The Jimmy Johnson Era

[bmf31]

"there wasn't much competition standing in the way of his reaching such an iconic level."

Idk why he would say that, those 49er and Bills' teams have produced several Hall of Famers. Including 1 Hall of Fame Coach and the other team was built by a coach in the Hall of Fame. Not like New England who has had cake walks in the big game for the most part.

That's another key for me how truly great those early 90's teams were. I am on the fence about whether the 9ers were better than the Boys in 92. Especially after that long TD by Rice was brought back early in the game. Just seemed like the stars were lined up for us, but after that both teams settled down and it was a slug fest. Dallas earned it. 49ers did not beat themselves, and Dallas was a more complete team. They had a better running game, special teams, and defense. Passing game was about equal.

 

[muck4doo]

They beat us when we had a caretaker for a head coach, not Jimmy Johnson.

And they also manipulated free agency and cheated the NFL salary cap at the time to assemble their own 'Dream Team' and essentially buy a championship.

Nobody should ever forget that.

I think if Jimmy Johnson had stayed, this team would almost certainly have won 4 consecutive Super Bowls, but it was not meant to be.

Funny how so many forget they cheated the salary cap to beat us in 94. One team played by the rules(us), and one team didn't(Whiners).

 

[visionary]

They beat us when we had a caretaker for a head coach, not Jimmy Johnson.

And they also manipulated free agency and cheated the NFL salary cap at the time to assemble their own 'Dream Team' and essentially buy a championship.

Nobody should ever forget that.

I think if Jimmy Johnson had stayed, this team would almost certainly have won 4 consecutive Super Bowls, but it was not meant to be.

Great post stash
I count myself as lucky to have been a fan of the cowboys in those days
Those memories make it both easier and harder to swallow the abject failure of the last 17 years under a lunatic owner/GM

 

[tyke1doe]

The regular season loss to the Niners was huge that year, it gave them belief they could beat us and gave them home field in the championship game. I think it also goes to a coaching philosophy difference between Jimmy and Switzer that may have cost us dearly.

Jimmy spoke about how he always identified two or three regular season games as key games, and he had at least one assistant who spent time from the preseason on, watching film and preparing for that game. He knew that all regular season games weren't created equally and he put time and resources into being as prepared as possible.

Barry didn't, by his own words. We went into the regular season game that year with a one game lead in win-loss over the 49'ers. Barry treated the game as just another regular season game, he said that often leading up to it, and it showed on the field. There just didn't look to be much urgency on Dallas' part and the Niners played with a whole lot of urgency. Once they won, the whole landscape of the NFC changed - we came out of the game tied with them in the standings and they held the tie-breaker and had a ton of momentum. They ended up a game ahead in the standings and got home field through the playoffs.

Who knows, if the NFC Championship were in Dallas that year, they may have beaten us anyway. But that regular season game really shifted things.

Good analysis.

Jimmy prepared the team better than Barry. The most glaring factor in the 49ers game is the turnovers. Jimmy's Super Bowl teams rarely turned the ball over. When Switzer came in, that lack of discipline-attention to detail caught up with the Cowboys in that third NFC Championship Game with the 49ers. If not for those turnovers, the Cowboys could have won that game easily.

I think another overlooked factor in that game was that Emmitt Smith was injured. I can't remember the injury, but he was not 100 percent. The Cowboys offense revolved around Emmitt. But when we went down 21-0, that (and Emmitt's injury) changed the dynamic of the team. Yes, we proved more than capable of turning the offense over to a passing-oriented one, but those turnovers really hurt our chances of winning.

 

[tyke1doe]

Great post stash
I count myself as lucky to have been a fan of the cowboys in those days
Those memories make it both easier and harder to swallow the abject failure of the last 17 years under a lunatic owner/GM

:laugh2:

I agree.

 

[forever22]

Didn't Emmitt pull a hammy? I can't remember if it was a reinjury or something whacked out, like even both hammys but thought that the Chargers would beat the Cowboys, without him. They would have been one dimensional. We know that Emmitt is a warrior and would have given it a shot but the end result would have him being out of the game, if even in it at all.

 

[TwoDeep3]

This is true, but Jimmy was able to coach in a salary cap free era. Coaches cannot do that now, although I wish they could.

Seeing a player sleep during a meeting and telling him to pack his bags and get the hell out of Dodge just cuts into the salary cap.

This is always the excuse made as if the salary cap prevents players from moving.

Did you forget plan B free agency?

name the players Jimmy reached out and obtained, via Jerry or not from trades or Plan B.

Novacek and Haley.

Now granted both were exceptional. But the team surrounding them when they arrived was also a big part in their success.

Jimmy was a leader that did not take crap off anyone. He drafted the right kind of players and made the team fit his image.

No discounting his accomplishments will take away the fact that he was a rare breed.

A true leader.

