reasons for optimism...

at 1-3 we seem to be in trouble. however a reason to be optimist that this team can turn it around is that we never been dominated in any of the games we played. we haven't been blown out, out yardaged, out manned or even out schemed. we have been in each lost game to the end and in our win we dominated start to finish. in other words, they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. so eliminating those "shoot-yourself-in-the-foot" mistakes or even half of them and we could be 4-0. if on the other hand we would have been dominated lets say like the browns or detroit, then we could really worry.

reasons not to be optimistic....

on the other hand, its been a trend that started in training camp, showed in our play in preseason and no one took it seriously. everyone thought we just turn on the switch. to quote Allen Iverson.."practice...you mean practice...you are talking about practice..." was the attitude and it showed in the product when the real games started or even in preseason games. we have had since end of July to get this right and we are now in the 6th week of the season. and we just learned that there is no switch like we thought. there is a big issue with players starting to press and panic and divide. we have seen some signs where they are although not directly calling each other out, calling out coaches and coaches are starting to throw excuses....

we are not playing like a team...a small example is when Beuhler decided on his own to kick the heck out of the football from his 20...he was determined to kill the ball and wanted to get it into the endzone and not tell the rest of his team, thus he outkicked his coverage by 20 yards and the returner had 20 yards before he hit the first wall of defenders and they were set up...that's not team play, that's lack of communication....some of the players look like they have lost faith in coaches and themselves....Allan Ball is not reacting to what he sees and do like he did last year, he is thinking. last year he had nothing to lose by playing loose...this year he seems hesitant and worried about making mistakes and as a result he has caused a bunch of coverage mistakes in the games we have lost....

players also seem they have lost a little faith in the scheme the coaches are running specially defensive side. they don't look cohesive and some seem they are playing half heartedly....


so which will happen? will we show up and play like we did against houston? can we eliminate mistakes and not play sloppy? can we not shoot ourselves in the foot? this team has shown they play better with their backs against the wall, as an underdog. for whatever reason they don't play well as favorites, as a lead dog. it almost seems they are afraid to be ahead......and stay ahead.....

this game has huge implications.....at 2-3 will they have learned how to focus, play with a sense of urgency? it looked like it after the houston game...but then they thought they had turned on the switch and stopped doing what ever it was they did to get it right....did they learn their lesson? will they learn their lesson if they win this sunday


at 1-4 the season is shot. the team is shot. we just don't have the resiliency, mind set, leadership, coaching to pull us out. then we play against a division opponent that has had our number for a couple of years. they are playing well and the team will start to point more fingers, press a little more, tear apart a little more. we will see more players playing as individuals, more mistakes and the season will spiral downward quick. Wade will become a lame duck coach, so will JG. Jones will start to interview candidates, rumors will fly and it will just get ugly....at that point a 6-10 season would be a miracle and a big disappointment at the same time.....

this is the biggest game of these players careers. this is their superbowl. they lose this game and a lot of them are not going to be here next year. coaches will be gone and there will be a big shake up....win this game and they live another couple of weeks....

I know Raf put out a bunch of articles on the offensive breakdowns. but was there one that showed average yards/ scoring drive. I think it showed that teams that get a lot of turnover (like NO), get shorter fields and also score more. we had a very average  total score/total yards compared to some other teams, despite ranking top 2 in offense.

 

sorry to make a post. couldn't figure out how to email directly.

Alex Barron of the Rams for Barbie carpenter. a bust-for-bust trade. I think that's not bad for us. now we are stacked at ILB. we need OT depth. Barron was a former first rounder (albeit labeled a bust), so he must have had some talent and athleticism to be taken. a change of scenary may help him nd barbie. barbie fits the mold of a 4-3 WLB better than a 3-4 ILB. not bad. if we were to cut Barron after camp, we probably would ahve cut barbie anyway.

I loved our draft. I think 5 teams did really well this weekend and helped their team

- Seatle - okung and Earl thomas is all you need.

-SF -liked davis despite everything, they get Iupati and mays (bust/boom),

-Oakland - solid draft with almost no reaches...

-Dallas - yes I am biased but I will explain

- Detroit - solid draft. got two needs addressed. this is a different team.

- Cinci - gresham is going to be awsome for them.


