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

[visionary]

I can tell you now what this team is

10/7 or 11/6
Out in rd 1 (or 2 if we get a cupcake) of playoffs

Lots of chest thumping about “consistency” and “progress”

Initial “disappointed” comments by Jerry to be followed by more of the same

 

[nate dizzle]

I can tell you now what this team is

10/7 or 11/6
Out in rd 1 (or 2 if we get a cupcake) of playoffs

Lots of chest thumping about “consistency” and “progress”

Initial “disappointed” comments by Jerry to be followed by more of the same

They don't call you visionary for nothing

 

[CCBoy]

Both of Cleveland’s starting OTs are flawed enough to be exploitable, Jones for his inexperience in the NFL and Conklin for his unfamiliarity with the position. It potentially sets the stage for an ideal Week 1 matchup for the Cowboys top two pass rushers.

While everyone is talking about the Myles Garrett and Tyler Guyton battle, the real impact on the edge could come at the hands of the Cowboys defense.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/05/cowboys-micah-parsons-demarcus-lawrence-cleveland-2024/

 

[LonnieElam]

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 will. They're all too mentally weak, and there's ZERO accountability. Dak will, once again, throw his teammates under the bus. Parsons will whine and cry. CeeDee as well.

 

[CWR]

Normally I'd agree, but this year is more the opposite.

It's taken less than one game for me to believe this team is of a similar path as the last 3 years. The details will be different but WC or Divisional round seems about right.

 

[Blackrain]

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.

But the one thing that is predictable is if we can't stop the run and run the ball ourselves we are in a world of spit.

As we have seen in seasons past expecting Dak to continually pull the rabbit out of the hat with no help in the running game is a recipe for disaster.

The new defense is definitely a question mark is Mazi Smith now a dominant run stopper with a training camp and some weight gain and can Zeke and cook run the ball efficiently enough to give Dak the help he is going to need.

Even if that all pans out McCarthy is still unable to prepare a team for a playoff game so there is that disappointment to look forward to.
I'm just going to hope there's some good football to watch and enjoy watching the young players mature. I have no expectations

 

[Streifenkarl]

We will know what this team is when they have played their 18th game.

 

[charron]

You are right we won't know until about 8 games in. But there will be clues starting with game 1.

 

[Hadenough]

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!.

Let's not kid ourselves! We know exactly what this team is. An avg middle of the road team that Parsons adds a few wins to.

 

[America's Cowboy]

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!.

BH, ol' friend, you are one of the best writers and thread creators in CZ. Thank you, amigo! Your threads are always informative, thoughtful and exciting to read. I just wanted to thank you for your work, time and effort. I used to feel the same way when our old bud, CC (Couch Coach), used to write and create very well thought out threads (may CC rest in peace... miss him). Definitely excited for this year's Cowboys team and see how it performs with a good mix of veterans and young players.

Thank you once again, @Bobhaze ! Enjoy this season dear ol' friend.

GO COWBOYS!!!

 

[conner01]

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

I think that’s generally true. I think this roster has so many young players in key positions that they should get better as the season goes on

 

[Blast From The Past]

To some it will be known at the end of the first half in Cle.

And to some the first series

 

[Blackrain]

You are right we won't know until about 8 games in. But there will be clues starting with game 1.

You never really know till the fat lady sings look at The eagles last year how they started out and then completely imploded and gave us the opportunity to really make some noise in the postseason.

Things can change drastically in the middle of the year one way or another especially if injuries arise that said I 100% agree there will be a lot of clues in game 1 as to how the season will go.

I stand on my soapbox and go on record if we can't run the ball and stop the run everything else is just smoke and mirrors disappointment and failure will be the end result.

 

[KingCorcoran]

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

Since the same can be said for the opponent I guess it comes down to preparation and execution, starting with game one. Not starting with game five.

 

[charron]

You never really know till the fat lady sings look at The eagles last year how they started out and then completely imploded and gave us the opportunity to really make some noise in the postseason.

Things can change drastically in the middle of the year one way or another especially if injuries arise that said I 100% agree there will be a lot of clues in game 1 as to how the season will go.

I stand on my soapbox and go on record if we can't run the ball and stop the run everything else is just smoke and mirrors disappointment and failure will be the end result.

Sure how you start and how you finish can be 2 different things. Just look at quins team in the Superbowl. Up 21-3 he never imagined he'd get blown out in the second half and that changed the narrative of the game and of their season. But still we will learn some things about the boys starting with sunday's game. If they give up 100 yards rushing with Cleveland's patchwork OL and backup RB, that would show huge flaw in the defense. Or could the secondary get exposed with diggs barely coming back to play, bland injured, and lewis manning the slot. Of course we could learn that our OL can dominate, maybe Zeke gets 100, that would also teach us about what these guys can do.

 

[stinkface]

I agree with 4 or 5 games in we will have a real good idea. I just hope we play well down the stretch. We have been known to fold like a lawn chair.

 

[deerhunter11]

I agree with 4 or 5 games in we will have a real good idea. I just hope we play well down the stretch. We have been known to fold like a lawn chair.

Iv'e got a feeling that Beebe and Guyton , will Instill some mean and nasty to this Oline .And this running attack will be better than most think ,5 games or so into the season.

 

[nobody]

Personally, I think we won't truly know what this team is until the playoffs. I think they'll do well in the regular season. Game one is up in the air cause they could come out swinging, or they could come out like the Keystone Cops.

I think the Cowboys will step up and win game one. Will it be a domination? Likely not. There will be growing pains. But a win is a win.

 

[ShiningStar]

You never really know till the fat lady sings look at The eagles last year how they started out and then completely imploded and gave us the opportunity to really make some noise in the postseason.

Things can change drastically in the middle of the year one way or another especially if injuries arise that said I 100% agree there will be a lot of clues in game 1 as to how the season will go.

I stand on my soapbox and go on record if we can't run the ball and stop the run everything else is just smoke and mirrors disappointment and failure will be the end result.

we all know, just the people who arent or dont want to pay attention are surprised by the same ending year after year.

 

[Blackrain]

Well one thing we've seen here in the first game the reason why we don't succeed in the playoffs.

Our coach is unable to manage time and prepare the team in the clutch.

Are kicker kicks an NFL record field goal and it's negated by a penalty more improper time management from McCarthy

The guy resembles a cow that gives a good bucket of milk and then kicks it over