Talent-Challanged Cowboys

[Cowboy Brian]

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Tony Romo is the only thing keeping the talent-challenged Cowboys in games, writes Michael Lombardi, as he looks back at Week 2



For the past 6 years haven't we been the "most talented team in football".

 

[jjktkk]

Just goes to show you that, until the league expands their drug testing policies, to include media members, we will be forced to roll our eyes at quite a few of these morons.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

The Cowboys are extremely limited in many areas, some due to injuries and some due to a lack of overall talent in key places. On defense, their secondary has suffered some tough injuries, especially at corner, but even if Terence Newman was out there, the secondary would be suspect. They have a dominating pass rusher in LB DeMarcus Ware, who can cover up for an inadequate secondary with his ability, but the other three linebackers are limited. Their defensive line is average at best, and lacks depth.

I'll buy that the defensive line is average, but his analysis of the Cowboys linebackers makes me question whether or not he's actually watching the games.

Sean Lee currently leads the league in tackles, and has been a force in all facets of the game.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I'll buy that the defensive line is average, but his analysis of the Cowboys linebackers makes me question whether or not he's actually watching the games.

Sean Lee currently leads the league in tackles, and has been a force in all facets of the game.

Lee is a beast.

 

[CATCH17]

Risen Star agrees with this message.

 

[AdamJT13]

DeMarcus Ware is so good that a limited, average-at-best front seven with no depth leads the league in sacks and is ranked No. 2 in the NFL against the run.

 

[Venger]

We've got talent at the highlight positions but no depth and certainly huge swaths of questionable players. Witten? Top 3 TE in football. Dez, Austin? Top 10 receivers. Romo? Top 10 QB to be sure. Ware? Top 3 3-4 LB.

And then...

You drop off. Questionable secondary, very underwhelming LB corps (Lee is making plays but size is a question and he's definitely alone in the LB playmaking corps), OL is new and raw, we can't get production from RB... so it depends on how you look at the roster. We have good talent at the glory positions but alot of dead weight on the starting roster, so pick your half full/empty viewpoint and there you go.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

We've got talent at the highlight positions but no depth and certainly huge swaths of questionable players. Witten? Top 3 TE in football. Dez, Austin? Top 10 receivers. Romo? Top 10 QB to be sure. Ware? Top 3 3-4 LB.

And then...

You drop off. Questionable secondary, very underwhelming LB corps (Lee is making plays but size is a question and he's definitely alone in the LB playmaking corps), OL is new and raw, we can't get production from RB... so it depends on how you look at the roster. We have good talent at the glory positions but alot of dead weight on the starting roster, so pick your half full/empty viewpoint and there you go.

You left out Ratliff, Free, Smith.

 

[CATCH17]

The only thing we know for sure about the Cowboys is they like to shoot themselves in the foot.


Lets wait and see if we really can't run the ball or if the Jets and 9ers just play good run defense like they have in the past.


Those 2 teams couldn't run on us either. That doesn't mean they can't run the ball.


Im interested to see what a healthy Cowboys team can do. Especially if they don't beat themselves.

 

[Stautner]

I'll buy that the defensive line is average, but his analysis of the Cowboys linebackers makes me question whether or not he's actually watching the games.

Sean Lee currently leads the league in tackles, and has been a force in all facets of the game.

Considering we have clogged up running lanes and shut down some very good RB's and Ratliff and Hatcher are penetrating when teams pass, I'm not sure it's fair to say the defensive line is average. They sure haven't played that way so far. Still early, I know, but if we are judging on this season I have to say I'm pleased with our defensive line.

 

[CoCo]

This team vascillates regularly between talented under-achievers and a team who's talent level is just not that good. Whatever...

 

[21Savage]

I'll buy that the defensive line is average, but his analysis of the Cowboys linebackers makes me question whether or not he's actually watching the games.

Sean Lee currently leads the league in tackles, and has been a force in all facets of the game.

You'll buy they're average?

Okay, let's see: We have the best pass rushing NT in the league (and it's a passing league by the way), who our DC thinks is the best NT in the league period-and I don't know if you can argue with him with the job he's also doing against the run. We have our RDE who led the team in QB pressures (3) and tied for the lead in sacks (2) in the last game. We have a LDE in Coleman who's a pure run stopper but we can rotate Spears and Lissemore around. We have a promising young NT as well.

If we're average then what's the Dline we just played or Pittsburgh's Dline like?

Total BS! There's major talent there and the work we've done so far purports that.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

We've got talent at the highlight positions but no depth and certainly huge swaths of questionable players. Witten? Top 3 TE in football. Dez, Austin? Top 10 receivers. Romo? Top 10 QB to be sure. Ware? Top 3 3-4 LB.

.

Top 3 all time??

 

[Venger]

You left out Ratliff, Free, Smith.

Rat is okay but not stellar, Free got used like a kleenex yesterday, Smith is playing his second game in the NFL. Can't mention those guys in the same breath as the guys I listed, because they aren't really close. Ware and Witten are All-Pro level players, Dez can join them, Miles and Romo are very good if just shy of All-Pro. When I say talent, I mean talent that 25 other teams wish they had. Rat, Free, and Smith are not at that level.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Rat is okay but not stellar, Free got used like a kleenex yesterday, Smith is playing his second game in the NFL. Can't mention those guys in the same breath as the guys I listed, because they aren't really close. Ware and Witten are All-Pro level players, Dez can join them, Miles and Romo are very good if just shy of All-Pro. When I say talent, I mean talent that 25 other teams wish they had. Rat, Free, and Smith are not at that level.

I'm pretty sure that 32 teams would love to have Jay Ratliff, Doug Free and Tyron Smith on their rosters.

 

[Venger]

Top 3 all time??

No, in the NFL today.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

We've got talent at the highlight positions but no depth and certainly huge swaths of questionable players. Witten? Top 3 TE in football. Dez, Austin? Top 10 receivers. Romo? Top 10 QB to be sure. Ware? Top 3 3-4 LB.

And then...

You drop off. Questionable secondary, very underwhelming LB corps (Lee is making plays but size is a question and he's definitely alone in the LB playmaking corps), OL is new and raw, we can't get production from RB... so it depends on how you look at the roster. We have good talent at the glory positions but alot of dead weight on the starting roster, so pick your half full/empty viewpoint and there you go.

I agree with this, but I think Lee is a star in the making. Our safeties are average at best, not playmakers, but steady. We currently have one NFL quality CB, (Jenkins) and a bunch of guys. Our DL is average, with Hatcher finally showing something, but little quality depth.

Our OL is young, injured and can't get a push in the running game. For all the hoopla regarding their athleticism, few sweeps, and screens have been run. The depth at OL is scary.

We have an all world TE, 2 outstanding WRs with no one behind them. Felix can't stay healthy, and the other RBs and rookies or average at best.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

No, in the NFL today.

He is top 3 all time however.

 

[Venger]

I'm pretty sure that 32 teams would love to have Jay Ratliff, Doug Free and Tyron Smith on their rosters.

The presumptive component to the statement is instead of who they have now at the top of the depth chart - that they are upgrades over their current starter.

 

[Venger]

He is top 3 all time however.

Who is? Witten is a top 3 all time TE? That's an overreach, he's not even the best TE active in the league.