The REAL problem with the Dallas Cowboys

by TrueBlue24 on Oct 7, 2009 11:42 PM CDT Comment 33 comments

OK, so we're one fourth of the way through the 2009 season ...and what do we know about our Dallas Cowboys? Not much...but I'll highlight a few things that we do know.

1. Smash,Dash and Tash are as good as advertised. HOWEVER...keeping the 3 headed monster healthy is another story.The barbarian may be wearing down already and will most likely not see another full season in Dallas fully healthy. His running style may be taking its toll already. Felix,well,He's turned out to be quite the china doll thus far. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt,simply because of the tremendous upside he possesses.Tashard choice,a steal in the 4th round,has become our most valuable and durable back the last 2 years. He may be the most complete back of the 3. Granted,Choice needs work on his blocking,but he has a combination of the best features of the two running backs in front of him on the depth chart.

2. Our wide recievers are extremely pedestrian. Roy Williams is not a number 1. Patrick crayton is not a number 2. Miles austin/Sam hurd are...well...just not very good. I,personally think that Kevin Ogletree should get a look at the #3 slot position...He can't do any worse at getting open than Hurd/Austin. Thank God for Jason Witten!!!!

3. Our Offensive line is OLD...and very suspect,especially against defenses with speed rushers. We have no depth at any of the O-line positions and we're not far from a total overhaul of this whole unit. Flozell is a false start waiting to happen,Bigg davis does not play to his potential,Columbo is getting old. Kyle Kosier,however,is a bright spot.

4. Tony Romo....still has his "Oh no" moments. Thus is not a condemnation of Tony...He is our QB....and the good will usually outweigh the bad. Tony is not a pocket passer,he is best outside the pocket. He has the talent,we just need to find a happy medium....Somewhere between Gunslinger and bus driver.

5. Our defense has not come together.This is not saying it won't,but we haven't seen it in the 1st four games. We must remember,there are new parts to this defense. Gone are Ellis,Canty,Thong,and Tank. In are Igor,Brooking,Sensabaugh,Spencer....along with the fact that our #2 and #3 corners are only in their 2nd season....There's alot of turnover,and thus far we haven't played very well defensively. I think we'll be a much better team defensively later in the season.

OK...those were some points...on the field that I wanted to make. That has everything to do with our dismal start. What else has caused the substandard play this year?

1. Jason Garrett. I shouldn't even have to explain this one...but the kid gets Too cute entirely too often. With the running game we have...it shouldn't be too hard to keep this team close in most games. I'm not even going to call out all the instances where his play calling was...to say the least...Suspect.

2. Wade....Has his hands full trying to get this defense intact and playing as a unit, has no time to lead...not that he did such a great job of it before. I however am not calling for Shannahan or Cowher to replace him. Wade is my coach and I support him. Do I always agree with him? No. And I have the right to question his play calling....Which brings to mind.....HOW MANY DAMN TIMES DO I HAVE TO SEE SPENCER IN PASS COVERAGE?????? What the heck is that about Wade....I mean he was covering Running backs,recievers,tight ends....Hell that's why we don't have a pass rush.....they're too tired from chasing recievers down the field!!!

3. THE FANS.....Ok I'm kidding....we're not really causing our team to lose BUT I've noticed way more DOOM and GLOOM here at BTB.com this season,than I can ever remember....even when we really did suck. I mean just check out the game blogs....JERRY SUCKS,FIRE WADE,GARRETT IS AN IDIOT.....BLAH BLAH<BLAH......

Then we have the I can't take it anymore I'm giving up on the Cowboys after 29 years...BS.

C'mon....REALLY? Overreact much??????? I love the cowboys....and I reserve the right to bust their chops when they don't perform well. But Jeez guys...it's a sport. I live and die with every play....It takes a while to get over a loss...I get that....I know that...My poor wife lives with that reality. But I'll always be a cowboys fan...and I think most of us here probably feel the same way.I'll never bail on my beloved Cowboys....EVER!!!!!

There is something special about the Dallas Cowboys. I think there is something special about being a Dallas Cowboys fan. I'll always be one. Just think about that,the next time you get so upset that you threaten to turn your back on the greatest pro sports franchise of all time!!!!!!!

GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!

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Comments

I liked this.

and I agree that Garrett is a problem, at least his playcalling. Some of the plays he calls leave you with your jaw dropped wondering “why?!”

I was wondering why Spencer was in coverage, as well. If we’re in those situations, why not put a third or fourth corner? Maybe Ball? Eh, I don’t know.

by Rickyy. on Oct 8, 2009 12:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rickyy.....

It’s not that Garrett leaves you with your jaw dropped wondering why that is the real problem. The real problem has been the fact that defenses know how to defense his pass-happiness.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 9, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flo's false starts

have been a little more under control this year.

