Nav22
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What upsets me is that we're thinning out depth-wise, and the season hasn't even freakin' started yet. That's what's pissing me off about this.
How many other teams are going to be without 2 of their key starters and very possibly a 3rd, before game 1? Glenn could be out for the year (depending on which DC.com article you believe), I'm expecting nothing from Ellis this year, and Newman will likely be hobbled all year even if he does play (you could possibly put Ellis into this category as well). Three key starters, three injuries that could affect them all year long. :bang2:
I know nobody in our division is hurting the way we are. And damn, if we're going to be banged up to start the season, couldn't it at least be some backups? Our best CB, our 2nd best pass-rusher, and our #2 1000+ yard WR... I swear, next it's going to be Romo or Ware.
I agree that at WR, we're fine right now... with T.O., Crayton, and Hurd, we still have a solid group of guys (with one dominant game-changer) who can get the job done, and then some. Look around the league... you don't need a bunch of stars at WR as long as your offensive system is sound and your QB can spread it around effectively.
T.O. looks to be as good as ever right now (or close to it), and he hasn't always had a good #2 WR to take the pressure off him... hell, didn't he have Alligator Arms Pinkston opposite him in Philly? And he tore sh** up with the Eagles.
But what if T.O. goes down in week 10? He's only played a full 16 game season TWICE in the last 8 years. There's a decent chance we'll be without him for a few games, especially considering how many balls we'll be throwing his way. The starters then become Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd, with Miles Austin (or Stanback) as the #3... and boom, just like that, our WR position goes from what was a MAJOR strength (before Glenn's injury) to one of the weakest WR corps in football. Thanks to the news on Glenn, we are just one injury away from that... rather than two.
I don't expect anything from Ellis this year, even if he eventually suits up. If we do get something from him, consider it a bonus. He's a whiny little pessimistic baby, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gave up and eventually declared himself out for the year.
As for Newman... I hope like hell that I'm wrong, but I just don't see him playing at an elite level this year. Sorry to be such a downer... but from what I'm hearing and reading about his situation, it sounds like he'll be hobbled all year and that is NOT something you can hide while playing cornerback in the NFL. Teams will go after him, early and often. Maybe Newman at 80% is still better than Jacques Reeves at 100%, but I don't know that it's good enough to cover quality starting NFL WRs man-to-man effectively.
...With all this being said, I do think we can still have a solid offense without Glenn, and maybe even without T.O. as well. I'm a big believer in Romo and our OL looks to be improved.
And I still think we can have a solid defense without Ellis and with a hobbling Newman. Wade didn't have a great secondary in San Diego and Steve Foley was out for '06.
But I just don't know that we can have a GREAT offense or a GREAT defense without these guys. And it might take greatness, either offensively or defensively (or both, of course), to be a Super Bowl team. I don't want a "solid" season or a "good" season... there is only one winner each year, and 31 losers.
I hope we can overcome this preseason injury crap and go on to have a GREAT year, and I'm still BEYOND amped for Sunday... but I'd be lying if I said my enthusiasm for this season hasn't been tempered just a LITTLE due to this near-catastrophic rash of injuries. My confidence in our Super Bowl chances is shaken.
Someone cheer me up.
:
How many other teams are going to be without 2 of their key starters and very possibly a 3rd, before game 1? Glenn could be out for the year (depending on which DC.com article you believe), I'm expecting nothing from Ellis this year, and Newman will likely be hobbled all year even if he does play (you could possibly put Ellis into this category as well). Three key starters, three injuries that could affect them all year long. :bang2:
I know nobody in our division is hurting the way we are. And damn, if we're going to be banged up to start the season, couldn't it at least be some backups? Our best CB, our 2nd best pass-rusher, and our #2 1000+ yard WR... I swear, next it's going to be Romo or Ware.
I agree that at WR, we're fine right now... with T.O., Crayton, and Hurd, we still have a solid group of guys (with one dominant game-changer) who can get the job done, and then some. Look around the league... you don't need a bunch of stars at WR as long as your offensive system is sound and your QB can spread it around effectively.
T.O. looks to be as good as ever right now (or close to it), and he hasn't always had a good #2 WR to take the pressure off him... hell, didn't he have Alligator Arms Pinkston opposite him in Philly? And he tore sh** up with the Eagles.
But what if T.O. goes down in week 10? He's only played a full 16 game season TWICE in the last 8 years. There's a decent chance we'll be without him for a few games, especially considering how many balls we'll be throwing his way. The starters then become Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd, with Miles Austin (or Stanback) as the #3... and boom, just like that, our WR position goes from what was a MAJOR strength (before Glenn's injury) to one of the weakest WR corps in football. Thanks to the news on Glenn, we are just one injury away from that... rather than two.
I don't expect anything from Ellis this year, even if he eventually suits up. If we do get something from him, consider it a bonus. He's a whiny little pessimistic baby, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gave up and eventually declared himself out for the year.
As for Newman... I hope like hell that I'm wrong, but I just don't see him playing at an elite level this year. Sorry to be such a downer... but from what I'm hearing and reading about his situation, it sounds like he'll be hobbled all year and that is NOT something you can hide while playing cornerback in the NFL. Teams will go after him, early and often. Maybe Newman at 80% is still better than Jacques Reeves at 100%, but I don't know that it's good enough to cover quality starting NFL WRs man-to-man effectively.
...With all this being said, I do think we can still have a solid offense without Glenn, and maybe even without T.O. as well. I'm a big believer in Romo and our OL looks to be improved.
And I still think we can have a solid defense without Ellis and with a hobbling Newman. Wade didn't have a great secondary in San Diego and Steve Foley was out for '06.
But I just don't know that we can have a GREAT offense or a GREAT defense without these guys. And it might take greatness, either offensively or defensively (or both, of course), to be a Super Bowl team. I don't want a "solid" season or a "good" season... there is only one winner each year, and 31 losers.
I hope we can overcome this preseason injury crap and go on to have a GREAT year, and I'm still BEYOND amped for Sunday... but I'd be lying if I said my enthusiasm for this season hasn't been tempered just a LITTLE due to this near-catastrophic rash of injuries. My confidence in our Super Bowl chances is shaken.
Someone cheer me up.
:
