Yeah I feel the same about Indy.

I think we're way better than 7 pt dogs. If our D is elite and there's reason to think they can be, then really this Saturday is about if Dak can score 24-27, or not. If he does, we are very live.

Now would be a good time for the D to get a big scoring play too. They deserve a big team dance.

I kinda feel like they're going to at least need a couple turnovers for us to have a chance. I don't see the offense doing well enough to win with our standard D performance.

I don’t think there are any specific boxes they need to check off, they just need to win enough matchups on enough plays & basically just have one of their better days. Even the perceived weaker spots on the roster are enough when things go their way, it’s not like Jeff Heath can’t get a turnover. Even with all the concerns with Dak as a QB you could do a lot worse - consider that he’s like 32-16 as starter, and has stayed healthy (which is kind of an overlooked thing by Cowboys fans, but shouldn’t be).

Rams were the better and more consistent team during reg season and get to play at home for it, but that’s about all I think. There aren’t any super-dominant type teams this year, just some tougher games like every playoffs. They’re favored but very beatable

If course if Dal does do it, would not mind seeing the Eagles pull the upset vs NO too...

Beasely and Jarwin banged up kind of sucks when you just lost Hurns. Getting pretty thin at the skill positions. Actually need Tavon to play well.

Just hated our playcalling most of the game. Still an ok sweat.

I think the result is a fair representation of where they’re at as a football team. They’re good in a lot of areas but not really quite dominant in any. Even when you look at a strength like running you can only check off Zeke, but his backups did poorly (both less than 3 ypc avg). DLaw a pro bowl edge rusher but not getting to the QB enough & credited for 5 total sacks in past 14 games. Need more from the DTs, guys like Gallup and Woods the TEs showing growth but could use more work.

So next year they keep the entire starting squad minus Sean Lee, Wilson and probably Beasley. Hopefully get Frederick back and are able to fill some depth needs at WR, LB, RB, TE, S, maybe find an upgrade at K. They’re not stuck with any dead weight contracts either so they have a real chance to field a better team next year. Or at least they’ve put themselves in a great position to.

I am pretty concerned about what kind of coaching changes we might see & how they spend their cap space, and lack of draft capital (though doubt anybody wants to trade back Cooper). Garrett likely stays but it’s certainly not a lock and who knows with the rest just yet. But overall they’re in a super favorable position if they can take advantage of it.

LINEHAN IS OUT.

Good riddance.

Yeah seriously

Won’t be missed but actual good OCs are really hard to find and nearly impossible to hold on to for more than a year or two. And whoever it is will need a few more pieces and Dak to hit a lot more throws

Not that hard if we offer to replace the worst coach in the league with this hypothetical good OC!

I don’t think Jason Garrett is the worst coach by any stretch, just annoyingly mediocre. And that’s pretty much as good as it’s been in Dallas in the salary cap era, even Parcells couldn’t do anything, and speaking of, one of his more thoughtful quotes was that they’re in the talent acquisition business. Which imo has been their biggest shortcoming as a franchise overall. They always get pointed at as a team with “so much talent” but usually it’s just decent talent that gets a bit overrated because they’re Cowboys.

When I look at Garrett (or any coach), my 1st question is whether or not they’re getting the team prepared and playing to the level they’re capable of, and (unlike, say, Wade) I think he has. Not in any spectacular way but the players seem to understand their roles on the field and play hard & are generally conditioned and you def can’t take that for granted looking around the league and in Dallas’s history. What I still see now are a few too many good effort players getting beat.

Looking at this season, going 10-6 and winning a playoff game feels like a great result. The defense fielded how many new starters? Who knew who Antwaun Woods even was when they got him? Probably the cheapest secondary in the league. Offense lost an All World center, the GOAT TE (and his backup, and later the backup to that guy). And oh yeah let’s not forget the total collapse of their WR corps (Dez out, TWill, Hurns, Thompson, Brice Butler failed comeback, Wilson was making the team before IR too, Tavon hurt - that’s a long list.

I’d say the rookies and free agents came in and did pretty respectably throughout the roster and HC deserves some credit for that. Is there anyone who honestly thinks 10 wins and a playoff victory was underachieving for this team?

