We knew ROT was a problem as far back as last year..

[Redball Express]

..but BP and crew didn't do anything to shore the position up and as a result..

..our offense is now hostage to essentially a 6th Rd rookie and a FA backup playing both OT positions.

We really knew that once the draft and FA passed without a major acquisition for RT..we were in trouble.

That's what has happened.

Just like CB was an Achilles' Heel for the defense last year when Mario Edwards left in FA and we tried to play Hunter instead of drafting or signing a CB, it killed us. Hunter got hurt and we paid the price.

Here we go again..

RT not being addressed in the off-season after Tucker bombed last year and instead relying on Rodgers who bombed..then Pettiti and Tucker to come thru and now Flo injured and out..

..has imploded the offense and crippled the whole second half of the season.

BP has made very good decisions with personnel this year..but it seems to be a pattern where he decides he is going to take an inferior player at a crucial position and just coach him up and thinks he'll win that way.

We had ample opportunity to either draft a good OT in the draft or sign one in FA and most of our problems at the position would have been greatly reduced.

But it didn't happen.

That decision not to do it stands to jeopardize our whole season now.

I shake my head about this all. We didn't have to go this route with our OT's but we did.

What a shame..really.

When I see the OL struggling like this and see the offense having to play with half a deck in games because we can't run block to the outside nor pass block on the edges well...

..I just shake my head.

Why didn't BP this year fix the OT problems like he went about fixing the DB problems in the off-season..?

And once we signed Bledsoe..with his lack of mobility, why didn't a red light flash in the coaches office that OT was going to need to be fixed with more than just a guy like Rodgers..?

So often..it's the decisions you don't make, even more than the ones you do make..

..that is the difference in succeeding or not.

parcellswaterboy

 

[Fletch]

Preaching to the choir is all I have to say. The entire OL sucked as a whole parcellswaterboy!

Now get me some water!

 

[thewivil]

I agree with everything you said.

I was just amazed how many Broncos players were in our backfield by the time our running backs got the ball or Bledsoe dropped back. Our O-line couldn't stop a class of first graders on their way to recess.

 

[Asklesko]

Well, I guess it was just one of those "let's all pick our noses and wait to see if anybody will step up" approaches, kinda like the entire 2004 offseason.

 

[Redball Express]

Well, I guess it was just one of those "let's all pick our noses and wait to see if anybody will step up" approaches, kinda like the entire 2004 offseason.

I understand it's pretty difficult to fill every position of need in one season..

and calculated risks have to occur at some positions when you don't have the cap or you think some player is on the verge of having a break-thru season.

Therefore, we have to work with things as they are..

But we've had cap left over for each year in 2004 and now 2005 and we squander it on guys like Eddie George and now Peerless Price..

..and the ROT spot has been unsettled now for all 3 years that BP has been here, starting with that guy BP brought in in '03 and he blew up after 5 games with his bad knees..what was his name..?

I forgot.

But it's been one of those positions that after 3 years now..is not improved at all. Neither money, nor draft picks nor FA players have been used to correct the flaw.

And now 3 years later, it's really a major oversight.

And especially, when this team is built for a very narrow window of opportunity to win with all these aging vets like Bledsoe, The Glenns, Key, Rivera, Jason Ferguson, Ellis and Glover..

..not getting a solid ROT just seems ludicrious.

Whatever.

Carping about it isn't going to do anything right now.

But I can see where this season is in serious jeopardy right now because of it.

Somebody just got a little too stubborn to listen to the critics last year and in the off-season to go ahead and do something proactive at ROT.

And I'm sure it wasn't Jerry Jones. He's been willing to spend and go out and get players when needed.

Just look at Peerless Price. $2mil a year for basically a punt returner.

Price and stocking the WR cupboard was a luxury.

Failing to shake the empty OT boxes in the cupboard to see if we were out of OT help was a big oversight.

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The fact is you couldn't fix all the problems this team had last season in one year. While I detest some of these losses quite frankly we should be grateful for 7-4 compared to what we had last season.

 

[Redball Express]

Preaching to the choir is all I have to say. The entire OL sucked as a whole parcellswaterboy!

Now get me some water!

Ok..but I'm taking my water with a shot of scotch after last night's game.

Losing 4 games now by a total of what..10 points..?

This is getting hard to take. I'll bet the team is going to have a problem getting over this one, as much as they prepared and focused on this game as their must-win game..

..which clearly it was.

I'm sure this team is feeling a monkey on it's back now about not being able to win in big games against good teams like Seattle and now Denver.

They've competed well, but they are probably beginning to sense they don't have it yet.

Not able play with the big boys and win it.

I think at this point, we may have a team that's wounded and may really struggle to finish in December.

Oh, may I get you that water..? Do you like it on the rocks or with a twist..?

Hahahaaa..!!

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

 

[Natedawg44]

What has Spears done so far to justify his draft status. And before you say 3-4 ends aren't noticed in that style of defense. Why was Canty's name being called so often. Maybe we would have been better off drafting a tackle like Kalif Barnes

 

[Cbz40]

Ok..but I'm taking my water with a shot of scotch after last night's game.

