Weeden Speaks

[mattjames2010]

Ah true, but you conveniently left out the stats in the 2nd game because they obviously didnt support your argument.

He threw for 200 yards and 2 TD's and also ran in a 3rd TD. Hell of a game for a QB in his 2nd game with the team with no training camp.

So now that we can effectively eliminate Weeden from being the problem, it becomes clear what the problem really is.

Again, in those two games, how many points did the opponent score? Right off the bat in the Titans game, Houston recovered a fumble for a TD. Then Ten fumbles on a punt return, Houston recovers at the 11. They also scored off a turnover in the second half.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/20151...ab=analyze&recap=fullstory&analyze=playbyplay

Weeden had a TON of help in that game. Something that killed our team this year was the lack of turnovers, it's not surprising that even with Weeden at QB, you win the turnover battle and you win football games.

 

[tyke1doe]

Just off the top of my head Denver comes to mind, not only with PManning this year but Tebow as well. Cincy as well. Got to reset your offense for the QB, not vice versa which was evident in our case.

Pittsburgh too with Landry Jones and Michael Vick. And San Francisco (Gabbert after Kap got benched) and Indianapolis (Hasselback subbing for injured Luck) and Houston (Weeden).

 

[Sydla]

Okay, but again, the discussion should be towards the defense of the Houston Texans then. Not, "Weeden started, Weeden won". He played a good game, a game where the Houston Texans nearly shut down the Titans completely.

Around the time Weeden was playing, I give him a bit of an excuse, our defense was getting banged up. I even admitted he played well in the New Orleans game, but we had a scrub of a defensive line that couldn't get to Brees enough while he was injured. The lack of turnovers hurt as well. Even when our offense was scoring, like the Atlanta game, our defense folded.

There were numerous factors as to why our team failed this year, injuries and the lack of turnovers being two of the major factors. I blame Jerry/Stephen and this coaching staff for not providing this team with the proper depth in case of injury.

I simply just don't know of many teams that have lose their starting QB, WR, starting RB, and had a banged up D and went on to win many games in the regular season. The only team similar to ours this year was Ravens, and they also struggled. That's a team with a Super Bowl winning coach and QB.

I blame the coaching staff for more than not providing "proper depth".

They should be blamed for poor coaching as well.

 

[Stash]

Maybe. Thing is, on the takeaways, we've got a guy at DC with a long track record of success with turnovers. And we know the emphasis he puts on it. And then we went out and improved the front fairly dramatically in terms of personnel. So I actually am perplexed we weren't more successful.

I am too, believe me. If nothing else, how after the investments, is the pass rush not markedly better?

Now, some of the lack of takeaways comes from teams being able to out score us easily. Some comes from the teams we played taking care of the ball against everybody. But still, there were a lot of games ther a backup QB would have one with just one more pick or one fewer drop or one untimely penalty. It was bizarre.

Another bizarre fact, how is it that the called-up guys were the only ones who could somehow manage an interception?

 

[LittleD]

I've long since tired of trying to find where Jason Garrett does fit. The Cowboys have tried to juggle things with him since they first made the mistake of hiring him as offensive coordinator. He couldn't handle that, so they gave part of the responsibility to Tony Sparano. Then they wanted to bring in Dan Reeves to help. Then they gave duties to Bill Callahan. Then they brought in Linehan. And then Garrett was going to 'focus on the defense'.

There comes a point when you have to ask yourself - "what exactly does the guy bring to the table?" And other than quoting football axioms made by actual good coaches and preaching about doing the right things, I see little that indicates that he, himself, is or will ever be, a good head coach, or anything else.

We totally agree with each other. Sadly, no real HC with skins on the wall wants to come to Dallas and put up with the Jerry
circus and Jerry meddling. Parcells came to Dallas with Jerry promising him that he could run the show and shop for the groceries and
then Jerry just had to stick it to Parcells and bring in the player "TO" which poisoned the well. Most well recognized and well skilled HC's won't subject themselves to this type of fishbowl. Oh well, maybe after another decade of failure, Stephen will finally take the reins and let
real "football" people do real football business.

 

[Stash]

It is simply amazing how people can't grasp this simple context.

A high quality staff squeezes out more than one fluke win with a backup QB over a 12 game stretch.

Heck, a remotely capable staff does it.

 

[mattjames2010]

And I certainly wouldn't begin to make the case that all of those things weren't huge factors. But like we've both said, there's also the factor of blaming all of the people responsible for having a poor roster behind them. Coaches doing a bad job. Defensive mediocrity and sometime outright collapse, despite getting what you needed. Bad trades for guys who were either poor fits, were coached poorly, or simply never got the chance.

