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SEASON PREVIEW
Even though I am not very superstitious, I do believe in jinxes. As in, "I don't want to say the Cowboys will be in the Superbowl because I don't want to jinx them". Then again...
This team is loaded. There are only three areas of concern that I can see before the season starts:
Offensive Line Depth: The starting line is pretty good. The big question is whether Doug Free can replace Flozell Adams (speaking of "The Hotel", does it make you wonder why he still hasn't been picked up by another team?). Anyways, the rest of the line is pretty solid but what happens if a starter has to miss games? I am hopeful that Alex Barron, Pat McQuistan and Montrae Holland could step in if necessary. I would also keep my eyes on Robert Brewster, who was drafted in 2009 but missed the entire year due to injury.
Safety: Ken Hamlin is gone (and a lot of folks think that is a good thing). Gerald Sensabaugh was a great acquisition last season and will do well at Strong Safety. The question is who will play Free Safety? It seemed that Alan Ball had all but won the job. News out of training camp is that Mike Hamlin is a legitimate challenger for that position. I believe that competition is always good and this will boost a position that was a potential question mark going into the season.
Kicker: I'm kinda nervous that the Cowboys are counting on David Buehler to kick field goals and extra points in addition to kickoffs. Yes, I know that most other teams only have one kicker but, in spite of the fiasco at the placekicker position last season, Buehler did a great job as a kickoff specialist. Let's hope that having both jobs doesn't take away from his booming kickoffs and doesn't impact on his accuracy as a field goal kicker.
Some people may be surprised that I did not list coaching as a concern. Bottom line is that Coach Wade did something that Parcells and other coaches in 13 seasons couldn't do - win a playoff game. He's also won two Eastern Conference Division titles during his time here. I am cautiously optimistic that he won't do anything to mess things up (as he has in the past). It seems that he's finally found his way of doing things and the players seem to respond to that.
Barring any serious injuries, this team is solid from top to bottom and has a real chance to make history by being the first team to play in the Superbowl in their home stadium. As I write this I am knocking on wood, throwing salt over my left shoulder, making the sign of the cross, burning a holy candle....
SEASON PREDICTION
The Cowboys have the league's third toughest schedule. They have to play Green Bay for the 4th straight year (and 3rd straight year at Lambeau Field) and will end their schedule against the Eagles for the 3rd straight year, as well. The schedule also includes games against the Superbowl Champ Saints. They also play the Vikings (who were in the NFC Championship game against the Saints) and the Colts (the AFC representative in the Superbowl).
In spite of all of this, I believe that the Cowboys will win the NFC East. I predict an 11-5 record and, for the first time in a very long time, I honestly think they will make it to the big game.
TRAINING CAMP/PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
Fri., July 23: Training camp opens to media in San Antonio
Sat., July 24: Practices begin in San Antonio
Fri., Aug. 6: Break camp in San Antonio
Sat., Aug. 7: Team travels from DFW to Canton
Sat., Aug. 7: Emmitt Smith Hall of Fame Induction - 7 p.m. (ET) Fawcett Stadium
Sun., Aug. 8: Hall of Fame Game, Fawcett Stadium - 8 p.m. (ET) -- Dallas vs. Cincinnati
Tues., Aug. 10-Wed., Aug. 11: Practices in Dallas (closed to the public)
Thurs., Aug. 12: 8 p.m. (CT) - Dallas vs. Oakland
Fri., Aug. 13: Travel to California
Sat., Aug. 14: Practices begin in Oxnard
Fri., Aug. 20: Travel to San Diego
Sat., Aug. 21: 6 p.m. (PT) - Dallas @ San Diego
Fri., Aug. 27: Break Camp in Oxnard - Travel to Houston
Sat., Aug. 28: 7 p.m. (CT) -- Dallas @ Houston
Tues., Aug. 31: Practice resumes at Valley Ranch
Thurs., Sept. 2: 7 p.m. (CT) -- Dallas vs. Miami
TRAINING CAMP NEWS
So Dez Bryant won't carry Roy Williams' pads? I bet if Romo or Austin asked him, he would do it in a heartbeat. As Drew Pearson said when asked about this, Bryant is a competitor. The player whose job he is after is asking him to carry his pads. Of course he should say "no". Then again, maybe Williams asked him to carry his pads because Williams was afraid he would drop them (insert rim shot here).
Here's another reason he shouldn't carry Williams' pads:
Enough said (again).
RANDOM STUFF
Top 5 rejected Superhero names:
Woman Man
Captain Meat
Floor Man
The Cosmic Liar
Moronicon
RANDOM PICTURES
Outside a furniture store in South Texas
For all the UT fans out there
My submission for "People of Walmart". Taken at a Dallas-area Walmart
Send your comments, thoughts, ideas, etc. to rants@dallastailgate.com
Even though I am not very superstitious, I do believe in jinxes. As in, "I don't want to say the Cowboys will be in the Superbowl because I don't want to jinx them". Then again...
