Horn: ‘Doctor’ Jimmy Johnson diagnoses Dallas Cowboys with ‘optimistic infection’

[Cotton]

‘Doctor’ Jimmy Johnson diagnoses Dallas Cowboys with ‘optimistic infection’
By Barry Horn / Reporter
bhorn@dallasnews.com

Dr. Jimmy Johnson, who I believe still likes to stick the needle in his former employer at every opportunity, took a break from surgically dissecting the rest of the NFL to address the Cowboys on Fox’s pregame.

To get his point across, he didn’t even mind setting it up Sunday morning with a compliment in the direction of owner/general manager Jerry Jones.

Johnson’s setup: “I think it’s a consensus the Cowboys probably have the best talent in the division. They’ve had the best talent so many years [but here comes the first needle] and they’ve won one playoff game in 16 years.”

We should mention here that Johnson isn’t a medical doctor. Rather, he owns something on the order of a Ph.D. in the Freudian influence integrated with the Stoics’ coaching philosophy.

Back, however, to Johnson’s theory on Cowboys mediocrity since he packed and moved on: “There’s a disease in Dallas; it’s called ‘optimistic infection.’

“What they’ll do is they’ll win a game and all of a sudden they start strutting around and patting themselves on their backs like they’re Super Bowl champions …

“And then they slip like they did last week against Kansas City … It’s called optimistic infection, and they are still looking for the cure.”

In the wake of Cowboys 31, St. Louis Rams 7, Johnson’s theory will be put the test immediately when the Cowboys (2-1) travel to San Diego for their next game against the Chargers (1-2).

During Fox’s postgame show, Johnson invoked a tried-and-true cliché as a solution to what ails the Cowboys.

“The main thing the Cowboys have to do is stay the course … play them one game at a time.”

 

[boozeman]

He nailed it.

Jones was crowing about this right after the game.

 

[Cotton]

He nailed it.

Jones was crowing about this right after the game.

If anyone knows the atmosphere that Jones promotes it would be Johnson. He nails it every time he talks about Jerry and his country club.

 

[Simpleton]

Definitely, if these idiots can keep their heads on straight and string a few wins together we will win the division going away. I'm fine losing against Denver but we can't just keep bouncing back and forth with this win one, lose one, piddling around bullshit. These idiots needs to get 3-4 games over .500 and that should be enough to ride out this division.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Definitely, if these idiots can keep their heads on straight and string a few wins together we will win the division going away. I'm fine losing against Denver but we can't just keep bouncing back and forth with this win one, lose one, piddling around bullshit. These idiots needs to get 3-4 games over .500 and that should be enough to ride out this division.

The schedule is really tough though. I don't see us reeling off even a few wins in a row because of the schedule. Fortunately it might take as few as 7 or 8 wins to win this division. If we win 5 or 6 in the division that might be enough.

 

[ravidubey]

Definitely, if these idiots can keep their heads on straight and string a few wins together we will win the division going away. I'm fine losing against Denver but we can't just keep bouncing back and forth with this win one, lose one, piddling around bullshit. These idiots needs to get 3-4 games over .500 and that should be enough to ride out this division.

Barring injury Dallas should go 7-2 against @Detroit, Minnesota, Oakland, @San Diego, and the 5 divisional games. All of these teams are flawed in ways Dallas can exploit, and the toughest of them all may be at Washington in bad weather late December.

That way if they go 1-3 vs Denver, Green Bay, @New Orleans, and @Chicago they are still 10-6 and host a playoff game. Even these teams have flaws, especially the Packers.

 

[Simpleton]

The schedule is really tough though. I don't see us reeling off even a few wins in a row because of the schedule. Fortunately it might take as few as 7 or 8 wins to win this division. If we win 5 or 6 in the division that might be enough.

Maybe, maybe not, some of the divisional games late in the year might be easier than they look if some of these teams ends up giving up.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

Back, however, to Johnson’s theory on Cowboys mediocrity since he packed and moved on: “There’s a disease in Dallas; it’s called ‘optimistic infection.’

“What they’ll do is they’ll win a game and all of a sudden they start strutting around and patting themselves on their backs like they’re Super Bowl champions

Yeah, the pathogen causing the disease is the one doing the strutting around/patting self on back.

 

[UncleMilti]

Yeah, the pathogen causing the disease is the one doing the strutting around/patting self on back.

It was sickening to watch his ESPN interview where he winked about never having to replace the GM. The bad thing, Kolber and the other ESPN nerd yukked it up and laughed and hee-hawed when Jones winked....which only empowers him. The media, IMO always gives him a free pass.

But...like I have posted numerous times- the strutting, arrogance, and unrealistic optimism starts at the top and filters its way down. This is still a .500 team, and beating up a very pedestrian Rams team (who refused to adjust) doesn't impress me one bit or change my perception of who this team will be.

 

[kidd]

This game has changed my perception of Jeff Fisher somewhat...

Still like him better than RHG.

 

[E_D_Guapo]

It was sickening to watch his ESPN interview where he winked about never having to replace the GM. The bad thing, Kolber and the other ESPN nerd yukked it up and laughed and hee-hawed when Jones winked....which only empowers him. The media, IMO always gives him a free pass.

But...like I have posted numerous times- the strutting, arrogance, and unrealistic optimism starts at the top and filters its way down. This is still a .500 team, and beating up a very pedestrian Rams team (who refused to adjust) doesn't impress me one bit or change my perception of who this team will be.

So you're saying that Jerry winking at you while spinning a folksy anecdotal yarn wouldn't distract you from that fact? You must have super powers.

 

[superpunk]

This game has changed my perception of Jeff Fisher somewhat...

