Dallas Cowboys: The Fat Lady Is Tuning Up
By texasbrady
I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan forever. I am sitting here without much to say. I am very disappointed, no, I am mad as heck. Is the fat lady tuning up ready to sing, or is she just clearing hear her throat? I believe she is tuning up, getting ready to sing, bringing to an end another dismal year and smashing the hopes of the Dallas Cowboys returning to the playoffs in 2012.
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Miles Austin (19) runs after a catch against New York Giants cornerback Jayron Hosley (28) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
The Dallas Cowboys teased us! The week one win (24-17) over the Giants was huge, or so I thought. I said, “Man this year looks good, beating the Giants on their home field is a promising start”. All I said the next day was “How Bout Them Cowboys“!! I was excited knowing that finally the Cowboys may have the team to lay to rest all the Tony Romo naysayers and all of the Cowboy haters.
It appeared that the pieces were in place and the team was poised to make a legitimate run at the playoffs. Then came the Seattle game; I felt some of the air deflate from my huge ego as the Dallas Cowboys were drummed by the Seahawks 27-7; they were soundly whipped. Lets just speak the truth, since the week one win over the Giants, the Dallas Cowboys have been the perfect model of inconsistency. The Cowboys have lost to teams they by all rights should have beaten.
What has been the cause for the 2012 collapse? I still don’t know that answer; however, it appears certain that no one in the Dallas Cowboys’ front office learned anything from the 2011 season collapse because history is about to repeat itself once again.
Why are the Dallas Cowboys such an average football team? I have been asked this question more times than I care to admit. In my opinion, the fault lies within the entire organization. From the owner, Jerry Jones, to the president of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, down to the general manager, Jerry Jonesand the rest of the staff at Valley Ranch. Also included is the head coach, and of course the players. Some of the current players are the same ones who quit on Wade Phillips. Hmm, could history be repeating itself?
Nov 22, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Bill Callahan (center) with the offensive line during the game against the Washington Redskins during a game on Thanksgiving at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
What I have seen as one of the most glaring failures of the 2012 Cowboys has been the play of the offensive line. They are terrible. I can’t describe it any other way. They can’t protect QB Rony Romo and hey can’t consistently open running lanes for any of the backs. How it could be repaired? I have no idea, but implosion comes to mind. I suspect however that Jerry Jones will dip into free agency and see what will be available and affordable. I also believe that if there is a top flight player on Jerry’s radar, he will make a move up to get that player. Jerry is not afraid to make daring moves. With the offense being in shambles, I do not believe Jerry will go defensive with his first round pick, I believe he will go offensive this year. Or maybe not, Jerry is always good for a surprise or two.
I do want to say this; I would just love to have Jerry Jones in my box if I were a head coach/GM. Let me qualify that by saying: ”I would love Jerry Jones to stay in the OWNERS box as an owner and spectactor, not as the Dallas Cowboys General Manager.” Jerry knows how to make the money: regardless of the Cowboys’ sloppy play this year, people still LOVE THEIR Dallas Cowboys, and I and I am one of those people.
November 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE
Jerry is not afraid to admit to his short comings as a GM, he admitted that he would have been fired as the GM if the Dallas Cowboys had anyone but him as their owner. With Jerry’s money and expertise at making money, there is no doubt in my mind that if Jerry would “fire himself” and hire a good GM, the Dallas Cowboys would find their way back to the top of the football world. I truly believe that Jerry is as sick of losing as we the fans are, but I also believe that Jerry has too much pride to “fire himself”.
I also believe that the Dallas Cowboys’ fan base is getting fed up, and a huge drop off in attendance is just around the corner if the fans do not see a major improvement in their Dallas Cowboys. I say this because attending an NFL football game is an expensive outing for most Americans. Since 1962, I have attended many a football game. I must admit that many of those games were courtesy of Robert Newhouse, the former fullback of the Cowboys .
