CFZ Lightning in a Bottle or Long Haul?

I know it's early. But we are sitting at 8-3 with an excellent chance to get at least a wild card spot which would put us in the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in forever. We have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the year so we have a shot at a very high seed which would help us in our Super Bowl aspirations.

My question is whether or not this team is built for the long haul or is it a one year shot and then a rebuild or retool? It looks like the Rams were that one year shot team and are now salary cap strapped and not going to be a factor for a couple years.

My feelings are that this is a relatively young team, especially it's best players which bodes well for the coming seasons. The salary cap is always a consideration and we will probably lose Zeke, Schultz and a few others that we don't wanna lose because of the cap. The good news is that Will McClay and the boys always seem to be able to find cheap talent in the draft to replace those players that move on.

I can see this team staying relevant for another 3 or 4 years because of our youth and drafting prowess as well as already having a franchise quarterback and a superstar on defense. What are your thoughts?

sjmike said:

I know it's early. But we are sitting at 8-3 with an excellent chance to get at least a wild card spot which would put us in the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in forever. We have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the year so we have a shot at a very high seed which would help us in our Super Bowl aspirations.

My question is whether or not this team is built for the long haul or is it a one year shot and then a rebuild or retool? It looks like the Rams were that one year shot team and are now salary cap strapped and not going to be a factor for a couple years.

My feelings are that this is a relatively young team, especially it's best players which bodes well for the coming seasons. The salary cap is always a consideration and we will probably lose Zeke, Schultz and a few others that we don't wanna lose because of the cap. The good news is that Will McClay and the boys always seem to be able to find cheap talent in the draft to replace those players that move on.

I can see this team staying relevant for another 3 or 4 years because of our youth and drafting prowess as well as already having a franchise quarterback and a superstar on defense. What are your thoughts?

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By all accounts this was supposed to pretty much be a rebuilding year. Lots of outgoing talent (Collins, Gregory, Williams, Wilson) and not much in the way of known commodities were brought in to replace it. The majority of fans and commentators thought this was no better than 9-8 and likely worse. Just go look at the preseason record prediction thread. LOTS of doom and gloom in there.

We ended up with a very strong draft resulting in some new contributors (Smith, Williams, Clark, Bland) along with some players already on the roster making big leaps (McGovern, Steele, Wilson, LVE, Pollard, etc). Neither of these things really could have been banked on materializing, but they have.

Most key contributors on this team are locked up long term or are on rookie contracts. We also have a QB that should have at least 4 or 5 more seasons of football left in his prime. As far as I'm concerned this team should be in the playoffs the next few years.

This is the beauty of building through the draft. You are a lot less likely to bottom out record wise barring an injury to the QB (like we experienced in 2015 and 2020), and also are typically setup to be relevant long term if you can hit a few home runs in the draft.

You can never tell with this team. They haven't been consistent in years. But I don't think this particular team has peaked yet. As long as they don't ignore the offensive line, they should be pretty good over the next few years. Can't count out injuries either. That can derail a season.

BleedSilverandBlue said:

By all accounts this was supposed to pretty much be a rebuilding year. Lots of outgoing talent (Collins, Gregory, Williams, Wilson) and not much in the way of known commodities were brought in to replace it. The majority of fans and commentators thought this was no better than 9-8 and likely worse. Just go look at the preseason record prediction thread. LOTS of doom and gloom in there.

We ended up with a very strong draft resulting in some new contributors (Smith, Williams, Clark, Bland) along with some players already on the roster making big leaps (McGovern, Steele, Wilson, LVE, Pollard, etc). Neither of these things really could have been banked on materializing, but they have.

Most key contributors on this team are locked up long term or are on rookie contracts. We also have a QB that should have at least 4 or 5 more seasons of football left in his prime. As far as I'm concerned this team should be in the playoffs the next few years.

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It always seems to be that way. They predicted us to be around 6-10 going into 2014. Our season was over going into 2016. Same with this season.

Yeah, guys are doing ok for a rebuilding season.

