CFZ What if the core of this team just isn't that great?

[kskboys]

did u not watch the game? The tackling and coverage? Nonetheless, yeah we were overwhelmed, and we made business decisions. Both things were glaringly evident.

I did. We never stopped trying, they were just that much more talented than us. Our undersized back 7 was completely overwhelmed. Pollard ran hard as did the WR's. OL did a good job blocking.

I didn't see any evidence showing lack of effort.

 

[Fmart322]

The core of this team is very talented. Unfortunately they aren't coached well and have Jerry getting in the way of things.
If Jerry disappeared overnight with no memory of him things would be so much different. If we had a solid HC who held these players accountable they could win championships.
Sadly we don't, so we won't.

 

[baltcowboy]

To me, it's more that we have glaring weaknesses that rob these guys of the ability to play at a top level. Can you imagine Parsons if we had a DT who required double teams and who made the QB leave the pocket? Can you imagine how good Tyler and Zack could be w/ a RB like Jacobs who was throught he LOS in a flash?

We simply take aim at the wrong positions. Why? Because Jerry sees all of this through the eyes of a fan. To him, it's all about WR's and CB's and TE's. He simply doesn't see things such as Musgrave being wide open because we had to commit too many players to stopping the run. He doesn't understand that Parsons is less effective because other teams just block him to the outside while the QB steps up into a clean pocket. He doesn't see that a CB often gets beat because the Qb had too much time to throw, and no one can cover forever. He doesn't even comprehend why we were so much better w/ Fredsy than Bada z z.

Jerry needs to start asking himself "WHY". At present, he has no clue why we lost. And for a GM, that's simply unacceptable.

The Cowboys have more then enough skill players on offense and defense.

 

[Bobhaze]

The core of this team is very talented. Unfortunately they aren't coached well and have Jerry getting in the way of things.
If Jerry disappeared overnight with no memory of him things would be so much different. If we had a solid HC who held these players accountable they could win championships.
Sadly we don't, so we won't.

I don’t necessarily disagree. But since our last SB, we‘ve had 6 different head coaches, 8 different OCs, 8 different DCs, multiple scheme changes on both sides of the ball…and the same GM for all of it.

Is changing HCs again going to make a huge difference if nothing else changes in the way this organization operates? This isn’t a recent problem. This is a decades long problem that just another HC change alone will not solve.

 

[kskboys]

The Cowboys have more then enough skill players on offense and defense.

We do. And far from enough in the other positions.

 

[Cmac]

Guys like Ceedee, Tyler Smith and Diggs would be worth salvaging. Dak I'm sorry is a core player but brings you the least upside value from that list. Parsons is young but absolutely misused in the defense. Personally he would make a good trade to get draft picks that can help bolster the defensive line.

.....sounds like the excuses are limited to certain players.

 

[Rayman70]

I did. We never stopped trying, they were just that much more talented than us. Our undersized back 7 was completely overwhelmed. Pollard ran hard as did the WR's. OL did a good job blocking.

I didn't see any evidence showing lack of effort.

defensively we were terribly overmatched and not very talented. Not NFL caliber. Now, how much of that was DQ and his bizarre plan? We may never know. Here is what I do know. This is still tackle football and we didnt,wouldnt, couldn't...and business decisions were made. How can u be THAT overmatched (yes we were overmatched but damn)with a 9-8 team that struggled all year just to skate into the post season? Thats why I cant buy it as far as GB being that much better. We are soft. Its mental,its physical, and its the coaching. We need sweeping changes.

 

[kskboys]

defensively we were terribly overmatched and not very talented. Not NFL caliber. Now, how much of that was DQ and his bizarre plan? We may never know. Here is what I do know. This is still tackle football and we didnt,wouldnt, couldn't...and business decisions were made. How can u be THAT overmatched (yes we were overmatched but damn)with a 9-8 team that struggled all year just to skate into the post season? Thats why I cant buy it as far as GB being that much better. We are soft. Its mental,its physical, and its the coaching. We need sweeping changes.

