2008 Dallas Cowboys Predictions & NFL Picks
The Dallas Cowboys will be the favorite to win the NFC East and the entire conference again in 2008. On one hand, the Cowboys went 13-3 and sent 13 players to the Pro Bowl last season. But Dallas lost in the playoffs for a second straight year in their first game of the postseason. They have everything in place to end their playoffs drought and win the NFC, now they just have to go out and do it. Dallas returns everyone who started in the playoff game against the Giants last year, except for linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano. The Cowboys caught a break when offensive coordinator Jason Garrett decided to stay put. The team at Info Plays give you our 2008 Dallas Cowboys predictions as well as a team preview below.
Offense:
Tony Romo is the Cowboys’ ninth starting quarterback since Troy Ailkman retired in 2000. He has proven to be worth the wait considering he has won 19 of his 26 starts since becoming the starting quarterback in Dallas. Now he just has to get over the hump of his late-season struggles. Romo is 4-7 in December and January with just 11 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.
Marion Barber led the team with 975 rushing yards last year despite not starting a single game during the regular season last year. He hampered in for 10 touchdowns and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection despite not being tagged the starter. Barber will be the starter this season and should get some help from the speedy Felix Jones. The Cowboys drafted Jones in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft and are hoping he can step in right away since Julian Jones bolted for Seattle.
Terrell Owens was finally in the new last season solely for his great performances on the field. He is comfortable with Jason Garrett and his new contract extension shows that Owens wants to end his career as a Cowboy. With his frame, Owens still has three solid seasons left without a doubt. Terry Glenn played in only two games last season, but he should be fully recovered and ready for a comeback as he nears the end of his career. Patrick Crayton talked the talk but he dropped way too many balls last season. The Cowboys have one of the best tight ends in the league in Jason Witten and he is primed for another big year. This is one of the best receiving corps you will find in the league.
Flozell Adams commits far too many penalties, but he has protected Dallas QB’s for ten seasons now while missing just 10 games throughout his career. He does a great job of keeping Romo off his back and Cowboys’ coaches will just have to deal with the stupid penalties he commits. Center Andre Gurode is a Pro Bowler, but he clearly has struggles snapping the ball in the shotgun. But Garrett plans on taking this formation out of the offense so that shouldn’t be a problem in 2008. Left guard Kyle Kosier and right tackle Marc Colombo are solid if not all-stars. The Cowboys look to be solid on the offensive line and in all phases of the offense for that matter.
Defense:
On the defense line, the Cowboys were hoping for much more from Marcus Spears as a first-round pick in 2005. Spears has recorded just 4.5 sacks in his three-year career. Jay Ratliff was a pleasant surprise at nose tackle in place of Jason Ferguson. Ratliff was so good that the Cowboys traded Ferguson to the Dolphins in the off-season. Tank Johnson will get his shot at clogging the middle like he did for Chicago in 2006.
Head coach Wade Phillips and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart turned DeMarcus Ware into their own version of Shawne Merriman. Ware is now a pass-rushing demon and a big dandidate for Defensive Player of the Year after recording 84 tackles, 14 sacks and 27 pressures. Ware allowed Greg Ellis to have a big season as well. Ellis compiled 12.5 sacks in just 13 games and won Comeback Player of the Year honors. The Cowboys signed Zach Thomas to replace Ayodele who was shipped to the Dolphins.
Ken Hamlin made an impact in the secondary last season and earned the franchise tag in the offseason. Roy Williams was a liability yet again in pass coverage, but he remains one of the best run-stoppers in the league. Cornerback Terence Newman finally earned a Prow Bowl berth. Newman should be even better this season in a contract year after playing nearly all of last year with plantar Fasciitis in his right foot. Anthony Henry can’t seem to stay healthy. Backup corners Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones left to free agency, so the Cowboys signed Pacman Jones and drafted Mike Jenkins to compensate.
Info Plays 2008 Dallas Cowboys Predictions:
The Dallas Cowboys will win the NFC East and finally earn a trip to the Super Bowl this season against much weaker NFC competition this year. It seems as almost all other teams in the NFC are taking a step back, while the Cowboys look stronger than ever in 2008.
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