Compare the 2009 Team to the 1992 Team Position by Position

[PullMyFinger]

Could be, I've never seen a more accurate QB than Aikman. But Romo ain't too shabby in that department.

I think Aikman was the most accurate QB ever.

 

[Eskimo]

Very difficult to compare because the game has changed drastically. Back then it wasn't a passing league and DB's could get away with a heck of a lot more than they do now. I don't know how Romo would have faired with so many playing bump and run coverage.

Also, the 1992 team was MUCH deeper than the current team. Our backups would later become pro bowlers back then. Who on this current team has that kind of potential? Plus, we had hall of famers at the 3 skill positions and though I love our current bunch, I don't see any hall of famers.

Give them some time but HOF is a possible desination for:

Witten

Romo

Austin

Ware

Jenkins

Rafliff

That is not to stay they are locks or even likely to get in but I think based on present trajectories, any of these guys could be headed there.

 

[dbair1967]

Perhaps as a team, but I'm not finding as many obvious advantages POSITION BY POSITION as I thought I might. Aikman obviously has more big wins and titles, but Romo has the stats.

I dunno, I've seen Romo make plays that Aikman could only dream about.

And Aikman could make throws that only Romo could dream about.

And this idea that some have that Aikman was some stiff who had no mobility or athletic ability is total crap. Those who think that apparently didnt see him his first half dozen or so years in the league.

There arnt many players on this team that could start on that 92 team. On offense I'd probably go with Witten over Novacek and Davis over Gesek. If we were looking at 3rd WR's, I'd probably take Crayton over Kelvin Martin. Thats about it. Defensively you could take Newman or Jenkins over Larry Brown. Ware could play somewhere on that defense, but not at OLB in a 4-3 defense. Other than these 4 guys and McBriar, there isnt anybody else.

On the other hand, the 92 team had a number of backups who could probably start here.

Its not a knock on this years team, it may ultimately go far in the playoffs and maybe win the super bowl. It's just that the 92 and 93 Cowboys were just absolutely loaded.

 

[thechosen1n2]

Aikman versus Romo is a REALLY interesting debate. .

What is interesting about it. No knock on Romo but there is nothing interesting about this YET.

If Aikman was qb, flozell would not still be jumpin offsides, his pin point accuracy would make RW11 still relevant, and TO would not have had to leave this team for him to become somewhat of a leader. Aikman would have gotten TO the ball when he was suppose to, in tight spaces and told TO to shut up and play ball and TO would have been happy about it.

Nothing interesting about this discussion yet.

 

[CowboyMike]

Hmmm...

Irvin > Austin

1992 Irvin: 78 rec, 1396 yds, 7 TDs
2009 Austin: 81 rec, 1320, 11 TDs

Pretty similar. I'll give Irvin the edge because of his intangibles.

Harper > Williams

1992 Harper: 35 rec, 562 yds, 4 TDs
2009 Williams: 38 rec, 596 yds, 7 TDs

I'll take Roy here. Alvin was a little more hit and miss than Roy. I think some personal bias and too rosy of memories might cause some people to pick Alvin over Roy. Remember the negative on Alvin too.

Norton > James, Brooking

Negative.

Haley = Ware

Haley should be a HoF. He had the numbers and the leadership, but Ware is a once in a generation talent and player. I'll take Ware every time.

 

[dbair1967]

I'd take Williams over Harper, and maybe even Crayton over Harper. Yes, Williams has been disappointing since he's been here, but Harper was a limited role player. He was tall and could jump high, and that's about it.

I think if it were the Roy Williams we thought we were getting, yeah. But the Roy Williams we have seen unfortunately is not the playmaker Harper was. Harper was one of the best big play guys in football from 92-94.

Ware is a better pass-rusher and a far better player overall. And he's an infinitely better person.

I dont know if he's a better pass rusher, when Haley was healthy he was elite. But overall there is not much comparison as Ware is a much more complete player.

Norton was an outside linebacker that season. Robert Jones was the inside linebacker, and I'd probably take either James or Brooking over him.

Yeah Jones was a rookie, though he did play well. He was then benched the next yr however. He had more speed and range than either James or Brooking do however. Not sure if either of these guys we have now could play in that scheme.

At other positions, I'd take Witten over Novacek, Davis over Gesek, Ratliff over Maryland, Spencer over Vinson Smith, Newman/Jenkins over Smith/Brown and McBriar over Saxon.

Witten yes, Davis yes. Not sure about Ratliff over Maryland, I think Ratliff's a much better pass rusher but Maryland was outstanding vs the run. I do think Ratliff would be dominant as a 4-3 DT tough. I have no problem with taking Newman or Jenkins over Brown, but Kevin Smith was an outstanding player. Spencer couldnt play OLB in a 4-3 defense IMO.

The safeties might be a push (Everett and Washington vs. Hamlin and Sensabaugh), and Olshansky vs. Casillas might be a push.

Definitely wouldnt agree with either of those. The safeties we had in 92 were far better in pass coverage and made alot more plays than this group does. Casillas was more of a playmaker at DT than Olshansky is.

 

[DFWJC]

Robert Jones was the inside linebacker, and I'd probably take either James or Brooking over him.
.

Tough call on Robert Jones. He was the NFC Rookie of the Year that year, had great range and was strong. Two years later he made the Pro Bowl. He led the team in tackles a couple of times too.

 

[joseephuss]

Hmmm...

1992 Irvin: 78 rec, 1396 yds, 7 TDs
2009 Austin: 81 rec, 1320, 11 TDs

Pretty similar. I'll give Irvin the edge because of his intangibles.

