CC, you want to know why to be optimistic, here is why.
I believe that we have plenty of "leaders" on this team Witten, Romo, Ware, ect. I don't think our problem last year was a lack of leaders or leadership, but a case of if you have to many "bad apples" (TO, Pacman, Tank) it makes it seem like a lack of leadership is the issue. Especially when most of the leaders on the team are not as much vocal leaders, and leaders that lead by example.
I do believe that Wade Phillips can be and is a good NFL coach, just that expectations were to high for the other teams that he has had. No, he has not won a playoff game yet, but he has now coached three different teams, and all three teams have made it to the playoffs. Two of the teams (Denver and Buffalo were NOT playoff teams when he inherited them). I do not believe the fact that he didn't win a playoff game with those teams is an indication that he can not win a playoff game but instead an indication that those teams were NOT good enough teams to win a playoff game.
As for the offense, I believe that we will have a more consistent offense this year than the last two years. While the offense may not be quite as potent, it will still be a very potent offense and be much more consistent. While Roy Williams will probably never post numbers like TO did in 2007, he has already proven in Detroit from 2004-2007, that he is more than capable of being a #1 WR in the NFL. I also believe that offenses are most dangerous when you don't have 1 or 2 guys getting all the catches, but instead several different guys all contributing. And while we do not have an ELITE WR on the roster this year, we have several guys who all bring alot of skills to the table and can all make plays catching the football (Roy, Witten, Crayton, Miles Austin, Bennett, Felix Jones), add to that what I believe will be one of the most dangerous running O's in football.
As for the defense, everywhere Wade Phillips has been in charge of the D, the D has been very good. And with all the talent we have on the defensive side of the football, and with him being in charge of the D from the start this year, not just taking over from Brian Stewart, I expect our defense to be even better than it was towards the end of last year.