SB Nation User Blog: DalaiLuke

Revisiting Jerry the GM...

DalaiLuke — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:23:04 -0000

Anyone impressed with the performance of Montrae Holland yesterday has to offer yet another tip of the hat to the GM behind the move.

Jerry Jones has had an intriguing career in the NFL. As an owner, his rather dubious entry left a bad taste in people's mouth (myself included). But with time he's won over most, including myself. How can you not like an owner that has three Super Bowl wins?

There is an unwritten rule in sports: owners should not dabble in the business of the GM. Jerry Jones seemed to learn that lesson the hard way.

Yet lately it seems he's re-written that rule. Perhaps he learned a thing or two from Parcells, but in recent years, Jerry's GM moves have put him in an elite crowd. He's arguably the BEST GM in the NFL right now.

Not all agree. Three weeks ago, the media opinion du jour questioned Jerry's choice of not only coach, but also players with lack of heart. Wade was the easy scape-goat, but few players escaped criticism.

Losing streaks will do that to America's Team. Especially when the year started with Super aspirations. But upon closer look at the job Jerry Jones has accomplished in recent years as the Cowboy's GM, it's hard to deny the wisdom of so many recent moves:

1. Great Drafts - while it takes years to truly judge, the Cowboys seem to be choosing wisely in the post-Parcells era.
2. Bigg Davis - Everyone laughed until Davis and Pro-Bowl were mentioned in the same breath.
3. Hamlin - From cast-off to defensive QB, Hamlin may be Jerry's most valuable move of all.
4. Tank - Who in Texas doesn' t like a gun-lover? He's been an asset both on the field and in the locker room.
5. Zach Thomas - yet another leader both on and off the field.
6. Roy Williams - though he's just begun to unpack, few can question getting a proven stud versus the lottery WRs are in the draft.
7. ** Pacman? I'm not one to write him off yet! Jerry certainly isn't afraid to stick his neck out. Pacman's upside is huge, and the downside is off-set by an extra draft pick.

... and now Holland? One game does not make a career, and the remaining games will be the real test, but Holland seems a clear upgrade to Proctor.

At what point does Jerry Jones finally win over the skeptics?

Can A Guy Dream?

DalaiLuke — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:06:57 -0000

As recently as six days ago, at some point in the Washington game, every Cowboys fan had to at least consider the prospect of this team missing the playoffs. Contrast that with talk of an undefeated season most fans were discussing before the first Redskins clash... Being a Cowboy fan is nothing if not entertaining!

So now, on the eve of what should be a Cowboy gimme, indulge me as I dream. This dream includes running the table, and getting some help along the way. It includes bye weeks and maybe even home-field advantage in the NFC Championship game.

And it ends up with a Super-Bowl victory. Perhaps knocking off another undefeated AFC foe? Yes, I dare to dream.

Let's start with some simple math:

Giants 9-1 ... Panthers 8-2 ... Arizona 7-3

For the Cowboys to get a bye week means they must pass both the Giants and another of these three. It's not impossible. The Giants still play both these teams, and we get the them on our home turf. Finding a way to get past both Carolina and Arizona might be trickier... but again, can't I dream?

Here are the schedules: (forget looking at our schedule, everyone here knows who we play, and anyway, we're running the tables, right?!)

Giants: @Arizona, @Washington, Philly, @Dallas, Carolina, @Minnesota

Carolina: @Atlanta, @GreenBay, TampaBay, Denver, @Giants, @Saints

Arizona: Giants, @Philly, Rams, Vikings, @Patriots, Seattle

If the Giants lose to Arizona, suddenly Philly, Washington and even Minnesota are not gimmees. Who wouldn't LOVE to see a late season swoon from Eli and company. Giants fans don't deserve this sudden success. A year ago, NY fans were trying to run Eli, Coughlin and Co. out of town... maybe their fears will come true a little late?

Giants go 2-4 down the stretch, end 11-5 ... get a wild card berth, lose and go out with a whimper. Better yet, they win first round and we get to exact revenge. Brandon Jacobs is hurt, Eli is over-rated, and I'm a Cowboys fan, can you tell?

