The Right Kind of Football

[DallasEast]

Nope. The Cowboys were on the cusp of beating Atlanta, New Orleans, Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, and Tampa. They were plenty "coached up", but they were just too limited at quarterback to beat the superior quarterbacks on most of those teams.

There's a disconnect among the players right now, mostly because of losing, but partly because of the mix. It needs to be tweaked to fix the latter.

As much as I would enjoy piling on Brandon Weeden just a little more, too much emphasis has been (typically) applied primarily on the backup quarterbacks and not the rest of the team for poor on-field performance. Dropped passes have killed potential game-winning drives. Poor tackling kept opponent's drives alive enough to pull out wins served on silver platters. Special teams have allowed returners to run rampant. Offensive linemen have underperformed. Etc. And yes, poor performance does lean back to suspect coaching but it also falls squarely on the shoulders of the players (plural),

As long as critics are re-evaluating coaches' qualifications and perceived psychological baggage of certain players, the fix-it campaign should not stop there. There is a line of players who should be put on the spot for letting the season slip though their fingers. And that line is somewhat longer than what is often discussed.

 

[LittleD]

When you go 0-7 because your starting QB goes down...then bad coaching is a MAJOR part of the problem. And bad coaching includes Xs and Os...overall philosophy to win games, gameplan, in game adjustments, motivation, disciplinarian, etc....

Let's not act like this head coach has a track record that suggest this year was an aberration. His track record proves that without a top 10 QB....all of his slogans, platitudes, philosophies ring hollow. Prior to joining the Dallas Cowboys.....Garrett has never been a head coach or coordinator at ANY level....so there was no PROOF that his approach to winning football games works (at least not with HIM at the helm)....so this year we got a chance to see him as a Head Coach without his safety net (Romo)....and the results have been a disastrous.

You have to understand that there are only a few (I mean few) coaches that can become successful head coaches in the NFL.
It gets harder each year and the coaching graveyard is littered with ex-coaches who were given the keys only to watch the
car explode (so to speak). There are no Arians or Bellichick that will come to the Cowboys because the Jones crew won't give
up authority over how the team is run and who plays on Sunday. Jones tried with Parcells for a couple of years but, just had
to stick his foot in the door with TO. I can't see any highly successful NFL or college coach coming to the Cowboys with
meddling Jerry pulling the puppet strings constantly. That is the epitaph for the Dallas Cowboys and I suspect Stephen will
wear the mantra when his father checks in to the big hotel in the sky. Sad but, true me thinks.

 

[pancakeman]

I think OP has it at least somewhat backwards: last year's good locker room was more an effect of, rather than a cause of, their winning.
If anything, my impression is that the team cohesion this year is maybe even a little better than you'd expect given the relentless losses.

 

[Fletch]

It's in the mix. Like it or not.

I can get on board with that. It's in the mix, but when it's ALL on the HC as some proclaim, then it becomes laughable.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I can get on board with that. It's in the mix, but when it's ALL on the HC as some proclaim, then it becomes laughable.

I agree. But that's the life of any CEO. And that's what the field general is.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

You have to understand that there are only a few (I mean few) coaches that can become successful head coaches in the NFL.
It gets harder each year and the coaching graveyard is littered with ex-coaches who were given the keys only to watch the
car explode (so to speak). There are no Arians or Bellichick that will come to the Cowboys because the Jones crew won't give
up authority over how the team is run and who plays on Sunday. Jones tried with Parcells for a couple of years but, just had
to stick his foot in the door with TO. I can't see any highly successful NFL or college coach coming to the Cowboys with
meddling Jerry pulling the puppet strings constantly. That is the epitaph for the Dallas Cowboys and I suspect Stephen will
wear the mantra when his father checks in to the big hotel in the sky. Sad but, true me thinks.

I think they gave JG a little leeway when he started. I think they reeled it back in though.

 

[Fletch]

Oh, I know. It's the throw-away fallback, as if Carolina's playcalling and scheme are just light years ahead of everybody else. The same Panthers that went 7-8-1 with that same playcalling and scheme last year.

