Maybe we're not so bad after all? - Page 2 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Chocolate Lab · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

Well said.

It's more a statement about how weak the NFCE was than it is about how close Dallas was.

This is really no more valid than saying the 7-9 Rams from 2010 were "contending" when they lost the last game of the season to the 7-9 Seahawks with a playoff game on the line.

Somebody has to win the division.

Exactly.

In 2007 and 2008, 8-8 would have earned you... Last place in the division.

And really, 8-8 in those years was a better record because your division opponents were much better.

Vinnie2u · 03-17-2013

We're a average team..With luck we might make the playoffs.. Injuries and a tough schedule.. and we're not so good..

DFWJC · 03-17-2013

Have to upgrade the line play to even dream of saying the words contender and Cowboys in the same sentence...with a straight face.
Sack totals are only part of it--Romo's mobility reduces those numbers! So that's misleading at time--you have to be effective running in the redzone and preferably otherwise as well.

It IS doable.

I do think the defense will be better for many reasons.

Please, good grief, fix that Oline!

Proximo · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reality

I think the misconception by the writer of the article is that simply almost making it to a playoff in a weak division is an example of "contending". A contending team is one that has a decent chance of winning the Super Bowl. Even if the Cowboys had gotten into the playoffs, I doubt very seriously they would have won the next week.

The key fact that he and others in the media forget when they throw out the "had a chance in the last game" argument is that the division was weak. In most divisions, 9-7 would be second or third place at best.

I don't think the point of the article was to try and paint a picture of the Cowboys being contenders based on the fact that they almost made it to the playoffs. I think the writers intention was to try and put the state of the team into better perspective with some reasonable evaluation:

"On the defensive side of the ball, DeMarcus Ware is an excellent player. Cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne are very good. Linebacker Sean Lee is outstanding, and fellow linebacker Bruce Carter sure looked headed that way last season before his injury. Jason Hatcher was excellent last season, and so was Anthony Spencer, whether he's worth his $10.6 million franchise tender or not.

On offense, the Cowboys have excellent players at quarterback, tight end and both starting wide receiver spots. They have a very good running back and left tackle. Can you find fault with any or all of these players? Sure. But on balance, I just gave you 14 starting positions at which the Cowboys are at least above average, and in several cases much better.

The point? Well, as Cowboys fans bemoan the lack of cap space and resultant lack of activity in this first week of free agency, it might be worth remembering that there are some really good players on this team, and that it might not be the kind of team that needed to have a big first week of free agency."

I thought this part was well stated and I agree with pretty much all of it.

**Idgit** · 03-17-2013

Not sure I buy the argument that the NFCE is weak just because of the teams' collective records. The division does have a very recent Superbowl.

Chocolate Lab · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proximo

I don't think the point of the article was to try and paint a picture of the Cowboys being contenders based on the fact that they almost made it to the playoffs. I think the writers intention was to try and put the state of the team into better perspective with some reasonable evaluation:

[View Full Quote]

Well he's right about that part. We have better than 8-8 talent for sure.

Oh_Canada · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reality

I think the misconception by the writer of the article is that simply almost making it to a playoff in a weak division is an example of "contending". A contending team is one that has a decent chance of winning the Super Bowl. Even if the Cowboys had gotten into the playoffs, I doubt very seriously they would have won the next week.

The key fact that he and others in the media forget when they throw out the "had a chance in the last game" argument is that the division was weak. In most divisions, 9-7 would be second or third place at best.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not down on the Cowboys as I believe with the return of Lee, Carter and maybe Church, improvements in some weak positions like offensive and defensive lines and, most importantly, a new defensive scheme and coaching staff, this team has a chance to compete next season.

[View Full Quote]

Didn't the team in the same weak division that beat Dallas a year prior go on to win the Super Bowl?

Washington was up two td's before RG3's leg gave out this year.

NFC east is not weak, it just doesn't have a dominant team.

**Reality** · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proximo

I don't think the point of the article was to try and paint a picture of the Cowboys being contenders based on the fact that they almost made it to the playoffs. I think the writers intention was to try and put the state of the team into better perspective with some reasonable evaluation:

[View Full Quote]

As I said, I'm not down on the team and I think they have a good chance to compete this season. It's not that premise I was debating. My issue is that the media claiming "almost made it to the playoffs" as the basis or starting point for validating their opinion is pointless and baseless. They say we "almost" made it in while a 10-6 Bears team didn't make it. That same Bears team embarrassed the Cowboys in Dallas earlier in the year.

