Are we so much better than 2014, 2016, 2007?

[plymkr]

This is the best team since 95


The Main Reason: The Culture

And turnovers

 

[T-RO]

Want to commend the OP on good discussion topic.

 

[J_Allen]

Yes. We could beat the 1994 and 1995 teams IMO.

 

[plymkr]

why not get overly excited? What are we supposed to do, wait to get excited until AFTEr we win one? Heck no, Im excited right now and will be excited all season until or if we get knocked out.

I'm getting overly excited. I'm enjoying the ride. This fanbase hasn't had much fun since the 90's. I've been around since the Danny White days. I still remember The Catch at candlestick and I cried for hours. I then remember Alvin Harper returning the favor in 92 at candlestick and I was rejoicing for hours. Since the 90s we've had a couple blips on the radar. 2007, 2014, 2016 but they didn't feel right. This feels right. Right combo of talent and swagger.

For me this has been the most fun since 93. The 95 season was fun but there was so much controversy. On a weekly basis there was drama. And on a personal note my grandmother died the morning of the 95 super bowl. So I've desperately wanted another SB since the last one wasn't that much fun for me.

I don't know how this season will end but this is the most fun I've had since I was in high school and Emmitt Smith practically won us the title. So for me I'm going to have fun and enjoy this ride while I can and I'm really excited to be a Cowboys fan again.

 

[T-RO]

The 2016 defense?

LDE Tyrone Crawford 27 4 14 4.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered
LDT Terrell McClain 28 5 15 2.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
RDT Maliek Collins 21 Rook 14 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered
RDE Jack Crawford 28 4 10 3.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
MLB Anthony Hitchens 24 2 16 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
RLB Sean Lee*+ 30 6 15 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered
LCB Brandon Carr 30 8 16 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered
RCB Morris Claiborne 26 4 7 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered
SS Barry Church 28 6 12 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
FS Byron Jones 24 1 16 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered
DB Orlando Scandrick

Thoughts on that defense:
-DeMarcus Lawrence had injury problems that year. We had *nothing* for defensive end. No pass rush.
-Remember the lack of turnovers?
-Lee was good back then, but where are any other elite playmakers?
-By comparison the '21 defense is faster, deeper, and turns the ball over at much higher clip

Three, maybe four of 2016 group gets much playing time on this years defense.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Yes. We could beat the 1994 and 1995 teams IMO.

LOL

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

This is the most talented roster they've had since they last appeared in a SB.

We'll see if that talent equals wins.

The 07 team had more talent. It’s not really close to be honest. But the hope is this team is tougher and mentally stronger.

 

[Reid1boys]

I'm getting overly excited. I'm enjoying the ride. This fanbase hasn't had much fun since the 90's. I've been around since the Danny White days. I still remember The Catch at candlestick and I cried for hours. I then remember Alvin Harper returning the favor in 92 at candlestick and I was rejoicing for hours. Since the 90s we've had a couple blips on the radar. 2007, 2014, 2016 but they didn't feel right. This feels right. Right combo of talent and swagger.

For me this has been the most fun since 93. The 95 season was fun but there was so much controversy. On a weekly basis there was drama. And on a personal note my grandmother died the morning of the 95 super bowl. So I've desperately wanted another SB since the last one wasn't that much fun for me.

I don't know how this season will end but this is the most fun I've had since I was in high school and Emmitt Smith practically won us the title. So for me I'm going to have fun and enjoy this ride while I can and I'm really excited to be a Cowboys fan again.

i was at the game you speak of with Alvin Harpers catch. Its where I took the pic under my name.

 

[Reid1boys]

However you rank this team against those of the past.. it's going to be a fun season.. We fans are in for a treat and I hope we are all wise enough to truly enjoy the ride and quit whining about player salaries and other such nonsense. Watch the football.. you never get to see the direct deposit hit their bank accounts and if you did it wouldn't be very interesting anyway..

AMEN!
KInd of my point really. Enjoy it and stop complaining about the past teams.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

The 2016 defense?

LDE Tyrone Crawford 27 4 14 4.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered
LDT Terrell McClain 28 5 15 2.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
RDT Maliek Collins 21 Rook 14 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered
RDE Jack Crawford 28 4 10 3.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
MLB Anthony Hitchens 24 2 16 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
RLB Sean Lee*+ 30 6 15 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered
LCB Brandon Carr 30 8 16 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered
RCB Morris Claiborne 26 4 7 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered
SS Barry Church 28 6 12 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered
FS Byron Jones 24 1 16 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered
DB Orlando Scandrick

Thoughts on that defense:
-DeMarcus Lawrence had injury problems that year. We had *nothing* for defensive end. No pass rush.
-Remember the lack of turnovers?
-Lee was good back then, but where are any other elite playmakers?
-By comparison the '21 defense is faster, deeper, and turns the ball over at much higher clip

Three, maybe four of 2016 group gets much playing time on this years defense.

