Are We Ready???

[rockj7]

Are we ready as fans to deal with growing pains with getting younger at some positions? I feel that are young players will have growing pains this year I just pray they are not all at the same time. What do some of you guys feel is the realistic expectations of some of the rookies this year? Also who do you guys feel (just Rookies right know) have to step up for us to be a force this year.

I am rooting for Brandon Willams Mickens, Hodge and D. Smith and M. Hamlin to step up this year if they do watch out.:starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin

 

[ArmyCowboy]

Most of these kids will be in backup or situational roles, so I'm not really sure there will be the "growing pains" of which you speak.

 

[BigDinAZ]

I'm excites to see some of these players that are 2-3-4 seasons in, and now have a little experienc eunder there belt.

Only time will tell!

 

[Joe Realist]

I would not be suprised with an 8-8 year. I would also not be shocked to see 11-5.

 

[rockj7]

Most of these kids will be in backup or situational roles, so I'm not really sure there will be the "growing pains" of which you speak.

With injuries being part of the NFL like death and taxes are for life I just hope that are young pups can step up if or when they are asked. Even if it is asked of them to give a starter a breather. Can you imagine the effectiveness of D Ware in December and I pray January if he didn't have to play every down in Sept, Oct and Nov.

 

[Ren]

I would not be suprised with an 8-8 year. I would also not be shocked to see 11-5.

Same, it's all on Garrett really if he can make the offense work we'll be fine if not things are going to get ugly

 

[Doomsday101]

Same, it's all on Garrett really if he can make the offense work we'll be fine if not things are going to get ugly

No doubt Garrett has pressure but so do the players they still have to go out and execute the job. They are getting paid pretty well themselves so I think the pressure is on the entire group to perform

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I think the 4 keys will be Anthony Spencer and Bobby Carpenter on Defense and Felix Jones and Pattrick Crayton on offense. No they are not rookies, but close to it, especially with Jones entering his second year and Spencer entering his third. For Carp and Crayton, it's their turn to qulaify as solid starters or face getting cut. Our current rookies still need time to develop; but the four veterans I mentioned have had their share of that, and so their time is NOW!

 

[ethiostar]

I think the 4 keys will be Anthony Spencer and Bobby Carpenter on Defense and Felix Jones and Pattrick Crayton on offense. No they are not rookies, but close to it, especially with Jones entering his second year and Spencer entering his third. For Carp and Crayton, it's their turn to qulaify as solid starters or face getting cut. Our current rookies still need time to develop; but these two have had a little of that, and so their time is NOW!

Crayton has done enough to deserve not to be put in the same sentence as Barbie.

 

[sonnyboy]

With injuries being part of the NFL like death and taxes are for life I just hope that are young pups can step up if or when they are asked. Even if it is asked of them to give a starter a breather. Can you imagine the effectiveness of D Ware in December and I pray January if he didn't have to play every down in Sept, Oct and Nov.

Well I think you may be on to something here.

Best way as I see it to break out of our Dec funk would be to remain as healthy as possible.

No guarantees, but a here's a plan to help.

Lets look to rotate more players in and out of the game on both sides of the ball.

Take a good look at the number of snaps some of our star players on defense played.
I'm thinking of Ware and Ratliff in particular. Perhaps we should decrease that number by 10%.
Maybe Ratliff needs to take a few series off. Perhaps limit the number of snaps he takes as a NT in non-passing situations.
I know we'd all love to see Ware make a run at the sack record, but maybe we need to think about taking him out later in games already decided.
Now that kinda sucks for the player because he'll miss some great stat opps, but you have to look at the bigger picture.
Should be able to sell it to him because his rep is established and with the deal he's likely to sign soon, money will no longer be an issue.
Does it really matter if he has 15 or 20 sacks? Why not sit out those meaningless 40-60 plays at the end of games already decided and forgo the extra 5 sacks.

On the offensive side of the ball we need to reduce Romo's pass attempts and Witten's receptions.

We have a great RB stable. Lets use it. No I'm not saying we go the direction of Ten or the Ravens. I don't think we need to or should become run first type team.
That's not our best play. Our QB and Receivers are too good to not utilize them.
Perhaps strive for a better balance. When you add the 31 sacks and 30 QB scambles to our 547 passes, that's 608 pass plays to 401 run plays for 2008.
That's a not to healthy 60/40 pass/run ratio.

It needs to look more like 54/46. Still playing to our strength.

I don't think we need anymore 90 plus reception seasons for Witten either.
How about 64 for Witten and 40 plus for Bennett. This is more than doable if we play two TEs as often as we should.

Here's how the rest of the passing game should go:
Williams 64
Austin 40
Crayton 40
Hurd 8
Jones 40
Barber 40
Choice 8

The 460 runs should go like this:
Barber 240
Jones 160
Choice 60