Football Diner reader Nick Johnson details what might be different for Dallas in 2009. Have you got something you want to tell the Diner? We want to hear from you now !

The Cowboys - New Stadium! Different Mentality! Same Outcome?
by Nick Johnson
18/9/2009
 
Every year the Dallas Cowboys are touted as Super Bowl contenders due to a famous history of success and the fact they are officially the richest sports team in the world (ahead of Manchester United). This year however, things seem rather subdued in Dallas. There is no talk of Super Bowls; in fact there isn't even much talk of the playoffs. Is this because they lost Terrell Owens to free agency and in turn, Buffalo? Is it because of their lack of activity early in the draft and free agency? Have the concerns over Tony Romo's form in November and December finally made people rethink?
 
Whichever of these reasons takes centre stage in the unruly calm surrounding the coming season, the Cowboys won't mind it one bit. In fact I think they have a better chance of reaching the playoffs this year than they had last season.
 
In an off season that has witnessed no fewer than 11 head coaches going into their first full season with their team, agent infused draft insanity and deals for players that prompt the question 'what recession?' you will notice that the Dallas Cowboys, for once, don't fit under any of these banners. The Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a man who has certainly had his fair share of media attention in the past, has always been partial to signing the brilliant yet controversial and atmosphere testing type of player. This year however the Cowboys released their enigmatic receiver Terrell Owens and allowed him to sign for the Buffalo Bills as a free agent. Owens, the cause of numerous team fall outs wherever he has played, was at the centre of the 'rift of the season' involving himself, quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten. Owens accused Romo, the 6 year veteran, of 'refusing to pass to him' and instead, favouring his reliable tight end and close off field friend Jason Witten.
 
This move can only serve to bring the team closer together and help to repair some of the damaged locker room spirit that was clearly lacking in the 'Terrell Owens era'. Romo will now be throwing to No 1 receiver Roy Williams, who has yet to stamp any sort of authority on his place in the team since joining last year from the Detroit Lions however doesn't posses even half the ego of his former team mate (or in fact the numbers) but if there is one thing Williams does posses its hunger, and the first round pick in the 2004 draft will be keen to impress early on. He is a Texan native, he played his college football in Texas and having been voted to one pro bowl in his time with a struggling Detroit Lions team he will be keen to perform in Dallas to prove that he can live up to his school nickname 'The Legend'.
 
Another big plus for Dallas comes in the form of a dangerous running game. Marion Barber is fit after suffering with a toe injury for the whole of last season, and so too is last years first round pick Felix Jones, who looked impressive early in 2008 before falling to injury himself. This paved the way for Tashard Choice to show what he was made of and after a solid season from the 3rd choice running back, Dallas now looks to have a fully fit 3 pronged ground attack, giving their game a whole new dimension and more importantly giving Tony Romo another option when those winter jitters set in.
 
Unity is something the Cowboys will have in bundles this year and something that will have strengthened the core bonds within the team is the tragedy that occurred on May 2nd this year, as high winds and damaging storms destroyed the Cowboys training facility in Irving, Texas. 12 people were injured in the ensuing drama and 2 seriously injured, including scouting assistant Rich Beam who was paralysed from the waist down. Hard times can breed strength and the Cowboys will no doubt be trying to use this incident to incite a new found team spirit this year.
 
Let's not forget the biggest change to the Cowboys this summer, the Cowboys Stadium. The largest domed stadium in the world, seating 80,000 people and costing $1.1 billion with the biggest high-definition television screen hanging from the middle of the roof, will be showcased in its first regular season game against none other than the Cowboys NFC east counterparts the New York Giants. If anyone ever needed proof that Texas does things bigger than anywhere else in the world, here it is. Watch out for punts hitting the screen. Tennessee punter A.J. Trapasso has already managed to hit the screen and I wouldn't bet against that happening again this season. Watch this space as controversy is set to follow.
 
The Cowboys season opener in Tampa Bay showed us some things that we already knew and some things that we can expect to see. Firstly, Tony Romo is a good quarterback who can definitely get it done (especially when he is playing against a team with little or no secondary like the Buccaneers) however until we reach the business end of the season his temperament in 'big game situations' will still be questioned. Secondly, the running game is ready and raring, ok so it wasn't relied on in the season opener but the main positive to be taken from the game is that all 3 running backs came through unscathed, looking fresh from last season's injury worries and there was a TD for Marion Barber. Oh how the Cowboys could have done with him being fully fit last year. Roy Williams has a TD to his name early on, he also had 86 yards which doesn't make a season but you need to remember that he only had 198 yards all of last year – this one game which will have done his confidence a world of good. Lastly, it appears the Cowboys defense which led the league in sacks last year, forgot to turn up. DeMarcus Ware was particularly quiet with only 4 tackles so expect much more from D-Ware as the season progresses. The defence also boasts three new starters in Gerald Sensabaugh, Keith Brooking and Igor Olshansky and once this new unit gels the Cowboys will have the kind of the defence to give quarterbacks sleepless nights, just remember it takes time.
 
The Cowboys face their first major test this week with the Giants visiting, so Dallas fans will be treating this as the 'acid test' to truly determine how much progress the team has made since 2008. A packed house in a new stadium, will the Giants serve Dallas a Texas sized portion of humble pie, or will the Cowboys rise to the challenge and show the NFL world that you should never write off 'America's Team'?

Have you got something you want to tell the Diner? We want to hear from you now !