jterrell
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Dallas sits tied with all the other fair to middling NFCE teams at 2-3.
The good news for Cowboys fans is at least we have an excuse for being so.
I don't think it was unreasonable to ask this team to win "some games" without Romo/Dez and the other 5 or 6 guys out right now. I thought New Orleans was a dead dog but perhaps I was simply mistaken after what they did to ATL last night. Still 3 straight losses and it is time for this team to play desperate.
As Parcells used to say and Jerry has taken on now you just gotta get in the tournament.
By and large that one statement is all you need... but we'll break it down anyways.
Offense: Romo isn't coming back for another 4-5 games so Matt Cassel gets his shot to prove he should be the long-term back up and a part of a winning solution here. I've always liked Weeden just fine as a clipboard holder but I think it is fair to all to assume he has a new profession this time next year. Romo/Cassel/Moore sounds just fine to me. I suspect Cassel will be much more like a young Romo. He is going to try to win games not just drive the bus. That means he may lose some games but he'll go down shooting. If so, put me down for that as opposed to the death by a thousand cuts of last week.
RB by committee hasn't worked. But I don't know if Jim Brown or Barry Sanders could have saved this offense.
The OL hasn't been sharp because some guys have been banged up. And we've had little threat down the field to draw safeties off the run game. Just ask church or Wilcox how much easier it is to make tackles playing 8 yards off the ball and filling holes as it is running up from 15 yards and trying to handle an open field RB. But the OL should be healthier after the Bye week then they've been all year and a fairly fresh Collins should be a large step up. If Cassel will really challenge downfield then we should see some room to run finally.
WR is a position where Dallas needs another outside option. Dez is Dez and Twill is a nice 3rd outside guy. That works most times but he is not ready to step up and take on more. He can't catch. The other outside guys can't get open. While everyone is salivating over RB next draft point me at the WRs.
But the pieces are in place here or an elite offense once Romo returns. The OL is good and can be great. Romo is a top 5 QB and the WR/RB have more than enough if Dez is heathy.
Defense: Dallas has a very capable defense except perhaps at Safety. Even that group can be sound if given the help it needs at LB and CB. You can ask those guys to be in the right spot but when singled they are going to lose. The far more talented guys around them like Sean Lee have to help them out. And you gotta keep them away from Belichek/Brady. That duo sees weaknesses in DBs in their sleep and abuse it.
The pass rush was much improved the second Hardy took the field. He is probably the best pass rusher in football. Add Gregory back and man, that group gets real nasty. Concern is there with Mo holding up. The Bye is probably good for him. His body hasn't shown he can handle 16 games at a high level. No one else can really man cover top guys with OScan out so we need the training staff to monitor that and to make sure Mo gets rest/treatment in week. Mo is probably gone after this season but make no mistake this defense goes about as far as he does this year.
All in all this team has been hit about as hard as you can by injuries and suspension. But the talent to be elite does exist. No team wants to face a healthy Cowboys in the playoffs. If Romo proves prescient and we get to the big dance versus NE expect a very different ballgame.
The good news for Cowboys fans is at least we have an excuse for being so.
I don't think it was unreasonable to ask this team to win "some games" without Romo/Dez and the other 5 or 6 guys out right now. I thought New Orleans was a dead dog but perhaps I was simply mistaken after what they did to ATL last night. Still 3 straight losses and it is time for this team to play desperate.
As Parcells used to say and Jerry has taken on now you just gotta get in the tournament.
By and large that one statement is all you need... but we'll break it down anyways.
Offense: Romo isn't coming back for another 4-5 games so Matt Cassel gets his shot to prove he should be the long-term back up and a part of a winning solution here. I've always liked Weeden just fine as a clipboard holder but I think it is fair to all to assume he has a new profession this time next year. Romo/Cassel/Moore sounds just fine to me. I suspect Cassel will be much more like a young Romo. He is going to try to win games not just drive the bus. That means he may lose some games but he'll go down shooting. If so, put me down for that as opposed to the death by a thousand cuts of last week.
RB by committee hasn't worked. But I don't know if Jim Brown or Barry Sanders could have saved this offense.
The OL hasn't been sharp because some guys have been banged up. And we've had little threat down the field to draw safeties off the run game. Just ask church or Wilcox how much easier it is to make tackles playing 8 yards off the ball and filling holes as it is running up from 15 yards and trying to handle an open field RB. But the OL should be healthier after the Bye week then they've been all year and a fairly fresh Collins should be a large step up. If Cassel will really challenge downfield then we should see some room to run finally.
WR is a position where Dallas needs another outside option. Dez is Dez and Twill is a nice 3rd outside guy. That works most times but he is not ready to step up and take on more. He can't catch. The other outside guys can't get open. While everyone is salivating over RB next draft point me at the WRs.
But the pieces are in place here or an elite offense once Romo returns. The OL is good and can be great. Romo is a top 5 QB and the WR/RB have more than enough if Dez is heathy.
Defense: Dallas has a very capable defense except perhaps at Safety. Even that group can be sound if given the help it needs at LB and CB. You can ask those guys to be in the right spot but when singled they are going to lose. The far more talented guys around them like Sean Lee have to help them out. And you gotta keep them away from Belichek/Brady. That duo sees weaknesses in DBs in their sleep and abuse it.
The pass rush was much improved the second Hardy took the field. He is probably the best pass rusher in football. Add Gregory back and man, that group gets real nasty. Concern is there with Mo holding up. The Bye is probably good for him. His body hasn't shown he can handle 16 games at a high level. No one else can really man cover top guys with OScan out so we need the training staff to monitor that and to make sure Mo gets rest/treatment in week. Mo is probably gone after this season but make no mistake this defense goes about as far as he does this year.
All in all this team has been hit about as hard as you can by injuries and suspension. But the talent to be elite does exist. No team wants to face a healthy Cowboys in the playoffs. If Romo proves prescient and we get to the big dance versus NE expect a very different ballgame.
