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Happy New Years! Here’s to a new attitude and outlook!

Before I get into looking ahead to 2009 I must first mention that Bruce Read has been fired from the position of Dallas Cowboys special teams coach.

Surprise.

A lot of finger pointing has happened this season and the majority of it has been at Bruce Read’s expense, but he is not all to blame for the special teams woes. Todd Archer makes a great point:

The confidence was so low in Read that Phillips had fellow assistant coaches help him midway through the season, and that didn’t even work.

As much as Read is being used as a scapegoat, Phillips has to change his ways when it comes to special teams. He has to put more value in it and that means allowing whoever the new special teams coach is to use starters. James Harrison covers punts in Pittsburgh. Enough said.

I’ve always believed that the heart and drive of a team starts and ends with the special teams. The unit is filled with backup and fringe players (mostly), and if those guys are showing heart, grit and intensity then it spills over to the rest of the team. That was never present under Bruce Read and Wade Phillips needs to realize how important this unit is to the team.

Hat tip to deke for posting the news in his fanpost.

The great thing about bringing in a new year is the chance to start over and get things going on the right track. The traditional thing to do is to make a list of “resolutions”, but those never work out and I think its a bull anyway. But that feeling of starting fresh in a new year is always a good one; you stop and take a fresh breath, look around you and everything that feels new again and you remember it like that before it all goes right back to the way it was before.

After all, nothing changes but the date, right?

Yet there is still that window of opportunity where you can grasp that good feeling and run with it, really commit to getting things going in the right direction. And it’s an even better feeling when you emerge months down the line still embracing that new path you forged for yourself when you had the chance.

This is the crossroads the Dallas Cowboys find themselves at as they head into 2009. This franchise has been nothing but talk and hot air for far too long and things need to change immediately if there is going to be any hope of pulling this team out of its downward spiral. While some may be content with four winning seasons in a row, a few playoff berths, high profile free agents and a bunch of useless Pro Bowlers, the rest of us cry for something more. We know that these records are empty and lack substance. We scream for any sign of team unity and heart and we get frustrated because there have been signs that those two things actually do exist in this team.

The tough win on the road against Washington. The win last year in Buffalo. The show of defensive force against Pittsburgh.

We see these things and ask how is it they don’t play like this every week? How is it that one week a team can rally around a struggling quarterback and win a miracle comeback in hostile conditions, and yet a few weeks later play like a team asleep at the wheel?

You want to say it’s the coaching, but the staff has changed significantly the past few years and yet the same problems persist. So naturally you turn to the players and say those guys are uncoachable and seflish. Then the next step is to look at the owner/GM, the guy who is responsible for bringing together this rag tag team of individuals.

The point is you can play the blame game until you’re blue in the face and it won’t matter one bit. 99% of these players are still going to be on the field next year, and most of the coaches will be back as well. The owner sure as heck isn’t going anywhere.

Short of getting rid of everyone and starting over from scratch, there is only one thing left to do:

The attitude of this team has to change and there is not better time than now. Take a look in the mirror and try to think what kind of player and teammate you want to be. Wade Phillips has vowed to change things, starting with himself. Noble but empty unless he actually shows things are different.

The only way this team can turn itself around is if each individual takes that task to heart.

Now we just have to find out who on this team has that ability.

While we lament a season that ended too soon and on such on bad note I want to say how much fun it has been to share these past few seasons with everyone here at Blogging The Boys. As a native Texan stuck in the bitter Northeast I can’t even begin to express what it has meant to me to be able to share and converse with fellow Cowboys fans. Don’t take this game too seriously and enjoy the ride; you know that no matter how much this season angered you, you will still be counting the days until the season opener and loving that feeling of butterflies that greets every opening kickoff. Love the journey and cherish the ride; it will make the prize that much better.

Here’s to a happy and safe New Year to one and all in the BTB family.

Cheers.

Coming Attractions and My Two Cents on Mike Shanahan

One of these things is not like the other.  One of these things just didn’t recur.  Can you guess which one is not like the others and I’ll tell you why we’re all mad?

• 9-7
• 9-7
• 13-3
• 9-7

I’ve mused that the players have mired this team in that good-but-so-what purgatory.  Here’s some evidence.  I’m going to begin a series of autopsies on team units, looking for the causes of death.  Some places seem obivous, but even there, you find causes and villains you didn’t expect. 

Tomorrow, we’ll start with the most obvious malady on the ‘08 Cowboys — special teams.  Friday, I’ll take a long, long look at the offensive line and suggest that an upgrade is the fastest way out of the malaise.

Whither Shanahan? 

Fans are citing a Cris Mortensen interview from today where he claims “Jerry might be interested” in pursuing Mike Shanahan.  I don’t consider it likely, but what they hey, speculation is what blogs are for.  Some points for and against a move:

For:

A.  These guys know each other.  The Cowboys and Broncos have trained together the last few years and are familiar with each other’s personnel.

