erod
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Injuries are the bane of football. You can make the shrewdest moves, draft the most valuable players, devise the most well-scripted strategy, and build the most formidable roster. There's a facility full of overnight cots in north Irving that is obsessed with just that.
But then....BAM! It's gone like Bruce Jenner.
Soon, we'll be holding our collective breath through training camp. We love when it gets here, but we'd also like to wrap Oxnard in bubble wrap until September 13th when risks are more worth taking. Most camps come with a handful of gut punches to the diaphragm, as injury news trickles in.
It's even more nerve-wracking when your team's good, and ours is. Here's the list of names that gotta stay upright for this thing to flourish as we hope. Keep in mind, there's a difference between the best and the most irreplaceable.
1. Tony Romo. Duh, he's the QB, I know. But he's not just any quarterback. Romo has reached that truly elite level where he knows every bit as much about football as any coach on staff, perhaps more. Few teams are fortunate enough to have QBs that have reached that rare right of passage. No Tony, get ready for the draft. Same for all teams, but especially those with one of the elite six QBs in football.
2. Tyron Smith. Not only does he protect Romo with amazing consistency, an injury here would create a shuffle of position and uncertainty through the rest of the offensive line. Perhaps Martin would move over, or they'd just go with a much lesser backup. It would be very different. Injuries to other parts of the offensive line could be absorbed, but not at LT. This needs to be a constant.
3. Jason Witten. No, he's not what he was, but he's still dadgum effective. What's more critical is that he's the only tight end on the roster that can do everything at the position. Catch, block, and stretch the field. He understands the game much like Romo, and he's such a versatile player. The others are too specialized to replace Witten.
4. Dez Bryant. Set aside his monster talent for a second. Dez is like everybody's kid brother. He reminds these guys of what it's like to love football through sheer joy and childhood innocence. It matters so much to him, and he loves the game so much. He wears everybody out, but in a good way. "OK, OK, Dez, I got it, let's go kick some ***." Can't put a high enough value on that, (and he's about to get paid nicely in the next five days, book it).
5. Dan Bailey. It's easy to take a shot on 3rd down when you know your kicker is going to nail that 48-yarder if you need it. This guy and his Fred Couples swing has such a rejuvenating impact to the offense and defense, he's more than just a kicker. He's stoic, even-tempered, and consistent, just like you want you kickers to be. "Ain't nuttin' but a thang" to this dude. He's the anti-Vanderjerk.
6. Travis Frederick. Fredbeard is that buddy that was always available to help you move your crap to a new apartment. He's the same dude every day, and he knows what's going on. He's the glue in what has become a very close offensive line that spends a lot of time together. He's smart, funny, light-hearded, and likeable to everybody. He's Fredbeard, and he plays football good.
7. Tyrone Crawford. For all the hype about Lawrence, Gregory, and even Hardy, it's Crawford that looks ready to establish himself as an elite NFL linemen. He's quick and strong, and he provides an interior pass rush that is hard to find. He can be this team's Fletcher Cox at the rate he's going. He responded so well after the Achilles injury, and this teams needs him healthy.
8. Byron Jones. This is a two-part point. First, he needs to be the guy we're hearing about when the lights get bright, and secondly, he needs to avoid injury. This is the kind of defender the Cowboys have lacked in the secondary. He can go up high and crest the ball out of the air against receivers downfield. Next to a pass rush, a ball-hawking deep safety on passing downs would make the most difference to a defense that has employed only strong safeties for too long.
Of course, we want everybody to stay healthy. If Sean Lee can play through the postseason, it would be a tremendous lift. Zack Martin is certainly a key player, as is Barry Church or Anthony Hitchens, but adjustments can be made if needed if they went down, and the team could still thrive.
Those eight, however, have to be here for this season to be what we hope it can be.
But then....BAM! It's gone like Bruce Jenner.
Soon, we'll be holding our collective breath through training camp. We love when it gets here, but we'd also like to wrap Oxnard in bubble wrap until September 13th when risks are more worth taking. Most camps come with a handful of gut punches to the diaphragm, as injury news trickles in.
It's even more nerve-wracking when your team's good, and ours is. Here's the list of names that gotta stay upright for this thing to flourish as we hope. Keep in mind, there's a difference between the best and the most irreplaceable.
1. Tony Romo. Duh, he's the QB, I know. But he's not just any quarterback. Romo has reached that truly elite level where he knows every bit as much about football as any coach on staff, perhaps more. Few teams are fortunate enough to have QBs that have reached that rare right of passage. No Tony, get ready for the draft. Same for all teams, but especially those with one of the elite six QBs in football.
2. Tyron Smith. Not only does he protect Romo with amazing consistency, an injury here would create a shuffle of position and uncertainty through the rest of the offensive line. Perhaps Martin would move over, or they'd just go with a much lesser backup. It would be very different. Injuries to other parts of the offensive line could be absorbed, but not at LT. This needs to be a constant.
3. Jason Witten. No, he's not what he was, but he's still dadgum effective. What's more critical is that he's the only tight end on the roster that can do everything at the position. Catch, block, and stretch the field. He understands the game much like Romo, and he's such a versatile player. The others are too specialized to replace Witten.
4. Dez Bryant. Set aside his monster talent for a second. Dez is like everybody's kid brother. He reminds these guys of what it's like to love football through sheer joy and childhood innocence. It matters so much to him, and he loves the game so much. He wears everybody out, but in a good way. "OK, OK, Dez, I got it, let's go kick some ***." Can't put a high enough value on that, (and he's about to get paid nicely in the next five days, book it).
5. Dan Bailey. It's easy to take a shot on 3rd down when you know your kicker is going to nail that 48-yarder if you need it. This guy and his Fred Couples swing has such a rejuvenating impact to the offense and defense, he's more than just a kicker. He's stoic, even-tempered, and consistent, just like you want you kickers to be. "Ain't nuttin' but a thang" to this dude. He's the anti-Vanderjerk.
6. Travis Frederick. Fredbeard is that buddy that was always available to help you move your crap to a new apartment. He's the same dude every day, and he knows what's going on. He's the glue in what has become a very close offensive line that spends a lot of time together. He's smart, funny, light-hearded, and likeable to everybody. He's Fredbeard, and he plays football good.
7. Tyrone Crawford. For all the hype about Lawrence, Gregory, and even Hardy, it's Crawford that looks ready to establish himself as an elite NFL linemen. He's quick and strong, and he provides an interior pass rush that is hard to find. He can be this team's Fletcher Cox at the rate he's going. He responded so well after the Achilles injury, and this teams needs him healthy.
8. Byron Jones. This is a two-part point. First, he needs to be the guy we're hearing about when the lights get bright, and secondly, he needs to avoid injury. This is the kind of defender the Cowboys have lacked in the secondary. He can go up high and crest the ball out of the air against receivers downfield. Next to a pass rush, a ball-hawking deep safety on passing downs would make the most difference to a defense that has employed only strong safeties for too long.
Of course, we want everybody to stay healthy. If Sean Lee can play through the postseason, it would be a tremendous lift. Zack Martin is certainly a key player, as is Barry Church or Anthony Hitchens, but adjustments can be made if needed if they went down, and the team could still thrive.
Those eight, however, have to be here for this season to be what we hope it can be.