1992 Harper: 35 rec, 562 yds, 4 TDs
2009 Williams: 38 rec, 596 yds, 7 TDs

I'll take Roy here. Alvin was a little more hit and miss than Roy. I think some personal bias and too rosy of memories might cause some people to pick Alvin over Roy. Remember the negative on Alvin too.
.

You have to remember that Irvin held out to start the year in 1992. I can't remember when he finally joined the team, but he had little to no training camp reps. Novacek also held out. The two biggest receiving threats got little time with Aikman during the pre-season.

Lots of people were down on Harper and his hands of stone. If the message boards were around back then they would have called for him to be cut a few times.

 

[rcaldw]

howbout a fun fact like

the 91 cowboys team got knocked out of the playoffs 38-6 by detroit.

the 08 team got knocked out 44-6 by philly!

I like the thought Theebs, unfortunately, though, the 91 Cowboys were IN the playoffs when they got knocked out, and had won a playoff game that year against the Bears, the 08 Cowboys MISSED the playoffs when they got waxed.

 

[dbair1967]

You have to remember that Irvin held out to start the year in 1992. I can't remember when he finally joined the team, but he had little to no training camp reps. Novacek also held out. The two biggest receiving threats got little time with Aikman during the pre-season.

Lots of people were down on Harper and his hands of stone. If the message boards were around back then they would have called for him to be cut a few times.

I was at TC in 92 and Irvin and Novacek were both there. I dont remember Irvin coming in late.

Harper was definitely going to lose his starting job in 1992 TC to Jimmy Smith, but Smith broke his leg in camp.

 

[BAT]

You have to remember that Irvin held out to start the year in 1992. I can't remember when he finally joined the team, but he had little to no training camp reps. Novacek also held out. The two biggest receiving threats got little time with Aikman during the pre-season.

Lots of people were down on Harper and his hands of stone. If the message boards were around back then they would have called for him to be cut a few times.

But Harp was money in December and the postseason. He was Fri-light (as opposed to his preferred nick of "Highlight") during most of the regular season though.

 

[joseephuss]

I was at TC in 92 and Irvin and Novacek were both there. I dont remember Irvin coming in late.

Harper was definitely going to lose his starting job in 1992 TC to Jimmy Smith, but Smith broke his leg in camp.

I can't remember the exact circumstances. I remember the story of Aikman faxing plays to Novacek to keep Jay up to date on what they were practicing.

I did a quick google search and the only thing I found was a DVD of the team and on the menu one of the chapter titles is "Michael Irvin's Return After a Contract Holdout".

http://www.amazon.ca/NFL-Americas-Game-Dallas-Cowboys/dp/B000RPD0IM

 

[TNCowboy]

The 92 team was destroyed by the Eagles. The 09 team has played competitively in every loss, but I agree 92 team was pretty damn good.

So? They had one bad game. There was no other such example.

It's not even debatable. We're talking about a team that won a super bowl by whipping 49er and Bills teams loaded with legitimate HOFers, and easily won a division which featured very tough Eagle and Commander teams, vs a 2009 edition that's 11-5 and hasn't really won anything yet.

Edit: Meant to add, that Philly defense in the early 90s was unbelievable. Reggie White, Seth Joyner, Jerome Brown (not sure if he was still alive in '92), Clyde Simmons, and Eric Allen. It's no wonder the Cowboys struggled with them for years. That's one of the most talented defenses any of us will ever see.

 

[joseephuss]

But Harp was money in December and the postseason. He was Fri-light (as opposed to his preferred nick of "Highlight") during most of the regular season though.

Yes, he was, but no one knew that during the 92 regular season.

 

[dbair1967]

Look at both the offensive and defensive lines of both teams...big edge to 1992, imo.

Surprisingly, the '92 secondary (Brown, Washington, Everette, Horton) was only decent, but the rest of the D was so good they made them look much better.

Thomas Everett and James Washington were outstanding safeties. Everett was regarded as one of the best all around FS's in football when we traded for him in 1992. Horton was a dime back. Darren Woodson was a rookie who played extensively in the nickel and was outstanding in coverage.

 

[joseephuss]

Thomas Everett and James Washington were outstanding safeties. Everett was regarded as one of the best all around FS's in football when we traded for him in 1992. Horton was a dime back. Darren Woodson was a rookie who played extensively in the nickel and was outstanding in coverage.

I would take rookie Darren Woodson over Bobby Carpenter in the nickle package in this years defense.

 

[dbair1967]

I would take rookie Darren Woodson over Bobby Carpenter in the nickle package in this years defense.

They dont make them like Woody any more.

Wish we could find one now.

 

[DFWJC]

They dont make them like Woody any more.

Wish we could find one now.

He was one of my all-time favs as well.

 

[casmith07]

good threads > dumb threads

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Aikman versus Romo is a REALLY interesting debate. Now its projecting some on Romo because he has few skins (not just SB's) on the wall at this point.

If you ask which QB was more valuable to their team, I'd say Romo. Aikman had a better overall supporting cast (see Emmitt) as well as better backups (Buerline, Kosar, Peete). So Aikman was more of a high quality component.

But Romo today is the centerpiece of that offense. I still find it amazing how much Romo transformed this team when he took over and could never believe that so many seriously questioned the guy over the last couple of years.

Romo, really is more of the Staubach mold - a playmaker. Not his equal in terms of leadership though.

If the rest of the org can hold up their end, when Romo's career is done he will (IMO) be the equal of Troy & Roger. A truly incredible trio that it makes little sense to pit one vs the other. With Meredith & White a couple steps behind them. What an incredible group overall.

That's a good assessment. I don't think you are giving Romo enough credit in the leadership role. I think he has become the leader this year. He barks at teammates when he needs to and he knows who to bark at and who not to.