I am still smiling

[Manster68]

I just cannot believe the offseason the Cowboys are having this offseason. For the price of a late 1st and late 2nd round picks, the Cowboys are coming away with 3 1st round picks. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine that happening. Let me share a few thoughts.

1. The signing of La'el Collins neutralizes the Commanders selection of Brandon Scherff and the Giants Erick Flowers. Even though Washington and New York had seasons to forget, they did not gain on the Cowboys with their offensive line selections. It was fun going over to the Giants board hearing their dismay for their front office not selecting Collins in the draft. In fact, one Giants fan even said Collins would not crack the starting lineup. Many other Giants fans disagreed.

What breaks my heart is that I am a big fan of Ron Leary. However, with his degenerative knee, you just do not know how many years he has. I thought he played really well last season. If you considered him the weak link, then Dallas did not have much of a weak link. This is part of the reason why the Cowboys are regarded as the best offensive line in the NFL.

2. To me, Randy Gregory is Dallas' next Charles Haley. I love this YouTube video on Gregory:

I do not really care how much Gregory weighs. If he can make plays, and become a focal point on the defense making everyone around him better, then Dallas will go far this season. Right now, Demarcus Lawrence is the primary rushing threat - that could change.

Bottom Line: If Dallas cannot get a solid pass rush from Lawrence, Gregory, and Hardy (later on), then the Cowboys might as well fold as a franchise.

3. Chaz Green and Laurance Gibson: I am just as intrigued with Gibson as I am with Green. I think both will develop into fine offensive tackles at the same general caliber as Doug Free. I really like Doug Free and I would be happy with that.

4. Damian Wilson: Many are expecting him to be the equivalent of Hitchens. What concerns me is that he may not have the same opportunity Hitchens had (due to the Lee injury). How many linebackers do you keep on the roster? If Wilson and 7th round pick Mark Nzeocha turn out to be special teams demons, does Jasper Brinkley get cut? Gachkar was already brought to Dallas for his special teams skills.

5. I don't know much about Russell, Nzeocha, or Swaim. I doubt any of them make the roster. We will see.

6. I am really hoping Antwan Goodly becomes the 5th WR and kick/punt returner. Also intrigued by RB Synjin Days.

Something real special is happening in Dallas. I cannot wait for the season to start!

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

This is the most excited I've been for a season in years. I had reached apathy stage leading up to the beginning of last season. That's what so many years of mediocrity will get you. However, last years success and this offseason have me chomping at the bit. I can't wait.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Just look at the age of our overall roster. That has me excited The exception of Romo, Witten, Free, all are under 30. And the majority haven't hit their prime yet. Can't remember a Cowboy's team this stacked with so much youth. Early 90's CBoys teams I guess.

 

[Manster68]

Just look at the age of our overall roster. That has me excited The exception of Romo, Witten, Free, all are under 30. And the majority haven't hit their prime yet. Can't remember a Cowboy's team this stacked with so much youth.

To expound on this, did you know that Tyron Smith is only two years older than La'el Collins?

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

To expound on this, did you know that Tyron Smith is only two years older than La'el Collins?

Ya. I look at the rosters from constant updating.

 

[Fizziksman]

 

[guag]

I just cannot believe the offseason the Cowboys are having this offseason. For the price of a late 1st and late 2nd round picks, the Cowboys are coming away with 3 1st round picks.

I think this effectively cancels out the trading away of our 3rd rounder last year, and then some. In fact, it might even cancel out the 2nd rounder we gave up a few years ago for Claiborne too! This is all assuming that these 3 new players can live up to their potential, of course.

4. Damian Wilson: Many are expecting him to be the equivalent of Hitchens. What concerns me is that he may not have the same opportunity Hitchens had (due to the Lee injury).

I really wish that I could confidently agree with you there, but Sean Lee is still Sean Lee... But here's hoping that Wilson doesn't have to see the field as a starter this season (unless of course he blows the rest of the competition out of the water).

 

[Wolf2k5]

This is the most excited I've been for a season in years. I had reached apathy stage leading up to the beginning of last season. That's what so many years of mediocrity will get you. However, last years success and this offseason have me chomping at the bit. I can't wait.

