Should expectations be higher?

[LocimusPrime]

It seems as though the team has let us down for so long, the general concensus here is very guarded optimism. I really think this team is man for man a better team than the 1992 squad. Why not this year?

I appreciate your optimism and enthusiasm. But to compare them to the 1992 cowboys is a little much

Let's look at the defense

• At safety : Thomas Everett/ James Washington / Darren Woodson > Jeff Heath/ Byron jones/ Blanton This isn't even close
• At corner Kevin Smith/ Larry Brown/ Clayton Holmes/ Issiac Holt > Scandrick, brown, and Carroll
• At linebacker Ken Norton/ Dixon Edwards/Vinson Smith/Robert Jones/and Godfrey Miles > Lee/ Hitchens, Wilber, smith, nacho. This is a huge difference. That depth on the 1992 cowboys was tremendous
• At defensive line Haley, Lett, Maryland, Tolbert, Casillas, Hennings, Jeffcoat, Jimmie jones > all the cowboys linemen + Giants linemen x2

You could make to starting Dline's with that group. It was ruthless.

There's no way this Dline compares to that group. You have do many probowlers, all pros on that line

 

[Alexander]

This team is going to be special.

Perhaps.

The only question is what kind of special.

I just hope it will not be the read to them slow kind of special.

 

[Jkyle]

If we avoid any major injuries to key starters and play top 15 Defense then we should expect good things from this team.
One thing that really hurt us last year was lack of pass rush and I think, as it stands pre-training camp, we've improved in that area. Having a good pass rush will help lessen the deficiencies we have due to the youth in the Secondary.
Let's just strap it up and see what happens!

 

[haleyrules]

I see a 9-7 or 8-8 team this year. Just too many holes on defense, a tougher schedule, and a still young QB.

I hope to be wrong.

That may not be too popular...but it may well be accurate. This will be a tough season.

 

[haleyrules]

I appreciate your optimism and enthusiasm. But to compare them to the 1992 cowboys is a little much

Let's look at the defense

• At safety : Thomas Everett/ James Washington / Darren Woodson > Jeff Heath/ Byron jones/ Blanton This isn't even close
• At corner Kevin Smith/ Larry Brown/ Clayton Holmes/ Issiac Holt > Scandrick, brown, and Carroll
• At linebacker Ken Norton/ Dixon Edwards/Vinson Smith/Robert Jones/and Godfrey Miles > Lee/ Hitchens, Wilber, smith, nacho. This is a huge difference. That depth on the 1992 cowboys was tremendous
• At defensive line Haley, Lett, Maryland, Tolbert, Casillas, Hennings, Jeffcoat, Jimmie jones > all the cowboys linemen + Giants linemen x2

You could make to starting Dline's with that group. It was ruthless.

There's no way this Dline compares to that group. You have do many probowlers, all pros on that line

You are the man!!

 

[Tabascocat]

I don't expect a Lombardi but after going 13-3........I expect a playoff win or two. The offense is the same or better and the defense should at least be equal to last season if not a slight improvement.

Another year of HC training, the OL, three-headed monster(Dez, Dak, Zeke), influx of new, young defensive players and an improved ST's........there are no excuses to hover around a .500 team!

Put up or shut up is my motto for 2017

 

[Hardline]

My expectations are Super Bowl champions every year.
Anything else is a failure.

 

[LocimusPrime]

• I don't expect a better record than 13-3
• I do expect us to win the NFC east in a close fight
• I would hope that we win a playoff game
• I cannot see us winning the Super Bowl but would be elated beyond belief

 

[Idgit]

Expectations ought to be high for this team. Doesn't mean we'll meet them, but on paper, we ought to be competing with anybody.

 

[Redball Express]

4 starters? Last I seen, Byron Jones is still there. Anthony Brown needed up being the starter, and he is still here.
Carroll can be just a s good if not better than Carr or even Mo. Blanton can be a good vet presence and Heath has been here too with quite a bit of playing time. So it is not like 4 rookies will be starting.

Due to injuries 2 guys split the safety position..

they are gone.

The secondary is raw...

Jones only 2years and Brown a rook last year..

not much gray hair there.

Heath has no speed

Scandrick we don't know..he was nowhere close to 2015 in 2016.

I've done the math..

We got Trouble with a capital T and that stands for fool.

Nothing personal.

