is making now is about long term success, not flash in the pan success. That type of long-term thinking typically means alot of unpopular decisions in the eyes of the laymen, but, nevertheless, that sometimes means saying good-bye to fan favorite expensive free agents and veterans...that sometimes means saying "no" to a great but too expensive free agents/trade bait....that sometimes means rebuilding an entire position group, such as the secondary, to yield the desired results they have been after for the last several years, which is more turnovers. It requires a great deal of patience for both the front office and the fans but for completely different reasons:

For the front office, because they know more about who is available and what it would take to get him than any of us do. They have every front office on speed dial. So the temptation is great and likely an every day occurrence to pull the trigger like they did with Roy Williams saying good bye to two first round picks and hello to NFL obscurity for the next 3 to 5 years he wasted a roster spot.

For the fan, because you will drive yourself nuts if you don't understand what it is the front office is trying to accomplish. From the outside looking in it looks like they are trying to lose, but from the perspective of someone who has watched alot of football, while at times frustrating, it is also a beautiful thing to watch a front office finally get out of its own way...which is exactly what the Cowboys front office has done. If you don't see it, all I can tell you to do, is keep watching; the fruits of their patience is coming. Admittedly, that fruit may not blossom this year, but it will, very soon. And you need not worry, I don't care enough about this conversation to hunt you down and say I told you so....



...so I'll get it out of the way now:

I told you so!

The salary cap is a myth. It can be manipulated to suit anything you want to do. It's a built-in excuse for owners to stash away money. They makes hundreds of millions no matter what.

Dak is eons away from being as good as Romo. I don't think he ever will be, but this isn't a Romo discussion.

Taco was a mistake. He'll be just another Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, or Ebenezzar Ekuban.

This front office arrogantly looked at 13-3 and didn't consider the generously easy schedule and lack of bigtime quarterbacks we played last year.

This is their comeuppance.

 

[jday]

The salary cap is a myth. It can be manipulated to suit anything you want to do. It's a built-in excuse for owners to stash away money. They makes hundreds of millions no matter what.

Dak is eons away from being as good as Romo. I don't think he ever will be, but this isn't a Romo discussion.

Taco was a mistake. He'll be just another Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, or Ebenezzar Ekuban.

This front office arrogantly looked at 13-3 and didn't consider the generously easy schedule and lack of bigtime quarterbacks we played last year.

This is their comeuppance.

I'm sorry, but you are absolutely wrong to suggest the salary cap is myth. If it were, teams would still be able to buy Super Bowl wins and that simply isn't a reality. You build through the draft...and that has been the reality since the cap came into existence.

I didn't say Dak is as good as Romo; I said he is more durable and a better leader. I do, however, believe if Dak continues getting better he will surpass Romo. And I think Romo made the statement he did last year because he also realized that.

Ridiculously premature to suggest Taco was a mistake 5 games into his rookie year. See for yourself how rare it is for a rookie DE to do anything of note in their first season. Aaron Donald logged 5 sacks in his first year and that deservedly so placed him in the elite conversation. To be clear, I'm not saying Taco is Aaron Donald; I am merely pointing out expecting alot from him this early in the career is asinine. Further, to compare him to bust of the past already his putting the cart well ahead of the horse.

You really don't think they understood the challenge that faced them this year. I'm not even sure what decision of the front office this past offseason demonstrates that belief. I think you might be creating a self-perpetuating narrative that only serves to keep you pissed off.

You say, "This is their comeuppance" as though you truly relish the Cowboys 2 and 3 ratio for a completely different reason than I have opted to embrace it. It's almost like you want bad things to happen to them. I can't be a part of that conversation...as a fan, I'm a proponent of good things happening to my team, regardless of whether or not I agree with how the front office builds this team...but that's just me.

 

[erod]

I'm sorry, but you are absolutely wrong to suggest the salary cap is myth. If it were, teams would still be able to buy Super Bowl wins and that simply isn't a reality. You build through the draft...and that has been the reality since the cap came into existence.

I didn't say Dak is as good as Romo; I said he is more durable and a better leader. I do, however, believe if Dak continues getting better he will surpass Romo. And I think Romo made the statement he did last year because he also realized that.

Ridiculously premature to suggest Taco was a mistake 5 games into his rookie year. See for yourself how rare it is for a rookie DE to do anything of note in their first season. Aaron Donald logged 5 sacks in his first year and that deservedly so placed him in the elite conversation. To be clear, I'm not saying Taco is Aaron Donald; I am merely pointing out expecting alot from him this early in the career is asinine. Further, to compare him to bust of the past already his putting the cart well ahead of the horse.

