I spent the weekend reading “Boys Will Be Boys” the Jeff Pearlman book about the on-goings of the Dallas Cowboys in the 90’s. Hard to believe that all took place so long ago (20 years since Jerry bought the team). It was great remembering some of the things that took place, and hearing different things for the first time. Though I have not finished reading the entire book yet a few things come immediately to mind that would help this Cowboys team. Unfortunately we live in the era of the salary cap and coaches and player personnel cannot conduct business as they did back then. I would suggest though that our fearless leader (Wade Phillips) go back and review how Jimmy conducted business!
Jimmy Johnson was an unbelievable coach and talent evaluator. He was also a a large pain in the ass! Some of the things Jimmy did I would not wish on my worst enemy. One thing that Jimmy did exceptionally well however is something that this team dearly needs. He had a great feel for his team! When I say that I am talking about when his teams started to get a big head he knew it and was quick to make an example of someone to show the rest of the team that know one was safe! In a previous post I wrote about how this team is in dire need of quality players behind some of the starters to push them.
The Cowboy teams of the 90’s for the most part despised their coach, but they would run through brick walls for him. Now the argument can be made that Dallas was just to deep and to athletically gifted to lose, and that would be a solid argument. That team however was exactly that a TEAM! The players stuck together, they believed in one another.
We have heard over and over again that Dallas has too many egos on this team, and too many questionable character guys (T.O., Pacman, Romo). Well guess what? This team does not have near as many players that fit that profile as those 90’s teams did (Irvin,Haley,Deon,Nate Newton,etc.). So what is the difference? Was it all Jimmy? The difference is accountability! The coaches held every player accountable, and the players held all of their teammates accountable! The coaching staff made the players believe in the system, and the players executed to the best of their abilities and made sure that the man next to them was doing the same, or there would be hell to pay. There were no off days, there were no light training camps, there were no practices where hitting was left out. Those teams prepared exactly like they would play and most times harder. When is the last time you heard of a Cowboys team practicing outside during inclement weather? 1993 that’s when. Football players are warriors and must train that way in order to keep an edge, this team trains like dancer’s in the Nutcracker! So what happens? They play like crap, and they quit when things get tough!
One of the greatest Cowboys QBs, Troy Aikman always had somebody behind him that was either competing for his job or could step in and do his job if he was hurt or just did not get the job done. Do you all remember Steve Beuerlein? Yes the one that led Dallas on a 5 game streak to get them in the playoffs in 1991. The same one that even after Troy was healthy again continued to start. The following season Troy was a different player because of this, he was more focused, he cut out the stupid mistakes. Yes I know Troy would have more than likely done this without Beuerlein being there, but do you not think that this helped speed up the process? Tony Romo does not have to push himself. There is no one behind him that wants or could take his job! I believe Tony works hard, I also believe that there are different types of “working hard”. There is Working hard because you want to win! And There is working hard because you want to win and I better get better or they will bench my ass! Same goes for everyone else on this team!
There are many things this group could learn from their ancestors. The question becomes will Wade take a stroll down memory lane and heed the advice given by the ghost’s at Valley Ranch? At this point Wade is himself looking over his shoulder. Now is the time to do something drastic! The changing of the year will not cure this teams ailments, firing Bruce Read although needed will not fix them either. No its time Wade makes things a little uneasy around there. Maybe signing someone like Kurt Warner would do the trick? Maybe sending Flozell Adams packing might do it? Maybe Terrell Owens needs to go? Something must happen because if this team simply returns as it is next season, 8-8 is a maybe! Wade Phillips cannot be the tyrant that Jimmy was but he can be more like Jimmy and less like Andy Griffith and maintain credibility with the team! The players do like Wade and will play for Wade, they just need a little more motivation!
What changes do you think would best repair this broken team?
1)Jerruh needs to hire gm and keep his surgically stretched face out of the football operations
2) Fire that hapless clueless joke of a head coach
3) Get rid of all Cancers ie: TO, Tank, & Pacman
4) Get rid of Crayton-all he does is run his mouth and drop big passes
5) add some depth to the Oline- it is dominate 12-13 weeks and then always falls apart at the end
6) hire a great coach in the Mold of Coughlin to mentor and get the most out of that team
Romo, Newman, Ratlif and Barber are all top 10 at their position. Whitten and Ware are clearly the best at theirs. There is no reason that a team that talented should humiliate themselves and their Fanbase year after year. It all starts at the top with Jerruh and I thank God that he is not smart enough to take this advice!
