Team Under Construction

[CouchCoach]

We seem to be witnessing a changing of the guard from a team that has ridden the offense every season to one that will be dependent on the defense.

I would like to say this team is balanced like the great Cowboys teams of the past but it isn't really, at least doesn't seem to be but that's OK as long as we accept what is really happening.

Regardless of what Booger would have you think, this team is in the middle of a rebuild and is not really a contender yet. As fans, we see what we want to see and not what is really there too often. We think a mid level player will suddenly become better just by donning that Star. We make good players great and excuses for mid level players doing their best, maxing out their talent.

This is not a contender season for me. It is a season to assess the strengths and weaknesses and address that in the off season to get to contender status.

And what was once the perceived strength of this team, the OL, is now a ? with not only starters but depth. But what was the perceived weakness, the DL, is now considered strength, at least at that DE position.

For each of us, the enjoyment of this Cowboys season is dependent on one thing, our expectations. I am not expecting much more in the way of a record than last season but I am expecting to see the team go about that in a different way. Because, except at QB, the offense is easier to fix than the defense and I am expecting an improved defense but, at the same time, an offense not as good as in the past but that's OK.

It's not whether they admit to a rebuild or not, it is how they go about that and so far that looks like the right way to do it. This defense appears to be a hell of a lot closer than as far away as they've been in the past and that's the first step in building a sustainable contender.

The present does not look a lot better but the future does. And that's the way I will watch this team play.

 

[Darkhound]

its been 20 years... i dont think it is even in construction... this TEAM is just the pure essence of mediocrity.

 

[Clove]

It's never a successful season with the type of coach we employ. Get that right, we ARE a contender.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

It’s the “still two or three year away” from serious contention post we get every year.

 

[CouchCoach]

its been 20 years... i dont think it is even in construction... this TEAM is just the pure essence of mediocrity.

I cannot argue that but I do feel as if I have seen improvement in that area except at coaching. That is the one area that really needs more accountability but considering who owns it, that's not changing.

 

[CouchCoach]

It’s the “still two or three year away” from serious contention post we get every year.

Didn't put a time frame on it, could happen next season. I just don't see it this season.

 

[millennial_legend]

its been 20 years... i dont think it is even in construction... this TEAM is just the pure essence of mediocrity.

So kind of like the Dallas area toll roads?

 

[CouchCoach]

It's never a successful season with the type of coach we employ. Get that right, we ARE a contender.

True, but when have they gotten that right? Our ideas of the requirements of the job are not then same as theirs.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

We are never contenders because either the defense is bad or maybe this year it's the offense. The only time we contend is when everyone picks against us and we surprise them. The good news it appears to be happening this year.

 

[erod]

In 3 years.....Sean Lee, Zeke Elliott, Tyron Smith, Demarcus Lawrence, Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, Terrance Williams, and others will likely all be gone.

If the franchise really believes Dak is the guy, they have to strike right now.

Best run game in the league. Very promising defense that could be elite quickly with the right signing or two. A talented, although unproven, group of receivers with speed.

Now. This is a one-year league if you have a QB you believe in.

 

[Clove]

True, but when have they gotten that right? Our ideas of the requirements of the job are not then same as theirs.

They never will be because the employer is not fit to hire at that position. We can talk about everything football related, but it always comes back to this one thing.

 

[Doomsday101]

I still have high expectations for this team, Dak has moved the team when he has played even without Zeke in the lineup. I think the offense will be fine. As for defense I think this is going to be a very good unit and will be able to get the ball back into the hands of this offense and be able to set them up in good field position in the process. I'm not going to spend time telling others how they should feel about this team all I can say is what I expect from this team.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

In 3 years.....Sean Lee, Zeke Elliott, Tyron Smith, Demarcus Lawrence, Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, Terrance Williams, and others will likely all be gone.

If the franchise really believes Dak is the guy, they have to strike right now.

Best run game in the league. Very promising defense that could be elite quickly with the right signing or two. A talented, although unproven, group of receivers with speed.

Now. This is a one-year league if you have a QB you believe in.