Easily the biggest difference in expectation from the moment Lee went down last year until now. Lowest of low to soaring. If they go and get AP and not give up a first I may never want the offseason to end. Just live high on the expectation.

 

[guag]

This is the most excited I've been for a season in years. I had reached apathy stage leading up to the beginning of last season. That's what so many years of mediocrity will get you. However, last years success and this offseason have me chomping at the bit. I can't wait.

This was exactly me last year as well. During those 8-8 seasons, I found myself visiting this forum less and less, caring less and less about what was going on with the team. I didn't even watch the draft for a couple of seasons (and I love the draft).

[Warning: long post ahead -- did not think it would be this long when I started writing this... lol]

But there was something about last year, and I'm not even talking about during the season. I felt it throughout the offseason, even when the rest of the league thought we would be competing for the #1 pick the draft, thought we would have the worst defense in NFL history.... even despite Lee's injury, which of course I was devastated about, I still had confidence in the team. I started coming back here every day, keeping up on all camp news, and I just knew something was brewing in this organization.

I just knew that we couldn't be as bad as everyone was saying. I didn't have a concrete argument for why we wouldn't be that bad, but I could just sense it. Like an aura. Even after the preseason when we went 0-4, even after the loss to San Fran in the opener, things just felt right again in Dallas. And then the team suddenly started winning games, and...... well I don't need to remind you what happened last season. You were there.

But the point is..... I feel the same sort of feeling I did last offseason. And just like last offseason, I can't quite explain exactly what it is I'm feeling, but it's there. And I can feel it in the atmosphere on this forum too, as weird as that sounds. I think lots of us are feeling it. It's getting harder and harder to pick out the negative nancies here anymore. Lots of folks that you would have found making smart remarks a year ago are suddenly optimistic and drinking the kool-aid this offseason.

I mean sure, it's clear that we've upgraded our roster with the moves we've made thus far this offseason. So obviously, improving upon a team that was a 12-4 playoff team last season is a good reason to get excited. But it's not just about this recent set of roster moves. I think it's been the culmination of all roster moves, all important decisions, minor decisions, from Jerry Jones on down to the interns, during the Jason Garrett era. All of these things, the whole process if you will, is what has all of us feeling that things are different now.

We feel a confidence in our front office, in our coaching staff, and in our players that we haven't felt for a long time around here. As I first started writing this novel of a post, I guess I wasn't quite sure what it was that had me believing in this team again starting last offseason. But it's clear to me now. I didn't suddenly become a believer last year. Over the last 4 years, this team's staff and players have been working with a common vision, a common philosophy, towards a common goal. And this process didn't translate into many wins the first few years (but then again we didn't have any losing seasons either since 2010)... But despite the fact that this team hadn't had a winning season for 4 straight years, I was slowly but surely able to feel the buzz that the process was having on this organization. And now, another year into the Garrett era, I've been effectively intoxicated by the process.

I am salivating at the thought of seeing this team run out onto the field under the lights in Arlington on September 13th. I simply cannot wait to see this team play ball. But since I don't currently own a time machine, I guess waiting is my only option. It's going to be the longest 4 months of my life. In the 18 years that I've been a diehard fan of this team, I have never known this kind of excitement leading up to a season. And I watched this team play in the second half of the 90s, when the triplets were still intact. I watched this team during the 13-3 season of 2007 when they started 12-1. But even during those periods, I didn't feel the same level of confidence, the same sense of pride that I do right now about my Dallas Cowboys. Because during those times, even thought we might have been winning at the time, or still had the potential to win, it always felt like it was not to last.

I always got the feeling that the team wouldn't be able to sustain any kind of success for consecutive seasons, usually due to the looming departure or retirement of key players. But these days, even though I know that Tony Romo isn't going to last forever, I don't feel any impending doom in the next few years. I actually trust that this organization will do what it needs to do at the QB position (or any position for that matter) when the time comes. No longer do we just survive year to year, mortgaging our future in the hopes that we might have a chance at winning the SB this year. The Cowboys of today aren't about that anymore.

