And all these opinions are just spoken or written words on paper that don't mean anything until the team hits the field. Granted No one can feel great about the offseason, but there's plenty of talent in place to field a competitive team, and we don't know what players will make a jump or step up.
Maybe Osa steps up in a contract year, maybe Sam Williams just needed more snaps. Maybe Hoffman, Bass, or Richards surprise and become a good starter. Maybe Tolbert turns into a productive number 3. Maybe Zimmer's tweaks make this a more consistent unit. Maybe the Cowboys hit with a couple players in the draft.. Who knows, but I don't want to write off a season before seeing how this team performs.
I think that I would usually take that pragmatic approach.
But over the 50+ years that I’ve been closely following the Cowboys, I’ve come to realize a few things about pro sports…
If you’re not actively progressing, you’re actively regressing.
And pro athletes, right or wrong, rarely, if ever, respect a coach, much less an entire staff, under contract for only the upcoming season.
Either of those things are issues that I’ve never seen work out for a team, much less two going into a season.
And wishing that a draft class save your season? I’ve seen a draft class push a team over the top into playoff success. (‘74 Steelers, Dirty Dozen Cowboys)
But this upcoming season’s Cowboys don’t have the underlying foundation with which to build upon. At least not where it counts. (Trenches)
I have a very bad feeling about this upcoming season, the same bad feeling I had before the GB game. I hope I’m wrong.
Last season I predicted 12 wins. Next season, at this point…less than 5. I hope I’m wrong.