Cowboys on the climb
Yes I know the Cowboys lost again, I know they threw another lead away, and I know they have Tony Romo as quarterback, but I genuinely believe that they are a hair’s breadth away from being Super Bowl contenders.
No, I’m not joking.
Their 20 -16 loss to the Patriots last Sunday showed me exactly why they are so close to being a great football team. The Rob Ryan defense managed Tom Brady and that explosive Pats offense to such an extent that when they forced a punt with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, I for one thought the game was over.
It was only the incredibly conservative play calling by head coach Jason Garrett that saved New England from starting 4-2 instead of 5-1.
Despite not having the greatest depth chart on the defensive side of the ball, Rob Ryan has managed to get the Cowboys playing an efficient game, one that has earned them the NFL’s best run stoppers award by week seven.
A mention has to go to DeMarcus Ware. He is scarily good. I don’t think much more needs to be said about that man, he pressured Tom Brady by just looking at him.
On the other hand, the weaknesses and injury problems in their secondary have been well documented, but I believe they are one top corner or safety away from being very strong. As the trade deadline has passed, it looks as if this is the area that Dallas will target in the 2012 draft, or in free agency, where bargains are always there to be had.
And let’s be honest here, if Jerry Jones really needs something or someone, he will get out his wallet.
Offensively, they are pretty much set. The Cowboys possess some of the best weapons in the league, wideouts Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are supreme talents at their position, and Jason Witten is one of the top tight ends in football.
The injury to running back Felix Jones could actually work in Dallas’ favour as it will give a chance to their rookie third round pick from Oklahoma, DeMarco Murray, who, from what I’ve seen, looks every inch the real deal with pace, strength and an eye for a running lane.
Which leads us on to the other offensive weapon. Romo himself.
He has long been one of the best QB’s in the NFL statistically, but he still does not take care of the football enough and makes poor reads at times. However, he is 31 now, and if Romo has not matured enough by now, he never will have. His time has to come soon, or it will not come at all.
He knows this as much as anyone, and will be more than keen to prove his doubters wrong. Like he said himself: “This team will win a Super Bowl at some point.”
It might not be this year, but the Dallas Cowboys are sure to be a little better than an outside bet for 2013 in the Superdome.
