Community Crystal Ball

I just came back from the mall, where I overheard a salesclerk at JCPenney say that the Chargers would win easily. I just smiled and thought to myself, this guy has not been watching the pre-season, the draft, or even aware that Gates is not playing this Sunday. Maybe I’ll go back there on Monday after the ’Boys beat the ’Bolts and ask him what he thought of the game!

I believe 10-6 is very probable. I voted for 11-5, so I’m one of the more optimistic ones! Go Cowboys!

All i know is that we are not having another losing season this year….There is just no way that can happen. Thats it.

Today is a fine time to remember a summer interview with McNabb: “I know that the window of oportunity for us is closing down…”. Why would he think that? His team has great cap space, is known as one of the best teams on draft days and still keeps the majority of the players important in all this past years… I can see that he’s watching over his shoulder…

just remind the clerk that they work at Pennys. That should be enough.

I think after this game, two people are going to emerge on the National Radar. Julius Jones and Demarcus Ware. The funny thing is other players have a chance to have a really big game……..Henry, TNEW, Roy, Canty, Glover……….I think Demarcus is better than advertised. I also liked Bill Parcells comments about the players weight and conditioning. He said three different assitant coaches came over and told him the Cowboys were in better shape than their team in the last two preseason game. Those guys know conditioned atheletes and Bill has these guys ready to break out and run.

Lets Go COWBOYS!

Hey a lot of the fans here predict a 10-6 and 9-7 season, but then go and pick Dallas to win this weekend. … Well who are they going to loose to then? … Of the Cowboys 16 games this year only 5 opponents had an above .500 record (last season), San Diego, Philly (twice), Denver, and Seatle (whom Dallas beat last year). So again if the Boys pull off the upset this weekend, 10-6 and 11-5 are very possible. If they start off 3-1, and go into that Philly game with a head of steam, I’ll be very happy. … I voted for 12-4. Looking at this team as compared to last, solid starters were added at a few positions, and some of last years starters simply moved down on the depth chart. In the NFL the difference between 6-10 and 10-6 can be minimal. The Cowboys changed a lot this off-season, but when you stack up the additions compared to the subtractions Dallas should be a much better team. CB got a huge upgrade with Henry and Glenn, now two players who saw the field a bunch last season will see their rolls reduced to back ups. The Boys cut Coakley, but added Ware, Burnett, and Fujita to the LB corps. I am sure all of us will agree that Canty and Spears more than make up for Wiley, and you have to consider Ferguson in that too. Huge upgrade there on the D-line! So on defense alone the Boys added 8 solid contributors (would be 9 with Beriault) to replace Coakley, Wiley, Carson, and Scot, and as I said the CBs just moved down on the depth chart. Tremendous upgrade! On offense Bledsoe is an upgrade to Testaverde, and the two young QBs have another year of developement under their belts. Julius is still our guy, but the depth there at RB is much better, and Julius too is still improving. Dan Cambell is healthy. At WR we lost Bryant, but in his place now stands Price and a developing Patrick Crayton, if nothing at all Dallas is deeper here. Parcells and Jerry added a Pro Bowl OG to the line and this Gurode/Johnson thing looks pretty good so far, and while Petitti is a rookie, he looks like he can move people in the running game. The punter is the same, and place kicker is the one area that could be considered a downgrade. I’m sticking with 12-4, especially knowing that Parcells can win a few games for us. … We will find out on Sunday how far we have come!! ….. Lets go Cowboys!!!!!

Chandus,
McNabb will be remembered as the biggest choker the NFL has ever had. His act together with his newest clown TO, will never win a thing. We beat them with Carter at QB once, this year we’ll another one agaisnt them, maybe both, they lost some key players on D.

Eric,
The only thing you forgot to mention in your comments are that Canty, Spears, Ware, Pettiti etc…are rookies. It is the only thing we have to worry about is their minds being ready to play in the NFL. Another thing that is a downgrade is special teams….long snapper, coverage, etc…it is the only thing that might make a 8-8 or 9-7….but 12-4 is definetly a possibility.

JGPITRN M,D.SJRHTOP5 GOEP[ROIMHKBJL OHJUPOIJMIPO OEJHOPJOPOPJHOP

i have to miss the game tomorrow, but i will tivo it. my wifes brother is back from iraq, and i have never met him. so i guess its a decent excuse to miss the game, but im still not happy. go cowboys i will be reading the open thread to see what you guys put as i watch it on tivo.

