5 Reasons To Be Excited About The Dallas Cowboys This Season

If you look up mediocre in the dictionary you will see a Dallas Cowboys logo reading 1996-2012
Since their last SuperBowl victory the Cowboys are 132-124 with 1 playoff victory. Numerous finishes of 8-8 (last 2 seasons) and heartbreaking eliminations when we have such high expectations for them (2007)  But the last 3 off seasons have given me hope, an I believe this year is the year the Cowboys turn things around. The Cowboys have shown a high level of Football intellegence when it comes to free agency and the draft lately.  Signing Brandon Carr, drafting Tyron Smith(2013), Maurice(2012) Claiborne, and Travis Fredrick(2013) this team is in prim postition to make a run this season.  Now I'm not saying this team is going to the SB this year, but for the first time in a long time they are closer to a championship rather than to a high draft pick and here's why:

5.) Young Talent-

There is no question in my mind that The Boys have done an excellent job the last few years in the draft addressing needs and getting "their" guy.

Tyron Smith is
budding into a
true Superstar Tackle in this league. Maurice Claiborne was an excellent Corner last season even after missing training camp with his foot injury.  DeMarco Murray has shown glimpses of being the second coming of Emmit Smith when he is healthy and on the field.  And this year in the draft the Cowboys got their Center of the future in Travis Fredrick. A solid Wide Reciever who I can see being the #2 on this team and a great compliment to Dez Bryant in Terrance Williams.  And another Running Back in Joseph Randle to help take some of the pressure off DeMarco. 

4.) Dan Bailey

No doubt that in a league that is overloaded with 8-8 ball clubs, a kicker is of top priority.  Dan was 29-31 in 2012 and was a major reason why Dallas was able to be in position to possibly clinch the East on the last day of the regular season.  7 of the teams 8 wins last season were by 7 points or less and 6 of those were by 5 points or less.  Bailey has been automatic since he took over for Nick Folk in 2010, and the 25 year old Kicker looks to only be getting better.




3.) Tony Romo-

Now half of you who are reading this are saying, "Joey you are out of your mind" the other half of you are saying, "No question, Romo is an elite QB and will get the Cowboys where they need to be".  I am going to sit on the fence with those two opinions.  I do believe Tony has the ability and skill set to win a Championship.  But I sometimes question if he has the drive to.  Put his stats up against the top Quarterbacks in the game now or ever and they they would look right in place.  But the mistakes Tony makes seem to come at times in the game when you just can't be so careless. Since he has blew up on the scene in 2006 for the Dallas Cowboys, Romo has been compared to many NFL quarterbacks, most noteabley Brett Favre.  I think this is a great comparrisoin honestly.  Early in Brett's career the same things were said about him, "He can't win the big game" "he makes poor decisions" "he's a turnover machine" and all those statements were accurate.  It wasn't until his 7th season that Brett Favre won his first (and only) Super Bowl.  Tony has not been given a lot to work with for 3 out of his first 7 seasons in the league.  I think this year is the year we are going to see exactly what Tony Romo can do when talent is placed around him.

2.)  Dez Bryant-

I know I was not the only one who saw the show Dez Bryant put on the last 8 games of the 2012 season. 900 yards and 10 TD's.  Guess what... Those numbers were just a glimpse of what this guy can actually do.  Looking a Dez up close he is a freak athlete/human.  There is no doubt that he takes excellent care of his body, keeping it in peak physical shape.  Now he has payed his professional career the same attention he has shown his physical stature.  This off season we are seeing a completley different Dez Bryant.  He is focused, driven, and hungry to win.  I believe that he is no going to wait until November to turn it on this season.  He and the Cowboys both know that Dez is capeable of carrying this team on his back into the playoffs.  With a solid running game this season and an offensive line that can give Romo time to find his Superstar, this could be a special! Dez has been quoted as saying that he believes that 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns is not an unrealistic feat and that he can do it.  That seems pretty incredible, there are only 2 guys in the league I think could be capable of pulling those numbers off, and Dez IS one of them. Even if he doesn't reach 2000 yards and 20 TD's, is it crazy to think that Dez could have the best statistical recieving season in franchise history? 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns? If the last 8 games are any indicator, he should have those numbers locked in just before Christmas.

1.) NFC East

I may have been wrong when saying the Cowboys were the definition of mediocre, because I think that this whole division could fall under that category.  The New York Giants have won 2 Super Bowls in the last decade, but they are sandwiched by sub par and underachieving seasons so it is pretty much a toss up what Giants team we will see in 2013.  The Philadelphia Eagles, 1st year without Andy Reid.  Rebuilding with an aging quarterback who's speed and agility has showed to be diminishing at a rapid rate. And finally the Washington Redskins.  This team I could see going 12-4 or 4-12.  Was Alfred Morris a 1 hit wonder? Will RGIII be ready for the season, and if he is will he be 100%? The Redskins came out of nowhere last season to win the division, now that they are on everyone's radar will they be able to live up to the challenge?

People, say what you want about Jerry Jones and how he is not a "Football Guy" and that he needs to go.  There is no doubt that Jerry is the primary reason for the lack of success here over the last 17 years.  But he is also THE reason for ALL the success during the 1990's.  I hear people constantly say, "I would trade 20 years of underachieving if it gaurenteed the Texas Rangers 1 World Series win.  Jerry brought us 3 Super Bowls in the 90's. I  have no problem giving him a pass as long as the effort is there in acquiring talent that he feels can win us a Championship. I think that is what he has done with this team.  This league is filled with 8-8 9-7 teams.  The Boys' are on the right path to advancing past that stage and finding themselves amongst the few teams that are 10-6 11-5, not elite, just right there close enough to make a move and not be fully mind blown if they pull something off.


My prediction for the 2013 season: 11-5 1st in the NFC East

The last month of the schedule is going to be tough, facing Chicago, Green Bay, Washington, and Philly.  But they benefit at the beginning of the year by getting the 3rd place schedule, facing teams like KC, Detroit, Oak, Min, StL.