Forecasts for last year's 8-8 teams: Cowboys sliding, Bears rising

morasp

morasp

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  • gil_brandt-110726_65.jpg
  • By Gil Brandt
  • NFL Media senior analyst
  • Published: May 28, 2014 at 02:39 p.m.
  • Updated: May 30, 2014 at 01:53 p.m.
  • 331 Likes | 821 Comments
GOING DOWN ...


Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have epitomized mediocrity recently, finishing 8-8 for three straight seasons. I was all set to pencil them in to finally win nine -- and then linebacker Sean Lee tore his ACL during Tuesday's OTA session. Lee simply is Dallas' defense. He's such a force as both a leader and a playmaker, someone who seems to make everyone around him better. If he's out for the season, as is expected, it will be a severe blow to this team, likely costing it a win or two.

One positive for the Cowboys is that, unlike when Lee missed time last season, they have some options to replace him, starting with rookie Anthony Hitchens. Iowa's defensive MVP and leading tackler last season is an active -- if undersized -- guy. He's also a relative newcomer to the position, and it might take some time for him to learn everything he has to learn at the pro level. At least Lee's injury came early enough for Dallas to formulate a plan to account for his loss, either by doing a big job on Hitchens or by finding someone else. Perhaps the Cowboys could coax former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who knows defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's system, out of retirement.

As for the rest of the roster, new offensive play-caller Scott Linehan should help significantly, especially when it comes to running the ball more effectively. If the Cowboys had fielded a better ground attack last season, they could've won 10 games. Consider the Week 15 defeat to the Packers, in which Dallas was up by 23 at the half but lost because of an inability to run. This area of the game will be crucial when it comes to keeping the Cowboys' defense off the field. The offensive line, meanwhile, is on an upward trajectory; a unit that gave up just 35 sacks last season is getting yet another young talent in first-round pick Zack Martin, one year after the team used a first-rounder on center Travis Frederick. And while back issues typically concern me, Dallas seems to be confident quarterback Tony Romo will be able to perform after having offseason surgery. I do know he's mentally tough and will play through whatever pain he might encounter.

Predicted win total: Seven.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...t-years-88-teams-cowboys-sliding-bears-rising
 
SilverStarCowboy

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Easy to see ominous coming for 2014 because for part of the 2012 and almost the entire 2013 Season when the good/hot teams needed a win vs the Cowboys, they got it, turned on a dime and changed games into their favor almost at will.
 
ABQCOWBOY

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I think it's now for the Bears. They are getting to a point where cap is going to become a factor for them. I think they have to win now or they will be in a situation where they start having to lose players.
 
DFWJC

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The Bears do have a good-looking team. I'd take them for >8 wins too.

After that, it'd be hard to bet one way or the other on all of the others he mentioned.
Dallas, NYJ, Miami, Balt, Pitt.....who knows.
 
Last edited:

Hardline

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That loss to the Packers was not the Cowboys inability to run the ball. It was their inability to call running plays. Even if the Cowboys were going 3 and out and punted,more time would have been eaten off the clock and the Packers would not have simply not had enough time to mount a come back.
 
StarBoyz83

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I think it looks pretty spot on except I see the stealers at 10 wins.
 
ShiningStar

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just so i dont bring gloom and doom, hes not that off. Im sorry the team is not just made up of the players and right now Garrett has a lot more to prove than most of our players. Dallas Cowboys are the best, all our players rule, anyone who disagrees is a hater (sorry, most of thta is forced)
 
speedkilz88

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ABQCOWBOY said:
I think it's now for the Bears. They are getting to a point where cap is going to become a factor for them. I think they have to win now or they will be in a situation where they start having to lose players.
Click to expand...
Their problem is that they don't have a QB. The backup looked better.
 
Bullflop

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scooper said:
Add Gil Brandt to the long list of haters to be proven wrong. 2014 is OUR year.
Click to expand...