B.  Shanahan’s system might be the cure for some young OL flailing in the current system.  Doug Free was a highly touted OT prospect in ‘07.  The kid has the smoothest feet of any tackle on the roster.  When I saw him in San Antonio I thought one full season with Joe Juraszek and he could maybe push for a starting spot in ‘08.

Free looked confused in ‘08.  He was beaten regularly at Oxnard, by the Demarcus Wares and by the Erik Waldens alike.  He was inactive for Dallas’ first 13 games and did not play a down in the three where he suited up.  In the current regime, he may be a lost cause.  He, and Montrae Holland — if he gets his weight under control, and that’s a big if (pun intended) — are suddenly more valuable in Shanahan’s system.

C.  Shanahan and Jerry might actually be a very good fit, personnel wise.  Shanahan has been mediocrity defined the last four years.  A .500 overall record in that span and no playoff appearances the last three years. 

What was his problem?  The guy in Denver’s GM chair.  The guy named Mike Shanahan. 

Let’s look at the Broncos drafts this decade.  Notice the extreme splits:

Offensive draftees:

1. Ben Hamilton
2. Mike Anderson
3. Cooper Carlisle
4. Clinton Porits
5. Ashley Lelie
6. Kevin Kasper
7. Tatum Bell
8. Jay Cutler,
9. Tony Schefler
10. Brandon Marshall
11. Domenik Hixon
12. Chris Kuper
13. Ryan Clady
14. Eddie Royal
15. Peyton Hillis

There’s some real talent there.  Now, look at the quality defensive starters Shanahan drafted in that span.  It’s a much shorter list:

1. Delpha O’Neal
2. Ian Gold
3. D.J. Williams
4. Darrent Williams
5. Alvin McKinley
6. Elvis Dumervill

Only three defensive draftees started for the Broncos this year.  Shanahan has an eye for offense.  He can always find offensive linemen to make his system work.  Dallas, on the other hand, has had success drafting defense this decade.  It’s biggest weakness is finding offensive linemen, a subject I’ll treat in detail on Friday.

Put Jerry and Mike together and you might have those two great football tastes that taste great together, to quote the long-departed Reece’s ads.

On the other hand:

A.  Who runs his defense?  Even when Shanahan was winning Super Bowls, his defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, took heavy abuse from Broncos fans, who felt his unit couldn’t hang with the offense.  There’s more than a little bit of Don Coryell in Shanahan.  Are you absolutely sure he can find a coordinator who can keep the pressure coming?  The Broncos have been the worst pass rushing team in football the past few years.

B.  Dallas would have competition.  The Jets are rumored to have Shanahan on their short list.  He would prefer Dallas, given they have a younger, better QB, but the Jets would certainly offer him more control than Dallas would.

He would be a shiny new toy, and he would bring great publicity but I’m not sure he solves all this team’s ills.  He was far from flawless and Dallas might be swapping Wade’s problems for Mike’s. 

And remember, the players, those chronic 9-7 guys, are still in place.

Dallas Cowboys free agents

Todd Archer posted the list of UFA’s, RFA’s and ERFA’s in an article on Tuesday. I’ll take my shot at their future then you do the same in the comments.

Unrestricted free agents

OG Joe Berger: Not worth it. We could use upgrades for backups in the middle of the line, someone better can surely be found.
QB Brooks Bollinger: Depends on how much he wants. He could be a stop-gap backup but the Cowboys need to look at developing a future QB who could push Romo and come in during injury. One thing is for sure, Brad Johnson has got to go.
LB Kevin Burnett: Tough call only because I think he’ll get some good offers from other teams. Can definitely play on third downs but could he play consistently against the run? With Zach saying he’s leaving ILB is a position of need so that might push the franchise to keep him.
DE Chris Canty: Another tough one because he should also get other offers. Physically, he’s just want you want in a 3-4 DE but he’s never produced the way we hoped.
S Keith Davis: Love his effort but he’s not the solution as a starting safety. We can only keep him if he comes very cheap.
DT Tank Johnson: Hasn’t produced and screamed “I’m a free agent” immediately upon entering the locker room after the Eagles game. Buh-bye.
LB Carlos Polk: Actually made plays on special teams, I would like to see them keep him.
LB Zach Thomas: He sounds like he doesn’t want to be here and the one-year experiment wasn’t exactly successful. I don’t see it.

Restricted free agents

WR Miles Austin: They should keep this kid. I thought they should have used him more at the end of the year at receiver. He finally learned to catch the ball and has size and speed.
DE Stephen Bowen: Occasionally made plays when given a chance. Good guy to have as a backup.
TE Tony Curtis: Time to go.
WR Sam Hurd: Don’t know if he really will have a chance, he’s buried on the depth chart. Might be time for new blood.
OG Cory Procter: No way!

Exclusive rights free agents

TE Rodney Hannah: Could at least replace Curtis as the third TE.
P Sam Paulescu: Welcome back Mat McBriar, goodbye Sam.
RB Alonzo Coleman: Just don’t see room for him on the active roster.

