Every week, we take the following questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook. dallas cowboys Other issues surrounding players and teams. So let's get straight to the point.
“What are the priorities for Dallas' new defensive coordinator?”
(Aaron Broke Martin, via Facebook)
Brandon: Whether Dan Quinn returns to Dallas is up to him, just like it was last season and the season before. The Cowboys expect Quinn to return as defensive coordinator if he does not take the head coaching job. Quinn is in the middle of a new interview cycle, with five franchises considering him as their next head coach.
These interviews should be completed this week, but these things are on their timeline. Considering how much stock was put into last season's draft class and where this defense is in their development, I think it's imperative that Quinn return if he wants to.
There's no question that defenses need to change things up with the linebacker position and how they approach run defense, but before anyone else comes along to change everything, Quinn has You should be given one season to get it done.
microphone: For a new coach or coordinator to come to Dallas and be successful, the top priority needs to be someone who can withstand the pressure and scrutiny that comes with the team. No team is under more of a microscope than the Cowboys. If a coach walks in with a bright light on and knows it's out of control, that's a recipe for disaster.
Another priority is finding a coach who is very blue-collar and can transfer that work ethic to his players. He checks those two boxes and his defense remains in the elite category at the top this season.
“Do you think it will be easier to decide not to renew a player’s contract after Sunday’s embarrassment?”
(Riley Braginton, via Facebook)
Brandon: Yes and no. There's an argument to blow everything up and leave the free agents alone, or there's an argument to keep them around because they'll play a key role in getting back to the playoffs in 2024.
I think things would be easier if the staff felt that the lack of performance of certain players had a direct impact on the outcome of the match. For example, Dallas' running game has struggled all season. Tyler Biadasz and Tony Pollard will both be free agents in 2024, potentially guaranteeing some money. Even if he couldn't do that against the Packers in the playoffs, will things change going forward? If the price isn't right for the front office, it might not be.
microphone: It's difficult to comment on this based on the fact that you have to look at each player individually. Rather than one big loss in the playoffs, the biggest factor needs to be the player's value and how well he performed during his contract period. Is it worth bringing Dorrance Armstrong back? He's been solid the past few seasons, but there may be plans to keep Dante Fowler Jr. instead.
However, some players seem more obvious to let go to answer your question. Players like Tony Pollard, Michael Gallup, and Tyron Smith appear to be spending quality time in Dallas, and the office will likely be looking to replace them this offseason. But then again, this is a body of work compared to his performance in Wildcard.
“How big will the hangover be from Sunday's disaster and will it affect next season?”
(Craig Sykes, via Facebook)
Brandon: I don't think I'll get a hangover. The team faced a lot of pressure after losing to San Francisco in 2022 due to the expectations they set for themselves in training camp. The team currently sit at the bottom of the table with their backs against the wall, and the fanbase appears to be against them as well. McCarthy is back.
Owner Jerry Jones mentioned McCarthy's return in a statement, saying how they approach the roster “deserves the deepest consideration and consideration.” With so little production from the Cowboys' 2023 draft class, what happened in this year's playoffs shows they are refocusing their attention on finding impact players.
Yes, winning the Super Bowl is the norm in Dallas, but after a performance like the one against Green Bay, it can't get any worse, but that means it can only go up from there. Masu.
microphone: The hangover isn't the biggest concern for me, and the fact that they had another loss in the playoffs early on just adds to the narrative that they can't win in the postseason, and that's when they make it to the playoffs. This will put even more pressure on the players. Also. The regular season has never been an issue for this team, and the fact that they have won 12 games in each of the last three years proves that. The question is how the players (if they reach the playoffs) will be able to handle that situation again, as another loss will only add fuel to the fire as next season's playoffs approach.
“What is the root cause of the Cowboys' disastrous playoff performance?”
(Alex Pickles, via Facebook)
Brandon: If I had a great answer for you, the front office would have already hired me to help the Cowboys finally get over the hump. Unfortunately, there is no answer that can be given primarily to justify what happened against the Packers.
The team won 12 games, the offense was strong in the second half of the season, and the defense improved after the Miami Dolphins game. But what many who cover the team have pointed out is that Stephon Gilmore's shoulder injury appears to have changed Dallas' entire defense.
They preferred to play in more zone coverage to help with Gilmore's potential limitations. This adjustment around just one player cost Dallas a huge amount of the game. The Cowboys' defense has been a man-cover unit for most of the season, so it didn't make sense to deviate from that in the playoffs.
The 2023 team had a chance to be special, but they overcomplicated things to the detriment of the game. That's why it's so important to keep the team together in 2024. Because they need to remember who they are and what made them great in the first place.
microphone: So the answer to the previous question is probably the best answer I can give. Why this happens every year is anyone's guess, but there are plenty of conspiracy theories that answer this. This team hasn't been to the NFC Conference Championship since the '90s, and each missed season puts even more pressure on the team. This has been building up over the years and is made worse by each season of failure. And this is something that has been built long before the days of Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott. But they just happen to have recently experienced this level of overwhelming pressure, which is why it gets harder and harder to shake off that monkey every year. The simple answer is that they succumbed to the pressure.
Be sure to check out Blogging The Boys, X's @kenfigkowboy and @brandoniswrite, and our weekly posts on Facebook, and drop your questions in our weekly mailbag. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in questions and votes.
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