Survive, Arrive, or Thrive

[Hostile]

2009 is a season of changes for the Dallas Cowboys. This year we can look for the Cowboys to do one of three things. They will either survive, arrive, or thrive.

Let's start with survive. This is the least palatable outcome to the season. It basically just means that we live to fight another [strike]day[/strike] season. All high hopes and expectations are crushed as the reality of a rebuilding year sets in. It means that our 50th season is as unsatisfying as our 25th was. It means this off season is probably going to really suck.

What are the odds of this scenario? It depends on who you ask. The media insists this team did nothing to improve from the disappointing outcome of 2008. If they fall apart, the media will be right.

It means we have all new coaching staff. That could be a good thing or it could be bad. It depends upon a lot of factors that we as fans simply can't control. If other teams scoop up the big name coaches who are unemployed and leave us the dregs of the pickings. I am sick to death of scraping the bottom of the barrel for anything. This team and fanbase deserve better.

For this team to simply survive it means Tony Romo makes the same mistakes he is getting grilled for now. It means injuries plague us again. It means the OL can't block and the Defense doesn't benefit from Wade's full attention. It means Jason Garrett is a one hit wonder. Some will argue this is the unquestioned destination for this team. It is their right to be so pesssimistic, they have 13 years of sub par effort and this year would be number 14 if it falsl this way.

Never forget this, the pessimists don't want this any more than the optimists.

Option number two is this team arrives. I think 2007 could have been an arrival, but I always thought then it was a year early. It's kind of like 1991 was the arrival of the team setting it up for 1992. Arrival means this team takes some teams by surprise and finishes better than the experts expected. We really did do that in 2007, the problem was down the stretch we ran into a team that was peaking as our team was on a plateau coasting.

There can't be a repeat for this team to arrive. Arrival means 2 things in particular. No post Dead Bird Day slump and a Post Season win. Arrival means our OL blocks like we all thought they could not like the airport turnstiles they were in 2008 when they sought to have our QB assassinated by human torpedoes. Arrival means protecting the football and taking it away from our opponents. Arrival means a Wildcard Playoff berth at least, and it means a realistic chance to do some post season damage. It means scoring more than 2008 and allowing less. It means no more locker room drama and reality show theatrics. It means back to business and that business is winning football games when they count most.

The final option is thrive. To me this does not mean we win the Super Bowl, but of course to me it means we do get there. I have reservations about that. We've been to the Super Bowl in Miami (site of Super Bowl XLIV) 3 times in our History. We went there after the 1970, 1975, and 1978 seasons. Those who are aware of the trivia will know these are our three Super Bowl losses. I don't like omens.

Thriving means a lot of things have to come together. Number one it means we win the NFC East. Not be a wildcard. Even if we are a Wildcard team and make the Super Bowl that is not thriving. That is still arriving. The Dallas Cowboys have owned the NFC East, but that is not true in this decade with the exception of 2007. Taking back the Crown is the first step of thriving. To win the NFC East we will have to be no less than 4-2 against this division. That is a rough task when you look at the Giants and Eagles. I do not put the Commanders on the same level as those teams but they could surprise me.

If we take the NFC East Crown and don't have our traditional post Thanksgiving swoon it will be an amazing feat. Once again the schedule makers have given us a December schedule that is murderous. Winning games in December 2009 will be impressive. it will be the foundation of thriving.

Thriving means the Offense returns to being a top 5 scoring Offense. it means the Defense builds upon the pre-Eagles season finale and puts QBs on their backs. It means we learn to swipe the ball and we learn to force more punts and less scoring allowed.

Something that would help immensely with the scoring requirements for the Offense and the Defense will be improved Special teams play. Thriving will mean we all thank the stars above for Joe DeCamillis. I think many of us are ready to do that now, but it has to happen on the field before it means anything.

Thriving will mean the optimists finally get to be right again. Never forget this, optimists don't really like koolaid, but they prefer it to vinegar.

I'm so glad football is back. Now I'm just waiting to find out if we survive, arrive, or thrive. I bet you are too.

 

[rkell87]

i say we arrive, so many young players on this team just need one maybe two more seasons together then hopefully start to peak at the same.

'89 we win one game '92 we win the whole shebang. i think '08 is this teams '89...at least i hope it was.

 

[NextGenBoys]

We really did do that in 2007, the problem was down the stretch we ran into a team that was peaking as our team was on a plateau coasting.

