Why are we desperately hanging on to an 8-8 team?

[LatinMind]

Sad that you laugh at the many years the Cowboys were an elite team and settle for what we have now.

Cowboys have been alot worse in the past. ALOT worse. In my time, i have not seen anything worse than the babe laufenberg days being QB. And im sure before then people recall worse times.

 

[Wood]

If Dallas goes thru bulk of the FA period without extending Romo I think there is good chance they let him play out his contract.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Cowboys have been alot worse in the past. ALOT worse. In my time, i have not seen anything worse than the babe laufenberg days being QB. And im sure before then people recall worse times.

The early 60's and the late 80's were shorter periods than the past 17 years.

 

[Trajan]

Jerry honestly feels this team is just a couple players away from a superbowl. He will keep leveraging the future to try and win now, not realizing he is destroying any chance for success as he does so.

One becomes almost numb to the goofiness of our front office. My hope is that another Renascence for the team occurs when a new and competent head coach is brought in to pick up the pieces from the Wade/Garrett regimes and put the entire organization back on the path to a winning culture. It takes an epic coach with skins on the wall and power to overcome the craziness of Jerry. We saw the Cowboys recover and begin to excel when Parcells arrived. My hope for the future is Cowher, yea, I know, almost zero chance of it happening, but then I never thought Parcells would come here either. Without hopes like this how else can we enjoy drifting through the doldrums which we now find our team ?

 

[LatinMind]

The early 60's and the late 80's were shorter periods than the past 17 years.

Dallas hasnt been bad for 17 yrs.

 

[Trajan]

Dallas hasnt been bad for 17 yrs.

True, but much is based on one's perspective. I see the last 17 years in two phases. The post Jimmy decline, when the incredible team of the 90's slowly eroded through bad drafts, bad FA acquisitions, and really bad coaching. Then there was a revival under Parcells, the team was competitive for a 2 maybe 3 year window, the last season of Parcells tenure and the beginning of Wade's.

Since Parcells we are now in a decline but the league is worse and we have much more talent than the team Campo went 5-11 with, so we pull out 8-8 seasons. This mediocrity we are now mired in will continue until a competent coach with a plan, an understanding of drafting (takes burden off Jerry) and who can bring all phases of the game together to put them in sync to win is hired.

What has happened since Parcells left that really makes anyone think this team is on the upward climb ?

I don't think I'm negative, just recognize that cycles exist in all things including sports. Teams are competitive, hopefully win, then grow old and fall from the pedestal. The good owner/staff recognizes cycles and rides them down only to rebuild. Jerry doesn't do this, he thinks he can cheat death, cheat the cycle and keep the zombie afloat, but what he in fact accomplishes is cheating of the team's future success. I would rather pay now, have a couple bad seasons and then return competitive later than go years at 8-8, but that is just my outlook on life, one our teams owner does not share.

 

[Section446]

Because the league is full of parity and a team can be 8-8 one year and the next year win the Super Bowl?

Those are teams that know how to draft.

 

[visionary]

You could certainly look at a team that was decimated by injury last year and use that alone as a justification for basically maintaining the status quo. You could say that about the defensive side of the ball as well as the offensive line. You could certainly argue that a healthy OL working together all of camp, a healthy defense, a simplified defense and new defensive coaching staff and a few draft picks/low level free agents should be enough to win you a couple of close games and get you into the playoffs.

I can definitely see that argument.

However, there are two sides to every coin. I'm probably taking a risk by being <gasp> pessimistic here, but there are downfalls to that approach and I'm not sure you are setting yourself up for success.

Even if healthy, maybe the OL still isn't any good. The two guards are castoffs and Costa was a guy most couldn't wait to boot after 2011. Now a little more than a game in 2012 have people thinking he's solid.

Maybe the guys you are counting on to take the next step either don't (Crawford/Parnell) or can't get healthy enough to (Johnson/Church). Maybe your guys that are always injured.....get injured (Lee, Carter, Austin, Murray). Maybe a team that has been built for the 3-4 for about 7 years really doesn't translate to a 4-3 as well as you thought.

You could also dig a little deeper and see that Dallas beat one playoff team last year (Bengals). You could see that a team that historically staggers to the end of a season before collapsing....staggered to the end of the season and collapsed. You could notice that a team that has had a middle of the road offense since 2007 had a middle of the road offense including a 31st ranked rushing offense. You might notice a team who, on multiple occasions, had to abandon their game plan and go no huddle once they were in a hole to generate a lot of their offense. At this point, it doesn't look like a lot of changes are in store for that offense.