I do believe that if the team addresses the offensive and defensive lines and safety position that we will have a good team this year. But if we get to the last week with a 8-7 record and need a win to get into the playoffs, I will consider yet-another-wasted-year of Romo's, Ware's, Witten's, etc. careers.

/reality

**Reality** · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh_Canada

Didn't the team in the same weak division that beat Dallas a year prior go on to win the Super Bowl?

Washington was up two td's before RG3's leg gave out this year.

NFC east is not weak, it just doesn't have a dominant team.

The NFC was definitely weak last year. Football is a game that lasts at least four full quarters. The Cowboys won a lot of second halves of games this past season, but they got beat worse in the first halves of those games so they lost the games. The Redskins lost that playoff game the moment Seattle caught up with them, not when RG3 went down.

The Eagles sucked last year. The Giants were average at best. The Cowboys were a team that struggled to win the games they did win. The Redskins got hot later in the season, but they weren't dominating. They simply found a way to win close games, which good teams do. I know we have a lot of NFC East bias here, and I'm guilty of that myself usually, but the NFC East was not a strong division last season.

/reality

TwoDeep3 · 03-17-2013

If is a huge word on this board.

If this, if that....

I guess I like my coffee black, no sugar.

burmafrd · 03-17-2013

Sad so many are content with just contending for the playoffs....

Once upon a time we were satisfied with nothing less then contending for or winning the SUPER BOWL.

jjktkk · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Sad so many are content with just contending for the playoffs....

Once upon a time we were satisfied with nothing less then contending for or winning the SUPER BOWL.

You have to crawl before you walk.

weaver21 · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Sad so many are content with just contending for the playoffs....

Once upon a time we were satisfied with nothing less then contending for or winning the SUPER BOWL.

That was like 15 years ago, man. Time to move on from the past and accept this average team for who they are or you're just gonna keep getting disappointed year after year.

Look at the Yankees this season... riddled with injuries before the season already has begun, old as hell and have no power in their lineup. Ask any Yankees fan and they'll tell you they will be happy to just make the playoffs this year. And this is the New York Yankees, a team that has 27 World Championships and is a World Series contender every year. You don't see Yankees fans expecting a World Series title because they were successful in the past or anything like that. Cowboys fans seem to hanging onto the glory days of the 90s and I feel sorry for you guys because you're just gonna keep getting disappointed with the current teams. I may sound like I'm accepting mediocrity, but I really am not... I'm 26 years old, I was 9 years old the last the Cowboys won the Super Bowl and I don't remember much of it.

I became a true follower of the Cowboys during the Campo days and since then, guess how much success I've witnessed? None. That's why my expectations aren't high for this team because they don't deserve it from me. I haven't witnessed anything the last few years that tells me this team is should be a Super Bowl contender and that I should expect anything less than a Super Bowl title. That would make me delusional and a true homer if I believed that.

**jobberone** · 03-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Sad so many are content with just contending for the playoffs....

Once upon a time we were satisfied with nothing less then contending for or winning the SUPER BOWL.

Just where did you read in this thread any member say they were satisfied just to contend?

**jobberone** · 03-17-2013

For quite awhile now either the defense or the offense failed the club. This last year the offense and defense failed. I chalk the defense up to the injuries, number of offensive turnovers, and injuries more so than a lack of talent or the scheme.

The offense has failed for the most part and not the defense over the years. I base both observations on lack of points scored and points given up. I look at 25+ for the offense and 17 or less for the defense as premium goals. I do think the 25+ points might need to be revisited with today's offenses.

I believe the defense can turn it around this year if they can stay healthy. If they can get to 20 or so points per game AND get some turnovers then I'll be relatively happy.

I'm not as optimistic about the offense but if they reduce the number of TOs and score several more points per game then they are in the hunt.

I agree there is still a relative talent deficit with the SB contenders as to depth but I do believe they are making inroads here.

I'll be a little surprised if the Cowboys do NOT make the playoffs. As to being SB contenders that's premature but not unlikely; just not as probable as some other teams.