Too many soft players

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Love this distinction, and I hadn't heard it before. It's an effective way of looking at the problem.

The interview should still be on the multimedia section at dc.com. its a great listen.

 

[KJJ]

Well...I would disagree with some of that. He had an excellent season and sign me up for another one just like it. Now if you throw in an even better OL it stands to reason that you will get even better results. My friend that would be some impressive numbers.

Romo had a career high completion percentage for a full season and a career high passer rating in 2011. He passed for just over 4100 yards and had 31 TD's which was the second most of his career. His season was plenty good enough to take the Cowboys where they wanted to go if they had a defense that could step up in the 4th quarter and make a few stops. A QB doesn't end up with a high completion percentage if they're under constent pressure every week. Steady pressure equals misfires and can lead to turnovers. There's no question the OL has some issues and needs to be addressed but Romo wasn't under the kind of intense duress that some FANS claim it's all excuses! Unfortunately these Cowboy homers can't use the excuse Eli had all day to throw yesterday because he has a better OL than Romo so they use the excuse he was lucky.

Some here try and make it sound Romo has had horrible teams around him through the years which is total BS. The Giants were every bit as mediocre a team as the Cowboys through most of the 2011 season. They looked DONE at one point as they were suffering through a 4 game losing streak which is a worse stretch than the Cowboys suffered through. They had a lot of the same issues as the Cowboys but they're mentally tough, have solid coaching and a lot of leadership on their team. They looked awful against Washington in 2 games but like in 07 they didn't quit and were able to bounce back and are going to the SB.

 

[JonJon]

Jerome Henderson does not dumb things down. he took a question on toughness which is the same vein as this soft and then broke it down into specifics. He said that there were three types of toughness, physical, mental and preparation.

Phyiscal is being able to handle the rigors of the NFL season and go out there and play hurt and still make plays.

Mental is being able to take adversity and still play with technique and execute.

Preparation is being able to grind it out week in and week out. To have the discipline to refine your technique and study properly week in and week out.

Now I can get saying that Newman and Jones are always hurt.

I can get saying that if you run routes across the face of Sensabaugh or Ball that they have issues making the right decisions. Is that coaching, preparation, are they dumb or what? All these generalizations about our 'culture' just make me think people are dumb.

That's a great way to look at it. In my eyes, when I see the Cowboys as a soft team, it has more to do with their mental aspect. Physically, they have what it takes, but mentally, they do not. Case in point: My above example of Ware. I love his play on the field, and he gets the job done better than 99% of the players in the NFL. But it is what he does after the play that gets on my nerves. He is too busy trying to be friends after the whistle blows, and that has a negative effect on the rest of the team because they will try to follow him and do the same thing. You see a bunch of players, especially on defense, patting guys on the back or on the helmet after play as if congratulating them of their efforts. It's a joke.

On the other side, look at Ray Lewis. He gets the job done between the whistle just like Ware, but after the play is over, he is firing up his team instead of trying to play buddy buddy with the other team. He knows this is a battle and doesn't have time to be Mr. Nice Guy. The other players see, that, feed off of it, and mimic it. Now all of a sudden, you have an entire defense that has the same attitude, and it shows in how they play.

 

[KJJ]

I wouldn't say Romo never faced the kind of pressure Eli faced.

Show me a game this past season where Romo was sacked 6 times and was hit 22 times like Eli was? Eli was under intense pressure all day vs SF and got planted into the turf several times as he was delivering the football. He got hit so hard on one play he got up with his chinstrap up around his nose and was squinting his eyes with dirt in his face. His jersey was pulled down several times over his shoulder pads right as he was delivering the football. I can assure you there wasn't one game in 2011 where Romo was under the kind of intense pressure Eli was under yesterday. You might have to go back a few seasons to find a game where Romo was under that kind of duress. The most impressive thing about Eli's performance was that he attempted 58 passes into the teeth of that pass rush and didn't turn the ball over once against a 49er team that led the league in takeaways.

Romo never had to attempt more than 47 passes in 2011. The Cowboys defense ranked 13 spots higher than the Giants in 2011 and had a running game that ranked 18th compared to the Giants running attack that ranked dead last. The Giants have the leadership, mental toughness and coaching that enable them to rebound when all hope looks lost and the Cowboys don't which is why they continue year after year to fade in Dec/Jan. The Cowboys were in much better position than the Giants in Dec and they ended up missing the playoffs and the Giants are going to the SB. I can only imagine how proud Giants fans are of their team.

 

[birdwells1]

So you claim our O line played well?

What planet are you from?

Adam, the salary cap guru, actually posted an article that said that the online was middle of the road as far as pass protection goes. Can it be improved definitely but it was not the worst like some seem to think.

It did perform worst against Philly and nyg FWIW.

