Dallas 2017

[MIKEWISNER]

Think they'll do well this year?

[Dallas94Ware]

8-8. Hate to say it and it breaks my heart, but 8-8.

 

Even if Zeke misses say 4, instead of 6. Given this teams schedule, its division (This isnt Patrick Ramseys Redskins anymore, Giants are a very hot and cold team, and the Eagles always seem 1 big play away from victory), and the slew of youngsters in the secondary without a dominant passrush is going to be a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Dak may improve, should improve, but I dont think his defense gives him nearly as many chances as last year - especially if we cant play Monkey In The Middle/keep away with Zeke for x amount of games.

It is possible to be a BETTER team this year and completely whiff on our playoff chances.

Likely this teams success rides and dies on a young QB...and not Dak Prescott. But Carson Wentz. If Wentz can make the Eagles competitive, thats all 3 division opponents capable of abusing our young secondary. I dont like those odds.

I want to say 9-7 is also quite a realistic expectation, but unfortunately, so is 7-9.

[Dirk Gently]

Gimme 11-5.

Mainly because I don't at all see the scary division D94W sees. 

The Giants think they have the "blueprint" for Dak, but what they really have is his first ever NFL start, a few key drops by star players (Dez and Beasley), and an icebowl-ish 3 point victory at home. More to the point, they still have massive problems in their o-line.

The Eagles have a developing QB that they paid a fortune in picks for, very little in the way of receivers around him (from what I have seen, his connection with Jeffery still looks tenuous), and a really good TE to go with their usual aggressive defense.

The Skins have a pretty decent QB, but also seem afraid to build around him and might be the ultimate example of Scott Kacsmar's QB purgatory, if it weren't for the Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill. They are also fairly lackluster at WR, though Crowder is a strong payer and Doctson could certainly turn into one at any time.

But I also disagree with the secondary being especially weak. Nolan Carroll is a slightly faster Brandon Carr. Anthony Brown was outstanding last year and has been strong in camp this year. Orlando Scandrick is clearly feeling healthier than he has in a couple of years and his first game action last week showed a lot of fire as he was all over the field. Those are two vets and a well proven youngster with a slew of NFL starts.

Then at safety you have Jeff Heath, who has been a team leader in splash plays with limited snaps getting an expanded role, and Byron Jones who is the most talented for sure, and probably the best player in the secondary. He's been strong for a couple of years and is also having a terrific camp.

I'm not saying these guys are the 2000 Ravens, but they ought to be a solid unit. And the pass rush? well, that's interesting... looking at the reinforcements only, here

I didn't like Taco. But he has put together a pair of strong games. Charles Tapper looks like "Almost Anthony" Spencer out there, with a lot of nice rushes but no production to show for it.  Stephen Paea looked really good in his first game for us, giving some nice push inside. Damontre Moore has some impressive bend and as been beating some down the roster guys quite badly, but is also getting some pressure against the earlier guys as well. There's some possibilities there.

 

 

[quiller]

While it is hard to predict just what kind of season Dallas will have tell the Eliot situation is resolved It is clear based on the Indy game that Dallas will not be lacking in confidence especially their offense.    And they will be able to score enough to win a lot of games against even good defenses. Thus   I  don't see any reason not to expect them not to win the division. Even if the D slips a bit from last year in terms of production

Past history tells us you do not win the division in sept sure u can lose it but I don't see that happening too Dallas as I don't see Dallas starting 0-4.  And any of the other three going 4-0.    If  Elliot is too miss games to start is an ideal time.  Now both Morris and run DmC are both healthy.  I hope expect our OL to be healthy as well too start.    The only concern I have at this point is that the two rooks in our secondary that we will need before years end have zero playing time yet While I trust the main three back there we have coming back Jones scandrick Brown   We need more then that as I don't think our DL is gonna be any different from last year 

[WizardHawk]

10-6 and wildcard. 

See what DG said. 

One thing I will say, that is a brutal schedule. Dallas has their work cut out.

[Dallas94Ware]

14 hours ago, Dirk Gently said:

Gimme 11-5.

Mainly because I don't at all see the scary division D94W sees. 

The Giants think they have the "blueprint" for Dak, but what they really have is his first ever NFL start, a few key drops by star players (Dez and Beasley), and an icebowl-ish 3 point victory at home. More to the point, they still have massive problems in their o-line.

