Do you really expect this to be a good team?

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I expect it to be decent. I don't see the playoffs this season. The oline is shaky at best, and Romo could be throwing to no-names for a chunk of the season. We also still don't know how the D will actually be.

Dez and Miles are no names really?

Our defense will be much improved with the additions Mo, Carr, and Connors.

Our OL is shaky, but so was the last couple of champions.

We were 8-8 last year with a horrible OL and secondary. Now we have a much improved secondary and slightly improved OL. We'll be at least two games better probably more.

 

[SDCowboy]

Dez and Miles are no names really?

Where the heck did I say that?

 

[Bluestang]

Yes, absolutely. We were 7-4 at one point last year, and this team should be better. This team has a lot of talent and, most of all, a top QB.

I'd like to hear why we should be 6-10, unless you're expecting injuries to our best players.

Seems to be driven by the premise that we didn't sign every 9-10 million dollar FA available.

We had 5 games where we gave up the lead in the last 2 minutes of the 4 qtr.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

We were 8-8 last year with a horrible OL and secondary. Now we have a much improved secondary and slightly improved OL. We'll be at least two games better probably more.

Last season's record is one way to evaluate the team. There's validity to that approach.

However, we can also evaluate the team by comparing it to the other teams in its division. And based on the additions and changes the Cowboys made this offseason, can we say that they've closed gap with the Eagles and Giants -- a gap that was fairly substantial last season?

 

[Risen Star]

Not really.

Maybe I'd define it as we got a puncher's chance. It's not like we can't have young guys emerge. But more than likely we are a middle of the road team.

I'd rank us 8th in the conference right now. Behind....

1. Green Bay
2. N.Y. Giants
3. Philadelphia
4. New Orleans
5. San Francisco
6. Detroit
7. Atlanta

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Where the heck did I say that?

You said Tony would be throwing to no names.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

You said Tony would be throwing to no names.

I think he was expressing concern over the potential injury situation.

 

[Bizwah]

I think we'll be as good as our defense. Of course, that goes without saying.

But, I think we have the pieces on defense to be very, very good. Will they come together?

I think the DL appears younger and improved. Lissemore and Hatcher along with Crawford is the making of a young, tenacious group of DEs.

I think we're improved at ILB. Carter, Conner, and Lee are young and talented.

I think our secondary shows a ton of promise.

We also have a full offseason with Ryan, so there should be fewer breakdowns.

The lack of depth at WR is alarming. The OL I will reserve judgement on until we see them all together. The starting group of Free, Livings, Costa, Bernadeau, and Smith might do just fine.

Romo is good...we're fine at QB. I like where we are at RB and TE.

I'm also excited about the second full season for Garrett. I truly think we've got a good one there.

Now, will that translate into success this season? Not totally sure. There are so many things that can happen. Will we have injuries to key players last all year? Will the Giants or Eagles? How soon will RG3 adapt to the NFL?

I disagree with those that think the Giants and Eagles are so far ahead of us. I think the margin is close. I think we are finally forming an identity. We're identifying the types of players we want to have in our system. I think we have as much talent as the Giants and Eagles...we simply lacked the focus.

 

[gmoney112]

Last season's record is one way to evaluate the team. There's validity to that approach.

However, we can also evaluate the team by comparing it to the other teams in its division. And based on the additions and changes the Cowboys made this offseason, can we say that they've closed gap with the Eagles and Giants -- a gap that was fairly substantial last season?

The Eagles had our number, absolutely. Although I think we've closed the gap substantially on them. That is a screen-oriented offense that takes advantage of their speed. How do you beat that kind of offense? Athletic ILB's and the ability to press on the outside. If you didn't have athletic ability in the middle of the field you got torched. They might have been the worst matchup for us in the NFL last season based on our personnel, all of which has been significantly upgraded. I think we split with them.

