An optimistic view of the upcoming season

[Sydla]

We had a top ten pass defense last season...

In yards allowed but that's because teams could run on us.

If you look at more advanced stats, we were not very effective against the pass. QBs had a passer rating of 94.2 which rated 20th. For comparison, Carolina ranked first in passer rating defense at 74.

Our pass defense was average to below average last year.

 

[jobberone]

if your right jobberone that ranking should get us in the play offs

Not making the playoffs will be a fail unless two or more other East teams are pretty successful.

 

[CCBoy]

Not making the playoffs will be a fail unless two or more other East teams are pretty successful.

If the team can't stand the heat, then someone should instruct Rod Marinelli and Jason Garrett to stay out of the kitchen...me, I got the faith.

 

[jobberone]

We had a top ten pass defense last season...

Scored 275 points (17.2/g), 31st of 32 in the NFL. Allowed 374 points (23.4/g), 16th. Differential of -99 points (-6.2/g), 29th. (so avg D overall)

http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/Screen%20Shot%202016-05-21%20at%207.08.32%20AM_zpsvveeli0v.png

Impressive huh?! But wait.....since we couldn't score teams just played very conservatively scoring enough to win. Not saying our pass defense was trash just not as good as the stats look.

With OScan back and Claiborne playing well we have a chance to be decent. If we use and get good years from Carr as well as Church playing well and Jones living up to expectations then we may do well.....enough.

 

[DFWJC]

If Romo plays almost all of the games, I can't imagine them being worse than 10-6.

Even in the years when they had a weak oline and defenses ranked near the bottom of the league, they were finishing 8-8.
In the other years when they had a little (or lot) more than that, they always have had a winning record and were usually also in the playoffs (4 of 5 years).
With this oline and even a marginally improved defense, they should be pretty good, or even very good.

 

[jday]

We had a top ten pass defense last season...

Because teams didn't have to pass to win last year. When your offense puts up alot of points it forces the opposition to pass, making your defense look bad in yards allowed however it also improves turnover opportunities.

 

[Fletch]

I want to be optimistic, but Romo will miss enough games to throw us back to the 8-8 area.

You want to be, but you won't.

 

[ksadler1]

I'm in the show me don't tell me group. I've been sucked in to the "crapping rainbows" group one too many times. Even with the injuries last year I was so disgusted with this team, especially the coaching. I'm tired of hearing excuses. Show me results.....

 

[DandyDon1722]

I figure about middle of the pack also, unless they really gel toward the end of the season. And if stats wise they end up middle of the pack, may be ok. But where I see the difference, is they should not be as gassed at the end of the games. Therefore allowing them to make those stops, not give up those big game ending plays. But if the O produces like they should, the D won't be in those situations as often.

The D stat wise was about the same from 2014 to 2015, where they made their leap was from 2013 to 2104 when the offense was going strong. So IF healthry, but true for all teams, maybe they make that leap from middle to say top 12 because of the better overall talent and depth more so than 2014 and 2105.

That seem logical, but then it's also the NFL...sometimes logic does not apply.....

I see upper middle of the pack Jazz - which means around 10-6 and a lot of that has to do with the schedule. If we get some good breaks, a couple of calls 11-5, 12-4. If we get some bad breaks and injuries it's maybe 8-8 and hang onto your seat.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I want to be optimistic, but Romo will miss enough games to throw us back to the 8-8 area.

LOL - you want him to miss those games and you'll be happy when he's gone. Then you can go all in on the next Quincy.

There...I said it for you.

 

[KJJ]

There's reason for optimism if Romo stays healthy. The Cowboys play in arguably the weakest division in the league so that alone gives us some hope. The backup QB situation looks worse currently than it did last year at this time not having a backup who's won a single NFL game. Unless Dak is the second coming of Russell Wilson he has a long way to go to be ready to start an NFL game. Kellen Moore was 0-2 as the starter last season and neither game was close despite both games being meaningless to the Cowboys and their opponents. A veteran QB who's won some games needs to be brought in as a safety net in the event neither Moore or Dak look very impressive this summer. Tweaks are going to have to be made to the offense enabling the team to successfully incorporate a backup QB so it's not just friendly to Romo.

What should be an improved running game gives whatever QB we're playing with a better chance. I'm not a believer you have to have your starting QB to run the ball successfully. If you have a solid OL and a talented back you still should be able to run the ball despite your QB situation. When Troy Aikman was injured during the 91 season Emmitt put up rushing totals of 109, 112, 75, 160 and 105 yards with Steve Beuerlein at QB. Emmitt rushed for 133 yards vs Green Bay on Thanksgiving in 1994 with Jason Garrett at QB. Yes, Garrett passed the ball well in that game but he had a great running threat that opened up the passing game especially deep to Harper.

