The perplexing case of a good offseason

[Alexander]

Oh really? What's New England's backup plan to losing Brady and Gronkowski? I'll wait patiently.

How about their plan with Jason Garrett as the head coach instead of Bill Belichick? Things are not all constant like that, but I will wait patiently too.

 

[xwalker]

So he had a better one week versus a guy just getting himself into playing shape? Yay?



Maybe according to you. You always want to use speculation in the Cowboys' favor in an effort to mask their obvious mistakes.

The undeniable fact is that Chris Johnson - a guy begging to come to Dallas - is among the rushing leaders while the Cowboys backs are coming up smallest when needed most.

Not bad for a guy all of the 'staunch defenders' wanted to term 'washed up'.

He has 405 yards. Randle + McFadden have 418.

 

[Stash]

He has 405 yards. Randle + McFadden have 418.

So, he's better than two of ours.

Thanks.

We can delve further into the numbers, and where he's helped the Cardinals get to in rushing, but both of us know that would only further damage your 'case'.

 

[JoeKing]

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

You are not taking into consideration all the other chess pieces we were able to keep or acquire by not keeping Murray.

 

[xwalker]

So, he's better than two of ours.

Thanks.

We can delve further into the numbers, and where he's helped the Cardinals get to in rushing, but both of us know that would only further damage your 'case'.

You're never going to have great stats for 1 player in a RBBC. By definitely the carries are going to be divided up.

 

[Stash]

You're never going to have great stats for 1 player in a RBBC. By definitely the carries are going to be divided up.

You don't even gave 'good stats' and you know it.

The fact us that the 'washed up has been' who wanted to come here is doing a great job for the Cardinals and helping them to be a complete team and championship contender while our 'committee approach' has failed. And failed when this team needed them most.

This team not only made mistakes in running back evaluations, but they compounded them by turning away a better option when it was offered to them.

Fail, upon fail, upon fail.

 

[xwalker]

You don't even gave 'good stats' and you know it.

The fact us that the 'washed up has been' who wanted to come here is doing a great job for the Cardinals and helping them to be a complete team and championship contender while our 'committee approach' has failed. And failed when this team needed them most.

This team not only made mistakes in running back evaluations, but they compounded them by turning away a better option when it was offered to them.

Fail, upon fail, upon fail.

I have doubts that you're ever reviewed a game in detail.

The Cowboys blocking was not good even with Romo and Dez in the game and has definitely not been good when defenses starting loading up against the run because Weed is not a threat.

 

[T-RO]

Unfortunately, they were hurt. The best teams prepare for the worst. We play with "hope" ...

Silly and trite.

Name a team that loses it's starting QB and WR and stays an elite team.

There are about 10 good quarterbacks in the league and 10 decent ones. If you don't have that...you suck.

The Cowboys FO for tons of criticism for things in the past...and dubious signings of scumbags...but they've handled the draft and free agency quite adroitly of late.

 

[Stash]

I have doubts that you're ever reviewed a game in detail.

And I have doubts that you can separate what you actually see from what you so badly want to see.

The Cowboys blocking was not good even with Romo and Dez in the game and has definitely not been good when defenses starting loading up against the run because Weed is not a threat.

I've never claimed its been up to par, the opposite in fact. But, just like these injuries, everyone else doesn't get a free pass from me for their own failings and shortcomings either.

When this team has needed them to step up most, multiple players have come up small. Including these running back by committee options.

 

[Rockport]

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 ?

SMH, I don't care how good your line is or your backs are you're not going to be able to run when defenses don't respect your passing game.

 

[Joe Realist]

Loss of Callahan, Romo's injury, Randle not the guy and Dez to lesser extent killed the team this year.

 

[chicago JK]

It is funny, for the first time in like 20 years I was finally developing some confidence in their football moves. I never expect a team to bat 1000 but I think the moves and the thinking behind the moves were solid. The lone exceptions I was left with were the running backs they brought in and the backup QB. I thought both were large misses going into the season. Weeden has actually played better than I expected prior to the Patriots but he is clearly not a long term solution here. The running back situation was a mess from the get go.

