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

[scooper]

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.

Couldnt have said it better myself. I got excited for the season just reading this! How many weeks will we strap up and hit people!?!?

 

[burmafrd]

The only way we make it to the playoffs is if the schedule is NOT as brutal as it looks now. Our D will be better- probably- but how much? If we can make it to the middle of the pack and our O goes as expected we can win this division. ONLY IF the schedule is not as tough as we think it is.

Actually if the schedule is brutal a 8-8 record might actually be signs of a seriously improved team.

Bottom line we do not have the overall talent many claim and our coaching staff is suspect.

 

[TheCount]

I think your argument isn't particularly convincing but I look forward to every season, so this one is no exception.

 

[Alexander]

but I look forward to every season

No, you do not, fake fan. You root for losses. Blah blah blah.

 

[Alexander]

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

It is going to be difficult to sustain. If the idea is to go to more of the "Seattle" style, it is no easier to find adequate coaching talent than it was for the 3-4.

Marinelli is not exactly young either.

 

[Alexander]

Having said all that, I am still looking forward to this season.

The main thing I am looking forward to is if and how many of the youngsters decide to step up.

We have gone through a few years after the fallout from the horrible 2009 draft where the depth has been in flux.

It would be huge if players like Crawford, Holloman and Wilcox can take the next step. I also am eager to see how Bishop and Gardner look. The good things written about them so far stirs some intrigue.

 

[Califan007]

Eagles waive their best WR, had a so so Draft and are going to improve by 2 to 3 games. It's the Dream Team all over again.

How is going from 10-6 to 11-5 a "2 to 3 game improvement"?...

That said, those predictions for the eagles and cowboys are laughable.

 

[Hostile]

Hos, can you show us how accurate your preseason win/loss predictions were last 3 years?

That will give us a better idea if this is a seriously thought out post or just a rah day "look at me I am a great fan" post

Personally right now I cannot believe anyone objective can predict any more than 8-8 for this club based on the numerous question marks about talent and coaching on this team

I predicted wins and losses in this? I believe I predicted the Defense will be better than people expect. I'll go back and read it again, but I'm pretty sure that's what I said and I said it will be due to better depth on the D-line allowing them to rotate people to stay fresh.

I realize you can't stand my opinions, but why not actually read? Seems fairly simple.

 

[DallasEast]

The "What I Want" List

• I want NFL-level execution from the players. Stop creating dumb penalties and decrease preventable turnovers.
• I want NFL-level in-game adjustments from the coaches. Stop being impractical and modify the gameplan to match the current situation.
• I want manageable injuries if injuries happen. Let the debilitating knee, ankle, shoulder, rib, and back injuries cease.

I'm you know what out of luck with holding the team to that third condition, but I'm going to hope for a reversal of fortune nonetheless. The first two conditions are well-within the scope of reality for any team, including Dallas.

As always, football games are decided on the field. It's time to address penalties, turnovers, and adverse playcalling by players and coaches alike. And if anyone out there can fix the seasonal injury mojo, please do so. I could not care less if you use prayers, incense, or voodoo dolls, just do it already. That stuff sucks almost as much as bonehead plays and idiotic calls erasing W's from the team's win column.

PTI. Now let's return to the "Get ready, my Hawkmen! Hostile will not get away after posting this kind of thread! Dive!" replies already in progress.

 

[morasp]

Barring injury, which is kind of hard to do since they've already started (in OTAs no less), I think we will be better this year. I try not to put too much faith in Marinelli but I do think that the defense will benefit from his no nonsense aggressive player oriented coaching style. It's similar to the arrangement in Chicago with Lovie Smith giving input on the defensive game plan and Rod being the DC. I think we could see a lot of players step up: Claiborne, Wilber, Crawford, Holloman, Wilcox, Hamilton etc. They all probably won't but all of them have the potential so if a portion of them do it's a plus for us.

 

[Rockport]

I'm fine with a train wreck..

I'd rather bomb on the season than be mediocre and miss the playoffs again.

This team needs an infusion of talent. We also need to quit giving away picks in the draft.

