The Bigger Picture

[mldardy]

It does seem like were heading in the right direction. We should finish with 9 or 10 wins. We wont make the playoffs but thats way better than most people thought we'd do. Another draft and offseaso or 2 and dallas can do something. As long as romo stays healthy. This draft needs to be all defense except maybe 1 olineman.

No this draft needs to be some defense, a qb, maybe a WR.

 

[Staubacher]

8-4 ain't bad. But 2-3 in last five with three home losses is.

That said it's a four game sprint to the finish now. We will see what this team is made of.

Our defense just isn't very good, lacking talent and depth. The offense is above average but trending down on third down rate.

I'm writing Thanksgiving off as a bad game with short rest especially for Romo. I expect a good performance Thursday

 

[ologan]

Swing and a miss.

I believe he was aiming for the negativity posted on this board.

Especially after a sound drubbing.......with destiny at our feet.

Apologies for speaking for you, brymatt94.

Nail, meet hammer! I'm not going to get into the negativity on this board that sometimes makes it hard to visit.Sometimes, enough is enough.

 

[CATCH17]

In my opinion, this team is obviously headed in the right direction. Amy other year, we'd be contending for home field advantage. Some cards have not flipped in our favor this year, but nobody can say this team is the same team of the past few years.

When I step back and look at the bigger picture in regards to this team's future, I can't help but be happy and excited.

I'm excited to see some real draft firepower put into the defense. I'm excited to see this young, mean offensive line get more experience playing together. I'm excited to see Dez get signed.

Yes, losing to Philly sucks. But ultimately, we're still in this race this year, and the way things are looking, we should be for the next several years as well.

I like this team already. I feel like we are one of the top NFC teams.

The only difference between this team and teams of the past is we have a run game that can impose it's will on the defense.

The problem is we take that same philosophy to the passing game. We try to impose our will in the passing game as well. That needs to stop and creativity and scheme need to be a bigger part of our offensive passing attack.

 

[StarBoyz83]

No this draft needs to be some defense, a qb, maybe a WR.

I dont know about a qb this year. We dont know how long romo will last but this Is a horrible qb draft coming up.

 

[xwalker]

It does seem like were heading in the right direction. We should finish with 9 or 10 wins. We wont make the playoffs but thats way better than most people thought we'd do. Another draft and offseaso or 2 and dallas can do something. As long as romo stays healthy. This draft needs to be all defense except maybe 1 olineman.

It does feel like the defense is what needs to be improved; however, when I look back at the losses this season, the offense was really the biggest issue. I don't even know how to make the offense better with new players. It seems like they have enough talent, but aren't using it effectively at times.

 

[StarBoyz83]

It does feel like the defense is what needs to be improved; however, when I look back at the losses this season, the offense was really the biggest issue. I don't even know how to make the offense better with new players. It seems like they have enough talent, but aren't using it effectively at times.

People say Its the scheme. I dont know if thats why or maybe the offense isnt as talented as we think.

 

[mahoneybill]

Great post. I think people forget at times we are 8-4. Most had us 8-8 AT BEST. Which I guess is still possible but no one had us at 8-4 at this point in the season. Doesn't mean that we should be content with it but it does show that we are heading upwards.

Agree. I had them at 7-9 at best, so happy with progress.

One must for 2015 besides D help. Work on getting our WR's open quicker, and get the ball out faster. Watching other teams you can see the QB lets go around 2 seconds, and hits an open receiver. Our guys are still running routes and covered at 3.

On occasion we get someone wide open, not named Beasley, and move the chains. To me watching GB vs Pats those QB's deliver a quick ball to open receivers , and even some slants

Jordy Nelson looks very fast, but the reality is that his and Dez's 40 times are within .01 of a second... Dez can certainly run those slants if allowed...

 

[big dog cowboy]

In my opinion, this team is obviously headed in the right direction. Amy other year, we'd be contending for home field advantage. Some cards have not flipped in our favor this year, but nobody can say this team is the same team of the past few years.

When I step back and look at the bigger picture in regards to this team's future, I can't help but be happy and excited.

