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SportsDay/DFW sports
Cowboys beat writer Gerry Fraley answered readers' questions Friday. Some excerpts:
On why a head coach wouldn't want the job with the Cowboys:
The GM is a poor talent evaluator. The cupboard is almost bare in terms of young talent. The 2009 draft set back this organization.
On if Stephen McGee has a chance to be the quarterback of the future:
Another thing the Cowboys should use these remaining games to find out. With all due respect to Jon Kitna, who is a true pro, McGee should be playing now. Cowboys should be looking toward the future.
On why Cowboys blitzes up the middle don't work:
Opponents know they are coming that way and tilt their blocking accordingly. Phillips rarely sends DBs on blitzes.
On if Josh Brent could be a good defensive end:
Yes. he could play anywhere on the front. Good talent.
On what should be done with Mike Jenkins:
Mike Jenkins is a mystery to me. he was a Pro Bowler last year. That may not mean as much as it once did, but Jenkins played well. He's been in a slump most of this season. Cowboys must figure out how to fix him. He's too good a talent to toss away.
On if there is a winnable game for the Cowboys left on the schedule:
No, and that's not for shock effect. In its current state, this team would have trouble beating the Toronto Argonauts. The Jacksonville game was an out-and-out embarrassment. Detroit is the worst club remaining on the schedule, but the Lions are playing with enthusiasm. Don't see that with the Cowboys. I see a club ridden with doubt.
On if there has been a noticeable change in this week's practices:
If a club does not get it by 1-6, it will never get it. It does appear that the sniping has started. Igor Olshansky's comments about the offense not running the ball enough are factually correct, but they will not help the situation.
On what Jerry Jones has done to anger the football gods:
You ask an interesting question. I'm a big believer in hubris, the Greek concept of humans being penalized for their preening pride.
I think this all started with the heralded $55,000 rookie dinner. Cowboys have not won since and have played progressively worse.
I wonder if the offensive players, who gorged themselves at the expense of the rookies on that fateful evening, will throw in $55,000 to the Salvation Army campaign. That dinner was obscene in many ways.
On if the Cowboys' approach this summer was the biggest flaw of the season:
Good place to start. Training camp was a waste because Jerry Jones was more concerned about marketing than preparing a team.
San Antonio was a bad idea, because the team had to practice on artificial turf. That takes away from players' legs.
Coming home for a week after the Hall of Fame game was a bad idea, because the club essentially did nothing for a week.
Going to Oxnard was a bad idea, because practices were ridiculously easy in the good weather. This was no way to prepare a team.
On his prediction for the Cowboys-Packers game:
Packers by four touchdowns.
On if the Cowboys were interested in Shawne Merriman:
No. Merriman is a shell of his former steroid-created self. Plus, he wants to play on the outside. He would balk at playing inside. If I can digress for a moment ... Merriman is a known steroid user, but few seem to care. Baseball players are pillorized for steroid use.
Why the difference?
Cowboys beat writer Gerry Fraley answered readers' questions Friday. Some excerpts:
On why a head coach wouldn't want the job with the Cowboys:
The GM is a poor talent evaluator. The cupboard is almost bare in terms of young talent. The 2009 draft set back this organization.
On if Stephen McGee has a chance to be the quarterback of the future:
Another thing the Cowboys should use these remaining games to find out. With all due respect to Jon Kitna, who is a true pro, McGee should be playing now. Cowboys should be looking toward the future.
On why Cowboys blitzes up the middle don't work:
Opponents know they are coming that way and tilt their blocking accordingly. Phillips rarely sends DBs on blitzes.
On if Josh Brent could be a good defensive end:
Yes. he could play anywhere on the front. Good talent.
On what should be done with Mike Jenkins:
Mike Jenkins is a mystery to me. he was a Pro Bowler last year. That may not mean as much as it once did, but Jenkins played well. He's been in a slump most of this season. Cowboys must figure out how to fix him. He's too good a talent to toss away.
On if there is a winnable game for the Cowboys left on the schedule:
No, and that's not for shock effect. In its current state, this team would have trouble beating the Toronto Argonauts. The Jacksonville game was an out-and-out embarrassment. Detroit is the worst club remaining on the schedule, but the Lions are playing with enthusiasm. Don't see that with the Cowboys. I see a club ridden with doubt.
On if there has been a noticeable change in this week's practices:
If a club does not get it by 1-6, it will never get it. It does appear that the sniping has started. Igor Olshansky's comments about the offense not running the ball enough are factually correct, but they will not help the situation.
On what Jerry Jones has done to anger the football gods:
You ask an interesting question. I'm a big believer in hubris, the Greek concept of humans being penalized for their preening pride.
I think this all started with the heralded $55,000 rookie dinner. Cowboys have not won since and have played progressively worse.
I wonder if the offensive players, who gorged themselves at the expense of the rookies on that fateful evening, will throw in $55,000 to the Salvation Army campaign. That dinner was obscene in many ways.
On if the Cowboys' approach this summer was the biggest flaw of the season:
Good place to start. Training camp was a waste because Jerry Jones was more concerned about marketing than preparing a team.
San Antonio was a bad idea, because the team had to practice on artificial turf. That takes away from players' legs.
Coming home for a week after the Hall of Fame game was a bad idea, because the club essentially did nothing for a week.
Going to Oxnard was a bad idea, because practices were ridiculously easy in the good weather. This was no way to prepare a team.
On his prediction for the Cowboys-Packers game:
Packers by four touchdowns.
On if the Cowboys were interested in Shawne Merriman:
No. Merriman is a shell of his former steroid-created self. Plus, he wants to play on the outside. He would balk at playing inside. If I can digress for a moment ... Merriman is a known steroid user, but few seem to care. Baseball players are pillorized for steroid use.
Why the difference?
