Are you prepared for the long slog?

[GimmeTheBall!]

On offense: Romo and Witten as elder statesmen and increasingly slower and more fragile.
Years before we can (if we get them in the draft) develop another QB, WRs. And by the time we do develop some blue-chippers, our sterling O line might be then getting up in years.

On defense: Even with an overhauled defense, it will take several years for it to get in sync. Let's see, no run stuffers, a horrible secondary and a linebacking core that has yet to assert itself. The DE's? I see promise in our youngsters at that position.

All in all, blokes, I do not share that rose-colored view of Romo returning and all of the sudden the team marching to the playoffs.

So many positions to shore up. So many aging veterans.

I am interested to get your views as to when this team will again be ready to make a serious run.
I think, with wise drafting and shedding some players to make room capwise and impact FA's we could be fit and ready to really contend in maybe 3 years.But possibly longer.

But no sooner than that. Before we contend will come some hard years of more 8-8 (or worse) seasons.

What is your timetable for success, blokes? And, please, respond with your intellect, blokes, and not your hearts.

 

[Vtwin]

2016/2017

 

[Blackspider214]

We drafted Escobar but this staff refuses to integrate him into the offense. I like Witten and what he has done but he's so slow, has no moves and can't stretch the field. Escobar has shown he can but we don't utilize him at all. This will be his 4th season and it's been a complete waste. Then agaib, how many other TEs do we keep drafting and wasting? Bennett immediately got better when he left here.

We have no one to stretch the defense on this offense. Dez is a poor route runner and little to no speed.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

2016/2017

Sometimes, i roll my eyes so hard that it hurts. Be a good lad and don't do it again.

 

[SHAMSzy]

We're favorites to win our division next year

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

We're favorites to win our division next year

As we were last season.

 

[robjay04]

If you take away Witten/Romo, I am pretty sure we are one of the youngest teams in the league. With the salary cap, every team is going to have weaknesses at certain positions. We have to draft well over the next two seasons and find our QB of the future to assure we don't see another long period of average performances.

Truthfully, besides the QB position, we are probably better off than the Panthers were a couple years ago. With the salary cap, teams can change in just a couple years...if we manage to score an extra touchdown per game next season, we are instantly a playoff team.

Even the current SB teams have their weaknesses and uncertainty in the future---Panthers have an aging running back and one of the worst receiving cores in the league, they will also have to pay Norman as the best CB in the game after the season he has had which will take money from some of the other young talent they have. Denver has a lot of veterans including uncertainty approaching with their own QB position.

 

[StarBoyz83]

The must get to the sb in the next 2 seasons. (Highly unlikely I know) after that dallas will basically be in rebuild mode and won't be competitive for around 5-7 years or so.

 

[Vtwin]

Sometimes, i roll my eyes so hard that it hurts. Be a good lad and don't do it again.

Why not?

Of course we have to get some luck from the injury fairy just like every other team.

QB and oline are among the best.

Even though it is fashionable to hate on McFadden he had an above solid year with no help. Dunbar provides big play potential out of the backfield. Add some beef for short yardage (might already have it in Turbin)

Exceptional talent at WR1 Very good player in the slot. Upgrade at WR2 or maybe Romo turns Williams back into a very good #2. #82 is going to get his first downs again this season.

D-line is young and talented. Should expect improvement from the youngsters. Upgrade the DT spot.

LB's.... Could use a little help here but Lee is Lee. Hitchens should improve in his third year. I hope they keep McClain. Not rock solid but reason for optimism.


Secondary... Clairborne is the new whipping boy but he is not as bad as many would like to think. Maybe not worth his draft slot but that ship has sailed and now it is just a matter of can he hold down his position. I though he did a pretty good job of that once I quit having Revis like expectations for him. Scandrick is back. Jones looks like the real deal. Improve the SS spot and hopefully ditch Carr and replace him with someone that isn't afraid to tackle and this unit is not that bad.

Even with minimal tweaking the defense should be better than the 2014 defense. Stay healthy on offense and add someone who is better suited to the third and 1 carry and this team is arguably better on paper than the 2014 team. (Which VERY few people here had going 12-4)

What is so much different about this team that it can't achieve the same level of success as the 2014 team did?

From the head please.

 

[robjay04]

The must get to the sb in the next 2 seasons. (Highly unlikely I know) after that dallas will basically be in rebuild mode and won't be competitive for around 5-7 years or so.

That is fortunately completely wrong. We will still have some decent pass rushers, arguably the best OL in the league, the best kicker in the league, hopefully a good free safety(Jones)and a number one wideout in two years. It will all from down to the QB. If we can instantly get decent QB play when Romo retires, we will be okay.

As I said in my post...these next two drafts will mean the most to the future of this franchise. If we can land a QB and some defensive pieces, namely a prominent young pass rush, we will be okay.

 

[StarBoyz83]

That is fortunately completely wrong. We will still have some decent pass rushers, arguably the best OL in the league, the best kicker in the league, hopefully a good free safety(Jones)and a number one wideout in two years. It will all from down to the QB. If we can instantly get decent QB play when Romo retires, we will be okay.

As I said in my post...these next two drafts will mean the most to the future of this franchise. If we can land a QB and some defensive pieces, namely a prominent young pass rush, we will be okay.

We wont get Instant good qb play that's why there will be such a long drought.. by competitive I mean competing for a sb. We might be an ok team.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Clairborne is the new whipping boy but he is not as bad as many would like to think.

Is it just me or do we label way too many of our players as "not as bad as many would like to think"?