Bottom line I think canning Linehan is the right move for this offseason and situation, not Garrett. If Belichick calls about the HC job I wouldn’t hang up but did you see what’s actually out there? A quarter of the league let their HCs go and I think 7 were filled (and not by anyone that does much for me). Winning seasons last three years and now finally having a young roster AND good cap position...had they gone 6-10 then sure it’s as good a time as any.

Right now I’m looking for an OC who can bring some kind of spark to the offense, while patching up a few roster holes and getting all the Gallup types to their next step, and taking a credible shot.

Damn that’s a long post and I did it on my phone

Anyway I think the HC spot is kinda like the QB situation with Dak, it’s enough to work with right this second while focusing on some bigger shortcomings. Meanwhile I think we’ve seen improvements with the FO with what McClay and SJ have been doing (mostly) and solid moves elsewhere recently on the coaching staff wrt the position coaches. The right OC and a couple good acquisitions could do a ton here, especially in the reworked passing game with so many new players in it, without going completely back to the drawing board with what would probably just be a second rate retread HC or worse anyway, or the next Chip Kelly or whatever.

Think we could hire one of 5o guys who could beat what Linehan brought. His offence was literally the worst. I never thought he played to Dak's strengths. I very slight bump to the O and the D coming together even more and we're in the conversation.

Rams of today looked beatable. Don't think we gave them our best, and they ran super well with injuries.

Cowboys should offer Romo 100M to come back and coach

Let him coach defense, he'll be able to predict every play the other team runs.

Romo not available, would you settle for Jon Kitna as QB coach and Kellen Moore the OC?

^ that’s official btw. Also RIP Wade Wilson

Gotta feel for Gregory. Legit addict at this point.

#82!!!!!

Made up for Gregory a little

If Witten wants back for a season in there’s definitely room, but if he wants more than a year-by-year deal at 3, maybe 4m, he can play elsewhere. But he would definitely round them out enough to put off a TE move a year, and see if Jarwin (or Schultz) can step up.

Gregory, unfortunately, was as he was advertised before the draft. Only not as good.

David Irving could have made for a hard decision this offseason, but instead was the easiest.

It’s the right time for Beasley to go. You can’t tag him, his market’s going to be too high, he’s 29 and kind of annoying. Sounds like there’s still a chance they sign him but I expect he’ll float off.

Don’t believe the Allen Hurns BS, they are not bringing him back at $6.25m cap if Bears does walk. They will sign any FA body not named Terrance Williams or Deonte Thompson before they do that. It’s okay to try and develop slot guys with low picks and cheap FAs it does work sometimes.

Earl Thomas wanting full price = nah.

Lawrence not getting tagged would be insane, deadline for that is 3/5. Even if it came to a tag and trade I don’t see them ever not doing it.

Witten 3.5 1yr no guarantees is basically perfect for their situation

Sean Lee returning on a pay cut? Not sure what $ becomes gtd with that moves, but if anything substantial I don’t like it. Not a bad insurance policy if something happens to LVE or Jaylon in camp. But they need a strong side guy.

They picked up Hurns’ option but that’s not guaranteed and I’m sure they’re looking for a cheaper/healthier slot guy to replace him. I’d have felt better if they just let him go but the injury settlement issue probably complicates it. He’s historically not a terrible slot option but the money and injury history and 1-year contract are just too many reasons.

They have cap room but i think they’ll have better uses for it

They’re as quiet as this thread so far so pretty clear we’re firmly in the Stephen Jones era. Fine by me.

In what should come as a surprise to nobody, Beasley is off to the Bills who offered a million more per year & a 4-year deal vs 3, though supposedly with less gtd than Dallas bid. Think that’s a pretty good bit of restraint, $6m/year x 3 was a fair ceiling. A loss for sure, somewhat balanced by the fact that he’s 30 next month. Slot guys are getting paid though - not really into the free agent approach this year. Hurns (or a rookie type) seems more sensible. I’m still from the old school that says you go cheaper there.

Spoiler: Hunter Renfrow/Clemson is a Cowboy if he’s on the board when their second 4th rd pick comes up, but I think NE nabs him at 134, maybe even late 3rd as they have two comp picks there. The $ going around for these guys makes it harder to drop them down to the late rounds anymore. Maybe you can’t pay them $8m/season but a 3rd rounder isn’t out of the question