Carolina goes 3-3 down the stretch, losing at frigid Lambeau, then losing one of two on the road against the Saints and Atlanta, and punting one of two against TB and Denver at home. Hey, it's possible... this is a team that couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag last year.

Arizona goes 3-2 after beating the Giants... just because they're the Cardinals. The Patriots and Philly make this more than possible.

So there, I said it. Now Wade and the Boys need to take care of their end of the bargain. In this roller-coaster of a season, I dare to dream we've crested and it's smooth sailing from here.

Poll

What are the odds of this dream coming true?

NFC East Challengers

DalaiLuke — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:28:56 -0000

Today's post about the Patriot beat writers liking the Cowboys brings up an interesting question: What teams will challenge the Cowboys for NFC supremacy?

Contenders... Giants, Eagles, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Seahawks

Surprises?... Redskins, Lions, Panthers, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams

Pretenders... Bears, Falcons, 49ers

CONTENDERS:

GIANTS - You cannot rule out the Super Bowl Champions. Especially given the fact that this team beat up on our very own Cowboys last time they met. Strahan is a loss, but this team has a solid D... the question remains whether Manning is for real.

EAGLES - This is a proud team that is always contending. The question mark here is how much gas McNabb has left in the tank. Defensively, they continue to look tough.

PACKERS - The Rodgers watch is on. The nucleus of a 13-3 team returns with a chip on it's shoulder after a tough playoff loss to the Giants. If healthy, Al Harris and Charles Woodson anchor a tough D.

VIKINGS - The Williams brothers anchor a monster defensive front that will keep Minnesota in games. The big Q: Can AP make up for Tavaris Jackson's short-comings?

SAINTS - This is the team that scares me. They were to hot pick to go all the way last year, only to lay an egg. A loaded offense, a solid defense, and Sean Patton at the helm. After the beating they put on us in '06, I can see some good hype for a Cowboys - Saints NFC Championship game.

SEAHAWKS - This team almost belongs in the Surprise category, except it's hard to count out any Holmgren-led team. JJ as the featured back can't be worse than last year's efforts, but spells trouble for their playoff hopes.

SURPRISES?...

REDSKINS - This team played inspired ball just to make the playoffs last year. I don't expect the same this year, as the loss of Taylor will show it's affects. This is yet another team banking on mere "potential" when it comes to QB. I like Campbell, but much is being put on his shoulders this year. Prediction: Portis is this year's S. Alexander = bust.

LIONS - The greatest 10-6 preseason team ... ever.

PANTHERS - It is hard to get excited about a team that looked so consistently horrible last year. Depth chart at QB = Moore, Testaverde, Carr. Say no more.

BUCCANEERS - The Bucs QB depth chart is approaching mythic status. Translate: mediocrity rules. I have always liked Garcia, but I don't think he's the answer for the Bucs this year. Last year's playoff run was more a lack of competition.

CARDINALS - This is the easy "surprise" pick... but until the Cardinals prove it on the field, they remain the "Lions of the West"

RAMS - Getting Steven Jackson back makes Bulger a better QB... the team that had a hard time winning a game without Jackson will be back in contention this year.

Pretenders... Bears, Falcons, 49ers

The not ready for prime time teams have one thing in common - unproven leadership at QB. Doesn't it always seem to be the case that weak teams somehow have decent defenses. Watch for these teams to keep games close with solid D.

Poll

Which team will challenge the Cowboys for NFC supremacy this year?

NY Giants

56 votes

Phil. Eagles

31 votes

Wash. Redskins

1 votes

GB Packers

21 votes

Minn. Vikings

34 votes

NO Saints

13 votes

Carolina Panthers

0 votes

StL Rams

1 votes

Seattle Seahawks

5 votes

TB Buccaneers

1 votes

Ariz. Cardinals

1 votes

164 votes | Poll has closed

Pressure on Dallas this year?

