Two big things going against us this year - injuries & turnovers

[VaqueroTD]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

 

[MarcusRock]

Not the refs? You guys are slippin'.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

We had lots of big injuries last year. Dak, Zeke, Smith, Lamb 2 games, Cooper 2 games, Gallup 6 games, Collins suspended 6 games, Lawrence missed 6 games, Gregory missed 7 games. Those are some heavy hitters missing time.

But the first place tougher schedule will make it harder and the Eagles are better.

 

[baltcowboy]

Fans seem to forget that the Cowboys lost Dak, Tyron, Collins and Zack for more then 8 games a piece in 2020. The Cowboys could actually force more turnovers then last season with the improvement of Parsons and a full season from Tank

 

[visionary]

The only thing “going against us” is ourselves

Bad GM
Average HC
Unknown OC
Average QB

that’s a really bad combination

 

[VaqueroTD]

Fans seem to forget that the Cowboys lost Dak, Tyron, Collins and Zack for more then 8 games a piece in 2020. The Cowboys could actually force more turnovers then last season with the improvement of Parsons and a full season from Tank

Should probably add Gallimore to that D-line list too. We had 3 starters out at once on that D-Line, so yep, definitely room for improvement if they all stay healthy this year. Nothing to do when you lose your starting QB for the year. But yeah, I think 2020 was more of what we can expect than 2021 for injuries. A lot of luck.

I like Aikman's quote about why it's so unpredictable now. With limited depth, every team is just 2-3 injuries away from a flipped season.

 

[jazzcat22]

We lost Washington for up to 10 weeks, probably 12 the way it goes. And we was not here last year. But the Cooper brigade will chime in here on that.
Knew all along Gallup would miss a month.

Waletzko, he may not even would have made the team.

There have been upgrades and a returning defense for year 2.

it is not doom and gloom though many will say it no matter what.

Turnovers his a lot of warts, but that still may be ok if the pass rush improves and it should. We lost DLaw and Gregory for quite a few games last season. Of all stay t is why it Improves even without Gregory.

all just a wait and see at this point.

 

[jazzcat22]

The only thing “going against us” is ourselves

Bad GM
Average HC
Unknown OC
Average QB

that’s a really bad combination

And all of those reasons were why they went 12-5 and won the division. Only to improve this season and go further in the playoffs.
Well the OC is questionable at times.

 

[Swagger]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

Good post and I agree. People like to blame officials, coaching or whatever but it's what makes the play off loss to the 49ers all the more frustrating. The team was effectively loaded - the offense had the ball on two separate drives in the latter part of the 4th quarter to effectively win the game but ultimately came up short. Highly unlikely the team will be as healthy this season.

 

[jazzcat22]

Good post and I agree. People like to blame officials, coaching or whatever but it's what makes the play off loss to the 49ers all the more frustrating. The team was effectively loaded - the offense had the ball on two separate drives in the latter part of the 4th quarter to effectively win the game but ultimately came up short. Highly unlikely the team will be as healthy this season.

They had a lot of injuries and missed timed last season. And probably cost a few wins and better seeding in the playoffs.

Not sure where this healthy team comes from.

DLaw, Gregory, Tryron, Gallimore, Dak (not really the same after his injury), !artin missed time, Collins, girt and suspension.
Cox, LVE trying to return to form, Joseph delaying his progress. CeeDee, Cooper.
Zeke, then Zeke and Pollard at the same time, Jarwin out for the year.
Zeurlien all. Year with an issue, we know he cost us at least 2 games. Others also.

All missed time and most at the same time.
It was amazing they were 12-5 actually.

 

[Flamma]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

It's more of the result of their new system. In 2012 they moved up for Claiborne, and picked up Carr in FA. Ever since then they've gone to a different offseason approach of solely building through the draft. That's why we see a lot of up and down seasons. It's hard to replace lost players, injured players, and improve the team solely through the draft. So yeah, it would not surprise me if we had a mediocre season again before they can build it back up.

 

[VaqueroTD]

They had a lot of injuries and missed timed last season. And probably cost a few wins and better seeding in the playoffs.

Not sure where this healthy team comes from.

DLaw, Gregory, Tryron, Gallimore, Dak (not really the same after his injury), !artin missed time, Collins, girt and suspension.
Cox, LVE trying to return to form, Joseph delaying his progress. CeeDee, Cooper.
Zeke, then Zeke and Pollard at the same time, Jarwin out for the year.
Zeurlien all. Year with an issue, we know he cost us at least 2 games. Others also.

