I've Never Been Afraid To Predict Good Things For The Cowboys

[Fletch]

You have my respect Hostile. I enjoy what you contribute more than most people on here. But I can't buy in, like you have. And I won't feel a bit ashamed for feeling the way I do if the Cowboys do in fact prove me wrong. I honestly don't see the defense has been approved for several reasons: 1. The loss of Hatcher and Ware. Granted, they were part of the walking-wounder last year, but their contribution cannot be ignored. I will also go ahead and state that I was onboard with their dismissal...it will go along way to improving this team for the future, but I do not have high hopes for this next season. And I'm okay with that; I don't simply watch the Cowboys on the condition that they be contenders. I get that it's process and sometimes that process takes longer than a few seasons. 2. The cap prevented the Cowboys from truly addressing the Defensive needs. 3. Once again, in the draft, the Cowboys were forced to reach for need, which I honestly believe Lawrence was...though I truly do hope he proves me wrong. 4. We have the same secondary - and while I get that having a Mash unit up front contributed to their woes, that excuse only get's the corners so far. I honestly don't think we have a corner on this roster capable of covering true #1 receivers. Carr, in my mind, is not a long-term answer as the #1 corner. 5. We have some serious question marks at Safety, and while I like Church, even he to an extent is limited as a player. 6. Speaking of injuries, for the exception of Selvie and the rookies, every player on the Dl to the linebacking crew has a history of injuries. So prepare yourself - at least a few of those guys won't make it through the season.

Now, on the other hand, I do have high hopes for the offense. Aside from Romo's back issues and Murray's injury history, there are not too many negatives to point to for the exception of the lack of experience behind Dez and the lack of good depth on the Ol. Having said all that, if Romo, Murray, and the Ol can remain healthy, that offense seemed poised for greatness.

Very good post! While I'm on record as being a glass-is-half-full kind of guy, I can't agree on every point, but you laid out some really good responses to Hostile's post. I respect Hostile. I respect those that go beyond the one-liners that we are all guilty of displaying in here when frustrated. Again, very nice post. I'm semi on-the-fence this year. But I do feel that we can sneak into the playoffs if health is in our favor. Getting back Crawford and Bass will be huge. Just gotta let the first 5 or 6 games play out and then see where we are. Hopefully our defense can be better than average.

 

[JBS]

Better than average on defense? Thats an incredibly tall order

 

[5Stars]

For me this season is predicated on two distinct areas.

1. Defensive push by the front.

Don't hand me the Marinelli get out of jail free card. You cannot take a cast off and make them a pro bowler.

The defense will need to pressure the quarterback or the secondary will AGAIN be exposed. This defense was built in the opposite direction because Jerry sees defenders getting beat in the passing game and doesn't understand the pass rush is what protects them. Just like the offensive line protects Romo. The game is skewed toward the offense to begin with by rules. So the best defense is to provide a hearty pass rush. Dallas did not build this defense that way. They threw money and picks at the backfield.

They still have no free safety which is the center fielder of the team. Now add in Lee going down, Carter still a question mark, and what do you have? Questionable up the middle, no consistent rush to pressure the quarterback, and defensive backs that cannot cover long enough which opens up the WR's.

2. Murray and TWill.

The offensive line should be better. But the real factors which will determine this offense are Murray and TWill.

Can Murray be consistent in the run game to keep the defenses honest?

Can TWill be enough of a threat to ease the pressure off Dez being the focal point of the passing game.

To me Witten has showed down. Escobar is still a what if. Street is a rookie and Harris and Beasley aren't consistent enough to force teams to look away from Dez.

I also have a real concern about Romo's back. I have never seen him as this super accurate passer to begin with. He has been more of a vicinity passer to me. So how will his back affect his accuracy? That remains to be seen. But age and health will begin to factor into his game. There will be a point when things just don't get better for him. Laffenberg thinks this is the beginning of the end for Tony. Who knows.

So pass rush and the running game and how effective TWill will be in his second year is what this season comes down to for me.