The 2008 Leons - Defensive MVP

Welcome to this new feature at Blogging The Boys, where we vote and hand out The Leon, a soon-to-be prestigious award for members of the Dallas Cowboys. What we want to do is have our own vote for most valuable players for the Cowboys and get your opinion on who you voted for and why.

This week we are looking at the defense.

The 2008 Leons

Defensive MVP

 

And the nominees are:

• LB DeMarcus Ware
• NT Jay Ratliff
• LB Bradie James
• CB Terence Newman

Let’s look at each player individually:

LB Demarcus Ware

Ware has to been a phenom since he came out of college in 2005. Coming to the NFL he converted from defensive end to linebacker in Bill Parcells’ 3-4 defense. Ware’s numbers have increased in each of his four seasons and in 2008 he ended up with 20 sacks and 84 tackles. He also earned his 3rd consecutive Pro Bowl invitation.

NT Jay Ratliff

Ratliff has been a pleasant surprise this season. As a 7th round draft pick in 2005, he got his first start that season. He became a starter with the  injury to Jason Ferguson in 2007. His play garnered him a 5-year extension last year worth $20.5 million and his first Pro Bowl selection this year. He had 7½ sacks in 2008 and was a solid force in the middle.

LB Bradie James

James had a breakout season in 2008 with 8 total sacks and a 3-game sack streak. He also ended the season with a career high 116 tackles. Through the middle of December, James finished 4 out of 5 games with double-digit tackles, including 13 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble in the Thursday Thanksgiviing Day game against the Seattle Seahawks. He emerged as the captain of the defense and led by example.

CB Terence Newman

Newman had some injury issues to deal with this season but, once healthy, was instrumental in the rise of the Cowboys defense this year. He was put on the opponents’ top receivers and took them out of the equation. He silenced Cowboys-killer Santana Moss at Washington and rendered Dominek Hixon invisible in the Giants game. He still has excellent speed and can play press coverage better than any other player on the team.

Poll

Who gets your vote for Cowboys’ Defensive MVP?

• 
  LB DeMarcus Ware
• 
  NT Jay Ratliff
• 
  LB Bradie James
• 
  CB Terence Newman

  25 votes | Results

Dallas Cowboys 2009 opponents

According the team website, the Cowboys opponents in 2009 line up this way.

We’ll play the NFC South and AFC West. Also, because we came in third in our division, we’ll match-up with the third-place teams in the NFC North and NFC West. Those teams are Green Bay and Seattle.

So our opponents for 2009 shake out like this:

Home  - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Oakland and San Diego.

Away - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Denver, Kansas City and Green Bay.

The Silly Season Begins: Garrett Interests Detroit & Maybe Cleveland

Dallas OC Jason Garrett was granted permission to speak to the Detroit Lions about their head coaching vacancy.  Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo and Titans DC Jim Schwartz are also top candidates for the job, though they cannot yet interview with the Lions.  Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray will also interview for the job. 

– If the Lions want Spagnuolo, they will have to outbid the Jets and the Browns, who are also very interested in him.

– Garrett is also a possible candidate for the Cleveland Browns, though owner Randy Lerner is focused on landing a GM, after Bill Cowher turned him down.  Patriots personnel honcho Scott Pioli is the hot name here. 

– The Rams interviewed Packers assistant Winston Moss today and will also interview Vikings DC Leslie Frazier and Ravens DC Rex Ryan, when they become available.  They have already ruled out Spagnuolo and Patriots OC Josh McDaniel, claiming they are too expensive.

Wade Phillips has a plan

So after last night’s debacle Wade Phillips stepped to the mic today. I’ve already stated that I’m unhappy with the job Wade Phillips is doing as coach, but that’s hardly the point because Big Jerry has stated that Big Wade is here to stay. It is what it is. So while I was so busy today I didn’t have time to tune into Wade’s presser live, I did go back and watch the archive. Here’s my take on Wade’s PC mixed in with some news of the day.

Wade is putting together a plan but he’s not ready to share it yet. I wonder if he had a plan for the Philly game and didn’t share that with anyone either? I kid! Why so serious? Anyway, Wade says things will need to change and that starts with himself. Uh, I don’t know but somehow I’m not reassured. He’ll analyze everything including the way they run practices, training camp, etc. and Wade might just have to get tougher and more demanding. He will transform himself from the cuddly Pillsbury Dough Boy into the much-feared Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. I’m not bitter, really. I expressed skepticism that he could make the transformation at this stage in his career today on the DCFanatic Show and wondered if he did how some of the players might take to the new approach. Enter Bradie James.

“If you know a person to be a certain way and then all of a sudden you have an extreme change, I don’t know how well that’s going to be taken,” James said. “I don’t know what he means by that. Like I said, he didn’t address us, so I don’t know.”

