It will take more than the first game to know what this team is

[Bobhaze]

It’s a normal yet humorous football tradition to watch the first game of the season and then - win or lose - base the entire season’s expectations on that one performance. But in reality the first game of the season is 1/17th of a marathon. And truth is, it may or may not be preview of things to come.

Last year we opened the season with a 40-0 shellacking of the giants in NY and the talk was that our defense was going to completely dominate opponents on weekly basis. Then in week 4 the lowly Ariz Cards led by pedestrian QB Josh Dodds ran roughshod over the Cowboys in a 28-17 surprise defeat. Which game was most representative of the Cowboys in 2023? Probably neither. Each game is a different challenge.

I am super excited for real football to start and excited to see what this Cowboys team will be. With that in mind, here are some things to keep in mind about this year’s Cowboys team:

• The Cowboys will have 8 new starters as we open the season. Eight players who were not here last year. Sunday in Cleveland will be the first time those 22 starters will have played together in a normal NFL game as opposed to a PS game or controlled practice.
• The Cowboys will start 4 rookies Sunday and another who will see plenty of action. And as excited as I am about Guyton, Beebe, Kneeland, Liafau and Carson, even the best most talented rookies will have mistakes and growing pains.
• It usually takes 4-6 games to really know what a team can be. Whatever happens in Cleveland Sunday, we will learn some things about this team. Just not everything.

It is very likely this 2024 team will be better in December than it is now. The only sure prediction I can make about Sunday’s opener is this: On our Game Day thread, the first time the Cowboys have to punt several fans will declare this season is over! Haha!

So whatever happens in Cleveland, this team is still going to need some time to develop. I’m excited to see how that happens.
Go Cowboys!.

 

[Creeper]

I agree, it takes about 8 games to find out what they are. The Cowboys have 2 rookies on the OL and I think it could take a few games for them to play well as a unit. It would not surprise me if they struggle to run the football against the Browns.

If they lose, it adds to the whole grass field thing.

But if the Browns run for 200 yards Sunday, you know what the story will be.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Takes the offense about 4 weeks before they actually start to get things rolling, defense always seems to be so far ahead of them

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree, it takes about 8 games to find out what they are. The Cowboys have 2 rookies on the OL and I think it could take a few games for them to play well as a unit. It would not surprise me if they struggle to run the football against the Browns.

If they lose, it adds to the whole grass field thing.

But if the Browns run for 200 yards Sunday, you know what the story will be.

Well said. The other thing we tend to do as fans is only judge a team by individual performances when really it’s how we perform as a TEAM that best judges its potential.

 

[zrinkill]

I disagree only because of what happened in the off-season with Dak and McCarthy being on one year deals and the lack of free agency.

I think a loss in the first game may send this season into a spiral.

 

[Bobhaze]

Takes the offense about 4 weeks before they actually start to get things rolling, defense always seems to be so far ahead of them

For sure. And we are implementing a new defensive scheme.

 

[Coogiguy03]

For sure. And we are implementing a new defensive scheme.

Good point haze

 

[Bobhaze]

I disagree only because of what happened in the off-season with Dak and McCarthy being on one year deals and the lack of free agency.

I think a loss in the first game may send this season into a spiral.

It‘s possible. But we won’t know that for a while. We could lose Sun then rip off 3 straight. We don’t know. The NFL is the most unpredictable league in pro sports.

 

[Coogiguy03]

It‘s possible. But we won’t know that for a while. We could lose Sun then rip off 3 straight. We don’t know. The NFL is the most unpredictable league in pro sports.

That's why I hate these media people doing rankings, like slow the hell down and watch a few games before you bandwagon on the HOTTEST teams around at the moment

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Belichick once said 4 games should give you a good idea of what type of team you have.

 

[Bobhaze]

Belichick once said 4 games should give you a good idea of what type of team you have.

Many fans will judge the entire season on the first series,

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Many fans will judge the entire season on the first series,

No question......lol

 

[Bobhaze]

No question......lol

The Game Day thread here on game days can provide some of the biggest roller coaster emotional swings you can see anywhere!

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The Game Day thread here on game days can provide some of the biggest roller coaster emotional swings you can see anywhere!

That is exactly why I stay out of them.......I would be a nervous wreck

 

[maryquality]

The Game Day thread here on game days can provide some of the biggest roller coaster emotional swings you can see anywhere!

Yeah, I predict with our first 3 and out, many in the thread will claim "the sky is falling". As predictable as the sun rising in the East. LOL

 

[75boyz]

Yeah,
First game is important but I'll watch the whole season and usually get more interested after Turkey day.

