Which scenario seems likely?

[Bobhaze]

So here we are, 7 games into the season, at the team’s bye week. After a typical roller coaster ride under Jason Garrett, we lose one, win one....etc. Now we sit at 3 wins, 4 losses with a tougher schedule ahead and two games back of the average deadskins in the loss column.

But....the front office, seeing another season slipping away, stepped up and (overpaid) acquired a top shelf WR with about a year and a half of guaranteed time with the team. Certainly an upgrade for this team which clearly has had the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

Whatever we think of this trade, it’s done, Cooper's here, and we have 9 games to try parlay that into something better than what we have seen to this point.

With that said, what are your expectations NOW, for the rest of the season? If we have pushed the “RESET” button on this season, what do expect?

Here are what I consider to be possible scenarios from best to worst, from here on:

Scenario 1- the team is energized and improved with the Cooper trade, offense improves dramatically, defense continues being strong, and the team goes 7-2 or 8-1 to finish strong at either 10-6 or 11-5 and win the division. Maybe even wins a playoff game or two.

Scenario 2- team improves on offense but not enough to make drastic improvements in the WIN COLUMN, goes 5-4 the rest of the way, finishes 8-8, is eliminated in mid December, doesn’t make the playoffs. Cooper helps, but it’s not enough.

Scenario 3- the team doesn’t improve on offense, either because Cooper doesn’t make a difference, defense slides, or injuries to key positions hit, or Garrett loses the team and a free fall ensues. Team finishes 3-6 rest of the way to go 6-10 overall.

Obviously, Scenario 1 is best case, and what Cowboys fans would want. Scenario 2 is in the middle, keeping us about where we are but without making the playoffs. Scenario 3 is obviously worst case. In any of these scenarios, one thing remains- however we finish, there will not be a #1 draft pick next year.

Which scenario do you think happens AND WHY?

Me- realistically, I see this team finishing in Scenario 2- 8-8, maybe 7-9. I just can’t see the acquisition of Cooper at midseason being enough to overcome the bad work done by this Head Coach. This team should at the very least be 4-3, maybe 5-2. I can’t see how adding a good WR suddenly makes this team a force to be reckoned with.

Your thoughts?

 

[OmerV]

Second secenario I think seems most likely. Record could end up a game different either way than the 8-8 you mentioned, but an improvement I think is likely, but not enough to make the playoffs unless the rest of the division continues to suck and make it a wide open race.

 

[Old'Boyfan]

I think scenario 2 is most likely. The most disappointing thing about it is that it probably is enough for Garrett to keep his job.

 

[Sydla]

Obviously you want Scenario 1.

But Scenario 2 just seems way more likely.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Look at it this way, other than Seattle the other 3 losses we were a couple plays away from winning. If Cooper can help us average a TD more we would be 6-1. Not saying Cooper has to score but with opening up the run game and Cooper making some big plays on 3rd down we become a very hard team to beat.

Of course these are what ifs but we don't need Cooper to be a top 5 receiver out the gate. That will allow him some time to get familiar with Dak. Until then I believe a few plays a game makes us go from 17 points a game to 24 points a game. Tennessee, Philly, Atlanta and Washington is the next 4 games. We can win all 4 but even going 3-1 will be great as long as we won both of those division games. I would prefer to beat Atlanta and it's very doable as their defense is hurting right now.

 

[big dog cowboy]

With that said, what are your expectations NOW, for the rest of the season? If we have pushed the “RESET” button on this season, what do expect?

Same HC, same QB, same OL.....what do you think?

 

[links18]

Scenario 3. The offense is straight trash with or without Cooper (Gallup could probably do whatever he can). Defense is doing its job (mostly), but injuries will probably start up soon.

 

[BleedinBlue]

2 most likely but this team is 6 points away from being 5-2 so 1 is not out of the realm of possibility

 

[visionary]

Scenario 4:

Team improves a little, enough to go 9-7 and make the playoffs and get bounced in the first round. All homers tell us we're improving. Next year, 8-8. Back to "it's a process "

 

[Bobhaze]

So if scenario 2 is most likely, as I think it is, what good does this trade do for us? If we don’t make the playoffs and we don’t have a #1 pick next year, and we’re stuck with Jason Garrett again, is this franchise going forward? Or backward?

 

[RodeoJake]

Scenario 2, 7 - 9 to 9 -7. Cooper makes a difference as Dak still struggles. I really hope to be proven wrong, but Dak most likely won't stop hearing footsteps.

 

[Sydla]

Look at it this way, other than Seattle the other 3 losses we were a couple plays away from winning. If Cooper can help us average a TD more we would be 6-1. Not saying Cooper has to score but with opening up the run game and Cooper making some big plays on 3rd down we become a very hard team to beat.

Of course these are what ifs but we don't need Cooper to be a top 5 receiver out the gate. That will allow him some time to get familiar with Dak. Until then I believe a few plays a game makes us go from 17 points a game to 24 points a game. Tennessee, Philly, Atlanta and Washington is the next 4 games. We can win all 4 but even going 3-1 will be great as long as we won both of those division games. I would prefer to beat Atlanta and it's very doable as their defense is hurting right now.

