This is Feeling a Lot Like 2010

[Everson24]

It actually looks/feels like 2000 to me and that sense of dread that Aikman was done. I remember after the first loss to the Giants when Aikman had a dreadful day and you could hear it in his post game interview that he was done. He made mention of physically not being able to make make some of the throws when he was asked about one of the interceptions where he tried to thread the needle (in the end zone). Or at least that's how I recall it.

I think there's a lot of questions about this season but the primary one is Romo. Is he still physically capable of making all the throws, especially down field. I had my doubts last season and I'm hoping the back surgery may have alleviated some of the issues that may have been affecting his arm strength. Time will tell but he doesn't have a whole of time to work out the "rust."

Immediately after Sunday's game I thought of the 2000 season so I agree with you. It was sad to see the end come for Aikman and it will be for Romo also. I just hope it isn't this year.

 

[Idgit]

This is a thread that definitely touches on the job Jason Garrett's done in Dallas, and so it's fair game. But let's not let that devolve into a drive-by coach bashing thread when what we've got here is an interesting discussion of how this season may or may not compare to Wade's last year in Dallas. Ok?

 

[Idgit]

Immediately after Sunday's game I thought of the 2000 season so I agree with you. It was sad to see the end come for Aikman and it will be for Romo also. I just hope it isn't this year.

Yeah. I really didn't want to start the year worrying about the QB. And to have it be a series of mental breakdowns and not something physical was somehow more disorienting. Really hoping he bounces back this weekend so I can go back to worrying about the defense.

 

[khiladi]

Players play football, because most of them love the game and want to play. We won't have an honest assessment of what this season is like until a couple of games are played and players still think they have a shot. If they start off 1-4, then one will begin to be able to liken it to past seasons. Right now, it's way too early to judge.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think we have to wait and see. Who knows if Romo will look so pathetic again. And who knows if the defense will look so decent again. This game may have been a total anomaly.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I was gonna say the same thing. It feels nothing like 2010. To Garrett's credit....these guys play hard for him. In that 2010 year..........those guys just gave up. And you would think after going 8-8 consecutive seasons these guys would but to Garrett's credit they are playing for him. I don't think anyone is playing under their potential. As of right now....the story of the season is Tony Romo. The success or lack there of will be dependent on him.

These guys would hard for any coach and it doesn't have to be particle Garrett. These guys played hard for Parcells and even Wade. Heck, both coaches had the entire team playing well on both sides and got the team into the playoffs.

As for Garrett I don't think he cares much or he just doesn't know how to coach. Look at when Romo made that boneheaded sack rather than running the ball to Murray. Garrett did absolutely nothing to remedy the problem. Garrett doesn't care about winning. He is one of the main reasons why we are losing. Same problem, just different year.

Its time to ship Garrett out of there. Seriously.

 

[Idgit]

I think we have to wait and see. Who knows if Romo will look so pathetic again. And who knows if the defense will look so decent again. This game may have been a total anomaly.

That's the problem with week one in the NFL. Half of everything might end up being a mirage. And some teams that looked really good in week one will end up being bad. And vice-versa.

 

[theSHOW]

If you remember back to 2010, we had a very lackluster preseason as far as the starters go. It seems our intent that year was to just get to the regular season healthy. They sat players throughout training camp for even the smallest bumps and bruises. We scaled back practices to keep hitting to a minimum and Jerry got on Wade Phillips for making Jason Hatcher run sprints as punishment after Hatcher pulled a hamstring.

The 2010 Dallas Cowboys were ill prepared to start the season and their lack of physicality showed up early and often. They were also very weak mentally. It's absolutely no wonder we started that season 1-7. It wasn't until Jason Garrett took over in week 9 and immediately started having more padded practices that some of that physicality and toughness started to return. Unfortunately t was too little too late.

Fast forward to this year. We had many starters missing practices from day one. In one preseason game we had 27 players unavailable to play. That is ridiculous. Mo Claiborne once again took zero snaps in preseason. In contrast the Steelers had three consecutive practices in which all 90 players practiced. They started the season with every projected starter playing in the game against Cleveland.

Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones have coddled this team for far too long now. We almost encourage players to be and stay injured. This is totally opposed to the philosophy of Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells,. They knew it was a tough man's sport and weeded them out with tough practices and tough love (remember Parcells referring to Terry Glenn as "she" when asked about an injury to Glenn?).

I believe our starters did not get ample time in live action this preseason (especially Tony Romo) to be adequately prepared for the first quarter of the season, and right now I'm worried that we may see a very similar start to what we saw in 2010.

It feels a little like 1992 to me.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

That's the problem with week one in the NFL. Half of everything might end up being a mirage. And some teams that looked really good in week one will end up being bad. And vice-versa.

It definitely wasn't an encouraging week 1 because we were all worried about Romo's back and he was making awful throws that indicated his back was a serious problem. But, to be honest, everything besides Romo was pretty encouraging. The defense overachieved, the interior OL was nasty, Beasley made plays, and the running game was great.

