This team isn't who we thought they were

[ufcrules1]

We are surprisingly in good shape right now. Philly just lost their QB for 6-8 weeks, Washington and NYG are done for the season. All we have to do is take care of business and win our division and then see what happens from there. We are going to beat Jacksonville and then after the bye we play a weak NYG team that keeps getting weaker. And then we come home and play a Mark Sanchez led Eagles team who we can beat.

The rest of the NFC doesn't look very good either with the except of the Cardinals. They aren't some amazing team either. I see the Cardinals and Packers taking the top 2 seeds and us winning our division and at least getting to play a playoff game.

 

[waving monkey]

season is far from over to say what this team is or isn't. They are the 2nd youngest team in the league and at times shows it other times they have gone out and done very well. They are 6-3 at this stage and better than some predicted they would be. How they continue to develop over the course of the season will say who they are as a team.

youth is a valid point

 

[waving monkey]

We are surprisingly in good shape right now. Philly just lost their QB for 6-8 weeks, Washington and NYG are done for the season. All we have to do is take care of business and win our division and then see what happens from there. We are going to beat Jacksonville and then after the bye we play a weak NYG team that keeps getting weaker. And then we come home and play a Mark Sanchez led Eagles team who we can beat.

The rest of the NFC doesn't look very good either with the except of the Cardinals. They aren't some amazing team either. I see the Cardinals and Packers taking the top 2 seeds and us winning our division and at least getting to play a playoff game.

minimum a wild card

 

[Doc50]

We all thought the defense would be terrible and they aren't. They aren't top 10, by any means, but they are a middle of the pack defense. Going into the season, everyone said if they could find a way to not be the last team in the league, this team would go places. That hasn't been the case.

The offense has been pretty awful, to be honest. They play sloppy, undisciplined football. The Cowboys are the 4th worst team in giveaways. The offense is literally giving games away. We were able to overcome this against bad like Titans, Rams, Saints, and Giants.

The Great Wall: They've been exposed. They just aren't very good at pass blocking, period. I expect them to get better, but as of now, they are a great run blocking team, and a sub par pass blocking team. They are still getting confused by simple stunts and fire blitzes.

Dez Bryant: He has been dropping a ton of balls lately. I really think this contract negotiation has him distracted. There is no way I would pay this guy anywhere close to Calvin Johnson money. I wouldn't even give him Vincent Jackson or Mike Wallace money. He just isn't worth it.

Linehan: The last couple of games have shown that he can be as stubborn as Garrett was. Against Washington, he kept running 10+ yard routes when Romo was getting killed. He refused to max protect, until Weeden came in. He hasn't been running very many screens. I understand being handicapped by Brandon Weeden, but he needs to do a better job.

I was pretty hard to the defense going into the season, but they have shown up. This offense keeps putting them in bad positions and they hold their ground. They aren't great, and have a lot of warts, but they aren't the problem. This sloppy offense is letting teams hang around.

They're exactly who I thought they were -- young and inexperienced, solid starters but not very deep, emerging leadership, transitional coaching --
a fragile recipe for wins against anyone or losses against anyone, depending on how injuries and match-ups might upset that delicate balance.

They can be dominant or painfully inept, as we've seen.

 

[Doomsday101]

They're exactly who I thought they were -- young and inexperienced, solid starters but not very deep, emerging leadership, transitional coaching --
a fragile recipe for wins against anyone or losses against anyone, depending on how injuries and match-ups might upset that delicate balance.

They can be dominant or painfully inept, as we've seen.

True but I think the positive to that is the more games they play the more they gain experience. They have made mistakes but then it is the mistakes you tend to learn more from than your wins. I also think we have a lot of young guys who are more than willing to putting in the time and the work to improve as players.

 

[ufcrules1]

minimum a wild card

It would be hard to imagine not at least getting a wild card after starting 6-1 but stranger things have happened. That Eagles game on Thanksgiving is going to be huge.

 

[Doc50]

True but I think the positive to that is the more games they play the more they gain experience. They have made mistakes but then it is the mistakes you tend to learn more from than your wins. I also think we have a lot of young guys who are more than willing to putting in the time and the work to improve as players.

Agreed.

A lot of that youth is really talented, and they'll only get better as the season and their careers progress, and the units develop their chemistry.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed.

A lot of that youth is really talented, and they'll only get better as the season and their careers progress, and the units develop their chemistry.

True but overall though out the league does anyone know who any of these teams truly are? Most of the team have or will hit the so called bump in the road Colts last night looked much better than the Colt team who was destroyed by Pitt. Right now I think what this Cowboys team needs more than anything is a bye having to wait until week 10 I think has been a strain. Myself I'm looking to get to the bye and see how these guys come out for the last part of the season.

