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IMO, this next off-season will be the deciding factor on whether this core group of players gets a legitimate shot at a championship. Small fixes won't do it. A new Tight Ends coach or a new Quality Control guy who the players all really respect isn't going to change the key problem, the total lack of accountability.
1) Jerry has to remove himself from the equation. I know, I know. He never will, it’s his team, etc. If he isn’t capable or willing, nothing else matters. It is more evident every day that Jimmy, not Jerry, was solely responsible for being the architect of those championship teams (the last Superbowl was won with a roster where 80% of the players were drafted , signed, or traded for by Jimmy Johnson). The team doesn’t fear or truly respect Jerry’s “puppet” coaches. He can continue to market the team, the stadium, chair committees, etc. but he needs to relieve himself of any personnel decisions. Every other General Manager with the exception of Mike Brown, is able to focus on the roster. Even Mike Brown doesn’t involve himself in all of the other activities Jerry does.
2) Hire an outside GM and or Head Coach. Someone with little or no ties to the organizition (translation: no loyalty or obligation to Jerry). It can be a big name HC who handpicks his GM (think Pete Carroll in Seattle) or an up and coming GM and allow him to pick his Head Coach. The entire scouting and coaching staff needs to be let go. There should be zero pressure from Jerry to retain anyone. If you want true accountability you have to allow the architect to bring in his people.
3) Fix the offensive line. This is another reason the scouting department needs to be dumped. Whoever is evaluating the Offensive Line has been a disaster. Tomorrow, I’ll post a thread detailing how we can feasibly dump this offensive line but it really won’t matter if the same yahoo is evaluating and signing off on the replacements. We need 3 to 4 new starters on the Offensive Line. That may seem drastic but the change is absolutely necessary. We have to be better at establishing some sort of running game and we must improve at pass blocking. Bill Callahan can’t turn the likes of Bernadeau, Livings, Cook, into anything more than they are.
4) Find a safety. We have the corners and we have a couple of pass rushers (Ware and Ratliff). Now we need a cerebral, athletic captain back there to capitalize on opponents mistakes. How many times do you see a Romo pass deflected and there is a DB to make the interception? Now look at us. If a ball is deflected or broken up by a CB the ball falls harmlessly to the ground. If a QB overthrows a WR the ball will hit wide open turf. Last night when Brandon Marshall beat Claiborne for the TD, both safeties were standing right by each other, about 15 yards shallow of the reception. Danny McCray now has more career starts for the Dallas Cowboys (2) than he did in 4 years at LSU(0). We can’t keep playing any guy back there. Turnover margin is almost always an indication of a winning team.
There are other needs but these 4 MUST happen. The alternative is a flashy team that occasionally flashes brilliance but shrinks when it counts. The alternative is a brilliant draft pick (Sean Lee) surrounded by draft day blunders (2009 draft). The alternative is 1 playoff win in 16 years. The alternative is one of the most popular and successful franchises in all of sports being completely mediocre.
1) Jerry has to remove himself from the equation. I know, I know. He never will, it’s his team, etc. If he isn’t capable or willing, nothing else matters. It is more evident every day that Jimmy, not Jerry, was solely responsible for being the architect of those championship teams (the last Superbowl was won with a roster where 80% of the players were drafted , signed, or traded for by Jimmy Johnson). The team doesn’t fear or truly respect Jerry’s “puppet” coaches. He can continue to market the team, the stadium, chair committees, etc. but he needs to relieve himself of any personnel decisions. Every other General Manager with the exception of Mike Brown, is able to focus on the roster. Even Mike Brown doesn’t involve himself in all of the other activities Jerry does.
2) Hire an outside GM and or Head Coach. Someone with little or no ties to the organizition (translation: no loyalty or obligation to Jerry). It can be a big name HC who handpicks his GM (think Pete Carroll in Seattle) or an up and coming GM and allow him to pick his Head Coach. The entire scouting and coaching staff needs to be let go. There should be zero pressure from Jerry to retain anyone. If you want true accountability you have to allow the architect to bring in his people.
3) Fix the offensive line. This is another reason the scouting department needs to be dumped. Whoever is evaluating the Offensive Line has been a disaster. Tomorrow, I’ll post a thread detailing how we can feasibly dump this offensive line but it really won’t matter if the same yahoo is evaluating and signing off on the replacements. We need 3 to 4 new starters on the Offensive Line. That may seem drastic but the change is absolutely necessary. We have to be better at establishing some sort of running game and we must improve at pass blocking. Bill Callahan can’t turn the likes of Bernadeau, Livings, Cook, into anything more than they are.
4) Find a safety. We have the corners and we have a couple of pass rushers (Ware and Ratliff). Now we need a cerebral, athletic captain back there to capitalize on opponents mistakes. How many times do you see a Romo pass deflected and there is a DB to make the interception? Now look at us. If a ball is deflected or broken up by a CB the ball falls harmlessly to the ground. If a QB overthrows a WR the ball will hit wide open turf. Last night when Brandon Marshall beat Claiborne for the TD, both safeties were standing right by each other, about 15 yards shallow of the reception. Danny McCray now has more career starts for the Dallas Cowboys (2) than he did in 4 years at LSU(0). We can’t keep playing any guy back there. Turnover margin is almost always an indication of a winning team.
There are other needs but these 4 MUST happen. The alternative is a flashy team that occasionally flashes brilliance but shrinks when it counts. The alternative is a brilliant draft pick (Sean Lee) surrounded by draft day blunders (2009 draft). The alternative is 1 playoff win in 16 years. The alternative is one of the most popular and successful franchises in all of sports being completely mediocre.
