"Lemme, lemme, lemme upgrade..."
I'm not talking about HD cable. I'm talking about the Dallas Cowboys offensive line. We all know the standard story: Dallas has a talented starting five but never recovered when LG Kyle Kosier went down in the Rams pre-season game. Backups Cory Proctor and Broncos recruit Montrae Holland were unable to fill the hole.
That narrative contains a grain of truth. Dallas was much, much better when Kosier gave the team his seven quarters of play. The slow '08 meltdown, a contrast to the complete collapse in '05, nonetheless marks the second time in the last four years that Dallas has been caught short on the offensive line. And it again shines the light on the team's greatest shortcoming of the post-Jimmy Johnson era, one that neither Jerry Jones nor Bill Parcells have been able to correct.
If the team hopes to improve, this story must be re-written.
It was a mission doomed from the beginning.
The Cowboys staff was well aware of their special teams shortcomings in '07, and gave unit coach Bruce Read maximum assistance this year. In camp, every special teams drill was broken down into small units, with multiple coaches giving the players personalized attention.
Here's how a punt-coverage drill was coordinated:
The special teams punt coverage session was an ensemble production today: While ST coach Read focused on the inside blockers, Dat Nguyen coordinated the rotation of rushers. On the outside, TE coach John Garrett worked with the gunners on their releases.
-- "Building Blocks," Blue and Silver Report, July 26th
All the Wade's horses and all of Jerry's men couldn't help poor Bruce in the end.
The job was simply too big for him. Nearly all the team's talent was placed at his disposal. Every linebacker save Demarcus Ware and Greg Ellis participated on the unit. Every secondary player except Terence Newman and Ken Hamlin took part.
It didn't matter. The Cowboys special teams were awful -- across the board. There was no single area in which they excelled, or were even middling. They were:
There was no benefit to be found in any area. On a team with disciplinary problems, special teams more than contributed to the malaise. The Cowboys led the league with 119 penalties. 19 of them were committed by special teammers.
Coaches will tell you that good special teams units will win a game for you over the course of a year, and sometimes steal a second. Read's units cost Dallas the Arizona game, with sickening symmetry: they allowed J.J. Arrington to rip them for a 93 yard TD on the game's opening kickoff and broke down on the game's final play, when Mat McBriar's punt was blocked and recovered for a second touchdown.
It was fitting, given the copious breakdowns, that Dallas was penalitzed for an offsides penalty on the play. It was also cruel, but typical, that McBrian was injured on the play, and was placed on I.R. the next day.
In between, Nick Folk negated the one good play the special teammers made that day. He smacked a field goal attempt off an upright three plays after Tashard Choice recovered a Cardinals fumble.
It was that kind of year. Finding a quality replacement for Read should be treated with the same seriousness as finding a coordinator. A wiser, more decisive coach could iron out a significant percentage of the unit's penalties and give the Cowboys consistently better field position.
Special Teamer of the Year: It's sad when your MVP has a handful of black marks. Nick Folk was his solid self, but he had that key miss in Arizona to ponder, and missed a short field goal early in the 2nd half at St. Louis which helped build the Rams avalanche. He also yanked two kickoffs out of bounds.
Runner up -- Felix Jones made the special teams play of the year in week two, when he returned an Eagles kickoff 98 yards for a score. He made several more big returns before he was lost in game six with a hamstring injury. He's thekickoff return playmaker this team has lacked for years decades. Heal well, Mr. Jones.
Knucklehead of the Year: Pat Watkins. The Cowboys entered the season with a core group of players who participated on every unit. Watkins, Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers and Keith Davis were the assumed leaders on special teams.
Watkins couldn't stand the pressure. He committed one third of the special teams' penalties, most of them of the fifteen-yard variety. (No other special teammer committed more than two.) He took three in the first Eagles game. Two weeks later, against Washington, he committed another special teams' penalty and took a critical 12-men-on-the-field penalty when he failed to sub out after a time out. Watkins demonstrated on more than one occasion that his mind was not always in the game.
This is the type of player who gets coaches fired. Wade Phillips sent Bruce Read packing. If Wade values his own job, Pat Watkins may not be far behind.
Before I get into looking ahead to 2009 I must first mention that Bruce Read has been fired from the position of Dallas Cowboys special teams coach.
Surprise.
A lot of finger pointing has happened this season and the majority of it has been at Bruce Read's expense, but he is not all to blame for the special teams woes. Todd Archer makes a great point:
The confidence was so low in Read that Phillips had fellow assistant coaches help him midway through the season, and that didn't even work.