I will happily admit I was wrong if these no name defensive linemen can actually step up. But as it stands this isn't enough to cause me to think there will be any pass rush whatsoever. Because I don't see an edge rusher here at all and I see the team somehow counting on Spencer who may have played his last game. Now marry that with a soft interior defense that will give up the rushing yards and this is still a bottom dweller.

Now add an offense that is ASSUMED to be top five but could well slip to the middle of the pack because of age, health, and too few stars.

That spells 5-11 for me.

So many seem to think posts like this are emotional, gutless, an easy prediction, or some such.

I love this team as much as anyone on this board and have loved them longer that most. I cannot shut off my logical mind and override it with hope that so many things have to align for this team to be competitive.

It never works that way.

But I will enjoy the season because I love watching this team play.

All I got out of your post is "I see ... I see...I see...." when you have not seen nothing yet! You think you "see"...lmao

 

[Vintage]

All I got out of your post is "I see ... I see...I see...." when you have not seen nothing yet! You think you "see"...lmao

You forgot "(stupid Cowboys fans)"

 

[5Stars]

You forgot "(stupid Cowboys fans)"

I'm the stupid Cowboy fan....lol

But this nonsense of "i see this or I see that, and I see this..." as if fans are at practice and ACTUALLY see this or that!

 

[Sarge]

Predictions are pretty worthless. Having said that, poking fun at predictions is even more worthless.

.02

 

[5Stars]

Predictions are pretty worthless. Having said that, poking fun at predictions is even more worthless.

.02

That is so profound....lol

(stupid cowboy mods)

 

[Idgit]

You have my respect Hostile. I enjoy what you contribute more than most people on here. But I can't buy in, like you have. And I won't feel a bit ashamed for feeling the way I do if the Cowboys do in fact prove me wrong. I honestly don't see the defense has been approved for several reasons: 1. The loss of Hatcher and Ware. Granted, they were part of the walking-wounder last year, but their contribution cannot be ignored. I will also go ahead and state that I was onboard with their dismissal...it will go along way to improving this team for the future, but I do not have high hopes for this next season. And I'm okay with that; I don't simply watch the Cowboys on the condition that they be contenders. I get that it's process and sometimes that process takes longer than a few seasons. 2. The cap prevented the Cowboys from truly addressing the Defensive needs. 3. Once again, in the draft, the Cowboys were forced to reach for need, which I honestly believe Lawrence was...though I truly do hope he proves me wrong. 4. We have the same secondary - and while I get that having a Mash unit up front contributed to their woes, that excuse only get's the corners so far. I honestly don't think we have a corner on this roster capable of covering true #1 receivers. Carr, in my mind, is not a long-term answer as the #1 corner. 5. We have some serious question marks at Safety, and while I like Church, even he to an extent is limited as a player. 6. Speaking of injuries, for the exception of Selvie and the rookies, every player on the Dl to the linebacking crew has a history of injuries. So prepare yourself - at least a few of those guys won't make it through the season.

Now, on the other hand, I do have high hopes for the offense. Aside from Romo's back issues and Murray's injury history, there are not too many negatives to point to for the exception of the lack of experience behind Dez and the lack of good depth on the Ol. Having said all that, if Romo, Murray, and the Ol can remain healthy, that offense seemed poised for greatness.

Quoted this, just because it's a great way to disagree with a take. Obviously, the OP picked a contentious title for a reason here, but I don't get why we're all in the habit of dividing into happy and sad groups on every proposed topic. Obviously, .500 seasons without playoffs have a way of dividing a fan base, but at the end of the day, i'd like to think we can disagree without acrimony and without picking fights with each other. There's enough stuff to legitimately disagree on to keep the threads going, I'd think, no?

 

[TwoDeep3]

All I got out of your post is "I see ... I see...I see...." when you have not seen nothing yet! You think you "see"...lmao

Do you ever really talk about football? Or are the focal points of your posts nothing more than pointing out things others say?

I can't recall the last time I saw you actually make a football comment. Mabe you do, but I'll be damned if I can remember one.

