Quote:You could make the argument that the team had not sufficiently matured to take the division at that time.

 

I can recall Dallas under the Jimmy Johnson era.  Their first year, they finished 1-15.  They made a huge jump to 7-9 in year two, but were only 6-5 after eleven games in year three before inserting four rookies into the starting lineup and then winning 5 straight to reach the playoffs with Steve Beuerlein leading the way.  Sometimes it can take a young team a while to get their legs under them, so to speak.

 

Of course, that team not only had a ton of talent, they had a master motivator (actually majored in industrial psychology, IIRC) as their head coach, and coaches who knew how to best utilize that motivated talent.  That team also played in one of the most brutal divisions ever.

 

No matter how anyone slices this, not even contending for a division title in 2015 and 2016 represents a colossal waste.  With Tennessee looking like they will contend for years to come, Houston always being tough, and Indy with Luck who may finally dump bad GM Grigson (please don't!!!), the task for us will be more daunting.

 

I recall the Jimmy Johnson era. I remember by their second year under him it was crystal clear they were heading in the right direction. They were "only" 7-9 in his second season, but that was against one of the strongest divisions the NFL ever fielded.

 

Imagine what Gus would look like in a division against Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, and Buddy Ryan. It's crazy to think the team could look even worse, but without the gimme wins against the titans the last few years and the colts being a team that has underachieved badly, not to even mention the texans 2-14 season that likely doesn't happen with a great coach at their lead, Gus would have had less than 10 wins in four seasons in the NFL.

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