I think everyone saw the Giants games. We couldn't cover them. Hakeem Nicks and Cruz did whatever they wanted. I nearly broke my remote seeing Newman playing 10 yards off Cruz and then just getting humiliated at will. If our defense came up with 1 more stop in the first game the Giants don't back into the playoffs and don't win another Lombardi. I think we've surpassed them. Their offense is the passing game and their offensive line is weak again this year. We've added the necessary pieces to compete with that offense, something we didn't have last year.

In my opinion, barring injury, the Eagles are probably the strongest right now on paper. They had a tremendous offseason but then again they always look strong on paper and Vick will obviously miss a few games. I see the Eagles and Boys taking playoff spots in the East. The Giants are experienced but they are notoriously weak in the regular season and their schedule this year is brutal, I see them going 8-8.

 

[baj1dallas]

I like to think I'm pretty objective, and when I look at the 2012 Dallas Cowboys, I see the ingredients for a very poor season. There are just far too many holes and unaddressed needs to think this team is going to compete for the playoffs. Both lines are more or less disasters at this point, the wide receivers are china dolls, and there's hardly any depth throughout the roster.

This is looking like a 6-10 kind of team to me and worse than the team I predicted would be 7-9 or 8-8 last year, which ended up being correct. I know that it's not a popular opinion, but what exactly do you see if you think this team will be better?

I think this is a very similar team to last year. Offensively they're the same, minus Laurent Robinson and the guys who are trying to replace him haven't looked very impressive. Defensively the secondary has had a major shakeup which might be better in the long term, but will require some adjustment and development over the early part of the season. Even the special teams have taken a hit. I don't see how this team has really improved a whole lot. That said, they should have finished 9-7 last year, and could do that this year if they don't choke. OTOH they could easily finish 7-9 as well.

 

[SDCowboy]

You said Tony would be throwing to no names.

I said he COULD be. As in when Miles and Dez get injured.

 

[Galian Beast]

I love that this thread completely outed the chicken littles.

 

[Eskimo]

I am expecting somewhere between 7-9 and 11-5. I think right now a lot depends on the health of the WRs and the play of the interior OL. If we get healthy years out of Miles and Dez and league average play out of the OL I see 11-5 as a distinct possibility if the defense is as good as I expect it to be.

Right now I really think the defense has to carry us early in the year until the OL starts to gel. They may be good enough to do it with all the major additions this year. The following players should represent major upgrades over their predecessors: Carr, Lissemore, Crawford, Carter and Connor.

The offense has not been upgraded at all. I think this year's OL may actually be worse - it would be today if we had to play with what we have. What Mack, Livings and whoever plays the third interior spot contributes is a big mystery to me. I hope that third guy ends up being Holland with Mack at Center. I think Costa's injury is much worse than they are letting on and the MRI being ordered makes me think Costa is either having severe pain or sciatica type symptoms because otherwise you would not go down this investigative pathway. If he does have significant structural damage to a disc he probably will not play this year and may never play again - OL can't have bad backs, not even mildly bad ones as we saw with Marco Rivera and that Andrews kid who played with the Eagles.

I really lay a lot of blame with the FO on this one. Someone should have laid the law down and said we aren't going after a top 5 CB when we have two very good ones already in Jenkins and Carr on the roster but not a single quality interior OL. We did sign one vet who was an average player last year but we also let go of an OG who played better than his replacement (Holland). We have added another vet OG but he has mostly been a backup. That's really it - nothing from the draft, not even a 7th rounder. If we take that #14 pick and trade down to the mid 20s we could have gotten a mid 2nd rounder and with those 3 picks in the first two rounds we could have added a CB, OLG and OG/C or one CB and two OG/C.

This is the danger of playing this game without a GM. Garrett as the HC is too close to the players to act as the GM. I think it is hard for a coach to let go of one of his vets and it is hard for him not to see the upside of the young guys on the roster. Ideally the GM is more detached from the players and can have a more objective opinion on such matters. We really deceive ourselves if we think a GM by committee doesn't have major weaknesses. I think the draft is probably the part I worry about least because you can just go out and hire good scouts and get the player ratings for your systems done without a great GM but it is the other things that I worry about more.

