Galian Beast
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A lot of people probably figured that I was down on the team based on a couple of threads I've made recently discussing observations I've made about the defense or the 2012 draft. This is not the case at all.
I think this team is probably in the best shape it's been in since 2012, which I guess isn't saying all that much, but it is saying that as a Cowboy fan, this is the most excited I've been for Cowboys football in about two years. I'm glad the front office made moves to get younger on the defensive line, and I think it's probably best that they redo this entire defense from the core out. There really isn't much left anyways. Most of the week 1 starters wont' have been on the Cowboys for more than a year or two.
That brings me to my main point: The Offense. I'm beyond excited about what this offense can bring to the table. I think it mainly relies on Tony Romo being healthy, but assuming he is healthy, I'm calling it right now, he will be an early 2014 MVP candidate.
I would like to draw parallels with the Cowboys Offense and the Patriots offense. I think the biggest thing separating these two offenses has been offensive line play (and more so than QB play). Tom Brady has had one of the best offensive lines in football for the majority of his career... Romo has not. If you give Brady, Romo's offensive line, you would see his career QB rating drop 10-15 points. I believe that is a testament to the quality of player Tony Romo is.
If you look at the history of the Patriots, you see that 2007 was a a special year for them. They went from being a good offense to being a great offense. What happened? Their QB and their offensive line good the offensive weapons necessary to help take them to a higher level. We've worked in the reverse, where we had the QB and the weapons, but never really had the line. After the patriots gave up on Randy Moss, Brady wouldn't be able to replicate his 2007 efficiency until 2010 (note that he missed a year due to injury). He would never get close to that 50 td mark again, but you saw marked improvement with the additions of Gronkowski and Hernandez. But what have we seen in the last couple years? His line has begun to age, and without weapons like Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker, he has been brought back down to earth. His 25 touchdowns he had last year are the lowest he's had since 2006 (when he had 24).
I believe Romo is looking at a 40+ Touchdown year if he can stay healthy. I think he has the best offensive line he has ever had, and one that has potential to be one of the best in the league. I think he has a running back who when given the rock and blocking can be a top 5 running back in this league. I think Dunbar can be explosive similar to Darren Sproles when given the chances and when healthy. I think our two tight end system can be almost as dynamic as the Patriots had with Gronkowski and Hernandez. I think that Cole Beasley is going to make a name for himself similar to how Wes Welker did, when he is given the opportunity. Already I think we have an offense that is just as good as the 2010 and 2011 Patriots. But what do we have that they didn't have? Well as I already mentioned we should have a running game, but more importantly we have Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams. It would have been difficult for any of the Patriots outside receivers to make this team from 2010-11. I'd give Street the nod over Branch just because of age and potential.
What I'm hoping allows us to put all this together is an offensive coordinator who actually has a track record of using their offensive weapons properly.
Linehan used Moss and Johnson properly. There is no reason why he shouldn't be able to use Dez.
Linehan used Jackson and Bush properly. There is no reason why he shouldn't be able to use Murray and Dunbar.
Linehan also has experience running 12 formations. We should expect big things from Gavin Escobar this year.
And though I can't necessarily put a claim to this, but I can't help but think that Linehan will use Beasley significantly this year, and people will suggest that he is the next Wes Welker by the end of the year (hopefully we re-sign him before that).
If you give Romo time, and the support of the running game, it's going to be impossible to stop guys like Beasley from getting open eventually. If healthy, I think this offense is going to roll teams like we've never seen consistently before. We've all seen glimpses though... the game against Denver last year, the game against Detroit, Buffalo, and St. Louis the year before that...
Everything comes down to this offensive line being what we think/hope it is.
I don't think we've every had such a fully flushed offense. It really does remind me of the Saints, Green Bay, and New England. So right now I'm envisioning the headlines now of Romo having an MVP season coming off of his second back surgery. The only thing that worries me is a defense that seems completely devoid of talent. And though I said to give up on it, maybe it'll show just enough to keep us in contention. I didn't mean that we should give up on the season, but we do have to do a major revamping of this defense next year.
