Watkins: Cowboys are in rebuilding mode

[percyhoward]

I would hope not.

It's not something I'd hope for either. I could easily see it happening though.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That is true and things can change, however as of tonight this team is worse, not better.

I really don't see where that matters one bit.

 

[peplaw06]

How many teams have had back to back franchise QBs? How many teams have had 3 consecutive franchise QBs?

I'll be very interested in your response.

Well, since the term "franchise QB" is so subjective, I'm not going to limit myself to that.

Patriots, Packers, 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers... those teams know how to get a QB and put the right players around them in the right system to be successful. But it's really more about the people around the league who know how to do that, because they're always moving from place to place. Andy Reid has been successful with multiple QBs, in Philly and now in KC. Holmgren did it with Favre and Hasselbeck. Jon Gruden was successful with Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson with two different franchises. Jim Harbaugh successful with Smith and Kaepernick. Sean Payton found our QB and has what has been a revolutionary system around Drew Brees.

Jerry Jones had Aikman fall in his lap when he bought the team, and after Aikman left it was an embarrassment until Romo surfaced... after surviving roster cuts because Jerry's beloved QBong couldn't stay off the reefer long enough to make it through camp in 2004. If he hadn't been forced to cut Carter, I have no doubt we would still be searching for a QB.

 

[Coy]

I'm with, just saying everyone is turning Romo into the old Kenny Stabler.

I agree, although I am little nervous because of the surgery, I think Tony is a heck of a QB and he will have a great year (like he had in 2013), unfortunately I do not trust this Defense and my confidence level on JG is exactly 0, so I really see a 5 or 6 win season.
Hope I'm wrong.

 

[jnday]

The three year rebuild that Garrett promised when he became head coach is not working out so well. For the Garrett supporters, this is another strike against him. Is there any one area that has improved during his stint as HC? The oline is still at least two players away from being fixed. That is the most success he has had with his rebuild. Other areas of the team has declined to historic lows. I think the entire defense is the best example of this decline. I remember the debates that took place with some posters saying Garrett would have most of the rebuild competed within two years. This all depends on Garrett having the ability or authority to actually make any decisions on acquiring the players needed. I don't think Jerry listens to Garrett anymore than he listens to anybody else when it comes to personnel decisions. If the last three years have been a rebuild, it has been a failure.

 

[Fletch]

The three year rebuild that Garrett promised when he became head coach is not working out so well. For the Garrett supporters, this is another strike against him. Is there any one area that has improved during his stint as HC? The oline is still at least two players away from being fixed. That is the most success he has had with his rebuild. Other areas of the team has declined to historic lows. I think the entire defense is the best example of this decline. I remember the debates that took place with some posters saying Garrett would have most of the rebuild competed within two years. This all depends on Garrett having the ability or authority to actually make any decisions on acquiring the players needed. I don't think Jerry listens to Garrett anymore than he listens to anybody else when it comes to personnel decisions. If the last three years have been a rebuild, it has been a failure.

Jason did not fail on defense. When you lose two key components from the get-go (Spencer and Ratliff) then promptly lose rotational-depth in Ben Bass and Tyrone Crawford, then this is what you get. We got decimated with injuries on that side of the ball.

 

[jnday]

Jason did not fail on defense. When you lose two key components from the get-go (Spencer and Ratliff) then promptly lose rotational-depth in Ben Bass and Tyrone Crawford, then this is what you get. We got decimated with injuries on that side of the ball.

Ratliff shouldn't have been a player they depended on anyway. He hasn't been dependable for the last few years. Crawford wasn't proven depth. I can understand the team having some hope that he might could develop into a solid backup, but he had done nothing to cause the team to put a great deal of faith in him. Bass is a different matter. Has this guy even played in a regular season game? He looked good in training camp , but he was less of a proven player than Crawford was. If it wasn't Garrett that put all the defensive hopes in these players, who was it? Whoever came up with the plan should accept responsibility, because it was a poor one based on hope and unproven players.

 

[mmillman]

Yep! and 1 playoff win in 17 years prove it.

You mean you rebuild by overpaying Romo?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Jason did not fail on defense. When you lose two key components from the get-go (Spencer and Ratliff) then promptly lose rotational-depth in Ben Bass and Tyrone Crawford, then this is what you get. We got decimated with injuries on that side of the ball.

True but that ruins a lot of agendas.

 

[Coy]

Jason did not fail on defense. When you lose two key components from the get-go (Spencer and Ratliff) then promptly lose rotational-depth in Ben Bass and Tyrone Crawford, then this is what you get. We got decimated with injuries on that side of the ball.

True, he only failed the offense and of course the game management part of the game.

 

[Galian Beast]

Well, since the term "franchise QB" is so subjective, I'm not going to limit myself to that.