DalaiLuke — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:05:49 -0000

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80835b22

Pressure on Dallas this year?

Jimmy Johnson vs. Jerry Jones: They were college teammates at Arkansas and Johnson was Jones'...

DalaiLuke — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:39:05 -0000

Jimmy Johnson vs. Jerry Jones: They were college teammates at Arkansas and Johnson was Jones' hand-picked successor to the legendary Tom Landry. They turned around a franchise that was in disarray and won two Super Bowls together. But Johnson couldn't stand Jones' meddling in personnel matters and Jones, who owns the team and believed that gave him the power of a general manager, wasn't about to stop. Things turned ugly and Johnson walked away from the Cowboys after the 1993 season.

2nd Day Draft Ideas...

DalaiLuke — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:26:01 -0000

ESPN just ran an article citing four guys that stand out as interesting 2nd day draft prospects:

Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego.
Jack Williams, CB, Kent State.
Mike Humpal, ILB, Iowa.
Corey Lynch, S, Appalachian State.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...

Who do you have your eye on for day-two steals?

Of the list presented, the guy I know best is from my current neighborhood:

Corey Lynch, S, Appalachian State. Remember the guy who blocked a field goal attempt in the final seconds and saved Appalachian State's upset win over Michigan last year? That was Lynch. In addition to being an excellent special teams player, he also has great ball skills, which his 24 career interceptions prove. This won't affect his draft status, but his wife is the granddaughter of Rev. Billy Graham.

He's been a stud for App for years now, and just seems to have a nose for the ball. As with any guy on day two, there are doubts as to his ability to make it in the NFL. I think he'll be a Ratliff type guy who is hard to keep off the field.

The other category that is always interesting with 2nd day guys is the whole "senior year hurt" (I always think Canty) or "trouble in paradise" (drugs or johnny Law) ... what guys fit this category this year?

Greatest Game EVER?

DalaiLuke — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:53:49 -0000

I just heard Joe Theismann on ESPN radio talking about the prospect of a New England - Dallas Super Bowl. He said it would be the biggest game in NFL history, bar none. He was referring to the prospect of each of them winning out, so that it would be the 17-1 Dallas Cowboys facing the undefeated Patriots.

I should be letting KindaBlue provide the details of some of the games along the way that would be in contention for GREATEST EVER. He gave far better detail than my efforts on some of the best Cowboys games ever in a recent diary: Scroll to his Comments...

I think the games that stand out for me, being a homer, are the Ice Bowl, both Cowboys - Steelers classics, the CATCH, the 93 49ers-Cowboys NFC Championship epic, the Rams vs Tennessee Super-Bowl, the first New England (vs Rams) Super-Bowl... The Giants - Bills SuperBowl...

What other games come to mind? Would you agree with Theismann that the hype for this game could make it the biggest?

Add another Great Victory to our history...

DalaiLuke — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:05:30 -0000

This Packer game was HUGE ... and it seems to confirm that Romo and this team will be bringing us many more great memories in the coming years.

In terms of Cowboys' History, where does this victory rank for you? Obviously, us older guys have more memories to draw from, but what are YOUR favorite memories?

Obviously, the Super-Bowls will stand out for Cowboy fans. And you're welcome to share your thoughts on these games. Outside of the SBs, here are a few of my favorites ... I look forward to hearing your stories on these and the many other ones from our GREAT history.

Dec. 23, 1972 - Divisional Playoff Game - Dallas 30 @ San Fran 28
Staubach throws two touchdown passes in the final minutes, initiating his reputation as a come-back kid.

Nov. 28, 1974 - Dallas 24 - Washington 23
Clint Longley, then a rookie, threw two touchdown passes including the game winning 50 yarder to Drew Pearson with less an a minute remaining.

They all blend together, BUT ... Dallas - Washington Games from the '70s were epic battles, with the likes of Sonny Jergenson and Kilmer trying to out-wit the Doomsday Defense while Staubach often stole victory from the jaws of defeat.

