Official Game Thread - Week 7 - Commanders @ Cowboys

Chris 44 said:
like DQ or not, he put a lot of effort to get another HC gig. I dont think he will let it slip away without turning over every stone. I think he will ultimately make some painful decisions on players and coaches if this starts heading south.
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It has headed south. He is in the Deep South of this situation. Time to see what Quinn’s made of

(I’d be shocked to see a mid-season coordinator change, but Whitt’s days may be numbered regardless)
 
burgold said:
I don't think that's good enough. What we know for sure is that Whitt doesn't have the answer. I get not throwing your fellow coaches or players under the bus, but it's pretty clear after a year and a half that Whitt doesn't know how to make lemonade. Right now, he feels like the kind of coach where if you hand him filet mignon he'll serve you up a well done hamburger slathered with A-1 steak sauce.
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Yeah my frustration is that we all know the personnel on defense has it's issues, but it's not even their lack of ability that seems to be the stand out issue currently, it's lack of communication, lack of understanding what each of their responsibilities are on each play, the lack of fundamentals that should not even have to be re-taught at the NFL level. I am not expecting Whitt or even Quinn to transform this defense within the season with magical changes, but for crying out loud, where is the effort, where is the tackling, where is the closing in on the ball carrier. That play later in the game where where Dak scrambles and we got two safeties (or maybe linebackers?) basically standing there staring at him waiting for him to come to them....WTF IS THAT? I know by that stage in the game an individual play isn't determining the game, but is that not something that gets thrown on the screen during film sessions and screamed about by the coach?
 
Defense is regressing more and more with each passing week. That is a major concern with the likes of KC, Seattle, and Detroit upcoming. Let’s not kid ourselves here - the offense being able to string together long drives week after week last year, combined with our effectiveness on 3rd down offensive execution was a huge factor in our success. This year, we aren’t consistently dominating time of possession like 2024. It’s only as a result magnifying the defensive deficiencies. Everything works hand in hand and in all honesty, I know it might very well be circumstantial, but we are also a shadow of our former self on the offensive side of the ball and that matters too.
 
I don't think last year was a mirage. The fact that we got 22 points playing with our fourth, fifth, and sixth receivers is pretty good.

If this team were healthy we'd be in shootouts.
 
Conn said:
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Yeah if I recall that was referred to in the press conferences and he said he was pissed about it.

Aside from thinking Whitt is questionable as a coodinator -- I also have grown to dislike his press conferences because to me he comes off where its the players fault, even when he takes some accountablity its sort of mild lip service type comments -- but more in point, he doesn't come off like he thinls the defense is playing poorly.

Example among others this team is dead last in coverage when there is no pressure. So its clear as heck without pressure this secondary is especially lost. yet he sells it as the opposite. He said in one conference that the secondary has been so good -- thats why the pressure has improved because WRs are blanketed.

I know he's a nice guy, with a deep voice and comes off dead serious but he's said some really delusional things this season week after week IMO.

And while Quinn hasn't made outlandish comments like Whitt -- he also hasn't come off like a dude who thought anything is code red. He came off like a dude that thinks this team is a hair away from taking off on a magical ride season.

It feel like today reality came crashing down at Quinn. Finally. And I do think Quinn is a smart coach. But sometimes perpetual optimists like him who just enjoyed a magical season in 2024 -- it can take longer for people like that to absorb that things are off track and in a big way.

I've watched almost every Quinn press conference since he's been here. Felt like today was his come to Jesus game.

Said differently, I think the team judging by their press conferences had excuses for the previous loses. GB was a short week -- GB was hot, stuff like that happens on Thursday Night football on the road. For the Falcons game, they didn't have Jayden and they were competitive in spite of that. for the Bears they let it get away but were poised to win.

This is the loss that Quinn clearly feels where its not longer about tinker with this or tinker with that -- to hey we got real problems. the only thing I like about today is I do think Quinn gets it now.

I've said this off season, it feels like human nature that this team might lose its edge and need that Rocky 3 moment. I think this was finally the Rocky 3 moment. I thought it might have happened after the Bears game but it didn't. It happened today. So be interesting to see how this team responds now.
 
burgold said:
I don't think last year was a mirage. The fact that we got 22 points playing with our fourth, fifth, and sixth receivers is pretty good.

If this team were healthy we'd be in shootouts.
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seemed like guys were getting open though. Felt like the o-line gets bullied in all of our losses
 
On the radio, towards the end, they were asking what changes needed to be made. Paulsen gave his soft criticism approach, but it was as blunt as he typically is - he said Kliff may want to look at not running on 1st down (ouch! it was delivered in a super soft way but again, very blunt and specific), and then he said it certainly appeared Dallas's D had the O "figured out" especially on the running game overall.

This is what I have been saying all year.

The success running the ball doesn't matter.

You have to be able to gauge the team's performance without that. That's how you build an elite team. There are too many "have-nots" in the league; if you are patting yourself on the back after those games too much, you aren't going too far. This is what I have been saying all year. There are problems in the offensive scheme. They are fixable, but I don't predict Kliff will fix them.
 
By the way, for those who seem so shocked the Cowboys beat this team, didn't Cooper Rush lead the Cowboys to a W last year? I hate ascribing wins to a QB, but that guy played a decent game against the Commanders. It's a bad matchup for a variety of reasons, actually.
 
skinsinparadise said:
Yeah if I recall that was referred to in the press conferences and he said he was pissed about it.