The Giants were red hot, and we still should have beat them. I'll never forget that loss.

It means no more locker room drama and reality show theatrics. It means back to business and that business is winning football games when they count most.

I think the attitude is different already. Romo, Witten, Ware, and MBIII have set the tone from the sound of things.

To win the NFC East we will have to be no less than 4-2 against this division. That is a rough task when you look at the Giants and Eagles.

The Giants do not scare me at all. Their defense is good, but their offense is completely hinging on young unproven receivers. I'm not sold at all on Eli. Rings do not make a player great, I dont care what anyone says.

Once again the schedule makers have given us a December schedule that is murderous. Winning games in December 2009 will be impressive. it will be the foundation of thriving.

Love it, love it, love it. I like having the tough Decembers. If you cant win tough games, you dont deserve to be in the SB. Look at the Steelers last year. Hardest schedule in the league, but you find ways to win and set a winning foundation. Love it.

Thriving means the Offense returns to being a top 5 scoring Offense.

No doubt in my mind. Play action is going to be a staple of this offense, and beans and rice are the perfect set ups. I'd rather take the traditional sets than the spread to put up points. Keep em guessing.

Something that would help immensely with the scoring requirements for the Offense and the Defense will be improved Special teams play. Thriving will mean we all thank the stars above for Joe DeCamillis. I think many of us are ready to do that now, but it has to happen on the field before it means anything.

One thing that is a slight concern, no not concern, but thought is that we will have so many rooks playing ST. Not that ST is as hard as learning a defense, but still. Rookies are more prone to mental mistakes.

*Edit* and btw, great read as always Hos

 

[Marion_Bruiser24]

I say we thrive.

no more TO to distract. should be business as usual.

just keep pounding mb24 and we'll be just fine.

 

[casmith07]

Hos - you say you don't like omens. But everyone knows that bad things come in threes.

This would be our fourth trip to Miami. I say we win.

 

[Rampage]

Hos - you say you don't like omens. But everyone knows that bad things come in threes.

This would be our fourth trip to Miami. I say we win.

we're due to win one in Miami

 

[THUMPER]

We are going to shock the world this year and win the SB!

Everything is in place for us to do just that. The right players, the right attitude are here, and the wrong players & attitudes are gone. Now we will see what a TEAM can do when it plays like one and people will be blown away at how good this team really is.

All these nimrods squawking about how Romo sucks will be buying his jersey and saying they knew he was great all along.

Who we play and when will be irrelevant because we can beat anyone in the NFL. So we finish up against our division rivals (plus the Chargers & Saints) in Dec. So what? All that means is that each of our division foes will have a loss in December thanks to us.

I don't ever want to go into a season hoping just to win a playoff game. If our goal isn't to win the SB then what's the point?

Afterwards, if we made it to the playoffs and won a game, well maybe we could feel like some progress has been made but it would still be less than what it could have been. We should go into every game as if we cannot be beat, we cannot be outplayed, we either win or we blew it.

That's how this team was in 1992 and we hadn't won anything yet. We beat a weak Bears team in the playoffs in 1991 but got crushed by the Lions the following week. This wasn't a team that had a lot to hang their hats on they just had the right attitude and executed accordingly.

That's what I am looking for from this team in 2009. The attitude that no one can beat us but ourselves and that isn't going to happen!

Make room on the shelf Jerry, we've got another Lombardi on the way! :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin --- :starspin

 

[DaBoys4Life]

survive.

 

[lspain1]

Arrival means our OL blocks like we all thought they could not like the airport turnstiles they were in 2008 when they sought to have our QB assassinated by human torpedoes.

I wish I could say the word Arrival with confidence but I remain concerned we are too thin on the OL to make this come true. Even if we get off to a great start I think doubt will dominate my emotions this season.

 

[viman96]

I think this year is more about clearing out cobwebs and getting back on track.

 

[George]

I think this year is more about clearing out cobwebs and getting back on track.