I'm excited to see some real draft firepower put into the defense. I'm excited to see this young, mean offensive line get more experience playing together. I'm excited to see Dez get signed.

Yes, losing to Philly sucks. But ultimately, we're still in this race this year, and the way things are looking, we should be for the next several years as well.

 

[xwalker]

Agree. I had them at 7-9 at best, so happy with progress.

One must for 2015 besides D help. Work on getting our WR's open quicker, and get the ball out faster. Watching other teams you can see the QB lets go around 2 seconds, and hits an open receiver. Our guys are still running routes and covered at 3.

On occasion we get someone wide open, not named Beasley, and move the chains. To me watching GB vs Pats those QB's deliver a quick ball to open receivers , and even some slants

Jordy Nelson looks very fast, but the reality is that his and Dez's 40 times are within .01 of a second... Dez can certainly run those slants if allowed...

I would like to see that happen before 2015. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like they just need to change the play calls. If they run a slant, it has to be the primary read. If it's the 2nd read, then it defeats the purpose of the slant, IMO.

 

[TwoDeep3]

How old is Romo?

 

[jazzcat22]

This team is heading in the right direction.
Right after JG took over his 1st full year, he immediately started changing the roster. He started getting rid of older overpaid, under achieving players.
This is why it has taken into his 4th year. It was a team devoid of talent, and /or aging players. So that's why I don't get the Chip vs Jason hate, as Chip inherited a somewhat talented team. Jason did not. But that's another thread.

Now we are seeing the results of this team and roster turnover. I believe there are only 6 players left from when JG took over for Wade.
This is the 3rd youngest team in the NFL now. Offense is ready. Still can improve a few places, but now emphasis is on defense. Pass rush before secondary.

I do think we need to draft QB's, until the right heir apparent is found. I said all last year Romo was off, something wasn't right. Well, in the Eagles game, and at times other games this year, he looks great, but something still off on his deep passes more so than usual. I know he's sore and all that, and expect a much better game Thursday night.
But Troy Aikman made a comment before the season, and said that after his back surgery, he lost a good 10 yards, possibly 15 off his deep passes. So had to adjust to that.
Now they don't go that deep really that often, but it showed against the Eagles. It wasn't there.

Was that a result of 2 games in 3 days [really 4, technically] but seemed like 3. And part of still recovering from the recent back injury. Or a combination. However, I think it should be considered in game plans from here on out.
See how he does next year with the deep balls. I can see him playing a few more years easily, but they still need to draft QB's.

Also the salary cap is under control now. So we can correct this defense in a year if the draft falls their way.

 

[big dog cowboy]

How old is Romo?

Born: April 21, 1980 (age 34)

 

[TwoDeep3]

Born: April 21, 1980 (age 34)

Sorry, I was vague. It was a rhetorical response to the, "We'll get 'em next year" maxim in the OP's post.

The guy who makes this all work is aging and working through injury more and more. So the idea this team will draft great and Dallas can repeat this surprising season isn't a given.

 

[xwalker]

This team is heading in the right direction.
Right after JG took over his 1st full year, he immediately started changing the roster. He started getting rid of older overpaid, under achieving players.
This is why it has taken into his 4th year. It was a team devoid of talent, and /or aging players. So that's why I don't get the Chip vs Jason hate, as Chip inherited a somewhat talented team. Jason did not. But that's another thread.

Now we are seeing the results of this team and roster turnover. I believe there are only 6 players left from when JG took over for Wade.
This is the 3rd youngest team in the NFL now. Offense is ready. Still can improve a few places, but now emphasis is on defense. Pass rush before secondary.

I do think we need to draft QB's, until the right heir apparent is found. I said all last year Romo was off, something wasn't right. Well, in the Eagles game, and at times other games this year, he looks great, but something still off on his deep passes more so than usual. I know he's sore and all that, and expect a much better game Thursday night.
But Troy Aikman made a comment before the season, and said that after his back surgery, he lost a good 10 yards, possibly 15 off his deep passes. So had to adjust to that.
Now they don't go that deep really that often, but it showed against the Eagles. It wasn't there.

