Troy Aikman: "The Cowboys need to FINISH better"

[dbair1967]

I think a lot of the reason Red got "pass happy" is that the OL wasn't very good at run blocking.

I agree, and have for some time.

It's why I think Hudson Houck is such a huge addition and large upgrade over Sparano...the run game is gonna be better this yr

David

 

[dbair1967]

You made a good point about the special teams. Not good enough in many areas.

kick and punt coverage need to improve, and hopefully will with more overall team speed

I am quite certain that our kick (F Jones, Austin) and punt (Adam Jones) return units will be signidicantly upgraded...we're going to be playing on alot of short fields in 2008.

David

 

[leeblair]

I don't think you can blame the defense. As a matter of fact, the defense played excellent this year, and the offense doesn't need to make excuses.


The Cowboys offense began to look out of sync, and without discipline- and sometimes it even looked as if they were drawing plays in the dirt rather than following a game plan.

The defense was put on the spot a lot the last year, and more often than not, they stepped up to the challenge.

So trying to pass the "buck" is not the answer. The offense needs to control the ball better and quit making all of the "almost had it" plays, and then looking for the defense to have to bail them out again.

I sure hope this isn't a year of passing the buck and making excuses.......

 

[Alexander]

Uhh....the defense gave the offense 4 straight possesions in the 4th quarter and the offense came up with squat. Zero. Nada.

Judging by what the Giants defense did to Green Bay and New England, I wouldn't damn our offense too much. Certainly, we should have got more points, but heir defense's light was definitely on and literally took over the game.

Meanwhile, our defense couldn't keep their offense out of the endzone with less than a minute to go in the half and also gave up the go-ahead points in the second half.

That too is coming up with squat. Zero.

Sometimes when your offense is having a poor outing a shutout is necessary. Not easy, but championship defenses can do that and make plays when they have to. Just because our defense gave it a good shot, it still wasn't championship, now was it?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Well if you listen to a bunch of players this offseason, FINISHING is the motto for this team.

Whether they can actually go out and do it is another thing, but I believe they know they need to do better in this regard.

 

[Alexander]

Well if you listen to a bunch of players this offseason, FINISHING is the motto for this team.

I don't care for slogans or mottos. To me, if you have to build around those types of things, then you still just don't get it.

Can anyone remember our slogans or mottos in years when we were winning championships?

 

[WoodysGirl]

I don't care for slogans or mottos. To me, if you have to build around those types of things, then you still just don't get it.

Can anyone remember our slogans or mottos in years when we were winning championships?

Motto is my word. My point is many of the interviews I've listened to or read this offseason "finishing" seems to come up constantly. These guys get it. Whether it translates to the field, I don't know.

And truthfully comparing now to past years, with the differences in media coverage, we don't know if they used any slogans or mottos.

 

[dmq]

I blame much of the problems on defese to problems in the secondary. I think we certainly have more depth and quality of depth this season. I think this will make a big difference.

 

[5Stars]

Wow, I never thought of that, Aikman!!

Thanks, Mr. Obvious....

 

[Alexander]

I blame much of the problems on defese to problems in the secondary. I think we certainly have more depth and quality of depth this season. I think this will make a big difference.

It ought to. If it doesn't, then what?

Personally, I believe our secondary was no worse than anyone else's, or at least it shouldn't have been.

Overall, it wasn't consistently bad. It just didn't get the job done at critical moments. I am not sure overhauling it by making it three and four deep at the cornerback position is going to be a cure for that.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It ought to. If it doesn't, then what?

Personally, I believe our secondary was no worse than anyone else's, or at least it shouldn't have been.

Overall, it wasn't consistently bad. It just didn't get the job done at critical moments. I am not sure overhauling it by making it three and four deep at the cornerback position is going to be a cure for that.

It may not be a cure for it... but it can't hurt either.

You look at the moves that were made at corner--

1. Reeves was a goner due to his asking price. He wasn't going to get paid starter-type money. Plus I think his lousy performance in the playoff game cemented his departure. The one negative that Phillips uttered about that game was the TD drive given up before the half-- which Reeves was the chief culprit. Reeves was as good as gone.

2. Nate Jones was just bad. His performance against the Pats punched his ticket for departure.

3. Adam Jones was about "given" to the Cowboys so it was hard to say "no". Plus there was/is no guarantee that he plays this season or stays out of trouble, which necessitated the drafting of the two corners.

I like the moves all the way around. It will be the first time in many years that I won't be scared to death when a team goes 3-wide against this defense.

 

[David276]

there he goes again... first during the cowboys games. now hes just saying it when ever.

 

[dcfanatic]

I thought I had put this interview up the other day, but I can't find it now.

Aikman talks with Brad and Nate

 

[dcfanatic]

I hate using injuries as an excuse for anything.

But...

Look at the areas where we ran into some problems.

The Defense was not dominant at any point last season because they had their two starting CB nursing some injuires at different points all season.

The offense looked a little off at the end of last season because Romo banged up the thumb and T.O. was down with the ankle.

In the playoff game it seemed like Garrett knew Romo's thumb was an issue and we all know T.O. wasn't 100% just yet. To me that is the reason he went to the 'run over the Giants with MBIII' in the first half and hopefully we have a huge lead.

Unfortunately the defense had a few lapses, which had become the norm, during the game. This is a result of them never really being able to find a rhythm during the season because of the mixing and matching of CB's all year.

These little things kind of combined to create a game where it wound up being close and it just didn't go our way.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I thought I had put this interview up the other day, but I can't find it now.

Aikman talks with Brad and Nate

daily zone


http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121625

 

[dcfanatic]

daily zone


http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121625

Oh right. I keep forgetting that you move those to the Daily Zone after a few days.

Which by the way is good work on your part. Better to throw them in there than to just have them float off into never never land.

 

[dogunwo]

There were many games this past season where this offense looked flat-out dominant.

Other than the Jet game, the defense never looked dominant-- and the games were few and far between when the defense actually looked good.

I am dogunwo and I approve this post.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't care for slogans or mottos. To me, if you have to build around those types of things, then you still just don't get it.

Can anyone remember our slogans or mottos in years when we were winning championships?

How Bout Dem Cowboys!

 

[tyke1doe]

And in other news ... water is wet.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

There were many games this past season where this offense looked flat-out dominant.

Other than the Jet game, the defense never looked dominant-- and the games were few and far between when the defense actually looked good.

Funny cause I thought they looked pretty dominate against the Bears, Rams, and in the first Eagles game and they weren't exactly horrible against the Panthers.