The Cowboys’ dominant roster was sculpted from Dallas’ dynastic past

[GIFTS86]

I enjoyed the article figure I would share.

The Cowboys’ dominant roster was sculpted from Dallas’ dynastic past
By Adam Kilgore

November 22, 2016 at 2:25 PM

Ezekiel Elliot is one of the Cowboys’ biggest draft successes. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

The Dallas Cowboys last built a dynastic roster in the early 1990s, during the first years Jerry Jones owned them, by using strategies that ran counter to NFL convention. They furiously traded down in drafts to multiply their selections years before other teams saw the wisdom in it, and they focused on faster, smaller defensive players. They won three championships in four years, becoming perhaps the most dominant force in modern NFL history.

Since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl 21 seasons ago, they have won just three playoff games. But Dallas is again building a roster capable of sustained contention, if not the supremacy possible before the salary cap leveled the league. The Cowboys have won nine consecutive games for the first time in franchise history, a history that spans 57 seasons and five Super Bowl titles.

They will enter their Thanksgiving showdown with the Washington Commanders at 9-1, the best record in the NFL. They are powered by an offensive line with three recent first-round draft picks, a rookie running back drafted higher than any other since 2012 and a precocious fourth-round quarterback who replaced and then supplanted franchise face Tony Romo – “this miracle that we call Dak Prescott,” Jones said.

Related: NFL Power Rankings: The Cowboys are staying strong at No. 1

The Cowboys have built a roster on little miracles and impeccable drafting. But in devoting so many resources to the offensive line and choosing a running back so early, they have used the same guiding principle Jones saw as the key to building his first great run of Cowboys teams.

“What we’ve been able to do is basically go against what is en vogue,” Jones said.

***large snip***

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ster-was-sculpted-from-dallass-dynastic-past/

 

[waving monkey]

This is an interesting angle on why an how we got here. The joy is back in Cowboy land.

 

[reddyuta]

I still dont think we have the defense to go all the way,we need a pass rush to put us over the top.

 

[Don Corleone]

I still dont think we have the defense to go all the way,we need a pass rush to put us over the top.

Most teams have a hole. I bet the Seahawks fans feel that way about their bargain basement offensive line. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

 

[plasticman]

Just like the team of the 90's, the areas of strength for this team was never planned. The GM and coach never sat down and came up with the idea of building a dominant offensive line backed by an elite RB. It was never planned in the 90's and it wasn't planned now.

Jimmy Johnson never wanted Emmitt Smith, Johnson was all about speed on both sides of the ball. However, an old scout talked him into it after his choice, LB James Francis was taken before the Cowboys could choose.

And when it became time to talk about contracts in 1993 Jerry Jones got stubborn, saying, "Emmitt Smith is a luxury, not a necessity." So, even after winning their first Super Bowl Jerry never saw Emmitt as a critical cog and so Emmitt sat out the first two games in 1993, which the Cowboys lost.

That offensive line was half there before Jerry and Jimmy ever showed up. Kevin Gogan, Nate Newton, and Mark Tuinei, all future Pro Bowlers, had been playing for the Cowboys three to five years before Emmitt was drafted.

Half of today's offensive line is made up of the guys drafted as a consolation after not getting the guys they really wanted. They wanted defensive guys but the ones they wanted were gone so they "reached" and took Fredericks. Jerry pouted for years after being talked out of Manziel despite their choice, Zach Martin making All Pro his rookie season.

And once again, the RB was disrespected, run out of town with a low ball offer that was later sweetened but the damage had been done. All we heard was how unimportant the RB position was in the pass happy NFL We were told any RB could run behind that line. Taking Elliott was an admission that they had stumbled, yes stumbled, onto an interesting phenomenon. In this pass happy environment, defenses were being built to stop the pass to the detriment of defending the unfashionable running attack. Against a real physical ground game NFL defenses would fatigue and fade.

