Post by ironmaiden on Jan 14, 2009 22:34:59 GMT -7
DC.COM: Mailbag: Cowboys Lack Locker Room Leadership?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mailbag: Cowboys Lack Locker Room Leadership?
January 14, 2009 4:26 PM
Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)
JACK BLANKENSHIP, GALVESTON, TX: I think the difference between these final four teams and the Cowboys is leadership in the locker room. It looks like this factor is far more important than many might think. Until Dallas figures out this piece of the puzzle they probably won't make it to the Super Bowl. Would you all agree?
Josh: It just seems like an overly simplistic explanation to me. I mean, who is Arizona's leader in the locker room? The Cowboys missed the playoffs for a number of reasons, but turnovers and injuries were really the main ones. I just don't see how Ray Lewis barking at people before the game is supposed to make them protect the football any better, or help offensive linemen recognize blitzes. In football we have all these little buzzwords like 'leadership' and 'accountability' and 'chemistry,' but how do those things actually apply on the field? But if we absolutely lump the failures of the entire season into a single clich�, I would go with 'focus.' Somewhere along the way enough players quit paying attention to details for it to hurt the team.
Nick: I would agree that is important, I can't say that's the reason the four teams are still alive in the playoffs. I can't really speak for the leadership skills of those four teams. I do think the Cowboys have some chemistry issues that would probably help if they could get resolved.
Rob: Increased player leadershipwill be just as important as Wade Phillips adjusting his coaching style next season, but I don't agree that the Cowboys are totally devoid of leaders. There are plenty of players (Bradie James, Terence Newman, Jason Witten, Keith Davis come to mind) who try to set an example. What they don't seem to have is a prominent Ray Lewis or Michael Irvin type of rah-rah guy. Is that needed? Maybe so. Ultimately, though, winning and losing comes down to focus and execution.
PATRICK CRUMP, GREENSBORO, NC: I saw a special segment on the Eagles, and Brian Westbrook was complaining about how hard they practiced in training camp. They were in pads and hit hard daily. I think that's the reason they are playing in the NFC Championship and we're not. Do you agree with that or is there another reason I'm not looking at?
Josh: Well, I highly doubt Philly practiced in pads every single day. I mean, the Cowboys were in pads for roughly half of camp. If they were hitting every single day, I doubt it would make them twice as good or anything. Maybe next camp they'll do more work in pads, as Wade Phillips continues to look for positive changes, but if they're hitting every day there's also a greater chance for injuries, and as we saw, enough of those pile up during the regular season. I mean, Brian Westbrook has been banged up pretty much all year, hasn't he? Do you want the Cowboys defense to be lining up Felix Jones for kill shots?
Nick: I'm not sure I would pinpoint to just that - hitting in training camp - as the reason Philadelphia is still alive and the Cowboys aren't. That's a little farfetched. However, the overall mindset of practicing hard every day and trying to get a tougher team put together, now that might have some legs to it. I do think the Cowboys should practice harder in camp and I'd be surprised if that wasn't one of the changes Wade Phillips was talking about making.
Rob: That "Camp Cupcake" stuff is overrated. These guys went hard in practice for nearly a month, too, then came out and won their first three games pretty convincingly. If you want to question something, then question the players practicing without pads leading up to the season finale. But going back all the way to training camp would be a stretch in my humble opinion.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mailbag: Cowboys Lack Locker Room Leadership?
January 14, 2009 4:26 PM
Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)
JACK BLANKENSHIP, GALVESTON, TX: I think the difference between these final four teams and the Cowboys is leadership in the locker room. It looks like this factor is far more important than many might think. Until Dallas figures out this piece of the puzzle they probably won't make it to the Super Bowl. Would you all agree?
Josh: It just seems like an overly simplistic explanation to me. I mean, who is Arizona's leader in the locker room? The Cowboys missed the playoffs for a number of reasons, but turnovers and injuries were really the main ones. I just don't see how Ray Lewis barking at people before the game is supposed to make them protect the football any better, or help offensive linemen recognize blitzes. In football we have all these little buzzwords like 'leadership' and 'accountability' and 'chemistry,' but how do those things actually apply on the field? But if we absolutely lump the failures of the entire season into a single clich�, I would go with 'focus.' Somewhere along the way enough players quit paying attention to details for it to hurt the team.
Nick: I would agree that is important, I can't say that's the reason the four teams are still alive in the playoffs. I can't really speak for the leadership skills of those four teams. I do think the Cowboys have some chemistry issues that would probably help if they could get resolved.
Rob: Increased player leadershipwill be just as important as Wade Phillips adjusting his coaching style next season, but I don't agree that the Cowboys are totally devoid of leaders. There are plenty of players (Bradie James, Terence Newman, Jason Witten, Keith Davis come to mind) who try to set an example. What they don't seem to have is a prominent Ray Lewis or Michael Irvin type of rah-rah guy. Is that needed? Maybe so. Ultimately, though, winning and losing comes down to focus and execution.
PATRICK CRUMP, GREENSBORO, NC: I saw a special segment on the Eagles, and Brian Westbrook was complaining about how hard they practiced in training camp. They were in pads and hit hard daily. I think that's the reason they are playing in the NFC Championship and we're not. Do you agree with that or is there another reason I'm not looking at?
Josh: Well, I highly doubt Philly practiced in pads every single day. I mean, the Cowboys were in pads for roughly half of camp. If they were hitting every single day, I doubt it would make them twice as good or anything. Maybe next camp they'll do more work in pads, as Wade Phillips continues to look for positive changes, but if they're hitting every day there's also a greater chance for injuries, and as we saw, enough of those pile up during the regular season. I mean, Brian Westbrook has been banged up pretty much all year, hasn't he? Do you want the Cowboys defense to be lining up Felix Jones for kill shots?
Nick: I'm not sure I would pinpoint to just that - hitting in training camp - as the reason Philadelphia is still alive and the Cowboys aren't. That's a little farfetched. However, the overall mindset of practicing hard every day and trying to get a tougher team put together, now that might have some legs to it. I do think the Cowboys should practice harder in camp and I'd be surprised if that wasn't one of the changes Wade Phillips was talking about making.
Rob: That "Camp Cupcake" stuff is overrated. These guys went hard in practice for nearly a month, too, then came out and won their first three games pretty convincingly. If you want to question something, then question the players practicing without pads leading up to the season finale. But going back all the way to training camp would be a stretch in my humble opinion.
__________________
Cowboy Fan since 1960.......You young-uns stay outta my yard.