The perplexing case of a good offseason

kiheikiwi

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Just some thoughts that have been stewing in my brain for the last 3 weeks or so.

Like a lot of Cowboy fans, last year took us all by surprise. No one expected the season we had. I thought we were still a season, maybe 2 away from being in the thick of it - it really was a great surprise.
Fast forward to the off season and draft, again, it seemed like the Dallas brain-trust had finally figured it out. Sound decisions i.e. letting Murray walk. Thought they would have played a little more hardball with Carr. Signing Hardy for the structured contract etc. Picking up McFadden on the cheap. Bringing back RoMac on another structured deal. All seemed like solid FO moves. The draft followed, And although I did not agree with the Jones pick, (I see he is and will be a good player for us) Man, walking away with three 1st round talents in Jones, Gregory and Collins. I was perfectly giddy. The rest of the draft seemed solid, smart picks - who I still see as potential players for us. So all in all, the happy meter was pointing up. Training camp comes along, everyone looks to be working out. Hell, even Claiborne looked better !
We lose Scandrick, a few niggling injuries, but generally I'm a pretty happy camper.
But, Now with the injuries we have had so far, and the paly of several players (Weeden etc.) I have come to believe the off season was floored.
It's my belief that the front office never intended to take a RB in this draft - at all. No matter how they spin it. There was no, it just didn't fall to us BS. They thought the line, Randle, McFadden and Dunbar was enough - Strike one. Fatal flaw. all can see now RBBC does not work with the backs we have, and then I think OK, they realize the flaw, go out and trade for Michael - but whet the hell is this ! 1 play per game and yank him - Strike two. Loading up on DE's was great and needed, but again neglecting the DT position is yet another fatal flaw (No. 3) And that has also played out. No FS drafted or picked up. We all know we are playing with 2 SS, but they chose to ignore that - yet again. Church has regressed from last year, and will not return next year, leaving Wilcox to move inside where he should be. And leaving another big hole that we have to throw a high pick at to get a quality FS that can come in and start. Fatal flaw # 4.
QB, yes it is apparent that the FO decision to stick with Weeden was the wrong one. I was of the opinion that he would progress this year. Hell no ! He is done, we need to move off of him, and no matter what happens the rest of this year - Cassel, Romo when he's healthy. It is now a pressing need to draft and prep. a young QB behind Romo. We are running out of time ! Fatal Flaw # 5.
What I thought was such a promising off-season appears to have been smoke and mirrors. And what I perceived to be a solid run for the next few years, with smart FO thinking - now still feels the same 2-3 years away. we have literally and figuratively wasted the Romo years.
I could go on and on about coaching, play calling, the apparent big step back from Callahan. But this is already long. Like all you, I love our team and want nothing but the best.
Seems like the decisions of the off season, headed in a different direction. And we don't have enough high picks to rectify them in one off season. Another Romo year will go by, and he does not have many left.
Thoughts ?
 

cowboyblue22

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this league is a year to year league the offseason and draft have very little to do with your success in the reg season health is a number one factor with free agency and all the movement of players and coaches it has huge changes every year but they should of kept murray was bad mistake to let him walk
 

Eddie

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We have so much money tied up in a few "elite" players that we have almost no depth.

But not having a succession plan for Romo is criminal.
 

visionary

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We had essentially "wasted the romo years" once we decided to hire a HC who had VERY little coaching experience, was learning on the job, and had been less than mediocre the little he actually did coach
 

RunDMC

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We have so much money tied up in a few "elite" players that we have almost no depth.

But not having a succession plan for Romo is criminal.

Elite players that deserve every penny they get. What do you suppose the Cowboys do let Dez walk? You add those two guys in and this team is a legit Super Bowl contender especially with how the defensive line has looked. Yeah we should have gotten a better backup quarterback and should've kept Murray, but if it means not re-signing Dez then it was the right move. The big miss was not drafting a quarterback or a replacement for Murray.
 

ghst187

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it all speaks the league's current state that you can only be a contender with a top flight QB, no other position really matters all that much by comparison. Ours got injured.
 

Eddie

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We had essentially "wasted the romo years" once we decided to hire a HC who had VERY little coaching experience, was learning on the job, had been less than mediocre the little he actually did coach

That's part of the problem. The main problem is the guy up top who runs the team like a fantasy football team. Over blown contracts, horrible player decisions, heavy handed nonsense. Years and years of wasted drafts. Need I go on?
 