What Cowboy management has done is recognize this phenomenon and increased the physical aspect by drafting Zeke. There is nothing wrong with that but they have certainly not made an effort to emulate the 90's team.

The current team management has done better than that. They are emulating the teams of the 70's, develop a specific philosophy and draft players that fit their system with attributes that help to make them great team players. I give that credit specifically to Jason Garrett with critical support from Stephen Jones.

In Jerry's world the QB would be Manziel, the RB would be Randle and the team success would mirror the current status of these two guys....gone....lost......but, hey, they would have a great receiver....occasionally.....

 

[GIFTS86]

What caught my eye in this article is the bill parcells part. I remember so many people talked bad about him and never understood why. He got us that Romo Witten combo and ware. He was a huge influence on romo and witten.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

The other thing is Garrett, like Jimmah, wanted to get younger; younger players are typically more resilient and recover from injury faster. I think he has accomplished that.

 

[Clove]

I'm just sitting back enjoying everything at the moment.

 

[mahoneybill]

Just like the team of the 90's, the areas of strength for this team was never planned. The GM and coach never sat down and came up with the idea of building a dominant offensive line backed by an elite RB. It was never planned in the 90's and it wasn't planned now.

Jimmy Johnson never wanted Emmitt Smith, Johnson was all about speed on both sides of the ball. However, an old scout talked him into it after his choice, LB James Francis was taken before the Cowboys could choose.

And when it became time to talk about contracts in 1993 Jerry Jones got stubborn, saying, "Emmitt Smith is a luxury, not a necessity." So, even after winning their first Super Bowl Jerry never saw Emmitt as a critical cog and so Emmitt sat out the first two games in 1993, which the Cowboys lost.

That offensive line was half there before Jerry and Jimmy ever showed up. Kevin Gogan, Nate Newton, and Mark Tuinei, all future Pro Bowlers, had been playing for the Cowboys three to five years before Emmitt was drafted.

Half of today's offensive line is made up of the guys drafted as a consolation after not getting the guys they really wanted. They wanted defensive guys but the ones they wanted were gone so they "reached" and took Fredericks. Jerry pouted for years after being talked out of Manziel despite their choice, Zach Martin making All Pro his rookie season.

And once again, the RB was disrespected, run out of town with a low ball offer that was later sweetened but the damage had been done. All we heard was how unimportant the RB position was in the pass happy NFL We were told any RB could run behind that line. Taking Elliott was an admission that they had stumbled, yes stumbled, onto an interesting phenomenon. In this pass happy environment, defenses were being built to stop the pass to the detriment of defending the unfashionable running attack. Against a real physical ground game NFL defenses would fatigue and fade.

What Cowboy management has done is recognize this phenomenon and increased the physical aspect by drafting Zeke. There is nothing wrong with that but they have certainly not made an effort to emulate the 90's team.

The current team management has done better than that. They are emulating the teams of the 70's, develop a specific philosophy and draft players that fit their system with attributes that help to make them great team players. I give that credit specifically to Jason Garrett with critical support from Stephen Jones.

In Jerry's world the QB would be Manziel, the RB would be Randle and the team success would mirror the current status of these two guys....gone....lost......but, hey, they would have a great receiver....occasionally.....

Great reality summary. Also Jimmy wasn't enamored by Aikman preferring Steve Walsh... He hit the trifecta of Emmitt/Troy/Michael plus a true FB in Moose. Even the " great wall" wasn't great at first , they jelled over time and with the addition of Erik Williams/Larry Allen then became dominant.

Throw in the addition of Mark Stepnoski at center ( todays Fred Beard) and we were set. Alvin Harper was the Terrance Williams, but better, and Kelvin Martin the Cole Beasley without the shiftiness of Cole....

Jimmy was more ( to me ) a D specialist and there did favor speed, and depth of rotation...

