ARTICLE: Balanced NFC East will put Cowboys to ultimate test

[Gryphon]

By Pat Kirwan | NFL.com
Senior Analyst

Question: What are the Cowboys' chances to go all the way this season? Scott Collier, Edinburg, Texas

The Cowboys have a quarterback in Tony Romo who can win in this league, a defense that can apply pressure and a few playmakers like Terrell Owens. That adds up to Dallas likely being in the hunt.
Coach Wade Phillips has the demeanor to lead these players and keep an even keel. The NFC East is brutal and there are questions surrounding DB Roy Williams, as well as the second wide receiver and possibly the nose tackle positions. My fear for the Cowboys is the same worry I have for the Giants, Eagles and Commanders. They may cannibalize themselves during the season leaving very little for the deep playoff run.
__________________
for more updates visit http://gryphononcowboys.blogspot.com/

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

 

[djtavo]

Readers have jumped at the chance to have their questions answered. My inbox has been full with inquiries on all aspects of football. From X's and O's to theories about the future of the game, I've seen it all.
Time to dive into this week's batch.
Question: What are the Cowboys' chances to go all the way this season? Scott Collier, Edinburg, Texas
The Cowboys have a quarterback in Tony Romo who can win in this league, a defense that can apply pressure and a few playmakers like Terrell Owens. That adds up to Dallas likely being in the hunt.
Coach Wade Phillips has the demeanor to lead these players and keep an even keel. The NFC East is brutal and there are questions surrounding DB Roy Williams, as well as the second wide receiver and possibly the nose tackle positions. My fear for the Cowboys is the same worry I have for the Giants, Eagles and Commanders. They may cannibalize themselves during the season leaving very little for the deep playoff run.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d8088a766&template=with-video&confirm=true

 

[jobberone]

Injuries could do it but I don't see how just playing each other is going to stop a playoff team. If they aren't forged by fire then they might not be ready.

 

[StylisticS]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

All that pressure. It will really be interesting to see if they can handle it because I think everybody pretty much agrees with the sentiment that this should be a super bowl year.

 

[Mansta54]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

Oh I can't wait to hear yalls excuses. I'm sure their will be plenty...

 

[jobberone]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

So if we lose say in the NFC Championship game and you go 5-11 we are the bigger disappointment?

 

[tomson75]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

I wouldn't exactly say that we're "loaded" at QB and WR. Brad Johnson?

...and while we've clearly got one of the better #1 options at WR, I think the remaining guys on our roster basically amount to a bunch of #3 guys...not that having four or five guys with #3 talent is bad, but not having a good compliment to Owens isn't ideal.

 

[sago1]

Appreciate the vote of confidence from a Skins fan. As for the article, frankly it is poppycock. Don't know how long Kirwan has been a sports writer/expert analyist but back in the 90s the same think was said about the NFC East -- that the East would be so tough that we destroy/cannablize ourselves & each other. Well, we all remember what really did happen. The Giants won the SB in 90, the Skins in 91 & our great Cowboy's team won the SB in 92, 93 & 95. This time I think the Cowboys jump over the Skins to again win multiple SB.

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

Oh I can't wait to hear yalls excuses. I'm sure their will be plenty...

I am not sure what "excuse" we have. Your team is loaded, remember? Again, barring injuries, your team should roll over the NFC

So if we lose say in the NFC Championship game and you go 5-11 we are the bigger disappointment?

Yup. I honestly have no clue what to make of the Commanders team this year. Could go anywhere from 1-15 to 12-4. New coach, new system, a whole lot of rookies and young guys going to get playing time, I'd say an out of the basement finish would be real good for us

As for your boys, you went 13-3 last year, blew a home playoff game, and return the same squad with some upgrades at DB, which was your primary weakness. I have already put money on the Cowboys to get to the Superbowl. So I have no clue, barring injuries again (like to Romo), how anyone is going to stop you in the NFC.

I wouldn't exactly say that we're "loaded" at QB and WR. Brad Johnson?

