Reflections On The Dallas Cowboys Year So Far
Nov 18, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys fan cheers for his team during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
In another lull between the rookie mini camps and the OTAs, there’s a little time now to look back at the Cowboys offseason.
The 2013 NFL draft is in the can and the only sure starter the Cowboys got out of it was Travis Frederick, the Center out of Wisconsin. Wish we’d of done better in the draft. We did get a promising wide receiver and tight end, because you know, thats where we needed the most help. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek)
Looks like Tony Romo is running for his life again this year.
Cowboy’s fans have been anxiously awaiting the designated June 1st release of RT, Doug Free, but instead we got him back at half price. I don’t understand what the Cowboy’s coaches see in him. There is a very good chance that Free will be on the bench this year. An expensive back up or insurance policy or high priced swinging door or train wreck, which ever obvious or clever name tag you want to place on him.
Tony Romo got a second fat contract since becoming a Dallas Cowboy. Did Romo earn this one? Did he earn the first one? To me, Romo had the good fortune to take advantage of a bull market for QBs back in ’07 and this year. As I said at the time of both, as many were saying Jerry paid too much, as other QB contracts shake out, Romo’s contract will end up being right in line with his ranking among top QBs. Romo’s stats and the attention he gets (good and bad), not his playoff success, had more to do with how much Jerry paid. Just the way it is.
Two reasons I hope Tony Romo can get the Cowboys deep into the playoffs and maybe even to a SuperBowl this year or in the next couple. First and foremost because I’m a Cowboys fan and it’s been too long. Second, because as soon as the Cowboys experience some playoff success, all the Romo haters will suddenly act like they knew Romo had it in him all along. That it was only a matter of time before Romo’s talent would translate into success for the team.
Until that happens, Romo is the second coming of Danny White, plain and simple… and sad.
May 10, 2013; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin directs a drill during the rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Irving, TX. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Funny how time changes your viewpoint. How shocked I was when the Cowboys blew out defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, instead of head coach, Jason Garrett after another wind -out-of-our-sails kinda year. The defense? Really? Looking back now and after reviewing the last 2 years in my head and listening to some reasonable people that know about these things, I think the change to a 4-3 D and getting rid of Ryan was the right move. Even mores than if we would have revamped the offense or changed head coaches.
When thinking about the key players this year for the Cowboys, on offense, it’s not Tony Romo, it’s DeMarco Murray and how well the O line can run block. On defense, it’s Sean Lee just a little ahead of Jay Ratliff. Lee will become the leader of the defense this year, moving ahead of DeMarcus Ware in importance to the Cowboys. Jay Ratliff won’t have to face the center straight up anymore and how he responds to that and new defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin’s scheme will have a direct affect on the Cowboys success.
The Cowboys are the somewhere between the 5th and 8th best team in the NFC going into this year. They have to maximize their best weapons (i.e. Romo, Murray, Dez, Witten) and have a few breaks go their way to sniff the Superbowl. In the Tony Romo era, our best chances – and our strongest teams – were in 2007 and 2009. We are not as good this year as those teams were, but if we do get to the playoffs, this team can play with the best of them.