DMN: Cowlishaw: My early prediction for the Cowboys' record next year

[jobberone]

Cowlishaw: My early prediction for the Cowboys' record next year

wtcowlishaw@***BANNED-URL***
Staff Writer

Published: 25 July 2015 01:03 AM

Columnist Tim Cowlishaw held a chat on Thursday. Here are some highlights.

What's your early prediction for Cowboys record-wise?

Early prediction is 10-6 but it will be revised after 10 days in camp and pre-season viewing.

Last year, JJ was very humble and offered up the 'Backs against the wall...' quote which in turn lowered expectations for the team (maybe a good thing). Will he revert back to the salesman 'Superbowl' hype machine, or keep the low-key humble approach?

I think the low-key humble approach is a thing of the past. They honestly didn't know if the defense could survive last year and it did. When Stephen Jones is saying, "I believe it's all coming together for us,'' I don't think we need to worry about humble.

If the Cowboys can't don't have a decent run game this year, how do you think the team will do?

Poorly. Although I think it will be decent. Will it be as reliable as it was last year? That's the question and my guess is no

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CHAT

Cowlishaw: Even as he approaches Jimmy Johnson's career record, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett feeling the hot seat

• The best of Rick Gosselin (Part 1): Why Eagles are 'vastly overrated,' Jerry Jones' best, worst draft picks

• Horn: What ESPN plans to do in 90-minute Cowboys training camp special

• Stephen Jones on the rewritten rule about Dez Bryant's non-catch: 'We still got some work to do'

 

[JoeKing]

Cowlishaw thinks our running game will be weak? Look, this isn't rocket science folks, it's football. Pretty basic stuff. Four plays to get 10 yards and repeat until you get in the end zone. If you have an O-line that can consistently get your ball carrier 3 yards every play, you have an unstoppable formula. You don't need a great runner that can zig and zag and get yards on his own. It's nice to have but not a must have to be successful. We have a great O-line and they do knock D-lines back on a consistent basis. Then we have Romo and a solid receiver group. Defenses have to respect that and play the field honestly. Our offence is lethal and now our defense should be able to stop offences more than our offence gets stopped. That should net you wins 99% of the time. I know football is more complicated than I've just described but it doesn't have to be. We have a smart coaching staff that is smart enough to not over think this game. I think we have a great shot at going very deep into the playoff.

 

[DogFace]

This year is going to be very fun. For a variety of reasons. Proving all the doubters wrong is one.

 

[CrownCowboy]

We definitely have the potential to have a big year considering the talent we have on offense, how our defense improved last year and how we performed last year overall. That's more than a good bit of other teams can say. With that being said we are just as apt to go 7-9 as we are to go 12-4 again.

It's a year to year league where good teams turn bad and bad teams turn good quick. I do think in our case it comes down to what we have been talking about all offseason. We need to stick with our commitment to running the ball. If our current running backs on the roster can't handle it then we need to bring in guys until we find somebody that can handle the job.

I am really excited about our defense this year and think we have the potential to really shock the league on that side of the ball.

Overall, we have the Quarterback, we have the superstar Wide Receiver and the dominant offensive line. Our defense has been infused with young talent that could really come together. I think we have as good of a shot as anybody and can't wait for the season to get started.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cowlishaw thinks our running game will be weak?

The exact word he used is decent.

 

[JoeKing]

The exact word he used is decent.

The context in which he used that word expressed the point that the running game will be diminished.

 

[jobberone]

Decent has different interpretations. At this point in time I think decent or even diminished (a bit) are reasonable. The running game is an unknown variable at present.

IOWs, we don't know.

 

[Doomsday]

This year we find out of last year was a fluke or this team is ready to make a serious run. I personally feel the latter, I havent been this excited about a Cowboys team in a real long time.

 

[StarBoyz83]

10-6 is what I think. Last year's schedule wasn't near as tough. Could've easily been 10-6 last year also.