Granted James did say that Wade already can be tough and that he would be a team-player no matter what Wade’s new approach is, but it underlines the point that a sudden change in personality could cause some static in the locker room.

Whatever, we’ll see what happens when the time comes.

There’s much more after the jump.

Now where Wade started to get to the core of the problems was when he discussed turnovers. Yup, that I can wholeheartedly endorse. A few guys need to figure that one out. Marion Barber has put the ball on the turf an awful lot compared to his previous years. But, of course, there was no mistaking who this part of the presser was referring to - Tony Romo. Nothing stirs up a debate like a …uh, debate…over Tony Romo. Here’s my quick pitch on TR, he’s got the skills to get it done but he absolutely has to learn that ball security is issue number one for a QB. I know some fans will blame the line, and yes, they deserve blame, but tuck the ball and take the sack every once in a while. Or throw it away. I don’t need Romo trying to be Superman all the time, trust in your teammates, punt the ball away and live another day. Just stay within the flow of the game and for God’s sakes, just run with the ball if you have to, every play doesn’t have to be a pass 30-yards downfield. I love ya’ Romo, but if you just dialed your game back a notch, you would probably elevate your game.

Jerry Jones is fired up and plans to take everyone to the woodshed. No need for that Jerry, the Eagles already took the honor. Wade wouldn’t let us in on whether his woodshed session already took place. Wade even brought up Camp Cupcake and thought it was a misconception. I don’t know, I was at camp and while Shango and I never got the mythical cupcakes, things were pretty easy-going. Wade plans to talk some of the former coaches he’s worked with to get some ideas on changes like Marv Levy, Marty Schottenheimer and Dan Reeves. All good coaches with a lot of respect but all missing one thing, a Super Bowl ring as a head coach. I’m just saying.

When pressed on personnel changes, Wade quietly demurred, saying that it could happen but he wouldn’t be discussing anything like that today. Fair enough, it’s a little soon for that kind of thing. He did mention that he needs to get some of the players back to the level they were playing two years ago. What’s this, Wade actually calling out the players, maybe the tough Wade is already here. OK, so he really didn’t call anybody out, but I got to hope for something.

When pressed on assistant coaches, he said both Jason Garrett and Brian Stewart would be back. That is, of course, if Garrett doesn’t get scooped up by the Detroit Lions. I don’t want Garrett to leave even though I think his offense and play-calling grew stale this year. He’s a young coach and I think his best days are in the future and I would like them to be in Dallas. While I dump on Wade it’s because I don’t think his ways will truly change. He’s been in the game too long for that. But Garrett has a chance to evolve and grow and I think this year will be a learning experience for him. When asked about special teams, Wade was non-committal. I take that as a good sign Bruce Read will be gone.

When discussing player personnel decisions Wade thought he had plenty of say in the decisions and didn’t want anymore. Just for kicks, I wish he would have said “Yeah, I need more power in the personnel decisions, the GM here is too over-bearing.” Man that would have been great but no such luck. When asked about Garrett, Romo, Jason Witten and T.O. all being able to co-exist he said for sure and that he knows things we don’t. How cryptic was that? Also, he didn’t have much to say on chemistry issues in general. But the Cowboys players did the talking for him. Tank Johnson let loose on the sidelines at the game and other players argued in the huddle. Then Cricket and Flozell got in a fight on the team charter home although they quickly made up today. The Cowboys players aren’t keeping their fights inside the locker room though, Bradie James decided to mix it up with a fan outside Valley Ranch today.  I think the fan came out the winner because he got some new Oakleys and got to meet with James and other officials inside the Ranch. Book my ticket to Dallas, I finally figured out how to get inside the facility!

All in all, it’s just another day in the life of the Dallas Cowboys.

Coming to grips with reality

I did something I haven’t done in a long time Sunday.

I turned off the TV on the ‘Boys.

After Pacman’s ill-advised fumble on a punt return, I knew it was over. The momentum of the game had gotten out of control. We couldn’t stop them. We were self-destructing and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my evening watching the Eagles laugh at us. I had too many beers to consume. 

The most maddening aspect of that pathetic affair Sunday was the realization that the naysayers were right about us. I spent most of this year mocking and ridiculing journalists like Jean-Jacques Taylor, Skip Brainless, Jennifer Floyd Engel, Trey Wingo, Randy Galloway and others for their extreme pessimism toward the Cowboys. They seemed to go out of their way to rub in our faces after any loss and would always dismiss any significant victory as a prelude to disaster. I still believe that there were some outrageous things written and said about us. I haven’t changed my mind about that.

I’ve also tried to talk extremely negative fans off the ledge. You know the type. “The season is over!” “Wade sucks!” “Romo is terrible!” All of this after any loss or any bad play. C’mon on guys. Have a little more faith.  

But here’s the thing though. They were right about a lot of things. Not everything. But certainly their criticisms was accurate in a lot of respects. Our season was filled more with drama than resiliency. T.O.’s character flaws seemed to overwhelm his value to our team. The Pacman Jones Experiment was an unmitigated disaster. Romo, again, wilted on the biggest stages when we needed him the most.

