To my fellow realists... Are you as encouraged as me?

[Bleu Star]

I sit here tonight satisfied with the way the first half of the season has unfolded. We've had our ups and downs but through it all the team appears to have grown into an actual "team". I've taken a different stance this season. I'm not getting too high or too low. Call me moderate. It feels good to be where I am right now. I'm happy that we're 6-2 but realize we have only scratched the surface and have a lot of work to do in order to continue taking positive steps. This is no time to become complacent or content with the current state of the team. There's plenty of work to do.

When I watch this team, lately I have felt as though they share my thoughts regarding improvement. They appear to be working harder with each passing week and communicating more and more with each other. It's great to see them talking it up on the sidelines after positive and negative plays. That improved communication will only lead to bigger and better things. I'm just going to make a few mid season observations. Feel free to critique them.

Victor Butler, Alan Ball, Kevin Ogletree, OScan, Tashard Choice... these are just a few backups that are making a collectively strong impact when they're on the field. The depth is growing and it will only serve to help us through those tough times down the stretch.

Roy Williams appears to be driven by jealously. With Miles Austin getting all of the pub and the reporter skipping Roy's locker he appears to be waking up. Motivation comes in many forms. Whatever works I guess... I'm trying really hard to like the guy but running out of bounds instead of taking the contact or making an inside move to potentially go the distance really gets under my skin.

The FO's decision to draft Buehler is looking like one of the most cerebral decisions they've made in a long time. Who woulda thunk a kicker would have made the monumental impact Buehler has made on the team? Dude not only kicks, he tackles and runs a pretty solid 40 time. Let me rephrase.. He'll knock your block off. What an athlete!

Keith Brooking! I have to give it to Wade. He wanted this guy and I loved the pick from the start. It does make me a little nauseous to embrace a decision influenced by Wade but it is what it is. Brooking has been the FA pickup of the year for us.

Romo really is a big kid in a candy store. He just needs to figure out how not to stuff every piece of candy in his mouth at one time. It appears he is figuring out where to moderate and that is paying dividends for his teammates. The emergence of Miles had really given Romo a true go to threat that can stretch the field and go the distance at will. There were moments last night where Romo didn't even care to look elsewhere. Prime example, the TD pass to Miles... Romo didn't even know Witten or RW were on the field.

Garrett is showing continued improvement and I am beginning to really like what I am seeing from him. You can tell he's really into it and the offense rallies around him. When Romo hit Miles for that TD, Garrett was right there with everyone else on the sidelines jumping up and down. It was refreshing to see some emotion from him for a change.

Wade... I just can't bring myself to like Wade as a HC. I think he is in his element as DC. As a HC, I can't ride the wagon. I strongly believe that the team right now is prospering from a true split between offense and defense. Wade is in total control of the Defense and Garrett has total control of the offense. I just don't think Wade has much say in what goes on offensively. Whatever works... I look forward to grading out the overall coaching performance over the course of a full regular and post season.

How are my fellow realists feeling about this team? I originally called 8-8, 9-7 at best. I think this team will win more than 9 games if they continue to make the solid progress that they've made with each passing week and I will be happy to be completely wrong about their record... especially if they take things deep into the playoffs.

What has to happen in order to make Wade's job turnover to next year? Super Bowl appearance? NFC Championship appearance? Hmmmmm

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Miles Austin is the major reason why I don't have to always end every compliment given to the Cowboys with "wait until December" or "Wade Phillips is the Head Coach".

For Tony Romo, the guy is probably just a breathe of fresh air. Very humble, works hard and won't pout when he doesn't get the ball.

However, it was a joke to hear people claim we were going to go 7-9. I always said the Cowboys were way too talented to lose 9 games this season.

Finally, the NFL Season is a series of highs and lows. You can be playing great one span and play horrible in the next.

We don't know where the chips will fall and it way too early to be calling people out (unless you're Emmitt Smith) as there is still a lot of football to be played.

As far as Wade Phillips, I still say he needs to get to the NFCCG and have a solid performance to save his job. I know somebody, I think it was Chocolate Lab said they have heard a lot of Jerry's interviews on the radio and he doesn't seem high on Wade Phillips, but I think he likes Wade Phillips and the fact that Jerry would get a lot of the credit for fielding a winning team with Wade Phillips as the Head Coach versus somebody like Bill Parcells.