Aside from thinking Whitt is questionable as a coodinator -- I also have grown to dislike his press conferences because to me he comes off where its the players fault, even when he takes some accountablity its sort of mild lip service type comments -- but more in point, he doesn't come off like he thinls the defense is playing poorly.

Example among others this team is dead last in coverage when there is no pressure. So its clear as heck without pressure this secondary is especially lost. yet he sells it as the opposite. He said in one conference that the secondary has been so good -- thats why the pressure has improved because WRs are blanketed.

I know he's a nice guy, with a deep voice and comes off dead serious but he's said some really delusional things this season week after week IMO.

And while Quinn hasn't made outlandish comments like Whitt -- he also hasn't come off like a dude who thought anything is code red. He came off like a dude that thinks this team is a hair away from taking off on a magical ride season.

It feel like today reality came crashing down at Quinn. Finally. And I do think Quinn is a smart coach. But sometimes perpetual optimists like him who just enjoyed a magical season in 2024 -- it can take longer for people like that to absorb that things are off track and in a big way.

I've watched almost every Quinn press conference since he's been here. Felt like today was his come to Jesus game.

Said differently, I think the team judging by their press conferences had excuses for the previous loses. GB was a short week -- GB was hot, stuff like that happens on Thursday Night football on the road. For the Falcons game, they didn't have Jayden and they were competitive in spite of that. for the Bears they let it get away but were poised to win.

This is the loss that Quinn clearly feels where its not longer about tinker with this or tinker with that -- to hey we got real problems. the only thing I like about today is I do think Quinn gets it now.

I've said this off season, it feels like human nature that this team might lose its edge and need that Rocky 3 moment. I think this was finally the Rocky 3 moment. I thought it might have happened after the Bears game but it didn't. It happened today. So be interesting to see how this team responds now.
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I think this is an astute read on the situation and likely correct. I think fans have been sniffing a code red situation for a while (and some went into the season fearing it given our lack of defensive additions, Terry situation, the bad vibes around the team, etc) but the coaches haven’t even caught a whiff. They’ve really been thinking that one or two small tweaks, and most of these games could’ve gone very differently. Rather than seeing the trend as, well…a trend.

Quinn seems awake now.
 
Conn said:
I think this is an astute read on the situation and likely correct. I think fans have been sniffing a code red situation for a while (and some went into the season fearing it given our lack of defensive additions, Terry situation, the bad vibes around the team, etc) but the coaches haven’t even caught a whiff. They’ve really been thinking that one or two small tweaks, and most of these games could’ve gone very differently. Rather than seeing the trend as, well…a trend.

Quinn seems awake now.
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Oh yeah Quinn is awake now. I was hoping to see it earlier this season but its finally happened. Should be interesting as to what's next.

I also think the players feed off the coaches. So when the coaches don't think there is a problem and they are a play or two away from that magic ride, I think it breeds some complacency.

Watching the Quinn press conference -- that complacency ride is over. Eveything is on the table now.

My take on this defense. I don't think talent wise its awful. I think its slightly below average. but they play way worse than that.

Amos is an emerging playing. Quan has been good through most of his career. Lattimore is a former pro bowl player, who some film junkie said was still good when he left NO. Nick Saban said Sainristil was the best college player pound for pound that year in the draft. But somehow this is the worst secondary in the NFL?

I think the pass rush, which is actually ranked top 10 in some metrics, is at least average. Wagner and Luvu have limitations but they aren't scrubs and have strengths. This shouldn't be an epically bad defense IMO. And a defense that folds almost automatically in key spots.

The only media guy that seems to go after Whitt is Sheehan. Otherwise he seems untouchable. The media defending him as to talent, etc. But look its always been that same rap with the local media for the coordinators -- Haslett could only do so much with the talent, Joe Barry, etc. Plenty of good coordinators can make a difference fast. Gregg Williams took over a crap defense and made them good in one season. Heck Flories in Minny, same thing.

I trust Kliff. I think he's done well considering all the injuries. Their offense is top 10 regardless.
 
I hate all the stupid penalties, which leads back to coaching. Players at this level should be soooo much more disciplined on the rules of the game. It's downright ridiculous. We had 90 yards worth of penalties in the first half. :cuss:
 
Im going to end the evening with a positive post: we finally got a franchise QB. Protect him at all costs, even punting this season if necessary. We may need to more drafts and younger free agents to get it right, but it will come because we have 5.
 
JD5ishim said:
Im going to end the evening with a positive post: we finally got a franchise QB. Protect him at all costs, even punting this season if necessary. We may need to more drafts and younger free agents to get it right, but it will come because we have 5.
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I like your attitude!
 
burgold said:
I don't think last year was a mirage. The fact that we got 22 points playing with our fourth, fifth, and sixth receivers is pretty good.

If this team were healthy we'd be in shootouts.
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The injuries really are crazy. Will Harris and Terry McLaurin would be difference makers. Plus Austin Ekeler, Noah Brown, Deatrich Wise, Jayden hurt twice, Bates missing time, now Deebo and Armstrong. This would be a much better team with even half those guys healthy. Pray for good health I guess.
 
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