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

[Jayinem]

Doesn't matter we're going to pay 3 players over 100 million dollars per season. Nothing will change that, and the outcome will always end the same.

 

[Jake]

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?

We both know the root of the problem. If the Jones boys were capable of building a championship team their way it wouldn't take 30 years and a half dozen head coaches.

 

[IrishAnto]

Don’t disagree. But do you think this FO is asking the question, “Maybe we aren’t that good?”

I can assure you the FO is not asking if the "FO" is not that good

 

[diamonddelts]

Cowboys = rotten apple.

Decay goes all the way down to the core. They are mediocre from the top down.

 

[TheCritic]

Completely agree Bobhaze! What's even worse is that in all likelihood is that the Cowboys will double down on overpaying their best players and extend Dak, Lamb, Parsons and this time next year, we will all be sitting around belly-aching about another playoff exit (or worse not making the playoffs at all) being stuck with all these huge contracts.
IMO, now is the time to blow up the team and start over. Cut all the players past their prime and take the hit of a losing season and then retool. But I realize that is never going to happen as long as Jerry Jones is running the team.

 

[jay94]

It’s idiotic to continue to pay Tyron, Tank, Steele, Dak, Martin to be middling players.

Martins reputation is still high. But he’s not making a difference. Trade Martin for a first round pick while his value is still high. Trade the rest of those guys if you can make it work under the cap. Get some salvage value out of those contracts and rebuild them.

Be on the lookout for QB options.

I would not call Steele middling. The other guys are above average, Dak and Martin are the 2 really paid to excess, but they are all getting older. It doesn't matter much for Dak, but the rest besides Steele it will.

 

[Surfguy]

We’ve got a bunch of oompa loompas on the lines and Dak thinks he’s Willy Wonka.

 

[NeathBlue]

We’ve got the players who have the talent, and we also have the coaches who have it… but our problems imo mainly stem from Jerry and the attitude that he’s engraved on the whole organisation, of entitlement and lack of accountability.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Dak has a no trade clause. How people still dont get this in 2024 is mind boggling

It has been explained that you can get him to waive that clause. How do YOU not get this in 2024?

 

[DanA]

Dak has a no trade clause. How people still dont get this in 2024 is mind boggling

He can still be traded, he just has to agree to it.

 

[Carter]

It has been explained that you can get him to waive that clause. How do YOU not get this in 2024?

I know but you wrote it like you can just trade Dak.

And he will never waive his clause anyway. Would be stupid leaving the most covered Sports Team with no one coming for his job

 

[The Fonz]

It is the culture the front office JJ and son that's how they like to run the club.any coach they have here is a puppet and in it just for the money .The players running the show...JJ is buddy with them so there is no fear factor no accountability Nothing will work at all as long is the Jones run it this way get used to it

 

[MyFairLady]

When the primary objective of your "star" players is to maximize earnings and build their personal brand this is what you get. IMHO there are a few that seem to be driven by legacy and love of the game. Lamb for sure, Ferguson, that might be it. Guys like Parsons and Bland are yet to be determined but there is cause for concern. Dak, Martin, Tyron and D Flaw are in it for the paycheck. If I were in charge I would purge those 4 and see what I can get for Parsons and Bland in a trade now. Start over with Lamb as my first piece. Try to build a young group interested in winning. Too bad such a thing will never happen in big D.

 

[CWR]

I know but you wrote it like you can just trade Dak.

And he will never waive his clause anyway. Would be stupid leaving the most covered Sports Team with no one coming for his job

You have no way of knowing that. It happens. Players don't necessarily want to be where they are unwanted. The no-trade clause is more of a preventative measure to not be exiled to a perennial bottom feeder.

 

[Bobhaze]

I know but you wrote it like you can just trade Dak.

And he will never waive his clause anyway. Would be stupid leaving the most covered Sports Team with no one coming for his job

The fact that this is the most micro-managed and media covered sports team may actually be exactly what could drive someone out of here.

None of us know what Dak is thinking. But we do know he can be traded. It would just have to be to a team he approved. The term “no trade” is inaccurate.

 

[Fmart322]

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.

You're 100% correct. I was just going under the assumption that everyone knows Jerry is the common denominator. We all know he's not going anywhere unfortunately so we have to try figure it out despite him.

 

[Fmart322]

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?

Putting the wrong players in positions not ment for them is the problem. No team will have top players at every position in today's NFL unfortunately because of the salary cap.
That's the problem. It's either Dan Quinn or the Jones who make this mistake.

 

[kskboys]

Putting the wrong players in positions not ment for them is the problem. No team will have top players at every position in today's NFL unfortunately because of the salary cap.
That's the problem. It's either Dan Quinn or the Jones who make this mistake.

The bolded doesn't fit as to what we're talking about. No one is saying we need top LBs, we are saying we need actual NFL LB's. We have exactly one on the roster and he's hurt all the time.

Agree w/ your first statement completely. Oh, Parsons, there's 2 LB's.

As far as the bolded, we keep throwing major cash at the wrong positions. Need top DT's and Ss.

 

[IceStar-D7]

If you mean mentally not great? I agree. Physically they are good to go.

 

[Chasing6]

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?

Exactly. When you have elite players CD and Micah they are supposed to make others around them better. Their jobs are supposed to be easier, especially when CD is being doubled and Micah is being tripled teamed.