Dallas Cowboys' Lack of Leadership Creates Failure

Leadership starts at the top of any successful organization and empowers others to succeed when individuals fulfill their responsibilities. No owner should EVER publicly criticize any player for any reason, as recently happened to Marion Barber by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Barber is one of the hardest power running backs in football, along with the Giants' Brandon Jacobs. Public criticism undermines each player's and the team's self confidence, creating a losing collective psychological perspective.

This one act describes the Cowboys' leadership void in a nutshell. Is this why Barber only ran the ball three times against Philly yesterday? There was no comprehensive offensive game plan yesterday. Players went through the motions without believing in the Dallas system. Winning requires belief and commitment—Dallas doesn't have that!

Without effective strong Dallas coaching leadership:

1) Most players play without passion and a clear focused understanding of individual responsibilities contributing to the team.

2) Collective confusion results in 10 penalties a game (as yesterday).  False start Flozell Adams led the league in penalties.

3) There is no comprehensive game play—players run plays incorrectly, resulting in turnovers. Each play executes a tactic contributing to an overall game plan strategy. 

4) The offensive line does not block basic stunts taught in Pop Warner football—no pocket protects the QB. Yesterday exposed poor pathetic Cowboy blocking and tackling.  

5) No accountability—games are lost without the understanding of WHY the games were lost! This is why no adjusted strategic game plan preparation is executed next game. 

6) Romo apparently suffers from panic attacks. He does not have a winner's confidence, and this results in two Romo turnovers, drops, and muffs per game.

I am a technical analyst with a degree in psychology and am regarded by many as one of the best analysts in my field of expertise. Dallas problems are easy to see, yet more difficult to analyze without looking at leadership beginning at the ownership level. 

Yesterday Romo waved off the punt team beginning the third quarter. It was the right decision but would Bill Cowher have allowed his disobedient behavior? That shows the Cowboys' lack of leadership and discipline required to win!

Bill Cowher would be a kick-ass coach in Dallas, until a Super Bowl trophy sits in his hand. Wade Phillips is Mr. Nice Guy, and everyone knows where Nice Guys finish—you just saw it yesterday.

Dallas ex-head coach Bill Parcells was instrumental engineering the Dolphins' turnaround, one of the greatest in NFL history. Coach Parcells' strong influence was responsible for the excellent 2007 Cowboy record, but it has now run its course—2008 was all Jones, Phillips, and Garrett. 

The Cowboy ownership believes hiring the most talented players will result in a Super Bowl victory—even without an effective strong coaching staff that demands rock-solid discipline from its players. A classic amateurish mistake. Look at the New York Yankees, who have not been in the World Series this century.

Success came too easily for Jerry Jones and Dallas the first few years he owned the Cowboys. Head coach Jimmy Johnson left after his leadership was undermined by Mr. Jones' derogatory publicly printed comments after a Super Bowl victory.

There is a reason why Dallas Cowboys have gone 12 years without a single playoff game victory: Leadership begins at the top of any successful organization, and sadly, Dallas simply doesn't have it.