David Robinson - The Reason I Became A Spurs Fan

David Robinson - The Reason I Became A Spurs Fan

I became a Spurs fan right before David Robinson joined the team, but he was the reason I became a fan. Let me explain: I remember watching a game the season before he joined the team (the Spurs were 21-61 that year), and they showed highlights of The Admiral and said that he would be with the team next year. From that point on, I was hooked, because I was amazed at what I saw in those clips of him at Navy. All I kept seeing was him with those powerful dunks, that leaping ability, blocking shots in bunches, and those muscles. As a matter of fact, I even had this jacket when I was in the 6th grade, as well as the David Robinson's Supreme Court video game. The Admiral went on and put together this resume:

Career Highlights And Awards

-Naismith College Player Of The Year (1987)

-AP College Basketball Player Of The Year (1987)

-Adolph Rupp Trophy (1987)

-John Wooden Award (1987)

-USBWA College Player Of The Year (1987)

-NABC Player Of The Year (1987)

-NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (2012)

-2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1992, 1996)

-2x NBA Champion (1999, 2003)

-NBA MVP (1995)

-NBA Defensive Player Of The Year (1992)

-10x NBA All-Star (1990-1996, 1998, 2000-2001)

-10x All-NBA Selection (4 First Team, 2 Second Team, 4 Third Team)

-8x NBA All-Defensive Team Selection (4 First Team, 4 Second Team)

-NBA Scoring Champion (1994)

-NBA Rebounding Champion (1991)

-NBA Shot-Blocking Champion (1992)

-NBA Rookie Of The Year (1990)

-NBA All-Rookie First Team (1990)

-NBA Sportsmanship Award (2001)

-NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

-Jersey #50 Retired (Spurs)

David Robinson started helping the Spurs the moment they won the lottery. They had such an uncertain future at the time, that some were advising him to use his 2-year Navy commitment to become an unrestricted free agent and go to a team with a higher profile. As a matter of fact, the Lakers even tried to steal him away from the Spurs to replace Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after he retired. Ownership flew The Admiral to San Antonio when his Naval career began and started giving him VIP treatment, including a parade along the San Antonio River and a pep rally in the parking lot of Red McCombs' car dealership. The Admiral had become sold on San Antonio, its pleasant climate, and open spaces. The Spurs did something they had never done.....paid big money, signing The Admiral to an 8-year $26 million contract, including a $1 million per year for each of his 2 years in the Navy, and got a clause that guaranteed that he would never be lower than the 2nd highest paid player in the NBA the 5th year of his contract. The hardest part wasn't the contract, it was convincing him to come to SA, because the Spurs had no leverage. David Robinson's commitment to the Spurs was also the key to the Spurs hiring Larry Brown as their head coach. Attendance and revenue also increased in anticipation of The Admiral's arrival in 1989. Let me paint a picture for you of the Spurs' situation before then.

Before David Robinson arrived, the Spurs were:

-playing in an outdated arena 

-had no marquee players 

-declining home attendance for several consecutive seasons  

-last in the NBA in season ticket sales and most other measurements of success

David Robinson had the "Bill Russell 2.0" label attached to him coming into the NBA, and that was who Larry Brown wanted him to pattern his game after, but The Admiral didn't have that luxury because the Spurs didn't have the players around him that would allow him to focus primarily on defense. He had to carry the whole load on offense and defense. It was believed that The Admiral would become one of the 10 greatest players ever. It was even said that the Bulls were having internal discussions about offering the Spurs Michael Jordan for him straight up before the '92 and '93 seasons. That's how good everybody thought David Robinson would be. Here are a couple of quotes to support that:

"He's the spitting image of Bill Russell, only a better athlete."  

                                                                                                     -Pat Riley

"Bird, Magic, MJ......they're all MVPs, but this guy is more. He's the greatest impact player this league has seen since Kareem." 

                                                     -Cotton Fitzsimmons

To paraphrase Bill Simmons (The Book Of Basketball), if we ever started cloning basketball players one day Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and LeBron James would be 1-4 in some order. On paper, you couldn't ask for a better center than The Admiral. He had every conceivable tool you would want:

-Bill Russell's defensive instincts

-Wilt Chamberlain's strength and agility

-Wilt/Dwight Howard's leaping ability

-Hakeem Olajuwon's hand-eye coordination and footwork

-Robert Parish's ability to run the floor

In addition to all of the above, he was left-handed. The advantages for being a left-handed basketball player, especially a big man. For starters, it throws off opponents because you usually expect a guy to drive to your left (his right), so a defender is used to going left when they slide. When that happens, the lefty usually has a step in front of the defender since he's playing the wrong side of the drive. Natural lefties are also said to have better visual temporal skills. Left-handed big men have an advantage because they don't have to reach across their body to block the shot of a right-handed opponent. It also requires an adjustment to play with a lefty because his passing, footwork, and positioning are all different too. 

The 2 biggest things that stood out to me about David Robinson were: 

1.) He was a physical specimen.

2.) He was an athletic freak of nature.

A lot of people don't remember what kind of an athletic freak The Admiral was. I honestly believe that he's the most freakish athlete I have ever seen play basketball in my lifetime. There was no other 7-footer out there who could do what he did. For starters, he was a big man chasing down point guards, could jump through the roof and had hang time, rebounded like a machine, and blocked shots in bunches. He was the fastest man on ALL of his teams. Gregg Popovich has even confirmed that The Admiral was still faster than Tony Parker........at 37 years old in his last year in the league, with a bad back and all. Even against modern NBA players, it looked to me like he was running in a completely different gear than everybody else. This man had the explosiveness and agility of a guard, and his body didn't get slower as it got bigger like with most big men. I have even seen him do 360 dunks with 2 hands in games before. The Admiral also had incredible upper body strength, which was obvious by looking at how big and sculpted his arms were, and the fact that he could walk the entire length of a basketball court on his hands.....he competed in gymnastics when he was growing up. The Admiral was a 1-on-1 physical mismatch for any player in the league in his prime because there was no big man that was faster than him, Shaquille O'Neal was about the only man stronger, and he had very quick hands that enabled him to rack up on steals, becoming the Spurs' all-time steals leader. Plain and simple, at 7'1" The Admiral was doing things that were unheard of for a man his size.

