Aug 31, 2008 - 9:49 AM
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Forgive the Dallas Cowboys if they're not feeling the burden of high expectations.
After posting an NFC-best 13-3 record last year, the Cowboys suffered a devastating 21-17 defeat at home in the divisional playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants.
Not only was that bitter ending their second consecutive excruciating playoff loss, it extended their postseason drought to 12 seasons (six straight losses) and serves as extra motivation for this year's group.
With most of the same crew back in 2008, Dallas enters the upcoming season as one of the odds-on favorites to make it to Tampa next February 1.
But while many prognosticators see the Cowboys getting there, the players won't allow themselves to look any further ahead than their Sept. 7 season opener in Cleveland.
"We aren't going to talk about that," receiver Patrick Crayton said of Super Bowl predictions. "Right now, we're trying to get ready for Cleveland. That's step one. We have 16 steps, then we're going to say two playoff games hopefully, so about 19 steps is what we want to do."
And while the success of this team ultimately will not be judged until the postseason, there is an understanding the Super Bowl is still quite far away.
"You don't worry about the playoffs until you get there," head coach Wade Phillips said. "You worry about the other things. You start all over again, as far as what your goals are. Try to win the NFC East again, get home-field advantage and secure the top seed. All of those goals will be more important until you get to the playoff game."
"I don't think that can affect us," Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten said of the high expectations. "I think that, as a team, we know how hard it is to get to that point, so we have to understand that and deal with that from that standpoint of taking it one week at a time. The playoffs are a long way away right now."
The way last season ended still weighs on some of players' minds, but they have to leave it in the past and prove themselves all over again.
"Right now, it is a sour taste" Crayton admitted. "Right now, it's 2008, it's fresh, everyone's starting off 0-0 and it's our chance to go out against Cleveland and start off right."
"I think if you're talking about February 1, I think you've got the wrong ideas," added veteran backup quarterback Brad Johnson, whose triumph with Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII makes him the only Cowboy with a Super Bowl ring. "We got our work cut out for us. There are some great teams, some great talent in this league and we haven't proven anything. Last year was last year and there's no carry-over in this league."
With many of the same potent offensive weapons that provided Dallas with the NFL's second-most points scored (455) and third-most yards per game (365.7) last season returning, Dallas looks to duplicate 2007's extraordinary success.
Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who set franchise records last year with 355 completions, 4,211 passing yards and 36 touchdown tosses, still has his two favorite targets, receiver Terrell Owens (81 receptions, 1,355 yards, NFL-best 15 TDs) and tight end Witten (96 catches for 1,145 yards and seven TDs) to lead the lethal passing attack. Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber (975 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) anchors the ground game.
In fact, this club has very few key newcomers, returning virtually all of the same starters. Barber assumes the role of starter with Julius Jones' departure to Seattle, and first-round draft pick Felix Jones takes over the backup slot.
Even Jones, as a newcomer, doesn't feel like the club feels any pressure as a leading contender.
"Right now, I don't really sense that," said the 22nd overall selection out of Arkansas, who was impressive in the preseason. "We're just trying to get everything sorted out and our plays executed. We're taking it day by day."
Meanwhile, there are also few changes to the defensive unit that ranked ninth in yards allowed last year (307.6 per game). Adding veteran linebacker Zach Thomas makes a deep and strong LB group better. And cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones, who was recently re-instated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, will provide added depth to one of the Cowboys' weakest positions last year, as does Mike Jenkins, their other first-round choice.
From the coaching staff's perspective, last season saw a gradual progression with the club jelling and growing as it went along, and Phillips hopes that process unfolds again.
"Last season, we improved offensively and defensively throughout the season," said Phillips, entering his second season in charge of the Cowboys and seventh as an NFL head coach. "Across the board, we improved as a team. We'll have a lot of the same players back, so we will look to improve within the same system, which we feel that we can do."
So while the Cowboys won't allow themselves to think too far ahead, all the pieces are in place for them to take another run at the NFC's top seed and their first postseason win since 1996. A trip to the Super Bowl would be a fitting way for the team to close out Texas Stadium before moving into their monstrous new digs next year.
"Last year's over, it's a new year," Witten said. "We feel like we have a lot to prove and we know expectations are high, but nothing's higher than what we're putting on ourselves."
