What would be better for the teams future?

[Arkyvarminter]

We have been an 8-8 team for several years if you go by the total games played the last 15 years. I know we were 13-3 not too long ago but I'm talking about our record dating back many years has us about .500. My question is, would the future of the team, like the next 2-3 years, be better if we went 8-8 again or if we just managed to win 4 or 5 games? Don't get me wrong, I want to win no matter what and I'm not talking about tanking for whatever reason. I'm thinking worse case scenario here. I'm saying at the end of the year what would be the difference in a 4 win team going forward vs an 8 win team? I guess I really don't want to be 8-8 again and Jerry make excuses but if we somehow manage to win only a few games would this actually get things rolling in a different direction in terms of coaching, players, etc. I am in no way saying we are going to win just a few games. I think this team can win 10 games. I'm just thinking hypothetically what will it take to get us out of the average team group and back where we belong. I also know winning will solve everything but which of the two scenarios would benefit the future of the team more if we don't win 10 games? I know some will say that If we go 8-8, Garrett is gone but I don't believe that. Jerry will make excuses like injuries and such. I hope you all understand the question because its kind of hard for a dumb country boy to explain...Thanks

 

[tantrix1969]

I see what you're getting at and yes I think another 8-8 finish could be the worst possible outcome if it means we just keep spinning our wheels. The outcome I want to see is 10-6 at least and if we don't make that I agree 7-9 or worse may be better than 8-8 if that's what it takes to make Jerry make a change(let me say that while I have doubts about JG I do want him to succeed but he needs to show something this yr imho)

 

[FiveRings]

This is a team built to win now, honestly,most NFL teams are, it's just a different animal than other sports

 

[Doomsay]

I'm thinking better punctuation and improved health in the trenches.

 

[Future]

Yea, technically, losing more games, if you arent in the playoffs, is always better for the future. But I dont think its ever better to be 3-13 than 8-8.

 

[Red Dragon]

Since the Cowboys are so bad with draft decisions, why would a losing record (and higher draft position) be more desirable?

 

[Eskimo]

I disagree that we are bad with draft decisions. We had a really bad stretch from 2006-9 but were quite good 2002-5 and seem to have been pretty good from 20010-present. Why we were so bad in the middle is hard to be sure but it is hard not to believe that involved and smart HCs are needed for Dallas to draft well. We have done well under Jimmy, Parcells and now Garrett. We have done poorly under Campo, Galley, Switzer and Wade. I really have no definite proof that the HC exerting control over Jerry is what accounts for the difference but it is hard to believe this is not the case since Jerry isn't a real GM or personnel guy.

As for the original question, I hope we make the playoffs and hit it playing real well. It almost doesn't seem to matter what your regular season record is anymore. You just want to hit the playoffs healthy and playing well. That formula has worked recently for the Giants, Packers. Steelers and Ravens. The last regular season dominant team that won the SB in the Saints in 2009. The Packers won it when they barely squeaked in 2010 but lost in 2011 when they were 15-1.

The real key to us this year is probably the play in the secondary. By that I don't mean the CBs although they are important. I'm talking about the other 5 guys in the back 7 - the 3 LBs and the 2 Safeties. We have had almost no production out of those spots save Sean Lee the last two years. I think part of the issue was talent and part was scheme. I do think those flaws have been significantly improved so I am hoping for better this year. The OL is important but our offense has been pretty productive despite poor OL play but our secondary gets scorched by most of the decent QBs in the league and has doomed us to mediocrity.

 

[Sarge]

Last year we were nailed with injuries. I think and hope, we'll see improvement this year. If we go 8-8 again with a relatively healthy team, expect JG to be gone.

Having said that, I am indeed expecting improvement on both sides of the ball this year. The questions remains...... how much.

 

[Trueboysfan]

Injuries...that's going to make or break us. All the talent is here now and if it weren't for injuries last year I think we would have had at minimum a 10 win season. Leave out injuries and the only real question mark to me is that Oline

 

[TheFinisher]

With the decisions we've made this off-season like extending our 33 year old QB through 2019 with a 100 million dollar contract and granting him "Peyton type authority" on offense, we better not go backwards in 2013.

A 5 or 6 win campaign means the axe for Garrett, which means changing the offensive system your 100 million dollar QB has played in since 2007... And I can't see how that would be a good thing at this point in his career or for the near future of the Cowboys. It would also mean the last 4 seasons were a waste and just kept us in a state of spinning our wheels without any progress.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I vote for winning the Superbowl this season, then somehow totally nailing the draft the next three years with a new revolutionary grading system that they implemented this past draft unbeknownst to all of us. Other folks will no doubt catch on to the system in that time, so three more years would be about it. I wanted to keep my unrealistic scenario realistic.

 

[JackWagon]

The problem is this ... even with a crappy record and a high draft choice ... i dont trust the front office to draft the right players anyway. *shrug*

 

[Doomsday101]

what would be better for the future of this team? Winning it all. Best case is Garrett shows he can get the job done and work with Jerry.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Injuries...that's going to make or break us. All the talent is here now and if it weren't for injuries last year I think we would have had at minimum a 10 win season. Leave out injuries and the only real question mark to me is that Oline

This. Injuries hampered what could have been a good defense. On offense, a suspect o-line neutralized a talented group of playmakers.

I am still not confident in the o-line but I do think they can be more consistent if they stay healthy. I think the health of the defense, however, is more critical to the success of the 2013 Cowboys than anything else. If the defense stays healthy they can definitely win more games than last year.

 

[DenverBroncosFan83]

Hands off approach, and hire a GM I think that would wonders for you guys.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

At some point does it have to be realized that the breath of fresh air from hiring a real GM and Coach is the only thing that will revive this Franchise.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I disagree that we are bad with draft decisions. We had a really bad stretch from 2006-9 but were quite good 2002-5 and seem to have been pretty good from 20010-present. Why we were so bad in the middle is hard to be sure but it is hard not to believe that involved and smart HCs are needed for Dallas to draft well. We have done well under Jimmy, Parcells and now Garrett. We have done poorly under Campo, Galley, Switzer and Wade. I really have no definite proof that the HC exerting control over Jerry is what accounts for the difference but it is hard to believe this is not the case since Jerry isn't a real GM or personnel guy.

As for the original question, I hope we make the playoffs and hit it playing real well. It almost doesn't seem to matter what your regular season record is anymore. You just want to hit the playoffs healthy and playing well. That formula has worked recently for the Giants, Packers. Steelers and Ravens. The last regular season dominant team that won the SB in the Saints in 2009. The Packers won it when they barely squeaked in 2010 but lost in 2011 when they were 15-1.

The real key to us this year is probably the play in the secondary. By that I don't mean the CBs although they are important. I'm talking about the other 5 guys in the back 7 - the 3 LBs and the 2 Safeties. We have had almost no production out of those spots save Sean Lee the last two years. I think part of the issue was talent and part was scheme. I do think those flaws have been significantly improved so I am hoping for better this year. The OL is important but our offense has been pretty productive despite poor OL play but our secondary gets scorched by most of the decent QBs in the league and has doomed us to mediocrity.

2006-2009 is the reason there are so many doubters about our drafting, wish people would pay attention to what has gone on recently instead of living in the past.

The secondary is really the key to our season, all the whining about other positions has really hidden what the true problem has been for this team over the last decade. Our secondary hasn't been able to cover anything, and it has been that way for wayyyy too long. Out of the back 7, I do (finally) have confidence in the CBs and LBs (if healthy), but the safeties are the real question mark. If we want to make the playoffs, look no further than the play of those safeties this coming season cause in a passing league you have to be able to stop the pass and we haven't done that with the horrible players we have had at safety recently.

 

[Red Dragon]

I don't think a losing record for higher draft position is worth it. It's worth bearing in mind that Ryan Leaf was a 1st-round pick while Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't think a losing record for higher draft position is worth it. It's worth bearing in mind that Ryan Leaf was a 1st-round pick while Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round.

That's a fair point but on the other hand, Payton Manning was taken with the 1st overall pick of the 98 draft. Moses Moreno was taken in the 7th round. Now, you may not remember Moreno but I'm sure everybody knows how important Manning has been to the Colts, now the Broncos and to the NFL in general.

I am not in favor of intentionally losing. That just doesn't sit well with me but I will say this. The team that gets Clowney in the next draft could well be drafting a generational defensive player.

JMO

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I am not in favor of intentionally losing. That just doesn't sit well with me but I will say this. The team that gets Clowney in the next draft could well be drafting a generational defensive player.

Well we have no chance of getting Clowney, but it sure is nice to dream about him and Ware being on the field together.....it would take an RG3 type trade and while the chances are very slim, when you have Jerry as a owner and he is willing to do all that for just Mo, its easy to see him trying for Clowney.