Still like him better than RHG.

Jeff Fisher's career should have done that. He's a barely .500 coach with winning seasons about half the time...who got to a super bowl once on a miracle.

 

[Smitty]

Jeff Fisher's career should have done that. He's a barely .500 coach with winning seasons about half the time...who got to a super bowl once on a miracle.

Garrett apologist.

 

[boozeman]

Dallas Cowboys infected with too much optimism? Jerry Jones: We’re a glass half-full team, ‘that won’t change’




By Jon Machota
jmachota@dallasnews.com
12:16 pm on September 24, 2013 |

Jerry Jones showed Tuesday another example of how far his optimism can reach.

During the first few minutes of a local radio interview, the Dallas Cowboys owner and general manger seemed to be having a great morning. Then he dropped the news that Pro Bowl defensive end Anthony Spencer is probably facing season-ending knee surgery.

But then Jones went right back to talking about how well defensive coaches Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli have utilized their talent upfront. He sounded nothing like an owner who recently learned he’s likely about to be without one of his top 10 players for the remainder of the season.

Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said Sunday that the Cowboys have a disease called “optimistic infection.” Johnson made the case that the Cowboys think too highly of themselves after wins and the result is usually getting back to reality and suffering a loss the following week.

So does Jones’ frequent optimism rub off on his players in a negative way?

“I wouldn’t give me that much credit,” Jones told the New School show Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. “Seriously. I am optimistic and will always be optimistic. These players are grounded in terms of what the reality of their role is. They’ve got to win most of the time against the guy that’s standing in front of them.

“From the standpoint of the franchise, from the standpoint of public posture, I think that’s what that is. That’s looking at it with the glass half-full rather than half-empty. That won’t change. That’s not necessarily being stubborn about it, that’s just the way it is. You need to be optimistic because you got days like finding out about Spencer. You’re going to have those kinds of things. That’s what goes with this.”

When asked about Johnson’s comments specifically, Jones said he’s known Johnson for 50 years and he’s always been the same, so his take wasn’t a surprise.

“This game needs to be played with enthusiasm,” Jones said. “It needs to be played with optimism. There’s enough setbacks and it calls on the players enough physically that you have to approach it with a positive attitude.

“Jimmy was known as ‘Jimmy Jump Up’ when we played on the team [at Arkansas]. When he got knocked down, he jumped right back up, so nobody understands better how you want to be optimistic when you compete. I do understand what he’s talking about. There’s no good from getting carried away and anointing our team a Super Bowl champion, sitting here at 2-1. Not in the NFL today.”

 

[Clay_Allison]

Jeff Fisher's career should have done that. He's a barely .500 coach with winning seasons about half the time...who got to a super bowl once on a miracle.

It's hard to be sure about Jeff Fisher. His team never had a great QB, and McNair only had a couple of decent seasons and one great one. His teams always had a solid running game and a good, often great defense. You want that from a coach and you hope the scouts can find you a QB.

 

[Smitty]

It's hard to be sure about Jeff Fisher. His team never had a great QB, and McNair only had a couple of decent seasons and one great one. His teams always had a solid running game and a good, often great defense. You want that from a coach and you hope the scouts can find you a QB.

McNair was just fine as a QB. He was a three time Pro Bowler, and one of those years he was an All Pro and MVP.

McNair wasn't Trent Dilfer the rest of the time. He was a very good QB from 1999 onwards. His passer ratings weren't great because he didn't throw for lots of touchdowns, but he was like Aikman in that sense; the stat padding went to Eddie George and he didn't rack up passing TDs so his QB rating suffered for it.

 

[p1_]

His passer ratings weren't great because he didn't throw for lots of touchdowns, but he was like Aikman in that sense; the stat padding went to Eddie George and he didn't rack up passing TDs so his QB rating suffered for it.

Aikman had stellar ratings, but not solely based upon TDs piled up as much as his incredible accuracy.

 

[Clay_Allison]

McNair was just fine as a QB. He was a three time Pro Bowler, and one of those years he was an All Pro and MVP.

McNair wasn't Trent Dilfer the rest of the time. He was a very good QB from 1999 onwards. His passer ratings weren't great because he didn't throw for lots of touchdowns, but he was like Aikman in that sense; the stat padding went to Eddie George and he didn't rack up passing TDs so his QB rating suffered for it.

He had an awful early career and was considered a draft bust for a while, then he became so injury prone his week to week performance was incredibly inconsistent.

Also, Aikman is considered great because of his playoff performances and his SB Rings. You put Aikman's numbers on a QB with no rings and he's basically Jim Harbaugh.

By the logic of comparing Aikman's numbers to every QB, Marty should have won big with Steve DeBerg.

 

[L.T. Fan]

He had an awful early career and was considered a draft bust for a while, then he became so injury prone his week to week performance was incredibly inconsistent.

Also, Aikman is considered great because of his playoff performances and his SB Rings. You put Aikman's numbers on a QB with no rings and he's basically Jim Harbaugh.

By the logic of comparing Aikman's numbers to every QB, Marty should have won big with Steve DeBerg.

Yep.

 

[Smitty]

I'm not saying McNair was Aikman, but a little context. McNair was an above-average, occasionally elite QB.

He didn't play his first couple years because the team brought him along the old "Let him ride the bench until he's ready" method and I think that lasted 2 years by itself. By 1999 he was fine. If you can't get by with above-average QB play, then you're not gonna get very far.

Besides, "didn't have good personnel" sounds suspiciously like the argument you always say doesn't work for the coach I've compared his record to, Jason Garrett.

Which is the point, really. Fisher is right there in the middle with those guys who are personnel-susceptible.

And as Carl said, his record should have demonstrated that.