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What's the most important thing to concentrate on for the remainder of the season: assessing players, draft needs or winning games so you start next season positively? – Jeff Martin/Myrtle Beach, SC
Nick: Same as the start of the season. I get it, some might say it's important to develop players on an individual basis. And at some point, maybe that will be one of the goals. But establishing culture is one of the biggest things Brian Schottenheimer has preached and that doesn't end - IF - the Cowboys get eliminated from the playoffs.
No matter what the situation is, the Cowboys need to win games. That to me, is as important as anything else. Some will argue, citing the need to have a pick around 14-15 other than 18-19, or something like that. To me, I'd rather have this team gain confidence down the stretch and know going into next year how close they are to being the team they need to be. I seriously think that's as important as getting a few extra spots in a draft that is always a mystery. Win games. Grow the culture and right now, make a push to the playoffs.
Patrik: Win games. I hate to be cliche with that answer, but that's what they get paid to do. With four games remaining and only 1.5 games back of the Eagles to potentially steal away the division crown, what other goal could possibly be more important? Now, to your point, there's a subcategory here of finding ways to do so while also developing young players like Shavon Revel, most certainly, but don't cross the event horizon into full-blown development at the expense of must-wins that give you at least a chance to shock the world by dethroning Philly; and as we all know, anything can happen once you get into the playoffs. The rest, i.e., the offseason, will handle itself when the come times. Don't try to handle it during when you've still got a chance of postponing it.
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