Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware doesn’t think the Cowboys have underachieved during consecutive 8-8 seasons.
Ware agrees with Bill Parcells, the man who drafted him in 2005, that teams are what their records say they are. The record says that the Cowboys have been mediocre and that’s what Ware, who expects his shoulder will be fine in time for camp, believes the Cowboys have been the last two years. The key to moving themselves to a higher level is consistency.
“We haven’t been that consistent team that we need to be. Everybody tells us the opportunity, the gate is closing, the door is closing. The door is always closing each year because it’s a business deal to have certain guys on the team,” Ware said, via ESPNDallas.com. “If you play 5-5, it don’t matter what the name is on the back of your jersey. You’re a 5-5 team. But there’s teams that will have mediocre guys, or guys that don’t have quote unquote the big names but they’re playing consistent and they’re playing like a team, and that’s what it’s about.”
It’s a fair point, although it comes without much in the way of a suggestion for what the Cowboys can do to become more consistent. They’re obviously hoping the switch to Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator brings some of it to the defensive side. Ware expressed regret about Rob Ryan’s departure, calling him one of the best coaches he’s ever played for, although he also talked about increased aggressiveness up front under Kiffin.
If that doesn’t work, there’s likely to be a lot more changes in Dallas next offseason as the Cowboys search for a consistent wining formula.