10 Predictions For The Dallas Cowboys 2009-10 Season

These predictions aren’t in any particular with the exception of No. 1 since that is where I reveal my W-L prediction and playoff outcome (yes, I am predicting a playoff appearance). Behold, this is what will happen during the Dallas Cowboys 2009-10 season…….

10. The Godzillatron will be hit again, but not on purpose.

I did not want to mention this, but since I feel so confident that this will be an issue in a real game at least once this year, I had to put it in.

Ninety feet is not all that high and I just know at least one punt will graze or be deflected by the video board once this season. This will force the NFL to change the 85-foot regulation currently in place.

Luckily, the emergency rule they created is actually decent. Who cares about replaying the down? This happens all the time in football every time there is a penalty! Amazing how most writers are making this out to be a silly rule. It’s really not that bad.

9. DeMarcus Ware will lead the NFL in sacks again.

I want to predict that he will record 20 again but the stats are against me. No one has ever done it. For that reason I say Ware records a “modest” 18 this year and he will probably be hosed out of 3 or 4 more when the officials wrongfully accuse of him being offsides.

Nevertheless, Ware has become better every season (8 sacks, 11.5, 14, and 20) and I think he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. He is that good. Cowboy fans should feel confident that he will be the NFL sack king again.

8. Tony Romo will have a total touchdown to total turnover ratio of 2:1.

(I don’t like the touchdown pass to interception ratio because it fails to take into account rushing TDs and fumbles.)

I think Romo will have his best year to date because I am expecting that Dallas be a much better running team. With a more balanced offense Romo should cut down in the picks as safeties and linebackers should freeze more on playaction. From the looks of the preseason, there will be more short and intermediate throws to the backs and tight ends.

With Felix Jones corners might be peeking in the backfield or waiting for him to turn the corner, which should allow Roy Williams to get more separation. I still see big downfield plays from Romo’s arm but I have a good feeling Jason Garrett will do a better job setting up these plays this year, increasing the likelihood of their success and decreasing the likelihood of turnovers.

In 2007, Romo came close to this 2:1 ratio with 38 touchdowns and 21 turnovers. Last year was not so good with 26 touchdowns 21 turnovers in 13 games.

However, with a better running game and with Romo improving as a decision maker let’s say he throws 28 touchdowns, runs in 2, throws 14 picks and loses 1 fumble resulting in an even 2:1 total touchdown to total turnover ratio.

7. The special teams will cost the Cowboys 1 or 2 games this season (and they’ll turn a would-be blowout win into a close contest).

The special teams still mimic a vacuum cleaner. I have faith Joe DeCamillis will fix them, but the poor special teams will still rear its ugly head this season. Last year’s most vivid example of special teams losing the game was in Arizona. Expect it to happen again this year.

It may come in the form of giving up long kick returns, holding calls forcing the Cowboys to start inside their own 10, or false starts on field goal attempts costing Dallas points. Trust me on this one.

The Cowboys drafted players in 2009 to contribute on special teams but many of these young men are already injured (see Brandon and Jason Williams, Mike Hamlin, etc.).

DeCamillis really has his hands full as he now forced to put in different faces in special teams roles than those that have been working there throughout camp.

6. Roy Williams will catch 10 touchdowns this year.

In his first three seasons Williams caught 8, 8, and 7 touchdowns respectively. He dipped down to 5 in 2007 before last year’s arrival to Dallas where he only scored twice (once for Detroit and once for Dallas).

The stats say that he will probably catch no more than 8 especially since he has to share the wealth with the likes of Jason Witten, Marion Barber, and Felix Jones.

However, I really like Williams’ size in the red zone and I believe this offense will be extremely productive so that even though Romo will spread it around, there will be ample opportunities to score every week, enabling Williams to reach 10 scores.

5. The Cowboys will be have a top 5 offense and defense this year.

In 2007, Dallas had the third best offense and ninth best defense. In 2008, the defense was eighth while the offense dipped down to thirteenth. I think with a healthy Romo, Barber, Jones, and Kosier we shall see this offense resemble the 2007 juggernaut with the difference being that this unit will be a little more balanced.