I believe this team can be very good for years to come. It always seemed to be the lack of toughness that held talented Cowboys teams back in the past. This team is tough and getting tougher. Go Cowboys

They just won 12 games last season. So you can forget about lightning in a bottle. That doesn’t apply.

I wouldn’t say are remaining schedule is relatively easy. We have Philly, Tennessee and Washington on the road. Both Indy and Houston can run the ball so they won’t be pushovers. The Cowboys have a pretty young team, with some young players that have shown potential, so they are built for the long-haul, provided they don’t take a big hit in free agency. They may lose Dalton Schultz and Tony Pollard. I just hope we do more in free agency next year than we did this year. The mega contracts that Parsons and Trevon Diggs will get in the near future, could cost us some players. Parsons will want to be the highest paid defensive player in the league, and Trevon Diggs will want to be the highest paid corner. Those two players could cost us CeeDee who will also be looking to get paid.

sjmike said:

I know it's early. But we are sitting at 8-3 with an excellent chance to get at least a wild card spot which would put us in the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in forever. We have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the year so we have a shot at a very high seed which would help us in our Super Bowl aspirations.

My question is whether or not this team is built for the long haul or is it a one year shot and then a rebuild or retool? It looks like the Rams were that one year shot team and are now salary cap strapped and not going to be a factor for a couple years.

My feelings are that this is a relatively young team, especially it's best players which bodes well for the coming seasons. The salary cap is always a consideration and we will probably lose Zeke, Schultz and a few others that we don't wanna lose because of the cap. The good news is that Will McClay and the boys always seem to be able to find cheap talent in the draft to replace those players that move on.

I can see this team staying relevant for another 3 or 4 years because of our youth and drafting prowess as well as already having a franchise quarterback and a superstar on defense. What are your thoughts?

Click to expand...

We have Pollard and Steele to re-sign this year. Diggs comes up in 2023, with Dak and Lamb the following year. And finally every one's favorite LB Parsons. So yes, it seems like we will be losing a couple of pieces in the up coming years. My guess is Zeke, Shultz, and Tank will all be cap casualties here soon. And I say that because those guys replacements are already on the team. We definitely are going to have to keep Dak, Diggs, Parsons, and Lamb. As long as we can keep those guys for the next six years...all we have to do is build a strong offensive line.
So keep the good drafts coming, hold on to your star players, and build a reliable offensive line.


LONG HAUL CONTENDERS.

Team is young I say both

If they keep drafting like they are, there aren't going to be any severe downturns. That's the real key here. Feel free to project how long this drafting success will go on but that's what is going to determine the future.

Just as a reminder:
Smith, Williams, Bland, Ferguson, Clark, Hendershot and hell, Ridgway. Does Turpin count?

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/dallas-cowboys/

IMO, Cowboys will have to find a way to keep Wilson, Steele, Pollard and a few others. Probably watch Schultz, Brown, Fowler, LVE, Barr, Watkins and a few others go. Tough decisions on DLaw, Zeke and Tyron. A good draft could see the team actually improved next year barring injuries. The Diggs, Parsons and Lamb extensions will be interesting.

Enjoy the ride....

I would hope that they are able to resign LVE. Pair him with 33 and 14 and we have a good set of LBs to take into the near future

Thunder in a can?

You can't say one way or another with contract decisions upcoming on Zeke, Pollard, Dak, Parsons, Diggs, DLaw, etc.

sjmike said:

I know it's early. But we are sitting at 8-3 with an excellent chance to get at least a wild card spot which would put us in the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in forever. We have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of the year so we have a shot at a very high seed which would help us in our Super Bowl aspirations.

My question is whether or not this team is built for the long haul or is it a one year shot and then a rebuild or retool? It looks like the Rams were that one year shot team and are now salary cap strapped and not going to be a factor for a couple years.

My feelings are that this is a relatively young team, especially it's best players which bodes well for the coming seasons. The salary cap is always a consideration and we will probably lose Zeke, Schultz and a few others that we don't wanna lose because of the cap. The good news is that Will McClay and the boys always seem to be able to find cheap talent in the draft to replace those players that move on.