SilverStarCowboy

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Perplexing is the case of the OLine vs the DLine wearing each other out before the Season ever started.

Call the Ambulance Driver because it looks like the DLine won the majority of those Off-Season battles, which we've all endured the pain.

Wonder who started the War, since it wasn't pinned on the General Lee again. ...momma do you think they'll drop the bomb...on my neck.
 
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Nightman

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Just some thoughts that have been stewing in my brain for the last 3 weeks or so.

Like a lot of Cowboy fans, last year took us all by surprise. No one expected the season we had. I thought we were still a season, maybe 2 away from being in the thick of it - it really was a great surprise.
Fast forward to the off season and draft, again, it seemed like the Dallas brain-trust had finally figured it out. Sound decisions i.e. letting Murray walk. Thought they would have played a little more hardball with Carr. Signing Hardy for the structured contract etc. Picking up McFadden on the cheap. Bringing back RoMac on another structured deal. All seemed like solid FO moves. The draft followed, And although I did not agree with the Jones pick, (I see he is and will be a good player for us) Man, walking away with three 1st round talents in Jones, Gregory and Collins. I was perfectly giddy. The rest of the draft seemed solid, smart picks - who I still see as potential players for us. So all in all, the happy meter was pointing up. Training camp comes along, everyone looks to be working out. Hell, even Claiborne looked better !
We lose Scandrick, a few niggling injuries, but generally I'm a pretty happy camper.
But, Now with the injuries we have had so far, and the paly of several players (Weeden etc.) I have come to believe the off season was floored.
It's my belief that the front office never intended to take a RB in this draft - at all. No matter how they spin it. There was no, it just didn't fall to us BS. They thought the line, Randle, McFadden and Dunbar was enough - Strike one. Fatal flaw. all can see now RBBC does not work with the backs we have, and then I think OK, they realize the flaw, go out and trade for Michael - but whet the hell is this ! 1 play per game and yank him - Strike two. Loading up on DE's was great and needed, but again neglecting the DT position is yet another fatal flaw (No. 3) And that has also played out. No FS drafted or picked up. We all know we are playing with 2 SS, but they chose to ignore that - yet again. Church has regressed from last year, and will not return next year, leaving Wilcox to move inside where he should be. And leaving another big hole that we have to throw a high pick at to get a quality FS that can come in and start. Fatal flaw # 4.
QB, yes it is apparent that the FO decision to stick with Weeden was the wrong one. I was of the opinion that he would progress this year. Hell no ! He is done, we need to move off of him, and no matter what happens the rest of this year - Cassel, Romo when he's healthy. It is now a pressing need to draft and prep. a young QB behind Romo. We are running out of time ! Fatal Flaw # 5.
What I thought was such a promising off-season appears to have been smoke and mirrors. And what I perceived to be a solid run for the next few years, with smart FO thinking - now still feels the same 2-3 years away. we have literally and figuratively wasted the Romo years.
I could go on and on about coaching, play calling, the apparent big step back from Callahan. But this is already long. Like all you, I love our team and want nothing but the best.
Seems like the decisions of the off season, headed in a different direction. And we don't have enough high picks to rectify them in one off season. Another Romo year will go by, and he does not have many left.
Thoughts ?

That is why creating a huge hole at RB without an in house replacement was the biggest mistake. We took a strength and made it into another weakness. Once Romo and Dez went down we had no running game to rely on.
 

kiheikiwi

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I doubt this thread would have been made had Dez and Tony not been hurt.

Not true at all, maybe its just my rumblings, but apart from injuries. I feel the plan the FO laid out last off season was just plain wrong. Almost like they gambled with which positions to strengthen, which they could get by with etc. And it will set the franchise back an extra year or 2.
No one can predict injuries, or declining players. But you can choose to stack the deck so to speak. Don't think we did a very good job of stacking the deck...
 

Idgit

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Or....it's week 5, and we've still got 11 games to go, with the bulk of the impact players missing from the roster returning in the next two weeks.

Of course we never intended to waste a first round pick on a RB. Thankfully. We're paying a price now that any good team would pay if it were missing as many good players as we're missing. And, no, teams don't really have backup plans for missing best QB, best CB, best WR, best pass rusher, second best pass rusher, MLB, and their team-leading receiving 3rd down back. Sometimes you suffer when your stars aren't out.

