Your expectations

[StanleySpadowski]

Injuries to veterans isn't always the worst thing in the world.

Yes, Dallas is a much better team with a healthy Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn but how you view their injuries really depends upon your expectations for this season. If you thought that the Super Bowl was a given, this really dampens the prospects.

But if you thought that a playoff win while setting the table for 2008 was reasonable, this shouldn't really affect that too much. Yes, it pushes Spencer along faster than the coaching staff wanted but OLB isn't like QB where baptism by fire can scar a player for life. It also gives Dallas a better opportunity to evaluate Crayton's future a little better. Is he a #2 or just an above average #3? Dallas'll know soon enough. It'll also give some time to see if Hurd and Austin can step up from guys struggling for a roster spot to legitimate contributors.

If Dallas was going to lose two projected starters to injury, I hate to say it but Ellis and Glenn were the two "best" possible. Neither really factors into the future of the franchise and both have reserves behind them that may be. Imagine for a moment that this was Romo or Gurode (knock on wood). That's the type of injury that would hurt the Cowboys this season and in future years because there's a significant drop off in talent to their backup and their backups can't be considered "developmental prospects".

This team is sitting in almost the exactly same place as before we knew about the severity of the injuries. One of the better teams in the NFC who need to get hot at the right time to make a run in January.

 

[zeromaster]

Rave on, Stanley, pretty sound stuff.

That being said, I expect at least 20 more new threads on the topic of WR and DB, hindsight and second-guessing, with substantial non-contributions from the Big E(duncan), and a host of his syncophants.

Now where's that bug spray?

 

[dallasfaniac]

I will probably start some of my own, not because I think we need to bring anyone in, but because it just seems like the right thing to do until Sunday afternoon.

 

[cobra]

Very good post. I agree completely.

One of the reasons I am so optimistic about this team is the depth that we have. I feel we have a nice mix of veterans and young guys that will allow us to excel.

Championship-contending teams have to be able to have depth to overcome injuries. I feel good about the team because I believe we have that. All teams have to overcome injuries; it just so happens that we are having to do it Week 1 and not (hopefully) Week 12.

Crayton and Spencer are nice young players that are a big part of our future. Having to use them should not be depressing or a "disaster." That's why we have these guys: to use them.

While it is sub-optimal to have these injuries, we should not be depressed or in crisis mode. And we certainly shouldn't write off this season. If a couple of injuries kills our season, then we were never a championship-contender to begin with.

 

[zeroburrito]

it was 10-6 before the injuries. now i would say 8-8 maybe 9-7. next year should be good though.

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

I was thinking an appearance in the NFC Championship before Glenn and Newman went down. Now, I'm afraid to say, that I'm scared of what may happen this season. I still think that we make the playoffs but my expectations for this season have gone down tremendously.

 

[SacredStar]

I never look any farther ahead than this weeks game. I'll ponder the next weeks game after this Sunday's game.

That said, with or without Terry Glenn, Greg Ellis, and Terence Newman.....my expectations are that Dallas still has the personal to beat the Giants.

Never lose faith. Ever!!

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Guess I don't have expectations, just wait and see what happens. Really, optimism can be used at almost every position, except QB of course, if we lost Romo that would be a disaster. But if we lost JJ, there would be Tyson is the man threads poping up everywhere along with the sky falling threads.

There are two sides to every story, and both extremes will be represented well by haters and homers alike. More pesimistic guys will point at problems and injuries, meanwhile optimistics will say everything is fine, we have depth.

I have a tendency to believe the truth is somewhere in the middle, and that is where I will be.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Last I checked, Newman was expected to play this Sunday

 

[dbair1967]

it was 10-6 before the injuries. now i would say 8-8 maybe 9-7. next year should be good though.

we'll see, but I still see 10-12 wins

especially if the OL improves and the rest of the key guys stay healthy

David

 

[Sarge]

Injuries to veterans isn't always the worst thing in the world.

Yes, Dallas is a much better team with a healthy Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn but how you view their injuries really depends upon your expectations for this season. If you thought that the Super Bowl was a given, this really dampens the prospects.