The Eagles have a developing QB that they paid a fortune in picks for, very little in the way of receivers around him (from what I have seen, his connection with Jeffery still looks tenuous), and a really good TE to go with their usual aggressive defense.

The Skins have a pretty decent QB, but also seem afraid to build around him and might be the ultimate example of Scott Kacsmar's QB purgatory, if it weren't for the Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill. They are also fairly lackluster at WR, though Crowder is a strong payer and Doctson could certainly turn into one at any time.

But I also disagree with the secondary being especially weak. Nolan Carroll is a slightly faster Brandon Carr. Anthony Brown was outstanding last year and has been strong in camp this year. Orlando Scandrick is clearly feeling healthier than he has in a couple of years and his first game action last week showed a lot of fire as he was all over the field. Those are two vets and a well proven youngster with a slew of NFL starts.

Then at safety you have Jeff Heath, who has been a team leader in splash plays with limited snaps getting an expanded role, and Byron Jones who is the most talented for sure, and probably the best player in the secondary. He's been strong for a couple of years and is also having a terrific camp.

I'm not saying these guys are the 2000 Ravens, but they ought to be a solid unit. And the pass rush? well, that's interesting... looking at the reinforcements only, here

I didn't like Taco. But he has put together a pair of strong games. Charles Tapper looks like "Almost Anthony" Spencer out there, with a lot of nice rushes but no production to show for it.  Stephen Paea looked really good in his first game for us, giving some nice push inside. Damontre Moore has some impressive bend and as been beating some down the roster guys quite badly, but is also getting some pressure against the earlier guys as well. There's some possibilities there.

 

 

Man, I wish I could be this optimistic.

Carrol is a good player, and he will be quite the value at his contract withiut a doubt. But I have a hard time seeing Scandrick returning to form so quickly. And while Brown looks like a player, I think the depth behind him is full of way too many questions and not enough answers.

Division wise...

The Giants have no blue print, I give ya that. They had slim victories when skill players came up short, in both the first and second meeting. They do, however, have the ability to open up a defense with Shep as a third guy and that new TE as an option either tight, split or even wide. Byron can likely handle him, but in opening up and spreading out the D, those questions show their faces a bit more.

The Skins do lack for skill players. But I am a huge fan of Cousins. He places the ball well, makes good decisions, and does not rattle easily. A guy like that, with a good ground game, becomes a troublesome nut to crack at any given week.

 

Wentz is the real question. I dont believe in him, I didnt like him coming into the NFL and I knew he would have major transition issues. But that light still could come in, and if it does, that makes for a total of six games, division games that really matter for playoff hopes, against really good or even franchise caliber QBs. Not to mention the rest of the rather tough schedule.

You make good points though, and hell, I wish I could be that optimistic. Im hopeful, but that schedule is really rough for a young team who may go without their star runner for a month or longer. Maybe Im being too much of a pessimist. But I worry for the teams ability to play well with so many youngsters at key spots. 

I wil say, if Lawrence/Tapper/Collins/Crawford all play to their potential, and Taco and Jaylon can contribute in the ways we hope, our front 7 will greatly bolster the abilities of our secondary. Then I could see us going well.

Ive just grown tired of saying year after year after year "this young DL has so much depth and potential" then game after game facepalming myself at their inability to pressure a QB. From now on Ill believe it after I see it! lol

[Dirk Gently]

I hear ya, D94.  Particularly about the d-line. It's been "potential" for years now. There are some flashes of hope... but only that, and they may be as mediocre this year as they have been the last 3.

Collins really looks like a beast at the interior, though.  His 1v1s during the "compete period" with Martin have been consistently epic. Martin's pretty good, last I checked.

As for Scandrick, I'm guessing you didn't see the game Saturday?  He looked like himself. Totally. Including the usual chip on his shoulder, this time presumably because of the off season trade rumors.

If your question marks at CB start with #4, when #4 and #5 are your 2nd and 3rd round rookie draft picks, you're probably not that bad.

Also I want to be clear that I am not so much down on Cousins as commenting on the Redskins refusal to bank on him... which *is* going to affect the way the rest of the team perceives him.

[Dallas94Ware]

Collins was a real energetic mauler when he hit the field last year. And Lawrence, going into a real veteran year now, should really hit the ground running and make some waves. And Crawford played with some dings on and off, and we have seen he can be a force when given a chance.

