Hostile
The Duke
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I called it a grooming year. I figured I might as well go ahead and compare 2008 to 1992 now.
In 1992, fifteen years of frustration ended with the Cowboys returning to and winning Super Bowl XXVII. Will 2008 be the end to 13 years of frustration?
Yes. I'm making my prediction now. That is all it is, a prediction. Do I hesitate to make it? You bet. It will get ridiculed and ratified. That's exactly what is supposed to happen. Ridicule from those who will call me a homer. Ratified by other homers. I know the routine.
Why am saying yes? Glad you asked. I admit that 2007 was better than I expected, but it still felt like a grooming year to me. Just like 1991. I knew we weren't the best team in the NFL, but I knew we were on the verge of getting there. In 1992 I hoped we were there, but the 49ers were still in the way. Once we got past them I knew we were the team. It was a great run.
Can this one match that one? I won't say that. It isn't impossible, but it also isn't probable.
What this team can do however, is erase the ghosts of playoffs past, for the franchise and for Wade Phillips. I believe there are 3 big reasons why this will happen.
1. The Cowboys pass defense has a chance to be the best in the NFL. I'm not saying they are guaranteed to be the best, only that there is a chance. The obvious reason for this is the upgraded depth of the secondary. Not even an injury should cripple this secondary. The pass coverage will be markedly better and they womn't have to cover near as long in 2008. The pass rush will be improved. The overall pass defense is going to be a scary thing for QBs to face. There are two other factors contributing too.
One of these is the History of Wade Phillips Defenses in year 2. There is usually a marked jump up for the overall Defense. I believe this will happen in 2008 and two big reasons for it are Reggie Herring and Todd Grantham. I believe Herring in particular is just what the Doctor ordered for this Defense. I expect Ware to approach a 20 sacks season. I expect improvement from the entire LB corps as a whole. Look for Spencer to push Ellis, and Burnett and Carpenter to get very real playing time and produce. Herring will be the best coaching addition of the Off Season.
The other contributing factor for the improved pass defense is going to be the revivial of Roy Williams. Yes, I honestly believe it will happen. Is he going to be a stud in coverage? No. He never was in the first place. What he will be once again is an enforcer, an intimidator. He has dealt with an off season of scrutiny that few players have ever had to endure. With the added depth at CB there is less need for him to be assigned in coverage. His job will be to deliver big hits and a newly focused Roy will do just that.
2. Special Teams will be vastly improved. In particular the return squads. Winning the field position battle will benefit this Offense so much. The shorter the field the more dangerous the Offense will be. We've had an incredible advantage with the punting of McBriar because he can absolutely pin teams deep. The exact reverse is true when you have Punt Return capabilites like Adam Jones can bring. The ideal thing would be for him to break one early and get in team's heads for the rest of the year. Would this mean team's would try and punt out of bounds and keep it away from him? Of course it would. How does that set up big returns? It doesn't, but it does account for more short punts around 30 yards when the Punter misses the angle.
I expect the same kind of marked improvement in the Kick Return game. No more jogging to the 20 yard line and being tackled at the 25. Kickoff returns are nto entirely about being the fastest guy on the field as much as they are about using the speed you do have. Thompson was faster than Miles, but he never used his speed. Now we have Felix and Jenkins who are fast and elusive.
The big question mark will be the coverage units. I'm saying it right now, that could be the achilles heel of this team. The loss there of Keith Davis could hurt, but it is time for guys like Rogers, Watkins, Carpenter, Scandrick, and Deon Anderson to shine. I believe Watkins has a chance to be a very real force this year.
3. The maturation of the Jason Garrett's Offense. It is hard to imagine much improvement from the Offense, but I think you will see it this year. This team will score more than last year's team. That's a frightening proposition when you think about it. I forget the adjectives Terrell Owens used to describe last years Offense compared to the plans for this year. Basically he said last year was a t-bone and this year will be a porterhouse. For you vegetarians, that's an upgrade in steaks.
The return of Hudson Houck may be the single most important improvement to this Offense in 2008. Not only will the starting 5 be returning which is a huge opportunity for chemistry, but they will also now be much better at drive blocking on runs. There's a scary thought for you, Barber with nastier blocking in front of him and the starting job in his capable hands. Plus now we have better RB depth.
Try to imagine how much better last year's Offense could have been with a healthy Terry Glenn. His health was a handcuff last year. Make no mistake about that. Will he be back this year? I don't know. I honestly don't think he knows. The area of the team I want to improve more than any other is #2 WR. It isn't because I dislike Patrick Crayton. I just think he's more dangerous as the #3 WR than he was as the #2 guy.
In all honesty, if we do add a top notch WR at #2 I don't think this team can lose. I really don't. That is why I've been so excited to hear that guys like Chad Johnson, Anquan Bolden, and Roy Williams are looking for opportunities. These guys aren't stupid. They can look at what this Offense did, imagine their addition to it and see the confetti in their minds. I believe Jerry will make one last push to trade for Roy Williams. Will he get him? On that I have my doubts. I consider it a perfect fit and the final piece of an unstoppable puzzle.
My last concern of 2008 will be the post Thanksgiving slump. That is a trend that has to be turned around and I think it will be. How can I say that? Because 2008 reminds me of 1992. Are we the best team in the NFL? I can't say that yet, but I think we are on the verge. When the smoke clears I expect to see a smiling Tony Romo hoisting #6 high into the air as the Super Bowl MVP. You see, 2008 is about vindication. So was 1992.