This past season was an epic example of ineptitude and disappointment, and there are plenty of reasons why.

But how much of this is on the coaching staff? Reports are out there that Linehan didn't care for Weeden, but Jones kept him. It seemed Garrett was doing everything in his power to keep Murray a part of the Cowboys as well, but in the end, Stephen and Jerry thought it was better to let him walk.

I'm unsure why we kept a backup QB our offensive coordinator seemed to be unhappy with. The last thing I will do is dog pile on a head coach, mainly because there have been a lot of positives since he has got here. Our drafts have been far better since he stepped in, and despite everything else, a bad call kept us from going to the NFC Championship game last year. I also never saw our players quitting on Garrett like they did with Wade. If we fail in 2016, I certainly agree it's time to start looking for a new HC, but I expect us to be right back in the playoff picture.

 

[Stash]

But how much of this is on the coaching staff? Reports are out there that Linehan didn't care for Weeden, but Jones kept him. It seemed Garrett was doing everything in his power to keep Murray a part of the Cowboys as well, but in the end, Stephen and Jerry thought it was better to let him walk.

If Jerry is forcing players on his coaches, as you're alluding to here, then shame on them for signing long-term contracts under such conditions and essentially selling out. But I don't think that's the case at all.

I'm unsure why we kept a backup QB our offensive coordinator seemed to be unhappy with.

Maybe because it's not true? And again, if he has no say in his own fate, why sign a contract extension to stay? And even if that was true, these are also the guys who thought Matt Cassel could get the job done after Weeden too. Or the guys who wasted all that time in Dustin Vaughan. The fact is that since Garrett's been here, they haven't developed or prepared anybody.

The last thing I will do is dog pile on a head coach, mainly because there have been a lot of positives since he has got here.

I'd be interested to hear what those "lot of positives" are?

Our drafts have been far better since he stepped in, and despite everything else, a bad call kept us from going to the NFC Championship game last year. I also never saw our players quitting on Garrett like they did with Wade. If we fail in 2016, I certainly agree it's time to start looking for a new HC, but I expect us to be right back in the playoff picture.

I'll give you the "don't quit" part, but is that really supposed to be an accomplishment? Is that how low we set the bar? Do we now give out Participation Trophies?

We can certainly agree on the expectations for 2016, and I also expect them to be back in the playoffs. If not, I want Garrett gone, gone, gone, and no amount of excuses will change that for me.

 

[Clarkson]

It's amazing that people here can take something so complex and boil it down to one sentence and everyone thinks they've made a great point. no, this does not mean the offense only works if the QB can freelance. it's like it sounds good and simple in your little head so you go with it. it's much more complicated than that, and Weeden just plain stinks. that's why the offense couldn't get anything going.

 

[RS12]

I'd be interested to hear what those "lot of positives" are?

Nobody can out clap him.

 

[LandryFan]

lol dont bother bro, these people dont and wont ever get it. Madden can be won with the worst QB in the game.

Only with a great coach at the controls...

 

[Clarkson]

this "incompetent" staff was ONE catch-called-no-catch from being in the NFCCG against a team they had already trounced. we have the worst fans.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Again, in those two games, how many points did the opponent score? Right off the bat in the Titans game, Houston recovered a fumble for a TD. Then Ten fumbles on a punt return, Houston recovers at the 11. They also scored off a turnover in the second half.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015122703/2015/REG16/texans@titans#menu=gameinfo|contentId:0ap3000000618729&tab=analyze&recap=fullstory&analyze=playbyplay

Weeden had a TON of help in that game. Something that killed our team this year was the lack of turnovers, it's not surprising that even with Weeden at QB, you win the turnover battle and you win football games.

He definitely had a ton of help. But Weeden certainly wasnt the reason they lost and he played well enough for them to win. So he clearly wasnt the issue in Houston and was doing his job. Its not his fault he didnt have to make some miraculous comeback.

 

[daveferr33]

So when Romo stepped in he was stuck with the Bledsoe offense.
OR
Did the coaches make quick adjustments for the Romo style.
OR
Did Romo freelance.

Different coaching staff. One led by a coach who won the Super Bowl with his backup qb.

 

[Alexander]

Another bizarre fact, how is it that the called-up guys were the only ones who could somehow manage an interception?

The theory I have is that did not know any better, more than likely. They were taking chances, something that our other DBs simply were not doing. They were also desperate to make their mark and get a job.

It just seems that after the Romo injury, everything went full conservative. The offense went into a shell, the defense was devoting all of its energy on not giving up explosive plays. If you do not play loose and are all tensed up, it is going to result in less playmaking.

