QUOTE: “If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner.” -- Tallulah Bankhead (1903 - 1968)
FROM CLARENCE HILL JR. OF THE FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM... The attention to detail and architecture in the all-glass structure are of museum quality. It also features the world’s largest video board. Suffice to say, (Jerry Jones) expects his football to live up to the standards of the new $1.15-billion facility -- starting in 2009. "I think so," Jones said. "I have always thought that it was an element of added pressure to be a member of the Cowboys. It’s about expectations. I expect every player that plays on this field to play above their level. That’s how you are going to stay here. I do have high expectations. You can’t put something up like this and not expect the team to reflect the quality of stadium."
Last night during the Yankees game against the Rangers (yes, we were flipping from the basketball game; I live with a diehard Yankee fan, my oldest son, who controlled the remote), ESPN showed clips of the new Cowboys stadium. The placed looked amazing -- just flat-out stunning. Now, as Clarence Hill Jr. pointed out in his story today, the expectations for the team must match the quality of the stadium.
The Cowboys have taken “a less is more” approach this offseason. Finally, they have decided to value team chemistry over what they’ve done in the past, which is to collect as many players as possible, regardless of how the pieces fit. This is a normal reaction. Frequently in the NFL, when an owner fires a head coach, he will then hire a coach with opposite qualities of the coach he just fired. It’s what I call the “The Laws of List Theory.” For example, Coach X does 25 things really well but three things very badly. The owner fires Coach X for those three things -- then hires Coach Y. Coach Y can handle those three things extremely well, but he only does 10 other things very well. So instead of improving his team, the owner only improved his working situation with the change of coaches.
When Bill Parcells left the Cowboys, his replacement was going to be someone who was his direct opposite -- easy to get along with, non-controlling, willing to take input on staff, willing to not always put pressure on the staff. The kind of coach who would make Valley Ranch a kinder, gentler place. Welcome, Wade Phillips.
Now two years removed from Parcells, the Cowboys are at a crossroads. The fans’/media perception of them is that they’re an extremely talented team that underachieved last season. That’s true to some degree, but when you examine them more closely, there are some glaring concerns.
CONCERN NO. 1
Their complete defense. They’re a pass rushing defense that benefits greatly from the play of DeMarcus Ware. The ‘Boys led the league in sacks but ranked 19th in scoring defense. They struggled to play well in the red zone, struggled to handle the run game and in the last two games of the season, they allowed a whopping 77 points.
They feel they’ll be better against the run with the addition of Keith Brooking at linebacker – the same Keith Brooking who played last season for the Falcons, who had the 25th-ranked run defense in the NFL. Brooking may help, but he’ll need to play better than last year.
Will the return of Terence Newman to full strength help? Yes, to a degree, but make no mistake -- Newman is not a shutdown corner (very few are in the NFL). Teams might stay away from him because the other corner (Anthony Henry in the past, Mike Jenkins now) can be attacked. The Cowboys’ secondary is vulnerable if you can handle the pass rush. If Greg Ellis is, in fact, gone, then Anthony Spencer must make a giant leap. Can he do it? I have strong reservations about Spencer. (By the way, “The Laws of List Theory” applies to players: Get rid of Ellis because of salary and space play, replace him with Spencer, who’s cheaper and better in space -- and hope it works.)
CONCERN NO. 2
The details. Winning in the NFL is all about details -- from the kicking game to game management to offensive play selection to how to prepare the team. Now, in fairness, Wade Phillips claims he will be a changed man. He will put more pressure on the players, demand more from practice and have the team mentally and physically prepared to play. So these concerns are on a wait-and-see. However, if past performance predicts future achievement, I have my doubts. It may change in July or August, but the hardest thing about being disciplined enough to change is standing the test of time. Can these changes stay with the ‘Boys all season? It’s doubtful.
CONCERN NO. 3
I know almost everyone is concerned about Tony Romo. I’ve written this before and said it on NFL Network in the past, but the person who misses Parcells the most in Dallas is Romo. Romo is the kind of player who will respond to hard coaching; in fact, he needs hard coaching. He needs to have the pressure on him every single day. He must improve his preparation, his leadership skills, his decision-making, and with Terrell Owens gone, there are no longer any perceived obstacles. This has to be Romo’s year. I couldn’t care less whom he dates, how often he goes to Cabo, if he tries to qualify for the U.S. Open. I care that once he sets foot in the building, he works his ass off and does all the little things in order to become a better player.
