ESPN's Tuesday Morning QB's take on the Cowboys

[finkle]

it's pretty spot on:

Dallas: If you like sacks, the Cowboys were the team to watch in 2008 -- they recorded a league-high 59, while allowing 31. The Cowboys also surrendered 365 points, second-most by a winning team, which shows there isn't a clear relationship between sack totals and good defense. That three Dallas offensive linemen went to the Pro Bowl despite 31 sacks allowed shows the Pro Bowl balloting is based on publicity, not merit. (Scientific Football 2009 finds Dallas offensive linemen Leonard Davis and Andre Gurode seriously overrated -- both made the Pro Bowl, but both had below-average blocking scores by the book's metrics.) And if you like collapses, Dallas has been the team to watch for some time. Through the past decade, the Boys have a winning record in September, October and November -- then are 18-28 from December on. The epic 44-6 season-ending loss to Philadelphia, which knocked Dallas out of the postseason, numbers among the worst collapse games in sports annals.


Despite constantly being praised by the sports media as a power squad, Dallas was 2-4 against teams that made the playoffs last season. One reason may be that the Cowboys' drafting has quietly fallen apart. Dallas had no first- or second-round choices in 2009. Their top three choices from 2008 (Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins and Martellus Bennett) have combined for 10 starts. Kicker Nick Folk is their sole clearly successful draft choice from 2007. Nobody from 2006. The Cowboys' 2005 draft was good. Just one player from the 2004 draft still is with the team, while several are already out of football altogether. That's one good draft in the last six. Tuesday Morning Quarterback thinks the Cowboys may be a Potemkin team in 2009, looking good from the distance, shaky up close.

[fatmenace]

So what's his point? They haven't won any playoffs game, haven't been good the past few years? OK. Does he honestly think he's the first to point this stuff out? It's too stupid to break down, however:

Their top three choices from 2008 (Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins and Martellus Bennett) have combined for 10 starts

Might be the dumbest thing I've ever read. Criticizing rookies for not starting their rookie years is beyond asinine. If he paid any attention at all he'd know how critical their roles are going to be this year. If a guy plays 30 plays a game a
and is critical to the O or D, but doesn't play in the very first play (thus, not making him a "starter") is an ESPN douche really going to count that against them? Apparently so.

[finkle]

what's your definition of the past few years, chad?

it's been something like 13 years since dallas has won a playoff game.

[fatmenace]

Yes, and those 13 years have no bearing on how this Dallas team will do. How many years has it been since Philly won their Super Bowl?

[finkle]

philly has won lots of meaningful games recently. name one that dallas has won.

[finkle]

seriously, chad, we have major scoreboard on you right now. there's really nothing else to discuss til we play again.

[fatmenace]

My point wasn't Dallas vs Philly. You were trying to use the past thirteen years to prove Dallas wouldn't be good this year. I was pointing out that if we're going to arbitrarily use history to prove the future, then Philly won't be winning a Super Bowl any time soon.

Yes, Philly has more playoff wins recently. Congrats. But without Jim Johnson, you guys are nothing. This is Dallas' year.

I hope Dallas wins the Super Bowl and I win DVR. You won't live it down for the next decade.

[gk]

Sept 1, 2009 22:39:57 GMT -6 fatmenace said:

Their top three choices from 2008 (Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins and Martellus Bennett) have combined for 10 starts

Might be the dumbest thing I've ever read. Criticizing rookies for not starting their rookie years is beyond asinine.

I guess you didn't bother to read the following few sentences.

Kicker Nick Folk is their sole clearly successful draft choice from 2007. Nobody from 2006. The Cowboys' 2005 draft was good. Just one player from the 2004 draft still is with the team, while several are already out of football altogether. That's one good draft in the last six.

Yes, three rookies making only 10 starts isn't the end of the world in isolation. But they haven't had a lot of success drafting in the past several years and that will eventually catch up to you.

As for the Philly vs. Dallas stuff...... YAWN!!!!

[fatmenace]

Well, I think everyone knows by now Felix Jones could start for any team. He'll be featured prominently this year for Dallas. Bennett will be part of a two TE package. And Mike Jenkins played more and more towards the end of the year. He's schedule to start this year. Saying a draft pick is a bust just because they don't play in the first play of the game is ridiculous. Their drafting has been fine.