There’s a lot to be happy about the Dallas Cowboys right now; moreover, they are playing better than last season and on both sides of the ball. With six games in the bag the Cowboys are sitting at 5-1 and picking up some serious momentum especially after winning big on the road in Seattle.
This defense knows they can play against a championship offense and our offense knows it can play well against a championship defense, so that’s a nice morality boost at the minimum.
Are these Cowboys better than the 2007 season in which they went 13-3?
I say yes. Will the Cowboys finish 13-3? I’m not so sure about that, but I do know these 2014 Cowboys are playing with some vintage swagger. The 2007 team did not have that. They had flash, but folded under the pressure against the surging Giants, they lacked discipline. I don’t see these current Cowboys doing that, and that’s why I think they are looking better than the 2007 team.
For me, I’ve been waiting for the upward tick. I’ve been waiting for Garrett to steadily improve the team each year, just as Jimmy Johnson had done when he took over as head coach in 1989. That’s the bar he set and that’s the bar I’ve compared every team since Jimmy left and none have done a good job. Well, maybe Parcells is in that conversation too.
Garrett has been stuck in that 8-8 rut for three consecutive seasons, but he’s been steadily revamping the offensive line and it started with Tyron Smith as his first pick. Garrett has also been churning the roster since he took over and I truly believe this is the year all the roster moves and draft picks are starting to come together for Garrett. Garrett has his players and he has his mantra ingrained in his players, it’s be so evident in many of the player interviews. They are speaking with one voice, and united.
Right now this team feels like 1991 to me. Every die hard that can remember the 90’s dynasty remembers how we got there: 1-15; 7-9; 11-5; SB; SB
In 1991, the offensive line was coming together and Emmitt Smith ran for 1,563 yards behind that physical offensive line. It also marked the first year Norv Turner was brought in to call the plays. Some of this sounds like today. DeMarco Murray is on track at having a similar season if not better, and Scott Linehan has been brought in and doing some solid play calling for the Cowboys in his first year here as well.
It would be great to finish with a solid record this year and a playoff run, but more importantly I want to continue to see that on-field swagger. I want to see us continue to play physical on both sides of the ball, and if we do that, then Jason Garrett will get a new contract and the program can continue on it’s upward tick towards a Super Bowl run.
Defensively, the Cowboys mirror the 1991 squad mainly because they were just one player away from getting that defense on the Doomsday level. In 1992, the Cowboys traded for Charles Haley and the defense was rocking. The 2014 Cowboys are a lot like 1991 in the sense that they have a solid squad right now, but missing that one harassing edge rusher. The Cowboys had a solid defensive tackle rotation, but they were missing that edge rusher.
Can DeMarcus Lawrence be that missing player? He’s been on IR w/return designation and was able to start practice again starting today. Lawrence is projected to play against the Cardinals. If Lawrence can provide an added pass rushing spark, we could be looking at some serious defense the rest of the way. I like what we’re doing so far, but the more weapons the better.
Lawrence could be the key to our offseason strategy in 2015. If he’s the real deal and shows he can be a force, then the Cowboys will have all sorts of options for free agency and the draft. 2014 could end up being a pretty good year for us, but if we’re on this upward tick like I think we are, then 2015 could be huge for Dallas.
Credit Jerry Jones for working closely with Garrett and keeping the course. I also like the move Jerry did when he appointed Will McClay as the draft czar. I don’t anticipate seeing anymore Morris Claiborne whiffs on McClay’s watch.
The Cowboys just need to keep doing what they have been doing. One play at a time, one opponent at a time. Stay humble. No surrender, never say die. They should be in that “I wanna kick their ass” attitude.
Now it’s time to run the table on the NFC East. How bad do you think Jerry wants to crush the Giants?
Let’s Go Cowboys! Bring on the Giants.
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