Undersized. Add in that we had S's playing LB. Not mental, physical.

We do need sweeping changes!!!

 

[kwcool619]

To me (my personal opinion), from a mental and psychological aspect, the core players have been overvalued and overrated for years It is not enough to have the physical skills and tools. I wonder what does our Front Office do and are doing NOW? Who's doing an honest evaluation of this team and coaches? Does Jerry and the rest of the Jones family, the FO (I'll give McClay a break), and their inner circle understand that the current organization's culture and structure is terrible and doesn't contribute to real success? Changing players and coaches will not matter if conditions remain the same.

 

[Blackrain]

ARI, BUFF, SF. We just ignored those games.

Yep it was like we played the commanders in the last game of the season a team with absolutely no reason to win and thought we had the world by the behind.

But in actuality we were what we were a team with no running game that couldn't stop the run.

Kind of a one-trick pony counting on lesser teams and a perfect storm to win

 

[Rockport]

One of the hard parts of losing in the manner the Cowboys did Sunday is the very real possibility that what was considered the strong core of this team is probably incapable (as currently constituted) to compete seriously for a championship. And the evidence is clear- they can’t win big playoff games against the best teams in the league. That’s not an opinion. That’s based on this team’s playoff record WITH this core.

What is the core of this team? It‘s the guys this FO believes are the best players we have. The guys we would never trade or cut because of their value to the team. Here is that core:

• Dak Prescott (8 yr vet- 2-5 playoff record)
• Micah Parsons (3 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Cedee Lamb (4 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Zack Martin (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyron Smith (14 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• DeMarcus Law (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyler Smith (2 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Trevon Diggs (5 yr vet)

So having all these talented players on this roster, some of which are very highly paid or are about to get bigger paydays, has amounted to 3 total playoff wins over the last 14 seasons? That’s it? These “must have” guys are so valuable as a core, we have won 3 wild card playoff games with them? With two different HCs and multiple different coordinators in some cases.

Many fans here won’t like this…but there’s a very good chance that the core of this roster- the centerpiece of talent for this team - is vastly overrated. OR…we have a front office that is incapable of finding a coaching staff that can motivate and shape this core into playoff winners. It actually could be both.

This organization will NOT look in the mirror and ask the tough question: What if the core of our team isn’t that great?

Sorry Bobhaze but you’re way off target here. The talent on this team is undeniable. Look at all the All Pro selections. The problem with this team is Jerry and his Cabo culture in coddling the players and the Head coaching allowing that to happen.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

You're either great or you're not, I find it funny when some of the talking heads call this a super bowl roster haha

 

[ArtClink]

One of the hard parts of losing in the manner the Cowboys did Sunday is the very real possibility that what was considered the strong core of this team is probably incapable (as currently constituted) to compete seriously for a championship. And the evidence is clear- they can’t win big playoff games against the best teams in the league. That’s not an opinion. That’s based on this team’s playoff record WITH this core.

What is the core of this team? It‘s the guys this FO believes are the best players we have. The guys we would never trade or cut because of their value to the team. Here is that core:

• Dak Prescott (8 yr vet- 2-5 playoff record)
• Micah Parsons (3 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Cedee Lamb (4 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Zack Martin (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyron Smith (14 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• DeMarcus Law (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyler Smith (2 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Trevon Diggs (5 yr vet)

So having all these talented players on this roster, some of which are very highly paid or are about to get bigger paydays, has amounted to 3 total playoff wins over the last 14 seasons? That’s it? These “must have” guys are so valuable as a core, we have won 3 wild card playoff games with them? With two different HCs and multiple different coordinators in some cases.

Many fans here won’t like this…but there’s a very good chance that the core of this roster- the centerpiece of talent for this team - is vastly overrated. OR…we have a front office that is incapable of finding a coaching staff that can motivate and shape this core into playoff winners. It actually could be both.