That "clearing out cobwebs" should take place pre-season.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Good post as always Hostile, you can ask DC, when you get right down to it, when the season starts, I am a homer, even though I see things differently sometimes. This has been a season of change for the Cowboys. Like when I called into DC's website, and said Wade seemed to be trying to change and getting on players and making them accountable. DC told me not to buy into the hoopla, and wait and see how things turn out. So, in retrospect, I think the Cowboys are surviving, and have arrived to some degree.
What has helped this team was the release of players, and not just T O. The release of Tank Johnson, Tony Curtis, Zach Thomas-who was good but just too small for linebacker in the 3-4, Pacman and Finally Greg Ellis. I even said on this site and to my friends,after the release of T O, etc, the Cowboys need to send one more message, one more notable player that either gripes, or doesnt pull his weight, that player was Greg Ellis. Now the players got that attention, you had better play and play hard, practice and study.
Next step was the improvment of special teams, with our new special teams coach Joe and drafting special team players in Hodge, Beuhler, Jason Williams, Butler, Hamlin, among others and signing a very good safety in Sensabaugh, who is a very good special teams player too.
THERE ARE rumors< some talk of some coaching last year had gotten complacent like the players< well that attitude is gone now
I agree with you about not getting good quality coaches, that has always bugged me for years.

However, I think we are midstream above just survive and half above strive. Romo is working on mistakes like holding onto the ball, turning his body somewhat more for certain throws. Why we are just half above survive is injuries. No one but God knows whom will get hurt, how long, just like the Eagles lost Bradley their good middle linebacker. Like we lost Flozell for certain games last year, sure he played but was hurt. Lost other players like;
Kyle Kosier that killed this team last year
Tony Romo, cost us a playoff game due to 3 games he was hurt
Newman whom was hurt
Roy Williams S breaking his arm twice;
Felix Jones, toe injury
Barber out with toe injury too;
Anthony Henry missing games;
McBrair hurt and lost after Arizona game
Jason Witten hurt some, but played,

Now on to the offensive line, thats this big one weakness due to no possible young backup offensive linemen. I do feel that Holland can help us, but to me we are doomed if we have to depend on Proctor again. Our offensive line must stay healthy and get big, mean and nasty. Another thing in our favor, the Cowboys offensive line is no longer considered the biggest offensive line in the NFL. The Eagles have that title now. Maybe that will tick off some of our offensive linemen and make them work harder.

Next, I do think that the Cowboys will reap benefits from Wade running the defense, totally. No more other defensive coordinator, only Wade now. And this is the 3rd year that this defense will have played under Wade. The Chargers did the same thing if you go back and look at their record with wade as defensive coordinator. In wade's defenses their 3rd year, that team generally excelled, when he was defensive coordinator. I also like the way players now say, this is the most demanding offseason and training camp they have been in. Thats good, thats exactly what this team needs. Then, when they hit that fork in the road, they will say to themselves, we worked too hard not to excel, lets go out and kick some other teams rear ends for awhile.


Again, they have arrived, a notch above arrived now, but now we see how the players do with young talent like Felix, Choice, Bennett, Igor, Spencer, Ratliff, Ware, Scandrick, Jenkins, Jason Williams, Beuhler, Hodge, Mickens, Mike Hamlin, Ogletree, Butler, Brandon Williams, and Sensabaugh.
Never forget this, the pessimists don't want this any more than the optimists.

Exactly, what I still say, what is this team going to do after the Thanksgiving game, thats the key through December.

I dont think we will be as good as 13-3 in 2007, but I do think we will make the playoffs, not sure how far this team will go though.

There can't be a repeat for this team to arrive. Arrival means 2 things in particular. No post Dead Bird Day slump and a Post Season win. Arrival means our OL blocks like we all thought they could not like the airport turnstiles they were in 2008 when they sought to have our QB assassinated by human torpedoes. Arrival means protecting the football and taking it away from our opponents. Arrival means a Wildcard Playoff berth at least, and it means a realistic chance to do some post season damage. It means scoring more than 2008 and allowing less. It means no more locker room drama and reality show theatrics. It means back to business and that business is winning football games when they count most.Exactly, that hits the nail on the head.

The final option is thrive. To me this does not mean we win the Super Bowl, but of course to me it means we do get there. I have reservations about that. We've been to the Super Bowl in Miami (site of Super Bowl XLIV) 3 times in our History. We went there after the 1970, 1975, and 1978 seasons. Those who are aware of the trivia will know these are our three Super Bowl losses. I don't like omens. They always say the 3rd time is the charm, maybe this time if we get that far, we change that history, towards winning. I just dont know if we have the talent to get there and go that far. Dont misunderstand me, but I would be happy if we win a couple of playoff games and at least get to the championship game. Thats what this team needs, to get that taste of whats its like to be in that big game.