 

[5Stars]

Do you ever really talk about football? Or are the focal points of your posts nothing more than pointing out things others say?

I can't recall the last time I saw you actually make a football comment. Mabe you do, but I'll be damned if I can remember one.

I'm not a prognosticator, nor do I have a crystal ball. I make football comments when I actually "see" it for myself during the season.

I have reasons about this team from what I "saw" last season, but I cannot "see" what I think I think.

 

[casmith07]

So, "no" then?

It's not particularly hard to spot your strawmen.

Weak.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Quoted this, just because it's a great way to disagree with a take. Obviously, the OP picked a contentious title for a reason here, but I don't get why we're all in the habit of dividing into happy and sad groups on every proposed topic. Obviously, .500 seasons without playoffs have a way of dividing a fan base, but at the end of the day, i'd like to think we can disagree without acrimony and without picking fights with each other. There's enough stuff to legitimately disagree on to keep the threads going, I'd think, no?

Since there is seldom any real truth that comes out here because this is an opinion board, the likelihood of people agreeing when someone else contradicts their opinions is dubious to me.

This game is played by men, coached by men who give no real insight into what transpires within their intramural environments.

There are "translators" - read media - who speak with the men and receive what the teams wish to be pushed to the purchasers of the product.

Not unlike soap telling you how soft your skin will be when you use it. They don't tell you they kill thousands of rabbits a year to determine the correct formula to make it work.

So we are voyeurs, watching a game that doesn't show the entire 22 on the screen, without the benefit of inside information to have a knowledgeable understanding, talking about this game on a message board with strangers who see their own version of what transpires and evaluates that in their mind.

The bottom line is we are all full of crap about this game because none of us are on the inside, and those that are will not tell the unvarnished truth.

Now mix in our propensity of defending our positions because most of us are men, using a form of communication that is less than ideal, which causes misunderstandings galore, and what it boils down to is this is a place you come to argue.

So your idea of what this should be, will never be because of the nature of this sport, the franchises, the fans, and human nature.

But I understand what you are saying.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I'm not a prognosticator, nor do I have a crystal ball. I make football comments when I actually "see" it for myself during the season.

I have reasons about this team from what I "saw" last season, but I cannot "see" what I think I think.

Convenient position. Some might see your can't tell the future act as a way to back bite those who come here expressing their thoughts.

Others might say offering up your OPINION would put you in a position where you have to support what you think. And we all know it is easier to sit back and ridicule others for an opinion you are not willing to offer.

Then there will be the ones, and probably very few, who find you to be gutless.

I myself see you contradict without actually saying anything at all but your mousy little snark remarks. You rely on the predict the future comments as your empirical evidence, which it is not at all. You do not discuss any of the things I said, offering up your opinion on why they are true or false.

So to encapsulate this, you don't ever put your opinion at risk by actually discussing football. You simply make comments to denigrate the posters for making their opinions.

Unless of course it's one like Hos who comes along this time every year and make generalizations with feel good commentary. You like those because it leaves room to dream.

As far as Hos goes, he's like the first pitch of the baseball season or a groundhog predicting the weather. Same time next year.

You, you snipe at people until they call you out and show you up, whence you disappear for a week until it blows over.

But I like you and Hos, 5 stars. There is something about the consistencies of life that make it comfortable.

 

[jnday]

Very good post! While I'm on record as being a glass-is-half-full kind of guy, I can't agree on every point, but you laid out some really good responses to Hostile's post. I respect Hostile. I respect those that go beyond the one-liners that we are all guilty of displaying in here when frustrated. Again, very nice post. I'm semi on-the-fence this year. But I do feel that we can sneak into the playoffs if health is in our favor. Getting back Crawford and Bass will be huge. Just gotta let the first 5 or 6 games play out and then see where we are. Hopefully our defense can be better than average.

What has Bass or Crawford done in this league for them to be difference makers?

 

[Idgit]

Since there is seldom any real truth that comes out here because this is an opinion board, the likelihood of people agreeing when someone else contradicts their opinions is dubious to me.

This game is played by men, coached by men who give no real insight into what transpires within their intramural environments.