This team needs to nail the draft (I feel like I've been saying that for several years). The pro personnel department did a good job of finding guys to play last year. They need to apply that to FA to find some vet bargains like the Pats have in the past. They might stand a chance of getting those missing couple of wins and getting into the playoffs. However, I still don't think they can do enough in one offseason to stack up with the upper echelon teams in the NFL.

a very good post junk
unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears

 

[jnday]

You could certainly look at a team that was decimated by injury last year and use that alone as a justification for basically maintaining the status quo. You could say that about the defensive side of the ball as well as the offensive line. You could certainly argue that a healthy OL working together all of camp, a healthy defense, a simplified defense and new defensive coaching staff and a few draft picks/low level free agents should be enough to win you a couple of close games and get you into the playoffs.

I can definitely see that argument.

However, there are two sides to every coin. I'm probably taking a risk by being <gasp> pessimistic here, but there are downfalls to that approach and I'm not sure you are setting yourself up for success.

Even if healthy, maybe the OL still isn't any good. The two guards are castoffs and Costa was a guy most couldn't wait to boot after 2011. Now a little more than a game in 2012 have people thinking he's solid.

Maybe the guys you are counting on to take the next step either don't (Crawford/Parnell) or can't get healthy enough to (Johnson/Church). Maybe your guys that are always injured.....get injured (Lee, Carter, Austin, Murray). Maybe a team that has been built for the 3-4 for about 7 years really doesn't translate to a 4-3 as well as you thought.

You could also dig a little deeper and see that Dallas beat one playoff team last year (Bengals). You could see that a team that historically staggers to the end of a season before collapsing....staggered to the end of the season and collapsed. You could notice that a team that has had a middle of the road offense since 2007 had a middle of the road offense including a 31st ranked rushing offense. You might notice a team who, on multiple occasions, had to abandon their game plan and go no huddle once they were in a hole to generate a lot of their offense. At this point, it doesn't look like a lot of changes are in store for that offense.

This team needs to nail the draft (I feel like I've been saying that for several years). The pro personnel department did a good job of finding guys to play last year. They need to apply that to FA to find some vet bargains like the Pats have in the past. They might stand a chance of getting those missing couple of wins and getting into the playoffs. However, I still don't think they can do enough in one offseason to stack up with the upper echelon teams in the NFL.

Good post.

 

[Falcon554]

True, but much is based on one's perspective. I see the last 17 years in two phases. The post Jimmy decline, when the incredible team of the 90's slowly eroded through bad drafts, bad FA acquisitions, and really bad coaching. Then there was a revival under Parcells, the team was competitive for a 2 maybe 3 year window, the last season of Parcells tenure and the beginning of Wade's.

Since Parcells we are now in a decline but the league is worse and we have much more talent than the team Campo went 5-11 with, so we pull out 8-8 seasons. This mediocrity we are now mired in will continue until a competent coach with a plan, an understanding of drafting (takes burden off Jerry) and who can bring all phases of the game together to put them in sync to win is hired.

What has happened since Parcells left that really makes anyone think this team is on the upward climb ?

I don't think I'm negative, just recognize that cycles exist in all things including sports. Teams are competitive, hopefully win, then grow old and fall from the pedestal. The good owner/staff recognizes cycles and rides them down only to rebuild. Jerry doesn't do this, he thinks he can cheat death, cheat the cycle and keep the zombie afloat, but what he in fact accomplishes is cheating of the team's future success. I would rather pay now, have a couple bad seasons and then return competitive later than go years at 8-8, but that is just my outlook on life, one our teams owner does not share.

Great post

 

[Falcon554]

Good post.

great post

 

[Apollo Creed]

In today's NFL the difference between a 6-10 team and a 10-6 team is usually a few bounces and some good or bad calls along the way, real talk.

 

[visionary]

In today's NFL the difference between a 6-10 team and a 10-6 team is usually a few bounces and some good or bad calls along the way, real talk.

that "ball" sure has been bouncing the way of NE, Steelers, Ravens, Giants, for many years years now

ever heard the phrase "you make you own luck"?

 

[Apollo Creed]

that "ball" sure has been bouncing the way of NE, Steelers, Ravens, Giants, for many years years now

ever heard the phrase "you make you own luck"?

The Giants are 2 inches away from have 0 rings, I know people talk about 'making your own luck' but I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good. Crayton doesn't pull up on that route and JPP doesn't block that kick in Dallas the G-men have 0 rings and history looks a lot differently.

Truly is a game of inches.

