Why the Dallas Cowboys Keep Letting Their Fans Down

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Dallas Cowboys Could Rally Again, but Familiar Problems Remain

Expectations were high that the Dallas Cowboys’ defense would improve this year while the offense scored enough to help the team run away with the NFC East. Instead, the defense has been awful. Quentin Williams has been good but appears to be a shell of himself, and the problems extend across that side of the ball.

Despite the criticism, Dallas could pull people back in by winning several games over the next few weeks. A strong run, including a big Thanksgiving victory, could make the Cowboys look like contenders again before they ultimately let their supporters down.

Jerry Jones is a Hall of Famer who raised the bar for NFL team ownership and became a de facto commissioner in the league. However, he is not an NFL general manager. Jimmy Johnson was integral to much of the Cowboys’ success because he knew how to build strong rosters and evaluate talent. After leaving for Miami, Johnson drafted players such as Zack Thomas and Jason Taylor, who were not early-round selections but eventually reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The concern is that the same organizational approach will continue. Jerry Jones remains the general manager and speaks after every game, while his son Steven could eventually assume that role. The Cowboys often appear to hire coaches who will follow the direction of ownership. Brian Schottenheimer’s credentials to become the head coach of the Cowboys were questioned.

Two coaches since Jimmy Johnson were viewed as legitimate hires: Mike McCarthy and Bill Parcells. McCarthy left after the sides could not reach a deal, while Parcells also departed after a few years. That history suggests little will change.

The Cowboys still have a great offense, with Dak, a strong running back and talented receivers. The defense, however, was not fixed. Dallas may soon play well enough to create renewed belief, but the warning remains the same: do not believe the hype.