2007 Dallas Cowboys Predictions & Season Preview
June 5, 2008
Our 2007 Cowboys predictions show a promising outlook behind the looser atmosphere brought by new head-coach Wade Phillips. The team was close to greatness last year in finishing 9-7 before bowing out to Seattle in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The word around Dallas is that this could be this year as Tony Romo continues to develop as a leader of this team.
The coaching changes will be no small adjustment as Phillips is both aggressive on defense and more laid back in the locker room. The most interesting move and something to watch is former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett takes over as offensive coordinator. Garrett has little experience himself but is going to be surrounded by Ray Sherman who is coaching the receivers and Tony Sparano, who coaches the offensive line along with being an assistant head coach.
The offense will be lead by Tony Romo, who got off to a 5-1 start before fading to 1-4 as the starter to end the year. The Cowboys thought enough of this young talent to pass on Brady Quinn in the draft, but he’s going to have to prove himself after fumbling the snap and costing Dallas the game against Seattle in last year’s playoffs. The team doesn’t have a superstar at running back, but with Julius Jones and Marion Barber the team has a decent 1-2 combo they can throw at the opposition. Both players are capable when splitting time but probably couldn’t handle the load on their own. At wide receiver they have Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn. These two guys may be getting up there in age but are still one of the best tandems to have catching passes. Owens may have had off-the-field issues and he may have dropped 17 passes but he still lead the league with 13 TD passes. The line was a problem at times last year but the team brought in Leonard Davis from Arizona and now they think they have their best line since the 1995 Super Bowl season.
The defense should be happy to not have Parcells riding them all the time and to have the chance to play freely. Marcus Spears blamed the rigid scheme for his mediocre numbers and Jason Ferguson should be decent at nose tackle. DeMarcus Ware was picked ahead of Shawne Merriman in the 2005 draft, and now he is hoping Phillips can do for him what he did for Merriman in making his the defensive player of the year. Greg Ellis will return from an Achilles injury and Bradie James and Akin Ayodele provide a decent linebacking corps. The secondary should be improved with Roy Williams being used more to his abilities and Ken Hamlin being signed at the other safety position. Terrance Newman is a Pro Bowl corner and will continue to shine.
This team has a real chance to win the division this year and contend for the NFC title. I would take the over 9 wins as 10 seems more likely than an 8-8 year. I like them to take the division as well. 8-1 seems about right when taking a look at the chances they have of winning the NFC.