Brandt's history strongly indicates he's anything but a Cowboys' hater. As he stated, he was about to pencil in the team with a 9-7 winning record when the injury to Sean Lee occurred. He's always given them the benefit of the doubt but anytime you lose your leader on a defense that broke all NFL records for incompetence last year, things can hardly be realistically regarded as promising.
 
jobberone

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I wouldn't bet a plug nickel on how any team in the East will do this year.
 
waving monkey

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I don't see Gil as a Cowboy hater that doesn't mean we wont reach our record the last three years or even better it.
Gil gave his reasonable opinion.
 
jday

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morasp said:
  • gil_brandt-110726_65.jpg
  • By Gil Brandt
  • NFL Media senior analyst
  • Published: May 28, 2014 at 02:39 p.m.
  • Updated: May 30, 2014 at 01:53 p.m.
  • 331 Likes | 821 Comments
GOING DOWN ...


Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have epitomized mediocrity recently, finishing 8-8 for three straight seasons. I was all set to pencil them in to finally win nine -- and then linebacker Sean Lee tore his ACL during Tuesday's OTA session. Lee simply is Dallas' defense. He's such a force as both a leader and a playmaker, someone who seems to make everyone around him better. If he's out for the season, as is expected, it will be a severe blow to this team, likely costing it a win or two.

One positive for the Cowboys is that, unlike when Lee missed time last season, they have some options to replace him, starting with rookie Anthony Hitchens. Iowa's defensive MVP and leading tackler last season is an active -- if undersized -- guy. He's also a relative newcomer to the position, and it might take some time for him to learn everything he has to learn at the pro level. At least Lee's injury came early enough for Dallas to formulate a plan to account for his loss, either by doing a big job on Hitchens or by finding someone else. Perhaps the Cowboys could coax former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who knows defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's system, out of retirement.

As for the rest of the roster, new offensive play-caller Scott Linehan should help significantly, especially when it comes to running the ball more effectively. If the Cowboys had fielded a better ground attack last season, they could've won 10 games. Consider the Week 15 defeat to the Packers, in which Dallas was up by 23 at the half but lost because of an inability to run. This area of the game will be crucial when it comes to keeping the Cowboys' defense off the field. The offensive line, meanwhile, is on an upward trajectory; a unit that gave up just 35 sacks last season is getting yet another young talent in first-round pick Zack Martin, one year after the team used a first-rounder on center Travis Frederick. And while back issues typically concern me, Dallas seems to be confident quarterback Tony Romo will be able to perform after having offseason surgery. I do know he's mentally tough and will play through whatever pain he might encounter.

Predicted win total: Seven.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...t-years-88-teams-cowboys-sliding-bears-rising
Click to expand...

Hater or not, I'm fine with this forecast. On paper, the Cowboys have not improved this offseason..the lone exception being Zach Martin, who many are projecting to be one of the safest OL picks of the draft. After that, it's anybody guess what the Cowboys have. Consider: Hatcher and Ware are gone, and while Iagree with their being released to make room for youth and in the cap, there is no guarantee that youth will replace what we had in these two veteran players. Romo, as stated by Gil, is coming back from back surgery his second in two years and despite what their telling us, I'm not sure I can trust info coming out of Valley Ranch. We are hoping that a 2nd year receiver and a rookie can lock down the 2nd and 3rd receiver spot. We are once again hoping that the Cowboys can remain relatively injury free, particular on both sides of the trenches. And there isn't a single player in the secondary I trust to play assignment sound football; for the exception of Church. On paper, the Cowboys have alot to prove and I'm not sure how anybody in their right mind can expect an improvement over last year, with all of these questions flying around.

Having said all that, call me crazy, but I do expect improvement in the offense. It's the defense that has me worried the most...especially considering that unit just lost their best player and leader. But, there is some talent there, so I wouldn't be surprised if they turned out to be good...it's just not all that likely, in my opinion.
 
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