So if I were an investor, would I buy stock in the 2009 Dallas Cowboys? Not right now. My concerns keep me from buying into the hype. In fact, I mentioned three without including either Roy Williams or special teams. The Cowboys are expected to be good – they’re America’s team, with a billion-dollar stadium -- so all eyes will be watching.
Yeah, the Brooking pick up surprised me too. Besides being past it, IIRC back to his prior stint with Wade in Atlanta, he liked the 34 about as much as Mike Zimmer did.
I've been to two games at the old Texas Stadium and it was like going to a chess tournament in a crypt. I've never been around a more uninspired and uninterested group of fans in my life. I can't imagine what the scene will be like now that most football fans have been priced out so that Jerry could have a critically aclaimed stadium with the biggest LCD monitor ever built. No wonder the players seem to miss the point there.
i cant wait to see Haynesworth's impact in this division.
No playoff wins since 1996, the Cowboys have been the most consistently overhyped team in the league for over a decade now. JJ has chased two HOF coaches out of town because he craves control and attention and will accept mediocrity to get what he wants.
Don't blame Wade Phillips - JJ is the problem and as long as his ego comes first, the 'boys will be looking up at the better run teams in Philadelphia and New York.
Michael...your views are spot on...it appears from the early OTA's that Wade has taken the role that he is really best suited for and that is being the defensive coordinator...Garrett has become more of a vocal leader as well with the offense so through both men you detect a sense of urgency...is it too late?..the Greg Ellis situation is interesting but this was a plan that was played out in April during the draft...most of the selections were geared in helping find a backup to Spencer...who I really don't trust...its hard to play this game when you are always hurt and your heart really isn't into it...if there one area that this club might have improved it has been at safety...which was a position that killed them in 2008...they actually look like they have found some players that can play with some range...
Buying any stock whose company is run by an egomaniac micromanager like Jerry Jones is a lousy investment. It's sad that bad coaches who defer to him last longer than great coaches who don't.
Jim Collins, whom you've quoted here, has a new book out on organizations that fail - it's about identifying the major flashpoints for companies before they start their decline. (It's called How the Mighty Fall). It'd be interesting to apply his five stages to the Cowboys:
1. Hubris borne of success. (yep.)
2. Undisciplined pursuit of more (signing T.O.? Pacman?)
3. Denial of risk and peril. (trading away its 2009 draft?)
4. Grasping for salvation. (maybe not yet.)
5. Capitulation to irrelevence or death.
I have question Mike. If Greg Ellis is an older player that can be replaced with a younger player and give you more cap flexibility wouldn't you do it? Maybe I didn't understand the comment, however Ron Wolf wrote a book where he outlined how he eventually had to replace Terrell Buckley with Craig Newsome because he was more concerned with keeping his core players intact, rather than role players.
Great article. Even though Parcells is gone, this defense still has his fingerprints all over it. Parcells defense is based on pressure first.
Lives by the philosophy that the best way to blow up a play is in the backfield - Run or Pass.
Also, that quote is far and away my favorite that you have posted. I don't believe in regretting past mistakes they make us who we are no matter how bad they mess our lives up.
I concur, excellent observations Mike.
I lived in Dallas for 3 yrs and recently moved back to my hometown Boston. When I read that Romo failed to qualify for a golf open I thought, where is this guys priorities??? Quite simply, he doesn't have what it takes to be elite. That is, willpower, fire, leadership and desire.
Jerry Jones and Dallas fans deserve more than that from their QB.
Excellent DMN. I am not a Cowboys fan and have become somewhat deaf to discussions involving the Cowboys, but your posts transcend the normal talking points and touch on things at a deeper level.
Good takes on coach change-overs, Romo needing hard coaching, and run-defense woes.
Great read as always . If I was to add anything it would be on Keith Brooking . As a Falcon fan I can tell you he is really good against the run . He is good going forward . He however is terrible in coverage . When ever he has to cover an rb coming out of the backfield he always gets torched . If he has to try & cover Brian Westbrook or Clinton Portis the Cowboys can't win .
With T.O. forced out the door, there are no more excuses for Romo or the very underwhelming offensive coordinator.
Until the Cowboys force me to believe, I don't plan to feel differently about them than I do right now. The Cowboys have numerous question marks and to think that Wade Phillips will be more demanding is ludicrous to say the least. The man has no business being an NFL head coach. As McDaniels will prove in Denver when he wins sufficiently, Phillips will prove to one day be the answer to a pernicious trivia question: who is the only Broncos coach to have a losing record after the John Ralston era?