The preseason has shown that they can chew up clock and score or get fast 2-minute drill points. Romo looks sharp and there are plenty of weapons. The defense got better with the additions of Keith Brooking and Gerald Sensabaugh.

I also like what I have seen from Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins so far this preseason. It is up to the young guys to make this unit better and I believe the speed of Spencer, Jenkins, and Orlando Scandrick will make this a top 5 unit.

Ware really helped Bradie James become a better player down the stretch last year, and I am betting that the rest of group follows suit.

4. The Cowboys will be among the worst penalized teams…again.

Dallas has been one of the most penalized teams over the past few seasons (worst in 2008 with over 7 a game) and unfortunately I think the trend continues in 2009. The offensive line has already committed a decent share of false starts in preseason.

These guys are going to commit penalties but we Cowboy fans have to pray they don’t come at inopportune times.

3. Felix Jones will win 2 games by himself.

We saw what he can do in the 6 games he played last year. Jason Garrett knows the Cat needs to touch the ball at least 10 times every week. He was one tackle away from a 90 yard touchdown against the 49ers. You just have to believe there will be two games where he goes absolutely nuts.

By nuts, I mean a kickoff return touchdown with a couple of 50+ yard scoring plays from scrimmage. Or maybe a he’ll be more boring and have two games with 4 touchdown runs from inside the 20. Either way, I am excited to see him play and I think he will give the Cowboys two wins this year by his lonesome.

2. By years end, Jason Witten will be hands-down, bar none, without question the best tight end in the NFL.

People still like to argue for Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez (and those guys are good) but by the end of the 2009-10 season, Witten will have stood out so much that the argument for the other two will not be relevant.

My reasoning is that, with Terrell Owens gone, Witten will make even more tough catches on third down. Since the Cowboys should be more balanced, even more people will witness Witten’s superb blocking ability.

In addition, with Martellus Bennett and the twin tight end sets Dallas will utilize, Witten should see more big play opportunities as safeties will have to choose between covering the more athletic Bennett or shading over to Williams on the outside.

1. Last but not least, here comes the overall prediction.

I believe the three best teams in the NFC are in the NFC East and I believe the Cowboys are one of those three. My overall prediction obviously has a homer bias but it’s also well-founded. The Cowboys have question marks and I really don’t like many of the backups.

However, I do like the starting lineup and that’s more important.

The reality is that this team is good and has a great mixture of seasoned veterans (Brooking, Flozell Adams), youth (Jones, Jenkins, Scandrick, Bennett), players in their prime (Romo, Barber, Newman, Ratliff), and a couple of men (Witten, Ware) that are the best at their positions.

It’s also the third year this staff has been together and I think they (especially Wade Phillips with respect to the defense) really have a full grasp of each player’s potential and abilities.

I see a dynamic rushing attack, a more efficient passing game, and a defense that should be even better. Dallas has been knocking at the door for the past 3 years but I believe it all comes together this year.

The schedule is favorable early on with road games against rebuilding teams and the tougher teams coming to Cowboys Stadium. I see a hot start (7-0), followed by two tough games at Philly and Green Bay (I say they drop these two), and a 5-2 finish (beat Oakland, New Orleans, Philadelphia at home and sweep the Redskins).

For the above reasons, I foresee a 12-4 NFC East and Super Bowl championship season. I see Dallas, Philadelphia and New York all making the playoffs with Arizona, New Orleans, and Green Bay winning the West, South, and North respectively.

The Cowboys and Packers will get the byes and the Eagles and Saints will advance. Dallas will then face the hated Eagles in the NFC Title game and dethrone the Steelers in Super Bowl 44. You can call me crazy, but I’ve already predicted them to have a top 5 offense and defense.

If that prediction comes true then a Super Bowl is definitely within reach. Let’s get this thing started…..