Remember the good old days? Relive those great times tonight! Sit back and just enjoy the game.

Take a trip down memory lane as our new writer, Nathan Maxfield, puts tonight’s game into perspective. Enjoy! – SM

With the Cowboy’s season kicking off tonight, I can’t help but reminisce about my childhood and the days of watching the games with my father. I lived in a Cowboy’s household. My father lived and breathed with every Cowboy win and loss. Now, later in life, he doesn’t take things as seriously. But back then, on game-days my father’s mood could easily be determined by whether or not the Cowboys won or lost. With a win, you were guaranteed laughter and smiles.  With a loss however, you were better off just playing outside or up in your room. It was just better to avoid the foul mood that a Cowboy’s loss would instill into my dear old dad.

I am not sure I know anyone who takes the games so seriously these days. I don’t know if that is from exposure, free agency causing constant team turnover or perhaps even the popularity of fantasy football. That isn’t to say that people aren’t excited – one look at my Facebook and Twitter feed tells me otherwise. I just wonder if fans care a little less about their teams than those from 25 years ago. People tend to move on quicker, just watch the next game or get prepared for the following week. (more…)

The above video commentary is the expressed opinion of it’s author only. It is not necessarily the opinion or view of The Landry Hat, it’s staff or Fansided LLC. Due to the strong language used in this video, viewer discretion is advised.

Will the addition of Rob Ryan start paying off this Sunday?

Here’s part 2 of that great article by new TLH staff writer C. Joseph Wright – SM

Trying to decide which 5 defensive things I will be watching for when the game is live and at full speed is impossible. I can’t pay attention to that many things the first viewing. The truth is, on defense, the only honest answer I can give to “what will you be watching for?” is: EVERYTHING.

No one really knows what to expect other than a general belief that Ryan’s defense will be drastically different from the 3-4 run by Phillips; there will be more substitutions, and a lot more pre-snap movement.

This defense, both collectively and as individuals, has a lot at stake in their performance this year, and that begins Sunday night against the Jets. As a team, they are trying to erase the memory of last season’s debacle by showing that it was an aberration. They are also likely playing to validate all the talk of their new coach, Rob Ryan.

Most of the players starting on defense, with the obvious exception of Ware and Ratliff and maybe a couple of others, will be battling for more playing time (which eventually means more $) and/or their jobs as starters. I hope to see everyone playing like they are afraid of being cut from the 53. (I can’t wait for Jenkins to come back and see how he tackles this year.) Here’s what I will be paying close attention to: (more…)