I think this team is probably in the best shape it's been in since 2012, which I guess isn't saying all that much, but it is saying that as a Cowboy fan, this is the most excited I've been for Cowboys football in about two years. I'm glad the front office made moves to get younger on the defensive line, and I think it's probably best that they redo this entire defense from the core out. There really isn't much left anyways. Most of the week 1 starters wont' have been on the Cowboys for more than a year or two.
That brings me to my main point: The Offense. I'm beyond excited about what this offense can bring to the table. I think it mainly relies on Tony Romo being healthy, but assuming he is healthy, I'm calling it right now, he will be an early 2014 MVP candidate.
I would like to draw parallels with the Cowboys Offense and the Patriots offense. I think the biggest thing separating these two offenses has been offensive line play (and more so than QB play). Tom Brady has had one of the best offensive lines in football for the majority of his career... Romo has not. If you give Brady, Romo's offensive line, you would see his career QB rating drop 10-15 points. I believe that is a testament to the quality of player Tony Romo is.
If you look at the history of the Patriots, you see that 2007 was a a special year for them. They went from being a good offense to being a great offense. What happened? Their QB and their offensive line good the offensive weapons necessary to help take them to a higher level. We've worked in the reverse, where we had the QB and the weapons, but never really had the line. After the patriots gave up on Randy Moss, Brady wouldn't be able to replicate his 2007 efficiency until 2010 (note that he missed a year due to injury). He would never get close to that 50 td mark again, but you saw marked improvement with the additions of Gronkowski and Hernandez. But what have we seen in the last couple years? His line has begun to age, and without weapons like Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker, he has been brought back down to earth. His 25 touchdowns he had last year are the lowest he's had since 2006 (when he had 24).
I believe Romo is looking at a 40+ Touchdown year if he can stay healthy. I think he has the best offensive line he has ever had, and one that has potential to be one of the best in the league. I think he has a running back who when given the rock and blocking can be a top 5 running back in this league. I think Dunbar can be explosive similar to Darren Sproles when given the chances and when healthy. I think our two tight end system can be almost as dynamic as the Patriots had with Gronkowski and Hernandez. I think that Cole Beasley is going to make a name for himself similar to how Wes Welker did, when he is given the opportunity. Already I think we have an offense that is just as good as the 2010 and 2011 Patriots. But what do we have that they didn't have? Well as I already mentioned we should have a running game, but more importantly we have Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams. It would have been difficult for any of the Patriots outside receivers to make this team from 2010-11. I'd give Street the nod over Branch just because of age and potential.
What I'm hoping allows us to put all this together is an offensive coordinator who actually has a track record of using their offensive weapons properly.
Linehan used Moss and Johnson properly. There is no reason why he shouldn't be able to use Dez.
Linehan used Jackson and Bush properly. There is no reason why he shouldn't be able to use Murray and Dunbar.
Linehan also has experience running 12 formations. We should expect big things from Gavin Escobar this year.
And though I can't necessarily put a claim to this, but I can't help but think that Linehan will use Beasley significantly this year, and people will suggest that he is the next Wes Welker by the end of the year (hopefully we re-sign him before that).
If you give Romo time, and the support of the running game, it's going to be impossible to stop guys like Beasley from getting open eventually. If healthy, I think this offense is going to roll teams like we've never seen consistently before. We've all seen glimpses though... the game against Denver last year, the game against Detroit, Buffalo, and St. Louis the year before that...
Everything comes down to this offensive line being what we think/hope it is.
I don't think we've every had such a fully flushed offense. It really does remind me of the Saints, Green Bay, and New England. So right now I'm envisioning the headlines now of Romo having an MVP season coming off of his second back surgery. The only thing that worries me is a defense that seems completely devoid of talent. And though I said to give up on it, maybe it'll show just enough to keep us in contention. I didn't mean that we should give up on the season, but we do have to do a major revamping of this defense next year.