...and while we've clearly got one of the better #1 options at WR, I think the remaining guys on our roster basically amount to a bunch of #3 guys...not that having four or five guys with #3 talent is bad, but not having a good compliment to Owens isn't ideal.

You match up very well with just about any NFC defense. If TO goes down, of course that changes things. But barring injuries, your team has no excuse for another year without at minimum a playoff victory

 

[mmohican29]

I have to agree with the skinsfan


Anything less than a heartbreaker loss in the NFC Championship game will be a disappointment.

This team is tooled to go the distance, and it should.

We may finish less than 13-3, but I think we go all the way this year.

 

[jobberone]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jobberone
So if we lose say in the NFC Championship game and you go 5-11 we are the bigger disappointment?

Yup. I honestly have no clue what to make of the Commanders team this year. Could go anywhere from 1-15 to 12-4. New coach, new system, a whole lot of rookies and young guys going to get playing time, I'd say an out of the basement finish would be real good for us

As for your boys, you went 13-3 last year, blew a home playoff game, and return the same squad with some upgrades at DB, which was your primary weakness. I have already put money on the Cowboys to get to the Superbowl. So I have no clue, barring injuries again (like to Romo), how anyone is going to stop you in the NFC.



Well I can't put up too much of an argument. Not sure I agree but I definitely will be major league disappointed if this team does not play well in December and exits early from the playoffs because of poor play.

 

[coach316]

By Pat Kirwan | NFL.com
Senior Analyst

Question: What are the Cowboys' chances to go all the way this season? Scott Collier, Edinburg, Texas

The Cowboys have a quarterback in Tony Romo who can win in this league, a defense that can apply pressure and a few playmakers like Terrell Owens. That adds up to Dallas likely being in the hunt.
Coach Wade Phillips has the demeanor to lead these players and keep an even keel. The NFC East is brutal and there are questions surrounding DB Roy Williams, as well as the second wide receiver and possibly the nose tackle positions. My fear for the Cowboys is the same worry I have for the Giants, Eagles and Commanders. They may cannibalize themselves during the season leaving very little for the deep playoff run.
__________________
for more updates visit http://gryphononcowboys.blogspot.com/

Huh? In the HUNT?!?!! Pattie muh boy...we're the lead dog in this hunting party.


Granted, when Ferguson went down I wondered if Ratliff could handle the duty full time and not wear down. But he not only handled it but he stepped up and performed extremely well. With Tank Johnson getting a year of offseason work and able to get the defense thoroughly learned, the nose tackle is the least of my worries on the defensive line, let alone the entire defense.

 

[SacredStar]

There are no excuses for your 'Boys this year. You are loaded at QB, WR, RB, D-line, LB, DB's, and coaching

Anything less then a Superbowl is a dissapointment with the talent and continuity coming back (barring injury of course)

Try not to feed off the "No Excuses" thread BillyKilmer started at ES.

That is just there to make an excuse for Commanders fans to prematurely judge Cowboy fans.

Worry about your own favorite team.

 

[burmafrd]

Nose tackle? just shows how stupid this guy is. With the Rat and the Tank we have it well covered. The #2 WR is the only REAL question mark on this team. Well, that and Roy.

 

[gimmesix]

You match up very well with just about any NFC defense. If TO goes down, of course that changes things. But barring injuries, your team has no excuse for another year without at minimum a playoff victory

We definitely should win and reach the Super Bowl, barring injuries.

I won't, however, say "no excuses." I think that paints you in a corner when you don't know how things will unfold.

 

[AsthmaField]

Try not to feed off the "No Excuses" thread BillyKilmer started at ES.

That is just there to make an excuse for Commanders fans to prematurely judge Cowboy fans.

Worry about your own favorite team.

They're like lemmings, you know.

 

[Sarge]

I have to agree with the skinsfan

.

Me too, he's essentially right. Barring injury (especially to TO), we are the best team in the NFC.

 

[Stash]

I agree with the 'Skins fan. And it read like a compliment to me.

The Cowboys are as loaded with talent as any team in the league.

Anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will be a disappointment.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

true.....we are in a brutal division