Thoughts/Opinions about Season, Coaching Staff and the future

[baltcowboy]

Had a pretty good defense, but they offense was average at best.

Not gonna fight you. We have to do something. Bill would certainly change direction of the Star.

 

[quickccc]

Packers

As I said anything can happen in a single elimination game. Packers played very loose, with nothing to lose, where the Cowboys played tight as all the pressure to win got to them. All three phases had terrible days and what is worse, the coaching staff was outcoached. Playing so much zone against a team that struggles against press, man coverage? Running the football on first down when they play 5 down lineman? Sam Williams still on punt returns after he makes penalties every week?

What went wrong throughout the season?

You cannot win in this league if you are unable to run the football and stop the run, especially come playoff time. I have said it so many times this season, teams play shell coverage to take away the Cowboys chunk passing plays, teams dare the Cowboys to run the football against light boxes and they just cannot do it! Is it the personnel, blocking scheme, play-calling? This shouldn't be an issue with all the resources up front. As for the run defense, losing Lve/Overshown hurt, but Quinn decided to go with undersized, hybrid players and continue to play Parsons at DE when teams run right at him with tremendous success. These two areas need to be fixed or they will continue to have inconsistent success. Has this team really gotten better from prior seasons as the same issues remain their weaknesses?

Coaching Staff

MM was hired to able to get this team in a deep playoff run. Yes, he has shown to be a far better HC then Jason Garrett, but the team's success is marginally better. He has gotten this team into the playoffs three straight years, is able to do a better job overcoming injuries, but this team still remains one of the worst in committing penalties, MM has been awful in end of game situations.

What this franchise needs to do in my opinion?

They need to change the culture, these players are treated like rock stars, without any accountability. The front office also needs to change their philosophy, they have to start using free agency/trading market more then just relying on a unproven draft class. My thought process earlier on in the season was to target one of those modern, offensive coaches from a coaching tree either from the 49ers or Rams, but they need more then that? 3 Candidates all fit the bill what this team needs: Bellichek, Vrabel or Harbaugh.

All three coaches have a track record of being discipled HC's, who have won with strong running games and stout defenses. They will know how to fix the trenches. Before anyone says that Jerry will never hire or these men will never coach here, Parcells did in the past and changed this franchise for the better.

- Could Pete Carroll also become a HC candidate ?

- The vibe i still get is club will opt for lesser risk-free HC hiring.
Exit interviews: Club will likely ask Dan Quinn to move on, even he preferred to stay as DC.
Forget any talk of Quinn promoted to new HC- Worse defensive playoff loss per 48 points (at home too)

- Quinn's D has emphasized speed and INTs- but his unit gets bullied physically vs run.. and fooled by misdirection by better offenses. Having Hankins alone does not help this run defense - scheme & player personal issues.
Major LB issues !

- it's more of a gamble with unknown younger assistant HC candidates vs vet HCs , for every Ryan, Campbell or Taylor, there is also a Nathan Hackett, Brandlin Staley.

 

[Creeper]

Agree Dak isn't a great big game QB, but wants he gets in rhythm he settles down. What he really needs is a run game he can rely upon and not put everything on his shoulders. In my opinion, bigger worry is with this defense, they got destroyed yesterday and several times throughout the season, it starts with their inability to stop the run. They ran the football at will yesterday and Quinn continues to play 6 defensive backs.

I agree. I wonder if the Cowboys defense had stopped Green Bay a couple of times until the offense found its groove if the game would have turned out differently. I think it would have but then again, if the game was closer, would Dak have ever shaken off the pressure? 0 passing yards in the 1st quarter is not just a slow start. It was way worse than that. And throwing 2 INTs in Dallas territory, including a pick 6 really put the game out of reach. But again, good defenses clamp down after turnovers and that first INT did not have to result in 7 points. What if they stopped the Packers and forced a couple of FGs? But unfortunately we have not had that kind of a defense in a few months. They couldn't stop Miami, Detroit or Green Bay went it counted. They struggled with Arizona that way too. The defensive philosophy is not working and it needs to change.

 

[quickccc]

That's the $ 100,000 question, does Jerry feel like it's time to start over from the coaching standpoint? Since Garrett left, they have had better success, but still haven't broke through that divisional round. Matter of fact, not sure they are any better today then they were 3 years ago. Their draft and development plan just hasn't worked,

We cannot do off draft success plan and development alone.

