Morning After: Dare to dream - Cowboys’ Super Bowl is a possibility

[L.T. Fan]

I think you're wrong about that. The line is not just about Romo and pass pro. It has also been the key to our running success.

I quote the great Bob Sturm:

This isn’t a team that elected to play the style they played, with finesse styles of offense and defense when you hoped you could ride a throwing hot streak to a victory over a playoff bully. They played that style because it was their best chance to win during the first several years of the Jason Garrett coaching stint. But, during that time, often right under our noses, they were assembling big men who could win street fights against the bullies of this league. They stopped investing in 200-pounders, and started buying in bulk the 300-pound variety. The front office started to realize that if you go cheap in the trenches, it will end up with Tony Romo on his back and a running game that doesn’t want to bother to run anymore.

Well of course it was their best chance to win since it was the primary weapon that was utilized. That said it doesn't mean the didn't have other player resources available, the coach opted to not develop another aspect of the game and kept pushing his philosophical agenda. Guess what finally happened. He was relieved of his OC duties. When it appeared that he continued to push his agenda via a system that gave an override to Romo the OC job went to someone new who was hired from elsewhere. Namely Linehan. He installed a system where Romo couldn't overide a called running play. It took approximately 3 years to wean the organization from Garretts play system simply because he would not commit to a running attack as the primary game plan. I should think all of this is a matter of history now. The revamping of the OL was a move Jones made to ensure his big money contract with Romo.

 

[data]

LT fan has been hacked. I've never seen him with posts this long.

 

[L.T. Fan]

LT fan has been hacked. I've never seen him with posts this long.

It's Christmas. Time for giving and sharing.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Manning was dreadful last night.

Some of those passes, including 2 that were picked, had absolutely no velocity on them and looked like he threw them with his left hand.

I wonder how much the guy has left?

Can't have a lot but he is essentially where Romo was previously. He wants to be the center piece and he isn't getting much help with a balanced attack.

 

[ravidubey]

gonna be a replay of 2009: beat a so-so team at home, get crushed on the road, then give the medicore HC an extension

Who exactly is going to "crush" the Cowboys?

Seattle? by passing to TE's and getting miracle runs from Russell Wilson and Lynch? Uh-uh. They will need to pass the ball like grownup teams do.

Dallas isn't bringing in a crippled QB like Colin Kaepernick or Ryan Lindley or an average offensive line like Carolina's. Dallas will bring a real smash mouth offense AND elite passing game, something the Seahawks haven't faced since they got beaten down by the Cowboys.

They might be riding a wave of hype right now, but I see the same undersized front compared with last year that can be run on. They need bad weather and bad turnovers to beat Dallas. Could happen, but I don't see a straight up victory from them.

Green Bay? Maybe. Aaron Rodgers normally scares the shit out of me. Thing is though as the weather worsens, so does Green Bay's scoring-- 21 and 20 points last two games. But they need to stop Dallas, too, and Murray and the Cowboys OL will be trampling their 3-4 asses by 3rd quarter.

Dallas has scored 41, 38, and 42 points mostly in methodical and punishing fashion-- indoors, outdoors, whatever. No way Seattle and Green Bay's smallish defensive fronts are prepared for that.

Arizona? Their defense more than anyone else matches up well against Dallas. Fine. Their QB doesn't. Lindley is way too limited to keep up with Romo, Dez, and Murray.

Detroit? OK, their very stout defensive line bugs me, but Detroit is not strong anywhere else on their team. Calvin and Stafford aren't getting it done this year and I see a Cowboy victory no matter where these two teams play.

Carolina? Everyone is sleeping on them, but they aren't a total joke. I think they could pose some matchup problems with Cam running the ball and Short/Starr inside, but frankly they are weak overall offensively and are having an off year defensively as a result.

Anything can happen, namely bad turnovers and poor execution.

But Dallas with a healthy Romo isn't doing that.

Washington and Haslett may change my opinion next week, but frankly I see more destruction.

We could always lose, but again, who specifically is going to "crush" Dallas?

