Your thoughts on the team now compared to 6 months ago

[jazzcat22]

How do you feel about the team and roster now, compared to various times over the past year.
A year ago or so, we had doom and gloom widespread, for mediots to fans. Injury to Lee, Romo back surgery, Ro signing and low expectations of him and the defense. Murray staying healthy, and a pass happy offense was being talked about. We did not know the OL would beast out like they did either.

How did you feel going into the season and how did that change by the end of the year, being cheated out what could have been a possible SB appearance. And needing to retain or replace many FA's and how we could do.

Then how did you feel going into the draft, needing to replace Murray, and after when he didn't. But added some great potential on Defense.

Then throughout TC, wondering how the RB situation was going to turn out.
Then now, getting Michaels added to the RB group. How has your opinion changed going into game one.
Has your opinion of our running game changed a lot that it will be fine now, or do you feel the same, or having a wait and see approach. We all should feel much better about the defense for sure. And Romo being healthy, and the OL playing well again.

Right now, to me is how will the RBs perform, and how will the ST's do.

So what I guess I am asking, how has your opinions changed over the last year, and over the last few days.

 

[mitchell2254]

RB is the only position that even remotely worries me honestly.

I know I sure as hell feel a lot better than I did a year ago at this time!!

 

[visionary]

MUCH improved

With the Michael trade in ok with Rb

My worries are

1. Back up qb
2. PR/KR

That should tell us we're in pretty good shape

 

[Alexander]

Better about the defense. Worlds better.

Very worried about the running game being even close to the identity is was last year.

And wondering if the defense improved enough to offset.

 

[conner01]

My only worries are backup QB
But that's the case on most teams
I'm much more concerned about backup OT than about any position you can really do anything about
Hope Weems is not needed because I'm not sure he is ready. He may be in a year but just not sure this year

 

[Plankton]

I think that they are still worse at RB than last year, but adding Michael gives them a needed thumper. McFadden supplies pass protection and a receiver out of the backfield. The thing to watch is whether the offense becomes more predictable based on which RB is in the game, but the Cowboys had offensive sets where both Dwayne Harris and Devin Street were in the game, pointing to a run, and it didn't hurt them.

WR looks very strong, but there is a fall off after the top three (same as most teams). TE also looks good, and I think Escobar steps it up this year.

OL is strong with the starters, and Bernadeau and Collins provide good depth at the interior line positions. Weems is untested and a little scary as the swing tackle. His lack of upper body strength is a bit disconcerting, and his lack of actual game reps will be a hindrance if he has to play.

DL is much much stronger, with multiple guys who can get after the QB. Lawrence looks poised to have a very good season, and Gregory has shown a keen sense of leverage to go with an explosive first step. DT has numbers, and Coleman showed strength and quickness this preseason. Tyrone Crawford and Jack Crawford have the potential to flash some good pass rushes in a rotation. When Hardy comes back, the group will be tough to handle on passing downs, but there is a question about run stopping.

LB is interesting. They have guys who can play in Lee, Hitchens and Gachkar, a good looking rookie in Damien Wilson, a special teams headhunter in Keith Smith, but without Rolando McClain in the lineup, run stopping will be a real question. Lack of size in the group will make them susceptible to get gashed.

CB has some good mix and match options, but the pass rush will dictate how they play. Safety is just average.

Kicking game is solid to very good, but the coverage teams need work. I expect it to get better as the season goes along, but I can see it being real spotty early on, as these guys have not worked together as a group very often. Dwayne Harris will be missed here.

That being said, the season rides on Tony Romo's health - if he's healthy, expect big things. He's confident, comfortable in his leadership role, and has emerged as a clutch, reliable performer. If he goes down, season over.

I forecast an 11-5 record, and a division title for back to back years. Prior to training camp, I figured 10-6, or 11-5.

 

[big dog cowboy]

So what I guess I am asking, how has your opinions changed over the last year, and over the last few days.

A year ago most thought it would take a miracle for us to finish at 8-8. Now we expect a very deep run into the playoffs. You could probably make a good guess how the general attitude has changed for Cowboy Nation.

 

[Manster68]

I have not been this excited for a season since 1992.