Now the season is far from lost. There is still a top 15 NFL OG out there who we can sign and move Mack over to Center where he can concentrate. Pick up the phone and call Holland and get a fair deal done for a guy expected to start 16 games - he played great last year and looks like he is in even better shape right now than he was last year. If Costa comes back and beats out Mack and then Mack beats Holland for a starting OG gig then at least you have some depth. We are screwed right now with Nagy and Killer having major injuries, Livings still unable to practice, Mack playing after two offseason non-contact injuries requiring surgery to his hip and knee and Costa now with a "bad back" and requiring an urgent MRI. We have a season to play where the rest of the team is ready to contend outside of the OL. We don't have many seasons left with Romo, Ware and Witten still in their primes - spend the money to give us an adequate OL.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Well, I think injuries to Bryant and Austin are foregone conclusions. Romo is probably due to miss some games like he does every other season. The backs are injury prone. I just don't see what you guys are seeing, apparently. It just looks like a bad football team to me. The ineffectiveness of both lines will go a long way toward reducing the effectiveness of the skill players on both sides of the ball.

I don't think our D-line is bad, and I'm not sure our O-line is bad, either. That's the one group that depends on teamwork and toughness and coaching as much as anything.

Anyway, I could see 9-7 to 8-8, but not a "bad" team. We threw away probably two wins last year, and I don't see us being worse than we were with Carr and Claiborne.

And even if Romo were to get hurt for a few weeks, we probably have as good a backup as anyone in the league.

 

[Bluestang]

I am expecting somewhere between 7-9 and 11-5. I think right now a lot depends on the health of the WRs and the play of the interior OL. If we get healthy years out of Miles and Dez and league average play out of the OL I see 11-5 as a distinct possibility if the defense is as good as I expect it to be.

Right now I really think the defense has to carry us early in the year until the OL starts to gel. They may be good enough to do it with all the major additions this year. The following players should represent major upgrades over their predecessors: Carr, Lissemore, Crawford, Carter and Connor.

The offense has not been upgraded at all. I think this year's OL may actually be worse - it would be today if we had to play with what we have. What Mack, Livings and whoever plays the third interior spot contributes is a big mystery to me. I hope that third guy ends up being Holland with Mack at Center. I think Costa's injury is much worse than they are letting on and the MRI being ordered makes me think Costa is either having severe pain or sciatica type symptoms because otherwise you would not go down this investigative pathway. If he does have significant structural damage to a disc he probably will not play this year and may never play again - OL can't have bad backs, not even mildly bad ones as we saw with Marco Rivera and that Andrews kid who played with the Eagles.

I really lay a lot of blame with the FO on this one. Someone should have laid the law down and said we aren't going after a top 5 CB when we have two very good ones already in Jenkins and Carr on the roster but not a single quality interior OL. We did sign one vet who was an average player last year but we also let go of an OG who played better than his replacement (Holland). We have added another vet OG but he has mostly been a backup. That's really it - nothing from the draft, not even a 7th rounder. If we take that #14 pick and trade down to the mid 20s we could have gotten a mid 2nd rounder and with those 3 picks in the first two rounds we could have added a CB, OLG and OG/C or one CB and two OG/C.

This is the danger of playing this game without a GM. Garrett as the HC is too close to the players to act as the GM. I think it is hard for a coach to let go of one of his vets and it is hard for him not to see the upside of the young guys on the roster. Ideally the GM is more detached from the players and can have a more objective opinion on such matters. We really deceive ourselves if we think a GM by committee doesn't have major weaknesses. I think the draft is probably the part I worry about least because you can just go out and hire good scouts and get the player ratings for your systems done without a great GM but it is the other things that I worry about more.

