I'm getting kinda excited about next year's team.

[TheRomoSexual]

I know you can always make the argument that if a guy gets hurt, the team will struggle. But in the 43, the defensive ends are more important than the 34 for pressure, and we have 0 depth after those two guys.

:laugh2:

Didn't Crawford play DE in college?

 

[Falcon554]

I still see a 8-8 team. the middle round rookies are raw and will not be active on game day to help this team. the center will help. I hope we do something with right tackle spot. after spencer and ware who is going to step up and provide a pass rush.

yea I see the same thing. I just dont trust this team at all. Heck they could go out and win 11 or 6 and cost JG his job.

 

[DFWJC]

Pre-draft, I was more excited about this team than in the last two years.

The draft was a set-back for me and really let the air out some.

The fan in me won't let it stay down too long though, and I'm starting to get pumped again.
Unless they make some FA moves, I don't see my optimism reaching pre-draft levels though. I'm just so wary of the team in the trenches right now.

I still think, if they can stay healthy, they can maybe make some noise.

 

[dallasdave]

Yeah, yeah, I know the "realists" are gonna say things like "one playoff win in the last 17 years" or "we are a mediocre team" and bla bla. But on paper, we have a lot of talent. Probably the most we've had in quite some time.

I think that four of our draft picks (Frederick, Escobar, Williams, Randle) are going to make immediate contributions, and we have a lot of guys coming back from injury that will finally be healthy. Our team FOUGHT last year and showed some heart. First time in a long time that they've done that. And that's what gives me hope. I think our identity if finally changing. Combine that with the talent we have and hopefully some health, and this could be a special year.

:starspin

Good post, I like the players we drafted too.

 

[Nova]

Not too excited. Offseason isn't over, but we didn't get any younger or much stronger in areas we need to get younger and stronger in-- OL, DL, and S.

I don't understand this team's front office.

 

[visionary]

Pre-draft, I was more excited about this team than in the last two years.

The draft was a set-back for me and really let the air out some.

The fan in me won't let it stay down too long though, and I'm starting to get pumped again.
Unless they make some FA moves, I don't see my optimism reaching pre-draft levels though. I'm just so wary of the team in the trenches right now.

I still think, if they can stay healthy, they can maybe make some noise.

this^^
i feel exactly the same way
this draft had so much potential

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Not too excited. Offseason isn't over, but we didn't get any younger or much stronger in areas we need to get younger and stronger in-- OL, DL, and S.

I don't understand this team's front office.

I'm excited but then again I am always excited about Cowboys football.

If they can stay healthy (big if) on defense I think they can win two or three more games and make a run for the playoffs. I also think a lot of the rookies will contribute.

 

[Nova]

I'm excited but then again I am always excited about Cowboys football.

If they can stay healthy (big if) on defense I think they can win two or three more games and make a run for the playoffs. I also think a lot of the rookies will contribute.

I'm hopeful that will happen, but I've been hopeful in the past also.

You're right, they can make a run for the playoffs, but I'm not so sure that they'd be able to do much more after that.

I'm not doubting that the rookies can make an impact-- I'm doubting as to whether that's what will make the difference. Most of the rookies will be stunted by the depth chart and it seems we've neglected to address our biggest areas of concern adequately thus far in FA.

I'd love it if our rookies from last year that didn't see much time make a huge impact like Bruce Carter was able too.

 

[Joe Realist]

I think the defense will be hard to watch.

 

[Bowdown27]

If tony doesn't have to run for his life then we have a great shot.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I'm hopeful that will happen, but I've been hopeful in the past also.

You're right, they can make a run for the playoffs, but I'm not so sure that they'd be able to do much more after that.

I'm not doubting that the rookies can make an impact-- I'm doubting as to whether that's what will make the difference. Most of the rookies will be stunted by the depth chart and it seems we've neglected to address our biggest areas of concern adequately thus far in FA.

I'd love it if our rookies from last year that didn't see much time make a huge impact like Bruce Carter was able too.

I worry about the effectiveness of the DTs but am hopeful that the old guys can stay healthy and the young can guys can actually be solid contributors. If neither happens the defense will be average or worse.

 

[Nova]

I worry about the effectiveness of the DTs but am hopeful that the old guys can stay healthy and the young can guys can actually be solid contributors. If neither happens the defense will be average or worse.

Yeah. If the old guys stay healthy, or get healthy at the right time they could be pretty good. I thought the D line looked pretty good against Atlanta last year when they were closest to being healthy.

I guess at this point I wish we would have gone with Brockers instead of trading up for Claiborne.

