This ain’t 2014 or 2016

[Bobhaze]

If anyone thinks this team resembles the 2014 or 2016 playoff teams, a closer look at the roster reveals a lot of change.

When the Cowboys take the field in LA this Saturday night, there will only be 9 players on our active roster that also ran onto Lambeau field for the Jan, 2015 Divisional Playoff game against the pack. Wow. Only 9 of our current 53 were there to see the Romo to Dez catch that wasn’t in that frustrating 26-21 loss in GB.

• (Current 2018 players who were also on the roster for Lambeau playoff game, Jan, 2015: Sean Lee, Tyron, Smith, LP Ladoceur, Chris Jones, Tyrone Crawford, Cole Beasley, Jeff Heath, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. Travis Frederick and TWill would count except they’re on IR)

And this year’s bunch also includes 30 players who were NOT here when the Cowboys played the pack again at AT&T Stayjum two years later, Jan, 2017 in that crazy 34-31 heartbreaker where Aaron Rodgers completed that ridiculous dart on 3rd and a mile that set up their winning FG. (Too guys many to list)

So Saturday night, as this team reaches for playoff glory it hasn’t seen in over two decades, they will be doing it with a lot of fresh faces who haven’t experienced the pain of the last two playoff seasons.

That’s probably a good thing. Maybe they will be like those youngsters in ‘92- they didn’t know what failure was so they went out and shocked the world. Sure would be fun to do that again.

 

[Setackin]

But Garrett is here

 

[jazzcat22]

In Mickey's article he wrote that there are even 25 new players from last years games against the Rams.

 

[eastsideboy]

You said "ain't" the cowboyszone grammar police will come for you.

 

[gimmesix]

This team has a defense. That's the biggest difference. Those 2014 and 2016 offenses were playing pretty well.

 

[lukin2006]

I agree this team has more character. But most importantly we got a really good, young hungry D. And a QB whose confidence should be sky high going against a QB in LA who has struggled down the stretch. Go Cowboys.

 

[cowboyec]

this team is writing it's own story...it's own history.
saturday night can not come fast enough.
COWBOYS

 

[CowboyStar88]

You said "ain't" the cowboyszone grammar police will come for you.

Ain’t nobody got time for that

 

[MRV52]

Defense is way better now.

 

[cowboys1981]

Our pass rush from 14 and 16 was nonexistent compared to what we have this season. Our defense has saved our offense on many occasions this season.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Defense is way better now.

Bingo! Thread Over.

There is no greater difference in the entire organization than finally getting a great defense. It can carry the offense through bad stretches and keep us in games.

It't the biggest reason for optimism in the entire organization moving forward.

 

[DFWJC]

If anyone thinks this team resembles the 2014 or 2016 playoff teams, a closer look at the roster reveals a lot of change.

When the Cowboys take the field in LA this Saturday night, there will only be 9 players on our active roster that also ran onto Lambeau field for the Jan, 2015 Divisional Playoff game against the pack. Wow. Only 9 of our current 53 were there to see the Romo to Dez catch that wasn’t in that frustrating 26-21 loss in GB.

• (Current 2018 players who were also on the roster for Lambeau playoff game, Jan, 2015: Sean Lee, Tyron, Smith, LP Ladoceur, Chris Jones, Tyrone Crawford, Cole Beasley, Jeff Heath, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. Travis Frederick and TWill would count except they’re on IR)

And this year’s bunch also includes 30 players who were NOT here when the Cowboys played the pack again at AT&T Stayjum two years later, Jan, 2017 in that crazy 34-31 heartbreaker where Aaron Rodgers completed that ridiculous dart on 3rd and a mile that set up their winning FG. (Too guys many to list)

So Saturday night, as this team reaches for playoff glory it hasn’t seen in over two decades, they will be doing it with a lot of fresh faces who haven’t experienced the pain of the last two playoff seasons.

That’s probably a good thing. Maybe they will be like those youngsters in ‘92- they didn’t know what failure was so they went out and shocked the world. Sure would be fun to do that again.

The difference is plain as day
DEFENSE

The 2014 offense with this defense would be insane

 

[Dale]

Theres' been a definitive uptick in our team's performance since Vander Esch was inserted into the starting lineup (and subsequently re-inserted) and since Amari Cooper was added to the team.

One of the things that gives me hope Saturday is that because of those two players, this team is even so different from the one we fielded just earlier in the season.

Yeah, we're 10-6. Yeah, we're 3-5 on the road. But those Panthers, Seahawks, Texans and Commanders games could have looked a lot different with both of those guys in the starting lineup.

 

[sureletsrace]

this team is writing it's own story...it's own history.
saturday night can not come fast enough.
COWBOYS

I really admire your unwavering positivity. Love your posts.

 

[DandyDon52]

This team has a defense. That's the biggest difference. Those 2014 and 2016 offenses were playing pretty well.

defense is the only reason we are in the playoffs.
only thing is defense will go when KR leaves.

 

[StarBoyz83]

It's kind of the same because the team is still one sided. This time the defense is carrying the offense for a change though.

 

[Batman1980]

It's kind of the same because the team is still one sided. This time the defense is carrying the offense for a change though.

Elliott, Prescott, Gallup, Cooper. Austin and Jarwin excites me.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Elliott, Prescott, Gallup, Cooper. Austin and Jarwin excites me.

I'm excited about the team in general. We are very young.

 

[Verdict]

Defense is way better now.

Interestingly, according to 105.3 the plan the difference between last year's team and this year's team is less than one point per game average. Incredible isn't it? Shows that stats lie!

 

[Blackrain]

If anyone thinks this team resembles the 2014 or 2016 playoff teams, a closer look at the roster reveals a lot of change.

When the Cowboys take the field in LA this Saturday night, there will only be 9 players on our active roster that also ran onto Lambeau field for the Jan, 2015 Divisional Playoff game against the pack. Wow. Only 9 of our current 53 were there to see the Romo to Dez catch that wasn’t in that frustrating 26-21 loss in GB.

• (Current 2018 players who were also on the roster for Lambeau playoff game, Jan, 2015: Sean Lee, Tyron, Smith, LP Ladoceur, Chris Jones, Tyrone Crawford, Cole Beasley, Jeff Heath, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. Travis Frederick and TWill would count except they’re on IR)

And this year’s bunch also includes 30 players who were NOT here when the Cowboys played the pack again at AT&T Stayjum two years later, Jan, 2017 in that crazy 34-31 heartbreaker where Aaron Rodgers completed that ridiculous dart on 3rd and a mile that set up their winning FG. (Too guys many to list)

So Saturday night, as this team reaches for playoff glory it hasn’t seen in over two decades, they will be doing it with a lot of fresh faces who haven’t experienced the pain of the last two playoff seasons.

That’s probably a good thing. Maybe they will be like those youngsters in ‘92- they didn’t know what failure was so they went out and shocked the world. Sure would be fun to do that again.

Im on board Bullet . We had a morbid stigma of failure at the worst times that just seemed to loom over this team like a black cloud . Most of this young team didn't live through that and have a fresh outlook . It just might be our time or time to take a step farther than we have been in 20 yrs .

My expectations have already been exceeded this season as I had just hoped to make the playoffs after Big Fred was ruled out . This team has matured before or eyes and seems to be peaking at the right time . We have a defense that can close a game out now .

If the Oline plays like in the Seahawks game I like our chances . We used to be a team that did nothing but hurt ourselves in big moments . That run by Dak at the end of the Seahawks game shows the change , now we can impose our will and not be denied .