Top 10 teams to win Super Bowl 51; Cowboys #8

[DandyDon1722]

One bad year?

Uh, 8-8, 8-8, 8-8, 4-12.

I'm not hanging my hat on ONE bad year. I'm hanging my hat on FOUR bad year!!!!

Now, let me turn the argument on you. Aren't you hanging your hat on ONE good year?

What gives you confidence that this coaching staff that has mustered three consecutive average seasons that resulted in playoff absences can give you more with a Romo that is one year older and a scheme that is so Romo friendly that virtually no one on our roster but he can win a game for us?

What makes you think that our coaching staff would change schemes at this late in the game of Romo's career even though other teams have basically called us out for being more vanilla than vanilla and had no shame in doing so?

I have no problems with any of those points - all valid.

I would say three years ago is an eternity in the NFL so the 8-8 teams are not as good a barometer as the 12-4 team. But even taking those years the difference is a vastly improved offensive line and a defense that went from 29th in the league to 17. All of that is in place.

You're right about the coaching staff - it's more concerned with talent over scheme. But when everybody is available it works and they proved it last season. Problem is they proved it with Murray so that must be addressed and I'm not so sure it's McFadden. There's no question that without the players on the field we cannot win with scheme.

So I'm basing my confidence on everybody being back with what should be considerable help in FA and the draft and a weak division and last place schedule.

We should be right in it again next year. Obviously injuries can change everything because if Romo goes down it still won't matter who the back up is.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys haven't gotten past the second round of the playoffs in 20 years. They've had one winning/playoff season under Garrett in his 5 full seasons as head coach. Until a solid head coach takes over this team this pattern we've seen the past 2 decades isn't going to change.

 

[Vanilla2]

Who knows. The 2016 Cowboys will be it's own team. Certainly can't compare it to the 2014 Cowboys --- 2 years in the NFL is an eternity.

And so is 1 year

 

[Sage3030]

Dang, I never knew that the Colts weren't Super Bowl contenders when Manning was up there.

That suck for luck thing was just a meme I guess.

 

[popp1234]

Two words...STAY HEALTHY

 

[tyke1doe]

I have no problems with any of those points - all valid.

I would say three years ago is an eternity in the NFL so the 8-8 teams are not as good a barometer as the 12-4 team. But even taking those years the difference is a vastly improved offensive line and a defense that went from 29th in the league to 17. All of that is in place.

You're right about the coaching staff - it's more concerned with talent over scheme. But when everybody is available it works and they proved it last season. Problem is they proved it with Murray so that must be addressed and I'm not so sure it's McFadden. There's no question that without the players on the field we cannot win with scheme.

So I'm basing my confidence on everybody being back with what should be considerable help in FA and the draft and a weak division and last place schedule.

We should be right in it again next year. Obviously injuries can change everything because if Romo goes down it still won't matter who the back up is.

Fair enough. However, if Romo goes down, we'll see if this coaching staff has learned its lesson. If we are incapable of winning the necessary games with this "Super Bowl-caliber talent" roster, that will be an even more powerful yet damning testimony about the coaching prowess of one Jason "Redhead" Garrett.

 

[DogFace]

I think they have a lot of work to do to return to where they were in 2014, and not all of it is physical.

This season exposed a mentality in this team directly tied to Romo. When he went out, I don't think the players to a man believed that they were going to win. I mean, if we as fans can see that the QBs were being coached to not make mistakes first, and that the offense really took no chances at all, I can only imagine what that does to the spirit in the locker room. The defense, while improving in yardage allowed, didn't have the same esprit de corps in terms of swarming to the ball. The lack of turnovers was also significant.

I also think that the coaching staff took a step backward. They didn't inspire performance at all from this team. How many players look like they improved this past season? Nearly every WR on the team played worse, showing issues with catching ball and getting open in general. To me, aside from Darren McFadden, Travis Frederick, La'el Collins, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dan Bailey and Chris Jones, players either stayed the same, or regressed in terms of their play. That points to a lack of inspiration.

The team does have talent. They also have a fair amount of holes. There may not be a safety on the team that can actually play. The corner position is mediocre at best. Aside from Sean Lee, the LB play is mediocre. The DL has ability, but were hampered by ineffective play (Hayden, Mincey) or injury (Crawford, Gregory). On offense, the line should be ascending, but RT has to be addressed. I was disappointed that Chaz Green did not see action in the last game. TE needs to be addressed with Witten on the downside, Escobar coming off an achilles tear, and Hanna a free agent. RB was solid, but they need a back to play alongside McFadden, and become the long range option. WR was a mess. QB was awful once Romo went down, and shows that the team did a really poor job of having a backup QB incapable of actually running the offense.

The division is bad enough that they can win it without a significant amount of improvement. As far as competing for the conference championship and Super Bowl, they need work at a number of positions, the coaching staff needs to improve and most of all, the team's outlook and resilience needs to change.

