I keep reading how everyone has the Cowboys being third in the NFC East this season, but I can’t seem to see the logic behind it.  And in this division, anything can happen.  So, are the Eagles and Giants that much better than the Cowboys?

The Giants – I think they are a talented and a well-coached team, but I think they have their share of concerns as well.

• Offense - One of the faults everyone has on the Cowboys is lack of a big-play WR.  When they lost Plaxico Burress, it put them in the same situation as the Cowboys releasing TO.  We saw what happened to them last year after Plax was suspended.  Can they replace his production?  Do the Giants actually have a better set of WRs than the Cowboys?   

• Defense – The Giants actually still have a great defense, but the point that nobody is really talking about is their defensive coordinator is no longer there.  As we know, you can have all the talent on defense and not have the right coordinator calling the plays.  It does make a difference, and I see trouble brewing already with Osi going AWOL today.  It just shows that everyone has their own style of coaching and their own style of play-calling and it can make a world of difference.  I think it is showing already.

The Eagles – Is it just me or do the Eagles sound like the ’08 Cowboys?  With all the hype, all the talent, the great draft, the new FA pickup with distractions (all they need is Hard Knocks); it just reminds me of what everyone was saying about the Cowboys last year.  Will they falter like we did?  Only time will tell.  Besides them sounding like the ’08 Cowboys, here are concerns I think they have as well.

• Offense – I think with Vick in the mix, it will cause problems for their offense.  Can the offense get into a rhythm with McNabb and Vick in the offense?  If McNabb struggles, will it cause a divisive force in the locker room (i.e. some players wanting Vick to start, others supporting McNabb)?  I just think they are asking for trouble with McNabb and Vick in the same locker room and expecting everything to be good.  You know how thin-skinned McNabb can be?  I think we are seeing it already.  The offensive line is another big concern I think they should have.  They are not healthy yet, and when they all do get healthy it will be the first time they are on the field together.  It will take some time for that o-line to get into a rhythm and it will take more than a few games for that to happen.  And WRs?  They have a second year guy (D. Jackson), who I like by the way, and a rookie (Maclin) that you don’t know how well he will play or if he will even stay healthy (i.e. Felix Jones).  How will both of these players do this year being so young?  They should have their concerns at WR as well.

• Defense – First and foremost, Jim Johnson is gone, God rest his soul, and nobody will be able to replace him as a defensive coordinator.  Nobody!  As I mentioned earlier with the Giants, a new defensive coordinator will be a different coaching style and different play-calling. They also have lost Dawkins to free agency; he will be surely missed.  They have had injuries to their LB core too, which will not help their cause.

 I am not saying that the Cowboys will win the division, but I don’t know how anybody can say that the Eagles or Giants will win the division with them having some of the same concerns as the Cowboys.  And the Redskins – Do you really want to count out the Redskins?  They are in the NFC East and are always a tough opponent.  I think the division winner is hardly the one that everyone picks at the beginning of the season because plenty of things can happen to turn this division upside down.  Why don’t we wait until….say….mid season before making a prediction regarding this division?  You would have a better chance of being right.

I know this is a Cowboys site but I had to tell someone what I got in my draft yesterday.  I had the 2nd pick in a 10-Team draft.  For the record, our scoring system is as follows:

3 pts-20 passing yds

2 pts-10 receiving yds

1 pt-10 rushing yds

6 pt-TD

QB-RB-RB-WR-WR-WR-WR/RB-DEF-K

As you can see, our league is a high-scoring league and favors QBs & WRs.

So,here are my starters who I got in my draft and the round I got them:

1. Adrian Petersen RB

2. LaDainian Tomlinson  RB

3. Reggie Wayne WR

4. DeSean Jackson WR

5. Jason Witten TE

6. Eddie Royal WR

7. Jay Cutler QB

8. Felix Jones WR/RB

15. Chicago DEF

16. Rob Bironas K

What do you guys think?  I was so excited to get LT in the bottom of the 2nd (never thought he would be there).  I was going RB WR WR WR RB, but I couldn't let LT go by.  I think he is in for a huge year.  As you can tell, I got a couple homer picks, but they are GREAT homer picks.  I think I did outstanding this year but wanted some feedback.  Any feedback?

on NFL Network yesterday and it brought back memories:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good -

·        Romo played like the QB we all fell in love with, moving around making great throws finishing for over 300 yds and 2 TDs.