In 1992, fifteen years of frustration ended with the Cowboys returning to and winning Super Bowl XXVII. Will 2008 be the end to 13 years of frustration?
Yes. I'm making my prediction now. That is all it is, a prediction. Do I hesitate to make it? You bet. It will get ridiculed and ratified. That's exactly what is supposed to happen. Ridicule from those who will call me a homer. Ratified by other homers. I know the routine.
Why am saying yes? Glad you asked. I admit that 2007 was better than I expected, but it still felt like a grooming year to me. Just like 1991. I knew we weren't the best team in the NFL, but I knew we were on the verge of getting there. In 1992 I hoped we were there, but the 49ers were still in the way. Once we got past them I knew we were the team. It was a great run.
Can this one match that one? I won't say that. It isn't impossible, but it also isn't probable.
What this team can do however, is erase the ghosts of playoffs past, for the franchise and for Wade Phillips. I believe there are 3 big reasons why this will happen.
1. The Cowboys pass defense has a chance to be the best in the NFL. I'm not saying they are guaranteed to be the best, only that there is a chance. The obvious reason for this is the upgraded depth of the secondary. Not even an injury should cripple this secondary. The pass coverage will be markedly better and they womn't have to cover near as long in 2008. The pass rush will be improved. The overall pass defense is going to be a scary thing for QBs to face. There are two other factors contributing too.
One of these is the History of Wade Phillips Defenses in year 2. There is usually a marked jump up for the overall Defense. I believe this will happen in 2008 and two big reasons for it are Reggie Herring and Todd Grantham. I believe Herring in particular is just what the Doctor ordered for this Defense. I expect Ware to approach a 20 sacks season. I expect improvement from the entire LB corps as a whole. Look for Spencer to push Ellis, and Burnett and Carpenter to get very real playing time and produce. Herring will be the best coaching addition of the Off Season.
The other contributing factor for the improved pass defense is going to be the revivial of Roy Williams. Yes, I honestly believe it will happen. Is he going to be a stud in coverage? No. He never was in the first place. What he will be once again is an enforcer, an intimidator. He has dealt with an off season of scrutiny that few players have ever had to endure. With the added depth at CB there is less need for him to be assigned in coverage. His job will be to deliver big hits and a newly focused Roy will do just that.
2. Special Teams will be vastly improved. In particular the return squads. Winning the field position battle will benefit this Offense so much. The shorter the field the more dangerous the Offense will be. We've had an incredible advantage with the punting of McBriar because he can absolutely pin teams deep. The exact reverse is true when you have Punt Return capabilites like Adam Jones can bring. The ideal thing would be for him to break one early and get in team's heads for the rest of the year. Would this mean team's would try and punt out of bounds and keep it away from him? Of course it would. How does that set up big returns? It doesn't, but it does account for more short punts around 30 yards when the Punter misses the angle.
I expect the same kind of marked improvement in the Kick Return game. No more jogging to the 20 yard line and being tackled at the 25. Kickoff returns are nto entirely about being the fastest guy on the field as much as they are about using the speed you do have. Thompson was faster than Miles, but he never used his speed. Now we have Felix and Jenkins who are fast and elusive.
The big question mark will be the coverage units. I'm saying it right now, that could be the achilles heel of this team. The loss there of Keith Davis could hurt, but it is time for guys like Rogers, Watkins, Carpenter, Scandrick, and Deon Anderson to shine. I believe Watkins has a chance to be a very real force this year.
3. The maturation of the Jason Garrett's Offense. It is hard to imagine much improvement from the Offense, but I think you will see it this year. This team will score more than last year's team. That's a frightening proposition when you think about it. I forget the adjectives Terrell Owens used to describe last years Offense compared to the plans for this year. Basically he said last year was a t-bone and this year will be a porterhouse. For you vegetarians, that's an upgrade in steaks.
The return of Hudson Houck may be the single most important improvement to this Offense in 2008. Not only will the starting 5 be returning which is a huge opportunity for chemistry, but they will also now be much better at drive blocking on runs. There's a scary thought for you, Barber with nastier blocking in front of him and the starting job in his capable hands. Plus now we have better RB depth.
Try to imagine how much better last year's Offense could have been with a healthy Terry Glenn. His health was a handcuff last year. Make no mistake about that. Will he be back this year? I don't know. I honestly don't think he knows. The area of the team I want to improve more than any other is #2 WR. It isn't because I dislike Patrick Crayton. I just think he's more dangerous as the #3 WR than he was as the #2 guy.
In all honesty, if we do add a top notch WR at #2 I don't think this team can lose. I really don't. That is why I've been so excited to hear that guys like Chad Johnson, Anquan Bolden, and Roy Williams are looking for opportunities. These guys aren't stupid. They can look at what this Offense did, imagine their addition to it and see the confetti in their minds. I believe Jerry will make one last push to trade for Roy Williams. Will he get him? On that I have my doubts. I consider it a perfect fit and the final piece of an unstoppable puzzle.
My last concern of 2008 will be the post Thanksgiving slump. That is a trend that has to be turned around and I think it will be. How can I say that? Because 2008 reminds me of 1992. Are we the best team in the NFL? I can't say that yet, but I think we are on the verge. When the smoke clears I expect to see a smiling Tony Romo hoisting #6 high into the air as the Super Bowl MVP. You see, 2008 is about vindication. So was 1992.