As a fan who has never known any other Dallas Cowboys owner/GM besides Jerry Jones, it has taken quite a bit of time for me to realize this fact. For the longest time I had just resigned to the fact that I will most likely never see the Cowboys win another championship with Jerry Jones as the GM. Jerry just will never change his ways. His ego is just too big for that. We'll never have the type of front office that builds through the draft and makes shrewd roster moves consistently. So through all these years of mediocre play, mediocre talent, and poor roster management, it's no wonder that I became as apathetic as I did in recent years.

But to experience this gradual change in organizational philosophy, watching the team get younger and more talented over the last 4 years, watching as fewer and fewer of our draft picks are busting (Mo being the exception - hey, no one's perfect), I can't help but wonder.... is this also how fans of the Dallas Cowboys felt in 1991-92? Is this what a Super Bowl-calibre team feels like?

 

[PoundTheRock]

The only things I just can't get past is RB and the DT situation.

 

[Risen Star]

The only things I just can't get past is RB and the DT situation.

Two serious concerns. That DT depth chart is ugly and doesn't get talked about enough.

When Josh Brent leaves and it hurts, you've got issues there.

 

[ShiningStar]

did anyone have any feelings during any of the 8-8 seasons? how is it 1 good season, which we all dont agree on happened to bring everyone out with a feeling of joy? Lets look away from the team for a bit and lets talk about a gift that got away from us. Our division was so putrid no one wants to talk bout that. The Giants rolled over last year. For whatever reason they were horrid. I am seriously doubting they are giving us a sweep again. I cant see it and for any cowboy fans worth their fanhood, everyone knows, stats are useless when they play. For any fan of either side who has watched teh games. nothing is a given when those two play.

The skins we should have swept but didnt. Blame goes all around but the one constant Hazlett has Romos number and does very well against him. Regardless of what his defense does against the rest of the league. They always step up to give Romo fits at the wrong time. Again i called them a wild card last year and a wild card they will be again until some evidence is formed on the field of what they are. It could very well be one big mess.

The Eagles , well lets just say wow. Chip is either crazy or some kind of mad genius and i think we can all agree "hes not doing it to Dallas". They were the favorites last year and rightly so. I think their downfall was more management than team. The team was good, but some shakey decisions were made. On that Garrett capitialized, wasnt given a gift. Only the football gods know or probably dont what will be fielded by them next year. We can only hope its a slide that we all enjoy.

I am not advocated Dallas wasnt strong last year. I am just pointing how a few things that helped them along the way.

This season, as much as i wanted to regret Callahan walking, talking to some posters, they have confidence we are not going to see much of a slip in the line and I am going to ride on that sentiment.,

The defense for one scares me because i dont know if it played better because it made more of less or if we will put some pieces together and will work better. We have some returning pieces and some bigger than we want to admit losses. I think Melton might be a bigger loss than we like. And gauging from our lack of scouts, we over shot Carters skills big time. Lee will come back, will it be special, who knows, hes a luxury car in the league but if your car is always in the shop its no use to you.

I think if we are lucky we are going to keep Weeden on the roster so that shouldnt really waste anotehr year of Dustin Vaughn and tell us nothing of his skills. So that will be helpful.

Reasons to be happy for this season, quite a lot. But thats not saying much considering what we have been fielding for many years. Do we have concerns, all teams do, The question is can we mask them well? Our coaches give me hope, but wow if ST doesnt turn it around, how many fell for that shakey addition to our team? Me included because i wanted to change coaches at ST.

RB can still be a pleasant surprise. To me teh whole AP thing is a waste of time, but that happens. And im hoping Days does well.

Its going to be a ride this year, but if the NFCE gets its stuff together, it wil be different results than last year. Thats how the league wanted it. Try to stop the dominant teams but didnt take into account the teams that dont try. Im hoping they found out to many teams arent interested in winning the SB. I think we can all see Goddel isnt instereted in running a good league he just likes playing the part.

 

[ShiningStar]

Let me add i forgot to say i undersatnd why many are happy something is definetly brewing and it seems Dallas is ready and prepared to make the hump. Just not jump over the hump and face plant into another wall. It really seems like Dallas is going to power its way to something good.

 

[JBS]

Two serious concerns. That DT depth chart is ugly and doesn't get talked about enough.