 

[gbrittain]

Romo had a career high completion percentage for a full season and a career high passer rating in 2011. He passed for just over 4100 yards and had 31 TD's which was the second most of his career. His season was plenty good enough to take the Cowboys where they wanted to go if they had a defense that could step up in the 4th quarter and make a few stops. A QB doesn't end up with a high completion percentage if they're under constent pressure every week. Steady pressure equals misfires and can lead to turnovers. There's no question the OL has some issues and needs to be addressed but Romo wasn't under the kind of intense duress that some FANS claim it's all excuses! Unfortunately these Cowboy homers can't use the excuse Eli had all day to throw yesterday because he has a better OL than Romo so they use the excuse he was lucky.

Some here try and make it sound Romo has had horrible teams around him through the years which is total BS. The Giants were every bit as mediocre a team as the Cowboys through most of the 2011 season. They looked DONE at one point as they were suffering through a 4 game losing streak which is a worse stretch than the Cowboys suffered through. They had a lot of the same issues as the Cowboys but they're mentally tough, have solid coaching and a lot of leadership on their team. They looked awful against Washington in 2 games but like in 07 they didn't quit and were able to bounce back and are going to the SB.

Again, I think I pretty much agree. I would not say the OL is the worst in the league but I also believe if they make it a top priority there would not be a single starter return to the position they played last year and only two starters would remain (Free and Smith). With all the flaws of the OL our undoing was our defense and I have no problem admitting that. I have been on that bandwagon for years.

As far as Eli goes I would not say he was lucky either. I am not blind though and realize in the 4th QTR he threw up some prayers and I do mean prayers that for him thankfully landed on the ground. Those are the plays that if they do get picked, you (fans and media in general not you, you) scream and call him a bum and if they fall innocently to the ground they are forgotten. It is what it is.

If you are acknowledging that Romo was not the problem this year I am not sure we have anything to really disagree about.

Sometimes I admit it is fun to play the ranking game. Which player is better than that player. Fun and games.

In the end all I care about is the player a piece of the puzzle to a Super Bowl or is he not. We have a few of the puzzle pieces but need some more.

 

[ufcrules1]

If you are acknowledging that Romo was not the problem this year I am not sure we have anything to really disagree about.

I can't speak for KJJ but IMO Romo did play role in us not being successful this year too. You can't deny the 2 games early in the year he threw away. That didn't help our cause either. Below is how I rank our problems this year.


1. Secondary

2. Defensive line

3. Offensive line

4. Coaching

5. Romo

 

[birdwells1]

This thread was about being soft. You guys giving up on that now? This is a new tact.

When was the last time a Cowboys player just laid someone out? Roy williams?

When Jacobs and the rest of the Giants talk about the hate they have for the Cowboys, slow dance on the star, what do they do? I'll tell you they help him up, that'll teach him.

After ware sacks Vick he couldn't wait to pat him on the helmet to see if he was ok.

 

[KJJ]

Again, I think I pretty much agree. I would not say the OL is the worst in the league but I also believe if they make it a top priority there would not be a single starter return to the position they played last year and only two starters would remain (Free and Smith). With all the flaws of the OL our undoing was our defense and I have no problem admitting that. I have been on that bandwagon for years.

As far as Eli goes I would not say he was lucky either. I am not blind though and realize in the 4th QTR he threw up some prayers and I do mean prayers that for him thankfully landed on the ground. Those are the plays that if they do get picked, you (fans and media in general not you, you) scream and call him a bum and if they fall innocently to the ground they are forgotten. It is what it is.

If you are acknowledging that Romo was not the problem this year I am not sure we have anything to really disagree about.

Sometimes I admit it is fun to play the ranking game. Which player is better than that player. Fun and games.

In the end all I care about is the player a piece of the puzzle to a Super Bowl or is he not. We have a few of the puzzle pieces but need some more.

My feeling is that had Romo been under the heavy pressure Eli was yesterday he would have suffered some turnovers especially fumbles. He turned the ball over twice in the season finale against NY. Eli threw a few balls up as he was being pressured but most of those throws his receivers had chances at. The TD pass to Manningham late in the 4th quarter was a great throw that was right on the money but naturally FANS here won't acknowledge that they're too biased to give Eli an ounce of credit.

Had it been Romo making those plays yesterday the Romosexuals would be ranking him far and ahead of any QB who's ever played the game. Eli set an NFL record in 2011 with 15 4th quarter TD passes and has been consistently making plays in critical situations late in games all season and in the playoffs. I agree the Cowboys OL needs to be addressed but the team will continue coughing up 4th quarter leads if the defense isn't fixed. It's the defense that spelled doom for the 2011 season not the OL.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I think half our team just is used to things bring handed to them. Won't join in on the pile, someone else will bring him down. Won't pickup a fumble, someone else will get it.

The 49ers tackling put ours too Shame. How many times did Bradshaw bounce it, put a few moves on a defender and still get brought down in the open field. We can't even bring down FB's and 3rd string TE's.

The sharpness of the teams yesterday was crazy.