You can't give away a 3rd rounder like we did and turn around and draft a special teams guy in the 4th round. That stuff right there is why our depth is terrible on defense.

Hitchens is a LB.

 

[DogFace]

I'm not afraid either. When it's warranted, I'll predict it. I won't just do it every year to show everyone how much of a fan I am.

I think we're a 6 win team conservatively. If we can get Romo back to form for a full season we can be back in the 8-8 mix. What the Cowboys won't be is a real contender.

You can't just look at the talent on this team, though I think that is lacking. It's also the environment that talent is coached in. With no authority in the head coach.

Thought the oline was the problem?

 

[TheFinisher]

Jason Garrett has been here 4 years now and has effectively put together the most talent deprived defense in the NFL heading into the 2014 season. Who woulda thunk it? Good news is he won't survive another poor year, he's out of scapegoats.

 

[DogFace]

Hos, can you show us how accurate your preseason win/loss predictions were last 3 years?

That will give us a better idea if this is a seriously thought out post or just a rah day "look at me I am a great fan" post

Personally right now I cannot believe anyone objective can predict any more than 8-8 for this club based on the numerous question marks about talent and coaching on this team

Why is being a "great fan" bad?

 

[DogFace]

The "What I Want" List

• I want NFL-level execution from the players. Stop creating dumb penalties and decrease preventable turnovers.
• I want NFL-level in-game adjustments from the coaches. Stop being impractical and modify the gameplan to match the current situation.
• I want manageable injuries if injuries happen. Let the debilitating knee, ankle, shoulder, rib, and back injuries cease.

I'm you know what out of luck with holding the team to that third condition, but I'm going to hope for a reversal of fortune nonetheless. The first two conditions are well-within the scope of reality for any team, including Dallas.

As always, football games are decided on the field. It's time to address penalties, turnovers, and adverse playcalling by players and coaches alike. And if anyone out there can fix the seasonal injury mojo, please do so. I could not care less if you use prayers, incense, or voodoo dolls, just do it already. That stuff sucks almost as much as bonehead plays and idiotic calls erasing W's from the team's win column.

PTI. Now let's return to the "Get ready, my Hawkmen! Hostile will not get away after posting this kind of thread! Dive!" replies already in progress.

Very well said.

 

[perrykemp]

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

I've wondered the same myself.

 

[Future]

You can't predict anything with this team b/c they've been so wildly inconsistent. But if they can get to that 8-8 mark and sneak into the playoffs, then why can't they be a contender? I keep going back to the same example, but the Giants were awful for much of the season when they won their last Chip. There's no reason Dallas can't do the same.

The reality is that this team could just as easily go 3-13 as 13-3. The fact that there are so many question marks leave doubts about success, sure, but they also open the door to the chance that this team makes serious strides.

I don't buy for one second that we have a difficult schedule. There are some tough scheduling things late in the season, but in terms of the quality of the teams we play, it isn't tough at all. SF and NO are completely beatable, and the rest of our first 10 games are a whose who of bottom feeders. Is it really impossible to think that Dallas splits with SF and NO, then beats Tenn, STL, Hou, NYG, Wash, Zona, and Jax and start the season 8-2? Then you go .500 the rest of the way and finish 11-5? Is it likely, no, but impossible? Absolutely not.

The overall product of the NFL is so far down from what it was a few years ago that there isn't a single team in the league who doesn't have a major flaw. Everyone's beatable, and anyone could make a run. Dallas has an outstanding QB, good skill guys, and the potential to make leaps and bounds defensively (I don't think they were nearly as bad last year as the numbers suggest anyways, though losing Lee obviously hurts). Of course, it could all collapse, and everything could go wrong, but there's no reason to think this team can't make a run.

 

[Hostile]

Why is being a "great fan" bad?

It isn't unless it is me. I am always excited for football. Pisses some people off.

 

[visionary]

Why is being a "great fan" bad?

Where did I say it was bad?

I just wanted to see if this was a serious thread of just one to increase his post/like count

 

[visionary]

It isn't unless it is me. I am always excited for football. Pisses some people off.

Ever the martyr