Dallas Cowboys: An End to Misery

Optimism is riding high for me as it should for all Dallas Cowboy fans. We have sat and waited for the past 13 years for the 'Boys to make some noise in the playoffs and I'm feeling that this could be the year for them to do so. Yes I do realize that they are in a very difficult division with the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. Washington has gotten better on the defensive line with the signing of Albert Haynesworth but their offense isn't something to worry about until Jason Campbell can show he has made progress as a QB. Obviously as I wrote in my earlier post the Eagles signed Mike Vick which depending how things go will be a huge upgrade and their defense is always one of their strong suits. Well the other two have added players the Giants lost their top to receivers and will now have to rely on young inexperienced ones to contend with.

People can point out the fact that the Cowboys also lost their top receiving threat in Terrell Owens but I truly believe that with a full off-season under their belts Roy Williams and Tony Romo will finally be on the same page and should have a dynamic season together. Add in Romo's safety valve in All Pro Tight End Jason Witten and you have a duo that should compile at least 2,000 receiving yards together. Adding to a already potent offense Running Back Felix Jones is healthy again and adding him to the group with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice (who played exceptionally well in limited action last year) makes them perhaps the deepest and most talented RB group in the NFL. Now if one of the other wide outs can step up and play at a consistent level this could be one of the best offensive units.

In addition to that offensive the 'Boys had the 8th best defense last year in terms of yards per game. They do have a few new starters on all three levels of the defense with Igor Olshansky, Keith Brooking, Anthony Spencer, Mike Jenkins and Gerald Sensabaugh taking the places of Chris Canty, Zach Thomas, Greg Ellis, Anthony Henry and Roy L. Williams respectively. Even with so many new faces the Cowboys should improve on a defense that led the league with 59 sacks last year. With the addition of Sensabaugh they finally have two safeties that can cover receivers down the field which should result in their ability to blitz more that'll help generate more sacks and turnovers. With Terrance Newman anchoring one side and the maturity and added experience from both second year cornerbacks (Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick) the Cowboys should improve in coverage and get more than the 8 interceptions they had last year (which only Detroit and Denver has less).

Of course this defensive unit is led by arguably the best linebacker in the league DeMarcus Ware who attributed 20 of the teams 59 sacks not only is he a great pass rusher but he is great at stopping the run and is athletic enough to cover backs out of the back field. The only reason he didn’t win Defensive Player of the Year is because the team didn’t make it into the playoffs. (insane interception at the end of the video)

After a very disappointing season last year especially with the way that it ended a 44-6 thrashing to the Eagles which knocked them out of the playoff picture. The Cowboys have a lot to prove they must show everyone that they can win games with Owens and also that they can win games that matter at the end of the year (they haven’t had a winning record since 1996 which is coincidently the last time they won a playoff game). At the start of every new season I feel encouraged and hopeful that we’ll be able to relive the glory days of the ‘90s when the Cowboys were on top sadly each year we have all been disappointed but hopefully with a new stadium and a new focus the ‘Boys can show us why they are nicknamed America’s Team.



Bookmark & Share