Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.Tony Romo was 16 years old the last time the Dallas Cowboys won a playoff game -- Dec. 28, 1996 over Minnesota. Since then, a span of 13 seasons, America's Team has gone 0-6 in the postseason and failed to qualify for the playoffs seven times. It's a shocking drought for a franchise with the history, and more obviously, the pride that Dallas does that there has been more recent on-field success. This is a big season in Big D, for Romo, for coach Wade Phillips, for the future of the franchise. But breaking that postseason jinx won't be easy.
Defense -- Coordinator Brian Stewart was fired in the offseason, leaving Phillips to call the defense. And just like the offense, this group has undergone some turnover. Gone are guys like Chris Canty, Greg Ellis and the other Roy Williams -- both key pieces to past defenses -- and in are Igor Olshansky, Keith Brooking and Gerald Sensabaugh, among others. DeMarcus Ware does return, along with his 20 sacks from 2008, and should be a force again. In fact, Dallas' entire linebacker group will be a nightmare to deal with. In addition to Ware and Brooking, who averaged 116 tackles the past three seasons in Atlanta, Bradie James and up-and-coming Anthony Spencer are athletic options. Olshansky, Marcus Spears and Jay Ratliff make up an adequate three-man front. The secondary played well last year, but didn't force many turnovers -- expect more of the same in 2009. Heat Index: 8
Special Teams -- The Cowboys were exceedingly average in this area last year. They finished No. 22 overall in net punt average and No. 21 in kickoff returns. The latter number could rise dramatically if Jones stays healthy and is given an opportunity. Rookie Kevin Ogletree has averaged 28.4 yards per return in three preseason games, too, so if he makes the roster, that's a bonus. Kicker Nick Folk hit on 20-of-22 field goals and all 42 extra points in 2008, while punter Mat McBriar averaged 49 yards per punt (though just 38.8 net) before going on injured reserve after six games. Heat Index: 7
Coaching -- You can talk about how overrated offensive coordinator Jason Garrett may or may not be, but the coaching staff's 2009 performance begins and ends with how Phillips does. The heat was on Phillips following 2008's 9-7 finish, and he cranked it up a couple degrees by taking over the defense. Jerry Jones has been supportive of Phillips thus far, but also reiterated the need for Dallas to win soon. Is Phillips the guy to make that happen? In eight full seasons as an NFL head coach, Phillips has won just one division title (in 2007 with Dallas), and has never won a playoff game. Heat Index: 4
Dallas Cowboys Photos
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 29: Running back Kory Sheets #30 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on August 29, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kory Sheets
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ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 29: Runnng back Felix Jones #28 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Dre' Bly #31 of the San Francisco 49ers at Cowboys Stadium on August 29, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Felix Jones;Dre' Bly
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San Francisco 49ers fullback Brit Miller (47) runs for extra yardage as Dallas Cowboys safety Pat Watkins (25) attempts to bring him down in the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers won 20-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett (80) is upended by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown, bottom, as linebacker Diyral Briggs, rear, assists on the tackle following Bennett's reception in the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers won 20-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) walks off the field following the Cowboys' preseason NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers won 20-13. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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DALLAS - AUGUST 29: Tashard Choice #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs against Isaac Sopoaga #90 and Mark Roman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers during the preseason game at Cowboys Stadium on August 29, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tashard Choice;Isaac Sopoaga;Mark Roman
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, center, shouts instructions to his team in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys as running backs coach Tom Rathman, left rear, and quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson, right rear, look on, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers won 20-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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San Francisco 49ers fullback Brit Miller, left, celebrates with running back Kory Sheets (30) following Sheets' touchdown in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The 49ers won 20-13. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Dallas Cowboys safety Courtney Brown, right, is called for interference while defending the San Francisco 49ers' Jason Hill, left, in the fourth quarter. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys, 20-13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday August 29, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
MCT
Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Tony Romo, left, and Jon Kitna share a laugh during preseason action against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys, 20-13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday August 29, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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Intangibles -- The Dallas faithful are desperate for a successful season -- so the pressure to win is as high as ever. And last year had to leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth, as the Cowboys lost at home to Baltimore in Week 16, then got shellacked by 38 in Philly in Week 17 to keep Dallas out of the playoffs. Romo should be motivated to perform well after the pinky injury sidelined him last season, and Phillips will do whatever he can to aid the cause. This franchise needs a good year. Heat Index: 6
Total Heat Index: 32/50 -- The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Cowboys could be one of the NFC's best teams in 2009, but they could also struggle to an average season. The coach is under fire, the quarterback is under fire, the fans are impatient. It's nothing really new for Dallas. An NFC East title and a playoff run wouldn't really shock anyone, but it's hard to say that the Cowboys are better than the Eagles or Giants right now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2009 @ 4:45PM
greg said...