As much as Read is being used as a scapegoat, Phillips has to change his ways when it comes to special teams. He has to put more value in it and that means allowing whoever the new special teams coach is to use starters. James Harrison covers punts in Pittsburgh. Enough said.
I've always believed that the heart and drive of a team starts and ends with the special teams. The unit is filled with backup and fringe players (mostly), and if those guys are showing heart, grit and intensity then it spills over to the rest of the team. That was never present under Bruce Read and Wade Phillips needs to realize how important this unit is to the team.
Hat tip to deke for posting the news in his fanpost.
The great thing about bringing in a new year is the chance to start over and get things going on the right track. The traditional thing to do is to make a list of "resolutions", but those never work out and I think its a bull anyway. But that feeling of starting fresh in a new year is always a good one; you stop and take a fresh breath, look around you and everything that feels new again and you remember it like that before it all goes right back to the way it was before.
After all, nothing changes but the date, right?
Yet there is still that window of opportunity where you can grasp that good feeling and run with it, really commit to getting things going in the right direction. And it's an even better feeling when you emerge months down the line still embracing that new path you forged for yourself when you had the chance.
This is the crossroads the Dallas Cowboys find themselves at as they head into 2009. This franchise has been nothing but talk and hot air for far too long and things need to change immediately if there is going to be any hope of pulling this team out of its downward spiral. While some may be content with four winning seasons in a row, a few playoff berths, high profile free agents and a bunch of useless Pro Bowlers, the rest of us cry for something more. We know that these records are empty and lack substance. We scream for any sign of team unity and heart and we get frustrated because there have been signs that those two things actually do exist in this team.
The tough win on the road against Washington. The win last year in Buffalo. The show of defensive force against Pittsburgh.
We see these things and ask how is it they don't play like this every week? How is it that one week a team can rally around a struggling quarterback and win a miracle comeback in hostile conditions, and yet a few weeks later play like a team asleep at the wheel?
You want to say it's the coaching, but the staff has changed significantly the past few years and yet the same problems persist. So naturally you turn to the players and say those guys are uncoachable and seflish. Then the next step is to look at the owner/GM, the guy who is responsible for bringing together this rag tag team of individuals.
The point is you can play the blame game until you're blue in the face and it won't matter one bit. 99% of these players are still going to be on the field next year, and most of the coaches will be back as well. The owner sure as heck isn't going anywhere.
Short of getting rid of everyone and starting over from scratch, there is only one thing left to do:
The attitude of this team has to change and there is not better time than now. Take a look in the mirror and try to think what kind of player and teammate you want to be. Wade Phillips has vowed to change things, starting with himself. Noble but empty unless he actually shows things are different.
The only way this team can turn itself around is if each individual takes that task to heart.
Now we just have to find out who on this team has that ability.
While we lament a season that ended too soon and on such on bad note I want to say how much fun it has been to share these past few seasons with everyone here at Blogging The Boys. As a native Texan stuck in the bitter Northeast I can't even begin to express what it has meant to me to be able to share and converse with fellow Cowboys fans. Don't take this game too seriously and enjoy the ride; you know that no matter how much this season angered you, you will still be counting the days until the season opener and loving that feeling of butterflies that greets every opening kickoff. Love the journey and cherish the ride; it will make the prize that much better.
Here's to a happy and safe New Year to one and all in the BTB family.
Cheers.
One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just didn't recur. Can you guess which one is not like the others and I'll tell you why we're all mad?
I've mused that the players have mired this team in that good-but-so-what purgatory. Here's some evidence. I'm going to begin a series of autopsies on team units, looking for the causes of death. Some places seem obivous, but even there, you find causes and villains you didn't expect.
Tomorrow, we'll start with the most obvious malady on the '08 Cowboys -- special teams. Friday, I'll take a long, long look at the offensive line and suggest that an upgrade is the fastest way out of the malaise.
Whither Shanahan?
Fans are citing a Cris Mortensen interview from today where he claims "Jerry might be interested" in pursuing Mike Shanahan. I don't consider it likely, but what they hey, speculation is what blogs are for. Some points for and against a move:
For:
A. These guys know each other. The Cowboys and Broncos have trained together the last few years and are familiar with each other's personnel.
B. Shanahan's system might be the cure for some young OL flailing in the current system. Doug Free was a highly touted OT prospect in '07. The kid has the smoothest feet of any tackle on the roster. When I saw him in San Antonio I thought one full season with Joe Juraszek and he could maybe push for a starting spot in '08.