 

[KalEl]

Let's not act like going from Leary to Berney or Free to Parnell is a drastic change. The Cardinals have won games with their 3rd string QB. The Eagles won with Butt Fumble at QB. The Skins beat us with Colt McCoy throwing the ball.

The big difference is there isn't much drop off from Palmer to a 3rd string QB. Second if you think for a minute that this line doesn't miss Free and Leary, than you haven't been paying attention.

 

[waving monkey]

Its THE PROCESS. Its been THE PROCESS. It will be THE PROCESS. Its whats being built . . .

yap and that process is a year ahead of schedule IMHO

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I think when you consider what our record is.....we are ahead of the pace I thought we would be on. But based on how the season has played out...we kind of adjusted our expecations...and find it hard to accept losing to a terrible Commanders team....at home...playing a 3rd string QB. Losing to the BEST team in the NFC with our backup QB is nothing to be ashamed of.

Here is the other thing....we have been turning the ball over ALL year. So we got away with it against bad teams...and it is tending to average out.

More than anything....injuries are starting to mount for us. At this point....10-6 is the best we are going to be able to do...and we will have to hope that will be enough to get in. But I have maintained all along that our running game was masking a lot of issue for this team...and I did not feel our running game would be able to maintain the pace it was on. You need 2 or 3 cabpable RBs in today's NFL...and I don't think this team has more than 1. I still believe this run game...so heavily reliant on 1 guy...will be on fumes by year's end...and it will result in us just missing the playoffs...or being 1 and done.

I agree with everything except. The running game has maintained it's pace thus far. Not talking stats, I am talking effectiveness. If Weeden was able to complete a pass then Murray gets 100+

 

[john van brocklin]

We all thought the defense would be terrible and they aren't. They aren't top 10, by any means, but they are a middle of the pack defense. Going into the season, everyone said if they could find a way to not be the last team in the league, this team would go places. That hasn't been the case.

The offense has been pretty awful, to be honest. They play sloppy, undisciplined football. The Cowboys are the 4th worst team in giveaways. The offense is literally giving games away. We were able to overcome this against bad like Titans, Rams, Saints, and Giants.

The Great Wall: They've been exposed. They just aren't very good at pass blocking, period. I expect them to get better, but as of now, they are a great run blocking team, and a sub par pass blocking team. They are still getting confused by simple stunts and fire blitzes.

Dez Bryant: He has been dropping a ton of balls lately. I really think this contract negotiation has him distracted. There is no way I would pay this guy anywhere close to Calvin Johnson money. I wouldn't even give him Vincent Jackson or Mike Wallace money. He just isn't worth it.

Linehan: The last couple of games have shown that he can be as stubborn as Garrett was. Against Washington, he kept running 10+ yard routes when Romo was getting killed. He refused to max protect, until Weeden came in. He hasn't been running very many screens. I understand being handicapped by Brandon Weeden, but he needs to do a better job.

I was pretty hard to the defense going into the season, but they have shown up. This offense keeps putting them in bad positions and they hold their ground. They aren't great, and have a lot of warts, but they aren't the problem. This sloppy offense is letting teams hang around.

You forgot the crappy Special teams, that have not been so special, outside of Bailey.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

They are who I thought they were. Marinelli has been masterful in making this defense viable with the lack of overall talent, but it was never going to be sustainable in games like they have experienced the last few weeks. The offense has been doing fine, but they were seriously out-coached against Washington and again against Arizona by expecting Weeden to operate a Tony Romo style game-plan. Anyone that watched Weeden in Cleveland knew that Weeden has severe first read tunnel vision and he would fail unless Dallas really came out with some creativity. The Cardinals sure knew it, so why didn't Dallas? That is all on Linehan and Garrett.

Teams adjusted to what Dallas is doing, so now it is up to Dallas to switch things up. This is where Linehan needs to earn his paycheck.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Oh you had us at 6-3 after 9 games?

You don't play for them. So, stop this "US" nonsense.. The let downs on defense. Offense being stalled.. THAT is what I saw, because I didn't see improvements per say.. I was enjoying the wave. But, the cracks are starting to show.

 

[windward]

You don't play for them. So, stop this "US" nonsense.. The let downs on defense. Offense being stalled.. THAT is what I saw, because I didn't see improvements per say.. I was enjoying the wave. But, the cracks are starting to show.

So I will take that as a no. You didn't have US at 6-3.

 

[Wood]

We all thought the defense would be terrible and they aren't. They aren't top 10, by any means, but they are a middle of the pack defense. Going into the season, everyone said if they could find a way to not be the last team in the league, this team would go places. That hasn't been the case.

