Sturm: Morning After: Checking In With The Linebackers

[Idgit]

He thinks his "flagship station" is part of his organization, and he felt disrespected... I know he used to say he loved Gordo's fake Jerry, but I haven't heard anything recently from him about that. He will do press conferences with a pool of reporters, but he sure doesn't go on the Ticket for one-on-one interviews anymore. If he was just "all press is good press," he'd be on every station.

Access and content/messaging are two different issues. They obviously control access as part of whatever their strategy is for managing the brand.

 

[jterrell]

I've heard a bunch of different reasons for why he opted out, but most of them from the Cowboys side are things that were present when they signed on with the Ticket. Weak signal, could make more money elsewhere, etc.

Jerry went with the Ticket because they smoke everyone else in ratings, and he thought he could "buy" the biggest sports radio station in the market.

He may not mind the playful mocking, but he doesn't like the legit criticism.

The Ticket's Hardline made the station and their own name bagging on Jerry.

It boiled down to Cumulus not wanting to pay what CBS did as they were already the highest rated sports station.

Jerry got a MUCH larger deal. You can count on one hand the number of times Jerry has been truly upset by the media.
That was a long weekend for guys like Tom Hicks.
Jerry creates chaos and unrest just to grab attention.
His only concern is people not talking about the team or himself.
Jerry invented the phrase "never let your money get mad".

What we know for sure is CBS paid a fortune for the deal and made it the cornerstone of ramping up Dallas area sports talk.
They also chased former Ticket guys Hammer, Ben and Skin and later BAD radio.
CBS made a direct attack on the Ticket. And with the Cowboys it worked.

The Ticket is still well ahead but CBS has been closing that gap and it is largely because of the Cowboys deal.
I certainly never took New School or many others seriously there previously.

FWIW Sturm is doing a lot more radio stuff for the Stars, FC Dallas and presumably others.
I don't think he hates the Cowboys but I do think he spends less time on his analysis than he did 2 years ago.

 

[jterrell]

He thinks his "flagship station" is part of his organization, and he felt disrespected... I know he used to say he loved Gordo's fake Jerry, but I haven't heard anything recently from him about that. He will do press conferences with a pool of reporters, but he sure doesn't go on the Ticket for one-on-one interviews anymore. If he was just "all press is good press," he'd be on every station.

part of his deal with CBS was for exclusive content and access.
most people do those one on ones for promotion or cash.
jerry got paid by CBS.

this is about money not being butthurt.
if the Ticket wants to double what CBS is paying he'll be back on cracking jokes with Gordo.

 

[peplaw06]

Access and content/messaging are two different issues. They obviously control access as part of whatever their strategy is for managing the brand.

I understand they're two different issues. Part of your argument was that he's not concerned with the content, just the access. I disagree, because if he was just concerned with access and in hearing other people talk about the Cowboys all the time then he would be on every station. He didn't have to negotiate on the exclusive access in his deal with the fan.

part of his deal with CBS was for exclusive content and access.
most people do those one on ones for promotion or cash.
jerry got paid by CBS.

this is about money not being butthurt.
if the Ticket wants to double what CBS is paying he'll be back on cracking jokes with Gordo.

If it's truly only about money, then he could have refused to give the fan exclusive access to him and negotiated a different arrangement with the Ticket. Get money from both places. When you're exclusive with one station, you shrink the pie, not grow it.

The Ticket's Hardline made the station and their own name bagging on Jerry.

It boiled down to Cumulus not wanting to pay what CBS did as they were already the highest rated sports station.

Nah, they do much more than bag on Jerry... es evidenced by ESPN and the fan stealing their bits.

Jerry got a MUCH larger deal. You can count on one hand the number of times Jerry has been truly upset by the media.
That was a long weekend for guys like Tom Hicks.
Jerry creates chaos and unrest just to grab attention.
His only concern is people not talking about the team or himself.
Jerry invented the phrase "never let your money get mad".

Then don't negotiate exclusive access and talk to everyone...?

What we know for sure is CBS paid a fortune for the deal and made it the cornerstone of ramping up Dallas area sports talk.
They also chased former Ticket guys Hammer, Ben and Skin and later BAD radio.
CBS made a direct attack on the Ticket. And with the Cowboys it worked.

The Ticket is still well ahead but CBS has been closing that gap and it is largely because of the Cowboys deal.
I certainly never took New School or many others seriously there previously.

We agree here.... the fan has been trying to be the Ticket for years. Though I'm not sure how much they've closed the ratings gap...

FWIW Sturm is doing a lot more radio stuff for the Stars, FC Dallas and presumably others.
I don't think he hates the Cowboys but I do think he spends less time on his analysis than he did 2 years ago.

Agreed... he probably does less Cowboys stuff at least partly because it's same s different day... I still think what he does breaking down games is the best of any media personality.

 

[texbumthelife]

Did he really cite a story from October 2013 in regards to McClain? A story that McClain himself has already directly addressed? Wow...

Sturm seems a little bit lost in this article.

 

[jterrell]

I understand they're two different issues. Part of your argument was that he's not concerned with the content, just the access. I disagree, because if he was just concerned with access and in hearing other people talk about the Cowboys all the time then he would be on every station. He didn't have to negotiate on the exclusive access in his deal with the fan.

If it's truly only about money, then he could have refused to give the fan exclusive access to him and negotiated a different arrangement with the Ticket. Get money from both places. When you're exclusive with one station, you shrink the pie, not grow it.

Nah, they do much more than bag on Jerry... es evidenced by ESPN and the fan stealing their bits.

Then don't negotiate exclusive access and talk to everyone...?