 

[Joe Realist]

Bleu,

I am pleasantly suprised. I was down on them after Denver and questioned how they would respond. Here are some things that have helped turn the tide:

1.) Defense picking it up
2.) Romo limiting mistakes and understanding that taking sacks is ok
3.) The emergence of Miles Austin
4.) Crayton is playing like a man possessed

However, I think the biggest thing MIGHT be Keith Brooking taking over the leadership void that has been here for years. He is the coach on the field.

I had predicted 9-7 which now would be a monumental dissappointment. I am still wary of December because 10 plus years of ineptitude is not a trend. Will the 30 something O-line hold up? Will Boys believe their press clippings (that will be more positive now?), etc.

I would rather everyone in the media dump on them and play the " us against the world theme ". I think it makes for better focus.

 

[21Savage]

What was it bleu? 8-8 or 9-7?

Hey, we only have 2 or 3 more games to win and about 5 or 6 more I told you threads from you left to go

 

[CowboyWay]

For the first time this year, I'm actually starting to get excited. But its a different excitement than the 13-3 year, or last year before Romo got hurt. This excitement comes from watching this team become a TEAM. You can see it on the sideline, and on the field. You can hear it coming from the locker room talk. It permeates from every pore of the team.

There are no prima donnas, there is only football. You can actually turn on ESPN and not see 10 stories about this or that regarding the cowboys. Its just taking care of business week by week.

There are still two things we must do, and if we do them, we can beat ANYONE in the league.

1. Turnovers. The last month they have been kept to a minimum and we have won. If tony, or anyone else doesn't turn the ball over, we can beat any team in the league.

2. Penalties. Last night was somewhat ugly, but the week before against Seattle it was very good. We simply MUST keep them to a minimum. We can't beat ourselves.

We do those two things, and I we can prepare ourselves for a long playoff run.

 

[Bleu Star]

What was it bleu? 8-8 or 9-7?

Hey, we only have 2 or 3 more games to win and about 5 or 6 more I told you threads from you left to go

Notice your response and then the three around you. The realists are a noticeable minority around here but at least they have something to contribute. Are you just trolling as usual?

 

[Chief]

Most fans -- and certainly on this board -- tend to overreact ... when things are going well, and when things are going bad.

The team is probably never as bad as we think it is, or as great as we think it is.

I find this team much more likable than in recent years. The bad apples are gone, and this is a team that appears to have pretty good chemistry. I see great effort each week, and that hasn't always been the case in recent years.

As fans, many of us wanted Owens and Adam Jones, and Terry Johnson, and Greg Ellis, and OU Roy Williams gone. We wanted grinders ... tough players who played hard and would lead. We wanted a safety who could cover, make plays and not point. We wanted a new special teams coach. We wanted Wade to run the defense. For the most part, we got the changes we wanted.

I'm not sure Jerry bought into all these moves originially, but Stephen and maybe Wade and Garrett helped persuade him. And maybe in some cases, Jerry got his way (Stewart's exit?)

The other change I wanted was Wade gone. I still don't think he's the guy to get Dallas to the Super Bowl, but he has made an effort to be more involved in things and hold the players more accountable. I still don't think he'll get a new contract and I think Jason Garrett is going to replace him in January.

I'm encouraged by what I see, but I'm not going to start pounding the table and yelling "Super Bowl." they will stumble at some point in the next few weeks and lose a game they probably should have won. The mood of the fans will swing wildly the other way when that happens. And of course, December looms.

But we'll deal with December when it gets here. I really like this team and am hoping for the best.

 

[21Savage]

Notice your response and then the three around you. The realists are a noticeable minority around here but at least they have something to contribute. Are you just trolling as usual?

Nah, just messing with you. Come on man, I gotta call you out when you're dead wrong. That's my boy (Choice cadence)!




















But at least admit you were dead wrong for making that "I told you so" thread. :laugh2:

 

[jobberone]

I see improvement each game. And they do act more like a team than in previous years. Jerry and the gang deserve kudos for removing certain elements from the team to foster the team concept.

 

[Idgit]

I'm just so happy the team stopped doing everything stupid and started doing everything so awesome.

 

[Joe Realist]

I see improvement each game. And they do act more like a team than in previous years. Jerry and the gang deserve kudos for removing certain elements from the team to foster the team concept.

Jerry planned it this way. Chemsitry, shemistry, then whoops!

 

[RS12]

For the first time this year, I'm actually starting to get excited. But its a different excitement than the 13-3 year, or last year before Romo got hurt. This excitement comes from watching this team become a TEAM. You can see it on the sideline, and on the field. You can hear it coming from the locker room talk. It permeates from every pore of the team.