Now the season is far from lost. There is still a top 15 NFL OG out there who we can sign and move Mack over to Center where he can concentrate. Pick up the phone and call Holland and get a fair deal done for a guy expected to start 16 games - he played great last year and looks like he is in even better shape right now than he was last year. If Costa comes back and beats out Mack and then Mack beats Holland for a starting OG gig then at least you have some depth. We are screwed right now with Nagy and Killer having major injuries, Livings still unable to practice, Mack playing after two offseason non-contact injuries requiring surgery to his hip and knee and Costa now with a "bad back" and requiring an urgent MRI. We have a season to play where the rest of the team is ready to contend outside of the OL. We don't have many seasons left with Romo, Ware and Witten still in their primes - spend the money to give us an adequate OL.

The MRI was negative.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

The Eagles had our number, absolutely. Although I think we've closed the gap substantially on them. That is a screen-oriented offense that takes advantage of their speed. How do you beat that kind of offense? Athletic ILB's and the ability to press on the outside. If you didn't have athletic ability in the middle of the field you got torched. They might have been the worst matchup for us in the NFL last season based on our personnel, all of which has been significantly upgraded. I think we split with them.

I think everyone saw the Giants games. We couldn't cover them. Hakeem Nicks and Cruz did whatever they wanted. I nearly broke my remote seeing Newman playing 10 yards off Cruz and then just getting humiliated at will. If our defense came up with 1 more stop in the first game the Giants don't back into the playoffs and don't win another Lombardi. I think we've surpassed them. Their offense is the passing game and their offensive line is weak again this year. We've added the necessary pieces to compete with that offense, something we didn't have last year.

In my opinion, barring injury, the Eagles are probably the strongest right now on paper. They had a tremendous offseason but then again they always look strong on paper and Vick will obviously miss a few games. I see the Eagles and Boys taking playoff spots in the East. The Giants are experienced but they are notoriously weak in the regular season and their schedule this year is brutal, I see them going 8-8.

This season, the Cowboys should be able to avoid the absurdly lopsided defeats we saw in three of the four games against the Giants and Eagles last year. Those games were effectively over at halftime for two reasons:

1) The Cowboys offensive line was simply overmatched by the defensive lines of the Giants and Eagles. Consequently, the offense bogged down for long stretches that covered multiple quarters, in some cases.

2) The secondary couldn't cover either opponent's receivers. Consequently, when the offense bogged down, the Cowboys had no means of staying within striking distance.

The Cowboys have gone to great lengths addressing reason 2. So even if the offense bogs down, they should be able to stay within striking distance throughout the game.

Unfortunately, based on early returns in camp thus far, the interior line still seems to be a clusterfudge.

 

[RastaRocket]

Best secondary in the league.

Should be no reason we are worse than 13-3.

 

[DFWJC]

You greatly exaggerate the Dline issues. That part of the team will be better, imo.
The interior oline should be as good or better as well--but that isn't saying much.
ALL other areas the team should be better, or at least as good as they were last season barring major injuries. Some areas may be WAY better.


The issue is the schedule. They could be much better and still have a hard time improving thew record. It can happen but that schedule is brutal.

 

[Teague31]

don't see how we are worse than 8-8. our OL is no worse than it was a year ago and our D is vastly improved.

 

[DFWJC]

Not really.

Maybe I'd define it as we got a puncher's chance. It's not like we can't have young guys emerge. But more than likely we are a middle of the road team.

I'd rank us 8th in the conference right now. Behind....

1. Green Bay
2. N.Y. Giants
3. Philadelphia
4. New Orleans
5. San Francisco
6. Detroit
7. Atlanta

The NFC looks pretty tough deep. Chicago should be good too
It depends on how much improvement we get in areas that we expect to be much better...like the secondary, the ILB rotation, more depth on the dline. Plus better health from Romo, Murray, Austin, and Dez could help too.