The Silver Lining Thread

[Longboysfan]

Another great topic written well.

 

[jday]

Another great topic written well.

Thank you sir! And thanks for take the time to read!

 

[Idgit]

Nicely said. A playoff spot? There is still hope for that. Although that alone doesn't impress me. As far as championship aspirations? I would says those are all but out the window. But stranger things have happened.

Well, before you get in the playoffs, you have Zeke back, so that situation is basically the same as it was. We were always only going to go as far as our defense took us, and we didn't do enough the last two seasons to address the defensive playmaking deficiencies, anyway. That leaves us with hoping the offense can outscore other good offenses or for a ball to break our way on a turnover or something if we're going to advance farther than we have previously.

 

[jday]

I agree. Zeke is a special player, but it's not like he's the only one on the field. I expect this offense to continue to the run the ball well. The OL has seems to be coming together over the last couple of games. I expect Dak to step up to the challenge and become the QB I believe he is. The biggest question for me is more on the Defense. Can they make the plays we need them to make?

That's the biggest question for me. The identity of this team has been the ground game. The Cowboys will need an identity change over the course of the next 6 games. The defense is going to have to step up in a big, big way!

Thanks for contributing to the conversation!

 

[jday]

While yesterday's ruling did initially feel like the same sort of gut punch I felt when Romo broke his collar bone(s) and back in 2015 and 2016, the reality is this is a much more favorable situation with the exception of this stretch of games' difficult schedule. Dak is going to have to step up and make some plays, but I think he's had enough experience to do so. I am at least glad this is happening after Dak has a full year and some adversity under his belt.

I have no doubts the Cowboys have the roster to overcome Zeke's absence...but alot of players on both sides of the ball are going to have to play beyond themselves to make my dream a reality!

 

[jday]

I must remark that you called this post in and did not put much thought or effort into it. But otherwise I agree with most of what you wrote.

 

[canters]

I was joking. You did a great job here. I need to work on my comedy affect I guess.

 

[jday]

I was joking. You did a great job here. I need to work on my comedy affect I guess.

That's what I initially thought, but it was delivered in such a dead-pan manner, I was beginning to second guess it! Thanks for the clarification, taking time to read it and the better late than never kudos!

 

[bark]

Well I will say this if, and yes it's a big if, this team somehow stays in contention it will mean the defense has stepped up and come together in a big way.
We get Zeke back and get a big lift there and who knows if we get in the tournament.
Sorry jday that's all I got

 

[canters]

That's what I initially thought, but it was delivered in such a dead-pan manner, I was beginning to second guess it! Thanks for the clarification, taking time to read it and the better late than never kudos!

I may change my username to dead-pan. I like it.

 

[jday]

Well I will say this if, and yes it's a big if, this team somehow stays in contention it will mean the defense has stepped up and come together in a big way.
We get Zeke back and get a big lift there and who knows if we get in the tournament.
Sorry jday that's all I got

I fully acknowledge that the odds are stacked against the Cowboys; I'm not ignoring that aspect of the conversation at all. That said, iron sharpens iron...so if the Cowboys have put together the right kinda guys, this adversity will only serve to make them better. For better or worse, we are about to find out alot about both the Cowboys players and coaches. So, at least it help grant clarity to future conversations on what we really have. No apology necessary!

 

[jday]

I may change my username to dead-pan. I like it.

It would suit you well, sir!

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Great Thread by the OP. We'll see how the eagles deal with prosperity as in their lead in the division. Odd things can happen. I also believe everyone can step up their level of play in that fist is greater than one finger type mentality. Lots of football left to be played. A lot of you punks are candy soft slurping the most hated enemy. This is war fam... Smh...

 

[jday]

Great Thread by the OP. We'll see how the eagles deal with prosperity as in their lead in the division. Odd things can happen. I also believe everyone can step up their level of play in that fist is greater than one finger type mentality. Lots of football left to be played. A lot of you punks are candy soft slurping the most hated enemy. This is war fam... Smh...

Thanks for the kudos and contributing to the conversation!

I honestly don't believe in the Eagles. I'm fair-minded enough to concede that Wentz looks like he will be a thorn in our side for many years, but I don't think this is the year....and Jay Ajayi, I don't believe, is the running back many are making him out to be. Mind you, I'm not saying we can beat the Eagles without Zeke...I'm going to need to see how the Cowboys respond over the next few week before I make any bold predictions. But I do think the Eagles are going to lose steam down the stretch and if the Cowboys can win 4 of the next 6, that last game of the year could be very interesting.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Thanks for the kudos and contributing to the conversation!

I honestly don't believe in the Eagles. I'm fair-minded enough to concede that Wentz looks like he will be a thorn in our side for many years, but I don't think this is the year....and Jay Ajayi, I don't believe, is the running back many are making him out to be. Mind you, I'm not saying we can beat the Eagles without Zeke...I'm going to need to see how the Cowboys respond over the next few week before I make any bold predictions. But I do think the Eagles are going to lose steam down the stretch and if the Cowboys can win 4 of the next 6, that last game of the year could be very interesting.