The SB contenders make bold moves to bolster their roster- Ravens got All pro LB Roquan Smith for 2nd and 5th rd picks - Our 2nd rd turned in TE Schoonmaker, whom I'm not getting any indication that he is gonna be a playmaker.
and i would've given up a 4th for an pro bowl LB

But we (ala Stephen) just did not prioritize LB ... we could have even had Bobby Wagner as a FA, but instead opt to
re-sign injury prone LVE,...

Stephen thought late rd draft pick trades for Cook, Gilmore was good enuff, ..

 

[Cowboyny]

- Could Pete Carroll also become a HC candidate ?

- The vibe i still get is club will opt for lesser risk-free HC hiring.
Exit interviews: Club will likely ask Dan Quinn to move on, even he preferred to stay as DC.
Forget any talk of Quinn promoted to new HC- Worse defensive playoff loss per 48 points (at home too)

- Quinn's D has emphasized speed and INTs- but his unit gets bullied physically vs run.. and fooled by misdirection by better offenses. Having Hankins alone does not help this run defense - scheme & player personal issues.
Major LB issues !

- it's more of a gamble with unknown younger assistant HC candidates vs vet HCs , for every Ryan, Campbell or Taylor, there is also a Nathan Hackett, Brandlin Staley.

Carroll is interesting as well. Really think they have to hire experience to not only help the players but also assist the front office

 

[Cowboyny]

We cannot do off draft success plan and development alone.

The SB contenders make bold moves to bolster their roster- Ravens got All pro LB Roquan Smith for 2nd and 5th rd picks - Our 2nd rd turned in TE Schoonmaker, whom I'm not getting any indication that he is gonna be a playmaker.
and i would've given up a 4th for an pro bowl LB

But we (ala Stephen) just did not prioritize LB ... we could have even had Bobby Wagner as a FA, but instead opt to
re-sign injury prone LVE,...

Stephen thought late rd draft pick trades for Cook, Gilmore was good enuff, ..

I know you are against Billicheck but he was always excellent in trades and when to move on from veterans, just poor as a drafter. Think he would have the clout to change how the front office conducts business. Key would be having a collaborative effort during draft process not allowing Bill to run the draft

 

[blueblood70]

That's the $ 100,000 question, does Jerry feel like it's time to start over from the coaching standpoint? Since Garrett left, they have had better success, but still haven't broke through that divisional round. Matter of fact, not sure they are any better today then they were 3 years ago. Their draft and development plan just hasn't worked,

well while I agree Jerry might not be ready to make a move he may be comfortable or is he old getting older not younger and maybe he's getting more impatient and willing to make a change however what I don't agree with is you saying the draft and development plan hasn't worked..


We won the division we got the number two seed which actually is more successful than three years ago they literally have went from 2020 with a lot of crazy things happen and weren't winning to getting to the first round to the next year getting to the second round but this time we won the division and had to buy and had a home game and it should have worked out better we have plenty of talent did you look at the all pro Pro Bowl and other lists on how many really good players this team has I'm I'm not sure what you mean by not develop...

Each time you make a coaching change and each new year you turn the team over 17% or more anyway contracts are up you have a new philosophy you lose players they're gonna have to make changes anyway but are you gonna do that with a new coach and a new coaching staff that way they can bring in the players they need or want... We still are a talented team I think Jerry's gonna look at it this way Dan Quinn the last five or six weeks or at least the biggest games of the year has been the worst part of this team in my opinion he has to see it that way even if you take 10 points off the score and say that's responsible because of the offense they gave up 38 points then you go look at the Buffalo game the Arizona game and of course the 49er game we got ran over the same way it doesn't it in a big game this defense has crumbled...

I think it's the game plans I think it's his choice to run too much zone or too much man or not picking the right defense not making the right adjustments I'm sorry but Dan Quinn has played his way out of Dallas in my opinion whether he was leaving or not if I was the GM I would tell him good luck and good riddance thanks what you've done here we appreciate it but we need a new voice on defense for sure...

So if he sees this like a lot of us see it I think we have the talent to go further between all the game situational management issues the game plans the adjustments they just don't seem to be working but I think the windows open for a very short time and he's gotta see this as more of A2 social coaching issue more than talent issue we can bring in some more players like we're gonna need a great linebacker another starting running back a few other pieces but really we don't gotta make a lot of changes we just need some coaches to put us over the hump

 

[blueblood70]

Odds are Josh McDaniels would be his OC. He runs a similar WCO as MM.

helllll noooo maybe it's my PTSD from his head coaching stop said he's failed at but man i don't know if i want him as our coordinator... Tell bill he's gotta do better than that.