As long as Jerry "I walk on water" Jones owns the team, the Cowboys will go nowhere. Hiring lame coaches, drafting lousy players, and over paying over rated players, is no way to run a team.
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9-01-2009 @ 6:20PM
TheMost said...
Amen...Since he got his hands on the Cowboys its been terrible. He's going to ride this horse into the ground. Jerry says its all about the dollar. Who needs a quality coach with years of NFL experience. Shanahan will never make it to Dallas. I would be surpised if he would put himself in that situation. The haed cook may not be able to control the layout of the kitchen(Stadium). But, he should be able to control the staff and the ingredients he cooks with.
9-01-2009 @ 4:50PM
Kumail891 said...
All of the Cowboy fans should hope that they don't win a playoff game so that they can land Mike Shanahan. They got multiple solid RB's, a scrambler with a arm at QB, and solid WR's, the pathway is set.
By the way, I despise the Cowboys but am a avid fan of Mike Shanahan.
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9-01-2009 @ 5:54PM
JFCJR said...
This Bronco fan thinks Shanahan would be great in Dallas! The guy is an offensive genius and has a real good relationship with Romo (both went to the same college). In fact, Shanahan was going to go after Romo if they were not able to sign free agent Jake Plummer several years ago. And lastly, Shanahan wins Super Bowls every time he replaces Wade Phillips......HA!
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9-01-2009 @ 6:04PM
TheMost said...
Jerry doesn't care about winning. It's about making $$$ with America's Team. Period. If this wasn't the case Dallas would have a real coach(Cower) and a real QB(like Favre or Garcia even) who could handle pressure and not choke on his teammates. Romo needs to go. This season he probably won't have Whitten as a goto guy cause everyone should expect it. No Dallas will not make the playoffs. They may win 6 games. And you can quote me on that. One more thing. I'm not a hater. I live 3 hours from the stadium and I've been a fan all my life. I'm just preaching the gospel. Telling it like it T.I.is!
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9-02-2009 @ 7:51AM
deitrade said...
Most,preaching the Gospel?? You call yourself a Cowboy fan for life, I don't think soooooooo! Our Boys have been in a drought ( not winning a playoff in 12 years ( you give no credit that they have at least been to a playoff in 5 of those years).
I bet you could find a few NFL Teams with even worst records in the past 15 years. A hand full come to my mind right away. The Boys are in a drought but every Team in the NFL has gone through bad droughts. This current drought is the worst in Cowboys history but I could name a few droughts of other NFL Franchises that were worst.
Will the Cowboys win a playoff game this year? They have a shot if they stay healthy, just like all the other 31 NFL Teams. Every Team is 1 or 3 players away from a blown season due to injuries because of salary cap and parody.
9-05-2009 @ 1:54PM
mjames5464 said...
You are truly an idiot!!Of course there is $$$ part of it. Any team owner that says that money isnt important is a liar,and not a good business person. But in the end Jerry Jones,like all other owners want a championship ring,end of story! By the way u need to move farther away from the stadium,like maybe Philly or New York...you douche!
9-01-2009 @ 9:02PM
RW said...
Wasn't Jerry owner when the Cowboys won 3 Superbowls? Oh yeah he kinda was, wasn't he?
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9-01-2009 @ 10:18PM
adammmiles said...