If we can establish a solid ground game creating some big plays with Zeke there's good reason for optimism. The 2 big concerns is keeping Romo healthy and trying to create a pass rush. If things go wrong in 2016 it will be due to losing Romo and the defense continuing to struggle. If Romo can stay on the field and we can actually start playing some good, consistent defense for a change the Cowboys could end up having a very good season. I could see us going 11-5 or 5-11 it really comes down to Romo's health and the play of the defense. If you're stuck with a backup QB and your defense can't stop anyone you're done.

 

[LocimusPrime]

If we added Muhammad Wilkerson, Dwight Freeney, Chris Culliver, Leon Hall, and Justin Durant to this team ( all are still available) our defense would be significantly better.

 

[DTown214]

If we added Muhammad Wilkerson, Dwight Freeney, Chris Culliver, Leon Hall, and Justin Durant to this team ( all are still available) our defense would be significantly better.

I knew Freeney was still there but damn... sign all those men right now!

 

[waldoputty]

I knew Freeney was still there but damn... sign all those men right now!

i dont know.
we need a DE.
so Freeney is may be.
Wilkerson is a great get, but more of a DT and we already spent a lot there.
Not crazy about Hall or Culliver who needs how long to come back?

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

We are a healthy Romo/team and one break-out of a DL (whether it is Crawford, free agent or rookie) from a serious run.

Serious NFC East title run.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

If anyone isn't optimistic that this should be a good season, you're either trying to be too much of a realist or you're just a negative person. The players from our 12-4 team are back healthy, plus we've upgraded the secondary (Byron Jones), d-line (Thorton, Gregory, Lawrence), our RB rotation (Zeke, D-Mac, Morris), and the starting left guard position (Collins). It's simple... this should be a great season unless catastrophe strikes.

Nice we upgraded secondary. For me it's an upgrade if they can actually make plays on the ball and get turnovers. And if the DL can get consistent pressure. Until then.

 

[RandyOh]

I'm optimistic about next season but I'm trying to stay real. We are not a SB contender but not making the playoffs would be a huge fail unless mass injuries to key players happen again.

On offense I'm hoping
- Dak can at least challenge Moore to be the backup and show that he has promise to be a long term answer at backup QB.

- Darius Jackson pushes Dunbar or McFadden off the roster. Takes Morris spot next year as well giving us a much needed upgrade of youth at the position. Draft a Scat back next year to finish off the rotation

- Rico Gathers flashes enough potential to at least make the practice squad

- One of the UDFA WR can take Devin Street roster spot. Chris Brown is who I'm hoping steps up.

- Chaz Green shows he wasn't a waste of a pick and at least wins the swing tackle spot

On defense I'm hoping
- T Crawford and Tank take over as the teams main 1-2 punch in the pass rush.

- Collins and Tapper take advantage of getting significant snaps early due to suspensions.

- Rolando will at least stay in football shape and feel like playing more then not this year.

- I hope both Anthony Brown and Kavon Frazier make the team. Both are special teams aces and possible starters at corner and strong safety in a year or 2. Both are scheme and role fits for the positions.

Their is much more I'm hoping happens during the season but they are obvious like Romo, Dez, and Scandrick staying healthy or Randy Gregory staying away from weed.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I'm in the show me don't tell me group. I've been sucked in to the "crapping rainbows" group one too many times. Even with the injuries last year I was so disgusted with this team, especially the coaching. I'm tired of hearing excuses. Show me results.....

Yep same thing every year. We'll just wait and see. Last year was the most positive I've been in a long time and look what happened. If Romo's healthy we should win the mediocre NFC East though.

 

[Alexander]

Even with the injuries last year I was so disgusted with this team, especially the coaching.

This a million times. While you might give the staff credit for keeping the spirits up and the team fighting, that does not mean much when you make errors at critical points in games with play calling, personnel choices on the field and all in all show a lack of faith in the players to get it done (coaching scared/being risk adverse).

This is the time of year where I get bored enough to go watch the games again and it is shocking how often that the sad sacks actually were doing something well that the coaching aspect refused to take risks to build on momentum. There were winnable games even as lousy as we had it with the injuries.

There were three-four games where as you watch it, you were going "they actually lost this game?". That would even go down to drives where you would be certain they would score and it just fizzled as the yips set in.