I didn't like the eagles nor the patriots draft. they got a ton of players but probably hoping 1/4 of them become starters, 1/2 make it. its the volume approach and I think impact players mean more than bodies.

 

we had a lot of needs (Saftey, MLB, CB, OG, OT, C, WR, FB) as everyone had said and still pointing out on those areas we didn't address. but we couldnt' address everyone with impact players. I like the Dez Bryant pick, despite thinking that we are deep at WR. you can never have enough play makers and he is top 5 talent so it was also great value. if he and ogltree work out, then we can get out of rw deal next year. that's long term thinking (but it would mean we would have to draft WR again).

before the draft I said we do have a big need at MLB and getting sean lee was incredible. we have addressed the LB group systematically and have created depth and future starters. we still need to work on the DL, specially at DT.

everyone is upset that we didn't get a FS, but I am not. outside of Berry and Thomas there wasn't one that could come in and upgrade our pass defense. I don't think Ball is going to be the greatest but he showed he is at least as good as K. Hamlin if not better and we did have a top 10 defense last year. IMO he is better than Burnette, Allen or Mays. Plus its all about the front 7 and you can't have pro-bowlers at every position. I like AOA pick and his athleticism alone will get him on the field and I expect him to get some reps and playing time by mid-season. he is also a hybrid player that if he gets it, provides depth at CB and S and fits the mold of the FS types we are looking for that can cover and play saftey (like Ball). We also Have Mike Hamlin which the coaching staff is very high on.

I was upset that we didn't get enough OL help, but after Dez and Lee there wasn't much we could do to get immediate help. Young seems like a RT type of player, similar to Columbo. I think his learning curve is going to be shorter since he started 50 games in college and that's rare experience. we also get brewster back. my disappointment was when Pitt took Pouncy and after Pouncy I liked Dez.

I look for us to make a few small trades before the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Crayton for Smiley trade with Miami. Maybe we throw in Hurd, but I would rather not. They still need WR help. he will also help in the return game. BP is also tired of Smiley's injury issues so they might be willing to let him go. he won't start in dallas but would provide a strong back up at the guard position.

I know every hates Proctor, but he ain't going anywhere, so the kid from maryland is going to stay on PS for a year or so. its the case of grass is greener on the otherside and he may suck worse than Proctor who actually has NFL game experience.

Can Gaithger play RT? if Jerry thinks Free is more of LT, then maybe a trade for gaither to play the RT. the problem is we will have Free, Gaither and Austin we have to pay over the next year. lots and lots of money. that would also mean good bye columbo, which won't bother me much but he is a known quantity. there was discussion about letting him go.

I think the kid Lessimore (one of my pet cats from small school) is headed for PS. he is a little too small to play DE in the 3-4 and needs some pounds and seasoning.

 

looking forward to camps and reading on each player.

 

not looking forward to July, the slowest freaking month of the year.  

First Round: depending on which of these players are available and in the order given based on availability

1. Pouncy
2. Kyle Wilson
3. Anthony Davis
   
   

Second Round

1. Morgan Burnette
2. Alualu
3. Ducasse
4. Sean Lee
5. Donald Butler

Third Round

1. Owusu-Ansah
2. Mitch Peutrus
3. John Jerry
4. Jason Fox

Fourth Round

1. Jamar Chaney
2. Ed Wang
3. Zane Beadles
4. Phillip Dillard
5. Jordan Shiply

my Prediction is

we get lucky in the first round and pouncy drops to us at 27

1- Pouncy (center)

burnette is moving up draft boards so he is going to go mid second round but alualu will be there to the delight of Wade Phillips

2- Alualu (DE)

in the 3rd we get lucky and Owusu-Ansha is there

3- Owusu-Ansah (CB)

 

you can't address every position and by the 4th round most players are close in rankins. dallas still has needs at OG, OT, MLB and saftey so it depends on how close the players remainign are ranked and how we value the position. my guess is

4- Ed Wang (OT)

I think we take a flyer in the 6th or 7th on a WR with some good measurables that may take a couple of years to develop. so names like

Marcus Easly out of Conn.,

Jope Webb out of UAB

Chris Carter out of cal davis

as well as players like Jeromy Miles (FS), Derek Hardman (OT), Chris Marinelli (OT/OG), Chris Scott (OG/OT), Nolan Carroll (CB), Chris Hawkins (CB), Crezdon Butler (CB), John Connor (FB),