None versus TB
None versus NYG
None versus DEN

He did have 2 in the CAR game.

by BishopWest on Oct 8, 2009 1:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But lately he been a foul head

by lostar2009 on Oct 10, 2009 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed..

Flo really hasn’t been quite as bad as he was in previous years. You mentioned speed rushers giving the Cowboys some trouble and I absolutely agree..but…there is a very basic way of game planning to slow down speed rushers. Draw plays, screens and quick routes. Unfortunately Romo has been pretty inaccurate thus far and ultimately Garret has seemed more scared of speed rushers than he has been willing to exploit them playing with their ears pinned back. But it is worth noting that some of our best plays have come on screens (even with phantom holding calls on Marty B) and some quick slants.

It also is a very good point about the running game. I think Garret is trying too much to be like the greatest show on turf and not enough like a team with one of the biggest offensive lines in the league. When they pound the rock especially and plays with angle blocks the run game really excels…it appears RHG is always trying to be one step ahead of the competition with the pass plays and he ends up getting one step ahead of himself. The boys haven’t been down big in any game all year..there is no reason Romo needs to be making 40 pass attempts especially when he isn’t sharp.

The comment about choice needing help on his pass protection is an understatement. He really does struggle there. But, this seems to be another reason that with Barber banged up the boys should be relying on the run to keep them out of those 3rd and long situations where you need to keep choice back in protection.

Good analysis all around though..

Wade Phillips has never won a playoff game as a head coach..he has lost 4 home playoff games.
His longest tenure as head coach was 3 years. His second year with a team only once saw an improved record (by 1 game)

Wade Phillips for DC

by SDTrueblue on Oct 8, 2009 2:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much agree with everything so soe extent

the one thing I don’t agree with is your take Barber and his injuries. I don’t think the type of injuries he’s had are a result of his running style. A toe, a quad strain? Hell, a receiver can get a quad strain without even touching anyone. His joints and bones are solid as a rock. If a strained quad is the worst thing that happens to your feature back, then you’re in great shape. Have a brief look around the league for a minute. Hell, just look in our division alone.. There are RB injuries all over the place. Barber is probably one of the more durable backs in the league.

Summarizing the Dallas Cowboys in two words; inconsistently amazing.

by sublimezg on Oct 8, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I should have clarified a bit better on that.....

I love marion….thus the 24 behind my screen name…But I feel that he’s starting to get those nagging injuries that sometimes sidetrack ones career. I truly hope I’m wrong on this one, and surely he is one of the more durable backs thus far in his career.
However…eventually his running style will catch up with him. We need him healthy either way.

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Oct 8, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

to some extent*

Summarizing the Dallas Cowboys in two words; inconsistently amazing.

by sublimezg on Oct 8, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well done...

by scandrick32 on Oct 8, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Points

I agree Williams is a #2, Crayton a #3, and the other 2 are fours and special teams guys.
I do believe however the D will continue to improve and Wade will do a good job with them. Although we could stand another play-maker on D. I just really don’t like what Garrett is doing. Once the league figured him out (about 12 games into his first year) he has never reinvented himself, never adjusted. I’m not sure he uses what we have correctly or put the players in a position to do what they do best. With this group on offense we should be a run first and use play action to set up plays in the passing game. And he has done nothing to mold Romo.

by Coakey on Oct 8, 2009 7:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+100000

We run well, and even w/ only Barber and Choice out there the more we run the more effective it will get, but as always when things get rough Garrett goes to all pass mode… Beginning of the year he looked pretty good but even in the Carolina game he was found out and now its really hurting. Hopefully Jerry will have the sense to let him go. Also it really sux that Wade’s defense is finally coming around when Mike Nolan had Denver’s defense for a few months and has turned it from one of the worst to one of the best and Wade has had this defense for 3 years and it still isn’t great. For a defensive guru he isn’t living up to the billing, would anyone here say that Denver’s Talent is better than ours.. maybe a few but we should be up there top 5 and not playing as inconsistent as we are

"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards

by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 9, 2009 2:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on Ogeltree

I would love if Garret would put him in there so we can see what he can do

After Fuentes blows a save and an Angels loss to the Indians:
"Angels still in first place" - UCI Halo
"Hey you know who would have gotten those 3 outs in the 9th?
Darren O’Day." - FirebatM3
LOL

by hinduplaya on Oct 8, 2009 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Hopefully Roy is out so we can see what he can do… and also hopefully Garrett gets him in there

"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards

by nicholas.rodriguez on Oct 9, 2009 2:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it was Garrett...