A well thought out opinion with many good points I agree with. However, I think we are closer to the 12-4 team than the 4-12 team. Our qb play was so abmismal it made many other areas look worse. Like the D would stop teams over and over and the offense would have repeated three and outs in several games.

I agree much of this was our coaching staffs inability to adjust or even make a good game plan to begin with. That's the part that does worry me. The staff was exposed. Was Romo covering up their terrible jobs? It appears so. I still do believe losing those two was the reason we dropped so much and a few good picks and a key free agent will make a big difference and hopefully Garrett has finally learned what it takes.

 

[Junglist]

I would love to be as optimistic as you, and I can see where you're coming from based on last year. But something's the matter when your team can't win but one game without your star quarterback.

T.

I don't even really count the Washington game as a win; DeSean Jackson gave us that game. We certainly did play like we deserved to win.

 

[big dog cowboy]

One bad year?

Uh, 8-8, 8-8, 8-8, 4-12.

I'm not hanging my hat on ONE bad year. I'm hanging my hat on FOUR bad year!!!!

I only see one losing season. Given the circumstances of 2012 and 2013 I still can't believe we pulled out 8 wins.

 

[tyke1doe]

I only see one losing season. Given the circumstances of 2012 and 2013 I still can't believe we pulled out 8 wins.

In context, we're talking about a Super Bowl contender. The Cowboys weren't Super Bowl contenders in any of the 8-8 seasons, so they were "bad" based on the original context.

I probably should have made that clearer.

 

[DogFace]

Neither team would go 4-12.

If either team lost them now they wouldn't be contenders and I believe if they lost them early like us they wouldn't have made the playoffs.
The Pats have one of the best coaches of all time. Panthers have a great D. They're probably better teams because of that. Could we have beaten either team with our whole team? Yes. They're not that much better if they are and we didn't get to see how good we could've been. That makes us contenders. Imo.

Let me get in my referee crybaby rant too as directly causing the Tampa loss and The Seattle fake time out was an unreal advantage in a 1 point win. With one or two of those wins maybe a little confidence and momentum would've gotten us a couple more wins.
But that would've only made some of our fans even angrier about our lack of draft position. It's hard to please some of them. They want every thing.

 

[DogFace]

No. I believe the Pats lost Brady for a year a few years ago and they finished 11-5 with Matt Cassel.

Eight years ago. Casell was better. Their division was terrible and they have possibly the best coach of all time.
Not doubt our staff was exposed. Hopefully they learn.

 

[DogFace]

Dang, I never knew that the Colts weren't Super Bowl contenders when Manning was up there.

That suck for luck thing was just a meme I guess.

 

[Aikmaniac]

8-8 with McFadden vs 12-4 with a real running back.

Disagree. Imagine if McFadden had somewhat of a threat at QB.

 

[DogFace]

I don't even really count the Washington game as a win; DeSean Jackson gave us that game. We certainly did play like we deserved to win.

Can we then count the Tampa game as a win in its place? Clear Pi on them at end of the game.
Thanks!!

 

[Risen Star]

If either team lost them now they wouldn't be contenders and I believe if they lost them early like us they wouldn't have made the playoffs.
The Pats have one of the best coaches of all time. Panthers have a great D. They're probably better teams because of that. Could we have beaten either team with our whole team? Yes. They're not that much better if they are and we didn't get to see how good we could've been. That makes us contenders. Imo.

Let me get in my referee crybaby rant too as directly causing the Tampa loss and The Seattle fake time out was an unreal advantage in a 1 point win. With one or two of those wins maybe a little confidence and momentum would've gotten us a couple more wins.
But that would've only made some of our fans even angrier about our lack of draft position. It's hard to please some of them. They want every thing.

I don't know how else to tell you that a true Super Bowl contender doesn't become one of the worst teams in football by losing their QB and WR.

But feel free to think we're close.

 

[DogFace]

I don't know how else to tell you that a true Super Bowl contender doesn't become one of the worst teams in football by losing their QB and WR.

But feel free to think we're close.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[DogFace]

I don't know how else to tell you that a true Super Bowl contender doesn't become one of the worst teams in football by losing their QB and WR.

But feel free to think we're close.

The Colts, the year they lost Manning, I'm sure you're excluding for a valid reason.

 

[L-O-Jete]

We'llbe 8-8 next season, I bet.

I agree, but...
The way the NFCE looks that might get them in the play-offs...
Then they can pull a "one and done"
And everyone can go back to crying about Romo being a choker.
And we'll get another year of the RHG...
It's Kafkanian the perverse cycle teh JJ has us on...

 

[Risen Star]

The Colts, the year they lost Manning, I'm sure you're excluding for a valid reason.

They weren't, Rowdy. I know you're desperately searching for something to make it appear this team is on the cusp, but the Colts were not contenders when Manning went down. Which is why the team and Manning decided to part ways. Manning wanted to win now. The Colts wanted to rebuild with a new QB. Neither of those decisions are made if they are true Super Bowl contenders.

But again, enjoy telling people this 4-12 team is a contender. Just please do it in the confines of this fan base. I don't want any embarrassment by association.