For those of you familiar with Murphy’s Law, you will understand my hesitation to make any predictions. There are just so many variables that can come up during a season (Injuries being the chief culprit). It would delight like Christmas morning if we could get above .500. If we win the NFC East I may just lose it… and the SB?? Holy Moses… I may sell it all and move to Vegas for one hand of Blackjack. However, in keeping with the phrase “hope for the best, prepare for the worse”… I will maintain my simple ways if we can just beat those @*&$#* Redskins 2 more times.

I second Pedram’s thoughts!!!

Let me interpret for you.

Shawn Merriman is a baby and Demarcus Ware is a man. Shawn Merriman is a baby and Demarcus Ware is a man.

Maybe we’ll have to change the Cowboys’ name to the Cowmen after Ware puts San Diego’s QBs on their behinds and JJ runs right over, around, and under Merriman.

May the Cowmen prevail!!!!

Ferguson,Ware,Canty,Spears,Burnet,Henry,Glenn,Ratliff,“Pepper”,Beirault, Fujita,A-train,Barber,TT,Rivera,Bledsoe,Price,Pile,Cortez……..AND back from injury,Campbell,Keyshon,Terry Glenn….guys this is a different team,and I think a much better(yet young) one…….Time to “Man up” and hit somebody!!! Go Cowboys!!!!

10-6. Sticking to it like always. San Diego is one of the games I have us losing. Man, would I love to be wrong about this one.

Perfect game: Merriman plays his heart out, literally, only to watch Julius go past him, time after time, for about 145 yards, while Ware drops Drew B 3 times, and causes a fumble, which WE recover at their 6 yard line. Another touchdown for Dallas. At the end of the game, the announcers are shocked to see Dallas win 27-14.

Okay, I’m awake now, but hey, that’s what I’d love to see.

Rob Ware and Bledsoe are on our team…….You wrote"while Ware drops Drew B 3 times"…..lol

EricR

Don’t fool yourself about our “easy” schedule. With the parody in the league, teams can change a ton in one year, and we face afew of those teams. In addition to the 5 winning teams from last year, we also play Oakland, Arizona, KC, Carolina, and STL, who have all improved a ton over the offseason. Detroit shouldn’t be a puchover, either. That’s 10 games against good teams. I don’t really think Denver will be that good, but I also think we may have trouble in NY. Of this 10 games, I think we should expect to lose 6-7. I also think we could have a letdown game, like NY, and lose a game that we should win. The schedule isn’t as favorable as you think.

I agree with you that SD is a good team when they are all playing, but just watch how much of a difference not having Gates makes on their O. They don’t have any other recieving options. Like I said before, playing these guys in week 2 would scare me, but I’m pretty confident in playing them this week.

Sharkz, I believe he was refering to Drew Brees… at least I hope so.

Oh yeah……sorry Rob…lol

EricR,

An excellent post. I am one of those who picked the Boys to go 10-6, but have the game against San Diego down as a loss. I really believe it will take a few games for Dallas to “gel” as a team. After they play better as a team they are going to be good on offense and terrors on defense. I do believe, however, that if they can pull off a win in San Diego, they will go 12-4. Now a lot of people will say that 12-4 is not very likely. The increase in confidence that they would get from a win this week would cause a much quicker “gel” and allow them to win two (one after SD) extra games. Please keep the great posts coming!

I was! No problem.

hardeeboy:
If you live your life according to Murphy’s law, then you’re destined to a life of monotony and boredom. Guessing in Football isn’t much of a risk, but if you do the same with more important things in your life, well, I would recommend change for you…

Tony,

Thanks. I agree a win this week would be a “spring board” to a built confidence. San Diego is a very good team, a returning playoff team that added two first round players, and loss very little. They are well coached, and have in my opinion the best offensive player in the game today, so a win would be a huge one.

Man Tab,

Rookies or not, they are a big upgrade over Wiley and the D-line that played last season. My point more being that while the starting defensive team was upgraded, the depth was upgraded immensely. … An offense that was pretty good last year when Glenn and Julius played, only got deeper and more capable of handling a few injuries. When you add Riveria, with Price and Crayton at WR, Dan Cambell coming back from injury, and the depth at RB and this offense should be a bit better than middle of the pack. … You make a good point about special teams, although it looks as if our return game may be better.