As we all very well know, the 2012 Dallas Cowboy season is all but over. Miracles do happen, and I am not saying that miracles won’t happened for the Cowboys, but a miracle is what it is going to take for the Cowboys to make the playoffs. I just do not believe a miracle will be in the Dallas Cowboys Christmas Stocking for 2012. I hope I am wrong.
Lets forget about playoffs and miracles.
Why are the Cowboys, game after game after game committing so many penalties?
I just do not understand, where is the coaching? Is it true that the Cowboys practices are camp cupcake? Is there really no accountability at Valley Ranch? Does Dallas Cowboys’ Head Coach Jason Garrett lack the toughness to punish his players for making mistakes? It appears so, because it is the same players making the same dumb penalties week after week after week. So far in 2012, the Cowboys rank # 21 in the NFL in yards surrendered due to penalties. They average about 58.6 yards per game in penalty yards given up (Atlanta leads the NFL bu giving up an average of 28.2 penalty yards per game). Dallas is the second most penalized team in the NFL; they are averaging 8.3 (accepted and enforced) penalties a game (Atlanta commits only 3.5 penalties per game). Atlanta is 9-1, the Dallas Cowboys are 5-6.
The wort part about the Dallas Cowboys’ penalties is that many come at the most in opportune time, I am referring to the momentum KILLERS, when the sure touchdown turns in to a field goal. The other frustrating (and unacceptable) thing about the Cowboys penalties is the number of them that are careless pre-snap penalties.
Jan 1, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (rear) gets wrapped up by New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (72) as Cowboys offensive tackle Doug Free (68) tries to block at MetLife Stadium. New York Giants defeat the Dallas Cowboys 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Getting back to this season’s collapse and the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line, this team can not win football games if QB Tony Romo is on his back all day. So far in 2012, Romo is tied for 5th place in the sack department; he’s been sacked 26 times.
Where in the bleep is Romo’s offensive line? Everyone criticizes Romo for his 15 interceptions this year; some criticism is warranted, some is not. If you look at when Dallas had a running game, Romo was able to control the game somewhat, but when Murray went down, so did the running game. For example, in the Washington Redskin game, the Dallas Cowboys only had 11 rushing, but Romo had 62 passing attempts. When a QB has to throw 62 passes, the defense is likely to have at least a few interceptions.
Tony Romo is not the trouble with this team. The main problems are the offensive line, the lack of depth at many positions, and the total lack of discipline on this football team . Despite all the problems with this team and the organization, there are still reasons for hope. If Tony Romo was surrounded with an decent offensive line, he would put-up gawdy stats, win more games, and give them a chance at making a Super Bowl run.
Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo has put up some good stats as it is, but stats without playoff wins and a Super Bowl mean little or nothing in the NFL or to the fan base.
Nov 22, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws in the pocket against the Washington Redskins during a game on Thanksgiving at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE
As of the 26th of November, Tony Romo wass 2nd in passing with 3357 yards, 16 TD’s and 15 picks. Compared to 522 attempts, 346 completions, 4184 yards, 31 TD’s and 10 picks in 2011, Romo is going to blow by his 2011 passer stats; he may even surpass his 2009 passing yards of 4925 yards and 620 passing attempts. That is too much passing!
There is so much more to discuss, but it can’t be done in one post. The bottom line is, unless there is a miraculous turn around, the 2012 Dallas Cowboys will miss the playoffs for a third straight year and the franchise will continue to decline if major changes are not implemented ASAP. I am not a football guru, but certainly Jerry Jones should know where the changes need to begin. As the owner and GM of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones has to accept much of the responsibility for the state of the organization.
To the faithful and loyal fans of the Dallas Cowboys, just keep the faith, change is coming, we just do not know when, but hopefully the journey back starts in 2013, beginning with the draft.
Join the SportDFW Nation! If you are not following us on Facebook & Twitter, the Romo-Haters are winning.