It hurts my heart to agree with these statements. I’ve spent months arguing against them. I’ve tried to be a pragmatist with a bent toward optimism. But that effort in that game at this time of the year has forced me to reevaluate. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not jumping ship and I never will. I believe in Tony Romo, I still think T.O. can be productive in our system and I still believe Wade Phillips can turn things around. But my arguments seem hollow now. This season was a failure and an utter disappointment. Time to look in the mirror and repeat that old line from Parcells: “You are who you are.”

Tony Romo is not a big-game QB and he is overrated

A tough quarterback? No question. A good quarterback? You bet. Pro-Bowl type QB? No doubt. More than 7,600 yards passing and 62 TDs in two years. Big-game QB? He’s not. End of discussion. He’s played well in big games but not the biggest. He’s too careless with the ball. He doesn’t command the respect of his teammates the way he should (but that might say as much about his teammates as anything else). This doesn’t mean he won’t be a Super Bowl-winning QB one day. He very well might be. And I’m certainly not giving up on him. Matt Hasselbeck seemed to mature into an efficient QB after some time. Hopefully Romo will too. But from where I sit right now the evidence is overwhelming.

T.O. was not an elite receiver this year and may never be again

It’s a testament to how great his career has been that he’s always compared to himself. Last year was one of the best season any receiver has ever had for our team. 81 catches, 1,355 yards, 15 TDs in 15 games. This year wasn’t bad. 69 catches, 1,052 yards and 10 TDs. His statistics were solid. But he had problems with physical corners and double teams, something he’s seen his whole career. One just wonders if he can ever replicate the typical All-Pro T.O. seasons. He is 35 and for the first time in a long time his drops seem to outnumber his big plays.  

There were too many distractions and they did affect us

Pacman. Meeting-gate. Hard Knocks. T.O.’s interview with Stephen A. Smith. Jerry Jones speaking out of turn about MB3. I would’ve argued anybody up and down that these things were being blown out-of-context by the media. And they were. But players on good teams are smart enough to read the media, know their intentions and avoid the trap of the newscycle. We never learned that lesson and spent too much time talking about trivial things and not the team.

Our team was divided

Again, I hate drawing conclusions from intangibles. But if you look at the body language of our receivers during Sunday’s game, they looked angry. There seemed to be a lot of complaining and not much communication. There was a lot of finger-pointing this year and not much accountability. The quotes from postgame interviews seemed to suggest our offensive playeyers lost faith in our system. Our defensive players were unhappy with their system until Phillips took hold of the playcalling in the middle of the season. We were never on the same page. Gentlemen, that’s the definition of a divided team.  

Phillips was not hard enough on them

Brian Stewart would have been fired on other teams. He was softly demoted on this one. Pacman couldn’t get a gig on most other teams. He started for ours. Romo waived Wade Phillips off Sunday. Can you imagine him waiving off Jimmy Johnson? Cowher? Holmgren? Sigh. I like Wade and I think It’s admirable that he sticks ups for everyone but one wonders when does he ever hold anyone accountable.

We were a soft team

Cincinnati gave us a run for our money and the Rams blew us out. Arizona beat us on a blocked punt in overtime. Who does that? Who loses like that? We did have big wins against the Redskins and the Giants. Duly noted. Nothing indicates how soft we were like the two backbreaking runs against the Ravens. Lorenzo Neal pancakes Bradie James. Marcus Spears is double-teamed and pushed yards out of the play. Tough teams laughed in our faces. They were offended that we were considered Super Bowl contenders and they weren’t. They rose to the occasion and we were left yelling on the sideline about how open we were.

Roy E. Williams trade was ill-advised

At least in the short term. For what we gave up for RW2, we received very little in return. I still believe he can be a great player for us one day. But at the time, I thought it was a stroke of genius and would certainly give our offensive unit a jolt. It didn’t happen.

What now?

So where does this leave us? Well it should lead to some self-reflection. I’m a big fan of the show “Intervention” and on that show addicts must first hit rock bottom before they can receive help. This is rock bottom for me. I thought losing at home last year to the Giants was it. No. Getting blown out in the most important game of the year is definitely it. Watching the Eagles treat us like Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl is my breaking point. It doesn’t get any lower than this.

There’s no need to delude ourselves anymore. We need coaches that will challenge Tony Romo and not placate him. We need people with football pedigrees to be in Jerry Jones’ ear and he needs to listen to them. Jones needs to defer to their judgment when it comes to bringing malcontents into our fold. We need to protect Romo and draft lineman accordingly. We need receivers that fight for him not quit on routes. We need coaches that will not accept habitual penalties (cough Flozell cough) and selfishness (cough T.O. cough). Players who violate these tenets should be benched or jettisoned. We need players who are subservient to the team, play hard and smart. We shouldn’t have to compromise. Do it or move on.