Aftercall,

I don’t think that our schedule is “easy”. As you say there is a lot of parody. Teams are bunched up, and what I am saying is Dallas was in the middle of the pack last season, so the impressive amount of upgrades this off-season, and knowing Parcells can win a few games with his tremendous preparation, the Boys should be a much improved team. … A 6-10 team that upgrades just about every position can be capable of a huge swing in today’s NFL, especially because of the parody.

This may be an optimistic bunch, but I would be surprised if they are off by over two games, either way. 8-8 means key injuries early, while 12-4 means everything comes together and several other teams collapse. 8-8 is average, and this team has better than average talent and coaching. This defense (and punter) should keep the Cowboys in most every game, and the O line should be able to wear down opponents late in games to open holes for a variety of running backs. Every drive needs to end in points—if it does, the Cowboys will win more than they lose, and challenge for playoff positioning.

Let’s kick it.

Eric,
I picked 10-6 AND a loss to SD.

Gents,
As you read my sob story, count your blessings.

For Cowboy fans in the Pacific NW, the scenario is always the same. This Sunday FOX has the doubleheader with The ‘Boys playing a road game in SD at 4PM ET. You would think that the game would be broadcast to this part of th U.S., especially when you consider that even though there are other 4PM ET games for FOX to broadcast; with The ’Boys being an NFC team visiting an AFC stadium FOX broadcasts the game and is the only eligible FOX game west of the Rockies. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! As usual we get flocked and have a game such as Green Bay vs. Detroit rammed down our throats. ()*^*(%% cheeseheads, my weekend is flocked and if I wasn’t emotionally strong I might slit my own throat. LOL! Every year it is like this. Damn the NFL and their broadcast zones and rules.

It is my own fault. I WAS going to get satellite and Sunday Ticket this year just so I could watch a Cowboy game at some other time than Monday and Sunday nights and on Thanksgiving. But I looked at this years schedule and between Sunday and Monday’s and Thanksgiving I saw 8 games I could see out here based on matchups, playing site, and other games in that timeslot in my region. Of course, I was being penny-wise and pound-foolish. If I can help it, next season I won’t worry about emulating my Scottish ancestors.

Sunday afternoon I will have both the gametracker at nfl.com and THE GAME THREAD from this wonderful BLOG up on my computer screen.

I’m loving this thread …. I want to be optimistic looking at our scedule and claiming a 12 – 4 season especially if we beat the bolts.(looking at philly’s schedule I would guess that we may have to settle a tie for div. champs if we do indeed go 12 – 4)
  My guts tell me if we can’t beat the bolts then we should have an easy 10-6 this year …. so I guess I’ll take the mid road and claim an 11 – 5 season and go at least two games deep in post season ….. All I KNOW for SURE is that it’s gonna bee the longest 18 hours and 45 minutes of my year following this post!!

LETS GET IT OOOOONNNNNN!!!!!! Go Cowboys!!!!

Amen to that James … Where up here do you live? P.S. I got the ticket … are you close to Coeur d’ Alene, ID? I can’t stand thier programming up here. Who cares about the seaturds anyway

Chandus,

Whoa…Easy there big fella…. thanks for the counceling. However, it was intended to be a bit tongue-in-cheek! Look if it makes me a better human being, I’ll predict…uummmm…. 16-0.

Idaho,
I’m over in Oregon. In this part of the state I get a “WONDERFUL” (bulls**t) choice between the seaturds, the alternative lifestyle 69’ers, and the faders. (Depending on the each weeks schedule and matchups.) It really is a desert for a ‘Boys fan. I suppose I could take solace in the fact that I live in the same town as Bledsoe, but I don’t see him inviting me to his house to watch his Ticket anytime soon.

I don’t know about you guys (i think I may), but I’m about to jump out of my friggin skin I’m so excited. 6 whiskey drinks at a 3pm kickoff are feeling great. Kick the hell out of the chargers.

Someone here once mentioned Vince Young being a possible draft choice for the boys. What a complete and total joke!

theogt, I agree.
Vince Young should change position to wide reciever because he’s not an NFL quarterback, and some people compare him to Micheal Vick, not even close.

12-4 ?? what are some of you people smoking or drinking?? You expect a team with so many new and rookie players, and a new scheme on defense that rookies will be prone to make more mistakes that will cost us games, more than helping us win games. Bill will be far to conservative in the play calling game plan, run, run, short out pass, ball control, shorten the game by controling the clock and try to win boring 13-10 games.This team will struggle out of the block at times, but by the second half of the season when this team gels on defense, teams wont want to play us. Philly has the easiest schedule in the division, they will be 12-4, we’d be lucky to be 9-7 or 10-6 and a wid card.

