The passing game has almost disappeared

[CowboysFaninHouston]

But all of what you've said could be levelled at Dak. Indeed, a central part of his game was based not only on Zeke and an outstanding O-line, but his mobility....where he had to be covered.
He no longer has that mobility and so needs pretty much everything to go his way (unlike Jackson, who can change a game on his own).
Again, it's a point of you picking off individual QB's which does nothing to justify Dak.

burrows is not mobile, Cousins is not mobile, Purdy is not mobile, stafford is not mobile, mahomes is a great scrambler, but doesn't run that many QB options, goff is not mobile and so on. Jackson is best of them and it translates to tons of reguylar season wins, but in post season, you play against teams with better defenses and he gets neutralized. they take that away from him. passing, reading defenses, arm, mobility within the pocket are all way way more important to me than scrambling and running ability.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

He's downright awful in most close games.

....and if there's not enough 'great' games, what does now paying him 20% of the CAP achieve?

its the QB market and people get hung up on that. 9 players are making 55M or more...that's about 19% of the cap. you want to tell me they deserve to get 19% of the cap? 17 players make 40M or more, that's about 15% of the cap. so there are 17 players, QBs, that deserve 15% of the cap? and there was this argument that no QB has won the superbowl if they count more than 11% of the cap (not sure how people come up with that stuff), so the top 17 highest QBs paid are not winning the superbowl?

do I want to see better performance. always! but the market is what it is. it will correct itself. you have to separate the market from all other arguments.
does Dak need support around him to be successful? yes, so do everyone not named Mahomes as we have seen all of the 17 struggle. its a matter of how much and what they do with it when they get those resources. heck even Mahomes needs talent around him, but once he has that talent he maximizes it like no others. when his OL had injuries he scored 9 points in the superbowl running for his life.

there are zero QBs, who can take a no talent team and make them great. that is the stupidest perception some people have around these neck of the woods.

btw, I think our cap management sucks. Stephen and Jerry do an awful job of it.

 

[CowboyoWales]

burrows is not mobile, Cousins is not mobile, Purdy is not mobile, stafford is not mobile, mahomes is a great scrambler, but doesn't run that many QB options, goff is not mobile and so on. Jackson is best of them and it translates to tons of reguylar season wins, but in post season, you play against teams with better defenses and he gets neutralized. they take that away from him. passing, reading defenses, arm, mobility within the pocket are all way way more important to me than scrambling and running ability.

Again, you're trying to pick off other QB's weaknesses as a rationale to support Dak.
The thing is (even if its just CAP differential) all you've mentioned have advantages over Dak.
Indeed, we haven't mentioned Dak's inability to perform under extreme pressure.
There just isn't a world where paying Dak $60m is beneficial to the Cowboys.... Reason no.1 -is because Jerry did think it was a deal. That only took 3 months to fall apart.

 

[CowboyoWales]

its the QB market and people get hung up on that. 9 players are making 55M or more...that's about 19% of the cap. you want to tell me they deserve to get 19% of the cap? 17 players make 40M or more, that's about 15% of the cap. so there are 17 players, QBs, that deserve 15% of the cap? and there was this argument that no QB has won the superbowl if they count more than 11% of the cap (not sure how people come up with that stuff), so the top 17 highest QBs paid are not winning the superbowl?

do I want to see better performance. always! but the market is what it is. it will correct itself. you have to separate the market from all other arguments.
does Dak need support around him to be successful? yes, so do everyone not named Mahomes as we have seen all of the 17 struggle. its a matter of how much and what they do with it when they get those resources. heck even Mahomes needs talent around him, but once he has that talent he maximizes it like no others. when his OL had injuries he scored 9 points in the superbowl running for his life.

there are zero QBs, who can take a no talent team and make them great. that is the stupidest perception some people have around these neck of the woods.

btw, I think our cap management sucks. Stephen and Jerry do an awful job of it.

