CFZ What the 49er playoff loss should teach us about the 2022 season

[Diehardblues]

IMO @Ranching isn’t saying that all fans need to think alike, he’s saying that they shouldn’t give up on the new season before training camp has even started. I think he’s just saying give the new season a chance. Let’s see how it goes.

I’m ok with that. Who’s giving up on the season? There’s always hope until there’s not.

I took his words to mean we should believe regardless of our concerns or reservations.

 

[Ranching]

IMO @Ranching isn’t saying that all fans need to think alike, he’s saying that they shouldn’t give up on the new season before training camp has even started. I think he’s just saying give the new season a chance. Let’s see how it goes.

 

[Diehardblues]

i think it shows what we all know there is not a lot of heart or want to on this football team when the going gets tough

That might be true but I think the bigger point Coach is attempting to make is our ownership undermining our HC leaves the players unsure where the Buck always stops. Which can diminish the culture here.

 

[Diehardblues]

There’s nothing wrong with fans lowering their expectations. As long as the players and coaching staff doesn’t .

 

[Diehardblues]

If you don’t want to have an adult discussion about the concerns Bobhaze provided in this forum , why enter?

 

[nalam]

Can't win when you only score 7 points in 3 Q of football at home vs a wildcard team!!

These slow starts are typical of Dak , and our offense
If you remember the 2016 playoff game vs GB , the same story.

 

[Bobhaze]

IMO @Ranching isn’t saying that all fans need to think alike, he’s saying that they shouldn’t give up on the new season before training camp has even started. I think he’s just saying give the new season a chance. Let’s see how it goes.

I think I can understand all points of view from fans here. I agree we should always give each new season a chance. I am excited about every new season even if I don’t “believe”some things other fans do.

Some call posts that identify problems as “hate”. Others see those who are excited about the Cowboys as kool aid drinkers. Who cares either way? Cowboys fans have the right to be whatever they want to be. That’s what this forum is all about IMO.

If I wasn’t a fan of the Cowboys, I wouldn’t spend so much of my time here. We should all give each other credit instead of criticism for being around here. I disagree with many opinions here and many disagree with many of mine. There’s no problem with that. I don’t see disagreement with a fellow fan as “hate”. And I know you don’t either.

 

[Bobhaze]

You should have credited Bob Sturm in this post. It’s practically lifted word for word from his recent Athletic column.

I definitely read that article! Credit to Bob Sturm.

 

[CouchCoach]

IMO @Ranching isn’t saying that all fans need to think alike, he’s saying that they shouldn’t give up on the new season before training camp has even started. I think he’s just saying give the new season a chance. Let’s see how it goes.

I really haven't seen a lot giving up on this season. Not expecting much? Yes but that's in the evaluation, not necessarily what they are hoping for.

I really don't think some have been able to get past that playoff loss. First, it was the Niners and second, they told us what they were coming to do and then did it. The Cowboys got bullied. And those Niners players were just a little too happy on the sideline.

 

[CouchCoach]

I think I can understand all points of view from fans here. I agree we should always give each new season a chance. I am excited about every new season even if I don’t “believe”some things other fans do.

Some call posts that identify problems as “hate”. Others see those who are excited about the Cowboys as kool aid drinkers. Who cares either way? Cowboys fans have the right to be whatever they want to be. That’s what this forum is all about IMO.

If I wasn’t a fan of the Cowboys, I wouldn’t spend so much of my time here. We should all give each other credit instead of criticism for being around here. I disagree with many opinions here and many disagree with many of mine. There’s no problem with that. I don’t see disagreement with a fellow fan as “hate”. And I know you don’t either.

That word gets used around here far too freely and often.

 

[SuperBowlz]

Those stats are telling. That's why I don't get why so many Cowboy fans want a big time WR added to this team. If I'm spending 100 mill on a free agent it's for a star DT. The problem isn't offense people.

 

[Ranching]

....That's what @waldoputty said!​

No he didn't!!! Lol

 

[CouchCoach]

As long as I'm on the marshmallows

You are the marshmallow.

 

[DandyDon52]

True enough. I’m sure that’s the way Jerry sees it. The problem is that ignores the fact that they were playing from behind and manhandled the entire game. Winning the game then becomes dependent on a couple of lucky breaks rather than playing a solid, competitive game and being the better team. It allows Jerry to delude himself into think just tweaking will solve it all.

YES you hit it on the head!
That helps jerry think he is close, so he keeps same coaches, and just tweaks the team a little.
Jerry thinking he is close to contending makes him a horrible gm .

jerry intended to keep gregory, and was mad at lael, connor, and amari. I think those guys were let go in large part for emotional reasons to suit jerry.
but connor and lael needed to go, just too bad he didnt do them last year or year before and get picks for them!

Out of 4 starters they let go and gregory, they only got the 1 5th round pick lol, and that is really poor mgmt of personnel.
Had they done them earlier, they could have had a handful of decent draft picks for future use.

 

[DandyDon52]

While Bob did a great job analyzing the game , it went pretty much as expected . Not sure why so many were disappointed? Most everyone was picking 49ers.

yeah I thought SF would win,or had a good shot to win, but for anyone saying they KNEW SF WOULD WIN, why didnt they bet all their money on it??
So if you placed a large wager on the game picking SF, then you can say you knew ! lol

 

[DandyDon52]

I think the most telling thing about the cowboys and coaches and players was that last play lol.
I have never seen such a travesty in all my days watching football.

