Are we good?

[Everlastingxxx]

When a team continues to fold in big games, the supposed leadership, players and coaches, are going to be questioned.

Look at the Patriots and Tom Brady just two weeks ago. Suddenly, Bellichek can't coach and Brady sucks?

Do the Cowboys appear to have more leadership this year? I dont see anything different in terms of leaders. Maybe Scandrick? He said in a post game interview that they are practicing so hard, the actual games are like a scrimmage. Why is that? Garrett change the way they practice? Talented offense is pushing the defense harder? Why isnt this team folding under pressure when they have in the past? Wish i knew more of the inner workings.

 

[cmd34(work)]

We are winning because:

The offense is balanced. Garrett has been neutered. Linehan, Callahan, and maybe Garrett himself have stuck with the gameplan.

The offensive line was fixed. Fans have been calling for it for years and despite Jerry's wishes to add playmakers and jersey sellers, the line was addressed.

The defense got some balls. Whether that was Marinelli's doing or influenced by Rolando McClain, the team found some heart. Fans have also called for this for awhile. Think back to those suggesting adding Ray Lewis when he was a free agent would have a significant impact on this team.

Romo's still magic. He doesn't have to fling it 40 times anymore but when we need the magic, he's stepped up. We've still seen "Bad Tony" when he tried to do too much against the 49ers in the first half of game one.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Also, we've been incredibly healthy.

 

[peplaw06]

Romo's still magic. He doesn't have to fling it 40 times anymore but when we need the magic, he's stepped up. We've still seen "Bad Tony" when he tried to do too much against the 49ers in the first half of game one.

It pretty crazy to think about the narrative could all be completely different if 3rd and 20 didn't happen.

Special teams gifts 14 points to Seattle, Romo/Frederick fumble exchange gives them another 3, defense gives up 6, and we lose 23-20, 26-20, or 30-20... the narrative is the team folded behind the crushing turnovers and again couldn't get out of their own way to win in a big spot. Romo is a choker because of the fumbled snap.

Romo hits TWill on 3rd and 20, and Murray finishes off the drive in 3 more plays to go up 27-23... we go on to win 30-23, and the narrative is Dallas dominated and the game wasn't as close as the final score. Dallas may have now turned the corner and may be the best team in the NFC.

Everything comes down to that one play, and no one is talking about captain clutch, Romo snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after the special teams put us in a bind.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Also, we've been incredibly healthy.

That’s a really good point. Past Cowboy teams have been exposed later in the season once the depth is tested.

 

[Omegasupreme]

The less Garrett does, the better this team gets.

His responsibilities are as follows:

1. Clappy hand guy.
2. Dress code enforcement man.
3. Cliche speech man.
4. Wears mirrored sunglasses to keep his visual intentions masked.

The less he touches, the less things go wrong.

 

[Iamtdg]

Also, we've been incredibly healthy.

I don't know, man. We haven't had it as bad as last year, but Carter and McClain both have missed time.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Carter is nothing special anyway, so we could afford to lose him for a few games. McClain has barely missed any game time -- I still say he just doesn't like to practice. The groin looked fine on that interception at the end of the game. Claiborne wasn't starting anyway and just eliminated a bullseye for opposing QBs.

When you see all the difference-making players around the league dropping like flies, you realize how lucky we've been.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I don't know, man. We haven't had it as bad as last year, but Carter and McClain both have missed time.

Durant doesnt get much credit but he has been making plays. Next season you have 4 starting linebackers in Lee, Carter, Durant and McClain.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Yeah. Durant has been balling these last 2 weeks. Was wrong about him.

 

[Iamtdg]

Carter is nothing special anyway, so we could afford to lose him for a few games. McClain has barely missed any game time -- I still say he just doesn't like to practice. The groin looked fine on that interception at the end of the game. Claiborne wasn't starting anyway and just eliminated a bullseye for opposing QBs.

When you see all the difference-making players around the league dropping like flies, you realize how lucky we've been.

