Verdict
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 26,230
- Reaction score
- 20,501
As I look at the 2 and 2 record, I believe we are a better team than our record indicates. I really believe this team has talent. By way of analagy, lets look at the talent on this team as "tools" and take an inventory of what is in our toolbox and decide if anything is missing.
We obviously dont have an Adrian Peterson (which I wish we would have traded up and got by the way, but that is water under the bridge) but we do have an excellent stable of backs. You might argue that we have the best overall stable of backs in the entire NFL, and there would be some evidence to support that.
Tony Romo is a franchise QB. Whether you hate him or love him (I really think he can be a special player) he has the talent to do anything you ask him to do. I personally think he has the talent to be equal to or better than any other QB in the league. I think his decision making skills are where he could use some improvement, but he has the tools and the drive to get it done.
The receiver corps. I'm not a big Roy Williams fan, and I think we gave up too much to get a player that isn't a #1, go to guy. But in this analysis, it is irrelevant. A lot of teams have won a super bowl with a weaker group of receivers than this. They aren't all world beaters, but they all can make a play. They are "good enough"
Kickers. Yes kickers. We have a very good kickoff specialist, a very good field goal kicker and a hell of a punter. You might argue that together they are the best in the league.
Defensive backs. I am starting to believe that Terrence Newman isn't as awesome as I thought he was, but he is still way above average. We have two great and upcoming corners. The saftey play, while not great is better than it has been. Not everyone is going to have an Ed Reed, Polamalu, or whoever the flavor of the day is. We are way above average in this category.
Offensive line. I think Flozell Adams is the weak link in a pretty darn good offensive line. That being said, he is still serviceable. The starting 5 is probably a top five unit when run blocking and maybe top 10 in pass blocking, but that is still good enough with Romo's mobility in the pocket.
Have I really drank that much kool aid ?.... are all of these areas that filled with talent, and we havent even gotten to D. Ware, who might be the best defensive player in the NFL.
Lets talk about the defensive front 3. I really think that Ratliff is top notch. but he is playing out of position IMHO. We need a road grader inside to KILL the run and command a double team on every play. A player that can push the pile into the backfield. I'm not knocking Ratliff, but I think that Olshanshy and Spears are OK, but they are really not doing a lot other than sucking oxygen out of the air. I'm not asking them to get sacks, because they aren't asked to in the 3-4 but they arent collapsing the line and keeping the linebackers clean. I'm not saying we can't win with who we have, but really, we must have much better play UP front, from someone other than Ratliff.
Linebackers? Well, D.Ware is as good as they get. I'm not as sold on the rest of the unit. Bradie makes a lot of tackles, but I really think we need a dominant presence inside at linebacker. A guy who is physical enough top stop the run in short yardage situations. I just don't think that guy is on the roster. I will have to admit that I'm not x's and o's savvy enough to figure out why Spencer isn't producing like he should. Is he "just a guy" that needs help getting to the QB. Is his supporting cast not doing their job which prevents his from doing his?
Looking in our toolbox, it looks pretty full to me. I think we should be performing better.
The Parcells advocates would suggest that we might be better if Parcells were still coaching. I'm not so sure. I really think that Parcell's time has passed. I think Wade has done wonders with past defenses at every stop .... so why isn't this defense DOMINANT? Is Wade failing? I think the lack of a true run stuffer in the middle is a piece of the puzzle that IS missing and no matter what we do to cover it up, it is affecing everything else.
Is Garret the answer? I don't know. He looked like a genius calling plays in 2007, but this year there is certainly room to question the play calling.
I want to be clear that I'm NOT on the fire Wade or get rid of Garrett bandwagon, but I have a hard time believing that if Jimmie Johnson were coaching this team, and Wade was the defensive coordinator, and Garret was the offensive coordinator, that we would not be undefeated right now and taking names and kicking ***.
We obviously dont have an Adrian Peterson (which I wish we would have traded up and got by the way, but that is water under the bridge) but we do have an excellent stable of backs. You might argue that we have the best overall stable of backs in the entire NFL, and there would be some evidence to support that.
Tony Romo is a franchise QB. Whether you hate him or love him (I really think he can be a special player) he has the talent to do anything you ask him to do. I personally think he has the talent to be equal to or better than any other QB in the league. I think his decision making skills are where he could use some improvement, but he has the tools and the drive to get it done.
The receiver corps. I'm not a big Roy Williams fan, and I think we gave up too much to get a player that isn't a #1, go to guy. But in this analysis, it is irrelevant. A lot of teams have won a super bowl with a weaker group of receivers than this. They aren't all world beaters, but they all can make a play. They are "good enough"
Kickers. Yes kickers. We have a very good kickoff specialist, a very good field goal kicker and a hell of a punter. You might argue that together they are the best in the league.
Defensive backs. I am starting to believe that Terrence Newman isn't as awesome as I thought he was, but he is still way above average. We have two great and upcoming corners. The saftey play, while not great is better than it has been. Not everyone is going to have an Ed Reed, Polamalu, or whoever the flavor of the day is. We are way above average in this category.
Offensive line. I think Flozell Adams is the weak link in a pretty darn good offensive line. That being said, he is still serviceable. The starting 5 is probably a top five unit when run blocking and maybe top 10 in pass blocking, but that is still good enough with Romo's mobility in the pocket.
Have I really drank that much kool aid ?.... are all of these areas that filled with talent, and we havent even gotten to D. Ware, who might be the best defensive player in the NFL.
Lets talk about the defensive front 3. I really think that Ratliff is top notch. but he is playing out of position IMHO. We need a road grader inside to KILL the run and command a double team on every play. A player that can push the pile into the backfield. I'm not knocking Ratliff, but I think that Olshanshy and Spears are OK, but they are really not doing a lot other than sucking oxygen out of the air. I'm not asking them to get sacks, because they aren't asked to in the 3-4 but they arent collapsing the line and keeping the linebackers clean. I'm not saying we can't win with who we have, but really, we must have much better play UP front, from someone other than Ratliff.
Linebackers? Well, D.Ware is as good as they get. I'm not as sold on the rest of the unit. Bradie makes a lot of tackles, but I really think we need a dominant presence inside at linebacker. A guy who is physical enough top stop the run in short yardage situations. I just don't think that guy is on the roster. I will have to admit that I'm not x's and o's savvy enough to figure out why Spencer isn't producing like he should. Is he "just a guy" that needs help getting to the QB. Is his supporting cast not doing their job which prevents his from doing his?
Looking in our toolbox, it looks pretty full to me. I think we should be performing better.
The Parcells advocates would suggest that we might be better if Parcells were still coaching. I'm not so sure. I really think that Parcell's time has passed. I think Wade has done wonders with past defenses at every stop .... so why isn't this defense DOMINANT? Is Wade failing? I think the lack of a true run stuffer in the middle is a piece of the puzzle that IS missing and no matter what we do to cover it up, it is affecing everything else.
Is Garret the answer? I don't know. He looked like a genius calling plays in 2007, but this year there is certainly room to question the play calling.
I want to be clear that I'm NOT on the fire Wade or get rid of Garrett bandwagon, but I have a hard time believing that if Jimmie Johnson were coaching this team, and Wade was the defensive coordinator, and Garret was the offensive coordinator, that we would not be undefeated right now and taking names and kicking ***.