 

[L.T. Fan]

In any of the above scenarios it is imperative to protect Romo. Any game going forward has no greater importance than this. The entire logivity in the playoffs for Dallas will reside in this one circumstance.

 

[ravidubey]

In any of the above scenarios it is imperative to protect Romo. Any game going forward has no greater importance than this. The entire logivity in the playoffs for Dallas will reside in this one circumstance.

And they are better prepared to do so than ever before. They have proven they are committed to running the ball and picking their moments passing. Even down 21 vs the Rams and 11 vs the Giants, they stuck to this philosophy.

Everyone in the offense outside of Dunbar, even Randle, has stepped up their pass protection. The OL is strong, Witten is an unsefish blocker, and Tyler Clutts has definitely proven his worth in this area.

He will get sacked, that's inevitable, but most importantly it won't be because they panic down a TD and go strictly pass-pass-pass from shotgun.

 

[townsend]

Something about this team feels like a championship team. We're hungry, we're tough. We're Clubber Lang. This feels like a 2013 Seahawks kind of team, that keeps building up momentum while other teams seem to be losing it. We pretty much shut out one of the best QBs on one of the best offenses in the league. We pulled ripped the division crown away from our rivals and broke their back in the process. Hell, we're the only team that is undefeated in Seattle this year.

 

[Smitty]

Well of course it was their best chance to win since it was the primary weapon that was utilized.

No... you are wrong. The running game didn't fail because of underuse, it was underused because it failed.

I direct you again to the Sturm quote about fans who think fixing the running game was as easy as having the staff commit to it: you are confused (and therefore wrong).

This is you.

That said it doesn't mean the didn't have other player resources available, the coach opted to not develop another aspect of the game and kept pushing his philosophical agenda. Guess what finally happened. He was relieved of his OC duties. When it appeared that he continued to push his agenda via a system that gave an override to Romo the OC job went to someone new who was hired from elsewhere. Namely Linehan. He installed a system where Romo couldn't overide a called running play. It took approximately 3 years to wean the organization from Garretts play system simply because he would not commit to a running attack as the primary game plan. I should think all of this is a matter of history now. The revamping of the OL was a move Jones made to ensure his big money contract with Romo.

Garrett is responsible for Linehan being here, so this notion that running the ball is against Garretts philosophy is simply false.

We are running the ball more because of the line. Not the OC.

 

[L.T. Fan]

No... you are wrong. The running game didn't fail because of underuse, it was underused because it failed.

I direct you again to the Sturm quote about fans who think fixing the running game was as easy as having the staff commit to it: you are confused (and therefore wrong).

This is you.



Garrett is responsible for Linehan being here, so this notion that running the ball is against Garretts philosophy is simply false.

We are running the ball more because of the line. Not the OC.

It took a lot of effort to bring this about. Relieve him of his play calling. Then shut down his subterfuge with the first replacement and then have to demolish that with another OC. That is a slow learner or a stubborn person that has to be pryed from his death grip of passing the pigskin..

 

[Clay_Allison]

You morons don't handle success well...we clinched a playoff spot, let's whine and complain and push personal agendas.

As far as the Super Bowl...I'd like nothing more than beating the Patriots. I think it would be a win that would legitimize Romo's legacy and I also think they are the best team from the AFC. Beating the Steelers would be meh...I don't hate them now like I did when they were a dynasty.

Beating Rapistberger would still be legit. It's not the same Steelers team that went to 3 Super Bowls with him but it would still be a big deal.

 

[Smitty]

It took a lot of effort to bring this about. Relieve him of his play calling. Then shut down his subterfuge with the first replacement and then have to demolish that with another OC. That is a slow learner or a stubborn person that has to be pryed from his death grip of passing the pigskin..

Ah yes, the old "Garrett hates to run and it's being forced on him through a series of OC changes" argument.

You have no evidence to support it of course, other than crackpot theories.

Bob explained it already. Up to you to bury your head in the sand or not.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Ah yes, the old "Garrett hates to run and it's being forced on him through a series of OC changes" argument.

You have no evidence to support it of course, other than crackpot theories.

Bob explained it already. Up to you to bury your head in the sand or not.

What evidence do you or Bob have to make it an automatic and mandatory explanation.