The offense has been pretty awful, to be honest. They play sloppy, undisciplined football. The Cowboys are the 4th worst team in giveaways. The offense is literally giving games away. We were able to overcome this against bad like Titans, Rams, Saints, and Giants.

The Great Wall: They've been exposed. They just aren't very good at pass blocking, period. I expect them to get better, but as of now, they are a great run blocking team, and a sub par pass blocking team. They are still getting confused by simple stunts and fire blitzes.

Dez Bryant: He has been dropping a ton of balls lately. I really think this contract negotiation has him distracted. There is no way I would pay this guy anywhere close to Calvin Johnson money. I wouldn't even give him Vincent Jackson or Mike Wallace money. He just isn't worth it.

Linehan: The last couple of games have shown that he can be as stubborn as Garrett was. Against Washington, he kept running 10+ yard routes when Romo was getting killed. He refused to max protect, until Weeden came in. He hasn't been running very many screens. I understand being handicapped by Brandon Weeden, but he needs to do a better job.

I was pretty hard to the defense going into the season, but they have shown up. This offense keeps putting them in bad positions and they hold their ground. They aren't great, and have a lot of warts, but they aren't the problem. This sloppy offense is letting teams hang around.

your assessment is 1000% on the mark.

 

[Hook'em#11]

So I will take that as a no. You didn't have US at 6-3.

How pathetic.

 

[windward]

How pathetic.

Man, I can't wait until we beat the Jags on Sunday. What do you think?

 

[Redball Express]

We all thought the defense would be terrible and they aren't. They aren't top 10, by any means, but they are a middle of the pack defense. Going into the season, everyone said if they could find a way to not be the last team in the league, this team would go places. That hasn't been the case.

The offense has been pretty awful, to be honest. They play sloppy, undisciplined football. The Cowboys are the 4th worst team in giveaways. The offense is literally giving games away. We were able to overcome this against bad like Titans, Rams, Saints, and Giants.

The Great Wall: They've been exposed. They just aren't very good at pass blocking, period. I expect them to get better, but as of now, they are a great run blocking team, and a sub par pass blocking team. They are still getting confused by simple stunts and fire blitzes.

Dez Bryant: He has been dropping a ton of balls lately. I really think this contract negotiation has him distracted. There is no way I would pay this guy anywhere close to Calvin Johnson money. I wouldn't even give him Vincent Jackson or Mike Wallace money. He just isn't worth it.

Linehan: The last couple of games have shown that he can be as stubborn as Garrett was. Against Washington, he kept running 10+ yard routes when Romo was getting killed. He refused to max protect, until Weeden came in. He hasn't been running very many screens. I understand being handicapped by Brandon Weeden, but he needs to do a better job.

I was pretty hard to the defense going into the season, but they have shown up. This offense keeps putting them in bad positions and they hold their ground. They aren't great, and have a lot of warts, but they aren't the problem. This sloppy offense is letting teams hang around.

The pattern the team was doing offensively in the first 7 games was certainly charmed.

While all the fumbles and turnovers were happening...

as in seasons past..

Romo was able to get just enough to win.

Now he is hurt again and because of that..we can't seem to play.

I really am so sick of this clinging to Romo as the savior while watching guys like Dez are going dark..

disappearing from the offense and the OL not ready to change it's direction to pass block instead of trying to run against 7-8 man fronts.

This is right back to how the team was performing under Garrett as the play caller\coordinator.

Running for that 4th down was insane.

The game ended with half the 4th Qt still to play with that coaching decision.

That reminds me of the play Barry Switzer called in Philly for Emmitt Smith that unraveled the 96 season.

I'm sorry.

Some idiot needs his job eliminated.

Whether it was Garrett or Linehan or Callahan who called it..

Wrong.

We can not win with desparate calls like that.

We are supposed to be so much more Poised this season.

Right.

 

[a_minimalist]

A

The pattern the team was doing offensively in the first 7 games was certainly charmed.

While all the fumbles and turnovers were happening...

as in seasons past..

Romo was able to get just enough to win.

Now he is hurt again and because of that..we can't seem to play.

I really am so sick of this clinging to Romo as the savior while watching guys like Dez are going dark..

disappearing from the offense and the OL not ready to change it's direction to pass block instead of trying to run against 7-8 man fronts.

This is right back to how the team was performing under Garrett as the play caller\coordinator.

Running for that 4th down was insane.

The game ended with half the 4th Qt still to play with that coaching decision.

That reminds me of the play Barry Switzer called in Philly for Emmitt Smith that unraveled the 96 season.

I'm sorry.

Some idiot needs his job eliminated.

Whether it was Garrett or Linehan or Callahan who called it..

Wrong.

We can not win with desparate calls like that.

We are supposed to be so much more Poised this season.

Right.

Are you a poet?