Yeah the offense carried that team and Dak and Zeke brought a new energy to the entire team that year. I will say this they were definitely the best team in the NFC that year. GB def was atrocious, but our inexperience in the playoffs bit us. We’re down 21-0 before dak adjusted to playoff speed.

 

[ultron]

The thing that stands out to me about this particular team is they can tackle. It’s super rare that a tackle is missed & even last year that was not remotely the case. Any team that can tackle and score a lot of points is a contender imo!

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Time will tell.

 

[plymkr]

i was at the game you speak of with Alvin Harpers catch. Its where I took the pic under my name.

Wow! I'm jealous dude. That would have been a great moment in history to witness in person. That's awesome

 

[T-RO]

We’re down 21-0 before dak adjusted to playoff speed.

I've studied that game in detail. Just rewatched a bit on GamePass.

You completely mis-remember what happened. Dak was very good that game--start to finish.

First drive - nice scoring drive. Sack made us settle for FG
Second drive - nice drive destroyed by bizarre 15-yard penalty for "wrongful substitution" Without that we're first-and-ten on GB 15 yard line

 

[mmohican29]

2007 was better. This team is better than 2014 and 2016 though.

To this point in the season: I agree.

To be fair- we have likely already played the true heavyweights on the schedule this season. The Defense is improving by leaps and bounds each week; and getting players back.

07 had a better front 4. But Parsons is going supernova here very soon. Kid's an unreal talent. A true game wrecking, havoc LBer.

I like this secondary much better than 07.

 

[lostar2009]

This team we have the depth and getting those stats without being healthy.

 

[willia451]

It's not that they are better per se.

It's the mental toughness. The attitude. Playing as a team. Relying on one another. Expecting good play from one another. From what I've seen, this team plays every snap like it's the last snap they are ever gonna get. They simply expect to be in a position to win in the end regardless. And they generally are.

You have to go all the way back to the Cowboys teams of the 70s to get the feeling I get from this team. Even the teams of the 90s had some pretty severe prima donnas on it.

The Cowboys teams of the 90s were famous for their "swagger". This is a much more working class, grind it out, do your job team. They project confidence, preparation, and just being "ready".

Very refreshing.

 

[T-RO]

2016 team Witten was aging and mostly a shadow of his former greatness, Dez was still pretty good but not in his prime. Terrence Williams was a dud. Wouldn't make this roster.

Zeke was in his prime, but there wasn't a supreme backup like Tony. Dak had great rookie year, but he was just a rookie! He wasn't refined.

And again, that D had no pass rush, no monsters, no elite play-makers.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Im ecstatic with what I see, so lets start with that.

But Ive been here before, in 2014, 2016 and 2007. Im reading from so many posters that this is the best team we have had in so many years.... really?
In the years I mentioned plus this year, all 4 seasons we started out 6-1. In 3 of those seasons, including this year, we had an OT win.

Oh, but you dont know what you are talking about, this year our defense is so much better. Really?

2021 ppg after 7 games? 22.8ppg allowed
2007 22.5
2014 21
2016 18.5

Oh, but this year our offense is so much better.... really?
2021 32 ppg
2007 32.4 ppg
2014 28ppg
2016 26.8 ppg


I would argue that all of these teams are similar... and ALL of them are and were legit SB contenders.
So as happy as I am right now, dont kid yourself into thinking that this team is head and shoulders ahead of those teams I listed above... they arent. We could win a SB this year for sure, and we could also get bounced in the first playoff game against 3 or 4 different teams in the NFC.

I actually think the 2009 and 2018 teams where better than the 2014 and 2016 teams. Neither were as good offensively, but they were better balanced and both had strong pass rushes. That was a real weakness in both 2014 and 2016

This years team, I think is definitely better. I think we have alot more weapons offensively and deeper talent defensively. I dont think the OL is as good, but its still strong. Prescott 2021 V. Romo 2014 is probably a wash. However he is head and shoulders above where he was in 2016

 

[john van brocklin]

Im ecstatic with what I see, so lets start with that.

But Ive been here before, in 2014, 2016 and 2007. Im reading from so many posters that this is the best team we have had in so many years.... really?
In the years I mentioned plus this year, all 4 seasons we started out 6-1. In 3 of those seasons, including this year, we had an OT win.

Oh, but you dont know what you are talking about, this year our defense is so much better. Really?

2021 ppg after 7 games? 22.8ppg allowed
2007 22.5
2014 21
2016 18.5

Oh, but this year our offense is so much better.... really?
2021 32 ppg
2007 32.4 ppg
2014 28ppg
2016 26.8 ppg


I would argue that all of these teams are similar... and ALL of them are and were legit SB contenders.
So as happy as I am right now, dont kid yourself into thinking that this team is head and shoulders ahead of those teams I listed above... they arent. We could win a SB this year for sure, and we could also get bounced in the first playoff game against 3 or 4 different teams in the NFC.

Nice information
Only time will tell