We agree here.... the fan has been trying to be the Ticket for years. Though I'm not sure how much they've closed the ratings gap...

Agreed... he probably does less Cowboys stuff at least partly because it's same s different day... I still think what he does breaking down games is the best of any media personality.

none of that means anything.
jerry got paid A LOT more money.
that was his motivation and what matters.
the ticket was still at training camp and they still cover the cowboys.
anyone can argue whatever they want except Jerry not being able to make money.
he does that in spades.

the ticket has only two legacy shows:
hardline which has one original member and the other worked last for CBS.
and the musers which includes Jerry's former PA guy at Texas stadium.

BAD radio was very close to leaving for CBS but got a deal done last minute that was competitive but not equal to CBS.

end of the day there is no loyalty beyond silly fans.
the Ticket has been sold at least 3 times and is no where near what it once was.
any Ticket show that comes up for renewal will talk to CBS.
It is simply good business.
And if CBS makes them the same double your rate offer they gave the Cowboys, that show will be all CBS all the time.

 

[Direwolf63]

I'm having trouble determining what the bigger disaster on this team: d-line or LB.

 

[jobberone]

Bruce Carter is a SOLB, in my opinion. His instincts, size, and strength lend him well to playing that role on the left side where he can stack up guards and tight ends, shed them, and make the first hit or tackle against the run, and cover tight ends in the pass when called upon, or play the flat zone.

He's not a WOLB in this scheme. If we played a more symmetrical 4-3 scheme and less of the Tampa 2, he would actually probably succeed big time at WOLB since the responsibilities would be the same but without a TE to worry about on 55-65% of the snaps (lots of dual tight end sets these days).

I don't know where he fits.

 

[Alexander]

I don't know where he fits.

He fits at RILB in a 3-4.

 

[jobberone]

He fits at RILB in a 3-4.

Then he should be able to play the Mike. Yet he doesn't have very good instincts, has trouble getting off blocks, gets caught up in traffic and he isn't very good in coverage.

 

[Alexander]

Then he should be able to play the Mike. Yet he doesn't have very good instincts, has trouble getting off blocks, gets caught up in traffic and he isn't very good in coverage.

Much different responsibilities than a Mike in this system.

All in all, it is a very intellectually intense defense for a linebacker to play in, even more than other variations of the 4-3.

You need excellent prototypes at both Will and Mike, smart and fast, but moreover they have to be smart enough to be able to play fast.

I firmly believe Carter's issues are mental, not physical.

 

[jobberone]

Much different responsibilities than a Mike in this system.

All in all, it is a very intellectually intense defense for a linebacker to play in, even more than other variations of the 4-3.

You need excellent prototypes at both Will and Mike, smart and fast, but moreover they have to be smart enough to be able to play fast.

I firmly believe Carter's issues are mental, not physical.

You're right about it being different but that should play to his benefit and strengths. He's fast with great range. He just doesn't cover as well as you'd like.

 

[Alexander]

You're right about it being different but that should play to his benefit and strengths. He's fast with great range. He just doesn't cover as well as you'd like.

If he is dumb, it really does not play to his strengths.

One of the reasons he did so well in the 3-4 is that his keys were limited and he was more go get ball, hit ball and there is support behind you unless teams went to the trouble to try to engage him in coverage situations.

Now as the Will in this scheme, he is the pivotal player. He has much more responsibility and I think he can't handle it.

 

[casmith07]

I don't know where he fits.

In a symmetrical 4-3, he would play more like he did as the SILB in the 3-4.

In Marinelli's scheme he's basically asked to play like a nickel LB, and he's not that unfortunately.

We'll probably move on after this year and draft someone high next year.

 

[jobberone]

In a symmetrical 4-3, he would play more like he did as the SILB in the 3-4.

In Marinelli's scheme he's basically asked to play like a nickel LB, and he's not that unfortunately.

We'll probably move on after this year and draft someone high next year.

If he can play an inside LB in a 3-4 then he should be able to play the Sam in a 4-3.

 

[jobberone]

If he is dumb, it really does not play to his strengths.

One of the reasons he did so well in the 3-4 is that his keys were limited and he was more go get ball, hit ball and there is support behind you unless teams went to the trouble to try to engage him in coverage situations.

Now as the Will in this scheme, he is the pivotal player. He has much more responsibility and I think he can't handle it.

I don't see him in the Will anymore but again if he can play inside in the 3-4 then he should be able to play Sam. Now he probably has more coverage responsibilities as a Sam but that depends on the coverage keys in the base of his defense.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Vaudeville Jerry is just bad fiction. The Ticket is to radio as WWE is to sport.

 

[casmith07]

If he can play an inside LB in a 3-4 then he should be able to play the Sam in a 4-3.

I agree. But they have not once tried him at Sam as far as I know.

 

[jterrell]

The team needs to put its best 3 LBs on the field and figure out how to use them.
We tried being married to a scheme last year and it failed.
If it fails this year chances are very good we won't be a 4-3 team next year so worrying about Carter is small potatoes.

Carter bulked up clearly. Probably both because he was drafted as a 3-4 guy "who had to get stronger" and just aging.
He hasn't slimmed down since this move to a 4-3 so not sure he ever will.
He is a decent LB prospect but he is not a nickel guy at all.
He is athletic but best in the box. That is basically the definition of an ILB in a 3-4.

The team cant worry about names at all. Put the best guys on the field everywhere and focus on improvement week to week.
This staff isn't guaranteed anything including paychecks next year.

 

[DogFace]

Can't seem to get a link to work but Dallas Morning New's Brandon George is reportng Rolondo McClain isn't practicing and was seen looking out the weight room window. Whatever that means.