Archer: Cowboys were close, but have to start over

[shane]

Better bring in AP or the Giants are gonna beat our asses next year.

 

[boozeman]

Personality is a big deal. Wade was a big ol' softie. Terrell Owens had half the locker room in rebellion by the 2008 season. In 2010 there was no fire in this team, they just didn't care about winning. As bad as we were when Romo was out this year, no one gave up like they did in 2010.

The attitude on the team was palpable. I doubted it at first, thinking there was luck involved, but the resolve they showed finishing the season showed it was a true trait.

That said, no two teams are the same. The attitude next year could be totally different based on who replaces people on this roster.

It is a delicate thing. We are not good enough to keep 20% or more of these players. But they played well as a team and seemed to have each other's backs.

Should be interesting to see if we add any big salaries/egos. I can't say I want that. I would actually prefer more youth and have what is left of the veteran leadership keep going.

 

[Smitty]

I can totally see where bbgun is coming from.

We seemed to catch lightening in a bottle this year and as much as I hope it spills into next year, I have my doubts.

Once we beat some good teams (or what were perceived to be good teams at the time) and I began to realize that this team may be special this year, my first thought was, "Damn, I hope we win it all this year because Garrett will be guaranteed a new contract next year and we might suck again! Let's not waste the momentum this year!"

I am so afraid of this season being like 2007 or worse yet, 2009.

Good line play is one of the most tried and true ways to sustain success in the NFL. Now we need the DL to match the OL.

 

[22cowboysfan22]

And we went 2-2 against it.

To be fair, I don't think we lose the Arizona game if we had Orton at QB, let alone Romo.

 

[Genghis Khan]

And generally 2-2 is pretty good against good teams.

Hell, we almost certainly would have beaten SF if Romo is right, and would have had a much better chance against AZ.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

the team made "progress" from Tuna to Wade. turned out to be fleeting. I'll treat 2014 as an aberration until proven otherwise.

You're using zero logic to substantiate this but OK. I mean there is zero in common with that team. Hell not even the same players except like 2 guys.

 

[boozeman]

You're using zero logic to substantiate this but OK. I mean there is zero in common with that team. Hell not even the same players except like 2 guys.

We still have Jerry and Stephen Jones running this organization.

You know, the guys who made it a habit of saying "the roster is set" even after 8-8 seasons?

I swear, there are going to be a lot of disappointed Cowboy fans next year all puzzled when the record is back to Mediocreville.

This was a great season, but one that you would have to be gullible to believe it could be replicated.

This offseason will need to be building on what was accomplished, not recognizing that season as some sort of breakthrough campaign.

 

[kidd]

We still have Jerry and Stephen Jones running this organization.

You know, the guys who made it a habit of saying "the roster is set" even after 8-8 seasons?

I swear, there are going to be a lot of disappointed Cowboy fans next year all puzzled when the record is back to Mediocreville.

This was a great season, but one that you would have to be gullible to believe it could be replicated.

This offseason will need to be building on what was accomplished, not recognizing that season as some sort of breakthrough campaign.

Exactly.

It's like giving a huge contract to a player because he had ONE good season. It makes no sense. He has to show more and have at least two good seasons.

Same goes for this team. ONE good season doesn't necessarily mean "we're back!"

 

[boozeman]

ONE good season doesn't necessarily mean "we're back!"

I have seen enough from the Joneses to suggest they will believe exactly the opposite.

Neither one is pragmatic enough to look at this season as a disappointment in the fact we had a ton of luck and couldn't make it pay off.

 

[marsbennett]

Maybe, but this is a younger team in most areas except for QB. That was an older veteran team, especially on the OL.

I have some hopeful feelings about Dustin Vaughan.
Every now and then those DivII characters with gaudy numbers develop. I half thought he'd have been on of those extra draft pics later in last year's draft and was a little surprised he was undrafted.

 

[boozeman]

I have some hopeful feelings about Dustin Vaughan.
Every now and then those DivII characters with gaudy numbers develop. I half thought he'd have been on of those extra draft pics later in last year's draft and was a little surprised he was undrafted.

Better check yourself, Mars.

Dustin Vaughan? Really?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Better check yourself, Mars.

Dustin Vaughan? Really?

It's just so rare and unlikely for an undrafted QB to turn into anything. I'm curious to see how he looks in preseason next year but I'm not holding my breath for him to turn into anything either. Given how weak the upcoming draft is for QBs I'd probably give Vaughan another year to see if he can develop. At least he seems to have the size and arm for the NFL. I certainly don't hold out much hope though and fully expect to be looking at QBs in the 2016 draft.

 

[marsbennett]

It's just so rare and unlikely for an undrafted QB to turn into anything. I'm curious to see how he looks in preseason next year but I'm not holding my breath for him to turn into anything either. Given how weak the upcoming draft is for QBs I'd probably give Vaughan another year to see if he can develop. At least he seems to have the size and arm for the NFL. I certainly don't hold out much hope though and fully expect to be looking at QBs in the 2016 draft.

Sorry, remind me when Romo was drafted?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Sorry, remind me when Romo was drafted?

We are all well aware of Romo's story but for every Romo there are a 100 QBs who never do anything. It's nice to buy a lottery ticket but it's not something you count on.

 

[p1_]

Romo and Kurt Warner. Then a whole lot of nothing...

 

[bbgun]

Sorry, remind me when Romo was drafted?

Even Jerry admitted that was a "miracle." not many people win the lottery twice.

 

[22cowboysfan22]

Just look at the starting QBs in the NFL and the round that they were drafted. Guys like Romo and Brady are outliers. It's very rare for a QB drafted after the 3rd round to develop into a starter. Now part of that is most teams don't invest too much to develop those guys, but a lot of it is that it takes a rare skillset to be a starting QB in the NFL, and scouting departments are generally pretty good at identifying those guys and drafting them early.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Just look at the starting QBs in the NFL and the round that they were drafted. Guys like Romo and Brady are outliers. It's very rare for a QB drafted after the 3rd round to develop into a starter. Now part of that is most teams don't invest too much to develop those guys, but a lot of it is that it takes a rare skillset to be a starting QB in the NFL, and scouting departments are generally pretty good at identifying those guys and drafting them early.

I agree with all of this but I think you also have to consider the lack of success of late round and undrafted guys also has a lot to do with lack of opportunity. They just don't get the reps and opportunities to prove themselves that other QBS do.

 

[townsend]

Jeff Garcia was another high level undrafted FA. Trent Green was an 8th round pick. Mark Bulger was a 6th rounder. Kitna was undrafted.

Personally I think Vaughan isn't much, but you never know.