32 Teams in 32 Days, Team #8: The Dallas Cowboys

America’s Team. They have had their rough years, they have had their great years, but through it all they always remain on the hearts and minds of America. The Dallas Cowboys. Since their reign of dominance in the early 1990's, the Cowboys have not looked like a sure fire Superbowl contender until last year. Lat year, they dominated the NFC en route to winning their division and leading their conference. But then as if written out of a storybook, the Dallas Cowboys choked in their first playoff game to the eventual Superbowl Champion New York Giants. And once again Tony Romo ended the season with a sour taste in his mouth. Few can forget, Tony Romo’s botched field goal hold in the 2006 season during the playoffs. He fumbled the snap and because of that, the Dallas Cowboys lost that game. In the 2007 season, the Cowboys looked dominate and it seemed that they were going to be in the Superbowl, but they couldn’t even make it past their first game. The Cowboys come into the 2008 season with everything to prove. They are looking for relevance. Looking to get to the Superbowl. Looking to silence all the critics who say they choke. And with a team like their’s, who’s to say they can’t do just that?

The Dallas Cowboys made a trade for suspended Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. He is a great athlete and could add a lot to the Cowboys’ defense.. If he plays. The Cowboys however were prepared for just that option. If Pacman doesn’t play the Cowboys still have Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry at their disposal. Also with the additions of draft picks Mike Jenkins out of South Florida and Orlando Scandrick out of Boise State, the Cowboys have plenty of depth at the Cornerback position, something they were seriously lacking in last year. They are improving. They want their rings.

The wide receiver position is for the lack of a better word, old. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are both north of 30 and are coming close to the end of their careers. Now don’t get me wrong, Owens is by far still an elite receiver. Last year proved it. With 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns, Owens was the second best receiver in the game, second only to the record breaking Randy Moss. He will no doubt come into this season strong and look to help lead the Cowboys to the Superbowl. Terry Glenn missed all of last year with a bad knee injury. There is no guarantee that he will be able to play this year let alone be productive, however Patrick Crayton fit into his spot nicely and I don’t think the Cowboys will be in too much trouble with Crayton as the #2 wide out. The problem with the Cowboys’s pass catchers is that there just isn’t enough young playmakers. Terrell Owens can’t be the only deep threat, but for now he really is. Last year Jason Witten emerged at Tight End and quite possibly ended the season as the top tight end in all of football. He quickly became Tony Romo’s number one target and that lead to Witten racking in 1,145 yards and 7 touchdowns. There is no doubt that is long as Witten is at Tight End and Romo is at Quarterback, Witten will be a huge target on almost every down. The Cowboys’ offense is a deadly one indeed, but they could be even better with younger recievers.

Its been said for the past 2 seasons. Marion Barber needs to get more touches. He has been in a time share with Julius Jones for the past 2 seasons, but has shown that he is obviously the better running back. He is a powerful, hard hitting runner who is almost impossible to bring down especially in the 4th quarter. This year will be different. Barber is finally the #1 running back. Julius Jones has left the team and will be running for Seattle now. Barber will see the touches that he deserves. The running game will be much improved. With Barber as a starter, the Cowboys will strike fear into the opposing team’s defense. It just becomes a different game when Marion the Barbarian is on the field. The Cowboy’s did draft two other running backs in this year’s draft. Felix Jones out of Arkansas and Tashard Choice out of Georgia Tech. Expect Jones to cut into Barber’s carries a bit, but Barber will still see most of the action. I am loving the Cowboy’s rushing attack this year.

And then we come to the Quarterback position. Tony Romo is QB1. There is no doubt about that. He is one of the top 3 quarterbacks heading into this year. My only problem with Romo is his inconsistency. One week he is amazing and you couldn’t find a better QB. The next week he is turning the ball over and making some really bad decisions. He’s young, there’s no doubt about that. He needs more experience. Romo has to come into this year thinking nothing, but football. He has a lot to prove. He has to prove that he deserves his big contract. He has to prove that he belongs as the QB1 for Dallas. He has to prove that he can get this team to the Superbowl. All other outside distractions end when training camp begins. Jessica or no Jessica, Tony Romo has games to play and championships to win. Thats all that matters. Get the job done and celebrate in the off-season. I’m interested to see how well Romo can play this year.

The Dallas Cowboys have a great team and there is no doubt they have all the potential to make the playoffs and the Superbowl. There is no excuse for choking in the playoffs the last 2 years. They have to focus when they play these big games. Tony Romo must get the job done and the rest of his team needs to be able to produce and step up should Romo not be having a great game. I want to see more emphasis on the running game this year. The passing game is good, but would be even more effective if the running game is used throughly. The Cowboys have all the tools to make the playoffs this year no matter who is on their schedule. I don’t think they make the Superbowl. At least not yet. I have to see how the play their first few games in the regular season. They’ve got Green Bay at Green Bay in Week 3. That is a game I’m circling on my calender. I will not miss that one. If the Cowboys can make the Superbowl this year and perhaps even win it, then I think they will have truly deserved to be called America’s Team.