They are smoking their broken rose colored glasses.

It’s not that Vince young sucks, it is that the OSU linbackers are badass.
and the horn recievers are mediocre.

James,

the “alternative lifestyle 69’ers”?!

wtf?

Jason, if OSU linebackers can make him look that bad, I’d had to see what NFL LBs would do.

10-6 is the gerneral consensus of the mediots. If you are guessing 10-6 then tell me what losses you are counting.

*hate to see

Guys Ohio St can’t hang with Texas….sheesh

theoght…make him look that bad? 275 yadrs passing, 83 rushing, 2 TD????? is that bad? One of the Int’s was a mistake by the receiver…..the receivers of Texas are just horrible….and the guy still looks good.
I dont know if he’s NFL quality or not, but the guy is amazing in college

fuuuumbleeeeee….texas win the game….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stats can be deceiving.

are you watching the game?

Rose colored glasses? Maybe. Realistic? Probably not. I used to live and die with every victory and every loss. I believe that I can live with 10-6, but I choose to say 13-3. I am as excited about this season as I was last year and will be next year. I believe the talent is there. Like others said it may take time to jel. I don’t expect us to dominate people out of the box, but I do think we will improve every week. In the end we will not be a team that many will want much of. I do not believe that Parcells showed much during the pre-season. We were pretty vanilla on offense and stayed with the 3-4 a lot more than we will all season. The depth is what convinces me that we have a great year ahead. I support your right to disagree with me. My rose colored glasses and I choose to believe. Whether you agree or not that is my story and I am sticking to it.

merriman is listed as probable for tomorrow’s game…

… should be interesting.

think he’ll get a sack? hope his crap-talking inspires ware and spears and canty and….

A few threads back, I stated that after pouring over the schedule that I couldn’t see anything other than 8-8. But I’m ready to amend that.

The first part of the schedule is quite favorable. Beside the 3 outta 4 on the left coast road trip, we get most of the NFC East at home and some other very winable games. Even JJT, the noted Cowboy-hater has ’em going 6-2. Me, too. Losses to Philly and (based on the odds), San Diego.

This will give the offense time to find a groove and the D to gel. We get an extremely well timed bye week to get ready for Philly on Monday night in that garbage can they call a city. This game will determine whether we win the division.

Let’s say we go 3-3 (very doable) leading up to the playoff run. We’ll be 9-5 with a road trip to Carolina (a sexy SB pick) and home against the Rams.

I say we split, finish very strong…a chance to win every game, D really starting dominate and offense learning what it is, and the team nobody wants to play. 10-6

Bledsoe – 3,000 plus, 21 TDs, 7 INTs
Julius – 1,500 + yds, 14 TDs
Turnover ratio +10

We beat Minn/StL, face Carolina in the rematch, win and face…Philly. (Would you really want it any other way?)

That would be a great season, win or lose the 14th NFC Championship game in Cowboys’ history.

I been waiting for tomorrow for what seems like forever. Im getting an adrenaline rush just thinking about it. GO COWBOYS!!!

somebody mentioned Terry Glenn back from injury…….we had a great passing attack with Glenn who seemed to catch everything thrown his way. This year even if Glenn was hurt we got Peerless and Crayton who like Glenn seems to have incredible hands………

Drew is being given a great RB, a great Line, three possibly 4 good WRS, in my humble opinion……….as good a TE as is in the league……..mabye not the best……..but not far from it………..no INTs in the preseason……….if he can keep up that pace……..the Cowboys are going to be a different team with a different record…………and God forbid if we win a few early and get that confidence and swagger back…………watch out NFC………Dallas might just make a game out of it yet………

Ferguson, Rivera, Henry, Aaron Glenn, TIME TO EARN YOUR MONEY FELLAs…………GO GET EM!!!!

Demarcus I ain’t worried about, I think he will be worth every penny by the end of the season!

somebody mentioned Terry Glenn back from injury…….we had a great passing attack with Glenn who seemed to catch everything thrown his way. This year even if Glenn was hurt we got Peerless and Crayton who like Glenn seems to have incredible hands………

Drew is being given a great RB, a great Line, three possibly 4 good WRS, in my humble opinion……….as good a TE as is in the league……..mabye not the best……..but not far from it………..no INTs in the preseason……….if he can keep up that pace……..the Cowboys are going to be a different team with a different record…………and God forbid if we win a few early and get that confidence and swagger back…………watch out NFC………Dallas might just make a game out of it yet………

Ferguson, Rivera, Henry, Aaron Glenn, TIME TO EARN YOUR MONEY FELLAs…………GO GET EM!!!!

