What makes you guys think the second half of the season will be any different?

[thekavorka]

So far the solutions proposed for our problems have been:

- Stop turning the ball over
- Stop committing costly penalties
- Play to our potential

If we can solve all that, we can make a run at the playoffs.

But that's a huge IF. I've been hearing this all year. "IF" we stop making stupid mistakes. "IF" we stop committing penalties". What makes you think we can solve all that? It's been 8 games of the season, and we're still committing stupid penalties like the first game of the season. Our turnovers will probably go down with Romo at QB, but that's not why we lost to Washington. We are still the same dumb team we were at the beginning of the season. What makes you think any of that will suddenly change?

It's not like we have a bye week to sort everything out.

 

[ravidubey]

- We play 5 games at home.

- We play Arizona, Detroit, and Tampa Bay.

- We have depth. The team is still healthy while our competition is suffering injuries.

- Romo! Bledsoe commmitted about a dozen of our turnovers and was sacked rougly twice as often as Romo.

- Everyone in the NFC is asking themselves the same questions.

- We own a tie-breaker over Carolina and we get to play Atlanta and Philly.

 

[SBChamps]

El Moxie Kid!

 

[sonnyboy]

- We play 5 games at home.

- We play Arizona, Detroit, and Tampa Bay.

- We have depth. The team is still healthy while our competition is suffering injuries.

- Romo! Bledsoe commmitted about a dozen of our turnovers and was sacked rougly twice as often as Romo.

- Everyone in the NFC is asking themselves the same questions.

- We own a tie-breaker over Carolina and we get to play Atlanta and Philly.

Very well said.

Every team makes mistakes in every game. They are magnified when you lose. Columbo makes that block on Vincent everything is different this week. After a loss it can be hard to remember the positives. We have played some very nice games this year with fewer mistakes. Games like the Washington at home, Tennessee, Houston, Carolina.
We are a different team with Romo. Like I said in a different thread, I have a feeling that he may be a lot better than we now realize. I can just sense it.

I see he performing at a very high level in some key games we have coming up. I see him keeping up with Manning in a shot out at home. I see him coming up huge at NYG. I can see him and are superior talent prevailing over NO at home.
Just a feeling but I see 7-1 maybe 8-0 with a few breaks/calls going our way for a change.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

My question is simple... can we really get any worse with our mistakes?

The saying goes...

"Things will get worse before they get better" - hopefully that happened last sunday


Things can only get better right?

 

[Portland Fanatic]

To me it's simple...

If we stop making STUPID mental mistakes = we win.

If we continue to make STUPID mental mistakes = It will be the same as first half.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

My question is simple... can we really get any worse with our mistakes?

The saying goes...

"Things will get worse before they get better" - hopefully that happened last sunday


Things can only get better right?

You better go run and knock on wood right now!

 

[thekavorka]

I guess my point is that we definitely have the potential to get a long string of wins.

We just aren't playing up to our potential, and I see no reason for that to suddenly change 8 games in to the season.

Even with Romo, we will still shoot ourselves in the foot. It doesn't matter if the game is at home, or that we are injury free, or that we have depth.

Even against teams like Tennessee or Houston, we made some pretty bad mistakes (i.e. 3 face masks in one drive against Texans). As Jimmy Johnson said, we are undisciplined, and I fear we don't have the time to correct that.

I'd love to be wrong though.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

You better go run and knock on wood right now!

You know... I read your post.... and then... I DID! :starspin

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Even with Romo, we will still shoot ourselves in the foot. It doesn't matter if the game is at home, or that we are injury free, or that we have depth.

This is true. But if Drew was in there it would have been bad. We would have gotten blown out with all the pressure they brought on what seemed like every down.

 

[sonnyboy]

I'm not saying we're better than 4-4, because as Parcells says, you are what you are.
What I am saying is that we are a very very strong 4-4. Here's the proof.

1) Unlike most teams, there's is virtually no way we can be even 1 game lower in the standings than we are. Every one of our 4 wins were by a margin of at least 3 scores. No "fortunate" wins for us. We earned every dam one of those wins. I'm kinda counting on some good fortune in the second half.

2)Check out the standings. Point differrential of 4-4, 5-3 and 6-2 teams.
We are at +59.
4-4 Teams: Eagles at +46, Jets -39, Bengals +7, Minn -5, Car -26, Rams -17. 5-3 Teams: Jags +61, Atlanta +3, Seattle -12.
6-2 Teams: S.D. +114, Pats +73, Ravens +60, Den +43, NYG +50, NO +39
The only team that stands out in this group is S.D.

We are easily the strongest 4-4 team and have played 5 of these games on the road. I expect us to be no worse than 6-2 the second half.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm normally the optimistic type, but I'm to the point that I don't see any evidence that we'll be better.

In fact, before the Skins game, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd lose. Why? Because that would make us 4-4, and what have we been since Parcells got here? A .500 team. As the man himself says, you are what your record says you are.

That said, finishing at home might help us. If we're still in the race by then, that is.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

ROMO is why I am optimistic!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Romo and his Weapons of Mass ....