It was believed that David Robinson lacked the dedication to become an extraordinary pro basketball player. Because he did so many things on the court so well and with such apparent effortlessness, he has always been considered an underachiever even though he had achieved so much. Once in a while I even catch myself wondering how much better he could have been if a few things were different. Here are the biggest issues that I believe kept him from reaching his full potential:

1.) Being A Late Bloomer

As a result of staying in college all 4 years and serving 2 years of active duty in the Navy, David Robinson's career got off to a late start, making him a rookie at 24 years old. He didn't play a whole lot of basketball before he got to the Spurs. With only one year of high school basketball and 4 years at the Naval Academy, a college that didn't play a whole lot of big games, The Admiral didn't have the same background as most NBA players. After going back and watching old Spurs games from his early years, you could see it. I noticed that there were some situations that came up where he looked awkward and didn't know what to do. As he continued to develop, those situations didn't happen as often. When he first got to the NBA, The Admiral had unlimited physical abilities, but limited basketball skills. Because he wasn't properly developed, it was much harder for him to develop a complete offensive game early in his career. He had next to no offense and was using his height, speed, and leaping ability to get away from his opponents. Once he put in the work and put together a package, he became even more dangerous, and the accolades just kept flowing in.

2.) Too Many Head Coaches

Another hindrance in David Robinson's career was a lack of continuity, playing for 5 head coaches in his first 6 years. Each coach asked him to do something different. One coach wanted defense, one coach wanted rebounding, and one coach wanted offense. It wasn't until the Spurs hired Bob Hill that The Admiral finally had a coach that wanted balance from him. Bob Hill required the whole package from him, including leadership. Here is a quote from The Admiral on that situation: 

"I used to have the idea that I just had to come here and take care of my job. I thought that was what professional basketball was all about. I do my job. You do your job. If we all do our jobs, we win. I know now that I have to do more than that. My energy level fuels half the team. I tell these guys that if you prepare yourself physically, you'll be able to do well. If you don't, you won't." 

3.) Supporting Cast

Like I mentioned earlier, David Robinson was supposed to be Bill Russell......but with a jump shot. Like Bill Russell, he could run players down from behind and block their shots, recover from the weak side to block a shot or grab a rebound, and he could even block shots to ignite fast breaks. The Admiral has led the league in blocks and rebounds, but he also had to lead the league in scoring because he was on a team without an offensive star. He didn't have a post game, but he had to score against Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, and Patrick Ewing, who were the best centers of that era and also selections of the NBA's 50 greatest players. Not only did he have to score against them, he had to keep them for scoring and lead the fast break. Here is a quote from The Admiral in 1999, basically admitting that he wasn't a scorer:

"I'm not a Michael Jordan-type player. I don't handle the ball. I can't go out there and take 30 shots a game. That's not my style. I had to figure out what is my style. That's part of what's great about being where we are right now."

Let's look at it this way: 

What if Bill Russell came into the NBA in 1989 and went to a team with only one player besides him (Sean Elliott) who would ever make an All-Star team, and that was the case for the first 8 years of his career? And even though he is a defensive specialist, he has a supporting cast of sub-par offensive players, poor or limited range shooters like Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro, and a transcendent rebounder in Dennis Rodman who couldn't even make a layup. Now check this out: What if David Robinson came into the NBA in 1956 as a lean, athletic and intelligent young player that was only asked to do 2 things.....rebound and block shots? He has a supporting cast stacked with Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, and Tommy Heinsohn, 3 of the greatest offensive players of that era who will make All-Star teams for many years to come, as well as the Hall Of Fame. The next year, he ends up getting Sam Jones, another HOFer, who would become one of the all-time great shooters in NBA history.

Which one of these men would have the 11 championships?

After giving that some thought, you can't help but wonder how much different things would have been for The Admiral if the Spurs had the pieces in place that would have allowed him to thrive as a defensive specialist. They had a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to make that a reality in the Summer of 1992, and almost did until Red McCombs blocked the move at the last minute. The Spurs and the 76ers had a trade worked out that would send Terry Cummings and Willie Anderson to the Sixers, and Charles Barkley back to the Spurs. Both teams had already agreed to the trade, but Red McCombs vetoed it at the last minute because he didn't want to pay Chuck. After the Spurs passed on that trade, Terry Cummings blew out his knee playing a pickup game in Chicago, and the Sixers traded Chuck to the Suns, where he went on to be the league MVP the following season and lead the Suns to the NBA Finals. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier with the way things worked out for the Spurs to get Tim Duncan, but think about it for a second: The Spurs would have had a Big 3 of David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Sean Elliott.........IN THEIR PRIMES!! If you have a chance to get a player like Charles Barkley without having to give up one of your best players, YOU HAVE TO DO IT. You just can't pass on that kind of opportunity to improve your team. Chances to get an MVP-caliber player for next to nothing don't come around too often. 

When you have a franchise player like David Robinson, who had teams with a higher profile pursuing him, the way to show your appreciation for his loyalty is to build the best team possible around him to maximize your chances to win championships. That was too much to ask out of Red McCombs, because he was so cheap. It's hard to have anything more than mixed feelings about him. Not only did he fail David Robinson by not putting better players around him, he also feuded with Rod Strickland publicly, and let him leave in free agency. To add insult to injury, Red got tired of paying The Admiral all of the money he was paying him and started shopping him. There was even talk about a cost-cutting trade that would have sent The Admiral to the Knicks for Patrick Ewing. Fortunately, none of those trades ever came close to happening. If I were David Robinson, I would have felt insulted. How could you even think about trading the man that had that big of an impact on your franchise in such a short time, not to mention staying loyal to the team that drafted him? If you didn't want to pay him, why did you go through so much trouble to get him to play for you? I'll give Red McCombs credit for keeping the Spurs in San Antonio, but other than that he was a TERRIBLE owner. It's disappointing that somebody with his resources wasn't more aggressive in improving the team. 

