The Fine Line of Wins and Losses in NFL

[Diehardblues]

We were basically one more play or timeout away from a Cinderella ending in Daks first NFL game. What a beginning that would have been overcoming all of the issues we are dissecting after the loss this week .

As painful as this loss was with several concerns which arose and exposed, Daks performance was a highlight. I'm definitely still feeling he has a bright future and he'll be in more positions to pull the games out.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

We were basically one more play or timeout away from a Cinderella ending in Daks first NFL game. What a beginning that would have been overcoming all of the issues we are dissecting after the loss this week .

As painful as this loss was with several concerns which arose and exposed, Daks performance was a highlight. I'm definitely still feeling he has a bright future and he'll be in more positions to pull the games out.

In a vacuum I would agree; the reason that people are dismayed is that this was a carbon copy of the typical game from last year: conservative offense and a defense that falls apart when you need it most.

 

[Vtwin]

Unfortunately that's the plan you have to initiate if you need to protect your defense and young QB. Sucks they lost but the OP is right. Even just one more play by the offense or defense would have been enough to get the W.

 

[rynochop]

'Welcome to the party, pal'

 

[DBOY3141]

Being one play away from beating a crappy team like the Giants does nothing for me. The Giants are not a good team, they weren't last year, the year before or the year before.

Cowboys need to get their eyes off the 50 meter target (competing with the NFC East) and focus on the 300 meter target (how to beat the Pats, Steelers, Packers, Bronco's, Panthers) of the world. Right now, with or without Romo, I don't think we can.

 

[MRV52]

The game should have never went to a last play. There were too many mistakes by Dallas in this game. Two dropped TD's were huge in the end.

 

[Idgit]

You guys have seen NFL games before. They come down to a few plays here and there much of the time.

I'm bummed out regular starters couldn't step up to help Dak out yet again, but you're right that Dak's play was a huge positive this week. He needs reps, but he's going to be a good player for a long time. And we've got a better one coming off the bench in relief, soon. Overall, it was a relief to see him do so well.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Yes, most games in the NFL are decided by a score or less. The margin for error is slim. That's why coaching is so important.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, most games in the NFL are decided by a score or less. The margin for error is slim. That's why coaching is so important.

Smart coaching is important, but execution is importanter.

 

[Sydla]

Smart coaching is important, but execution is importanter.

If the team continually fails to execute, that's a coaching issue.

 

[Idgit]

If the team continually fails to execute, that's a coaching issue.

Maybe that's what he was getting at, and I've just conditioned myself to think a coaching reference is a criticism of the scheme or the play calling.

 

[TheHerd]

If the team continually fails to execute, that's a coaching issue.

And/or a talent issue. In this case, and.

 

[Sydla]

Maybe that's what he was getting at, and I've just conditioned myself to think a coaching reference is a criticism of the scheme or the play calling.

To me, this is why I think Garrett is an average coach at best. Not only do I think the team's schemes and offense can be blah (unless Romo is in there changing plays), I don't think they are very well prepared game to game. I think that they make their fair share of boneheaded mistakes in games. And when that's a trend, that's a reflection on the coaching as well IMO.

 

[erod]

Being one play away from beating a crappy team like the Giants does nothing for me. The Giants are not a good team, they weren't last year, the year before or the year before.

Cowboys need to get their eyes off the 50 meter target (competing with the NFC East) and focus on the 300 meter target (how to beat the Pats, Steelers, Packers, Bronco's, Panthers) of the world. Right now, with or without Romo, I don't think we can.

Look deeper. The Cowboys were one play away from beating a two-time Super Bowl champion QB with a rookie QB playing in his first NFL game.

 

[Diehardblues]

If the team continually fails to execute, that's a coaching issue.

It can also be a talent issue. And sometimes the opposing talent and coaching has an impact in how you execute.

 

[erod]

To me, this is why I think Garrett is an average coach at best. Not only do I think the team's schemes and offense can be blah (unless Romo is in there changing plays), I don't think they are very well prepared game to game. I think that they make their fair share of boneheaded mistakes in games. And when that's a trend, that's a reflection on the coaching as well IMO.

The gameplan was brilliant. Two dropped TDs by veteran receivers prevented Dallas from winning with a rookie QB in his first start.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Smart coaching is important, but execution is importanter.

Yes. However, coaching issues generally reveal themselves in the aggregate. The Cowboys are 4-13 recently and close to .500 in Garrett's overall tenure.

Players aren't executing well enough to win consistently. This has two potential causes (in my opinion):

1) Coaches aren't putting their players in the strongest possible position to execute well. Or...

2) The players aren't good enough.

After six years under the same regime, both problems point to the front office and the coaching staff.

 

[Sydla]

Yes. However, coaching issues generally reveal themselves in the aggregate. The Cowboys are 4-13 recently and close to .500 in Garrett's overall tenure.

Players aren't executing well enough to win consistently. This has two potential causes (in my opinion):

1) Coaches aren't putting their players in the strongest possible position to execute well. Or...

2) The players aren't good enough.

After six years under the same regime, both problems point to the front office and the coaching staff.

Yep. The Cowboys quagmire that is their mediocrity is caused by poor personnel decisions (largely on the defensive side of the ball) and a coaching staff that is just an average coaching staff.

 

[DBOY3141]

Look deeper. The Cowboys were one play away from beating a two-time Super Bowl champion QB with a rookie QB playing in his first NFL game.

Not buying it. Eli is a good QB, but the Giants are not a good team. I'm sure Giants fans can point to some plays were they could have had more points, like we are with "two dropped TD's" etc. I'm hoping for the best...but I've been hoping for a long time.

 

[Idgit]

Yes. However, coaching issues generally reveal themselves in the aggregate. The Cowboys are 4-13 recently and close to .500 in Garrett's overall tenure.

Players aren't executing well enough to win consistently. This has two potential causes (in my opinion):

1) Coaches aren't putting their players in the strongest possible position to execute well. Or...

2) The players aren't good enough.

After six years under the same regime, both problems point to the front office and the coaching staff.

I'm obviously one of the few public supporters of the staff here, but even I agree that the execution problems are on Garrett to fix. Now, I have a caveat that every team has it's share of these execution failures, but, by and large, we *do* get in position to win too many games and come away with 'Ls' because the players fail to execute to support the backup QB. Whatever's causing it, it's on Jason and his staff to fix it, and fix it now.