CFZ This team has done some good things. What it should do now to take the next step

[Bobhaze]

Whatever any Cowboys fan may feel after another disappointing end to a season, this team has done some very good things in the last five years. Here’s a quick review of the positives:

• Making the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in 15 years
• Making the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 seasons, going 2-2.
• Won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 seasons.
• Drafts have improved the last 5 years, giving us 13 of our 22 starters from the last 5 drafts.
• We improved our defense from the worst in team history to one of the best in the NFL in 2 years.
• Hired a real NFL head coach. Whatever you think of Mike McCarthy, he’s way better than Jason Garrett who apparently can’t get a head coaching job at any level.

BUT…let’s also put this in context with some of this organization’s BAD habits and results the last three decades.

• Since our last SB appearance in the 1995 season, the Cowboys have made the playoffs only 12 of the last 27 seasons (about 40%)
• In the first 36 seasons of Cowboys football, the team won 31 playoff games. In the last 27, they have won 5.
• Two of the team’s biggest division rivals have been to 5 Super Bowls with 4 different head coaches and 4 different QBs since the Cowboys last won a divisional playoff game.
• Teams winning conference championships and SBs tend to be more aggressive these days.

So…what must this organization do NOW to take the next step to more seriously pursue a championship?

• If this organization feel like it is CLOSE to a championship, it MUST be willing to to take some risks in Free Agency, and not act like the “future cap“ is their master. The draft alone is no longer enough.
• We should pursue 2 impactful FAs at certain key positions where our weaknesses are clear. Such as interior DLinemen, OL, maybe WR.
• Be more open to making impactful trades too.
• Go for it now if you’re close. Makes zero sense not to!

Bottom Line: If this front office feels we’re really close to a championship they should GO FOR IT!!! Why wouldn’t you? If they don’t feel we are close, ok…then be conservative. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, why are we going to get better results?

I honestly believe this off-season will determine if we make the playoffs for the third straight year or fall back to the old habits of making the playoffs 40% of the time.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Jerry and Stephen already said what they're going to do. I wouldn't count on anything different.

 

[Bobhaze]

Jerry and Stephen already said what they're going to do. I wouldn't count on anything different.

I don’t expect anything different either. But I enjoy at least putting it in writing for my own psyche, lol.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys have done some good things over the years but unfortunately every year we’re talking about what do they have to do to take the next step. No matter what they do they can’t seem to take the next step.

 

[Bobhaze]

The Cowboys have done some good things over the years but unfortunately every year we’re talking about what do they have to do to take the next step. No matter what they do they can’t seem to take the next step.

When your GM looks at his players like a proud Dad instead of looking at them with a discerning eye, the last 27 years happen.

 

[McKDaddy]

Does anyone really believe we are "close"?
I mean "close" as in we could of won it all this year but just got unlucky?
Or "close" as we are one or two players away and there is a realistic path to address?
Cause you can't blame the FO if they answer "no" to the above questions.
Our deficiencies aren't easily fixed. At least not to the level of winning a championship.

 

[Bobhaze]

Does anyone really believe we are "close"?
I mean "close" as in we could of won it all this year but just got unlucky?
Or "close" as we are one or two players away and there is a realistic path to address?
Cause you can't blame the FO if they answer "no" to the above questions.
Our deficiencies aren't easily fixed. At least not to the level of winning a championship.

Depends on the definition of close. To be one of the final 8 in a 32 team league is at least worth considering that this team is somewhat close.

However, I don’t buy for a second that we haven’t won a divisional playoff game in 27 years just because we haven’t been lucky. In fact, our GM is the biggest reason. But we’re stuck with him.

I do think this team is close enough that a couple or three impactful players could push us to at least a conference championship game.

 

[rambo2]

Whatever any Cowboys fan may feel after another disappointing end to a season, this team has done some very good things in the last five years. Here’s a quick review of the positives:

• Making the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in 15 years
• Making the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 seasons, going 2-2.
• Won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 seasons.
• Drafts have improved the last 5 years, giving us 13 of our 22 starters from the last 5 drafts.
• We improved our defense from the worst in team history to one of the best in the NFL in 2 years.
• Hired a real NFL head coach. Whatever you think of Mike McCarthy, he’s way better than Jason Garrett who apparently can’t get a head coaching job at any level.

BUT…let’s also put this in context with some of this organization’s BAD habits and results the last three decades.