For just about David Robinson's entire prime, when the Spurs made the playoffs his supporting cast was usually weaker than the opponent's, making it easier to focus on him. And since he didn't have a post game, his offense was driving to the basket and dunking, but the driving lanes close in the playoffs and teams force you to beat them inside. That was the biggest killer for the Spurs because they didn't have anybody who could consistently make open shots to open up the lane. That allowed teams to double and triple team The Admiral and dare the other Spurs to beat them. It wasn't until his 9th season, when Tim Duncan became a Spur, that The Admiral was able to just concentrate on anchoring the defense. Once the Twin Towers got their chemistry together, it noticed that The Admiral seemed more comfortable in his new role. His last 6 seasons actually seemed to be his more meaningful seasons, and he was actually more valuable to the Spurs as a complimentary player than as a scoring champion and MVP. I also see some similarities in The Admiral with Wilt Chamberlain: They both were freakish athletes with huge bodies that put up ridiculous statistics for their respective eras. They both scored points in bunches. Both players were also a lot more well-rounded than people think. They both also came up short in the playoffs much too often for players with their abilities, usually against a rival at the same position. Eventually, both players were able to get redemption later in their careers when their roles changed and they gave up some of the scoring load. A great player is only as good as the teammates that compliment him and the role he is asked to play.

4.) Many Interests Outside Of Basketball

A lot of people interpreted David Robinson having many other talents and interests outside of basketball as proof that he didn't play hard. That wasn't the case at all. He always played hard and gave the Spurs everything he had, but at the end of the day, he knew that there was much more to life than basketball. The Admiral has said that he was always curious and wanting to learn a little bit about a lot of things. It was said all throughout his career until he retired that the same sense of duty that made him a noble man kept him from being an ever greater player. The knock on him was that he never developed a ruthless, cutthroat, and cold-blooded edge to him that was required to be a champion, and that he lacked the prerequisite leadership skills to carry his team. I have to slightly disagree with that last part......the man was an officer in the United States Armed Forces!! With me being ex-military myself, I know that there are not too many better places out there to develop strong leadership. What the media also fails to realize, is that leading troops in combat is not the same as leading a basketball team on the court. It takes different skill sets to do those 2 things. To me, that's a lot like being in a leadership position on your job and trying to use those management skills at home to raise your children. 

David Robinson has admitted that it took him a lot longer than expected to become the player that the Spurs organization expected him to be. Another knock on him was that at certain points of certain games he didn't get involved. He said it was because of immaturity and mental lapses. He has also admitted that it took him a while to learn the game and what his coaches wanted from him. A big part of it was that his love for the game didn't match his talent level, and it took him a while before he understood what it was all about. It's true that he struggled early in his career to handle the pressure of the NBA playoffs, but at the same time, not having a 2nd All-Star did hurt his chances to compete with the best teams in the West. But no matter how hard The Admiral played and dominated, it was never enough until the Spurs got Tim Duncan. Before The Dream won those back-to-back championships, The Admiral was regarded as the best center in the NBA. The failings of his teammates lessened the perceptions of his contributions, and the media is notorious for ignoring the strength of teammates when they evaluate an individual player's standing in history. 

One other misconception about David Robinson that I want to address is the "soft" label that was put on him. He was different than most athletes because he wasn't defined by basketball.....he had a strong identity, unflappable pride, and an unmatched soul before he even became a basketball player. The Admiral knew that at the end of the day, basketball was just a game, and that was how he approached it. Because he didn't eat, sleep, and breathe basketball, people took that as him treating it like a hobby. Then, there was the the criticism that he played a soft style of basketball (see point #1 above), and that's not necessarily true. It's just that the NBA wasn't used to a man The Admiral's size with his athleticism shooting 15-foot jumpers. There were constant questions about why he never camped out in the paint like most centers. That doesn't make him the least bit soft. Anybody that has closely followed the Spurs for at least the past 15 years knows that The Admiral had no problems playing physical basketball against somebody like Shaq, and hold him to numbers well below his averages up until the very end of his career. The fact the he won DPOY, rebounding and shot-blocking titles should prove that he was dominant around the basket. Soft players don't become stars on defense, especially if they are stationed in the paint.

The problem with how David Robinson was perceived stems from people taking "nice" and "soft" to mean the same thing. It's all because of how our culture views sports. We have a tendency to want players to be responsible and stay out of trouble, but also play their sport mean and angry. A "sports slang" was even developed based on violent and military terms. For example, when a team blows another team out, we say they "killed" or "murdered" them. We describe a good shooter or accurate quarterback as a "marksman". We say a quarterback with a strong arm has a "gun" or a "cannon". We describe a 3-point shot or a deep pass in football as a "bomb". Bottom line, we take a GAME, make a life or death event out of it, and expect the players to play that way. David Robinson didn't see it that way, which is why he went and served his first 2 years of the Navy on active duty before he joined the Spurs. Once again, he understood that there were bigger things in the world than basketball. One example I can give for that, is that he once said in an interview that he got himself ready to play by thinking about the troops that gave their life in war so his family could prosper in a free America. The Admiral also didn't look for vengeance because foul play was beneath him. The Admiral is most definitely a winner, he just didn't respond to controversy the same way most athletes do, and his reactions didn't meet expectations that had been set by other great athletes. With that being said, David Robinson can't be called soft. He had his faults like every other player, but he didn't take plays off or shy away from physical contact.

I personally think David Robinson is TOUGH AS NAILS.......a true warrior!! For starters, he could have went to any college he wanted to, but instead he picked a military school, and it takes a certain level of toughness to graduate from an institution like that. Also, it's awfully hard to call a man soft that has credentials in Taekwondo and boxing, along with other defense skills and tactics that he learned in the Navy. I definitely wouldn't want to mess with him. David Robinson played basketball through a lot more pain than people realized, and gave everything he had to the Spurs organization. Here is a list of the biggest ailments that I know of that he played through:

-sprained wrist

-sliced pinkie

-torn thumb ligament

-pinched nerves in his shoulder

-shoulder contusions

-hernia

-hip pointer

-cervical spasms

-chipped disc

-nerve damage in his back, legs, and foot (from the chipped disc)

-floating particle in his back

-synovitis in left knee

-chondromalacia in right knee

By David Robinson's last year, his back bothered him so bad, it hurt him just to sit. He was so used to playing with pain that he blocked it out, and even forgot sometimes to tell his team when he was hurting. His last 2 seasons were the most painful for him, mostly from all of the back problems. The Admiral's troubles all started when he first suffered his hernia close to the end of the '95-'96 season. Then, the hernia flared up again in the middle of one of the games in the Olympics......and he PUSHED IT BACK IN AND KEPT PLAYING!!! HE COULD HAVE DIED FROM THAT!!! Even after his days in the Navy he was still putting his life on the line for his country. The Admiral went on to lead Dream Team II to a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics, as their top scorer. He put off having surgery on the hernia until after the Olympics, allowing his stomach and back muscles to deteriorate, increasing the vulnerability of a back injury, which happened in the Olympics. After the hernia surgery, The Admiral wasn't able to work out while he was recovering, causing his back to deteriorate even more. The back problem had gotten so bad, that when the 1996 training camp started, he couldn't even run. The Admiral made an appearance in a preseason game and ended up straining his back, causing him to miss the first 18 games of the season. He made his comeback on December 10 against the Suns, only to play 6 games before he broke his left foot in a game against the Heat. I believe that the broken foot came as a result of him trying to compensate for the bad back. Another contributor might be the had poor jumping mechanics that The Admiral had developed, using his lower back for lift instead of using his legs more. 