 

[jobberone]

11-5 which I use for 9-6 to 13-3. For something without a range I'd pick 12-4 again.

 

[dogunwo]

It takes no balls to predict 10-6. Its the same prediction every year when expectations are good. 6-10 is the same lame prediction when expectations are bad. You rarely see expectations outside of 6-10 to 10-6

 

[big dog cowboy]

The context in which he used that word expressed the point that the running game will be diminished.

I understand but that is already a given. It was before Murray left. That in no way means weak.

 

[jobberone]

It takes no balls to predict 10-6. Its the same prediction every year when expectations are good. 6-10 is the same lame prediction when expectations are bad. You rarely see expectations outside of 6-10 to 10-6

That's fair. I think you can only predict well enough to give a two game range. However, if you want to make a stab at it then no range is fine.

The last two 8-8 years I picked but I hedged +/- 2yrs which is not going out on a limb albeit reasonably fair. I picked 10-6 last year and was happy to see us at the top of the range.

Predictions can be entertaining but I don't take them seriously.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

11-5 which I use for 9-5 to 13-3. For something without a range I'd pick 12-4 again.

Lol

I was gonna say.... We are good usually winning 3 of 4 games. I felt that way for the last several years,

I'm sticking with it.

12-4 with +/- 1 game

13-3 ceiling
11-5 floor (some sort of calamity 10-6)

 

[cowboy_ron]

Cowlishaw: My early prediction for the Cowboys' record next year

wtcowlishaw@***BANNED-URL***
Staff Writer

Published: 25 July 2015 01:03 AM
Columnist Tim Cowlishaw held a chat on Thursday. Here are some highlights.

What's your early prediction for Cowboys record-wise?

Early prediction is 10-6 but it will be revised after 10 days in camp and pre-season viewing.

Last year, JJ was very humble and offered up the 'Backs against the wall...' quote which in turn lowered expectations for the team (maybe a good thing). Will he revert back to the salesman 'Superbowl' hype machine, or keep the low-key humble approach?

I think the low-key humble approach is a thing of the past. They honestly didn't know if the defense could survive last year and it did. When Stephen Jones is saying, "I believe it's all coming together for us,'' I don't think we need to worry about humble.

If the Cowboys can't don't have a decent run game this year, how do you think the team will do?

Poorly. Although I think it will be decent. Will it be as reliable as it was last year? That's the question and my guess is no

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CHAT

Cowlishaw: Even as he approaches Jimmy Johnson's career record, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett feeling the hot seat

• The best of Rick Gosselin (Part 1): Why Eagles are 'vastly overrated,' Jerry Jones' best, worst draft picks

• Horn: What ESPN plans to do in 90-minute Cowboys training camp special

• Stephen Jones on the rewritten rule about Dez Bryant's non-catch: 'We still got some work to do'

JJ was very humble....as in stayed out of the way? JJ needs to realize that when he stays out of the way he wins EOTY...when he don't? Well...not so much

 

[JoeKing]

I understand but that is already a given. It was before Murray left. That in no way means weak.

What do you mean it was before Murray left? We are talking about something Cowlishaw posted today. It's not a given how the running game will be this season. Cowlishaw made the point without Murray the running game won't be as good. I'm just making the point it doesn't have to be as good as last year as long as they keep moving the chain all the way to the end zone.

 

[jobberone]

JJ was very humble....as in stayed out of the way? JJ needs to realize that when he stays out of the way he wins EOTY...when he don't? Well...not so much

How's the cards coming?

 

[cowboy_ron]

How's the cards coming?

It was a pretty good June jobber....getting old I guess, it takes more out of me these days..haha....how ya been?

 

[scottsp]

I have no problem with his prognosis. Seems fair enough, and the running game very well may take a hit. Hard to know.

In the end, as someone mentioned, predictions are mere sport within the sport. Much ado about nothing.

 

[jobberone]

It was a pretty good June jobber....getting old I guess, it takes more out of me these days..haha....how ya been?

Fair to middlin. I suppose good for my age.