Optimism with a little bit of trepidation

[kiheikiwi]

Well, here we are - eagerly awaiting the start of a new season.
I have thought about starting this thread for a couple of weeks and am now ready to articulate my thoughts as we get ready for Sunday.
I'm sure many of you have read my comments since the start of free agency, and I will admit to a large dose of pessimism of everything Dallas for this off-season. BUT, I am a Dallas Cowboy fan so I want to state my optimism for this upcoming season.
I think our offense can be elite - if Dak can stay within himself and read complex defense's. Tough but doable, he does not have to be all world, just drive the bus - fast. The defense is what it is, and now we have to deal with what we have. I really am going to sit and watch this game to not only learn about our players, but also our coach's. Gonna try and take my fandom out of it and really try and watch how they attack the Giants. How they play defense and cover up their flaws.
This is a huge moment for our Front Office, as well as everyone coaching and playing. The choices this off-season. Jaylon, no DE's to speak of, Mayowa as a get. Byron Jones in his anointed position. The emergence so to speak of Claiborne with the return of Scandrick and Carr probably playing his last season for us, but now playing where we should of had him all along RCB.
The offense will be fine if we get reasonable player from under center. Elliott and Morris will be a great tandem. All receivers are healthy and ready, TE's should be a security blanket for Dak. It comes down to our D. Can they get pressure, can anybody not named Sean Lee step up ? IS the backend really much better as I think they will be.
When Tony and Lawrence come back, are we still in this ?
My dog hates football Sundays as I tend to yell at the TV a lot. This year and especially the first couple of games are - for me very interesting to see/observe/understand how we go about managing how we play. I will enjoy reading Sturm's analysis each Monday.
It's an exciting time, but also a little nerve wracking to see how we hold up.

Thanks to all for not getting on me too bad about the negativity sometimes, and lets have a great season ! How bout them Cowboys .....

 

[jazzcat22]

As I been saying....I am as nervous as I am excited. That has more to do with Dak and the unknown. But I am also optimistic of him too. The offense should do well with Dak, and very well with Tony.

The defense is the wild card, but I feel they will be better then most expect. Maybe not a lot better, but even marginally better is a plus, along with a dynamic offense, we should compete for the divison title, and probably should win it.

But there is a lot we need to see first. Not taking anything for granted.

 

[LandryFan]

As I been saying....I am as nervous as I am excited. That has more to do with Dak and the unknown. But I am also optimistic of him too. The offense should do well with Dak, and very well with Tony.

The defense is the wild card, but I feel they will be better then most expect. Maybe not a lot better, but even marginally better is a plus, along with a dynamic offense, we should compete for the divison title, and probably should win it.

But there is a lot we need to see first. Not taking anything for granted.

Personally, I'll be thrilled with a "mediocre Romo game" from Dak this Sunday. If we can get 60% passing for a couple hundred yards and a TD (or two) from him, he'll be in on his way, IMO. The run game should take care of the rest.

 

[wrongway]

Personally, I'll be thrilled with a "mediocre Romo game" from Dak this Sunday. If we can get 60% passing for a couple hundred yards and a TD (or two) from him, he'll be in on his way, IMO. The run game should take care of the rest.

 

[wrongway]

Agreed. When giants stack the line to stop the run big play action pass plays will be plentiful.

 

[DogFace]

Remember all the Zeke threads before the season?

They'll start again Sunday evening.

 

[Tass]

Thanks to all for not getting on me too bad about the negativity sometimes, and lets have a great season ! How bout them Cowboys .....

Brah, da Giants like beef but we gon fasi dem to da groun...freakin dirty lickins kine!

Pau, ahready.

 

[Sydla]

It's an odd feeling for me. The defense could be better than some think but I also think the offense could be worse than people expect. I think people are really underestimating the rookie factor with Prescott. I am not saying he's going to suck but I see people talking like he's going to go out there and perform like a Top 5 QB.

It's going to be a fascinating watch......... not only the game but the reactions on this board.

 

[Tass]

It's an odd feeling for me. The defense could be better than some think but I also think the offense could be worse than people expect. I think people are really underestimating the rookie factor with Prescott. I am not saying he's going to suck but I see people talking like he's going to go out there and perform like a Top 5 QB.

It's going to be a fascinating watch......... not only the game but the reactions on this board.

If he just plays like an average QB we should be ok with our line and our ground game.

Something someone pointed out a while back has stuck with me, though. When Dak's performance was called junk because it was preseason and he was facing vanilla defenses and backups, they wen ask "Then why didn't all the other rookie QBs drafted ahead of him have great games?" EXACTLY. A rookie QB who looked adequate against backups will have a super tough assignment in a regular season game. I would tend to think a QB who dominated and looked ono in the preseason will do at LEAST ok in a real game.

Plus, he get Zeke and Morris beefing the hell outta the defense? Ho, brah!