Was that a result of 2 games in 3 days [really 4, technically] but seemed like 3. And part of still recovering from the recent back injury. Or a combination. However, I think it should be considered in game plans from here on out.
See how he does next year with the deep balls. I can see him playing a few more years easily, but they still need to draft QB's.

Also the salary cap is under control now. So we can correct this defense in a year if the draft falls their way.

Yes, what Garrett inherited was worse than starting from scratch. They had too many overpaid, underachievers under contract and couldn't just cut everybody immediately.

Even if they were 8-8 again this season, it would be an improvement considering that the roster is much younger than it was in previous 8-8 seasons.

The odd part about Romo's issues is that they don't have enough short routes built into the game-plan. They still require him to complete a lot of difficult throws. IMO, they could make things easier for him by changing the way the routes are structured. More slants and other quick easy throws and less long sideline routes.

 

[jazzcat22]

Yes, what Garrett inherited was worse than starting from scratch. They had too many overpaid, underachievers under contract and couldn't just cut everybody immediately.

Even if they were 8-8 again this season, it would be an improvement considering that the roster is much younger than it was in previous 8-8 seasons.

The odd part about Romo's issues is that they don't have enough short routes built into the game-plan. They still require him to complete a lot of difficult throws. IMO, they could make things easier for him by changing the way the routes are structured. More slants and other quick easy throws and less long sideline routes.

Yes, very true. I didn't realize they didn't have enough of the shorter routes. Well I did, but didn't think of it that way.
I always wonder why they don't use Dez on the slants like Irvin was used in. Those were almost unstoppable with Irvin, and would be the same with Dez.
That crossing route seems to work well also.

 

[lukin1966]

With a 34 year old quarterback that can't win big games? Makes me seriously doubt that. With a coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball that can't design plays to fit Romo's obvious limited ability on a short week ... just don't see it happening. This team is the picture of mediocrity. Even though the Eagles whipped us good, I'm not so sure how much better they are than us ... we both had identical records coming in and we both won big road games against good teams ... Philadelphia got whipped real good by GB, that leaves me to ponder how good they are ... Next week will tell the difference ... if we beat Chicago and Seattle wins and with 10 days to prepare for the the rematch lets see how we do. Honestly I've given Romo the benefit of the doubt and been sucked in before ... not anymore, we need to find a QB that can lead us late on the season and since Romo is the best QB we've had since Aikman ... god luck!

 

[xwalker]

Yes, very true. I didn't realize they didn't have enough of the shorter routes. Well I did, but didn't think of it that way.
I always wonder why they don't use Dez on the slants like Irvin was used in. Those were almost unstoppable with Irvin, and would be the same with Dez.
That crossing route seems to work well also.

I used to think that maybe the quick slants were harder for Romo because he's 6-2 compared to Aikman at 6-4, but Aaron Rodgers throws more slants than anybody and he's the same height as Romo. I really don't know why the Cowboys avoid it.

 

[Word Mofo]

I dont know about a qb this year. We dont know how long romo will last but this Is a horrible qb draft coming up.

I feel like we can get a late round developmental QB. There's no reason to take a high-risk, high-reward QB in an early round if we expect Romo to have a couple of more years.

I know this sounds repugnant, but when Romo finally retires or goes down, we should just tank a season an draft a QB high.

 

[rwalters31]

In my opinion, this team is obviously headed in the right direction. Amy other year, we'd be contending for home field advantage. Some cards have not flipped in our favor this year, but nobody can say this team is the same team of the past few years.

When I step back and look at the bigger picture in regards to this team's future, I can't help but be happy and excited.

I'm excited to see some real draft firepower put into the defense. I'm excited to see this young, mean offensive line get more experience playing together. I'm excited to see Dez get signed.

Yes, losing to Philly sucks. But ultimately, we're still in this race this year, and the way things are looking, we should be for the next several years as well.

I understand that you were so angry of the Philly lost that you jumped up and hit your head, when you came to you said the above statement. I understand that when you finally recovered you stated that the Devil made you say this.