Maybe we would never know if Ogletree is the real deal. Garrett is treating Ogletree like the way he treated Felix Jones last year against Redskins first game. His decision to not play Felix in that game still makes no sense. At least put him out there for a few downs. He’s doing the same thing with Ogletree. He probably doesn’t realize yet that Ogletree may save his job.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 9, 2009 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

O Line

I get tired of hearing about how BIG the Dallas O line is. That is only relevant if you are a smash mouth, drive blocking team. If you are big and slow, it is difficult to pass block on every down when the other team disregards the run. When Tony is passing 40 times a game, size doesn’t matter.

by Cowboys Oldtimer on Oct 9, 2009 8:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Romo has only passed for 40 times ONCE this year

Game 1 – we had 24 runs / 27 passes (balanced)
Game 2 – we had 29 runs / 29 passes (balanced)
Game 3 – we had 32 runs / 33 passes (balanced)

Only last week did we get out of balance……
Game 4 – we had 25 runs / 42 passes (pass heavy)

Part of the reason for that is that the rushing yards became more difficult throughout the game so Garrett focused on the pass, which was doing a little better at that point.

1st quarter – 36 yards rushing
2nd quarter – 19 yards rushing
3rd quarter – 7 yards rushing

so – 4th quarter – 96 yards PASSING

In the 1st quarter, we attempted to run the ball 8 times up the middle and only got 8 total yards. Thank God that Garrett didn’t keep with THAT PLAN.

by BishopWest on Oct 9, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again with the stats of run-pass ratio?

Why Bishop? All the defenses we play know of Garrett’s tendencies to pass, and are ready for it. They are inviting us to run them over, but Garrett won’t do it. It’s not how much he passes that is the issue. If the pass was working, then pass more. What we have seen is the pass is not working, so you still pass more? There is something wrong there whether you want to admit it or not Bishop. Take the run-pass ratio’s and throw them out the window! Until he blows a team over with the run, and show’s his committment to run a team into the ground, he won’t find his beloved “passing” groove.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 9, 2009 8:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed palace

Garrett is all to quick to abandon the run and sometime’s even when its working he’ll dump it to try the pass. I have seen games where suddenly dallas goes from running well to WTF? passing nearly everydown, I understand setting up a team for the big play but it just seems the second he makes that first pass call he gets stuck on that page of the play book for the whole game.

Shanahan or Cowher?

by cowboy70 on Oct 9, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You will be hard pressed to prove this statement in any of the four games from 2009

the second he makes that first pass call he gets stuck on that page of the play book for the whole game.

That is an exaggeration and is “over the top”

Garrett did call more pass plays in the 2nd half of the DEN game, but that’s it.

by BishopWest on Oct 9, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Garrett's a run-of-the-mill "genius" coordinator; nothing special.

A Mike Martz-minded miscreant who eschews common football sense for his “genius.” Romo may be a fraud but far too many of Garrett’s bright ideas have seemed dim to me.

by MadMick on Oct 10, 2009 5:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bishop, good buddy, you may be....

wanting to stick with defending Garrett, and that’s admirable. Myself, I just want change so we can start kicking these teams we should be kicking off to the side. I was onboard with Garrett from the beginning. Now, not so much. Romo is still my man. I just feel Romo’s coaching is not good enough. I’m not saying he’s not being coached. I’m just saying it’s not good enough. Romo should be a different QB than he is right now. He’s not only just making the mistakes he made 3 years ago, he’s making all new mistakes. He’s not playing like the QB we all fell in love with. His coaching has changed him to try and be a different QB than what he is. There has been stagnation. It’s the meaning behind my statement “we (as in the Dallas Cowboys) did not need to be breaking in a new offensive coordinator these last 3 years”.I think you’ll understand what I mean if someone like Shannahan get’s his hands on Tony Romo, and you see with your own eyes what he will squeeze out of Tony.

You may disbelieve what Cowboy70 is saying, and you may find it hard to believe. But I can see where someone would think that based on the playcalling versus what an experienced playcaller would call given what our players and team’s strength are.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 10, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're thinking is based on your theory

The opposite could also be true and is another theory: maybe Garrett is doing some good coaching and Romo just can’t get beyond where he already is in his qb skills, knowledge, etc.

You’re only guessing that Shannahan could improve Romo. It’s all theory with no proof at this point.

It makes for a good argument, but there is no proof that what you’re saying is actually right.

by BishopWest on Oct 10, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right now

a theory is what we have to work with, because right now, the facts show the Cowboys offense is what ails the team from winning games they should be putting away early rather than coming down to the wire and losing at the end.

You say I’m guessing that Shannahan or Holmgren would improve Romo, and that’s all theory with no proof. I hope you don’t think it’s a theory if I say that the offense is not good enough and needs to change. That is a fact. So far, it seems, this coaching staff is unable.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 10, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as the success of coaching staffs go...