This organization will NOT look in the mirror and ask the tough question: What if the core of our team isn’t that great?

Great post. I think since we have the highest visibility of any NFL team which translates into a yearly ratings bonanza, perhaps the fan base and the media overrate our players. I think the stellar rosters Landry and Jimmy built make anyone wearing the star look better.

The goal is to mk deep playoff runs and you need stars, but you also need bang-for-the-buck worker bees because 17 games are brutal for the players.

Having a toothless lion for a head coach is crippling but there are 100 other things that Jerry & Giggles do, that are just as crippling. Oh well.

 

[ArtClink]

Sorry Bobhaze but you’re way off target here. The talent on this team is undeniable. Look at all the All Pro selections. The problem with this team is Jerry and his Cabo culture in coddling the players and the Head coaching allowing that to happen.

Not according to our record against good teams this year, but then again it was in the op.

 

[Chuck 54]

I 100% agree with this playoff truth: If your defense can’t stop the run when you are behind, you are doomed. You can have a great offense but if you can’t stop the run, once you get behind more than 7, you are doomed. Seriously…I‘m trying to remember the last time the Dallas Cowboys had a defense that could consistently stop the run. Maybe in the Parcells years?

And…hate to say it but the Dan Quinn defense has been built almost entirely on getting turnovers and sacks. Against the pack Sunday we had zero turnovers and zero sacks. And once the pack got up 14-0, it was for all practical purposes over because the defense could not stop Aaron Jones despite knowing the packers were going to run the ball.

So looking at this defense at every position, it has probably been vastly overrated. If they got TOs and sacks they were decent because they could pin their ears back and rush the passer. But if they got behind and the opponent just wanted to dominate the los, this D was mostly incapable of imposing its will. We saw that with the Cards, niners, bills and pack. We got behind and those teams just ran the ball.

Quinn’s defense and having an offense that can’t run the ball is the recipe for looking like a great team vs bad teams and getting rolled by traditional tough playoff football teams. Despite the defense looking like a HS team on the first Packers drive and giving up another 7 after the first INT with No resistance at all, McCarthy tried to run the ball a little to give the defense time to adjust and settle down as well as force the Packers to put at least 7 in the box and give our receivers some space. I was so mad at him running again and again, leaving us in 3rd and longs, but reality is he was doing the smart thing. The problem is we cannot run the ball, not even modestly because we have no power game.

It forced us to pass with defenders on the backs of every receiver. Every catch was contested while GB receivers were making catches with no press coverage and often without a Cowboy in the picture. I don’t blame the players, but we have built a soft team. Soft teams don’t win in the playoffs.

 

[Diehardblues]

I understand that. But All Pro or Pro Bowl honors are based on the regular season not the playoffs. Isn’t it possible all those guys just don’t play as well when the competition stiffens? Also there are many players who play their best in the biggest games. That’s where so many of our players seem to shrink.

With a 17 game schedule now, and consider we didn’t have a 1st place schedule , it becomes easier to run up some impressive stats against 10 or more games against lesser teams .

Our 12 wins:
Giants and Wash twice=4
Jets, Pats, Chargers ,Car& Seahawks =5
9 wins against non playoff teams.

Our 3 wins against Rams, Lions and Egirls all playoff teams . But LA was a losing record at time. Phi was in their Free-fall collapse and Det idiotically gifted us a game and basically 2 Seed.

But it’s often difficult for fans to dissect or lessen these wins. As many will argue any win in NFL is good. Which there is some truth.

And the fact we blew out most of these wins padded some hefty stats offensively. And as we know these Pro Bowl selections to players who don’t accumulate stats are often given to players with Pro Bowl history on playoff caliber teams.

I do agree with your message Bob .You're on the right track here and several of your threads since the loss . This teams talent is over rated and mostly over hyped. This offense wasn’t #1 against the better teams in the league nor was the defense top 5 against them either.