Free looked confused in '08. He was beaten regularly at Oxnard, by the Demarcus Wares and by the Erik Waldens alike. He was inactive for Dallas' first 13 games and did not play a down in the three where he suited up. In the current regime, he may be a lost cause. He, and Montrae Holland -- if he gets his weight under control, and that's a big if (pun intended) -- are suddenly more valuable in Shanahan's system.
C. Shanahan and Jerry might actually be a very good fit, personnel wise. Shanahan has been mediocrity defined the last four years. A .500 overall record in that span and no playoff appearances the last three years.
What was his problem? The guy in Denver's GM chair. The guy named Mike Shanahan.
Let's look at the Broncos drafts this decade. Notice the extreme splits:
Offensive draftees:
There's some real talent there. Now, look at the quality defensive starters Shanahan drafted in that span. It's a much shorter list:
Only three defensive draftees started for the Broncos this year. Shanahan has an eye for offense. He can always find offensive linemen to make his system work. Dallas, on the other hand, has had success drafting defense this decade. It's biggest weakness is finding offensive linemen, a subject I'll treat in detail on Friday.
Put Jerry and Mike together and you might have those two great football tastes that taste great together, to quote the long-departed Reece's ads.
On the other hand:
A. Who runs his defense? Even when Shanahan was winning Super Bowls, his defensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, took heavy abuse from Broncos fans, who felt his unit couldn't hang with the offense. There's more than a little bit of Don Coryell in Shanahan. Are you absolutely sure he can find a coordinator who can keep the pressure coming? The Broncos have been the worst pass rushing team in football the past few years.
B. Dallas would have competition. The Jets are rumored to have Shanahan on their short list. He would prefer Dallas, given they have a younger, better QB, but the Jets would certainly offer him more control than Dallas would.
He would be a shiny new toy, and he would bring great publicity but I'm not sure he solves all this team's ills. He was far from flawless and Dallas might be swapping Wade's problems for Mike's.
And remember, the players, those chronic 9-7 guys, are still in place.
Todd Archer posted the list of UFA's, RFA's and ERFA's in an article on Tuesday. I'll take my shot at their future then you do the same in the comments.
Unrestricted free agents
OG Joe Berger: Not worth it. We could use upgrades for backups in the middle of the line, someone better can surely be found.
QB Brooks Bollinger: Depends on how much he wants. He could be a stop-gap backup but the Cowboys need to look at developing a future QB who could push Romo and come in during injury. One thing is for sure, Brad Johnson has got to go.
LB Kevin Burnett: Tough call only because I think he'll get some good offers from other teams. Can definitely play on third downs but could he play consistently against the run? With Zach saying he's leaving ILB is a position of need so that might push the franchise to keep him.
DE Chris Canty: Another tough one because he should also get other offers. Physically, he's just want you want in a 3-4 DE but he's never produced the way we hoped.
S Keith Davis: Love his effort but he's not the solution as a starting safety. We can only keep him if he comes very cheap.
DT Tank Johnson: Hasn't produced and screamed "I'm a free agent" immediately upon entering the locker room after the Eagles game. Buh-bye.
LB Carlos Polk: Actually made plays on special teams, I would like to see them keep him.
LB Zach Thomas: He sounds like he doesn't want to be here and the one-year experiment wasn't exactly successful. I don't see it.
Restricted free agents
WR Miles Austin: They should keep this kid. I thought they should have used him more at the end of the year at receiver. He finally learned to catch the ball and has size and speed.
DE Stephen Bowen: Occasionally made plays when given a chance. Good guy to have as a backup.
TE Tony Curtis: Time to go.
WR Sam Hurd: Don't know if he really will have a chance, he's buried on the depth chart. Might be time for new blood.
OG Cory Procter: No way!
Exclusive rights free agents
TE Rodney Hannah: Could at least replace Curtis as the third TE.
P Sam Paulescu: Welcome back Mat McBriar, goodbye Sam.
RB Alonzo Coleman: Just don't see room for him on the active roster.
Welcome to this new feature at Blogging The Boys, where we vote and hand out The Leon, a soon-to-be prestigious award for members of the Dallas Cowboys. What we want to do is have our own vote for most valuable players for the Cowboys and get your opinion on who you voted for and why.
This week we are looking at the defense.
According the team website, the Cowboys opponents in 2009 line up this way.