If a defense leads the league in sacks but is well-below average in red zone scoring allowed, wouldn't that have a lot do with the play-calling down close? Yes, players have to make plays, but the coordinators have to put them in the position to be successful. I never saw a Dallas game last season where they brought solid and effective pressure on any key downs.
Ron Wolf said that he was forced to release Terrell Buckley for salary cap reasons? HAHAH!! See, I thought it was because T-Buck sucked. That's like the episode in the Simpsons where George H.W. Bush moves in across the street from Homer and they show him writing his memoire, with the last line "having accomplished all of my goals in one term as President, there was no need for a second. THE END."
"The ‘Boys led the league in sacks but ranked 19th in scoring defense. They struggled to play well in the red zone, struggled to handle the run game..."
Not really:
Dallas ranked 12th in run defense, giving up 106 yards per game, not great but better than average. 11 yards per game more than the Giants. Dallas' defense was 6th in the league in percentage of TDs given up inside the redzone. Link in name. Dallas' DEFENSE did not allow 77 points in the last two games, remember two of Philly's TDs came on returned fumbles. The turnovers, penalties and poor special teams plays put the D in bad spots all year and skewed the stats. Dig deeper and it is obvious that the D is not even close to the problem.
Drew T, When did you go to your two games at Texas Stadium? I have been to over 25 and I disagree about the atmosphere you have described. I have been to the newer stadiums in Denver & Houston, it was a sunday stroll in the park. At Texas stadium it was a bowl of adreniline with everyone in a big hurry through the corridoors and such. I do agree that the new stadium will be changed can't imagine it being as rowdy as Texas stadium. Sad we have been relegated to our living rooms on Sunday.
"Buying any stock whose company is run by an egomaniac micromanager like Jerry Jones is a lousy investment". Hey GC I guess you are not buying Apple or Redskin stock anytime soon. Michael good article and I love your "The Laws of List Theory." I think that Spencer if he can stay healthy will be a good replacement for Ellis but will struggle at times against the run. One major thing to consider when debating whether or not to buy the 2009 Cowboys is Felix Jones. After his injury last year the offense was just not the same. If he can say healthy (trend here) the Cowboys offense has elite potential.
HOW ABOUT THOSE COWBOYS? INSANITY IS DEFINED AS DOING THINGS THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. BASED ON THAT IDEA, I FEEL THE COWBOYS BEING BETTER THAN 9-7 IN 2009 IS A REACH. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY TEAM IN THE NFC EAST, EXCEPT THE COWBOYS, HAS IMPROVED THEIR TEAMS IN THE OFF SEASON.
I do not think Loss of canty will hurt, Igor will do just fine,Roy Williams "seems" to get "it" he has one year to prove himself,Special teams have also been address with smart specific new blood. I am concerned about spencer however he either produces or this is his last year,but to release Ellis at his age was a good choice,last T/O gone GREAT choice,Williams and Austin have the same size the same or simular speed with out the drama. I am hopeful!!!
The last time I looked, the last four Super Bowls were won by the Steelers, Colts, Giants, and Steelers. The winning QBs were Roethlisberger, P. Manning, E. Manning, and Roethlisberger.
So why are at least 75% of the articles written about New England, Brady, Dallas, Brady, Romo, Brady, and Favre?
When will people realize that Jerry "It's All About ME" Jones' team hasn't won a playoff game since 1995, and that the Great Football God Parcells hasn't been with a SB winner since the first Bush was the new President?
Good article, but I and many other fans would rather read about WINNING teams and how they're trying to improve than about some glass "palace".
Great article Michael! As you know, after being a Cowboys Fan for over 40 years, you put up some great points that are not easy for me to deal with! But after reading your insightful article, I have to agree with you 100%. Lots of question marks and concerns. All eyes will be watching and mine will be hoping the Cowboys can get the brass ring and end a long and painful drought!
Mike, great article. Jones thinks he is running his own fantasy team, and he keeps his hand puppet for a coach. If he really cared about winning he would realize he doesn't know anything about football and leave it coaches and personel men that do. And it should be noted: Parcells hasn't won anything w/o Belichick.
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May 28, 2009
10:19 AM
I have nothing to add, Lombardi. You covered it all and covered it well. Great morning column. You are the best.