 

[Miller]

The Giants are 2 inches away from have 0 rings, I know people talk about 'making your own luck' but I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good. Crayton doesn't pull up on that route and JPP doesn't block that kick in Dallas the G-men have 0 rings and history looks a lot differently.

Truly is a game of inches.

It is but look at your examples...Giants player makes play when needed by holding on to the ball and we have a WR QUIT on a play. That is more on the players and their mindset then luck. We sure are a pretty unlucky group to be one of only 6 teams to have 0-1 playoff win over the last 15 years or so. It seems these other teams...NE, Giants, Baltimore, Steelers, Packers, etc have managed to stay competitive with a system that works.

 

[Miller]

Dallas hasnt been bad for 17 yrs.

Your right, they have had a winning record 8 of those 17 years with 3 of the 8 being 9-7. As opposed to having a winning record for 26 of 31 years from 60s through 90s.

 

[DFWJC]

I find it odd that we have a thread saying how we are holding on to our same team when since the beginning of the 2010 season (the team that quit on Phillips) we have had maybe more player turnover than any other team in the league.

here are some of the guys gone from that 2010 team:

Roy Williams
Marion Barber
Marty Bennett
Stephen Bowen
Marcus Spears
Brady James
Keith Brookings
Alan Ball
Mike Hamlin
Terrance newman
Gerald Sensabugh
Mike Jenkins
Leonard Davis
Marc Columbo
Andre Gurode
Kyle Kosier
Montrea Holland
Alex Barron
Sam Hurd
Felix Jones
AOA
Igor Oshansky
Brandon Williams
and more...

 

[visionary]

The Giants are 2 inches away from have 0 rings, I know people talk about 'making your own luck' but I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good. Crayton doesn't pull up on that route and JPP doesn't block that kick in Dallas the G-men have 0 rings and history looks a lot differently.

Truly is a game of inches.

i agree with you, football is a game of inches
anyone who plays or watches the game knows that

the issue is that if you are well-coached, disciplined, a well-run organization that evaluates talent properly and allocates resources appropriately, you are better at getting those inches when it counts

this does not mean you will always succeed but if the call does go against you or in a particular instance you are unable to get the inches, you are in a better position to overcome that and get back in position to get those inches and to have that call made in your favor

so, you increase your odds of success and that is what NE, giants, ravens, packers, and steelers have done well in recent years and what organizations like dallas and the jets are so poor at doing

of course there is luck and the bounce of the ball involved, no one denies that

just that, you can stack the odds in your favor or against you by who you are and how you approach things

dismissing success as being based purely on luck or the bounce of the ball is not correct and is a recipe for continued lack of success

when shakespeare wrote "the fault dear brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves", he was pointing to a reality

i will give you another saying "fortune favors the prepared mind"

when einstein said "success is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration" he was likely exaggerating for effect but still trying to make a point

just my .02

 

[jjktkk]

The teams best players, Romo, Ware, and Witten. All three are getting into the area of the downside of their career, but all three still produce at a Pro Bowl level. There are a few talented players, such as Spencer, Carr, Hatcher, Ratliff, although Ratliff, because of injuries, needs to rebound from his subpar play. Now you have a nice, young nucleus of young talented players in Lee, Murray, Carter, Claiborne, Smith, and to a lesser extent, Harris, Crawford, Lissemore, and Church. This is a talented group of players imo. Sure there are question marks with this group, especially the injury prone issues with Murray, Lee, and Carter, but I don't see why you would want to blow this team up, instead of trying to add more talent to this group, mainly the OL, DL, and the S position. Why not see if Kiffin's defense improves the play on that side of the field?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

The teams best players, Romo, Ware, and Witten. All three are getting into the area of the downside of their career, but all three still produce at a Pro Bowl level. There are a few talented players, such as Spencer, Carr, Hatcher, Ratliff, although Ratliff, because of injuries, needs to rebound from his subpar play. Now you have a nice, young nucleus of young talented players in Lee, Murray, Carter, Claiborne, Smith, and to a lesser extent, Harris, Crawford, Lissemore, and Church. This is a talented group of players imo. Sure there are question marks with this group, especially the injury prone issues with Murray, Lee, and Carter, but I don't see why you would want to blow this team up, instead of trying to add more talent to this group, mainly the OL, DL, and the S position. Why not see if Kiffin's defense improves the play on that side of the field?

Agreed. Blowing this team up when it has a legitimate franchise QB would be senseless. As long as Romo is the QB there is a good chance they can make a run as long as Jerry fixes the line and provides Romo with more weapons.

Alas, the downside is the defense may have to make do with a new scheme and a legendary DC.