Can the Cowboys be among the most physical NFL teams in 2025?

Chasing6 said:
We will see some dominance.

1/3 of the league we will dominate.

1/3 of the league we will play very physical with.

The remaining 1/3 of the league is the big question. Have we gained enough ground? Time will tell.
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Totally agree with all this.

Personally, I think we have. I've been saying "this is our year" for 20+ years now, eventually I'll be right one year. Lol

GO COWBOYS!
 
its possible on the offensive line
if booker is what we hope and Guyton steps up. Steele is the weak link I think

Defensively we are expecting a 7th rd pick and Mazi to really step up
not likely
 
The OL could average in the vicinity of 6'4" 325, so there's some chance there.

Tend to agree with #6.
 
Bobhaze said:
It’s no secret. The fundamentals of football never, ever stop being important. The teams who can block and tackle the best, execute their schemes the best and have at least a few skill people who are special - they are always going to win big.

Taking it a step further, in addition to the fundamentals, the NFL’s most physical teams are usually winning the most playoff games.

Who have been the most physically dominant teams the last few seasons?
  • In 2024, the most physically dominant team in the league was hands down Philly. The eagles OL/DL just manhandled opponents in the run game and on defense. The “Tush Push” works not because it’s a great play design. It works because their OL is physical.
  • In 2022 and ‘23 it was the Niners. SF’s defense, especially their LBs, were just maulers.
  • In the AFC the last few years, to the surprise of some, the chiefs are a lot more physical on D than most fans realize. DT Chris Jones needs a double team every play. They have had a top end D for three years now.
  • The ravens also are widely known as one of the most physical in the league.
Here’s my point: One of the biggest keys to the Cowboys possible return to playoff glory is being able to bully some opponents. Those 90s teams were physically dominant in the trenches.

So when was the last time we had a really physical team? Here are some recent candidates:
  • 2014 team - had a dominant OL with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. The run game that year led the league. It was no coincidence it was Romo’s best season. Problem was we had a defense that was not particularly physical.
  • 2016 team - Adding the young talent of Zeke coupled with the continued dominance of that same core OL as 2014, the Cowboys took the #1 seed in the NFC. Once again it was the defense that was the soft spot.
We could certainly discuss other Cowboys teams’ physicality but my hope is with the influx of physical players like Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku it can only help us get more physical.

Do I think the Cowboys will be able to play some “bully ball” next year? Honestly I think we still need some help on the defensive side of the trenches but I am hopeful we have taken a step forward in getting more physical. Maybe we’re another year away. We will see come September.
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Another good piece, Bullet. I'd add the Lions to the list over the last few seasons. They had a ton of injuries on defense and I think it caught up to them in the Washington 2nd round game.

As for the Cowboys, I think the OL has a chance to become a true strength of the team and potentially dominant. The development of Guyton at LT is crucial in that equation. Also, seeing if Steele can be more than serviceable at RT post-injury is important as well. My hope is that Steele is pushed in TC by Cornelius (assuming the Cowboys leave him at Tackle...they have a litany of Guards already). He was physical at Oregon.

Defensively, they are another free agency (if they really use it) and draft away from staffing a dominant defense. They didn't use one of the strengths of this past draft (DT depth) to fortify the interior DL. Mazi's development is critical in the defense being better. Maybe they add a vet or two who get released during camp or after TC.
 
Coogiguy03 said:
I think they're taking strides haze, the 1st round pick wasn't sexy, but it builds to our physicality we're trying to establish, I like us getting a BIGGER guy at DT! We all wanted it to happen, and it did, hopefully he can do good things for us
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My Friend, don't get too excited about the 2025 Cowboys, this team will be lucky to win 5 games.
 
As of now it is all wait and see, 1st PS then the regular season.
I dont know how it will go, but I am a little excited about the possibility's for the first time in
many years.
 
If micah and diggs are on the field in December it'll be a tough task to claim tough. The other 9 defensive players would have to be on some sort of level they've never exhibited before to be a "tough defense"
 
Bobhaze said:
It’s no secret. The fundamentals of football never, ever stop being important. The teams who can block and tackle the best, execute their schemes the best and have at least a few skill people who are special - they are always going to win big.

Taking it a step further, in addition to the fundamentals, the NFL’s most physical teams are usually winning the most playoff games.

Who have been the most physically dominant teams the last few seasons?
  • In 2024, the most physically dominant team in the league was hands down Philly. The eagles OL/DL just manhandled opponents in the run game and on defense. The “Tush Push” works not because it’s a great play design. It works because their OL is physical.
  • In 2022 and ‘23 it was the Niners. SF’s defense, especially their LBs, were just maulers.
  • In the AFC the last few years, to the surprise of some, the chiefs are a lot more physical on D than most fans realize. DT Chris Jones needs a double team every play. They have had a top end D for three years now.
  • The ravens also are widely known as one of the most physical in the league.
Here’s my point: One of the biggest keys to the Cowboys possible return to playoff glory is being able to bully some opponents. Those 90s teams were physically dominant in the trenches.