The Cowboys lost to the Panthers in that playoff game. They beat the Vikings in the Wild Card that year, though, so nice try.
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9-02-2009 @ 9:13AM
alvordcd said...
I'm not much of a Jerry Jones fan but i do believe that some of the comments on here are far off base. The Cowboys have had quite a few good drafts(WARE,BARBER, FELIX JONES...), which makes it even more head scrathcing why they haven't won a few playoff games in recent years. It all goes back to you have to play like as team to win the big games and the Cowboys, for the most part, HAVEN'T!!!
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9-02-2009 @ 11:29AM
daveedtjr said...
yes Dallas won three Super Bowls with Jerry as owner. but they were JIMMY'S TEAMS. With Jimmy's talent evaluation team, there's no way Jerry wins with any other coach. maybe 1, but not THREE IN FOUR YEARS. They should've won 4 in a row, but BARRY didn't have the team focused.
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9-02-2009 @ 11:31AM
daveedtjr said...
BTW....What have the Cowboys done with JERRY'S TEAMS, after Jimmy's "firing"? Jimmy was fired, plain and simple. Jerry didn't like the fact that Jimmy was getting all the credit for the success of the 'Boys.....
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9-02-2009 @ 2:00PM
deitrade said...
Dave and too many others, the firing of Jimmy Johnson was not the lone down fall of what has the Dallas Cowboys. To some degree it was Jerry Jones and his "MONEY."
In 1995 the SALARY CAP helped drain Teams like the Cowboys of their rich talent pools. Jerry Jones became handicapped for Parody's sake. Much to the Broncos and the Patriot's credit they became the first to be able to work within the limits of a Salary Cap because they were NOT handcuffed for being over the Cap like the Cowboy Organization.
I have often mentioned that there are no longer Dominating Teams like the Packers,Steelers, Niner and Cowboys of the past decades. Even though the Patriots have done a great job of winning 4 Super Bowls in this Salary cap era all 4 of their victories could have easily been a loss because their winning margin in each game was a mere 3 points. I am sure there will still be talk about it being 12 ( and maybe 13 after this season) years since a playoff victory but everyone in the NFL goes through such a drought. Unfortunately Cowboys haters like to kick an old dawg while it's down before that Dawg comes back to bite em. The 2009 season is a new year and every team is 1 or 3 players away from a blown season....that's "Parody."
9-07-2009 @ 5:22AM
jessemolson48 said...
i use to be a cowboy fan, not anymore as long as tony homo is the qb,that guys is another danny white .chokes on the big games.i had wished that dallas would have gotten derek anderson from cleveland,but they didnt ,so as long as homo is the qb dallas will suck again this year.and iffff they make the playoffs, tony homo will choke again,case n point
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9-07-2009 @ 10:32AM
Dwayne said...
Yeah right, you used to be a Cowboy fan! Imagine that. NOT!
9-08-2009 @ 12:55AM
dllslover said...
MOST OF YOU ARE SO FULL OF CHIT IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY. GARCIA OR FARVE AT QB ..LOL ! SHAN AT COACH .. LOL ! COWER AT COACH .. LOL ! YOUR ALL SO WET AND FULL OF CRAP YOU NEED TO HIT THE PEACE PIPIE AGAIN. BEEN LISTENING TO WAY TOO MUCH TALK RADIO ... GET A LIFE LOSERS.
COWBOYS WILL GO DEEP INTO PLAYOFFS AND MOST LIKELY A SUPERBOWL APPEARANCE. YOUR ALL JOHNNY COME LATELY FAN'S AND LOVE TO STIR THE POT.
ROMO IS THE MAN AND PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF LEADING THE COWBOYS TO THE BOWL. TONY ROMO HAS EVERY ATTRIBUTE YOU WANT IN A QB. PEYTON DIDN'T WIN A PLAYOFF GAME FOR 5 ++++ YEARS. MY GOD THESE BACK SEAT KNOW IT ALLS ARE GETTING OLD.
COWBOYS WIN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP AND GO TO SUPERBOWL IN 2010.
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