Dallas Cowboys 2008 season betting preview
By
TED SEVRANSKY - Direct From Vegas: Sports Investing for long term profits
August 13, 2008
6 comments
Overview:
The Dallas Cowboys won 13 games and the NFC East title last year, an extraordinarily successful regular season. Dallas sent a whopping 13 players to the Pro Bowl, and return all 13 to the lineup again in 2008. First year offensive coordinator Jason Garrett guided the offense to a remarkable season: No. 2 in points scored, No. 3 in total yards. He, too, returns to the fold for 2008. On paper, this team looks very much like a juggernaut; the team to beat in the NFC.
But for all the regular season success the Dallas enjoyed in 2007, their postseason failure cast a negative cloud over their season. Dallas lost at home to the Giants in their lone playoff game last January, winless in the postseason for the last eleven years. Regular season success isn’t going to save head coach Wade Phillips’ job if the Cowboys can’t put together a successful postseason run this January.
Offense:
Tony Romo had the best statistical season of any Cowboys quarterback in their long and storied history last year. Romo threw for more than 4200 yards with 36 touchdown passes. But the Cowboys were held to 6, 20, 6 and 17 points in their final four games, their four lowest scoring outputs of the entire season. And Romo struggled in the playoffs for the second consecutive year, giving rise to legitimate concerns about his ability to handle the pressure that begins to mount once the stakes rise in the playoffs.
The Cowboys are set at running back, despite the free agent departure of last year’s second leading rusher Julius Jones, who landed in Seattle. Marion Barber is the clear No. 1 back this year, coming off an outstanding season that saw him average just shy of five yards per carry. Barber will be joined by explosive speedster Felix Jones, the Cowboys No. 1 pick out of Arkansas.
There are some concerns in the passing game, however. Terrell Owens remains one of the most explosive receivers in football, but his mercurial personality and his advancing age (34 years old) are both significant issues. In addition, the Cowboys don’t have a clear cut No. 2 receiver, with Patrick Crayton the leading candidate to line up on the other side of TO, while Sam Hurd, Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin competing for playing time. Tight end Jason Witten has developed into the premier pass catcher at his position in the NFL, alleviating some of the Cowboys concerns at wide receiver.
The Cowboys offensive line features a trio of pro bowlers: left tackle Flozell Adams, Center Andre Gurode and right guard Leonard Davis. All five starters from last year return, and there’s excellent depth behind the starting unit. Therefore, the Cowboys offensive line is a truly elite level unit heading into the season.
Defense:
Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart proved to be a solid hire by Wade Phillips last year after his tenure as the Chargers secondary coach. Stewart’s 3-4 scheme allows the Cowboys to bring pressure on the quarterback from all over the field – they ranked third in the NFL with 46 quarterback sacks last year.
Stewart certainly has plenty of talent to work with, starting on the defensive line, where the Cowboys are positively loaded. Defensive ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty started all 16 games together in ’07. Jay Ratliff enjoyed a breakout season at nose tackle last year, but he’ll be challenged by former Bears stalwart Tank Johnson in camp.
The Cowboys linebacking corps is loaded with playmakers. DeMarcus Ware is a pass rushing force with 14 sacks last year, as is Greg Ellis who finished second on the team with a dozen sacks in 2007. 13-year veteran Zack Thomas signed a one year free agent deal with the Cowboys in the offseason, hoping to revive his once great career. The Cowboys have solid depth behind their starters with Anthony Spencer on the outside and Bobby Carpenter on the inside.
If PacMan (Adam) Jones can control his off-field behavior, the Cowboys landed a pro bowl caliber cornerback (and special teams guru) for virtually nothing. Terrence Newman is one of the best cover corners in the NFL. Anthony Henry still has plenty left in the tank. First rounder Mike Jenkins (South Florida) will be in the mix for playing time as well. Safety Ken Hamlin is a highlight waiting to happen, one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league. The lone concern on this otherwise elite level unit is at strong safety where Roy Williams will have to rebound from a very disappointing campaign.
Schedule:
The Cowboys have nothing to prove in the regular season. They’ve won 31 games in the last three regular seasons without a playoff victory to show for it. The Cowboys will be on TV a lot this year – they play only four 1 PM Eastern start time games all season, with six national TV games on their slate. The Cowboys first place schedule gives them three non-division games against playoff teams from last year (Tampa Bay, Seattle, at Green Bay). The schedule is in place for a strong stretch run, with four of their last six coming at home.