COWBOYS FLASH NEW STADIUM AND HUGE POTENTIAL

By mark rogers
August 22, 2009

As I said last week, I think it's foolish to look at final scores in a pre-season game to determine how good or bad a team is.

The Cowboys showed signs of life against the Raiders last week in a 31-10 loss and definitely had areas to improve in a 30-10 stomping of Tennessee. But the theme is the same: This team can be really, really good.

On a night that Jerry Jones unveiled his 1.15 billion dollar stadium to the NFL world on a national stage, the Cowboys showed why I think they will win 12 games this year and win their first playoff game since before I could legally drive.

The Dallas offense absolutely shredded a very good and well-coached Titan defense. And the Cowboy defense didn't allow a first down until Tennessee's fourth possession.

And Tennessee isn't Oakland. The Titans won 13 games last year and started 10-0.

Tony Romo hit 18 of his 24 1st half passes including a couple of dropped balls. He spread the ball around. We ran the ball well. Utilized our backfield in the passing game. Romo improvised and made things happen. We're versatile, talented, experienced, tough and smart.

I'm not the ultimate optimist. Our special teams need some serious work. Nick Folk has already missed two field goals in two games. Our coverage has been terrible. And we're giving up way, way too many penalties.

But when your offense goes on a 15-play, 90 yard drive that ends in a 1 yard TD run? Kind of takes the pressure off the Special Teams.

We didn't have more than five possessions ALL YEAR in 2008 that went 15 or more plays or 90 or more yards.

We marched down the field like the Cowboys teams of the early 90s. That team would get the ball and, as fans, we just got used to them enforcing their will on anyone they played.

Emmitt Smith up the middle for five. Completion to Michael Irvin for 8. Smith again for four. Smith for 2. Completion to Jay Novacek for 10. Smith for 6. Alvin Harper 40 yard bomb. Smith TD.

Boom. That easy.

Today it's much more of the same except the names are Romo, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Martellus Bennett, Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd.

If everyone stays healthy, there's no reason this team can't win 12 games.

The offensive potential speaks for itself.

And defense? The best defensive player in the league is on our team. We have an unblockable nose tackle and better-than-average ends. Our linebacking corps is not good...it's great. Our secondary is full of ridiculous athletes and attitude.

Once the special teams comes around...watch out.

And you can call me a homer all you want, but I'm calling it like I see it.

What better way to validate spending over one billion dollars on a stadium than to break the playoff win drought and even go beyond that...the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl.

This is the longest Super Bowl drought in the HISTORY of the Cowboys. It's time for that to streak to end.

And the way our starters looked last night? We've got a long way to go, but the potential is there, and it makes me happy.

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