The QB situation is the bigger issue though. Most thought the Cowboys arrow was pointing up for the future. I cautioned that when Romo leaves, this is when the big questions come. This franchise not being able to develop or try to develop a QB and the overall difficulty of finding a top 10 QB shows you how bad things can get when you do not have an elite to near elite QB. It is almost like all the good moves you make do not really matter if you are not very good at the QB position. There are teams who have gone 15 years looking for that top 10 QB. Some may be ineptness on the team but it is not like you pick one QB and you find your guy. Sometimes you need to go through several guys. Hopefully post Romo, it is not a 15 year process until we find the next guy. You never know though. ask Houston, KC, Washington, Jets, etc.

 

[xwalker]

And I have doubts that you can separate what you actually see from what you so badly want to see.



I've never claimed its been up to par, the opposite in fact. But, just like these injuries, everyone else doesn't get a free pass from me for their own failings and shortcomings either.

When this team has needed them to step up most, multiple players have come up small. Including these running back by committee options.

The coaches really do review the film after the games. If they really thought Randle was leaving big yards on the field they would be giving Michael more carries.

It's funny how people forget the constant complaints last year that Murray was leaving yards on the field and that the OL was really the reason that he was having success.

 

[Common Sense]

There were several questionable decisions made this offseason. Letting Murray walk and only picking up McFadden when they could have had Chris Johnson is one of them. Rolling with Weeden as the primary backup was another, especially since Cassel was available TWICE. Blowing a couple million on Jasper Brinkley. We would be blasting any other team for these decisions.

 

[Dodger12]

The coaches really do review the film after the games. If they really thought Randle was leaving big yards on the field they would be giving Michael more carries.

Ah yes, from the folks that evaluated Brandon Weeden and DMac, just to mention two. Yes, infallible for sure.

 

[Stash]

The coaches really do review the film after the games. If they really thought Randle was leaving big yards on the field they would be giving Michael more carries.

Do they also review the film showing them that Street and Whitehead can't play? That between their ineptitude and Weeden's fear of making a mistake, this team doesn't have an NFL caliber passing game? Because opposing coaches sure do and they're manning up and loading the box with single high safety with great success.

The team is activating Michael and not using him which does nothing for anyone but Seattle. Bringing us closer and closer to owing them a draft pick for a guy we either don't trust or can't get on the field. Either way, not good.

It's funny how people forget the constant complaints last year that Murray was leaving yards on the field and that the OL was really the reason that he was having success.

Are you claiming that he wasn't? And are you now claiming he that the offensive line is doing as good if a job run blocking as they did last year? Let's be clear here.

 

[Stash]

Ah yes, from the folks that evaluated Brandon Weeden and DMac, just to mention two. Yes, infallible for sure.

Some apparently like to think so.

 

[xwalker]

Do they also review the film showing them that Street and Whitehead can't play? That between their ineptitude and Weeden's fear of making a mistake, this team doesn't have an NFL caliber passing game? Because opposing coaches sure do and they're manning up and loading the box with single high safety with great success.

The team is activating Michael and not using him which does nothing for anyone but Seattle. Bringing us closer and closer to owing them a draft pick for a guy we either don't trust or can't get on the field. Either way, not good.



Are you claiming that he wasn't? And are you now claiming he that the offensive line is doing as good if a job run blocking as they did last year? Let's be clear here.

The nineties Cowboys should give back the 3 Super Bowl wins because they didn't have great 4th and 5th WRs.

 

[Nightman]

There were several questionable decisions made this offseason. Letting Murray walk and only picking up McFadden when they could have had Chris Johnson is one of them. Rolling with Weeden as the primary backup was another, especially since Cassel was available TWICE. Blowing a couple million on Jasper Brinkley. We would be blasting any other team for these decisions.

It wasn't just letting Murray walk.

They made no play for Ingram, RMathews, Spiller, CJohnson, Vereen or any draft pick.

Randle wasn't good enough to steal carries from Murray last year but is good enough to completely replace him??????

 

[Stash]

The nineties Cowboys should give back the 3 Super Bowl wins because they didn't have great 4th and 5th WRs.

As I recall, those guys had a #2 receiver who was thought of highly enough to get a big money contract at the start of free agency. And guys like Kelvin Martin, and Kevin Williams that showed they were capable of filling a role.

Unlike Whitehead and Street.