Anyone else's expectations for 2010 higher than for 2009 season?

[Woods]

My expectations definitely are.

And I am happy to say so.

At the beginning of this season, I didn't see the Cowboys as a true Super Bowl contender. To be honest, I was hoping we'd make the playoffs. And if we were fortunate, we'd maybe win the NFC East.

Over the last month, I thought maybe there was a chance we'd get into the Super Bowl, but frankly said, having to play 3 playoff games to get there was going to be tough and the odds were stacked against us.

Going into 2010, I see just a few holes on this team, and they are definitely correctable.

We're talking about a FG kicker (FA, please), a couple OL (probably draft), and another ILB to develop and 1 more Safety/CB, and maybe 1 more WR (o.k., probably not necessary, but I'm just hoping for a speed guy to complement our current group).

Nothing that JJ can't take care of this off-season.

I have a lot of faith in our Defense going into next season.

And I love our team chemistry.

I really feel we are close. And this is the first time I've felt this in awhile.

 

[Monster Heel]

No.

They're about the same. 8-8 or 9-7 team that will need luck to get into the playoffs. At some point they will be whipped in a way that'll embarrass Cowboys fans everywhere. Maybe just maybe, that'll prompt some change, but don't count on it.

 

[Rampage]

i'll wait and see what coaching/roster moves we make. If Garrett and Wade are still here it will be hard to raise my expectations.

 

[Woods]

No.

They're about the same. 8-8 or 9-7 team that will need luck to get into the playoffs. At some point they will be whipped in a way that'll embarrass Cowboys fans everywhere. Maybe just maybe, that'll prompt some change, but don't count on it.

Well, this is the first time in a while where I think we primed.

The core of this team is good, imo. And the chemistry is very good.

 

[alancdc]

Well, this is the first time in a while where I think we primed.

The core of this team is good, imo. And the chemistry is very good.

I agree. I think Dallas took a big step forward this year and proved they can win "meaningful" games. My concerns are LT and what to do or can we do with RW, if anything?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Of course.

At the beggining of the year I stated that this team did not have the talent to win the SB and that I would be happy to win one playoff game. I got my wish.

I believe that Dallas needs to add playmakers on defense and improve the depth on the o-line if they want to compete for a SB. I think they can do that this off-season through the draft. I also think that the guys on IR will be able to improve the talent level providing they remain healthy.

It's very well possible that this team regresses in 2010 (injuries or complacency) but I'm counting on them being focused and healthy and winning the division and home field advantage in the playoffs.

 

[Woods]

If our Defense continues from where we left off, and we can also lean on our STs (please get a FG kicker, JJ), we will go even further (assuming we stay healthy).

 

[MachPilot]

LOl I love it how people think coaching is that critical in terms of making plays. In the end the players make them. Coaches can put you in the right popsitions , but the players have to make plays.

You could have out 12 people out there for our O-line, and we still wouldnt have stopped them yesterday. I dont blame our coaches one bit for that disaster, Our O-line should be humiliated.

 

[sonnyboy]

Interesting question for me.

I actually had expectations a little higher than most and what the team achieved.

What's odd is that the team was actually better than I thought it would be and aboout as good as I hoped, BY SEASON'S END.

All the new acquistions and 2nd yr guys really stepped up. And we stayed relatively healty!

In addition to some serious OL upgrades, we need to start next season as well as we finished this one.

That's the real key. Need to make a run at that #1 seed and stay home for the play-offs.

 

[UnoDallas]

no not if Wade bought back

an still Whiner Roy Williams

 

[hawklegion]

My expectations are always high for the Cowboys but if the Wade/Garrett coaching combo is in place I would expect a worse record than this season. Garrett does not seem able to adjust and playcall. Wade is great as a DC but not HC. I think getting the wind beat out of us again will make this team weaker next season and the players a year older. I hope I am wrong but Wade's record says it will be thus.

 

[Randy White]

better be careful with those expectations..

Just look at the schedule... That's no walk in the park.

 

[superpunk]

In 2007 we went 13-3, and decided to maintain the status quo.

Early reports are that we're looking at doing the same thing next year.

I guess natural progression of the team, which is young and didn't really find itself til late in the season, could lead me to believe that we'll be better.

But other than that I don't see any reason to believe right now. A great draft could change everything.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I expect us to be a bit better, not a lot, BUT that doesn't mean our record will reflect it. We were INCREDIBLY healthy this year, and I don't expect that to repeat.

It's hard for me to see a huge improvement, because we just don't have any black holes that are really easy to upgrade (kicker excepted). When you're average at a lot of positions, it's really hard to make an impact move, especially when you're limited in free agency.

I expect that we'll be competing for a playoff spot next year. If we get a bit of luck, maybe we go as far or further. But it's not like we're going to turn into a powerhouse that's the prohibitive favorite to make it to the NFCCG or the SB. We'll probably be in the mix as one of the 3 or 4 best teams in the NFC, which is about what we were this year.

 

[BlueBandit]

14-2 Super Bowl

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Based on the brutal schedule and assuming no changes in the oline then I'd say this is a 9-7 team.

However some smart personal moves between now & September could up raise the stakes.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Who knows if we'll be better next year or in any particular year. But we're in position to be a solid team for the next few years as long we we keep bringing in good players with good attitudes. Then it's all a matter of health, schedule, and breaks.

Personally I like being competitive every year like, yes, the Eagles have been. Obviously you want to break through and win it all like they haven't done. But you have to get in position to make and win in the playoffs first, and we've done that.

And 9-7 based on a brutal schedule? What?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

My expectations will be higher depending on what we do this offseason and all that. Injuries of course play a big factor but if we are able to avoid any big injuries again next year then I'll expect more.

Of course there will obviously be people who were thinking 6-10 to 8-8 this year who will try and figure a way that we'll be that again next year, despite those predictions not working out to well for them the last few years, but that's how it goes. Hopefully, sooner or later, they'll just decide they're so miserable with being wrong that they'll just go away and not return.

 

[Kalyan]

Based on the brutal schedule and assuming no changes in the oline then I'd say this is a 9-7 team.

However some smart personal moves between now & September could up raise the stakes.

I second that, 9-7 max. I think Wade took this team as far he can take, this is the ceiling

 

[CF74]

GROG and yeah maybe, otherwise 10-6 and a wild card birth...