Post by ccboy on Oct 22, 2008 4:00:39 GMT -7
Same As It Ever Was
2006, at this point — 4-3;
2008, at this point — 4-3;
2006, penalty yards rank: 5th;
2008, penalty yards rank: 2nd;
2006, net punting - 38.0;
2008, net punting - 38.7;
2006 KO ret. avg./rank — 23.3/8th
2008 KO ret. avg./rank — 23.9/11th;
2006 punt ret. avg./rank - 8.4/19th;
2008 punt ret. avg./rank - 6.7/27th;
2006 opponent avg. start after kickoff — 28 yard line;
2008 opponent avg. start after kickoff - 31.5 yard line;
Bill Parcells was known as a disciplinarian. A hardass. He told Jerry when he was hired that he would need to win right away because his act would not wear well over time. Kind of like Jimmy Johnson’s. The Tuna’s teams didn’t take stupid penalties.
Bruce DeHaven had a reputation as one of the league’s better special teams coaches. His Buffalo squads, with Hall-of-Famer Steve Tasker leading, were superb.
Then, both of them came to Dallas. Their last team couldn’t stop committing stupid penalties. It was mediocre on special teams. It’s numbers are about the same as this year’s team.
We can cry for Wade Phillips’ head and Brian Stewart’s head and Bruce Read’s head but lets put the fair share of blame on the players. Hard coach/soft coach. Well known special teams coach/no-name special teams coach. The results are almost identical.
And what has changed on the roster? On defense, there are only two starters who were not here in ‘06 — Ken Hamlin and Zach Thomas. On offense, Leonard Davis is the only member of the starting eleven who wasn’t a starter or key role player two years ago.
You can bring in a Bill Cowher or a Jimmy Johnson but if you don’t give him the saws and scalpels to perform radical roster surgery you have what you have.
Unless the players hearts — and brains — grow three sizes, Grinch style, it’s the same as it ever was.