What's the Problem in Dallas?

[HTownCowboysFan]

The loss of Flo Adams was more than huge. We "poo-poo'ed" 'ol Flo, but the trickle down affect on that line killed us. Rogers turning out to be a puss was a blow as well, and pushed Rob Pettiti into the starting job. What sucks is the guy had a great OS and was having a good camp until he got "hurt."

JJ's injury (ankle) didn't help as well. The guy hasn't been right since. If you remember, he was having a hell of game vs. Philly when he went down. He won't be right until next summer.

On D, no doubt losing Dat and Al were killers. Just killers. But we still played well. Starting so many young guys catches up with you over a 16+ game season.

But we are better than we were last year and I expect us to be better next year.

And hey, before we right off this season, let's see what happens tomorrow.

Too much doom and gloomers around here. Chill. We've got 5 in the bank. It's just a matter of time.

 

[Zaxor]

There was no way he was counting on Pettitti, a 6th round draft choice, to be the starter. If Pettitti didn't make his weight he would not have even made the team.

By all reports going into camp Rodgers had a very good offseason and was starting to 'get it'. I absolutely think he was pencilled in to be the starter and was counted on to do so.

That injury - or exxagerated boo boo as it were - is as much responsible for the O-lines problems as Flo's or missing on Rivera. If Rodgers ever spends any time on the field, he will probably be a much, much better player than Rob Pettitti.

IF.

Furthermore, did *anyone* see the regression of Al Johnson coming? He looked very solid if unspectacular last year, but this year seems to have problems holding his ground.

We had all training camp almost to find a right tackle so Rogers is no excuse...I was complaing about Al Johnson last year after watching Henson getting the snap and having the Bears NT/DT on Henson before he took a step...so it was not new again..we had all year to fix it

 

[MikeD17]

The fact is 90 percent of this board saw Dallas going 10-6 this season and we still have a shot to do that. I think we need to realize that this team will be a better ''team'' next season. Here's why

You got 3 Rookies On defense starting right now . Ware, Spears, and Canty. Next year these guys will be bigger and stronger and more experienced in the 3-4 thus the defense improves.

The new switch to the 3-4 this year takes a team sometime to adjust too, i expect them to have this defense totally down by next year, thus the defense improves.

First time starters and New players Scott Shanle, Fujita and Fowler who gets alot of playing time will be all more battled harded and more ready into next year.

I just see this defense alot better next year though this year overall they have done a pretty good job.

On offense its all about protecting bledsoe. Protecting bledsoe like we protected aikman in the early and mid 90's. If we can do that we can go to the superbowl with bledsoe. Bledsoe will be more jelled with his wr's and te's.

If we can sure up the tackle spots next season this offense can do serious damage.

The Point im trying to make is that most of us in the start of the year didnt see us anymore then a 10-6 team. And we all kinda realized this team in 2006 would be making its serious push. I think you'll see that come to pass.

The fact is also the coaching on this team has been great, since parcells took over the team its a better team then when they had campo and those constant 5-11 years.

I think this week we come out and win the next two games. finish 10-6 and make the playoffs. Alot of you doomsayers will be proven to be fools once again

 

[Zaxor]

The fact is 90 percent of this board saw Dallas going 10-6 this season and we still have a shot to do that. I think we need to realize that this team will be a better ''team'' next season. Here's why

You got 3 Rookies On defense starting right now . Ware, Spears, and Canty. Next year these guys will be bigger and stronger and more experienced in the 3-4 thus the defense improves.

The new switch to the 3-4 this year takes a team sometime to adjust too, i expect them to have this defense totally down by next year, thus the defense improves.

First time starters and New players Scott Shanle, Fujita and Fowler who gets alot of playing time will be all more battled harded and more ready into next year.

I just see this defense alot better next year though this year overall they have done a pretty good job.

On offense its all about protecting bledsoe. Protecting bledsoe like we protected aikman in the early and mid 90's. If we can do that we can go to the superbowl with bledsoe. Bledsoe will be more jelled with his wr's and te's.

If we can sure up the tackle spots next season this offense can do serious damage.

The Point im trying to make is that most of us in the start of the year didnt see us anymore then a 10-6 team. And we all kinda realized this team in 2006 would be making its serious push. I think you'll see that come to pass.

The fact is also the coaching on this team has been great, since parcells took over the team its a better team then when they had campo and those constant 5-11 years.