 

[bigE79]

Packers

As I said anything can happen in a single elimination game. Packers played very loose, with nothing to lose, where the Cowboys played tight as all the pressure to win got to them. All three phases had terrible days and what is worse, the coaching staff was outcoached. Playing so much zone against a team that struggles against press, man coverage? Running the football on first down when they play 5 down lineman? Sam Williams still on punt returns after he makes penalties every week?

What went wrong throughout the season?

You cannot win in this league if you are unable to run the football and stop the run, especially come playoff time. I have said it so many times this season, teams play shell coverage to take away the Cowboys chunk passing plays, teams dare the Cowboys to run the football against light boxes and they just cannot do it! Is it the personnel, blocking scheme, play-calling? This shouldn't be an issue with all the resources up front. As for the run defense, losing Lve/Overshown hurt, but Quinn decided to go with undersized, hybrid players and continue to play Parsons at DE when teams run right at him with tremendous success. These two areas need to be fixed or they will continue to have inconsistent success. Has this team really gotten better from prior seasons as the same issues remain their weaknesses?

Coaching Staff

MM was hired to able to get this team in a deep playoff run. Yes, he has shown to be a far better HC then Jason Garrett, but the team's success is marginally better. He has gotten this team into the playoffs three straight years, is able to do a better job overcoming injuries, but this team still remains one of the worst in committing penalties, MM has been awful in end of game situations.

What this franchise needs to do in my opinion?

They need to change the culture, these players are treated like rock stars, without any accountability. The front office also needs to change their philosophy, they have to start using free agency/trading market more then just relying on a unproven draft class. My thought process earlier on in the season was to target one of those modern, offensive coaches from a coaching tree either from the 49ers or Rams, but they need more then that? 3 Candidates all fit the bill what this team needs: Bellichek, Vrabel or Harbaugh.

All three coaches have a track record of being discipled HC's, who have won with strong running games and stout defenses. They will know how to fix the trenches. Before anyone says that Jerry will never hire or these men will never coach here, Parcells did in the past and changed this franchise for the better.

We have no future as long as Jerry owns the team and since he will never sale,we lifelong fans will never see greatness again.we are the wretched refuse.

 

[quickccc]

I know you are against Billicheck but he was always excellent in trades and when to move on from veterans, just poor as a drafter. Think he would have the clout to change how the front office conducts business. Key would be having a collaborative effort during draft process not allowing Bill to run the draft

So why could Belichek re-adjust and commit to an adept player personnel guy who knows draft in NE ?

Me-thinks Cuz Belly was too stone set and stubborn in his ways.
As we all get older, we get more stubborn and set in our ways to think it is what is best.

Also when it comes to the excellent trades ?
Belly still had true control and player personnel power in NE to make key trades - so what happened to the excellent trades -post Tom Brady ?

During Brady's last years in NE- he didn't seem to have any quality WRs to go to.
Per draft, trade or FA, why couldn't Belly get the WR personnel.
Ditto for the RB role .. and eventually the OL personnel began to suffer too.

Also his choice of OCs ala Bill O' Brien was a disaster.
I cannot help but wonder if the final meeting betwixt owner Craft vs Belly was about key personnel decisions
and control and that was not the first time they met with such discussions.

 

[quickccc]

Carroll is interesting as well. Really think they have to hire experience to not only help the players but also assist the front office

Only bite with Carroll is his choice of coaches- he's had major bombs with both OC (including Schott)
and especially DC's.

I would think he could flexible to let Wil McClay be McClay. Not as stubborn and arrogant as a Belichek.

 

[quickccc]

Carroll is interesting as well. Really think they have to hire experience to not only help the players but also assist the front office

Not me.
That's how we ended up with Nashon Wright and Chancy Gholston as early 3rd round busts.
Quinn supposedly personally worked out Wright and urge McClay to reach.

McClay NFL/college expertise is why he remains valuable to this team.

 

[quickccc]

The only reason I am behind the hiring of Bill. Although I think Josh McDaniels would do well with Dak.

Daniels strikes me as a Todd Haley type. Great with scheming X's and O's as OC. but with his personality
and arrogance could that personality be difficult to deal with certain QB ?
i would wonder if Daniels could be " Dak-friendly " .

But he's developed Jimmy G, and manage a 11-5 record with scrub QB Matt Cassell.

 

[Cowboyny]

Not me.
That's how we ended up with Nashon Wright and Chancy Gholston as early 3rd round busts.
Quinn supposedly personally worked out Wright and urge McClay to reach.

McClay NFL/college expertise is why he remains valuable to this team.

When I mean assist the front office, is trying convince them to be more active in fa and the trade market. As for the draft, the Cowboys always have used a collaborative effort with Jerry having the final say. Unfortunately, they do give the coaches some power picking their players, that won't change whomever they decide to hire.

