For Dallas’s offense to take significant leapsįorward, Romo must display those traits even more regularly. Less talked about is Romo’s toughness and poise when playing hurt, and his raw playmaking ability – both traits he displayed in spades last season. But Romo’s errors tend to be over-analyzed and overblown. Late in the Week 14 loss to the Giants, have been the product of Romo playing too fast. Some of those gaffes, like the interception to Darrelle Revis in Week 1 last year, have been a product of clever defensive strategy. True, Romo has had some gaffes in clutch situations. He has always had a fast release and impressive ability to quickly gather himself to make athletic throws with good mechanics while moving. He has shown improvements in his pre-snap recognition and post-snapĭecisions, which has helped make him a more comfortable pocket passer. Romo is a better quarterback now than he’s ever been. To debate whether Romo is elite is to debate the meaning of the word as much as anything. But instead of just putting the whole “elite” topic in storage and moving on, Football America has eagerly renewed it for Started it by leading the Giants to a second Super Bowl title in five years. Manning killed the ensuing “is he or isn’t he?” debate as quickly as he inadvertently It came into vogue last season with Eli Manning. That quarterback will most likely determine how far this team goes.įootball America’s hot new word these days is elite. Really, the only thing saving Garrett from intense media scrutiny heading into this season is the public’s renewed appetite for picking apart his quarterback. What can be analyzed, though, is Garrett’s approach and performance as a strategist.įrom the occasional game-management blunder (see timeout usage in the loss at Arizona last season) to the sometimes predictable nature of the offense (see play-calling late in the loss at New England), he has certainly Who knows what’s true? The effect a coach’s personality has on a team is hard to accurately analyze from afar. To being a Jerry Jones henchman than a Parcellsian trailblazer. Some insiders, however, whispered that Garrett, like Phillips, is much closer To Wade Phillips’s position in 2010, many assumed the Cowboys were getting one of those energizing, innovative young coaches. Garrett, a former backup to Troy Aikman, was a familiar name who soared through the coaching ranks a few years ago. That Coach Jason Garrett is on the hot seat. The disintegrating Terence Newman is out, while first-round rookie Morris Claiborne and the 26-year-old blockbuster free-agent pickup Brandon Carr are in.ĭeep down, what Jones probably meant when he said the window is closing is, This is once again a super talented team - no way in heck I’m going to stand for 8-8 again. The star that Carter and Connor will play alongside, Sean Lee, just turned 26. Have been replaced by 24-year-old Bruce Carter and 26-year-old Dan Connor. Declining inside linebackers Bradie James and Keith Brooking Defensively, Dallas’s entire front line is in its prime. The offensive line is young at the two most important positions – left tackle Tyron Smith is 21, center Phil Costa is 25 – and under 31 everywhere else. The budding star running back DeMarco Murray is 24. The budding star receiver ( fingers crossed on off-field matters)ĭez Bryant is 23. Tony Romo’s top receiver, Miles Austin, is 28.

Who is 32 but has only six years of mileage on him. The Cowboys’ star-studded offense is led by a quarterback In May, Jerry Jones got in on the action, acknowledging that his team’s window is closing. Needing to step up, leaders needing to emerge, potential needing to be realized, etc. There has been a lot of talk about players Instead, people say this is supposed to be their year. The pressure, as usual, is thick.īecause the Cowboys have mastered the art of underachievement, few people these days say this is their year. The Cowboys enter 2012 as a talented team with high expectations and a taste of disappointment after last season.

Dallas cowboys roster 2012