But if you thought that a playoff win while setting the table for 2008 was reasonable, this shouldn't really affect that too much. Yes, it pushes Spencer along faster than the coaching staff wanted but OLB isn't like QB where baptism by fire can scar a player for life. It also gives Dallas a better opportunity to evaluate Crayton's future a little better. Is he a #2 or just an above average #3? Dallas'll know soon enough. It'll also give some time to see if Hurd and Austin can step up from guys struggling for a roster spot to legitimate contributors.

If Dallas was going to lose two projected starters to injury, I hate to say it but Ellis and Glenn were the two "best" possible. Neither really factors into the future of the franchise and both have reserves behind them that may be. Imagine for a moment that this was Romo or Gurode (knock on wood). That's the type of injury that would hurt the Cowboys this season and in future years because there's a significant drop off in talent to their backup and their backups can't be considered "developmental prospects".

This team is sitting in almost the exactly same place as before we knew about the severity of the injuries. One of the better teams in the NFC who need to get hot at the right time to make a run in January.

Good post. It forces us to look at the WR position sooner than later and we'll see what we have currently have on the roster and see if it is good enough.

I personally don't think we're Superbowl bound this year so your point is well taken.

We still have areas of need but this team is getting there. I didn't see Terry Glenn part of the "future" at any rate because I am one who thinks the future (meaning Superbowl) is just a little farther off than most.

We're getting there though.

 

[Gaede]

Good post, makes me feel a little better.

I'm just concerned about the speed of the offense. I don't see any.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Good post, makes me feel a little better.

I'm just concerned about the speed of the offense. I don't see any.

But, but, but...Kyle Kosier runs the fastest 40 of any starting lineman in the league!!!

 

[dbair1967]

Good post, makes me feel a little better.

I'm just concerned about the speed of the offense. I don't see any.

TO has speed...Witten is fast for his position...Crayton always seems to make big plays...Julius has speed

David

 

[Hostile]

Injuries to veterans isn't always the worst thing in the world.

Yes, Dallas is a much better team with a healthy Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn but how you view their injuries really depends upon your expectations for this season. If you thought that the Super Bowl was a given, this really dampens the prospects.

But if you thought that a playoff win while setting the table for 2008 was reasonable, this shouldn't really affect that too much. Yes, it pushes Spencer along faster than the coaching staff wanted but OLB isn't like QB where baptism by fire can scar a player for life. It also gives Dallas a better opportunity to evaluate Crayton's future a little better. Is he a #2 or just an above average #3? Dallas'll know soon enough. It'll also give some time to see if Hurd and Austin can step up from guys struggling for a roster spot to legitimate contributors.

If Dallas was going to lose two projected starters to injury, I hate to say it but Ellis and Glenn were the two "best" possible. Neither really factors into the future of the franchise and both have reserves behind them that may be. Imagine for a moment that this was Romo or Gurode (knock on wood). That's the type of injury that would hurt the Cowboys this season and in future years because there's a significant drop off in talent to their backup and their backups can't be considered "developmental prospects".

This team is sitting in almost the exactly same place as before we knew about the severity of the injuries. One of the better teams in the NFC who need to get hot at the right time to make a run in January.

On top of this, we just inherited a very motivated starting WR. Let's not forget that Patrick Crayton is due to be a UDFA at the end of this year and he now gets a real chance to audition for the entire NFL.

 

[The30YardSlant]

TO has speed...Witten is fast for his position...Crayton always seems to make big plays...Julius has speed

David

Jason Witten is many things, but fast is not one of them. He is about as graceful in the open field as Stephen Hawking

 

[Deep_Freeze]

But, but, but...Kyle Kosier runs the fastest 40 of any starting lineman in the league!!!

But can he catch?!?

Kosier vs. Carp in practice, should be a great battle to see, our new starting WR and CB...

 

[The30YardSlant]

But can he catch?!?

Kosier vs. Carp in practice, should be a great battle to see, our new starting WR and CB...

No, but he does have the uncanny ability to get bulldozed by guys he outweighs by 50 pounds

 

[dbair1967]

Jason Witten is many things, but fast is not one of them. He is about as graceful in the open field as Stephen Hawking

so he is slow? is that why he constantly beats LB's and safeties?

having speed for the position and being "graceful" are not the same thing..Witten has speed for the position

David

 

[The30YardSlant]

so he is slow

Yes