It's funny watching those same fans that jumped on board last season, go right back to their miserable narrative.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

It's funny watching those same fans that jumped on board last season, go right back to their miserable narrative.

Well, it's been so long with out any success it was exciting to think we turned the corner. As I said last year, JG would make a better FO person than HC. I still believe that. The man isn't football stupid, just lacks in coaching.

 

[50cent]

Agree. I don't recall anyone complaining about the coaching staff when the team was 12-4 last year. Do the complainers think the coaching staff forgot how to coach in a year?

Yes, if you mean they forgot what really got us to 12-4. Running early and often and taking the ball from Romo especially in the 3rd qtr. The first game and Thxgiving are prime examples why they forgot how to coach and why you don't ask Romo to shoulder the loads . After throwing an I'll advised INT in both games, we come.right back out and Romo gives it up again. In both situations running was the best option , but the coaches forgot what worked in 2014 and reverted back to 2010-13 play calling trends,, shotgun and force it to Witten. No surprise both 2nd Ints were poor passes.to Jason. And neither one should have been called or thrown. Yes, they forgot what our true formula was in winning and forgot they took the ball.from Romo to avoid these types of impulsive throws.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Yes, if you mean they forgot what really got us to 12-4. Running early and often and taking the ball from Romo especially in the 3rd qtr. The first game and Thxgiving are prime examples why they forgot how to coach and why you don't ask Romo to shoulder the loads . After throwing an I'll advised INT in both games, we come.right back out and Romo gives it up again. In both situations running was the best option , but the coaches forgot what worked in 2014 and reverted back to 2010-13 play calling trends,, shotgun and force it to Witten. No surprise both 2nd Ints were poor passes.to Jason. And neither one should have been called or thrown. Yes, they forgot what our true formula was in winning and forgot they took the ball.from Romo to avoid these types of impulsive throws.

In fairness can we say that wasn't the plan? I can't, since Romo wasn't basically here this season and they made bad decisions at RB.
I have no problem saying those bad decisions don't lay at there feet but I can't say for sure the plan wasn't the same as last year.
I doubt it would have worked though. That is my real problem, there was no plan "B" period.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Oh, I know. It's the throw-away fallback, as if Carolina's playcalling and scheme are just light years ahead of everybody else. The same Panthers that went 7-8-1 with that same playcalling and scheme last year.

it's not ahead of everyone else, but it's progress going from 7-8-1 to 11-0, despite losing their top WR. In our case, going from 12-4 to O'fer with out Romo, is a major regression. If your cider goes from fairly good one year to top of the line the next, is what you want; going from very good cider one year to rotten cider the next is not good.

 

[jobberone]

When Romo went down for 7 games...this team immediately went to try to REPLACE Weeden...because Garrett knew he was NEVER going to try to win a game without Romo...and he was looking for someone that could WIN a game. All he needed to do as a head coach was figure out how to win 1 or 2...the fact he could not even win ONE is stunning! And I am sure it shook the Jones family to their core. Heck...Romo ASSUMED we would win 2 or 3 games...which is why he felt comfortable telling Brady "see you in February". Garrett did not make ONE difference with Romo out.....not from an X and O standpoint...not from an execution stand point...not from a motivation stand point...he sat back and HOPED the other team would lose.

I don't agree. They thought Weeden could do the job. They're not stupid. They aren't going into a season knowing their backup can't play. We they saw he couldn't do the job they went out and got Cassel. The problem is their judgment and assessment of Weeden. In retrospect it was a very bad decision. No one gets it right all the time. They've been batting a pretty high average and still climbing out of the talent hole. They just aren't there yet.

And I do agree the game plans and in game adjustments need to be looked at with a very very critical eye in the offseason. Garrett should be able to do more with what he has at times as well.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I don't agree. They thought Weeden could do the job. They're not stupid. They aren't going into a season knowing their backup can't play. We they saw he couldn't do the job they went out and got Cassel. The problem is their judgment and assessment of Weeden. In retrospect it was a very bad decision. No one gets it right all the time. They've been batting a pretty high average and still climbing out of the talent hole. They just aren't there yet.