I think this week we come out and win the next two games. finish 10-6 and make the playoffs. Alot of you doomsayers will be proven to be fools once again

Mike you mention getting a year older and wiser for the rookies as a reason we get better but I didn't see mention of those over 30 who are getting a year older and slower...

Allen, Adams, Key, Campbell, Glenn, Bledsoe, Rivera,...that is a bunch of O right there

then you have Fergie, Glover, Ellis, Glenn on D

 

[Maikeru-sama]

My opinion

1. No OL chemistry
2. Rookie Wall
3. Typical Bledsoe bonehead plays
4. Lack of running game
5. Defensive injuries
6. Player immaturity
7. Just plain ol bad play

Any combination of those contributed to why the 'boys have not played well, IMO. Can't just point the finger at one thing and say, "Ah Hah! That's it" All of those factors have contributed in some way to each of the Cowboys losses...

What makes you think player immaturity had anything to do with this debacle? Im just curious to what you have noticed.

1. Flozell Adams going down
2. - Lack of the Offensive Braintrust to adjust and innovate when Mr. Adams went down
3. Offensive Line play was hurt...it was the achillies heel coming in anyway
4. - Zimmer's passive and uninspiring playcalling was eventually figured out in the 2nd half of the season

 

[WoodysGirl]

What makes you think player immaturity had anything to do with this debacle? Im just curious to what you have noticed.

1. Flozell Adams going down
2. - Lack of the Offensive Braintrust to adjust and innovate when Mr. Adams went down
3. Offensive Line play was hurt...it was the achillies heel coming in anyway
4. - Zimmer's passive and uninspiring playcalling was eventually figured out in the 2nd half of the season

When I say player immaturity... I'm just speaking on whether some of them were ready for this playoff push. Physically and mentally.

The energy the young guys had at the beginning of the season. Has it tailed off due to the drain of it? As the pressure built thru the season, were the young guys really ready for the chase?

I'm not just speaking about the rookies. There are alot of young guys on this team who've been held to a standard they have never seen and may not have been ready for... And that's outside of overall talent or lack thereof in some cases.

It kinda goes back to this team being a year or two away, which gives the young guys time to get it together.

I'd go into it more... But the exit doors to my job are calling me...

peace

 

[DipChit]

Mike you mention getting a year older and wiser for the rookies as a reason we get better but I didn't see mention of those over 30 who are getting a year older and slower...

Allen, Adams, Key, Campbell, Glenn, Bledsoe, Rivera,...that is a bunch of O right there

The offense continues to be a bummer for sure. And not just this year or the last couple years, but for a long long time. Hell even in those 5-11 years it wasnt like our defense completely blew.. theres was tons of games where we only gave up in the high teens low 20's. But could never score more than 13.

Nowadays it still seems almost as bad although it's mostly just on the road now where we cant score..so I guess thats *some* sort of progress.. although like you say, it's not like theres many of the players on O (QB, WR's some linemen) that'll be around a whole heck of a lot longer anyway.

 

[Chuck 54]

My opinion

1. No OL chemistry
2. Rookie Wall
3. Typical Bledsoe bonehead plays
4. Lack of running game
5. Defensive injuries
6. Player immaturity
7. Just plain ol bad play

Any combination of those contributed to why the 'boys have not played well, IMO. Can't just point the finger at one thing and say, "Ah Hah! That's it" All of those factors have contributed in some way to each of the Cowboys losses...

Does Parcells have to take any responsibility for those?

 

[Chuck 54]

You missed a couple key injuries that do play a part in our performance. Namely J. Jones ankle injury which has been lingering. And Anthony Henry's multiple injuries. These impacted the performance of the O and D even more than the injuries you listed.

Not to mention you brush off losing Flo as a mere single injury. But you discount the fact that LT is the MOST important O-Line position protecting the QB's backside. And it takes only ONE defensive player to disrupt the offense by getting pressure . Teams see the LT as that weak position and load up on that side.

The coaching can be blamed for not having a solid back-up in that position, but don't brush off that injury.

And Cooley is an alternative FB not a TE so he has nothing to do with Witten's Pro Bowl status.

I thought I saw him listed as HB/alternate, but I guess he's more valuable since he can play both.

