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

[Risen Star]

Nick Hayden took 821 snaps last year and probably won't make the team. I share your optimism about the dline. Linebackers still worries me. The secondary, from reading their quotes, sounds like they're on a mission...their pride was hurt last year.

You know you're loaded when Ben Bass doesn't make the team.

 

[Risen Star]

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.

We lost a dominant player in Ware who teams had to scheme for. People will talk about his down year last year, show me another one like it. That wasn't his norm and I doubt you'll see it again this year in Denver.

Hatcher had a career year. Better than anything Henry Melton has ever done.

Now if you "Rod Marinelli" me you'll win this debate but I can't see how you can improve your defensive line this year losing those two players. You might have put some pieces in place to improve it down the road but not in 2014.

If you look at it objectively, the defensive talent on this team is woefully lacking. On all three levels of the defense. You combine that with a 34 year old QB with back issues and you have to admit this season has the possibility to be a real train wreck.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

The defense likely won't be historically bad.

The offense should be better.

The schedule on paper tho is brutal.

We will be in the mix.

 

[Vintage]

We lost a dominant player in Ware who teams had to scheme for. People will talk about his down year last year, show me another one like it. That wasn't his norm and I doubt you'll see it again this year in Denver.

Hatcher had a career year. Better than anything Henry Melton has ever done.

Now if you "Rod Marinelli" me you'll win this debate but I can't see how you can improve your defensive line this year losing those two players. You might have put some pieces in place to improve it down the road but not in 2014.

If you look at it objectively, the defensive talent on this team is woefully lacking. On all three levels of the defense. You combine that with a 34 year old QB with back issues and you have to admit this season has the possibility to be a real train wreck.

Two words. Rod Marinelli

 

[JBS]

The defense likely won't be historically bad.

The offense should be better.

The schedule on paper tho is brutal.

We will be in the mix.

Wrong

Right

Right

Wouldn't bet against anothet week 17 collapse

The argument that defense cant be any worse is one of the worst arguments out there.. Weve gotten worse on defene, why the heck cant we be worse?

 

[JBS]

The defense cant be worse

Why not?

Bc it just cant...


Ok.. That makes sense

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

We lost a dominant player in Ware who teams had to scheme for. People will talk about his down year last year, show me another one like it. That wasn't his norm and I doubt you'll see it again this year in Denver.

Hatcher had a career year. Better than anything Henry Melton has ever done.

Now if you "Rod Marinelli" me you'll win this debate but I can't see how you can improve your defensive line this year losing those two players. You might have put some pieces in place to improve it down the road but not in 2014.

If you look at it objectively, the defensive talent on this team is woefully lacking. On all three levels of the defense. You combine that with a 34 year old QB with back issues and you have to admited for thrs season has the possibility to be a real train wreck.

Look at the stats for 2011-2012 Ware sucked, for at least 1 year 1/2, plus! While Hatcher can never have a better season, Melton could.

While we're gonna blow chunks... for this DL rotation without injury, someone will make plays, you shouldn't discount Dallas in the East...that said rite now 7-9 at best...hoping for 3-13.

 

[jday]

We lost a dominant player in Ware who teams had to scheme for. People will talk about his down year last year, show me another one like it. That wasn't his norm and I doubt you'll see it again this year in Denver.

Hatcher had a career year. Better than anything Henry Melton has ever done.

Now if you "Rod Marinelli" me you'll win this debate but I can't see how you can improve your defensive line this year losing those two players. You might have put some pieces in place to improve it down the road but not in 2014.

If you look at it objectively, the defensive talent on this team is woefully lacking. On all three levels of the defense. You combine that with a 34 year old QB with back issues and you have to admit this season has the possibility to be a real train wreck.

Agreed. I want to believe and hope like many on here, but "looking at it objectively," like you said, I honestly can't. I believe Ware and Hatcher will both have good years this next season, but since I also realize being over 30, that cannot last, I agreed with letting them go.

Having said all that, I am still looking forward to this season. For every player that will answer in the negative, in terms of the questions that loom over them, there will be a few who take the next step and show they really do have something. I'm really, really hoping one of those guy's is Lawrence, but based on what I've read about him, teamed with his rather unimpressive showing at the combine, I find it really hard to believe. Don't get me wrong, he has a few of the measurables you look for, but in terms of explosion, he definitely is not going to replace Ware any time soon. In a few seasons, we might see something.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

We lost a dominant player in Ware who teams had to scheme for. People will talk about his down year last year, show me another one like it. That wasn't his norm and I doubt you'll see it again this year in Denver.

Hatcher had a career year. Better than anything Henry Melton has ever done.

Now if you "Rod Marinelli" me you'll win this debate but I can't see how you can improve your defensive line this year losing those two players. You might have put some pieces in place to improve it down the road but not in 2014.

If you look at it objectively, the defensive talent on this team is woefully lacking. On all three levels of the defense. You combine that with a 34 year old QB with back issues and you have to admit this season has the possibility to be a real train wreck.

Wrong

Right

Right

Wouldn't bet against anothet week 17 collapse

The argument that defense cant be any worse is one of the worst arguments out there.. Weve gotten worse on defene, why the heck cant we be worse?