We have had injuries, just not as many. I never said the injuries didn't help us. Especially the Claiborne one.

 

[Iamtdg]

Durant doesnt get much credit but he has been making plays. Next season you have 4 starting linebackers in Lee, Carter, Durant and McClain.

I agree that Durant has looked better than expected. Especially this last game.

 

[Doomsday]

Especially the Claiborne one.

I think that's a big one, in our favor actually.

 

[UVAwahoos]

This is directed towards Mid and UVA, what does Garrett have to do for you to give him some credit to how this team is playing? He has got this team ready to play and we are looking good. The players seem to love him too.

If anything, this early success just further reinforces that Garrett has been the MAIN detrimental cancer here over the last 4-5 years. Now that we can't even think of anything he actually does, it's not just a magical coincidence that the team is 5-1.

This has been the inherent problem with all the CZ fanboys claiming that we didn't have talent or that something was slowly being built here. First off, it no longer takes 3-4 years to build a contender. Also, coaching is probably the second most important factor behind a franchise QB in this league when you look at teams that have been consistently successful. There's no doubt that the identity of the team is forming now that we have two former head coaches leading both sides of the ball. Linehan and Marinelli are the real deal. Garrett is being fully propped up like Weekend at Bernies.

 

[w8lifter]

Everything comes down to that one play, and no one is talking about captain clutch, Romo snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after the special teams put us in a bind.

This!

Linehan and Marinelli are the real deal. Garrett is being fully propped up like Weekend at Bernies.

That!!

 

[Omegasupreme]

If anything, this early success just further reinforces that Garrett has been the MAIN detrimental cancer here over the last 4-5 years. Now that we can't even think of anything he actually does, it's not just a magical coincidence that the team is 5-1.

This has been the inherent problem with all the CZ fanboys claiming that we didn't have talent or that something was slowly being built here. First off, it no longer takes 3-4 years to build a contender. Also, coaching is probably the second most important factor behind a franchise QB in this league when you look at teams that have been consistently successful. There's no doubt that the identity of the team is forming now that we have two former head coaches leading both sides of the ball. Linehan and Marinelli and Callahanare the real deal. Garrett is being fully propped up like Weekend at Bernies.

In fact, the only thing that really remains of Garrett in the offense are the receiving routes. Frankly, the success and the strength of the game (and the improvement last year in the red zone that made Dallas the highest scoring it had been in years) up until the 3rd quarter was the zone blocked battering running game (not Garrett's), quick passes to the RBs (not Garrett's), and especially methodically using first and second down to make third down manageable (definitely not Garrett's). But as soon as Dallas would go into an obvious pass play, even from play action, Seattle knew how much time Romo needed to throw, where to blitz and especially where the WRs were running. That is still the part of the offense that needs overhaul but unfortunately it is the cornerstone of the scheme and the very grouping of plays that Jason has been calling for years. It is at its weakest it has been in the Garrett era because these threadbare route trees are being attempted by the slowest group of receivers Dallas has had since 1987.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

I'm still skeptical of this team, especially on defense. I want to see how we play against our NFC East rivals before I jump on the Super Bowl bandwagon. The schedule is favorable so we should be 7-1 after these next two games.

So we'll see if this team is for real or not.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Durant doesnt get much credit but he has been making plays. Next season you have 4 starting linebackers in Lee, Carter, Durant and McClain.

That's a ice LB lineup. I'd keep McClain at MLB. Lee can lay all three LB positions. But you find a way to get and keep those two on the field together.

 

[junk]

Carter, Durant and McClain are all free agents though

 

[cmd34]

If Carter doesn't shit the bed the rest of the season, he deserves a re-up (assuming he isn't asking for big money). McClain should be re-upped now. He gets more expensive every day and less likely to accept contract stipulations on his off-field behavior.

Durant? Maybe a one-year deal if it's reasonable. We have younger, cheaper guys in Wilber, Hitchens, and Toomer that need to develop and handle reserve roles.

2015 should be ....Carter @ SAM, McClain @ MIKE, Lee @ WILL.