If Owens gets hurt

[Deep_Freeze]

If a defense stacks the line then it does open up lanes in the secondary it also shows the the running game is being effective enough to force up safeties and if that is the case then guys like Crayton, Austin and Hurd can do the job.

My only concern would be if a team could shut down our running game without having to stack the line of scrimmage they you really are in trouble.

No doubt you lose quick strike ability without Owens but there are ways to go out and win ball games and the changes Dallas has made I do think will go a long ways in our ability to overcome a critical injury like that.

Sorry I don't think we would be dead in the water if Owens went down. Part of that equation of course would be the play of the defense but again the addition to the secondary and a defensive front that is already pretty good I think will help this team.

I just do not agree with your pessimistic views and think this team has done a lot during the offseason to improve themselves.

You don't have to agree with me, thats life, we can agree to disagree. There is a difference between being pessimistic and facing the reality of the situation. I just don't share in your optimistism of if TO went down the other WRs could "do the job". When have they proven that they could??

Although Brad has a dead arm now, at least he has done something in the NFL. Sure, they are young unknowns, and some like to think we hit the lottery with some undrafted scrub......easier to think that now with what happened with Romo, but thats not a common thing at all. All that is, is blind faith.

I do believe the D will be much improved with the secondary play, which will help us be better than last year and help us overcome it somewhat (adding a player with the ability of Pacman makes this obivous). But while there could be an improvement in the running game, I don't believe it will be significant enough to say we can do without TO for a while.

 

[ladiewolve]

When was this?

When Irvin got injured, the Cowboys had lost much of its depth via free agency. Plus, that team was considerably older.

I don't recall Irvin missing many if any games during the 92-95 run. Or maybe I'm missing something and you can feel me in.

The player the Cowboys couldn't afford to lose was Emmitt Smith. We saw that starting 0-2 as Emmitt held out for a new contract. Emmitt dictated the way defenses played us, moreso than Irvin did.

You know of all of those great players , no one ever really mentions Jay Novacek. To me he was just as great as the others.

 

[CATCH17]

If Dallas can show the ability to run the ball even if teams stack the line it then opens up the secondary a lot more. Heck I welcome teams putting 8 or 9 in the box even without Owens should it come to that.

If Dallas really does have a top offensive line, a top RB, a top QUARTERBACK, and a top Tight end with a dangerous defense then we should be able to still perform at a high level.

If losing Owens means the offense would suck then this team is overrated.

I realise it wouldnt be nearly as explosive but if you have that much talent you should be able to overcome it.

 

[Doomsday101]

If Dallas really does have a top offensive line, a top RB, a top QUARTERBACK, and a top Tight end with a dangerous defense then we should be able to still perform at a high level.

If losing Owens means the offense would suck then this team is overrated.

I realise it wouldnt be nearly as explosive but if you have that much talent you should be able to overcome it.

I agree. We would not be as good without Owen clearly but I think with the upgrades we have made this team should be better prepared to overcome an injury like that. Having said that I think the SB would become a much longer shot but I think we would be able to challenge for the post season.

 

[Disturbed]

I would like to think that if TO went down that Garrett would be able to revamp the offense to highlight Witten and Barber / F. Jones attack. Maybe even add Pacman to a few offensive plays. Who knows about the "other" WR on the team....they perform at an average level with TO, so without him it does not look that good.

With all the talent on the team, the coaches should be able to come up with strategies to move forward without TO for a few games. And the good news is that TO heals quickly...

 

[Doomsday101]

You don't have to agree with me, thats life, we can agree to disagree. There is a difference between being pessimistic and facing the reality of the situation. I just don't share in your optimistism of if TO went down the other WRs could "do the job". When have they proven that they could??

Although Brad has a dead arm now, at least he has done something in the NFL. Sure, they are young unknowns, and some like to think we hit the lottery with some undrafted scrub......easier to think that now with what happened with Romo, but thats not a common thing at all. All that is, is blind faith.

I do believe the D will be much improved with the secondary play, which will help us be better than last year and help us overcome it somewhat (adding a player with the ability of Pacman makes this obivous). But while there could be an improvement in the running game, I don't believe it will be significant enough to say we can do without TO for a while.

