Future;2571825 said:
We were down to like our 4th string safety...and yet played better. Something changed on that defense that didn't change on offense, regardless of injuries.
Our offense that last two or three weeks still had the talent to play with anybody. Kosier was the only injury that really hurt us because we still got a ton of production from Choice.
Normally, I think injuries are a very valid excuse for teams. Had the Pats only gone 8-8 or something, you could point squarely to Brady being out. We went 1-1 without Romo and the loss was to a team in Stl that some colleges could compete with.
This team lacked confidence, swagger, comfort and a killer instinct. Every player in the league should have that. We have all the talent, but none of that stuff.
Only injury that hurt us???
ROFL. WOW!
Witten, Romo and Barber were technically playing but they were moving around like 80 year olds and they were hardly playing good enough to play with anyone.
Choice got yardage but how many TDs did he score, how many short yardage first downs he pick up? Was he anything like Barber in those roles?
When he did show great vision to get to the edges did he ever flash that Felix big play ability?
We have to be honest with ourselves.
We had short-comings on this team aside from talent but the talent we had playing and at the health it was at was far from great and far from being able to compete with anybody.
BTW, that safety depth bit us badly on those two Ravens plays and against the Eagles. We tricked up the defense to get so much pressure QBs seldom beat us deep but we were never squared up that safety spot at all. It was a huge liability with Watkins versus the runs, with Keith Davis versus the pass and Tra Battle was a street free agent who excelled in neither area. But health everywhere else made it easier to cover some of those situations. On offense Romo was too hurt to carry us, Witten was too hurt to get his usual big plays, the OL was missing its main play caller and best on the move player plus for a few weeks Flo was injured and was just a turnstile.
I do think a more veteran play caller would have better adjusted and I'd have liked to see us acquire a running back once Barber was injured but that is all just second guessing at this stage.
I will say this: I do not expect a single backup player who filled in for injury purposes(except Orlando Scandrick) to start for us next year. Choice is immediately 3rd string and back on special teams or being inactive some games. Cory Proctor may not even be in Dallas much less a starter, Even if Holland ios back I suspect Dallas keeps Kosier because he was so integral to the play calls and blitz pick ups. He was the smaller technique guy on a line of behemoths.
We don't have anyone like Cassel in NE where are going to franchise some backup who stepped up. Our backups were just scrubs and it showed aside from the draft picks and Kevin Burnett who is a very solid nickel backer that can't seem to stay healthy probably because he is so friggin small for the position.