With The Admiral on the shelf, the Spurs went 20-62 for the season, and of course winning the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery for the right to draft Tim Duncan. The rest is history. When The Admiral came back the next season from the back and foot injuries, he might have been 80% at best, which was still better than a lot of other players at 100%. The Admiral at 100% along with The Big Fundamental would have been NASTY.......I'm talking about total dominance!!! He was still pretty good for having numbness and pain from a chip floating around in his spinal column. In 2002, it was suggested that The Admiral have surgery to remove the floater in his back. He felt like the risk wasn't worth it. He didn't want the surgery for 2 reasons:

1.) Back surgery guarantees nothing. 

2.) It could have forced him to miss the next season, in effect ending his career.

Another thing David Robinson should get props for is his loyalty. Loyal athletes are a dead breed, and have been for over 20 years now. Just to show you how much things have changed, I want to point out that the 1975 Dallas Cowboys only had 1 player (Preston Pearson) who had been with another team. Today, less than 2% of players who go into pro sports stay with the team that drafted them. There is no sense of loyalty with athletes with anything other than money. As soon as free agency was started, athletes have had less motivation to stay with the same team for their whole career. Sometimes you might have a player that might want to stay with his team, but then he'll have an agent in his ear telling him that he can get a better deal somewhere else. If The Admiral had played for another team, it wouldn't have been his first choice, and it even came close to happening late in his career.

Here are the 3 "close-calls" we had with the possibility of David Robinson leaving the Spurs:

1.) As mentioned above in detail, at one point, Red McCombs got tired of paying The Admiral the money he was paying him and started shopping him.

2.) In 1999, the Spurs struggled to a 6-8 record to start the season, and there were fans wanting Gregg Popovich fired and The Admiral traded. The rumored trade at that time was The Admiral to the Seattle SuperSonics for a package with Vin Baker as the centerpiece, which a lot of Spurs fan supported.

3.) In 2001 when Chris Webber was a free agent, the Spurs reached out to him to gauge his interest, making a lowball offer to David Robinson at the same time while they waited on C-Webb to get back to them. Coach Pop was an assistant coach for the Warriors during C-Webb's rookie season, and that might have been part of the reason for the intrigue besides finding a long term replacement for The Admiral. Anyway, C-Webb never called the Spurs back when they reached out to him. He ended up re-signing with the Kings, and later admitted that he was tempted to sign with the Spurs. The day after that went down, a lot of angry callers blew up the Spurs' phones demanding that they re-sign The Admiral, which they did for a 2-year $20 million contract to end his career.

Even in 2002, there were letters to the San Antonio Express News from fans demanding that the Spurs get rid of David Robinson and his "fat contract". Most of them said that he was either on the injured list or on the court screwing up. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I felt like The Admiral deserved every penny he got and earned the right to finish his career with the Spurs on his terms. I don't even want to know what things would have been like if he did leave. I just know that Coach Pop would have felt the kind of heat he had never felt, and I believe that San Antonio would have been one angry city. I wouldn't have been surprised to hear about a riot breaking out. If the Spurs would have let David Robinson leave in any of those situations I just mentioned above, it would have been disrespectful to the man that saved the team from relocation, helped the team win enough games to make them financially viable, and gave the city a recognizable face of dignity.......a man that represents what pro sports is truly all about. Did I mention how much time and money he donated to the city? The Spurs did the right thing and let him retire in his own city with full appreciation for what he did for them, which is something that James Silas and George Gervin didn't get to do.

To sum it all up, here is David Robinson's impact on the Spurs in a nutshell:

-Saved the Spurs from relocation with his commitment to the team

-A 35-game turnaround during his rookie season (then NBA record)

-Altered his game to accommodate Tim Duncan's game

-Cut his vacation short to go back and talk Tim Duncan out of leaving, saving the Spurs a 2nd time

-2 championships

-A new arena

-Announced his retirement plans a year ahead of time to allow the Spurs to prepare for Summer 2003

Taking all of this into account, I personally believe that David Robinson is underrated historically. Bill Simmons has him ranked at #28 in The Book Of Basketball, but I feel like he should be somewhere inside the top 20. I think his impact on the Spurs organization alone should be enough for him to be ranker higher. Once again, without his signature in 1987, there is no pro basketball in San Antonio. Without him taking a lesser role to Tim Duncan, there is no championship. Without a championship, there is no approval for the AT&T Center. Writing this blog has made me appreciate and respect The Admiral even more than I already did. 

Cowboys 2013 Season Full Of Possibilities

8/15/13


Cowboys 2013 Season Full Of Possibilities

I am extremely looking forward to the upcoming season and seeing how it plays out for the Cowboys. It's been a little hard to root for the team for the past few years, but I'm still a die-hard fan no matter what. Because of those feelings, I'm going into this season with cautious optimism. However this season turns out, I won't be surprised either way. If the Cowboys don't make the playoffs this year, or do make it and are one-and-done, I won't be surprised because that's been the expected result for more than a decade now. If they go on and have a big season, I won't be surprised because I know they have the talent to do it. I think this is easily the most talent the team has had since 2007, and probably since the last Super Bowl. The Cowboys could/should have 8 players ranked within the top 6 at their position, which is 36% of the starters on both sides of the ball. I believe all of these things can happen IF (a big if) the team can stay healthy. This is my "glass half-full" outlook on the upcoming season for the Cowboys.

