Dallas Cowboys fans love to argue, sometimes with themselves, over the state of the team. With the 2015 dumpster fire well behind them and hope springing eternal for the upcoming season, what can we expect from the Cowboys?
Are they the 2014 version that was 12-4 or the 2015 team that went 4-12?
The truth likely lies somewhere in-between.
Around this time last year, my belief was that Dallas wouldn’t get as many breaks as they got during their smooth 12-4 ride. The biggest question was how they would handle adversity, especially if they didn’t stay healthy. We saw the results and they weren’t good.
My prediction for last year’s Cowboys was 10-6. They would still win the division and make another solid run at the Super Bowl (whoops). In reality, that was my hope; I had a bad feeling heading into the season and my gut turned out to be right (gut was also right about Redskins winning the division!).
Just a year after being one horrific call away from being in the Super Bowl, they would have beaten the Seattle Seahawks (that was my gut feeling, you wanna argue that after last year?), the Cowboys collapsed. There were a few reasons for their 4-12 record and not all of them were injury related.
After last season, the Cowboys are playing exactly .500 football over the past five years. Will the team return to their average ways in 2016 or will their record lean heavily towards opposite ends of the spectrum?
We obviously don’t know yet but there are those who believe the Cowboys will return to who they were in 2014. They will rely on the offense, run the ball, control the clock and use an opportunistic defense to guide them through a successful season.
However, even if they follow that same script, there’s no guarantee they will win 12 games again. Just like there’s no guarantee they will fold like cheap pool toys will if they have injuries like they did last year.
It’s all just talk and assumptions right now. The Cowboys could be better that they were in 2014 and have a magical season, it happens all the time in the NFL. And although it would be difficult to see Dallas being much worse than they were last year, a repeat of their record isn’t out of the equation either if more bad luck strikes.
So let’s not assume anything with the Dallas Cowboys. Don’t assume they’ll be able to line up on offense and bludgeon teams to death. Don’t assume running back Ezekiel Elliott will dominate and win rookie of the year. Don’t assume Dez Bryant or Orlando Scandrick come back 100% from their injuries.
Conversely, don’t assume the defense will be bad because they won’t have DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory for the first four games, or Rolando McClain for 10. Don’t assume the Cowboys won’t get enough sacks in 2016. Don’t assume Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr won’t play up to a higher standard in “contract” years.
There are a lot of unknowns at this time of year and the Cowboys remain a wild card. Now is not the time to assume anything; don’t be a donkey!
You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi
