The 2 MAIN factors why the Cowboys are not 7-0

[Dallas22]

I've heard the argument that some say that the Cowboys could be 3-4 or even worse. I agree that is possible but that would make them a bad team. Right now, the Cowboys are an average team, with still 2 MAIN reasons why they are not better - or as I like to say "As Good As They Can Be".

Main problem, our kicking game. Cortez being cut, although a good move, how good is this rookie? Problems 'could' still be there in this department, but if out new kicker can be consistant inside the 45, then we are much improved.

Just about equally disturbing is the other problem which is this "Part A", while the "Part B" breakdown is a recent IMPORVEMENT, but so far have hurt us this season - A: The recent problem of getting the ball into the Red Zone and settling for a FG. This CAN'T consistantly happen (especially with a bad kicker). B: The Cowboys Defense is GETTING BETTER each week. To hold the Cowboys 3 opponents that are in the top statistical offensive categories (Yards and Scoring) is really something. Unfortunatly they haven't been able to "close it out", with the exception of the San Fran game. We know this happened against Washington and Seattle, but also allowed the Giants and Chargers to get back into the game at the end.

I must say that IF we had a DECENT kicker, then we should be 6-1 or 7-0 - and it is simple. Jones will be coming back, for sure after the bye week and Bledose and Sean Payton must improve the Red Zone TD production. Hopefully the defense can continue improving because it will NEED to... the second half of the season will be tough and we MUST beat the Cardinals, hopfully not in a close game. 5-3 into the bye week and then Phily on Monday night - BIG game.

I know that the Cowboys can still make a nice run at and into the Playoffs, but it depends on a couple of important factors - Kicking FGs and Scoring TDs in the red zone. I feel that the Cowboys can do it, I just hope that it is sooner than later.

Dallas22

 

[Hiero]

1) Kicker
2) red zone scoring.
simple as that.

 

[noshame]

7-0 teams are 7-0 because they are superior teams. We are not.

As our fearless leader would say, we are what we are.

There are many reasons.

 

[Aikmaniac]

I'm still having trouble deciding if the Cowboys are a good team or just plain average. I mean, are the 2005 Cowboys the ones that kicked Philly's *** or are they the team that struggled against SF, Oakland, and Seattle? I would say the Cowboys have the potential to be that good...it's just earning BP's trust to "unleash hell!"

Why not open it up this weekend? Take out some frustrations on the hapless Cards, go into the bye week preparing for Philly. I like them apples.

 

[goshan]

Sorry but we are not a good kicker away from being 7-0. This is silly.

- Our running game has been in-effective for the most part
- Our red zone offense and offense overall has been inconsistent
- The offensive line is mediocre
- Our defense has given up too many big plays -- especially in the 4th quarter
- We are getting too many timely penalties

Those four reasons are the primary reasons why we are an average team right now.

 

[burmafrd]

Kicking game has cost us at least one win- possibly two. But injuries happen and there just are not enough good kickers out there. We tried to improve on Cundiff and couldn't- then lost him. Its not as if we did not try. And of course now dropping Robinson is seen as a big mistake for a team that wants to make the playoffs THIS year. I really think that BP did not believe we would be as good as we are now- making progress, especially on D as fast as it is happening. He was pretty much figuring a 8-8 team this year with a slow start and making the BIG move next year.
That is why he dropped RObinson in order to get a full year into getting a new long term long snapper ready. OOOPPPPSSSS. Also- I have a hunch he thought the O line would be doing much better then it is- and on paper it should be (or at least SHOULD have been up to Flo's injury). It now looks like we have to baby both tackles and our center is not what we thought he was. And our new expensive guard just might be going downhill- it should not be happening as he is too young- O line speaking- for that to happen- but it looks like a possibility that is growing. BP needs to suck it up and decide to gamble and open up the O as much as he can- since he cannot count on grind it out drives with the line in the shape it is. We need to strike quick and get a good lead and force the other team to throw- that is when we can win big.

 

[Hiero]

I am extremely doubtful at best that Parcells chose the longsnapper based on his feelings that the offense wasnt ready. Doesnt make any sense so dont reach and grasp for every single little thing.

Kicking game has cost us at least one win- possibly two. But injuries happen and there just are not enough good kickers out there. We tried to improve on Cundiff and couldn't- then lost him. Its not as if we did not try. And of course now dropping Robinson is seen as a big mistake for a team that wants to make the playoffs THIS year. I really think that BP did not believe we would be as good as we are now- making progress, especially on D as fast as it is happening. He was pretty much figuring a 8-8 team this year with a slow start and making the BIG move next year.
That is why he dropped RObinson in order to get a full year into getting a new long term long snapper ready. OOOPPPPSSSS. Also- I have a hunch he thought the O line would be doing much better then it is- and on paper it should be (or at least SHOULD have been up to Flo's injury). It now looks like we have to baby both tackles and our center is not what we thought he was. And our new expensive guard just might be going downhill- it should not be happening as he is too young- O line speaking- for that to happen- but it looks like a possibility that is growing. BP needs to suck it up and decide to gamble and open up the O as much as he can- since he cannot count on grind it out drives with the line in the shape it is. We need to strike quick and get a good lead and force the other team to throw- that is when we can win big.

 

[burmafrd]

I think BP has a long list of things he wanted to do THIS year to get ready for NEXT year. Getting a younger cheaper long snapper was one of them.

 

[Hiero]

I think BP has a long list of things he wanted to do THIS year to get ready for NEXT year. Getting a younger cheaper long snapper was one of them.

makes more sense wording it that way. I think it also had to do with robinson being a pain in the butt.

 

[Dallas22]

I know what you are saying and there are many reasons why the Cowboys are not winning. Being a GREAT team REQUIRES a team to WIN these kinds of games. That is why why are NOT a TOP team right now.

My point is that even with all those things that you mentioned...

"- Our running game has been in-effective for the most part
- Our red zone offense and offense overall has been inconsistent
- The offensive line is mediocre
- Our defense has given up too many big plays -- especially in the 4th quarter
- We are getting too many timely penalties"

... the Cowboys not only had the opportunity of going 7-0 or 6-1, but because mainly of MISSED FG's it allowed the other teams to stay in the game, put away the game or steal the game. I'm not saying that the Cowboys still wouldn't have problems even if they were 7-0 or 6-1, but with a couple of tweaks here and there, getting a consistant kicker, and improving red zone offense (scoring TDs and getting more points off of turnovers).

If these things happen, even with the poor play in the certian areas that you mentioned, we easily couldv'd been 6-1 or possible 7-0 (going tinto OT with the Raiders). At least if the Cowboys can improve these things, there is a chance they can make the Playoffs and maybe even make things happen deeper in the playoffs.

Dallas22

 

[ddh33]

I think the biggest problem has been consistency.

The kicking game was inconsistent.
The O-line has been inconsistent.
The fourth quarter defense has been a little inconsistent.
The Red zone offense has been inconsistent.

My hope is that the team becomes just a little more consistent. If they do, this is a potentially very good team.

 

[Paniolo22]

Sorry but we are not a good kicker away from being 7-0. This is silly.

- Our running game has been in-effective for the most part
- Our red zone offense and offense overall has been inconsistent
- The offensive line is mediocre
- Our defense has given up too many big plays -- especially in the 4th quarter
- We are getting too many timely penalties

Those four reasons are the primary reasons why we are an average team right now.

1, 2, 3, 4, ...oh, I get what you were saying.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Well, the Commander and Seattle loss would have been wins had Cortez not missed very makeable field goals. He also blew one against Oakland which would have had the score 19-16 so we would not have had to go on 4th down, could have gone to ot.

Still, while he might have been a large reason we are 4-3, he is not the only one.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

with a decent kicker, we should be 6-1, Cortez makes a FG against Washington, the 2 TDs happen, and we still win, Cortez makes a chip-shot vs. Seattle, then we win, simple as that, part of us losing against Seattle can also be attributed to the O making mistakes at the most inopportune of times, in which kept us from being up more than just 10-3, or even 13-3 if Cortez makes that kick

hope Suisham is the answer, or we get Cundiff back

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Sorry but we are not a good kicker away from being 7-0. This is silly.

- Our running game has been in-effective for the most part
- Our red zone offense and offense overall has been inconsistent
- The offensive line is mediocre
- Our defense has given up too many big plays -- especially in the 4th quarter
- We are getting too many timely penalties

Those four reasons are the primary reasons why we are an average team right now.

I wouldn't say we're average, average teams don't hang with, and essentially, control the games against the Seahawks and Commanders, 2 very good teams, and beat 2 very good teams, the Giants and Eagles, but we're not great either, not even very good, since we lost to the Raiders, who we should have beat, and had to squeeze a win out of San Fran, who we should have blown out, plus we can't finish the deal and stretch our leads in the games we've pretty much controlled (Hawks, Giants, Skins)

but we have beaten good/very good teams, and/or hung with them, so I'd say we're a good team, our inconsistency is what's keeping us from moving up to near the head of the pack though, 1st it was our D, now it's our O, and we've missed some key contributors in certain games, Flozell being the biggest, but despite all that, just 2 kicks going through, and we're 6-1, against 4 top opponents in our conference mind you, and to me, that's sure as hell better than average

cure for our inconsistent woes? 1st off, Suisham being a better option than Jose Cuervo, the rest is up to the O dealing with edgy bookends at tackle and providing a consistent rushing attack

 

[lane]

1. piss poor playcalling in the red zone
2. penalty ridden, lack of depth on offensive line.





one more................ no moose johnston type fullback. i cannot begin to describe the importance of having a moose on your ballclub. ask emmitt, he'll tell ya.

 

[Derinyar]

We are what we are, a slightly above average team in a below average league. It seems as if there is only one good team in the NFL this year. Then theres a large group of teams that are all about the same. And then theres the bad teams, we all know who those are. I'd say we are on the upper edge of that middle group, a team that is dangerous, but not great.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

^^I can agree with that

 

[FLcowboy]

Marion Barber is going to develop into a good red zone player. If Jones gets back, the red zone performance will pick up also.

 

[kartr]

1. Bledsoe didn't see Witten behind everybody on the last play of Commander game
2. Bledsoe didn't see Witten in the end zone at the end of the Raider game
3. Bledsoe takes 2 sacks in the redzone instead of throwing the ball away and throws a pick in the direction of a double-covered Glenn, cause he thought he could squeeze it in anyway.

See a trend. This was why he was let go. No agendas here, these are just the facts. He makes glaring mistakes at the end of games. Isn't that what they call a 'coach killer'. Think about it, even if we make the playoffs, he'll make one of these bone-headed mistakes at the end of the game that will caused the loss.
This is why I've read that the Cowboys should be one of those teams that will be looking for a qb in a trade or the draft.