Romo will have more experience, the coaches won't be waiting until the end of the year to get Roy Williams out on passing downs, we will get a better cornerback than Reeves with either Pacman and/or the draft, we won't have Julius Jones to run into the line and fall down and we might have a better middle linebacker with cover skills.  The team defense will have a years experience running Wade's defense and our offensive coordinator will feel more confident to put in some trick plays like the flea flicker and halfback pass.  These are just a few of the reasons we should be better next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barber's early Christmas present

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XhUhLtAC_Ok

KsKBoys:

Unless we get a dominant NT, a #1-2 WR, and a homerun-threat RB to split carries w/ MBIII.  A decent CB opposite Newmann would be fine if our pass rush was still there when the OLB's are blocked out.(See the Pats game, 2nd half)   Don't be surprised if we take Red Bryant w/ our 2nd pick in the 1st round.  If Stewart is as good as advertised and falls to #22, I don't see how we can resist.  Picture a bigger MBIII w/ speed.

A DT in the first round? Isn't he projected in like the 3rd? I wouldn't be surprised. I'd be stunned and disappointed.

Every time I take a swing at the 34 D the supporters come out to defend the honor.

Eagle Hater....you really made my point for me in your argument. The secondary is in transition and Wade hasn't found the right buttons to push yet. That is enough transition for me. We still are not playing a traditional 34. As long as we have DTs rotating at NT and DEs playing OLB this is a 52. Dialing up exotic blitzes or disgusing who is coming and who is covering isn't going to work with the current cast of 11 starters. The Whole D is in transition.

I don't want this to turn into a debate over the 34 again..I just wanted to point out that our passing game depends on a primary receiving threat like TO. When he was injured or taken out of the game by 1 defender our passing game struggled. I don't think JG could possibly do a better job this year than he did last year without some new weapons.

Well it's kinda hard to top last year's passing performance since we outscored most everrybody anyway and set single season passing and scoring records. But yes, you do try to top it this season. Our offense is good enough right now to make a run and a little more help from the defence would help. But the trick is to get on high roll in December and go into the playoffs strong. But if we start running out of gas in December and lose a couple games, then it may be the same ole story as last season. We will make a few adjustments and add some new players just like everyteam will. If we are gonna lose 3 or 4 games next season, I hope it is in the 1st half of the season. I'd rather fight and come from behind like the Giants did and start to peak in December and get on a roll for the playoffs. 13-3 is pretty good but with HFA wrapped up and we start resting players in December and saying things like Oh we need to rest these guys and it don't matter if we lose this game so we will be healthy for the playoffs is the biggest bunch of crap. You got to want it bad in December to want it bad in the playoffs. We know we got the talent but not quite all the pieces of the puzzle yet. It's coming.

KsKBoys:

Eagle Hater:

KsKBoys:

Don't be surprised if we take Red Bryant w/ our 2nd pick in the 1st round.

 

Are you joking? Don't be surprised if we draft a guy at 28 overall who is universally projected as a 3rd-4th round pick? You don't reach massive amounts for positions of semi-need!

 

Also, I don't understand all the hype over Bryant being some great NT. He is 6-4, 318. Not bad, but that gives him like 13 pounds on Ratliff and like 8 on Tank Johnson. And he only benches 225 20 times. That really isn't very much. Bryant is a good player, but his strength is not optimal for a 3-4 nose, and his size is not a huge improvement over what we already have. 

 

Now, not to say he is bad or anything. He is pretty good. But reach like a round and a half for the guy? Hell no! 

Don't know much about him except what I read.  One publication has him listed as a 2nd round pick, the other doesn't even have him in the top 10.  The first one called him a bigger, stronger, faster Casey Hampton, which got me excited.  They also have him listed as 6-5, 326.  Is that not correct?  It says he has run the 40 as fast as 4.95 which is phenomenal for his size.  Smart, can neutralize double-teams, works hard, and has the speed, agility, and strengthto dominate.  Has further growth potential.

All of this makes him sound like a stud.  Is this incorrect?  I have never seen him play and I am not a TX A&M fan.  In the assessment I read, his strength was not a question.

Alright, I've seen him play a few times, and have read up about him. I'll tell ya what I know.

First, those measurements you gave are his college numbers, which are typically inflated. At the Combine, he weighed came in at a smaller 6-4, 318. Not bad, but not Casey Hampton size (he is like 3 inches taller, but like 15 pounds lighter.) Stronger than Casey? HELL no. He plays stronger than his very average 20 bench reps, but is not close to Hampton's strength. He is more than strong enough for a run stuffing 4-3 nose tackle, but in a 3-4, he isn't going to push anyone around more than Tank or Ratliff will, though his slightly bigger size might help a BIT. Also, yeah the 4.95 is about right. Not too shabby, though it isn't phenomenal. Good enough speed.