And the baloney about Miami and his lack off success there just indicates the low information fan who doesn't see the difference in Dallas and Miami.

And that had zippo to do with the salary cap.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I think what the Switzer era showed, especially with the players picked by Jimmy is this.

The team was assembled in a fashion where the players had leaders on the field who did not allow the team to rest on their laurels.

Yet when Switzer got here the team eased up, a bit in 1994.

I think the absolute greatest testament to Jimmy is his team, with predominately players chosen by Jimmy came back and forged ahead after the loss to the 9ers the year before and won it all.

Mr. Hotdog did not lead that team as much as Aikman, Irvin, Smith, Novacek. Woody and Haley ran it from the field..

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

All that really needs to be said is:

1.Three peat was there for taking - jimmy would have had them ready ESPECIALLY since we lost to them during the season

2. Four in a row was on the table - we won in spite of Switzer

3. Maybe 5 in a row....

Events were altered in large part by one person - the end.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/greatestcoach/jimmy-johnson-brief-greatness

This may have already been posted however. I just found this was a write up in ESPN.com, ESPN's "greatest coaches" segment.
For those who were around during the Jimmy Johnson days this will bring a tear to your eye with what we had back in the early 90's.
I think I wanted that 3peat more than anyone in Texas. Man, what could have been!!

The Cowboys won 3 SB's in 4 years including back to back championships and became the undisputed team of the 90's. Hard for me to say "what could have been" with as much as the team accomplished during that period.

Not sure why people think this. The 49ers had a better record, beat us once in the regular season, and beat us again in the championship game to boot. It was a tough way to lose with that start but it was their time to get us.

Both of those games against the Whiners we were the better team but beat ourselves by our own mistakes. Doesnt mean SF wasnt a good team. We simply failed to execute our game and too many mistakes are too hard to overcome against a team as good as SF was.

 

[xwalker]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/greatestcoach/jimmy-johnson-brief-greatness

This may have already been posted however. I just found this was a write up in ESPN.com, ESPN's "greatest coaches" segment.
For those who were around during the Jimmy Johnson days this will bring a tear to your eye with what we had back in the early 90's.
I think I wanted that 3peat more than anyone in Texas. Man, what could have been!!

IMO, the biggest detriment to winning the 1994 championship game was the loss of Eric Williams due to the car wreck.

I tend to think that the probability of him getting into that wreck would have been lower if Jimmy was still around.

 

[cajuncocoa]

And dont forget the Non Call on Neon Deion where he clearly interfered with Irvin down the sideline. That whole game was a rip. That team was primed for 4-5 SB's, Ahhh the Glory Days...

We just fell behind by too much in that game too early. But we were making a darned good comeback that was thwarted by that non-call. If I remember correctly, Switzer tried to complain and ended up getting a penalty called on him and that pretty much ended the comeback.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

It's always funny to me how Switzer gets credit for the loss and Jimmy gets credit for the win, especially since they happened in that order.

 

[Seven]

I just want a "coach" again, that's all. The rest will take care of itself.

I remember sitting down for a Thanksgiving day meal, and actually enjoying it:laugh2:

Not as long as he's alive. Never.

 

[KJJ]

You hear a lot of Cowboy fans say the Cowboys won SB XXX in spite of Switzer but I don't believe a team can win a championship in spite of a coach 2 years after they take over if they can't lead. After the Cowboys lost the NFC title game to SF in 94 it appeared the Cowboys SB run was over. Free agency had started eating away at the talent after the 92 season. The players had to buy into Switzer for the team to bounce back after that disappointing 94 title game loss and win another championship the following year.

The Cowboys were 3 years removed from winning their first SB under Jimmy and with free agency tearing away at the team the players had to buy into Switzer for the team to stay focused. The players liked him and Aikman said that Switzer was one of the best motivators he had ever been around. The Cowboys needed another SB win during the 90's to become the undisputed team of that decade. Say what you will about Switzer but he deserves some credit for keeping that team together for one more championship.

Hard for me to dislike a coach who helped lead the Cowboys to a SB win over the hated Steelers who dominated the Cowboys during the 70's and helped secure the Cowboys as the greatest team of the 90's. Unlike Jimmy Switzer had to deal with Jerry's meddling ways. Once Jimmy left the draft was in Jerry's hands and other than Larry Allen the team was coming up empty with Jerry having the final say on draft picks. A lot of Cowboy fans blame Switzer for the teams decline but it was free agency and Jerry hand picking players like Quincy Carter that caused the Cowboys to fade.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

The Cowboys won 3 SB's in 4 years including back to back championships and became the undisputed team of the 90's. Hard for me to say "what could have been" with as much as the team accomplished during that period.

I don't know how much more successful the Cowboys would have been if Jimmy stayed, but I could sure tell their edge started to slip once he left. Probably at least one more SB championship. And definitely no three-peat of 5-11 records at the turn of the century.