 

[gimmesix]

"I don't really think so. Obviously Tony has the ability to change plays, get into whatever play he's comfortable with, and he's got a great system that he goes by and he's great at it. I think more than anything is just putting the gameplan together. I hadn't really played many games with Scott Linehan. It's got to be hard for him, it's got to be hard for the offensive staff to put together a plan with a backup quarterback for one, but you haven't really called plays with. The things that Tony did, as a backup guy you can't really go out there and kind of emulate it and do the same things. He has full freedom at the line of scrimmage, those kind of things, and he's been in this system for a long time. As comfortable as I was in it, I just didn't really have those freedoms to freelance like he does."

I think the freedom to freelance is something that has to be earned. What had Weeden shown in his year-plus in Dallas to make anyone think the key to him playing great here is being able to freelance?

Of course, I was ready to cut him after 2014 so I'm a little biased in that regard.

I do agree with Weeden that playing a backup is hard on the offensive coordinators. You're limited in your play-calling by what those quarterbacks are able to do and understand.

 

[CowboyRoy]

If Jerry is forcing players on his coaches, as you're alluding to here, then shame on them for signing long-term contracts under such conditions and essentially selling out. But I don't think that's the case at all.

Maybe because it's not true? And again, if he has no say in his own fate, why sign a contract extension to stay? And even if that was true, these are also the guys who thought Matt Cassel could get the job done after Weeden too. Or the guys who wasted all that time in Dustin Vaughan. The fact is that since Garrett's been here, they haven't developed or prepared anybody.



I'd be interested to hear what those "lot of positives" are?



I'll give you the "don't quit" part, but is that really supposed to be an accomplishment? Is that how low we set the bar? Do we now give out Participation Trophies?

We can certainly agree on the expectations for 2016, and I also expect them to be back in the playoffs. If not, I want Garrett gone, gone, gone, and no amount of excuses will change that for me.

Cmon, you want him gone now. Certainly you dont have to wait another year. And if we are 1-11 without Romo and then 12-4 with him AGAIN!!! then that will be even more evidence that Garrett does nothing here. So what we be with a real head coach 14-2, 15-1?

But I can tell you for certain that there is no way we are going 12-4 with McFadden the lead back in this offense unless we get more stud backs in here.

 

[CowboyRoy]

this "incompetent" staff was ONE catch-called-no-catch from being in the NFCCG against a team they had already trounced. we have the worst fans.

You mean with Romo. This staff was 1-11 and one loss away from the worst team in football without Romo. Doe any of this register?

 

[mattjames2010]

If Jerry is forcing players on his coaches, as you're alluding to here, then shame on them for signing long-term contracts under such conditions and essentially selling out. But I don't think that's the case at all.

Maybe because it's not true? And again, if he has no say in his own fate, why sign a contract extension to stay? And even if that was true, these are also the guys who thought Matt Cassel could get the job done after Weeden too. Or the guys who wasted all that time in Dustin Vaughan. The fact is that since Garrett's been here, they haven't developed or prepared anybody.



I'd be interested to hear what those "lot of positives" are?



I'll give you the "don't quit" part, but is that really supposed to be an accomplishment? Is that how low we set the bar? Do we now give out Participation Trophies?

We can certainly agree on the expectations for 2016, and I also expect them to be back in the playoffs. If not, I want Garrett gone, gone, gone, and no amount of excuses will change that for me.

There was an article posted here not long ago detailing Linehan's thoughts on Weeden. He soured on Weeden after the 2014 season. As for Matt Cassel, what other backup QB do you think would have come in and performed better?

I'll give you the "don't quit" part, but is that really supposed to be an accomplishment? Is that how low we set the bar? Do we now give out Participation Trophies?

In year with a pile of injuries at key positions, yes?

and I also expect them to be back in the playoffs

Then I'm not entirely sure what all the fuss is about. Just a bizarre season with a lot of unfortunate circumstances.

 

[Stash]

The theory I have is that did not know any better, more than likely. They were taking chances, something that our other DBs simply were not doing. They were also desperate to make their mark and get a job.

Hopefully, we'll be able to coach such 'reckless behavior' out if them.

It just seems that after the Romo injury, everything went full conservative.

I saw that when Weeden was out there, the guy with the strong arm, but then when Cassel came in - who's arm looks shot - he's launching ducks downfield that looked like punts! I saw little rhyme or reason.

The offense went into a shell, the defense was devoting all of its energy on not giving up explosive plays. If you do not play loose and are all tensed up, it is going to result in less playmaking.

I saw coaches who failed to use any of the resources that they had. Marinelli finally gets just what he wanted for the defense, and proceeds to completely underachieve. The one game he looked to have a plan for - against Washington - the team actually pulled out a win! But after that, it was back to business as usual, with the same results.

If nothing else, this team should have gotten more sacks.