If Lee is out for the season

[jday]

This is when a good DC earns his money. He did wonders with the DL last year. Perhaps he will scheme the defense in a way that will make it linebacker friendly. There is always a chance that some LB will step up and shock us all. It happens each year on the team, someone comes out of nowhere to not only make the team but to start and really contribute. Sadly the contract Lee signed is just more dead money. However, hope he gets better and has a full recovery.

Of all the positions groups, I'd say there is more potential for this to become a reality than anywhere. Carter could return to form. Holloman/Lemon/Wilber could progress rapidly...largely due to Lee's absence from training camp. That is definitely a potential silver-lining.

 

[jday]

We need a reliable MLB next draft Lee can't be counted on which is a shame cause he's a game changer when he plays

The fact that we have so many holes elsewhere also makes it a huge shame.

 

[jday]

It was decent for the situation we were in cap wise. We done enough to be a competitive team. Not a contender and not bad. It's hard to keep getting excited for 8-8 seasons.

For this team, you have to realign your priorities. I've been saying for some time now, before Lee's injury, that this team is not ready to contend. On other hand, I don't think their too far away either. I don't see it happening this season, but with a good Free Agency and a smart draft, this team could be a serious threat next season.

 

[cowboy_ron]

I say w spend this time giving the rookies full opportunity to show what they can do first, then if it's decided we need a FA, wait until final cuts are being made and see who is available

 

[Cowboy06]

He did wonders with the DL? Really? It was one of the worst units we have ever fielded.

I understand they weren't great, but I believe that the DL would have been worse if not for Rod M. Look at all of the injuries, changes, new faces. I was okay with him. They certainly didn't give up. Imagine him with talent. Yet, you are right...dead last. Look at it this way...no where to go but up.

 

[CyberB0b]

I understand they weren't great, but I believe that the DL would have been worse if not for Rod M. Look at all of the injuries, changes, new faces. I was okay with him. They certainly didn't give up. Imagine him with talent. Yet, you are right...dead last. Look at it this way...no where to go but up.

I agree with your last sentence, but it kind of refutes what you said before. He did a lousy job because he had lousy talent. He didn't do a great job, no matter how you slice it.

 

[jday]

I say w spend this time giving the rookies full opportunity to show what they can do first, then if it's decided we need a FA, wait until final cuts are being made and see who is available

The only problems with that strategy is 1. As a rule, starter-potential players are typically not released and 2. the Cowboys may have to wait in line if such a player is released.

 

[jday]

I understand they weren't great, but I believe that the DL would have been worse if not for Rod M. Look at all of the injuries, changes, new faces. I was okay with him. They certainly didn't give up. Imagine him with talent. Yet, you are right...dead last. Look at it this way...no where to go but up.

I like your optimism, but in football, there is no bottom to how bad you can be.

 

[Joe Realist]

From 8-8 to 7-9

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Agree whole heartedly.

It really sucks.

Maybe Carter gets his act together, Claiborne develops into what we need him to be, and some guys on the DL develop....

A lot of ifs in there.... I'm just trying to cling to some hope.

And he did play his best in 2012 when Lee was out. Maybe it's not coincidence, who knows. Maybe he knows he has to be on his game more, maybe he does better with more focus on him.

What I don't get are all the people trashing Jerry for drafting or extending Lee. He's a hell of a player. If you passed on every player who had an ACL in college, you'd have to eliminate a third of your draft board. And you don't not extend Lee because of one knee injury, either.

Bottom line, there are enough legitimate things to trash Jerry about. This isn't one of them.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Probably torn ACL, MCL, PCL... which really is a heck of an injury.

Yep, total knee reconstruction. That's an 18 - 24 month rehab unless you are Peterson and made of titanium

Dam this sucks, I was hoping he would have a monster season

 

[HappyOnions]

I don't think it changes our season that much, to be honest.

We were horrendous last year on D with and without him.

 

[Blackspider214]

Not much. I hope no one was really expecting him to play all season. Yes he said all the right things about how much he was working at to prevent this but talk is cheap and some bodies are just not designed to hold up. His being one of them.

It's actually for the best he got hurt this early. Now we can start designing our defense to be ready without him instead of throwing someone in the fire in the middle of the season.

He does not make that huge of a difference in terms of Ws and Ls. We are kind of used to playing without him over the last few years. 15 games missed to be exact.

 

[Cowboy06]

I like your optimism, but in football, there is no bottom to how bad you can be.

well they can't be worse than 32...until the league adds a team in LA or Europe or we play a good Texas HS football team. Just saying...

 

[jday]

Not much. I hope no one was really expecting him to play all season. Yes he said all the right things about how much he was working at to prevent this but talk is cheap and some bodies are just not designed to hold up. His being one of them.

It's actually for the best he got hurt this early. Now we can start designing our defense to be ready without him instead of throwing someone in the fire in the middle of the season.

He does not make that huge of a difference in terms of Ws and Ls. We are kind of used to playing without him over the last few years. 15 games missed to be exact.

I don't want to speculate about his impact on wins and losses; but him being the best player on defense tells me if anyone has an impact, he would. But I agree that it is a good thing it happened now and now during the season.

 

[jday]

well they can't be worse than 32...until the league adds a team in LA or Europe or we play a good Texas HS football team. Just saying...

All I'm saying is teams break records for wost and best almost every year. If anyone has potential to set records in sucking, this defense does...you need only review the wet paper bag they were last year, to understand where I'm coming from.

 

[Blackspider214]

I don't want to speculate about his impact on wins and losses; but him being the best player on defense tells me if anyone has an impact, he would. But I agree that it is a good thing it happened now and now during the season.

While that may be true, you bring zero value when you are on the bench. Greg Oden was also a big talent coming up but was useless to any team he played for. Always hurt.

And that speaks volumes for what this team needs to get away from. Injury prone players. Murray, Lee and Austin were talented, yes. But never could stay on the field.

 

[jday]

While that may be true, you bring zero value when you are on the bench. Greg Oden was also a big talent coming up but was useless to any team he played for. Always hurt.

And that speaks volumes for what this team needs to get away from. Injury prone players. Murray, Lee and Austin were talented, yes. But never could stay on the field.

I could not agree with you more. I am so tired of the injuries excuse. While a viable one, you can only blame bad luck so much.

 

[DFWJC]

He is a game changer. Like Kaperenick, Newton, and to some degree Wilson.

You just listed the QBs for the teams with the top 3 defenses in the league.
Think about it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

So why bother to post in the thread at all then? Is it really all that important for you to inform us all of your boredom with certain topics?

Because it seems an awful lot like a panic thread thus me saying that at this point without having seen a shoulderpad, all it is is an emotional experience. You get a lot of "8-8 is now 6-10" posts and everyone can pile on the pity party.

I am not bored. I am making an observation.