Happiest team to see Jimmy go: The Packers. Otherwise, Brett Favre might have never got his ring.

This comment should get some replies: Jimmy probably would have exploded the team in the 2nd half of the 90's.

 

[KJJ]

I don't know how much more successful the Cowboys would have been if Jimmy stayed, but I could sure tell their edge started to slip once he left. Probably at least one more SB championship. And definitely no three-peat of 5-11 records at the turn of the century.

Happiest team to see Jimmy go: The Packers. Otherwise, Brett Favre might have never got his ring.

This comment should get some replies: Jimmy probably would have exploded the team in the 2nd half of the 90's.

Even had Jimmy stayed free agency would have continued eating away at the talent and the Cowboys would have still ended up in cap hell. When you're a great team everyone wants your players and there was no way the Cowboys could have kept that team together. They were losing depth and solid role players. The salary cap was new and teams didn't know how to massage it like they do now. The loss of talent and cap hell was inevitable even had Jimmy stuck around. The draft certainly would have been better under Jimmy.

Had the Cowboys dealt with free agency under Landry no way would they have enjoyed 20 consecutive winning seasons. Had free agency come along during the late 90's no telling how many SB's the Cowboys could have won even without Jimmy. The timing of free agency entering the league after the 92 season came at a bad time for the Cowboys. The last thing a loaded team wants is free agency robbing them of talent.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

^ True, the salary cap would have still impacted them like it did anyway.

So I'm not going to say something like they could have won 3 more SBs - probably one more, plus additional appearances.

I'm more certain the late 90's slide would have been a lot less.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

You hear a lot of Cowboy fans say the Cowboys won SB XXX in spite of Switzer but I don't believe a team can win a championship in spite of a coach 2 years after they take over if they can't lead. After the Cowboys lost the NFC title game to SF in 94 it appeared the Cowboys SB run was over. Free agency had started eating away at the talent after the 92 season. The players had to buy into Switzer for the team to bounce back after that disappointing 94 title game loss and win another championship the following year.

The Cowboys were 3 years removed from winning their first SB under Jimmy and with free agency tearing away at the team the players had to buy into Switzer for the team to stay focused. The players liked him and Aikman said that Switzer was one of the best motivators he had ever been around. The Cowboys needed another SB win during the 90's to become the undisputed team of that decade. Say what you will about Switzer but he deserves some credit for keeping that team together for one more championship.

Hard for me to dislike a coach who helped lead the Cowboys to a SB win over the hated Steelers who dominated the Cowboys during the 70's and helped secure the Cowboys as the greatest team of the 90's. Unlike Jimmy Switzer had to deal with Jerry's meddling ways. Once Jimmy left the draft was in Jerry's hands and other than Larry Allen the team was coming up empty with Jerry having the final say on draft picks. A lot of Cowboy fans blame Switzer for the teams decline but it was free agency and Jerry hand picking players like Quincy Carter that caused the Cowboys to fade.

See, I don't always disagree with you.

Was Barry a great pro coach? No, but I think it's harder than people realize to come in to a new team and inherit a complete coaching staff and roster with no loyalty to you.

Like Barry said: "People say I won with Jimmy's players... That's true. But I could have lost with 'em."

 

[QT]

You hear a lot of Cowboy fans say the Cowboys won SB XXX in spite of Switzer but I don't believe a team can win a championship in spite of a coach 2 years after they take over if they can't lead. After the Cowboys lost the NFC title game to SF in 94 it appeared the Cowboys SB run was over. Free agency had started eating away at the talent after the 92 season. The players had to buy into Switzer for the team to bounce back after that disappointing 94 title game loss and win another championship the following year.

The Cowboys were 3 years removed from winning their first SB under Jimmy and with free agency tearing away at the team the players had to buy into Switzer for the team to stay focused. The players liked him and Aikman said that Switzer was one of the best motivators he had ever been around. The Cowboys needed another SB win during the 90's to become the undisputed team of that decade. Say what you will about Switzer but he deserves some credit for keeping that team together for one more championship.

Hard for me to dislike a coach who helped lead the Cowboys to a SB win over the hated Steelers who dominated the Cowboys during the 70's and helped secure the Cowboys as the greatest team of the 90's. Unlike Jimmy Switzer had to deal with Jerry's meddling ways. Once Jimmy left the draft was in Jerry's hands and other than Larry Allen the team was coming up empty with Jerry having the final say on draft picks. A lot of Cowboy fans blame Switzer for the teams decline but it was free agency and Jerry hand picking players like Quincy Carter that caused the Cowboys to fade.

Taking Deion away from SF and adding him to the '95 Cowboys help as well.

 

[Jerryrage]

I have a simple, yet complicated question for everyone here.

Do you think Jimmy Johnson tanked the 1989 season to obtain the first round draft pick?