There are no prima donnas, there is only football. You can actually turn on ESPN and not see 10 stories about this or that regarding the cowboys. Its just taking care of business week by week.

There are still two things we must do, and if we do them, we can beat ANYONE in the league.

1. Turnovers. The last month they have been kept to a minimum and we have won. If tony, or anyone else doesn't turn the ball over, we can beat any team in the league.

2. Penalties. Last night was somewhat ugly, but the week before against Seattle it was very good. We simply MUST keep them to a minimum. We can't beat ourselves.

We do those two things, and I we can prepare ourselves for a long playoff run.

This. By the way, you forgot stay healthy. Injuries on the O Line in particular, and it could unravel quickly.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wade... I just can't bring myself to like Wade as a HC. I think he is in his element as DC. As a HC, I can't ride the wagon. I strongly believe that the team right now is prospering from a true split between offense and defense. Wade is in total control of the Defense and Garrett has total control of the offense. I just don't think Wade has much say in what goes on offensively.

I think you're pretty much right, but Galloway was saying today that two offensive players told him that on our last possession, Wade gathered the O around him and was firing them up/challenging them to grind out that one or two first downs we needed to get them to the two-minute warning and kneel out the clock.

Just relaying, FWIW...

 

[Vintage]

I'm just curious what one needs to do to join the realist club.

I predicted before the season we'd be a 9-7 or 10-6 season.

That probably puts me in the extreme homer category according to these self proclaimed realists.

 

[bbgun]

I think the appropriate emotion is "cautious optimism." I say "cautious" because we've seen fast starts before. In '07, we beat the defending NFC champs (Chicago), a 10-1 Green Bay Packer team, and the eventual Super Bowl champs twice, yet it was predictive of nothing. The past isn't necessarily prelude, and we may have added and removed just the right amount of people this time, but the monkey will always be there until proven otherwise. Just ask the Dallas teams of the late 1960s.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I think you're pretty much right, but Galloway was saying today that two offensive players told him that on our last possession, Wade gathered the O around him and was firing them up/challenging them to grind out that one or two first downs we needed to get them to the two-minute warning and kneel out the clock.

Just relaying, FWIW...

Just to add...


Cowboys meet challenge
12:11 AM Mon, Nov 09, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
David Moore/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

Tony Romo's 49-yard touchdown strike to Miles Austin proved to be the winning points.

But after Philadelphia came back with a field goal, the Cowboys still had some work to do to secure the victory. That meant running the ball in the final 4:30.

"I knew we needed a first down to win the game,'' head coach Wade Phillips said. "That's Marion Barber's time.

"When they started to kick the field goal, we challenged the offensive line. We said if you want to win the game, then get a first down.''

Barber ran for 16 yards on the first play. On third-and-three with just more than two minutes left, Tomo hit tight end Jason Witten for five yards and the first down that clinched the Cowboys victory.


Comments (20) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Basically, you're coming around to reality. LOL I love watching 'em back peddle.

 

[Cover 2]

I'm very encouraged. I'm not saying we'll win the Super Bowl, but the season has potential. I think this year we break our playoff winning drought.

The main reason I'm so optimistic is the way the team has come together. They seem much more tight-knit than previous years, and they obviously have a lot of talent. I thought they had top 5 talent before the season started and I still do. With these two things, I think they have a good chance of going far in the postseason.

 

[Cover 2]

Basically, you're coming around to reality. LOL I love watching 'em back peddle.

In all fairness the Cowboys were struggling earlier this year.

 

[theogt]

I think the appropriate emotion is "cautious optimism." I say "cautious" because we've seen fast starts before. In '07, we beat the defending NFC champs (Chicago), a 10-1 Green Bay Packer team, and the eventual Super Bowl champs twice, yet it was predictive of nothing. The past isn't necessarily prelude, and we may have added and removed just the right amount of people this time, but the monkey will always be there until proven otherwise. Just ask the Dallas teams of the late 1960s.

In 2007 we barely lost to the Super Bowl champions in the playoffs due to a couple bonehead/unlucky plays. I'm pretty sure being competitive against the Super Bowl champions and narrowly losing is about as predictive as 13-3 can get. Being 13-3 doesn't guarantee you anything.

If we happen to play whoever the Super Bowl champions are in the playoffs (or the Super Bowl), and we're competitive, I'd say that shows we're a good team and was predicted by our play so far this season. Being competitive and having things break your way is what you need in the playoffs. You don't see too many blowouts in the playoffs.