Here are my reasons that I believe the Cowboys can have a big season:

1.) Tony Romo

I want to start off by saying that perception IS NOT reality with Tony Romo. He is nowhere near as bad a QB as the media and Cowboy-haters make him out to be. He's too good of a QB not to win a Super Bowl. We all know the different labels he has on him, and that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is held to a different standard than the quarterback for any other team, and I believe Tony is unfairly judged, but that's another blog for another day. I feel like Tony is underrated. I believe he's an excellent QB and would have won more if he had stayed healthy and been on a team with a better offensive line and defense. I also think he does a lot more for the Cowboys than he gets credit for. The only QBs I can see ranked ahead of him without too much of an argument from me are Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees (the last 2 not by a lot). There are at least 20 teams in the NFL that would GLADLY take Tony over the QB that they already have.  For any Cowboys fans that don't appreciate Tony, all you have to do is look at the QBs we have had to endure since Troy Aikman retired and Tony took over..........WE HAVE HAD SOME BAD ONES!!

The biggest reason I feel like Tony Romo is underrated, is because he's had to do so much......way too much at times. There's a reason that quarterback is the toughest position to play in sports. Not only is the quarterback just responsible for knowing how to do his job, but he has to know the responsibilities of EVERY player on the field with him.......everything from blocking assignments for his offensive linemen and running backs, option routes and hot reads from the tight ends and receivers, and defensive keys and tendencies. He also has to be mentally sharp and intensely committed to the mental part of the game, because he has too many responsibilities on the field for his mental acuity to be lacking. Quarterbacks also have to be able to hold their teammates accountable, because they are an extension of the head coach out on the field. The only way they can do that is if they are in sync with what the other 10 players are supposed to be doing. I currently play wide receiver at the semi-pro level, and have played college and high school ball, so to a certain extent, I know what QBs are up against. At every level of football that I have played, especially right now at the semi-pro level, I made it a priority to bond with my QB before any other teammate. Other than the head coach, that's the most important relationship for a receiver to have.

Another way that I feel Tony Romo is underrated is with his on-field production. The man is in the top 5 every year in every passing category, and undrafted free agents don't just come in and rewrite franchise record books.....those types of things are the longest of longshots. The only 2 undrafted QBs that can match the kind of productivity that he's had in his career are Warren Moon and Kurt Warner. In his last 3 seasons, Tony's completion percentages have been higher than 65%. In his last 2 seasons he's thrown for over 9,000 yards, has an average QB rating of 97, and has a TD/INT ratio of 60-29. Let me also point out that Tony Romo has the 4th highest 4th quarter passer rating of any active quarterback in the NFL, and his lifetime 4th quarter rating hovers around 100. He also finished last season tied for 3rd in the NFL with 4 game-winning drives, and the Cowboys finished 2nd in the league with 8 come-from-behind victories. These numbers prove that he belongs with the top half of the league's QBs. If that's not impressive enough, check out these career numbers and put them in perspective:

-averaged 280 passing yards per game in his career (#1 in the NFL)

-a 177-91 TD/INT ratio

-a career 7.9 YPA (higher than Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees)

-NEVER had a QB rating under 90 in his career (Only Aaron Rodgers can claim that as a starting QB.)

-a 95.6 career passer rating (5th highest in NFL history)

Another quality of Tony Romo's that I feel is highly underrated is his toughness. People forget how tough this man really is, instead choosing to focus on his shortcomings. He broke his collarbone in the 6th game of the 2010 season and missed the last 10 games. He bounced back from that only to play the whole 2011 season, except the first game, with broken ribs and a punctured lung (which is life-threatening). Tony also played with a back strain for the 2nd half of last season as a result of the beating he took in the first half. He was sacked a career-high 40 times last year, and 36 the year before last. In addition to the 76 sacks Tony has taken over the last 2 seasons, he was also knocked down 153 times. Do you realize it meant he took an average of over 7 hits a game when you add up the sacks and knockdowns over the past 2 years and divide the number of games he played in? If Tony wasn't so mobile, that number would easily be doubled. Now, you tell me how a QB can be blamed for 76 sacks and even more disruptive hits in the pocket. When your quarterback spends half the game running for his life and the other half on his back picking grass from out of his facemask, bad things always happen. 

You can count on one hand how many QBs were under as much pressure as Tony last season. Even league analysts who don't like him have acknowledged that no other QB has better pocket mobility or his tougher to sack (except maybe Ben Roethlisberger). The number of sacks and additional hits that a QB takes is a reflection of the offensive line. The cleaner your QB's uniform is, the better it is for your team. Bottom line, a large chunk of his struggles have been a result of a bad offensive line, the defense being in shambles for the majority of his tenure as the starting QB, and injuries. Watching Tony take all those hits has led me to question whether or not he was appreciated enough for him to be properly protected. I was shocked to see him sign an extension with the Cowboys, and I wouldn't have blamed one bit if he decided to leave for a team who would give him that protection and put him in position to win. It's mind-blowing how he continues to be the scapegoat for the team's shortcomings and the GM's inability to put the right players around him.

It's time to stop blaming Tony Romo for the Cowboys' struggles, judging him by the star he wears on his helmet, and look at the whole picture.  Any fair-minded person or anybody that watches the Cowboys closely would know that things are not always what they seem to be. Don't get me wrong, he has had his share of off days and bad moments, but what QB hasn't? He has even been bad in several high-stakes situations, but even Peyton Manning had that reputation for a long time. Tony gets underestimated because he's famous for people belittling him and nitpicking his every mistake, always in the news when the team struggles, and everybody pays closer attention to his struggles because the media overhypes them and assumes that it tells the whole story about the Cowboys, and that's not true at all. Yes, he throws some terrible interceptions at times, but you can't throw well with defenders constantly in your face and flushing you out of the pocket at a high rate. Let's also not forget that he's had to tell his receivers where to line up, what routes to run, and tell his offensive linemen who to block. Tony has carried the Cowboys on his back for the last 2 seasons. Because of the supply-and-demand for a high-quality QB and his production and value to the team, I believe he is worth every penny of his 6-year, $108 million contract extension. Seeing him take that beating and go through all that he has, and still decide to stick with the Cowboys has made me an even bigger fan of Tony Romo and respect him so much more. 

2.) Improved Offensive Line

I also believe the offensive line will be better this year, probably the best it's been since 2009. I won't say we'll have 5 Pro Bowlers, but at the same time, I don't see a repeat of the last 2 years with them being overpowered and run over by defenses. They weren't just getting beat, they were being pushed backwards into the backfield in front of Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray every other play. I know we are bringing back 3/5 or 60% of the linemen that struggled last year, but check this out: 

RT - Doug Free has looked the best he's looked since he took over for Marc Colombo in 2009 as the starting right tackle. He looks nothing like the player I nicknamed "The Human Turnstile" a couple years ago. He looks like he got his confidence back, he looks more mobile, he looks stronger, and his technique even looks better. The line would be so much better if he can keep this up the whole season.

