I'm still a Cowboy Fan, but...

[rwalters31]

OK, my prediction is still 9-7 for this year. The weakest I saw in the pre-draft I still feel are not addressed. The guard and center are still the problem on offense and on defense the lack of a Nose Tackle to push the opponent's offense back into the QC and RB is still there. The Giants have owned the Cowboys OL for a few years and I do not see a change in that so far. As for the change in the secondary, this is good but a pass rush is still the key to a good defense. I read a lot of opinions on health of players and I have always felt that a team entering a season injured will leave the season injured and not going far. I believe we are still a year or two away from a SB run and the end of Romo's stay.

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by rwalters31

OK, my prediction is still 9-7 for this year. The weakest I saw in the pre-draft I still feel are not addressed. The guard and center are still the problem on offense and on defense the lack of a Nose Tackle to push the opponent's offense back into the QC and RB is still there. The Giants have owned the Cowboys OL for a few years and I do not see a change in that so far. As for the change in the secondary, this is good but a pass rush is still the key to a good defense. I read a lot of opinions on health of players and I have always felt that a team entering a season injured will leave the season injured and not going far. I believe we are still a year or two away from a SB run and the end of Romo's stay.

I have had serious concerns over the OL for 4-5 years now and still have, as do you. I am happy with what they have done on the defensive side. Is this OL Super Bowl calibre? I don't think so either, but in all fairness, there have been some fairly crappy OL appear in the past couple of Super Bowls. I do believe it will be better and will be coached better. Will it be enough? That's the fun of it right? We;ll see.

At any rate, the bottom line is...this team is clearly headed in the right direction IMO.

.02

[DallasDW00ds0n]

I agree they should have addressed NT.

[HoosierCowboy]

we addressed every need through coaching and player moves, only time will tell if 1) those moves were effective and 2) whether we will make other moves

and defense is the ultimate "team sport" -- you can game plan around on two great defenders but upgrade on one area and everyone seems to improve-- last year's defense was poor in coverage, give our front an extra second to reach the passer and look out

[SilverStarCowboy]

Originally Posted by DallasDW00ds0n

I agree they should have addressed NT.

[BigDinAZ]

I think you're a negative nelly....

JMO

[FiveRings]

I have to say I'm happy with the O-Line progress, I always thought having two good tackles and a good center was basically a sure good line,
having Smith and Free can handle the edge rushers the likes of the Giants and other big D-Lines bring and as far as the interior of our line goes
they've got some experience now and they're healthy.

Not saying we're going to have an eye popping Offensive Line this year but I think we'll all be pleasantly surprised.

[Canadian BoyzFan]

Originally Posted by Sarge

I have had serious concerns over the OL for 4-5 years now and still have, as do you. I am happy with what they have done on the defensive side. Is this OL Super Bowl calibre? I don't think so either, but in all fairness, there have been some fairly crappy OL appear in the past couple of Super Bowls. I do believe it will be better and will be coached better. Will it be enough? That's the fun of it right? We;ll see.

At any rate, the bottom line is...this team is clearly headed in the right direction IMO.

.02

This an outstanding post. 100% agree.

[casmith07]

To the OP:

While I don't agree, your post is well thought out and you present your case well. Kudos.

[GimmeTheBall!]

Originally Posted by casmith07

To the OP:

While I don't agree, your post is well thought out and you present your case well. Kudos.

Yeah what he said above.

But let me remind the OP that EVER team has deficiencies -- varying from glaring to a continuing problem.

If there is a team well stocked at EVER position, let me know cause ah would really like to know.

Ah stand by my prodiction: 10-6
but 8-8 if Rony goes down or misses 2 or more games.

[AMERICAS_FAN]

We had poor WR play last year because of injuries - even with Lauront Robinson's good year, he still was a fill in for the #1 WR who was hobbled and admittedly not mentally ready for hte year (Austin now says he's finally ready for 2012).

Plus, we had horrible CB play last season with injuries to Jenkins and and MIA-play by Newman.

Think about this. In a passing league, our passing game was handiaccped on offense, and our ability to defend the pass was handicapped on defense. Yet we still won 8 game. Show me any other team in the NFL with a handicapped passing offense and defense that managed more than 4 wiins?

So let's not act like this team for 2012 is nothing more than an average team. Yes, the WRs need to be beeter prepared, but stories - from the mouths of the coaches - at least say thay finally are.

And everyone is worrying too much about #3 WR to relaize that John Phillips will finally give this team a 2-TE passing threat that they never had witrh Martellus Bennett, which will do the same thing and more for an ofense that a #3 WR can.

