Must haves for 2018 season success

1. Offensive line back to it's 2016 level of play. As far as I'm concerned, everything hinges on this.
2. The defensive line has to be able to shut down the oppositions run game.
3. Health to the following players for 14 or more games (in no particular order): Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Demarcus Lawrence.
4. Special Teams continue to be special.
5. Luck.
 
1. Dak being a better quarterback- I know most would put Zeke being on the field as top priority, but Dak MUST play better football since I've seen him make terrible mistakes during last (2017) season. I know the run game going to be great but there question marks on the passing game and if it not going to be good enough to complement the run game then the offense is going to be one dimensional and that bad m'kay?

2. Receiving Core- Ever since Dez and Witten left, I've been worried. There need to be someone on that receiving core to step up and I don't know who it's going to be. While this is a run-first team. It's going to be pretty pointless running the ball if the opposing team defense know your running that ball and can place the players near the line. I know the run game opens the passing, but I don't know if the new receivers can make up for Dez and Witten being gone. Maybe it just Dez being done that got me worried like this so much.

3.O-line - In order to have a good running game you must also have a good offensive line as well as a good running back. Smith being injured but horrible you could make the argument that it was one of the reasons we didn't sneak into the playoffs as a last minute playoff team. We all know Zeke is healthy, but what about Smith? Will Connor Williams live up to the expectations as a second round pick and can that offensive line hold up in all sixteen games? We all like to say yes but I feel like Smith injury from last season was a warning that he stepping away from this prime now and his body starting to give up like how Romo did.

4. Defensive making clutch plays- On paper, this defense seem to be good enough to help take the Boys into the playoffs. Pro football focus rank the defense thirteenth in team defense and that do to Tank improving each off season as well as other things. However, in the end to me, the defense need to make critical clutch plays. They lost some games in where they could have done better like against Packers or Chargers. The first round pick Vander Esch needs to live up to the hype and Sean Lee MUST be on the field.

5. Ezekiel Elliott- I know some would rather put this higher, but everyone remember this is a team sport. Zeke on the field helps the team a lot but one player can't win a team sport game alone (look at Romo for example) I know Zeke will do great this season and I'm already seeing him pro bowl bound this season. It's the other things going on in team that makes me put him on the fifth highest.
 
Last edited:
northerncowboynation said:
In order of priority:

1) Zeke on the field

2) healthy T Smith

3) healthy General Lee

4) repeat 2017 from Tank

5) return of Dan Bailey accuracy

That's my top 5. I know there are lots more. A big shout out in unison to Lady Luck!

Any others
Click to expand...
I think if all that happens, the rest will fall in place
If the oline stays healthy then Dak will be fine
If Lee stays healthy and Dlaw continues to play like last year the defense will be fine
If bailey bounces back the Heath can concentrate on just being ET
 
jday said:
1. Offensive line back to it's 2016 level of play. As far as I'm concerned, everything hinges on this.
2. The defensive line has to be able to shut down the oppositions run game.
3. Health to the following players for 14 or more games (in no particular order): Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Demarcus Lawrence.
4. Special Teams continue to be special.
5. Luck.
Click to expand...
As far as your first point, which was excellent by the way, what happened to the o-line last year was telling. Tyron was injured and we had nothing close to replacing him adequately. That's why we have a new o-line coach.
 
jday said:
1. Offensive line back to it's 2016 level of play. As far as I'm concerned, everything hinges on this.
2. The defensive line has to be able to shut down the oppositions run game.
3. Health to the following players for 14 or more games (in no particular order): Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Demarcus Lawrence.
4. Special Teams continue to be special.
5. Luck.
Click to expand...
conner01 said:
I think if all that happens, the rest will fall in place
If the oline stays healthy then Dak will be fine
If Lee stays healthy and Dlaw continues to play like last year the defense will be fine
If bailey bounces back the Heath can concentrate on just being ET
Click to expand...
:hammer:
 
Rockport said:
As far as your first point, which was excellent by the way, what happened to the o-line last year was telling. Tyron was injured and we had nothing close to replacing him adequately. That's why we have a new o-line coach.
Click to expand...

Feel we have better options than last year if T goes down. I hear Green is practicing mostly at G, flip flopping him last year didn't help. Hopeful Flemming fits that swing tackle need. Agree on the O-line coach, Alexander is a smart dude. I hope he brings some of his stuff to the O-line. It's already clear that La'ell will stay at RT. There was just far to much trial and error experimentation last year. Free dropped the hammer on them when he retired
 
northerncowboynation said:
In order of priority:

1) Zeke on the field

2) healthy T Smith

3) healthy General Lee

4) repeat 2017 from Tank

5) return of Dan Bailey accuracy

That's my top 5. I know there are lots more. A big shout out in unison to Lady Luck!

Any others
Click to expand...

likely for 1 and 5.
possible for 4.
good luck with 2 and unlikely for 3.
 
Rockport said:
As far as your first point, which was excellent by the way, what happened to the o-line last year was telling. Tyron was injured and we had nothing close to replacing him adequately. That's why we have a new o-line coach.
Click to expand...
Tyron's injury was certainly part of it. But we also lost Ron Leary to Free Agency and Doug Free to retirement. La'el would have probably played better at LG last year being his ideal position, but with the Free retirement they had little choice but to move him. Like Witten, Free waited until there was very little the front office could do about it to announce his retirement.

With a year under his belt, La'el should be improved. Not saying he was all that bad last year...people forget that he faced more elite passrushers than anyone in the front 5. The question mark is Connor Williams. Will he hit the ground running like Zack Martin or will it take him time they don't have to adjust to the speed of the NFL?

But if the OL is playing up to their 2016-ability, that, in my opinion, is more than half of the battle.
 
phildadon86 said:
Gibby should have been gone after the loss in KC leaving 2 of your fastest guys on base and bringing in Navarro hitting .086
Click to expand...
Gibbie should have been gone at the end of last season. He'll be the first to go just before or just after the all-star break. Probably just before so management can get an interim coach in place before the break
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 91 more.
Total: 11,257 (members: 191, guests: 11,066)
Robots: 902

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
474,524
Messages
14,542,877
Members
24,212
Latest member
JerryJonesSupporter
Back
Top