SPORTSDAY

Posted by Terry @ 11:35 AM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

I would like to request that you guys focus on some positives in the coming days. Seems the DMN staff is falling into the trap of thinking this team isn't as good as it's record reflects (Calvin is the only one that doesn't surprise me here). Yet, IF they come out and beat their next opponent, you all will turn face quicker than Britney Spears' mom. Why not beat the rush and give us some positive, nay optimistic news now?

Posted by bballcap @ 11:37 AM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

I agree with Jacques. Given our playoff position, anything short of a Super Bowl appearance will be a disappointment. That's the reality and Wade knows it. He's no fool.

Posted by James @ 11:42 AM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

He MEDIOT, we don't count freaking coordinator positions as win/losses. It's as a head coach, and from your stats, that's 0-2 in playoffs. Big, freaking deal

Posted by larry giusti @ 11:53 AM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

james, Wade is 0-3 in the playoffs as a head coach.

Posted by Clark @ 12:00 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Jimmy was 2-0 in Super Bowls here.
What was his record in Miami?

Posted by BlueZone @ 12:03 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Both you and JJT are ignoring the bye week earned with the 13-3 record.

Wade and the Cowboys are curently 1-0.

Posted by Bill In DC @ 12:12 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

This raises an interesting question if Dallas (Oh God I hope this does not happen) loses it's first playoff game.

Would that give Jerry the excuse to fire Phillips and promote Garrett (assuming Dallas is in danger of losing Garrett, which I'm not sure they are)?

Posted by Joe Dalhart @ 12:15 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

This is all part of Jerry's master plan. Hire Garrett to understudy for a year, bring in Wade (nice guy with lousy playoff record), watch Wade flop in the playoffs, fire (or at least reassign) Wade, elevate a now-experienced Garrett to head coach. And if Wade should happen to get win the Super Bowl (that'd be nice, too), then he rides off into the sunset, again leaving Garrett in charge. Either way, you have your Cowboys regime of the future all set to go.

Posted by larry giusti @ 12:25 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Bill in DC, Good question. I doubt JJ would fire him, but San Diego fired Marty Schottenhiemer after an 14-2 regular season and one-and-done playoff, so who knows. Only JJ, I guess.

Posted by Chris/Denton @ 12:25 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Wade is a good coach and I think you guys are nuts if you think Jerry will fire him regardless of what happens in the playoffs. The team hasn't played well the last 3-4 weeks, no big news there but I think that last game might just have been a wake up call and that they'll come out focused and play well in their next game.

Hopefully they'll let their play do the talking from here on out...WAY to much jabber jawing going on in that locker room.

Posted by Brett @ 12:30 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

I agree. Many pre-season predictions had the Cowboys gong to the Super Bowl this year. I don't think anyone is surprised they finished atop the NFC standings. But to succeed in January, I think Wade and the coaches need to retool and rethink their approach. Football in January is not football in October. Teams now know how to stop the Cowboys' offense. Philly, Carolina, and Washington all figured it out. This team has been pass first the entire year and it's finally catching up with them. They need to establish the running game because when it comes down to it, it's running the football and defense that wins championships - always has and always will (with the exception of maybe the Pats). I didn't see it coming, but their offense has grown scale since the second half of the second quarter of the Packers game. Only a late game and last minute surge (and a missed chip shot FG) against the lowly Lions allowed them to come out of that game victorious. They need to play with a purpose, something they apparently have not done since, oh, the first quarter and a half of the Packers game. No more platooning Jones and Barber. Smashmouth football is needed now. It should be Barber for four quarters. And boy do they need T.O. back in a big way. Perhaps getting Glenn back will help but who knows how much they can count on him. Even in limited action, he was injured during the Washington game. On defense, they have given up WAY too many long runs up the gut of late. Jacobs, Portis, and whoever else they might face will run the ball down their throats if they don't address this persistent problem. The D is good, not great. They will need turnovers to avoid giving up 20-plus points. With that said, the pressure is all on the O and Jason Garrett to put together a PLAYOFF-caliber scheme. Otherwise, it will be one and done.

Posted by Scott in Austin @ 12:33 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Wow... I can't wait until the game because of all the mindless speculation that's being fed by the media.

I guess that's all they have to do for now though so I suppose we can't blame them. They have to write something to keep us entertained. My bet is that the Boys are focused and ready for the playoffs and pound their first opponent to get some of their frustrations out.

The NFC Championship game will be closer, but still a Cowboys win.

The Super Bowl is going to be a very tough game depending on the opponent -- if it's anyone but the Patriots I say we win. I have a feeling that the Patriots don't make it to the big dance.

I'll hold off on any SB prediction if it's the Patriots until I see more.

Posted by Tom Weis @ 12:37 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

If the Cowboys lose in it's first playoff game at home, then Wade is a failure! Fire him and hire Jason Garrett before someone else does! He keeps saying we're 13-3 but that is getting old. December was a bad month again! Tony Romo also needs to start playing better if this team is to wim!

Posted by Bill In DC @ 12:44 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

My guess is Jerry tries to swing a deal with Garrett similar to the one 'The Danny' has with Greg Williams. That being he gets a couple of million if he is not the next coach of the Redskins.

Garrett may stay if he's guaranteed to be the next coach of the Cowboys and I suspect Wade would 'retire' in 2-3 years (or be encouraged to do so).

Of course, if Garrett doesn't start running the freaking ball, all bets may be off. :)

An alternate theory would be not having a 'head coach', but having Co-Head Coaches, one for defense, one for offense.

Posted by Brett @ 12:48 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Tom, need to send some blame Garrett's way as well. He has not adjusted well to the recent defensive schemes that have slowed Romo and the rest of the offense of late, which you knew would come sooner or later. Sunday's effort against the 'Skins was downright dreadful, something totally unacceptable when opposing a hated arch rival, one you could have buried and sent home packing for the winter. Instead, they may get those same 'Skins in the not too distant future and they may not like what they see.

Posted by Yaeger @ 12:52 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Wade better fix his backup scheme's! The gameplans that BOTH Garrett and Phillips have come out with are not fooling anyone and they haven't had an answer!

Reason: Bad Head Coach and Rookie O-Coordinator

I love my cowboys and they better wake up!!

Posted by Chris from Mass. @ 12:53 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Has anyone considered that Garrett is far smarter than we're giving him credit for being?

I have a real sneaking suspicion that he's held back a WHOLE LOT of stuff for the entire season on offense -- one example of a reason being that he never had Glenn and Owens on the field at the same time.

I'm betting there are some wild & creative wrinkles that we just NEVER saw during the regular season that will unveil themselves come playoff time. And those are plays & formations & packages that NO opponent has any film on.

I think this could be a sweet playoff run.

Posted by Brett @ 12:57 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Chris, good point. I sure hope you're right 'cause it's been painful to watch for over a month now.

Posted by Scott in Austin @ 1:00 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Chris from Mass.

Excellent point. I also don't think that anyone realizes or just is completely ignoring the fact that they (Wade nor JG) simply put in a very vanilla plan together for the Redskins game. Yet everyone is getting caught up in how bad it looked. Their sole purpose was to get in and out of that game without injuries. Anyone can look at one play in that game and realize it -- Romo with a clear shot to run the ball into the end zone for a TD, but deciding to throw it instead to Witten... a clear attempt to help Witten with personal stats. In a meaningful game Romo runs that in and we're down by 3 points.

Posted by Yaeger @ 1:08 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Why is everyone stuck on the Skins game. It's been ugly football for a month. Ever sice we locked the Bye week, our boys lost focus and I am worried that they think the wins will fall in thier lap.

Posted by Real Albert Einstein @ 1:11 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

First of all, Vikings lost and only tied the game at the end. The Redskins would still be going to the playoffs and assuming the Vikings would have played better is pure speculation at best.

Is New England a failure, if Jax beats them in the first playoff game? It probably won't happen, but it's possible.

Just like mentioned before, the Cowboys win the first game and most of the doubters will jump on the bandwagon. I don't think intensity or game planning will be the issue. It will come down to execution and think that the Cowboys will prevail in their best played game in several weeks.I agree with Chris from Denton that the last game will be a wake up call.

Posted by Yaeger @ 1:12 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Didn't proof my post sorry

Posted by larry giusti @ 1:12 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Brett, boy oh boy, you had better get ready. I have been saying the same things on other threads, and believe me, there is a firestorm headed your way. Tim and all his cowsheep cheerleaders are going to come at you like a swarm of bees. They are going to call you "Chicken Little", an idiot, a moron, an embarassment, tear up your fan club card, and tell you to leave right now, 'cause they are the true fans and you're not. Join the club, buddy, and remember you've got one person here who agrees with you.

Posted by DBAR @ 1:18 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

The last time I checked Garrett has not won a playoff game yet either.Everyone might want to cool the jets on Garrett being the next best thing. I love him, but does that always make him a great coach. Remember when you are concerned about both sides of the ball you start backing off a little. Some of those 3rd and longs that have been complete, may not even be attempted. He would then have to worry about field position, for his defense. I love what Wade has done here, he should of never got fired in Buffalo, and he has a good record. As long as we don't lose Sparano and Garrett we will be fine.

Posted by Robert @ 1:21 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

I did this for you guys like 12 weeks ago. That is his record, 5-11. Parcells was 12-9.

Wade's Defenses PPG in 5 Playoff Wins is 20. Parcells was the 12 in 12 wins.

Wade's Defenses PPG in 11 Losses is like 27. Parcells was like 25 in 9 losses.

Basically all Wade's wins where b/c of his OFFENSE. Not the D he is known for. His attacking sytle seems to get a little more exploited versus quality QBs and Quality teams.

We will see this year but sheesh, I am 10x the analysts you guys are on football. What took you?

Anyone already look at the O stats 2006 v 2007? Slightly more yards and slightly more points but 3rd Down pct is lower. If you just use Romo games we did BETTER last year than this. So much for Parcells the grinch who stole Offense.

ex-Breer, you guys lynched the Yankee Coach but fact is the team ain't gonna be judged any better unless they go far in the season that counts and the organization he built looks ready to be torn apart.

Posted by larry giusti @ 1:25 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

real albert, so let's see. The Lions game wasn't a wake up call, and the Eagles game wasn't a wake up call, and the Panther's game wasn't a wake up call, but the Redskins game "WILL" be a wake up call? The Redskins game, that all you cheerleaders say was a throw-away game, didn't mean anything, wasn't game planned for, we held everything back, THAT GAME? Now all of a sudden it becomes an IMPORTANT game as a "wake up call"? You guys are hilarious.

Posted by Rodney in Atlanta @ 1:27 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

Chris, I agree with you. The offense has been pretty vanilla for a while. They were just going through the motions in the Philly and Washington games.

Washington will come into Texas Stadium in the second round and get steam rolled. The ultimate would be for Seattle to come down and get drilled after last year's debacle.

Also, the Patriots aren't making the Super Bowl. Watch out for San Diego.

Posted by Timbo @ 3:29 PM Wed, Jan 02, 2008

The term "5-11 record" should be struck from any and all Dallas Cowboys fans, media, supporters, players, coaches, and anyone else even loosely affiliated with the club. Thanks for that painful reminder, Albert.

Posted by Steve @ 9:41 AM Thu, Jan 03, 2008

All 3 of Wade's playoff losses were on the road as underdogs.

Posted by Brett @ 1:27 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008

Larry, couldn't agree with you more. If there's an onslaught comin' at me, I'm ready for it. I'm just telling it like it is, not how I wish it was. If the 'Skins game was so meaningless like everyone is saying it was, then why bother playing the starters at all, let alone a HALF! They should have played 'em hard or sat em altogether. No in-between. As strange as it sounds, I actually do think the additional week off will help, not hurt. Let's hope the additional week off actually shakes off the lingering effects of a very subpar December.

Posted by Brett @ 1:27 PM Thu, Jan 03, 2008

Larry, couldn't agree with you more. If there's an onslaught comin' at me, I'm ready for it. I'm just telling it like it is, not how I wish it was. If the 'Skins game was so meaningless like everyone is saying it was, then why bother playing the starters at all, let alone a HALF! They should have played 'em hard or sat em altogether. No in-between. As strange as it sounds, I actually do think the additional week off will help, not hurt. Let's hope the additional week off actually shakes off the lingering effects of a very subpar December.