When have we had a very good running attack? There are teams out there with very good running game who deal with 8 men in the box and are still able to run the ball with great effectiveness. I don't expect Crayton, Hurd or Austin to take the place of Owens but yes I think they are capable of going out and making some plays and if we can keep out of the 2nd and long and 3rd and long which we constantly seemed to be in last year then yes I think we could overcome a loss of the magnitude of Owens. Now if we keep leading the NFL in penalties and we can't keep out of clear cut passing downs then I agree we are in trouble

 

[CATCH17]

When was this?

When Irvin got injured, the Cowboys had lost much of its depth via free agency. Plus, that team was considerably older.

I don't recall Irvin missing many if any games during the 92-95 run. Or maybe I'm missing something and you can feel me in.

The player the Cowboys couldn't afford to lose was Emmitt Smith. We saw that starting 0-2 as Emmitt held out for a new contract. Emmitt dictated the way defenses played us, moreso than Irvin did.

Agreed. You watch these old Cowboys games and the heart beat of that team was Emmitt Smith. He was absolutely amazing.

The only time I remember us winning a game without him was when he got injured one time and we brought in some big back that I believe wasnt even on the team the week before and he came in and had a solid performance and was never heard from again.

When we got to the playoffs we could put the game on 22's shoulders and he would carry us.

If Aikman got hurt Emmitt could carry us.

But the overall talent on that team is what made us great. The depth that Jimmy put together was unbelievable and it seperated us from the rest.

Once the salary cap bug hit us we were done.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

If Dallas really does have a top offensive line, a top RB, a top QUARTERBACK, and a top Tight end with a dangerous defense then we should be able to still perform at a high level.

If losing Owens means the offense would suck then this team is overrated.

I realise it wouldnt be nearly as explosive but if you have that much talent you should be able to overcome it.

I agree. We would not be as good without Owen clearly but I think with the upgrades we have made this team should be better prepared to overcome an injury like that. Having said that I think the SB would become a much longer shot but I think we would be able to challenge for the post season.

Two orders of blind faith coming up.

I'm sorry, our backup WRs have just given us no reason to have this faith. If they are able to do the job, cool, but there is just noway you have any proof that they can "do the job".

I think we could play .500 ball with them, but thats about it. And as for this team being overrated if they can't overcome the lost of TO, I have a tendency to believe you are underrating TO.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Dallas really does have a top offensive line, a top RB, a top QUARTERBACK, and a top Tight end with a dangerous defense then we should be able to still perform at a high level.

Well said.

If TO goes down and if guys like Crayton, Hurd, and Austin can't step up and make plays then they shouldn't be on the team.

 

[Doomsday101]

Two orders of blind faith coming up.

I'm sorry, our backup WRs have just given us no reason to have this faith. If they are able to do the job, cool, but there is just noway you have any proof that they can "do the job".

I think we could play .500 ball with them, but thats about it. And as for this team being overrated if they can't overcome the lost of TO, I have a tendency to believe you are underrating TO.

The game is more than just a WR, you don't seem to get that there are more than 1 way to win in the NFL. If you want to think that we lose 1 WR our season is over fine but I disagree. I'm not underrating Owens at all as I said we are not as good and we would not be a team with great quick strike ability we would have to lean more on ball control and defense. Hell this team went to the post season with a hell of a lot less talent than we have right now. Unless you think Carter and Hambrick were fricken all star players.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Well said.

If TO goes down and if guys like Crayton, Hurd, and Austin can't step up and make plays then they shouldn't be on the team.

They are all we have, we can't cut them all.

 

[CATCH17]

Also I realise Miles Austin and guys like that weren't picked in the 1st or 2nd round but you may want to bite your tongue before labeling anyone a "scrub'

Give the guys a chance to develop before you write the story of their entire career.

Receiver is one of the hardest positions to adjust to in the NFL but yet guys like Patrick Crayton who have never played WR before and have improved every year they have been in the league have no more room to grow in some of your eyes.