 

[Chuck 54]

i agree with hos and WG on all counts. one loss/injury that i didnt see in your thoughtful analysis (maybe i missed it) was that of henry which i think has been very significant.

one thing i will add is that for some reason (that i cant pin point, not being close to the team) this team is (for want of a better description) 'subdued', 'tame'. no 'fire'. seems to be a team of 'good guys' not 'football players'. just seems like when they lose they say all the right things but dont really get ready emotionally and dont channel their anger and frustration into better, more focused practices and playing better the next game.

i would ordinarily ascribe this to both player personalities and coaching mis-steps. aside from key (who is more likely to be viewed as a nuisance or 'BP guy' by some players given his history) there are no 'fiery' or 'hard ***' guys on this team. also no one or two people who can take the team on their back and carry them, no one to say 'we are struggling so this week give me the ball 30 times and i will get 170 yards and the tough yards!! throw me the ball, i will be open and i will make the tough catch and take it to the house!! i will get you the ball on the money, on the numbers, all you have to do is catch it!!

so my feeling is that in addition to all the deficiencies pointed out in other posts what we lack are emotional leaders who are ALSO playmakers, who can lead emotionally and by example who WILL GET THE JOB DONE NO MATTER WHAT, WHO WILL FIND A WAY ala emmitt, irvin, aikman, novacek, not even one such player.

parcells has his wish, we have team full of bus drivers unfortunately for fans this road has no U-turns, no going back.

a sad day indeed.

You know...for all the fire and brimstone stuff we hear about Parcells and how demanding he is, we almost never see any life or fire out of him on the sideline, win or lose...he just stands there and looks sour when things go poorly, lays sarcasm on guys who miss plays, but fire? I don't see it during the game...that's no excuse for the players, I know, but I'd like to see some fore from my coach on the sideline.

 

[Chuck 54]

There was no way he was counting on Pettitti, a 6th round draft choice, to be the starter. If Pettitti didn't make his weight he would not have even made the team.

By all reports going into camp Rodgers had a very good offseason and was starting to 'get it'. I absolutely think he was pencilled in to be the starter and was counted on to do so.

That injury - or exxagerated boo boo as it were - is as much responsible for the O-lines problems as Flo's or missing on Rivera. If Rodgers ever spends any time on the field, he will probably be a much, much better player than Rob Pettitti.

IF.

Furthermore, did *anyone* see the regression of Al Johnson coming? He looked very solid if unspectacular last year, but this year seems to have problems holding his ground.

I agree about Pettitti, but do you think he was counting on Rogers? Why? because he worked out? He'd seen nothing different until they were in preseason with pads on...it's too late then...just whom did he expect to start at RT and when Tucker is the only backup on the roster, he's the man no matter who gets injured. Personally, I think Parcells crapped out on the OL this year.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Does Parcells have to take any responsibility for those?

Ultimately the responsibility falls on the HC and the men pushing the personnel buttons, so I don't see why not...

 

[chinch]

1. No OL chemistry
2. Rookie Wall
3. Typical Bledsoe bonehead plays
4. Lack of running game
5. Defensive injuries
6. Player immaturity
7. Just plain ol bad play

Does Parcells have to take any responsibility for those?

ITS 100% PARCELLS FAULT.... HE'S AN OVERRATED BUM OUT OF TOUCH WITH TODAY'S NFL

You can't blame Tuna for #1 (flo's injury), #2, #4, #5, #6 unless you're just a blind hater. The same haters will blame him for #2/6 rookie wall & player immaturity then gripe if he signs a veteran 5th stringer while playing tons of young guys.

 

[Cbz40]

We've become a team of excuses.......a satirical observation of myself (Cbz)

Injury here, injury there....they wrecked our season.

Our young players were not physically and mentally prepared for a 16 game schedule.

We watched Flo go down to injury & no one to replace him. , Rogers was a bust, Johnson regressed, LA getting old lazy & slow. Peterman???????who's that???????

We simply cannot pile anymore on Our rookie DL & LBs they have already been mentally strained......it simply would be too much for their little rookie brains to comprehend at this point. Therefore we must keep it simple. We will just have to keep running the same ole Vanilla D......if it works great if it doesn't.....we'll change it next year when the rooks are smarter and the coaches have had time to figure out some new wrinkles.


