Blogging The Boys: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: The Boxing Bulletin for Boxing Fans!

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Super Bowl

I was thinking...and that's usually not a good thing.

The Dallas roster is solid is chock full of talented players and this is supposed to be the 'Season of Wade' where the head coach uses last year's failure to galvanize the team's spirit and get all of these superstars to sacrifice their egos while this team makes a run for their 6th NFL Title.

We can sit back, talk about the players, the talent disparity between Dallas and the rest of the NFC and how we have the Smash and Dash running game with a new, faster, better Jones in the backfield and another year with Jason Garrett running this multiple set offense. We can talk about how year 2 of this more aggressive 3-4 defense should create more pressure and, by extension, turnovers with this beefed up cornerback corps of ours. We can even talk about the kicking game that boasts a punter and kicker who've made the pro bowl in recent years. Yep, studs in all three phases of the game. This is truly a team on a collision course with a championship ring.

But hang on a minute...maybe we shouldn't crown these kings just yet.

Maybe we should adopt a more pessimistic viewpoint and think about what might happen to derail this team on the way to their supposed destiny;

First, and this is always first, injuries. Any significant injuries to players like Flozell, T.O., Romo or Ware could easily change the course of the season. Having a solid Left Tackle means everything to a team that passes as much as we do. We saw how the loss of T.O. late last season limited the offense and allowed teams to focus more on stopping the Cowboy running game. Losing Romo might make this team non-competitive. Not having Ware create pressure would change the whole tenor of the defense. Ouch...gotta stay healthy!

Next, locker room issues. If this team were to start slowly or have one of it's many 'questionable character' players do something stupid on or off the field, it could create a ripple effect in the locker room and divide this team. Whoa! Team leadership anyone?

What if there ARE some holes in this roster and we are too love struck to see them? There's no true, proven #2 WR on this team (don't give me that guff about Stanback or Austin or whoever) that can stretch defenses and open up lanes for Smash and Dash along with Witten and T.O. The whole Strong Safety thing is still out there, Newman interviews notwithstanding, and Roy Williams' ability to read the play and react in coverage is still something that must be resolved. Don't forget Hamlin's contract issue is still in need of closure too. Run defense could be a problem, since we still don't have that 340-pound space eater that most great 3-4 defenses have (a la Wilfork, Hampton, Williams, etc.). Gurode could be sending shotgun snaps into the cheerleading section...what then?

I think about what I'm going to say about the 2008 Cowboys' season in February of 2009, after the Super Bowl. Will I be saying, "first team to six Lombardi's...truly the NFL's greatest franchise" or will I be saying, "I'm sure new head coach Jason Garrett will fix what's broken and get us to the promised land"? 

So, I'm not a pessimist by nature, but so many years without a playoff win may have jaded me a little. How about you? What do you think might derail us this year?

 

 

 

 

Poll
What do you think is most likely to disrupt Dallas' Run for the Ring?
Key Injuries
59 votes
Locker Room Issues
1 votes
Off-Season Unresolved Roster Holes or Player Issues
5 votes
Scheme Problems
3 votes
Outside distractions (i.e. Hard Knocks, T.O. as TV star)
2 votes
Nothing! This team cannot be derailed
19 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

1 recs  |  Comment 20 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Injuries.

Romo is the most obvious one. If he goes down, the only think we’ll be looking forward to is 2009.

The closest we have to a Locker Room issue is the presence of Adam. But if he screws up again, he’ll probably be suspended on the spot, and that will be that.

You can't have Thunder without Lightning.

by Nelson... on Jun 28, 2008 4:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Interesting...

Granted there are no issues right now. But right now, everyone is sitting at home eating Doritos and drinking Mountain Dew. Do you not see a locker room with T.O., Tank and Adam that is dealing with the Terry Glenn and Ken Hamlin contract situations, that has a laid back, non-disciplinarian type of head coach (with his successor sitting in the OC’s role right now) and has to stay mum about the whole “nobody thinks Roy Williams is smart enough to understand his coverage duties” AND has the HBO Hard Knocks cameras warming up for training camp (sheesh, can you believe I got this out in one sentence?) being primed for at least one meltdown here or there?

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jun 29, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, the potential is there

I just have a good feeling that everyone is on the same page here. I believe in the power of this team’s leaders not to allow any distractions to creep in. The motto this year is “finish.” This team’s only goal is winning the Super Bowl. There are far less talented teams in the league that are far more dysfunctional. I’m also pretty confident that Hamlin and Glenn will be happy (training) campers in a month or so.

by grapejoos on Jun 29, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Injuries

especially in the secondary. Remember when Henry went down?

