morasp
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Peter Schrager
FOX Sports
SEP 01, 2014 6:57a ET
I've spent much of the past six weeks on the road, traveling from training camp to training camp, hopping from preseason game to preseason game. I've been on so many Delta flights that I've seen "Draft Day" ... twice. I've seen quarterbacks like Manning, Brady, Manziel, Flacco, Kaepernick and Stafford up close. For that matter, I've also seen the bulk of the guys on several teams' practice squads (and those who didn't make those). I've seen Mark Sanchez and Woody Johnson have a great pregame embrace and I watched Eagles GM Howie Roseman do the same with Michael Vick. These eyes have seen some good football, and, well, a lot of bad football, too. I've made observations, taken notes, and had countless conversations with people I'd like to think are "in the know." I've also heard that song "Rude" about the guy who wants to marry the girl but the father is rude (or something?) more than 1,000 times in rental cars across this great nation.
All of this is important because my editors have requested that I make 10 "bold" predictions for the 2014 season.
Truthfully, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
So, print these out and hold me to them throughout the year. Paste them on your cubicle wall, glue them above your bathroom sink and feel free to email me throughout the year at [email protected].
Here goes nothing ...
1. THE DALLAS COWBOYS WILL WIN 10 GAMES AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
Oh, I've heard it all. Over the past two months, I've had someone whose opinion I value tell me the Cowboys could have the worst defense in the history of the NFL this year. I've had a Twitter follower "guarantee" the 'Boys will have the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. I've heard a lot worse along the way, too. This is supposed to be a train wreck year in Big D. This is supposed to be the one that finally costs Jason Garrett his job.
THINGS ONLY COWBOYS FANS UNDERSTAND
But I think, to the great delight of Jerry Jones (and the league's broadcast partners), Dallas is going to be the surprise team of 2014. Huh?
Believe it. Let's start with the much-maligned defense, a unit that finished 32nd out of 32 teams in yards against and lost its four top performers -- Sean Lee (injury), DeMarcus Ware (released), Jason Hatcher (free agency) and Orlando Scandrick (first four games for suspension) -- and a second-round pick (DeMarcus Lawrence to injury) this offseason.
I actually think the Cowboys defense could be awfully feisty. This isn't a crop of splashy names and big free-agent splashes. It's guys like Rolando McClain, an ex-Raven and Raider who's retired twice, hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2012 and is looking to salvage a career. It's Bruce Carter, a former second-round pick who's battled injuries and is finally healthy. It's Anthony Spencer, the steady performer who's always taken a back seat to Ware when it comes to magazine cover spreads and Sunday Night Football promos. And it's coached by the guy defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford called "Master Splinter" earlier this summer. Insert Rod Marinelli. Yes, I'm in the "In Rod We Trust" camp, and I think Marinelli's demeanor and coaching style is the perfect fit for a unit short on big names but big on energy, youth and smarts. The bulk of Marinelli's defensive players are 40 years younger than him. No issue. The 65-year-old Marinelli, a Vietnam veteran and the head coach of the infamous 0-16 Detroit Lions team, has fought back from rocky situations before. He'll run his scheme, a 4-3 with some Tampa 2 elements, and this unit is actually more fit for that defense than the one Monte Kiffin helmed a year before. He'll also get the most out of every last one of his unheralded defensive players.
I have few doubts the offense will be electric. If Tony Romo is healthy (big if, I know), this will be one of the best, most balanced and most dynamic scoring units in the league. The schedule isn't as grueling as it usually is.
Three years in a row, the Cowboys have been a Week 17 Sunday night win away from the playoffs. They won't need one this year. They're going to start off hot, shock the world Week 1 with a win over the 49ers and win 10 games.
They'll be playing January football.
And that defense is going to be a unit no squad will want to face. Get your George Selvie jerseys. Prepare for the Barry Church Pro Bowl bid. This Cowboys team is going to surprise everyone.