Some of you need to stop the instant evaluating and have some faith that these guys can develop into solid football players.

I dont think many of you believe in developing a player unless they have the high pedigree right out of the gates.

But we are the Drew Henson lovers and not the Tony Romo lovers.

 

[Stash]

When was this?

When Irvin got injured, the Cowboys had lost much of its depth via free agency. Plus, that team was considerably older.

All true. Age, injury, and attrition contributed to the Cowboys' downturn. But other than Switzer's 6-10 season of '97, the team had consecutive winning records from '91-'98 with Irvin.

The team started 3-0 in '99 until they lost Irvin in Week 4 at Philadelphia. The team then struggled to an 8-8 finish. That was followed up by three consecutive 5-11 finishes with Emmitt Smith on the roster (Aikman's last season was 2000).

I don't recall Irvin missing many if any games during the 92-95 run. Or maybe I'm missing something and you can feel me in.

Exactly right.

The player the Cowboys couldn't afford to lose was Emmitt Smith. We saw that starting 0-2 as Emmitt held out for a new contract. Emmitt dictated the way defenses played us, moreso than Irvin did.

I would present the 1996 season - where the team went 2-3 without Irvin due to suspension, then 8-3 upon his return.

A big playoff win vs Minnesota with Irvin, and then a 26-17 playoff loss without Irvin when he left the game with an injury.

I think his loss prompted Jerry Jones to grossly overpay in the Joey Galloway trade.

I think Irvin was a huge part of the Cowboys' success.

 

[CATCH17]

Two orders of blind faith coming up.

I'm sorry, our backup WRs have just given us no reason to have this faith. If they are able to do the job, cool, but there is just noway you have any proof that they can "do the job".

I think we could play .500 ball with them, but thats about it. And as for this team being overrated if they can't overcome the lost of TO, I have a tendency to believe you are underrating TO.

If we lose TO for the year in Preseason and we go 8-8 without another big slew of injuries then yes I have underated Owens and overrated a lot of other guys on this team.. Especially Romo.

I believe Romo is the biggest playmaker on this team and with his escape ability, intangibles, ability to improvise, and most importantly the guys that would STILL be around him we should be able to move the ball on offense.

 

[gazmc_06]

Very simply, we need T.O.

If we don't have him our passing game goes from dangerous to below average which allows teams to just focus on stopping the run. When T.O. is there he draws double coverage, allows other guys to get open and creates space for the run.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I agree. We would not be as good without Owen clearly but I think with the upgrades we have made this team should be better prepared to overcome an injury like that. Having said that I think the SB would become a much longer shot but I think we would be able to challenge for the post season.

The game is more than just a WR, you don't seem to get that there are more than 1 way to win in the NFL. If you want to think that we lose 1 WR our season is over fine but I disagree. I'm not underrating Owens at all as I said we are not as good and we would not be a team with great quick strike ability we would have to lean more on ball control and defense. Hell this team went to the post season with a hell of a lot less talent than we have right now. Unless you think Carter and Hambrick were fricken all star players.

In today's game, points are made in the passing game. Sure, you can win the Parcells way, but this ain't the 80s.

I included the earlier quote cause you said in it that we could challenge for the post season, this I can agree with, playing .500 ball without TO would still make us challenge for the postseason.

Also I realise Miles Austin and guys like that weren't picked in the 1st or 2nd round but you may want to bite your tongue before labeling anyone a "scrub'

Give the guys a chance to develop before you write the story of their entire career.

Receiver is one of the hardest positions to adjust to in the NFL but yet guys like Patrick Crayton who have never played WR before and have improved every year they have been in the league have no more room to grow in some of your eyes.

Some of you need to stop the instant evaluating and have some faith that these guys can develop into solid football players.

But I dont think many of you believe in developing a player unless they have the high pedigree right out of the gates.

Oh I feel like they can develop, my issue is having too much faith that they will develop cause the odds are greatly against them ever developing into what you seem to think they will be.

The list is real long of players that we hoped would develop, but didn't. Hell, I had all the hope in the world for Randal Williams, but at some point reality has to set in. Sure one of them might work out, but odds are, they won't.....thats just the truth.