We are not a player or two away from the Super Bowl. We are an attitude away from the Super Bowl. We need to change our identity and become more physical. There were glimpses of it this year. More of that please.

I still believe in the core of this team: Romo, Witten, MB3, Ware. But I’m not obsessed with the fantasy of our championship potential anymore. I’m living in the present. I’m dealing with reality. And the reality of the situation is we’re a great story that entertains sports networks during the year and a cautionary tale come playoff time.

Sadly, sometimes the haters are right.

Cowboys Offseason ‘09: What Positions Went Needy Last Year?

I spoke to a source over the summer, before camp started, and asked him what positions the Cowboys had atop their ‘09 wish list.

He told me two things:

A.  Offensive line was top priority.  Considering how poorly the backups played this year and how poorly this team has done the last six years drafting o-linemen, that’s not surprising.  One of the few bright spots of Jerry 1.0 was drafting Flozell Adams with a 2nd rounder in ‘98 and Andre Gurode with a 2nd in ‘02.

B.  He then said, “look at the spots they didn’t fill this year.” 

Let’s go back to early April ‘08, when Dallas was bringing in prospective draftees.  There are two unfilled positions that stand out from those Pro Days:

i.)  ILB — Jerod Mayo and Beau Bell were two players of interest.  Mayo was one of the highest late risers.  On April 1st a lot of mocks had him in the last dozen picks of the first round, where Dallas could consider him with the pick they used on Mike Jenkins.  By draft day, he had rocketed into the top ten;  New England took him 10th overall.  Bell was taken in the early 4th by Cleveland.

ii.)  FS — Dallas brought Kenny Phillips and Tyrell Johnson in for looks.  They might have taken Phillips at 28 but instead moved up three spots when Jenkins dropped.  Jenkins had a mid-1st grade on the Cowboys’ board and was considered too good to pass up.

Phillips fell to the Giants at pick 31 and Johnson was snagged by the Vikings at pick 43.   Notice also that FS was the position of interest, not SS.  Of course, this was before the team re-upped Ken Hamlin.  Missing out on Phillips and Johnson probably moved Dallas to cut that deal with Hamlin.

Those needs have not gone anywhere.  Safety is probably THE biggest defensive need, though SS may be the bigger need now.  Or is it?  You tell me.  ILB may now be defensive need 1A, with Zach Thomas announcing after the game that he will not return in ‘09.

All Hail the New Fantastic Four

People who have been reading me since the old blog know I’ve been touting a yearly “Fantastic Four” to show how much the NFL churns in these days of parity and weighted schedules.

If you’re not familiar, I’ve repeatedly argued out that the preseason annuals are mostly worthless because they often take last year’s playoff field and perhaps promote one team who missed the playoffs into this year’s field.

I went back to 2000 and found that from 2000 to 2006, 28 teams, a neat average of four per season, went from having losing records one year to the playoffs in the next.  2007 threw my formula off track, as only two sub .500 teams from 2006 made the jump.

This year, the Fantastic Four are back.  All hail:

1. Miami, who rocketed from 1-15 to 11-5;
2. Atlanta, who jumped from 4-12 to 11-5;
3. Baltimore, who slumped to 5-11 last year and finished 11-5 this time;
4. Carolina, who zoomed from 7-9 to 12-4.

Take a hard look at the Packers, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Raiders, Jaguars, Bills, Browns and Bengals. As unlikely as it seems, four of these teams will be playoff bound in ‘09, if history repeats. 

 

Picking Your Toys

Jimmy Johnson offered a scathing but accurate assessment of the current team on Fox’s post game show, remarking the Cowboys, “have a collection of toys, but they don’t have a team.”

J.J. ain’t coming back folks, but we can use that thought as the basis for a game.  Let’s assume old ‘Jimmah is coming back. How would he operate?  Answer these questions in the threads.  I’ve got my own answers to these questions, but want to see your responses before I print mine.

1.  If J.J. were given complete control tomorrow, who would he axe?  Who would he keep? 

Would he begin by cutting some players on the periphery, to get the others’ attention?  That was his style.  Who are the Curvin Richards on this roster? 

2.  Who are the big names he would trade?  If 2009 is an uncapped year, trades become a real possibility.  Any Herschel Walker Lites on this roster?  Guys you flip simply to create addition by subtraction?

3.  Which big names would he keep?  He held his superstars to a different standard, because they made plays.  Who gets the wider berth on J.J. 2.0?

4.  Which players would he motivate by tough love?  Or no love?  Think of how he drove Mark Stepnoski to distraction in the early ’90s? Who are the players who would hate his guts, but play their guts out for him?

5.  J.J. was also hard on his assistants.  Who gets the quiet burn in the coaches meeting room?

The team, like it or not, isn’t going to submit its roster and staff to radical surgery.  But answering these questions should help identify who should be on the hot seat or trading block this spring.