Losing 4 games now by a total of what..10 points..?

This is getting hard to take. I'll bet the team is going to have a problem getting over this one, as much as they prepared and focused on this game as their must-win game..

..which clearly it was.

I'm sure this team is feeling a monkey on it's back now about not being able to win in big games against good teams like Seattle and now Denver.

They've competed well, but they are probably beginning to sense they don't have it yet.

Not able play with the big boys and win it.

I think at this point, we may have a team that's wounded and may really struggle to finish in December.

Oh, may I get you that water..? Do you like it on the rocks or with a twist..?

Hahahaaa..!!

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

I have to disagree......This team still has a few holes to fill, they may have missed opportunities to win, and they may not know how to put people away but I haven't seen any quit in this team and I don't think we will.

 

[4lifecowboy]

I have to disagree......This team still has a few holes to fill, they may have missed opportunities to win, and they may not know how to put people away but I haven't seen any quit in this team and I don't think we will.

Best anlogy in this thread so far. I approach this season hoping to see some improvement over last year's team, and thus far these guys have exceeded my expectations. Stop for a minute and look where we are, did anyone really expect use to be Super Bowl contenders after last year? We are. We have a very young team, still learning to win. The positive way to look at is look at how good we are with some key pieces still missing. We are on the upswing and it can only get better in the years to come.

 

[Redball Express]

I have to disagree......This team still has a few holes to fill, they may have missed opportunities to win, and they may not know how to put people away but I haven't seen any quit in this team and I don't think we will.

And I'm not saying they will.

I'm just saying they have painted themselves into a corner with their failures to take advantage when good teams would and that has a tendency to erode confidence over a season like the one Dallas is playing.

They constantly fall behind the good teams early in games and let them control the pace and they end up having to play flwless football in the 4th Qt. to win.

That's a recipe for losing.

Until the team learns to come out of the tunnel breathing fire and takes control of games early..these close games are going to end up sinking our season.

BP style of play and wanting to play low-risk football is the main reason we are in these situations at the end.

Other teams come out from the first play and just throw the kitchen sink at us to get a lead. We usually spend the first 2 or 3 series trying to establish the running game, usually without much early success and every team knows this and certainly knows our conservative playcalling is going to spot them an opportunity to get an early lead if they can play with urgency.

In all the loses we've had, except the Commanders game, the other team jumped out to 7-14 points early in the game and set the tempo.

If we don't start forcing the other teams to have to play from behind, like we've had to struggle with all year..

..it's just going to be hard to get to 10-6 or better IMO.

Other teams, also in the hunt for the playioffs as we play in December, are not just going to allow us to ram the ball down their throats running it 30+ carries.

Turning Bledsoe loose and the offense loose and getting the offense on track right from the start is what's needed now.

The running game and the OL is not going to come to the teams rescue in time to support this team enough to make the playoffs.

IMO. They are just too flawed and injured. A change in tactics has to be found.

Bledsoe and the WR's and an aggressive playcalling philosophy and the hopefully improving defense are going to have to carry December.

Which is where I thought things would end up anyway, at some point.

In the NFL, if you're going to win, you've got to put it into the handes of the QB and let him do it or not. We've made Bledsoe be a busdriver long enough.

Win, lose or draw, he's got to be handed the offense, with it's flaws and problems and allowed to get it done.

We can't hide our weaknesses anymore. We've been exposed. No running game and overly conservative playcalling.

Continue that, and we're in definite trouble for the rest of the season.

This is exactly what happened in 2003. We started out great, teams figured out our weakness and exploited them and as the season wore on, we got more and more conservative and less and less aggressive and it ended with a whimper against Carolina.

I understood it in 2003 with Quincy at QB.

I will not understand that happening again in 2005 with Bledsoe at QB.

No way. We have the weapons. We have to use them now.

Sean Payton and BP are going to have to depart from their present offensive mindset given the circumstances or it's going to get very hard from here on out.

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

 

[Ken]

I think RT was the least of our worries yesterday. As was LT. Bledsoe was sacked once.

What do you expect?

 

[Cbz40]

And I'm not saying they will.

I'm just saying they have painted themselves into a corner with their failures to take advantage when good teams would and that has a tendency to erode confidence over a season like the one Dallas is playing.

They constantly fall behind the good teams early in games and let them control the pace and they end up having to play flwless football in the 4th Qt. to win.

That's a recipe for losing.

Until the team learns to come out of the tunnel breathing fire and takes control of games early..these close games are going to end up sinking our season.

BP style of play and wanting to play low-risk football is the main reason we are in these situations at the end.

Other teams come out from the first play and just throw the kitchen sink at us to get a lead. We usually spend the first 2 or 3 series trying to establish the running game, usually without much early success and every team knows this and certainly knows our conservative playcalling is going to spot them an opportunity to get an early lead if they can play with urgency.

In all the loses we've had, except the Commanders game, the other team jumped out to 7-14 points early in the game and set the tempo.

If we don't start forcing the other teams to have to play from behind, like we've had to struggle with all year..

..it's just going to be hard to get to 10-6 or better IMO.

Other teams, also in the hunt for the playioffs as we play in December, are not just going to allow us to ram the ball down their throats running it 30+ carries.

Turning Bledsoe loose and the offense loose and getting the offense on track right from the start is what's needed now.

The running game and the OL is not going to come to the rescue IMO. They are too flawed and injured.

Bledsoe and the WR's and an aggressive playcalling philosophy and the hopefully improving on defense are going to have to carry December.

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

Now you're talking........I can't say I disagree with any of the above in fact I'm all for it. We simply do not have the OL, Running Game, or Kicker too play the 3yds and a cloud of dust type game. Combine the attack philosophy and the no quit attitude you have a recipe to make the playoffs.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Best anlogy in this thread so far. I approach this season hoping to see some improvement over last year's team, and thus far these guys have exceeded my expectations. Stop for a minute and look where we are, did anyone really expect use to be Super Bowl contenders after last year? We are. We have a very young team, still learning to win. The positive way to look at is look at how good we are with some key pieces still missing. We are on the upswing and it can only get better in the years to come.

Exactly. Did anyone really think this team was better than 10 wins this season? If you try and put it in perspective then four losses by less than 13 points is pretty dang good!

 

[Ashwynn]

Rome wasn't built in a day. Your choices were built a good D or build a good O line. Bill chose the D hoping to patchwork together something effective on the O line. Next year we will use FAy and Draft to retool the O line.

I like Petteti and thin he will be fine. When we get a few more studs in there and can move some of the starters to reserve rolls, we will be ok on O line. But that requi4res 1 off season. SO you gotta finish out this season with what you got on hand today.

 

[Redball Express]

Exactly. Did anyone really think this team was better than 10 wins this season? If you try and put it in perspective then four losses by less than 13 points is pretty dang good!

But the problem is that I think this team is built for a window of about 2 years max to win or then it's going to have to rebuild again in some vital areas.

QB, WR and headcoach.

I don't think BP is going to stay past '06.

Neither will Bledsoe..not if they don't make a SB run over that time. Neither will Key or Terry Glenn and probably Allen or Rivera, Glover or Ellis or Aaron Glenn and guys Like Dan Campbell.

While I like the idea that we should be happy with improvement and banking on the future being so bright, I don't think the guys I've mentioned above would see it that way.

They know it's now or never for them in their careers and once we start having to replace those parts, we'll be back to being a 6-10 team again while the rebuilding goes on.

I say this year and next is critical mass for this team as we have to do it now if possible. Next year has a funny way of not always being better in the NFL.

You just can't depend on it.

That's just my opinion.

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

 

[crucOG21]

we can only upgrade so many things during one offseason. dont jump the gun so fast give parcells some time and im sure he will upgrade the oline.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

But the problem is that I think this team is built for a window of about 2 years max to win or then it's going to have to rebuild again in some vital areas.

QB, WR and headcoach.

I don't think BP is going to stay past '06.

Neither will Bledsoe..not if they don't make a SB run over that time. Neither will Key or Terry Glenn and probably Allen or Rivera, Glover or Ellis or Aaron Glenn and guys Like Dan Campbell.

While I like the idea that we should be happy with improvement and banking on the future being so bright, I don't think the guys I've mentioned above would see it that way.

They know it's now or never for them in their careers and once we start having to replace those parts, we'll be back to being a 6-10 team again while the rebuilding goes on.

I say this year and next is critical mass for this team as we have to do it now if possible. Next year has a funny way of not always being better in the NFL.

You just can't depend on it.

That's just my opinion.

We'll see.

parcellswaterboy

I see your point PWB.

When it comes right down to it all we can do is hope that things fall into place this season starting next Sunday.

The positive is I think this offense will get better before it gets any worse. ray2:

 

[dbair1967]

At some point you have to coach up what you have. And it wasnt like Parcells and co did nothing, they really felt Jacob Rogers would be the teams starting RT, and it wasnt until TC that he got hurt again...they had to upgrade the talent on defense via the draft, but did draft Petitti in the 6th rd...its also not Parcells or Jones fault that Adams blew out his knee (hey but wait folks, many of you complaining now are the SAME people who said Tucker for Adams was a GOOD thing)

Last yr San Diego fielded an OL that started a couple of rookies and only one guy drafted as high as the 2nd rd, that OL was responsible for oen of the leagues most potent offenses because the OL was EXTREMELY well coached by an OL coach who coached here for yrs, and became available for hire again after the season...Parcells chose to go with TE coach Tony Sporano...in 1992 our super bowl "dominant" OL featured a LT who was drafted late as a DL, a free agent guard that had already been dumped by one NFL team and played in the USFL, a guard we traded a few bags of peanuts to get (late rd pick) and two 3rd rd picks (one of which was in his first yr as a starter), yet Tony Wise coached those guys up...in 1993 we used 3 different starting centers and won the super bowl...in 1995 we used two different starting centers, the latter of which we signed off the street late in the season yet we won a championship

This OL is VERY poorly coached...they have NOT gotten better as the yr wore on, they have gotten worse, far worse...thats coaching people

David

 

[BARRYRAY]

I say its time to see the backups, Petitti has had his chances...