…the last successful staffs that took us to the Super Bowl was under Jimmy Johnson and Switzer. But I’m of the opinion that it was the PLAYERS (like Aikman, Smith, Irvin, Novacek, Haley, etc.) that won those Super Bowls more than the coaching staff.

It was proven when Jimmy left and Switzer came in. DAL still won a Super Bowl, not because of the coaching but because Switzer still had good players in place.

Our CURRENT COACHING STAFF could win a Super Bowl with the players we had from the early 1990s. But the Coaching Staff of the 1990s couldn’t win a Super Bowl with our current players.

The winning difference has more to do with the players than the staff.

by BishopWest on Oct 10, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your forgetting something though Bishop

This coaching staff is responsible for getting the players, and has had the time to get the right players, as well as the capability to do it by having Jerry, who would go out and get the ingredients for the recipe.

Coaching has alot of aspects to it, not just playcalling and teaching. Player evaluation is number one on the list of impotance in regards to coaches. Either way you slice it, it’s still on the coaches.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 11, 2009 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, you're suggesting that Shanahan comes to Dallas

and we give him about 3 or 4 years to draft the players we need and get rid of some current players that we don’t need and then possibly we win a Super Bowl. Hey, I hope that happens, too.

But I don’t think Shanahan takes our current roster and wins a Super Bowl. Why? Cause he wouldn’t have the right PLAYERS to do it. The coach still needs the right players no matter how you slice it :)

by BishopWest on Oct 11, 2009 12:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shanahan is starting to fall out of favor with me

I’m thinking Gruden might reprise his role as a “I can take your highly talented, underperforming roster to the top” kind of coach.

Maybe he can take this team to the next level?

Also, what college coach out there would be able to make it in the pros? What about Ferentz?

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Oct 11, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not specifically saying

just Shannahan will do Blings. I just know an experienced coach is needed, that is strong and won’t take any BS. We were on the rise when Parcells was here. Since he left, we’ve been on a steady slope downward.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 12, 2009 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Coaching staff

is not responsible for “getting the players.” That job is handled by the scouting department and the head of that department reports to the GM. Think about it. Do you really think that Wade and his staff have time to take off and watch LSU play Florida while they are preparing for the KC game?

Once players are on the team the coaches evaluate them as to their respective roles and whether or not they make the team. Your statement of “and has had time to get the right players” is somewhat bogus. No one said they didn’t have the right players 2 years ago when they were 13-3. They go 9-7 and the team cut as many players as they thought they could legitimately replace. They went and got 12 draft picks and signed free agents. Now they are 2-2 and the coaches should be fired. People need to stop this nonsense. Wait unitl Thanksgiving at least before you start bitching.

by jevans1729 on Oct 11, 2009 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the coaching staff

doesn’t express itself to those who draft, and state what kind of players are needed, then the coaching staff isn’t doing it’s job. It’s ludicrous to think that coaches of a team have no say so in who a team drafts.

Wait until Thanksgiving Jevans? How about last year? Should I have waited till Thanksgiving then? What about the year before? I just don’t see what you are debating against. This coaching staff is soft, indecisive, and very questionable on the offensive side of the ball. You go ahead and wait til thanksgiving of maybe- next year, and see what will happen by then. These coaches may be lucky to get through the Bye even though we did win. Garrett’s playcalling today (in my opinion) probably opened alot of people’s eyes to what I’ve been saying about him. But alot of people will probably stay in denial of this MAJOR flaw on the team.

"Amongst the enemy's Lair, there will always be a DallasPalace!"

by DallasPalace on Oct 11, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's make those

who err accountable for their errors. Garrett has made some questionable play calls at some in opportune times and that is on him. However, the Parcells staff also tried to get Romo to make better decisions and not be so cavalier with the football. That part is on Romo. All of these coaches have been trying to do the same thing with Romo to no avail. The deep throw to Hurd in the Giants game that got intercepted was not a coaching error when Romo says he didn’t see the FS. That is the first thing you are taught in Pop Warner football if you play the QB position. The same could be said when Romo doesn’t see a corner blitz coming when he has called a play with an empty backfield! That stuff is on Romo period. Romo has been in the league seven years. We have rookie QBs on other teams that are not making the mistakes that Romo is making. Romo’s sporadic QB play is on Romo and he needs to get it together.

by jevans1729 on Oct 10, 2009 9:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah i have a reason that

is y Parcells seem not to trust Romo too much in that playoff game. Might explain y they didnt take too many shots down field on a weak Seahawks secondary.

by lostar2009 on Oct 10, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs