The Dallas Cowboys MIA From Super Bowl For 17 Years
By texasbrady
Well friends and fellow die-hard Dallas Cowboy fans, most everyone I talk with is angry, upset, embarrassed, and just plain ticked off about the 17 year hiatus of the Dallas Cowboys from the big game. Since the departure of Jimmy Johnson, the Cowboys have had 8 head coaches, including current Head Coach Jason Garrett. He is 13-11 record since taking over when Wade Phillips was fired after starting the 2010 season at 1-7. Jason Garrett was 5-3 as the interim head coach, and he finished 8-8 in his first full season as the 8th head coach in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. Will Garrett be on a short leash for 2012? Let’s take a quick look back at what has been bitter disappointment from 1996 to the present.
The Dallas Cowboys have not made a serious run at the Super Bowl since the mid 1990s . What happened? To put things in perspective, the Dallas Cowboys had 1 head coach (Tom Landry) from 1960 to 1988, winning 250 and losing 162, with 6 ties in regular season games, and appearing in 36 playoff games. Since then, 1989 to 2012, they have had 7 head coaches, for a combined 198 wins and 170 losses with 22 playoff appearances. Coach Landry coached the Cowboys to 5 NFC titles, 5 Super Bowls, including two Super Bowl victories. In the five years Jimmy Johnson coached, he lead the Cowboys to 2 NFC titles and 2 Super Bowls Championships; Barry Switzer coached the team 3 years, winning 1 NFC title and 1 Super Bowl Championship, which was the last appearance of the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.
One of the major problems has been consistency at the head coach position. The QB position was also an issue, but that all changed when Tony Romo took over for Drew Bledsoe in 2006. Just study the organizations that are in the playoffs year in and year out, the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steeler’s, Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts until last year. Those teams have been consistent in two important areas, HEAD COACH and QUARTERBACK. The results: Super Bowls and MVP QB’s. The other thing is that those teams, draft extremely well; and therefore they have quality depth behind their starters, and the organization takes care of their core players, like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Peyton Manning.
The above mentioned organizations have excellent player development programs. The Dallas Cowboys went through 8 quarterbacks until the arrival of Tony Romo in 2006. Romo has delivered consistent play at the QB position, something that has been lacking in Dallas for many years. Some of you may disagree with me because of mistakes and interceptions at critical times in a game, still taking that into consideration, Romo has delivered and his stats consistently place him the top 10 in the NFL. This is not bad for an un-drafted free agent from Eastern Illinois University. That said, why has Dallas been absent from the Super Bowl for the past 17 years? This is the longest dry spell in the team’s long and storied history. I am of the opinion that the main reason for the absence is the lack of consistently at the head coach’s position and poor player development over the years and drafting poorly. Just take a good look at the New England Organization; they have been over the years, a model of consistency since 1996 through 2012.
New England Championships
League championships (3)
Super Bowl Championships (3)
2001 (XXXVI), 2003 (XXXVIII), 2004 (XXXIX)
Conference championships (7)
AFC: 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011
Division championships (14)
AFL East: 1963
AFC East: 1978, 1986, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Playoff appearances (19)
AFL: 1963, NFL: 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
The other team that has been a model of consistency is none other than the Pittsburg Steelers, a team that has had only 3 head coaches since 1969, that is called consistency. Lets take a look at their history. It took the Steelers 13 years to return to the Super Bowl, and they did 2005 and 2008.
Pittsburgh Steelers Championships
League championships (6)
Super Bowl Championships (6)
1974 (IX), 1975 (X), 1978 (XIII), 1979 (XIV), 2005 (XL), 2008 (XLIII)
Conference championships (8)
AFC: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1995, 2005, 2008, 2010
Division championships (20)
AFC Central: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
AFC North: 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010
Playoff appearances (27)
1947, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
Look at the years from 1992 through 2011, all playoff appearances. When you have stability at the head coaches position and the Quarterback position, you will win more than you lose. The proof is in the pudding. Now let’s look at our Dallas Cowboys, where we had 1 coach for 28 years, Tom Landry; since Landry the organization has had 7 head coaches. Tough to get consistent when you change coaches like you change bed sheets.
Dallas Cowboy Championships
League championships (5)
Super Bowl Championships (5)
1971 (VI), 1977 (XII), 1992 (XXVII), 1993 (XXVIII), 1995 (XXX)
Conference championships (10)
NFL Eastern: 1966, 1967
NFC: 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1995
Division championships (21)
NFL Capitol: 1967, 1968, 1969
NFC East: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2007, 2009
Playoff appearances (30)
NFL: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009
In our overall history we run with anyone, but from 1999 until present day, we are average at best. Just look at where this franchise would be had the winning continued like Pittsburg or New England, it would be scary. Now that is not to say we can’t pick it up and start winning again; but major changes in how this organization is handled must change at some point. I think Jerry Jones in combination with a good GM could change the direction this team has been heading since 1999. There is only one direction to go, and that is up.
What Romo has not had, is an offensive line to keep him upright and a running game. That is starting to change now with the upgrade of the offensive line in free agency and the addition of rookie DeMarco Murray last year; If last year is any indication of Murrays talents, then Dallas will have a lethal running game, a running game which has been missing since the days of Emmitt Smith. I can’t wait to see it in action.
Ok, I can hear some of you moaning already “Tony Romo” has been the problem, I disagree. Yes Tony has thrown interceptions and made a few boneheaded plays, and he has fumbled, but he has done more to win ball games than to lose them. His play at the QB position in 2011 was in this writer’s opinion, his best year ever, and I believe Romo will continue to improve. Romo has consistently been in the top 10 statically year in and year out and Tony is NOT the problem.
If Jerry Jones can keep Tony upright, and give him the receiving the weapons, you will see Tony improve again in 2012. The addition of offensive tackle Tyron Smith was a huge step in the right direction. Smith will move to left tackle this year, allowing Doug Free to move to right tackle. If the interior line can improve from last year, and it appears Jerry Jones is doing all he can to make those improvements, then the Cowboys offense will be more effective.
What I was excited about was the play of rookie running back, DeMarco Murray. If Murray can stay healthy and pick up where he left off in 2011, the Cowboys will no doubt be very dangerous this year. With a good running game, this should allow Dallas to be a more balanced offensively. Which will be a change in it’s self, when we had no running game worth mentioning.
It has been a difficult 17 years for the die hard Dallas Cowboy fan, being absent from the Super Bowl has been a very bitter pill to have to swallow. It has been for me. 17 years of sitting at home watching New England, New York, Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl has not been fun. Hopefully Jerry Jones gets the picture and makes the right moves.
I know that Jerry wants to win badly, but Jerry you can’t do it by yourself. Again I will say, go hire a great GM, to help with the player development. Jerry we know that you know the business, but in all honesty you need a GM to move this franchise forward.
The Dallas Cowboys have been to the mountain 8 times, winning 5 Super Bowls, but Super Bowl XXX is fading in the rear view mirror Jerry and the fans are getting very restless and tired of seeing the Giants and the Eagles kick our rear end on a yearly basis.
So Jerry the ball is your court!
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