What's The Solution? (Long)

[khiladi]

Okay, so if Sparano is average, then Garrett should get the credit for our offense being good that year. What did Sparano ever do without Garrett, or without a gimmick offense that one of his assistants came up with? I'm not trying to advocate for keeping Garrett. I think he either needs to improve, or be replaced. But even if you're right, it's still too simplistic. Just removing Garrett doesn't make us a better franchise. We might get a better offensive mind in there. Okay, what about the defense? You haven't done anything to fix that just by firing Garrett. Maybe the new HC brings in a better DC, but we don't know that. If he doesn't, we score more points, but we still don't win anything. And what about the culture of mediocrity and lack of accountability? Is a new HC going to have enough control and positive effect to make significant improvements in that area.

It goes way beyond getting rid of a coach you don't like and didn't think should have been here in the first place. The guy who allowed for that to happen is still in charge.

How does that logic hold? As soon as Sparano left, the Cowboys offense started tailing off and has continued that way under Garrett. 2007 and 2008 were essentially the same players and 2008 is when the Garrett playbook took full effect. The constants were essentially the same so one can actually compare the two on these grounds.

The difference between Sparano at Miami and the Jets with Sparano in Dallas is the talent level, meaning the constants were not the same. You put Garrett on Miami and the Jets, it would even be worse that Sparano.

Again, the Garrett family permeates and permeated this organization. How can one absolve Garrett, when Jerry Jones has hired his whole family?

 

[Verdict]

Quite honestly, Jerry Jones isn't what is wrong with this team. This team, even with its warts has above average talent. Right now coaching is taking above average talent and putting it in a position to under perform. Callahan has to go. His play calling sucks. We really need to bring in someone who has a feel for the game and an innovative mind to get this thing off and running.

We need two offensive guards and maybe an offensive tackle to make this OL dominant. I doubt we can get that in one off season.

We also need at least one stud defensive lineman and another rotational player to add to this defensive line. That makes 5 linemen. I don't care if you get them in free agency or the draft, but that is pretty much a necessity.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I don't think there is a quick fix.

We put our eggs in the basket of players like Romo, Ware, Witten and Austin. The Cowboys invested in complimentary players like Spencer, Hatcher, Ratliff, Carr and Claiborne.

We kept thinking that the investment would pay off. It paid off to the tune of 1 playoff victory.

Now we have a lot of cap costly players that we are bound to.

When I think of 'quick fixes', I think of the Niners and the Falcons.

The Falcons were in dire straits with Vick on the cap and in prison. Petrino was a joke. While Mike Smith proved to be a solid coach, their quick fix was really selecting Matt Ryan 3rd overall.

The Niners hired themselves a brilliant coach that resurrected the career of Alex Smith. Even still, he had the foresight to draft Kaepernick in the 2nd round because Smith wasn't likely to be the answer for them in the Super Bowl (even now his passing hasn't been all that great).

The 'problem contract' is Romo's. It comes with the territory of getting a franchise QB whose skills are on the decline.

I tend to lean towards us needing a sharp offensive mind at head coach. I doubt we'll get into the top-5 of the draft and get a Matt Ryan type of QB. And if we did, I doubt we'd take a QB. It's not exactly feasible to do so.

Instead, I can only hope for a different offensive philosophy and mindset. Something like Harbaugh in SF or McCoy in San Diego. And somebody smart enough to see the eroding skills of Romo and will draft a QB next year, let them develop.

Still, it's not all that easy. We'll need a HC that can handle the media. I'm not too big of a fan of changing schemes because it's a good way to stagnate player development. And we'll have to figure out what we want to do with Sean Lee. As great as he is and as much as I enjoy watching him, I have no confidence in his health.

I'm sure we'll continue to get the 'get rid of Jerry' comments here.

Hey, I'm all for it.

But, it is not going to happen anytime soon.

So instead I can only hope we find an invigorated coach that can pump some life into the offense and eventually get the defense going. We really need to be consistently trading down in each draft instead of trading up for guys like Claiborne. And we need a HC that is just flat-out ruthless. We have to put the organization in situations where we can keep the players we want, but at the same time cut ties before they decline so they don't hold us hostage.

Yes, that's a Jerry problem. But, I don't see Jerry changing anytime soon unless he's on death's door.









YR

 

[Picksix]

How does that logic hold? As soon as Sparano left, the Cowboys offense started tailing off and has continued that way under Garrett. 2007 and 2008 were essentially the same players and 2008 is when the Garrett playbook took full effect. The constants were essentially the same so one can actually compare the two on these grounds.

The difference between Sparano at Miami and the Jets with Sparano in Dallas is the talent level, meaning the constants were not the same. You put Garrett on Miami and the Jets, it would even be worse that Sparano.

Again, the Garrett family permeates and permeated this organization. How can one absolve Garrett, when Jerry Jones has hired his whole family?

So, if Garrett isn't any good, and Sparano was just average (as you say), then how did we have such a good offense in 2007? Can't be the players, because (as you said) the players were basically the same in 2008. Again, you're missing the point, because you keep going back to putting everything on Garrett, and your only solution is to get him of him. That may very well be part of it, but it's only one part.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

So, if Garrett isn't any good, and Sparano was just average (as you say), then how did we have such a good offense in 2007?

because teams diddnt have the book on Garrett yet? The more film that accumulated the worse they did culminating in the 44-6 smackdown.

 

[KB1122]

Charlotte locking her dad and brother in the tower and hiring a football person.

 

[khiladi]

So, if Garrett isn't any good, and Sparano was just average (as you say), then how did we have such a good offense in 2007? Can't be the players, because (as you said) the players were basically the same in 2008. Again, you're missing the point, because you keep going back to putting everything on Garrett, and your only solution is to get him of him. That may very well be part of it, but it's only one part.

What's the constant? Our players.. What's not the constant? Garrett... Thus, logically, Garrett was worse than an average Sparano...

 

[Picksix]

Because our OC absolutely sucked...

Broken record.

 

[khiladi]

Broken record.

Because he's the constant since 2008 as OC... Other tea defenses say it's easy to defend this offense.

 

[MRV52]

Quickest fix would be to apply for an expansion team.

 

[Picksix]

Because he's the constant since 2008 as OC... Other tea defenses say it's easy to defend this offense.

So he's the constant since 2008, but not 2007, when he was the OC? An average Tony Sparano was the only difference between being a great offense and a poor one? Baloney! And you're saying my logic doesn't hold? You're twisting everything to make it look like Garrett is the only problem with this team, and he's the reason for all of our misery. I'm not saying you're wrong that Garrett is a problem. I'm saying the overall problem with this team goes much deeper than that. Although, you still haven't explained how we did so well in 2007 with a two playcallers who either sucked, or were average.

 

[MagicMan]

Here is the funny thing -- For the longest time I've never bought into the belief that Jerry really, truly, put his ego ahead of his will to field a winning franchise. I just didn't believe it.

The total acceptance of mediocrity thrust upon this club hiring has-been uninspiring coordinators such as Bill Callahan and Monte Kiffin has been such a terrible terrible decision that was questioned by everyone inside and outside of Dallas from the get-go that I simply don't know anymore.... maybe Jerry does put his ego and the need to have yes-men around him AHEAD of winning.

It sucks that I even feel conflicted about it.

perrykemp, good to see that you are beginning to question Jerry's "will to win". I crossed that bridge 3 years ago and came to the conclusion that Jerry's definition of winning and losing is different from our definition. In his mind, he is winning in that ticket sales are high, luxury boxes are filled, attendance is high which means concessions are also, the team's value is through the roof, merchandise is selling, and ratings are still high when the Cowboys play. What other team would be the lead story the next day after a dismal & embarassing performance? Why would he think he is losing if all that is true? Meanwhile, as long as his team is average and interesting and not abysmal like the Jags, Bucs, etc. then all is right with the world. He can still sell his team with hope for the future, dreams of playoffs and stay the course. Heck the easiest thing in the world is coming up with excuses why the team did not perform well that season and that the next one will be different.

Don't get me wrong, I think he would prefer to have an elite NFL team, but that is not doable due to his lack of expertise/knowledge on that. And yes, his ego gets in the way and no one, even Stevie boy, can change that. I also believe he would love to hire a real coach....but with his meddlesome tendencies, GM position, and HC wannabe status; no self-respecting, deserving, knowledgeable coach is going to come here. So here we are........fans fed up with mediocre status and an owner whose only solution is rearranging the chairs to appear there is progress and hope coming. The biggest difference between us fans and Jerry is that not all of us have accepted mediocrity.......and he has, after all that is the best he can do for us.

 

[RS12]

Quickest fix: complete the OL, keep the pocket clean for Romo, be able to sustain drives and close out games, and keep this ramshackle defense off the field for as long as possible.

There is no quick fix, and Romo isnt part of the long term solution. This is tear down and rebuild job.

 

[nalam]

Start investing in the trenches , earnestly , build it steadily, and don't overdo contracts for older and some skill players (typical Jerry fashion) . improve the OL enough to have decent pass and run blocking , one dimensional is not going to cut in this league. And please get some real safeties !

 

[Picksix]

There is no quick fix, and Romo isnt part of the long term solution. This is tear down and rebuild job.

Perhaps.

 

[texbumthelife]

Solidify the lines.

Make the right hire, not the splash hire.

Cut, draft and sign players as a way of building for the future, not as a way of extending the present.

 

[Picksix]

Solidify the lines.

Make the right hire, not the splash hire.

Cut, draft and sign players as a way of building for the future, not as a way of extending the present.

I like that. I think they've been doing the latter. I thought a number of picks in this draft were with the intent on replacing older, expensive vets over the next couple of years. As for the right hire, who would you go after?

 

[mahoneybill]

The playbook is the same.. We haven't changed that and it's the constant...

Agree. We are not the triplets with an imposing O line, and a deep D that could actually close out a game when needed.

We seem to think we can run the same formations and feel no one will pick up on it.

 

[dupree89]

Here is the funny thing -- For the longest time I've never bought into the belief that Jerry really, truly, put his ego ahead of his will to field a winning franchise. I just didn't believe it.

The total acceptance of mediocrity thrust upon this club hiring has-been uninspiring coordinators such as Bill Callahan and Monte Kiffin has been such a terrible terrible decision that was questioned by everyone inside and outside of Dallas from the get-go that I simply don't know anymore.... maybe Jerry does put his ego and the need to have yes-men around him AHEAD of winning.

It sucks that I even feel conflicted about it.

Good post. I believe Jerry has a very strong desire to win championships- but only within the parameters he has set. IE. Him as GM. Aside from removing himself from the GM role, I think Jerry would do just about anything to win another championship.

His actions speak loudly and clearly: Nothing is more important than him being GM and being the center of everything. Its a hobby for him.

 

[cowboys1981]

We need a Dline that can pressure with just 4. It's the reason NY has two SB rings.