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10-bold-predictions-to-kick-off-your-nfl-season-090114
FOX Sports
SEP 01, 2014 6:57a ET
I've spent much of the past six weeks on the road, traveling from training camp to training camp, hopping from preseason game to preseason game. I've been on so many Delta flights that I've seen "Draft Day" ... twice. I've seen quarterbacks like Manning, Brady, Manziel, Flacco, Kaepernick and Stafford up close. For that matter, I've also seen the bulk of the guys on several teams' practice squads (and those who didn't make those). I've seen Mark Sanchez and Woody Johnson have a great pregame embrace and I watched Eagles GM Howie Roseman do the same with Michael Vick. These eyes have seen some good football, and, well, a lot of bad football, too. I've made observations, taken notes, and had countless conversations with people I'd like to think are "in the know." I've also heard that song "Rude" about the guy who wants to marry the girl but the father is rude (or something?) more than 1,000 times in rental cars across this great nation.
All of this is important because my editors have requested that I make 10 "bold" predictions for the 2014 season.
Truthfully, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
So, print these out and hold me to them throughout the year. Paste them on your cubicle wall, glue them above your bathroom sink and feel free to email me throughout the year at [email protected].
Here goes nothing ...
1. THE DALLAS COWBOYS WILL WIN 10 GAMES AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
Oh, I've heard it all. Over the past two months, I've had someone whose opinion I value tell me the Cowboys could have the worst defense in the history of the NFL this year. I've had a Twitter follower "guarantee" the 'Boys will have the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. I've heard a lot worse along the way, too. This is supposed to be a train wreck year in Big D. This is supposed to be the one that finally costs Jason Garrett his job.
THINGS ONLY COWBOYS FANS UNDERSTAND
But I think, to the great delight of Jerry Jones (and the league's broadcast partners), Dallas is going to be the surprise team of 2014. Huh?
Believe it. Let's start with the much-maligned defense, a unit that finished 32nd out of 32 teams in yards against and lost its four top performers -- Sean Lee (injury), DeMarcus Ware (released), Jason Hatcher (free agency) and Orlando Scandrick (first four games for suspension) -- and a second-round pick (DeMarcus Lawrence to injury) this offseason.
I actually think the Cowboys defense could be awfully feisty. This isn't a crop of splashy names and big free-agent splashes. It's guys like Rolando McClain, an ex-Raven and Raider who's retired twice, hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2012 and is looking to salvage a career. It's Bruce Carter, a former second-round pick who's battled injuries and is finally healthy. It's Anthony Spencer, the steady performer who's always taken a back seat to Ware when it comes to magazine cover spreads and Sunday Night Football promos. And it's coached by the guy defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford called "Master Splinter" earlier this summer. Insert Rod Marinelli. Yes, I'm in the "In Rod We Trust" camp, and I think Marinelli's demeanor and coaching style is the perfect fit for a unit short on big names but big on energy, youth and smarts. The bulk of Marinelli's defensive players are 40 years younger than him. No issue. The 65-year-old Marinelli, a Vietnam veteran and the head coach of the infamous 0-16 Detroit Lions team, has fought back from rocky situations before. He'll run his scheme, a 4-3 with some Tampa 2 elements, and this unit is actually more fit for that defense than the one Monte Kiffin helmed a year before. He'll also get the most out of every last one of his unheralded defensive players.
I have few doubts the offense will be electric. If Tony Romo is healthy (big if, I know), this will be one of the best, most balanced and most dynamic scoring units in the league. The schedule isn't as grueling as it usually is.
Three years in a row, the Cowboys have been a Week 17 Sunday night win away from the playoffs. They won't need one this year. They're going to start off hot, shock the world Week 1 with a win over the 49ers and win 10 games.
They'll be playing January football.
And that defense is going to be a unit no squad will want to face. Get your George Selvie jerseys. Prepare for the Barry Church Pro Bowl bid. This Cowboys team is going to surprise everyone.
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10-bold-predictions-to-kick-off-your-nfl-season-090114
