What we cannot see yet

[Blackrain]

Easy answer. Talent. Leadership is irrelevant w/o a talented team.

Leadership is one of those grey buzzwords that really doesn't mean much. Same as calling a player a "winner". Just BSPN garble, that's all it is.

My brother I'm going to have to disagree with you hard on this one leadership is not irrelevant we have had talented players that were not leaders.

Players can be talented but if they aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team they can't be leaders.
Leaders are able to make men follow them and play above their heads at all times.

Let's take Roger Staubach and Micah Parsons both incredibly talented players. One did The impossible in the biggest moments the other turned into a ghost when the lights were brightest

One is a leader of men the other is a dog that hunts for himself.

True leaders are one of the most valuable things you can have on the team because they make less talented players look better than they really are and play over their heads.

Many talented players just care about their own statistics preserving their career getting the biggest contract.

True leaders care about winning championships getting all the rest of their team to play at a high level lead by example coach other players up and make them better.

Talented players many times just concentrate on not making any mistakes and purely their own game. And statistics capitalizing on garbage time to increase their value.

Leaders are capable of making up for other people's mistakes and pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

True leaders show their value in the biggest moments rise to the occasion and make clutch plays when it matters.

We have not had anybody of this caliber in such a long time people have gotten used to just tolerating talented players.

I've watched the best of cowboy football and know a leader when I see one as well as their value to the team.

 

[Catpappy]

I’m just glad none of the other teams have gotten better this season.

 

[Blackrain]

I'll go on record as saying when
we had the most elite consistent leadership we faced adversity and conquered it with consistency

We were America's team the team that every team wanted to model themselves after.

Tom Landry and Ernie stautner coach together for 23 years military trained men whose leadership was absolutely unquestioned and most likely unattainable in today's NFL

18 out of 20 seasons making the playoffs.

They found a like-minded quarterback military trained who was another unquestioned leader that thrived on adversity and doing the impossible.

Their goals were the same they wanted to win championships.

These leaders of men took talented players and made them into champions.

Our current team has been saddled with many adversities before they even get to the football field.

Jerry is the undisputed leader of this team but his leadership in itself creates adversity.
Feeling the need to employ all of his unqualified family to run the football team.

Not valuing coaching always going cheap on the guy who needs to be the leader of the team.

Until this year never going all in and trying to get us over the top with some key free agents.

This year Jerry has made an above average especially for him effort to make the team successful.
So at least now we only have adversity to deal with from the teams we are playing not so much from within.

Going to say at this point we have more talent than leadership but hopefully there's enough of both in the end to conquer the adversity ahead of us.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

My brother I'm going to have to disagree with you hard on this one leadership is not irrelevant we have had talented players that were not leaders.

Players can be talented but if they aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team they can't be leaders.
Leaders are able to make men follow them and play above their heads at all times.

Let's take Roger Staubach and Micah Parsons both incredibly talented players. One did The impossible in the biggest moments the other turned into a ghost when the lights were brightest

One is a leader of men the other is a dog that hunts for himself.

True leaders are one of the most valuable things you can have on the team because they make less talented players look better than they really are and play over their heads.

Many talented players just care about their own statistics preserving their career getting the biggest contract.

True leaders care about winning championships getting all the rest of their team to play at a high level lead by example coach other players up and make them better.

Talented players many times just concentrate on not making any mistakes and purely their own game. And statistics capitalizing on garbage time to increase their value.

Leaders are capable of making up for other people's mistakes and pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

True leaders show their value in the biggest moments rise to the occasion and make clutch plays when it matters.

We have not had anybody of this caliber in such a long time people have gotten used to just tolerating talented players.

I've watched the best of cowboy football and know a leader when I see one as well as their value to the team.

I honestly don't think most modern players respond to people like Staubach or Aikman.

For many..it's more about the money and brand.

For others it's just about making and staying on the team.

I think abou the best you can do these days is make special plays and make others a bit better around you. 'hommes. If you don;t respond to that, a butt chewing probably isn't productive either.

 

[Whyjerry]

This franchise has had soft teams for most of the last 3 decades. I think 07 and 14 were 2 teams that were not soft. I want to see them be nasty and physical and push teams around. Go hammer the Giants week one. That's what I want to see.

 

[Blackrain]

I honestly don't think most modern players respond to people like Staubach or Aikman.

For many..it's more about the money and brand.

For others it's just about making and staying on the team.

I think abou the best you can do these days is make special plays and make others a bit better around you. 'hommes. If you don;t respond to that, a butt chewing probably isn't productive either.

You could be right probably because there is no one left like that anymore Tom Brady was probably the last guy that was a leader in that type of vein where he would sacrifice his salary to have better players around him and win championships.

He and belichick as much as I dislike those guys they would have winning records and make the playoffs not draft well but still make the most of what they had through their leadership.

To their credit they did at least have a front office that wasn't undermining them from within.

But those two were pretty adapt at overcoming adversity and improvising with players that weren't exactly the most talented but had really big hearts and would play over their heads.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

You could be right probably because there is no one left like that anymore Tom Brady was probably the last guy that was a leader in that type of vein where he would sacrifice his salary to have better players around him and win championships.

He and belichick as much as I dislike those guys they would have winning records and make the playoffs not draft well but still make the most of what they had through their leadership.

To their credit they did at least have a front office that wasn't undermining them from within.

But those two were pretty adapt at overcoming adversity and improvising with players that weren't exactly the most talented but had really big hearts and would play over their heads.

Because it was brady.

He pretty much put Tampa in the super bowl....because it was Tom Brady. They respected him and wanted to excel with him. They dont;' win that super bowl without him...I'm convinced (and I live in Tampa Bay).

No....he couldn't sustain the chaotic season that followed (and NO...Dak did NOT "retire" brady, lol) . But I think we'd take that kinda of one and done season easily!

 

[kskboys]

K, again what we don’t know is what the impacts and results will be .

Not saying we dont know if defense will be better or good . And it should make team better.

I actually think we are closer to same page . Neither of us know what the results will be on the scoreboard.

Hold it. You just claimed Myles makes the Rams better. Which is it?

We know 100% that the D will be better. Only question is how much better.

 

[kskboys]

Grit. It is an intangible quality that cannot be measured by conventional means. It can only be observed and acknowledged.

Grit pushes resolve through obstacles. It is the fuel empowering success that must be taken and not handed on a silver platter.

Grit is not wishy-washy. It should not appear one game and disappear the next game. Players and teams either have it. Or they lack it.

Grit has been missing from this franchise since the Parcells' days. It will be outstanding if the amassed talent and coaching this season's assembled team can be combined with actual, every game, no exception, grit. That would be awesome to say the least.

Talent. Much more important than grit. And it's not close. And we just added a ton of it.

 

[kskboys]

So the most talented are the 'leaders" (for lack of better word). Anger and Aubrey? Or does your theory only apply to QB and WR...maybe the sack or interception leader?

I think it's not necessarily "talent"...but WINNING. I think you can have a talented team but not necessarily winners.

I know...I sure got a lot of those "buzzwords" goin on don't I!

I think I agree with you in one aspect. There doesn't necessarily HAVE to be a super human "leader". The days of Aikman and Brady appear to be over. If ya needed a butt chewing you got it from those two.

Nope, you swung and missed.

A leader is nothing w/o talent.

 

[shabazz]

There is little question that the 2026 Dallas Cowboys have improved their overall talent, especially on defense. That’s exciting of at the time of year when optimism is highest. And it’s not un-reasonable to expect improvement in the upcoming 2026 season.

But here’s the one key element that mini-camps, training camp, and pre-season games cannot show us yet: How will this team handle adversity?

When the real bullets begin to fly on September 13th, we will begin to see what this team is truly made of, and how strong the revitalized culture that so many have talked about. And it will take more than a game or two to see what this team is. It may be November before we really know what this team can be.

Adversity is something that measures every football team every season. The question is not whether or not you will face adversity. The real question is, “How well will our team handle the adversity that will come its way?

So I’m glad to see the glowing reports I’ve heard all summer saying, “This team is different.” Do we know that yet? No. Not yet.

But we will begin seeing this team’s potential when they are faced with rebounding from a tough loss, overcome an injury, or stick together through all adversity.

Adversity is what measures all great football teams. We haven’t seen any adversity yet. But when we do, how this team responds will decide its ultimate fate.

I would say that before they face adversity they will face dysfunction, confusion and growing pains as a defensive unit.

Even if CP is the next Spagnulo and our new players are individually talented it should take time to actually play as a single unit.

Patience will be mandatory.

 

[kskboys]

My brother I'm going to have to disagree with you hard on this one leadership is not irrelevant we have had talented players that were not leaders.

Players can be talented but if they aren't willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team they can't be leaders.
Leaders are able to make men follow them and play above their heads at all times.

Let's take Roger Staubach and Micah Parsons both incredibly talented players. One did The impossible in the biggest moments the other turned into a ghost when the lights were brightest

One is a leader of men the other is a dog that hunts for himself.

True leaders are one of the most valuable things you can have on the team because they make less talented players look better than they really are and play over their heads.

Many talented players just care about their own statistics preserving their career getting the biggest contract.

True leaders care about winning championships getting all the rest of their team to play at a high level lead by example coach other players up and make them better.

Talented players many times just concentrate on not making any mistakes and purely their own game. And statistics capitalizing on garbage time to increase their value.

Leaders are capable of making up for other people's mistakes and pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

True leaders show their value in the biggest moments rise to the occasion and make clutch plays when it matters.

We have not had anybody of this caliber in such a long time people have gotten used to just tolerating talented players.

I've watched the best of cowboy football and know a leader when I see one as well as their value to the team.

Oh, that's OK. W/o talent, leadership in the NFL doesn't matter. A leader has to be a competent player.

 

[Blackrain]

Oh, that's OK. W/o talent, leadership in the NFL doesn't matter. A leader has to be a competent player.

I agree you need talent I'm not saying that you can take a couple good leaders and get by with a bunch of Scrubs.

But I am saying that proper elite leadership gets the most out of the talent you have.

I believe that we have had talent in the past and because of lack of leadership I think we have underachieved and that talent has not reached its potential.

A guy like Randy Gregory comes to mind if he was coached by Ernie stautner and on a defensive line with Randy White Harvey Martin and too tall would he have straightened his act up and made something out of his career .

Definitely think with that kind of leadership around him things could have turned out different

 

[Bobhaze]

Oh, that's OK. W/o talent, leadership in the NFL doesn't matter. A leader has to be a competent player.

Talent is the first thing a great football team needs. But Kev, we also know that leadership does matter. A ton.

Great GMs, front office staff, and especially…outstanding coaching is huge in this league.

If talent alone was all that mattered, even some yahoo could coach a team to a championship. I’ve always believed that great teams have a math formula: Leadership (with a vision) + Talent + coaching + culture = great team. Take one of those away and it’s extremely difficult.

You’re right. Without talent, leadership doesn’t matter. But talent alone is not enough. Of all fan bases, we should know that.

 

[Blackrain]

Because it was brady.

He pretty much put Tampa in the super bowl....because it was Tom Brady. They respected him and wanted to excel with him. They dont;' win that super bowl without him...I'm convinced (and I live in Tampa Bay).

No....he couldn't sustain the chaotic season that followed (and NO...Dak did NOT "retire" brady, lol) . But I think we'd take that kinda of one and done season easily!

First let me say I'm not a Tom Brady fan per se but you have to appreciate what the man did in his career if you are a football fan.

The guy like it or not is an unprecedented leader of men I agree Tampa Bay would have never won a Super bowl without him.

Thing that sticks in my mind on the way to that Super bowl I believe they played Green Bay and he threw a few interceptions in the first half was having a bad game.
Nobody on Tampa Bay flinched that defense played 110% and didn't give up one bit and he brought them through it in the end.
When you're a leader of that magnitude you make people play above their heads and believe and that's what turns them into winners.
We have not had anybody that can command that type of respect and lead men in that way in a long time.

 

[Blackrain]

Talent is the first thing a great football team needs. But Kev, we also know that leadership does matter. A ton.

Great GMs, front office staff, and especially…outstanding coaching is huge in this league.

If talent alone was all that mattered, even some yahoo could coach a team to a championship. I’ve always believed that great teams have a math formula: Leadership (with a vision) + Talent + coaching + culture = great team. Take one of those away and it’s extremely difficult.

You’re right. Without talent, leadership doesn’t matter. But talent alone is not enough. Of all fan bases, we should know that.

Spot on bullet.

Many of us have watched the results when we had all four of your components that make a great team.
And they were good.

In the last 30 years we have seen the results of having at the most two of the components and in most cases just one.
And those results speak for themselves.

Yes I have to believe that bad coaching no leadership and a culture that seemed to condone getting paid the big contract and then underachieving. Gave the last component Talent a real uphill battle to try and be successful. By itself

 

[Diehardblues]

Hold it. You just claimed Myles makes the Rams better. Which is it?

We know 100% that the D will be better. Only question is how much better.

I think we can agree the defense will be better. How could it not be with all the talent we’ve added and where it was .

How much we will have to wait and see along with how much it impacts results. That’s all been trying to say.

What I’ve been pushing back on from others is making predictions how far it will take us into playoffs and beyond. Too early to tell.

 

[Bobhaze]

Spot on bullet.

Many of us have watched the results when we had all four of your components that make a great team.
And they were good.

In the last 30 years we have seen the results of having at the most two of the components and in most cases just one.
And those results speak for themselves.

Yes I have to believe that bad coaching no leadership and a culture that seemed to condone getting paid the big contract and then underachieving. Gave the last component Talent a real uphill battle to try and be successful. By itself

Well said Blackie.

 

[lopey]

Surely you can’t be serious. Lol

He is and don’t call him shirley lol

 

[Diehardblues]

Talent is the first thing a great football team needs. But Kev, we also know that leadership does matter. A ton.

Great GMs, front office staff, and especially…outstanding coaching is huge in this league.

If talent alone was all that mattered, even some yahoo could coach a team to a championship. I’ve always believed that great teams have a math formula: Leadership (with a vision) + Talent + coaching + culture = great team. Take one of those away and it’s extremely difficult.

You’re right. Without talent, leadership doesn’t matter. But talent alone is not enough. Of all fan bases, we should know that.

I’d have to lean more with KSK on this that Talent is the key factor in NFL.

Cowboys were a great example how a Yahoo could lead the most talented team to a championship. I present Barry Switzer

And I’d agree without it’s extremely difficult as we blew one as a result of not having that leadership. And maybe more.