Oh, and did I mention that we have upgraded the running game? While last year was spent finding a legitimate #1 RB only to lose him and his FB to injury, this year we have the guy from day 1, and with a MAD upgrade to the FB position.

And the secondary has been SEVERELY upgraded. Nothing more needs to be said there.

I'm a Cowboy fan too, but...sorry, if this team can stay relatively healtrhy I don't see how they can lose more 4 or 5 games if they tried.

[rwalters31]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

We had poor WR play last year because of injuries - even with Lauront Robinson's good year, he still was a fill in for the #1 WR who was hobbled and admittedly not mentally ready for hte year (Austin now says he's finally ready for 2012).

Plus, we had horrible CB play last season with injuries to Jenkins and and MIA-play by Newman.

Think about this. In a passing league, our passing game was handiaccped on offense, and our ability to defend the pass was handicapped on defense. Yet we still won 8 game. Show me any other team in the NFL with a handicapped passing offense and defense that managed more than 4 wiins?

So let's not act like this team for 2012 is nothing more than an average team. Yes, the WRs need to be beeter prepared, but stories - from the mouths of the coaches - at least say thay finally are.

[View Full Quote]And everyone is worrying too much about #3 WR to relaize that John Phillips will finally give this team a 2-TE passing threat that they never had witrh Martellus Bennett, which will do the same thing and more for an ofense that a #3 WR can.

Oh, and did I mention that we have upgraded the running game? While last year was spent finding a legitimate #1 RB only to lose him and his FB to injury, this year we have the guy from day 1, and with a MAD upgrade to the FB position.

And the secondary has been SEVERELY upgraded. Nothing more needs to be said there.

I'm a Cowboy fan too, but...sorry, if this team can stay relatively healtrhy I don't see how they can lose more 4 or 5 games if they tried.

Have you been watching the reports on the Cowboys with a short TC and the first game? Did you see the schedule and how the league has arranged the schedule? I believe the deck is stacked in my favor in this discussion.

[Beast_from_East]

Originally Posted by rwalters31

OK, my prediction is still 9-7 for this year. The weakest I saw in the pre-draft I still feel are not addressed. The guard and center are still the problem on offense and on defense the lack of a Nose Tackle to push the opponent's offense back into the QC and RB is still there. The Giants have owned the Cowboys OL for a few years and I do not see a change in that so far. As for the change in the secondary, this is good but a pass rush is still the key to a good defense. I read a lot of opinions on health of players and I have always felt that a team entering a season injured will leave the season injured and not going far. I believe we are still a year or two away from a SB run and the end of Romo's stay.

Romo will get extended, it is Garrett that will be gone if we dont make the playoffs soon.

[sonnyboy]

Originally Posted by rwalters31

OK, my prediction is still 9-7 for this year. The weakest I saw in the pre-draft I still feel are not addressed. The guard and center are still the problem on offense and on defense the lack of a Nose Tackle to push the opponent's offense back into the QC and RB is still there. The Giants have owned the Cowboys OL for a few years and I do not see a change in that so far. As for the change in the secondary, this is good but a pass rush is still the key to a good defense. I read a lot of opinions on health of players and I have always felt that a team entering a season injured will leave the season injured and not going far. I believe we are still a year or two away from a SB run and the end of Romo's stay.

Really?? Did you see our games against the Giants games in 2011.

Pass rush is the #1 key to a good defense, but not the only key. If that were the case our 2011 Cowboys defense that finished 7th in sacks would have faired better than middle of the pack in points allowed.

[lwehlers]

Originally Posted by rwalters31

OK, my prediction is still 9-7 for this year. The weakest I saw in the pre-draft I still feel are not addressed. The guard and center are still the problem on offense and on defense the lack of a Nose Tackle to push the opponent's offense back into the QC and RB is still there. The Giants have owned the Cowboys OL for a few years and I do not see a change in that so far. As for the change in the secondary, this is good but a pass rush is still the key to a good defense. I read a lot of opinions on health of players and I have always felt that a team entering a season injured will leave the season injured and not going far. I believe we are still a year or two away from a SB run and the end of Romo's stay.

i also agree that this is a 9-7 to 8-8 team. while the corners were upgraded we did nothing with safeties. pool is same player that elam was. i do not see a great coverage saftey on this team. teams will still be able to throw over the middle. i also agree that signing average guards will not help romo in my opinion. also starting the season with all the road games in the first half is going to be an upfield battle. if this team gets off to a slow start and with history of december failures this could be a long season. i will watch this team no matter what happens so flame away at me.