The missing ingredient?

If Cassell doesn't win us a couple of games, its not going to matter when Romo and Dez return. You cant be sitting at 2-7 and having to win out just to make the playoffs............not going to happen, even Jerry said winning out was not realistic when Romo returns.
 
New York isn't as bad as they showed. I still think 10-6 wins it and 9-7 will win a tie break, which is why we must beat Philly and NY.
 
capable back-up QB, because he'll be needed again before the end of the season.
 
Pessimist_cowboy said:
pass rush. If our DL dominates their OL. We can beat them.The middle of their defense is terrible. Clay Matthews cannot cover Te's and Wr's.
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I think you nailed it. I feel the changes we implemented in the bye week will serve us very well until we return to full strength. Collins will strengthen the left side of that line and create a formidable tandem with Tyron. Cassell will drive the bus much better than Weedone and prove to be the successful babysitting backup that we so desperately needed. Christine Michael will take full advantage of his opportunity and begin to make us believers again that we can control clock much like we did last year. Add Dez and Romo back into the fold and offense will be clicking masterfully.

That all said, I have seen enough of our defense not at full strength coupled with flashes of Gregory to know that a healthy Gregory off one edge plus a nasty Hardy off of the other will make opposing QBs very uncomfortable. Even Aaron Rodgers.. When opposing QBs are forced to step up away from the pressure, an active Sean Lee or McClain will make them pay. Our DTs are improving too. I believe the greatest benefactor in a Gregory/Hardy edge explosion will be Tyron Crawford. Look for Crawford to put up higher than usual sack numbers down the stretch and he will have those two to thank for that.

So, in short, I agree with you. When it's all said & done, the defense will be the final ingredient that we're all gushing about.
 
erod said:
I admit that I find Matt Forte's experience against Green Bay intriguing. I wonder what it would take.
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I'd hate to give up draft pick(s) for a rent-a-player. If he was younger I'd consider it more with the hopes of resigning him, but at age 30, I'd be reluctant to give him what he'll be asking for. CMike's got 2 weeks to show us something. If he doesn't, I would give trading for Forte (or some other back) more thought.

A player like Lamar Miller might be more realistic. With the way NE and the NYJ are playing this year, the Dolphins may already be out of contention. I think he fits our system well. He's on the last year of his rookie contract and he's having a down year, so it may not cost us much. He's also still very young, so he has the potential to be more than a rent-a-player if we decide to resign him.

But back to the Bears. Alshon Jeffery intrigues me more. He too is in his contract year, but he's still on his rookie contract so to rent him for the remainder of the season would cost us almost nothing (financially) and gives us an insurance policy if Dez re aggravates his foot. He's also young enough where re signing him may be an option, although I'm not sure if the Cowboys want so much money tied up to one position and the fact that Hardy's still in play for an extension.

Alas, Jeffery is one of the few players that the Bears may want to rebuild with, so any thought of trading for him may be moot.
 
erod said:
After watching Monday Night Keystone Cops last night, it became apparent that 8-8 might win this division, and 9-7 is virtually a done deal.

Good gosh, this division is bad outside of a slowly healing Dallas team still ladled in critical injuries. That, and another episode of kill Russell Wilson suddenly makes the next three games look far more winnable than before.

But lest we forget, this season isn't about being the sexiest nerd in the NFC East. It's supposed to be about going to the Super Bowl.

That hones all criteria to the necessities necessary to beat Green Bay, Arizona, and Carolina when it matters. Those are the non-pretenders, though I think reality will catch up with Arizona and Carolina's non-elite quarterbacks soon.

So, if Green Bay in January is the acid test, what is needed? A receiver? A better running back? A deep safety? Or is the return of Romo and Dez going to be enough to get this Maserati to San Jose as is?
Click to expand...

Good stuff, Erod.

What I believe will ultimately set the Cowboys apart is their defense. Teams are going to have trouble keeping pace with Romo (if he can pickup where he left off) against that front four...I think....and hope.
 
Pessimist_cowboy said:
pass rush. If our DL dominates their OL. We can beat them.The middle of their defense is terrible. Clay Matthews cannot cover Te's and Wr's.
Click to expand...

Eli can get on a roll against us even if we sack him.

So.... We need to sack him often AND build a nice lead.
Force Eli to throw a lot.

Not to keep up in close game but to try and catch up.
We can break him and force ints.
 
erod said:
After watching Monday Night Keystone Cops last night, it became apparent that 8-8 might win this division, and 9-7 is virtually a done deal.

Good gosh, this division is bad outside of a slowly healing Dallas team still ladled in critical injuries. That, and another episode of kill Russell Wilson suddenly makes the next three games look far more winnable than before.

But lest we forget, this season isn't about being the sexiest nerd in the NFC East. It's supposed to be about going to the Super Bowl.

That hones all criteria to the necessities necessary to beat Green Bay, Arizona, and Carolina when it matters. Those are the non-pretenders, though I think reality will catch up with Arizona and Carolina's non-elite quarterbacks soon.

So, if Green Bay in January is the acid test, what is needed? A receiver? A better running back? A deep safety? Or is the return of Romo and Dez going to be enough to get this Maserati to San Jose as is?
Click to expand...

a healthy team. You play teams like GB and NE you better bring everything you got. Those are tough games even with Romo and Dez as well as the full strength of defense. Hopefully the injury bug that has plagued us to start the season will not be a factor late in the year
 
Our team just needs to make the playoffs. Whatever it takes, whatever our record is, doesn't matter. If our boys get there, they will be dangerous.
 
Could be at Atlanta. They look to have an easier schedule than GB has.
 
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