The Fine Line of Wins and Losses in NFL

[Sydla]

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

It really wasn't brilliant. And the reason that game was even that close is that the Giants are still likely an average team. A better team like the Steelers or Patriots would have bludgeoned us on Sunday.

All Sunday was.............. just another in a long line of almost but couldn't quite get over the hump games that has become all too common in the Garrett regime.

 

[erod]

It really wasn't brilliant. And the reason that game was even that close is that the Giants are still likely an average team. A better team like the Steelers or Patriots would have bludgeoned us on Sunday.

All Sunday was.............. just another in a long line of almost but couldn't quite get over the hump games that has become all too common in the Garrett regime.

The running game was disappointing. That put Dallas behind the sticks all day. But the two dropped TD passes were killers.

That's not coaching. That's execution.

 

[Idgit]

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.

Something's missing in that regard, I agree. I don't know if it's a fear thing, or an edge thing, or a swagger thing or what. But we don't have it and we've got to get it somehow.

 

[Diehardblues]

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.

I guarantee you the experts that were predicting us to lose didn't see Dak playing an almost flawless game without any turnovers or interceptions looking just as poised as he was during preseason.

Yes, we still have many concerns in Redzone offense, running game which looked good at times Im not overly concerned with, Dez typical drops and our rushing defense but at QB I believe we finally have another QB we can win with . How soon may depend more on the surrounding support from our playmakers .

 

[DFWJC]

Three of Dallas' four playoff losses in the last 10 years have basically come down to 1 or 2 plays.
2006 at Seattle...fumbled FG snap
2007 vs New York...stopped rout in end zone for poss.TD, also dropped wide open td pass
2014 at Green Bay....Dez controversial "drop"

Definitely a game of inches.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

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.

To me, it's asinine to criticize a specific play because we don't know what the call was or whether or not it was executed correctly.

We can, however, reach a general assessment of an offense by what people in the know have said about it over the years. It's well-established that Garrett runs a simple and basic offense.

I've long held simplicity isn't a bad thing and can even be desirable if you have overwhelming talent, especially at the quarterback position. The simpler your offense, the more difficult it becomes for the defense to gum up.

 

[Diehardblues]

Something's missing in that regard, I agree. I don't know if it's a fear thing, or an edge thing, or a swagger thing or what. But we don't have it and we've got to get it somehow.

I agree. But It comes with success or winning. It can become a huge hurdle but we were so close overcoming all the other hurdles we've become accustomed to Romo overcoming.

I'm not into moral victories and the longer we go winless with Dak the larger the hurdle becomes but I don't have any doubt or lack of confidence in Dak after this game. I have more!!

 

[Idgit]

I agree. But It comes with success or winning. It can become a huge hurdle but we were so close overcoming all the other hurdles we've become accustomed to Romo overcoming.

I'm not into moral victories and the longer we go winless with Dak the larger the hurdle becomes but I don't have any doubt or lack of confidence in Dak after this game. I have more!!

I do, too. He handled a tough situation well on game day. Then he went about handling the following week even better. He says he likes going into a hostile environment and that he welcomes it. If he goes into WAS, plays well, and comes out with a W we're going to be in good shape, overall.

 

[Seven]

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.

4 big plays on either side of the ball..............it really is a game of inches.

My take as well with Dak. It is soooo damn refreshing to have a QB where the sky could be the limit. Finally.

I don't think most folks realize just how much of a burden that lifts off the team, in so many areas.

People asked me "What happened to the Cowboys?"

My response was; their fourth round QB played one helluva game..........................

 

[ScipioCowboy]

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.

And I will be straight up honest with you here. It makes me angry. And the longer it goes on and the more we waste Romo's career, the more livid I get.

 

[CyberB0b]

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.

Moral Victory!

 

[Diehardblues]

To me, it's asinine to criticize a specific play because we don't know what the call was or whether or not it was executed correctly.

We can, however, reach a general assessment of an offense by what people in the know have said about it over the years. It's well-established that Garrett runs a simple and basic offense.

I've long held simplicity isn't a bad thing and can even be desirable if you have overwhelming talent, especially at the quarterback position. The simpler your offense, the more difficult it becomes for the defense to gum up.

Norv Turner ran a simple offense here which we challenged the opponent to stop. They knew what we were going to do but still had very little success stoping it. We had superior talent .

And why I always go back to the talent issue. A couple years ago one of the beat writers , can't remember who, wrote a story on how Garretts fault in his scheme is he doesn't have the talent suited for the plays he calls or wants to call.

For example Dez doesn't always gain the seperation or run as precise routes as Irvin did or Romo doesn't throw the same velocity or certain patterns as well as Troy. I don't recall all of the specifics but it made a lot of sense at the time. It also would explain why Romo audibles out of so many plays . He understands what he and Dez are more capable of than what Garrett is wanting to run.