We'll play the NFC South and AFC West. Also, because we came in third in our division, we'll match-up with the third-place teams in the NFC North and NFC West. Those teams are Green Bay and Seattle.
So our opponents for 2009 shake out like this:
Home - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Oakland and San Diego.
Away - Washington, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Denver, Kansas City and Green Bay.
Dallas OC Jason Garrett was granted permission to speak to the Detroit Lions about their head coaching vacancy. Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo and Titans DC Jim Schwartz are also top candidates for the job, though they cannot yet interview with the Lions. Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray will also interview for the job.
-- If the Lions want Spagnuolo, they will have to outbid the Jets and the Browns, who are also very interested in him.
-- Garrett is also a possible candidate for the Cleveland Browns, though owner Randy Lerner is focused on landing a GM, after Bill Cowher turned him down. Patriots personnel honcho Scott Pioli is the hot name here.
-- The Rams interviewed Packers assistant Winston Moss today and will also interview Vikings DC Leslie Frazier and Ravens DC Rex Ryan, when they become available. They have already ruled out Spagnuolo and Patriots OC Josh McDaniel, claiming they are too expensive.
So after last night's debacle Wade Phillips stepped to the mic today. I've already stated that I'm unhappy with the job Wade Phillips is doing as coach, but that's hardly the point because Big Jerry has stated that Big Wade is here to stay. It is what it is. So while I was so busy today I didn't have time to tune into Wade's presser live, I did go back and watch the archive. Here's my take on Wade's PC mixed in with some news of the day.
Wade is putting together a plan but he's not ready to share it yet. I wonder if he had a plan for the Philly game and didn't share that with anyone either? I kid! Why so serious? Anyway, Wade says things will need to change and that starts with himself. Uh, I don't know but somehow I'm not reassured. He'll analyze everything including the way they run practices, training camp, etc. and Wade might just have to get tougher and more demanding. He will transform himself from the cuddly Pillsbury Dough Boy into the much-feared Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. I'm not bitter, really. I expressed skepticism that he could make the transformation at this stage in his career today on the DCFanatic Show and wondered if he did how some of the players might take to the new approach. Enter Bradie James.
"If you know a person to be a certain way and then all of a sudden you have an extreme change, I don't know how well that's going to be taken," James said. "I don't know what he means by that. Like I said, he didn't address us, so I don't know."
Granted James did say that Wade already can be tough and that he would be a team-player no matter what Wade's new approach is, but it underlines the point that a sudden change in personality could cause some static in the locker room.
Whatever, we'll see what happens when the time comes.
There's much more after the jump.
I did something I haven't done in a long time Sunday.
I turned off the TV on the 'Boys.
After Pacman's ill-advised fumble on a punt return, I knew it was over. The momentum of the game had gotten out of control. We couldn't stop them. We were self-destructing and I didn't want to spend the rest of my evening watching the Eagles laugh at us. I had too many beers to consume.
The most maddening aspect of that pathetic affair Sunday was the realization that the naysayers were right about us. I spent most of this year mocking and ridiculing journalists like Jean-Jacques Taylor, Skip Brainless, Jennifer Floyd Engel, Trey Wingo, Randy Galloway and others for their extreme pessimism toward the Cowboys. They seemed to go out of their way to rub in our faces after any loss and would always dismiss any significant victory as a prelude to disaster. I still believe that there were some outrageous things written and said about us. I haven't changed my mind about that.
I've also tried to talk extremely negative fans off the ledge. You know the type. "The season is over!" "Wade sucks!" "Romo is terrible!" All of this after any loss or any bad play. C'mon on guys. Have a little more faith.
But here's the thing though. They were right about a lot of things. Not everything. But certainly their criticisms was accurate in a lot of respects. Our season was filled more with drama than resiliency. T.O.'s character flaws seemed to overwhelm his value to our team. The Pacman Jones Experiment was an unmitigated disaster. Romo, again, wilted on the biggest stages when we needed him the most.
It hurts my heart to agree with these statements. I've spent months arguing against them. I've tried to be a pragmatist with a bent toward optimism. But that effort in that game at this time of the year has forced me to reevaluate. Don't get me wrong. I'm not jumping ship and I never will. I believe in Tony Romo, I still think T.O. can be productive in our system and I still believe Wade Phillips can turn things around. But my arguments seem hollow now. This season was a failure and an utter disappointment. Time to look in the mirror and repeat that old line from Parcells: "You are who you are."
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