Cuz for whatever reason major defensive components (Micah &Tank)have all but disappeared the last couple of years around that time.

Then come the playoffs and that leads to the biggest leftover gorillas in the room.
Many here jump to blame defensive collapse...yada, yada, yada.
Or run game ineffectiveness...yada, yada,yada

BUT.
Does both your Head Coach and Quarterback suck at playoff football?

Ours do.
So I kinda do know what this team is and the first game ain't that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

 

[blueblood70]

Yep, no judgment should come from this team until maybe mid-season because even we started off was it 3 and five and 2018 brought in amari Cooper ended up 10 and six in the second round you never know what's going to happen you got to watch the whole season that's why it's the ultimate reality TV show it's most unpredictable league in pro sports just watch the damn games...

I prefer to judge the games after they're played and on a week to week basis no predictions no before game nonsense each game we could debate the games afterwards. so much can change week 1 to week 17 its league of attrition and adjustments...

 

[blueblood70]

The Game Day thread here on game days can provide some of the biggest roller coaster emotional swings you can see anywhere!

It's how Scooter Magruder made his name. Those vids are so funny because that is how most fans act during games..,soem say his shtick got old but i luv it!!

 

[ArtClink]

It’s a normal yet humorous football tradition to watch the first game of the season and then - win or lose - base the entire season’s expectations on that one performance. But in reality the first game of the season is 1/17th of a marathon. And truth is, it may or may not be preview of things to come.

Last year we opened the season with a 40-0 shellacking of the giants in NY and the talk was that our defense was going to completely dominate opponents on weekly basis. Then in week 4 the lowly Ariz Cards led by pedestrian QB Josh Dodds ran roughshod over the Cowboys in a 28-17 surprise defeat. Which game was most representative of the Cowboys in 2023? Probably neither. Each game is a different challenge.

I am super excited for real football to start and excited to see what this Cowboys team will be. With that in mind, here are some things to keep in mind about this year’s Cowboys team:

• The Cowboys will have 8 new starters as we open the season. Eight players who were not here last year. Sunday in Cleveland will be the first time those 22 starters will have played together in a normal NFL game as opposed to a PS game or controlled practice.
• The Cowboys will start 4 rookies Sunday and another who will see plenty of action. And as excited as I am about Guyton, Beebe, Kneeland, Liafau and Carson, even the best most talented rookies will have mistakes and growing pains.
• It usually takes 4-6 games to really know what a team can be. Whatever happens in Cleveland Sunday, we will learn some things about this team. Just not everything.

It is very likely this 2024 team will be better in December than it is now. The only sure prediction I can make about Sunday’s opener is this: On our Game Day thread, the first time the Cowboys have to punt several fans will declare this season is over! Haha!

So whatever happens in Cleveland, this team is still going to need some time to develop. I’m excited to see how that happens.
Go Cowboys!.

I don't care about beating up the bad teams, just wanna see how we measure up against the elite teams. After all, we are consistently in the top ten for the power rankings so let’s prove we belong.

 

[rambo2]

It’s a normal yet humorous football tradition to watch the first game of the season and then - win or lose - base the entire season’s expectations on that one performance. But in reality the first game of the season is 1/17th of a marathon. And truth is, it may or may not be preview of things to come.

Last year we opened the season with a 40-0 shellacking of the giants in NY and the talk was that our defense was going to completely dominate opponents on weekly basis. Then in week 4 the lowly Ariz Cards led by pedestrian QB Josh Dodds ran roughshod over the Cowboys in a 28-17 surprise defeat. Which game was most representative of the Cowboys in 2023? Probably neither. Each game is a different challenge.

I am super excited for real football to start and excited to see what this Cowboys team will be. With that in mind, here are some things to keep in mind about this year’s Cowboys team:

• The Cowboys will have 8 new starters as we open the season. Eight players who were not here last year. Sunday in Cleveland will be the first time those 22 starters will have played together in a normal NFL game as opposed to a PS game or controlled practice.
• The Cowboys will start 4 rookies Sunday and another who will see plenty of action. And as excited as I am about Guyton, Beebe, Kneeland, Liafau and Carson, even the best most talented rookies will have mistakes and growing pains.
• It usually takes 4-6 games to really know what a team can be. Whatever happens in Cleveland Sunday, we will learn some things about this team. Just not everything.

It is very likely this 2024 team will be better in December than it is now. The only sure prediction I can make about Sunday’s opener is this: On our Game Day thread, the first time the Cowboys have to punt several fans will declare this season is over! Haha!

So whatever happens in Cleveland, this team is still going to need some time to develop. I’m excited to see how that happens.
Go Cowboys!.

12 wins on the horizon.