The trouble starts with mediocrity and then the belief he will improve and, finally, saying "he is not as bad as many would like to think."
That goes for others on this squad.

There is nothing wrong with this team that a total makeover wouldn't take care of.
Our O line is good. Let that be our foundation as we retool the team.

 

[Venger]

What is your timetable for success, blokes? And, please, respond with your intellect, blokes, and not your hearts.

Year 1 A.J. - After Jerry

Anything else is tossing eggs, flour, and sugar into a closet and expecting to come back later and find a cake.

 

[robjay04]

We wont get Instant good qb play that's why there will be such a long drought.. by competitive I mean competing for a sb. We might be an ok team.

I don't know, it depends. Some young QBs are good enough to take a team to the playoffs. You can also go the veteran route at times and compete.

Truthfully, the Broncos are there right now with pretty bad QB play. Two years ago, they were an offensive team with an awful defense, they rebuilt their defense in two seasons and now that unit carried them to the SB. It's not the ideal route to take but it can happen.

 

[LittleD]

You can holler from the hills about Romo and Witten but, Jerry has spoken on Romo and he's going
to be the "big dog" QB for at least 3 years more and maybe 5. Witten is slowing down, that's for sure, but he
brings leadership, willingness to block and catches passes up the seam. Jerry is going to go all in
again this year trying to get Romo a SB chance and probably next year too. No use looking for the Boys
to get a 1st round QB who sits on the bench for at least 2 years. That's not Jerry's "wildcat" style.

 

[MagicMan]

We're favorites to win our division next year

Not saying much.....that bar is lower than a snake's belly. And at the rate of Garrett's hamster on a treadmill "process", I understand the concern of our OL or DL getting old and their prime years wasted just like Romo, Witten, etc..

 

[Vtwin]

Is it just me or do we label way too many of our players as "not as bad as many would like to think"?

The trouble starts with mediocrity and then the belief he will improve and, finally, saying "he is not as bad as many would like to think."
That goes for others on this squad.

There is nothing wrong with this team that a total makeover wouldn't take care of.
Our O line is good. Let that be our foundation as we retool the team.

You're looking at it from the wrong angle.

You're angle would be used on guy like Heath. A guy who most everyone agrees we would rather see playing for the Commanders. A guy who came in with none of the exaggerated expectations that come with a top ten pick. If I were to say "Jeff Heath is not as bad as many would like to think"
I would be talking about a player who pretty much nobody thought was going to be great anyway. In that scenario I could accept your theory.

Claiborne's biggest problem is that he hasn't lived up to the massive expectations that come with his draft slot and what the Cowboys gave up for him. It is my opinion that at this point he needs to be looked at simply from a 'what can he do for us' perspective. From that perspective, and assuming the money can be agreed on, he is much better than mediocre.

So I guess the answer to your question is, yes. It is just you.

Do you not agree that we have improved the defense overall the last two years?

 

[noshame]

You can holler from the hills about Romo and Witten but, Jerry has spoken on Romo and he's going
to be the "big dog" QB for at least 3 years more and maybe 5. Witten is slowing down, that's for sure, but he
brings leadership, willingness to block and catches passes up the seam. Jerry is going to go all in
again this year trying to get Romo a SB chance and probably next year too. No use looking for the Boys
to get a 1st round QB who sits on the bench for at least 2 years. That's not Jerry's "wildcat" style.

Well, that's fine too, if he throws all in on Romo we'll have a high pick next years also. kidding we'll draft a QB in the 1st and he'll be starting full time in 2017. Bringing us to the playoffs in 2018.

 

[Verdict]

I think it is likely that we contend next year the way we were supposed to contend this year. Actually, I think we will begin to contend every year. The aging vets (besides Romo and Witten) are long gone. We have a talented young team, an elite offensive line, and a franchise QB. We seem to be doing an above average job of acquiring talent year in and year out.

I think we NEED to check off the following in order to be a serious contender next year.

1. resign Mo to a team friendly deal.
2. Obtain another running back to compliment McFadden in free agency and resign Dunbar
3. Obtain a mauling, run stuffing defensive tackle to bump Hayden to no more than a backup DT role.
3. Obtain a true man among boys mauler at inside linebacker.
4. Upgrade the safety/corner position in some form or fashion. (This could be playing Jones at safety, and drafting/obtaining a corner in free agency or obtaining a safety and playing Jones at corner)
5. Go get another receiver to compliment Dez.
6. Obtain a backup QB capable of going at least .400 against average teams if he has to start, or to play russian roulette with the position again, and instead, Romo stays healthy all year.

Personally, I think 3 and 4 would elevate the rest of the defense to serviceable, even without a true upgrade at safety or corner. I also think that the secondary doesn't suck as bad physically, as everyone makes them out to be. I just think our secondary coaching is horrible. A coaching upgrade there would pay huge dividends.

I think we could get an acceptable 1 tech pretty easily in this draft using a pick in the top 3 or 4 rounds this year, so there is no excuse not to do it. Getting an impact linebacker at MLB could probably also be obtained in the top 3 rounds. That would enable us to run wild in the draft at other positions.

I would try to get our RB in free agency, because you can get the most bang for the free agency buck there. I also think I would spend some money for a free agency wideout this year, unless you plan on grabbing the next Julio Jones in the draft this year, and I don't think that exists in the draft this year. Alshon Jeffery comes to mind as the right fit, if he hits free agency.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Do you not agree that we have improved the defense overall the last two years?

I cannot see that. At all. I can say that there were higher expectation re Ro, Hardy, Gregory but, my lord!, the defense was horrible this past season and the year before just mediocre that happened to play alongside a good offense.