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2008-2009 Regular Season: Postgame -
Referencing The Past For Perspective On The Present
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- September 29, 2008 At
12:53 AM EST
- By
Eric M. Scharf
I am not the kind of person who lives in the past, but, after
consecutive wins against the Browns (with several dropped passes
away from being a close game), the Eagles (where the defense barely
showed up against second string wide receivers), and the Packers
(where only a strong fourth quarter performance by the running game
really put it away), as well as one choke job against the Redskins
(where Newman was, evidently, more injured than originally
diagnosed) . . . there is something missing from the 2008 Cowboys that no
coach, not even a good one, can inject into the players who we all
want so badly to succeed.
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- That is an at-all-costs-hunger, or, the
fear of failure. I have no doubt that some of the players on the
team have it, but not nearly enough. No, it would not matter if the
Tuna, with respect, was still here and on the war path. The players
have to want to study the playbook. The players have to want to
execute more than the opponent wants them to fail. The players have
to play as if their very jobs are on the line, not like Plaxico
"Bored to Tears" Burress.
There was a great article written by former Cowboys defensive tackle Tony Casillas,
in which he shares his memories of the 1992
NFC Championship game against the highly-respected and dreaded
49ers. That Cowboys team seemed to play every single game like they
were on a mission (a mission not only to succeed, not only to avoid
the wrath of Coach Johnson, but to also not let their teammates
down, either. No one appeared to be taking anything for granted.
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- When they were cocky, it was because they knew they could be, and,
when they were respectful, and playing their tails off, it was
because they knew they had to be. As much as I want 2008 to be like
1992, with all the talent we have now, the players need to check
their attitudes, and their look-at-me-after-one-play-dances, at the
stadium door.
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- And the coaches? They need to take full advantage of
this fear of failure. No more "cute" game plans. They need
cut-throat plays, and, when the throat of the enemy is cut, there
should be a foot waiting to be firmly planted on that throat . . .
so that we can finish properly, too.
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- Are there enough finishers in the
Cowboys' midst?
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- We shall see. We always do.
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