Fearless Season Prognostication: Does Cowboys' Elite Talent Trump O-line Woes?

time I felt like I could have written something similar. Weakest link=Cowboys final standing.

seldom does it ever go down the way people expect it to go down.

And I couldn’t agree more. So this Sunday I’ll be on my knees praying to the patron saint of offensive lineman on behalf of Barron and Holland.

This team has the ability to finish anywhere from 12-4 to 8-8, this team is completely capable of finishing anywhere in that range.

We all want to remember the team that knocked the Saints off their undefeated perch in their own home. And we’re still that team.

But this team is also the team that, with its back to the wall, needing a win to get ahead in the division, promptly lost to the Giants and Chargers back-to-back. And we’re still that team too.

Felix needs holes, and Romo needs time to throw the ball. The rest of the offense is only as good as its offensive line.

This could be a wasted year if the o-line can’t hold its own.

It seems like 10-6 or 11-5 is a definite possibility and either should be enough to not only get into the playoffs but likely win the division as well. I don’t see the NFC East being dominated by any team and it’s going to be tough fight down to the very end.

This schedule just appears to be way, way too tough to expect anything better than 11-5. Is a better record possible? Of course. I also think 9-7 means a monumental collapse happened along the way.

27, 20, 14, 27, 21, 7, 19, 6, 14, 17

Over the last five seasons: Average of 12.6.

Over the last ten seasons: Average of 17.2.

We have extreme trouble scoring against the Redskins. I expect tomorrow night to be about the same.

You talk as if Kosier and Colombo are lost for the season. Most likely, one will be back for Game 2, and both should be healthy and raring to go for Game 3, which comes right before the bye week.

And while you acknowledge that the starters will eventually return, I feel like you don’t give them due credit as a unit. I mean, we’re not talking chopped liver here. They’re average — not horrible, but okay. Teams like the Steelers have shown that an average line can still take you places. While Roethlisberger can take a lot more punishment, I have faith in the elusiveness of Tony Romo.

Plus, technically, it’s still the offseason. We haven’t even seen how Holland and Barron will do. Let’s wait until after the Skins game to push the panic button, if we’re so inclined.

including a messy loss at Washington.

After reading it I feel like the guy who heard the doctor say, “The good news is you’ll be dead in 24 hours. The bad news is I was supposed to tell you yesterday!”

I predict Cowboys 24, Redskins 10.

Geez I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Cowboys are going to win I tell ya and JW will stay in and protect his BFF.

Martellus will have a break out game and Dez will return a punt for a touchdown. Buehler will kick 4 field goals, one from 55 yards straight down the center and Felix Jones will return a KO to the Washington 25 or thereabouts 2 times. Ware and Spencer will sack McNabb a total of 6 times and Jenkins will intercept the ball twice.

Other than not trading for Roy E. Williams what could the Cowboys have done Differently? Because from what I remember(Though i do suffer from C.R.S.S.) i dont think the Cowboys could have drafted any better than they have. It is one thing to say we should have drafted better O-line who could they have drafted and still have the depth that they have today in all of the other positions?

not just the Redskins game. If history holds true to form, we’re not going to blow them up but I do expect a win. Long term may be a different story. We do have one of the worst schedules I’ve seen in a long time..it’s back-loaded though. In other words, I’m not worrying a whole lot about tomorrow night or the next few games. I’m trusting in red headed Jesus and Wade to get us started off right. It will be the end of the season that determines our fate one way or another..

it might be the beer, and could very well be both, but as nervous as i’ve been about this season opener, i am starting to feel good (beer) about it. for one thing, the past means nothing, especially when it comes to these two teams. secondly, i’ve just come to the conclusion that, since the ‘bowl is in jerry’s house this year that if o-line was such a concern for us to achieve our goals in 2010, we’d have made a big acquisition or two to improve that unit. i mean, come on, jerry got an ego, plus he’s got advisors. now, granted we have two back ups starting tomorrow (i think barron and holland will do fine), the beer in me says we go into washington and come out with a nice, happy “w.” 24-16, dallas, goign away. buuurp…..

They will sweep the East, win most of the games they should, and pick up two of the GB, IND, MIN, and NO games.
13-3 or 12-4…
Rabblerouser, you are forgetting the intangible that will allow our O-line to play well. They have all been knighted, so they are better warriors.
Seriously, though, they will be fine.