If there is any truth to any of this then I'd fault Garrett for a scheme or plays that doesn't suit the talent he has.

And with Dak I hope he's scheming for Daks best assets not what he wants or sees as most effective or safe . Dak was very successful using his legs at Miss St. We've seen other young QB's in NFL kill defenses with their mobility. I'm not encouraging to develop him into a running QB but to leave that option open in critical situations converting 3rd downs to sustain drives and in the Redzone.

I'll hang up and listen to your thoughts.)

 

[Sarge]

Why one would assemble the best OL in the league and then play the most conservative game plan possible mystifies me.

 

[DFWJC]

The running game was disappointing. That put Dallas behind the sticks all day. But the two dropped TD passes were killers.

That's not coaching. That's execution.

I don't think Beasley "dropped" a TD pass. He was lucky to leap up and get his hand on it....and Dallas was lucky it wasn't picked on the deflection. Vey high ball thrown very hard over the middle at fairly close range to a 5'7 WR over the middle. That's not poor execution on the WR's part...it's the kind of pass that gets a WR paralyzed.
If anything, they should be sending Beasley roses for helping them stay in the game.

 

[Idgit]

4 big plays on either side of the ball..............it really is a game of inches.

My take as well with Dak. It is soooo damn refreshing to have a QB where the sky could be the limit. Finally.

I don't think most folks realize just how much of a burden that lifts off the team, in so many areas.

People asked me "What happened to the Cowboys?"

My response was; their fourth round QB played one helluva game..........................

It's a big, big deal if Dak pans out, obviously. Finally, we might see some defensive talent added in these coming drafts. I can't wait. It's been forever since we've had the talent on defense to actually be really competitive on that side of the ball.

 

[erod]

I don't think Beasley "dropped" a TD pass. He was lucky to leap up and get his hand on it....and Dallas was lucky it wasn't picked on the deflection. Vey high ball thrown very hard over the middle at fairly close range to a 5'7 WR over the middle. That's not poor execution on the WR's part...it's the kind of pass that gets a WR paralyzed.
If anything, they should be sending Beasley roses for helping them stay in the game.

Oh my gosh, it hit him right in the hands. He barely had to go up for it.

 

[Sydla]

The running game was disappointing. That put Dallas behind the sticks all day. But the two dropped TD passes were killers.

That's not coaching. That's execution.

Consistent lack of execution eventually has to fall on coaching. If Sunday was the first game where we saw execution issues, you'd have a point. But Sunday was just a continuation of the previous season where mistakes and boneheaded plays bit us in the butt in another close loss.

I guess some fans just have to be continually beaten over the head in multiple seasons before that becomes obvious.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Norv Turner ran a simple offense here which we challenged the opponent to stop. They knew what we were going to do but still had very little success stoping it. We had superior talent .

And why I always go back to the talent issue. A couple years ago one of the beat writers , can't remember who, wrote a story on how Garretts fault in his scheme is he doesn't have the talent suited for the plays he calls or wants to call.

For example Dez doesn't always gain the seperation or run as precise routes as Irvin did or Romo doesn't throw the same velocity or certain patterns as well as Troy. I don't recall all of the specifics but it made a lot of sense at the time. It also would explain why Romo audibles out of so many plays . He understands what he and Dez are more capable of than what Garrett is wanting to run.

If there is any truth to any of this then I'd fault Garrett for a scheme or plays that doesn't suit the talent he has.

And with Dak I hope he's scheming for Daks best assets not what he wants or sees as most effective or safe . Dak was very successful using his legs at Miss St. We've seen other young QB's in NFL kill defenses with their mobility. I'm not encouraging to develop him into a running QB but to leave that option open in critical situations converting 3rd downs to sustain drives and in the Redzone.

I'll hang up and listen to your thoughts.)

The Cowboys offense has been pretty efficient under Garrett. It's the defense that has let them down repeatedly. Truthfully, you could blindly throw a dart at the wall and hit a problem on defense:

-talent
-coaching
-scheme
-play calling
-sobriety

I mean, the issues are myriad.

 

[erod]

It's a big, big deal if Dak pans out, obviously. Finally, we might see some defensive talent added in these coming drafts. I can't wait. It's been forever since we've had the talent on defense to actually be really competitive on that side of the ball.

Imagine...

Sign a name free agent or two on the defensive line.

Draft defense the first four rounds.

Jaylon Smith's nerve fires.

Tapper and Collins can play.

 

[Diehardblues]

I do, too. He handled a tough situation well on game day. Then he went about handling the following week even better. He says he likes going into a hostile environment and that he welcomes it. If he goes into WAS, plays well, and comes out with a W we're going to be in good shape, overall.

Yep, we'll take 1-1. Plus it provides confidence coming home for Chicago.

The thought of having to listen to all of the negative 0-2 rhetoric on NBC and SNF, I might have to turn down the sound. Ha!