 

[haleyrules]

Expectations ought to be high for this team. Doesn't mean we'll meet them, but on paper, we ought to be competing with anybody.

Almost anybody.

 

[haleyrules]

Expectations ought to be high for this team. Doesn't mean we'll meet them, but on paper, we ought to be competing with anybody.

Offensively. Absolutely.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I think next year is our year. This year there is too much transition and too much youth on defense. And too many suspensions and potential suspensions. Plus a tough schedule. Next year, I hope we make a splash free agent signing or two with all the cap room we have. I say 9-7 this year, just miss playoffs. Losses to Green Bay, Atlanta, NYG, Oakland, WAS, Denver, PHI.

 

[JoeKing]

Higher? My expectations couldn't be higher but I also know this young defense might need a year to gel. So we win the SB now on the strength of our offense and then repeat next year with the help of the defense.... sound like a plan?

 

[erod]

Replaced with rookies to be the long term players, but also replaced with some veteran player who can't be any worse either. And will play while the rookies get worked in and get experienced.
Give the entire picture here. And you don't know that vet players will get injured, it doesn't always happen that way.

It's about 90 percent that a player will be lost for most, if not all, of the season in training camp. It's like that for every team.

It's about 70 percent that two players will be lost for extended time. Just the way football is.

This defense can't afford that, especially with Irvin, Gregory, Carroll, and Wilson pulling bonehead moves.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I see a 9-7 or 8-8 team this year. Just too many holes on defense, a tougher schedule, and a still young QB.

I hope to be wrong.

Don't see that.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

It's about 90 percent that a player will be lost for most, if not all, of the season in training camp. It's like that for every team.

It's about 70 percent that two players will be lost for extended time. Just the way football is.

This defense can't afford that, especially with Irvin, Gregory, Carroll, and Wilson pulling bonehead moves.

90%. YES!

 

[aria]

I have just as high expectations and think we can have a similar season with similar results. We all know the defense probably won't be any better but I don't see it being much worse (which really wasn't as bad as some people make it seem).

The key is the offense and controlling the clock. Our offense is still relatively intact, no one seems to miss Free and while Leary may be missed most people are high on Collins. Regardless, the offense has now had one year to gel and they were great so I don't see why they cant be just as good if not better.

Run the ball, control the clock and kill time to keep the defense off the field as much as possible and I think we easily hit somewhere between 11-13 wins, 10 at the least. Probably win the division or get in as a wild card at worst.

Personally I hate having the bye for playoffs anyways. It hasn't worked for us and it seems to haunt most teams but maybe thats just my imagination.

 

[haleyrules]

I have just as high expectations and think we can have a similar season with similar results. We all know the defense probably won't be any better but I don't see it being much worse (which really wasn't as bad as some people make it seem).

The key is the offense and controlling the clock. Our offense is still relatively intact, no one seems to miss Free and while Leary may be missed most people are high on Collins. Regardless, the offense has now had one year to gel and they were great so I don't see why they cant be just as good if not better.

Run the ball, control the clock and kill time to keep the defense off the field as much as possible and I think we easily hit somewhere between 11-13 wins, 10 at the least. Probably win the division or get in as a wild card at worst.

Personally I hate having the bye for playoffs anyways. It hasn't worked for us and it seems to haunt most teams but maybe thats just my imagination.

You forgot about the Defense?

 

[aria]

You forgot about the Defense?

Kind of. The secondary is obviously going to have some growing pains but they were never our strong point to begin with. Personally I think Church will be missed the most. The younger guys have a lot of potential on paper and although I don't expect them to be pro bowlers this year I think we have a solid enough unit to have similar or slightly worse results than last year against the pass.

Even with the suspensions, Taco will help tremendously. Once we get everyone back we can be better than last year. Beating no 1 against the rush isn't easy but we can match that and hopefully add more pressure.

Our first game will be a good indicator. The Giants O line was a joke last year and they've done almost nothing to address it. I don't care who their receivers are, if Eli has no protection it won't matter. Their projected starting RB isn't anything to write home about either. Our D line should tear them up, if they don't, my level of concern will increase quite a bit but it's still only the first game.

Overall, like I said, it all hinges on the offense and controlling the clock. Pound the ball on the ground and run it down the opponents throat. It worked last year against pretty much everyone but the Giants and either one of those games could have gone either way so I don't see why it won't work again and even be more improved.