But that's just revisionist history based on things we didn't know at that point, like scheme change.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Yeah. If the old guys stay healthy, or get healthy at the right time they could be pretty good. I thought the D line looked pretty good against Atlanta last year when they were closest to being healthy.

I guess at this point I wish we would have gone with Brockers instead of trading up for Claiborne.

But that's just revisionist history based on things we didn't know at that point, like scheme change.

Brockers would have been my choice too considering Claiborne was Ryan's pet cat and he's no longer here. :laugh2:

Anyway, it all worked out. Brockers doesn't have the fast twitch that Jerry is looking for anyway. :laugh2:

I expect an attacking defense this year that creates turnovers. I hope Kiffin delivers.

 

[nalam]

If Price steps up, him, Liss, Crawford, and Wilbur should make for a solid rotation.

Don't forget Bass, he has a quick step and was good in preseason last year.

 

[pugilist]

I am not as convinced regarding or DL...especially when compared to the better teams. Only 4 frontline starters with minimal quality backup rotation. A definite need for next yrs draft.

this coupled with the implementation of a new scheme and you have a recipe for below average results on defense. the talent will be there but I think we're going to see a lot of mistakes, a lot of players whom we believed fit the scheme either moved around or switched to a different package completely.

going to be a lot of inconsistency and frustration on the defensive side next season imo

 

[zrinkill]

Our talent level is around middle of the pack. Barring injury I see 8-8.

We were 8-8 last year with half the defense injured.

 

[jday]

Yeah, yeah, I know the "realists" are gonna say things like "one playoff win in the last 17 years" or "we are a mediocre team" and bla bla. But on paper, we have a lot of talent. Probably the most we've had in quite some time.

I think that four of our draft picks (Frederick, Escobar, Williams, Randle) are going to make immediate contributions, and we have a lot of guys coming back from injury that will finally be healthy. Our team FOUGHT last year and showed some heart. First time in a long time that they've done that. And that's what gives me hope. I think our identity if finally changing. Combine that with the talent we have and hopefully some health, and this could be a special year.

:starspin

I just don't see it. In my mind, this team's window has already passed and is about 2 to 3 good draft's away from being playoff ready and competitive. I'm curious as to how the OP could actually call this a talented roster. There is not one single player in the secondary I would call clutch for the exception of when Sean Lee or Bruce Carter drops back in coverage. Those two teamed with an aging Demarcus Ware are the only 3 players on defense that we can actually depend on to make plays (unfortunately, we can't exactly count on them to stay healthy, but that's for another post). Everyone else on that defense has been grossly inconsistent. On offense, considering the additions made during the draft, may see some improvement from last year, but the only players I have high hopes for are Dez and Romo; the rest we will have to wait and see.

As for the strength of the draft, I think we may have 2 to 3 keepers. I like the Center Frederick, the WR Williams, and the RB Randle, but only time will tell if my suspicions on them are correct. As for the TE, I honestly felt like we needed more of a blocking TE, because Romo rarely ever has time to get to his 2nd TE when he is cycling through who to throw to and skill players is the one thing the Cowboys have not been short on the last several years. Wilcox, at the end of the day, played against much lower competition and was only a year in at FS. He is a definite project. The corner looks a bit light for the pro's, but could be a decent option at 4th corner and Holloman looks like a Special Teams player (not knocking Special Teams and actually if a 6th rounder can contribute there, it is definitely not a wasted pick. Overall, I'm okay with the draft because this was a pretty weak draft class to begin with. But regardless of that excuse, that does not change the fact that a lot of positions of need, particularly Safety and the DL went unaddressed (and, yes, I do not count Wilcox as addressing the Safety issue). I'm not saying I could have done better either becuase the cowboys had a lot of holes to fill; I'm just saying, as a result, I do not have high hopes.

 

[dueyhemlock]

We were 8-8 last year with half the defense injured.

And also the young O-line was beat up bad in the pre/early season. No continuity what so ever.

Other key areas took hits also: TE, RB, WR

We were still competitive up to the end (win N your in) last game.

Injuries are part of fuzeball but we had more than our share.

This team has the talent (more than .500 talent) to make some noise in the playoffs.

 

[blackbull]

I expect mediocrity until I'm shown otherwise.

 

[Seven]

IF this group of half-wits can rid themselves of stupid, drive killing penalties and the penalties at the worst possible times.......they give themselves a fighting chance.

I don't know what to think anymore. Every season it's something eerily different that permeates this team and they can never seem to shake it.