That's why I've repeatedly asked the question: Were MM/Quinn OK w/ taking a TE in the 2nd, Polly as the starting RB, the LB corps, and the OL. Get that question answered, and you'll have the answer.
Did Quinn play S's at LB's because he wanted to?
Did MM have a good game plan and Dak couldn't execute it?
I think these are all very fair questions. Are DQ/MM getting the groceries they want, or is Jerry forcing these guys to make due with what he picks out?
Think about this, Brandin Cooks has been a 1,000 yd receiver 6 of his 10 years in the league. Why was he ineffective here?
I wouldn't say Cooks has been ineffective as much as the Cowboys offense was completely different the first few weeks of the season to the 2nd half. Cooks started out with games of 22, 17, 27, and 7 yards. That is ineffective. Once the Cowboys got him involved more which really started with that 2nd Giants game he was on pace for roughly 70 catches 900 yards and 10 TDs if he kept up that pace for a full season.
Was Quinn OK w/ Osa as the starter?
This is one that we will just have to disagree on, I think Osa is underrated.
Actually, teams w/ several stars often do exactly what we did, beat the bad teams and lose to the good teams, often badly. The record thingie is just so tiresome when it's obvious we weren't up to the task of playoff football.
And I think that's a very fair argument that this teams biggest issue is their talent is too top heavy and lacks the depth/role players needed to be a complete team. Not sure this is right but I tend to go the other way a little bit and think that the stars and highest paid players on this team is filled with too many one dimensional players....I.E. Parsons is the best pure pass rusher in the league but a liability in the run game at DE. Tony Pollard is clearly not a power runner, OSA more of a pass first player and pretty middle of the pack against the run, DLaw does everything except get to the QB,obviously everyone on the roster at the second level is more coverage focused than run stuffers LVE included, Dak....well I wont turn this into a Dak debate lol
Now, go position by position and explain to me how upgrade are not needed in 9 spots.
Defensively I would honestly be fine running it back with two acquisitions....one at LB, and one at DE. I think you turn Micah back into the hybrid player he was his rookie season and get more snaps at MLB on early downs. If you want to leave Micah at DE then you need two starting caliber LBs instead of a DE. I don't think this DT group is nearly as poor as people think it is. I also think that having legitimate LBs and not converted Safeties is going to help the back end of your defense too so your play from the Kearse/Hooker/Wilson group could get better organically from stronger players in the middle.
Offensively I would really target a C and RB upgrade. It would be nice to find an upgrade at RT, but that doesnt seem realistic given the contract of Steel. I think you need to bank on better health and the coaching staff finding a way to get the best out of him.
Where I think this team could do better is with their depth/rotational guys. Need to either acquire or develop WRs for that #3/4 receiver roles. At DT I would like to see not even upgrades but better run defenders than Gallimore/Golston. I think this was a big issue this year that your rotational guys at DT were pass rush first type of players. You already have that in OSA, you need to find rotational guys who compliment your starters, not do the same thing just a little bit worse.
So overall I see 4 positions, 5 if we count the RT that I really think need to be upgraded. There is a ton of would like to see upgraded, but overall I think the general roster construction is the bigger issue for this team, especially on the defensive side of the football than the actual talent level.