There was a play where Ed reed actually saw an offsides flag on his D as the ball was being snapped. So once his D picked off the pass on the free play he told the CB to just go down, Reed knew that there was nothing to gain there, and the only thing that could happen of consequence would be him fumbling and the pats recovering.

And our guys dont know the the snap count.

 

[ufcrules1]

There was a play where Ed reed actually saw an offsides flag on his D as the ball was being snapped. So once his D picked off the pass on the free play he told the CB to just go down, Reed knew that there was nothing to gain there, and the only thing that could happen of consequence would be him fumbling and the pats recovering.

And our guys dont know the the snap count.

I saw that Ed Reed play too and was amazed with it especially him playing all the way back at safety and noticing the flag. He is such a smart player and leader. Only guy like that on our team possibly would be Sean Lee.

 

[ufcrules1]

My feeling is that had Romo been under the heavy pressure Eli was yesterday he would have suffered some turnovers especially fumbles. He turned the ball over twice in the season finale against NY. Eli threw a few balls up as he was being pressured but most of those throws his receivers had chances at. The TD pass to Manningham late in the 4th quarter was a great throw that was right on the money but naturally FANS here won't acknowledge that they're too biased to give Eli an ounce of credit.

Had it been Romo making those plays yesterday the Romosexuals would be ranking him far and ahead of any QB who's ever played the game. Eli set an NFL record in 2011 with 15 4th quarter TD passes and has been consistently making plays in critical situations late in games all season and in the playoffs. I agree the Cowboys OL needs to be addressed but the team will continue coughing up 4th quarter leads if the defense isn't fixed. It's the defense that spelled doom for the 2011 season not the OL.

^^^You are one of the smartest posters here KJJ. I always enjoy and agree with your posts.

 

[tupperware]

I think half our team just is used to things bring handed to them. Won't join in on the pile, someone else will bring him down. Won't pickup a fumble, someone else will get it.

The 49ers tackling put ours too Shame. How many times did Bradshaw bounce it, put a few moves on a defender and still get brought down in the open field. We can't even bring down FB's and 3rd string TE's.

The sharpness of the teams yesterday was crazy.

There was a play where Ed reed actually saw an offsides flag on his D as the ball was being snapped. So once his D picked off the pass on the free play he told the CB to just go down, Reed knew that there was nothing to gain there, and the only thing that could happen of consequence would be him fumbling and the pats recovering.

And our guys dont know the the snap count.

Good post.

 

[KJJ]

^^^You are one of the smartest posters here KJJ. I always enjoy and agree with your posts.

There's homers here that would beg to differ with you.

 

[Doomsday101]

My feeling is that had Romo been under the heavy pressure Eli was yesterday he would have suffered some turnovers especially fumbles. He turned the ball over twice in the season finale against NY. Eli threw a few balls up as he was being pressured but most of those throws his receivers had chances at. The TD pass to Manningham late in the 4th quarter was a great throw that was right on the money but naturally FANS here won't acknowledge that they're too biased to give Eli an ounce of credit.

Had it been Romo making those plays yesterday the Romosexuals would be ranking him far and ahead of any QB who's ever played the game. Eli set an NFL record in 2011 with 15 4th quarter TD passes and has been consistently making plays in critical situations late in games all season and in the playoffs. I agree the Cowboys OL needs to be addressed but the team will continue coughing up 4th quarter leads if the defense isn't fixed. It's the defense that spelled doom for the 2011 season not the OL.

I agree it is important to get the defense fixed and important to add to the OL as well. Yesterday there were alot of stats and few points in the game in the end the outcome was determined by a fumbled punt return. Pressure did take a toll on NY and Eli and he did throw some ugly ducks 2 that had SF players not ran into each other were easy picks. I take nothing away from the job Eli did or the NY G but this game came down to 2 defensive teams with SF having 2 critical turnovers on punt returns that was their undoing

 

[Idgit]

There's homers here that would beg to differ with you.

And a fair number of non-homers.

 

[Idgit]

^^^You are one of the smartest posters here KJJ. I always enjoy and agree with your posts.

/struggling to reconcile these two statements.

 

[Clove]

Of course Romo makes mistakes we are just smart enough to know he is one of the top QB's in the NFL elite or not and the problems around the Cowboys center on OL and defense. Unlike many of us know it is a team game given what Romo has done as an individal it is not hard to see that he is not the problem but your so intent on getting rid of him that you fail to see that.

So continue on with Romo is the problem

One of the top QBs in the NFL don't go 6 years with 1 play off victory. Please wake up, you're a mod. You need to set an example.

 

[Doomsday101]

One of the top QBs in the NFL don't go 6 years with 1 play off victory. Please wake up, you're a mod. You need to set an example.

I'm wide awake I don't take a narrow view on QB as you are. Teams win not QB alone that is somthing you don't get. If you choose to think otherwise fine I have been around the game long enough to know better.

As for setting an example? what thinking as you do? :laugh2: You got to be kidding

 

[ufcrules1]

And a fair number of of homers who think they are non-homers.

There, I fixed that one for you.