Dallas Cowboys 'Loser' list

[steve B]

I've become more and more convinced that Football is a sport that really requires a team effort. And one that goes all the way to the top.

Hate the Pats if you want, many do. But they have an organization that's consistent from the top down. And one in which the player might not matter a whole lot.
When you're calling plays based on the individuals skills rather than forcing them to match the play more plays become high percentage.
Think about it, they went 11-5 with a backup who's been very average on another team. No playoffs that year, only because someone else had a better year.

I don't think Romo is the problem.

I think the problem starts with JJ and runs down from there.
The coach isn't confident in support from the owner.
So he pushes for results.
But instead of going with the guys who can get it done he goes with the guys who are paid the most. Probably because of demands from the owner.

Can you imagine a Cowboys coach going for it on 4th down on their own side of the field late in a game against Peyton Manning?
Or deliberately allowing a go ahead touchdown to preserve some clock time?
Now can you imagine a Cowboys coach doing that and keeping his job?
Or actually getting support from the owner for those decisions?
Nope, I don't see it. Maybe not on any other team either, although it's easier to imagine on successful teams. (Giants maybe?)

Let a coach get Romo into plays designed around his strengths, and give him the freedom and support to bench underperforming malcontents or cut/trade them and I think you'll see much better results.

Steve B

[HRBAKER]

Steve,

Some good points and the Pats may be a strong org from top to bottom, but IMO, swap out Brady for Romo and you have no where near the same team/results.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Steve,

Some good points and the Pats may be a strong org from top to bottom, but IMO, swap out Brady for Romo and you have no where near the same team/results.

Well, I think it's unfair to compare almost anybody to Brady...........but as was mentioned earlier, Matt Cassell did very well with this team, and I don't think any team in the league would trade Romo for Cassell.

Wonder if anybody realizes this. Tony Romo has the 4th highest career passer rating in league history as of today. Just behind Steve Young and just ahead of Peyton Manning. Yes, this is more a product of the modern passing game and modern rules then anything.........but it's a hell of an argument against people claiming he's "average" or even "below average" when compared to his peers.

So the question persists.............WHO should the Cowboys go out and get so they can jettison him. Should they just scrap the whole team and rebuild from scratch..........hope they can snag a Luck or Griffin type in the draft?

[HRBAKER]

Dave,

That's a good point about Cassell and as someone who lives in Kansas City, I can attest that it wasn't him carrying the team on his back when Brady was out.

I am not sure it is Romo that is the sum total of the issue. I am not sure that on balance this is a roster that is Super Bowl-competitive Romo or no Romo.

My original point was that they are a bunch of IMO over-hyped under achievers meaning the team not Romo is particular.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

So the question persists.............WHO should the Cowboys go out and get so they can jettison him. Should they just scrap the whole team and rebuild from scratch..........hope they can snag a Luck or Griffin type in the draft?

I felt that Jones had had enough after last season, and I fully expected him to go after Andrew Luck. Trying to get into Jones' brain, I figured he might think of Luck as the next Aikman. I watched the draft eagerly, expecting a last-minute deal.

Now, I have no idea as to a quarterback strategy, but I think it all starts with getting rid of Garrett. If they did that today, they might start performing up to their hype tomorrow - coaching changes can make a very quick difference if you do indeed have talent on your team, which I think the Cowboys do.

[Runscott]

1. Dez Bryant - stepping out of bounds, unmolested, 1/2 yard short of a first down when his team is down 10-0.
2. Doug Free - provides almost zero protection for Tony Romo on the right side
3. Jerry Jones (obviously) - for sticking with Garrett

4. Rob Ryan - I think it's safe to add this guy after the first half today.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Runscott

1. Dez Bryant - stepping out of bounds, unmolested, 1/2 yard short of a first down when his team is down 10-0.
2. Doug Free - provides almost zero protection for Tony Romo on the right side
3. Jerry Jones (obviously) - for sticking with Garrett

4. Rob Ryan - I think it's safe to add this guy after the first half today.

1. agreed, plus he lost a fumble
2. if Free TOUCHED the defender before letting him run straight at Romo it'd be an improvement
3. JJ needs to hire a GM. He's great as an owner, but would ANY other team in the NFL hire JJ as a GM? no. but he's the GM of this franchise. unacceptable.
4. defense played a much better 2nd half. in the first half, the safeties were outplayed and looked foolish multiple times especially on the deep pass to WR Robinson

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

1. agreed, plus he lost a fumble
2. if Free TOUCHED the defender before letting him run straight at Romo it'd be an improvement
3. JJ needs to hire a GM. He's great as an owner, but would ANY other team in the NFL hire JJ as a GM? no. but he's the GM of this franchise. unacceptable.
4. defense played a much better 2nd half. in the first half, the safeties were outplayed and looked foolish multiple times especially on the deep pass to WR Robinson

Yesterday they said Free was either the most penalized player in the NFL, or the most penalized offensive lineman. Either way, as bad as he looks, he must be trying to touch people.

As far as the defense playing great in the 2nd half, we need Ryan to actually have a workable plan going in to the game, as opposed to waiting and adjusting at halftime.

[Runscott]

Okay, another go-round. Last week the Cowboys won, but all of their competitors won as well. Still, a best-case scenario on Monday would leave Dallas tied with New York, Chicago and Seattle, with 2 weeks remaining. Over those remaining two weeks they would need to gain one game on either Chicago OR Seattle, OR one game on New York, in order to make the play-offs.

That's incredible, and undeserved.

Still, as a fan since 1965, I have to hope for it.

[barrysloate]

Nice win for Dallas tonight.

And what's the deal with Seattle? In their last two games they've outscored their opponent 108-17! Has any team ever had back to back 50 point games before?

[Runscott]

Seattle seems to be getting real strong going into the playoffs. It will really be interesting if San Francisco beats them next week - could be a wild-card logjam going into the final week.

Dallas is also finishing strong, but having lost to every team that could be involved in the tiebreakers, I think they are toast.

[CMIZ5290]

Don't be surprised if New Orleans beats Dallas this weekend...

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Don't be surprised if New Orleans beats Dallas this weekend...

That can't happen for one simple reason - that would put the Cowboys out of the playoffs, and they need to lose out in the final week, in order to impart maximum frustration on their fans.