This team is loaded. There are only three areas of concern that I can see before the season starts:
Offensive Line Depth: The starting line is pretty good. The big question is whether Doug Free can replace Flozell Adams (speaking of "The Hotel", does it make you wonder why he still hasn't been picked up by another team?). Anyways, the rest of the line is pretty solid but what happens if a starter has to miss games? I am hopeful that Alex Barron, Pat McQuistan and Montrae Holland could step in if necessary. I would also keep my eyes on Robert Brewster, who was drafted in 2009 but missed the entire year due to injury.
Safety: Ken Hamlin is gone (and a lot of folks think that is a good thing). Gerald Sensabaugh was a great acquisition last season and will do well at Strong Safety. The question is who will play Free Safety? It seemed that Alan Ball had all but won the job. News out of training camp is that Mike Hamlin is a legitimate challenger for that position. I believe that competition is always good and this will boost a position that was a potential question mark going into the season.
Kicker: I'm kinda nervous that the Cowboys are counting on David Buehler to kick field goals and extra points in addition to kickoffs. Yes, I know that most other teams only have one kicker but, in spite of the fiasco at the placekicker position last season, Buehler did a great job as a kickoff specialist. Let's hope that having both jobs doesn't take away from his booming kickoffs and doesn't impact on his accuracy as a field goal kicker.
Some people may be surprised that I did not list coaching as a concern. Bottom line is that Coach Wade did something that Parcells and other coaches in 13 seasons couldn't do - win a playoff game. He's also won two Eastern Conference Division titles during his time here. I am cautiously optimistic that he won't do anything to mess things up (as he has in the past). It seems that he's finally found his way of doing things and the players seem to respond to that.
Barring any serious injuries, this team is solid from top to bottom and has a real chance to make history by being the first team to play in the Superbowl in their home stadium. As I write this I am knocking on wood, throwing salt over my left shoulder, making the sign of the cross, burning a holy candle....
SEASON PREDICTION
The Cowboys have the league's third toughest schedule. They have to play Green Bay for the 4th straight year (and 3rd straight year at Lambeau Field) and will end their schedule against the Eagles for the 3rd straight year, as well. The schedule also includes games against the Superbowl Champ Saints. They also play the Vikings (who were in the NFC Championship game against the Saints) and the Colts (the AFC representative in the Superbowl).
In spite of all of this, I believe that the Cowboys will win the NFC East. I predict an 11-5 record and, for the first time in a very long time, I honestly think they will make it to the big game.
TRAINING CAMP/PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
Fri., July 23: Training camp opens to media in San Antonio
Sat., July 24: Practices begin in San Antonio
Fri., Aug. 6: Break camp in San Antonio
Sat., Aug. 7: Team travels from DFW to Canton
Sat., Aug. 7: Emmitt Smith Hall of Fame Induction - 7 p.m. (ET) Fawcett Stadium
Sun., Aug. 8: Hall of Fame Game, Fawcett Stadium - 8 p.m. (ET) -- Dallas vs. Cincinnati
Tues., Aug. 10-Wed., Aug. 11: Practices in Dallas (closed to the public)
Thurs., Aug. 12: 8 p.m. (CT) - Dallas vs. Oakland
Fri., Aug. 13: Travel to California
Sat., Aug. 14: Practices begin in Oxnard
Fri., Aug. 20: Travel to San Diego
Sat., Aug. 21: 6 p.m. (PT) - Dallas @ San Diego
Fri., Aug. 27: Break Camp in Oxnard - Travel to Houston
Sat., Aug. 28: 7 p.m. (CT) -- Dallas @ Houston
Tues., Aug. 31: Practice resumes at Valley Ranch
Thurs., Sept. 2: 7 p.m. (CT) -- Dallas vs. Miami
TRAINING CAMP NEWS
So Dez Bryant won't carry Roy Williams' pads? I bet if Romo or Austin asked him, he would do it in a heartbeat. As Drew Pearson said when asked about this, Bryant is a competitor. The player whose job he is after is asking him to carry his pads. Of course he should say "no". Then again, maybe Williams asked him to carry his pads because Williams was afraid he would drop them (insert rim shot here).
Here's another reason he shouldn't carry Williams' pads:
Enough said (again).
RANDOM STUFF
Top 5 rejected Superhero names:
Woman Man
Captain Meat
Floor Man
The Cosmic Liar
Moronicon
RANDOM PICTURES
Outside a furniture store in South Texas
For all the UT fans out there
My submission for "People of Walmart". Taken at a Dallas-area Walmart
Send your comments, thoughts, ideas, etc. to rants@dallastailgate.com
