Why I am so excited for 2005

[Manster68]

Greetings,

Have not been able to post in 24 hours due to severe thunderstorms knocking out the cable in Gulfport, MS. This holiday weekend has been very disappointing.

Anyway, I thought I would share why I am so excited for this up-coming 2005 season.

1. Just listening to Parcells' press conferences. I don't know if any of you are sensing the more upbeat and excited tone from Big Bill in these conferences. I am also sensing his excitement to be cautious as well. Regardless, I am hearing a difference from last year to today.

2. Dallas has upgraded NEARLY every position this offseason. Notice the word in caps. The one area I am not happy with is kicker. Free safety and right tackle still remains question marks, but at least Dallas did draft players in those positions in the later rounds. How Beriault and Petitti fare during training camp remains to be seen.

Remember, from 2000 (after Aikman's and Galloway's departures due to injuries) through 2002 I thought the Cowboys were the absolute worst team in the NFL (especially talentwise). How they were 5-11 amazes me.

The point of this is, ... Rome can't be built in a day. Jerry and Bill did not have quite the cap space to rebuild like they did in 2005. Also, acquiring veteran leaders like Rivera, A. Glenn, Ferguson, and Bledsoe weren't in as much abundance either.

3. The draft picks were evaluated on high character as much as on-field play and leadership. Why is this important? I think this is important because these high character youths will be quicker in picking up the necessary skills and nuances of their positions from the high character seasoned veterans.

Case in point, I loved hearing how Glover spent time after practice with Marcus Spears. Parcells even mentioned in one of his conferences how Aaron Glenn will even be good for Newman.

Another case in point is how Rivera will help out the play of the right tackle position. So I think regardless who starts at right tackle, the quality of play will be upgraded by Rivera's presence alone. Any improvement by Vollers, Rogers, or Ben Noll on top of that will be gravy.

I love the mixture of youth and veterans that this team now possesses.

4. The schedule. I do not think that the Cowboys schedule is brutal at all. This is especially true witht hey BYE week falling in the middle of the season. Looking at the schedule, I do not see any sure losses like I did last season. Now, this could change if pre-season rolls around and I do not see any improvement in the pass rush. THAT IS GOING TO BE THE KEY! If Dallas can't put pressure on the QB, then Cowboy fans can expect their favorite team cough up 350+ points again (regardless of the additions of Henry and A. Glenn).

Finally, I just do NOT see how a team like Dallas can make so many changes to upgrade nearly all of the areas of the football team and NOT be more competitive with any team that they go up against. If the play on the offensive and defensive line improves, like I'm expecting, then look out!