What is your theory why this team has looked soft, frail, fatigued the last month?

[TheCritic]

It's fair to blame Jerry Jones for the 27 year curse, but for the moment I just have to take a look at Mike McCarthy to get a complete picture of everything wrong with the Cowboys

 

[CowboyRoy]

I thought the depth they were bragging about at the beginning of the season would have kept this team fresher down the stretch. But this team has looked run down and very weak at the point of attack the last month. We've lost the trenches several times over the last few weeks, and our DBs/LBs look slowfooted and are not tackling with the same authority. I know injuries are part of it, but every team in the league has injuries. And that doesn’t explain us getting beat up in the trenches by a far inferior Texans team. What is your theory? S&C? A team bored w/ the regular season?

they have needed rest and had 3 weeks to give them that and MM blew a golden opportunity. Its as simple as that. Parsons should have sat the last two games. Same with anyone else that was dinged up or an older veteran.

 

[catskillthunder]

I would say the “two words” are Jerry Jones. He’s the constant of the last 27 years of playoff futility and he is THE biggest influence on the soft culture of this team. He coddles certain players, holds petty grudges, limits the authority of his HC, then undermines him with his stupid public comments.

I can agree with that indirectly. Directly, McCarthy is the HC, he is the one that is supposed to hold the players accountable during practices and during games. He is supposed to accountability of leading the guys on the field and correcting their mistakes. The Cowboys have the same problems every single year, clock management, penalties, missed assignments.

 

[xwalker]

I thought the depth they were bragging about at the beginning of the season would have kept this team fresher down the stretch. But this team has looked run down and very weak at the point of attack the last month. We've lost the trenches several times over the last few weeks, and our DBs/LBs look slowfooted and are not tackling with the same authority. I know injuries are part of it, but every team in the league has injuries. And that doesn’t explain us getting beat up in the trenches by a far inferior Texans team. What is your theory? S&C? A team bored w/ the regular season?

Maybe Dak is dating Jessica Simpson and CeeDee is dating a Kardashian...

They've been practicing in Cabo...

 

[RS12]

What is your theory why this team has looked soft, frail, fatigued the last month?​

1) Over rated roster. Like clockwork every year.

2) Below average front office

3) Average coaching staff at best.

4) Average at best QB who if everything doesnt go exactly right, melts like a snowman August.

 

[Tabascocat]

Trickl-Down Theory

It all starts with Jerry and seeps down to every level ruining tiers as it goes.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Injuries have taken a toll on this team. Now cue the anecdotal, Team X has injuries and they are playing hard.

Two defensive backs were lost early in the campaign. As time has worn on another went down. The front office did nothing to assure there were players in position to be the next man up. And, as the defensive line looks gassed in every game of late, no pass rush, no pass defense. I have been expressing that for many seasons. If you cannot get the QB off their spot, then even the mediocre QB's can cut you up.

Dallas didn't address the defensive tackle position. And even with players in the free agent market late in the season, Dallas ignored this area of concern, as they have for two decades.
The team was built with no real speed in the WR corps. You would think Jerry Jones would have learned from the mistake of a season when he had to give away a first round pick for Cooper because the WR corps stunk on ice. But evidently he went into the 2022 season with Cee Dee, sometimes Gallup, and a bunch of spares.

Dallas has relied on players that could not get on the field when more skilled players manned that squad. But now these journeymen receivers are a mainstay, and in regard to some, they just don't stack up. You watch other teams receivers who are being guarded closely and the ball is delivered and those guys make the catch. The ball bounces off some of the receivers Dallas has. That happens to all receivers. But the ones specifically dropping passes and misjudging passes have no reason to be on the field.

The offensive line hasn't thrived at any time during this season. Again, the old Wildcatter rolled the dice on this area over several years. Tyler Smith is a player. But a team cannot tread water in this league. Improvement must take place. I cannot decide if Tyron is just out of place, or he has eroded to the point he is no longer serviceable. That answer is foremost on my mind.

Move Peters to right tackle, Tyler Smith to guard, and Tyron back to his pro bowl position and let's see what is what.

Injuries have decimated a squad that is not as strong as the fanbase assumes. The front five cannot open holes against stout defenses lately. They cannot pass protect to a point the offensive backfield isn't a train wreck.

I don't give Dak a pass. He requires a cleaner pocket than some. The stats of this offense suggest they can perform. People want to blame Dak for every issue that fails. Frankly, I see that as lazy thinking laced with emotions clouding what transpires on the field.

Dak fails. But not every failure is Dak's fault. Read that again since you obviously missed the point. At times the failure is all Dak's. But their are circumstances which put him in a position to fail.

Kellen Moore is not a genius. He is not the young gun play caller Jerry seems to desire. When this season ends. Moore would be looking for a job. And that is a season or more too late for his ouster.

 

[TheDude]

In the month of December, the Cowboys were 4-1. That hardly qualifies as soft, frail, or fatigued.

and 0-1 in Jan

 

[IceStar-D7]

Weak azzzz coaches and coaching. Easiest question ever asked on this forum. Loser as a HC Garrett and lazy Mike. What did you expect???

 

[JoeKing]

and 0-1 in Jan

That won't matter when they are 1-1 in January. Then 2-1 in January.

 

[Zordon]

This started when Jerry went on his Odell Beckham Jr nonsense.

The idiot cannot NOT distract his own team.

Hmm this is a good point that didn't cross my mind. The team lost focus for a good month chasing that non-story. Had our best players answering questions about OBJ and going on dates w/ a player that wasn't even cleared to play. Every time the story started dying down, Jerry made sure to mention his name again to keep it in the headlines. The guy is a cancer on this franchise. It just sucks McCarthy didn't have a spine to nip it in a bud despite Jerry's antics. He too entertained those stupid questions for weeks.

 

[TwentyOne]

In the month of December, the Cowboys were 4-1. That hardly qualifies as soft, frail, or fatigued.

If you look only at this stat id say yes also.

Then some could also look at clever chosen stats and think Bum Prescott is a good QB.

 

[Manster_Mash]

They've looked like that for the last 26 years.

 

[visionary]

It is the Jones virus
The virus manifests as a culture of glitz, glamour, entitlement, getting paid without achieving anything meaningful, being ‘adequate’ and competitive
Once contracted it is deadly and incurable

 

[Bagman]

Physically small team taking a punishing toll. They're beat up much more than a physical team like San Fran or Philly. Dallas' DLine is very small and gets pushed around a lot late in the year. It'll never change until the staff starts to value big and powerful linemen. That includes DTs AND DEs.

 

[JoeKing]

If you look only at this stat id say yes also.

Then some could also look at clever chosen stats and think Bum Prescott is a good QB.

What other stat matters more? There is no such thing as style points.

 

[Zman5]

Injuries and illness.
I think half the defense had the flu at one point last month.

 

[Asklesko]

They think they can shut down for a month and return for the playoffs.