That may be the smartest comment I have ever seen from you! Right up to the point where you believe we should hire a Coughlin clone! It is absolutely amazing to me that 2 years ago he was a BUM and all you Giants fans were begging management to fire his sorry tail, and now he is the greatest coach of “ALL TIMES”. The only reason you think we should get rid of Crayton is so you could sign him, to replace one of those terrible recievers you have. Since we have not won a playoff game since Barry Switzer was the coach, I really dont believe the coach is the problem! And you should Thank God because if Jerruh ever did smarten up you guys are in deep do do
Bags- Coughlin is not the greatest Coach ever but is EXACTLY the kind of Coach you guys need. He would get the egos in line and preach TEAM FIRST. That is why a less talented Giant Team has out performed your super star Laden Roster. Also check Coughlins Resume out. He has been a winner everywhere he has been. I never wanted him to go, it was just a mateer of the Team buynig into his message wich finally happenned in 2007. Crayton would not make our Practice squad bro, he is GARBAGE! YOu should trade him for any picks you can get to recoup some of what old Jerruh gave up for Lead Foot Wiiliams
Bags how is it that I know more about your team than you do? The reason you havent won a playoff game since CLintons first term is simple. First off JJ built a Dynasty when he was there. Eventually old plastic face ran him off and bought in Bubba Switzer, who rode JJ’s coattails to anoother SB followed by one more playoff win the following year. By then the Team had gone in the Crapper without a smart fotball guy (JJ) running it.JErruh had terrible drafts and made terrible trades(2 #1’s for Galloway???)wich drove this team into the ground. Amazingly Bill Parcells(The greatest Football Mind of Our time)takes over, turns over the Roster and Shazam, instant winner. 11-5 the first year? With Quincy freakin Carter? Over those 3 years Parcells drafts are amazing and he implements his football philosiphy and you guys skyrocket back to the top of the NFL World. Jerruh ” Nip Tuck” Jones than meddles in things enough and brings in Guys like TO against the Tuna’s wishes and he leaves, just before he has you ready to be a perenial SuperBowl Team.
Not wanting to have another strong willed guy fighting Jerruh and his bad Ideas he goes out and hires the Hapless ” Abominable Doughman” Wade Phillips to run the show and almost instantly the Inmates (no Pun intended) are running the Asylum. A team that is by far the most talented in the NFL gets knocked out in the first rd (first time ever for a #1 seed)last year and follows that up by bending over for Philly this year and missing Playoffs entirely.This Team will not win another Playoff game until They do exactly what I laid out above.
First of all if you had read the above article you would see that I completely agree with needing to be hard nosed and a team first attitude. My comments about Coughlin were not ment to downgrade Coughlin I was downgrading the Giants fan base! We new what we had with Jimmy and never suggested his removal, unlike Giants fans with Coughlin. As far as Bill Parcells goes he drafted WAY WAY MORE busts than he did good players. So that whole argument of yours is crazy. Bill Parcells did some good things here and did get things turned in the right direction, but his record was at best average (10-6,6-10,9-7,9-7) and while drafting some excellent players he also missed very badly on many more (35% success rate in the draft). One lucky catch does not make you a good reciever, and one drop does not make you a bad reciever. The fact is that Crayton was not used enough or properly by us this year, thanks to a complaining T.O.! He is a legitimate #2 and on your team (without Plax) would be a #1. Why is it that our defense has been better and more consistent without “the greatest football mind of our time”? Bill is a complete jerk and everyone would agree that he was not the same coach as he was in N.Y. and New England, he was “softer Bill”. This was said during almost every Cowboy game telecast while he was here!
Um are we yalking about the Same Bill Parcells that just took over the worst team in the NFL and took them from a 1-15 to an 11-5 team in one year? If he isnt the greatest football mind of our time who is? Who has taken 5 teams that were at the bottom of the league and made them all instant winners?You guys would not be the joke of the NFL had he stayed, I promise you that!
This league is built for quick turn arounds, the proof will come over the next few years. He did the same thing in Dallas he took a underachieving team the first year and got 10 wins,and did nothing from then on. Same thing with Jets. I guess Tony Sparano had nothing to do with the Miami turn around did he? Do not confuse what I am saying; he is a very good evaluator but he does make large mistakes just like everyone else! that is all I am trying to say!