The Cowboys could have a Top 5 offense and Top 5 defense next year

[Red Dragon]

Sean Lee may return and join a linebacking corps that already has McClain, Carter and Co. and is already one of the better ones in the league.

That stout offensive line of Smith, Frederick, Martin, etc. will only continue to get better. Romo will be older and even nearer the end of his career, unfortunately. DeMarco Murray, who knows if he's returning. Witten is old.


BUT..................

If the Cowboys draft two good pass rushers and two good defensive backs - and/or address those needs in free agency - then this defense, which performed surprisingly well in 2014 - could make that big jump from, say, #20 in the league to #5.

DeMarcus Lawrence might turn out to be something, but Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne may have already shown the Cowboys all the potential they have. Randle and Dunbar will be hard pressed to pick up the slack if Murray leaves.

Problem is, of course...all of the other 31 NFL teams are addressing their weaknesses and trying to improve, too.


A Top 5-10 offense and Top 5-10 defense and this team could easily get back to ten or twelve wins again next season.

 

[windward]

With this offense and a top ten defense we win 12 games, minimum.

 

[Doomsay]

If our defense hadn't inexplicably turned into a bottom 30 defense at the end of the game on Sunday we'd probably still be in the Super Bowl hunt.

 

[DogFace]

Demarcus 2 has two sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2 playoff games. Not bad.

We are going to be very good. The torch will be taken from Seattle when we beat them in the opening game.

 

[Setackin]

Are we already getting into this....

could have, probably will... all means the same thing... NOTHING.

Next year isn't a sure thing.

 

[Doomsay]

Demarcus 2 has two sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2 playoff games. Not bad.

We are going to be very good. The torch will be taken from Seattle when we beat them in the opening game.

D2! I thought that he was close to being tackled on that 4Q scramble by suddenly mobile Rodgers.

 

[Nation]

It looked like we had a shot at hosting the Super Bowl going into 2010 also. Health matters in the NFL. If we suffer injuries at OL, or if Dez' back acts up, or a list of other things is to happen we could be none of these things. That's why Sunday stung so much, because it is tough for teams (particularly this team) to be consistently good from year to year. We have a shot at it but let's not forget our offensive health was just as good as our defensive health was bad.

 

[Proximo]

Are we already getting into this....
could have, probably will... all means the same thing... NOTHING.

Next year isn't a sure thing.

Thanks for putting us all in our place bro.

What were we thinking speculating about next season's potential? On a message board of all places?

Pretty nuts.

We should know better.

 

[Eddie]

With this offense and a top ten defense we win 12 games, minimum.

If Romo gets hurt for an extended period of time ... or if he retires ... we're done.

 

[EST_1986]

Are we already getting into this....
could have, probably will... all means the same thing... NOTHING.

Next year isn't a sure thing.

Should we still be dwelling on the non-catch?

 

[benson]

It's the signing of Suh that could propel the defense into a top unit. All of a sudden the wefense becomes a defense filled with playmaking stars. Suh, Lee, Carter, McClain and we have two young safeties one of which is already showing great tackling ability and the other with tremendous speed and the physical tools to excel. If Claiborne can come back and play in his last year, the defense is actually damn good.

 

[burmafrd]

we are a long way from a top 5 D. Going to take a real pass rush and better secondary play

 

[xwalker]

Sean Lee may return and join a linebacking corps that already has McClain, Carter and Co. and is already one of the better ones in the league.

That stout offensive line of Smith, Frederick, Martin, etc. will only continue to get better. Romo will be older and even nearer the end of his career, unfortunately. DeMarco Murray, who knows if he's returning. Witten is old.


BUT..................

If the Cowboys draft two good pass rushers and two good defensive backs - and/or address those needs in free agency - then this defense, which performed surprisingly well in 2014 - could make that big jump from, say, #20 in the league to #5.

DeMarcus Lawrence might turn out to be something, but Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne may have already shown the Cowboys all the potential they have. Randle and Dunbar will be hard pressed to pick up the slack if Murray leaves.

Problem is, of course...all of the other 31 NFL teams are addressing their weaknesses and trying to improve, too.


A Top 5-10 offense and Top 5-10 defense and this team could easily get back to ten or twelve wins again next season.

Pro
Romo should be less limited according to Garrett.
Lee is returning.
Young players have another year of experience. DLaw, Wilcox, Randle, etc..

Con
Murray is probably gone.
There is no guarantee that RoMc or Carter return.
Melton while not great, will likely be gone.

Pro/Con
Carr could be cut. That seems like a Pro, but they have to replace him which is a Con.

 

[SDCowboy]

This D is likely miles away from top 5.

 

[Danger]

It looked like we had a shot at hosting the Super Bowl going into 2010 also. Health matters in the NFL. If we suffer injuries at OL, or if Dez' back acts up, or a list of other things is to happen we could be none of these things. That's why Sunday stung so much, because it is tough for teams (particularly this team) to be consistently good from year to year. We have a shot at it but let's not forget our offensive health was just as good as our defensive health was bad.

That is troublesome. Our two biggest stars have back issues that could flare up at any time.

 

[Setackin]

Thanks for putting us all in our place bro.

What were we thinking speculating about next season's potential? On a message board of all places?

Pretty nuts.

We should know better.

Thx for realizing it

 

[Setackin]

Should we still be dwelling on the non-catch?

No, I'm over it.

 

[CrownCowboy]

Should we still be dwelling on the non-catch?

If we want to. Feel free to do whatever it is that u do.

We have a good team that could get even better but we are just as apt to go 7-9 next year as we are 12-4. It's a week to week league and anything could happen.

I don't see the problem of simply mentioning that.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

This D is likely miles away from top 5.

This.

I'm glad people are optimistic, but this isn't close to a top 5 defense.

 

[Risen Star]

If our defense hadn't inexplicably turned into a bottom 30 defense at the end of the game on Sunday we'd probably still be in the Super Bowl hunt.

Our defense is crap. Why any fan would think they could be top 5 in the league next year is beyond me. It's a multi-year fix.