Ultimately the measurement is the playoffs and most of all the better teams we face which was a red flag all season some fans continued to dismiss . Even in December down the stretch it should have been fresh on everyone’s mind.

We weren’t playing our best ball headed into the playoffs. That matters. And why losing to a team that was playing their best ball should have been more of a concern than it was. And not such a surprise while still disappointing.

 

[Diehardblues]

To me, it's more that we have glaring weaknesses that rob these guys of the ability to play at a top level. Can you imagine Parsons if we had a DT who required double teams and who made the QB leave the pocket? Can you imagine how good Tyler and Zack could be w/ a RB like Jacobs who was throught he LOS in a flash?

We simply take aim at the wrong positions. Why? Because Jerry sees all of this through the eyes of a fan. To him, it's all about WR's and CB's and TE's. He simply doesn't see things such as Musgrave being wide open because we had to commit too many players to stopping the run. He doesn't understand that Parsons is less effective because other teams just block him to the outside while the QB steps up into a clean pocket. He doesn't see that a CB often gets beat because the Qb had too much time to throw, and no one can cover forever. He doesn't even comprehend why we were so much better w/ Fredsy than Bada z z.

Jerry needs to start asking himself "WHY". At present, he has no clue why we lost. And for a GM, that's simply unacceptable.

This ^^^^^

Continues to be a huge problem the weaknesses that either haven’t been addressed or not properly addressed.

 

[tomokawan]

One of the hard parts of losing in the manner the Cowboys did Sunday is the very real possibility that what was considered the strong core of this team is probably incapable (as currently constituted) to compete seriously for a championship. And the evidence is clear- they can’t win big playoff games against the best teams in the league. That’s not an opinion. That’s based on this team’s playoff record WITH this core.

What is the core of this team? It‘s the guys this FO believes are the best players we have. The guys we would never trade or cut because of their value to the team. Here is that core:

• Dak Prescott (8 yr vet- 2-5 playoff record)
• Micah Parsons (3 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Cedee Lamb (4 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Zack Martin (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyron Smith (14 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• DeMarcus Law (11 yr vet- 3-6 in the playoffs)
• Tyler Smith (2 yr vet- 1-2 in the playoffs)
• Trevon Diggs (5 yr vet)

So having all these talented players on this roster, some of which are very highly paid or are about to get bigger paydays, has amounted to 3 total playoff wins over the last 14 seasons? That’s it? These “must have” guys are so valuable as a core, we have won 3 wild card playoff games with them? With two different HCs and multiple different coordinators in some cases.

Many fans here won’t like this…but there’s a very good chance that the core of this roster- the centerpiece of talent for this team - is vastly overrated. OR…we have a front office that is incapable of finding a coaching staff that can motivate and shape this core into playoff winners. It actually could be both.

This organization will NOT look in the mirror and ask the tough question: What if the core of our team isn’t that great?

Disagree. It more about the other pieces on the team. They are not good enough. DT, Safety, Linebackers, Center, RT and coaching. That is our biggest problem areas IMO. You can win with that core. However, I would no longer consider Dlaw or Tyron Smith as a part of the core any more.

 

[kskboys]

Sorry Bobhaze but you’re way off target here. The talent on this team is undeniable. Look at all the All Pro selections. The problem with this team is Jerry and his Cabo culture in coddling the players and the Head coaching allowing that to happen.

You've been wrong all year, no reason to change that.

 

[kskboys]

The core of this team is very talented. Unfortunately they aren't coached well and have Jerry getting in the way of things.
If Jerry disappeared overnight with no memory of him things would be so much different. If we had a solid HC who held these players accountable they could win championships.
Sadly we don't, so we won't.

Define core. We have S's playing LB, 3 tech who can't hold his ground, no coverage S's, a weak C, and a backup playing RB. Maybe what people are seeing as the core isn't really the core?