I agree with that. You want to strike before you have to pay the big bucks to your QB. After that happens it will be more rebuilding. It never ends.

 

[CouchCoach]

So kind of like the Dallas area toll roads?

Nice analogy when you consider what they did 10 years ago, could have been run by the Cowboys. Build all of those nice new toll booths, hire more people and then discover tags and Zip Cash, which was already around in other areas, fire all the toll booth people and tear down the nice new tollbooths.

That is exactly like the Cowboys have been. Spend the money and the result is the same.

 

[CouchCoach]

I still have high expectations for this team, Dak has moved the team when he has played even without Zeke in the lineup. I think the offense will be fine. As for defense I think this is going to be a very good unit and will be able to get the ball back into the hands of this offense and be able to set them up in good field position in the process. I'm not going to spend time telling others how they should feel about this team all I can say is what I expect from this team.

Same here, that's all I said.

 

[millennial_legend]

Nice analogy when you consider what they did 10 years ago, could have been run by the Cowboys. Build all of those nice new toll booths, hire more people and then discover tags and Zip Cash, which was already around in other areas, fire all the toll booth people and tear down the nice new tollbooths.

That is exactly like the Cowboys have been. Spend the money and the result is the same.

I don't use the toll roads because of the "Pay By Mail" crap along with the price increases. Pay by mail is so 1950s and earlier... antiquated. I'd rather just default.

 

[Blackspider214]

Wow. So we are year 3 into Dak's rookie contract that is up next season and Zeke's is up in 2 years. You just went all in on the OL in terms of salary cap percentage and you are telling me this team is still under construction and waiting? You do realize Dak is going to get paid and so is Zeke. And if what you say is true, we would have massively wasted that opportunity while they were cheap. Yay go coaching staff and front office! We are the epitome of one year away from being one year away. What sums that up is we let Hitchens walk and then use a 1st round pick resource to fill his replacement in LVE who isn't even close to his skill level. So we got weaker in LBs and had to use a 1st round pick just to do it. That sums up the last 2 decades. Drafting to fill holes instead of drafting to strengthen the team.

 

[Stash]

We seem to be witnessing a changing of the guard from a team that has ridden the offense every season to one that will be dependent on the defense.

I would like to say this team is balanced like the great Cowboys teams of the past but it isn't really, at least doesn't seem to be but that's OK as long as we accept what is really happening.

Regardless of what Booger would have you think, this team is in the middle of a rebuild and is not really a contender yet. As fans, we see what we want to see and not what is really there too often. We think a mid level player will suddenly become better just by donning that Star. We make good players great and excuses for mid level players doing their best, maxing out their talent.

This is not a contender season for me. It is a season to assess the strengths and weaknesses and address that in the off season to get to contender status.

And what was once the perceived strength of this team, the OL, is now a ? with not only starters but depth. But what was the perceived weakness, the DL, is now considered strength, at least at that DE position.

For each of us, the enjoyment of this Cowboys season is dependent on one thing, our expectations. I am not expecting much more in the way of a record than last season but I am expecting to see the team go about that in a different way. Because, except at QB, the offense is easier to fix than the defense and I am expecting an improved defense but, at the same time, an offense not as good as in the past but that's OK.

It's not whether they admit to a rebuild or not, it is how they go about that and so far that looks like the right way to do it. This defense appears to be a hell of a lot closer than as far away as they've been in the past and that's the first step in building a sustainable contender.

The present does not look a lot better but the future does. And that's the way I will watch this team play.

No.

If it doesn't happen this year, then you're changing out your head coach and much of your coaching staff, and who knows how many players.

But this group doesn't get another year of "building" anything. They've already gotten much more time and patience than any of them deserve.

 

[Jake]

You want to strike before you have to pay the big bucks to your QB. After that happens it will be more rebuilding. It never ends.

Teams not named the Cowboys have paid their QBs and remained contenders for years. If Dallas can't do it that comes back to what it always does at The Star...failure of leadership.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Teams not named the Cowboys have paid their QBs and remained contenders for years. If Dallas can't do it that comes back to what it always does at The Star...failure of leadership.

Well there's your answer. lol