So when was the last time we had a really physical team? Here are some recent candidates:
  • 2014 team - had a dominant OL with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. The run game that year led the league. It was no coincidence it was Romo’s best season. Problem was we had a defense that was not particularly physical.
  • 2016 team - Adding the young talent of Zeke coupled with the continued dominance of that same core OL as 2014, the Cowboys took the #1 seed in the NFC. Once again it was the defense that was the soft spot.
We could certainly discuss other Cowboys teams’ physicality but my hope is with the influx of physical players like Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku it can only help us get more physical.

Do I think the Cowboys will be able to play some “bully ball” next year? Honestly I think we still need some help on the defensive side of the trenches but I am hopeful we have taken a step forward in getting more physical. Maybe we’re another year away. We will see come September.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if they will be among the most physical or not, but I definitely think they will be more physical and not just through the players they acquired. We know Schotty wants to run the ball and be more physical on Offense and Eberflus has stated over and over his HITS principle and how every single player on the field is expected to tackle and play a role in run support. I’m looking at you Diggs.
 
Bobhaze said:
It’s no secret. The fundamentals of football never, ever stop being important. The teams who can block and tackle the best, execute their schemes the best and have at least a few skill people who are special - they are always going to win big.

Taking it a step further, in addition to the fundamentals, the NFL’s most physical teams are usually winning the most playoff games.

Who have been the most physically dominant teams the last few seasons?
  • In 2024, the most physically dominant team in the league was hands down Philly. The eagles OL/DL just manhandled opponents in the run game and on defense. The “Tush Push” works not because it’s a great play design. It works because their OL is physical.
  • In 2022 and ‘23 it was the Niners. SF’s defense, especially their LBs, were just maulers.
  • In the AFC the last few years, to the surprise of some, the chiefs are a lot more physical on D than most fans realize. DT Chris Jones needs a double team every play. They have had a top end D for three years now.
  • The ravens also are widely known as one of the most physical in the league.
Here’s my point: One of the biggest keys to the Cowboys possible return to playoff glory is being able to bully some opponents. Those 90s teams were physically dominant in the trenches.

So when was the last time we had a really physical team? Here are some recent candidates:
  • 2014 team - had a dominant OL with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. The run game that year led the league. It was no coincidence it was Romo’s best season. Problem was we had a defense that was not particularly physical.
  • 2016 team - Adding the young talent of Zeke coupled with the continued dominance of that same core OL as 2014, the Cowboys took the #1 seed in the NFC. Once again it was the defense that was the soft spot.
We could certainly discuss other Cowboys teams’ physicality but my hope is with the influx of physical players like Tyler Booker and Donovan Ezeiruaku it can only help us get more physical.

Do I think the Cowboys will be able to play some “bully ball” next year? Honestly I think we still need some help on the defensive side of the trenches but I am hopeful we have taken a step forward in getting more physical. Maybe we’re another year away. We will see come September.
Click to expand...
Amen Bob, we need this team pick up this trait not a notch but bunches of notches , LOL. If the OL start setting the tone and DL and Lbs, Dbs bring it , it will be one way to get the opponents making business decisions .
 
Bobhaze said:
The odds are very long on 7th round DT Jay Toia. But even if we can get 10-15 quality snaps a game from him on defense to clog the run game we will be better.

Watching teams like the ravens, the eagles and niners just run the ball through our defense like a chain saw is demoralizing. In the past few seasons when teams punched the Cowboys we didn’t have much of a counter punch.

Hopefully that’s changing. It sure needs to.
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He has to hit for it to work. Mazi can’t play every snap.
 
I think we're going to need another draft and free agency to climb that mountain.

We have definitely made progress on the offensive side of the ball and the commitment to running the ball should establish a more physical team.

Next year we address the defensive line like we did the offensive line the last couple years and we will be in good shape on both sides of the ball to take it to other teams physically.
 
BTW, we just paid 20 million a year to one of the reasons why we get pushed around at the line of scrimmage.
 
Yeah, I'm not seeing it.
Adding Booker to the interior offensive line doesn't prevent this team from remaining soft.
I mean, whole roster wise, I guess I could go player by player and try and convince myself of 22 physical starters.
But I'd end up failing miserably.

Love ya Bob, but still nowheres near close to being a physical team if ya ask me.

Big no.
 
DandyDon52 said:
As of now it is all wait and see, 1st PS then the regular season.
I dont know how it will go, but I am a little excited about the possibility's for the first time in
many years.
Click to expand...
You know exactly how it will go.

And why would you be more excited now with a no name never was head coach than you were with a guy who actually won something?
 
This is like the 8th "could we do this?" Or "could we do that" thread I've seen

"Could this oLine be better than 2014 oLine ?

"Could Blue be Pollard 2.0?"

"Could Revel become the new leader of the defense?"

Etc etc etc

"Could Duece Vaughn be Darren Sproles 2.0?" (Oldy but goody)

Please stop the Could we do this. Could we do thats

We were one of the softest teams in the league last year...physically AND mentally (culture, created by owner).

COULD we become the best team ever in 2025 despite sucking in 2024? Yes....statistically speaking, it's possible. It's also possible the Giants, Jags, or Browns wins the SuperBowl....and I'm sure many of THOSE fans are sitting around going "COULD Trevor Lawrence become Tom Brady 2 0 this offseason?". Yes....he could. A tornado COULD pick up the 1000 Pound Sisters and drop them on Micah Parson's house crushing him like an ant.

Come on people.
 
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