Aside from the linemen no other player blocked or even touched a SF player !
with 2 or even 1 block, dak could have run out of bounds, so no need to spike the ball.

 

[Diehardblues]

yeah I thought SF would win,or had a good shot to win, but for anyone saying they KNEW SF WOULD WIN, why didnt they bet all their money on it??
So if you placed a large wager on the game picking SF, then you can say you knew ! lol

Picking a team to win isn’t knowing. That’s insight and instincts. Don’t have to wager on it.

 

[Diehardblues]

That word gets used around here far too freely and often.

Social media rhetoric equates criticism as hate. It’s just an attempt to discredit the message.

Critiquing aspects of your team isn’t hate.

Hating your rival opponent. Now that’s hate.

 

[conner01]

I don’t need to tell any Cowboys fan around here how disappointing that wild card game loss was to the 49ers last January. It was simply awful.

But nearly 7 months later, there are some things we could learn from that game if we want to take the next step and at least make an NFC championship game for the first time in 26 years. Here is a list of what that playoff taught us- have we made the right adjustments?

FIRST- SOME GAME FACTS- NINERS 23-COWBOYS 16

• The niners told us the week before the game they were going to run the ball down our throats. And they did exactly that, rushing for 169 yards.
• The niners had 341 total yards to 307 for the cowboys.
  
• The niners had 5 sacks; we had zero.
• The niners won TOP 34 minutes to 26 for Dallas. And that’s after we had the ball for most of the 4th qtr.
• In the niners first 7 possessions of the game, they scored 5 times and on their last possession of the first half, they even took a knee, leading 16-7.
• The Cowboys did not make a sack all game, and only had 4 pressures. Micah Parsons was consistently neutralized when rushing and D-Law was too. Randy Gregory had a few pressures but he had some stupid penalties too.
• The Cowboys OL got whipped all day. Tyron Smith had his worst game of the season and Connor Williams had his usual bad holding call at the worst time.
  
• For some reason Dak (or Kellen Moore) were choosing to not get the ball in the hands of their best playmakers.

So what can we learn from this?

• The trenches is where we got whipped and the biggest reason we lost that playoff game. IMO, It remains the biggest problem this team has. Not enough in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
• FOOTBALL 101: The team who wins the trenches usually wins- especially in the playoffs. You need skill position players too, but without the big guys on the line holding their own, you can’t win playoff games.

So here are some questions going into 2022 based on what last year should have taught us:

1. Did we strengthen our OL and DL this off-season? Enough to avoid a repeat of what the niners did to us last January? Can we finally stop the run?
2. Will our offense be able to get the ball to playmakers regardless of what the defense is doing? Dumping passes to Dalton Schultz all day won’t get it done. Can Kellen Moore get better? Can Dak consistently get the ball to his playmakers?

The answers to these questions will probably determine if this team does something more than what it’s done the last qtr century. We will start seeing soon.

Well we have changed the trenches about as much as you can in one year. Two new starters on oline though Steele did play a lot last year, and a new edge rusher and NT

 

[Silverstar]

I don’t need to tell any Cowboys fan around here how disappointing that wild card game loss was to the 49ers last January. It was simply awful.

But nearly 7 months later, there are some things we could learn from that game if we want to take the next step and at least make an NFC championship game for the first time in 26 years. Here is a list of what that playoff taught us- have we made the right adjustments?

FIRST- SOME GAME FACTS- NINERS 23-COWBOYS 16

• The niners told us the week before the game they were going to run the ball down our throats. And they did exactly that, rushing for 169 yards.
• The niners had 341 total yards to 307 for the cowboys.
  
• The niners had 5 sacks; we had zero.
• The niners won TOP 34 minutes to 26 for Dallas. And that’s after we had the ball for most of the 4th qtr.
• In the niners first 7 possessions of the game, they scored 5 times and on their last possession of the first half, they even took a knee, leading 16-7.
• The Cowboys did not make a sack all game, and only had 4 pressures. Micah Parsons was consistently neutralized when rushing and D-Law was too. Randy Gregory had a few pressures but he had some stupid penalties too.
• The Cowboys OL got whipped all day. Tyron Smith had his worst game of the season and Connor Williams had his usual bad holding call at the worst time.
  
• For some reason Dak (or Kellen Moore) were choosing to not get the ball in the hands of their best playmakers.

So what can we learn from this?

• The trenches is where we got whipped and the biggest reason we lost that playoff game. IMO, It remains the biggest problem this team has. Not enough in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
• FOOTBALL 101: The team who wins the trenches usually wins- especially in the playoffs. You need skill position players too, but without the big guys on the line holding their own, you can’t win playoff games.

So here are some questions going into 2022 based on what last year should have taught us:

1. Did we strengthen our OL and DL this off-season? Enough to avoid a repeat of what the niners did to us last January? Can we finally stop the run?
2. Will our offense be able to get the ball to playmakers regardless of what the defense is doing? Dumping passes to Dalton Schultz all day won’t get it done. Can Kellen Moore get better? Can Dak consistently get the ball to his playmakers?

The answers to these questions will probably determine if this team does something more than what it’s done the last qtr century. We will start seeing soon.

What bothered me most was the lack of creativity and points scored in that game. I hope Dallas has the best running team in the league this year. A great run game using multiple backs who can catch the ball as well, is how the Cowboys will get back to the SB IMO.