Again, you're justifying Dak by the market and the competition. I'll agree with the assessment of the CAP management, but front and center of that is Dak and $240m OVER 4 YEARS.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Again, you're justifying Dak by the market and the competition. I'll agree with the assessment of the CAP management, but front and center of that is Dak and $240m OVER 4 YEARS.

its the market my friend. why does a 1200 sq ft house build in the 50s cost over 1.5M in bethesda and a 5000 sq ft house in iowa cost 400K....its painfully obvious that this league lacks in QB play. its hungry and desparate. they made the rules so that QB is the one position you have to make sure you have a good player. despite all the uninformed rhetoric from a few on this board, Dak is one of the better QBs in the league. doesn't mean he is great. doesn't mean I don't want better. doesn't mean he can't and shouldn't play better. doesn't mean we shouldn't look for another. but options are limited. thus the market.

and like I said, there are 8 others who are making 50M and above. is 50M justified? and they all signed before 2024 and we know salaries just keep going up. like I said, there are 16 that make 40M or more. is that justified?

two years from now, dak will barely be in the top 10 in QB salary. is expectations lesser then than when he was highest paid?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Again, you're trying to pick off other QB's weaknesses as a rationale to support Dak.
The thing is (even if its just CAP differential) all you've mentioned have advantages over Dak.
Indeed, we haven't mentioned Dak's inability to perform under extreme pressure.
There just isn't a world where paying Dak $60m is beneficial to the Cowboys.... Reason no.1 -is because Jerry did think it was a deal. That only took 3 months to fall apart.

I am not. my point is they all have weaknesses. its not rationalizing. its stating the fact that none of them are elite and each is good in something while not in other things.
and Dak needs to perform better in playoffs. not sure what the issue is with this team and their collapse in playoffs.

paying 60M is not beneficial to any team. heck. paying 50M to any player is not beneficial to any team.

we suck at cap management. we suck in player personnel management. we suck in coaching management. we plain suck. and right now the focus is on Dak, but I have seen this rodeo, same stuff was said during Romo years. and then prior to Romo...there is one constant and nothing will change regardless of how much we scream, until Jerry retires and then we suffer another 20 years with Stephen ()..... then things will change. so buckle up.

 

[CowboyoWales]

its the market my friend. why does a 1200 sq ft house build in the 50s cost over 1.5M in bethesda and a 5000 sq ft house in iowa cost 400K....its painfully obvious that this league lacks in QB play. its hungry and desparate. they made the rules so that QB is the one position you have to make sure you have a good player. despite all the uninformed rhetoric from a few on this board, Dak is one of the better QBs in the league. doesn't mean he is great. doesn't mean I don't want better. doesn't mean he can't and shouldn't play better. doesn't mean we shouldn't look for another. but options are limited. thus the market.

and like I said, there are 8 others who are making 50M and above. is 50M justified? and they all signed before 2024 and we know salaries just keep going up. like I said, there are 16 that make 40M or more. is that justified?

two years from now, dak will barely be in the top 10 in QB salary. is expectations lesser then than when he was highest paid?

Again.....you're point is based on comparison. Arguing where he's ranked, or price of QB's, is inane. He just doesnt have A PERSONAL TALENT, that equates to a SB winning QB. Even his strong suit, Bus Driving, has been shown in the last three play-off loses, to be inadequate in as soon as we're behind he looks as if he's given up.

For CAP purposes you'd need to add the $40m of deferred money, which equates to his AAV being 70m ...... now you can blame Jerry for that (I bet you will), but that deferred money allowed Dak have the weapons he needed to get us to 12-5....there's also the problem now of being restrictive with the restructure as I doubt very much we extend Dak again which will see a one of CAP hit in 2028 (?).

Restructuring to get a mediocre team with a QB that needs too much going right for him (well pretty much everything) is just a waste, we may as well look to run down the contract.....on an extension, that hasnt even started...... One, if not the worst Jerry move, is this extension.

 

[CowboyoWales]

I am not. my point is they all have weaknesses. its not rationalizing. its stating the fact that none of them are elite and each is good in something while not in other things.
and Dak needs to perform better in playoffs. not sure what the issue is with this team and their collapse in playoffs.

paying 60M is not beneficial to any team. heck. paying 50M to any player is not beneficial to any team.

we suck at cap management. we suck in player personnel management. we suck in coaching management. we plain suck. and right now the focus is on Dak, but I have seen this rodeo, same stuff was said during Romo years. and then prior to Romo...there is one constant and nothing will change regardless of how much we scream, until Jerry retires and then we suffer another 20 years with Stephen ()..... then things will change. so buckle up.