When Josh Brent leaves and it hurts, you've got issues there.

After DT is running back your next biggest concern?

 

[ThreeandOut]

For right or wrong they seem to like their situation at DT. It seems that Carl Davis was the only consideration in this draft. They must feel that Whaley is as good as some of the DT's like Jarrett and Bennett from this draft. With the pass rush treat they have at DE, they also likely believe this will free up Crawford to have a big year.

 

[Bowdown27]

This is the most excited I've been for a season in years. I had reached apathy stage leading up to the beginning of last season. That's what so many years of mediocrity will get you. However, last years success and this offseason have me chomping at the bit. I can't wait.

Me too. I can't wait for the season to start w these upgrades. Hell I can't wait for training camp to see these guys in action.

 

[DogFace]

did anyone have any feelings during any of the 8-8 seasons? how is it 1 good season, which we all dont agree on happened to bring everyone out with a feeling of joy? Lets look away from the team for a bit and lets talk about a gift that got away from us. Our division was so putrid no one wants to talk bout that. The Giants rolled over last year. For whatever reason they were horrid. I am seriously doubting they are giving us a sweep again. I cant see it and for any cowboy fans worth their fanhood, everyone knows, stats are useless when they play. For any fan of either side who has watched teh games. nothing is a given when those two play.

The skins we should have swept but didnt. Blame goes all around but the one constant Hazlett has Romos number and does very well against him. Regardless of what his defense does against the rest of the league. They always step up to give Romo fits at the wrong time. Again i called them a wild card last year and a wild card they will be again until some evidence is formed on the field of what they are. It could very well be one big mess.

The Eagles , well lets just say wow. Chip is either crazy or some kind of mad genius and i think we can all agree "hes not doing it to Dallas". They were the favorites last year and rightly so. I think their downfall was more management than team. The team was good, but some shakey decisions were made. On that Garrett capitialized, wasnt given a gift. Only the football gods know or probably dont what will be fielded by them next year. We can only hope its a slide that we all enjoy.

I am not advocated Dallas wasnt strong last year. I am just pointing how a few things that helped them along the way.

This season, as much as i wanted to regret Callahan walking, talking to some posters, they have confidence we are not going to see much of a slip in the line and I am going to ride on that sentiment.,

The defense for one scares me because i dont know if it played better because it made more of less or if we will put some pieces together and will work better. We have some returning pieces and some bigger than we want to admit losses. I think Melton might be a bigger loss than we like. And gauging from our lack of scouts, we over shot Carters skills big time. Lee will come back, will it be special, who knows, hes a luxury car in the league but if your car is always in the shop its no use to you.

I think if we are lucky we are going to keep Weeden on the roster so that shouldnt really waste anotehr year of Dustin Vaughn and tell us nothing of his skills. So that will be helpful.

Reasons to be happy for this season, quite a lot. But thats not saying much considering what we have been fielding for many years. Do we have concerns, all teams do, The question is can we mask them well? Our coaches give me hope, but wow if ST doesnt turn it around, how many fell for that shakey addition to our team? Me included because i wanted to change coaches at ST.

RB can still be a pleasant surprise. To me teh whole AP thing is a waste of time, but that happens. And im hoping Days does well.

Its going to be a ride this year, but if the NFCE gets its stuff together, it wil be different results than last year. Thats how the league wanted it. Try to stop the dominant teams but didnt take into account the teams that dont try. Im hoping they found out to many teams arent interested in winning the SB. I think we can all see Goddel isnt instereted in running a good league he just likes playing the part.

...

 

[JohnsKey19]

The team isn't showing signs of panic but I'm wondering what the reaction is privately to the Brent news. Average at best player but still the only guy who could move the interior pile. Hayden hustles but gets pushed around too much IMO. Bishop did ok late in the season but still is an unknown.

 

[rags747]

Cant wait for Nov/Dec and our OL is bulldozing the competition, we are going to impose our will on teams physically.

 

[ShiningStar]

...

im not just a person who can look at the record and say "yea" dallas did that, we beat seattle and had some great games, but we lost some too. Personally I think Detriot was harder than the Packers and everyone knows we should have won that game.