• Since our last SB appearance in the 1995 season, the Cowboys have made the playoffs only 12 of the last 27 seasons (about 40%)
• In the first 36 seasons of Cowboys football, the team won 31 playoff games. In the last 27, they have won 5.
• Two of the team’s biggest division rivals have been to 5 Super Bowls with 4 different head coaches and 4 different QBs since the Cowboys last won a divisional playoff game.
• Teams winning conference championships and SBs tend to be more aggressive these days.

So…what must this organization do NOW to take the next step to more seriously pursue a championship?

• If this organization feel like it is CLOSE to a championship, it MUST be willing to to take some risks in Free Agency, and not act like the “future cap“ is their master. The draft alone is no longer enough.
• We should pursue 2 impactful FAs at certain key positions where our weaknesses are clear. Such as interior DLinemen, OL, maybe WR.
• Be more open to making impactful trades too.
• Go for it now if you’re close. Makes zero sense not to!

Bottom Line: If this front office feels we’re really close to a championship they should GO FOR IT!!! Why wouldn’t you? If they don’t feel we are close, ok…then be conservative. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, why are we going to get better results?

I honestly believe this off-season will determine if we make the playoffs for the third straight year or fall back to the old habits of making the playoffs 40% of the time.

They should win the division and get the number 1 spot. That would do the trick.

 

[McKDaddy]

Depends on the definition of close. To be one of the final 8 in a 32 team league is at least worth considering that this team is somewhat close.

However, I don’t buy for a second that we haven’t won a divisional playoff game in 27 years just because we haven’t been lucky. In fact, our GM is the biggest reason. But we’re stuck with him.

I do think this team is close enough that a couple or three impactful players could push us to at least a conference championship game.

Well yeah. But Bob, on the field there is one big liability at the games most important position. FO, coaching, upgrading a few other areas are all great but not likely to overcome the liability when you face the best competition.

 

[RS12]

Does anyone really believe we are "close"?

Define anyone? The blind homers do. It would take everything, and I mean everything going perfectly with the current QB to go any further in the playoffs. But hey i just watched a 30 for 30 with the 2000 Ravens winning it all with Dilfer. Of course they had a generational defense and Art Modell knowing his place. We dont have that.

 

[KJJ]

When your GM looks at his players like a proud Dad instead of looking at them with a discerning eye, the last 27 years happen.

Jerry has always coddled his players. Both he and Stephen are acting like Zeke is at the top of his game. Neither he or Stephen said anything in their recent interviews to encourage fans.

 

[john van brocklin]

Whatever any Cowboys fan may feel after another disappointing end to a season, this team has done some very good things in the last five years. Here’s a quick review of the positives:

• Making the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in 15 years
• Making the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 seasons, going 2-2.
• Won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 seasons.
• Drafts have improved the last 5 years, giving us 13 of our 22 starters from the last 5 drafts.
• We improved our defense from the worst in team history to one of the best in the NFL in 2 years.
• Hired a real NFL head coach. Whatever you think of Mike McCarthy, he’s way better than Jason Garrett who apparently can’t get a head coaching job at any level.

BUT…let’s also put this in context with some of this organization’s BAD habits and results the last three decades.

• Since our last SB appearance in the 1995 season, the Cowboys have made the playoffs only 12 of the last 27 seasons (about 40%)
• In the first 36 seasons of Cowboys football, the team won 31 playoff games. In the last 27, they have won 5.
• Two of the team’s biggest division rivals have been to 5 Super Bowls with 4 different head coaches and 4 different QBs since the Cowboys last won a divisional playoff game.
• Teams winning conference championships and SBs tend to be more aggressive these days.

So…what must this organization do NOW to take the next step to more seriously pursue a championship?

• If this organization feel like it is CLOSE to a championship, it MUST be willing to to take some risks in Free Agency, and not act like the “future cap“ is their master. The draft alone is no longer enough.
• We should pursue 2 impactful FAs at certain key positions where our weaknesses are clear. Such as interior DLinemen, OL, maybe WR.
• Be more open to making impactful trades too.
• Go for it now if you’re close. Makes zero sense not to!

Bottom Line: If this front office feels we’re really close to a championship they should GO FOR IT!!! Why wouldn’t you? If they don’t feel we are close, ok…then be conservative. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, why are we going to get better results?

I honestly believe this off-season will determine if we make the playoffs for the third straight year or fall back to the old habits of making the playoffs 40% of the time.

Jerry has already said, they are on a long term plan of staying good and not going all in like the Eagles.
Until we get a real GM, we are just going around the mulberry bush.
Our ceiling will continue to be the divisional round of the playoffs.