RG - Mackenzy Bernadeau has looked good since he rejoined the team after having shoulder surgery. He even looked good in the game against the Raiders last Friday. I believe that he'll improve as the season progresses. Just on what I have seen from him since he came back, I think the Cowboys can win with him.

C - When the Cowboys drafted Travis Fredrick, I wasn't too happy with the pick. I wasn't upset with us picking him, I just thought he could have been pick later than he was. Nevertheless, I'm glad he's a Cowboy, and I'm especially glad they were able to get a Wisconsin lineman. Wisconsin is an offensive lineman factory. Every single year they produce huge linemen with brute country strength that will absolutely maul you. Their effect is cumulative too. For example, trying to beat a 320-pound guard's run block in the 1st quarter is hard enough, but trying to beat his run block for the 50th time by the end of the game is flat out exhausting. Anyway, Travis Fredrick looks like a significant upgrade at center, and he seems to get better and better with each practice and preseason game. He has intelligence in spades and he's bull-strong, and to me he already looks like the Cowboys' best center since Andre Gurode was still a Pro Bowler. To add to the excitement, not only does Tony Romo trust Travis Fredrick, he also endorses him. The Cowboys not only count on him to be an upgrade at center, they also expect his presence to make the guards better. Those are awfully high expectations to have for a rookie. Because of how bad the interior of the line was last year, the Cowboys ranked 31st in the league with their running game, which happened to be the worst in franchise history. The Cowboys believe that Travis Fredrick can elevate the line and help fix the running game.

LG - I also like what I see out of Ron Leary at left guard. Hopefully he can have a quick recovery from that knee injury he suffered last week and not miss a beat when he returns. He has a lot of power, as well as a nasty streak in his game. The Cowboys are so convinced that Ron Leary is the man for the job, that they ended their pursuit of Brian Waters and are not trying to talk Brandon Moore out of retirement. Neither one of them seem to have the drive to play football anymore. For that reason, sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make. I'm also penciling in Ron Leary as the starter because there's no telling when Nate Livings will be back. He recently had his knee scoped to remove loose meniscus, and it was his 2nd surgery on the knee in 6 months.

LT -  I believe that the biggest improvement on the line will come from Tyron Smith, our best lineman, who's still only 22 years old. I believe he can make the Pro Bowl this year and become an elite left tackle. That alone will make the offensive line better. With Tyron Smith still being so young, he's still not even close to reaching his prime yet, so he'll keep on improving and become an All-Pro before too long. Hudson Houck, who is an o-line coaching legend, thinks the world of him and was his biggest advocate in the 2011 NFL Draft, the first time the Cowboys took a lineman in the first round since they drafted Howard Richards in 1981. Hudson Houck believes that Tyron Smith will have a Larry Allen-like career, and with his track record I believe him. In over 40 years of coaching offensive linemen, he has coach some of the best of the best.......Anthony Munoz, Bruce Matthews, Jackie Slater, Larry Allen, and Erik Williams. A case can be made for 4 of them as the G.O.A.T. offensive lineman.

Tyron Smith didn't get the credit he deserved for his rookie season. It was a good year for him considering the fact that he was only 20 years old (youngest player in the NFL), and because of the lockout he didn't have any mini camps or offseason workouts to help his development. Last year was his first year at left tackle after playing right tackle in college and his rookie year. He was OK, not bad, but you could tell he didn't look comfortable on the left side. It is encouraging that he got better throughout the season. Since he's still learning a new position, I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Please understand that left tackle is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT position than right tackle. They ARE NOT the same position, just on opposite sides of the line. The transition from one to the other is never a smooth one. The only thing the 2 positions have in common is that they end in the word "tackle". 

Let me explain:

The first thing you need to know about the difference between LT and RT, is that with the majority of quarterbacks being right-handed, the left side is their blind side. With that being the case, the left side of the offensive line is the "pass protection" side of the line, and the right side of the line is the "run-blocking" side. That means the left tackle is the quarterback's blind side protector. The hand placement and footwork are also different for both sides of the line. You basically have to do the exact opposite with each foot and hand from one side to the other. On the left you kick with your right foot, and on the right you kick with your left foot. The same thing goes for your outside punch hand....it's the opposite of whatever side you are on. Left tackles are usually your more athletic, in some cases less physical linemen (maybe a former basketball player). Most of them are good all-around athletes. Right tackles usually are less athletic, but more physical. A tackle that is both athletic and has some physicality and can play on both sides is called a swing tackle. They are very much needed for depth and get paid very well.

Let's go a little deeper: Tackles are chosen to have very long, strong arms so they can reach out and stop defenders, as well as hit them in pass protection before they hit you. They have to have fast feet so they can quickly slide left, right, or backwards as necessary to protect the QB. If the QB calls a running play, the tackles will have to run forward a couple of steps and grab a smaller, lighter, faster guy and keep him away from the ball carrier. A standout offensive tackle is a rare gem, and are among the highest paid players on a football team. Here are the responsibilities of both tackles:

Left Tackle - His main responsibility is to  protect the blind side of the QB. Since most QBs are right-handed, they tend to look toward their right a lot and away from their left. The QB is counting on his LT to protect him from pass rushers. The defense usually puts their fastest and best pass rusher up against the LT, so he has to be extra fast and extremely dependable. If the LT misses his block, the QB will get his block knocked off by a 260-pound speed rusher coming from behind him, and very likely drop the football. The LT often "plays in space", meaning the edge rusher will start from a bit outside and to the tackle's left, and then try to run around either side of him. The LT most of the time will have to drop back away from the guard and then be prepared to block the pass rusher from running around either side of him. That's why the LT has to have quick feet....for him to be able to slide from side to side a couple feet in almost no time.

Right Tackle - He usually has the tight end next to him. Because of the extra blocker, this is called the strong side of the line. The defense will usually put their largest and best run stopping end against the RT, so he has to be the stronger of the two tackles. The RT also has to specialize and excel in being a mauling run-blocker. Sometimes the RT will go up against a top-flight pass rusher, but it's not the same consistency in terms of quality of opponent as there is for the LT. The RT is also more likely to get help from a running back in the form of a "chip." Also, the likelihood that the RT's mistake will cause a game-altering turnover is somewhat lessened since the rusher is usually in the QB's line of sight.

