TruBlueCowboy
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#1 Drew Bledsoe - Romo doesn't have the physical skillz and Henson doesn't have the veteran skillz. The Cowboys would get killed with Romo and Henson in since the running game with Julius hasn't been as impressive as it was at the end of last season. Our defense looks to be so dominating this year, the team would be in a game until the very end, but it would keep them from doing anything in the Playoffs.
#2 Flozell Adams
- We know Gurode can probably manage if Al Johnson is injured. Larry and Marco are overrated, their best days are behind them, and it's easier to get by with injured guards. Rob Petitti still looks like a 6th round rookie at times. Flozell, IMO, is the anchor of the Dallas offensive line. The Cowboys only worry about their right tackle getting beat, not the left one. If you look at the stats last year, Julius Jones had his highest running average not up the middle or behind the guards, not off right tackle, it was off left tackle. Dallas has zero depth on the offensive line except maybe at center. The only positive thing about Flozell's injury compared to some of the others on this list is that Dallas might have one backup player, Torrin Tucker, who is known as a guy with talent, he just can't get his act together. I think an injury at this position is made even worse because we have a QB who NEEDS protection. Bledoe, more than most QBs, is at his worst when the protection breaks down. He can't scramble, he's terrible at improvising on the run. He's no Roger the Dodger, or even Troy Aikman. Remember how bad Aikman looked in his last years when he was pressured? That's going to be Bledsoe if Tucker doesn't step up fast. Here's hoping this injury isn't as bad as I think it might be. :bang2:
#3 Roy Williams - Yeah, I know he's just a safety, but he might be the Cowboys' best cover guy out of all the linebackers and safeties. (Just because he blows some long ones to receivers doesn't mean he isn't great for guys that go over the middle.) He intimidates the hell out of receivers, he adds incredible pressure on the QB when he plays near the line, he makes up for the average player in Keith Davis or Pile on the other side, he might be a better tackler than our linebackers and a more effective run stopper, and worst of all... the backup safeties are scrubs at best. HUGE drop-off if he goes on the IR.
#4 DeMarcus Ware - We don't have a single 3-4 DE/LB who would frighten offensive coordinators or QBs like Ware. They already respect him in this league and double him. Glover, Ellis, and others would hurt but Dallas has a lot of depth on the defensive line, and Ware is that Charles Haley they've been in dire need of since his retirement. He's one of the biggest reasons why the Dallas sack totals are sky high this year, and more than any other stats, more sacks means more wins.
#5 Terence Newman - Notice how many tackles Henry gets? Newman's direction is either so covered or purposely avoided, that the balls don't seem to go his way anymore. I think the Cowboys could recover from his injury better than the other 5 on this list only because Aaron Glenn is underrated and a pretty darn good corner, but it would hurt at times, especially with the nickel packages and it would probably prevent the defense from being as dominating as it has in past games.
Honorable Mention - Jason Witten (At least Dallas has Dan Campbell and some good receivers to replace Witten.), Terry Glenn (Would hurt, as proven last year, but Dallas still has Key, Witten, Price and Crayton. Glenn will hurt much more if he goes down while Crayton is recovering.) Julius Jones (Would hurt as proven last week, but until he starts having more 100 yard games, I think Dallas could get by **barely** with "RB by committee" if Parcells would play Thompson more than he did last week.) I would have put Dat as an honorable mention but the D has looked pretty nice without him the last 2 games.
Who would be on your top 5?
#2 Flozell Adams
- We know Gurode can probably manage if Al Johnson is injured. Larry and Marco are overrated, their best days are behind them, and it's easier to get by with injured guards. Rob Petitti still looks like a 6th round rookie at times. Flozell, IMO, is the anchor of the Dallas offensive line. The Cowboys only worry about their right tackle getting beat, not the left one. If you look at the stats last year, Julius Jones had his highest running average not up the middle or behind the guards, not off right tackle, it was off left tackle. Dallas has zero depth on the offensive line except maybe at center. The only positive thing about Flozell's injury compared to some of the others on this list is that Dallas might have one backup player, Torrin Tucker, who is known as a guy with talent, he just can't get his act together. I think an injury at this position is made even worse because we have a QB who NEEDS protection. Bledoe, more than most QBs, is at his worst when the protection breaks down. He can't scramble, he's terrible at improvising on the run. He's no Roger the Dodger, or even Troy Aikman. Remember how bad Aikman looked in his last years when he was pressured? That's going to be Bledsoe if Tucker doesn't step up fast. Here's hoping this injury isn't as bad as I think it might be. :bang2: #3 Roy Williams - Yeah, I know he's just a safety, but he might be the Cowboys' best cover guy out of all the linebackers and safeties. (Just because he blows some long ones to receivers doesn't mean he isn't great for guys that go over the middle.) He intimidates the hell out of receivers, he adds incredible pressure on the QB when he plays near the line, he makes up for the average player in Keith Davis or Pile on the other side, he might be a better tackler than our linebackers and a more effective run stopper, and worst of all... the backup safeties are scrubs at best. HUGE drop-off if he goes on the IR.
#4 DeMarcus Ware - We don't have a single 3-4 DE/LB who would frighten offensive coordinators or QBs like Ware. They already respect him in this league and double him. Glover, Ellis, and others would hurt but Dallas has a lot of depth on the defensive line, and Ware is that Charles Haley they've been in dire need of since his retirement. He's one of the biggest reasons why the Dallas sack totals are sky high this year, and more than any other stats, more sacks means more wins.
#5 Terence Newman - Notice how many tackles Henry gets? Newman's direction is either so covered or purposely avoided, that the balls don't seem to go his way anymore. I think the Cowboys could recover from his injury better than the other 5 on this list only because Aaron Glenn is underrated and a pretty darn good corner, but it would hurt at times, especially with the nickel packages and it would probably prevent the defense from being as dominating as it has in past games.
Honorable Mention - Jason Witten (At least Dallas has Dan Campbell and some good receivers to replace Witten.), Terry Glenn (Would hurt, as proven last year, but Dallas still has Key, Witten, Price and Crayton. Glenn will hurt much more if he goes down while Crayton is recovering.) Julius Jones (Would hurt as proven last week, but until he starts having more 100 yard games, I think Dallas could get by **barely** with "RB by committee" if Parcells would play Thompson more than he did last week.) I would have put Dat as an honorable mention but the D has looked pretty nice without him the last 2 games.
Who would be on your top 5?