Patriots, Packers, 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers... those teams know how to get a QB and put the right players around them in the right system to be successful. But it's really more about the people around the league who know how to do that, because they're always moving from place to place. Andy Reid has been successful with multiple QBs, in Philly and now in KC. Holmgren did it with Favre and Hasselbeck. Jon Gruden was successful with Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson with two different franchises. Jim Harbaugh successful with Smith and Kaepernick. Sean Payton found our QB and has what has been a revolutionary system around Drew Brees.

Jerry Jones had Aikman fall in his lap when he bought the team, and after Aikman left it was an embarrassment until Romo surfaced... after surviving roster cuts because Jerry's beloved QBong couldn't stay off the reefer long enough to make it through camp in 2004. If he hadn't been forced to cut Carter, I have no doubt we would still be searching for a QB.

The 49ers got Kaepernick, and before then they had a QB carousel, so did the Seahawks. The Broncos also had a qb carousel before they signed Peyton Manning in free agency, certainly not a groundbreaking decision. Smith was vastly seen as a bust btw.

Even if we took all the teams and players you tried to push here, it still wouldn't be plenty.

 

[ufcrules1]

I still dont buy it, if this was a rebuild, bring in a new HC, and than let the rebuilding begin. you cant have a rebuild with a lame duck coach.

This is a give up year, next year we will get a top 10 or top 5 draft pick and a whole new coaching staff.

 

[Alexander]

This is a give up year, next year we will get a top 10 or top 5 draft pick and a whole new coaching staff.

It is not in Jones' nature to give up. In fact, I think he badly desires that Garrett is successful. But he is not willing to put that hope into a tangible form by extending him. He is basically going to cross his fingers.

 

[Risen Star]

Jason did not fail on defense. When you lose two key components from the get-go (Spencer and Ratliff) then promptly lose rotational-depth in Ben Bass and Tyrone Crawford, then this is what you get. We got decimated with injuries on that side of the ball.

I don't think anyone would disagree that when you lose a Ben Bass there are serious repercussions.

 

[ufcrules1]

It is not in Jones' nature to give up. In fact, I think he badly desires that Garrett is successful. But he is not willing to put that hope into a tangible form by extending him. He is basically going to cross his fingers.

You are right about Jerry but It wasn't in Jones nature to let Ware walk either but he did it. Maybe he is starting to turn a corner?

 

[ufcrules1]

I don't think anyone would disagree that when you lose a Ben Bass there are serious repercussions.

lol...He might not catch the sarcasm.

 

[Alexander]

You are right about Jerry but It wasn't in Jones nature to let Ware walk either but he did it. Maybe he is starting to turn a corner?

If he is, not very sharply.

 

[NextGenBoys]

This is the wrong time to rebuild. Rebuilding should have started before Romo's contract extension. At that point, at least they could have traded Romo for some draft picks. Now they are stuck with a QB that has a huge contract and there is no way to get rid of him without a big salary cap hit. Bad management at it's best.

That's what happens when an owner cares more about selling tickets than actually winning games.

 

[peplaw06]

The 49ers got Kaepernick, and before then they had a QB carousel, so did the Seahawks. The Broncos also had a qb carousel before they signed Peyton Manning in free agency, certainly not a groundbreaking decision. Smith was vastly seen as a bust btw.

Even if we took all the teams and players you tried to push here, it still wouldn't be plenty.

Jim Harbaugh had Alex Smith playing the best football of his career before he got injured and then Kaepernick took the league by storm.

The Seahawks were successful with Matt Hasselbeck for years until he got injured, then they had one year where they started Tavaris Jackson, but then they went and got Russell Wilson the same year they signed Matt Flynn. They probably would have even turned Flynn into a winner. And you call that a "QB carousel?" Please.

The Broncos went to the playoffs and won a game with Tim Tebow for chrissakes. I wasn't just talking about Manning. Before Tebow, they were about as successful with Jay Cutler as the Cowboys have been with Romo. And Jake Plummer got them to the playoffs a couple of times.

And Alex Smith -- whom you pointed out was previously labeled as a "bust" -- has been made successful by guys not named Mike Singletary (Harbaugh and Andy Reid).

Yeah, there are plenty of guys around the league who know how to choose QBs and make them successful.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I do not see how any juan can say it is not a rebuilding year for the D.
Third worst defense in Cowboys history? Or was it third-worst in the NFL?
We half at least two veterans already gone and a third one probably being toltd to take a cut in pay or join his brothers in FA. And the secondary is a real problem. A real probleM with the capital M!

This is a serious rebuilding year for the D. To say otherwise is foolhearty and ignoring the realities of how bad we are at the D.

And, mein Forum brothers, it is not too early to say that next year or maybe sooner, the clamor will begin for a rebuilding of the O. Witten, Romo and then McMurray will be getting long in the hoof and then it starts over agin.

At that point, we will half Dez to build around and if he retires as a Cowboy he might be the best WR who never reached the playoffs much less Super Bowl.