beevomav
V.I.P.
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2011
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- 2,956
It's been an active off season for 'America's Team.' For the first time in several the Cowboys signed a few significant free agents.
The cream of the crop is CB Brandon Carr. He signed a (5)year contract for nearly $50 million but he is only 25 so he should play out the contract. Romeo Crennel"I think they're getting a very good cover corner. He's got length. He's got speed. He's developed a mental toughness about playing the position." High praise from the head coach and noted defensive coordinator.
They also signed FB Lawrence Vickers, ILB Dan Connors, QB Kyle Orton, G/T Nate Livings, C Mackenzy Bernadeau and S Brodney Pool. Vickers gives the team the best blocking FB since Moose Johnson, Connors is a really tough ILB against the run,Orton gives the Cowboys a good back up to Romo, Livings will probably be the starting G come the season opener and Pool has a chance to play since he was coached in Cleveland by Rob Ryan.
Add to these their number one draft pick, CB Morris Clairbornd of LSU who some are saying is the best pure cover corner since Deon Sanders and you have a defense that has been severely upgraded. Last season the Cowboys ranked near the top of the NFL in sacks with 42. They also ranked close to the bottom with what can only be described as a horrible secondary. The CB upgrade should make the QB hold the ball a bit longer and that will only improve the sack totals.
The key might be the health of RB DeMarco Murry. The OU star was having a great year when he went down with a season ending injury. Without a running game, Tony Romo ran for his life in the second half of the season. In his first 10 games Romo was sacked 10 times. In the last 6 without Murry he was sacked 22 times. They also went 2-4 in those games.
Dallas also needs a third WR. Last season Laurent Robinson had a break out year with over 900 yards and 11 td's. His replacement will probably come from the one of the young guys as Jerry Jones said they will not aquire a third receiver on the free agent market.
I see the big problem, like last season, as the OLine. So far they have flipped their tackles with Smith moving to LT and Free going back to his natural position of RT. The question marks are in the interior line. Livings is the only new player in the line since G/C Mackenzy Bernadeau suffered an injury and will be out for the first several weeks. That leaves last years cast of failures to protect Romo, who despite no running game and a horrilble OLine, had a career year.
Dallas has one of the toughest schedules and if they have any chance of making the playoffs they need to do better against the Giants and Eagles. Last season the Boys went 0-4 against their rivals and add to the mix the Redskins drafted RGIII.
Most experts are prediction 8-8 for the team and Vegas has their odds of winning the SB at 25-1. The thing about 8-8 is a game here or there and you are 10-6 or 6-10. Staying healthy and getting a little luck are always keys to winning.
Take the Giants. In their first SB win a few years back, if Philly had not given up a 28 point lead in the 4th quarter, the Giants would not have made the playoffs. Last year if Jason Garrett doesn't ice his own kicker against the Cardiac, the GMen would not have won that one either. A little luck and it can happen again.
Go Cowboys.