Demarcus I ain’t worried about, I think he will be worth every penny by the end of the season!

rich-“alternative lifestyle”=San Fran.—the 49ers-and the “faders” would be Raiders-And true Cowboy fan hell is living in 49erland, although not as bad as it was in the 80’s of course….As for TV, it’s either niners or blackout-sucks!
Tomorrow’s game is a draw in the runnung game-I don’t think either team runs consistently against the other-but we have more of a passing attack-I think we pull it out on the road with some big plays-our rookies don’t know enough yet to be worried about it being a road game-23-17

Hardeeboy:
I get you, it’s just that I take personal those comments into Murphy’s Law, I’ve recently got the title that makes me an Electronics Engineer and Murphy’s Law’s pretty well known in my backyard… And that’s why I know that you need to take chances even if you get shot in the foot for doing so… but saying 16-0? :D You won’t get shot on the foot, you will get shot on the artery… But it’s ok… And now I’m ready for some Football!

Didn’t the Cowboys go 10-6 a couple years back. Please tell, who was the starting QB? The starting RB? Did a Quincy Carter led team, beat Philly and Carolina? … So tell me why not 12-4? … Compare this team to the one 2 years ago:

QB * upgraded
RB ** upgraded
WR * upgraded
TE = even
O-line * upgraded
D-line * upgraded
LB * upgraded
CB * upgraded
S – downgraded
bench ** upgraded
special teams = even

So tell me again why not 12-4 or 11-5? Dallas won 10 games with paper thin depth, and a poor to average starting roster … now the Boys have some stars and some up coming stars … this year is going to be fun, so let’s enjoy it!!! Lets go Cowboys baby!!!!

EricR,

I agree, we are upgraded in every facet of the game. I just think that two main factors prevent a division championship/home field run:

1. 10 rookies playing significant roles
2. Playing the AFC West

It’s gonna be a lot like ‘91. You know we got the talent, and we’re clearly better that the teams we’re playing, but that last little something called chemistry will take a year to develop and the rookie mistakes will cost us a game or two.

I can’t wait for the end of the game when Ware shows everybody that Dallas was right to take him insead of Merriman. I know one thing for sure, unless Merriman’s injury is far worse than reeported, he WILL definitely play today. That’s a good thing. This way, there can be no excuses when he gets outplayed by a guy who should have gone before him. He might never admit it, but he will soon understand why Dallas went with Ware.

EricR,

There were two large factors that contributed to that 10-6 record in 2003.

1) We ran into several teams that had lost their starting quarterback, either before the game, or during.

2) We, ourselves, were relatively injury-free.

While coaches always play lip-service to having to play the hand they are dealt, it is a fact of NFL life that injuries play an important role in determining the final standings. Any review of a listing of the number of games lost by starters due to injury, shows a near-direct correlation between injuries and the won-lost record. Playoff teams invariably suffer the fewest injuries. Non-playoff teams, the most. There are exceptions, but the correlation is striking.

Fighter and Mr. Bill,

A few years back, a rookie QB winning in the NFL weas unheard of. As was a team going from last to first. The league has changed and Tom Brady and Ben Rothlisberger have had very early success and teams are making huge swings with minimal changes. The Cowboys overhauled their team, and while it is difficult to win with rookies, its made easier by the parody in the NFL. … Dallas went into the season two years ago with the toughest schedule, and things did “fall” their way a bit, but Parcells also did an excellent job preparing hios team. Remember again, they beat Carolina and Philly with McNabb and Delholme. Fighter, I couldn’t agree with you more and this team is a lot like the 91 team. The only difference is there are no teams like the 91 Washington Redskins, and frankly the Cowboys ended up game away from the NFC Championship game and an 11-5 regular season record, so is 12-4 really that much out of the question?

Eric,
When you look at our 10 losses last season, and consider that without the injuries and getting a few bounces to go our way; we could have gone 12-4 last year. This year we have corrected many of those problems from last year and I do agree with you, 12-4 is not out of the question. However, we need to keep in mind that while we are improved, we are young and could still get hit by injuries and bad luck. I think that 10-6 is a reasonably optimistic result this season. (I hate to say it, but with injuries and bad luck we would do no better than 8-8.)