 

[Eddie]

Honestly, we're staring down the throat of an 8-8 season. We are what we are.

We can talk about correcting mental errors and if this and if that.

Bottom line is we're 4-4. Won a game we were supposed to lose and lost a few we were supposed to win. Welcome to the NFL.

Nothing we've done makes me believe we're going to change any trends. Ok ok. I know it's anti-Cowboy not to think we're gonna run the tables or go 6-2. But the reality is, we're 4-4.

Even Commander fans say the better team lost. That's the NFL.

We still have a horrible OL. Our D still can't get any pressure on the QB. No matter who we put at FS, we're having trouble back there.

We're looking at ocho y ocho. Nuff said.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Honestly, we're staring down the throat of an 8-8 season. We are what we are.

We can talk about correcting mental errors and if this and if that.

Bottom line is we're 4-4. Won a game we were supposed to lose and lost a few we were supposed to win. Welcome to the NFL.

Nothing we've done makes me believe we're going to change any trends. Ok ok. I know it's anti-Cowboy not to think we're gonna run the tables or go 6-2. But the reality is, we're 4-4.

Even Commander fans say the better team lost. That's the NFL.

We still have a horrible OL. Our D still can't get any pressure on the QB. No matter who we put at FS, we're having trouble back there.

We're looking at ocho y ocho. Nuff said.

Being that 8 games have been played and 8 are still scheduled to be played... I aint conceding NOTHING....

Now I am mad... we will finish 12-4

 

[Frosty]

So far the solutions proposed for our problems have been:

- Stop turning the ball over
- Stop committing costly penalties
- Play to our potential

If we can solve all that, we can make a run at the playoffs.

But that's a huge IF. I've been hearing this all year. "IF" we stop making stupid mistakes. "IF" we stop committing penalties". What makes you think we can solve all that? It's been 8 games of the season, and we're still committing stupid penalties like the first game of the season. Our turnovers will probably go down with Romo at QB, but that's not why we lost to Washington. We are still the same dumb team we were at the beginning of the season. What makes you think any of that will suddenly change?

It's not like we have a bye week to sort everything out.

It wont until the players and Coaches start getting together as a TEAM..
To many EGO's, not enough Teamwork...between coaches and players...
the team is douobting the caoches, plays and players right now....IMO

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

I think the schedule is a little easier. Tampa, Detroit and Arizona are all in the 2nd half.

I think we match-up well vs the Colts. New Orleans really that good?


......not to mention the Eagles come here and we get 8 days before we play the Giants in New York where Bill seems to be rather comfortable winning for some reason.

 

[slick325]

ravidubey:

- We play 5 games at home.

We played the Giants at home and got beaten from start to finish, so forgive me for not thinking Texas Stadium is as menacing a place to play as Arrowhead or the RCA Dome or Gillette Stadium.

- We play Arizona, Detroit, and Tampa Bay.

Arizona should have beaten the Bears and have a great deal of offensive talent with a defense that was top ten last season. Tough matchup simply because they are much like the 2-5 'Skins coming off a bye week...nothing to lose!

Detroit under Martz has a decent offense and just beat the Falcons. By the time we play them who knows if the game will mean anything. (See result of last seasons meaningless game against St. Louis at home to close out.)

Tampa Bay has a good defense and has been playing tough football. Not exactly a gimme game either. Any given Sunday remember...

- We have depth. The team is still healthy while our competition is suffering injuries.

We do indeed have depth but our depth has us sitting at 4-4 right now so it hasn't been too much help thus far.

- Romo! Bledsoe commmitted about a dozen of our turnovers and was sacked rougly twice as often as Romo.

Completely agree on Romo. The kid can play some ball. Whatever "it" is he seems to have it.

- Everyone in the NFC is asking themselves the same questions.

Agreed on the state of the NFC but see too much inconsistency with the 'Boys to believe we are anything more than a .500 ballclub.

- We own a tie-breaker over Carolina and we get to play Atlanta and Philly.
We need to pass more than just Carolina to have a shot at the playoffs. Controlling your own destiny is good but seizing the moment has been a MAJOR problem with the '06 Cowboys.

 

[windward]

I don't really think there is TANGIBLE evidence that will show us things can get better. On the same train of thought there is no TANGIBLE evidence that something on this team will not all of a sudden click. On one hand Dallas has been inconsistent with sometimes penalties being our downfall, turnovers other times.If we continue on this pace then 8-8 is possible. On the other hand Dallas is near the top of the league in most categories. The potential is there to turn it around if mistakes are limited. I think our own personal outlooks vary according to how each of us interprets the facts associated with the team. We can devise all the reasons why or why not we just don't know.

One of my biggest bugaboos is the "deterministic" attitude that some people take towards football. It's anything but. Dallas can turn it around. Or we may see more of the same. Searching around for any definitive proof that either alternative will come true will be in vain.

Me? I'm generally a bit of an optimist and will enjoy the journey this team will embark upon in the second half come success or failure.