But in saying all this, I stop myself and think again how Ive been saying all this about every DL rotation we have had for 3 years. Always so much ootential, always looking good, then always flat when season comes. Its like hiring an escort who only lets you cuddle  I, and you, have been saying it for years how this line could surprise...and every year im let down.

I hear you though, with our 4 and 5 corners being high picks and our depth looking sharp. It does overall. Thats fair to say. But I do fear for how well itll all play out withiht a rush. So much youth behind the top 2, youth at safety, and a DL that may or may not be good..it makes me far more pessimistic than I wish I was.

I want to say how Dak and his large array of targets could easily outdo the high point total potency of Pittsburgh. I want to say McFadden and Morris will still churn out 120 rushing totals per game. I want to say Free and Leary gone isnt going to hurt the offense. But I just cant. Not until i see more. Too many changes to a great team. Too many berries picked off the bush can kill the bush.

I hope I am dead wrong, though.

Whats your take in Carson "Slantz"?

 

[Matts4313]

When weve had our starting QB, weve had consistently one of the top tier teams in the NFL for a few years now. I dont see why that changes. Sure injuries could derail us. Im actually pretty excited about the defense. Not all of them will pan out, but if nothing else they are young and athletic. Should be fun to watch. 

[Northland]

I'm concerned about the schedule and our defense especially the DL.  I just don't see us generating consistent pressure.  That, and our brutal schedule means we won't repeat last year's 13 wins.  This team plays hard.    If they stay healthy I'll call 10 wins.  

[Dirk Gently]

18 hours ago, Dallas94Ware said:

Whats your take in Carson "Slantz"?

 

Before I get to that I want to say you are absolutely right about our takes on the defensive line.

I think Wentz could develop. He's definitely the best, so far, of the other Day 1/Day 2 QBs in that class (though Goff has made a couple of nice throws this preseason and I am interested to see where he's at against real defenses). I think Wentz is Alex Smith-ish so far, and I'm not really sure I see that changing. Jeffery could become the guy that helps him open up, but he's got to stay healthy and get on the same page. But I do believe he will develop into a good NFL QB. I don't yet see the game slowing down for him, but if it does, he could be a great one.

But that's the thing. QB in the NFL is so much about vision, understanding, and confidence. You have to be decisive, aggressive, and careful all at once and that is a tall order. And you can't predict who has it at an NFL level and who doesn't. An NFL QB has to be able to throw in the low 50mph range and should really be at least 6'2", though some good to great ones have been smaller (Wilson and Brees come immediately to mind). Anything more than that is mere icing. Being 6'5", or throwing a 58 mph rocket are nice, but have very little to do with great QB play. The real question... the real separator for whether someone is a quality NFL QB or not... is "did the ball come out on time and on target?" and the difference between bad, good, and great is really just a matter of how consistently the answer is "yes".

Which is why some one like Dak can happen while someone like Goff can flounder. The whole reason Cowboys fans love Cooper Rush is that the ball is consistently out on time and on target.  And if he can keep doing it when the defenses get more complicated, then they found another one.

 

[Dallas94Ware]

Well said there, Dirk. I have to say that Wentz surprised me some with his overall play. While it was very up and down, that is often to be expected of a QB who was always the best player on the field before he reached the NFL. He played in a college division that some H.S. teams could have remained competitive with (certainly none around me, but ive seen some really good stuff out west).

His biggest hurdle isnt even the jump in competition, though. Its his offense. Both the players around him and the system/playcalling. Obviously he is lacking in quality targets, Jeffery aside. But even Jeffery, he tends to be very sloppy in his routes and breaking into separation. The playcalling leaned so heavily on the basic stuff Wentz ran in college that defenses could easily key in on the playcall well before the snap. While the depth of playcalling should change as he grows, you have to see the growth in confidence, accuracy and understanding in order to expand what you ask of a young QB. And I didnt see that in Wentz.

Thats why I call him Slantz. You cannot win a game running slants and crosses all game long.

The ball does come out pretty well though, and I like the overall package that he offers. Fairly athletic, good arm, good overall delivery. But the mental package will make or break him, and if cant overcome that hurdle it could be a long process to becoming a decent player - much like the guy you mentioned in Alex Smith who took a while to grow to his potential, for quite the same reasons.