Tried Hard Translation
The frustration continues, but there’s no surprise whatsoever. The Cowboys are who we thought they were, and they are what they’ve been for years. The best analysis of this is Bob Sturm’s from Fox Sports Southwest. His airtight take is that the Boys have been suffering from an inability to assemble a roster that can compete at high levels. This is particularly true on the lines, and probably points even more convincingly at owner/GM Jerry Jones, who loves to spend and draft the shiny skill position baubles.
Tellingly, retiring offensive line coach Hudson Houck, on his way out the door, assesses his group by saying “they played as hard as they could play.” Translation: They tried hard, but they’re not very good.
Maybe Garrett understands all this and is pushing GM Jerry toward sensible, long-range roster development with a focus on the line of scrimmage. Maybe that’s why Tyron was drafted, those pups were started on the offensive line and the team didn’t make any impact free agent moves.
Maybe Jason has convinced Jerry that the time for splashy over-paying is only when you are one Charles Haley or one Deion away from a dominant team.
Maybe that explains the long-range view in drafting the injured Bruce Carter.
Maybe this year’s draft will again be a trade-splash-free, non-nonsense accumulation of more options.
And maybe we’re at the beginning of the end of this era of mediocrity. Hard to see it now, but those “maybe” statements are about the only hope a Cowboys fan has at this juncture.
Sad, but true.
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All Reach, No Grasp
Over and over and over again. The story of the Cowboys’ 2011 season is Groundhog Day without a redemptive moment (or at the very least a splash of Bill Murray humor) in sight. In wider view, the losses are analogous to the entire campaign. Victory at the fingertips, emptiness in hand.
There’s no simple explanation, no single finger to point, no vision for solution. My son says, “Dad, do all teams do this or just the Cowboys?”
Excruciating.
Over and over and over again.
Romo-Witten Connection Not There
The above headline paraphrases a Dallas Morning News blog post today. My response:
Really, this is the best you can do? Why don’t you start with what was working Sunday night. Oh, right. Nothing.
To be fair, you DMN folks are in a tough spot. How do you fill a blog and paper with content on a game that has nothing to write about.
There is nothing insightful to glean from that performance on any front.
How about a deal: We’ll all stop reading for a few days. DMN can give everyone a few days off. We’ll all meet back here Thursday to talk Seahawks.
Ready? Break!
Romo Injury Update
Tony Romo updated his status on a TV taping today: “On the rib side, just breathing, sometimes, is harder than I want it to be. If it’s a pain related thing, it sucks but you can usually play. Either you can go out and move around or you can’t. If it’s an in-between thing, usually you end up playing. It’s football season and usually football players play football during football season.”
Wonder where he heard that last little nugget the first time?
Grounding The Eagles
Very interesting analysis of the Eagles cornerbacks from Atlanta Falcons’ WR Roddy White here.
Tony Nomo: Unlucky No. 9
Talked to a guy Saturday who’s a big Cowboys fan, but he’s one of the anti-Romo contingent. That particular subset of fans has always puzzled me. Romo’s stats speak for themselves. His win-loss ratio speaks for itself. The Cowboys woes, I always say, are not at quarterback.
But this guy said something to me Saturday that I couldn’t help remembering as our team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory Sunday: “It goes back to the Seattle fumble,” he said. “There was something about how close the team was to the postseason and how Romo cost them the game that either changed something or revealed something about him. I just don’t think he’s the guy that gets you all the way there. Almost there, but I don’t see him ever getting you to the promised land.”
Sunday, the Cowboys played almost as well as can be expected considering injuries, youth and many other factors. The special teams miscue was a huge mental lapse on the part of coaches and players. But aside from that, I find very little to fault in that performance.
Except for Romo. He didn’t even have to go win the game in the fourth quarter. He just had to not lose it. And he lost it.
The book’s not closed for me on Nine. And really, it’s not like the team has other options. But the notion that Tony Romo can’t get “all the way” is now lodged in my brain. For the first time. I hope he doesn’t feed that idea as this season progresses.
What Team Should You Root For?
Thanks to the Dallas Morning News for this awesome flowchart that will help even the most confused football fan figure out which team is their best fit.