Agreed. This thread is like a needle in a haystack with respect to the fallout of two incidents as of last night. WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THESE CHUMPS HEAD TO HEAD YET. It's one thing to acknowledge that Wentz looks like a promising young QB and philly has looked good taking advantage of a last place schedule as we did last year. It's something completely different to feel the sky is falling and literally slurp one of our most hated rivals. We did compensate with the loss of Dez not to mention Tyron and others last year. In a strange sense we move from Americas Most Hated Division NFCE divisional champs with the cloud that is Zeke's legal battle over our heads, to a massive underdog with momentum...that everyone will write off. If Zeke cannot play.. a lot of this issue has swung in Zeke's favor as it stands already.. I believe the sentiment will be that we were screwed..and our expectations will be drastically lowered. You combine the make up of a talented 13-3 divisional champ with the thought of being a massive underdog, a massive chip, and extreme talent it could lead to our sum being greater than our parts type of run. We've seen it time and time again. Not great news over the last 24hrs by any means but by no means is this over.

 

[jday]

Agreed. This thread is like a needle in a haystack with respect to the fallout of two incidents as of last night. WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THESE CHUMPS HEAD TO HEAD YET. It's one thing to acknowledge that Wentz looks like a promising young QB and philly has looked good taking advantage of a last place schedule as we did last year. It's something completely different to feel the sky is falling and literally slurp one of our most hated rivals. We did compensate with the loss of Dez not to mention Tyron and others last year. In a strange sense we move from Americas Most Hated Division NFCE divisional champs with the cloud that is Zeke's legal battle over our heads, to a massive underdog with momentum...that everyone will write off. If Zeke cannot play.. a lot of this issue has swung in Zeke's favor as it stands already.. I believe the sentiment will be that we were screwed..and our expectations will be drastically lowered. You combine the make up of a talented 13-3 divisional champ with the thought of being a massive underdog, a massive chip, and extreme talent it could lead to our sum being greater than our parts type of run. We've seen it time and time again. Not great news over the last 24hrs by any means but by no means is this over.

Post of the day, sir! And I do have to say, one silver lining I left out is that following his suspension, as a fan base we get to get back to discussing the sport we love and be done with suspension watch 2017. I will just be glad once it's all behind us and the Cowboys can get back to focusing on the task at hand. At the end of the day, if this does play as a season spoiler than the Cowboys clearly had more problems than Zeke's suspension. To prove they are worthy of the playoffs, I honestly think they need to first prove they can win without him. Like I've intimated in the OP as well as my following responses, we as a fan base are about to find out what this team and the coaches are really about. If they deserve to be in the playoffs, they will be in the playoffs. Plan & Simple.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Post of the day, sir! And I do have to say, one silver lining I left out is that following his suspension, as a fan base we get to get back to discussing the sport we love and be done with suspension watch 2017. I will just be glad once it's all behind us and the Cowboys can get back to focusing on the task at hand. At the end of the day, if this does play as a season spoiler than the Cowboys clearly had more problems than Zeke's suspension. To prove they are worthy of the playoffs, I honestly think they need to first prove they can win without him. Like I've intimated in the OP as well as my following responses, we as a fan base are about to find out what this team and the coaches are really about. If they deserve to be in the playoffs, they will be in the playoffs. Plan & Simple.

Well said. .. as well as we've looked in flashes this year, you get the sense we haven't yet played "free" and shown the best version of who we are as of yet. We had free flowing innocence about us last year mixed with a dominant swagger. In hindsight we've played with somewhat of a weight on our shoulders this year despite the 9'ers game.

 

[jday]

Well said. .. as well as we've looked in flashes this year, you get the sense we haven't yet played "free" and shown the best version of who we are as of yet. We had free flowing innocence about us last year mixed with a dominant swagger. In hindsight we've played with somewhat of a weight on our shoulders this year despite the 9'ers game.

I have noticed that. It's the player interviews
Last year Dak & Zeke we're all about fun & games. This year they've been all business. Here's hoping they can find that swag again...

 

[CowboyRoy]

The overall point is in the scheme of things the Cowboys learning to win without Zeke and Dak proving he can without Zeke may eventually serve the Cowboys well down the road, potentially as soon as the upcoming playoffs. Surely you two can acknowledge that potential silver-lining. In the playoffs, if Zeke is what makes this offense go, what do the Cowboys do when the opposition takes him away? This gives them an opportunity to prove they can do it before they have to do it...make sense?

yah I just think that is a huge stretch. More than likely it might get Dak killed back there having to do everything. And what is the point of proving anything? Zeke will be back. Maybe getting creative in the passing game and going pass happy may have some benefits. But whatever they are, they pale in comparison to the negative.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Well, before you get in the playoffs, you have Zeke back, so that situation is basically the same as it was. We were always only going to go as far as our defense took us, and we didn't do enough the last two seasons to address the defensive playmaking deficiencies, anyway. That leaves us with hoping the offense can outscore other good offenses or for a ball to break our way on a turnover or something if we're going to advance farther than we have previously.

Zeke helped out the entire team including the defense. And without Zeke its going to be much tougher all around. Whenever this team went away from the run this year and tried to get cute it wasnt pretty. I dont expect that to change. And if anything, it will be another excuse for Garrett and Linehan to get cute and pass happy. Time of possession will change, ect....ect....