There are "translators" - read media - who speak with the men and receive what the teams wish to be pushed to the purchasers of the product.

Not unlike soap telling you how soft your skin will be when you use it. They don't tell you they kill thousands of rabbits a year to determine the correct formula to make it work.

So we are voyeurs, watching a game that doesn't show the entire 22 on the screen, without the benefit of inside information to have a knowledgeable understanding, talking about this game on a message board with strangers who see their own version of what transpires and evaluates that in their mind.

The bottom line is we are all full of crap about this game because none of us are on the inside, and those that are will not tell the unvarnished truth.

Now mix in our propensity of defending our positions because most of us are men, using a form of communication that is less than ideal, which causes misunderstandings galore, and what it boils down to is this is a place you come to argue.

So your idea of what this should be, will never be because of the nature of this sport, the franchises, the fans, and human nature.

But I understand what you are saying.

I don't know. I'm not looking for message board utopia. The two of us, for example, probably disagree on a handful of significant things when it comes to our outlook for the team, right? And we always get along pretty amicably. Posters can disagree on outlook or expectation without dividing into tribes or disliking each other publicly, can't they? I can argue with Risen, for example, over the stupidity of suggesting we hypothetically draft and OG #1 overall, and still laugh at one of his funny Ben Bass or foam finger jokes, can't I?

 

[unionjack8]

the egos on display in this thread is cringeworthy.
I am sure some have gone through full boxes of Kleenex because some dare disagree with them.........

 

[Sarge]

That is so profound....lol

(stupid cowboy mods)

I are pretty smart.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I don't know. I'm not looking for message board utopia. The two of us, for example, probably disagree on a handful of significant things when it comes to our outlook for the team, right? And we always get along pretty amicably. Posters can disagree on outlook or expectation without dividing into tribes or disliking each other publicly, can't they? I can argue with Risen, for example, over the stupidity of suggesting we hypothetically draft and OG #1 overall, and still laugh at one of his funny Ben Bass or foam finger jokes, can't I?

I'm certain we can.

But it is like this idea that only the happy can post some things here. There are certain comments which the filter will alter if you are wanting to label a group of happy campers.

Yet hater is okay.

I find that curious and a little dense. Playing favorites isn't my idea of a message board. If you aren't tough enough to take it, then don't post. This is one of my biggest arguments about the way this is handled here. I watch some get away with murder with impunity.

Others are sent to the bench for defending their position.

Take the gloves off or be an equal opportunity mod is what I think.

Now I have transgressed and will probably suffer a month off this time. But in all idget, the fanbase is not happy with the results, and controlling the dialog to reflect a happier time only puts stress on posters who have to toe a line when others can do as they please. Including the staff.

This is what causes the arguments and the acrimony for some more than anything else.

This will not go away until Jerry fixes the team. The displeasure will remain and get more vocal as years pass without positive results. No matter how many pretty pictures are painted by prose on this board.

 

[Hostile]

It was our biggest problem, possibly, but not our only problem. And second, just out of curiosity, what makes you so confident that the Dl is now fixed?

I don't think they are fixed. That isn't what I am saying at all. I'm saying they were so pitifully bad last year that 8-8 was a miracle. How many games did we have a healthy Hatcher and Ware together? 2, maybe 3? The rest of those guys were the best we could manage given who was out there, but they simply could not stop anyone. I'm saying we can now stop some teams, and hold on to some wins. That means better, but it doesn't mean fixed.

 

[jday]

Quoted this, just because it's a great way to disagree with a take. Obviously, the OP picked a contentious title for a reason here, but I don't get why we're all in the habit of dividing into happy and sad groups on every proposed topic. Obviously, .500 seasons without playoffs have a way of dividing a fan base, but at the end of the day, i'd like to think we can disagree without acrimony and without picking fights with each other. There's enough stuff to legitimately disagree on to keep the threads going, I'd think, no?

Agree. There are certain things I'll attack, but not this type of OP. Hostile has always been good for a respectful debate and I am more than happy to oblige.