But their 'weaknesses' can be overcome and teams focus on their strengths. Dak's strength is Bus driving. For that, and taking into account his fragile disposition when behind, especially when the clock is ticking. It's difficult achieving that with what in essence is 70m per CAP hit (taking into account the deferment),
As for the CAP Management, well I suppose it's not great (making that final signing, to take us over the top), but during that last contract they deferred Dak's money to allow us to pay on the Credit Card.....knowing the contract would be extended.

The worst part FOR BOTH JERRY and DAK/FRANCE, is that they both would of gained by a CAREER ENDING Contract. What's happened is that this contract (along with Micah and CeeDee) will seriously restrict the weapons, and Dak just isnt able to be the needed difference maker.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Again.....you're point is based on comparison. Arguing where he's ranked, or price of QB's, is inane. He just doesnt have A PERSONAL TALENT, that equates to a SB winning QB. Even his strong suit, Bus Driving, has been shown in the last three play-off loses, to be inadequate in as soon as we're behind he looks as if he's given up.

For CAP purposes you'd need to add the $40m of deferred money, which equates to his AAV being 70m ...... now you can blame Jerry for that (I bet you will), but that deferred money allowed Dak have the weapons he needed to get us to 12-5....there's also the problem now of being restrictive with the restructure as I doubt very much we extend Dak again which will see a one of CAP hit in 2028 (?).

Restructuring to get a mediocre team with a QB that needs too much going right for him (well pretty much everything) is just a waste, we may as well look to run down the contract.....on an extension, that hasnt even started...... One, if not the worst Jerry move, is this extension.

wait what? what deferred money? actually if we don't go the full 4 years, somebody said its about a 58M contract. I haven't figured that part out yet.

and him not having the ability to take us there, is another debate. I think he needs to play better, I think he has failed in playoffs. I think when he senses that he has to carry the game, then he presses too much and makes mistakes and makes the wrong throws. these are not excuses. these are traits of a non-elite QB.
comparing him to the rest is what the market valuation for QBs is. its not a comparison of abilities. one can argue most of these highly paid QBs can't take their team anywhere. some of this is grass is greener on the other side.

but, all of this is Jerry's doing. he had all off season to sign Dak or walk away and sign CD. he botched CD's contract and then waited literally to an hour before first game of the season to sign Dak's contract. that's stupid at any level you look at it. he cornered himself. he had no QBs on the roster for 2025 and had no plans, knew that Rush and Lance are not the answer and given his concerns for Marketing, appearnaces and sales, then had no choice but to sign Dak.

to the ardent fans, such as ourselves, we want better, but he panders to the casual fans and they think Dak is capable and he can do and they buy what Jerry is selling. I have talked to quite a few.

Jerry genuinely didn't think this year was going to be this bad. he totally miscalculated and took way too many risks too many places and often in NFL, half of your moves don't work and this year none of his moves have worked. add to it two bad drafts in a row and its the disaster that it is.

 

[CowboyoWales]

wait what? what deferred money? actually if we don't go the full 4 years, somebody said its about a 58M contract. I haven't figured that part out yet.

and him not having the ability to take us there, is another debate. I think he needs to play better, I think he has failed in playoffs. I think when he senses that he has to carry the game, then he presses too much and makes mistakes and makes the wrong throws. these are not excuses. these are traits of a non-elite QB.
comparing him to the rest is what the market valuation for QBs is. its not a comparison of abilities. one can argue most of these highly paid QBs can't take their team anywhere. some of this is grass is greener on the other side.

but, all of this is Jerry's doing. he had all off season to sign Dak or walk away and sign CD. he botched CD's contract and then waited literally to an hour before first game of the season to sign Dak's contract. that's stupid at any level you look at it. he cornered himself. he had no QBs on the roster for 2025 and had no plans, knew that Rush and Lance are not the answer and given his concerns for Marketing, appearnaces and sales, then had no choice but to sign Dak.

to the ardent fans, such as ourselves, we want better, but he panders to the casual fans and they think Dak is capable and he can do and they buy what Jerry is selling. I have talked to quite a few.

Jerry genuinely didn't think this year was going to be this bad. he totally miscalculated and took way too many risks too many places and often in NFL, half of your moves don't work and this year none of his moves have worked. add to it two bad drafts in a row and its the disaster that it is.