Also, I wouldn't say he has much grow potential. He could probably pack on a bit more weight, maybe in the 5-10 pound range, though I think his size RIGHT NOW (318) is where he'll be most effective in the NFL. A big positive is his smarts and leadership. He is apparently a tough, hard working guys who players look up to. That is good. But just from what I hear, the things you are saying about him aren't wrong at all, but are directed in a 4-3 sense. He can play in a 3-4 I am sure, but his potential to dominate comes with another tackle right next to him where double teams are occasional, not constant. I honestly believe that in a 4-3, he could well turn into a slightly less dominant version of the stellar Kevin Williams. But in a 3-4, I don't think he'll ever be more than a solid starter who gets rotated a bit (like the Ratliff version of our Ratliff/ Tank system last year)

Damien:

Eagle Hater....you really made my point for me in your argument. The secondary is in transition and Wade hasn't found the right buttons to push yet. That is enough transition for me. We still are not playing a traditional 34. As long as we have DTs rotating at NT and DEs playing OLB this is a 52. Dialing up exotic blitzes or disgusing who is coming and who is covering isn't going to work with the current cast of 11 starters. The Whole D is in transition.

That makes no sense at all. How is DEs playing OLB not making this a 3-4 D? Virtually ALL 3-4 linebackers are college, or even NFL, defensive ends. Since so few teams play the 3-4, especially in the college ranks, virtually the only way to get these guys at OLB are to draft undersized defensive ends. That is just how it works. Shawne Merriman in SD was a college DE. Does that mean they aren't playing a 3-4? Lawrence Taylor was, I believe, a college DE. Did the Giants not play a 3-4? Calvin Pace was a DE in college. Do the Jets not play a true 3-4?

Come on man, be realistic here. With so few teams playing the 3-4, especially college, there are like 3 true 3-4 players from college who are draft worthy at all every year. All teams have nose tackles who played in 4-3 defenses at some point. All teams have OLBs who were defensive ends at some point. It is just how it goes. If your system requires something there isn't nearly enough of, you take versatile guys from another system and mold them to fit yours. It doesn't make your system any less natural- that is just how it has always happened! 

Damien:

O.K. Cowboy fans the draft is almost here and the consensus is that if we fill a couple of positions of need we will be a better team. Hold on a minute. Yes we need a CB because our secondary was awful, especially in allowing 3rd down conversions. We need a RB because MB3 needs a blow for a series or 2. In short we have a few needs that could make us better but don't for minute think we are building off of last year. This is a new year and what we did last year doesn't mean anything.

We were a scoring machine until December last year. We all thought no one could stop our O. 28 pts a game. Then 6 against Philly. 20 against Carolina. 3 against the Skins. 17 against the Giants. Doing the math thats 11 pts. a game. What happened? We had nothing to play for, TO was hurt or did defenses figure us out? This O was a pass first O and it all works because of TO. Despite MB3s effort against the Giants we are not a running team. We need to score. If TO is out for any length of time we won't score.

If the Cowboys don't bring in another experienced WR this O will struggle. If TO is out could we trust Glenn or Crayton or a rookie to give us the threat that TO brings? NO.

Yes CB is a need because the Cowboys 34 D is still in transition and I don't believe it can win games for us yet.

If we don't add another scoring threat we will struggle to win 10 games this year.

1.  Calm down.  As far as the pathetic 3 points in the Philly game, it could have easily been 28 points.  Romo flat out missed plays because of his hurt thumb.  It would have been the November blowout all over again.  Carolina, TO got hurt, end of story.  Redskins, complete disaster.  THe offense was fine during the Giants game, but scored FG isntead of TDs and didnt come through in the end.  

THe 3-4 doesnt have to win us games.  And It gave the offense two changes inside the 50 yhardline to score at the end of the game vs the Giants, but it didnt.

The only way Dallas struggles to win 10 games is if Romo goes down. Period. 

Eagle Hater:

KsKBoys:

Eagle Hater:

KsKBoys:

Don't be surprised if we take Red Bryant w/ our 2nd pick in the 1st round.

 

Are you joking? Don't be surprised if we draft a guy at 28 overall who is universally projected as a 3rd-4th round pick? You don't reach massive amounts for positions of semi-need!

 

Also, I don't understand all the hype over Bryant being some great NT. He is 6-4, 318. Not bad, but that gives him like 13 pounds on Ratliff and like 8 on Tank Johnson. And he only benches 225 20 times. That really isn't very much. Bryant is a good player, but his strength is not optimal for a 3-4 nose, and his size is not a huge improvement over what we already have. 