3.) Improved Running Game

The Cowboys' running game finished 31st in the NFL last season with only 79.1 yards per game and 3.6 yards per rush. Their 1,265 rushing yards totaled 144 less than the previous Cowboys low in a 16-game season and represents a drop-off of 542 yards from the 2011 season. Also, the Cowboys only scored 8 rushing touchdowns all of last season. It's hard to imagine the Dallas Cowboys, with the rich history they have at running back, struggling to run the ball. To me, it's unbelievable that they have only had ONE 1,000-yard rusher (Julius Jones in 2006) in the last 12 years. Keep in mind that this is the same team that had Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith, both in the Hall Of Fame, as star running backs......and Emmitt is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Except for the 2-year gap in 1988 and 1989, one of them was in the Cowboys backfield every year from 1977 through 2002. The Cowboys are also one of only 3 teams with 2 10,000-yard rushers in their history, with the Steelers (Franco Harris & Jerome Bettis) and Bills (O.J. Simpson & Thurman Thomas) being the other 2 teams. 

A solid running game is a quarterback's best friend. The better the running game is, the less of a load the QB has to carry, and the easier his job becomes. If the Cowboys can't run the ball efficiently, especially on 3rd and short, once again, it will be a strain on the offense. Too many times last year the Cowboys would abandon the running game and become strictly dependent on Tony Romo and the receivers, making them one-dimensional and easy for defenses to predict. For the offense to click on all cylinders and play to its full potential, they need for a healthy DeMarco Murray to be their workhorse. His health is vital to the Cowboys' offense because the 3 RBs behind him on the depth chart only have a combined 43 career NFL carries, so he'll have to find a way to cut back on the punishment he takes. It was also important for the Cowboys to find dependable backups because last year they were too dependent on DeMarco Murray's health.

I truly believe that with the proper blocking and staying healthy, that DeMarco Murray is rushing champion material. I would love to see him get back to running like he was during his rookie season before he broke his foot. With Bill Callahan taking over the offense and building the running game around his skill set (vision, quickness, patience) I believe it can happen. The Cowboys will be using a zone blocking scheme, which is based on the RB's ability to recognize where the hole is and make a cut to get up the field. This blocking scheme stretches the defense by moving the line, forcing the defensive linemen to move sideways, making them easier to block. The defenders also get tied up because they have to react, and that's where the RB can take advantage of the stretch. Zone blocking is not about blowing your man off the line, it's about staying in contact with him and letting the RB make the adjustment. This scheme also allows DeMarco Murray more freedom in the running game. He likes to run patiently along the line of scrimmage, pick his hole, and explode through it.

It's amazing how opportunities for the passing game and defense to click present themselves when the running game is working. I can't imagine the Cowboys running the ball that poorly again, especially with a new blocking scheme designed to take full advantage of their star RB's skills. If DeMarco Murray can stay healthy, I can see him putting up around 1,300 yards, giving the Cowboys their first 1,000-yard rusher in 7 years and Tony Romo's first since he's been the starting QB for a full season. I also like Lance Dunbar as the backup RB, and Joseph Randle will have his chances to contribute as well. Once again, the real key for the running game to come together is the offensive line. If you look at the running backs the Cowboys have had the last few years......Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and now DeMarco Murray, the RBs have changed, but not the success. The common denominator has been the offensive line. The push up front and the holes the line has to open up are my main concern in the running game.

4.) Stacked At Receiver

I just love.....I mean LOVE our receivers!! This is probably the position I'm most excited about this year. I still remember us struggling to find another No. 1 receiver to replace Michael Irvin when he retired, and now we have 2 receivers that are No. 1 material, and one of them has already been a lead receiver. To make a long story short, we got double for our trouble after losing The Playmaker. I even believe our heist of a trade with the Lions (1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks) for Roy Williams was a blessing in disguise. It's looked at all throughout Cowboy Nation as the worst trade in the team's history, but I see a silver lining. Roy Williams was brought in to be a Pro Bowl-caliber compliment to Terrell Owens, and even though his production (94 catches for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns in 40 games) was nowhere close to expectations, he indirectly upgraded the Cowboys receiver corps all by himself. Let me explain: In 2009, Roy Williams suffered a rib injury on a vicious hit going across the middle for a pass, then the next week Miles Austin took over for him and exploded on the way to his first Pro Bowl. Then in the following NFL Draft, the Cowboys drafted Dez Bryant after he fell in their laps. I think it's safe to say that if Roy Williams' production matched what the team gave up for him, as well as that $54 million contract, the Cowboys would have never drafted Dez. It's all good, because I couldn't be happier with the way things turned out. The Cowboys are set at receiver for years to come.

With that being said, this is probably the best group of receivers the Cowboys have had since 2006, with the potential to be the best in the team's history. It doesn't get much better than having 2 Pro-Bowl caliber receivers and a Hall Of Fame tight end. Here are my thoughts on our main receiving threats:

Dez Bryant - First of all, this is my favorite current Cowboy. It's scary to think that he's only 24 years old and just starting to scratch the surface of his abilities. I believe he'll be a transcendent superstar before it's all said and done. With all of his physical gifts combined with his passion for the game, he'll break a lot of records if he can stay healthy. I not only think he'll make the jump to top 2 receiver, but I see him being a top 5 player in the NFL this year. I definitely saw an improvement in the 2nd half of last year in his ability to make plays after the catch. I also can't remember in my lifetime a receiver that's been harder to tackle than Dez. Other than Calvin Johnson, I can't think of another receiver in the league that might be more dangerous with the ball in his hands. His gifts can't be taught or duplicated. A cornerback can have perfect coverage on him, and Dez will either outjump him or just physically dominate him. The sky is the limit for him this year if he stays healthy.

Miles Austin - Miles is as good as they get for a No. 2 receiver. If he can stay healthy, I can see him playing more like 2009 Miles Austin. If he can reach that level again, he'll be the best No. 2 receiver in the NFL. Even struggling with bad hamstrings last year, Miles still caught 66 passes for 943 yards and 6 touchdowns. Those numbers were actually better than 16 No. 1 receivers on other teams. Even in the NFC East, Miles still had the 4th most catches and touchdowns, and was 3rd in yards.......in an offense where Dez Bryant exploded for 92 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Jason Witten setting a single season NFL record for most receptions by a tight end. Miles is so versatile, that he can play anywhere, including the slot, and he produces more like a No. 1 receiver.

