didn’t realize their OL was so old. That’s crazy old (I say as a man older than every player on the Cowboys). Is there any historical precident for succeeding with such an aged line? Romo and the RBs may be talented, but as the season wears on, I can’t see this team doing anything but swooning.

Flozell "False Start " Adams
Flozell “Old Fart” Adams
Tony “Broke Back” Romo

rec’

Nice post ByeDawk
Do you think the Coaching staff should be included as they seem to play a pivitol role in character and player development.
In the Cowboys case, only Jerry need apply. Wade is the puppet.
But Coughlin is a great coach and Zorn remains to be seen.

Nice research

THIS is why Dallas is America’s Team.

I’m sure the thought of putting last year’s NFC Champion up first never popped into our head.

I’m also quite sure that you never thought of putting up last year’s NFC East Champ up first either.

Who do you choose? Of course, it’s The Dallas Cowboys.

No playoff appearance? so what!

Only a split of the head to head matchup? not an issue!

If you think about it, there’s an NFL social dynamic here that permeates deeply into the media, the fan bases and the whole of American culture.

The Cowboys truly are the NFL. First on everyone’s list regardless of whether it is one of pure hatred or one of unabashed admiration and love.

Dallas fans have their NFC East foes to be thankful for too, because without them, the mystique that surrounds the Cowboys would be greatly diminished.

Well done.

The Cowboys truly are the NFL.

if that was actually true, i’d write vince mcmahon 5 times a day to try to get the xfl reinstated.

Why they will:

Dallas isn’t afraid to pay for the pieces they need if/when they become available.

Tony Romo, a very talent QB, is able to ‘figure it out’ when it matters.

Their two back-up RBs continue to improve and stay with the team. Dallas decides to actually feed the rock to their RBs a lot more than last season.

Roy Williams harnesses his potential, and posts multiple 1000 yard seasons. The talent is there, he’s showed it, but only eclipsed that number once. Another non-TE pass catcher steps up or is acquired to spread around talent, and put extra pressure on the opposing defense.

Witten continues to be Witten. Bennett turns into nightmare match up that his tools indicate he can be. (Guy is a monster on paper, he’s a 2 1/2 inch taller Ingram basically, with some blocking ability as well)

Dallas drafts 2 O-lineman in the first day in the next 2-3 years, and signs at least one big name younger free agent that slips into the market.

Demarcus Ware stays long term and does his thing. Anthony Spencer stays healthy and figures out the NFL. Their O-line if nothing else, eats space, clogs running lines, and allow said LBs to succeed.

Mike Jenkins follows his pattern from last season, and turns out be legit. The rest of their young secondary pieces pan out, or at least become adequate starters, when guys like Newman and Hamlin decline.

Why they won’t:

It’s really, really hard.

Tony Romo is cursed and/or has no clutch ability.

Jones, and Choice don’t excel when called upon to be long time starters. MB3 breaks down. Nobody gives them the ball.

Roy Williams turns out to be a guy with great tools that doesn’t put it together. He looks like the average 800 yard WR instead of the dominate 1200 yard WR. No other WR develops to help him out.

The great TE play that was currently place remains, but it’s nearly enough to take them to dominate status.

Dallas ignores their offensive line which shortly thereafter breaks down. They draft one or two guys that don’t really work out. Would be top free agents are more often than not retained by their current teams. Dan Snyder and Al Davis out bid them for the ones that do actually become free agents.

Chris Canty actually did matter a great deal. The D-line is less effective, making the pass rush less effective.

Spencer turns out to be a bust, and you struggle to replace Ellis’ sack production.
Al Davis or Dan Synder outbid you for Demarcus Ware, or he feels he has a better chance to win else where.

The secondary never really recovers after Newman loses it, and Jenkins doesn’t become that kind of special player. The current depth at the position doesn’t yield any high quality starters.

Summation:

As stated by, Bye Dawk, the O-line is probably the primary concern for long term success in Dallas.

Dallas wasn’t so good over the last decade, going under .500 with no playoff wins. However, they are still currently a solid team, with lots of talent, that can surely has the ability to get in the playoffs). Romo and rest of the team needs to actually get a win from there.

I think they could stand to try to add another big time player on both sides of the ball (another WR perhaps and another pass rusher (maybe Spencer is that guy)), in addition to bolstering up their line before when the time arises.

… Are moving to OLB.

Our team actually drafted 4 LBs this year, the 2 tweeners and 2 ILBs.

And about not drafting OLineman… In the past few years Rafael Vela has received inside information on the team really liking this guys: Shawn Andrews, Paul McQuistan, Daryn Colledge and Max Unger, they were all taken right ahead of the Cowboys position and Jerry tried to trade up in some of their cases (Colledge and Unger).

I’ve heard how our team failed last year when they didn’t select William Beatty, but Dallas doesn’t likes the Winston Justice kind of prospects… Beatty has the same kind of red flags (plays with white gloves, effort, preparation and love for the game).

… I like Romo, and I think “clutch” is pretty overrated (you’re not clutch til you get it done, then you do it once and you are clutch). I like the RBs and a lot of the front seven.

The O-line and secondary outside of Newman are quite suspect going forward, so I think they’re going to have to continue to draft well before we call them dominant. Those just so happen to be two of the hardest places to find great players too … so I say good right now, potential to be great going forward.

I don’t think I’d trade the Eagles’ young core for the Cowboys’ young core right now, even though they have the advantage at QB.

I just noticed what the title of this post was…