 

[Nightman]

That offensive line was half there before Jerry and Jimmy ever showed up. Kevin Gogan, Nate Newton, and Mark Tuinei, all future Pro Bowlers, had been playing for the Cowboys three to five years before Emmitt was drafted.

Jimmy gets credit for building a great team and he hit some HRs for sure, but they also had 3 #1 overall draft picks and ended up with Troy, Steve Walsh and Russell Maryland....pretty underwhelming

The Herschel trade hid a lot of misses and like you said, sometimes be thankful for unanswered prayers...Emmitt could have been Blair Thomas and Johnny Football could be our problem and not CLE's mistake

Letting Murray go was a huge mistake but if it led to Zeke and Dak then the ends justify the means

 

[Sydla]

I still dont think we have the defense to go all the way,we need a pass rush to put us over the top.

And that's where the comparisons between this team and the Cowboys of the 90s ends.

Those defenses were much better and more talented.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Jimmy gets credit for building a great team and he hit some HRs for sure, but they also had 3 #1 overall draft picks and ended up with Troy, Steve Walsh and Russell Maryland....pretty underwhelming

The Herschel trade hid a lot of misses and like you said, sometimes be thankful for unanswered prayers...Emmitt could have been Blair Thomas and Johnny Football could be our problem and not CLE's mistake

Letting Murray go was a huge mistake but if it led to Zeke and Dak then the ends justify the means

It's a reminder that there's only one surefire way to draft a lot of good players, and that's to draft a lot of players period. Accumulate picks however you can, and don't throw them away.

 

[waldoputty]

One of the primary architects of the roster - McClay - may be in the crosshairs of a glamorous team in need of a GM.
49er's Trent Balke is on the hot seat

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Jimmy gets credit for building a great team and he hit some HRs for sure, but they also had 3 #1 overall draft picks and ended up with Troy, Steve Walsh and Russell Maryland....pretty underwhelming

The Herschel trade hid a lot of misses and like you said, sometimes be thankful for unanswered prayers...Emmitt could have been Blair Thomas and Johnny Football could be our problem and not CLE's mistake

Letting Murray go was a huge mistake but if it led to Zeke and Dak then the ends justify the means

Letting Murray go was a smart move, not a mistake. The team would have had to have matched Philly's grossly overpaying for him, hurting our abilities to sign elsewhere.

 

[Nightman]

Letting Murray go was a smart move, not a mistake. The team would have had to have matched Philly's grossly overpaying for him, hurting our abilities to sign elsewhere.

wrong

 

[Proof]

wrong

Right. The mistake wasn't not matching Phillys offer, it was in letting it get to that point

 

[waldoputty]

Right. The mistake wasn't not matching Phillys offer, it was in letting it get to that point

In hindsight, I much prefer Zeke over Murray.
I had no problems with Murray leaving and knew the running game would not be as good.
The money was used to sign Hardy, who I thought was the last piece to the puzzle.
In hindsight, Hardy was not the right piece but the money could have been spent on a different D piece.

 

[Proof]

In hindsight, I much prefer Zeke over Murray.
I had no problems with Murray leaving and knew the running game would not be as good.
The money was used to sign Hardy, who I thought was the last piece to the puzzle.
In hindsight, Hardy was not the right piece but the money could have been spent on a different D piece.

I prefer zeke too and am happy now, but vastly would have liked to have seen them re-sign Murray to a reasonable deal (around what they're paying zeke I suppose ) and have another run in 2015

Especially seeing what he's able to do in tennesseep

 

[Alexander]

No, it isn't. Those were good underrated defenses.

 

[waldoputty]

I prefer zeke too and am happy now, but vastly would have liked to have seen them re-sign Murray to a reasonable deal (around what they're paying zeke I suppose ) and have another run in 2015

Especially seeing what he's able to do in tennesseep

I was in the let murray go camp because I did not trust him in the big game.
Just did not think he could take us all the way, but 90% of the way.
Would rather not make the playoffs than lose early in the playoffs