Do you think this is the most talented Cowboys roster in 10 years?

[TruBlueCowboy]

It's hard to say because I'm such a homer, with maybe the exception of the "Tony Banks to Quincy Carter season" I've never really entered a year thinking the Cowboys couldn't get some big play out of unknown players and enter the Playoffs.

Are the Parcells drafts starting to show? Ware, Witten, Roy Williams, Newman and Julius Jones are all huge playmakers. We NEVER had guys like those after Jimmy Johnson left. Larry Allen is the only home grown post-Jimmy player I can even think of who dominated at his position. We have incredible depth with the defensive line, our nickel back would maybe start on several teams... there's still holes, but I can't remember feeling this optimistic about the roster in a while. Heck, a back like A-Train may be released. Just three years ago, the Cowboys would have given anything to have depth like him.

Would you say the 1996-1999 squads had more talent? Would you say they had more proven veterans, but 2005 beats them because of the age of our potential stars?

I really haven't felt this optimistic about the team in a while. I don't remember so many playmakers and future stars in years. I'm not talking about the reaches that we as Cowboys fans seems to root for every year because we have nothing else concrete, but real legit fellas who anyone would tell you has a shot to be one of the best at his position in the league.

During the late Switzer and Gailey/Campo years, someone like Keith Davis would be hyped as the next great Cowboy after that tough smackdown the secondary laid on the Texans last night. On this year's team, he's just an inferior sidekick to Roy Williams who we hope can do an adequate job manning the other safety spot.

 

[NovaCowboy]

on defense yes, offense no way.

we still had Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin 10 years ago. Anything was possible with those 3 guys.

 

[jksmith269]

Overall yes like Nova said in 95 we still had Aikman, E and Irvin

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

on defense yes, offense no way.

we still had Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin 10 years ago. Anything was possible with those 3 guys.

No one replaces the all-time leading rusher but I think Julius Jones is one of the few players in the league right now who will get about as close as you can to repeating #22's greatness. Of course, he's got to prove it on the field year after year like Emmitt.

At wideout, I look at Keyshawn as a slower Michael Irvin. I don't see Crayton as being another Irvin either. I think we all feel that next year the Cowboys may take a shot high in the draft for a receiver.

Compared to the Triplets, the big missing piece to me is Aikman. Bledsoe ten years ago might have been an acceptable substitute, but not Bledsoe 2005. Henson doesn't look like the next Aikman, but then again, Aikman had some pretty bad years as a young QB. I don't think he ever really convinced most fans until he won his first Super Bowl. That's what happens when ya play QB in Dallas, I guess.

 

[Big Country]

I'm still a little skeptical, but the defense looks tremendous... If Dallas ins't game planning this pre-season at all, and they can improve by doing just that, then we ought to be a top 10 defense easily... Keith "Killer" Davis should be right at home with this bunch and not be at any disadvantage...

I'm reserving my right on the offense however... If we can get the same results from this offense (especially our running game) like we did two years ago with Ham-Bone, then we will be able to hold onto the ball and crush opposing defenses, then turn around and slap them around with our brand new defense...

So are we as talented now than 10 yrs ago? That would be our 95 championship team, which I was not as impressed with because they were really showing signs of wear and tear. I'm going out and saying yes, hoping for health and improvement. Youth and speed rules in today's game, we seem to have plenty of it.

 

[NovaCowboy]

I don't think he ever really convinced most fans until he won his first Super Bowl. That's what happens when ya play QB in Dallas, I guess.

to be honest tru... I dont think he convinced alot of the fans even after three Super Bowls. Its a shame really. Damn do I miss that guy!

 

[dwmyers]

I think the Aikman and Emmitt offenses were better than this one so far; I think this defense is the most promising we've had in several years. The big issue we've faced over the late 1990s and into the 2000s was defensive line rot. Lett took himself out as a player and Hennings retired and we had no replacement for him.

This year, with Ferguson in the mix and Pepper Johnson emerging, with hybrids like Spears, Canty, and Raitliff, we have depth at DT and DE we haven't had in ages. We probably could play a 4-3 full time, but with Ware, he's much better suited to rush linebacker than any other position on a regular 7 man front. I could see Ware playing the Richard Dent role in a 46 as well.

David.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

to be honest tru... I dont think he convinced alot of the fans even after three Super Bowls. Its a shame really. Damn do I miss that guy!

One day, I'm hopping in my time machine, eliminating our running game and tough defense, and providing an alternate reality, just to prove to fans that Aikman could have thrown for 4,000 yards a season if he had to.

 

[Eddie]

No way can we come to that conclusion after only three preseason games.

But let's be honest, we haven't fielded a ton of talent in that ten year span. I think this can definitely be one of the better teams of the past 10 years ... if not THE best.

The best teams of the past ten years were the 1999 squad which went 10-6 and the 2003 squad which finished 10-6. Both teams were kicked out of the playoffs in the first round.

If this team can surpass 10-6 and get us deeper into the playoffs, then YES, this IS the best team of the past 10 years.

It's going to be a stretch ... let's hope for an injury free season.