When they do get back, though, we're going to see the team we assembled in the offseason, and it ought to be pretty good.
 

windward

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Yep ... the best teams have someone ready in case it happens.

Scott Tolzien and Jimmy Garoppolo would keep the Packers and patriots among the top teams in the league?

Yeah, I don't think so.
 

windward

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Or....it's week 5, and we've still got 11 games to go, with the bulk of the impact players missing from the roster returning in the next two weeks.

Of course we never intended to waste a first round pick on a RB. Thankfully. We're paying a price now that any good team would pay if it were missing as many good players as we're missing. And, no, teams don't really have backup plans for missing best QB, best CB, best WR, best pass rusher, second best pass rusher, MLB, and their team-leading receiving 3rd down back. Sometimes you suffer when your stars aren't out.

When they do get back, though, we're going to see the team we assembled in the offseason, and it ought to be pretty good.

I also don't think it's fair to fully evaluate the RBBC without Dez or Tony in the lineup.
 

TonyRomo17

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Just some thoughts that have been stewing in my brain for the last 3 weeks or so.

Like a lot of Cowboy fans, last year took us all by surprise. No one expected the season we had. I thought we were still a season, maybe 2 away from being in the thick of it - it really was a great surprise.
Fast forward to the off season and draft, again, it seemed like the Dallas brain-trust had finally figured it out. Sound decisions i.e. letting Murray walk. Thought they would have played a little more hardball with Carr. Signing Hardy for the structured contract etc. Picking up McFadden on the cheap. Bringing back RoMac on another structured deal. All seemed like solid FO moves. The draft followed, And although I did not agree with the Jones pick, (I see he is and will be a good player for us) Man, walking away with three 1st round talents in Jones, Gregory and Collins. I was perfectly giddy. The rest of the draft seemed solid, smart picks - who I still see as potential players for us. So all in all, the happy meter was pointing up. Training camp comes along, everyone looks to be working out. Hell, even Claiborne looked better !
We lose Scandrick, a few niggling injuries, but generally I'm a pretty happy camper.
But, Now with the injuries we have had so far, and the paly of several players (Weeden etc.) I have come to believe the off season was floored.
It's my belief that the front office never intended to take a RB in this draft - at all. No matter how they spin it. There was no, it just didn't fall to us BS. They thought the line, Randle, McFadden and Dunbar was enough - Strike one. Fatal flaw. all can see now RBBC does not work with the backs we have, and then I think OK, they realize the flaw, go out and trade for Michael - but whet the hell is this ! 1 play per game and yank him - Strike two. Loading up on DE's was great and needed, but again neglecting the DT position is yet another fatal flaw (No. 3) And that has also played out. No FS drafted or picked up. We all know we are playing with 2 SS, but they chose to ignore that - yet again. Church has regressed from last year, and will not return next year, leaving Wilcox to move inside where he should be. And leaving another big hole that we have to throw a high pick at to get a quality FS that can come in and start. Fatal flaw # 4.
QB, yes it is apparent that the FO decision to stick with Weeden was the wrong one. I was of the opinion that he would progress this year. Hell no ! He is done, we need to move off of him, and no matter what happens the rest of this year - Cassel, Romo when he's healthy. It is now a pressing need to draft and prep. a young QB behind Romo. We are running out of time ! Fatal Flaw # 5.
What I thought was such a promising off-season appears to have been smoke and mirrors. And what I perceived to be a solid run for the next few years, with smart FO thinking - now still feels the same 2-3 years away. we have literally and figuratively wasted the Romo years.
I could go on and on about coaching, play calling, the apparent big step back from Callahan. But this is already long. Like all you, I love our team and want nothing but the best.
Seems like the decisions of the off season, headed in a different direction. And we don't have enough high picks to rectify them in one off season. Another Romo year will go by, and he does not have many left.
Thoughts ?
they did want to draft an RB, look at their pre-draft invites and meetings, they just couldnt pass up on gregory, also im sure they wouldve drafted gurley or gordon at 27
 

windward

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Not true at all, maybe its just my rumblings, but apart from injuries. I feel the plan the FO laid out last off season was just plain wrong. Almost like they gambled with which positions to strengthen, which they could get by with etc. And it will set the franchise back an extra year or 2.
No one can predict injuries, or declining players. But you can choose to stack the deck so to speak. Don't think we did a very good job of stacking the deck...

Well, that's the problem. You can't really stack the deck in a salary cap world.
 
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