That game in Philly will be tough to win. They also coming off a bye so they will be rested and focused. If we go 3-1, I suspect that loss is Philly. Frankly, I think 2-2 is the most likely outcome of that 4 game stretch.

 

[jazzcat22]

More like a combination of 1 and 2 could happen, rather than the combination of 2 and 3. But only slightly. And if Dak and Amari get things going.

I can go from 7-9 or 8-8 to 8-8 or 9-7. But until I see it on the field before I do so. The next 2 games will tell us what we need to know. However, no matter what we must win the next 2 games to have any kind of a shot at the division, or a WC.

I can't see this team going 7-2 or 8-1. Now win the next 3 or 4 games, then I will say yes they can do 7-3. There is no margin for error really. lose one more game, it may not matter, if that loss is in the next 2 games, really 3 games.

 

[nightrain]

Scenario 2 and I will even go as far to say the Cowboys may win 9 games, but inevitably miss the playoffs by losing two of the 3 against skins, saints, eagles; keeping them on the scrap heap.

 

[charron]

2 is most likely. This trade won't move the needle in any direction. We were a good but not great team, enough for 7-9 wins before and after the trade we'll still get 7-9 wins. Unless you want to be optimistic then SB here we come.

 

[Bobhaze]

Look at it this way, other than Seattle the other 3 losses we were a couple plays away from winning. If Cooper can help us average a TD more we would be 6-1. Not saying Cooper has to score but with opening up the run game and Cooper making some big plays on 3rd down we become a very hard team to beat.

Of course these are what ifs but we don't need Cooper to be a top 5 receiver out the gate. That will allow him some time to get familiar with Dak. Until then I believe a few plays a game makes us go from 17 points a game to 24 points a game. Tennessee, Philly, Atlanta and Washington is the next 4 games. We can win all 4 but even going 3-1 will be great as long as we won both of those division games. I would prefer to beat Atlanta and it's very doable as their defense is hurting right now.

Those are all reasonable points. But I believe we are 3-4 in large part because we have a very poor game management head coach. Sure, if we had a break here and there we could be 6-1, but why does Garrett always seem to mismanage the last 2 minutes of a game?

90% of NFL games are decided by a TD or less regardless of opponent, wouldn’t it make better sense to have a HC that is excellent at managing close games? I can’t imagine anyone trying to be objective would say that Jason Garrett is good at managing the critical moments of a close game.

 

[CouchCoach]

Acquiring Cooper only addressed one problem, although it was a big problem. What about the OL, TE and is this QB the guy? Not to mention the offensive and head coaching. I am in favor of the trade because they have to start somewhere.

I'll go with 3 because of the schedule coming up and I don't think adding any #1WR would really make that much difference. The team is currently ranked 29th on offense, the only good thing about that is they have #30 coming up. After that, it gets tougher.

They are averaging 20 points a game and need to get north of 28 after the Titans, they might win that game by just getting to 10. can the addition of a #!WR add 8-10 points a game?

They rank 2nd in scoring D with 17.6 but is that because they're that good or have faced a bunch of offenses as inept as their own? History says you keep teams to 17 and you have a winning record. I think that begins to go up after TEN. This is a good D, not a great D.

I am really no longer about this season because I think that is lost. My concern is more with the future with this QB. Is he the guy? Did he peak as a rookie? Are they going all in and giving him that QB1 NFL salary or letting him play out his contract and take their chances? I am already mentally in 2019.

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

#2 at best. #3 is very possible, but for different reasons- namely poor OL play and poor QB play. Cooper won't help if Dak is under severe pressure, or can't hit his targets when he is not.

 

[LifetimeBoysFan]

I'm going with scenario 2. I think Cooper is going to help the passing game considerably. The problem we have right now is in protection. We can gnash our teeth at Dak not making reads all day, but to give some benefit of the doubt too, he's not exactly playing with a clean pocket like he was in 2016. Looney has been solid as a backup, but he's not Frederick. Williams is improving but at the cost of having to get assistance from Tyron and as a result he's slipped off a bit. Mix in Collins regressing and I don't think we have a hang your hat offensive line like we are accustomed too. The biggest benefit right now is that there will be fewer 9 man fronts and maybe Zeke can establish himself more, even with the OL deficiencies. The other factor is of course Garrett and play calling. If we stop being too conservative in critical times we might just eek out some close games and not waste the effort of the defense keeping us in games.

 

[Praxit]

..my prediction was 10-6 from the beginning. After Wash loss, a game we still could have won, I saw us 8-8. Now, we have a big time commanding attention receiver, which automatically takes 2 players out of the box. Zeke & Co are back in business. 8 players shuts down our running game, not 5 or 6.

Im going with scenario #1. If it sputters then scenario #2 kicks in.