·        Witten was a monster catching 15 for over 100 yds (I know the Cover 2 really opened up Witten)

·        Barber was a beast. He fired me up!

The Bad –

·        TO was his usual self that game.  You could tell he wasn’t happy, because he wasn’t getting the football.  I think he caught 3 passes for 35 yds.  TO was being double covered but he failed to get open for most of the day, and if you watched the game, at the very end when TO is walking off the field after a WIN, he clearly wasn't happy.  Great WRs get open no matter what and if they don’t get open, they should be happy for the WIN.  I am glad he is gone.

The Ugly –

·        Our DEF was horrible in that game, giving up over 100 rushing yds and Kitna was throwing all over the field.  Without a missed FG by DET we would have lost that game.

I guess my point is, I liked that season so much and even though we had to come back to beat the Lions, we were able to do it with good QB play, good TE play, good RB play, and not much WR play from TO.

This season, with no TO I would like to have the old Romo show back up having fun like he was in that game and for the most of that entire season and Barber being the beast he was that season, and we know Witten will still be a monster.  Plus we have added some other weapons to go along with those players.  Our DEF is going to be our achilles heel this season.  We can’t let offenses move up and down the field scoring at will.  That has to change for our team to be successful.  I know most people are worried about our offense without TO; but my concern, which has been the same the last several years, is all about the DEF.

 I think the “Good” is actually better with the “Bad” being gone, but I am still waiting for the “Ugly” to turn into something beautiful.

After the debacle in Philly last season, I was as mad as I have ever been about the Cowboys.  Over the years, there were disappointing games and seasons, but I never felt like I did after that performance.  Needless to say, my optimism for this season was not good.  And the comments after that embarrassing loss made it even worse; starting with Wade Phillips and ending with Tony Romo.   

But now it is a couple of weeks before the 2009 NFL draft and I must say that my optimism is a little better than I imagined and here is why:

1)      The release of Terrell Owens – I know that it can be argued that the release of TO will hurt the Cowboys this season, but I would have to respectfully disagree.  The Cowboys’ offense will obviously be different without TO, but they will be a better TEAM without him.  No more trying to please him, forcing balls to him, no more drama that seems to follow him around, and no more using him as an excuse.  With all the weapons the Cowboys have, collectively, it should be no problem spreading the ball around and making up TO’s production.

2)      The firing of Bruce Read (Special Teams Coach) – I know the players have to perform and he may have needed better players, but it still comes down to coaching and motivation; and it seemed that the players were not being coached and/or motivated very well.  A change needed to be made and I think our special teams will be better this year because of it.

3)      The signing of QB John Kitna – Although I am not a huge fan of Kitna, I do like the acquisition for a few reasons.  I believe getting rid of B. Johnson had to be done (we saw what happened last year without a quality back-up), Kitna is a definite upgrade, and his relationship with Roy Williams could pay huge dividends.  My only complaint would be trading for him and what we gave up for him.  We may have been able to acquire him a few weeks later for nothing; it was rumored the Lions were going to release him.  Nevertheless, good acquisition.

4)      The Cowboys’ three-headed monster – Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice should be the next NYG’s Earth, Wind, and Fire.  Last season, with Felix already on IR, and Barber nursing his injury, Choice stepped up (against the top 5 defenses) and let us all know that when all three RBs are healthy, the Cowboys will have an exciting backfield.

Although, we won’t know the actual effect of any of the above, good or bad, until season’s end; I am more optimistic about this season now than I was a few months ago.  But I am keeping my optimism to winning games; not Playoffs or Super Bowls. We know where that gets us.  A 44 – 6 thrashing by a division rival.