And I do agree the game plans and in game adjustments need to be looked at with a very very critical eye in the offseason. Garrett should be able to do more with what he has at times as well.

That is a very contradicting statement.

 

[Garrettop]

I think they thought Weeden would improve with some continuity and extra reps, but obviously he didn't. Lesson learned, move on. If Weeden remained on the roster any longer I could see still being upset about it, but he's gone. Fitzpatrick would have been better for one, but they weren't going to go pay a guy that's a low level starter to be the backup, especially if that guy still wants to start. Already went through that with Orton and it still didn't pay off with a win.

 

[texbumthelife]

This team has absolutely no chemistry. It is plain as day. Blame it on anything you want, but it's a fact.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I think they thought Weeden would improve with some continuity and extra reps, but obviously he didn't. Lesson learned, move on. If Weeden remained on the roster any longer I could see still being upset about it, but he's gone. Fitzpatrick would have been better for one, but they weren't going to go pay a guy that's a low level starter to be the backup, especially if that guy still wants to start. Already went through that with Orton and it still didn't pay off with a win.

He was here for two years. He had plenty of NFL experience. They just assumed Romo would remain healthy.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I don't agree. They thought Weeden could do the job. They're not stupid. They aren't going into a season knowing their backup can't play. We they saw he couldn't do the job they went out and got Cassel. The problem is their judgment and assessment of Weeden. In retrospect it was a very bad decision. No one gets it right all the time. They've been batting a pretty high average and still climbing out of the talent hole. They just aren't there yet.

And I do agree the game plans and in game adjustments need to be looked at with a very very critical eye in the offseason. Garrett should be able to do more with what he has at times as well.

I think they felt Weeden could come in relief during a game...or start ONE game. I think they had ZERO faith that he could do the job for 7 games. Heck they did not let the ball travel down the field when Weeden was in the games...so that is my evidence that they did not trust him over an extended period.

 

[CrownCowboy]

I don't think it's shocking that the locker room is different this year. We have been losing and have a circus show following Hardy around, it's pretty easy to figure out why the locker room is the way it is.

As far as Garrett goes, I want him gone. Last year was the exception to his garbage, not the rule. We really don't have to get all analytical when it comes to Garrett and his performance either. The man, to this day, still has a hard time knowing when to throw a challenge flag. He still seems to have no idea when to call a timeout and he never seems to understand when to punt or go for it.

We've had a season derailed due to injuries and Garrett will get a pass, as would probably most coaches. That still doesn't take away from what he is and that is an average motivator, below average game planner and an absolute horrible in-game coach.

 

[khiladi]

Dallas trend with back-up QBs with Garrett has been awful from the get-go... Blame Garrett.. This isn't a one time thing.. They've always primarily gone veterans and old, clearly indicating they just want somebody to manage the games... Everytime a back-up QB is fielded out there, they go into pure conservative mode and expect the defense to create TOs, while they also are coached to play conservative...

 

[JoeKing]

Yes, if you mean they forgot what really got us to 12-4. Running early and often and taking the ball from Romo especially in the 3rd qtr. The first game and Thxgiving are prime examples why they forgot how to coach and why you don't ask Romo to shoulder the loads . After throwing an I'll advised INT in both games, we come.right back out and Romo gives it up again. In both situations running was the best option , but the coaches forgot what worked in 2014 and reverted back to 2010-13 play calling trends,, shotgun and force it to Witten. No surprise both 2nd Ints were poor passes.to Jason. And neither one should have been called or thrown. Yes, they forgot what our true formula was in winning and forgot they took the ball.from Romo to avoid these types of impulsive throws.

Well, there you have it... the coaches forgot how to coach. That explains it all. Thank you. I appreciate you as a passionate fan.