I can see this team staying relevant for another 3 or 4 years because of our youth and drafting prowess as well as already having a franchise quarterback and a superstar on defense. What are your thoughts?

Click to expand...

This team is NOT what the rams were. The rams sold their soul to the devil. They gave away multiple high draft picks. They are OLD. This drop was expected for the rams, just not this fast. They are in big trouble moving forward.

The Cowboys on the other hand, are YOUNG. One of the youngest teams in the league. Their QB is right in the middle of his career, the number 1 wr is still on a rookie contract, their best defensive player is in year 2, they have multiple good looking ROOKIE Tight Ends, Line is fairly young still with Tyron's replacement already on the roster. The only team with a better looking future is the Chiefs because they have amazing GM and coaches........lol

USArmyVet said:

You can't say one way or another with contract decisions upcoming on Zeke, Pollard, Dak, Parsons, Diggs, DLaw, etc.

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what decision needs to be made on Dak, Tank and Parsons? Dak is signed for what, the next 2 more years? Tank just signed a 3 year deal with 30 million guaranteed, he isnt leaving. ONLY decision that needs to be made is on the RB position. IN addition, EVERY TEAM has to make decisions at the end of the season on veterans and what to do. The Cowboys are in GREAT shape moving forward.

If Will McClay could find a way to lock the Jones Boys away during the offseason....

Reid1boys said:

what decision needs to be made on Dak, Tank and Parsons? Dak is signed for what, the next 2 more years? Tank just signed a 3 year deal with 30 million guaranteed, he isnt leaving. ONLY decision that needs to be made is on the RB position. IN addition, EVERY TEAM has to make decisions at the end of the season on veterans and what to do. The Cowboys are in GREAT shape moving forward.

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Dak due $49M in 2023 so his contract will need to be restructured; DLaw counts $26M against the cap in 2023; Diggs is a free agent in 2024; Parsons 5th year deal is in 2025; Lamb's 5th year deal is 2024; Gallup counts $14M against the cap in 2023; Biadasz is a free agent after 2023; Armstrong is a free agent after the 2023 season; Martin counts $19.8M against the cap in 2023; Rush is a free agent after this season; Schultz is a free agent after this season; Tyron Smith counts $17M against the 2023 cap; Wilson ios a free agent after this season; LVE is a free agent after this season.......

...so RB is not the only issue Dallas will be dealing with.

BleedSilverandBlue said:

By all accounts this was supposed to pretty much be a rebuilding year.

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Not even a thought for the FO or owner, that was FAN narrative that wasn't true, no way they brought in Vet coach in 2020 to rebuild during his contract after a 12-4 seaosn.,OMG

they knew they had talent waiting in wings, did enough in the draft and FA to build solid team. Fans create that narrative ( you all were all wrong and way out of being wrong is saying the FO was rebuilding, tanking to make it as if they were lucky..UM NO LOL) thinking those payers they cut or traded were Better then they actually were.. most weer the ones making many mistakes and being paid to much, suspended, inured, or penalty prone.

think about that list
Zurliene missing Xps and easy fgs also made a good salary.
Gregory oft injured, suspended, penalties, and would command too much money-
Cwill- Penalty machine new deal would be too big
AC far too big contract for our 3rd productive receiving target last year
Collins-same thing $$ penalties, suspensions
Ced wilson-too much money for #3-4 WR-look at his stats this year
Turner-didnt need him easily replace that with the same

those players were actually an addition by subtraction in most cases and we used that money and space for players who were about equal in production and skillset for less $$

thats not rebuilding, thats showing they were willing to cut some fan favorites who saw those guys as stars but cut them anyway knowing they had players to fill their roles.

I want lightning in a bottle for the playoffs....all the way through winning the SB.
Then will be concerned going forward from there.

However I think this team can be both. Lightning in a bottle and built for a long run.