 

[Captain43Crash]

Whatever any Cowboys fan may feel after another disappointing end to a season, this team has done some very good things in the last five years. Here’s a quick review of the positives:

• Making the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in 15 years
• Making the playoffs in 3 of the last 5 seasons, going 2-2.
• Won a road playoff game for the first time in 30 seasons.
• Drafts have improved the last 5 years, giving us 13 of our 22 starters from the last 5 drafts.
• We improved our defense from the worst in team history to one of the best in the NFL in 2 years.
• Hired a real NFL head coach. Whatever you think of Mike McCarthy, he’s way better than Jason Garrett who apparently can’t get a head coaching job at any level.

BUT…let’s also put this in context with some of this organization’s BAD habits and results the last three decades.

• Since our last SB appearance in the 1995 season, the Cowboys have made the playoffs only 12 of the last 27 seasons (about 40%)
• In the first 36 seasons of Cowboys football, the team won 31 playoff games. In the last 27, they have won 5.
• Two of the team’s biggest division rivals have been to 5 Super Bowls with 4 different head coaches and 4 different QBs since the Cowboys last won a divisional playoff game.
• Teams winning conference championships and SBs tend to be more aggressive these days.

So…what must this organization do NOW to take the next step to more seriously pursue a championship?

• If this organization feel like it is CLOSE to a championship, it MUST be willing to to take some risks in Free Agency, and not act like the “future cap“ is their master. The draft alone is no longer enough.
• We should pursue 2 impactful FAs at certain key positions where our weaknesses are clear. Such as interior DLinemen, OL, maybe WR.
• Be more open to making impactful trades too.
• Go for it now if you’re close. Makes zero sense not to!

Bottom Line: If this front office feels we’re really close to a championship they should GO FOR IT!!! Why wouldn’t you? If they don’t feel we are close, ok…then be conservative. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, why are we going to get better results?

I honestly believe this off-season will determine if we make the playoffs for the third straight year or fall back to the old habits of making the playoffs 40% of the time.

Reasoned and intelligent comments.

I would say though our off season( draft, free agency, trades ) will tell us if we will make a serious run( a good shot at making the Superbowl). We are close enough right now, that even if we don’t go all in( like we definitely should), we will still make the playoffs.

I believe we need to go all in on making this defense Dominant( give up 14 points or less and again lead the league in turnovers ) and allow Dak to ride the bus, where he only needs to make a couple plays a game.

If we have this type D, we will win the Superbowl!!!

 

[Captain43Crash]

Jerry has already said, they are on a long term plan of staying good and not going all in like the Eagles.
Until we get a real GM, we are just going around the mulberry bush.
Our ceiling will continue to be the divisional round of the playoffs.

Hopefully Jerry is just talking.

Hopefully, he can still remember back when his team was winning Superbowls. They used trades and Free Agency to get us over the top. Another Hailey and Deon would do the trick. There is no Deon, so I’d settle for Ramsey!!!

 

[KJJ]

You’re getting close when you reach a championship game.

 

[tcain2004]

Start drafting quarterbacks each year, either pay for or draft a dt, stop paying regular guys elite money.

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

Bottom Line: If this front office feels we’re really close to a championship they should GO FOR IT!!!

I appreciate your thoughtful post, and agree with much of it. With respect to this strategy:

1) I have little faith in management's ability to judge this, and even less in their ability to make the right choices to go "all in".

2) It's usually a mistake to sacrifice the future for one season. I actually think this is a lesson JJ has learned to some extent, and has been a rare change for the better.

 

[rambo2]

Well yeah. But Bob, on the field there is one big liability at the games most important position. FO, coaching, upgrading a few other areas are all great but not likely to overcome the liability when you face the best competition.

They had 6 wins against playoff teams.

 

[rambo2]

Jerry has already said, they are on a long term plan of staying good and not going all in like the Eagles.
Until we get a real GM, we are just going around the mulberry bush.
Our ceiling will continue to be the divisional round of the playoffs.

So in your mind the Cowboys will lose by one score in the playoffs because that is their ceiling because they don't have a real gm? That is ridiculous.

 

[john van brocklin]

Hopefully Jerry is just talking.

Hopefully, he can still remember back when his team was winning Superbowls. They used trades and Free Agency to get us over the top. Another Hailey and Deon would do the trick. There is no Deon, so I’d settle for Ramsey!!!

Well so far Jerry has been I unwilling.
We will find out soon enough......