 

[jazzcat22]

It's an odd feeling for me. The defense could be better than some think but I also think the offense could be worse than people expect. I think people are really underestimating the rookie factor with Prescott. I am not saying he's going to suck but I see people talking like he's going to go out there and perform like a Top 5 QB.

It's going to be a fascinating watch......... not only the game but the reactions on this board.

....post game and overreaction Monday will be at an all time high....or "low" if things are bad...by low, not meaning low amount of post counts....

 

[Sydla]

....post game and overreaction Monday will be at an all time high....or "low" if things are bad...by low, not meaning low amount of post counts....

And imagine if Wentz goes off in the earlier game against the cruddy Browns and Prescott struggles.

Whew boy............

 

[kiheikiwi]

Brah, da Giants like beef but we gon fasi dem to da groun...freakin dirty lickins kine!

Pau, ahready.

Ho, how your pidgen brah. Pretty da kine !

 

[Tass]

Ho, how your pidgen brah. Pretty da kine !

Shootz, brah. Kamaaina haole boy married to one local chic.

 

[Bullflop]

I think the OP's mental state of optimism with some trepidation is a perfectly justifiable stance. When one carefully considers the unsettled state of our defense, there are simply too many unknown factors for unbridled optimism to qualify as sound thinking. This is especially so regarding the Cowboys' lack of an established pass rush. The overall quality of the LB corps is subject to a fair measure of scrutiny as well.

Offensively, of course, we are starting the season with a rookie QB who has yet to prove himself in live NFL regular season action, despite the fact that Dak fared so well in preseason. Like most of us, I am highly encouraged by those PS performances but will require further proof to dispel the questions that arise to compromise my considerable confidence in him. Let's see how he responds to the defensive pressures of the regular season.

 

[rynochop]

It always comes down to turnovers. If he can hit the slants, and Witten over the middle I think we'll be ok. Hey, how about a defensive or special teams play

 

[Redball Express]

Well, here we are - eagerly awaiting the start of a new season.
I have thought about starting this thread for a couple of weeks and am now ready to articulate my thoughts as we get ready for Sunday.
I'm sure many of you have read my comments since the start of free agency, and I will admit to a large dose of pessimism of everything Dallas for this off-season. BUT, I am a Dallas Cowboy fan so I want to state my optimism for this upcoming season.
I think our offense can be elite - if Dak can stay within himself and read complex defense's. Tough but doable, he does not have to be all world, just drive the bus - fast. The defense is what it is, and now we have to deal with what we have. I really am going to sit and watch this game to not only learn about our players, but also our coach's. Gonna try and take my fandom out of it and really try and watch how they attack the Giants. How they play defense and cover up their flaws.
This is a huge moment for our Front Office, as well as everyone coaching and playing. The choices this off-season. Jaylon, no DE's to speak of, Mayowa as a get. Byron Jones in his anointed position. The emergence so to speak of Claiborne with the return of Scandrick and Carr probably playing his last season for us, but now playing where we should of had him all along RCB.
The offense will be fine if we get reasonable player from under center. Elliott and Morris will be a great tandem. All receivers are healthy and ready, TE's should be a security blanket for Dak. It comes down to our D. Can they get pressure, can anybody not named Sean Lee step up ? IS the backend really much better as I think they will be.
When Tony and Lawrence come back, are we still in this ?
My dog hates football Sundays as I tend to yell at the TV a lot. This year and especially the first couple of games are - for me very interesting to see/observe/understand how we go about managing how we play. I will enjoy reading Sturm's analysis each Monday.
It's an exciting time, but also a little nerve wracking to see how we hold up.

Thanks to all for not getting on me too bad about the negativity sometimes, and lets have a great season ! How bout them Cowboys .....

Defense is our Achilles no doubt.

The other thing that has pertually held us back has been injuries to our featured RBs.

Happened to Felix Jones, happened to the 2 or 3 RBS before him and DeMarco Murray.

So to me..keeping Elliott upright and effective to go the distance is the key to everything before Romo can play again.


If he's healthy..we protect the defense..

we protect DAK..

and we have a chance to not get into scoring marathons with our defense giving up points as I expect.

I expect DAK to make rookie mistakes that will cost us at times.

BUT we'll see..

 

[chagus]

I think Dak is an upgrade over Kassel, Weedon and Moore. So... we should be alright. Defense is my main concern but I think we may be pleasantly surprised with Claiborne and Skandrick back. GO COWBOYS!!!!

 

[kevm3]

I'm not really nervous as what will be most important to me is that Dak shows that he can be the future QB. Even if we lose, but Dak lights it up, then I think that will be a satisfactory game for me. I'd love the W, but given our defense, we may have to have an offensive shootout. What I really want to see is that Dak Prescott can run the offense smoothly so that we can then start building a defense around him as opposed to having to use a 1st rounder on another qb.