Thriving means a lot of things have to come together. Number one it means we win the NFC East. Not be a wildcard. Even if we are a Wildcard team and make the Super Bowl that is not thriving. That is still arriving. The Dallas Cowboys have owned the NFC East, but that is not true in this decade with the exception of 2007. Taking back the Crown is the first step of thriving. To win the NFC East we will have to be no less than 4-2 against this division. That is a rough task when you look at the Giants and Eagles. I do not put the Commanders on the same level as those teams but they could surprise me.

If we take the NFC East Crown and don't have our traditional post Thanksgiving swoon it will be an amazing feat. Once again the schedule makers have given us a December schedule that is murderous. Winning games in December 2009 will be impressive. it will be the foundation of thriving.Exactly! This is the whole key.

Thriving means the Offense returns to being a top 5 scoring Offense. it means the Defense builds upon the pre-Eagles season finale and puts QBs on their backs. It means we learn to swipe the ball and we learn to force more punts and less scoring allowed.

Something that would help immensely with the scoring requirements for the Offense and the Defense will be improved Special teams play. Thriving will mean we all thank the stars above for Joe DeCamillis. I think many of us are ready to do that now, but it has to happen on the field before it means anything.The old saying, DEFENSES WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS TEAM IS REAL CLOSE TO BEING DOMINANT ON DEFENSE. Just not sure how close they are yet. Back to special teams, the one area that we havent solved yet on special teams is a super punt returner, if you go back and look at the Cowboys super bowl years, when they won it all, they had a decent or great punt returner. Cant think of the player in 71 superbowl, but the Cowboys had decent one in 1977, and kelvin martin in 92, and later kevin williiams in 95. Also, Deion Sanders was helping out on special teams too that year. I am not happy with playing Newman on punt returns, he is just getting to old, we dont need him getting hurt returning punts. Let Deangelo Smith, or Felix if he can get better at punt returns or Willie Reid who was good at punt returns in college give it a whirl.

Thriving will mean the optimists finally get to be right again. Never forget this, optimists don't really like koolaid, but they prefer it to vinegar. I do like koolaid, just like years ago, when Shango did the koolaid video on the cowboys, some things have changed now with wade and the cowboys. Only time will tell.



I'm so glad football is back. Now I'm just waiting to find out if we survive, arrive, or thrive. I bet you are too.[/QUOTE] Ditto, again, good post as usual.

 

[Verdict]

I totally "get" your concept of survive, arrive, or thrive. I agree with your general premise, and the categories we may fall into.

I guess I look at the upcoming season a little bit differently than most people do. The real question is: "Does our roster, coaching, and intangibles give us a realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl this year?"

I would argue that it does. The 2007 Cowboys team ran up points like a scoring machine. All of the cogs of that scoring machine are still in place, sans T.O. I think with a healthy Felix Jones, we are every bit as talented overall as we were in 2007.

As for the defense, we led the league in sacks last year, and appear to be at least as good on paper as we were last year.

If Kitna was on the roster last year, we would probably have made the playoffs last year. He "might" be the single biggest addition to the team this year ...... and I hope he never sees the field.

A lot of factors, like injuries, can derail a playoff team, and might derail the Cowboys again THIS year, but this team, on paper has enough talent to win a Super Bowl, and even do it with "some" adversity. Not many teams will start out the year with the realistic chance to win the Super Bowl that we do ..... and really, that is all you can ask from your franchise.

 

[yimyammer]

or dive.....

 

[Mash]

I think this team is ready to thrive......

I think the 2nd year players will put us over the hump as long as our OL stays healthy

I still believe this team has as much talent as any team in the NFL. The division is a beast but we will thrive.

Im very excited for this season.......I really think this team can and will win the SuperBowl.

 

[Don Corleone]

Survive. This team has long arrived in terms of physical talent, but they lack the killer attitude needed to win a Super Bowl. There is a mental aspect to this game, and this team hasn't proven to have the mental makeup to thrive.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I doubt many would have us with much of a chance to win it all. We should have won two years ago but choked.

I do think we are tougher this year, probably closer and still almost as talented. I am worried about the receiver position. Say what you want about TO but damn he was our best WR since Irvin.

 

[Hostile]

or dive.....

I actually started the thread with that as the first option then pulled it because dive means ending up in the top 10 of the Draft and I do not see that.