Now if they do, you can say, you knew it all along. But really, most just pick a guy they like and stay with it. Do you watch him in practice everyday, work with him, go to film sessions with him, talk to him on a daily basis.....what is really the basis of faith in him other than he is young.

Hoping it works out is one thing, but knowing that it will work out is a stretch. Right now, all we know is TO is a proven superstar, Crayton is a role player, and the rest are unknowns......now if one of them is your cousin, then maybe you have some insight.

 

[CATCH17]

Oh I feel like they can develop, my issue is having too much faith that they will develop cause the odds are greatly against them ever developing into what you seem to think they will be.

The list is real long of players that we hoped would develop, but didn't. Hell, I had all the hope in the world for Randal Williams, but at some point reality has to set in. Sure one of them might work out, but odds are, they won't.....thats just the truth.

Now if they do, you can say, you knew it all along. But really, most just pick a guy they like and stay with it. Do you watch him in practice everyday, work with him, go to film sessions with him, talk to him on a daily basis.....what is really the basis of faith in him other than he is fast and young.

Hoping it works out is one thing, but knowing that it will work out basiced on a guy like that is a stretch. Right now, all we know is TO is a proven superstar, Crayton is a role player, and the rest are unknowns......now if one of them is your cousin, then maybe you have some insight.

I agree with that but its not like these guys have not shown some flashes.

The only thing Randall Williams had ever shown was he could cover a punt.

Miles Austin hasn't done anything great but he has shown the ability to get open.

Sam Hurd can play receiver at this level. He made the team as a 20 year old and has shown the ability to make acrobatic plays at times. I dont see him hitting a wall anytime soon.

All we know about Stanback is he is an athlete.

The one thing I do have faith in is these guys are giving 100% to try and get better. I couldnt say that Pre-Parcells but Post Parcells I can. Its just a different environment with a different type of player.

It will be interesting to see what these guys can do and how they will develop and if they didnt have the ability to play with a high ceiling of talent they would already be out the door imo.

But those arent the guys im putting all of my faith in even if Owens gets hurt.

Romo, Witten, Barber, and the Offensive line better be able to carry the load.

 

[Rampage]

i'm starting to fear injuries as i see big contract by big contract handed out by jerry. it feels too good to be true to keep all these players and have them stay healthy. but hopefully they will especially Romo,Owens,Ware, and barber.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Injured or not injured, TO and the lack of another WR seriously impact our offense IMO. Our offensive slide started before TO got hurt IMO. Teams learned how to defense us in the second half of the season and it effected our offense IMO. If TO goes down, we are in trouble no matter how you slice it. Until another WR on our roster steps up and proves that they can be more then just a possesion receiver, we will always be under the gun with TO and his health IMO.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I agree with that but its not like these guys have not shown some flashes.

The only thing Randall Williams had ever shown was he could cover a punt.

Miles Austin hasn't done anything great but he has shown the ability to get open.

Sam Hurd can play receiver at this level. He made the team as a 20 year old and has shown the ability to make acrobatic plays at times. I dont see him hitting a wall anytime soon.

All we know about Stanback is he is an athlete.

The one thing I do have faith in is these guys are giving 100% to try and get better. I couldnt say that Pre-Parcells but Post Parcells I can. Its just a different environment with a different type of player.

It will be interesting to see what these guys can do and how they will develop and if they didnt have the ability to play with a high ceiling of talent they would already be out the door imo.

But those arent the guys im putting all of my faith in even if Owens gets hurt.

Romo, Witten, Barber, and the Offensive line better be able to carry the load.

Well, Randal was just a guy I drew out of my head, Antoino Bryant among others, it is really a long list that doesn't only include WRs.......and now it is easy to poke holes in them cause it is hindsight.

In 3 years, most of the guys you list we will be able to poke the same exact holes in. Problem with skill position projects is that they come with a higher profile and get more emotional supporters than some backup offensive lineman. They may not be out the door yet, but thats not a ringing endorsement since we really have tried to skate by at the position hoping that we hit the jackpot like we did with Romo.