Faith of Cowboys fans tested after embarassing loss

44-6? Seriously, that’s how it ends? As fans, we dedicate a certain portion of our life to the Dallas Cowboys, some more than others, and when we get an ending like this the emotions run the gamut. Anger, sadness, numbness; you name it and some Cowboys fan is feeling it. All the way back to last year’s loss in the playoffs to the Giants we’ve been waiting for this season, full of hope and promise, only to see it all come crashing down around us. There’s nothing left for us now except to sort through the mess and try to re-build. This is the essence of sports. We love it so much but we know that most of the time we’ll end up disappointed. We live for those magical seasons when it all comes together and the payoff is supreme. Still, in the grand scheme of sports those seasons are few and far between. When you get on a run like the Cowboys had in the early 90’s or the Patriots had earlier this decade, you have to savor it for all it’s worth because it will end. Then you’re left with only the belief that one day they will return.

They didn’t return for us in the 2008 season.

Now we enter the offseason. Land of purgatory where shattered souls wait for redemption even though they know they could be right back in the same spot next year. That doesn’t deter the true fan and in some ways maybe we should enjoy the journey as much as the destination. That’s hard to do when you’re in the midst of the games. Now we are without the games. Now, we commiserate with each other in our dejected state and pray that the organization will make the correct moves this time. We won’t know if they have until just about this time next year.

I know that my confidence in the organization has been shaken. A roster with this much talent should have produced better results. They didn’t. There needs to be a serious case of soul-searching going on at Valley Ranch over the next couple of weeks and that’s starts at the top with owner/GM Jerry Jones. Could his instincts have been wrong? Did he assemble a cast of all-stars instead of a team? Were his choices of coaches flawed? On some of these counts the answer is yes. I will be dishing out my opinions in the coming days and eagerly wait to read yours. All the while we’ll be watching for clues in the press reports about what direction this franchise will be moving.

At the moment I’m inclined to believe that a change at head coach would be the best way to serve the organization. Wade Phillips has proven to be a great defensive coordinator and a good regular-season coach but his ability to get the win in the big games has never manifested itself. With a younger coach I could believe that with experience this could change, with a coach who has been around as long as Wade I find it a leap of faith that I can’t make. I’m not on a campaign to get him fired but I would be happier if he was replaced. Right now, I don’t have the answer as to who that may be, I would need time to scan the landscape. In the end though, it doesn’t really matter what I think and to this point Jerry has given every indication that he will stick with Wade for another season.

As for the rest of the staff, I guess anything is possible. If special teams coach Bruce Read isn’t fired soon, then my faith in Jerry will truly be tested. I also expect other changes to be made among the assistants if this team is really serious about changing its fortunes in 2009. If I had my dream scenario Jerry would fire himself as GM and bring in someone with a long history of success. We all know that won’t happen. Just like we can’t really affect what happens in the games we can’t really affect what Jerry does in the offseason. As Cowboys fans we just have to deal with it. You can say if he doesn’t do this or that then you won’t support the team but if you’re like me that’s a hollow threat. I could no more give up the Cowboys than I could breathing. In fact, those two things will occur at the same time one day in the future, but never before.

I’m a Cowboys fan for life, even when I’m as mad at the team as I am right now. That’s the life we’ve chosen as sports fanatics and as supporters of the Star.

Hold tight, the past can’t be changed but the future is always open to possibility. There’s always next year and this blog will be covering the Cowboys future every step of the way.

Maybe by this time in 2009, 44-6 will be thought of as the score that launched us on our way. Maybe it will be just the right amount of humiliation to cure whatever it is that is ailing this franchise.

I know I’ll be here to find out. I hope all of you will be, too.

 

Tony Romo collapses in locker room shower

I don’t even know how to begin to contemplate what happened on the field today. It was total and complete team meltdown.

But sometimes things can be put into perspective when a players’ health is severely threatened. Tony Romo has not been fully healthy since he broke his hand against Arizona; the week after having the splint removed from his hand Romo hurt his back against New York. The offensive line in front of him became incapable of adjusting to blitzers and the past few weeks Romo has been running for his life, and taking a pounding in the process. Tonight after the debacle in Philly, Tony Romo collapsed the locker room shower while reporters and players looked on in horror.

Athletic trainer Jim Maurer and his staff rushed into the shower as the locker room came to a near standstill. A stretcher was wheeled in, but Romo was eventually helped to his feet and taken into the training room.

[snip]

When asked later what happened, Romo said, “Um, you know, I was just a little banged up, I guess.”

The reports are that Romo suffered a painful rib injury against the Eagles and that was the cause of the fall. Its tough to speculate on what exactly happened but I can tell you that a rib injury will make it very tough to breathe. Combine that with a heart breaking loss, a debillitating back injury and sheer mental and physical exhaustion; you have the perfect storm that leads to light headedness and then passing out.