Bledsoe our long awaited savior, Give him time and he will lead us to the promise land. what a great arm but he just doesn't have time to throw. It doesnt matter that our OL has been needing fixing for 3yrs.....we'll get around to it.

Lets bring in Romo or Henson......by Gawd they will get the job done......they don't need an OL in front of them.

So who do we blame ....... no one. We are just going through a period of bad luck....our astrological future will not be corrected until Pluto is in allignment with Mars. Let's just face facts.......right now if that little green man threw poo poo off the Moon it would hit us right in the face. Things will get better next year..just wait & see.

Just wait Cowboy fans we will right this ship in the offseason.......Just you wait and see.

Wayne you are dead wrong......there is no way the Giants, Skins, & Eaglets will be better than the Boyz next year........no way..........................................no way.................................no way.

 

[wileedog]

We had all training camp almost to find a right tackle so Rogers is no excuse...

What were you expecting to find a week into training camp?

Maybe we could call "do-over" on the draft?

I was complaing about Al Johnson last year after watching Henson getting the snap and having the Bears NT/DT on Henson before he took a step...so it was not new again..we had all year to fix it

So he got beat on one play so we should have replaced him.

You really do look at the league like its a Madden game, don't you?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

you guys are amazing, can only fix so many things in one offseason

 

[wileedog]

Personally, I think Parcells crapped out on the OL this year.

I think he's crapped out on the OL for 3 years. I've stated several times I think that is the one place Parcells has completely flopped.

Al Johnson I don't really blame him for. He was a productive college player, and we didn't necessarily reach to get him. He just is having a terrible 'sophmore' season (technically his second). It happens.

Rogers, Peterman, Rivera, and even the massive contract extension to Flo I think were all bad moves, even though Flo played at least one good season. Putting a TE coach in as an OL coach doesn't seem like it has worked out swimmingly either.

Last year at this time everyone was saying that 2004-05 offseason was going to be critical for Parcells considering he mistakenly stood pat after the 2003 season. IMO he came through, and the moves he made to this defense *will* be paying dividends for us for years to come. Yes, even Ware.

This year its the O-line. If he can't fix it even to a level of league average, then I will start to join in the chorus of those who seem to spend all day thinking up new ways of twisting events into ways to blame him.

 

[kdog]

Ok! here is the skinny!
BP has brought in a good class of players, Witten,jj,mbIII,ware,spears ratliff,canty, this is a fact,

Follow me closely here BP is also responsible for Retaining zimmer, payton, dehaven and sporano and several other useless coaches. HE brought in peterman, gourode,johnson, he raved about stewart and several other bust and claimed he was happy with his team They were horrible and he says well i ,misjudged the team.

He continues to play the 80's giants football phylosophy which is ineffective. He had chances to put teams away early and refused to open the playbook leaving teams the chance to kill us! When will some of you blame this man for something. He decided not to bring in a proven free safety or veteran offensive line men and it is killing us now!

i'm not saying he is the blame for everything however, He did buy the groceries and as he says you are what your record says you are! 3 years 1 game over 500. Hey! he has one more year to run his same old system and we still do not have a QB for the future.

here is your chance to tell us how parcells is not at fault here!

 

[Clove]

Ok! here is the skinny!
BP has brought in a good class of players, Witten,jj,mbIII,ware,spears ratliff,canty, this is a fact,

Follow me closely here BP is also responsible for Retaining zimmer, payton, dehaven and sporano and several other useless coaches. HE brought in peterman, gourode,johnson, he raved about stewart and several other bust and claimed he was happy with his team They were horrible and he says well i ,misjudged the team.

He continues to play the 80's giants football phylosophy which is ineffective. He had chances to put teams away early and refused to open the playbook leaving teams the chance to kill us! When will some of you blame this man for something. He decided not to bring in a proven free safety or veteran offensive line men and it is killing us now!

i'm not saying he is the blame for everything however, He did buy the groceries and as he says you are what your record says you are! 3 years 1 game over 500. Hey! he has one more year to run his same old system and we still do not have a QB for the future.

here is your chance to tell us how parcells is not at fault here!

Foundation of a team is QB and Both Lines - we only are starting to have a D-Line, we're 1 down 2 to go.

 

[wileedog]

He continues to play the 80's giants football phylosophy which is ineffective.

Carolina rode that EXACT philosophy to a SB two years ago and are 10-4 running it this year.

It still works fine. You just need the players to do it.