You really don't think they understood the challenge that faced them this year. I'm not even sure what decision of the front office this past offseason demonstrates that belief. I think you might be creating a self-perpetuating narrative that only serves to keep you pissed off.

You say, "This is their comeuppance" as though you truly relish the Cowboys 2 and 3 ratio for a completely different reason than I have opted to embrace it. It's almost like you want bad things to happen to them. I can't be a part of that conversation...as a fan, I'm a proponent of good things happening to my team, regardless of whether or not I agree with how the front office builds this team...but that's just me.

You can sign whomever you want and structure it however you like. You can push money into 2050 if you want. The salary cap is completely malleable. Mike Fisher has demonstrated this for years. You can literally do whatever you want.

I agree, teams should mostly be built through the draft. But you can keep your own, too.

Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman have both said - and they were serious - that Tony was a better quarterback than they were. I agree.

Taco didn't even start at Michigan until he was a senior. And he was nothing special as a senior. He's a measurables guy that doesn't translate to the field.

Dallas looked at that shiny 13-3, and paid no attention to the moles and wrinkles that were evident. Their best unit, the offensive line, is now significantly less than it was. They arrogantly thought they could fly with three rookies, a second-year guy, an unproven pair of safeties, and an aging Scandrick in the secondary. They didn't even acquire or draft a linebacker of note when Jaylon was a huge maybe, and the unit was lean.

They will be good down the road, but they pretty much ensured that this year's squad could not contend for a championship.

 

[jday]

You can sign whomever you want and structure it however you like. You can push money into 2050 if you want. The salary cap is completely malleable. Mike Fisher has demonstrated this for years. You can literally do whatever you want.

I agree, teams should mostly be built through the draft. But you can keep your own, too.

Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman have both said - and they were serious - that Tony was a better quarterback than they were. I agree.

Taco didn't even start at Michigan until he was a senior. And he was nothing special as a senior. He's a measurables guy that doesn't translate to the field.

Dallas looked at that shiny 13-3, and paid no attention to the moles and wrinkles that were evident. Their best unit, the offensive line, is now significantly less than it was. They arrogantly thought they could fly with three rookies, a second-year guy, an unproven pair of safeties, and an aging Scandrick in the secondary. They didn't even acquire or draft a linebacker of note when Jaylon was a huge maybe, and the unit was lean.

They will be good down the road, but they pretty much ensured that this year's squad could not contend for a championship.

I understand that you can manipulate the cap to an extent, but to your example, the players agent would have to agree to move money to 2050 and you and I both know no one is doing that.

The point is when it comes time to sign the free agents you deem cannot be done without you absolutely have to have cap room to get that done. Martin and DLaw are likely to demand a big pay day, to say nothing of the pay check Dak will eventually earn and Zeke, if they opt to keep him, which it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't.

Tony was a better quarterback when he didn't get hurt every time he got hit. Again, availability will always be a players best ability and over the course of the last three seasons he simply could not stay healthy. That said, again, today he may be the better QB, but I think Dak has the higher ceiling. I could certainly be wrong. My overall point is Dak is a franchise QB...we can win with him.

I really don't see Taco as a measurables guy...his combine was not all that impressive, which is why he fell to the bottom of the first in the first place. In my mind, he is an effort guy who doesn't presently have the measurables for his effort to make a big difference. Given an offseason or two in a strength and conditioning program and with the right drive and attitude from Taco he could be great. But like DLaw, it will take time and patience on our part to see that come to fruition.

Your last paragraph is pure conjecture. It reminds me of how sometimes when I do something my wife doesn't like, despite the simple and innocent reasons I have for my actions, she creates this story that paints me like I am an evil villain that did it just to spite her. You have similarly taken the Cowboys front office offseason decisions that they felt were the best decisions for the team to ensure long term success and made them seem like Dr Claw trying to take over the world without the benefit of a winning team.

The problem with your theory is the Cowboys have already succeeded in doing that. They have more fans than any other sports team in the world, as evidenced by their jersey sales. Whether I agree with who the Cowboys drafted, who they let go and acquired, who they didn't trade for or not, I do know beyond a shadow of doubt they have long term success in mind with every decision they make.

It won't always look pretty. It won't always be popular or the splash move (if ever). But if you want a team that is a winning team every year as opposed to just for one year, that's how you have to align your decisions. And it can't be a mixture of both. You have to make decisions with the long term always in mind. Every decision this offseason in my opinion has the earmarks of long term success in mind. Of course, you can see it how ever you want, but making the front office out to be a villain only serves to piss you off...and I don't see much good in that.