The Terrell Davis effect

[phildadon86]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

 

[Joe Realist]

No. it will feel like 2007, especially if Giants win. By the time the games starts on Jan 15th, there will be 5 teams left in the playoffs.

 

[phildadon86]

No. it will feel like 2007, especially if Giants win. By the time the games starts on Jan 15th, there will be 5 teams left in the playoffs.

Thanks for your input lol

 

[bark]

No. it will feel like 2007, especially if Giants win. By the time the games starts on Jan 15th, there will be 5 teams left in the playoffs.

And it will be like every other year for you eagles joe.

 

[JoeKing]

Who is our difference maker? Was it Dak replacing Romo or Zeke replacing DMC?

 

[tyke1doe]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

No. I like Dak, but he's no Elway.
However, I can see why you would make the comparison. The Broncos' defense wasn't that great but fed off the offense, featuring Terrell Davis.
I would just feel a bit more comfortable if Dak had the experience of a John Elway.

Having said that, the key to a Cowboys Super Bowl run will be:

1. Play calling (can Linehan keep other teams on their heels to maximize the talents of Zeke and keep Dak out of third and long)
2. Penalties (we can't keep committing them when we get close to the end zone)
3. Possession (we have to win the time of position)
4. Punching it in in the red zone (we have to score more touchdowns than field goals when we are inside the 20)
5. Pash rush (we can't let Rodgers, Eli, Ryan or Wilson sit in the pocket picking us off)
6. Picks (we need to get interceptions)

A PROFICIENT showing with the Ps and we're PROPPING UP the Super Bowl trophy in February.

 

[DFWJC]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

I think the comparables are 2014 and 2016. They look very so similar.
So YES. Give a QB this run game and oline and he is in pretty good shape...or at least should be.
Both years....Great run game, great QB play...
The RB is even more explosive this year--leading the league by far in explosive runs.
Plus, I think the defense is better this year with Sean Lee, and an overall deeper unit.

 

[Fletch]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

I like it. I really liked TD. Semi-different running style (not by much), but I do get it.

 

[LandryFan]

No. I like Dak, but he's no Elway.
However, I can see why you would make the comparison. The Broncos' defense wasn't that great but fed off the offense, featuring Terrell Davis.
I would just feel a bit more comfortable if Dak had the experience of a John Elway.

Having said that, the key to a Cowboys Super Bowl run will be:

1. Play calling (can Linehan keep other teams on their heels to maximize the talents of Zeke and keep Dak out of third and long)
2. Penalties (we can't keep committing them when we get close to the end zone)
3. Possession (we have to win the time of position)
4. Punching it in in the red zone (we have to score more touchdowns than field goals when we are inside the 20)
5. Pash rush (we can't let Rodgers, Eli, Ryan or Wilson sit in the pocket picking us off)
6. Picks (we need to get interceptions)

A PROFICIENT showing with the Ps and we're PROPPING UP the Super Bowl trophy in February.

A proficient showing with the W's would help, too!

 

[Fletch]

No. I like Dak, but he's no Elway.
However, I can see why you would make the comparison. The Broncos' defense wasn't that great but fed off the offense, featuring Terrell Davis.
I would just feel a bit more comfortable if Dak had the experience of a John Elway.

Having said that, the key to a Cowboys Super Bowl run will be:

1. Play calling (can Linehan keep other teams on their heels to maximize the talents of Zeke and keep Dak out of third and long)
2. Penalties (we can't keep committing them when we get close to the end zone)
3. Possession (we have to win the time of position)
4. Punching it in in the red zone (we have to score more touchdowns than field goals when we are inside the 20)
5. Pash rush (we can't let Rodgers, Eli, Ryan or Wilson sit in the pocket picking us off)
6. Picks (we need to get interceptions)

A PROFICIENT showing with the Ps and we're PROPPING UP the Super Bowl trophy in February.

You sure he's not? I mean Elway probably uses his own mold to evaluate QB's. He in fact inquired about Dak. Dak is as mobile and then some as Elway and already more accurate as a rookie.

Now, he's not veteran Elway who won Super Bowls in his 30's, but Dak is putting in work.

Good post!