Wild cards winning, #1 seeds going early, pass-happy teams winning in the playoffs etc

Steelers won 2 years ago with a very mediocre line. Big Ben was getting killed for most of the season.

I find it hard not to agree with everything in this remarkably well written post. You’ve got to wonder though, when all this talent will turn into production. I’m a homer. And I say it happens this year.

You have a gift. And while I don’t sport the wait and see gene, I think you presented your points well. Here’s the difficulty I have: Back in the days when I was being overwhelmed by an unruly DMN crowd, negative posts from the writers seemed to channel the dark side of the force. Especially after a loss. I was appalled at how plentiful the Cowboy’s fans were who would call for Jerry’s or Wade’s head after their first loss of the season. Even last season following the loss to become 2-2, OMG people were freaking out.

We all hope you are wrong RR, including yourself. But if you’re right, and this season starts to tip in the direction of wasted opportunity, be careful, for you may stir a hornet’s nest, and incite the type of discourse that has never been a trait of this blog. To clarify and restate: If the Cowboys do not do well this season, you could manifest the side of the Cowboys Nation that is not so fun to contend with. They’re out there, and they’re looking for a leader.

Thought I’d go into enemy territory and see what the fans are saying over at Hogs Haven, see what their feel is for the game. They’ve got a 64 comment thread going on the latest piece and all they can talk about is JJ getting caught on camera picking his nose. Wow. Think I’ll stay here with some grownups. Just wow.

The winner of this game will be the team that forces the most turnovers and takes advantage of them to score TDs.

the Skins have them beat. The Cowboys Oline doesnt have to worry about blocking Spencer Rat and Ware. Maybe Cowboys O doesnt look so hot in this game But we win none the less.

Also what about this. You say 07-09 the december swoon playoff collapses are because of the Oline (I agree to a point) Does it matter that Kyle and Marc got hurt does that mean they are a little more rested so when they come back in week 3 they actually have more games left in the tank and can hold up til Feb?

Manster knows a little about playing D.

A rookie LT and a not so good O-line, I say 5.

cant wait till game time….

His playing/staring experience is more recent, and he’s more athletic. Romo’s escapability is perfectly suited when facing outside pressure, while pressure up the middle is harder to evade.

Still believe our D can carry the team for these 1st 2 games, especially if it’s as good as we believe it to be. Our ST edge is pronounced as well. Hopefully, both OL Starters will be back for HOU which now looks like a very serious test.

wanna see a good athlete with horrible technique? Laron Landry watch that guy

and I appreciate the way folks on here agree, for the most part about our season going the way of our OL. Just goes to show the intel of the average fan on BTB. I’ll also go so far as to say we could even finish at 6-10 if our OL play stinks. But believe me, How, Oh How I hope it doesn’t. I hope we are all pleasantly surprised by some great OL play by some of our youngsters, back-ups or original starters. I’d think Jerry would make drafting and/or signing some quality O-linemen the number one priority this offseason. Hopefully, Safety will become a position of strength this year with the talent already aboard.

confidence in the starting O line, much less their backups. Tonight will be an interesting test, one I hope Romo survives.

but you are only partly right. The Offense will only go as far as the O-Line can take it. You can have the All-Time All-Madden team at the skill positions, but if the line can’t block or even give the play time to develop, all is for naught.

This current Cowboy incarnation is going to go as far as the Defense can take us. I’ve said it other places, but I truly believe the Dallas D will be the superior unit regardless of how the offense plays. To be sure, the offense will light it up and even if they light it up each and every game, I still believe our D will be more dominant.

Like those Cowboy teams of yore, our D will get the O back on the field and might even give them a point cushion. I think the O will eventually wear down the opposing D and have their way with them by the end of the game. We might be trailing at the end of 3, but as long as our D can keep it close, I think the O will be able to close out games.

All reports tells us that the O-Line all like to maul, that is, run block. What better time to unleash the beasts then the 4th quarter? The beasts drive forward, double tight’s chipping and clearing, and Gronk battering a hole for Marion the Barbarian.

I’m saying by the end of the game, the opposing D will feel like they’ve been run over by a convoy. Even if we do lose (which I understand we will; my prediction is 11-5), they’ll not forget what we did to them.

Don’t give me any flak about our safeties. Our front 7 will put so much pressure on the opposing O, the pressure on our DB’s will be greatly reduced. That T-New and Jenkins can play at a high level, quick passes from pressure will be prime targets for INT’s.

Man, I hope I’m right. lol