 

[links18]

One difference from 2010 is we do not have a competent back-up QB for when Romo goes down.

 

[Idgit]

It definitely wasn't an encouraging week 1 because we were all worried about Romo's back and he was making awful throws that indicated his back was a serious problem. But, to be honest, everything besides Romo was pretty encouraging. The defense overachieved, the interior OL was nasty, Beasley made plays, and the running game was great.

Yep. Honestly, I think that's what I found more demoralizing. I'm so tired of losing, and to lose a winnable home game against a really good team because one of your steadiest offensive players inexplicably spit the bit....frustrating.

 

[KJJ]

The 2010 team was being picked by many to go to the SB that year. The Cowboys were coming off an 11-5 season in which they won the division and their first playoff game in 13 years. The team bought in to all the press clippings and SB predictions and became complacent entering the 2010 season. The Cowboys clearly weren't focused and ready to play heading into Washington on opening day. The expectations were high for the team and the Cowboys were never able to overcome the disappointing loss to Washington.

The Cowboys appeared to have won that game with a TD in the final seconds but the play was nullified by a holding call and the Cowboys never recovered from that loss. Once Romo was lost in week 7 the season was over and the team packed it in 2 weeks later vs GB in a humiliating loss that led to Wade's firing the next day. Unlike the 2010 Cowboys that were expected to be good the 2014 Cowboys were expected to be bad and this season is going just as many predicted.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think the team set out this off season to specifically raise the physical nature of the team, as well as toughness. They picked up guys who played with an edge before. They specifically spoke to Hitchens during his draft day phonecall about bringing that "Iowa toughness" to Dallas with him.

To me it looks like they have definitely upped the physicality of the team.

Goos post **.

 

[erod]

No, it won't.

Nice debating skill.

Switzer, Gailey, Campo, Wade, Garrett......

There's no stadium to build, so there's not Parcells needed. Jerry won't be overshadowed ever again.

 

[CowboyGil]

I feel like comparing a season that is one game old to a past one with two versions of a team that have few similarities personnel wise is a little ludicrous and jumping the gun.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

These guys would hard for any coach and it doesn't have to be particle Garrett. These guys played hard for Parcells and even Wade. Heck, both coaches had the entire team playing well on both sides and got the team into the playoffs.

As for Garrett I don't think he cares much or he just doesn't know how to coach. Look at when Romo made that boneheaded sack rather than running the ball to Murray. Garrett did absolutely nothing to remedy the problem. Garrett doesn't care about winning. He is one of the main reasons why we are losing. Same problem, just different year.

Its time to ship Garrett out of there. Seriously.

No they GAVE UP on Wade around this time. And did it real good too.

They gave up eventually. But at the start of the season they just were not sharp nor physical. Too many penalties and too many missed tackles. They gave up after the season started 1-4. We will see how hard everyone plays for Garrett if we have a similar start.

Good point. We'll see if they start similar. Especially if they let the David Garrards of the world kill them.

LOL.. Everybody that loves Garrett calls that GB during Wade's tenure as giving up, but none of them call the Chicago and Saints games last year as giving on Garrett. There were many times during Garrett's tenure that the team showed quit, until Romo bailed this team out putting them in contention with ridiculous QB play. Two years ago for example, Romo went on a ridiculous tear to put them in contention for the play-offs.

I think there's a difference between giving up and getting your arse whooped. I can only say Wade's team gave up because a year or two prior that same team was 13-3 and had 13 Pro Bowlers on it.

How do you know this? I mean, players have basically come out and said they quit on plays. I don't think anyone is "afraid" of the HC or being benched.

Its not a fear. Its a respect. These guys are millionaires. The days of coaches putting fear in them are gone. BUT you can earn their respect.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I feel like comparing a season that is one game old to a past one with two versions of a team that have few similarities personnel wise is a little ludicrous and jumping the gun.

Oh it is. But like i've stated earlier. Some would rather be miserable.

 

[CowboyGil]

Oh it is. But like i've stated earlier. Some would rather be miserable.

Reminds me of the line from ConAir : "Moments of levity actually cause him pain."

 

[Gameover]

Not even close.

Clean up the trash, and I see real potential. 2010 was doomed from the very first pre season game. Remember the pre sea game at Houston? That team would've gotten 40 hung on em', prevent or not.

 

[ConstantReboot]

No they GAVE UP on Wade around this time. And did it real good too.

Garrett doesn't have this magical power to make players play hard for him. Parcells players played hard for him because they respected him. Wade, although was criticized for that one bad season should be credited for turning our defense around in 2009.

I don't buy in that Garrett's players play hard for him. If thats the case why does he have so many injured players that don't care about playing under his watch? Why are we as undisciplined as ever as a team, consistently making the same mistakes over and over?

Give it up. Garrett's players don't work hard for him more so they would work hard for any other coach. Thats a myth thats not proven and can't be proven just like they branded him as a "red-headed genius".