plasticman
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When I look at the history of Dallas Cowboy quarterbacks, I see five "franchise quarterbacks". Solely for the purpose of this discussion, I will define that as meaning they were the primary starter for at least 5 seasons. The five are Don Meredith, Roger Staubach, Danny White, Troy Aikman, and Tony Romo. Tony's career has not ended, so I don't wish to place him in any particular group of accomplishments, that would be unfair.
I place the remaining four in one of two groups, those who have been on championship teams, and those who have not.
The first thing I observe is that all four have participated in at least 2 conference championship level playoff games. Meredith's games were NFL championships but not the Super Bowl since his career was during the time when the NFL and AFL were sepertate.However, the two championship games he did participate in placed the winner in the first two Super Bowls in history.
As we know, Staubach and Aikman won championships and I put them inGroup1 . Meredith and White did not and they are group 2.
What was the difference?
The obvious thought is that the QB's in group 1 played on more dominant teams, Not true. Meredith's team featured the flex 4-3 at it's pinnacle. They were #1 against the run, #2 overall, in most cases. Offensively, there were two seasons in which they were #1 in both scoring and yards, another year,they were #1 in one, #2 in the other.
Statistically, the teams of the early 80's were just as strong asa the team of the early 90's
How did those in group 1 obtain multiple championships and group 2 unable to obtain at least 1? Both groups,it seems,had equal opportunities.
The difference becomes clear when looking at the quarterbacks themselves. It is blunt and unavoidable.
Each season, contenders are faced with points in the season and in individual games where a small handful of plays or even a single play will change the outcome of the entire season. It will effect history. Yes, it is a team sport. However, there are those seconds in time where a player,particularly quarterbacks must make that play. He must find that receiver. He must make that throw. He must make that split second decision on which the outcome depends. Again, these are the plays that make history, elect Hall of Famers, create champions.
There are those quarterbacks in history that have shown a legendary ability to make that play consistantly. despite the pressure, the ramifications and the difficulty level, they found, within themselves, the ability to make that decision,make that throw, make that play that all football fans will remember. Not every single time, but you wouldn't bet against them. Sometimes, it's not necessary to make a great play, just don't make the bad play.
Those in our group 1 join QB's like Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and even Eli Manning. For each, you can access specific plays in their career as examples of the play that had to be made.There was The Catch, The Helmet Catch, The Hail Mary.They are the signature plays of the champions. Others might not be so obvious, they were successful due to their consistancy of producing outstanding performances. In every case, the plays that they are remembered for occurred in the playoffs Few NFL fans remember regular season play unless it was their own team.
Some fans may not have realized that Troy Aikman's best season was the post season. Not only did he elevate his play the postseason, he elevated his play at each stage of the playoffs. His rating in the divisional games 89.7, conference championshiops 100.3, Super Bowl games were111.9.
Group 2 were unable to make that play...repeatedly.They all had more than one opportunbity and each time they couldn't succeed. Some of them even played their worse games, made their worse mistakes, worse decisions. instead of the touchdown or game clinching 1st downs.
In the 1966 championship game, with the score 34-27 the Cowboys had the ball on the Packer's 2 yardline with time running out. Meredith threw an INT into the endzone. If the Cowboys had won the game they would have been the NFL representative to Super Bowl 1. In the 1967 championship game the Cowboys could have put the game away at the beginning of the 4th quarter. In two straight drives the Cowboys got to the Packer 30 and 19 but Merediuth fumbled in one and was sacked on 3rd down the other.
White started in 3 consecutive NFC championships.In the first two, he had 3 turnovers each.
In both cases,their overall passer rating for the postseason was close to 15 points less than the regular season.
In almost all cases all four quarterbacks were very good, efficient players when you look at their entire body of work. The real difference was simply those handful of plays. The one that absolutely had to be made.
I bring this subject up because it may be extremely relevant when we consider who to go forward with at quarterback once Tony Romo becomes healthy
I place the remaining four in one of two groups, those who have been on championship teams, and those who have not.
The first thing I observe is that all four have participated in at least 2 conference championship level playoff games. Meredith's games were NFL championships but not the Super Bowl since his career was during the time when the NFL and AFL were sepertate.However, the two championship games he did participate in placed the winner in the first two Super Bowls in history.
As we know, Staubach and Aikman won championships and I put them inGroup1 . Meredith and White did not and they are group 2.
What was the difference?
The obvious thought is that the QB's in group 1 played on more dominant teams, Not true. Meredith's team featured the flex 4-3 at it's pinnacle. They were #1 against the run, #2 overall, in most cases. Offensively, there were two seasons in which they were #1 in both scoring and yards, another year,they were #1 in one, #2 in the other.
Statistically, the teams of the early 80's were just as strong asa the team of the early 90's
How did those in group 1 obtain multiple championships and group 2 unable to obtain at least 1? Both groups,it seems,had equal opportunities.
The difference becomes clear when looking at the quarterbacks themselves. It is blunt and unavoidable.
Each season, contenders are faced with points in the season and in individual games where a small handful of plays or even a single play will change the outcome of the entire season. It will effect history. Yes, it is a team sport. However, there are those seconds in time where a player,particularly quarterbacks must make that play. He must find that receiver. He must make that throw. He must make that split second decision on which the outcome depends. Again, these are the plays that make history, elect Hall of Famers, create champions.
There are those quarterbacks in history that have shown a legendary ability to make that play consistantly. despite the pressure, the ramifications and the difficulty level, they found, within themselves, the ability to make that decision,make that throw, make that play that all football fans will remember. Not every single time, but you wouldn't bet against them. Sometimes, it's not necessary to make a great play, just don't make the bad play.
Those in our group 1 join QB's like Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and even Eli Manning. For each, you can access specific plays in their career as examples of the play that had to be made.There was The Catch, The Helmet Catch, The Hail Mary.They are the signature plays of the champions. Others might not be so obvious, they were successful due to their consistancy of producing outstanding performances. In every case, the plays that they are remembered for occurred in the playoffs Few NFL fans remember regular season play unless it was their own team.
Some fans may not have realized that Troy Aikman's best season was the post season. Not only did he elevate his play the postseason, he elevated his play at each stage of the playoffs. His rating in the divisional games 89.7, conference championshiops 100.3, Super Bowl games were111.9.
Group 2 were unable to make that play...repeatedly.They all had more than one opportunbity and each time they couldn't succeed. Some of them even played their worse games, made their worse mistakes, worse decisions. instead of the touchdown or game clinching 1st downs.
In the 1966 championship game, with the score 34-27 the Cowboys had the ball on the Packer's 2 yardline with time running out. Meredith threw an INT into the endzone. If the Cowboys had won the game they would have been the NFL representative to Super Bowl 1. In the 1967 championship game the Cowboys could have put the game away at the beginning of the 4th quarter. In two straight drives the Cowboys got to the Packer 30 and 19 but Merediuth fumbled in one and was sacked on 3rd down the other.
White started in 3 consecutive NFC championships.In the first two, he had 3 turnovers each.
In both cases,their overall passer rating for the postseason was close to 15 points less than the regular season.
In almost all cases all four quarterbacks were very good, efficient players when you look at their entire body of work. The real difference was simply those handful of plays. The one that absolutely had to be made.
I bring this subject up because it may be extremely relevant when we consider who to go forward with at quarterback once Tony Romo becomes healthy
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