Today we saw Ben Roethlisberger wheeled off the field on a stretcher, and too many times the past few seasons have players’ lives been forever changed from neck injury. Its times like these that really make you realize that it’s just a game, but these guys really are risking a lot.

[Note by Brandon Worley, 12/28/08 11:25 PM EST ] I also want to add this: Anyone who says this isn’t a big deal or makes a joke about needs to take a step back from things for a bit. It’s great to hear now that he’s okay, but things that seem minor can turn sour real quickly; take a look at Chris Simms or Al Harris. What may seem like a normal injury may have done serious internal damage and know one knows. And even though Romo had a bad game, he still tried his freaking hardest even though he was getting pounded into the turf nearly every single play. That is more than I can say about a lot of the team.

 

Their DNA is corrupt

Which Cowboy left it on the field? 

The o-line, one second quarter drive aside, didn’t get any push on run downs and leaked enough to get their QB battered.

The receivers dropped passes.  Patrick Crayton made a grab in traffic after dropping his first.  That aside, the receiver corps was AWOL.  Roy Williams was supposed to have escaped Detroit, but he brought the Lions funk with him.  He whined during the week about his role, just as he did in Detroit, and then played an abysmal game.  I wrote before that he was a dubious buy but shut up once the trade was made, because he’s a Cowboy now and will be for a long time.  But I’m far more bullish on Miles Austin going forward than I am on this guy.  

Did he set his QB up, or did he QB whip it loose?  Romo threw a couple of howlers, but Jason Witten aside, there were no consistent targets open that day.

But almost everybody shares the shame.  Marion Barber?  You’re not exempt.  Flozell Adams?  No comments, please.

On defense, the mistakes start at the top. 

Terence Newman is your best cover guy.  He lost his duel with Desean Jackson today.  He was beaten on a seam and took a ghastly interference penalty in the last fifteen seconds of the half. 

The Dallas line didn’t get a sack.  Demarcus Ware?  Nothing.  Jay Ratliff?  Nothing.  Dallas rushed four to keep Donovan McNabb in the pocket, but the one time he broke their contain, he broke their backs on his 59 yard toss to Correll Buckhalter.  Their only pressure came on blitzes.

And please, Jerry, if you do nothing else tomorrow, end the Adam Jones experiment.  He’s an assclown off the field and he’s an assclown on the field.  He looks lost in coverage, and that’s nothing new.  He was lost in Cleveland back in September.  He simply does not think on the field. 

He was a mark on two key Eagles 3rd down conversions.  He took a stupid penalty after the second, which moved Philly closer to a score.  He fumbled a kickoff on the next to last play of the half.

Stupid is as stupid does, and he’s stupid to the marrow in his bones.  Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins can play.  You don’t need this fool another minute in a Cowboys uniform. 

The Eagles made big plays and waited for the Cowboys to self destruct.  They did.

You can toss every coach in the dumpster tomorrow, and some would deserve it, but the players remain. 

These are the players who sent Bill Parcells into retirement.  Remember that.  Some guys make love the game as much, but nobody loves football more than the Tuna.  He risked his heart to come back to football. He kissed his marriage goodbye for his true love on the sideline. 

And these turkeys broke him.  And they were happy when he left.  They’re going to end Wade Phillips’ tenure, sooner or later. Take your pick for a savior: Cowher, Ryan, Holmgren, whomever.  I doubt that the reincarnation of Vince Lombardi could make this roster, in its current state, work. 

Tony Sparano took a less talented Dolphins team to the playoffs today, but he couldn’t break the Cowboys line of its bad habits when he was here.  Did he get a brain transplant on his flight from Dallas to Miami, or did he leave a lot of stubborn players behind?

It’s going to take a talent transfusion to get this team anywhere.  The DNA of this lineup is corrupt.  We can go up and down looking for scapegoats, but I’d turn the equation upside down.  Who ISN’T culpable today?  Jason Witten gets a pass.  Tashard Choice did his job.  That’s about it.

Notes: 

– If you were wondering why Pat McQuistan never replaced Cory Proctor, today you got your answer.  McQuistan has more ballast, but he has bad feet and cannot mirror pass rushers laterally.  There was way too much leakage in his line.  He’s one of many Cowboys who played their last game in the uniform today.

 

Cowboys @ Eagles open thread IV 12/28/08

New open thread for the Cowboys/Eagles game.

If you’re a glutton for punishment, feel free to keep commenting.

Cowboys @ Eagles open thread III 12/28/08

New open thread for the Cowboys/Eagles game.

BTW, anybody who can’t control the urge to use profanity should just quit posting. I will be banning repeat offenders.

 

 

Cowboys @ Eagles open thread 12/28/08

Open Thread

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, Dec 28th, 2008
4:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA

You can see a map of the areas of the country where FOX will broadcast the game, here. On DirecTV Sunday Ticket, the game is on channel 716.

My prediction: Dallas 24 - Philadelphia 20

Weather Forecast
Cloudy
60 degrees
Wind 16 mph

This is an open thread for game chat.

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