December 28, 1975 - NFC Divisional - Dallas 17 @ Minn 14
Coined the "hail mary" by Roger Staubach.

January 4, 1976 NFC Championship - Dallas 37 @ Los Angeles Rams 7
January 7, 1979 NFC Championship - Dallas 28 @ Los Angeles 0
While the Rams also got the best of Dallas in more than one 70's playoff game, these two BLOW-OUTS stand out in all Dallas fan's minds as testiment to our great 70s teams.

Nov 5, 1989 - Dallas 13 @ Washington 3
Dallas goes 1-15, with the only win coming @ Washington, as Dallas proves this rivalry is beyond records. Another victory at Washington in 1991, during Washington's Super Bowl year, also ranks up there.

January 17, 1993 - NFC Championship Game - Dallas 30 @ San Fran 20
Jimmy Johnson guarantees a victory that was sealed when Alvin Harper took a crossing pass 60+ yards in the final minutes.

January 2, 1994 - Dallas 16 @ Giants 13 - Fighting for home-field throughout the playoffs (vs a wild card for the loser), Emmitt separates his shoulder and stayed in to carry his team to victory in easily the best game I've seen live.

Thank God we have Ware

DalaiLuke — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:09:53 -0000

Merriman's fast start had me thinking that we may have chosen the wrong guy.

Boy, was that ever a mistake. Ware is not only the better player, he's the better man.

It's hard not to give at least a little credit to Wade Phillips, both for Merriman's start and for the way our defensive pressure has escalated this year.

A before / after of Shawne Merriman:

Mr. Roids

(credit to a link found on the Cleveland Browns blog site)

Hard to tell if the original is slightly smaller pic, to enhance the differences, but either way, the changes are dramatic. You gotta think that doesn't help his longevity, let alone his mind.

Poll

Which best describes your thoughts on Merriman - Ware?

I always thought Ware was the better pick.

13 votes

I think Ware is the better pick now, but was unsure before.

10 votes

I thought Merriman was the better pick at first, now I'm in the Ware camp.

11 votes

Merriman is still better than Ware.

0 votes

They're about even, the difference is Wade Phillips.

2 votes

We should have taken Spears with that pick.

0 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

Looking at our Drafts...

DalaiLuke — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:49:28 -0000

Matt Mosley had a chart up comparing the Steelers and Miami drafts over the years.

Steelers / Miami Drafts

It also included the NFL average for starters from each draft class, which made me wonder how we compare.

Here's the NFL average starters by draft year, and how the Cowboys stack up:

2007 1.2 0 (Spencer, Anderson, Folk)
2006 2.5 0 (Watkins)
2005 1.9 5 = Ware, Spears, Barber, Canty, Ratliff (Burnett, Petitti)
2004 1.9 3 = Crayton, Reeves, Julius Jones
2003 1.5 4 = Newman, Witten, James ++Romo
2002 1.0 2 = Williams, Gurode
2001 0.7 0
2000 0.4 0
1999 0.2 0
1998 0.4 2 = Ellis, Adams
1997 0.1 0
1996 0.3 0

We have 15 starters (can't count BOTH JJ and MB3), while the average is 12.1

Throw in the other 4 guys that have at one point started and are regularly helping us (obviously, Petitti is long gone), and you can see how the '02 - '05 drafts are the reason we are doing so well. You can also see why we were so horrible given the 6 earlier drafts.

The 2006 draft proves the adage of reserving judgement for 3 years; it's too early to write the final judgement on Fasano, Hatcher, Watkins, McQuistan, and even Carpenter. The same is also true for the 2007 draft, with Marten, Stanback, Free and even Ball still capable of becoming big contributors.

As for the class of '05, it is year 3, and so fair to start drawing conclusions. The biggest question mark remains Spears. Beyond this, perennial all-pro Ware, bruiser Barber, up-and-coming Canty and the manster Ratliff are all great contributors. Burnett is a consistent contributor, and seems to be improving each year. This seems to be the draft we'll all be pointing to as the heart of this Cowboys Team.