sportscurmudgeon
11-05-2010, 09:09 PM
As the resident "trying to keep it real" guy around her for the last 5 years or so, I have to say that the Dallas Cowboys underachievement so far in 2010 is stunning.
Looking at the players on the field this season only - - forget all about potential and previous glory and all that stuff because the games are being played in the present tense - - the Cowboys have a significantly more talented roster than the Redskins. Nevertheless, they are 1-6; the Redskins are 4-4. You are what your record says you are...
Let's compare starting rosters in 2010:
Offensive line: Maybe - - I said MAYBE - - Trent Williams could start for Dallas this season. Other than that, there is no offensive lineman on the Skins' roster who would play for the Cowboys. Advantage: Big Edge to Cowboys!
Tight End: As good as Chris Cooley is, he would not start over Jason Witten. Advantage: Cowboys
WRs: Santana Moss could make the Cowboys team and compete for a starting spot. That's it. NO ONE ELSE on the Redskins' roster at WR even makes the Dallas team except perhaps Armstrong as a special teams' guy.Advantage: Edge to Cowboys
QB: McNabb (the 2010 version not some idealized memory of him 5 years ago) is better than Romo (the 2010 version not some hyped memory of him stepping into the breach for the Cowboys at QB several years ago). If McNabb had a star on his helmet, he would start and Romo would sit. Advantage: Skins
RBs: Torrain, Portis and Williams versus Choice, Barber and Jones. Frankly for the 2010 season, none of them have been anything to write home about; none of them are versatile/durable enough to play every down every week. Portis used to be the best of this lot; his best days are in the rear view mirror. Jones is the fastest of this lot; one day he may learn how to use all that speed effectively. Advantage: PUSH - no defensive coordinator in the NFL loses even a moment's sleep thinking how he will stop either of these crews.
DL: Haynesworth has more talent than any of the D-linemen on either squad; the only question is how often he will decide to express that talent. For the sake of argument we'll say he could start for Dallas. After that, I don't see how Carriker, Daniels, Golston et.al. break into the starting line-up in Dallas. Perhaps as rotation guys, but not starters. Advantage: Ever so slight edge to Cowboys because they have more players that are "better" as opposed to having the one best player who may or may not choose to play hard on any given Sunday.
LBs: Orakpo can start for the Cowboys; Ware can start for the Redskins. Anyone who doubts that should not have been reading this far into this post. Keith Brooking can start for the Skins and London Fletcher can start for the Cowboys. So the advantage in this category comes from the "others". I think Spenser and Carter/Alexander are a wash. The difference comes down to McIntosh versus Bradie James. I happen to think Rocky is better, but I would not waste time arguing with anyone who thought James was better. Advantage: PUSH. This is the defensive strength for both teams.
DBs: The cornerbacks are comparable; Terrence Newman starts for the Skins; DeAngelo Hall starts for the Cowboys. Advantage: Push
Safeties Landry starts for Dallas; Sensabaugh starts for the Skins. Advantage: PUSH.
The significant advantages - - in talent and performance for 2010 - - on offense for the Cowboys means their 1-6 record should be a huge embarrassment for the team and for the coaching staff and for the people who threw all those ingredients into a pot and stirred it up.
Looking at the players on the field this season only - - forget all about potential and previous glory and all that stuff because the games are being played in the present tense - - the Cowboys have a significantly more talented roster than the Redskins. Nevertheless, they are 1-6; the Redskins are 4-4. You are what your record says you are...
Let's compare starting rosters in 2010:
Offensive line: Maybe - - I said MAYBE - - Trent Williams could start for Dallas this season. Other than that, there is no offensive lineman on the Skins' roster who would play for the Cowboys. Advantage: Big Edge to Cowboys!
Tight End: As good as Chris Cooley is, he would not start over Jason Witten. Advantage: Cowboys
WRs: Santana Moss could make the Cowboys team and compete for a starting spot. That's it. NO ONE ELSE on the Redskins' roster at WR even makes the Dallas team except perhaps Armstrong as a special teams' guy.Advantage: Edge to Cowboys
QB: McNabb (the 2010 version not some idealized memory of him 5 years ago) is better than Romo (the 2010 version not some hyped memory of him stepping into the breach for the Cowboys at QB several years ago). If McNabb had a star on his helmet, he would start and Romo would sit. Advantage: Skins
RBs: Torrain, Portis and Williams versus Choice, Barber and Jones. Frankly for the 2010 season, none of them have been anything to write home about; none of them are versatile/durable enough to play every down every week. Portis used to be the best of this lot; his best days are in the rear view mirror. Jones is the fastest of this lot; one day he may learn how to use all that speed effectively. Advantage: PUSH - no defensive coordinator in the NFL loses even a moment's sleep thinking how he will stop either of these crews.
DL: Haynesworth has more talent than any of the D-linemen on either squad; the only question is how often he will decide to express that talent. For the sake of argument we'll say he could start for Dallas. After that, I don't see how Carriker, Daniels, Golston et.al. break into the starting line-up in Dallas. Perhaps as rotation guys, but not starters. Advantage: Ever so slight edge to Cowboys because they have more players that are "better" as opposed to having the one best player who may or may not choose to play hard on any given Sunday.
LBs: Orakpo can start for the Cowboys; Ware can start for the Redskins. Anyone who doubts that should not have been reading this far into this post. Keith Brooking can start for the Skins and London Fletcher can start for the Cowboys. So the advantage in this category comes from the "others". I think Spenser and Carter/Alexander are a wash. The difference comes down to McIntosh versus Bradie James. I happen to think Rocky is better, but I would not waste time arguing with anyone who thought James was better. Advantage: PUSH. This is the defensive strength for both teams.
DBs: The cornerbacks are comparable; Terrence Newman starts for the Skins; DeAngelo Hall starts for the Cowboys. Advantage: Push
Safeties Landry starts for Dallas; Sensabaugh starts for the Skins. Advantage: PUSH.
The significant advantages - - in talent and performance for 2010 - - on offense for the Cowboys means their 1-6 record should be a huge embarrassment for the team and for the coaching staff and for the people who threw all those ingredients into a pot and stirred it up.