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

Bobhaze said:
I think the offense will be ahead of the defense too. I also think it’s going to take more than a season to get this team to become a team whose physicality can impose its will. I th8 k we take a postive step forward this year.
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But that’s assuming we will have a running game behind our OL. Dont believe we have a candidate for starting RB at this point. And no legit WR2 or a TE that scares anyone .

And if our QB can’t survive 17 games which becomes more likely each year we will be dependent on our defense again.

Unfortunately unless our defense becomes at least top 10 we are probably less than a physical team.
 
CowboysLakerBamaFan said:
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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While Bob doesn’t believe we are going to be serious contenders he’s just attempting to provide a glimpse of optimism or hope. Can’t knock him for that . There’s always a glimmer of hope we make some progress until we don’t . Just saying…
 
Diehardblues said:
But that’s assuming we will have a running game behind our OL. Dont believe we have a candidate for starting RB at this point. And no legit WR2 or a TE that scares anyone .

And if our QB can’t survive 17 games which becomes more likely each year we will be dependent on our defense again.

Unfortunately unless our defense becomes at least top 10 we are probably less than a physical team.
Click to expand...
If the OLine opens holes, we will have a running game. It is as simple as that.
 
Risen Star said:
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?
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Parcells had won 2 SB's, but here he was 0-2 in playoffs in 4 years.
MM was 0-3 in playoffs here.
MM won 1 SB back in 2010 with a young Rodgers, then could never get back to the SB.
He had Rogers and some good teams. The game he lost to Seattle, the reason they lost
was due to poor coaching.

Just because a coach wins with one team doesnt mean they can do it anywhere else,
and Mike was just not a good HC here, he was avg, and at times below avg.

Shotty, I like what he has said and done so far, so I think he may do more than the supposedly
qualified winners other fans wanted.
 
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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so we add one RG, and all of a sudden this whole team is more physical and one of the most physical in NFL? just because of 1 RG? that's it. add a RG and you are one of the most physical?

we have an undersized DL, who are the LBs exactly. two UDFA and two has been as safties and three CBs coming off major injuries. how is this defense going to be more physical?

you can't just be physical in a couple of positions and then all of a sudden you are a physical team...this defense is not going to be physical because it can't. its not in its DNA, it has holes everywhere....the offense has maybe phsyicality up the middle, and the rest have question marks outside of CD...
 
DandyDon52 said:
Parcells had won 2 SB's, but here he was 0-2 in playoffs in 4 years.
MM was 0-3 in playoffs here.
MM won 1 SB back in 2010 with a young Rodgers, then could never get back to the SB.
He had Rogers and some good teams. The game he lost to Seattle, the reason they lost
was due to poor coaching.

Just because a coach wins with one team doesnt mean they can do it anywhere else,
and Mike was just not a good HC here, he was avg, and at times below avg.

Shotty, I like what he has said and done so far, so I think he may do more than the supposedly
qualified winners other fans wanted.
Click to expand...
The most difficult job of being the Head Coach in Dallas, is coaching Jerry Jones.

Jerry is more likely to make changes under a new Coach, because that coach will not be able to take all the credit.

A coach with a previous SB ring, could easily try to take all the credit away from GM Jethro.
 
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...
Eh,
In 2023 we were 16th vs the run at 112 yards per game.
The Chiefs were 17th at 113 yards per game.
We got trucked by GB in the playoffs and the Chiefs went on to win the SB vs the 49ers who were 2nd vs the run at 89 yards per game!
 
TheMightyVanHalen said:
I think we will be physically dominate on offense. On defense, and I'm no coach, but to me, I think we will be a DQ type defense. With Fowler/Parson/Eze, we will get after the QB. No doubt about that. But I don't see us being physically dominate in the trenches.

GO COWBOYS! :star:
Click to expand...
Eberflus's style is attacking with the front four, playing assignment sound and hustling to the ball. He's another that isn't a big believer in a mass over quickness. The OP mentioned Eze making us more physical on defense, but he's not a big end. He's not a bad run player, but his game isn't built on being physically dominant.

Now, we did add some late-round bulk on defense, but how much can we expect from seventh-rounders?
 
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...
BULLET!!!!
2016, a one legged Rodgers made the impossible possible. When it comes to DAL, something always rises to the occasion against DAL's favor.
 
CowboysLakerBamaFan said:
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.
Click to expand...
Well actually I don’t disagree that one off-season can’t fix a team with roster holes in so many places. I’m just asking, “Could this team be among the more physical teams?” Or not?

My original point is that if we are to ever return to glory, we are going to need to be way more physical than we’ve been in a long time.

Is one draft and a weak FA class going to fix us? Highly doubtful. But I do think they made an effort in the draft.
 
I don’t think the Dallas o-line will be a physical force this year; their LT is coming back from injury, their RT is coming off a sub-par season following surgery; their RG and de-facto leader retired leaving a huge leadership void.
The d-line is weak at tackle; the defensive ends push up the field too quickly and don’t set their edges; the LBs have speed, but aren’t physical and can’t stay healthy. I think a mark of a physical team is being able to stop the run and we all know Dallas has been near the bottom of the NFL in run defense for years.
Can the Cowboys’ lines become dominant? With the right players and coaching I think they can, but they are still lacking a stud DT and a thumper LB; also maybe another OL. Given the coaching turnover last season, their abilities are yet to be revealed.
I am more interested in all the talk about changing culture; I still subscribe to the theory that culture evolves in the highest echelons of an organization and permeates throughout its levels.
Any change in this culture is going to be a long process so long as an individual named Jones is running things. I am wondering if Coach Shotty had to run the reassignment of lockers by Jerry…
 
exciter said:
Eh,
In 2023 we were 16th vs the run at 112 yards per game.
The Chiefs were 17th at 113 yards per game.
We got trucked by GB in the playoffs and the Chiefs went on to win the SB vs the 49ers who were 2nd vs the run at 89 yards per game!
Click to expand...
It is not hard to win when your D gives up 16.5 points a game.
 
Nope. Still too many questions on the OL, skill positions, schemes before i'd predict they are a physical team. Plus we know the defense is finess.
 
Bobhaze said:
Well actually I don’t disagree that one off-season can’t fix a team with roster holes in so many places. I’m just asking, “Could this team be among the more physical teams?” Or not?

My original point is that if we are to ever return to glory, we are going to need to be way more physical than we’ve been in a long time.

Is one draft and a weak FA class going to fix us? Highly doubtful. But I do think they made an effort in the draft.
Click to expand...
You do a great job with analysis. I wonder if there is a correlation between the stability of the coaches (DC/OL) and success/physicality. I would also assume the coaching philosophy could influence physicality with everything from player selection to schemes.

I am no expert on the philosophies of different coaches but using Dan Quinn as an example, I would assume if a new coach wanted to implement a more physical style, he initially might not have the ideal personnel.

To answer your question for next year, I guess they could be but I don’t think they will be.
 
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