Regression to the mean.

And I disagree that we've gotten worse.

Massive upgrade at coordinator. Young players another year in the system. Should be healthier. And rookies can be impact runners. Oh and regression to the mean.

Oh and we had an upgrade on the offensive side of the ball which always helps defenses.

Last year was the once in a hundred years storm.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I hear everyone saying we're 8-8 again, or 6-10, even worse. I think that's a load of crap and I'll tell you why. The Defense is going to be a lot better in 2014, and we now have the makings of a really great OL.

How can I say the Defense will be better? It's real simple, it is no longer a M*A*S*H unit. When this team does improve a lot of people are going to have to explain why they were wrong about the injuries hurting us in 2013. They did hurt us. Way more than people realize.

We lost the best 2 pieces of our Defensive Line and I still say we're going to be better than last year. The reason is we finally have some decent depth. Nothing against Nick Hayden, but when he's a starter, you're in some trouble.

Let's look at DE from last year and this year.

2013...DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer (1 game), George Selvie, Landon Cohen, Edgar Jones, Caesar Rayford, Jason Vega, and Jarius Wynn.

2014...DeMarcus Lawrence, Anthony Spencer, Tyrone Crawford, Ben Gardner, Jeremy Mincey, George Selvie, and Martez Wilson.

I figure 6 of that group will make the team with Crawford getting work inside and out. Martez Wilson is probably the odd man out.

Now let's look at DT from last year and this year.

2013...Jason Hatcher, Nick Hayden, Jerome Long, Marvin Austin, Everette Brown, Everett Dawkins, Corvey Irvin, David Carter, Drake Nevis, and Frank Kearse.

2014...Henry Melton, Terrell McClain, Amobi Okoye, Josh Brent?, Ben Bishop, Ben Bass, and Davon Coleman.

I think people are really going to like Davon Coleman. Put him or Bishop with that first 4, or both of them and drop Brent.

With the Offense clearly looking to control the clock more with the ground game setting up the passing game, and the Defense actually having better depth for a fresh legs rotation I am saying the Defense is going to be better than people give it credit for. I just can't understand why people think last year's Defense wasn't the easy biggest issue with what was wrong with this team.

Enjoy the season, it's going to be a lot better than people think right now. I look forward to some excitement. Get excited now for your Cowboys. You won't regret it.

Nothing wrong with being optimistic..........I hope you are finally correct.

 

[Nightman]

Nick Hayden took 821 snaps last year and probably won't make the team. I share your optimism about the dline. Linebackers still worries me. The secondary, from reading their quotes, sounds like they're on a mission...their pride was hurt last year.

That is the key right there. Hayden never commanded a double team and the rest of the D suffered from it. Ware was a shell of his old self after September and Hatcher started strong and got stats, but faded badly at the end. The secondary had to play zone too much because of the lack of pressure and they cracked.

With fresh bodies and youthful legs in a strong rotation, this DL should be head and shoulders better. Melton is every bit as good as Hatcher, if not better. They don't need to be dominant to make the playoffs, they just can't completely collapse like they did against DEN, NO, DET and GB.

I'm thinking 10-6, NFC East Champs

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Sure, we'll probably have fewer injuries on defense. But we could easily have more on offense. Our O has been very healthy the last couple of years, especially last year. Dez, Murray and Tony with the back all have injury questions... And let Tyron or Frederick twist a knee and we won't be any better overall even if the defense is improved.

 

[Derinyar]

The defense probably should be better. Holoman is likely the starting MLB, while he's not going to be as good as the healthy Sean Lee, he will likely be better then he was last year when he had to play MLB on the fly. We found out that we had players with more game to them then Durant, in my opinion at least, at SLB. Now the question is what will the WILL be? Who knows right now, but I'd hope someone with Carter's talent could figure out how not to suck. Our dline could be better based on players like Crawford and Bass being healthy. Melton is probably the lynch pin, if he's good then the line will probably work, if he's not it probably won't.

But if you really want to get serious the fate of the team rides on #9's back. If Romo is healthy then we're probably 8-8 or better. If Romo isn't healthy for all 16 then we could well be in for a very high draft pick.

 

[Gameover]

11-5

 

[DoctorChicken]

11-5

0-17

Yes, it's possible.

We suck guys. This is the worst team in the NFL.

NFL history actually.

No hope.

Garrett is a puppet.

Jerry is Jerry.

Why am I typing like this?

I don't even know.

Prepare yourselves.

#1 Pick in 2015.

Jerry will draft a punter.

 

[Risen Star]

I think in two years time we'll be out of this Tampa 2 scheme.

All due respect to Rod Marinelli.

 

[Zordon]

I think in two years time we'll be out of this Tampa 2 scheme.

All due respect to Rod Marinelli.

i wonder about the long term viability of this scheme. i really hope you're wrong. that would be yet another setback.

 

[peplaw06]

I've never been afraid to predict good or bad things for the Cowboys.

 

[Doomsay]

Gameday coach can't be much better, because he is not incented to do so.

 

[Vanilla2]

Ball control.

Cowboys have it.

Defense better

Cowboys don't.

Look out.