All missed time and most at the same time.
It was amazing they were 12-5 actually.

We had a lot of nicks and pandemic that all seemed to happen at the same time, but nothing that was season ending or drastic to the team's Playoff fortune. Just had to sack up for a few games and get the momentum back end of season.... which never happened.

 

[morat1959]

The only thing “going against us” is ourselves

Bad GM
Average HC
Unknown OC
Average QB

that’s a really bad combination

Nailed it!

 

[jazzcat22]

Nailed it!

You mean missed and nailed the thumb.

 

[xwalker]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

I don't think the same rules of thumb apply to the style that Diggs played in 2021.

If Dan Quinn continues to allow him to play that style, he's going to continue to get INTs.
- Obviously not the extreme total of 2021, but much more consistently than many other DBs.
- His style was part of Quinn's scheme, not just a freelancing player.
- Allowing him to continue that style is very dependent on the Free Safety.
- Diggs knows where the FS 'should' be located and plays based on that.
- If the FS is not in position or as was the case with Kazee, just can't play the ball in the air or tackle, then Digg's style becomes a problem.

 

[Streifenkarl]

Last season was a fraud. We actually had a lot of injuries but most of the time they decided to let the still injured players play. Profiting from an easy schedule and the worst division plus Trevon and Micah having a stellar season they could still rack up wins and stats. But when some real opponents showed up they instantly uncovered the fraud and showed us who we really were: a pretender.

When a player is hurt you sit him, end of story. Dak, Zeke, Coop... they should have been on the sidelines for a lot more games. So maybe we would have made the playoffs with a 10-7 season or not at all, but the outcome would have been more honest and not any worse. But Jerry likes his pretender stats and irrelevant wins so that's that.

Last season was a joke and if the upcoming one is to be any different than they really have to change their attitude. Players, Coaches and the FO alike. Invest in true depth and generate some relief for the top guns by more variability and creativity on the offensive side. Acknowledge that you don't have a top 5 QB and make up for it with a better run game and more able short targets.

 

[Motorola]

Watching Washington go down with Diggs in coverage made me think about two things going against us this year that will make it hard to repeat our winning record.

We were extremely lucky last year on injuries. No big names with season ending injuries. The worst I can think of is that period when both Tank & Gregory were out. Tyron went out but it wasn't for the usual reasons. Yeah, we had that small period where the C-Word took out players, but so did everyone else. The ONLY injury you could say in our favor was Zeke didn't play the same after he was hurt. But some will say that he was losing it before the injury.

We were just as lucky on turnovers last year. Yes, talent causes turnovers but you listen to any veteran player, and they'll also tell you it comes in waves and sometimes has a lot of luck involved. We were #1 in the NFL in turnover differential. Does anyone believe we'll have 26 interceptions again, including another 10+ from Diggs? It can happen. And we were only middle of the pack on forced fumbles so that can improve. But doesn't seem like average teams (which is how we ended) repeat that type of stat twice.

I'm pumped and hope for the best but also realistic that the odds are against us with this.

'Vaquero TD' ---Injuries and turnovers are subject to every NFL Team - EVERY YEAR. The Dallas Cowboys are not separate from the rest of the league in the chances\circumstances of the incidents in both catergories decreasing, increasing, or continually being the same from 2021 to 2022.

FIRST ---DIfferentiate between injuries and turonvers.
The former can happen in a TC session - joint practices - pre- & regular season games.
Luck...it does not happen; if it does occur - inopportune misfortune.
Turnovers---whether created to obtain from, or lost to the opposition -- are often the result of being game ready in anticipating what can be exploited by both teams.
In the case of Diggs: a number of opponents might chose to not throw his way at all...but some other teams will go at him because he is a gambler - and think they can burn him.
A possible result - other Cowboys secondary players getting more opportunities to get INTs
In summary -- no need to project a down season. Diggs could further develop to be a truly great player along the lines of Parsons.
.

 

[KJJ]

Injuries are one of the excuses fans use every year with this team. Every team has injuries. The Cowboys were as healthy as they had been all season entering the playoffs and laid an egg.

 

[links18]

Not the refs? You guys are slippin'.

You mean no Goodell conspiracy against the Cowboys this year?

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Nailed it!

WHAMOOO......