As we all know, Tampa Bay offers the Cowboys a solid test for their new offensive and defensive schemes. With a commonly stout defense, our offense should be able to prove whether or not it’s as proficient as it claims it can be.
Here are a few reasons why our Offense can succeed:
1) Jason Garrett is a offensive mastermind, with Felix Jones and Marion Barber coming out in a possibly sloppy day, the formations and versatility that can be created with just those two names alone are limitless. We know what to expect with this tandem, but really who can stop them?
2) Tampa has to gameplan for more receiver threats then they’re actually expecting. With the emergence of Hurd and Ogletree, the speed of Austin, and the combinational attacks of Crayton and Williams, the utilization of talented wide receivers will be evident throughout differen’t packages. They should all receive ample reps to produce. However, with the impressive and underrated talent in the receiver position, 2 other receivers produce a bigger threat. Marty-B and J Witt are great all around tight ends, who will either produce big or create a distraction and draw double teams and schemes that will allow our Wide outs to produce significantly enough to score over 14 points.
3) Lastly, Tony Romo. Earlier this week Emmitt Smith called out Romo’s leadership. I truly believe that Romo has evolved into the leader that he wants to be. That’s all we can ask. Tony Romo is a capable top 10 Quarterback who can deliver. Don’t believe me? We’ll in his 2 Season Openers he’s started in he’s undefeated. Not just undefeated but he’s been dominant. In 2007 he opened against the Giants, producing 15/24 345 yards, and 4 TD’s. In 2008 we opened against Cleveland with 24/32 320 yards, and 1 TD. In total that’s 39/56 665 yards and 5 TD’s. That’s a total passer rating of 136.97.
Oh and last time Romo played the Bucs? 22/29 305 yards 5 TD.
As for the other side of the Ball. Byron Leftwich will lead an inconsistent offensive unit. Antonio Bryant will likely produce, but Cadillac Williams is a great unknown.
Here are a few Reasons why our Defense will succeed:
1) Byron Leftwich has an unusually slow release. With an offensive line that is barely mediocre, the likelihood that the Cowboys star studded linebackers will be knocking on the door all day, is highly likely.
2) Byron Leftwich has an unusually slow release. With all that time to read the Quarterback, Our coverage units could have a field day. Not saying it’s going to be pick central, but I expect some good defended passes and a pick or two.
3) Our Defensive lineman, are run stopping, QB droppers. They will dominate TB’s O-Line and create nightmares for Cadillac and Ward.
Last Word
Listen I’ve been doing some looking around lately. All I see is pessimism, from fans, Dallas/sports reporters, and even people close to the organization. This is what I say, we are Cowboys Fans, we are supposed to be loyal and supportive of a team that brings us so much. If you are just rooting for the cowboys when they win, or disowning them when the screw up, then the bus stops here. I don’t want to hear your stupid pessimism and your ridiculous claims. You aren’t playing football, you’re sitting on your couch with a beer, a brat, and maybe a PS3 controller contolling your Madden Superstar. The point is, if you’re a fan, love and support your team. If it’s hard to do that and you can’t be a tad optimistic, shut up and color.
“Jason Garrett is a offensive mastermind”
Haha. This article has lost all credibility.
Chad, I can certainly understand your point. That particular line stood out to me, as well. But on the other hand, it’s a tad bit early in his career to argue either way. Let the results of the game tomorrow sway your vote. Despite that brief point of conjecture, he actually has accurately assessed this game. Leftwich is notorious for his slow release. In fact, I’m having a hard time understanding why a West Coast offense even gave Leftwich the time of day. Don’t get me wrong, I think in the right system, Leftwich could be effective; but he is the furthest thing from a West Coast QB currently playing in the league, in my opinion. I’d say Tampa is biding their time with Byron until they can either draft a QB more suited for their offensive scheme or pick one up in Free Agency next year. Either way, I too am looking for a day that leaves Leftwich with a lasting impression of how the sky looks. In fact, with Spencer manning the other side of the line from Demarcus Ware, I’d say we could expect a year that comes fairly close to trumping last year’s sack production.
The true test is gonna be if Romo can FINALLY carry on that dominance into Nov/Dec….. but fuck all the haters saying the Cowboys aren’t gonna do anything this year. Was watching NFL Network earlier today and the topic came up “Are the Cowboys flying under the radar?”…. Of course they all said no, including ex-buc warren sapp…. I just laughed and turned the t.v. off….. im def. stoked for tomorrow, and def. will have BEER IN HAND come 1pm.
HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS!!!
For some reason I cannot see my latest comment but to expound briefly on what I wrote, I don’t think we can truly judge Jason Garrett by 2007 or 2008. In 2007, my fading fast memory of the year remembers most of our bigger play’s coming from time’s when the orginal play called was busted and Romo was forced to create. In 2008, I think Jason felt a general pull towards trying to keep T.O. happy, so he could avoid the lockerroom melt down that was eminent regardless of his efforts, and he was having to compensate for quite a few injuries that hampered his options in the playbook. For instance, with a wet paper towel for an offensive line, injuries hampering is star TE Jason Witten, and a hobbled RB crew, he had to completely shift from what he wanted to do into play’s that protected the latter mentioned player’s and still catered to T.O.’s “I love a whole lot of me” personality. As we saw, it wasn’t a recipe for success, but considering the aforementioned, success was a tall order.
No, 2009 will be Jason Garrett’s true test. If he allow’s himself to get sucked into being one-dimensional with that pass-happy offense he likes to call, I’ll be in line with the rest of you, egg’s in hand.
Joe C – Don’t expect that speculation to change if the Cowboy’s dominate the Buc’s; most analyst are picking the Cowboy’s to win here anyway. I’m sure they already have a built in excuse for the Giant’s losing to the Cowboy’s, likely admitting that the Giant’s weren’t who they thought they were, before saying the Cowboy’s are a strong unit. No, most will be waiting to see how they fair in December, considering this uncanny trend for the Cowboy’s to falter during the latter month’s of the season.
However, on the same network, watching the NFC Playbook, the former offensive lineman, not sure what his name is, has already predicted the Cowboy’s will be in Superbowl 44, placing special emphasis on the Cowboy’s trio of RB’s as a big part of his reasoning. And Randy Galloway, the great detractor of all analyst, have the Cowboy’s going deep into the playoff’s, and he’s a bit up in arms about the national media’s general snub of the Cowboy’s, pointing in particular to ESPN’s recently released Power Rankings placing the Cowboys at 17. Furthermore, Romo doesn’t even make the Top 12 for QB’s in the league. It’s ridiculous; but this is exactly how the Cowboy’s need to be treated until that can actually win a play off game. I realize it can be frustrating to watch the mediots cling desperately to the status quo that was, for the most part, created by these same analyst being dead wrong about the last year, but it is what it is and their opinion’s mean absolutely nothing when it comes to the actual outcome of game’s; as last year should serve as a fairly convincing reminder.
Jonathan I couldn’t agree more. Expectations cause pressure, no pressure this year…thats fine with me. The boys should flourish now that they can focus on silencing the critics.
Okay, so the Buc’s aren’t exactly who we thought they were; or in my case, who I hoped they were. They are defying the odds, given the amount of changes there were made. But I still don’t think these Bucs can close this game out. I’m looking for a much cleaner performance in the second half. The opening-game jitters should be put to bed, and we will start to see what this Cowboy’s team is really about.
Unfortunately I have not been able to watch the game but from what I am hearing, the Boys have opened a large can of “whoop Ass” in the second half! And can we please now drop the Roy Williams is not a number one talk?
HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS!!!!
First half was, to me, shaking off the rust coming off from last season, but second half the Boys unleashed the fury on them. How bout Romo with a career day? Our D needs to work on a few things here and there, but damn, I cant wait the Giants next weekend!!!!
Absolutely! Roy Williams stepped up and looked just like he did in college today. Good hands, strong, big, physical, so yeah, enough talk about him not being a number 1 receiver. And how about Crayton stepping up and taking it to the house like that? He had a couple of good catches for long gains.
Romo did good too. He did have the jitters to start with, but got those out with 1:03 to go in the second quarter.
I’m worried about Sensabaugh and Ware though, neither made an impact after they each came off the field for an inury, though I believe both returned. We went to a our second team defense damn early.
Yeah there sayin Sensabaugh has a “rib injury”, so we will see.
Just a side note, I was reading the blogs over at DC.com and looking at the comments. I have come to the conclusion that there aren’t but a handful of true Cowboys fans there, there is about 150 NEGATIVE comments compared to like 10 positive. WTF?
I haven’t looked at DC.com, but if I had to guess, the general consensus would be the Cowboy’ performance today would not have worked well against our interdivisional foes. The vast majority of our scores today came from blown coverages. I wouldn’t count on that happening against the Giants next week. Hopefully, the Cowboys can right the ship between now and next Sunday.