erod
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Let's just put it on the table. Even if Dallas blindly finds itself in the playoffs given their current predicament, their ouster is a mere formality.
This defense gets skull-shredded by good quarterbacks. Absolutely abused beyond recognition. No team that gets absolutely trashed four times in one season is a playoff threat. Zeke or not, this team is too fatally flawed to beat good competition four weeks in a row.
Yes, 10-6 would be a respectable record, but aside from Kansas City (which fell apart), what good team has this team beaten? I'm not feeling optimistic against Seattle or Philly even with Zeke, but we'll see. Maybe Philly will be sitting starters by then, but likely not with their current QB situation.
So on to 2018.....this team's future hints of greatness and catastrophe at the same time.
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My hope is that Will McClay is already firmly entrenched in the offseason game plan. Things have to be different this time. Stephen has to let go of the purse strings. He's going to have to overpay some outside free agents, which he doesn't like to do, in addition to signing Lawrence, Martin, Hitchens, and the restricted Irving.
You only get 3-4 legit draft picks to help you immediately. Anything after that is relatively dumb luck. Free agency has to patch some gaping holes along with some shrewd picks.
This team still primarily needs defense, but it also needs a #1 receiver, a legit young tight end, and a RT so Collins can return to LG (especially with Tyron's health). The offensive line is no longer dominant like before, but can be remedied with one key addition.
Defensively, Dallas needs a run-stopping 1-tech, at least two linebackers, a corner to replace Scandrick, another pass rusher opposite Lawrence, and perhaps a safety.
That's 8-9 players of significant need. That's both a lot, and not all that many, depending what approach you take in the offseason.
Are Zeke's troubles behind him, or is this and every offseason going to be a hold-your-breath coin toss? Is Jaylon's foot beyond mending? Is Witten going to retire? Is Dez willing to take a pay cut? Will the backs of Lawrence and Tyron hold up?
And what if Dak crashes and burns against Seattle and Philly? Eyes have to be firmly on the promising 2nd-year guy to see if he does have the wares to develop into an elite QB, or if his limitations put him in that long list of average dudes that wander the league for a decade? This has to be looked at with wide-open eyes and no bias, which is hard as hell for P.T. Barnum the owner.
If Dak doesn't finish strong, then what if a good QB is there in round 1? What if Garrett is gone? What does the new coach want to do offensively? Can Dak do those things? Can Dez do those things? Is Witten any use anymore? Williams?
Notice how the questions all surround the most important positions and the best known players on the roster.
That is troubling.
_________________________________________
This offseason will be a major tipping point for the Dallas Cowboys. If the right decisions are made, this could be a decade-long contender. But if not, this team will be digging out of this hole and looking up at Philadelphia for a long, long time.
Either way, folks, this isn't a Super Bowl contender this year. That much we know. I'll enjoy watching it play out, but I've already read the final chapter.
This defense gets skull-shredded by good quarterbacks. Absolutely abused beyond recognition. No team that gets absolutely trashed four times in one season is a playoff threat. Zeke or not, this team is too fatally flawed to beat good competition four weeks in a row.
Yes, 10-6 would be a respectable record, but aside from Kansas City (which fell apart), what good team has this team beaten? I'm not feeling optimistic against Seattle or Philly even with Zeke, but we'll see. Maybe Philly will be sitting starters by then, but likely not with their current QB situation.
So on to 2018.....this team's future hints of greatness and catastrophe at the same time.
________________________________________
My hope is that Will McClay is already firmly entrenched in the offseason game plan. Things have to be different this time. Stephen has to let go of the purse strings. He's going to have to overpay some outside free agents, which he doesn't like to do, in addition to signing Lawrence, Martin, Hitchens, and the restricted Irving.
You only get 3-4 legit draft picks to help you immediately. Anything after that is relatively dumb luck. Free agency has to patch some gaping holes along with some shrewd picks.
This team still primarily needs defense, but it also needs a #1 receiver, a legit young tight end, and a RT so Collins can return to LG (especially with Tyron's health). The offensive line is no longer dominant like before, but can be remedied with one key addition.
Defensively, Dallas needs a run-stopping 1-tech, at least two linebackers, a corner to replace Scandrick, another pass rusher opposite Lawrence, and perhaps a safety.
That's 8-9 players of significant need. That's both a lot, and not all that many, depending what approach you take in the offseason.
Are Zeke's troubles behind him, or is this and every offseason going to be a hold-your-breath coin toss? Is Jaylon's foot beyond mending? Is Witten going to retire? Is Dez willing to take a pay cut? Will the backs of Lawrence and Tyron hold up?
And what if Dak crashes and burns against Seattle and Philly? Eyes have to be firmly on the promising 2nd-year guy to see if he does have the wares to develop into an elite QB, or if his limitations put him in that long list of average dudes that wander the league for a decade? This has to be looked at with wide-open eyes and no bias, which is hard as hell for P.T. Barnum the owner.
If Dak doesn't finish strong, then what if a good QB is there in round 1? What if Garrett is gone? What does the new coach want to do offensively? Can Dak do those things? Can Dez do those things? Is Witten any use anymore? Williams?
Notice how the questions all surround the most important positions and the best known players on the roster.
That is troubling.
_________________________________________
This offseason will be a major tipping point for the Dallas Cowboys. If the right decisions are made, this could be a decade-long contender. But if not, this team will be digging out of this hole and looking up at Philadelphia for a long, long time.
Either way, folks, this isn't a Super Bowl contender this year. That much we know. I'll enjoy watching it play out, but I've already read the final chapter.