 

[Doomsday101]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

Yes I think Zeke has been the big difference maker when operating this style of balanced offense. However I would say it is the Emmitt Smith effect where we saw a young team with Troy, Mike and Emmitt grow up together and won it all.

 

[CATCH17]

Who is our difference maker? Was it Dak replacing Romo or Zeke replacing DMC?

Our QB just started throwing drop back passes under center a week ago....

It's Zeke.

 

[Clove]

Elway had gone to the Super Bowl multiple times prior to Terrell Davis coming to town, so it's not like he didn't have what it took to get there. Having Davis, and that offensive system allowed them to be balanced. Balance wins multiple Championships. This is why Dallas was so dominant in the 90s. Balance is key.

 

[Clove]

Our QB just started throwing drop back passes under center a week ago....

It's Zeke.

One day our fan base will learn that the QB is ALWAYS the difference maker.

 

[CATCH17]

One day our fan base will learn that the QB is ALWAYS the difference maker.

QB is always big but Zeke is opening up the whole show for Dak on most plays.

 

[AsthmaField]

I get it. Elliott is the straw that stirs the drink. He is the one defenses are terrified of. He is the engine of an offense that bludgeons defenders into submission.

Teams crowd the line of scrimmage and leave passing lanes partially open by necessity, not to stop the Dallas run game... but to stop the Dallas run game with Ezekiel Elliott.

He's the beating heart of an offense that puts defenses in a catch-22 so thoroughly that the only hope there is of slowing it down is for one of its crucial players have a very off day.

Yes, the Dallas offense is completely different with another runner in there. Elliott is like a man among boys since he figured out how to run the zone, and it shows every time he is in there... or not in there.

 

[tyke1doe]

You sure he's not? I mean Elway probably uses his own mold to evaluate QB's. He in fact inquired about Dak. Dak is as mobile and then some as Elway and already more accurate as a rookie.

Now, he's not veteran Elway who won Super Bowls in his 30's, but Dak is putting in work.

Good post!

I may be worried unnecessarily. And I wouldn't even say I'm worried. But I do think there's some validity to the idea that quarterback experience matters. Dak has been shattering the mold in terms of what we should expect from a rookie so it wouldn't be surprising if his success continues into the playoffs. But he could face two potential Super Bowl winning quarterbacks (Rodgers, Eli and Wilson) and two with playoff experience (Ryan and Stafford). And if our defense doesn't hold up, it's going to be on Dak and this offense.
I think teams will try to take advantage of Dak's inexperience by taking away Zeke. We'll see if this strategy is successful or not. Dak will DEFINITELY have to step up in the post-season.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Who is our difference maker? Was it Dak replacing Romo or Zeke replacing DMC?

If I am honest...I'm going with a health sean lee.

 

[KJJ]

Ok guys, before blasting me for this hear me out. Does anyone here feel like this year is a lot like the Broncos when they brought in TD? They were literally one player away it seemed. HOF TE, HOF QB etc, but they couldnt get over the hump. TD took them to the next level. Does anyone here think we are about to witness the same season out of our Cowboys? Discuss.

It would have that feel if Romo was playing. The aging QB who needs RB help, that's how it was with Elway who was carrying the Broncos until TD arrived. Dak is a young QB, this has more of an early 90s feel when Aikman and Emmitt arrived.

 

[erod]

I may be worried unnecessarily. And I wouldn't even say I'm worried. But I do think there's some validity to the idea that quarterback experience matters. Dak has been shattering the mold in terms of what we should expect from a rookie so it wouldn't be surprising if his success continues into the playoffs. But he could face two potential Super Bowl winning quarterbacks (Rodgers, Eli and Wilson) and two with playoff experience (Ryan and Stafford). And if our defense doesn't hold up, it's going to be on Dak and this offense.
I think teams will try to take advantage of Dak's inexperience by taking away Zeke. We'll see if this strategy is successful or not. Dak will DEFINITELY have to step up in the post-season.

Dak has shattered the mold.....with the absolute most perfectly put-together offense a rookie has ever enjoyed in league history. The Cowboys have manhandled undermanned defenses at will.

However, playoffs are about quarterbacks and defenses. Which quarterback wins the chess match against the defense. That's what deep playoff runs come down to.

Dak is the best draft choice any team made, but is he ready for that right now?