 

Priority FAs

Jameson Konz _FB/TE Kent state

Sean Lissemore DE/DT

Earl Mitchell (DT/DE)

its been reported that Mays is not very good in coverage and would become a mistmatch if he had to cover the slot WRs and that's one of the prerequisites playing saftey for the cowboys. and thus he may not be a good FS candidate or for that matter a strong saftey candidate. but he does have good measurables. he was still productive in college and he has great size with room to grow. would he be a candidate to be moved to ILB position? he is about 230 now, but could easily put on another 10-12 pounds without losing much agility or speed. he is a good tackler as well and inside he wouldn't be matched up against WRs, but against TEs and RBs.

would it be a good idea to get him with the idea of moving him to ILB. he could in fact replace carp immediately, since after all he has played saftey and is decent in coverage. with him and Williams that would be some freakish speed and athleticism in the middle of the defense.

 

is the draft here already :)

I have been a member here for a while, but I don't frequent it as much as I should and post on other message boards. I posted the topic of the Hypothetical Felix Jones trade on another board and got attacked,  some of which were of personal nature. highly immature and childish. I posted the same topic here just to see the reaction. and it has been a pleasent pleasent surprise to see the civil responses and lively debate on the topic regardless of your feelings and stance on the idea. no personal attacks. no put downs. no name calling. so its very much appreciated and suffice it to say I will be frequenting this board moving forward.

 

thanks

 

there was an interesting disccusion on another message board, regarding a hypotetical trade for Felix Jones for a top 10-12 pick. would you do it? why and why not? is there any pick in the top 10-12 you would take and some that you wouldn't? I think that's pretty interesting discussion. IMO a top 10-12 pick needs to be a franchise player. is Felix Jones a franchise player? I can't wait until the draft.

suffice it to say that I am a big cowboys and NFL fan. this is the worst time of the year. the excitement of draft is gone. no real activities other than OTAs, which leave a lot to be desired. baseball is in mid season so not much excitement there.  basketball playoffs are coming to an end so the substitute fix for some suspense, competition is going to be gone. end of june and july are the longest time of the year.....You can tell how bored everybody is when there are two threads on matt jones with over 100 responses.  I can't wait for training camp to start and see everyone's juices flowing again. training camp can't get here soon enough.

 

 if anything I am a fan of 18 game seasons, pushing superbowl to the end of february, draft to May and then quickly into training camp in july.......

I know I am being a pessimist and negative about things. Everyone is wishing and hoping that things will be right next year, but some how, for some reason, we have been down this road and its not going to get any better. Wade is too old and too set in his ways to act differently. At his core he is a softie. Some teams like Indy, where there is professionalism up and down the organization and there are strong leaders in the locker room this may work.

In Dallas, with TO, Jerry, Tony, etc. this is not. thus its inevitable that we will blow up again next year and Wade is on the hot seat already and will be gone next year. (unless a miracle happens and TO is gone).

so who are the potential young coaches we might tap into. I personally Like Haley. I liked him when he was here. I like the work he did with the young players. Crayton owes him his development, so do Hurd and Austin under his tutledge for their first couple of years.

he has shown now that he has the offensive mind and a successful one. He has been learning under parcells and now whisenhunt who learned under cowher. he is young, innovative and is already familiar with the organization. he is also direct and has the personality to deal with players, even players like TO.

Garret obviously, but the shine is off the prize, not necessarily because of him, but because of other issues surronding the team. I think he has an eye for talent and that's rare for a coach to be able to spot talent as well (talk is that last year after visits to the post season college bowls for seniors, he like eddie royal, donnie avery, felix jones as his favorite offensive skilled players).

How about Dick Labeau from pittsburgh. defeinsve guru. aggressive and would take this soft defense into a hard nose defense.

 

 

 

We have all heard this Mysterious Team Chemistry (MTC) thrown about quite a bit, specially with teams such as AZ having so much post season success and their coaches approach to fixing their problems.

I am a firm beliver in MTC. This doesn't just exist in football or sports but for all types of organizations. Companies spend millions in building TEAMS and not GROUPS. Although we may have a "GROUP" of individual talent, perhaps some of the best in the NFL we are not a TEAM and thus until we become a TEAM we will never achieve what the ultimate goal is, that winning a superbowl.

by definition

TEAM is : A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they are mutually accountable

group vs. team:

• Understanding: In a group, members think they are grouped together for administrative purposes only.  Individuals sometimes cross purpose with others.  In a team, members recognise their independence and understand both personal and team goals are best accomplished with mutual support.  Time is not wasted struggling over "Turf" or attempting personal gain at the expense of others.
• Ownership  In a group, members tend to focus on themselves because they are not sufficiently involved in planning the unit's objectives. They approach their job simply as a hired hand. "Castle Building" is common.  In a team, members feel a sense of ownership for their jobs and unit, because they are committed to values-based common goals that they helped establish.
• Trust.   In a group, members distrust the motives of colleagues because they do not understand the role of other members. Expressions of opinion or disagreement are considered divisive or non-supportive.  In a team, members work in a climate of trust and are encouraged to openly express ideas, opinions, disagreements and feelings. Questions are welcomed.

• Conflict Resolution.   In a group, members find themselves in conflict situations they do not know how to resolve.  Their supervisor/leader may put off intervention until serious damage is done, i.e. a crisis situation.  In a team, members realise conflict is a normal aspect of human interaction but they view such situations as an opportunity for new ideas and creativity. They work to resolve conflict quickly and constructively.

• Clear Leadership.   In a group, members tend to work in an unstructured environment with undetermined standards of performance.  Leaders do not walk the talk and tend to lead from behind a desk.  In a team, members work in a structured environment, they know what boundaries exist and who has final authority.  The leaders sets agreed high standards of performance and he/she is respected via active, willing participation.

so its clear that we are a group and not a team. I have worked long enough and in many different organizations that I have seen both sides of the above. I have seen depts and divisions achieve unbelievable results by being a TEAM and I have seen companies fail and go under by being groups. I know in my current position we spend tons of money and time to be TEAM. At the core of all of it, the key that I believe is critical in becoming a TEAM. is TRUST.

If there is no TRUST, then you can't challenge each other, you can't get through conflicts which are healthy and necessary part of getting better. you can't rely on each other. If there is no trust you can't have healthy conflict because it will all be taken as personal, where if there is trust at the foundation, then you can easily challenge each other without feeling threatened. Right now it is obvious there is no trust among the many parts of the organization and that lack of trust between a few has torn the fabric of the TEAM that's the cowboys and lead to under achievement and breakdown. I read an article on CNNSI this morning regarding Piloi and Bilicheck. How they would argue and fight each other, yet there was so much trust that neither felt threatened and as a result they grew the patriots into the power house they are today.

Thus the case against TO, because he is not a TEAM player as talented as he maybe, he creates conflict, he is not trust worthy and he has not been able to be part of the team, for the betterment of the team. He has strong enough personality that he will have a "posse". a Group of players that will listen to him, side with him and most can see benefit to themselves by getting what he is also asking.

In my previous experiences I had seen dept managers, directors, etc. who were not and did not participate or believe in becoming part of the team, cause great failure to the entire organizations. It never failed, they had a posse. it never failed, there was always gossip, back biting, in figthing and lack of trust. It was also always amazing that as soon as they left, how quickly things came back together again. And some of these managers were extremely smart and talented individuals.

In order for the cowboys to achieve the ultimate goal, they need to be a TEAM.  in order to be a TEAM, there needs to be trust (not cryptic messages sent through the media, no gossip, etc.). In order to build trust, you need to remove those who can not be trusted.

 and lastly, the last bullet point clearly points to Jerry Jones contributions to this mess. without clear lines of command there is Chaos and confustion. I think he made the proverbial mistake by counting his chickens too early when he declared "Chemsitry is over rated". We went 1-3 in december and completely collapsed in the most important game of the season.

I strongly believe the main reason behind that is the conflict in the roles he plays. I read in several places that he mentioned that some of the player tardiness was justifiable because they had media commitments, which is a marketing thing......this is in conflict with being a football team. So his role as the president and owner is in conflict with being a GM. The interests of the roles is in conflict with each other, thus Jerry plays judge and jury of his own conflicts and no checks or balances.

I am just surprised since he is such a smart businessman and my expectations would be he would have a better understanding of these concepts. but his ego is getting the better of him, because he can't admit to himself (conflict) that he is doing the wrong thing.