 

[BadLieutenant]

Said the same thing in another thread.........I like Harbaugh a little better. He will be Jimmy 2.0 IMO......love that he's a former QB with a defensive coor mentality.

Don't think Harbaugh will put up w/jj's ****, + like he was QB & Michigan team's were tuf

 

[1942willys]

So why could Belichek re-adjust and commit to an adept player personnel guy who knows draft in NE ?

Me-thinks Cuz Belly was too stone set and stubborn in his ways.
As we all get older, we get more stubborn and set in our ways to think it is what is best.

Also when it comes to the excellent trades ?
Belly still had true control and player personnel power in NE to make key trades - so what happened to the excellent trades -post Tom Brady ?

During Brady's last years in NE- he didn't seem to have any quality WRs to go to.
Per draft, trade or FA, why couldn't Belly get the WR personnel.
Ditto for the RB role .. and eventually the OL personnel began to suffer too.

Also his choice of OCs ala Bill O' Brien was a disaster.
I cannot help but wonder if the final meeting betwixt owner Craft vs Belly was about key personnel decisions
and control and that was not the first time they met with such discussions.

it is very possible that BB is done. But no one can deny that he built multiple teams over 20 years
remember how much envy we had when BB would move on from a veteran player and always seemed to call it right
BB got rid of a vet one year before he went downhill
Trades and FA were done well also
BUT the last five years he has not had the same magic: why is the big question
His D is still decent but his O sucks and he apparently blew the QB draft as well

 

[quickccc]

it is very possible that BB is done. But no one can deny that he built multiple teams over 20 years
remember how much envy we had when BB would move on from a veteran player and always seemed to call it right
BB got rid of a vet one year before he went downhill
Trades and FA were done well also
BUT the last five years he has not had the same magic: why is the big question
His D is still decent but his O sucks and he apparently blew the QB draft as well

20 years is past tense. He is an HOF coach and probably the best HC in history of NFL. and imo, most certainly
the best defensive HC ever hands down.

FA and trades actually have not hasn't always worked out - if such were the case, Pats would not be so bereft of talent on the offensive side of the ball - just simply cannot draft or acquire quality impact starting WRs or RBs.

Belichek also benched a important player instead of fining him and starting him
in the SB vs Eagles. Turns out Philly totally exploited his replacement and that led them to a victory.
That was about Belly's ego than managing to do what was needed to win a vs eagles SB.

 

[quickccc]

When I mean assist the front office, is trying convince them to be more active in fa and the trade market. As for the draft, the Cowboys always have used a collaborative effort with Jerry having the final say. Unfortunately, they do give the coaches some power picking their players, that won't change whomever they decide to hire.

Jerry does not scout, evaluate film, interview players, trainers & coaches, consult with his scout team, organize draft board in according to value.

Jerry simply figuratively pushes a "green go-button " once McClay tells him the player to draft or why we should be considering trading up or down.

The only things I have to worry about McClay is coaches in his ear, influencing him to draft (reach) for a Taco or Wright

BTW, I always get the biggest laugh kick when i read & hear posters say "Jerry drafted him " .. or Jerry's draft.

 

[Cowboyny]

Jerry does not scout, evaluate film, interview players, trainers & coaches, consult with his scout team, organize draft board in according to value.

Jerry simply figuratively pushes a "green go-button " once McClay tells him the player to draft or why we should be considering trading up or down.

The only things I have to worry about McClay is coaches in his ear, influencing him to draft (reach) for a Taco or Wright

BTW, I always get the biggest laugh kick when i read & hear posters say "Jerry drafted him " .. or Jerry's draft.

Jerry gets the info from McClay and his scouts, they seeks what the coaches think

 

[Jumbo075]

You can point to the defense as the reason for the loss for every game the Cowboys lost this season except the first Philadelphia loss, and maybe the Arizona loss.

1. Arizona - no way that team should have scored 28 points on a good defense, although Cowboys offense shares the blame for not scoring enough.
2. San Francisco - the Cowboys were down by over 20 points BEFORE Dak threw any interceptions.
3. Philadelphia - loss on Cowboys offense failing to score TD's on two deep penetrations in Eagles territory
4. Buffalo - Total collapse of defense
5. Miami - Cowboys did have a fumble on the 1 yard line that cost them a TD. But when the offense scored to take the lead with less than 2 minutes left, the defense couldn't get a stop.
6. Green Bay - Total collapse of defense.

The Cowboys still cannot stop the running game. This must be fixed by getting stronger up the middle. The Cowboys would be better off signing Chris Jones than Micah Parsons.