The Dallas Cowboys have been a Soap Opera in the past which the big media have jumped on and played sound bites over and over. Enough already! T.O. is gone. So be it. But, all the pundits can do is say will the Cowboys be able to rebound post T.O.
Is my memory bad or were the Cowboys a 9-7 non-playoff team last year. Rebound from what… mediocrity. In my opinion there is no place to go but up. The Cowboys have 3 solid running backs which hasn’t happened since the 70’s (Calvin Hill, Dwayne Thomas, and Walt Garrison) they now have 2 veteran QBs under the age of 40. As Romo goes so goes the Cowboys but if he can just cut his turnover numbers by 5 this year it will be a banner year. That said DEFENSE wins Super Bowls. Does anyone remember the Pittsburgh Steelers? A better then average offense, good special teams and a killer defense = Super Bowl Ring #6. If the Cowboys Special ED Teams can improve under their new Special Teams Coach they win three more games this season then last.
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A Typical Cowboys Prediction
The Dallas Cowboys seem more like the primetime soap opera “ Dallas” than the football team. They consistently underperform, as evidenced by their lack of a playoff victory since the last century. They bicker and feud and fail to live up to expectations. Perhaps by ditching Terrell Owens(notes), the Cowboys can regain locker room harmony and concentrate on winning.
Quarterback Tony Romo(notes) must successfully guide this team down the stretch, which he hasn’t done yet, and coach Wade Phillips needs to assert leadership, which is no easy feat with owner/general manager Jerry Jones being the true power.
The Cowboys have enough pieces in place to win the NFC East, but whether they can live up to their potential is another matter. The only thing they lead the NFL in is distractions. They open a new stadium this season, but are they the same old Cowboys?
WHAT’S NEW
Offense: Coordinator Jason Garrett’s brilliant future was tarnished last year. Don’t blame him for the injury that stripped the Cowboys of flashy rookie running back Felix Jones(notes) or the slide when an aged Brad Johnson(notes) replaced an injured Romo.
But Garrett could not quell the dissension stemming from Owens’ claims that Romo ignored him and focused on tight end Jason Witten(notes). If peace rules, the Cowboys should have a potent two-back tandem in Jones and Marion Barber(notes) (with Tashard Choice(notes) sprinkled in, too) and enough receiving depth to offset the loss of Owens.
Romo must peak later in the season, as Dallas lost three of its last four games in 2008 and struggled to score. The 20-13 loss to the Steelers said it all, with Romo throwing a late interception that was returned for the winning touchdown – one of three by Romo (who also lost a fumble). He must get comfortable with Roy Williams as his main man. But Romo, who is sloppy with the ball, seems most at ease when he throws to Witten, the Pro Bowl tight end.
Williams will have to fill Owens’ shoes as a deep threat who can run past cornerbacks and make the difficult catch. He and Owens are not similar in style, however. Williams is 27, eight years younger than Owens. Williams never has caught more than eight touchdown passes in a season, even in Detroit’s pass-happy offense.
Defense: DeMarcus Ware powers the pass rush, which led the league with 59 sacks last year. The linebacker corps needs improvement and will be a work-in-progress as Keith Brooking( and Matt Stewart are integrated into the unit. Brooking has played for Phillips before, knows the 3-4 scheme and is better toward the open side of the field. The former Atlanta Falcon also brings leadership, knowledge of the game and character to the locker room.
The secondary had been hamstrung by strong safety Roy Williams’ inability in coverage, but he and cornerback Anthony Henry are gone.
A sound line gets one change, at right end. Free agent Chris Canty(notes) left and will be replaced by Igor Olshansky, formerly of San Diego. Olshansky is a strong run player and tough at the point of attack. He is not much of a pass rusher but won’t have to be with Ware playing behind him.
BURNING QUESTION
How will the Cowboys’ offense get along without Owens?
“We’ll have to wait and see how being without T.O. affects Tony Romo. With Owens in there, defenses were designed to stop him – to either roll zone or double coverage toward him. If he’s not there, they have to work harder. I don’t really buy into [letting Owens go] as an ‘addition by subtraction.’ ”
– CBS analyst Phil Simas
OPPONENTS’ VIEW (An anonymous opponent breaks down the Cowboys)
You’ve got a situation where there is a lot of talent on that football team that for whatever reason is underachieving. I hate to say anything about Wade, but he has fallen right in line with the way his teams play – just over .500 or right around it.
“They’re certainly dodging a circus atmosphere, and the removal of [Owens] is going to help that and may bring a little bit of stability to an offensive side that isn’t playing anywhere near what they’re capable of with the type of guys they have over there.”
“Defensively, you’re looking at a top-10 team but they need to play to their ability on that side and they’ve underachieved a little there, though the defense kind of carried them last year.
“They’re very poor on special teams as well, which to me sometimes is indicative of an undisciplined group. Generally, I see a situation where the emphasis from the staff is not being placed on field position and that sort of thing.”
BOTTOM LINE
The sum of the parts never seems to exceed the whole in Dallas. Team chemistry and leadership continue to be issues. Yet the talent level is strong. The Cowboys need Williams to step up and equal Owens’ output. They can be a terrific running team with Jones, Barber and Choice. They have an outstanding tight end in Witten.
Romo must play better late in the season. Defensively, the Cowboys have the people but haven’t made them fit the philosophy. But, time is running out for everybody. Romo and Phillips will be on the hot seat if the team underperforms and again fails to win a playoff game (or at least reach the playoffs).
Prediction: 10-6 (third in NFC East)