Jason Witten - Plain and simple: Jason Witten is a WARRIOR!! This man has always been tough as nails.....last season just cemented that reputation for him. He played last season with a lacerated spleen, which could have ruptured at any time and become life-threatening, and set the NFL single season record for most receptions by a tight end. That alone should get him in the Hall Of Fame. It also helps that he's an 8-time Pro Bowler, has had 90+ receptions in 4 out of the last 6 seasons, and is ranked 3rd all-time in receptions and yards for a TE. Jason Witten is the ultimate security blanket in the league........he's always open (he can get open in traffic), he he's an excellent blocker, he can run upfield, he has a high football IQ, he's durable, and he has soft hands. It's rare to find a TE like him who can block AND catch. With the emergence of Dez Bryant and the expected improvement in the running game, I'm expecting Jason Witten's workload to be reduced this year.

I'm also intrigued to see who will emerge as the No. 3 receiver this year. Because of his experience, Dwayne Harris has the advantage, and I also like what he brings to the table as a kick returner.....he's a dual threat. Terrance Williams so far looks like he might be a nice addition. Not only does he seem to have a lot of potential, but he gives the Cowboys some options. He gives the team another big target, and with Miles Austin being so versatile he could go back in the slot in 3-receiver sets, which is also a strong preference. Whoever the last receiver is could end up being a weapon for Tony Romo, especially if defenses pay most of their attention to the other receivers.

5.) Improved Defense

I wasn't happy when Rob Ryan was let go because I felt like he did a good job with the defense last year, given what he had to work with because of all the injuries. I was especially on the fence about making the switch to the 4-3, but I like what I'm seeing so far from the defense. I even questioned the hiring of Monte Kiffin, but I see he and Rod Marinelli have already made a significant impact. I like how aggressive the defense has been already, and hopefully they can keep it up all season. For starters, they are getting more pressure so far, and that's been a weakness of the Cowboys' defense for a while. I'm looking forward to seeing how the 1-8-7 tandem of DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer (their jersey numbers equal 187 when you add them up) operates in this new scheme. So far, DeMarcus Ware has looked as good as he ever has, and it's been said that he has been the best player in camp on both sides of the ball. From what I have seen of him, he has been able to do whatever he wants to do.....just flat out abusing Tyron Smith. D-Ware doesn't need a great scheme to be an All-Pro, but it looks like he is one, which will only make him even more dangerous. Anthony Spencer is a tough matchup for offensive linemen because his technique is so good. That's been the biggest improvement in his game over the years. He could be even better in this new scheme because of all the attention D-Ware will have on his side. My biggest concern is the interior of the front-four, especially since the Cowboys didn't draft a single defensive lineman this year. Losing Tyrone Crawford for the season definitely hurts our depth. If Jay Ratliff can get healthy, he and Jason Hatcher will make a nice tandem, and this front-four could be NASTY!! Then if you add Kyle Wilber, Ben Bass, George Selvie, and Sean Lissemore to the mix, it's a solid group from top to bottom. It also has the potential to be better because of the new scheme. 

Another thing I like about this defense is the ability of the linebackers to generate a pass rush. If the Bruce Lee tandem (Bruce Carter & Sean Lee) stays healthy, I would take our linebackers over anybody else's. Bruce Carter is the fastest linebacker in the NFL, which is part of what makes him excellent in coverage. If you need a reminder of how fast he is, just go back and watch the clip from the Falcons of him running Julio Jones down......don't forget that Julio Jones runs a 4.39. I'll even go out on a limb and say that Bruce Carter is the most athletic linebacker the Cowboys have had since Hollywood Henderson. He has a nose for the football, is able to read plays correctly, a sure tackler, and he uses his elite speed for sideline to sideline pursuit. All of those abilities make Bruce Carter the prototypical weakside linebacker in Monte Kiffin's 4-3 scheme, which requires outside linebackers to excel at reading QBs and taking away the short passing game for offenses. The other half of the Bruce Lee tandem is Sean Lee, who happens to be the Cowboys defensive captain. What sets him apart is his ability to do everything well. Sean Lee is thought of around the NFL as a "360-degree player".....he diagnoses and closes in on running plays relentlessly with precision, is excellent in pass coverage, and his elite closing speed also makes him an excellent blitzer. As a matter of fact, if the Cowboys ever put at an "endbacker" position, he has the short-area speed to get double-digit sacks. I believe Sean Lee is on his way to becoming the best middle linebacker in the NFL. The starting strongside linebacker is Justin Durant, who is a very dependable, quality linebacker. He's a sure tackler and has good instincts for finding the ball in the running game. Justin Durant gets overlooked because of the other 2 more heralded LBs. He also brings some experience to the team, as well as a firm grasp on the 4-3 defense.

Last but not least, I'm eager to see how the Cowboys' secondary holds up this year. Brandon Carr is a big, strong physical cornerback who is excellent in press coverage and has playmaking ability. If he continues his development, he has the potential to be a multiple time Pro Bowl CB in the league. In my opinion, Morris Claiborne is a ball hawk - a wide receiver playing cornerback. Coming into the draft, the Cowboys scouts gave him the highest grade a CB has had since Deion Sanders in 1989. In the new scheme, Morris Claiborne should find himself in more favorable situations that allow him to stay locked in on the football instead of the receiver. If he plays the way he's capable of for the whole season, I can see Morris Claiborne being in the running for the Most Improved Player award. As for the safeties, I like the addition of Will Allen. He brings some hard hitting, along with some experience to a younger secondary. It also helps that he has some experience in Monte Kiffin's defense, playing for the Buccaneers from 2004-2009. I feel like Barry Church did a pretty good job last year before he got injured. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off. All in all, if this defense plays up to its capabilities, they will generate a lot of pressure and cause a bunch of turnovers, and the simplicity of this new scheme should also cut down on confusion and players being out of position, along with substitutions being made on the sidelines. Cutting down on all of these things should also lead to fewer penalties.

If everything happens the way I described above, or even remotely close, the Cowboys should have a good season. I would be ecstatic if it did turn out that way, because it's about time the Cowboys got back to playing winning football. I like the way this team is put together, and if everybody stays healthy I think the Cowboys are capable of having a deep playoff run. I can't wait to see how it all plays out, and whether or not it works out this way remains to be seen.