 

[Genghis Khan]

No... you are wrong. The running game didn't fail because of underuse, it was underused because it failed.

I direct you again to the Sturm quote about fans who think fixing the running game was as easy as having the staff commit to it: you are confused (and therefore wrong).

This is you.



Garrett is responsible for Linehan being here, so this notion that running the ball is against Garretts philosophy is simply false.

We are running the ball more because of the line. Not the OC.

Bull and shit.

We ran Murray 22 times last week. What was his YPC? 2.7? 2.8? It wasn't working. We ran it anyway.

Two weeks ago at Philly. Ran Murray 31 or something times. 80 something yards. Again less than 3 a carry. Ran it anyway.

Against St. Louis, down 21 or whatever still ran the ball.

By contrast, last year against Green Bay. Ran for I think over 5 yards a carry. Had a huge lead. Stopped running it, stunningly stupid, and lost.

This notion that we played the way we did in the past because we weren't capable of playing any other way is complete bullshit.

And the main reason we changed is because Linehan is here.

Go ahead and quote Sturm's opinion some more. It means squat to me. He's not right 100% of the time and he's certainly wrong here.

You can still run the ball on a regular basis even if it's not particularly effective in yardage, and were absolutely able to run the ball prior to this year.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Ah yes, the old "Garrett hates to run and it's being forced on him through a series of OC changes" argument.

You have no evidence to support it of course, other than crackpot theories.

Bob explained it already. Up to you to bury your head in the sand or not.

It's not a crackpot theory when the coach said himself, several times, that he wouldn't give up play calling. Fighting to keep control of the offense when Callahan was promoted to OC is even more evidence he would never give up play calling voluntarily. His hand was forced, he got to pick the guy, but he didn't have the option of keeping the offense himself. He didn't just wake up and pitch the idea of bringing in Linehan to Jerry.

 

[L.T. Fan]

It's not a crackpot theory when the coach said himself, several times, that he wouldn't give up play calling. Fighting to keep control of the offense when Callahan was promoted to OC is even more evidence he would never give up play calling voluntarily. His hand was forced, he got to pick the guy, but he didn't have the option of keeping the offense himself. He didn't just wake up and pitch the idea of bringing in Linehan to Jerry.

But didn't you hear. Bob said it therefore it must be true notwithstanding the
fact that the play calling position had to be wrested away forcibly and then the subterfuge had to be dismantled before the ball began to be ran with consistently. All of the OL additions were in place except one and the process still had not begun until this season. You would have to ignore many facts to come to a different conclusion.

 

[Clay_Allison]

We'll see what happens if Linehan is able to turn the Cowboys success into another shot at a HC gig. After the 2007 season, Garrett and Sparano both got HC job offers, winning in Dallas gives assistants a big spotlight.

I would hope we'd hire another OC like Rob Chudzinski, but I know what Garrett will want to do. He's just like Jerry, he wants to win "his way" more than he wants to win.

 

[Smitty]

What evidence do you or Bob have to make it an automatic and mandatory explanation.

All the evidence that had been cited so far.

I'll go back later tonite and pull some Sturm breakdowns of our struggles running the ball.

Meanwhile, what evidence do you have?

Besides low rush totals, which has been thoroughly explained, the answer is none. You have no evidence whatsoever that Garrett did not want to run the ball.

 

[L.T. Fan]

We'll see what happens if Linehan is able to turn the Cowboys success into another shot at a HC gig. After the 2007 season, Garrett and Sparano both got HC job offers, winning in Dallas gives assistants a big spotlight.

I would hope we'd hire another OC like Rob Chudzinski, but I know what Garrett will want to do. He's just like Jerry, he wants to win "his way" more than he wants to win.

Could be right but I think Garrett has learned something in this whole ordeal. I am counting on his intelligence to rule his thinking process in the future. I am sure Jones has been convinced as well. Balance makes for the best offense.

 

[L.T. Fan]

All the evidence that had been cited so far.

I'll go back later tonite and pull some Sturm breakdowns of our struggles running the ball.

You didn't cite evidence you promoted theory just like the rest of us.