 

Now, not to say he is bad or anything. He is pretty good. But reach like a round and a half for the guy? Hell no! 

Don't know much about him except what I read.  One publication has him listed as a 2nd round pick, the other doesn't even have him in the top 10.  The first one called him a bigger, stronger, faster Casey Hampton, which got me excited.  They also have him listed as 6-5, 326.  Is that not correct?  It says he has run the 40 as fast as 4.95 which is phenomenal for his size.  Smart, can neutralize double-teams, works hard, and has the speed, agility, and strengthto dominate.  Has further growth potential.

All of this makes him sound like a stud.  Is this incorrect?  I have never seen him play and I am not a TX A&M fan.  In the assessment I read, his strength was not a question.

 

Alright, I've seen him play a few times, and have read up about him. I'll tell ya what I know.

 

First, those measurements you gave are his college numbers, which are typically inflated. At the Combine, he weighed came in at a smaller 6-4, 318. Not bad, but not Casey Hampton size (he is like 3 inches taller, but like 15 pounds lighter.) Stronger than Casey? HELL no. He plays stronger than his very average 20 bench reps, but is not close to Hampton's strength. He is more than strong enough for a run stuffing 4-3 nose tackle, but in a 3-4, he isn't going to push anyone around more than Tank or Ratliff will, though his slightly bigger size might help a BIT. Also, yeah the 4.95 is about right. Not too shabby, though it isn't phenomenal. Good enough speed.

Also, I wouldn't say he has much grow potential. He could probably pack on a bit more weight, maybe in the 5-10 pound range, though I think his size RIGHT NOW (318) is where he'll be most effective in the NFL. A big positive is his smarts and leadership. He is apparently a tough, hard working guys who players look up to. That is good. But just from what I hear, the things you are saying about him aren't wrong at all, but are directed in a 4-3 sense. He can play in a 3-4 I am sure, but his potential to dominate comes with another tackle right next to him where double teams are occasional, not constant. I honestly believe that in a 4-3, he could well turn into a slightly less dominant version of the stellar Kevin Williams. But in a 3-4, I don't think he'll ever be more than a solid starter who gets rotated a bit (like the Ratliff version of our Ratliff/ Tank system last year)

rmuth25:

The only way Dallas struggles to win 10 games is if Romo goes down. Period. 

Yup. Only way.

Re: We will not be as good as last year unless... We finally win in the post season.

KsKBoys:

Unless we get a dominant NT, a #1-2 WR, and a homerun-threat RB to split carries w/ MBIII.  A decent CB opposite Newmann would be fine if our pass rush was still there when the OLB's are blocked out.(See the Pats game, 2nd half)   Don't be surprised if we take Red Bryant w/ our 2nd pick in the 1st round.  If Stewart is as good as advertised and falls to #22, I don't see how we can resist.  Picture a bigger MBIII w/ speed.

Eagle Hater, I realize that the smaller DEs are converted to OLBs in the pros for the 34. But Ellis is now and always will be a DE not an OLB and he is a liability in coverage. If Spencer does not win that job this year we still have a DE playing OLB. Am I not being clear here? D-Ware is the best OLB in the game and he could be the best DE in the game too. I prefer he rush the passer instead of cover but thats just me.

You and some one else here are talking about drafting a NT because we are not getting a consistent push up the middle to make this 34 work.

There is no guarantee that a 34 year old LB that played his whole career in the 43 is going to give us better coverage at the ILB position.

Roy Williams has gotten consistently worse at his position since switching to the 34 D.

I would say that all in all this 34 is still in transition and if you think drafting a CB in the first rd is going to make this D Champinship level...well dare to dream.

BTW EagleHater, I respect your knowledge of the game, if from time to time I snap at you don't take it personally.

All the rest of you guys talking about Romo...I agree he has to play well but he will still have those 3 or 4 pick games this year and 5 years from now. We need more weapons around him and a better D

Cowboy fans please stop making excuses for the dismal play the last month of the season. Romos thumb, TO was hurt, nothing to play for....was there nothing to play for against the Giants? Was Romos thumb still hurt?

My point here is that teams that rely on the air attack to score will rack up pts during the regular season but come playoffs D and the running game win championships.

The Eagles D did a tremendous job against our O in December. They put pressure on Romo, took away TO and Romo made bad decisions. The Giants did the same thing.

We are not going to change from a pass first team when we can still score 28 pts a game but we do need to be more balanced. Our D has to be able to stop teams from scoring TDs. How are we going to score if TO is not in the game? This is not the 90's Cowboys that could grind out a 17-14 victory with a crushing ground game and a D that could hold teams to FGs.