Agree with a lot of that, other than the idea that we HAD to sign him (especially when we did), to that contract and the parts of that contract which seriously hampers the Cowboys. Paying him over 4 years.
The MASSIVE difference, this time around, is there's a limited ability to restructure the CAP as there won't be another contract to spread the void money.
If we were close then yep give Dak the contract (pleading with him to give a career ending contract that'll facilitate 2/3 years to go All-In).
Jerry to blame. OBVIOUSLY, but Dak with the number of years (form and now health/mobility) is indelibly linked to Jerry and his poor running of the franchise.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

I never imagined Rush would look so bad.

It was like he didn't know he was going to play today and found out at the last second.

I certainly hope this last game was an aberration. He's never had a strong zip to this passes, but at least two seasons ago he could throw accurate passes 15-20 yards down the field. I have three thoughts on this. First thought is that he was handcuffed by the anemic offensive play calling of MM and Schottenheimer. Second thought is that due to his lack of mobility and the OL regression, the coaches wanted him to get the ball out earlier to avoid taking sacks. The third thought is that perhaps he has regressed from what he was two years ago. This is why I would prefer to see Lance. His mobility at least gives him an opportunity to extend the play and even make large gains running. We are still likely to lose with Trey, but at least he brings a jolt of excitement and potential that we know just doesn't exist with Rush.

 

[big dog cowboy]

you're just realizing this?? Turn on the games and watch them maybe

You just don't get it do you?

For the last time - I didn't write or tweet this, I just posted it in here.

Do you see any comments from me at all? NO.

Jebus.

 

[big dog cowboy]

MM and his play calling abilities are very concerning. He calls all these gimmick plays that get slammed almost every time he calls them and the little flare passes NEVER work! MM has become a liability and for what ever reason JJ refuses to address the issues.

McCarthy has many issues. Play calling is one of them. In the past the Cowboys scored enough to overcome them (except in the red zone) but now that they aren't scoring, those bad play calls are getting exposed. The sideline shot of him throwing the tablet was very telling.

 

[Coogiguy03]

You just don't get it do you?

For the last time - I didn't write or tweet this, I just posted it in here.

Do you see any comments from me at all? NO.

Jebus.

I love you!

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Agree with a lot of that, other than the idea that we HAD to sign him (especially when we did), to that contract and the parts of that contract which seriously hampers the Cowboys. Paying him over 4 years.
The MASSIVE difference, this time around, is there's a limited ability to restructure the CAP as there won't be another contract to spread the void money.
If we were close then yep give Dak the contract (pleading with him to give a career ending contract that'll facilitate 2/3 years to go All-In).
Jerry to blame. OBVIOUSLY, but Dak with the number of years (form and now health/mobility) is indelibly linked to Jerry and his poor running of the franchise.

I don't disagree, my point was Jerry left himself no other option. didn't pursue anyone in FA. didn't draft anyone high. had no QB under contract in 25 and decided not to pick up Lance's 5th year option. Dak's agent had him over the barrel. specially since Dak had top 20 Jersey sales in NFL and #3 for the cowboys (Parsons, CD). and with Jerry its about money. so he didn't mind.

and Dak just lost a valuable year for himself and for Cowboys, as he gets older, now another injury to overcome.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

May just as well employ the single wing. … direct snap to a RB with a lead blocking FB .. The passes are only within five yards anyway. No need for a QB.

Second alternative would be the wishbone with Lance at QB. But I agree, this is one pitiful offense.

 

[Diehardblues]

“We” aren’t doing anything, you supported JG you supported MM you dislike Jerry (with good reason) just resolve to get use to the losing it’s what Jerry does best, but you’re one of those regular season win guys, enjoy the next 3-4 years with Dak and Jerry and the new yes man HC I know I will

No. I only supported Garrett because I don’t think it’s going to matter with Jethro . And I sarcastically coined him our Greatest Puppet this era. It’s actually more of a shun on our owner than anything .

And if we are going to be stuck in perpetual mediocrity funk then I’d prefer an ex Cowboy from SB era with his persona. It was all part of my Apathetic attitude and approach.

I’m not a regular season fan. I just waved my white flag years ago that we’d have any success like going deeper in the playoffs.

So for me I’ve resigned my fandom to at least having 17 meaningful games as nothing is worse than the season being over before Thanksgiving.

It might be different if I had any hope that losing out would benefit our dysfunctional ownership into building a better team.

Bottomline is if we are going to be frustrated and disappointed I’d rather choke in the playoffs than go 3-14.