My popcorn's ready!

by CowboyBawler4 on Jun 28, 2008 4:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i’m more optimistic about this year’s secondary depth..but agree that injuries could cause a misstep

by vy til i die on Jul 4, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only real threat is serious injuries to key players

As it is every year, with every team.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jun 28, 2008 4:23 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

I would normally be too chicken to say so, but if this team stays healthy, it’s going all the way to the Super Bowl.

by grapejoos on Jun 28, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

I truly believe that.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 28, 2008 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agreed

anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed, but barring major injuries, I think they are highly favored at this point to at least make it to the superbowl.

but of course there is no barring injuries. and I think you nailed the players whose absence would have the biggest impact.

other than that I really don’t see anything else that would take them out of contention.

cross fingers, knock on wood, rub the rabbit’s foot that there are no major injuries!

by scottmaui on Jun 28, 2008 5:01 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

There are fewer weak points on this team then on any team in the NFL as far as I am concerned. The question of Injuries is allways there (by the way I spit on the so called experts that claim top teams over come injuries- take Brady from the Pats and say that)

by burmafrd1944 on Jun 28, 2008 10:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

i think you’re right.

by scottmaui on Jun 29, 2008 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't understand why any fan

would want to think so negatively, its like a perfectly healthy person sitting around wondering what kind of illness or disease they will contract.

Just doesn’t make sense to me.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 29, 2008 8:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

12 Years without a playoff win and you're all smiles?

Those drugs you’re taking are illegal.

Now where can I get me some?

:-)

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jun 29, 2008 11:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

why live in the past

what does it matter what has happened, its all about the present and future.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 30, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry

I just can’t allow myself to be that myopic.

What we will do is largely shaped by what we have done.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jul 7, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

not in sports

every season is completely different and new, one doesn’t have anything to do with the other.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 7, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's just damn hard to win the Superbowl

The pre-season betting favorite is New England, at 10-3. That is, a team that just went undefeated, came within a whisker of the SuperBowl, and is lead by first ballot HOF coach and QB has less than a 1 in 4 chance to win it all, according to Vegas.

Football is a battle of attrition. Some of what will be attrited is unforeseeable. We would have beaten the Giants last year had TO and Romo been as healthy as they were in week 12.

by TimSchultz36 on Jul 2, 2008 2:40 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

I've seen even the most talented teams play uninspired football...

Usually, it’s the coaching staff that bears the burden of having to answer for why the team was “unprepared”.

The other thing I worry about is the whole front office thing with Wade and Jason. If Wade wins a Super Bowl, Garrett may leave for another head coaching opportunity. If Wade loses, Jason ascends to the top job. That is just a weird situation any way you slice it.

I watched NFL Network last night and Rich Eisen, as he spent time with on-air guys, Buck, Michaels, Gumbel, Simms and Prime, constantly went back to asking about Dallas and the expectations for this team. Each had a similar take in that they said that Dallas should win the NFC, but that because of the high expectations, the opportunity was there to fail miserably, especially if the team started slowly.

That, to me, isn’t a question of talent or injuries, but a question of discipline, preparation and an ability to finish strong. All things that go back to Wade.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jul 5, 2008 11:39 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Garrett isn't going anywhere, he's the future

I don’t care if Wade wins the SB, he’ll step down so Garrett can become the next HC. Garrett is Jerry’s boy, and he won’t let him get away. I could see Wade either going out on top, or taking a consultant’s position, but I cannot imagine a situation where Wade stays and Garrett leaves. It’s just unfathomable.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jul 7, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

This will be Wade’s last year no matter what transpires this season. He’ll either go out on top and repair his “can’t win in the playoffs” legacy or lose and have that label stick with him forever.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 7, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Dallas Cowboys blog for the SB Nation network. We talk Cowboys 24/7/365. Join the discussion but follow the community guidelines.
Start posting about the Cowboys »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Captain_small
NFL Power Rankins - Week 12 - Final Edition
Blue-koolaid_small
We've Got A Bully...It's Time To "Go Ralphie"
09_bar-refaeli_08_small
Why a Win is Not a Win
Captain_small
Seven Statistical Nuggets As December Looms
Mom_s_camera_081_small
A Special 'Thank You' to Grizz.

Recent FanPosts

Cowboy_small
"6 more games" or "Are we really the worst 7-3 team?"
Lil-00007305-sm_small
Oakland @ Dallas - A Trap Game if I ever saw one
Darren_woodson-the_real_hammer_2_small
What weaknesses do you see in this Pass Offense of ours?
Small
Remember...The only thing that matters is how we're playing heading into January.
Small
Two Questions for Vela and Grizz
Small
New Captain Comeback?
Tom-landry-at_small
Is Cowboys' Close Victory Over Redskins Reason To Worry?

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

SPONSORS


Editor

Head_shot1_small Dave Halprin

Lead Writer

Small Rafael Vela

Contributing Writers

Villaronga_small Raul Villaronga

Hotdoglu_small Aaron Novinger

Landry_and_fish_small Mike Fisher