 

[conner01]

A year ago most thought it would take a miracle for us to finish at 8-8. Now we expect a very deep run into the playoffs. You could probably make a good guess how the general attitude has changed for Cowboy Nation.

I felt like 9 wins last year would have been a good year
This year I'm with you
This team has the players to make a good playoff run

 

[TrailBlazer]

I feel the defense can be adequate. The pass rush should be much improved. I feel it's coming to come down to a bounce of the ball late in Jaunary.

 

[Alexander]

I feel the defense can be adequate. The pass rush should be much improved. I feel it's coming to come down to a bounce of the ball late in Jaunary.

Kind of did that last year.

 

[lwehlers]

I am worried about the secondary more now with scandrick out. we are depending on a busted first round pick in Claiborne and carr who is just average. then patmon is unproven and we are depending on him to take the slot corner job. then jones who has been up and down all preseason. then having to depend on Wilcox who was burned multiple times in the playoffs. I am also concerned about the backup tackles especially if free is not able to play a full season again. I think that the running back rotation will take care of itself we have four players I think we will find two guys who can carry the load.

 

[JBS]

Defense is so much better than last year...these RBs would have to be incompetent for it not to offset...

I think we are much more balanced this season

 

[Common Sense]

This is a solid team. Biggest question marks are on special teams, at running back, and at a couple of depth spots (swing OT). Regression to the mean says that they're probably a 10-win team during the regular season who could get hot come playoff time once some of the young players start to come on.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Kind of did that last year.

It's the nature of the NFL. The gap between Dallas Green Bay and Seattle is very small and the path to the SB is as difficult as its ever been.

 

[JBS]

Seems like a lot of people around here forgot that towards the tail end of the season Murray slowed down and Romo took the reigns...

And guess what...the team didn't collapse

 

[Eskimo]

Compared to the same point last year:

QB: much happier with a healthy Romo

RB: Murray was a significant loss; I think Randle and Michael are underrated, DMC should be a good 3rd down guy, still not as good as last year

OL: Much better than last year with TFred and Zach proven commodities. I worry about swing tackle but also think they re-jig the line if Free goes down again with Zach at RT and someone else stepping in at RG.

WR: Much happier now that Cole and TWill are more proven overall

TE: Pretty much the same

DL: World's better than last year even without Hardy on opening day

LB: A bit better than last year if Lee stays healthy. Much better if RMC comes back with his head screwed on straight.

DB: About the same as last year due to better depth but losing OScan hurt a lot. I don't think Mo can fill that gap but White has looked really good so far in camp and preseason. Patmon also has been a find.

STs: Hard to judge but Harris was a loss on coverage units

Overall the components of the team look quite a bit better especially in the trenches and at QB which is where games are won and lost by and large. This team will pass more and despite the board's concern I think that will probably be a good thing.

 

[JBS]

The last 5 games of last year...Murray had one Game where he ran over 100 yards and one other game w exactly 100 yards...the other 3 games were 81 73 and 58... We won 4/5...this offense isn't going to collapse if we don't have an 1800 yard back...get a grip guys

 

[Alexander]

Seems like a lot of people around here forgot that towards the tail end of the season Murray slowed down and Romo took the reigns...

And guess what...the team didn't collapse

There is a big difference between what happened in the last quarter of the season last year versus what could happen if the running game falters this season to begin with.

We established dominance in the running game. And it made defenses react. And that carried through. You cannot ignore the tape even if Murray was "slowing down". We still ran the ball and still had teams respect what had been displayed before.

That is why Romo was able to be so efficient in the first place and how he was able to step up comfortably when needed.

I just do not understand how fans still think that Romo is better throwing 35+ times each and every week.

 

[JBS]

There is a big difference between what happened in the last quarter of the season last year versus what could happen if the running game falters this season to begin with.

We established dominance in the running game. And it made defenses react. And that carried through. You cannot ignore the tape even if Murray was "slowing down". We still ran the ball and still had teams respect what had been displayed before.

That is why Romo was able to be so efficient in the first place and how he was able to step up comfortably when needed.

I just do not understand how fans still think that Romo is better throwing 35+ times each and every week.

I never suggested that...I'm suggesting this offense will be fine with an average run game..we don't need an elite run game this year...rest of team is way better