Cowboys 2009: Keeping It Real
The NFL released its 2009 schedules tonight and a quick peek at the Cowboys path to the superbowl seems pretty bleak at first glance. I can't seem to decide how I think this team will do this season. I am torn from the duality of hope and reality, of lofty expectations and earth-shattering reminders, of...well, you get the picture.
There are so many variables this season that make me hesitant to say this team deserves a 12-4 prediction, yet I am reminded they yield enough overall talent to keep their head above 8-8 waters. In the NFC, a 10-6 record should be enough to get you a playoff bid, but even that is uncertain. Nevertheless, some questions remain...
Can everyone stay healthy this season?
Is Mike Jenkins ready to start opposite Terrance Newman?
Can Barbie Carptenter (yes, I said Barbie) fill the nickelback role left by Kevin Burnett?
Will Keith Brooking be a liability in coverage like he was in the Atlanta/Arizona playoff game?
Will Gerald Sensabaugh be the answer at strong safety? If not, will the new draft pick step up?
Will Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have a sophmore slump?
Can Roy Williams be our #1?
Can Miles Austin, Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback step up in T.O's absence?
The list can go on. But, let's put it this way. If I had the faith in the entire Cowboy's squad that I have in Jason Witten and/or DeMarcus Ware, I'd predict a 19-0 Superbowl run. Sadly, Hall of Famers don't grow on trees.
The best I can do is hope for the best and, in the mean time, offer up two schedules which reflect my inner Cowboys conflict. You might say there is an angel on my right shoulder and a devil on my left, telling me how this season will turn out. Here are the results:
The Angel on my right(who crowns a blue star halo and a 94 Jersey) tells me:
Final Result: 12-4, clinch NFC East. Still lose in December due homefield advantage through the playoffs clinched.
Comments: This is pretty lofty. It's going to take some pro-bowl efforts out of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and/or Tashard Choice, 1300 yard 10TD+ season from Roy, adequate to decent production out of the other recievers and little to no injuries on the defensive side of the ball to achieve this. Not to mention 10+ picks from DBs, and a 40-50 aggregate sack total from the front seven.
Such hopes, of course, are crushed by Murphy's Law.
The Devil on my left (who dons a bloodied #9 jersey) tells me:
Final Result: 9-7, little or no hope for a playoff berth. December woes continue.
Comments: This is my worst-case scenario. (Although I'll freely admit it could get worse than this.) If Romo starts every game, I hardly believe he'd allow a 9-7 season to happen. I firmly believe if he started all 16 games last season we'd have gone at least 10-6, gaining us playoff entry. A season with this to show for it would mean Romo/Ware missed a game or two, our WR/LB/CB core was widdled down by injuries, forcing us to rummage through the bargain free agent bins. It could also mean that our entire WR core is an absolute bust and we are no longer playing football, but a game I like to call "Eight-In-The-Box" with no fear of reprisal.
Granted, these two options are beyond premature. We still have draft picks to evaluate amoung other things. These are just my thoughts halfway through the off-season. God willing, the end result will be higher than both of these. (But I'm not holding my breath).
There are so many variables this season that make me hesitant to say this team deserves a 12-4 prediction, yet I am reminded they yield enough overall talent to keep their head above 8-8 waters. In the NFC, a 10-6 record should be enough to get you a playoff bid, but even that is uncertain. Nevertheless, some questions remain...
Can everyone stay healthy this season?
Is Mike Jenkins ready to start opposite Terrance Newman?
Can Barbie Carptenter (yes, I said Barbie) fill the nickelback role left by Kevin Burnett?
Will Keith Brooking be a liability in coverage like he was in the Atlanta/Arizona playoff game?
Will Gerald Sensabaugh be the answer at strong safety? If not, will the new draft pick step up?
Will Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have a sophmore slump?
Can Roy Williams be our #1?
Can Miles Austin, Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback step up in T.O's absence?
The list can go on. But, let's put it this way. If I had the faith in the entire Cowboy's squad that I have in Jason Witten and/or DeMarcus Ware, I'd predict a 19-0 Superbowl run. Sadly, Hall of Famers don't grow on trees.
The best I can do is hope for the best and, in the mean time, offer up two schedules which reflect my inner Cowboys conflict. You might say there is an angel on my right shoulder and a devil on my left, telling me how this season will turn out. Here are the results:
The Angel on my right(who crowns a blue star halo and a 94 Jersey) tells me:
| 2009 Scores and Schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final Result: 12-4, clinch NFC East. Still lose in December due homefield advantage through the playoffs clinched.
Comments: This is pretty lofty. It's going to take some pro-bowl efforts out of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and/or Tashard Choice, 1300 yard 10TD+ season from Roy, adequate to decent production out of the other recievers and little to no injuries on the defensive side of the ball to achieve this. Not to mention 10+ picks from DBs, and a 40-50 aggregate sack total from the front seven.
Such hopes, of course, are crushed by Murphy's Law.
The Devil on my left (who dons a bloodied #9 jersey) tells me:
| 2009 Scores and Schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final Result: 9-7, little or no hope for a playoff berth. December woes continue.
Comments: This is my worst-case scenario. (Although I'll freely admit it could get worse than this.) If Romo starts every game, I hardly believe he'd allow a 9-7 season to happen. I firmly believe if he started all 16 games last season we'd have gone at least 10-6, gaining us playoff entry. A season with this to show for it would mean Romo/Ware missed a game or two, our WR/LB/CB core was widdled down by injuries, forcing us to rummage through the bargain free agent bins. It could also mean that our entire WR core is an absolute bust and we are no longer playing football, but a game I like to call "Eight-In-The-Box" with no fear of reprisal.
Granted, these two options are beyond premature. We still have draft picks to evaluate amoung other things. These are just my thoughts halfway through the off-season. God willing, the end result will be higher than both of these. (But I'm not holding my breath).
posted by jrad115 @ 10:35 PM
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