A Way Too Early Prediction For The 2009 Dallas Cowboys

There is no question as to whether or not the NFL is a year round sport.  The first games in September to the Super bowl will always be the cornerstones of the football fan’s Sundays, but the growing trend of dedication towards the offseason prove to be a season in itself.  With the draft completed, and OTA’s and mini-camps underway, the loyal fan can enjoy the lull between heavy roster changes and training camp. 

It’s the perfect time of year to make some early season predictions.

The city of Dallas holds a unique level of expectations for its NFL franchise.  The Cowboys have five Super bowl victories, second only to the Steelers, and have built a roster in the past few years to contend for a sixth.  The problem, of course, is that not only have the teams of the Wade Phillips era fallen short of Super bowl glory, they have fallen short of any postseason achievement as well.

The question lies within its expectations.  Had the expectations been too high the past two seasons, or had the Cowboys dramatically underachieved?

In either case, it would seem that the bar will be lowered for the 2009 season.  Gone are the days of Super Bowl or bust, at least until they can win a playoff game.

This offseason has also displayed a worst of both worlds.  There have been no notable additions to the team.  The free agent market seemed to be all but avoided by Jerry Jones.  Even the draft proved only to be a platform to improve on special teams, leaving holes on offense and defense.

The weak spots in the Cowboys roster not only were left unimproved, it seemed like Jones felt the best way to improve them was to remove the veterans. 

The Cowboys have room to improve in the secondary?  Remove Safety Roy Williams.  The receiver squad needs to add some depth?  Cut Terrell Owens. 

The Cowboys did make an attempt to address the wide receiver concerns last season with the addition of WR Roy Williams, but he, like the team, only showed promise of underachieving.  Now, without T.O., he will the number one choice in the passing game.

Improvements, however small, do exist.  RB Felix Jones showed strong flashes of speed, complimenting Barber’s force, in the running game before his season ending injury.  That, along with the mentality that the Offense will click better without Owens, could prove enough of a spark for the offensive side of the ball. 

Unfortunately the negatives overwhelm the improvements.  That, mixed with the strong additions to the rosters of the Eagles and Giants, feeds the belief that the Cowboys will miss the playoffs for a second straight year, and possibly fall below .500.